Delphi Complete Works of Robert Burns (Illustrated) (Delphi Poets Series) (155 page)
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Authors: Robert Burns
XXII
.
January
1795.
I fear for my songs; however a few may please, yet originality is a coy feature in composition, and in a multiplicity of efforts in the same style, disappears altogether. For these three thousand years we poetic folks have been describing the spring, for instance; and, as the spring continues the same, there must soon be a sameness in the imagery, etc., of these said rhyming folks.
A great critic, Aikin on Songs, says that love and wine are the exclusive themes for song-writing. The following is on neither subject, and consequently is no song; but will be allowed, I think, to be two or three pretty good prose thoughts, inverted into rhyme.
FOR A’ THAT AND A’ THAT.
Is there for honest poverty, (etc.)
Detailed Table of Contents for the letters
Ecclefechan,
148
7
th Feb
. 1795.
My Dear Thomson, — You cannot have any idea of the predicament in which I write to you. In the course of my duty as supervisor (in which capacity I have acted of late) I came yesternight to this unfortunate, wicked little village. I have gone forward, but snows of ten feet deep have impeded my progress: I have tried to “gae back the gate I cam again,” but the same obstacle has shut me up within insuperable bars. To add to my misfortune, since dinner, a scraper has been torturing catgut, in sounds that would have insulted the dying agonies of a sow under the hands of a butcher, and thinks himself, on that very account, exceeding good company. In fact, I have been in a dilemma, either to get drunk, to forget these miseries; or to hang myself, to get rid of them; like a prudent man (a character congenial to my every thought, word, and deed) I of two evils have chosen the least, and am very drunk at your service!
I wrote you yesterday from Dumfries. I had not time then to tell you all I wanted to say; and Heaven knows, at present I have not capacity.
Do you know an air — I am sure you must know it, “We’ll gang nae mair to yon town?” I think, in slowish time, it would make an excellent song. I am highly delighted with it; and if you should think it worthy of your attention, I have a fair dame in my eye to whom I would consecrate it.
As I am just going to bed, I wish you a good night.
148
The birthplace of Carlyle.
Detailed Table of Contents for the letters
XXIV
.
You see how I answer your orders; your tailor could not be more punctual. I am just now in a high fit of poetising, provided that the strait-jacket of criticism don’t cure me. If you can, in a post or two, administer a little of the intoxicating potion of your applause, it will raise your humble servant’s frenzy to any height you want. I am at this moment “holding high converse” with the Muses, and have not a word to throw away on such a prosaic dog as you are.
Detailed Table of Contents for the letters
XXV
.
April
1796.
Alas, my dear Thomson, I fear it will be some time ere I tune my lyre again! “By Babel streams I have sat and wept” almost ever since I wrote you last. I have only known existence by the pressure of the heavy hand of sickness, and have counted time by the repercussions of pain! Rheumatism, cold, and fever have formed to me a terrible combination. I close my eyes in misery, and open them without hope. I look on the vernal day, and say, with poor Fergusson —
Say, wherefore has an all indulgent Heaven
Light to the comfortless and wretched given?
This will be delivered to you by a Mrs. Hyslop, landlady of the Globe Tavern here, which for these many years has been my
howff
, and where our friend Clarke and I have had many a merry squeeze. I am highly delighted with Mr. Allan’s etchings. “Woo’d and married and a’”, is admirable! The
grouping
is beyond all praise. The expression of the figures, conformable to the story in the ballad, is absolutely faultless perfection. I next admire “Turnim-spike”. What I like least is, “Jenny said to Jockey”. Besides the female being in her appearance quite a virago, if you take her stooping into the account, she is at least two inches taller than her lover. Poor Cleghorn! I sincerely sympathise with him! Happy am I to think that he yet has a well-grounded hope of health and enjoyment in this world. As for me — but that is a damning subject!
Detailed Table of Contents for the letters
XXVI
.
[
Probably May
1796.]
My Dear Sir, — Inclosed is a certificate which (although little different from the model) I suppose will amply answer the purpose, and I beg you will prosecute the miscreants
149
without mercy. When your publication is finished, I intend publishing a collection, on a cheap plan, of all the songs I have written for you, The Museum, and others — at least, all the songs of which I wish to be called the author. I do not propose this so much in the way of emolument as to do justice to my muse, lest I should be blamed for trash I never saw, or be defrauded by false claimants of what is justly my own. The post is going. — I will write you again to-morrow. Many thanks for the beautiful seal.
R. B.
149
For infringement of copyright.
Detailed Table of Contents for the letters
BROW-ON-SOLWAY, 4
th July
1796.
My Dear Sir, — I received your songs; but my health is so precarious, nay, dangerously situated, that, as a last effort, I am here at sea-bathing quarters. Besides an inveterate rheumatism, my appetite is quite gone, and I am so emaciated as to be scarce able to support myself on my own legs. Alas! Is this a time for me to woo the muses? However, I am still anxiously willing to serve your work, and if possible shall try. I would not like to see another employed — unless you could lay your hand upon a poet whose productions would be equal to the rest. Farewell, and God bless you.
R. BURNS.
Detailed Table of Contents for the letters
BROW, on the Solway Firth, 12
th July
1796.
After all my boasted independence, curst necessity compels me to implore you for five pounds. A cruel wretch of a haberdasher, to whom I owe an account, taking it into his head that I am dying, has commenced a process, and will infallibly put me into jail.
