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
26 The poor poet, with that inoffensive gentleness of manners which was his peculiar characteristic, re- plied, that he hoped God and his reverence would forgive his seeming profanity of that sacred day, " as he had no dinner to eat, but what lay at the bottom of that pool !" This, Mr. Woods, the player, who knew Cunningham well, and esteemed him much, assured me zvas true.^ * The Editor, on his way to Edinburgh, had an interview with the celebrated Bewick, of Newcastle, who favoured him with the annexed interesting Portrait of Cunningham, which he drew two days before the Poet's death. Through life Bewick has possessed a vivid recollection of Cha- racter, and to this happy faculty we owe some of the most vigor- ous productions of his pencil. The Poems of Cunningham were the delight of his youthful mind 5 so much so, that he emphati- cally declared he used to read his verses with the same enthusiasm as others read their prayer-books and bibles.—He walked*iafter the Poet in the streets of Newcastle, stopped, loitered behind, repassed him ; and in this manner, unobserved by the poor dying Bard, obtained the sketch which the Editor now presents to the public. The little handkerchief, or rather the remains of a handkerchief, in his hand, contained a herring, and some other small matter of food. Cunningham had little consciousness of his own merit as a Poet, and seldom wrote but when urged by necessity. His highest ambition was to be considered a great Actor, for which he had no requisite either of person or talents. When in Mr. Bates's company of comedians, he had generally a benefit night at
27 The silver moon's enamoured beam^ Steals softly through the night, To wanton with the winding stream, And kiss reflected light. To beds of state go balmy sleep, ('Tis where you've seldom been,) May's vigil while the shepherds keep With Kate of Aberdeen ! at North Shields, and being much beloved, numbers flocked to it from Newcastle. He would declare afterwards to his friends, with his usual naivetS, that so crowded a house was drawn by his tlieatrical eminence ! An occurrence not generally known gave the first shock to this good man's heart. His volume of Poems was dedicated to Gar- rick, whom in his admiration of theatrical talent he would natu- rally esteem the first man that ever existed. He trudged up to the metropolis to present his volume to this celebrated character. He saw him ; and, according to his own phrase, he was treated by bini in the most humiliating and scurvy manner imaginable. Garrick assumed a cold and stately air ; insulted Cunningham by behaving to him as to a common beggar, and gave him a couple of guineas, accompanied with this speech:—"Players, Sir, as well as Poets, are always poor." The blow was too severe for the Poet. He was so confused at the time, that he had not the use of his faculties, and indeed never recollected that he ought to have spurned the offer with contempt, till his best friend, Mrs. Slack, of Newcastle, remind- ed him of it by giving him a sound box on the ear, when he re- turned
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- Page 3 and 4: I.^wl
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- Page 10 and 11: tyre,* Ritson,f and above all, by B
- Page 12 and 13: IV given us, and possibly it may gi
- 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
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- 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 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
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- Page 64 and 65: 40 Tho' we hae nae horses or menzie
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- Page 68 and 69: 44 Say, charmer, where do thy flock
- Page 70 and 71: 46 O weel may the boatie row. That
- Page 72 and 73: THE POSIE. It appears evident to me
- Page 74 and 75: 5a The primrose I will pu', the fir
- Page 76 and 77: 52 She from her pillow gently rais'
- Page 78 and 79: 54 Up raise the good man's dochter,
- Page 80 and 81: 66 And he took out his little knife
- Page 82 and 83: 58 Hart, and hynd, and fallow-deer,
- Page 84 and 85: 60 THE COLLIERS BONIE LASSIE. Thefi
- Page 86 and 87: 6^ Come, in thy raven plumage, Nigh
- Page 88 and 89: 64 DOWN THE BURN, DAVIE. I HAVE bee
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- Page 94 and 95: 70 Sae true's his words, sae smooth
- Page 96 and 97: 72 pedia Britannicaj which he compo
- Page 98 and 99: 74 SAE MERRY AS WE TWA HA E BEEN. T
27<br />
The silver moon's enamoured beam^<br />
Steals softly through the night,<br />
To wanton <strong>with</strong> the winding stream,<br />
And kiss reflected light.<br />
To beds of state go balmy sleep,<br />
('Tis where you've seldom been,)<br />
May's vigil while the shepherds keep<br />
With Kate of Aberdeen !<br />
at North Shields, <strong>and</strong> being much beloved, numbers flocked to<br />
it from Newcastle. He would declare afterwards to his friends,<br />
<strong>with</strong> his usual naivetS, that so crowded a house was drawn <strong>by</strong> his<br />
tlieatrical eminence !<br />
An occurrence not generally known gave the first shock to this<br />
good man's heart. His volume of Poems was dedicated to Gar-<br />
rick, whom in his admiration of theatrical talent he would natu-<br />
rally esteem the first man that ever existed. He trudged up to<br />
the metropolis to present his volume to this celebrated character.<br />
He saw him ; <strong>and</strong>, according to his own phrase, he was treated<br />
<strong>by</strong> bini in the most humiliating <strong>and</strong> scurvy manner imaginable.<br />
Garrick assumed a cold <strong>and</strong> stately air ; insulted Cunningham<br />
<strong>by</strong> behaving to him as to a common beggar, <strong>and</strong> gave him a<br />
couple of guineas, accompanied <strong>with</strong> this speech:—"Players,<br />
Sir, as well as Poets, are always poor."<br />
The blow was too severe for the Poet. He was so confused<br />
at the time, that he had not the use of his faculties, <strong>and</strong> indeed<br />
never recollected that he ought to have spurned the offer <strong>with</strong><br />
contempt, till his best friend, Mrs. Slack, of Newcastle, remind-<br />
ed him of it <strong>by</strong> giving him a sound box on the ear, when he re-<br />
turned