Rabbie Burns

Here, old meets new with a games video accompanying a beautiful Burns song which is a partypiece of mine that maybe I’ll get around to youtubing one of these fine days..in the meantime..

Meaning of unusual words:
yowes=ewes
knowes=knolls, hills
burnie=small stream
rowes=rolls along
mavis=song thrush
a-faulding=put in a sheep fold
gang=go
gae=go
ghaist=ghost
bogle=demon

Tragic Fragment

All devil as I am-a damned wretch,
A hardened, stubborn, unrepenting villain,
Still my heart melts at human wretchedness;
And with sincere but unavailing sighs
I view the helpless children of distress:
With tears indignant I behold the oppressor
Rejoicing in the honest man’s destruction,
Whose unsubmitting heart was all his crime. –
Ev’n you, ye hapless crew! I pity you;
Ye, whom the seeming good think sin to pity;
Ye poor, despised, abandoned vagabonds,
Whom Vice, as usual, has turn’d o’er to ruin.
Oh! but for friends and interposing Heaven,
I had been driven forth like you forlorn,
The most detested, worthless wretch among you!
O injured God! Thy goodness has endow’d me
With talents passing most of my compeers,
Which I in just proportion have abused-
As far surpassing other common villains
As Thou in natural parts has given me more.