Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

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

92 . Suppressed Stanzas of “The Vision”

WITH secret throes I marked that earth,

That cottage, witness of my birth;

And near I saw, bold issuing forth

In youthful pride,

A Lindsay race of noble worth,

Famed far and wide.

Where, hid behind a spreading wood,

An ancient Pict-built mansion stood,

I spied, among an angel brood,

A female pair;

Sweet shone their high maternal blood,

And father’s air.

An ancient tower to memory brought

How Dettingen’s bold hero fought;

Still, far from sinking into nought,

It owns a lord

Who far in western climates fought,

With trusty sword.

Among the rest I well could spy

One gallant, graceful, martial boy,

The soldier sparkled in his eye,

A diamond water.

I blest that noble badge with joy,

That owned me frater.

Near by arose a mansion fine

The seat of many a muse divine;

Not rustic muses such as mine,

With holly crown’d,

But th’ ancient, tuneful, laurell’d Nine,

From classic ground.

I mourn’d the card that Fortune dealt,

To see where bonie Whitefoords dwelt;

But other prospects made me melt,

That village near;

There Nature, Friendship, Love, I felt,

Fond-mingling, dear!

Hail! Nature’s pang, more strong than death!

Warm Friendship’s glow, like kindling wrath!

Love, dearer than the parting breath

Of dying friend!

Not ev’n with life’s wild devious path,

Your force shall end!

The Power that gave the soft alarms

In blooming Whitefoord’s rosy charms,

Still threats the tiny, feather’d arms,

The barbed dart,

While lovely Wilhelmina warms

The coldest heart.

Where Lugar leaves his moorland plaid,

Where lately Want was idly laid,

I markèd busy, bustling Trade,

In fervid flame,

Beneath a Patroness’ aid,

Of noble name.

Wild, countless hills I could survey,

And countless flocks as wild as they;

But other scenes did charms display,

That better please,

Where polish’d manners dwell with Gray,

In rural ease.

Where Cessnock pours with gurgling sound;

And Irwine, marking out the bound,

Enamour’d of the scenes around,

Slow runs his race,

A name I doubly honour’d found,

With knightly grace.

Brydon’s brave ward, I saw him stand,

Fame humbly offering her hand,

And near, his kinsman’s rustic band,

With one accord,

Lamenting their late blessed land

Must change its lord.

The owner of a pleasant spot,

Near and sandy wilds, I last did note;

A heart too warm, a pulse too hot

At times, o’erran:

But large in ev’ry feature wrote,

Appear’d the Man.