ÿþ<HTML> <style type="text/css"> A:link {color: darkblue;} A:visited {color: black;} A:hover {color: red;} </style> <head><meta HTTP-EQUIV="REFRESH" content="3; url=http://www.thebest-of.info/burns/robertburnsmourn.htm"> <title>Robert Burns</title> </head> <BODY background="http://www.sefco-export.com/na2.jpg" text="darkblue"> <br><font face="calibri"> <center> <TABLE ALIGN="CENTER" width="601" BORDER="1" CELLSPACING="2" CELLPADDING="0" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> <!-- BEGIN CHAPTERTITLE --> <TR><TD ALIGN="CENTER">Robert Burns&nbsp;<FONT SIZE="-1">(1759&#150;1796).</FONT>&nbsp;&nbsp;Poems and Songs.<BR>The Harvard Classics.&nbsp;&nbsp;<FONT SIZE="-1">1909&#150;14.</FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp; <br><center> <iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/geoUZrcqbwM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> </center><br></TD></TR> <TR><TD ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT COLOR="#9C9C63" SIZE="+1"><B> Man was made to Mourn: A Dirge</B></FONT></TD></TR> <!-- END CHAPTERTITLE --> </TABLE> <TABLE ALIGN="CENTER" BORDER="1" WIDTH="601" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="3" BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> <TR><TD><TABLE ALIGN="CENTER" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0"> <!-- BEGIN CHAPTER --> <TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR> <TR><TD>W<FONT SIZE="-1">HEN</FONT> chill November&#146;s surly blast</TD><TD><A NAME="1"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;Made fields and forests bare,</TD><TD><A NAME="2"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>One ev&#146;ning, as I wander&#146;d forth</TD><TD><A NAME="3"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;Along the banks of Ayr,</TD><TD><A NAME="4"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>I spied a man, whose aged step</TD><TD VALIGN="TOP" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE="-2"><A NAME="5"><I>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5</I></A></FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;Seem&#146;d weary, worn with care;</TD><TD><A NAME="6"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>His face furrow&#146;d o&#146;er with years,</TD><TD><A NAME="7"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;And hoary was his hair.</TD><TD><A NAME="8"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR> <tr><TD>&#147;Young stranger, whither wand&#146;rest thou?&#148;</TD><TD><A NAME="9"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;Began the rev&#146;rend sage;</TD><TD VALIGN="TOP" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE="-2"><A NAME="10"><I>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10</I></A></FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&#147;Does thirst of wealth thy step constrain,</TD><TD><A NAME="11"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;Or youthful pleasure&#146;s rage?</TD><TD><A NAME="12"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>Or haply, prest with cares and woes,</TD><TD><A NAME="13"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;Too soon thou hast began</TD><TD><A NAME="14"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>To wander forth, with me to mourn</TD><TD VALIGN="TOP" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE="-2"><A NAME="15"><I>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;15</I></A></FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;The miseries of man.</TD><TD><A NAME="16"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR> <tr><TD>&#147;The sun that overhangs yon moors,</TD><TD><A NAME="17"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;Out-spreading far and wide,</TD><TD><A NAME="18"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>Where hundreds labour to support</TD><TD><A NAME="19"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;A haughty lordling&#146;s pride;&#151;</TD><TD VALIGN="TOP" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE="-2"><A NAME="20"><I>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;20</I></A></FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD>I&#146;ve seen yon weary winter-sun</TD><TD><A NAME="21"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;Twice forty times return;</TD><TD><A NAME="22"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>And ev&#146;ry time has added proofs,</TD><TD><A NAME="23"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;That man was made to mourn.</TD><TD><A NAME="24"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR> <tr><TD>&#147;O man! while in thy early years,</TD><TD VALIGN="TOP" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE="-2"><A NAME="25"><I>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;25</I></A></FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;How prodigal of time!</TD><TD><A NAME="26"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>Mis-spending all thy precious hours&#151;</TD><TD><A NAME="27"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;Thy glorious, youthful prime!</TD><TD><A NAME="28"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>Alternate follies take the sway;</TD><TD><A NAME="29"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;Licentious passions burn;</TD><TD VALIGN="TOP" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE="-2"><A NAME="30"><I>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;30</I></A></FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD>Which tenfold force gives Nature&#146;s law.</TD><TD><A NAME="31"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;That man was made to mourn.</TD><TD><A NAME="32"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR> <tr><TD>&#147;Look not alone on youthful prime,</TD><TD><A NAME="33"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;Or manhood&#146;s active might;</TD><TD><A NAME="34"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>Man then is useful to his kind,</TD><TD VALIGN="TOP" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE="-2"><A NAME="35"><I>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;35</I></A></FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;Supported in his right:</TD><TD><A NAME="36"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>But see him on the edge of life,</TD><TD><A NAME="37"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;With cares and sorrows worn;</TD><TD><A NAME="38"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>Then Age and Want&#151;oh! ill-match&#146;d pair&#151;</TD><TD><A NAME="39"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;Shew man was made to mourn.