A Ballad - While Prose Work and Rhymes
A Ballad - While Prose Work and Rhymes - context Summary
From the Merry Muses
Robert Burns' short ballad, included in The Merry Muses of Caledonia, uses comic, bawdy imagery to undercut political, religious, and legal rivalries. The speaker mocks debates about constitution and revolution, bishops and presbyters, and even justice, suggesting that across factions people share the same sexual appetites. Its tone is satirical and deliberately coarse: the poem treats erotic indulgence as a common, not treasonous subject that unites otherwise opposed groups. Read as social critique, the ballad exposes hypocrisy by reducing high debate to a shared bodily motive.
Read Complete AnalysesWhile Prose-work and rhymes Are hunted for crimes, And things are - the devil knows how; Aware o' my rhymes, In these kittle times, The subject I chuse is a mow. Some cry, Constitution! Some cry, Revolution! And Politicks kick up a rowe; But Prince and Republic, Agree on the Subject, No treason is in a good mow. Th' Episcopal lawn, And Presbyter band, Hae lang been to ither a cowe; But still the proud Prelate, And Presbyter zealot Agree in an orthodox mow. Poor Justice, 'tis hinted Ill natur'dly squinted, The Process - but mum - we'll allow Poor Justice has ever For Cunt had a favor, While Justice could tak a gude mow. Now fill to the brim To her, and to him, Wha willingly do what they dow; And ne'er a poor wench Want a friend at a pinch, Whase failing is only a mow.
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