The Hue & Cry of John Lewars ----
A poor man ruined & undone by Robbery & Murder
Being an aweful warning to the young men of this m
age, how they look well to themselves in the dangerous,
terrible world. --------
A Thief, & a Murderer! stop her who can!
Look well to your lives & your goods!
Good people, ye know not the hazard you run,
'Tis the far-famed & much-noted Woods. ----
While I looked at her eye, for the devil is in it,
In a trice she whipt off my poor heart:
Her brow, cheek & lip -- in another sad minute,
My peace felt her murderous dart. ----
Her features I'll tell you them over -- but hold!
She deals with your wizards & books;
And to peep in her face, if but once you're so bold,
There's witchery kills in her looks.
But softly - I have it - her haunts are well known,
At midnight so sillly I'll watch her;
And sleeping, undrest, in the dark, all alone
Good lord! the dear Thief how I'll catch her!
_______________________
John Lewars, Land Surveyor in Dumfries
Miss Woods, thenGoverness at Miss Mcmurdo's boarding School
A poor man ruined & undone by Robbery & Murder
Being an aweful warning to the young men of this m
age, how they look well to themselves in the dangerous,
terrible world. --------
A Thief, & a Murderer! stop her who can!
Look well to your lives & your goods!
Good people, ye know not the hazard you run,
'Tis the far-famed & much-noted Woods. ----
While I looked at her eye, for the devil is in it,
In a trice she whipt off my poor heart:
Her brow, cheek & lip -- in another sad minute,
My peace felt her murderous dart. ----
Her features I'll tell you them over -- but hold!
She deals with your wizards & books;
And to peep in her face, if but once you're so bold,
There's witchery kills in her looks.
But softly - I have it - her haunts are well known,
At midnight so sillly I'll watch her;
And sleeping, undrest, in the dark, all alone
Good lord! the dear Thief how I'll catch her!
_______________________
John Lewars, Land Surveyor in Dumfries
Miss Woods, thenGoverness at Miss Mcmurdo's boarding School
Key details
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/02/178
- Alt. number
- 3.6164.e
- Date
- 1793
- On display
- No
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/02/178
- Alt. number
- 3.6164.e
- Date
- 1793
- On display
- No
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
Description
The Hue and Cry of John Lewars.
This poem was summed up by Burns in the sub-title: 'A poor man ruined by Robbery and Murder. Being an aweful warning to the young men of this age, how they look well to themselves in this dangerous, terrible world.' The 'Robbery and Murder' was of the human heart.
The poem describes Agnes Woods as a thief and a murderer who stole John Lewars' heart and sent 'a murderous dart' into his peace. Although Burns describes her charms as evil wiles and witchery, she is described, at the end of the poem, as 'dear thief'.
Robert Burns moved to Ellisland farm near Dumfries in 1788. The following year he became an exciseman. In 1791 he moved to Dumfries to take up full-time duties for the Excise. A colleague and neighbour was John Lewars, whose sister Jessy helped with nursing Burns towards the end of his life.
Robert Burns moved to Ellisland farm near Dumfries in 1788. The following year he became an exciseman. In 1791 he moved to Dumfries to take up full-time duties for the Excise. A colleague and neighbour was John Lewars, whose sister Jessy helped with nursing Burns towards the end of his life.
Archive information
Themes
Hierarchy
-
Robert Burns, collection of poems and songs
(
a sub-fonds is a subdivision in the archival material)
- The Hue and Cry of John Lewars
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