Epistle to a Young Friend
I Lang hae thought, my youthfu’ friend,A something to have sent you,Tho’ it should serve nae ither endThan just a kind memento:But how the subject-theme may gang,Let time and chance determine;Perhaps it may turn out a sang:Perhaps turn out a sermon.
Ye’ll try the world soon, my lad;And, Andrew dear, believe me,Ye’ll find mankind an unco squad,And muckle they may grieve ye:For care and trouble set your thought,Ev’n when your end’s attained;And a’ your views may come to nought,Where ev’ry nerve is strained.
I’ll no say, men are villains a’;The real, harden’d wicked,Wha hae nae check but human law,Are to a few restricked;But, Och! mankind are unco weak,An’ little to be trusted;If self the wavering balance shake,It’s rarely right adjusted!
Yet they wha fa’ in fortune’s strife,Their fate we shouldna censure;For still, th’ important end of lifeThey equally may answer;A man may hae an honest heart,Tho’ poortith hourly stare him;A man may tak a neibor’s part,Yet hae nae cash to spare him.
Aye free, aff-han’, your story tell,When wi’ a bosom crony;But still keep something to yoursel’,Ye scarcely tell to ony:Conceal yoursel’ as weel’s ye canFrae critical dissection;But keek thro’ ev’ry other man,Wi’ sharpen’d, sly inspection.
The sacred lowe o’ weel-plac’d love,Luxuriantly indulge it;But never tempt th’ illicit rove,Tho’ naething should divulge it:I waive the quantum o’ the sin,The hazard of concealing;But, Och! it hardens a’ within,And petrifies the feeling!
To catch dame Fortune’s golden smile,Assiduous wait upon her;And gather gear by ev’ry wileThat’s justified by honour;Not for to hide it in a hedge,Nor for a train attendant;But for the glorious privilegeOf being independent.
The fear o’ hell’s a hangman’s whip,To haud the wretch in order;But where ye feel your honour grip,Let that aye be your border;Its slightest touches, instant pause—Debar a’ side-pretences;And resolutely keep its laws,Uncaring consequences.
The great Creator to revere,Must sure become the creature;But still the preaching cant forbear,And ev’n the rigid feature:Yet ne’er with wits profane to range,Be complaisance extended;An atheist-laugh’s a poor exchangeFor Deity offended!
When ranting round in pleasure’s ring,Religion may be blinded;Or if she gie a random sting,It may be little minded;But when on life we’re tempest driv’n—A conscience but a canker—A correspondence fix’d wi’ Heav’n,Is sure a noble anchor!
Adieu, dear, amiable youth!Your heart can ne’er be wanting!May prudence, fortitude, and truth,Erect your brow undaunting!In ploughman phrase, “God send you speed,”Still daily to grow wiser;And may ye better reck the rede,Then ever did th’ adviser!
Words in this poem 25
- memento n.
- A hint, suggestion, token, or memorial, to awaken memory; that which reminds or recalls to memory; a souvenir. [L., remember, be mindful, imper. of meminisse to remember. See Mention.]
- sermon n.
- A discourse or address; a talk; a writing; as, the sermens of Chaucer. [OE. sermoun, sermun, F. sermon, fr. L. sermo, - onis, a speaking, discourse, probably fr. serer, sertum, to join, connect; hence, a connected speech. See Series]
- unco a.
- Unknown; strange, or foreign; unusual, or surprising; distant in manner; reserved. [Scot. The same word as E. uncouth.]
- squad n.
- A small party of men assembled for drill, inspection, or other purposes. [F. escouade, fr. Sp. escuadra, or It. squadra, (assumed) LL. exquadrare to square; L. ex + quadra a square. See Square.]
- strife n.
- The act of striving; earnest endeavor. [OF. estrif. See Strive.]
- hourly a.
- Happening or done every hour; occurring hour by hour; frequent; often repeated; renewed hour by hour; continual.
- 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.]
- luxuriantly adv.
- In a luxuriant manner.
- waive n.
- A waif; a castaway. Donne. [See Waive, v. t.]
- quantum n.
- Quantity; amount. [L., neuter of quantus how great, how much. See Quantity,]
- dame n.
- A mistress of a family, who is a lady; a womam in authority; especially, a lady. [F. dame, LL. domna, fr. L. domina mistress, lady, fem. of dominus master, ruler, lord; akin to domare to tame, subdue. See Tame, and cf. Dam mother, Dan, Danger]
- wile n.
- A trick or stratagem practiced for insnaring or deception; a sly, insidious; artifice; a beguilement; an allurement. [OE. wile, AS. wil; cf. Icel. v, væl. Cf. Guile.]
- honour n.
- Esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation; respect; consideration; reverence; veneration; manifestation of respect or reverence. [OE. honor, honour, onour, onur, OF. honor, onor, honur, onur, honour, onour, F. honneur, fr. L. honor, honos.]
- 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.]
- debar v. t.
