Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
320 / 519
Public-domain lyrics

Sent to a Gentleman whom he had offended

Robert Burns

“Sent to a Gentleman whom he had offended” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 320 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

The friend whom wild from wisdom's way

The fumes of wine infuriate send;

(Not moony madness more astray;)

Who but deplores that hapless friend?

Verse 2

Mine was th' insensate frenzied part,

Ah why should I such scenes outlive?

Scenes so abhorrent to my heart!

'Tis thine to pity and forgive.

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), “Sent to a Gentleman whom he had offended”

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.
Keep tracing

More from Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics.

01A Rose-budPublic-domain lyrics02A red, red RosePublic-domain lyrics03Address to a LadyPublic-domain lyrics04AdieuPublic-domain lyrics