Poems and Songs of Robert Burns

  farewell thou stream
  air—“nansie's to the greenwood gane.”
  farewell, thou stream that winding flows
  around eliza's dwelling;
  o mem'ry! spare the cruel thoes
  within my bosom swelling.
  condemn'd to drag a hopeless chain
  and yet in secret languish;
  to feel a fire in every vein,
  nor dare disclose my anguish.
  love's veriest wretch, unseen, unknown,
  i fain my griefs would cover;
  the bursting sigh, th' unweeting groan,
  betray the hapless lover.
  i know thou doom'st me to despair,
  nor wilt, nor canst relieve me;
  but, o eliza, hear one prayer—
  for pity's sake forgive me!
  the music of thy voice i heard,
  nor wist while it enslav'd me;
  i saw thine eyes, yet nothing fear'd,
  till fears no more had sav'd me:
  th' unwary sailor thus, aghast
  the wheeling torrent viewing,
  'mid circling horrors sinks at last,
  in overwhelming ruin.