University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The Poetry of Robert Burns

Edited by William Ernest Henley and Thomas F. Henderson
Burns, Robert (1759-1796)
  
[epigraph]
  
[dedication]

expand sectionI. 
Volume I
collapse section2. 
Volume II
  
THE JOLLY BEGGARS
expand section 
SATIRES AND VERSES
collapse section 
NOTES AND EPISTLES
  
TO JOHN RANKINE
  
TO JOHN GOLDIE
  
TO J. LAPRAIK
  
TO THE REV. JOHN M'MATH
  
TO DAVIE
  
TO JOHN KENNEDY, DUMFRIES HOUSE
  
TO GAVIN HAMILTON, ESQ., MAUCHLINE
  
TO MR. M'ADAM OF CRAIGEN-GILLAN
  
REPLY TO AN INVITATION
  
TO DR. MACKENZIE
  
TO JOHN KENNEDY
  
TO WILLIE CHALMERS' SWEETHEART
  
TO AN OLD SWEETHEART
  
EXTEMPORE TO GAVIN HAMILTON
  
REPLY TO A TRIMMING EPISTLE RECEIVED FROM A TAILOR
  
TO MAJOR LOGAN
  
TO THE GUIDWIFE OF WAUCHOPE HOUSE
  
TO WM. TYTLER, ESQ., OF WOODHOUSELEE
  
TO MR. RENTON OF LAMERTON
  
TO MISS ISABELLA MACLEOD
  
TO SYMON GRAY
  
TO MISS FERRIER
  
SYLVANDER TO CLARINDA
  
TO CLARINDA
  
TO HUGH PARKER
  
TO ALEX. CUNNINGHAM
  
TO ROBERT GRAHAM, ESQ., OF FINTRY
  
IMPROMPTU TO CAPTAIN RIDDELL
  
REPLY TO A NOTE FROM CAPTAIN RIDDELL
  
TO JAMES TENNANT OF GLENCONNER
  
TO JOHN M'MURDO
  
SONNET TO ROBERT GRAHAM, ESQ. OF FINTRY
  
EPISTLE TO DR. BLACKLOCK
  
TO A GENTLEMAN WHO HAD SENT A NEWSPAPER, AND OFFERED TO CONTINUE IT FREE OF EXPENSE
  
TO PETER STUART
  
TO JOHN MAXWELL, ESQ. OF TERRAUGHTIE
  
TO WILLIAM STEWART
  
INSCRIPTION TO MISS GRAHAM OF FINTRY
  
REMORSEFUL APOLOGY
  
TO COLLECTOR MITCHELL
  
TO COLONEL DE PEYSTER
  
TO MISS JESSIE LEWARS
  
INSCRIPTION
expand section 
THEATRICAL PIECES
expand section 
POLITICAL PIECES
  
THE DEAN OF THE FACULTY
expand section 
MISCELLANIES
expand section 
FRAGMENTS
expand section 
EPIGRAMS
expand section 
GRACES
expand section 
EPITAPHS
expand sectionIII. 
Volume III
expand sectionIV. 
VOLUME IV

collapse section Collapse All | Expand All expand section
previous section The Poetry of Robert Burns
next section

IMPROMPTU ON MRS. RIDDELL'S BIRTHDAY

4TH NOVEMBER 1793

I

Old Winter, with his frosty beard,
Thus once to Jove his prayer preferred:—
‘What have I done of all the year,
To bear this hated doom severe?
My cheerless suns no pleasure know;
Night's horrid car drags dreary slow;
My dismal months no joys are crowning,
But spleeny, English hanging, drowning.
231

II

Now Jove, for once be mighty civil:
To counterbalance all this evil
Give me, and I've no more to say,
Give me Maria's natal day!
That brilliant gift shall so enrich me,
Spring, Summer, Autumn, cannot match me.’
‘'Tis done!’ says Jove; so ends my story,
And Winter once rejoiced in glory.
previous section The Poetry of Robert Burns
next section