Monday, January 27, 2014

A Belated Burns Night "Best Wishes"

I missed posting on January 25, celebrated by Scots worldwide as the Scottish Bard's natal day. Better late than never and here is a piece of his work.

Fareweel to a' our Scottish fame, 
Fareweel our ancient glory; 
Fareweel ev'n to the Scottish name, 
Sae fam'd in martial story. 
Now Sark rins over Solway sands, 
An' Tweed rins to the ocean, 
To mark where England's province stands-- 
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation! 


What force or guile could not subdue, 
Thro' many warlike ages, 
Is wrought now by a coward few, 
For hireling traitor's wages. 
The English steel we could disdain, 
Secure in valour's station; 
But English gold has been our bane-- 
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation! 


O would, or I had seen the day 
That Treason thus could sell us, 
My auld grey head had lien in clay, 

Wi' Bruce and loyal Wallace! 
But pith and power, till my last hour, 
I'll mak this declaration; 
We're bought and sold for English gold-- 
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!


(Note: 'The parcel of rogues' referred to members of the Scottish parliament who accepted bribes to vote for the Treat of Union with England which led to the loss of Scottish independence)

No comments: