[Lockhart first gave this poetic curiosity to the world: he copied it from a small manuscript volume of Poems given by Burns to Lady Harriet Don, with an explanation in these words: "W. Chalmers, a gentleman in Ayrshire, a particular friend of mine, asked me to write a poetic epistle to a young lady, his Dulcinea. I had seen her, but was scarcely acquainted with her, and wrote as follows." Chalmers was a writer in Ayr. I have not heard that the lady was influenced by this volunteer effusion: ladies are seldom rhymed into the matrimonial snare.] I. Wi' braw new branks in mickle pride, And eke a braw new brechan, My Pegasus I'm got astride, And up Parnassus pechin; Whiles owre a bush wi' downward crush The doitie beastie stammers; Then up he gets and off he sets For sake o' Willie Chalmers. V. Some gapin' glowrin' countra laird, My bonnie maid, before ye wed Sic clumsy-witted hammers, Seek Heaven for help, and barefit skelp Awa' wi' Willie Chalmers. VI. Forgive the Bard! my fond regard II. I doubt na, lass, that weel kenn'd name May cost a pair o' blushes; I am nae stranger to your fame, Nor his warm urged wishes. LYING AT A REVEREND FRIEND'S HOUSE ONE NIGHT, THE AUTHOR LEFT THE FOLLOWING VERSES IN THE ROOM WHERE HE SLEPT. [Of the origin of these verses Gilbert Burns gives the following account. "The first time Robert heard the spinnet played was at the house of Dr. Lawrie, then minister of Loudon, now in Glasgow. Dr. Lawrie has several daughters; one of them played; the father and the mother led down the dance; the rest of the sisters, the brother, the poet and the other guests mixed in it. It was a delightful family scene for our poet, then lately introduced to the world: his mind was roused to a poetic enthusiasm, and the stanzas were left in the room where he slept."] I. O THOU dread Power, who reign'st above! When for this scene of peace and love II. The hoary sire-the mortal stroke, TO GAVIN HAMILTON, ESQ., MAUCHLINE. RECOMMENDING A BOY.) [Verse seems to have been the natural language of Burns. The Master Tootie whose skill he records, lived in Mauchline, and dealt in cows: he was an artful and contriving person, great in bargaining and intimate with all the professional tricks by which old cows are made to look young, and six-pint hawkies pass for those of twelve.] Mossgiel, May 3, 1786. I. I HOLD it, Sir, my bounden duty, Was here to hire yon lad away An' wad ha'e done't aff han': As lieve then, I'd have then, Not fitted otherwhere. III. She who her lovely offspring eyes IV. Their hope their stay-their darling youth, Bless him, thou GOD of love and truth, V. The beauteous, seraph sister-band, With earnest tears I pray, Thou know'st the snares on ev'ry hand— Guide Thou their steps alway. VI. When soon or late they reach that coast, II. Altho' I say't, he's gleg enough, I havena ony fear. An' shore him weel wi' Hell; If ye then, maun be then Frae hame this comin' Friday; III. My word of honour I hae gien, I ken he weel a snick can draw, 1 The airles-earnest money. Auld Clinkum at the inner port Cried three times-"Robin! Come hither, lad, an' answer for❜t, Ye're blamed for jobbin'." Wi' pinch I pat a Sunday's face on, An' snoov'd away before the Session; i made an open fair confession I scorn'd to lee; An' syne Mess John, beyond expression, Fell foul o' me. For lack o' thee I've lost my lass, To crush the villain in the dust. For lack o' thee, I leave this much-lov'd shore, [With the Laird of Adamhill's personal character the reader is already acquainted: the lady about whose frailties the rumour alluded to was about to rise, has not been named, and it would neither be delicate nor polite to guess.] I AM a keeper of the law In some sma' points, altho' not a'; Ae way or ither, I hae been in for't ance or twice, That broke my rest, But now a rumour's like to rise, A whaup's i' the nest. LXIV. LINES WRITTEN ON A BANK-NOTE. [The bank-note on which these characteristic lines were endorsed, came into the hands of the late James. Gracie, banker in Dumfries: he knew the handwriting of Burns, and kept it as a curiosity. The concluding lines point to the year 1786, as the date of the composition.] WAE worth thy power, thou cursed leaf, A DREA M. "Thoughts, words, and deeds, the statute blames with reason; But surely dreams were ne'er indicted treason." On reading, in the public papers, the "Laureate's Ode," with the other parade of June 4, 1786, the author was no sooner dropt asleep, than he imagined himself transported to the birth-day levee; and in his dreaming fancy made the following "Address." [The prudent friends of the poet remonstrated with him about this Poem, which they appeared to think would injure his fortunes and stop the royal bounty to which he was thought entitled. Mrs. Dunlop, and Mrs. Stewart, of Stair, solicited him in vain to omit it in the Edinburgh edition of his poems. I know of no poem for which a claim of being prophetic would be so successfully set up: it is full of point as well as of the future. The allusions require no comment.] GUID-MORNIN' to your Majesty! May Heaven augment your blisses, On ev'ry new birth-day ye see, A humble poet wishes! Is sure an uncouth sight to see, I see ye're complimented thrang, Wi' rhymes weel-turn'd and ready, Wad gar you trow ye ne'er do wrang, But ay unerring steady, On sic a day. |