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Quotes by Jas. Drummond Burns
I have been dying for twenty years, now I am going to live.— filed under Immortality
Funeral. What's done we partly may compute, But know not what's resisted.— filed under Action
C. Evening. L. 917. Ah, gentle dames! it gars me greet, To think how mony counsels sweet, How mony lengthened, sage advices, The husband frae the wife despises.— filed under Advice
And may you better reck the rede, Than ever did th' adviser.— filed under Advice
Affliction's sons are brothers in distress; A brother to relieve, how exquisite the bliss!— filed under Affliction
Nursing her wrath to keep it warm.— filed under Anger
Gars auld claes look amaist as weel's the new.— filed under Apparel
His locked, lettered, braw brass collar, Shewed him the gentleman and scholar.— filed under Apparel
And there began a lang digression About the lords o' the creation. S.— filed under Argument
Oh, stay, sweet warbling woodlark, stay, Nor quit for me the trembling spray, A hapless lover courts thy lay, Thy soothing, fond complaining. * * * * * * Thou tells o' never-ending care, O' speechless grief, and dark despair; For pity's sake, sweet bird, nae mair! Or my poor heart is broken!— filed under Birds-Lark
Some books are lies frae end to end.— filed under Books
Perhaps it may turn out a sang, Perhaps turn out a sermon.— filed under Chance
His ancient, trusty, drouthy crony;. Tam lo'ed him like a vera brither- They had been fou for weeks thegither!— filed under Companionship
We twa hae run about the braes, And pu'd the gowans fine.— filed under Companionship
There's some are fou o' love divine, There's some are fou o' brandy.— filed under Vii
To liken them to your auld-warld squad, I must needs say comparisons are odd.— filed under Vii
Forth his Second Part of the Pilgrim. L. 126. Contented wi' little, and cantie wi' mair— filed under Content
I'll be merry and free, I'll be sad for nae-body; If nae-body cares for me, I'll care for nae-body.— filed under Content
Cavaliers-Charles Edward at Versailles. L. 111. Hear, Land o' Cakes and brither Scots Frae Maiden Kirk to Johnny Groat's.— filed under Countries-Scotland
Thro' Scotland. O Scotia! my dear, my native soil! For whom my warmest wish to heaven is sent; Long may thy hardy sons of rustic toil Be blest with health, and peace, and sweet content!— filed under Countries-Scotland
My dear, my native soil! For whom my warmest wish to Heav'n is sent, Long may thy hardy sons of rustic toil Be blest with health, and peace, and sweet content!— filed under Country, Love Of
V Man's inhumanity to man Makes countless thousands mourn!— filed under Cruelty
Desert. But, oh! fell Death's untimely frost, That nipt my flower sae early.— filed under Death
Swift Opportunity. The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men, Gang aft a-gley, And leave us nought but grief and pain, For promised joy.— filed under Disappointment
Some hae meat and canna eat, And some wad eat that want it; But we hae meat, and we can eat; Sae let the Lord be thankit.— filed under Eating
Now a' is done that men can do, And a' is done in vain.— filed under Failure
He turn'd him right and round about Upon the Irish shore, And gae his bridle reins a shake, With Adieu for evermore, My dear, With Adieu for evermore.— filed under Farewell
The fear o' hell's the hangman's whip To haud the wretch in order; But where ye feel your honor grip, Let that aye be your border.— filed under Fear
Paradise of Tears. Mourn, little harebells o'er the lea; Ye stately foxgloves fair to see! Ye woodbines, hanging bonnilie In scented bowers! Ye roses on your thorny tree The first o' flow'rs.— filed under Flirting
Henderson. Now blooms the lily by the bank, The primrose down the brae; The hawthorn's budding in the glen, And milkwhite is the slae.— filed under Flirting
The snowdrop and primrose our woodlands adorn, And violets bathe in the wet o' the morn.— filed under Flirting
Yet all beneath the unrivalled rose, The lovely daisy sweetly blows.— filed under Flirting
And wild-scatter'd cowslips bedeck the green dale.— filed under Flowers-Clover
Ilk cowslip cup shall kep a tear.— filed under Flowers-Clover
Even thou who mournst the daisy's fate, That fate is thine-no distant date; Stern Ruin's ploughshare drives, elate, Full on thy bloom, Till crushed beneath the furrow's weight Shall be thy doom!— filed under Flowers-Dahlia
The daisy's for simplicity and unaffected air.— filed under Flowers-Dahlia
Hyacinth. Hyacinthus. The hyacinth for constancy wi' its unchanging blue.— filed under Flowers-Honeysuckle
And I will pu' the pink, the emblem o' my dear, For she's the pink o' womankind, and blooms without a peer.— filed under Flowers-Papaw
But pleasures are like poppies spread, You seize the flow'r its bloom is shed.— filed under Flowers-Poppy
The primrose banks how fair!— filed under Flowers-Poppy
Hudson. I'll pu' the budding rose, when Phœbus peeps in view, For its like a baumy kiss o' her sweet bonnie mou'!— filed under Flowers-Rose
