Poem by Robert Burns

Ye Jacobites by Name

YE Jacobites by name, give an ear, give an ear;
  Ye Jacobites by name, give an ear;
    Ye Jacobitea by name,
      Your fautes I will proclaim,
        Your doctrines I maun blame-
          You shall hear.

What is right and what is wrang, by the law, by the law?
  What is right and what is wrang by the law?
    What is right and what is wrang?
      A short sword and a lang,
        A weak arm and a strang,
          For to draw.

What makes heroic strife, fam’d afar, fam’d afar?
  What makes heroic strife fam’d afar?
    What makes heroic strife?
      To whet th’ assassin’s knife,
        Or hunt a parent’s life
          Wi’ bluidie war.

Then let your schemes alone, in the state, in the state;
  Then let your schemes alone in the state;
    Then let your schemes alone,
      Adore the rising sun,
        And leave a man undone
          To his fate.

1. I Gaed a Waefu' Gate Yestreen
2. Blythe Was She
3. Farewell to Ballochmyle
4. Stay My Charmer
5. On a Bank of Flowers

Print

3724 Views

Last Poems

To Russian version