On The Author Being Threatened With Vengeance
First printed in Cromek, 1808.
Spare me thy vengeance, Galloway;
In quiet let me live:
I ask no kindness at thy hand,
For thou hast none to give.
It was supposedly reported to Burns that Stewart of Galloway had heard of his critical epigrams and would take action against him. Prompted by this story, Burns wrote the above.