A Dream
Thoughts, words, and deeds, the Statute blames with reason;But surely Dreams were ne’er indicted Treason.
Guid-Mornin’ to our Majesty!May Heaven augment your blissesOn ev’ry new birth-day ye see,A humble poet wishes.My bardship here, at your LeveeOn sic a day as this is,Is sure an uncouth sight to see,Amang thae birth-day dressesSae fine this day.
I see ye’re complimented thrang,By mony a lord an’ lady;“God save the King” ’s a cuckoo sangThat’s unco easy said aye:The poets, too, a venal gang,Wi’ rhymes weel-turn’d an’ ready,Wad gar you trow ye ne’er do wrang,But aye unerring steady,On sic a day.
For me! before a monarch’s faceEv’n there I winna flatter;For neither pension, post, nor place,Am I your humble debtor:So, nae reflection on your Grace,Your Kingship to bespatter;There’s mony waur been o’ the race,And aiblins ane been betterThan you this day.
’Tis very true, my sovereign King,My skill may weel be doubted;But facts are chiels that winna ding,An’ downa be disputed:Your royal nest, beneath your wing,Is e’en right reft and clouted,And now the third part o’ the string,An’ less, will gang aboot itThan did ae day.
Far be’t frae me that I aspireTo blame your legislation,Or say, ye wisdom want, or fire,To rule this mighty nation:But faith! I muckle doubt, my sire,Ye’ve trusted ministrationTo chaps wha in barn or byreWad better fill’d their stationThan courts yon day.
And now ye’ve gien auld Britain peace,Her broken shins to plaister,Your sair taxation does her fleece,Till she has scarce a tester:For me, thank God, my life’s a lease,Nae bargain wearin’ faster,Or, faith! I fear, that, wi’ the geese,I shortly boost to pastureI’ the craft some day.
I’m no mistrusting Willie Pitt,When taxes he enlarges,(An’ Will’s a true guid fallow’s get,A name not envy spairges),That he intends to pay your debt,An’ lessen a’ your charges;But, God-sake! let nae saving fitAbridge your bonie bargesAn’boats this day.
Adieu, my Liege; may freedom geckBeneath your high protection;An’ may ye rax Corruption’s neck,And gie her for dissection!But since I’m here, I’ll no neglect,In loyal, true affection,To pay your Queen, wi’ due respect,May fealty an’ subjectionThis great birth-day.
Hail, Majesty most Excellent!While nobles strive to please ye,Will ye accept a compliment,A simple poet gies ye?Thae bonie bairntime, Heav’n has lent,Still higher may they heeze yeIn bliss, till fate some day is sentFor ever to release yeFrae care that day.
For you, young Potentate o’Wales,I tell your highness fairly,Down Pleasure’s stream, wi’ swelling sails,I’m tauld ye’re driving rarely;But some day ye may gnaw your nails,An’ curse your folly sairly,That e’er ye brak Diana’s pales,Or rattl’d dice wi’ CharlieBy night or day.
Yet aft a ragged cowt’s been known,To mak a noble aiver;So, ye may doucely fill the throne,For a’their clish-ma-claver:There, him at Agincourt wha shone,Few better were or braver:And yet, wi’ funny, queer Sir John,He was an unco shaverFor mony a day.
For you, right rev’rend Osnaburg,Nane sets the lawn-sleeve sweeter,Altho’ a ribbon at your lugWad been a dress completer:As ye disown yon paughty dog,That bears the keys of Peter,Then swith! an’ get a wife to hug,Or trowth, ye’ll stain the mitreSome luckless day!
Young, royal Tarry-breeks, I learn,Ye’ve lately come athwart her—A glorious galley, stem and stern,Weel rigg’d for Venus’ barter;But first hang out, that she’ll discern,Your hymeneal charter;Then heave aboard your grapple airn,An’ large upon her quarter,Come full that day.