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And days o' lang syne?— filed under Friendship
June Books. The landlady and Tam grew gracious Wi' favours secret, sweet and precious. aa.— filed under Gifts
Then horn for horn they stretch and strive; Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive.— filed under Haste
My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here; My heart's in the Highlands a-chasing the deer.— filed under Heart
At length his lonely cot appears in view, Beneath the shelter of an aged tree; Th' expectant wee-things, toddlin, stacher thro' To meet their Dad, wi' flichterin noise an' glee.— filed under Home
To make a happy fireside clime To weans and wife, That's the true pathos and sublime Of human life.— filed under Home
A prince can mak a belted knight, A marquis, duke, and a' that; But an honest man's aboon his might, Guid faith, he maunna fa' that. U.— filed under Honesty
Hope springs exulting on triumphant wing.— filed under Hope
O wad some power the giftie gie us To see oursel's as ithers see us! It wad frae monie a blunder free us. And foolish notion; What airs in dress and gait wad lea'e us, And ev'n devotion!— filed under Humility
Louse. Ha! Whare ye gaun, ye crawlin' ferlie? Your impudence protects you sairly; I canna say but ye strunt rarely Owre gauze an' lace; Though faith! I fear ye dine but sparely On sic a place.— filed under Insects-Louse
Inspiring bold John Barleycorn, What dangers thou canst make us scorn! Wi' tippenny, we fear nae evil; Wi' usquebae, we'll face the devil!— filed under Intemperance
What's done we partly may compute, But know not what's resisted.— filed under Knowledge
Manners of the Present Age. Ch. IV. The landlord's laugh was ready chorus.— filed under Laughter
Then gently scan your brother man, Still gentler sister woman; Tho' they may gang a kennin' wrang, To step aside is human.— filed under Liberality
Bucks. 1784. Liberty's in every blow! Let us do or die.— filed under Liberty
Manners of the Present Age. On Men. Ch. XI. Life is but a day at most.— filed under Life
O, Life! how pleasant is thy morning, Young Fancy's rays the hills adorning! Cold pausing Caution's lesson scorning, We frisk away, Like schoolboys, at the expected warning, To joy and play.— filed under Life
O Life! thou art a galling load, Along a rough, a weary road, To wretches such as I!— filed under Life
But to see her was to love her, Love but her, and love forever.— filed under Love
Oh my luve's like a red, red rose, That's newly sprung in June; Oh my luve's like the melodie That's sweetly played in tune.— filed under Love
The golden hours on angel wings Flew o'er me and my dearie, For dear to me as light and life Was my sweet Highland Mary.— filed under Love
It's guid to be merry and wise, It's guid to be honest and true, It's guid to support Caledonia's cause, And bide by the buff and the blue!— filed under Loyalty
A man's a man for a' that!— filed under Man
A prince can mak a belted knight, A marquis, duke, and a' that; But an honest man's aboon his might: Guid faith, he maunna fa' that.— filed under Man
Man, whose heaven-erected face The smiles of love adorn, - Man's inhumanity to man Makes countless thousands mourn!— filed under Man
Letter from Mr. Evelyn. Cursed be the man, the poorest wretch in life, The crouching vassal to the tyrant wife, Who has no will but by her high permission; Who has not sixpence but in her possession; Who must to her his dear friend's secret tell; Who dreads a curtain lecture worse than hell. Were such the wife had fallen to my part, I'd break her spirit or I'd break her heart.— filed under Matrimony
Ago. The mother may forget the child That smiles sae sweetly on her knee; But I'll remember thee, Glencairn, And all that thou hast done for me!— filed under Memory
As Tammie glow'red, amazed and curious, The mirth and fun grew fast and furious.— filed under Merriment
That hour o' night's black arch the keystane.— filed under Midnight
Oh, wad some power the giftie gie us To see oursel's as ithers see us! It wad frae monie a blunder free us, And foolish notion.— filed under Observation
My curse upon thy venom'd stang, That shoots my tortured gums alang; And through my lugs gies monie a twang, Wi' gnawing vengeance, Tearing my nerves wi' bitter pang, Like racking engines!— filed under Occupations-Hatters
OCCUPATIONS-JOURNALISM. 435 Hear, land o' cakes, and brither Scots, Frae Maidenkirk to Johnny Groat's; If there's a hole in a' your coats, I rede you tent it: A chiel's amang you taking notes, And, faith, he'll prent it.— filed under Occupations-Jeweler
Hear how he clears the points o' Faith Wi' rattlin' an' thumpin'! Now meekly calm, now wild in wrath, He's stampin', an' he's jumpin'!— filed under Occupations-Post
Misled by Fancy's meteor-ray, By passion driven; But yet the light that led astray, Was light from Heaven.— filed under Passion
Adventure. John Anderson, my jo, John, When we were first acquent, Your locks were like the raven, Your bonny brow was brent.— filed under Passion
