Epistle to Mrs. Scott of Wauchope-House
Robert Burns addresses the Gudewife of Wauchope-House by recalling his youth as a shy farm worker, first learning to thresh, plough, shear, and clear the harvest fields. Though exhausted by labour, he felt proud to be counted a man among the other workers. Even then he cherished a lasting desire to serve “poor auld Scotland” by making something useful or by singing a song, and he spared the burr-thistle among the grain because it was a symbol dear to him. He declares that no rank or nation could inspire greater pride than being a Scot. He remembers that the raw materials of song once floated confusedly in his mind until a cheerful young woman, his partner in the harvest work, awakened his poetic feeling. Her smile and bright, knowing eyes stirred him, yet his bashfulness kept him from speaking openly. The speaker then offers a warm defence of women, calling them the source of joy, comfort, life, and earthly happiness. He condemns men who slight them, insisting that such men dishonour even their own mothers. Finally, he thanks the Gudewife, who “sweetly tune[s] the Scottish lyre,” for a gift of marled plaid. He says he would wear it more proudly than ermine or imperial purple, and wishes her long health, abundance, and freedom from losses and troubles.
By Robert Burns · First published 1786 · Genre: Epistolary Poetry, Scottish Vernacular Poetry, Lyric Poetry · 718 words
First lines
Gudewife of Wauchope-House, Roxburghshire.
Gudewife,
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Genres
- Epistolary Poetry — The work is a verse epistle directly addressed to Mrs. Scott of Wauchope-House, combining personal address, thanks, recollection, and good wishes.
- Scottish Vernacular Poetry — Burns writes predominantly in Scots dialect, using rural Scottish vocabulary, idiom, rhythms, and cultural references.
- Lyric Poetry — Its first-person voice expresses personal memory, aspiration, patriotism, admiration, gratitude, and affection in musical stanzas.
- Occasional Poetry — The poem was composed for a particular social occasion and recipient, responding to Mrs. Scott's gift and goodwill.
Tags
Scottish poetry · Scots language · verse epistle · eighteenth-century Scotland · Roxburghshire · rural labor · farm work · harvest fields · threshing and ploughing · youthful memory · working-class pride · Scottish national identity
What this Textopian page supports
Epistle to Mrs. Scott of Wauchope-House is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Burns, dated 1786 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Burns
- Date: 1786 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Epistolary Poetry, Scottish Vernacular Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Occasional Poetry, Pastoral Poetry
- Length: 718 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for Epistle to Mrs. Scott of Wauchope-House by Robert Burns
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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