Page images
PDF
EPUB

THE ALDINE EDITION

OF THE BRITISH

POETS

THE POEMS OF BURNS

THREE VOLUMES

VOL II

[merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

POEMS,

CHIEFLY SCOTTISH.

ADDRESS TO THE TOOTHACH,*

WRITTEN WHEN THE AUTHOR WAS GRIEVOUSLY

TORMENTED BY THAT DISORDER.

[graphic]

Y curse upon thy venom'd stang,
That shoots my tortur'd gums alang;
And thro' my lugs gies monie a twang,
Wi' gnawing vengeance;

Tearing my nerves wi' bitter pang,
Like racking engines!

When fevers burn, or ague freezes,
Rheumatics gnaw, or cholic squeezes ;
Our neighbour's sympathy may ease us,
Wi' pitying moan;

But thee-thou hell o' a' diseases,

Aye mocks our groan!

* Burns suffered much from this disease. Ellisland, in May, 1789, he complains of tooth-ache engrossing all his inner man."

[blocks in formation]

66

10

In a letter from

an omnipotent

« PreviousContinue »