The Humble Petition of Bruar Water to the Noble Duke of Athole
The humble petition of Bruar
Water to the noble Duke of Athole.-
Bruar Falls in Athole, are exceedingly pictu-
resque & beautiful: but not a bush to be seen
about them, mars much their effect.-
My Lord, I know your noble ear
Woe ne'er assails in vain,
Embolden'd thus, I beg you'll hear
your humble slave complain
How saucy Phebus' scorching beams
In flaming summer-pride,
Dry-withering, waste my foamy streams
And drink my crystal tide.-
The lightly-jumping, glowrin trouts
That thro' my waters play,
If, in their random, wanton spouts,
They near the margin stray;
If
Water to the noble Duke of Athole.-
Bruar Falls in Athole, are exceedingly pictu-
resque & beautiful: but not a bush to be seen
about them, mars much their effect.-
My Lord, I know your noble ear
Woe ne'er assails in vain,
Embolden'd thus, I beg you'll hear
your humble slave complain
How saucy Phebus' scorching beams
In flaming summer-pride,
Dry-withering, waste my foamy streams
And drink my crystal tide.-
The lightly-jumping, glowrin trouts
That thro' my waters play,
If, in their random, wanton spouts,
They near the margin stray;
If
Key details
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/02/196
- Alt. number
- 3.6268
- Date
- September 1787
- On display
- No
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/02/196
- Alt. number
- 3.6268
- Date
- September 1787
- On display
- No
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
Description
The Humble Petition of Bruar Water to the Noble Duke of Athole. Begins "My Lord, I know, your noble ear". The first three four-line verses only. Another partial copy of this poem is in the collection see Item ref 309.04.
In this poem Burns observes that the river is short of water and asks the noble Duke to plant trees and shrubs along the river bank to shade it from the sun. Then it would be home to more wild life and make a pleasant place for wandering shepherds, lovers and bards. (poem no 172)
The beginning lines of this poem is where Burns sets the scene of the almost dry river and pleads with the Duke to help. He even envisages the trout finishing up high and dry on the banks.
Burns sent the original of this Poem with a covering letter ( letter no 135) to Josiah Walker, tutor to the son of the Duke of Athole, from Inverness on 5th September 1787 after he had visited the Duke a few days earlier while on his Highland Tour.
Burns sent the original of this Poem with a covering letter ( letter no 135) to Josiah Walker, tutor to the son of the Duke of Athole, from Inverness on 5th September 1787 after he had visited the Duke a few days earlier while on his Highland Tour.
Archive information
Themes
Hierarchy
-
Robert Burns, collection of poems and songs
(
a sub-fonds is a subdivision in the archival material)
- The Humble Petition of Bruar Water to the Noble Duke of Athole
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