Robert Burns (1759–1796). Poems and Songs.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. |
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| 494. Song—Farewell thou stream that winding flows |
| | | | | Air—“Nansie’s to the greenwood gane.” |
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| 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 | 5 |
| And yet in secret languish; | |
| To feel a fire in every vein, | |
| Nor dare disclose my anguish. | |
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| Love’s veriest wretch, unseen, unknown, | |
| I fain my griefs would cover; | 10 |
| 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— | 15 |
| For pity’s sake forgive me! | |
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| 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: | 20 |
| Th’ unwary sailor thus, aghast | |
| The wheeling torrent viewing, | |
| ’Mid circling horrors sinks at last, | |
| In overwhelming ruin. | |
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