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The Complete Works of Robert Burns Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the The Complete Works of Robert Burns novel. A total of 293 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence.by R
The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence.by Robert Burns and Allan Cunningham.PREFACE.I cannot give to my country this edition of one of its favourite poets, without stating that I have deliberately omitted sever
- 93 Though cruel fate should bid us part, Far as the pole and line, Her dear idea round my heart, Should tenderly entwine.Though mountains rise, and deserts howl, And oceans roar between; Yet, dearer than my deathless soul, I still would love my Jean XIX.ROBI
- 92 XV. A FRAGMENT. Tune--"_John Anderson my jo._" [This verse, written early, and probably intended for the starting verse of a song, was found among the papers of the poet.] One night as I did wander, When corn begins to shoot, I sat me down to po
- 91 III.When I mount the creepie chair, Wha will sit beside me there?Gie me Rob, I'll seek nae mair, The rantin' dog, the daddie o't.IV.Wha will crack to me my lane?Wha will make me fidgin' fain?Wha will kiss me o'er again?-- The rant
- 90 X.THE HIGHLAND La.s.sIE.Tune--"_The deuks dang o'er my daddy_!"["The Highland La.s.sie" was Mary Campbell, whose too early death the poet sung in strains that will endure while the language lasts. "She was," says Burns,
- 89 And they ha'e ta'en his very heart's blood, And drank it round and round; And still the more and more they drank, Their joy did more abound.XIII.John Barleycorn was a hero bold, Of n.o.ble enterprise; For if you do but taste his blood,
- 88 ["The following song," says the poet, "is a wild rhapsody, miserably deficient in versification, but as the sentiments are the genuine feelings of my heart, for that reason I have a particular pleasure in conning it over."]I.My father
- 87 VII.'Tis this in Nelly pleases me, 'Tis this enchants my soul; For absolutely in my breast She reigns without control II.LUCKLESS FORTUNE.[Those lines, as Burns informs us, were written to a tune of his own composing, consisting of three parts,
- 86 TO THE MEN AND BRETHREN OF THE MASONIC LODGE AT TARBOLTON.Within your dear mansion may wayward contention Or withering envy ne'er enter: May secrecy round be the mystical bound, And brotherly love be the centre._Edinburgh_, 23 _August_, 1787.Lx.x.x.I
- 85 LXXIV.[The sentiment which these lines express, was one familiar to Burns, in the early, as well as concluding days of his life.]Though fickle Fortune has deceived me, She promis'd fair and perform'd but ill; Of mistress, friends, and wealth ber
- 84 LXVIII.JESSY LEWARS.[Written on the blank side of a list of wild beasts, exhibiting in Dumfries. "Now," said the poet, who was then very ill, "it is fit to be presented to a lady."]Talk not to me of savages From Afric's burning su
- 83 TO THE SAME, ON THE AUTHOR BEING THREATENED WITH HIS RESENTMENT. Spare me thy vengeance, Galloway, In quiet let me live: I ask no kindness at thy hand, For thou hast none to give. LXII. ON A COUNTRY LAIRD. [Mr. Maxwell, of Cardoness, afterwards Sir David,
- 82 Here brewer Gabriels fires extinct, And empty all his barrels: Hes blest--if, as he brewd, he drink-- In upright virtuous morals. LV. EPITAPH ON WILLIAM NICOL. [Nicol was a scholar, of ready and rough wit, who loved a joke and a gill.] Ye maggots, feast o
- 81 XLVIII. THE TOAST. [Burns being called on for a song, by his brother volunteers, on a festive occasion, gave the following Toast.] Instead of a song, boys, Ill give you a toast-- Heres the memory of those on the twelfth that we lost!-- That we lost, did I
- 80 INSCRIPTION ON A GOBLET. [Written on a dinner-goblet by the hand of Burns. Syme, exasperated at having his set of crystal defaced, threw the goblet under the grate: it was taken up by his clerk, and it is still preserved as a curiosity.] Theres death in t
- 79 x.x.xV. WRITTEN ON A PANE OF GLa.s.s, IN THE INN AT MOFFAT. [A friend asked the poet why G.o.d made Miss Davies so little, and a lady who was with her, so large: before the ladies, who had just pa.s.sed the window, were out of sight, the following answer
- 78 [This was an extempore grace, p.r.o.nounced by the poet at a dinner-table, in Dumfries: he was ever ready to contribute the small change of rhyme, for either the use or amus.e.m.e.nt of a company.] O thou, who kindly dost provide For every creatures want!
