Prologue, Spoken At The Theatre, Dumfries, 1 Jan. 1790. Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCAADDEEFF GGDDHHIIFF JJKKLL DDMM| No song nor dance I bring from yon great city | A |
| That queens it o'er our taste the more's the pity | A |
| Tho' by the by abroad why will you roam | B |
| Good sense and taste are natives here at home | B |
| But not for panegyric I appear | C |
| I come to wish you all a good new year | C |
| Old Father Time deputes me here before ye | A |
| Not for to preach but tell his simple story | A |
| The sage grave ancient cough'd and bade me say | D |
| You're one year older this important day | D |
| If wiser too he hinted some suggestion | E |
| But 'twould be rude you know to ask the question | E |
| And with a would be roguish leer and wink | F |
| He bade me on you press this one word think | F |
| - | |
| Ye sprightly youths quite flushed with hope and spirit | G |
| Who think to storm the world by dint of merit | G |
| To you the dotard has a deal to say | D |
| In his sly dry sententious proverb way | D |
| He bids you mind amid your thoughtless rattle | H |
| That the first blow is ever half the battle | H |
| That tho' some by the skirt may try to snatch him | I |
| Yet by the forelock is the hold to catch him | I |
| That whether doing suffering or forbearing | F |
| You may do miracles by persevering | F |
| - | |
| Last tho' not least in love ye youthful fair | J |
| Angelic forms high Heaven's peculiar care | J |
| To yon old Bald pate smooths his wrinkled brow | K |
| And humbly begs you'll mind the important NOW | K |
| To crown your happiness he asks your leave | L |
| And offers bliss to give and to receive | L |
| - | |
| For our sincere tho' haply weak endeavours | D |
| With grateful pride we own your many favours | D |
| And howsoe'er our tongues may ill reveal it | M |
| Believe our glowing bosoms truly feel it | M |
Robert Burns
(1)
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