Burning Burns question

[Tony]

Wad some Power the giftie gie us
to see oursels as others see us.

Is it the Power (gift) that is given by the Giftie (God)?
Or is it the Power (God) that gives us a giftie (gift)?

I always thought the former was right, but looking on the net, everyone else says the latter.

Any thoughts?

[McClef]

Well to get a better idea contrast with Burns' usage elsewhere:

Ye Powr's wha mak mankind your care
And dish them out their bill o fare

(Address to a Haggis)

These lines are going to be said rather a lot in the next few days!

[macwilkin]

Wad some Power the giftie gie us
to see oursels as others see us.

Is it the Power (gift) that is given by the Giftie (God)?
Or is it the Power (God) that gives us a giftie (gift)?

I always thought the former was right, but looking on the net, everyone else says the latter.

Any thoughts?

The World Burns Club gives this English translation of the verse on their web site:

O would some Power the gift to give us
To see ourselves as others see us!


-- http://www.worldburnsclub.com/poems/...ations/552.htm

Regards,

Todd

[Pour1Malt]

weel....

neither really...

but "Or is it the Power (God) that gives us a giftie (gift)?" is closest...

"Power" disnae necessarily mean "God" as modern theists mean "God"...

cuid bae oiny Power...

cuid bae Nature, Science, invention, industry...

oiny "Power" that cuid gie us the gift tae see oursel as other see us....

[Tony]

I knew I came to the right place!

Tanks guys!

[Galician]

I think that we should leave this to the Powers that be.

[McClef]

Just to add something else here.

As a Mason, Burns would subscribe to the concept of the Great Architect of the Universe as the overriding "power" so I would have to disagree with Robertson on this point seen from Burns' own point of view. Something beyond the power of man.

Science doesn't quite fit the bill here nor Nature as such.

Going back to my original citation, nature does not "mak mankind your care" which indicates something more personal.

But of course it's a point we can debate o'er a wee dram next week!

[Coemgen]

Since the word "Power" is capitalised and "giftie" is not, I take it that the former refers to the Almighty, and the latter to the ability to see ourselves as others see us.

Understanding Robert Burns comments on that verse thus:

Finally, the poet asks us to consider ourselves - are we really all that we think we are. Would we stop making foolish comments about others if we understood just how they saw us?

[thescot]

Just to add something else here.

As a Mason, Burns would subscribe to the concept of the Great Architect of the Universe as the overriding "power" so I would have to disagree with Robertson on this point seen from Burns' own point of view. Something beyond the power of man.

Science doesn't quite fit the bill here nor Nature as such.

Going back to my original citation, nature does not "mak mankind your care" which indicates something more personal.

But of course it's a point we can debate o'er a wee dram next week!

Dang, McClef, I'd give anything to be at that Supper!

And my the true Power gie a' o' us the power to see oursel'es as other see us. Might open a few eyes.

[Pour1Malt]

Just to add something else here.

As a Mason, Burns would subscribe to the concept of the Great Architect of the Universe as the overriding "power" so I would have to disagree with Robertson on this point seen from Burns' own point of view. Something beyond the power of man.

Science doesn't quite fit the bill here nor Nature as such.

Going back to my original citation, nature does not "mak mankind your care" which indicates something more personal.

But of course it's a point we can debate o'er a wee dram next week!

aye- but he says "Some Power"... no "The Power"... he wasnae speakin fur himself but fur all mankind....(as he often did)

he he kent no all people thought the same....