DEDICATION

Of the Second Edition of the Poems formerly printed.

TO THE

NOBLEMEN AND GENTLEMEN

OF THE

CALEDONIAN HUNT.

MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

A Scottish Bard, proud of the name, and whose highest ambition is to sing in his Country's service- where shall he so properly look for patronage as to the illustrious names of his native land; those who bear the honours and inherit the virtues of their Ancestors? The Poetic Genius of my Country found me, as the prophetic bard Elijah did Elisha—at the PLOUGH; and threw her inspiring mantle over me. She bade me sing the loves, the joys, the rural scenes and rural pleasures of my native soil, in my native tongue: I tuned my wild, artless notes, as she inspired.-She whispered me to come to this ancient Metropolis of Caledonia, and lay my Songs under your honoured protection: I now obey her dictates.

Though much indebted to your goodness, I do not approach you, my Lords and Gentlemen, in the usual style of dedication, to thank you for past favours: that path

VOL. III.

b

is

is so hackneyed by prostituted learning, that honest rusti-
city is ashamed of it. Nor do I present this Address with
the venal soul of a servile Author, looking for a conti-
nuation of those favours: I was bred to the plough, and
am independent. I come to claim the common Scottish
name with you, my illustrious Countrymen; and to tell
the world that I glory in the title. I come to congratu-
late my Country, that the blood of her ancient Heroes
still runs uncontaminated; and that from your courage,
knowledge, and public spirit, she may expect protection,
wealth, and liberty. In the last place, I come to proffer
my warmest wishes to the Great Fountain of Honour, the
Monarch of the Universe, for your welfare and happiness.

When you go forth to waken the Echoes, in the an-

cient and favourite amusement of your Forefathers, may

Pleasure ever be of your party; and may social Joy

await your return! When harassed in courts or camps

with the justlings of bad men and bad measures, may the

honest consciousness of injured Worth attend your return

to your native seats; and may Domestic Happiness, with

a smiling welcome, meet you at your gates! May Cor-

ruption shrink at your kindling indignant glance; and

may Tyranny in the Ruler, and Licentiousness in the

People, equally find you an inexorable foe!

I have the honour to be,

With the sincerest gratitude, and highest respect,

My Lords and Gentlemen,

Your most devoted, humble servant,

EDINBURGH,

April 4th, 1787.

ROBERT BURNS.

CONTENTS

The Author's earnest Cry and Prayer to the Scotch

Representatives in the House of Commons,

Page

1

12

19

Address to the Unco Guid, or the Rigidly Righteous, 113

The Auld Farmer's New-Year Morning Salutation

to his Auld Mare Maggie,

To a Mouse,.

A Winter Night,

140

Epistle to Davie, a Brother Poet,

Despondency. An Ode, .

Winter. A Dirge, .

The Cotter's Saturday Night,

Man was made to Mourn. A Dirge,

A Prayer in the Prospect of Death,

Stanzas on the same Occasion,

Verses left at a Friend's House,

The First Psalm,

A Prayer,

The First Six Verses of the Ninetieth Psalm,

To a Mountain Daisy, .

To Ruin,.

190

220

To Miss L, with Beattie's Poems for a New-

On a Scottish Bard gone to the West Indies,.

To a Haggis,

A Dedication to Gavin Hamilton, Esq.

To a Louse, on seeing one on a Lady's Bonnet at

Church,

Address to Edinburgh, .

Epistle to J. Lapraik, an old Scottish Bard,

To the Same,

Epistle to J. R******, inclosing some Poems,

John Barleycorn. A Ballad,

Epistle to W. S*****, Ochiltree,.

A Fragment, "When Guildford good our pilot stood," 266

Song, "It was upon a Lammas-night,"

Song, "Now westlin winds, and slaught'ring guns,"

Song, "Behind yon hills where Lugar flows,"

Green grow the Rashes. A Fragment,

Song, "Agdin rejoicing Nature sees,"

Song, "The gloomy night is gathering fast,"

Song, "From thee, Eliza, I must go,"

The Farewel, to the Brethren of St. James's Lodge,

Tarbolton,..

Song, "No churchman am I for to rail and to write," 295

3

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