Ae Fond Kiss
Ae Fond Kiss
Original Text
James Ingram, The Scots Musical Museum (1787-1803). IV. 1792. Facs. edn. Scolar Press, 1991. M 1746 J6853 1991 MUSI.
2Ae fareweel, and then forever!
3Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee,
4Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.
5Who shall say that Fortune grieves him,
6While the star of hope she leaves him?
7Me, nae cheerfu' twinkle lights me;
8Dark despair around benights me.
9I'll ne'er blame my partial fancy,
10Naething could resist my Nancy;
11But to see her was to love her;
12Love but her, and love forever.
13Had we never lov'd sae kindly,
14Had we never lov'd sae blindly,
15Never met--or never parted--
16We had ne'er been broken-hearted.
17Fare thee weel, thou first and fairest!
18Fare thee weel, thou best and dearest!
19Thine be ilka joy and treasure,
20Peace. enjoyment, love, and pleasure!
21Ae fond kiss, and then we sever;
22Ae fareweel, alas, forever!
23Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee,
24Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee!
Notes
1] Burns sent this poem in a letter of December 27th, 1791, to a friend, Agnes Maclehose, poetically called Clarinda: "I have just ten minutes before the post goes, and these I shall employ in sending you some songs I have just been composing to different tunes for the Collection of Songs." It was published in Johnson's Scots Musical Museum, Vol. iv, in 1792. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1792
RPO poem Editors
W. J. Alexander; William Hall Clawson
RPO Edition
RP (1912), 96-97.
Rhyme