Epistle To A Young Friend. - May, 1786. Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCBDEFEF A GHIHJKKK A LKMKNKOK P PQPQKRKR P SPSPPPPP P PKPKPTPT P SQSQUKVK P WQWQXXXX X QQQQYKYK X TKTKPQPQ X ZTZT QKQ| I | A |
| - | |
| I lang hae thought my youthfu' friend | B |
| A something to have sent you | C |
| Though it should serve nae ither end | B |
| Than just a kind memento | D |
| But how the subject theme may gang | E |
| Let time and chance determine | F |
| Perhaps it may turn out a sang | E |
| Perhaps turn out a sermon | F |
| - | |
| II | A |
| - | |
| Ye'll try the world soon my lad | G |
| And Andrew dear believe me | H |
| Ye'll find mankind an unco squad | I |
| And muckle they may grieve ye | H |
| For care and trouble set your thought | J |
| Ev'n when your end's attain'd | K |
| And a' your views may come to nought | K |
| Where ev'ry nerve is strained | K |
| - | |
| III | A |
| - | |
| I'll no say men are villains a' | L |
| The real harden'd wicked | K |
| Wha hae nae check but human law | M |
| Are to a few restricked | K |
| But och mankind are unco weak | N |
| An' little to be trusted | K |
| If self the wavering balance shake | O |
| It's rarely right adjusted | K |
| - | |
| IV | P |
| - | |
| Yet they wha fa' in Fortune's strife | P |
| Their fate we should na censure | Q |
| For still th' important end of life | P |
| They equally may answer | Q |
| A man may hae an honest heart | K |
| Tho' poortith hourly stare him | R |
| A man may tak a neebor's part | K |
| Yet hae nae cash to spare him | R |
| - | |
| V | P |
| - | |
| Ay free aff han' your story tell | S |
| When wi' a bosom crony | P |
| But still keep something to yoursel' | S |
| Ye scarcely tell to ony | P |
| Conceal yoursel' as weel's ye can | P |
| Frae critical dissection | P |
| But keek thro' ev'ry other man | P |
| Wi' sharpen'd sly inspection | P |
| - | |
| VI | P |
| - | |
| The sacred lowe o' weel plac'd love | P |
| Luxuriantly indulge it | K |
| But never tempt th' illicit rove | P |
| Tho' naething should divulge it | K |
| I waive the quantum o' the sin | P |
| The hazard of concealing | T |
| But och it hardens a' within | P |
| And petrifies the feeling | T |
| - | |
| VII | P |
| - | |
| To catch dame Fortune's golden smile | S |
| Assiduous wait upon her | Q |
| And gather gear by ev'ry wile | S |
| That's justified by honour | Q |
| Not for to hide it in a hedge | U |
| Nor for a train attendant | K |
| But for the glorious privilege | V |
| Of being independent | K |
| - | |
| VIII | P |
| - | |
| The fear o' Hell's a hangman's whip | W |
| To haud the wretch in order | Q |
| But where ye feel your honour grip | W |
| Let that ay be your border | Q |
| Its slightest touches instant pause | X |
| Debar a' side pretences | X |
| And resolutely keep its laws | X |
| Uncaring consequences | X |
| - | |
| IX | X |
| - | |
| The great Creator to revere | Q |
| Must sure become the creature | Q |
| But still the preaching cant forbear | Q |
| And ev'n the rigid feature | Q |
| Yet ne'er with wits profane to range | Y |
| Be complaisance extended | K |
| An Atheist laugh's a poor exchange | Y |
| For Deity offended | K |
| - | |
| X | X |
| - | |
| When ranting round in pleasure's ring | T |
| Religion may be blinded | K |
| Or if she gie a random sting | T |
| It may be little minded | K |
| But when on life we're tempest driv'n | P |
| A conscience but a canker | Q |
| A correspondence fix'd wi' Heav'n | P |
| Is sure a noble anchor | Q |
| - | |
| XI | X |
| - | |
| Adieu dear amiable youth | Z |
| Your heart can ne'er be wanting | T |
| May prudence fortitude and truth | Z |
| Erect your brow undaunting | T |
| In ploughman phrase 'God send you speed ' | - |
| Still daily to grow wiser | Q |
| And may you better reck the rede | K |
| Than ever did th' adviser | Q |
Robert Burns
(1)
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