A Portrait of Robert Burns Robert Burns

1787 · Song

Extempore in the Court of Session

Lord Advocate


Tune ·  Killiercrankie

He clenched his pamphlet in his fist,He quoted and he hinted,Till, in a declamation-mist,His argument he tint it:He gaped for’t, he graped for’t,He fand it was awa, man;But what his common sense came short,He eked out wi’ law, man.8
Mr. Erskine9
Collected, Harry stood awee,Then open’d out his arm, man;11
His Lordship sat wi’ ruefu’ e’e,And ey’d the gathering storm, man:Like wind-driven hail it did assail’Or torrents owre a lin, man:The Bench sae wise, lift up their eyes,Half-wauken’d wi’ the din, man.17

Footnotes

  1. 1. William Dunbar, W. S., of the Crochallan Fencibles, a convivial club.
Year
1787
Form
Song
Location
Edinburgh
Tune
Killiercrankie
Source
Project Gutenberg #1279 — Poems and Songs of Robert Burns