with critical observations and biographical notices, by Robert Burns
with critical observations and biographical notices, by Robert Burns with critical observations and biographical notices, by Robert Burns
IV given us, and possibly it may give us more, though, alas ! I fear it. This protracting, slow, consuming illness which hangs over me, will, I doubt much, my ever dear friend, arrest my sun before he has well reached his middle career, and will turn over the poet to far other and more important concerns than studying the brilliancy of wit, or the pathos of senti- ment ! However, hope is the cordial of the human heart, and I endeavour to cherish it as well as I can. —(ReliqueSj p. 184.^ This heart-rending letter shews that Burns retained to the last hour his enthusiastic taste for the rustic poetry of his country. That he imbibed this taste at an early age, and that he cherished it throughout his life, we have abundant proof from the testimony of his nearest relatives and friends, and from his own avowal. ' I have,' he himself observes, * paid more attention to every description of Scots Song than perhaps any body living has done.' He had all the advantages of study, of local situation, and of national attachment ; and his own inborn enthusiasm perpetually impelled him to cultivate these advan- tages. As an instance of the vivid impression which the poetry of his country made on his young mind, we may mention the song of The hlaithrie o*tf which, he observes, was the earliest song he remem-
' bers to have got by heart. * When a child, an old woman sung it to me, and I picked it up every word at first hearing.' (Reliques, p, 210). It is not im- probable that a song which thus caught his lively fancy, had some share in exciting those kindred inde- pendent ideas that frequently occur even in his juve- nile poems. The Editor was very much struck with a still more interesting account given by Burns in a letter to Mrs. Dunlop, of an old ballad called The Life and Age of Man, ' I had an old grand- uncle,' says he, ' with whom my mother lived awhile in her girlish years ; the good old man, for such he was, was long blind ere he died ; during which time, his highest enjoyment was to sit down and cry, while my mother would sing the simple old song of The Life and Age of Man. The Editor conceived, from the enthusiasm with which the Poet speaks of this ballad, that if it could be procured, it might possibly throw light on some of his productions. After much inquiry, and hunting from stall to stall, he was at last fortunate enough to procure a copy of it. His conjectures were fully verified. From the solecisms with which this copy abounded, he perceived that it had not been much indebted to the care of its editors. He hoped, however, that the Poet's mother might still be able
- Page 1 and 2: J^^. ^^y m ;.v"5 :Hx ;>**;m 'fmm. %
- Page 3 and 4: I.^wl
- Page 7: SELECT SCOTISH SONGS, ANCIENT AND M
- Page 10 and 11: tyre,* Ritson,f and above all, by B
- Page 14 and 15: VI to recollect so much of it as sh
- Page 16 and 17: vin And to each month add five year
- Page 18 and 19: The man doth thrive to thirty -five
- Page 20 and 21: xu Then may he say, both night and
- Page 22 and 23: In what state ever that thou be, re
- Page 24 and 25: XVI gotten bards we owe some of his
- Page 26 and 27: music are both posterior to the day
- Page 28 and 29: The guilt appeared in Jamie's cheek
- Page 30 and 31: 6 to tvhom I am indebted for the an
- Page 32 and 33: ~s THE BEDS OF SWEET ROSES. This so
- Page 34 and 35: Fee him, father,* fee him, quo' she
- Page 36 and 37: 12 SAW YE NAE MY PEGGY? This charmi
- Page 38 and 39: 14 Saw ye my Maggie, Saw ye my Magg
- Page 40 and 41: 16 gallant though unfortunate house
- Page 42 and 43: 18 To this day among people who kno
- Page 44 and 45: 20 Let neist day come as it thinks
- Page 46 and 47: 22 THE LAST TIME 1 CAME O ER THE MO
- Page 48 and 49: £4 To dead him weel shall be my ca
- Page 50 and 51: 26 The poor poet, with that inoffen
- Page 52 and 53: 28 Upon the green the virgins wait,
- Page 54 and 55: 30 .; ing together by the banks of
- Page 56 and 57: 32 THE TURNIMSPIKE. There is a stan
- Page 58 and 59: 34 They tak the horse then py te he
- Page 60 and 61: 36 ^c." It consists of three stanza
' bers to have got <strong>by</strong> heart. * When a child, an old<br />
woman sung it to me, <strong>and</strong> I picked it up every word<br />
at first hearing.' (Reliques, p, 210). It is not im-<br />
probable that a song which thus caught his lively<br />
fancy, had some share in exciting those kindred inde-<br />
pendent ideas that frequently occur even in his juve-<br />
nile poems. The Editor was very much struck <strong>with</strong><br />
a still more interesting account given <strong>by</strong> <strong>Burns</strong> in a<br />
letter to Mrs. Dunlop, of an old ballad called The<br />
Life <strong>and</strong> Age of Man, ' I had an old gr<strong>and</strong>-<br />
uncle,' says he, ' <strong>with</strong> whom my mother lived awhile<br />
in her girlish years ; the good old man, for such he<br />
was, was long blind ere he died ; during which time,<br />
his highest enjoyment was to sit down <strong>and</strong> cry, while<br />
my mother would sing the simple old song of The<br />
Life <strong>and</strong> Age of Man.<br />
The Editor conceived, from the enthusiasm <strong>with</strong><br />
which the Poet speaks of this ballad, that if it could<br />
be procured, it might possibly throw light on some<br />
of his productions. After much inquiry, <strong>and</strong> hunting<br />
from stall to stall, he was at last fortunate enough to<br />
procure a copy of it. His conjectures were fully<br />
verified. From the solecisms <strong>with</strong> which this copy<br />
abounded, he perceived that it had not been much<br />
indebted to the care of its editors. He hoped,<br />
however, that the Poet's mother might still be able
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