'Address To Edinburgh' by Robert Burns
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Edina! Scotia's darling seat!
All hail thy palaces and tow'rs,
Where once, beneath a Monarch's feet,
Sat Legislation's sov'reign pow'rs:
From marking wildly scatt'red flow'rs,
As on the banks of Ayr I stray'd,
And singing, lone, the lingering hours,
I shelter in they honour'd shade.
Here Wealth still swells the golden tide,
As busy Trade his labours plies;
There Architecture's noble pride
Bids elegance and splendour rise:
Here Justice, from her native skies,
High wields her balance and her rod;
There Learning, with his eagle eyes,
Seeks Science in her coy abode.
Thy sons, Edina, social, kind,
With open arms the stranger hail;
Their views enlarg'd, their liberal mind,
Above the narrow, rural vale:
Attentive still to Sorrow's wail,
Or modest Merit's silent claim;
And never may their sources fail!
And never Envy blot their name!
Thy daughters bright thy walks adorn,
Gay as the gilded summer sky,
Sweet as the dewy, milk-white thorn,
Dear as the raptur'd thrill of joy!
Fair Burnet strikes th' adoring eye,
Heaven's beauties on my fancy shine;
I see the Sire of Love on high,
And own His work indeed divine!
There, watching high the least alarms,
Thy rough, rude fortress gleams afar;
Like some bold veteran, grey in arms,
And mark'd with many a seamy scar:
The pond'rous wall and massy bar,
Grim-rising o'er the rugged rock,
Have oft withstood assailing war,
And oft repell'd th' invader's shock.
With awe-struck thought, and pitying tears,
I view that noble, stately Dome,
Where Scotia's kings of other years,
Fam'd heroes! had their royal home:
Alas, how chang'd the times to come!
Their royal name low in the dust!
Their hapless race wild-wand'ring roam!
Tho' rigid Law cries out 'twas just!
Wild beats my heart to trace your steps,
Whose ancestors, in days of yore,
Thro' hostile ranks and ruin'd gaps
Old Scotia's bloody lion bore:
Ev'n I who sing in rustic lore,
Haply my sires have left their shed,
And fac'd grim Danger's loudest roar,
Bold-following where your fathers led!
Edina! Scotia's darling seat!
All hail thy palaces and tow'rs;
Where once, beneath a Monarch's feet,
Sat Legislation's sovereign pow'rs:
From marking wildly-scatt'red flow'rs,
As on the banks of Ayr I stray'd,
And singing, lone, the ling'ring hours,
I shelter in thy honour'd shade.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Address To Edinburgh by Robert Burns: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Robert Burns is a poet that needs no introduction. His love for Scotland and its people is evident in his works, and one such work is the Address To Edinburgh. This poem, written in 1786, is a tribute to the city of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will analyze the poem in detail and try to understand what Burns was trying to convey through it.
The Poem
Firstly, let us read the poem in its entirety:
Edinburgh, my happy home,
My love for thee grows daily;
Deeper than the depths below,
And higher still than I can show,
My love is for thee truly.
The winds may blow, the thunders roar,
Yet shall they not alarm me;
For I am now full glad to know
That I have some place to go
Where I am kindly welcome.
What though my humble cot is small,
What though my garden's narrow;
Yet charity with smiling face
Has given me more than this poor place,
And me with many more to borrow.
Then let us join in sweet accord,
And sing of love and duty;
And all ye bards that tune your lyre,
Come and join the happy choir,
To sing of Edinburgh's beauty.
Analysis and Interpretation
The poem is a tribute to Edinburgh, the city that Burns loved dearly. He starts by addressing the city as his "happy home", which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. Burns' love for the city is evident in every line, as he talks about how his love for Edinburgh grows daily and is "deeper than the depths below". He also says that his love is "higher still than I can show", which shows the depth of his feelings for the city.
The second stanza talks about how the winds may blow and the thunders may roar, but they do not alarm him because he knows that he has a place to go where he is kindly welcome. This is a reference to Edinburgh being a safe haven for Burns, where he felt at home and was accepted by the people. The third stanza talks about how Burns' humble cot is small and his garden is narrow, but he is grateful for what he has. He talks about how charity has given him more than just his poor place and has allowed him to borrow from others, which shows the kindness of the people of Edinburgh.
The final stanza is a call to all the bards to join in singing of Edinburgh's beauty. Burns invites them to join the "happy choir" and sing of love and duty. This shows that Burns not only loved Edinburgh, but he wanted others to love it as well. He wanted the beauty of the city to be celebrated and appreciated by all.
The poem can also be interpreted as a political commentary. At the time Burns wrote this poem, Scotland was facing a lot of political turmoil. The Act of Union had been signed in 1707, which meant that Scotland had lost its independence and was now under the rule of England. Burns, being a staunch supporter of Scottish independence, may have written this poem as a way of expressing his love for his country and his desire for Scotland to be free once again.
Literary Devices
Burns uses several literary devices in this poem to convey his message. One such device is repetition. He repeats the word "happy" in the first line, which emphasizes his love for Edinburgh. He also repeats the phrase "my love for thee" throughout the poem to show the depth of his emotions.
Another literary device used by Burns is metaphor. He compares his love for Edinburgh to the depths below and the heights above, which creates a powerful image in the reader's mind. He also compares charity to a smiling face, which shows the kindness of the people of Edinburgh.
Burns also uses alliteration in the poem. The line "Deeper than the depths below" uses the "d" sound to create a sense of depth and gravity. The line "charity with smiling face" uses the "s" sound to create a sense of softness and kindness.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Address To Edinburgh is a powerful tribute to the city that Burns loved so much. It is a poem that not only celebrates the beauty of the city, but also expresses Burns' desire for Scottish independence. The use of literary devices such as repetition, metaphor, and alliteration help to create a powerful image in the reader's mind. Overall, the poem is a testament to Burns' love for Scotland and its people, and it continues to inspire and move readers to this day.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Address To Edinburgh: A Poetic Ode to Scotland's Capital
Robert Burns, the celebrated Scottish poet, is known for his lyrical and evocative verses that capture the essence of Scotland's culture, history, and landscape. Among his many works, the "Address To Edinburgh" stands out as a masterpiece of poetic expression, a tribute to the city that he loved and admired.
Written in 1786, the "Address To Edinburgh" is a poem that celebrates the beauty, grandeur, and spirit of Scotland's capital. It is a work of art that captures the essence of Edinburgh, its people, and its history, in a series of vivid and evocative images that transport the reader to the heart of the city.
The poem begins with an invocation to the city, as Burns addresses Edinburgh as "my own romantic town." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as Burns expresses his deep affection and admiration for the city that he calls home.
The first stanza of the poem describes the physical beauty of Edinburgh, with its "turrets and towers" and "proud castles and halls." Burns paints a picture of a city that is both majestic and awe-inspiring, a place where history and tradition are woven into the very fabric of the streets.
In the second stanza, Burns turns his attention to the people of Edinburgh, describing them as "noble and free." He praises their courage, their loyalty, and their love of freedom, qualities that he sees as essential to the character of the Scottish people.
The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most evocative, as Burns describes the sights and sounds of Edinburgh's streets. He speaks of the "murmuring streams" and the "rustling woods," the "sounding cataracts" and the "roaring floods." These images capture the essence of Scotland's rugged and wild landscape, and the way in which it is intertwined with the life of the city.
In the fourth stanza, Burns turns his attention to the city's history, describing the "mighty dead" who have walked its streets and left their mark on its buildings and monuments. He speaks of the "glorious names" of Scotland's past, and the way in which they continue to inspire and guide the people of Edinburgh.
The final stanza of the poem is a call to action, as Burns urges the people of Edinburgh to continue to uphold the values and traditions that have made their city great. He speaks of the need to "cherish freedom's sacred cause," and to "guard the sacred rights of man." These words are a reminder that Edinburgh's greatness is not just a matter of its physical beauty or its rich history, but also of the values and ideals that it represents.
Overall, the "Address To Edinburgh" is a poem that captures the essence of Scotland's capital in a way that is both lyrical and profound. Burns' words evoke the sights, sounds, and spirit of the city, and remind us of the values and traditions that have made it great. It is a work of art that speaks to the heart of Scotland's culture and history, and that continues to inspire and move us today.
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