Ye, lastly, bonie blossoms a’,Ye royal lasses dainty,Heav’n mak you guid as well as braw,An’ gie you lads a-plenty!But sneer na British boys awa!For kings are unco scant aye,An’ German gentles are but sma’,They’re better just than want ayeOn ony day.
Gad bless you a’! consider now,Ye’re unco muckle dautit;But ere the course o’ life be through,It may be bitter sautit:An’ I hae seen their coggie fou,That yet hae tarrow’t at it.But or the day was done, I trow,The laggen they hae clautitFu’ clean that day.
Words in this poem 42
- bardship n.
- The state of being a bard.
- levee n.
- The act of rising. [F. lever, fr. lever to raise, se lever to rise. See Lever, n.]
- unco a.
- Unknown; strange, or foreign; unusual, or surprising; distant in manner; reserved. [Scot. The same word as E. uncouth.]
- weel
- A kind of trap or snare for fish, made of twigs. Carew. [Prov. E. weel, weal, a wicker basket to catch eels; prob. akin to willow, and so called as made of willow twigs.]
- trow v. i.
- To believe; to trust; to think or suppose. [OE. trowen, AS.treówan to trust, believe, fr. treów trust, treówe true, faithful. See True.]
- unerring a.
- Committing no mistake; incapable or error or failure certain; sure; unfailing; as, the unerring wisdom of God.
- kingship n.
- The state, office, or dignity of a king; royalty. Landor.
- bespatter v. t.
- To soil by spattering; to sprinkle, esp. with dirty water, mud, or anything which will leave foul spots or stains.
- aiblins adv.
- Perhaps; possibly. Burns. [See Able.]
- ding v. t.
- To dash; to throw violently. [OE. dingen, dengen; akin to AS. dencgan to knock, Icel. dengja to beat, hammer, Sw. dänga, G. dengeln.]
- reft n.
- A chink; a rift. See Rift. Rom. of R.
- aspire v. t.
- To aspire to; to long for; to try to reach; to mount to.
- sire n.
- A lord, master, or other person in authority. See Sir. [F. sire, originally, an older person. See Sir.]
- ministration n.
- The act of ministering; service; ministry. [L. ministratio, fr. ministrare.]
- byre n.
- A cow house. [N. of Eng.& Scot.] [Cf, Icel. bür pantry, Sw. bur cage,Dan. buur, E.bower.]
- auld a.
- Old; as, Auld Reekie (old smoky), i. e., Edinburgh. [See Old.]
- scarce a.
- Not plentiful or abundant; in small quantity in proportion to the demand; not easily to be procured; rare; uncommon. [OE. scars, OF. escars, eschars, LL. scarpsus, for L. excerptus, p. p. of excerpere to pick out, and hence to contract, to shorten; ex (see Ex-) + carpere. See C]
- tester n.
- A headpiece; a helmet. [OE. testere a headpiece, helmet, OF. testiere, F. têtière a head covering, fr. OF. teste the head, F. tête, fr. L. testa an earthen pot, the skull. See Test a c]
- thank n.
- A expression of gratitude; an acknowledgment expressive of a sense of favor or kindness received; obligation, claim, or desert, or gratitude; -- now generally used in the plural. [AS. Þanc, Þonc, thanks, favor, thought; akin to OS. thank favor, pleasure, thanks, D. & G. dank thanks, Icel. Þ\'94kk, Dan. tak, Sw. tack, Goth. Þagks thanks; -]
- shortly adv.
- In a short or brief time or manner; soon; quickly. [AS. sceortlice.]
- boost v. t.
- To lift or push from behind (one who is endeavoring to climb); to push up; hence, to assist in overcoming obstacles, or in making advancement. [Cf. Boast, v. i.]
- craft n.
- Strength; might; secret power. [AS. cr strength, skill, art, cunning; akin to OS., G., Sw., & Dan. kraft strength, D. kracht, Icel. kraptr; perh. originally, a drawing together, stretching, fr]
- pitt n.