- 77 LORD ADVOCATE.He clench'd his pamphlets in his fist, He quoted and he hinted, 'Till in a declamation-mist His argument he tint it: He gaped for't, he grap'd for't, He fand it was awa, man; But what his common sense came short He e
- 76 XVI. VERSES WRITTEN ON A WINDOW OF THE INN AT CARRON. [These lines were written on receiving what the poet considered an uncivil refusal to look at the works of the celebrated Carron foundry.] We came na here to view your warks In hopes to be mair wise, B
- 75 IX. ON A NOISY POLEMIC. [This noisy polemic was a mason of the name of James Humphrey: he astonished Cromek by an eloquent dissertation on free grace, effectual-calling, and predestination.] Below thir stanes lie Jamies banes: O Death, its my opinion, Tho
- 74 III. ON A FRIEND. [The name of this friend is neither mentioned nor alluded to in any of the poets productions.] An honest man here lies at rest As eer G.o.d with his image blest! The friend of man, the friend of truth; The friend of age, and guide of you
- 73 POSTSCRIPT.Ye've heard this while how I've been licket, And by felt death was nearly nicket; Grim loon! he got me by the f.e.c.ket, And sair me sheuk; But by guid luck I lap a wicket, And turn'd a neuk.But by that health, I've got a sh
- 72 CL.THE HERON BALLADS.[BALLAD THIRD.][This third and last ballad was written on the contest between Heron and Stewart, which followed close on that with Gordon. Heron carried the election, but was unseated by the decision of a Committee of the House of Com
- 71 [In this ballad the poet gathers together, after the manner of "Fy!let us a' to the bridal," all the leading electors of the Stewartry, who befriended Heron, or opposed him; and draws their portraits in the colours of light or darkness, acc
- 70 CXLVI.TO CHLORIS.[Chloris was a Nithsdale beauty. Love and sorrow were strongly mingled in her early history: that she did not look so lovely in other eyes as she did in those of Burns is well known: but he had much of the taste of an artist, and admired
- 69 CXLII.ON SENSIBILITY.TO MY DEAR AND MUCH HONOURED FRIEND, MRS. DUNLOP, OF DUNLOP.[These verses were occasioned, it is said, by some sentiments contained in a communication from Mrs. Dunlop. That excellent lady was sorely tried with domestic afflictions fo
- 68 That brilliant gift shall so enrich me, Spring, Summer, Autumn, cannot match me; 'Tis done! says Jove; so ends my story, And Winter once rejoiced in glory.Cx.x.xVIII.LIBERTY.A FRAGMENT.[Fragment of verse were numerous, Dr. Currie said, among the loos
- 67 Hail Poesie! thou Nymph reserv'd!In chase o' thee, what crowds hae swerv'd Frae common sense, or sunk enerv'd 'Mang heaps o' clavers; And och! o'er aft thy joes hae starv'd Mid a' thy favours!Say, La.s.sie, why
- 66 Cx.x.xII.MONODY, ON A LADY FAMED FOR HER CAPRICE.[The heroine Of this rough lampoon was Mrs. Riddel of Woodleigh Park: a lady young and gay, much of a wit, and something of a poetess, and till the hour of his death the friend of Burns himself. She pulled
- 65 CXXIX.A VISION.[This Vision of Liberty descended on Burns among the magnificent ruins of the College of Lincluden, which stand on the junction of the Cluden and the Nith, a short mile above Dumfries. He gave us the Vision; perhaps, he dared not in those y
- 64 TO THE SHADE OF THOMSON, ON CROWNING HIS BUST AT EDNAM WITH BAYS.["Lord Buchan has the pleasure to invite Mr. Burns to make one at the coronation of the bust of Thomson, on Ednam Hill, on the 22d of September: for which day perhaps his muse may inspi
- 63 We saw thee s.h.i.+ne in youth and beauty's pride, And virtue's light, that beams beyond the spheres; But like the sun eclips'd at morning tide, Thou left'st us darkling in a world of tears.The parent's heart that nestled fond in
