Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Sonnet, on the Death of Robert Riddel, Esq. of Glenriddel

Robert Burns

“Sonnet, on the Death of Robert Riddel, Esq. of Glenriddel” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 334 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

No more, ye warblers of the wood—no more!

Nor pour your descant, grating, on my soul;

Thou young-eyed Spring, gay in thy verdant stole,

More welcome were to me grim Winter's wildest roar.

Verse 2

How can ye charm, ye flow'rs, with all your dyes?

Ye blow upon the sod that wraps my friend:

How can I to the tuneful strain attend?

That strain flows round th' untimely tomb where Riddel lies.

Verse 3

Yes, pour, ye warblers, pour the notes of woe!

And sooth the Virtues weeping on this bier:

The Man of Worth, and has not left his peer,

Is in his "narrow house" for ever darkly low.

Verse 4

Thee, Spring, again with joys shall others greet;

Me, mem'ry of my loss will only meet.

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), “Sonnet, on the Death of Robert Riddel, Esq. of Glenriddel”

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

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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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