Poems And Songs Of Robert Burns Part 60

Pity the tuneful Muses' hapless train, Weak, timid landsmen on life's stormy main!

Their hearts no selfish stern absorbent stuff, That never gives--tho' humbly takes enough; The little fate allows, they share as soon, Unlike sage proverb'd Wisdom's hard-wrung boon: The world were blest did bliss on them depend, Ah, that "the friendly e'er should want a friend!"

Let Prudence number o'er each st.u.r.dy son, Who life and wisdom at one race begun, Who feel by reason and who give by rule, (Instinct's a brute, and sentiment a fool!) Who make poor "will do" wait upon "I should"-- We own they're prudent, but who feels they're good?

Ye wise ones hence! ye hurt the social eye!

G.o.d's image rudely etch'd on base alloy!

But come ye who the G.o.dlike pleasure know, Heaven's attribute distinguished--to bestow!

Whose arms of love would grasp the human race: Come thou who giv'st with all a courtier's grace; Friend of my life, true patron of my rhymes!

Prop of my dearest hopes for future times.

Why shrinks my soul half blushing, half afraid, Backward, abash'd to ask thy friendly aid?

I know my need, I know thy giving hand, I crave thy friendship at thy kind command; But there are such who court the tuneful Nine-- Heavens! should the branded character be mine!

Whose verse in manhood's pride sublimely flows, Yet vilest reptiles in their begging prose.

Mark, how their lofty independent spirit Soars on the spurning wing of injured merit!

Seek not the proofs in private life to find Pity the best of words should be but wind!

So, to heaven's gates the lark's shrill song ascends, But grovelling on the earth the carol ends.

In all the clam'rous cry of starving want, They dun Benevolence with shameless front; Oblige them, patronise their tinsel lays-- They persecute you all your future days!

Ere my poor soul such deep d.a.m.nation stain, My h.o.r.n.y fist a.s.sume the plough again, The pie-bald jacket let me patch once more, On eighteenpence a week I've liv'd before.

Tho', thanks to Heaven, I dare even that last shift, I trust, meantime, my boon is in thy gift: That, plac'd by thee upon the wish'd-for height, Where, man and nature fairer in her sight, My Muse may imp her wing for some sublimer flight.

Song.--The Day Returns

Tune--"Seventh of November."

The day returns, my bosom burns, The blissful day we twa did meet: Tho' winter wild in tempest toil'd, Ne'er summer-sun was half sae sweet.

Than a' the pride that loads the tide, And crosses o'er the sultry line; Than kingly robes, than crowns and globes, Heav'n gave me more--it made thee mine!

While day and night can bring delight, Or Nature aught of pleasure give; While joys above my mind can move, For thee, and thee alone, I live.

When that grim foe of life below Comes in between to make us part, The iron hand that breaks our band, It breaks my bliss--it breaks my heart!

Song.--O, Were I On Parna.s.sus Hill

Tune--"My love is lost to me."

O, were I on Parna.s.sus hill, Or had o' Helicon my fill, That I might catch poetic skill, To sing how dear I love thee!

But Nith maun be my Muse's well, My Muse maun be thy bonie sel', On Corsincon I'll glowr and spell, And write how dear I love thee.

Then come, sweet Muse, inspire my lay!

For a' the lee-lang simmer's day I couldna sing, I couldna say, How much, how dear, I love thee, I see thee dancing o'er the green, Thy waist sae jimp, thy limbs sae clean, Thy tempting lips, thy roguish een-- By Heaven and Earth I love thee!

By night, by day, a-field, at hame, The thoughts o' thee my breast inflame: And aye I muse and sing thy name-- I only live to love thee.

Tho' I were doom'd to wander on, Beyond the sea, beyond the sun, Till my last weary sand was run; Till then--and then I love thee!

A Mother's Lament

For the Death of Her Son.

Fate gave the word, the arrow sped, And pierc'd my darling's heart; And with him all the joys are fled Life can to me impart.

By cruel hands the sapling drops, In dust dishonour'd laid; So fell the pride of all my hopes, My age's future shade.

The mother-linnet in the brake Bewails her ravish'd young; So I, for my lost darling's sake, Lament the live-day long.

Death, oft I've feared thy fatal blow.

Now, fond, I bare my breast; O, do thou kindly lay me low With him I love, at rest!

The Fall Of The Leaf

The lazy mist hangs from the brow of the hill, Concealing the course of the dark-winding rill; How languid the scenes, late so sprightly, appear!

As Autumn to Winter resigns the pale year.

The forests are leafless, the meadows are brown, And all the gay foppery of summer is flown: Apart let me wander, apart let me muse, How quick Time is flying, how keen Fate pursues!

How long I have liv'd--but how much liv'd in vain, How little of life's scanty span may remain, What aspects old Time in his progress has worn, What ties cruel Fate, in my bosom has torn.

How foolish, or worse, till our summit is gain'd!

And downward, how weaken'd, how darken'd, how pain'd!

Life is not worth having with all it can give-- For something beyond it poor man sure must live.

I Reign In Jeanie's Bosom

Louis, what reck I by thee, Or Geordie on his ocean?

Dyvor, beggar louns to me, I reign in Jeanie's bosom!

Let her crown my love her law, And in her breast enthrone me, Kings and nations--swith awa'!

Reif randies, I disown ye!

It Is Na, Jean, Thy Bonie Face

It is na, Jean, thy bonie face, Nor shape that I admire; Altho' thy beauty and thy grace Might weel awauk desire.

Something, in ilka part o' thee, To praise, to love, I find, But dear as is thy form to me, Still dearer is thy mind.

Nae mair ungenerous wish I hae, Nor stronger in my breast, Than, if I canna make thee sae, At least to see thee blest.