Letter from Robert Burns to John McKenzie, 3 September, with 'The Calf'
"And they shall go forth, and grow up like Calves " of the stall." Right Sir! your text I'll prove it true, Tho heretics may laugh; For instance; there's yoursel just now, God knows an unco Calf And when some Patron shall be kind, To bless you wi' a kirk. I doubt na, Sir, but then we'll find - Ye're still as great a stirk. But if the Lovers mysticraptur'd hour Should ever be your lot; Forbit it every heavenly Pow'r, You e'er should be a Stot.- And when a *Kind* conubial Dear Your but an' ben adorns, The like has been that you may wear A noble head of Horns.
So, to conclude, most reverend James, To hear you roar an' rowte, Few men o' sense will doubt your claims To rank among the nowte. And when ye're number'd wi' the Dead, Beneath a grassy hillock; With justice they may mark your head- "Here lyes a Famous Bullock!" __________ Dr. Sir, I am afraid the foregoing scrawl will be scarce intelligible - he fourth, and the last Stanza are added Since I saw you today.- 1 o'clock P.M I am ever Dr. Sir, your Rob.t Burn
Key details
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/01/78
- Alt. number
- 3.6301
- Date
- 3 September 1786
- On display
- No
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Recipient
- McKenzie, John
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/01/78
- Alt. number
- 3.6301
- Date
- 3 September 1786
- On display
- No
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Recipient
- McKenzie, John
Description
Letter from Robert Burns to John McKenzie, dated 3 September, with 'The Calf' poem also included, in 6 Four-line verses.
Begins: "Right, Sir ! your text I'll prove it true".
It was written for the Rev. James Steven on the text of Malachi "And you shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall". Written by Robert Burns on the birth of his twin children by Jean Armour in September 1786. Composed in response to a wager with Gavin Hamilton that Robert Burns would not be able to produce a poem within a brief specified time.
Archive information
Themes
Hierarchy
-
Letters from and to Robert Burns
(
a sub-fonds is a subdivision in the archival material)
- Letter from Robert Burns to John McKenzie, 3 September, with 'The Calf'