PoemsandSongsofRobertBurnsEpistleFromEsopusToMaria
epistlefromesopustomaria
fromthosedrearsolitudesandfrowsycells,
whereinfamywithsadrepentancedwells;
whereturnkeysmakethejealousportalfast,
anddealfromironhandsthesparerepast;
wheretruant'prentices,yetyounginsin,
blushatthecuriousstrangerpeepingin;
wherestrumpets,relicsofthedrunkenroar,
resolvetodrink,nay,half,towhore,nomore;
wheretinythievesnotdestin'dyettoswing,
beathempforothers,riperforthestring:
fromthesedirescenesmywretchedlinesidate,
totellmariaheresopus'fate.
“alas!ifeeliamnoactorhere!”
'tisrealhangmenrealscourgesbear!
preparemaria,forahorridtale
willturnthyveryrougetodeadlypale;
willmakethyhair,tho'erstfromgipsypoll'd,
bybarberwoven,andbybarbersold,
thoughtwistedsmoothwithharry'snicestcare,
likehoarybristlestoerectandstare.
theheroofthemimicscene,nomore
istartinhamlet,inothelloroar;
or,haughtychieftain,'midthedinofarms
inhighlandbonnet,woomalvina'scharms;
whilesans-culottesstoopupthemountainhigh,
andstealfrommemaria'spryingeye.
blesthighlandbonnet!oncemyproudestdress,
nowprouderstill,maria'stemplespress;
iseeherwavethytoweringplumesafar,
andcalleachcoxcombtothewordywar:
iseeherfacethefirstofireland'ssons,
andevenout-irishhishibernianbronze;
thecraftycolonelleavesthetartan'dlines,
forotherwars,whereheaheroshines:
thehopefulyouth,inscottishsenatebred,
whoownsabushby'sheartwithoutthehead,
comes'midastringofcoxcombs,todisplay
thatveni,vidi,vici,ishisway:
theshrinkingbardadownthealleyskulks,
anddreadsameetingworsethanwoolwichhulks:
thoughthere,hisheresiesinchurchandstate
mightwellawardhimmuirandpalmer'sfate:
stillsheundauntedreelsandrattleson,
anddaresthepubliclikeanoontidesun.
whatscandalcalledmaria'sjauntyer
thericketreelingofacrookeder?
whosespleen(e'enworsethanburns'venom,when
hedipsingallunmix'dhiseagerpen,
andpourshisvengeanceintheburningline,)—