- 62 VII.O! soon, to me, may summer suns Nae mair light up the morn!Nae mair, to me, the autumn winds Wave o'er the yellow corn!And in the narrow house o' death Let winter round me rave; And the next flow'rs that deck the spring Bloom on my peac
- 61 CXIX.ADDRESS OF BEELZEBUB TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE HIGHLAND SOCIETY.[This Poem made its first appearance, as I was a.s.sured by my friend the late Thomas Pringle, in the Scots Magazine, for February, 1818, and was printed from the original in the handwriti
- 60 Iram, coram, dago.But please transmit the enclosed letter, Igo and ago, Which will oblige your humble debtor, Iram, coram, dago.So may he hae auld stanes in store, Igo and ago, The very stanes that Adam bore, Iram, coram, dago.So may ye get in glad posses
- 59 [Footnote 95: John M'Murdo, Esq., of Drumlanrig.][Footnote 96: Fergusson of Craigdarroch.][Footnote 97: Riddel of Friars-Ca.r.s.e.][Footnote 98: Provost Staig of Dumfries.][Footnote 99: Sheriff Welsh.][Footnote 100: A wine merchant in Dumfries.][Foot
- 58 CXIV.THE LADDIES BY THE BANKS O' NITH.[This short Poem was first published by Robert Chambers. It intimates pretty strongly, how much the poet disapproved of the change which came over the Duke of Queensberry's opinions, when he supported the ri
- 57 Mourn, empress of the silent night!And you, ye twinkling starnies bright, My Matthew mourn!For through your orbs he's ta'en his flight, Ne'er to return.O, Henderson! the man--the brother!And art thou gone, and gone for ever?And hast thou cr
- 56 XVI.Daddie Auld, Daddie Auld, There's a tod i' the fauld A tod meikle waur than the clerk;[93]Tho' ye downa do skaith, Ye'll be in at the death, And if ye canna bite ye can bark, Daddie Auld, And if ye canna bite ye can bark.XVII.Poet
- 55 [Footnote 83: Mr. Moody, of Riccarton.][Footnote 84: Mr. Auld of Mauchline.][Footnote 85: Mr. Grant, of Ochiltree.][Footnote 86: Mr. Young, of c.u.mnock.][Footnote 87: Mr. Peebles, Ayr.][Footnote 88: Dr. Andrew Mitch.e.l.l, of Monkton.][Footnote 89: Mr. S
- 54 Since then, my honour'd, first of friends, On this poor being all depends, Let us th' important _now_ employ, And live as those who never die.-- Tho' you, with days and honours crown'd, Witness that filial circle round, (A sight, life&
- 53 But golden sands did never grace The Heliconian stream; Then take what gold could never buy-- An honest Bard's esteem.CV.PROLOGUE, SPOKEN AT THE THEATRE, DUMFRIES, 1 JAN. 1790.[This prologue was written in December, 1789, for Mr. Sutherland, who reci
- 52 Seek, mangled wretch, some place of wonted rest, No more of rest, but now thy dying bed!The sheltering rushes whistling o'er thy head, The cold earth with thy b.l.o.o.d.y bosom prest.Oft as by winding Nith, I, musing, wait The sober eve, or hail the
- 51 O thou grim mischief-making chiel, That gars the notes of discord squeel, 'Till daft mankind aft dance a reel In gore a shoe-thick!-- Gie' a' the faes o' Scotland's weal A towmond's Toothache.XCIX.ODE SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF
- 50 EPISTLE TO HUGH PARKER.[This little lively, biting epistle was addressed to one of the poet's Kilmarnock companions. Hugh Parker was the brother of William Parker, one of the subscribers to the Edinburgh edition of Burns's Poems: he has been dea
- 49 FIRST EPISTLE TO ROBERT GRAHAM, ESQ.OF FINTRAY.[In his ma.n.u.script copy of this Epistle the poet says "accompanying a request." What the request was the letter which enclosed it relates.Graham was one of the leading men of the Excise in Scotla
- 48 Reverence with lowly heart Him whose wondrous work thou art; Keep His goodness still in view, Thy trust--and thy example, too.Stranger, go! Heaven be thy guide!Quod the Beadsman on Nithside.XC.WRITTEN IN FRIARS-Ca.r.s.e HERMITAGE, ON NITHSIDE.DECEMBER, 17
