Poem by Robert Burns

* * *

HUSBAND, husband, cease your strife,
  Nor longer idly rave, sir;
Tho’ I am your wedded wife,
  Yet I am not your slave, sir.

‘One of two must still obey,
  Nancy, Nancy;
Is it man or woman, say,
  My spouse Nancy?’

If ‘tis still the lordly word,
  Service and obedience;
I’ll desert my sov’reign lord,
  And so good-bye allegiance!

‘Sad shall I be, so bereft,
  Nancy, Nancy!
Yet I’ll try to make a shift,
   My spouse Nancy.’

My poor heart then break it must,
  My last hour I’m near it:
When you lay me in the dust,
  Think how you will bear it.

‘I will hope and trust in Heaven,
  Nancy, Nancy;
Strength to bear it will be given,
  My spouse Nancy.’

Well, sir, from the silent dead
  Still I’ll try to daunt you;
Ever round your midnight bed
  Horrid sprites shall haunt you.

‘I’ll wed another, like my dear
  Nancy, Nancy;
Then all hell will fly for fear,
  My spouse Nancy.

1. Their Groves O’ sweet Myrtle
2. The Bonnie Wee Thing
3. As Down the Burn They Took Their Way
4. Gala Water
5. Stay My Charmer

Print

4008 Views

Last Poems

To Russian version