The Twa Herds; or, the Holy Tulyie
“The Twa Herds; or, the Holy Tulyie” laments a bitter quarrel between Moodie and Russell, two celebrated “herds” of orthodox flocks. Their dispute is treated as a scandal: men long known for sounding the gospel horn, defending their sheep, and opposing corruption now call one another “villain” and “hypocrite,” while New-Light herds laugh and say that neither is lying. Moodie is praised for keeping a remarkably healthy flock, fed from Calvin’s clear well and untouched by “Arminian” poison. He is also portrayed as an eager hunter of creatures that menace the fold, knowing their hiding places and delighting in killing them and selling their skins. Russell likewise knows every sheep in his charge, instantly seeing whether each is sick or healthy. He can cleanse mangy sheep, wield the “gospel club,” and punish New-Light herds by threatening them over a burning pit. The speaker appeals to Duncan, Peebles, and especially apostle Auld to bring Moodie and Russell into agreement. Their reconciliation matters because the orthodox flocks are beset by enemies: new herds come from a cursed opposing party, while Dalrymple, the colleague named M'Gill, the minister called M'Quhae, the two Shaws, old Wodrow’s successor, and Smith are feared as adversaries, rebels, or turn-coats. The speaker calls all flocks across hills, mosses, meadows, moors, and fells to unite against the lairds and win for the “brutes” the power to choose their own herds. Such a victory would allow Orthodoxy to flourish, banish Common Sense to France, and drive away the eloquence, sense, and influence of the hostile herds.
By Robert Burns · First published 1787 · Genre: Satirical Poetry, Religious Satire, Scottish Vernacular Poetry · 1,232 words
First lines
An Unco Mournfu' Tale
"Blockheads with reason wicked wits abhor, / But fool with fool is barbarous civil war,"-Pope.
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Genres
- Satirical Poetry — The poem chiefly ridicules the quarrel between two orthodox Presbyterian ministers, exposing clerical vanity, factionalism, and doctrinal hostility through comic irony.
- Religious Satire — Its subject is a dispute within the Scottish Kirk, and it satirizes Calvinist orthodoxy, ministerial authority, theological intolerance, and conflicts between Old-Light and New-Light clergy.
- Scottish Vernacular Poetry — Burns writes predominantly in Scots dialect, using regional vocabulary, pronunciation, idiom, and rural speech patterns as central elements of the poem's style and comic force.
- Pastoral Satire — Ministers are represented as shepherds and congregations as flocks, adapting pastoral conventions to mock religious leadership and ecclesiastical conflict.
Tags
Scottish vernacular poetry · satirical poem · religious satire · eighteenth-century Scotland · 1785 · Ayrshire · Presbyterian church dispute · clergy quarrel · Calvinist orthodoxy · New Light theology · Arminianism · church factionalism
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The Twa Herds; or, the Holy Tulyie is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Burns, dated 1787 CE.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Burns
- Date: 1787 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satirical Poetry, Religious Satire, Scottish Vernacular Poetry, Pastoral Satire, Mock-Heroic Poetry
- Length: 1,232 words
- Structure: 1 section, 32 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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