The Cotter’s Saturday Night
Inscribed to Robert Aiken, Esq
By Robert Burns
(1)
My lov’d, my honour’d, much respected friend!
No mercenary bard his homage pays;
With honest pride, I scorn each selfish end:
My dearest meed, a friend’s esteem and praise:
To you I sing, in simple Scottish lays,
The lowly train in life’s sequester’d scene;
The native feelings strong, the guileless ways;
What Aiken in a cottage would have been;
Ah! tho’ his work unknown, far happier there, I ween!
(2)
November chill blaws loud wi’ angry sugh;
The short’ning winter-day is near a close;
The miry beasts retreating frae the pleugh:
The black’ning trains o’ craws to their repose:
The toil-worn Cotter frae his labour goes,
This night his weekly moil is at an end,
Collects his spades, his mattocks, and his hoes,
Hoping the morn in ease and rest to spend,
And weary, o’er the moor, his course does homeward bend.
(3)
At length his lonely cot appears in view,
Beneath the shelter of an aged tree;
Th’ expectant wee-things, toddlin’, stacher thro’
To meet their Dad, wi’ flichterin’ noise an’ glee.
His wee bit ingle, blinkin’ bonnily.
His clean hearth-stane, his thriftie Wifie’s smile,
The lisping infant prattling on his knee,
Does a’ his weary kiaugh and care beguile,
An’ makes him quite forget his labour and his toil.
(4)
Belyve, the elder bairns come drapping in,
At service out amang the farmers roun’:
Some ca’ the pleugh, some herd, some tentie rin
A cannie errand to a neebor town:
Their eldest hope, their Jenny, woman grown,
In youthfu’ bloom, love sparkling in her e’e,
Comes hame, perhaps to shew a braw new gown,
Or deposite her sair won penny-fee,
To help her parents dear, if they in hardship be.
(5)
With joy unfeign’d, brothers and sisters meet,
An’ each for other’s welfare kindly spiers:
The social hours, swift-wing’d, unnotic’d, fleet;
Each tells the unco’s that he sees or hears;
The parents, partial, eye their hopeful years;
Anticipation forward points the view.
The Mother, wi’ her needle an’ her shears,
Gars auld claes look amaist as weel’s the new;
The Father mixes a’ wi’ admonition due.
(6)
Their master’s an’ their mistress’s command,
The younkers a’ are warned to obey;
And mind their labours wi’ an eydent hand,
An’ ne’er, tho’ out of sight, to jauk or play:
“And O! be sure to fear the Lord alway!
And mind your duty, duly, morn and night!
Lest in temptation’s path ye gang astray,
Implore His counsel and assisting might:
They never sought in vain, that sought the Lord aright!”
(7)
But, hark! a rap comes gently to the door;
Jenny, wha kens the meaning o’ the same,
Tells how a neebor lad cam o’er the moor,
To do some errands, and convoy her hame.
The wily Mother sees the conscious flame
Sparkle in Jenny’s e’e, and flush her cheek,
With heart-struck anxious care, inquires his name,
While Jenny hafflins is afraid to speak;
Weel pleas’d the Mother hears it’s nae wild, worthless rake.
(8)
Wi’ kindly welcome, Jenny brings him ben;
A strappan youth; he taks the Mother’s eye;
Blythe Jenny sees the visit’s no ill ta’en;
The Father cracks of horses, pleughs, and kye.
The youngster’s artless heart o’erflows wi’ joy,
But blate, an laithfu’, scarce can weel behave;
The Mother, wi’ a woman’s wiles, can spy
What makes the youth sae bashfu’ and sae grave;
Weel pleas’d to think her bairn’s respected like the lave.
(9)
O happy love! Where love like this is found!
O heart-felt raptures!—bliss beyond compare!
I’ve paced much this weary, mortal round,
And sage experience bids me this declare—
“If heaven a draught of heavenly pleasure spare,
One cordial in this melancholy vale,
’Tis when a youthful, loving, modest pair,
In other’s arms, breathe out the tender tale,
Beneath the milk-white thorn that scents the ev’ning gale.”
(10)
Is there, in human form, that bears a heart—
A wretch! a villain! lost to love and truth!
That can, with studied, sly, ensnaring art,
Betray sweet Jenny’s unsuspecting youth?
Curse on his perjur’d arts! dissembling smooth!
Are honour, virtue, conscience, all exil’d?
Is there no pity, no relenting ruth,
Points to the parents fondling o’er their child?
Then paints the ruin’d maid, and their distraction wild?
(11)
But now the supper crowns their simple board,
The halesome parritch, chief of Scotia’s food:
The soupe their only hawkie does afford,
That ‘yont the hallan snugly chows her cood:
The dame brings forth in complimental mood,
To grace the lad, her weel-hain’d kebbuck, fell,
An’ aft he’s prest, an’ aft he ca’s it guid;
The frugal wifie, garrulous, will tell,
How ’twas a towmond auld, sin’ lint was i’ the bell.
