1 janv. 1707 - Robert Burns on the Act of the Union
Description:
Many Scots felt betrayed by the Act of the Union which turned the independent nations of England and Scotland into a United KingdomBurns wrote the following poem ( which has been translated into standard English for accessibility), titled ' Such a Parcel of Rogues in a Nation' :
"Farewell to all our Scottish fame,
Farewell our ancient glory!
Farewell even to the Scottish name.
So famed in martial story!
Now Sark runs over Salway sands,
And Tweed runs to the ocean,
To mark where England's province stands -
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!
What force or guile could not subdue
Through many warlike ages
Is wrought now by a coward few
For hireling traitor's wages.
The English steel we could disdain,
Secure in valour's station;
But English gold has been our bane -
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!
O, would, or I had seen the day
That Treason thus could sell us,
My old grey head had lain in clay (be buried)
With Bruce and loyal Wallace!
But pith and power, till my last hour
I will make this declaration :-
'We are bought and sold for English gold'-
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation! "
What does this tell us about peace?
The ultimate peace of a combined kingdom was not enough to end the conflict between the English and Scottish. As Burns believes the act goes against Scottish patriotism, it is clear that national identity was the divisive factor in the conflict.
Ajouté au bande de temps:
Date:
1 janv. 1707
Maintenaint
~ Il y a 319 ans