XXXI.
Reading edition
THE GLOOMY NIGHT.
Tune—“Roslin Castle.”
[“I had taken,” says Burns, “the last farewell of my friends, my chest was on the road to Greenock, and I had composed the last song I should ever measure in Caledonia—
’The gloomy night is gathering fast.’”]
I.
The gloomy night is gath’ring fast, Loud roars the wild inconstant blast; Yon murky cloud is foul with rain, I see it driving o’er the plain; The hunter now has left the moor, The scatter’d coveys meet secure; While here I wander, prest with care, Along the lonely banks of Ayr.
II.
The Autumn mourns her rip’ning corn, By early Winter’s ravage torn; Across her placid, azure sky, She sees the scowling tempest fly: Chill runs my blood to hear it rave— I think upon the stormy wave, Where many a danger I must dare, Far from the bonnie banks of Ayr.
III.
’Tis not the surging billow’s roar, ’Tis not that fatal deadly shore; Tho’ death in ev’ry shape appear, The wretched have no more to fear! But round my heart the ties are bound, That heart transpierc’d with many a wound; These bleed afresh, those ties I tear, To leave the bonnie banks of Ayr.
IV.
Farewell old Coila’s hills and dales, Her heathy moors and winding vales; The scenes where wretched fancy roves, Pursuing past, unhappy loves! Farewell, my friends! farewell, my foes! My peace with these, my love with those— The bursting tears my heart declare; Farewell, the bonnie banks of Ayr!