(12)
The cheerfu’ supper done, wi’ serious face,
They, round the ingle, form a circle wide;
The Sire turns o’er, with patriarchal grace,
The big ha’-Bible, ance his father’s pride;
His bonnet rev’rently is laid aside,
His lyart haffets wearing thin an’ bare;
Those strains that once did sweet in Zion glide,
He wales a portion with judicious care;
And ‘Let us worship God!’ he says, with solemn air.
(13)
They chant their artless notes in simple guise;
They tune their hearts, by far the noblest aim:
Perhaps Dundee’s wild-warbling measures rise,
Or plaintive Martyrs, worthy of the name;
Or noble Elgin beets the heaven-ward flame,
The sweetest far of Scotia’s holy lays:
Compar’d with these, Italian trills are tame;
The tickl’d ear no heart-felt raptures raise;
Nae unison hae they with our Creator’s praise.
(14)
The priest-like Father reads the sacred page,
How Abram was the friend of God on high;
Or, Moses bade eternal warfare wage
With Amalek’s ungracious progeny;
Or how the royal bard did groaning lie
Beneath the stroke of Heaven’s avenging ire;
Or Job’s pathetic plaint, and wailing cry;
Or rapt Isaiah’s wild, seraphic fire;
Or other holy seers that tune the sacred lyre.
(15)
Perhaps the Christian volume is the theme,
How guiltless blood for guilty man was shed;
How He, who bore in Heaven the second name,
Had not on earth whereon to lay his head:
How His first followers and servants sped,
The precepts sage they wrote to many a land:
How he who lone in Patmos banished,
Saw in the sun a mighty angel stand;
And heard great Bab’lon’s doom pronounc’d by Heaven’s command.
(16)
Then kneeling down, to Heaven’s eternal King,
The Saint, the Father, and the Husband prays:
Hope ‘springs exulting on triumphant wing,’ [1]
That thus they all shall meet in future days:
There ever bask in uncreated rays,
No more to sigh, or shed the bitter tear,
Together hymning their Creator’s praise,
In such society, yet still more dear:
While circling Time moves round in an eternal sphere.
(17)
Compar’d with this, how poor Religion’s pride,
In all the pomp of method and of art,
When men display to congregations wide,
Devotion’s ev’ry grace, except the heart!
The Pow’r, incens’d, the pageant will desert,
The pompous strain, the sacerdotal stole;
But haply, in some cottage far apart,
May hear, well pleas’d, the language of the soul;
And in His book of life the inmates poor enrol.
(18)
Then homeward all take off their sev’ral way;
The youngling cottagers retire to rest:
Their Parent-pair their secret homage pay,
And proffer up to Heaven the warm request,
That He, who stills the raven’s clam’rous nest,
And decks the lily fair in flow’ry pride,
Would, in the way His wisdom sees the best,
For them and for their little ones provide;
But, chiefly, in their hearts with grace divine preside.
(19)
From scenes like these, old Scotia’s grandeur springs,
That makes her lov’d at home, rever’d abroad:
Princes and lords are but the breath of kings,
“An honest man’s the noblest work of God;” [2]
And certes, in fair virtue’s heav’nly road,
The cottage leaves the palace far behind;
What is a lordship’s pomp? a cumbrous load,
Disguising oft the wretch of human kind,
Studied in arts of Hell, in wickedness refin’d!
(20)
O Scotia! my dear, my native soil!
For whom my warmest wish to Heaven is sent!
Long may thy hardy sons of rustic toil
Be blest with health, and peace, and sweet content!
And, O! may heaven their simple lives prevent
From luxury’s contagion, weak and vile!
Then, howe’er crowns and coronets be rent,
A virtuous populace may rise the while,
And stand a wall of fire around their much-lov’d Isle.
(21)
O Thou! who pour’d the patriotic tide
That stream’d through Wallace’s undaunted heart:
Who dar’d to nobly stem tyrannic pride,
Or nobly die, the second glorious part,
(The patriot’s God, peculiarly Thou art,
His friend, inspirer, guardian, and reward!)
O never, never, Scotia’s realm desert;
But still the patriot, and the patriot bard,
In bright succession raise, her ornament and guard!
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Pope.
[2] Pope.
Poem Analysis:
Robert Burns’ poem The Cotter's Saturday Night is one of his most admired works, offering a vivid depiction of a humble Scottish family’s weekly ritual. Through its portrayal of a hardworking rural family, Burns reflects on themes of piety, familial bonds, and the virtue of simplicity, all while highlighting the beauty of Scottish rural life. The poem, dedicated to Robert Aiken, uses rich language and symbolism to critique societal values and elevate the lives of ordinary people. Through a series of domestic vignettes, Burns explores the contrast between material wealth and spiritual contentment, placing emphasis on moral values and familial love.
