Robert Burns (1759–1796). Poems and Songs.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. |
| |
| 291. Song—The Captive Ribband |
| | | | | Tune—“Robaidh dona gorach.” |
| |
| |
| DEAR Myra, the captive ribband’s mine, | |
| ’Twas all my faithful love could gain; | |
| And would you ask me to resign | |
| The sole reward that crowns my pain? | |
| |
| Go, bid the hero who has run | 5 |
| Thro’ fields of death to gather fame, | |
| Go, bid him lay his laurels down, | |
| And all his well-earn’d praise disclaim. | |
| |
| The ribband shall its freedom lose— | |
| Lose all the bliss it had with you, | 10 |
| And share the fate I would impose | |
| On thee, wert thou my captive too. | |
| |
| It shall upon my bosom live, | |
| Or clasp me in a close embrace; | |
| And at its fortune if you grieve, | 15 |
| Retrieve its doom, and take its place. | |
| |
|
|
|
