Lines on Stirling
written in 1787
Lines on Stirling - meaning Summary
Monarchy in Ruins
The poem records a satirical, angry reaction upon seeing the ruined royal palace at Stirling. It contrasts the past rule of the Stewarts, who "ordain'd" laws for Scotland, with the present decline: the palace is roofless and the royal line has fallen. The speaker denounces the new, foreign rulers as unworthy and contemptible, asserting popular scorn. Short appended pieces show others replying—mocking Burns and defending the fallen reputation—so the text functions as both lament and provocation about legitimacy and decay.
Read Complete Analyses[A] Written by Somebody in the window of an inn at Stirling on seeing the Royal Palace in ruins. Here Stewarts once in triumph reign'd, And laws for Scotland's weal ordain'd; But now unroof'd their Palace stands, Their sceptre's fall'n to other hands; Fallen indeed, and to the earth, Whence grovelling reptiles take their birth. The injur'd STEWART-line are gone, A Race outlandish fill their throne; An idiot race, to honor lost; Who know them best despise them most. [B] These imprudent lines were answered, very petulantly, by somebody, I believe a Revd Mr Hamilton.-In a M.S.S. where I met with the answer, I wrote below- With Esop's lion, Burns says, sore I feel Each other blow, but damn that ass's heel! [C] The Reproof Rash mortal, and slanderous Poet, thy name Shall no longer appear in the records of fame; Dost not know that old Mansfield, who writes like the Bible, Says the more 'tis a truth, Sir, the more 'tis a libel?
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