Do, for God’s sake, send me that sum, and that by return of post. Forgive me this earnestness, but the horrors of a jail have made me half distracted. I do not ask all this gratuitously; for, upon returning health, I hereby promise and engage to furnish you with five pounds worth of the neatest song-genius you have seen. I tried my hand on “Rothiemurchie” this morning. The measure is so difficult that it is impossible to infuse much genius into the lines; they are on the other side. Forgive, forgive me!
150
Fairest maid on Devon banks,
Crystal Devon, winding Devon,
Wilt thou lay that frown aside,
And smile as thou wert wont to do? (etc.)
150
These verses, and the letter inclosing them, are written in a character that marks the very feeble state of their author.
DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THE LETTERS
I. — TO ELLISON OR ALISON BEGBIE (?)
1
VII. — TO SIR JOHN WHITEFOORD, BART., OF BALLOCHMYLE.
3
VIII. — TO MR. JOHN MURDOCH, SCHOOL-MASTER, STAPLES INN BUILDINGS, LONDON.
IX. — TO HIS COUSIN, MR. JAMES BURNESS, WRITER, MONTROSE.
X. — TO MR. JAMES BURNESS, WRITER, MONTROSE.
XI. — TO MR. JAMES BURNESS, WRITER, MONTROSE.
XII. — TO THOMAS ORR, PARK, KIRKOSWALD.
XIII. — TO MISS MARGARET KENNEDY.
8
XIV. — TO MISS —— , AYRSHIRE.
9
XV. — TO MR. JOHN RICHMOND, LAW CLERK, EDINBURGH.
10
XVI. — TO MR. JAMES SMITH
12
, SHOPKEEPER, MAUCHLINE.
XVII. — TO MR. ROBERT MUIR, WINE MERCHANT, KlLMARNOCK.
XVIII. — TO MR. JOHN BALLANTINE, BANKER, AYR. (?)
XIX. — TO MR. M’WHINNIE, WRITER, AYR.
XX. — TO JOHN ARNOT, ESQUIRE, OF DALQUATSWOOD.
XXI. — TO MR. DAVID BRICE, SHOEMAKER, GLASGOW.
XXII. — TO MR. JOHN RICHMOND, EDINBURGH.
XXV. — TO HIS COUSIN, MR. JAMES BURNESS, WRITER, MONTROSE.
XXVI. — TO MRS. STEWART, OF STAIR.
19
XXVII. — TO MR. ROBERT AIKIN, WRITER, AYR.
XXVIII. — TO DR. MACKENZIE, MAUCHLINE; INCLOSING HIM VERSES ON DINING WITH LORD DAER.
XXIX. — TO MRS. DUNLOP, OF DUNLOP.
XXXI. — IN THE NAME OF THE NINE.
XXXII. — TO JAMES DALRYMPLE, ESQ., ORANGEFIELD.
XXXIII. — TO SIR JOHN WHITEFOORD.
XXXIV. — TO MR, GAVIN HAMILTON, MAUCHLINE.
XXXV. — TO MR. JOHN BALLANTINE, BANKER, AT ONE TIME PROVOST OF AYR.
XXXVII. — TO MR. WILLIAM CHALMERS, WRITER, AYR.
XXXVIII. — TO THE EARL OF EGLINGTON.
XXXIX. — TO MR. JOHN BALLANTINE.
XLII. — TO THE REV. G. LAWRIE, NEWMILNS, NEAR KILMARNOCK.
XLIII. — TO THE EARL OF BUCHAN.
32
XLIV. — TO MR. JAMES CANDLISH,
33
STUDENT IN PHYSIC, GLASGOW COLLEGE.
XLV. — TO MR. PETER STUART, EDITOR OF “THE STAR,” LONDON.
L — TO MR. WILLIAM NICOL, CLASSICAL MASTER, HIGH SCHOOL, EDINBURGH.
LIII. — TO MR. JAMES SMITH, LINLITHGOW, FORMERLY OF MAUCHLINE
LVIL. — TO MR. ARCHIBALD LAWRIE.
44
LVIII. — TO MR. ROBERT MUIR, KILMARNOCK.
LX. — TO MR. WALKER, BLAIR OF ATHOLE.
49
LXI. — TO His BROTHER, MR. GILBERT BURNS, MOSSGIEL.
LXII. — TO MR. PATRICK MILLER,
52
DALSWINTON.
LXIII. — TO REV. JOHN SKINNER.
LXIV. — TO Miss MARGARET CHALMERS, HARVIESTON. (AFTERWARDS MRS. HAY, OF EDINBURGH.)
LXV. — TO MRS. DUNLOP OF DUNLOP HOUSE, STEWARTON.
LXVI. — TO MR. JAMES HOY,
55
GORDON CASTLE.
LXVII. — TO THE EARL OF GLENCAIRN.
LXXI. — TO MR. RICHARD BROWN, IRVINE.
LXXIV. — TO THE REV. JOHN SKINNER.
LXXV. — TO MRS. ROSE, OF KILRAVOCK.
LXXVI-To RICHARD BROWN, GREENOCK.
LXXVII. — TO MR. WILLIAM CRUIKSHANK.
59
LXXVIII. — TO MR. ROBERT AINSLIE.
LXXIX. — TO MR. RICHARD BROWN.
LXXXII — TO MR. WM. NICOL (PERHAPS).