Robert Burns (1759–1796). Poems and Songs.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14. |
| |
| 19. A Prayer in the Prospect of Death |
| |
| |
| O THOU unknown, Almighty Cause | |
| Of all my hope and fear! | |
| In whose dread presence, ere an hour, | |
| Perhaps I must appear! | |
| |
| If I have wander’d in those paths | 5 |
| Of life I ought to shun, | |
| As something, loudly, in my breast, | |
| Remonstrates I have done; | |
| |
| Thou know’st that Thou hast formed me | |
| With passions wild and strong; | 10 |
| And list’ning to their witching voice | |
| Has often led me wrong. | |
| |
| Where human weakness has come short, | |
| Or frailty stept aside, | |
| Do Thou, All-Good-for such Thou art— | 15 |
| In shades of darkness hide. | |
| |
| Where with intention I have err’d, | |
| No other plea I have, | |
| But, Thou art good; and Goodness still | |
| Delighteth to forgive. | 20 |
| |
|
|
|
