wunder · Library

Part 122

Poems and Songs of Robert Burns · Robert Burns — chapter 122 of 138 · ~651 words · public domain

Read in the Wunder reader — free

On Andrew Turner

In se’enteen hunder’n forty-nine, The deil gat stuff to mak a swine, An’ coost it in a corner; But wilily he chang’d his plan, An’ shap’d it something like a man, An’ ca’d it Andrew Turner.

Pretty Peg

As I gaed up by yon gate-end, When day was waxin’ weary, Wha did I meet come down the street, But pretty Peg, my dearie!

Her air sae sweet, an’ shape complete, Wi’ nae proportion wanting, The Queen of Love did never move Wi’ motion mair enchanting.

Wi’ linked hands we took the sands, Adown yon winding river; Oh, that sweet hour and shady bower, Forget it shall I never!

Esteem For Chloris

As, Chloris, since it may not be, That thou of love wilt hear; If from the lover thou maun flee, Yet let the friend be dear.

Altho’ I love my Chloris mair Than ever tongue could tell; My passion I will ne’er declare— I’ll say, I wish thee well.

Tho’ a’ my daily care thou art, And a’ my nightly dream, I’ll hide the struggle in my heart, And say it is esteem.

Saw Ye My Dear, My Philly

Tune—“When she cam’ ben she bobbit.”

O saw ye my Dear, my Philly? O saw ye my Dear, my Philly, She’s down i’ the grove, she’s wi’ a new Love, She winna come hame to her Willy.

What says she my dear, my Philly? What says she my dear, my Philly? She lets thee to wit she has thee forgot, And forever disowns thee, her Willy.

O had I ne’er seen thee, my Philly! O had I ne’er seen thee, my Philly! As light as the air, and fause as thou’s fair, Thou’s broken the heart o’ thy Willy.

How Lang And Dreary Is The Night

How lang and dreary is the night When I am frae my Dearie; I restless lie frae e’en to morn Though I were ne’er sae weary.

Chorus.—For oh, her lanely nights are lang! And oh, her dreams are eerie; And oh, her window’d heart is sair, That’s absent frae her Dearie!

When I think on the lightsome days I spent wi’ thee, my Dearie; And now what seas between us roar, How can I be but eerie? For oh, &c.

How slow ye move, ye heavy hours; The joyless day how dreary: It was na sae ye glinted by, When I was wi’ my Dearie! For oh, &c.

Inconstancy In Love

Tune—“Duncan Gray.”

Let not Woman e’er complain Of inconstancy in love; Let not Woman e’er complain Fickle Man is apt to rove: Look abroad thro’ Nature’s range, Nature’s mighty Law is change, Ladies, would it not seem strange Man should then a monster prove!

Mark the winds, and mark the skies, Ocean’s ebb, and ocean’s flow, Sun and moon but set to rise, Round and round the seasons go. Why then ask of silly Man To oppose great Nature’s plan? We’ll be constant while we can— You can be no more, you know.

The Lover’s Morning Salute To His Mistress

Tune—“Deil tak the wars.”

Sleep’st thou, or wak’st thou, fairest creature? Rosy morn now lifts his eye, Numbering ilka bud which Nature Waters wi’ the tears o’ joy. Now, to the streaming fountain, Or up the heathy mountain, The hart, hind, and roe, freely, wildly-wanton stray; In twining hazel bowers, Its lay the linnet pours, The laverock to the sky Ascends, wi’ sangs o’ joy, While the sun and thou arise to bless the day.

Phoebus gilding the brow of morning, Banishes ilk darksome shade, Nature, gladdening and adorning; Such to me my lovely maid. When frae my Chloris parted, Sad, cheerless, broken-hearted, The night’s gloomy shades, cloudy, dark, o’ercast my sky: But when she charms my sight, In pride of Beauty’s light— When thro’ my very heart Her burning glories dart; ’Tis then—’tis then I wake to life and joy!

← Previous chapterAll chaptersNext chapter →

Poems and Songs of Robert Burns · The Wunder Library — complete classics, free to read, with narration.

© 2026 Wunder Learning LLC · Terms & Privacy