46.
Sweet Afton -- A Song ----
1
Flow gently, sweet Afton, among thy green braes,
Flow gently, I'll sing thee a song in thy praise;
My Mary's asleep by thy murmuring stream,
Flow gently, sweet Afton, disturb not her dream. --
2
Thou Stock-dove whose echo resounds thro' the glen,
Ye wild-whistling Blackbirds in yon thorny den,
Thou green-crested Plover thy screaming forbear,
I charge you disturb not my slumbering Fair!
3
How lofty, sweet Afton, thy neighbouring hills,
Far mark'd with the courses of clear, winding rills;
There daily I wander as noon rises high,
My flocks & my Mary's sweet cot in my eye. --
4
How pleasant thy banks & green vallies below,
Where wild in the woodlands the primroses blow,
There oft as mild Evening weeps over the lea,
The sweet-scented birk shades my Mary & me.
Sweet Afton -- A Song ----
1
Flow gently, sweet Afton, among thy green braes,
Flow gently, I'll sing thee a song in thy praise;
My Mary's asleep by thy murmuring stream,
Flow gently, sweet Afton, disturb not her dream. --
2
Thou Stock-dove whose echo resounds thro' the glen,
Ye wild-whistling Blackbirds in yon thorny den,
Thou green-crested Plover thy screaming forbear,
I charge you disturb not my slumbering Fair!
3
How lofty, sweet Afton, thy neighbouring hills,
Far mark'd with the courses of clear, winding rills;
There daily I wander as noon rises high,
My flocks & my Mary's sweet cot in my eye. --
4
How pleasant thy banks & green vallies below,
Where wild in the woodlands the primroses blow,
There oft as mild Evening weeps over the lea,
The sweet-scented birk shades my Mary & me.
47
5.
Thy crystal stream, Afton, how lovely it glides,
And winds by the cot where my Mary resides;
How wanton thy waters her snowy feet lave,
As gathering sweet flowerets she stems thy clear
wave. ----
6.
Flow gently, sweet Afton, among thy green braes,
Flow gently, sweet River, the theme of my lays;
My Mary's asleep by thy murmuring stream,
Flow gently, sweet Afton, disturb not her dream. ----
__________________________
5.
Thy crystal stream, Afton, how lovely it glides,
And winds by the cot where my Mary resides;
How wanton thy waters her snowy feet lave,
As gathering sweet flowerets she stems thy clear
wave. ----
6.
Flow gently, sweet Afton, among thy green braes,
Flow gently, sweet River, the theme of my lays;
My Mary's asleep by thy murmuring stream,
Flow gently, sweet Afton, disturb not her dream. ----
__________________________
Key details
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/02/169
- Alt. number
- 3.6215.j
- Date
- 1791
- On display
- Yes
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Recipient
- Stewart, Mrs Alexander
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/02/169
- Alt. number
- 3.6215.j
- Date
- 1791
- On display
- Yes
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Recipient
- Stewart, Mrs Alexander
Description
Sweet Afton - a Song, Part of the Afton manuscript collection.
This is a two-page poem which Burns first enclosed in a letter to Mrs Dunlop dated 5 February 1789 and whose first line is 'Flow gently sweet Afton, among thy green braes'. The six verse lyrics were to be one of Burns's contributions to Johnson's Scots Musical Museum.
In the poem, Burns imagines his lady-love Mary asleep on the banks of the Afton burn, concerned that the clamour of the calling of the doves, blackbirds and green plovers will disturb her dreams. He then envisages the shepherd on the neighbouring hills looking down on the Afton valley below, and in the evening conjures up the sights and fragrance of the primrose and birch covering its banks.
In verse 5 on page 47 Burns describes a favourite image of paddling in the burn and finishes in verse 6 with almost a refrain of the first verse.
This particular manuscript is part of the Afton Manuscript collection. This collection of thirteen poems was presented by Robert to Mrs Alexander Stewart of Stair in 1791.
In verse 5 on page 47 Burns describes a favourite image of paddling in the burn and finishes in verse 6 with almost a refrain of the first verse.
This particular manuscript is part of the Afton Manuscript collection. This collection of thirteen poems was presented by Robert to Mrs Alexander Stewart of Stair in 1791.
Archive information
Themes
Hierarchy
-
Robert Burns, collection of poems and songs
(
a sub-fonds is a subdivision in the archival material)
- Sweet Afton - a Song
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