Robert Burns (1759–1796). Poems and Songs.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.

5 . Tragic Fragment—All villain as I am

ALL villain as I am—a damnèd wretch,

A hardened, stubborn, unrepenting villain,

Still my heart melts at human wretchedness;

And with sincere but unavailing sighs

I view the helpless children of distress:

With tears indignant I behold the oppressor

Rejoicing in the honest man’s destruction,

Whose unsubmitting heart was all his crime.—

Ev’n you, ye hapless crew! I pity you;

Ye, whom the seeming good think sin to pity;

Ye poor, despised, abandoned vagabonds,

Whom Vice, as usual, has turn’d o’er to ruin.

Oh! but for friends and interposing Heaven,

I had been driven forth like you forlorn,

The most detested, worthless wretch among you!

O injured God! Thy goodness has endow’d me

With talents passing most of my compeers,

Which I in just proportion have abused—

As far surpassing other common villains

As Thou in natural parts has given me more.