Beginners
Experts
Burns Supper
Top Features
Discussion Forum
Newsletter
Poems & Songs
The Letters
Federation
E- Membership
Schools
Contributions
Links
Search the Site
Scottish History
The Burns Shop

Translation
Index


It Is Na, Jean, Thy Bonie Face

 

Burns Original

Standard English Translation

It Is Na, Jean, Thy Bonie Face
1.
It is na, Jean, thy bonie face
Nor shape that I admire,
Altho' thy beauty and thy grace
Might weel awauk desire.
Something in ilka part o' thee
To praise, to love, I find;
But, dear as is thy form to me,
Still dearer is thy mind.
2.
Nae mair ungen'rous wish I hae,
Nor stronger in my breast,
Than, if I canna mak thee sae,
At least to see thee blest:
Content am I, if Heaven shall give
But happiness to thee,
And, as wi' thee I wish to live,
For thee I'd bear to dee.

It Is Not, Jean, Your Lovely Face

It is not, Jean, your lovely face
Nor shape that I admire,
Although your beauty and your grace
Might well awake desire.
Something in every part of you
To praise, to love, I find;
But, dear as is thy form to me,
Still dearer is thy mind.

No more ungenerous wish I have,
Nor stronger in my breast,
Than, if I can not make you so,
At least to see thee blest:
Content am I, if Heaven shall give
But happiness to thee,
And, as with you I wish to live,
For you I would bear to die.

 

© 2004 WBC. Under no circumstances can any  of the contents of this site be copied, reproduced,  or represented without prior written consent.