- 47 WRITTEN WITH A PENCIL, OVER THE CHIMNEY-PIECE, IN THE PARLOUR OF THE INN AT KENMORE, TAYMOUTH.[The castle of Taymouth is the residence of the Earl of Breadalbane: it is a magnificent structure, contains many fine paintings: has some splendid old trees and
- 46 Lx.x.xIV.THE HUMBLE PEt.i.tION OF BRUAR WATER TO THE n.o.bLE DUKE OF ATHOLE.[The Falls of Bruar in Athole are exceedingly beautiful and picturesque; and their effect, when Burns visited them, was much impaired by want of shrubs and trees. This was in 1787
- 45 Lx.x.xI.SKETCH.[This Sketch is a portion of a long Poem which Burns proposed to call "The Poet's Progress." He communicated the little he had done, for he was a courter of opinions, to Dugald Stewart. "The Fragment forms,"said he,
- 44 IV.As once on Pisgah purg'd was the sight Of a son of Circ.u.mcision, So may be, on this Pisgah height, Bob's purblind, mental vision: Nay, Bobby's mouth may be open'd yet Till for eloquence you hail him, And swear he has the angel met
- 43 LXXIV.TO MISS LOGAN, WITH BEATTIE'S POEMS FOR A NEW YEAR'S GIFT.JAN. 1, 1787.[Burns was fond of writing compliments in books, and giving them in presents among his fair friends. Miss Logan, of Park house, was sister to Major Logan, of Camlarg, a
- 42 NEW BRIG.Now haud you there! for faith ye've said enough, And muckle mair than ye can mak to through; As for your Priesthood, I shall say but little, Corbies and Clergy, are a shot right kittle: But under favour o' your langer beard, Abuse o
- 41 Come wealth, come poort.i.th, late or soon, Heaven send your heart-strings ay in tune, And screw your temper pins aboon A fifth or mair, The melancholious, lazy croon O' cankrie care.May still your life from day to day Nae "lente largo" in
- 40 LXVIII.LINES ON MEETING WITH LORD DAER.["The first time I saw Robert Burns," says Dugald Stewart, "was on the 23rd of October, 1786, when he dined at my house in Ayrs.h.i.+re, together with our common friend, John Mackenzie, surgeon in Mauc
- 39 says Gilbert Burns; "but Caesar was merely the creature of the imagination." The Ettrick Shepherd, a judge of collies, says that Luath is true to the life, and that many a hundred times he has seen the dogs bark for very joy, when the cottage ch
- 38 I see the children of affliction Unaided, through thy cursed restriction I've seen the oppressor's cruel smile Amid his hapless victim's spoil: And for thy potence vainly wished, To crush the villain in the dust.For lack o' thee, I lea
- 37 LXI.TO MR. M'ADAM, OF CRAIGEN-GILLAN.[It seems that Burns, delighted with the praise which the Laird of Craigen-Gillan bestowed on his verses,--probably the Jolly Beggars, then in the hands of Woodburn, his steward,--poured out this little unpremedit
- 36 Auld Truth hersel' might swear ye're fair, And Honour safely back her, And Modesty a.s.sume your air, And ne'er a ane mistak' her: And sic twa love-inspiring een Might fire even holy Palmers; Nae wonder then they've fatal been To
- 35 LETTER TO JAMES TENNANT, OF GLENCONNER.[The west country farmer to whom this letter was sent was a social man. The poet depended on his judgment in the choice of a farm, when he resolved to quit the harp for the plough: but as Ellisland was his choice, hi
- 34 [This is another of the poet's lamentations, at the prospect of "torrid climes" and the roars of the Atlantic. To Burns, Scotland was the land of promise, the west of Scotland his paradise; and the land of dread, Jamaica! I found these line
- 33 As soon's the clockin-time is by, An' the wee pouts begun to cry, L--d, I'se hae sportin' by an' by, For my gowd guinea; Tho' I should herd the buckskin kye For't, in Virginia.Trowth, they had muckle for to blame!'T