Tone and Structure
The poem is written in the first person, which gives it a personal and intimate feel. The use of Scottish dialect adds authenticity and warmth, reflecting the poet's deep connection to the rural folk and their values. The tone is reverent and reflective, often invoking religious and moral sentiments. Each stanza is composed of rhyming couplets, with the regular rhythm and rhyme reinforcing the simple, orderly life of the Cotter and his family.
The Cotter’s Work and Family Life (Stanzas 2–6)
Burns opens the poem with an address to Robert Aiken, emphasizing that his tribute is motivated by genuine respect and affection rather than any material gain. He sings the praises of the "lowly train" of life, indicating that true happiness is not found in riches or fame but in honest work and familial devotion.
In stanzas 2 through 6, Burns presents a detailed description of the Cotter’s life. We see the hard physical labor of the father, who returns home after a long day’s work, eager to spend time with his family. The description of the Cotter's home evokes a warm and comfortable atmosphere, where simple pleasures replace the need for material wealth. The "wee bit ingle" (fireplace) and "clean hearth-stane" symbolize domestic warmth and contentment, as does the sight of the children running to greet their father.
The children play an important role in these stanzas. The family is a well-knit unit, with each member contributing to the household’s welfare. Burns illustrates the collective effort of the family through the siblings' varying roles. While the eldest daughter, Jenny, is mentioned as contributing financially, the family unit is shown to be deeply interconnected, supporting each other in both work and affection.
The parents’ role in guiding their children is also emphasized. The father admonishes his children to work diligently and live with integrity, encouraging them to "fear the Lord" and follow moral principles. The family’s piety and adherence to Christian values are central to their lives, with the poem highlighting the importance of faith and moral responsibility over worldly pursuits.
Jenny’s Courtship (Stanzas 7–8)
Burns introduces a moment of romantic innocence in the courtship between Jenny and a local lad. The parents' watchful eyes are evident as they notice the growing affection between the young couple. Jenny’s flushed cheeks and shy behavior reveal the budding romance, and the parents’ reactions reflect the traditional concern for their children’s well-being and virtue.
This episode is significant in the poem as it underscores the family's protective nature and their deep investment in each other's happiness. The mother’s cautious inquiry about the boy's background, paired with the father's approval, suggests the importance of respectability and moral standing in relationships. Jenny’s interaction with the boy is simple, yet it reveals a sense of purity and youthful joy, further reinforcing the poem’s theme of love grounded in mutual respect and moral integrity.
Religious Devotion (Stanzas 12–16)
The religious aspect of the Cotter’s life is central to the poem’s message. After the family’s simple supper, the father leads the family in prayer, reading from the Bible. This practice, with its emphasis on humility and sincerity, stands in stark contrast to the ostentatious displays of religion that often accompany wealth and power. Burns criticizes empty religious rituals devoid of heartfelt devotion, instead celebrating the sincere worship of the humble family.
The description of the father reading sacred texts and the family singing hymns illustrates how religion permeates the everyday lives of the Cotter and his family. These practices provide a sense of peace and direction, and Burns presents them as an essential part of a meaningful life. This religious devotion acts as a counterpoint to the materialism and superficiality that Burns often criticizes in the larger social order.
Moral Reflection (Stanzas 10–11, 17–19)
Burns takes this opportunity to express his disdain for the immoral and corrupt elements of society. He imagines a villain who might try to deceive innocent Jenny, showing how easily youthful innocence can be corrupted. This moment of forewarning, however, is quickly balanced by the happiness and contentment that the Cotter’s family finds in their simple life.
In stanzas 17 through 19, Burns critiques the superficiality of religious and social hierarchies. He celebrates the virtue of the "honest man," noting that the noblest person is not one who holds titles or wealth but one who lives with integrity and humility. The idea that "an honest man’s the noblest work of God" is a central moral in the poem, reinforcing the idea that true greatness lies in virtuous living rather than in material success or high social status.
National Pride and Conclusion (Stanzas 20–21)
The final stanzas return to the theme of Scottish patriotism, with Burns invoking the country’s history and national heroes, such as William Wallace. The Cotter’s Saturday night, with its devotion to family and faith, is portrayed as a microcosm of the values that Burns holds dear for Scotland. The poet wishes that Scotland’s people, particularly those who live simple, hardworking lives, remain untouched by the "contagion" of luxury and vice.
In the last lines, Burns offers a hopeful prayer for the future of Scotland, asking that the country continue to produce men and women of virtuous character who uphold the values of honesty, faith, and love. This nationalistic sentiment is tied to the poem’s larger message about the importance of moral integrity over material wealth.
In The Cotter’s Saturday Night, Robert Burns uses the image of a humble Scottish family to explore themes of faith, family, morality, and national identity. The poem is a celebration of the simple, virtuous life, where love, respect, and religious devotion form the foundation of happiness. Through his detailed portrayal of the Cotter’s domestic life, Burns critiques the superficiality of wealth and high social status, elevating the honest, hardworking individual as the true hero of society. The poem reflects Burns’ deep-rooted values of integrity and spiritual fulfillment, offering a timeless meditation on the virtues of a life well-lived.