Robert burns

_(1759-1796)

At the close of the 18th century a young Scotsman became the niltional poet of both Scotland ilnd England. His name was Robert Burns, and he is considered one of the greatest poets in English literature; his songs and poems are known

and loved far beyond his own country January 25th, his birthday, is celebrated annually by lovers of poetry in many countries of the world. Burns'creative work belongs to the period known in English literature as Pre-Rom<tn­ ticism, that is, a period of transition from the Enlig-hten­ ment to Romanticism. Burns' poetry has features oi both His hatred for the landlords, his defence of the interests oi the poor bring him close to the democratic Enlighteners And his love of nature, his songs of liberty, his rebellious spirit have much in common with such revolutionary ro milnticists as George Byron and Percy Shelley Allan Cunningham, one of Burns' first biographers, wrote the following lines as a preface to his work about Burns. "His genius was universal. In satire, in humour, in pathos, in description, in sentiment, he was equally great... I am inclined to regard him as one of the few geniuses... and to place him by the side of the greatest names, this country has produced"

Robert Burns \Vas born on January 25, 1759, in a claybuilt cottage near the river Doon in Alloway, Ayrshire (Scotland). His father William Burns was a gardener on

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a small estate. The life of the family was full of privations. Here is what Roberts's brother Gilbert said later about the early years of the poet: "We lived sparingly. For several years meat was a stranger in the house, while all the mem­ bers of the family exerted themselves to the utmost of their strength and beyond it in the labours of the farm. My brother (Robert) at the age of twelve, threshed the corn crop, and at fifteen was the principal labourer on the farm ..."

When Robert was seven, their father decided to give his

children the best education he could afford and engaged a teacher to educate them. John Murdoch, an eighteen­ year-old scholar, was a very enthusiastic teacher He taught Robert, who was his favourite, many subjects, French and literature among them. However, Robert could not afford much time for his studies. His father wanted to try his hand at farming and Robert had to help him on the farm. At the age of thirteen he had to take over most of the work as his father was growing old.

Robert's mother, Agnes Brown, was fond of old popu­

lar songs and ballads. She knew many and often sang them. From her Robert inherited the love for folklore. Later he remembered and used in his works the songs and stories he had heard at home.

Burns wrote his first verses when he was fifteen. Very soon his poems, verses and, especially, his witty epigrams became popular among his friends and acquaintances. In

1785 he met a girl., who became the great love of his life and inspired his numerous lyrical verses. Jean had a won­

derful voice and knew a lot of old melodies to which Burns composed his songs.

In 1786 he published his first book under the title of Poems Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect which contained his early lyrical, humorous and satirical verses. The book was a great success and soon another edition appeared. One of Burns' contemporaries recrlled how servants and plough­ boys gave all their hard-earned money for the book of Burns'poem. Burns' fame spread far and wide. He was invited to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. He conquered the Edinburgh society by his wit and manners as much as by his poetry. In Edinburgh he was often advised to write in standard English on noble themes, but he refused. Burns wanted to write poetry about the people and for the people.

While in Edinburgh Burns got acquainted with some

enthusiasts for Scottish songs and ballads and became

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involved in collecting the treasures of Scottish folklore.

He travelled about Scotland collecting popular songs.

He discovered long forgotten songs, patched some and wrote verses to existing tunes. He considered this work to be his patriotic duty and refused to take money though he

always needed it as he had to maintain his family and, after his father's death, to help his mother, brothers and sisters. Being already a poet, he did not, however, give up farming and worked hard to earn his living. In 1791 Burns obtained the post of excise officer and moved to Dumfries.

The last years of his life were very hard. An enthusiastic supporter of the French Revolution he had to conceal his thoughts because of the reactionary campaign launched by the British government against those who raised their voice in support of the Revolution. But his poetry of the period reflects the influence of the ideas of the Revolution, the slogan of which was "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity"

The hard daily work on the farm, constant starvation and privations finally undermined Burns' health. On July

21, 1796, at the age of 37, he died. His body rests in a

mausoleum in Dumfries. The house in Alloway, where he was born, has now been restored. Every year thousands of people from all over the world go there to pay homage to the great poet.

Robert Burns' poetry was inspired by his deep love for his country, for its history and folklore. His beautiful poem My Heart's in the Highlands full of vivid colourful de­ scriptions, is a hymn to the beauty of Scotland's nature and to its glorious past

My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here; My heart's in the Highlands a-chasing the deer; Chasing the wild deer, and following the roe;

My heart's in the Highlands wherever I go.

Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North, The birth-place of Valeur, the country of Worth; Wherever I wander, wherever I rove,

The hills of the Highlands for ever I love.

Burns' poetry is closely connected with the national struggle of the Scottish people for their liberation from English oppression, the struggle that had been going on in Scotland for many centuries. His favourite heroes were

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William Wallace, the leader of the upnstng against the English oppressors, and Robert Bruce, who defeated the English army in the battle at Bannockburn and later became the King of Scotland. The poem Bruce's Address to his Army at Bannockburn is the poet's call to his peorle to preserve the freedom-loving spirit of their fathers.

Scots. who have with Wallace bled. Scots, whom Bruce has often led, Welcome to your gory bed,

Or to victory'

By oppression's woes and pains! By your sons srrvilc chains! We will drain our dearest veins,

But they shall be fr

Lay the proud usurpers low' Tyrants fall c\·cry foe' Liberty's every blow' -

Let do, or di

Burns expressed the most sacred thoughts and hopes of the Scottish people, who, even in their poverty, arc full of proud love of freedom, hatred for all oppressors, contempt for the rich, human dignity and an optimistic belief in their beautiful future. This is reflected, for instance, in the poem Is There for Honest Poverty, which is rightly called the Scottish "Marseillaise"

Is there, for honest Poverty, That hangs his head, and all that: The Coward slave, we pass him by, We dare be poor for all !hal!

For all that, and all that;

Our toil's obscure and all that; The rank is but the guinea-stamp,

The Man's the gold for all that.

Then let us pray that come it may­ (As come it will for all that)-

That Sense and Worth over all the Earth,

Shall bear the gree, and all that. for all that, and all that,