The Vision, Duan First and Duan Second

Burns continues with the contrast between what might have been and current situation - instead of having a cash-account, he is 'half-mad, half-fed, half-sarket'. He calls himself a fool, and jumps up to swear to abandon poetry. But the door opens wide, and a beautiful young woman wearing a wreath of holly enters, lit by the now blazing fire. He recognised her as a Scottish Muse - come to stop him making a vow he would not keep.

Burns continues his roll call of the noble families of Ayrshire, many of whom were well known to him - the Montgomeries of Coilsfield march past, with, here, an additional verse on Hugh Montgomerie. The 'aged Judge' is Sir Thomas Miller of Barskimming, Lord Justice Clerk. The poem continues with verses found only in this manuscript, referring to Auchinleck, home of Alexander Boswell and the home of the Whitefords, Ballochmyle. Continuing the same theme, the final two pages of Duan first are missing, containing nine verses, seven of which do not exist in any other manuscript.

Here Burns includes only two verses of Duan Second, as, he writes, the rest can be found in print. In this second section of the poem the Muse, Coila, speaks to Burns, describing the inspiration of muses to all men of Scotland. She has watched over him with hope from his earliest days, inspired by the land, love and passion, and guided him. He may never equal his poetic heroes, but should strive to shine in his humble sphere and be true to poetry, bringing a rustic bard greater bliss than riches or a king's favour.

Burns worked hard and long throughout his life, producing his huge output of poems and songs between farming and later excise duties. 'The Vision' evokes this contrast between the hardship of his life and the breadth of his inspiration.