Robert Burns (1759–1796). Poems and Songs.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. |
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| 5. Tragic Fragment—All villain as I am |
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| ALL villain as I am—a damnèd wretch, | |
| A hardened, stubborn, unrepenting villain, | |
| Still my heart melts at human wretchedness; | |
| And with sincere but unavailing sighs | |
| I view the helpless children of distress: | 5 |
| With tears indignant I behold the oppressor | |
| Rejoicing in the honest man’s destruction, | |
| Whose unsubmitting heart was all his crime.— | |
| Ev’n you, ye hapless crew! I pity you; | |
| Ye, whom the seeming good think sin to pity; | 10 |
| Ye poor, despised, abandoned vagabonds, | |
| Whom Vice, as usual, has turn’d o’er to ruin. | |
| Oh! but for friends and interposing Heaven, | |
| I had been driven forth like you forlorn, | |
| The most detested, worthless wretch among you! | 15 |
| O injured God! Thy goodness has endow’d me | |
| With talents passing most of my compeers, | |
| Which I in just proportion have abused— | |
| As far surpassing other common villains | |
| As Thou in natural parts has given me more. | 20 |
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