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,)—