Robert Burns (1759-1796) 1. Life and career

1. Robert Burns (1759-1796) • 1. Life and career • Blake, deeply romantic as he is by nature, virtually stands by himself, apart from any movement or group, • and the same is equally true of the somewhat earlier lyrist in whom eighteenth century poetry culminates, namely Robert Burns. • Burns, the oldest of the seven children of two sturdy Scotch peasants of the best type, was born in 1759 in Ayrshire, just beyond the northwest border of England.

2. In spite of extreme poverty, the father joined with some of his neighbors in securing the services of a teacher for their children, and the household possessed a few good books, including Shakespeare and Pope, whose influence on the future poet was great. • His mother had familiarized him from the beginning with the songs and ballads of which the country was full, and though he is said at first to have had so little ear for music that he could scarcely distinguish one tune from another, he soon began to compose songs (words) of his own as he followed the plough.

3. At the age of twenty-seven, abandoning the hope which he had already begun to cherish of becoming the national poet of Scotland, he had determined in despair to emigrate to Jamaica to become an overseer on a plantation. (That this chief poet of democracy, the author of 'A Man's a Man for a' That,' could have planned to become a slave-driver suggests how closely the most genuine human sympathies are limited by habit and circumstances.) To secure the money for his voyage Burns had published his poems in a little volume. • This won instantaneous and universal popularity, and Burns, turning back at the last moment, responded to the suggestion of some of the great people of Edinburgh that he should come to that city and see what could be done for him.

4. 2. Burn’s Position in Literature • Burns' place among poets is perfectly clear. It is chiefly that of a song-writer, perhaps the greatest songwriter of the world. • At work in the fields or in his garret or kitchen after the long day's work was done, he composed songs because he could not help it, because his emotion was irresistibly stirred by the beauty and life of the birds and flowers, the snatch of a melody which kept running through his mind, or the memory of the girl with whom he had last talked.

5. 3. Burn’s Style His feelings expressed themselves with spontaneous simplicity, genuineness, and ease. He is a thoroughly romantic poet, though wholly by the grace of nature, not at all from any conscious intention--he wrote as the inspiration moved him, not in accordance with any theory of art.

6. 4. Burn’s Themes • The range of his subjects and emotions is nearly or quite complete--love; comradeship; married affection; reflective sentiment; feeling for nature; sympathy with animals; vigorous patriotism, as in 'Scots Wha Hae' (and Burns did much to revive the feeling of Scots for Scotland); deep tragedy and pathos; instinctive happiness; delightful humor; and the others.

7. 5. Burn’s Major Poems 5.1. My Heart's in the Highlands • My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here;My heart's in the Highlands a-chasing the deer;Chasing the wild-deer, and following the roe,My heart's in the Highlands wherever I go. • Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North,The birth-place of Valour, the country of Worth;Wherever I wander, wherever I rove,The hills of the Highlands for ever I love.Farewell to the mountains high covered with snow!Farewell to the straths and green valleys below!Farewell to the forests and wild-hanging woods!Farewell to the torrents and loud-pouring floods!

8. My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here;My heart's in the Highlands a-chasing the deer;Chasing the wild-deer, and following the roe,My heart's in the Highlands wherever I go.

9. 我的心儿在高原 • 我的心儿在高原，我的心不在这儿； • 我的心儿在高原，追逐着鹿儿。 • 追逐着野鹿，跟踪着獐儿； • 我的心儿在高原，不管我上哪儿。 • 别了啊高原，别了啊北国！ • 英雄的家乡，可敬的故国； • 不管我上哪儿漂荡，我上哪儿遨游， • 我永远爱着高原的山丘。 • 别了啊，高耸的积雪的山岳！ • 别了啊，山下的溪壑和翠谷！ • 别了啊，森林和枝桠纵横的树林！ • 别了啊，急川和洪流的轰鸣！ • 我的心儿在高原，我的心不在这儿； • 我的心儿在高原，追逐着鹿儿； • 追逐着野鹿，跟踪着獐儿－－ • 我的心儿在高原，不管我上哪儿。（袁可嘉译）

10. 5.2. A Red, Red Rose • O, my luve’s like a red, red rose, That's newly sprung in June; Oh my luve’s like the melodie That's sweetly play'd in tune. As fair art thou, my bonnie lass, So deep in luve am I; And I will luve thee still, my dear, Till a' the seas gang dry.

11. Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear, And the rocks melt wi' the sun; And I will luve thee still, my dear, While the sands o' life shall run. • And fare thee weel, my only luve! And fare thee weel a while! And I will come again, my luve, Tho' it were ten thousand mile!