- 32 VIII.The fear o' h.e.l.l's a hangman's whip, To haud the wretch in order; But where ye feel your honour grip, Let that ay be your border: Its slightest touches, instant pause-- Debar a' side pretences; And resolutely keep its laws, Unc
- 31 [The ninetieth Psalm is said to have been a favourite in the household of William Burns: the version used by the Kirk, though unequal, contains beautiful verses, and possesses the same strain of sentiment and moral reasoning as the poem of "Man was m
- 30 X.Is there, in human form, that bears a heart-- A wretch! a villain! lost to love and truth!That can, with studied, sly, ensnaring art, Betray sweet Jenny's unsuspecting youth?Curse on his perjur'd arts! dissembling smooth!Are honour, virtue, co
- 29 Oppress'd with grief, oppress'd with care, A burden more than I can bear, I set me down and sigh: O life! thou art a galling load, Along a rough, a weary road, To wretches such as I!Dim-backward as I cast my view, What sick'ning scenes appe
- 28 [Footnote 50: A preacher, a great favourite with the million. _Vide_ the Ordination, stanza II][Footnote 51: Another preacher, an equal favourite with the few, who was at that time ailing. For him see also the Ordination, stanza IX.]XLI.LAMENT, OCCASIONED
- 27 IV.Think, when your castigated pulse Gies now and then a wallop, What ragings must his veins convulse, That still eternal gallop: Wi' wind and tide fair i' your tail, Right on ye scud your sea-way; But in the teeth o' baith to sail, It make
- 26 Is there, that bears the name o' Scot, But feels his heart's bluid rising hot, To see his poor auld mither's pot Thus dung in staves, An' plunder'd o' her hindmost groat By gallows knaves?Alas! I'm but a nameless wight,
- 25 Food fills the wame an' keeps us livin'; Tho' life's a gift no worth receivin'When heavy dragg'd wi' pine an' grievin'; But, oil'd by thee, The wheels o' life gae down-hill, scrievin,'Wi' ra
- 24 I own 'twas rash, an' rather hardy, That I, a simple countra bardie, Shou'd meddle wi' a pack sae st.u.r.dy, Wha, if they ken me, Can easy, wi' a single wordie, Lowse h.e.l.l upon me.But I gae mad at their grimaces, Their sighin&#
- 23 This past for certain--undisputed; It ne'er cam i' their heads to doubt it, 'Till chiels gat up an' wad confute it, An' ca'd it wrang; An' muckle din there was about it, Baith loud an' lang.Some herds, weel learn�
- 22 x.x.xI.TO J. LAPRAIK.(THIRD EPISTLE.) [I have heard one of our most distinguished English poets recite with a sort of ecstasy some of the verses of these epistles, and praise the ease of the language and the happiness of the thoughts. He averred, however,
- 21 What's a' your jargon o' your schools, Your Latin names for horns an' stools; If honest nature made you fools, What sairs your grammars?Ye'd better taen up spades and shools, Or knappin-hammers.A set o' dull, conceited hashes
- 20 XXVII.TO RUIN.["I have been," says Burns, in his common-place book, "taking a peep through, as Young finely says, 'The dark postern of time long elapsed.' 'Twas a rueful prospect! What a tissue of thoughtlessness, weakness, a
- 19 To dip her left sark-sleeve in, Was bent that night.Whyles owre a linn the burnie plays, As through the glen it wimpl't; Whyles round a rocky scaur it strays, Whyles in a wiel it dimpl't; Whyles glitter'd to the nightly rays, Wi' bicke
- 18 [Footnote 19: Duan, a term of Ossian's for the different divisions of a digressive poem. See his "Cath-Loda," vol. ii. of Macpherson's translation.][Footnote 20: The Wallaces.][Footnote 21: Sir William Wallace.][Footnote 22: Adam Walla
- 17 Had I to guid advice but harkit, I might, by this hae led a market, Or strutted in a bank an' clarkit My cash-account: While here, half-mad, half-fed, half-sarkit, Is a' th' amount.I started, mutt'ring, blockhead! coof!And heav'd
