Delphi Complete Works of Robert Burns (Illustrated) (Delphi Poets Series) Read Free

  I bear a heart shall support me still.
     
     
     
    Chronological List of Poems
     
    Alphabetical List of Poems
     

4.
     
    In the Character of a Ruined Farmer (Song)
     
    Tune— “Go from my window, Love, do.”
     
    THE SUN he is sunk in the west,All creatures retirèd to rest,While here I sit, all sore beset,
    With sorrow, grief, and woe:And it’s O, fickle Fortune, O!    5
     
    The prosperous man is asleep,Nor hears how the whirlwinds sweep;But Misery and I must watch
    The surly tempest blow:And it’s O, fickle Fortune, O!    10
     
    There lies the dear partner of my breast;Her cares for a moment at rest:Must I see thee, my youthful pride,
    Thus brought so very low!And it’s O, fickle Fortune, O!    15
     
    There lie my sweet babies in her arms;No anxious fear their little hearts alarms;But for their sake my heart does ache,
    With many a bitter throe:And it’s O, fickle Fortune, O!    20
     
    I once was by Fortune carest:I once could relieve the distrest:Now life’s poor support, hardly earn’d
    My fate will scarce bestow:And it’s O, fickle Fortune, O!    25
     
    No comfort, no comfort I have!How welcome to me were the grave!But then my wife and children dear —
    O, wither would they go!And it’s O, fickle Fortune, O!    30
     
    O whither, O whither shall I turn!All friendless, forsaken, forlorn!For, in this world, Rest or Peace
    I never more shall know!And it’s O, fickle Fortune, O!    35
     
     
     
    Chronological List of Poems
     
    Alphabetical List of Poems
     

5.
     
    Tragic Fragment — All villain as I am
     
    ALL villain as I am — a damnèd wretch,A hardened, stubborn, unrepenting villain,Still my heart melts at human wretchedness;And with sincere but unavailing sighsI view the helpless children of distress:    5 With tears indignant I behold the oppressorRejoicing in the honest man’s destruction,Whose unsubmitting heart was all his crime. —Ev’n you, ye hapless crew! I pity you;Ye, whom the seeming good think sin to pity;    10 Ye poor, despised, abandoned vagabonds,Whom Vice, as usual, has turn’d o’er to ruin.Oh! but for friends and interposing Heaven,I had been driven forth like you forlorn,The most detested, worthless wretch among you!    15 O injured God! Thy goodness has endow’d meWith talents passing most of my compeers,Which I in just proportion have abused —As far surpassing other common villainsAs Thou in natural parts has given me more.    20
     
     
     
    Chronological List of Poems
     
    Alphabetical List of Poems
     

6.
     
    The Tarbolton Lasses
     
    IF ye gae up to yon hill-tap,   Ye’ll there see bonie Peggy;She kens her father is a laird,   And she forsooth’s a leddy.
     
    There Sophy tight, a lassie bright,    5   Besides a handsome fortune:Wha canna win her in a night,   Has little art in courtin’.
     
    Gae down by Faile, and taste the ale,   And tak a look o’ Mysie;    10 She’s dour and din, a deil within,   But aiblins she may please ye.
     
    If she be shy, her sister try,   Ye’ll maybe fancy Jenny;If ye’ll dispense wi’ want o’ sense — 15   She kens hersel she’s bonie.
     
    As ye gae up by yon hillside,   Speir in for bonie Bessy;She’ll gie ye a beck, and bid ye light,   And handsomely address ye.    20
     
    There’s few sae bonie, nane sae guid,   In a’ King George’ dominion;If ye should doubt the truth o’ this —   It’s Bessy’s ain opinion!
     
     
     
    Chronological List of Poems
     
    Alphabetical List of Poems
     

7.
     
    Ah, woe is me, my Mother dear
     
    Paraphrase of Jeremiah, 15 th Chap., 10 th verse.
     
    AH, woe is me, my mother dear!   A man of strife ye’ve born me:For sair contention I maun bear;   They hate, revile, and scorn me.
     
    I ne’er could lend on bill or band,    5   That five per cent. might blest me;And borrowing, on the tither hand,   The deil a ane wad trust me.
     
    Yet I, a coin-denièd wight,   By Fortune