- A large cavity or hole in the ground, either natural or artificial; a cavity in the surface of a body; an indentation; specifically: (a) The shaft of a coal mine; a coal pit. [OE. pit, put, AS. pytt a pit, hole, L. puteus a well, pit.]
- liege a.
- Sovereign; independent; having authority or right to allegiance; as, a liege lord. [OE. lige, lege, F. lige, LL. ligius, legius, liege, unlimited, complete, prob. of German origin; cf. G. ledig free from bonds and obstacles, MHG. ledec, ledic, ]
- geck n.
- Scorn, derision, or contempt. [D. gek fool, fop; akin to G. geck; cf. Icel. gikkr a pert, rude person.]
- potentate n.
- One who is potent; one who possesses great power or sway; a prince, sovereign, or monarch. [LL. potentatus, fr. potentare to exercise power: cf. F. potentat. See Potent, a.]
- highness n.
- The state of being high; elevation; loftiness. [AS. heáhnes.]
- fairly adv.
- In a fairmanner; clearly; openly; plainly; fully; distinctly; frankly.
- diana n.
- The daughter of Jupiter and Latona; a virgin goddess who presided over hunting, chastity, and marriage; -- identified with the Greek goddess Artemis. [L. Diana.]
- charlie n.
- A familiar nickname or substitute for Charles.
- claver n.
- Frivolous or nonsensical talk; prattle; chattering.
- funny a.
- Droll; comical; amusing; laughable. Funny bone. See crazy bone, under Crazy. [From Fun.]
- shaver n.
- One who shaves; one whose occupation is to shave.
- osnaburg n.
- A species of coarse linen, originally made in Osnaburg, Germany.
- mitre n.
- A covering for the head, worn on solemn occasions by church dignitaries. It has been made in many forms, the present form being a lofty cap with two points or peaks. Fairholt.
- luckless a.
- Being without luck; unpropitious; unfortunate; unlucky; meeting with ill success or bad fortune; as, a luckless gamester; a luckless maid.
- glorious a.
- Exhibiting attributes, qualities, or acts that are worthy of or receive glory; noble; praiseworthy; excellent; splendid; illustrious; inspiring admiration; as, glorious deeds. [OF. glorios, glorious, F. glorieux, fr. L. gloriosus. See Glory, n.]
- hymeneal a.
- Of or pertaining to marriage; as, hymeneal rites. [L. hymeneius, a., also Hymenaeus, n., Hymen, Gr. hyménéal, hyménéen.]
- aboard adv.
- On board; into or within a ship or boat; hence, into or within a railway car. [Pref. a- on, in + board.]
- lastly adv.
- In the last place; in conclusion.
- dainty n.
- Value; estimation; the gratification or pleasure taken in anything. [OE. deinie, dainte, deintie, deyntee, OF. deintié delicacy, orig., dignity, honor, fr. L. dignitas, fr. dignus worthy. See Deign, and cf. Dignity.]
- braw a.
- Well-dressed; handsome; smart; brave; -- used of persons or their clothing, etc.; as, a braw lad.
Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.
About this text
A Dream is in the public domain. This text is taken from Poems and Songs of Robert Burns, Project Gutenberg ebook #1279; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.
Cite as: Robert Burns, A Dream, in Poems and Songs (1786–1796), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #1279, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/burns-poems/a-dream.html, id L03029.
Form and metre
A Dream is 137 lines in 16 stanzas. The metre is iambic tetrameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 91%). 98% of its stressed syllables fall where the metre puts the beat. The lines average 7.2 syllables. 52 lines end on an unstressed syllable, a feminine ending. 18% of the lines run on without a stop at the line end.
See other poems in iambic tetrameter.
Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.
Rhyme words, stanza by stanza
The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.
