Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

On the Death of John M'Leod, Esq.

Robert Burns

“On the Death of John M'Leod, Esq.” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 286 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

Sad thy tale, thou idle page,

And rueful thy alarms:

Death tears the brother of her love

From Isabella's arms.

Verse 2

Sweetly deckt with pearly dew

The morning rose may blow;

But cold successive noontide blasts

May lay its beauties low.

Verse 3

Fair on Isabella's morn

The sun propitious smil'd;

But, long ere noon, succeeding clouds

Succeeding hopes beguil'd.

Verse 4

Fate oft tears the bosom chords

That Nature finest strung:

So Isabella's heart was form'd,

And so that heart was wrung.

Verse 5

Dread Omnipotence, alone,

Can heal the wound He gave;

Can point the brimful grief-worn eyes

To scenes beyond the grave.

Verse 6

Virtue's blossoms there shall blow,

And fear no withering blast;

There Isabella's spotless worth

Shall happy be at last.

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), “On the Death of John M'Leod, Esq.”

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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