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Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Written on a Blank Leaf of one of Miss Hannah More's Works, which she had given him

Robert Burns

“Written on a Blank Leaf of one of Miss Hannah More's Works, which she had given him” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 508 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

Thou flattering mark of friendship kind

Still may thy pages call to mind

The dear, the beauteous donor:

Though sweetly female every part,

Yet such a head, and more the heart,

Does both the sexes honour.

Verse 2

She showed her tastes refined and just

When she selected thee,

Yet deviating own I must,

For so approving me.

But kind still, I'll mind still

The giver in the gift;

I'll bless her and wiss her

A Friend above the Lift.

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), “Written on a Blank Leaf of one of Miss Hannah More's Works, which she had given him”

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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