a poet's wele to his love-begotten daughter 注释标题 burns never published this poem.
the first instahat entitled him to
the venerable appeltion of father
thou's wele, wean; mishanter fa' me,
if thoughts o' thee, or yet thy mamie,
shall ever daunton me or awe me,
my bonie dy,
or if i blush when thou shalt ca' me
tyta or daddie.
tho' now they ca' me fornicator,
an' tease my name in kintry ctter,
the mair they talk, i'm kent the better,
e'ehem csh;
an auld wife's tongue's a feckless matter
to gie ane fash.
wele! my bonie, sweet, wee dochter,
tho' ye e here a wee unsought for,
and tho' your in' i hae fought for,
baith kirk and queir;
yet, by my faith, ye're no unwrought for,
that i shall swear!
wee image o' my boty,
as fatherly i kiss and daut thee,
as dear, and near my heart i set thee
wi' as gude will
as a' the priests had see thee
that's out o' hell.
sweet fruit o' mony a merry dint,
my funny toil is now a' tint,
sin' thou came to the warl' asklent,
which fools may scoff at;
in my st pck thy part's be in't
the better ha'f o't.
tho' i should be the waur bestead,
thou's be as braw and bienly cd,
and thy young years as nicely bred
wi' education,
as ony brat o' wedlock's bed,
in a' thy station.
lrant that thou may aye i
thy mither's person, grace, an' merit,
an' thy poor, worthless daddy's spirit,
without his failins,
'twill please me mair to see thee heir it,
than stockit mailens.
for if thou be what i wad hae thee,
and tak the sel i shall gie thee,
i'll never rue my trouble wi' thee,
the cost nor shame o't,
but be a loving father to thee,
and brag the name o't.