When Scotland forgets Burns, then history will forget Scotland. J. S. Blackie

No other name is more synonymous with the title The voice of Scotland than that of the poet Robert Burns. A farmer and a farmers son, Burns was born at Alloway, Scotland. He was the eldest of the seven children of William Burness (spelled untill 1786), and spent his early years in the two-room cottage his father had built. He was 7 years old, when his father sold the house and began to work on the farm. Here Burns grew up in poverty and hardship( нужда, лишения ).. now it is The Burns Cottage Museum( you may colour Roberts cottage and his family for your mini-projects) His education was not neglected. Robert had little regular schooling and got much of his education from his father, who taught his children reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, and history.

Also his teacher was John Murdoch, who opened a school in Alloway in 1763 and taught Latin, French and mathematics. Then Robert was sent to the Parish school. Robert Burns began to write at 15.His first poem was MY HANDSOME NELL O,once I loved a bonnie lass, Aye, and I love her still; And whilst that vertue warms my breast, Ill love my handsome Nell. Robert Burns real awakening as a poet took place in , when he discovered the collections of Scottish poetry. He quite often thought up his poems while working at his plough. Then, at night, back home he would sit down in his garret and write them down. His poem (and song) AULD LANG SYUE is often sung at the last day of the year. (on the 31 st of December) Then: (video-sing a song-karaoke) song karaoke)

Many poems and songs that remain well – known across the world today, include A RED,RED ROSE. It was devoted to his wife Jean Armour. O, my love is like a red, red rose, That is newly sprung in June. O, my love is like the melody, That is sweetly played in tune. As fair are you, my lovely lass, So deep in love am I, And I will love you still, my Dear, Till all the seas go dry. Till all the seas go dry, my Dear, And the rocks melt with the sun! O, I will love you still, my Dear While the sands of life shall run. ( in 1788 ) Robert Burns Wife ONE FOND KISS One fond kiss, and then we sever! One farewell, and then forever! Deep in heart-wrung tears I will pledge you, Warring sighs and groans Ill wage thee. Who shall say that Fortune grieves him? While the star of hope she leaves him? Me, no cheerful twinkle lights me, Dark despair around overtakes me. I will never blame my partial fancy: Nothing could resist my Nancy! But to see her was to love her, Love but her, and love for ever Had we never loved so kindly Had we never loved so blindly, Never met –or never parted- We had never been broken-hearted. (Video red red rose)

In 1786 Burns published 600 copies of a small volume of his verses. The volume was very well received. As a result of this success, his friends advised him to go to Edinburgh. In Edinburgh he very quickly became known by the leading people in literature.During his two years stay in Edinburgh he visited many other parts of Scotland and published poems. In early 1788 Burns returned to Ayrshire, met and married Jean Armour. She is immortalized (увековечена) in many beautiful poems written by the poet. Чтение стихов из любовной лирики в переводе С Маршака и песня «Ночлег»-поют все ребята.

My hearts in the Highlands, my heart is not here; My hearts in the Highlands a chasing the deer; Chasing the wild deer, and following the roe- My hearts in the highlands, wherever I go Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North, The birth-place of valour, the country of worth; Wherever I wander, wherever I rove, The hills of the Highlands for ever I love. Farewell to the mountains high coverd with snow; Farewell to the straths and green valleys below Farewell to the forests and wild hanging woods; Farewell to the torrents and loud-pouring floods My hearts in the Highlands, my heart is not here; My hearts in the Highlands a chasing the deer; Chasing the wild deer, and following the roe- My hearts in the Highlands, wherever I go. In 1788 R. Burns returned to his loved SCOTLAND and wrote his famous poem and song MY HEART IN THE HIGHLANDS

In 1791 Robert Burns moved to a small house in Dumfies where he remained for his rest of his short life. Bad health and shortage of money struck him down. On the 21 st of July 1796 at the age of thirty seven, Robert died of fever. Whenever we speak of Scotland, Robert Burns is always there, as the ever-living, never dying symbol of that country.

Burns alone is enough to make us everlasting friends with Scotland. S. Marshak Robert Burns grave at St. Michaels Chuchyard in Dumfries In Alloway