On Chloris being ill
Preparation
Before you read / listen
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Text
On Chloris being ill
by Robert Burns
Long, long the night,
Heavy comes the morrow
While my soul’s delight
Is on her bed of sorrow.
Can I cease to care?
Can I cease to languish,
While my darling fair
Is on the couch of anguish?
Long, long the night,
Heavy comes the morrow
While my soul’s delight
Is on her bed of sorrow.
Ev’ry fear is terror,
Slumber ev’n I dread,
Ev’ry dream is horror.
Long, long the night,
Heavy comes the morrow
While my soul’s delight
Is on her bed of sorrow.
Hear me, Powers Divine!
Oh, in pity, hear me!
Take aught else of mine,
But my Chloris spare me!
Long, long the night,
Heavy comes the morrow
While my soul’s delight
Is on her bed of sorrow.
Task
Notes
Robert Burns
Robert Burns was born in Alloway, Ayrshire, Scotland to a poor farming family, and started composing poetry in a traditional style using the Ayrshire dialect of Lowland Scots in 1783. Although he became famous in Scotland the fame was not accompanied by money and he found it necessary to return to farming. He died at the age of 37 as a result of a weak heart brought on by years of poor working conditions on the farm dating back to his childhood. His memory is celebrated by Burns clubs across the world; his birthday is an unofficial "National Day" for Scots and those with Scottish ancestry.
