Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Fragment of an Ode to the memory of Prince Charles Edward Stuart

Robert Burns

“Fragment of an Ode to the memory of Prince Charles Edward Stuart” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 172 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

False flatterer, Hope, away!

Nor think to lure us as in days of yore;

We solemnise this sorrowing natal-day

To prove our loyal truth; we can no more;

And owning Heaven's mysterious sway,

Submissive low adore.

Verse 2

Ye honoured mighty dead!

Who nobly perished in the glorious cause,

Your king, your country, and her laws!

From great Dundee who smiling victory led,

And fell a martyr in her arms

(What breast of northern ice but warms?)

To bold Balmerino's undying name,

Whose soul of fire, lighted at heaven's high flame,

Deserves the proudest wreath departed heroes claim.

Verse 3

Nor unavenged your fate shall be,

It only lags the fatal hour;

Your blood shall with incessant cry

Awake at last th' unsparing power;

As from the cliff, with thundering course,

The snowy ruin smokes along,

With doubling speed and gathering force,

Till deep it crashing whelms the cottage in the vale!

Verse 4

So vengeance.......

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), “Fragment of an Ode to the memory of Prince Charles Edward Stuart”

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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