Wales. Prologue for the Opening of the Playhouse at New South Wales, Jan. 16, 1796. Be Briton still to Britain true, Among oursel's united; For never but by British hands Maun British wrangs be righted.— filed under Patriotism
But pleasures are like poppies spread; You seize the flower, its bloom is shed.— filed under Pleasure
They never sought in vain that sought the Lord aright!— filed under Prayer
Let us do or die.— filed under Proverbs
Whistle, and I'll come to you, my lad.— filed under Proverbs
The rank is but the guinea's stamp, The man's the gowd for a' that.— filed under Quality
Footnote. See also BENJ. DISRAELI-Endymion. Ch. LXXXI. An Atheist's laugh's a poor exchange For Deity offended!— filed under Xxv
G-knows I'm no the thing I should be, Nor am I even the thing I could be, But twenty times I rather would be An atheist clean, Than under gospel colours hid be, Just for a screen.— filed under Xxv
Afton. Flow gently, sweet Afton, among thy green braes, Flow gently, I'll sing thee a song in thy praise.— filed under Rivers-Afton
Address before the Sons of New Hampshire. 1849. Ayr. Ayr, gurgling, kissed his pebbled shore, O'erhung with wild woods, thickening green; The fragrant birch and hawthorn hoar Twined amorous round the raptured scene. BURNS TO Mary in Heaven. Farewell, my friends! farewell, my foes! My peace with these, my love with those. The bursting tears my heart declare; Farewell, the bonnie banks of Ayr.— filed under Rivers-Afton
Doon. Ye banks and braes o' bonny Doon, How can ye bloom sae fresh and fair; How can ye chant, ye little birds, And I sae weary fu' o' care!— filed under Rivers-Isar
Stern Ruin's ploughshare drives elate, Full on thy bloom.— filed under Ruin
Now Nature hangs her mantle green On every blooming tree, And spreads her sheets o' daisies white Out o'er the grassy lea.— filed under Sculpture
Now simmer blinks on flowery braes, And o'er the crystal streamlet plays. C.— filed under Sows
All-cheering Plenty, with her flowing horn, Led yellow Autumn, wreath'd with nodding corn.— filed under Sows
Chords that vibrate sweetest pleasure Thrill the deepest notes of wo.— filed under Sensibility
I waive the quantum o' the sin, The hazard of concealing: But, och! it hardens a' within, And petrifies the feeling!— filed under Sin
Some hae meat and canna eat, And some would eat that want it; But we hae meat, and we can eat, Sae let the Lord be thankit.— filed under Thankfulness
Nae man can tether time or tide.— filed under Time
Some wee short hour ayont the twal.— filed under Time
Hawthorn. Cratægus Oxyacanthus. The hawthorn I will pu' wi' its lock o' siller gray, Where, like an aged man, it stands at break o' day.— filed under Trees And Plants-Chestnut
The hawthorn-trees blow in the dew of the morning.— filed under Trees And Plants-Chestnut
TREES AND PLANTS-HAWTHORN. TREES AND PLANTS-LILAC. Yet, all beneath the unrivall'd rose, The lowly daisy sweetly blows; Tho' large the forest's monarch throws His army shade, Yet green the juicy hawthorn grows, Adown the glade.— filed under Trees And Plants-Chestnut
Holly. Ilex. Green, slender, leaf-clad holly-boughs Were twisted gracefu' round her brows, I took her for some Scottish Muse, By that same token, An' come to stop those reckless vows, Would soon be broken.— filed under Trees And Plants-Chestnut
Times Three. Thorn. Cratægus. Beneath the milk-white thorn that scents the evening gale.— filed under Trees And Plants-Pine
Kings may be blest, but Tam was glorious, O'er a' the ills o' life victorious.— filed under Victory
And like a passing thought, she fled In light away. C.— filed under Visions
Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bled; Scots, wham Bruce has aften led, Welcome to your gory bed, Or to victory!— filed under War
She is a winsome wee thing, She is a handsome wee thing, She is a bonny wee thing, This sweet wee wife o' mine.— filed under Wife
John Barleycorn was a hero bold, Of noble enterprise, For if you do but taste his blood, 'Twill make your courage rise, 'Twill make a man forget his wo; 'Twill heighten all his joy.— filed under Wine And Spirits
Auld Nature swears, the lovely dears Her noblest work she classes, O: Her 'prentice hand she tried on man, An' then she made the lasses, O.— filed under Woman
Thy daughters bright thy walks adorn, Gay as the gilded summer sky, Sweet as the dewy milk-white thorn, Dear as the raptured thrill of joy.— filed under Woman
To see her is to love her, And love but her forever; For nature made her what she is, And never made anither!— filed under Woman
Duncan Gray cam here to woo, Ha, ha, the wooing o't! On blithe Yulenight when we were fou, Ha, ha, the wooing o't! Maggie coost her head fu' high, Looked asklent and unco skeigh, Gart poor Duncan stand abeigh: Ha, ha! the wooing o't!— filed under Wooing
The wide world is all before us- But a world without a friend.— filed under Work
He wales a portion with judicious care; And "Let us worship God!" he says, with solemn air.— filed under Worship