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Literary
May 19, 1788
The Daily Advertiser
New York, New York County, New York
What is this article about?
Poem by Robert Burns lamenting the emigration of a fellow Scottish bard to the West Indies, mourning the loss to Scotland's merry company, lasses, and cultural life, while wishing him well abroad.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
From the POEMS of Robert Burns, the celebrated Scottish Ploughman.
On a Scotch Bard, gone to the West Indies.
Ye wha live by yowps o' drink,
Ye wha live by crambo-clink,
Ye wha live and never think,
Come, mourn wi' me!
Our bardie's gien us a' a jink,
An' owre the sea.
Lament him, a' ye rantin core,
Wha dearly like a random-spree;
Nae mair he'll join the merry roar,
In social key;
For now he's taen anither shore,
An' owre the sea.
The bonie lasses weel may wis him,
And in their dear petitions place him;
The widows, wives, an' a' may bless him,
Wi' tearfu' e'e;
For weel I wat they'll sairly miss him
That's owre the sea.
O Fortune, they hae room to grumble!
Hadst thou taen aff some doylie bumble,
Wha can do nought but fyke an' fumble,
'Twad been nae plea;
But he was gleg as onie wumble,
That's owre the sea.
Auld, cantie Kyle may weppers wear,
An' tain them wi' the aut, aut tear:
Twill mak her poor auld heart, I fear,
In flinders flee;
He was her favourite monie a year,
That's owre the sea.
He met Misfortune's cauld North-west
Lang muttering up a bitter blast;
A jillet brak his heart at last,
Ill may she be!
So, took a birth afore the mast,
An' owre the sea.
To tremble under Fortune's cummock,
On scarce a bellyfu' o' drummock,
Wi' his proud, independent stomach,
Could ill agree;
So, row't his hurdies in a hammock,
An' owre the sea.
He ne'er was gien to great misguidin,
Yet crime his pouches wad na hide in;
Wi' him it ne'er was under hidin;
He dealt it free:
The Muse was a' that he took pride in,
That's owre the sea.
Jamaica bodies gladsome may be,
An' hap him in a cozy biel;
Ye'll find him ay a dainty chiel,
An' fou o' glee;
He wad na wrang'd the vera Deil,
That's owre the sea.
Fareweel, my rhyme-composing brither!
Your native soil was right ill-will'd;
But may ye flourish like a lily,
Now bonnilie!
I'll toast ye in my hindmost gillie,
Tho' owre the sea.
On a Scotch Bard, gone to the West Indies.
Ye wha live by yowps o' drink,
Ye wha live by crambo-clink,
Ye wha live and never think,
Come, mourn wi' me!
Our bardie's gien us a' a jink,
An' owre the sea.
Lament him, a' ye rantin core,
Wha dearly like a random-spree;
Nae mair he'll join the merry roar,
In social key;
For now he's taen anither shore,
An' owre the sea.
The bonie lasses weel may wis him,
And in their dear petitions place him;
The widows, wives, an' a' may bless him,
Wi' tearfu' e'e;
For weel I wat they'll sairly miss him
That's owre the sea.
O Fortune, they hae room to grumble!
Hadst thou taen aff some doylie bumble,
Wha can do nought but fyke an' fumble,
'Twad been nae plea;
But he was gleg as onie wumble,
That's owre the sea.
Auld, cantie Kyle may weppers wear,
An' tain them wi' the aut, aut tear:
Twill mak her poor auld heart, I fear,
In flinders flee;
He was her favourite monie a year,
That's owre the sea.
He met Misfortune's cauld North-west
Lang muttering up a bitter blast;
A jillet brak his heart at last,
Ill may she be!
So, took a birth afore the mast,
An' owre the sea.
To tremble under Fortune's cummock,
On scarce a bellyfu' o' drummock,
Wi' his proud, independent stomach,
Could ill agree;
So, row't his hurdies in a hammock,
An' owre the sea.
He ne'er was gien to great misguidin,
Yet crime his pouches wad na hide in;
Wi' him it ne'er was under hidin;
He dealt it free:
The Muse was a' that he took pride in,
That's owre the sea.
Jamaica bodies gladsome may be,
An' hap him in a cozy biel;
Ye'll find him ay a dainty chiel,
An' fou o' glee;
He wad na wrang'd the vera Deil,
That's owre the sea.
Fareweel, my rhyme-composing brither!
Your native soil was right ill-will'd;
But may ye flourish like a lily,
Now bonnilie!
I'll toast ye in my hindmost gillie,
Tho' owre the sea.
What sub-type of article is it?
Poem
Elegy
What themes does it cover?
Patriotism
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Robert Burns
Scottish Bard
Emigration
West Indies
Lament
Fortune
Muse
Scotland
What entities or persons were involved?
Robert Burns
Literary Details
Title
On A Scotch Bard, Gone To The West Indies.
Author
Robert Burns
Subject
Lament For A Scottish Bard Emigrating To The West Indies Due To Misfortune In Love And Poverty.
Key Lines
Ye Wha Live By Yowps O' Drink,
Ye Wha Live By Crambo Clink,
Ye Wha Live And Never Think,
Come, Mourn Wi' Me!
Our Bardie's Gien Us A' A Jink,
An' Owre The Sea.
He Met Misfortune's Cauld North West
Lang Muttering Up A Bitter Blast;
A Jillet Brak His Heart At Last,
Ill May She Be!
So, Took A Birth Afore The Mast,
An' Owre The Sea.
Fareweel, My Rhyme Composing Brither!
Your Native Soil Was Right Ill Will'd;
But May Ye Flourish Like A Lily,
Now Bonnilie!
I'll Toast Ye In My Hindmost Gillie,
Tho' Owre The Sea.