Explore "The Chevalier's Lament" by Robert Burns on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Air-"Captain O'Kean."
The small birds rejoice in the green leaves returning, / The murmuring streamlet winds clear thro' the vale; / The primroses blow in the dews of the morning, / And wild scatter'd cowslips bedeck the green dale: / But what can give pleasure, or what can seem fair, / When the lingering moments are numbered by care? / No birds sweetly singing, nor flow'rs gaily springing, / Can soothe the sad bosom of joyless despair.
The deed that I dared, could it merit their malice? / A king and a father to place on his throne! / His right are these hills, and his right are these valleys, / Where the wild beasts find shelter, tho' I can find none! / But 'tis not my suff'rings, thus wretched, forlorn, / My brave gallant friends, 'tis your ruin I mourn; / Your faith proved so loyal in hot bloody trial,- / Alas! I can make it no better return!