Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Sketch

Robert Burns

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

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 324 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

A little, upright, pert, tart, tripping wight,

And still his precious self his dear delight;

Who loves his own smart shadow in the streets

Better than e'er the fairest she he meets;

A man of fashion too, he made his tour,

Learn'd vive la bagatelle, et vive l'amour;

So travel'd monkeys their grimace improve,

Polish their grin, nay, sigh for ladies' love.

Much specious lore, but little understood;

Veneering oft outshines the solid wood:

His solid sense—by inches you must tell,

But mete his cunning by the old Scots ell;

His meddling vanity, a busy fiend,

Still making work his selfish craft must mend.

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), “Sketch”

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

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