Poems and Songs of Robert Burns. Robert Burns
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Название: Poems and Songs of Robert Burns

Автор: Robert Burns

Издательство: Bookwire

Жанр: Языкознание

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isbn: 4057664117434

isbn:

СКАЧАТЬ Ev'n as he is, cauld in his graff,

       The swap we yet will do't;

       Tak thou the carlin's carcase aff,

       Thou'se get the saul o'boot.

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      One Queen Artemisia, as old stories tell,

       When deprived of her husband she loved so well,

       In respect for the love and affection he show'd her,

       She reduc'd him to dust and she drank up the powder.

       But Queen Netherplace, of a diff'rent complexion,

       When called on to order the fun'ral direction,

       Would have eat her dead lord, on a slender pretence,

       Not to show her respect, but—to save the expense!

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      As Tam the chapman on a day,

       Wi'Death forgather'd by the way,

       Weel pleas'd, he greets a wight so famous,

       And Death was nae less pleas'd wi' Thomas,

       Wha cheerfully lays down his pack,

       And there blaws up a hearty crack:

       His social, friendly, honest heart

       Sae tickled Death, they could na part;

       Sae, after viewing knives and garters,

       Death taks him hame to gie him quarters.

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      Ae day, as Death, that gruesome carl,

       Was driving to the tither warl'

       A mixtie—maxtie motley squad,

       And mony a guilt-bespotted lad—

       Black gowns of each denomination,

       And thieves of every rank and station,

       From him that wears the star and garter,

       To him that wintles in a halter:

       Ashamed himself to see the wretches,

       He mutters, glowrin at the bitches,

       “By God I'll not be seen behint them,

       Nor 'mang the sp'ritual core present them,

       Without, at least, ae honest man,

       To grace this damn'd infernal clan!”

       By Adamhill a glance he threw,

       “Lord God!” quoth he, “I have it now;

       There's just the man I want, i' faith!”

       And quickly stoppit Rankine's breath.

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      Written With The Supposed View Of

       Being Handed To Rankine After The Poet's Interment

      He who of Rankine sang, lies stiff and dead,

       And a green grassy hillock hides his head;

       Alas! alas! a devilish change indeed.

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      When chill November's surly blast

       Made fields and forests bare,

       One ev'ning, as I wander'd forth

       Along the banks of Ayr,

       I spied a man, whose aged step

       Seem'd weary, worn with care;

       His face furrow'd o'er with years,

       And hoary was his hair.

       “Young stranger, whither wand'rest thou?”

       Began the rev'rend sage;

       “Does thirst of wealth thy step constrain,

       Or youthful pleasure's rage?

       Or haply, prest with cares and woes,

       Too soon thou hast began

       To wander forth, with me to mourn

       The miseries of man.

       “The sun that overhangs yon moors,

       Out-spreading far and wide,

       Where hundreds labour to support

       A haughty lordling's pride;—

       I've seen yon weary winter-sun

       Twice forty times return;

       And ev'ry time has added proofs,

       That man was made to mourn.

       “O man! while in thy early years,

       How prodigal of time!

       Mis-spending all thy precious hours—

       Thy glorious, youthful prime!

       Alternate follies take the sway;

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