Written in Friars-Carse Hermitage
On the Banks of Nith
June, 1780
First Copy
By Robert Burns
Thou whom chance may hither lead,
Be thou clad in russet weed,
Be thou deck’d in silken stole,
Grave these maxims on thy soul.
Life is but a day at most,
Sprung from night, in darkness lost;
Day, how rapid in its flight —
Day, how few must see the night;
Hope not sunshine every hour,
Fear not clouds will always lower.
Happiness is but a name,
Make content and ease thy aim.
Ambition is a meteor gleam;
Fame, a restless idle dream:
Pleasures, insects on the wing
Round Peace, the tenderest flower of Spring;
Those that sip the dew alone,
Make the butterflies thy own;
Those that would the bloom devour,
Crush the locusts — save the flower.
For the future be prepar’d,
Guard wherever thou canst guard;
But, thy utmost duly done,
Welcome what thou canst not shun.
Follies past, give thou to air,
Make their consequence thy care:
Keep the name of man in mind,
And dishonour not thy kind.
Reverence with lowly heart
Him whose wondrous work thou art;
Keep His goodness still in view,
Thy trust — and thy example, too.
Stranger, go! Heaven be thy guide!
Quod the Beadsman on Nithside.
Poem Analysis:
Robert Burns’ “Written in Friars-Carse Hermitage” is a reflective and philosophical poem that offers timeless advice on how to live a virtuous, balanced, and contented life. Composed during a period of retreat and solitude at Friars Carse, a country estate in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, this poem blends moral instruction with personal humility, serving as both spiritual meditation and ethical guidepost.
Context: Burns and the Hermitage
Burns wrote this poem in 1788 while staying at the hermitage at Friars Carse, a small secluded retreat provided by his friend Captain Robert Riddell. The hermitage was a physical space for contemplation, and the poem reflects its setting — quiet, pastoral, and introspective.
Burns, often associated with passionate and sometimes rebellious verse, here takes on the role of a moral philosopher or spiritual elder, offering wisdom to any "stranger" who might stumble upon the site and his words.
Themes and Interpretations
1. The Fleeting Nature of Life
“Life is but a day at most, / Sprung from night, in darkness lost.”
Burns begins with a stark reminder of life's brevity. Life is likened to a single day — emerging from night (birth), lasting only a short while (life), and returning to night (death). This reinforces the classic memento mori motif: an encouragement to live wisely, knowing that time is limited.
2. Moderation in Expectations
“Hope not sunshine every hour, / Fear not clouds will always lower.”
Here Burns counsels emotional balance. He warns against unrealistic optimism (expecting constant joy) and crippling pessimism (believing sorrow will never end). Life contains both light and darkness, and wisdom lies in accepting their alternation.
3. Contentment Over Ambition
“Ambition is a meteor gleam; / Fame, a restless idle dream:”
Burns critiques the pursuit of ambition and fame as fleeting and hollow. Ambition is a "meteor gleam" — bright but brief — while fame is characterized as an "idle dream." Instead, he praises contentment and ease, elevating inner peace over worldly success.
4. The Fragility of Peace
“Pleasures, insects on the wing / Round Peace, the tenderest flower of Spring;”
Pleasures are portrayed as ephemeral and destructive if unchecked. While some (like butterflies) only “sip the dew,” others (like locusts) destroy the flower — Peace — entirely. Burns urges restraint: enjoy life’s simple pleasures, but protect your deeper sense of serenity.
5. Responsibility and Acceptance
“But, thy utmost duly done, / Welcome what thou canst not shun.”
A central tenet of Burns’ philosophy is moral responsibility paired with acceptance of the inevitable. He tells us to guard what we can, to act dutifully, and to accept outcomes beyond our control — a perspective that resonates with Stoicism.
6. Learning from the Past
“Follies past, give thou to air, / Make their consequence thy care:”
Here Burns offers a path to personal growth: let go of guilt and shame over past mistakes, but take responsibility for their outcomes. It’s a call to forgiveness and maturity, suggesting that reflection, not regret, leads to wisdom.
7. Human Dignity and Divine Reverence
“Keep the name of man in mind, / And dishonour not thy kind.”“Reverence with lowly heart / Him whose wondrous work thou art;”
Burns emphasizes the need for personal dignity and respect for humanity, as well as humble reverence toward God. This coupling of moral duty to fellow humans and spiritual awe toward the Creator forms a holistic ethical vision — grounded in both humanism and faith.
Final Blessing: The Beadsman’s Farewell
“Stranger, go! Heaven be thy guide! / Quod the Beadsman on Nithside.”
The poem ends with a gentle benediction, as the speaker — the "Beadsman" (a humble, prayerful figure) — sends the reader on their way. The term "quod" (Latin for “said”) gives a formal, almost ancient ring to the farewell, linking the advice to a broader spiritual tradition.
Literary Significance
“Written in Friars-Carse Hermitage” is not one of Burns’ most famous poems, but it represents a deeply personal and philosophical side of his work. It fuses the plainspoken wisdom of Scottish common sense with universal truths about time, peace, morality, and faith. Its structure recalls epigrams or didactic poetry, akin to works by Alexander Pope or classical Stoic writers.
Burns’ humility and humanity shine here. Though capable of passionate love songs and scathing political satire, he could also write as a wise elder, offering solace and guidance with grace and clarity.
A Poet’s Ethical Compass
Robert Burns’ “Written in Friars-Carse Hermitage” stands as a gentle philosophical compass — a poem rooted in nature, mortality, and morality. It speaks to anyone seeking clarity in life’s chaos, urging a path of moderation, mindfulness, and moral courage.
The poem’s enduring power lies in its simplicity. It offers not lofty theology or grand doctrine, but humble truths: Life is brief. Be kind. Seek peace. Trust in something greater. And go forth, blessed by a stranger’s prayer.