Explore "Farewell Thou Stream" by Robert Burns on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Air-"Nansie's to the greenwood gane."
Farewell, thou stream that winding flows / Around Eliza's dwelling; / O mem'ry! spare the cruel thoes / Within my bosom swelling. / Condemn'd to drag a hopeless chain / And yet in secret languish; / To feel a fire in every vein, / Nor dare disclose my anguish.
Love's veriest wretch, unseen, unknown, / I fain my griefs would cover; / The bursting sigh, th' unweeting groan, / Betray the hapless lover. / I know thou doom'st me to despair, / Nor wilt, nor canst relieve me; / But, O Eliza, hear one prayer- / For pity's sake forgive me!
The music of thy voice I heard, / Nor wist while it enslav'd me; / I saw thine eyes, yet nothing fear'd, / Till fears no more had sav'd me: / Th' unwary sailor thus, aghast / The wheeling torrent viewing, / 'Mid circling horrors sinks at last, / In overwhelming ruin.