Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Clarinda

Robert Burns

“Clarinda” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 131 1887 · historical text
Public domainScottish songSong lyrics
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Poetical Works of Robert Burns, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

Clarinda, mistress of my soul,

The measur'd time is run!

The wretch beneath the dreary pole

So marks his latest sun.

Verse 2

To what dark cave of frozen night

Shall poor Sylvander hie;

Depriv'd of thee, his life and light,

The sun of all his joy?

Verse 3

We part - but by these precious drops

That fill thy lovely eyes!

No other light shall guide my steps

Till thy bright beams arise.

Verse 4

She, the fair sun of all her sex,

Has blest my glorious day;

And shall a glimmering planet fix

My worship to its ray?

Credits

Written by Robert Burns

Words by Robert Burns. Historical text published in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887), “Clarinda”

Every text in this 1887 collected edition is by Robert Burns (1759-1796), who died more than 230 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide; the edition carries a Wikisource PD-old determination and a pre-1931 United States publication.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-25. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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