PoemsandSongsofRobertBurnsTheAuthor'sEarnestCryAndPrayer

theauthor'searnestcryandprayer

totherighthonourableandhonourablescotch

representativesinthehouseofcommons.

dearestofdistillation!lastandbest—

—howartthoulost!—

parodyonmilton.

yeirishlords,yeknightsan'squires,

wharepresentourbrughsan'shires,

an'doucelymanageouraffairs

inparliament,

toyouasimplepoet'spray'rs

arehumblysent.

alas!myroupitmuseishearse!

yourhonours'heartswi'grief'twadpierce,

toseehersittinonherarse

lowi'thedust,

andscriechinhoutprosaicverse,

anliketobrust!

tellthemwhahaethechiefdirection,

scotlandan'me'singreataffliction,

e'ersin'theylaidthatcurstrestriction

onaqua-vitae;

an'rousethemuptostrongconviction,

an'movetheirpity.

standforthan'tellyonpremieryouth

thehonest,open,nakedtruth:

tellhimo'minean'scotland'sdrouth,

hisservantshumble:

themuckledeevilblawyousouth

ifyedissemble!

doesonygreatmanglunchan'gloom?

speakout,an'neverfashyourthumb!

letpostsan'pensionssinkorsoom

wi'themwhagrantthem;

ifhonestlytheycannacome,

farbetterwantthem.

ingath'rinvotesyouwerenaslack;

nowstandastightlybyyourtack:

ne'erclawyourlug,an'fidgeyourback,

an'human'haw;

butraiseyourarm,an'tellyourcrack

beforethema'.

paintscotlandgreetinowreherthrissle;

hermutchkinstowpastoom'sawhissle;

an'damn'dexcisemeninabussle,

seizinastell,

triumphantcrushin'tlikeamussel,

orlimpetshell!

then,onthetitherhandpresenther—

ablackguardlerrightbehinther,