WRITTEN IN A COPY OF THOMSON'S MELODIES, PRESENTED TO A LADY. "I have presented a copy of your songs to the daughter of a much-valued and much-honoured friend of mine - Mr. Graham of Fintry. I wrote on the blank-side of the title-page the following address to the young lady." — Burns to Mr. Thomson, July, 1794. HERE, where the Scottish Muse immortal lives, In sacred strains and tuneful numbers joined, Accept the gift, though humble he who gives: Rich is the tribute of the grateful mind. So may no ruffian feeling in thy breast, Discordant jar thy bosom-chords among; But Peace attune thy gentle soul to rest, Or Love ecstatic wake his seraph song; Or Pity's notes, in luxury of tears, As modest Want the tale of wo reveals; While conscious Virtue all the strain endears, And heaven-born Piety her sanction seals. THE TREE OF LIBERTY. HEARD ye o' the tree o' France? Weel Europe kens the fame o't. Upo' this tree there grows sic fruit, This fruit is worth a' Afric's wealth, It clears the een, it cheers the heart, Maks high and low guid friends, man; And he wha acts the traitor's part, It to perdition sends, man. My blessings aye attend the chiel, And now she sees wi' pride, man, But vicious folk aye hate to see The courtly vermin's banned the tree, stok beyond wept For this the watchman cracked his crown, Cut aff his head and a', man. A wicked crew syne, on a time, But soon grew weary o' the trade, And wished they'd been at hame, man. For Freedom, standing by the tree, Her sons did loudly ca', man; She sang a sang o' liberty, Which pleased them ane and a', man. By her inspired, the new-born race Soon drew the avenging steel, man; The hirelings ran her foes gied chase, And banged the despot weel, man. Let Britain boast her hardy oak, That sic a tree can not be found Without this tree, alake this life To feed the titled knave, man; Is that ayont the grave, man. Wi' plenty o' sic trees, I trow, The warld would live in peace, man; The din o' war wad cease, man. Wae worth the loon wha wadna eat 1 Originally printed in the People's Edition of Burns (1840), from a manuscript in the possession of Mr. James Duncan, Mosesfield, Glasgow. |