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Alterations of the verses Written in Friars' Carse Hermitage

Key details

Archive number
NTS/02/25/BRN/02/168
Alt. number
3.6215.i
Date
December 1788
On display
Yes
Creator
Burns, Robert (Author)
Recipient
Stewart, Mrs Alexander

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Description

Alterations of the verses Written in Friars' Carse Hermitage, part of the Afton manuscript collection.

This manuscript is headed 'Alteration to the verses, Page 27', which refers to the page number in the Afton Manuscript volume where Burns recorded his first version of this poem. Here on page 43 is the later, longer version. Based on the same theme, the format is somewhat different. Burns considers the ages of man, youth, maturity and old age, at the last giving way to the peace of death and the joy of the resurrection.

This first page starts off almost repeating the original, addressing itself to the rustic and the rich before describing the insignificance of man's life span and the vagaries of experience. In this version, Burns goes on to consider the joys of youth, counselling prudence then turning to the ambitions of middle age.

In the second page Burns develops the aspirations of middle age. He considers the mountain we aim to climb to reach the high places of our ambition, but cautions the reader to the dangers lurking there and reminds us of the peace of mind to be found in keeping our paths on lower ground. He then looks at old age and directs us to share our knowledge and experience with young people.

On the third page Burns continues to ask what attributes were allotted by nature and reminds us that they are predestined by heaven. He also hopes that our lot lies in a just path rather than a foolish one. Finally he turns our attention to the peace of the grave and to the joy of the resurrection.

Robert Burns was a neighbour of Captain Robert Riddell who lived in the mansion house called Friars' Carse. Nearby was a secluded monk’s hermitage to which the Captain gave Robert a key and it was here that he also wrote this later version of the poem. He enclosed it with a letter to his friend and confidante Mrs Dunlop on 7 December 1788, adding the comment 'tell me which of them you like best'.

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


Hierarchy

  1. Robert Burns, collection of poems and songs ( )
  2. Alterations of the verses Written in Friars' Carse Hermitage