Poems and Songs of Robert Burns

  complimentary epigram on maria riddell
  “praise woman still,” his lordship roars,
  “deserv'd or not, no matter?”
  but thee, whom all my soul adores,
  ev'n flattery cannot flatter:
  maria, all my thought and dream,
  inspires my vocal shell;
  the more i praise my lovely theme,
  the more the truth i tell.