- To cut off from entrance, as if by a bar or barrier; to preclude; to hinder from approach, entry, or enjoyment; to shut out or exclude; to deny or refuse; -- with from, and sometimes with of. [Pref. de- + bar.]
- resolutely adv.
- In a resolute manner; with fixed purpose; boldly; firmly; steadily; with perseverance.
- revere v. t.
- To regard with reverence, or profound respect and affection, mingled with awe or fear; to venerate; to reverence; to honor in estimation. [L. revereri; pref. re- re- + vereri to fear, perh. akin to E. wary: cf. F. révérer.]
- complaisance n.
- Disposition to please or oblige; obliging compliance with the wishes of others; a deportment indicative of a desire to please; courtesy; civility. [F. complaisance. See Complaisant, and cf. Complacence.]
- atheist n.
- One who disbelieves or denies the existence of a God, or supreme intelligent Being. [Gr. athéiste.]
- conscience n.
- Knowledge of one's own thoughts or actions; consciousness. [F. conscience, fr. L. conscientia, fr. consciens, p.pr. of conscire to know, to be conscious; con- + scire to know. See Science.]
- amiable a.
- Lovable; lovely; pleasing. [F. amiable, L. amicabilis friendly, fr. amicus friend, fr. amare to love. The meaning has been influenced by F. aimable, L. amabilis lovable, fr. amare to love.]
- fortitude n.
- Power to resist attack; strength; firmness. [L. fortitudo, fr. fortis strong. See Fort.]
- ploughman n.
- One who plows, or who holds and guides a plow; hence, a husbandman. Chaucer.
- reck v. t.
- To make account of; to care for; to heed; to regard. [AS. reccan, remccan, to care for; akin to OS. rokian, OHG. ruochan, G. geruhen, Icel. rækja, also to E. reckon, rake an implement. See Rake, and cf. Reckon.]
- rede v. t.
- To advise or counsel. [See Read, v. t.]
Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.
About this text
Epistle to a Young Friend 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, Epistle to a Young Friend, in Poems and Songs (1786–1796), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #1279, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/burns-poems/epistle-to-a-young-friend.html, id L03027.
Form and metre
Epistle to a Young Friend is 88 lines in 11 stanzas of 8 lines each. The metre is iambic tetrameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 91%). 97% of its stressed syllables fall where the metre puts the beat. The lines average 7.5 syllables. 35 lines end on an unstressed syllable, a feminine ending. 7% 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 A-A-BCBC friendA · you · endA · memento · gangB · determineC · sangB · sermonC
- 2 -A-ABCBC lad · meA · squad · yeA · thoughtB · attainedC · noughtB · strainedC
- 3 -----A-A a · wicked · law · restricked · weak · trustedA · shake · adjustedA
- 4 A-A-BCBC strifeA · censure · lifeA · answer · heartB · himC · partB · himC
- 5 -A-ABCBC tell · cronyA · yoursel · onyA · canB · dissectionC · manB · inspectionC
- 6 -A-ABCBC love · itA · rove · itA · sinB · concealingC · withinB · feelingC
- 7 A-A-BCBC smileA · her · wileA · honour · hedgeB · attendantC · privilegeB · independentC
- 8 ABABC-CC whipA · orderB · gripA · borderB · pauseC · pretences · lawsC · consequencesC
- 9 ABABCDCD revereA · creatureB · forbearA · featureB · rangeC · extendedD · exchangeC · offendedD
- 10 ABAB-C-C ringA · blindedB · stingA · mindedB · driv'n · cankerC · heav'n · anchorC
- 11 ABABCDCD youthA · wantingB · truthA · undauntingB · speedC · wiserD · redeC · adviserD
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 |
|---|---|---|
| I Lang hae thought, my youthfu’ friend, | 8 | ········ |
| A something to have sent you, | 7 | ·/˘···· |
| Tho’ it should serve nae ither end | 8 | ········ |
| Than just a kind memento: | 7 | ····˘/˘ |
| But how the subject-theme may gang, | 8 | ···˘/··· |
| Let time and chance determine; | 7 | ····˘/˘ |
| Perhaps it may turn out a sang: | 8 | ˘/······ |
| Perhaps turn out a sermon. | 7 | ˘/···/˘ |
| Ye’ll try the world soon, my lad; | 7 | ······· |
