Robert Burns pictures a continent ablaze with political and religious quarrels—princes, prelates, and zealots have set all Europe “in a low” (a blaze). Against this chaos, the common man simply lies down, untroubled by envy of a crown, and comforts himself as best he can. It’s a shrug of weary defiance. Then the black-headed eagle (likely Napoleon) hunts over height and hollow like a keen beagle, until he falls into a trap at the Battle of Jemappes. Burns shrugs: “let him get out as best he can.” The mood shifts to a cheerful truce: no more commotions or new-fangled notions—just a bumper raised to King George and Queen Charlotte, with a wish they’ll long “ring” (reign) as they manage. The result is an earthy, comic drinking song that favors ale and loyalty over the grand disasters shaking the world.
391. A Tippling Ballad—When Princes and Prelates, etc. — Summary
WHEN Princes and Prelates, And hot-headed zealots, A’ Europe had set in a low, a low, The poor man lies down, Nor envies a crown, And comforts himself as he dow, as he dow, And comforts himself as he dow.
The black-headed eagle, As keen as a beagle, He hunted o’er height and o’er howe, In the braes o’ Gemappe, He fell in a trap, E’en let him come out as he dow, dow, dow, E’en let him come out as he dow. · · · · · · · But truce with commotions, And new-fangled notions, A bumper, I trust you’ll allow; Here’s George our good king, And Charlotte his queen, And lang may they ring as they dow, dow, dow, And lang may they ring as they dow.