- 16 [The James Smith, to whom this epistle is addressed, was at that time a small shop-keeper in Mauchline, and the comrade or rather follower of the poet in all his merry expeditions with "Yill-caup commentators."He was present in Poosie Nansie
- 15 XXI.THE ORDINATION."For sense they little owe to frugal heav'n-- To please the mob they hide the little giv'n."[This sarcastic sally was written on the admission of Mr. Mackinlay, as one of the ministers to the Laigh, or parochial Kirk
- 14 A robe of seeming truth and trust Did crafty observation; And secret hung, with poison'd crust, The dirk of Defamation: A mask that like the gorget show'd, Dye-varying on the pigeon; And for a mantle large and broad, He wrapt him in Religion.HYP
- 13 Maybe thou lets this fleshly thorn, Beset thy servant e'en and morn, Lest he owre high and proud should turn, 'Cause he's sae gifted; If sae, thy han' maun e'en be borne Until thou lift it.Lord, bless thy chosen in this place, For
- 12 "A countra laird had ta'en the batts, Or some curmurring in his guts, His only son for Hornbook sets, An' pays him well.The lad, for twa guid gimmer-pets, Was laird himsel."A bonnie la.s.s, ye kend her name, Some ill-brewn drink had ho
- 11 What is reputation's care?If we lead a life of pleasure, 'Tis no matter how or where!A fig, &c.With the ready trick and fable, Round we wander all the day; And at night, in barn or stable, Hug our doxies on the hay.A fig, &c.Does the train-atten
- 10 RECITATIVO.A pigmy sc.r.a.per, wi' his fiddle, Wha us'd at trysts and fairs to driddle, Her strappan limb and gausy middle He reach'd na higher, Had hol'd his heartie like a riddle, An' blawn't on fire.Wi' hand on hainch
- 9 Tune--"_Soldiers' Joy._"I am a son of Mars, Who have been in many wars, And show my cuts and scars Wherever I come; This here was for a wench, And that other in a trench, When welcoming the French At the sound of the drum.Lal de daudle, &c.
- 8 O Thou, great Governor of all below!If I may dare a lifted eye to Thee, Thy nod can make the tempest cease to blow, Or still the tumult of the raging sea: With that controlling pow'r a.s.sist ev'n me Those headlong furious pa.s.sions to confine;
- 7 VIII.TO A HAGGIS.[The vehement nationality of this poem is but a small part of its merit. The haggis of the north is the minced pie of the south; both are characteristic of the people: the ingredients which compose the former are all of Scottish growth, i
- 6 The cudgel in my nieve did shake.Each bristl'd hair stood like a stake, When wi' an eldritch, stoor quaick--quaick-- Amang the springs, Awa ye squatter'd, like a drake, On whistling wings.Let warlocks grim, an' wither'd hags, Tell
- 5 They gie the wit of age to youth; They let us ken oursel'; They make us see the naked truth, The real guid and ill.Tho' losses, and crosses, Be lessons right severe, There's wit there, ye'll get there, Ye'll find nae other where.V
- 4 [Footnote 2: A neibor herd-callan.]III.POOR MAILIE'S ELEGY.[Burns, when he calls on the bards of Ayr and Doon to join in the lament for Mailie, intimates that he regards himself as a poet. Hogg calls it a very elegant morsel: but says that it resembl
- 3 "The simple Bard, unbroke by rules of art, He pours the wild effusions of the heart: And if inspired, 'tis nature's pow'rs inspire-- Hers all the melting thrill, and hers the kindling fire."]The following trifles are not the produ
- 2 poems she has perused very devoutly, and all the ballads in the land, as she has the finest wood-note wild you ever heard." With his young wife, a punch bowl of Scottish marble, and an eight-day clock, both presents from Mr. Armour, now reconciled to
- 1 The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence.by Robert Burns and Allan Cunningham.PREFACE.I cannot give to my country this edition of one of its favourite poets, without stating that I have deliberately omitted sever