| And, Andrew dear, believe me, | 7 | ·/˘·˘/· |
| Ye’ll find mankind an unco squad, | 8 | ··//·/˘· |
| And muckle they may grieve ye: | 7 | ·/˘···· |
| For care and trouble set your thought, | 8 | ···/˘··· |
| Ev’n when your end’s attained; | 7 | ····˘/˘ |
| And a’ your views may come to nought, | 8 | ········ |
| Where ev’ry nerve is strained. | 7 | ······˘ |
| I’ll no say, men are villains a’; | 8 | ·····/˘· |
| The real, harden’d wicked, | 7 | ··/˘/˘˘ |
| Wha hae nae check but human law, | 8 | ·····/˘· |
| Are to a few restricked; | 7 | ······˘ |
| But, Och! mankind are unco weak, | 8 | ··//·/˘· |
| An’ little to be trusted; | 7 | ·/˘··/˘ |
| If self the wavering balance shake, | 8 | ···/˘/˘· |
| It’s rarely right adjusted! | 7 | ·/˘·˘/˘ |
| Yet they wha fa’ in fortune’s strife, | 8 | ·····/˘· |
| Their fate we shouldna censure; | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| For still, th’ important end of life | 8 | ··˘/˘··· |
| They equally may answer; | 7 | ·/˘˘·/˘ |
| A man may hae an honest heart, | 8 | ·····/˘· |
| Tho’ poortith hourly stare him; | 7 | ···/˘·· |
| A man may tak a neibor’s part, | 8 | ········ |
| Yet hae nae cash to spare him. | 7 | ······· |
| Aye free, aff-han’, your story tell, | 8 | ·····/˘· |
| When wi’ a bosom crony; | 7 | ···/˘/˘ |
| But still keep something to yoursel’, | 8 | ···/˘··· |
| Ye scarcely tell to ony: | 7 | ·/˘··/˘ |
| Conceal yoursel’ as weel’s ye can | 8 | ˘/······ |
| Frae critical dissection; | 7 | ·/˘˘˘/˘ |
| But keek thro’ ev’ry other man, | 8 | ·····/˘· |
| Wi’ sharpen’d, sly inspection. | 7 | ·/˘·˘/˘ |
| The sacred lowe o’ weel-plac’d love, | 8 | ·/˘····· |
| Luxuriantly indulge it; | 8 | ˘/˘˘˘˘/· |
| But never tempt th’ illicit rove, | 8 | ·/˘·˘/˘· |
| Tho’ naething should divulge it: | 7 | ····˘/· |
| I waive the quantum o’ the sin, | 8 | ···/˘··· |
| The hazard of concealing; | 7 | ·/˘·˘/˘ |
| But, Och! it hardens a’ within, | 8 | ···/˘··· |
| And petrifies the feeling! | 7 | ·/˘··/˘ |
| To catch dame Fortune’s golden smile, | 8 | ···/˘/˘· |
| Assiduous wait upon her; | 7 | ˘/˘···· |
| And gather gear by ev’ry wile | 8 | ·/˘····· |
| That’s justified by honour; | 7 | ·/˘··/˘ |
| Not for to hide it in a hedge, | 8 | ········ |
| Nor for a train attendant; | 7 | ····˘/˘ |
| But for the glorious privilege | 8 | ···/˘˘/˘ |
| Of being independent. | 7 | ·/˘·˘/˘ |
| The fear o’ hell’s a hangman’s whip, | 8 | ·····/˘· |
| To haud the wretch in order; | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| But where ye feel your honour grip, | 8 | ·····/˘· |
| Let that aye be your border; | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| Its slightest touches, instant pause— | 8 | ·/˘/˘/˘· |
| Debar a’ side-pretences; | 7 | ˘/····· |
| And resolutely keep its laws, | 8 | ·/˘·˘··· |
| Uncaring consequences. | 7 | ˘/˘/˘·˘ |
| The great Creator to revere, | 8 | ··˘/˘·˘/ |
| Must sure become the creature; | 7 | ··˘/·/˘ |
| But still the preaching cant forbear, | 8 | ···/˘·˘/ |
| And ev’n the rigid feature: | 7 | ···/˘/˘ |
| Yet ne’er with wits profane to range, | 8 | ····˘/·· |
| Be complaisance extended; | 7 | ·/˘˘˘/˘ |
| An atheist-laugh’s a poor exchange | 8 | ·/˘···˘/ |
| For Deity offended! | 7 | ·/˘˘˘/˘ |
| When ranting round in pleasure’s ring, | 8 | ·/˘··/˘· |
| Religion may be blinded; | 7 | ˘/˘··/˘ |
| Or if she gie a random sting, | 8 | ·····/˘· |
| It may be little minded; | 7 | ···/˘/˘ |
| But when on life we’re tempest driv’n— | 8 | ·····/˘· |
| A conscience but a canker— | 7 | ·/˘··/˘ |
| A correspondence fix’d wi’ Heav’n, | 8 | ··˘/˘··· |
| Is sure a noble anchor! | 7 | ···/˘/˘ |
| Adieu, dear, amiable youth! | 8 | ˘/·/˘˘˘· |
| Your heart can ne’er be wanting! | 7 | ·····/˘ |
| May prudence, fortitude, and truth, | 8 | ·/˘/˘··· |
| Erect your brow undaunting! | 7 | ˘/····· |
| In ploughman phrase, “God send you speed,” | 8 | ········ |
| Still daily to grow wiser; | 7 | ·/˘··/˘ |
| And may ye better reck the rede, | 8 | ···/˘··· |
| Then ever did th’ adviser! | 7 | ·/˘·˘/˘ |
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