12. 金缕衣 • 杜秋娘 （无名氏） • 劝君莫惜金缕衣，劝君须惜少年时。有花堪折直须折，莫待无花空折枝。 • Riches • If you will take advice, my friend, • For wealth you will not care. • But while fresh youth is in you. • Each precious moment spare. • When flowers are fit for culling, • Then pluck them as you may. • Ah! wait not till the bloom be gone, • To bear a twig away. • （W. J. B. Fletcher 译）

13. The Gold-threaded Robe • Covet not a gold-threaded robe, • Cherish only your young days! • If a bud open, gather it— • Lest you but wait for an empty bough. • （Witter Bynner 译）

14. Wise Age to Youth • Wear your gold and silken garments; • Store not one of them away: • Flaunt them in your years of beauty • Ere the world grows old and gray. • Pluck the blossoms in the springtime • When they open to the sun. • For you'll find out but withered branches • When bright youth and love are done. • （Henry H. Hart 译）

15. 5.1.1 译文 • 一朵红红的玫瑰（袁可嘉） • 啊，我的爱人像一朵红红的玫瑰， • 在六月里初放。 • 啊，我的爱人像一支乐曲， • 美妙地演奏起来。 • 你是那么美，漂亮的姑娘， • 我爱你那么深切 • 我会永远爱你的，亲爱的。 • 一直到四海枯竭。 • 亲爱的，直到四海枯竭， • 到那时把岩石烧裂！ • 我会永远爱你，亲爱的 • 只要是生命不绝。 • 我唯一的爱人，我向你告别， • 我和你小别片刻； • 我要回来的，亲爱的， • 即使万里相隔。

16. 一朵红红的玫瑰（王佐良） • 啊，我爱人象朵红红的玫瑰， • 六月里迎风初开； • 啊，我爱人象支甜甜的曲子， • 奏得合拍又和谐。 • 我的好姑娘，多么美丽的人儿！ • 请看我，多么深挚的爱情！ • 亲爱的，我永远爱你， • 纵使大海干涸水流尽。 • 纵使大海干涸水流尽， • 太阳将岩石烧作灰尘， • 亲爱的，我永远爱你， • 只要我一息犹存。 • 珍重吧，我唯一的爱人， • 珍重吧，让我们暂时别离， • 但我定要回来， • 哪怕千里万里！

17. 我爱 • 毕谹 •     我爱如玫瑰，六月红蕾姣。 •    我爱如乐曲，妙奏声袅袅。 •    爱卿无限深，如卿绝世妍。 •    直至海水枯，此爱永绵绵。 •    直至海水枯，炎阳熔岩石。 •    但教一息存，爱卿无终极。 •    离别只暂时，善保千金躯。 •    终当复归来，万里度若飞。

18. 红玫瑰（郭沫若） • 吾爱吾爱玫瑰红， • 六月初开韵晓风； • 吾爱吾爱如管弦， • 其声悠扬而玲珑。 • 吾爱吾爱美而殊， • 我心爱你永不渝， • 我心爱你永不渝， • 直到四海海水枯； • 直到四海海水枯， • 岩石融化变成泥， • 只要我还有口气， • 我心爱你永不渝。 • 暂时告别我心肝， • 请你不要把心耽！ • 纵使相隔十万里， • 踏穿地皮也要还。   

19. 5.3. Auld Lang Syne • Should auld acquaintance be forgot,and never brought to mind ?Should auld acquaintance be forgot,and auld lang syne ? （1） • For auld lang syne, my dear, • for auld lang syne, • we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet, • for auld lang syne. （2） • And surely ye’ll be your pint-stoup !And surely I’ll be mine !And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,for auld lang syne. （6）

20. We twa hae run about the braes,and pou’d the gowans fine ;But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit,sin’ auld lang syne. （3） • We twa hae paidl’d in the burn,frae morning sun till dine ;But seas between us braid hae roar’dsin’ auld lang syne. （4） • And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere !And gives a hand o’ thine !And we’ll tak a right guid-willie-waught,for auld lang syne. （5）

21. 薛范译配 （Waterloo Bridge魂断蓝桥主题曲） • 　　友谊地久天长 • 　　怎能忘记昨日朋友， • 　　心中能不怀想？ • 　　昨日朋友岂能相忘， • 　　友谊地久天长。 • 　　友谊万岁， • 　　友谊万岁！ • 　　举杯痛饮，同声歌颂， • 　　友谊地久天长。 • 　　我们曾经终日游荡， • 　　在故乡的青山上； • 　　我们也曾历尽苦辛， • 　　到处奔波流浪。 • 　　我们也曾终日逍遥， • 　　荡浆在碧波上； • 　　但如今却劳燕分飞， • 　　远隔大海重洋。 • 　　我们往日情意相投， • 　　让我们紧握手， • 　　让我们来举杯畅饮， • 　　友谊地久天长。 • 　　友谊万岁， • 　　友谊万岁！ • 　　举杯痛饮，同声歌颂， • 　　友谊地久天长。