- 1 AA reasonA · treasonA
- 2 -ABA-ABA- majesty · blissesA · seeB · wishesA · levee · isA · seeB · dressesA · day
- 3 A-A-ABAB- thrangA · lady · sangA · aye · gangA · readyB · wrangA · steadyB · day
- 4 ABACABAC- faceA · flatterB · placeA · debtorC · graceA · bespatterB · raceA · betterC · day
- 5 ABA-ABA-- kingA · doubtedB · dingA · disputed · wingA · cloutedB · stringA · it · day
- 6 ABABCBCB- aspireA · legislationB · fireA · nationB · sireC · ministrationB · byreC · stationB · day
- 7 A-A-A-A-- peaceA · plaister · fleeceA · tester · leaseA · faster · geeseA · pasture · day
- 8 ABABABAB- pittA · enlargesB · getA · spairgesB · debtA · chargesB · fitA · bargesB · day
- 9 ABABCBCB- geckA · protectionB · neckA · dissectionB · neglectC · affectionB · respectC · subjectionB · day
- 10 ABABABAB- excellentA · yeB · complimentA · yeB · lentA · yeB · sentA · yeB · day
- 11 ABABABA-- o'walesA · fairlyB · sailsA · rarelyB · nailsA · sairlyB · palesA · charlie · day
- 12 ABABAB-B- knownA · aiverB · throneA · claverB · shoneA · braverB · john · shaverB · day
- 13 -ABA-AB-- osnaburg · sweeterA · lugB · completerA · dog · peterA · hugB · mitre · day
- 14 A-ABAB--- learnA · her · sternA · barterB · discernA · charterB · airn · quarter · day
- 15 A----B-BA aA · dainty · braw · plenty · awa · ayeB · sma · ayeB · dayA
- 16 -A-A---A- now · dautitA · through · sautitA · fou · it · trow · clautitA · day
Scansion, line by line
Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against iambic tetrameter. How this is done.
| Line | Syl. | Stress |
|---|---|---|
| Thoughts, words, and deeds, the Statute blames with reason; | 11 | ·····/˘··/˘ |
| But surely Dreams were ne’er indicted Treason. | 11 | ·/˘···˘/˘/˘ |
| Guid-Mornin’ to our Majesty! | 9 | ····/˘/˘˘ |
| May Heaven augment your blisses | 8 | ·/˘˘/·/˘ |
| On ev’ry new birth-day ye see, | 8 | ········ |
| A humble poet wishes. | 7 | ·/˘/˘/˘ |
| My bardship here, at your Levee | 8 | ·/˘···/˘ |
| On sic a day as this is, | 7 | ······· |
| Is sure an uncouth sight to see, | 8 | ···//··· |
| Amang thae birth-day dresses | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| Sae fine this day. | 4 | ···· |
| I see ye’re complimented thrang, | 8 | ···/˘·˘· |
| By mony a lord an’ lady; | 8 | ·/˘···/˘ |
| “God save the King” ’s a cuckoo sang | 9 | ······/·· |
| That’s unco easy said aye: | 7 | ·/˘/˘·· |
| The poets, too, a venal gang, | 8 | ·/˘··/˘· |
| Wi’ rhymes weel-turn’d an’ ready, | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| Wad gar you trow ye ne’er do wrang, | 8 | ········ |
| But aye unerring steady, | 7 | ··˘/˘/˘ |
| On sic a day. | 4 | ···· |
| For me! before a monarch’s face | 8 | ·····/·· |
| Ev’n there I winna flatter; | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| For neither pension, post, nor place, | 8 | ·/˘/˘··· |
| Am I your humble debtor: | 7 | ···/˘/˘ |
| So, nae reflection on your Grace, | 8 | ··˘/˘··· |
| Your Kingship to bespatter; | 7 | ·/˘·˘/˘ |
| There’s mony waur been o’ the race, | 8 | ·/˘····· |
