Ae fond kiss and then we sever !

Ae farewell, and then forever !

Deep in heart-wrung tears I’ll pledge thee,

Warring cries and groans I’ll wage thee.

I’ll ne’er blame my partial fancy:

Naething could resist my Nancy !

Just to see her is to love her,

Love but her, and love for ever.

Had we never lov’d sae kindly,

Had we never lov’d sae blindly,

Never lov’d – or never parted –

We had ne’er been broken-hearted

Fare thee weel, thou first and fairest !

Fare thee weel, thou best and dearest !

Thine be every joy and treasure,

Peace, Contentment, Love and Pleasure!

Ae fond kiss and then we sever !

Ae farewell, alas forever !

Deep in heart-wrung tears I’ll pledge thee,

Warring cries and groans I’ll wage thee.

Robert Burns