22. 《赠卫八处士》作者：杜甫 • 人生不相见，动如参与商。 • 今夕复何夕，共此灯烛光。 • 少壮能几时，鬓发各已苍。 • 访旧半为鬼，惊呼热中肠。 • 焉知二十载，重上君子堂。 • 昔别君未婚，儿女忽成行。 • 怡然敬父执，问我来何方。 • 问答乃未已，驱儿罗酒浆。 • 夜雨剪春韭，新炊间黄粱。 • 主称会面难，一举累十觞。 • 十觞亦不醉，感子故意长。 • 明日隔山岳，世事两茫茫。

23. Meeting with an old friend • --by Ku Hung-ming (辜鸿铭) • In life, friends seldom are brought near; • Like stars, each one shines in its sphere. • To-night,--oh! What a happy night! • We sit beneath the same lamplight. • Our youth and strength last but a day. • You and I—ah! Our hairs are grey. • Friends! Half are in a better land, • With tears we grasp each other’s hand. • Twenty more years, --- short, after all, • I once again ascend your hall.

24. When we met, you had not a wife; • Now you have children, --such is life! • Beaming, they greet their father father’s chum; • They ask me from where I have come. • Before our say, we each have said, • The table is already laid. • Fresh salads from the garden near, • Rice mixed with millet, --frugal cheer. • When shall we meet? ‘tis hard to know. • This wine, I know, will do no harm. • My old friend’s welcome is so warm. • To-morrow I go, --to be whirled. • Again into the wide, wide world.

25. Exercise 1 My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here; • My heart's in the Highlands, a-chasing the deer; • Chasing the wild deer, and following the roe— • My heart's in the Highlands wherever I go. • Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North! • The birthplace of valour, the country of worth; • Wherever I wander, wherever I rove, • The hills of the Highlands for ever I love. • Farewell to the mountains high covered with snow! • Farewell to the straths and green valleys below! • Farewell to the forests and wild-hanging woods! • Farewell to the torrents and loud-pouring floods! • My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here; • My heart's in the Highlands, a-chasing the deer; • Chasing the wild deer, and following the roe— • My heart's in the Highlands wherever I go.

26. Questions: 1.Who is the writer of this poem? 2.What is the title of this poem? 3.What is the main theme of this poem? 4.What is the most striking feature of the verse? 5.What is the most obvious rhetorical device used in the poem?

27. Answer 1 1. Robert Burns 2. "My Heart's in the Highlands" 3. It is one of the best known poems of Burns, in which he pours his unshakable love for his homeland, that is the Highlands, the mountainous Northern area of Scotland. It shows the poet's pure patriotic feeling. 4. Burns is such a genius in language that he has admirable faculty of expressing himself with alluring emotion in simple and musical verse. The poem is characterized by its appealing musical quality. 5. parallelism

28. Exercise 2 • 0,my luve's like a red, red rose. • That's newly sprung in June; • O, my luve's like the melodie • That's sweetly played in tune. • As fair art thou, my bonnie lass. • So deep in luve am I; • And I will luve thee still, my dear. • Till a' the seas gang dry. • Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear, • And the rocks melt wi' the sun: • I will luve thee still, my dear, • While the sands o' life shall run. • And fare thee weel, my only luve J • And fare thee weel a while • And I will come again, my luve, • Though it were ten thousand mile.

29. Questions: 1. The poem is written by __________. 2. What is the title of this poem? 3. The theme of the poem is about __________. • A. sea B. rose C. love 4. The poem is written in ____________. • A. ballad metre B. sonnet C. blank verse 5. The odd-numbered lines are iambic tetrameters while the even-numbered lines are iambic _________. • A. pentameter B. dimeter C. trimeter 6. The rhyme scheme is __________. 7. What do you know about the poem?

30. Answer 2 1. Burns 2. "A Red, Red Rose" 3. C 4. A 5. A 6. abcb 7. This poem is one of Burns' popular love lyrics and is also a good example of how the poet made use of old Scottish folk poetry and created immortal lines by revising the old folk material. The extreme simplicity of the language and the charming rhythmic beat of the verse express better than anything else the poet's true sentiments toward his beloved.