Historical Literature on Humanity Against Cruelty to Animals, Timeline of Animal Rights History

Animal Rights History »» Robert Burns

1785 | To a Mouse, On Turning Her Up in Her Nest, with the Plough

WEE, sleeket, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie,
O, what a panic's in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty,
Wi' bickering brattle!
I wad be laith to rin ad' chase thee,
Wi' murd'ring pattle !

I'm truly sorry man's dominion
Has broken Natures's social union,
An' justifies that ill opinion,
Which make thee startle,
At me, thy poor, earth-born companion,
An' fellow-mortal !
(Robert Burns, To a Mouse, On Turning Her Up in Her Nest [1785])

1787 | On Scaring Some Water-Fowl in Loch Turit

Why, ye tenants of the lake,
For me your watery haunt forsake?
Tell me, fellow-creatures, why
At my presence thus you fly?
Why disturb your social joys,
Parent, filial, kindred ties?—
Common friend to you and me,
Nature's gifts to all are free:
Peaceful keep your dimpling wave,
Busy feed, or wanton lave;
Or, beneath the sheltering rock,
Bide the surging billow's shock.

Conscious, blushing for our race,
Soon, too soon, your fears I trace:
Man, your proud usurping foe,
Would be lord of all below:
Plumes himself in Freedom's pride.
Tyrant stern to all beside.

The eagle, from the cliffy brow,
Marking you his prey below,
In his breast no pity dwells,
Strong necessity compels:
But man, to whom alone is given
A ray direct from pitying Heaven,
Glories in his heart humane —
And creatures for his pleasure slain.

In these savage, liquid plains,
Only known to wandering swains,
Where the mossy riv'let strays,
Far from human haunts and ways;
All on Nature you depend,
And life's poor season peaceful spend.

Or, if man's superior might
Dare invade your native right,
On the lofty ether borne,
Man with all his powers you scorn;
Swiftly seek, on clanging wings,
Other lakes and other springs ;
And the foe you cannot brave,
Scorn at least to be his slave.
(Robert Burns, On Scaring Some Water-Fowl in Loch Turit [1787])

1789 | On A Wounded Hare

One morning lately, as I was out pretty early in the fields, sowing some grass-seeds, I heard the burst of a shot from a neighbouirng plantation, and presently a poor little wounded hare came crippling by me. You will guess my indignation at the inhuman fellow who could shoot a hare at this season, when all of them have young ones."—(Robert Burns to Mr. Cunningham, 4th May, 1789)

Inhuman man ! curse on thy barb'rous art,
And blasted be thy murder-aiming eye!
May never pity soothe thee with a sigh,
Nor ever pleasure glad they cruel heart!

Go live, poor wanderer of the wood and field,
The bitter little that of life remains:
No more that thickening brakes and verdant plains
To thee shall home, or food, or pastime yield.

Seek, mangled innocent, some wonted rest;
No more of rest, but now thy dying bed!
The sheltering rushes whistling o'er thy head,
The cold earth with thy bloody bosom prest.

Perhaps a mother's anguish adds it woe;
The playful pair crowd fondly by thy side;
Ah ! helpless nurslings, who will now provide
That life a mother only can bestow?

Oft as by winding Nith I, musing, wait,
The sober ever, or hail the cheerful dawn,
I'll miss thee sporting o'er the dewy lawn,
And curse the ruffian's aim, and mourn thy hapless fate.
(Robert Burns, On a Wounded Hare [1789])

Links to the Primary Source
document the authenticity of quotations while providing more in-depth insight into the ideologies of humanity against cruelty to animals and additional historical perspective on the continuing struggle for animal rights, animal welfare and the protection of animals.

Robert Burns, ThePoems of Robert Burns (Boston, 1865; Digitized by Google, 2007). [First Published 1786-7 in Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect ]