Robert Burns (1759–1796). Poems and Songs.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. |
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| 438. Impromptu on Mrs. Riddell’s Birthday |
| | | | | 4th November 1793. |
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| OLD Winter, with his frosty beard, | |
| Thus once to Jove his prayer preferred: | |
| “What have I done of all the year, | |
| To bear this hated doom severe? | |
| My cheerless suns no pleasure know; | 5 |
| Night’s horrid car drags, dreary slow; | |
| My dismal months no joys are crowning, | |
| But spleeny English hanging, drowning. | |
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| “Now Jove, for once be mighty civil. | |
| To counterbalance all this evil; | 10 |
| Give me, and I’ve no more to say, | |
| Give me Maria’s natal day! | |
| That brilliant gift shall so enrich me, | |
| Spring, Summer, Autumn, cannot match me.” | |
| “’Tis done!” says Jove; so ends my story, | 15 |
| And Winter once rejoiced in glory. | |
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