| And aiblins ane been better | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| Than you this day. | 4 | ···· |
| ’Tis very true, my sovereign King, | 8 | ·/˘··/˘· |
| My skill may weel be doubted; | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| But facts are chiels that winna ding, | 8 | ········ |
| An’ downa be disputed: | 7 | ····˘/˘ |
| Your royal nest, beneath your wing, | 8 | ·/˘····· |
| Is e’en right reft and clouted, | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| And now the third part o’ the string, | 8 | ········ |
| An’ less, will gang aboot it | 7 | ······· |
| Than did ae day. | 4 | ···· |
| Far be’t frae me that I aspire | 8 | ······˘/ |
| To blame your legislation, | 7 | ····˘/˘ |
| Or say, ye wisdom want, or fire, | 9 | ···/˘··/˘ |
| To rule this mighty nation: | 7 | ···/˘/˘ |
| But faith! I muckle doubt, my sire, | 9 | ···/˘··/˘ |
| Ye’ve trusted ministration | 7 | ·/˘·˘/˘ |
| To chaps wha in barn or byre | 8 | ······/˘ |
| Wad better fill’d their station | 7 | ·/˘··/˘ |
| Than courts yon day. | 4 | ···· |
| And now ye’ve gien auld Britain peace, | 8 | ·····/˘· |
| Her broken shins to plaister, | 7 | ·/˘··/˘ |
| Your sair taxation does her fleece, | 8 | ··˘/˘··· |
| Till she has scarce a tester: | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| For me, thank God, my life’s a lease, | 8 | ········ |
| Nae bargain wearin’ faster, | 7 | ·/˘··/˘ |
| Or, faith! I fear, that, wi’ the geese, | 8 | ········ |
| I shortly boost to pasture | 7 | ·/˘··/˘ |
| I’ the craft some day. | 5 | ····· |
| I’m no mistrusting Willie Pitt, | 8 | ··˘/˘/˘· |
| When taxes he enlarges, | 7 | ·/˘·˘/˘ |
| (An’ Will’s a true guid fallow’s get, | 8 | ·····/·· |
| A name not envy spairges), | 7 | ···/˘·· |
| That he intends to pay your debt, | 8 | ··˘/···· |
| An’ lessen a’ your charges; | 7 | ·/˘··/˘ |
| But, God-sake! let nae saving fit | 8 | ·····/˘· |
| Abridge your bonie barges | 7 | ˘/···/˘ |
| An’boats this day. | 4 | ···· |
| Adieu, my Liege; may freedom geck | 8 | ˘/···/˘· |
| Beneath your high protection; | 7 | ····˘/˘ |
| An’ may ye rax Corruption’s neck, | 8 | ····˘/˘· |
| And gie her for dissection! | 7 | ····˘/˘ |
| But since I’m here, I’ll no neglect, | 8 | ······˘/ |
| In loyal, true affection, | 7 | ·/˘·˘/˘ |
| To pay your Queen, wi’ due respect, | 8 | ······˘/ |
| May fealty an’ subjection | 8 | ·/˘˘·˘/˘ |
| This great birth-day. | 4 | ···· |
| Hail, Majesty most Excellent! | 8 | ·/˘˘·/˘˘ |
| While nobles strive to please ye, | 7 | ·/˘···· |
| Will ye accept a compliment, | 8 | ··˘/·/˘˘ |
| A simple poet gies ye? | 7 | ·/˘/˘·· |
| Thae bonie bairntime, Heav’n has lent, | 8 | ········ |
| Still higher may they heeze ye | 7 | ·/˘···· |
| In bliss, till fate some day is sent | 8 | ········ |
| For ever to release ye | 7 | ·/˘·˘/· |
| Frae care that day. | 4 | ···· |
| For you, young Potentate o’Wales, | 8 | ···/˘··· |
| I tell your highness fairly, | 7 | ···/˘/˘ |
| Down Pleasure’s stream, wi’ swelling sails, | 8 | ·/˘··/˘· |
| I’m tauld ye’re driving rarely; | 7 | ···/˘/˘ |
| But some day ye may gnaw your nails, | 8 | ········ |
