She's Fair and Fause by Robert Burns
The speaker laments a beloved woman who is both beautiful and false. Though he loved her deeply and for a long time, she has broken her vow and his heart after a wealthy fool won her with abundant possessions. He bitterly resolves to let her go, treating woman as worldly treasure that can be lost. He then warns all who love women not to be surprised by their fickleness, which he claims is natural to them. While praising woman’s lovely and angelic appearance, he concludes that she has been given an angel’s form but not an angel’s mind.
By Robert Burns · First published 1792 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Love Poetry, Scottish Vernacular Poetry · 172 words
First lines
She's fair and fause that causes my smart, / I lo'ed her meikle and lang; / She's broken her vow, she's broken my heart, / And I may e'en gae hang. / A coof cam in wi' routh o' gear, / And I hae tint my dearest dear; / But Woman is but warld's gear, / Sae let the bonie lass gang.
Whae'er ye be that woman love, / To this be never blind; / Nae ferlie 'tis tho' fickle she prove, / A woman has't by kind. / O Woman lovely, Woman fair! / An angel form's faun to thy share, / 'Twad been o'er meikle to gi'en thee mair- / I mean an angel mind.
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — A short, highly emotional first-person poem expressing personal grief, betrayal, and romantic disillusionment.
- Love Poetry — The poem centers on the speaker's love for a woman who has broken her vow and abandoned him for a wealthier rival.
- Scottish Vernacular Poetry — Burns writes extensively in Scots dialect, using words such as 'lo'ed,' 'meikle,' 'gae,' 'coof,' and 'routh o' gear.'
- Betrayal Poetry — The speaker's pain arises directly from his beloved's broken promise and apparent preference for material wealth.
Tags
Scottish poetry · Scots language · lyric poem · love and betrayal · broken vows · heartbreak · unrequited love · romantic disillusionment · female infidelity · fickleness · wealth and courtship · materialism
What this Textopian page supports
She's Fair and Fause is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Burns, dated 1792 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: 1792 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Love Poetry, Scottish Vernacular Poetry, Betrayal Poetry, Satirical Poetry
- Length: 172 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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