The Fete Champetre by Robert Burns
The poem imagines a contest over who should be sent to Saint Stephen’s House to represent Ayr. Instead of choosing a lawyer, soldier, or other grand figure, influential men seek votes for Glencaird by offering money, wine, gossip, and, from Annbank, a splendid Fete Champetre designed to please the ladies. Love and Beauty hear of the celebration in the green woods and resolve to bind Sir Politics, claiming the joyful outdoor festival as their own special pleasure. Mirth flies across the countryside, summoning every sociable spirit of woods and waters to gather on the banks of Ayr. Boreas and his rough companions are restrained, the moon rises, streams reflect its light, and a gentle western breeze enters the trees to observe the scene. The fête becomes a radiant display of floating robes, flashing jewels, music, and dancing. Wood and river glitter with an almost heavenly beauty. Politics arrives intending to meddle, but he cannot enter the enchanted ground. Ashamed, he abandons his own name and character, then humbly begs to be admitted to share the festive celebration.
By Robert Burns · First published 1790 · Genre: Political Satire, Satirical Poetry, Scots Poetry · 636 words
First lines
Tune-"Killiecrankie."
O Wha will to Saint Stephen's House, / To do our errands there, man? / O wha will to Saint Stephen's House / O' th' merry lads of Ayr, man?
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Genres
- Political Satire — The poem mockingly addresses electoral influence, patronage, bribery, aristocratic voting, and the exclusion of personified Politics from the idealized celebration.
- Satirical Poetry — Burns uses comic exaggeration, personification, and ironic contrasts between civic corruption and festive pleasure to criticize social and political behavior.
- Scots Poetry — It is written substantially in Scots vernacular, using forms such as 'wha,' 'ilk,' 'bonie,' and 'gie,' and is rooted in Ayrshire social and political culture.
- Occasional Poetry — The work responds to a particular local social and political occasion, naming contemporary figures and celebrating Annbank's fête champêtre.
Tags
Scottish poetry · Scots language · political satire · electioneering · parliamentary representation · Saint Stephen's House · Ayrshire · banks of the River Ayr · eighteenth-century Scotland · outdoor festival · garden party · festivity
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The Fete Champetre is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Burns, dated 1790 CE.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Burns
- Date: 1790 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Political Satire, Satirical Poetry, Scots Poetry, Occasional Poetry, Lyric Poetry
- Length: 636 words
- Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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