| An’ curse your folly sairly, | 7 | ···/˘·· |
| That e’er ye brak Diana’s pales, | 8 | ····˘/˘· |
| Or rattl’d dice wi’ Charlie | 7 | ·/˘··/˘ |
| By night or day. | 4 | ···· |
| Yet aft a ragged cowt’s been known, | 8 | ···/˘··· |
| To mak a noble aiver; | 7 | ···/˘·· |
| So, ye may doucely fill the throne, | 9 | ········· |
| For a’their clish-ma-claver: | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| There, him at Agincourt wha shone, | 8 | ···/˘··· |
| Few better were or braver: | 7 | ·/˘··/˘ |
| And yet, wi’ funny, queer Sir John, | 8 | ···/˘··· |
| He was an unco shaver | 7 | ···/˘/˘ |
| For mony a day. | 5 | ·/˘·· |
| For you, right rev’rend Osnaburg, | 8 | ·····/˘˘ |
| Nane sets the lawn-sleeve sweeter, | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| Altho’ a ribbon at your lug | 8 | ˘/·/˘··· |
| Wad been a dress completer: | 7 | ······· |
| As ye disown yon paughty dog, | 8 | ··˘/···· |
| That bears the keys of Peter, | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| Then swith! an’ get a wife to hug, | 8 | ········ |
| Or trowth, ye’ll stain the mitre | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| Some luckless day! | 4 | ·/˘· |
| Young, royal Tarry-breeks, I learn, | 8 | ·/˘/˘··· |
| Ye’ve lately come athwart her— | 7 | ·/˘·˘/· |
| A glorious galley, stem and stern, | 8 | ·/˘/˘··· |
| Weel rigg’d for Venus’ barter; | 7 | ···/˘/˘ |
| But first hang out, that she’ll discern, | 8 | ······˘/ |
| Your hymeneal charter; | 6 | ····/˘ |
| Then heave aboard your grapple airn, | 8 | ··˘/·/˘· |
| An’ large upon her quarter, | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| Come full that day. | 4 | ···· |
| Ye, lastly, bonie blossoms a’, | 8 | ·/˘··/˘· |
| Ye royal lasses dainty, | 7 | ·/˘/˘/˘ |
| Heav’n mak you guid as well as braw, | 8 | ········ |
| An’ gie you lads a-plenty! | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| But sneer na British boys awa! | 8 | ···/˘··· |
| For kings are unco scant aye, | 7 | ···/˘·· |
| An’ German gentles are but sma’, | 8 | ·/˘/˘··· |
| They’re better just than want aye | 7 | ·/˘···· |
| On ony day. | 4 | ·/˘· |
| Gad bless you a’! consider now, | 8 | ····˘/˘· |
| Ye’re unco muckle dautit; | 7 | ·/˘/˘·· |
| But ere the course o’ life be through, | 8 | ········ |
| It may be bitter sautit: | 7 | ···/˘·· |
| An’ I hae seen their coggie fou, | 8 | ········ |
| That yet hae tarrow’t at it. | 7 | ······· |
| But or the day was done, I trow, | 8 | ········ |
| The laggen they hae clautit | 7 | ······· |
| Fu’ clean that day. | 4 | ···· |
Notes from the edition 4
Notes from The Complete Works of Robert Burns (Project Gutenberg #1279).
- Stanza 5, line 9 The stone was erected at Burns’ expenses in February—March, 1789.
- Stanza 12, line 5 King Henry V.—R.B.
- Stanza 12, line 7 Sir John Falstaff, vid. Shakespeare.—R. B.
- Stanza 14, line 3 Alluding to the newspaper account of a certain Royal sailor’s amour.—R. B. This was Prince William Henry, third son of George III, afterward King William IV.
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