Scots Prologue, For Mr. Sutherland's Benefit Night, Dumfries. Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCCDDEEFFGG HHIIJJKLMMNN LLOOPPQQRR SSDDTTLLUUVWXYZZA2A2 B2B2| What needs this din about the town o' Lon'on | A |
| How this new play an' that new sang is comin' | B |
| Why is outlandish stuff sae meikle courted | C |
| Does nonsense mend like whiskey when imported | C |
| Is there nae poet burning keen for fame | D |
| Will try to gie us songs and plays at hame | D |
| For comedy abroad he need nae toil | E |
| A fool and knave are plants of every soil | E |
| Nor need he hunt as far as Rome and Greece | F |
| To gather matter for a serious piece | F |
| There's themes enough in Caledonian story | G |
| Would show the tragic muse in a' her glory | G |
| - | |
| Is there no daring bard will rise and tell | H |
| How glorious Wallace stood how hapless fell | H |
| Where are the muses fled that could produce | I |
| A drama worthy o' the name o' Bruce | I |
| How here even here he first unsheath'd the sword | J |
| 'Gainst mighty England and her guilty lord | J |
| And after mony a bloody deathless doing | K |
| Wrench'd his dear country from the jaws of ruin | L |
| O for a Shakspeare or an Otway scene | M |
| To draw the lovely hapless Scottish Queen | M |
| Vain all th' omnipotence of female charms | N |
| 'Gainst headlong ruthless mad Rebellion's arms | N |
| - | |
| She fell but fell with spirit truly Roman | L |
| To glut the vengeance of a rival woman | L |
| A woman tho' the phrase may seem uncivil | O |
| As able and as cruel as the Devil | O |
| One Douglas lives in Home's immortal page | P |
| But Douglases were heroes every age | P |
| And tho' your fathers prodigal of life | Q |
| A Douglas follow'd to the martial strife | Q |
| Perhaps if bowls row right and right succeeds | R |
| Ye yet may follow where a Douglas leads | R |
| - | |
| As ye hae generous done if a' the land | S |
| Would take the muses' servants by the hand | S |
| Not only hear but patronize befriend them | D |
| And where ye justly can commend commend them | D |
| And aiblins when they winna stand the test | T |
| Wink hard and say the folks hae done their best | T |
| Would a' the land do this then I'll be caution | L |
| Ye'll soon hae poets o' the Scottish nation | L |
| Will gar fame blaw until her trumpet crack | U |
| And warsle time on' lay him on his back | U |
| For us and for our stage should ony spier | V |
| Whose aught thae chiels maks a' this bustle here | W |
| My best leg foremost I'll set up my brow | X |
| We have the honour to belong to you | Y |
| We're your ain bairns e'en guide us as ye like | Z |
| But like good withers shore before ye strike | Z |
| And gratefu' still I hope ye'll ever find us | A2 |
| For a' the patronage and meikle kindness | A2 |
| We've got frae a' professions sets and ranks | B2 |
| God help us we're but poor ye'se get but thanks | B2 |
Robert Burns
(1)
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