Robert Burns war ein schottischer Dichter. Er verfasste zahlreiche Gedichte, politische Texte und Lieder. Sein bekanntestes Lied ist Auld Lang Syne, das inzwischen Teil der britischen Tradition geworden ist. Burns, der auch Werke in seinem Heimatdialekt Scots verfasste, gilt, neben Walter Scott, als schottischer Nationaldichter. Bis heute wird ihm in seiner Heimat eine große Verehrung entgegengebracht, etwa im Rahmen des alljährlichen Burns Supper am 25. Januar. Wikipedia
„Mein Herz ist im Hochland, mein Herz ist nicht hier!“
-Mein Herz ist im Hochland, übersetzt von Ferdinand Freiligrath, in: Komm, leb mit mir, Silva Verlag Iserlohn 1947, S. 57
Original engl.: "My heart´s in the Highlands, my heart is not here"
“O whistle, and I'll come to you, my lad:
Tho' father and mither and a' should gae mad.”
Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad, chorus (1793)
Epistle to James Smith.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)
“To make a happy fireside clime
To weans and wife,—
That is the true pathos and sublime
Of human life.”
Epistle to Dr. Blacklock.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)
“The landlady and Tam grew gracious
Wi' favours secret, sweet, and precious.”
Quelle: Tam o' Shanter (1790), Line 47
“Ae fond kiss, and then we sever;
Ae farewell, alas, forever!”
Ae Fond Kiss, And Then We Sever, st. 1
Johnson's The Scots Musical Museum (1787-1796)
A Red, Red Rose, st. 1
Johnson's The Scots Musical Museum (1787-1796)
“That hour, o' night's black arch the keystane.”
Quelle: Tam o' Shanter (1790), Line 69
“On ev'ry hand it will allowed be,
He's just—nae better than he should be.”
A Dedication to Gavin Hamilton (1786)
Stanza 6
Epistle to a Young Friend (1786)
“I'm truly sorry man's dominion
Has broken Nature's social union.”
To a Mouse, st. 2 (1785)
“And like a passing thought, she fled
In light away.”
The Vision.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)
“O life! thou art a galling load,
Along a rough, a weary road,
To wretches such as I!”
Despondency.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)
Ode on Mrs. Oswald.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)
“John Barleycorn got up again,
And sore surprised them all.”
John Barleycorn, st. 3 (1787)
“But, oh! fell death's untimely frost,
That nipt my flower sae early.”
Highland Mary, st. 3 (1792)
“Gie me ae spark o' Nature's fire,
That's a' the learning I desire.”
First Epistle to J. Lapraik, st. 13 (1786)
“The landlord's laugh was ready chorus.”
Quelle: Tam o' Shanter (1790), Line 50
“We twa hae run about the braes,
And pu'd the gowans fine.”
Auld Lang Syne.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)
It Was A' for Our Rightfu' King, st. 3
Johnson's The Scots Musical Museum (1787-1796)
Second Epistle to J. Lapraik, st. 15 (1786).
