Versified Note to Dr. Mackenzie, Mauchline
Robert Burns invites Dr. Mackenzie to attend a grand procession on Friday, arranged by the “Right Worshipful” body. The occasion promises convivial fellowship, including Johnie’s “morals” and a taste of Manson’s barrels, and Burns says that the Master and Brotherhood would be pleased by Mackenzie’s presence. He especially expresses pride at sharing these “mercies” with him. If Mackenzie is detained by a mortal illness or threatened by Death, Burns urges him to postpone that struggle until Saturday so that he may join the gathering.
By Robert Burns · First published 1786 · Genre: Epistolary Poetry, Occasional Poetry, Scottish Dialect Poetry · 149 words
First lines
Friday first's the day appointed / By the Right Worshipful anointed,
To hold our grand procession; / To get a blad o' Johnie's morals, / And taste a swatch o' Manson's barrels
I' the way of our profession. / The Master and the Brotherhood / Would a' be glad to see you; / For me I would be mair than proud
To share the mercies wi' you. / If Death, then, wi' skaith, then, / Some mortal heart is hechtin, / Inform him, and storm him, / That Saturday you'll fecht him.
Similar titles
- Third Epistle To J Lapraik by Robert Burns
- Epistle To J Lapraik An Old Scottish Bard by Robert Burns
- Epistle To John Rankine by Robert Burns
- Reply To An Announcement By J Rankine by Robert Burns
- Second Epistle To J Lapraik by Robert Burns
- A Stanza Added In A Mason Lodge by Robert Burns
Genres
- Epistolary Poetry — The work is a verse-form personal note addressed directly to Dr. Mackenzie, inviting him to a planned gathering.
- Occasional Poetry — It was composed for a specific social occasion: a Masonic procession and associated celebration.
- Scottish Dialect Poetry — Burns writes extensively in Scots vernacular, using terms such as 'auld,' 'mair,' 'wi',' and 'fecht.'
- Masonic Poetry — Its subject is explicitly a Masonic meeting, referring to the Master, Brotherhood, procession, and the Masonic year notation.
Tags
Scottish vernacular poetry · epistolary verse · invitation poem · Masonic fellowship · Masonic procession · fraternal brotherhood · conviviality · drinking culture · ale barrels · shared hospitality · Friday gathering · humorous tone
What this Textopian page supports
Versified Note to Dr. Mackenzie, Mauchline 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, Occasional Poetry, Scottish Dialect Poetry, Masonic Poetry, Invitation Poem
- Length: 149 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Versified Note to Dr. Mackenzie, Mauchline by Robert Burns
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph