| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
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| Robert Burns. 1759–1796 |
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| 499. Ae Fond Kiss |
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| AE fond kiss, and then we sever; | |
| Ae fareweel, alas, for ever! | |
| Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee, | |
| Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee! | |
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| Who shall say that Fortune grieves him | 5 |
| While the star of hope she leaves him? | |
| Me, nae cheerfu' twinkle lights me, | |
| Dark despair around benights me. | |
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| I'll ne'er blame my partial fancy; | |
| Naething could resist my Nancy; | 10 |
| But to see her was to love her, | |
| Love but her, and love for ever. | |
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| Had we never loved sae kindly, | |
| Had we never loved sae blindly, | |
| Never met—or never parted, | 15 |
| We had ne'er been broken-hearted. | |
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| Fare thee weel, thou first and fairest! | |
| Fare thee weel, thou best and dearest! | |
| Thine be ilka joy and treasure, | |
| Peace, enjoyment, love, and pleasure! | 20 |
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| Ae fond kiss, and then we sever! | |
| Ae fareweel, alas, for ever! | |
| Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee, | |
| Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee! | |
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GLOSS: wage] stake, plight. |
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