Epigram Addressed to an Artist

Portrait of Robert Burns
Robert Burns 1759–1796
161Poems and Songs. The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.

DEAR ———, I’ll gie ye some advice, You’ll tak it no uncivil: You shouldna paint at angels mair, But try and paint the devil.

To paint an Angel’s kittle wark, Wi’ Nick, there’s little danger: You’ll easy draw a lang-kent face, But no sae weel a stranger.—R. B.

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