Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Mark yonder pomp

Robert Burns

“Mark yonder pomp” as printed in The Book of Scottish Song (1843).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 64 1843 · historical text
Public domainScottish songFolk
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Book of Scottish Song, edited by Alexander Whitelaw, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

Mark yonder pomp of costly fashion

Round the wealthy, titled bride:

But when compared with real passion,

Poor is all that princely pride.

What are the showy treasures?

What are the noisy pleasures?

The gay gaudy glare of vanity and art:

The polish'd jewel's blaze

May draw the wond'ring gaze,

And courtly grandeur bright

The fancy may delight,

But never, never can come near the heart.

But did yen see my dearest Chloris

In simplicity's array;

Lovely as yonder sweet opening flower is,

Shrinking from the gaze of day?

O then, the heart alarming,

And all resistless charming,

In love's delightful fetters she chains the willing soul!

Ambition would disown

The world's imperial crown,

Even Avarice would deny

His worshipped deity,

And feel through ev'ry vein Love's raptures roll.

Credits

Written by Robert Burns

Words by Robert Burns. Historical text published in The Book of Scottish Song (1843); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Book of Scottish Song (1843), edited by Alexander Whitelaw, “Mark yonder pomp”

Every contribution in this 1843 anthology predates modern copyright terms by more than a century; any contributor died at least 130 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide (life+70 terms expired no later than 2020).

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 2026-10-12. 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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