</TD><TD VALIGN="TOP" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE="-2"><A NAME="40"><I>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;40</I></A></FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR> <tr><TD>&#147;A few seem favourites of fate,</TD><TD><A NAME="41"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;In pleasure&#146;s lap carest;</TD><TD><A NAME="42"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>Yet, think not all the rich and great</TD><TD><A NAME="43"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;Are likewise truly blest:</TD><TD><A NAME="44"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>But oh! what crowds in ev&#146;ry land,</TD><TD VALIGN="TOP" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE="-2"><A NAME="45"><I>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;45</I></A></FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;All wretched and forlorn,</TD><TD><A NAME="46"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>Thro&#146; weary life this lesson learn,</TD><TD><A NAME="47"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;That man was made to mourn.</TD><TD><A NAME="48"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR> <tr><TD>&#147;Many and sharp the num&#146;rous ills <a name="49-56"></a></TD><TD><A NAME="49"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;Inwoven with our frame!</TD><TD VALIGN="TOP" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE="-2"><A NAME="50"><I>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;50</I></A></FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD>More pointed still we make ourselves,</TD><TD><A NAME="51"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;Regret, remorse, and shame!</TD><TD><A NAME="52"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>And man, whose heav&#146;n-erected face</TD><TD><A NAME="53"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;The smiles of love adorn,&#151;</TD><TD><A NAME="54"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>Man&#146;s inhumanity to man</TD><TD VALIGN="TOP" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE="-2"><A NAME="55"><I>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;55</I></A></FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;Makes countless thousands mourn!</TD><TD><A NAME="56"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR> <tr><TD>&#147;See yonder poor, o&#146;erlabour&#146;d wight,</TD><TD><A NAME="57"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;So abject, mean, and vile,</TD><TD><A NAME="58"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>Who begs a brother of the earth</TD><TD><A NAME="59"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;To give him leave to toil;</TD><TD VALIGN="TOP" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE="-2"><A NAME="60"><I>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;60</I></A></FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD>And see his lordly fellow-worm</TD><TD><A NAME="61"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;The poor petition spurn,</TD><TD><A NAME="62"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>Unmindful, tho&#146; a weeping wife</TD><TD><A NAME="63"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;And helpless offspring mourn.</TD><TD><A NAME="64"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR> <tr><TD>&#147;If I&#146;m design&#146;d yon lordling&#146;s slave,</TD><TD VALIGN="TOP" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE="-2"><A NAME="65"><I>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;65</I></A></FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;By Nature&#146;s law design&#146;d,</TD><TD><A NAME="66"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>Why was an independent wish</TD><TD><A NAME="67"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;E&#146;er planted in my mind?</TD><TD><A NAME="68"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>If not, why am I subject to</TD><TD><A NAME="69"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;His cruelty, or scorn?</TD><TD VALIGN="TOP" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE="-2"><A NAME="70"><I>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;70</I></A></FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD>Or why has man the will and pow&#146;r</TD><TD><A NAME="71"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;To make his fellow mourn?</TD><TD><A NAME="72"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR> <tr><TD>&#147;Yet, let not this too much, my son,</TD><TD><A NAME="73"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;Disturb thy youthful breast:</TD><TD><A NAME="74"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>This partial view of human-kind</TD><TD VALIGN="TOP" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE="-2"><A NAME="75"><I>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;75</I></A></FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;Is surely not the last!</TD><TD><A NAME="76"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>The poor, oppressed, honest man</TD><TD><A NAME="77"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;Had never, sure, been born,</TD><TD><A NAME="78"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>Had there not been some recompense</TD><TD><A NAME="79"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;To comfort those that mourn!</TD><TD VALIGN="TOP" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE="-2"><A NAME="80"><I>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;80</I></A></FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR> <tr><TD>&#147;O Death! the poor man&#146;s dearest friend,</TD><TD><A NAME="81"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;The kindest and the best!</TD><TD><A NAME="82"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>Welcome the hour my aged limbs</TD><TD><A NAME="83"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;Are laid with thee at rest!</TD><TD><A NAME="84"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>The great, the wealthy fear thy blow</TD><TD VALIGN="TOP" ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE="-2"><A NAME="85"><I>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;85</I></A></FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;From pomp and pleasure torn;</TD><TD><A NAME="86"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>But, oh! a blest relief for those</TD><TD><A NAME="87"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;&nbsp;That weary-laden mourn!&#148;</TD><TD><A NAME="88"></A></TD></TR> <TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR> </TABLE></TD></TR> </TABLE> <br> <br></BODY> </HTML>