Poems And Songs Of Robert Burns Part 54

Ere twice the shades o' dawn are fled, In a' its crimson glory spread, And drooping rich the dewy head, It scents the early morning.

Within the bush her covert nest A little linnet fondly prest; The dew sat chilly on her breast, Sae early in the morning.

She soon shall see her tender brood, The pride, the pleasure o' the wood, Amang the fresh green leaves bedew'd, Awake the early morning.

So thou, dear bird, young Jeany fair, On trembling string or vocal air, Shall sweetly pay the tender care That tents thy early morning.

So thou, sweet Rose-bud, young and gay, Shalt beauteous blaze upon the day, And bless the parent's evening ray That watch'd thy early morning.

Epitaph For Mr. W. Cruikshank^1

Honest Will to Heaven's away And mony shall lament him; His fau'ts they a' in Latin lay, In English nane e'er kent them.

Song--The Banks Of The Devon

Tune--"Bhanarach dhonn a' chruidh."

How pleasant the banks of the clear winding Devon, With green spreading bushes and flow'rs blooming fair!

But the boniest flow'r on the banks of the Devon Was once a sweet bud on the braes of the Ayr.

Mild be the sun on this sweet blushing flower, In the gay rosy morn, as it bathes in the dew; And gentle the fall of the soft vernal shower, That steals on the evening each leaf to renew!

O spare the dear blossom, ye orient breezes, With chill h.o.a.ry wing as ye usher the dawn; And far be thou distant, thou reptile that seizes The verdure and pride of the garden or lawn!

Let Bourbon exult in his gay gilded lilies, And England triumphant display her proud rose: A fairer than either adorns the green valleys, Where Devon, sweet Devon, meandering flows.

Braving Angry Winter's Storms

Tune--"Neil Gow's Lament for Abercairny."

Where, braving angry winter's storms, The lofty Ochils rise, Far in their shade my Peggy's charms First blest my wondering eyes; As one who by some savage stream A lonely gem surveys, Astonish'd, doubly marks it beam With art's most polish'd blaze.

[Footnote 1: Of the Edinburgh High School.]

Blest be the wild, sequester'd shade, And blest the day and hour, Where Peggy's charms I first survey'd, When first I felt their pow'r!

The tyrant Death, with grim control, May seize my fleeting breath; But tearing Peggy from my soul Must be a stronger death.

Song--My Peggy's Charms

Tune--"Tha a' chailleach ir mo dheigh."

My Peggy's face, my Peggy's form, The frost of hermit Age might warm; My Peggy's worth, my Peggy's mind, Might charm the first of human kind.

I love my Peggy's angel air, Her face so truly heavenly fair, Her native grace, so void of art, But I adore my Peggy's heart.

The lily's hue, the rose's dye, The kindling l.u.s.tre of an eye; Who but owns their magic sway!

Who but knows they all decay!

The tender thrill, the pitying tear, The generous purpose n.o.bly dear, The gentle look that rage disarms-- These are all Immortal charms.

The Young Highland Rover

Tune--"Morag."

Loud blaw the frosty breezes, The snaws the mountains cover; Like winter on me seizes, Since my young Highland rover Far wanders nations over.

Where'er he go, where'er he stray, May heaven be his warden; Return him safe to fair Strathspey, And bonie Castle-Gordon!

The trees, now naked groaning, Shall soon wi' leaves be hinging, The birdies dowie moaning, Shall a' be blythely singing, And every flower be springing; Sae I'll rejoice the lee-lang day, When by his mighty Warden My youth's return'd to fair Strathspey, And bonie Castle-Gordon.

Birthday Ode For 31st December, 1787^1

Afar the ill.u.s.trious Exile roams, Whom kingdoms on this day should hail; An inmate in the casual shed, On transient pity's bounty fed, Haunted by busy memory's bitter tale!

Beasts of the forest have their savage homes, But He, who should imperial purple wear, Owns not the lap of earth where rests his royal head!

His wretched refuge, dark despair, While ravening wrongs and woes pursue, And distant far the faithful few Who would his sorrows share.

False flatterer, Hope, away!

Nor think to lure us as in days of yore: We solemnize this sorrowing natal day, To prove our loyal truth--we can no more, And owning Heaven's mysterious sway, Submissive, low adore.

Ye honored, mighty Dead, Who n.o.bly perished in the glorious cause, Your King, your Country, and her laws,

[Footnote 1: The last birthday of Prince Charles Edward.]

From great Dundee, who smiling Victory led, And fell a Martyr in her arms, (What breast of northern ice but warms!) To bold Balmerino's undying name, Whose soul of fire, lighted at Heaven's high flame, Deserves the proudest wreath departed heroes claim: Nor unrevenged your fate shall lie, It only lags, the fatal hour, Your blood shall, with incessant cry, Awake at last, th' unsparing Power; As from the cliff, with thundering course, The snowy ruin smokes along With doubling speed and gathering force, Till deep it, crushing, whelms the cottage in the vale; So Vengeance' arm, ensanguin'd, strong, Shall with resistless might a.s.sail, Usurping Brunswick's pride shall lay, And Stewart's wrongs and yours, with tenfold weight repay.

Perdition, baleful child of night!

Rise and revenge the injured right Of Stewart's royal race: Lead on the unmuzzled hounds of h.e.l.l, Till all the frighted echoes tell The blood-notes of the chase!

Full on the quarry point their view, Full on the base usurping crew, The tools of faction, and the nation's curse!

Hark how the cry grows on the wind; They leave the lagging gale behind, Their savage fury, pitiless, they pour; With murdering eyes already they devour; See Brunswick spent, a wretched prey, His life one poor despairing day, Where each avenging hour still ushers in a worse!

Such havock, howling all abroad, Their utter ruin bring, The base apostates to their G.o.d, Or rebels to their King.