Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

wicked, little village. (204) 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 no more to yon town?"

I think, in slowish time, it would make an

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

excellent song. I am highly delighted with [Burns supposes himself to be writing from

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.

NO. CCCXLII,

MR. THOMSON TO BURNS. February 25th, 1795.

[ocr errors]

I HAVE to thank you, my dear Sir, for two epistles; one containing "Let me in this ane night; and the other from Ecclefechan, proving that, drunk or sober, your "mind is never muddy." You have displayed great address in the above song. Her answer is excellent, and, at the same time, takes away the indelicacy that otherwise would have attached to his entreaties. I like the song, as it now stands, very much.

I had hopes you would be arrested some days at Ecclefechan, and be obliged to beguile the tedious forenoons by song-making. It will give me pleasure to receive the verses you intend for "Oh wat ye wha's in yon town ?"

the dead to the living.]

NO. CCCXLIV.

TO MRS. RIDDEL

MADAM-I dare say that this is the first epistle you ever received from this nether world. I write you from the regions of hell, amid the horrors of the The time

and manner of my leaving your earth I do not exactly know, as I took my departure in the heat of a fever of intoxication, contracted at your too hospitable mansion; but, on my arrival here, I was fairly tried, and sentenced to endure the purgatorial tortures of this infernal confine for the space of ninety-nine years, eleven months, and twenty-nine days, and all on account of the impropriety of my conduct yesternight under your roof. Here am I, laid on a bed of pitiless furze, with my aching head reclined on a pillow of everpiercing thorn, while an infernal tormentor, wrinkled, and old, and cruel, his name, Í think, is Recollection, with a whip of scorpions, forbids peace or rest to approach me, and keeps anguish eternally awake. Still, Madam, if I could in any measure be reinstated in the good opinion of the fair circle whom my conduct last night so much injured, I think it would be an alleviation to my torments. For this reason, I trouble you with this letter. To the men of the company I will make no apology. Your husband, who insisted on my drinking more than I chose, has no right to blame me; and the other

FF

A Mrs.

gentlemen were partakers of my guilt. But to you, Madam, I have much to apologise. Your good opinion I valued as one of the greatest acquisitions I had made on earth, and I was truly a beast to forfeit it. There was a Miss I , too, a woman of fine sense, gentle and unassuming manners-do make, on my part, a miserable wretch's best apology to her. G-, a charming woman, did me the honour to be prejudiced in my favour; this makes me hope that I have not outraged her beyond all forgiveness. To all the other ladies please present my humblest contrition for my conduct, and my petition for their gracious pardon. Oh all ye powers of decency and decorum! whisper to them that my errors, though great, were involuntarythat an intoxicated man is the vilest of beasts-that it was not in my nature to be brutal to any one-that to be rude to a woman, when in my senses, was impossible

with me-but

Regret! Remorse! Shame! ye three hellhounds that ever dog my steps and bay at my heels, spare me! spare me!

Forgive the offences, and pity the perdition of Madam, your humble slave, R. B.

NO. CCCXLV.

TO THE SAME.

Dumfries, 1795.

MR. BURNS's compliments to Mrs. Riddel -is much obliged to her for her polite attention in sending him the book. Owing to Mr. B. at present acting as supervisor of Excise, a department that occupies his every hour of the day, he has not that time to spare which is necessary for any belle-lettre pursuit ; but as he will in a week or two again return to his wonted leisure, he will then pay that attention to Mrs. R.'s beautiful song, "To thee, loved Nith," which it so well deserves. (206) When "Anacharsis' Travels" come to hand, which Mrs. Riddel mentioned as her gift to the public library, Mr. B. will feel honoured by the indulgence of a perusal of them before presentation: it is a book he has never yet seen, and the regulations of the library allow too little leisure for deliberate reading.

Friday Evening.

P.S. Mr. Burns will be much obliged to Mrs. Riddel if she will favour him with a perusal of any of her poetical pieces which he may not have seen.

NQ CCCXLVI.

TO MR. HERON, OF HERON. (207) Dumfries, 1795.

SIR-I enclose you some copies of a couple of political ballads, one of which, I believe, Would to you have never seen. (208) Heaven I could make you master of as many votes in the Stewartry-but

Who does the utmost that he can, Does well, acts nobly-angels could no more.

In order to bring my humble efforts to bear with more effect on the foe, I have privately printed a good many copies of both ballads, and have sent them among friends all about the country.

To pillory on Parnassus the rank reprobation of character, the utter dereliction of all principle, in a profligate junto, which has not only outraged virtue, but violated common decency; which, spurning even hypocrisy as paltry iniquity below their daring-to unmask their flagitiousness to the broadest day -to deliver such over to their merited fate -is surely not merely innocent, but laudable; is not only propriety, but virtue. You have already as your auxiliary, the sober detestation of mankind on the heads of your opponents; and I swear by the lyre of Thalia to muster on your side all the votaries of honest laughter, and fair, candid ridicule!

I am extremely obliged to you for your kind mention of my interests in a letter which Mr. Syme showed me. At present my situation in life must be in a great measure stationary, at least for two or three years. The statement is this—I am on the supervisors' list, and as we come on there by precedency, in two or three years I shall be at the head of that list, and be appointed of course. Then, a FRIEND might be of service to me in getting me into a place of the kingdom which I would like. A sunervisor's income varies from about a hundred and twenty to two hundred a-year; but the business is an incessant drudgery, and would be nearly a complete bar to every species of literary pursuit. The moment I am appointed

supervisor, in the common routine, I may be nominated on the collector's list; and this is always a business purely of political patronage. A collectorship varies much, from better than two hundred a-year to near a thousand. They also come forward by precedency on the list; and have, besides a handsome income, a life of complete leisure. A life of literary leisure, with a decent competency, is the summit of my wishes. It would be the prudish affectation of silly pride in me to say that I do not need, or would not be indebted to, a political friend; at the same time, Sir, I by no means lay my affairs before you thus, to hook my dependent situation on your benevolence. If, in my progress of life, an opening should occur where the good offices of a gentleman of your public character and political consequence might bring me forward, I shall petition your goodness with the same frankness as I now do myself the honour to subscribe myself,

R. B.

NO. CCCXLVIII.

MR. THOMSON TO BURNS.

You must not think, my good Sir, that I have any intention to enhance the value of my gift, when I say, in justice to the ingenious and worthy artist, that the design and execution of the "Cotter's Saturday Night" is, in my opinion, one of the happiest productions of Allan's pencil. I shall be grievously disappointed if you are not quite pleased with it.

The figure intended for your portrait, I think strikingly like you, as far as I can remember your phiz. This should make the piece interesting to your family every way. Tell me whether Mrs. Burns finds you out among the figures.

I cannot express the feeling of admiration with which I have read your pathetic “ Address to the Woodlark," your elegant panegyric on Caledonia, and your affecting verses on Chloris's illness. Every repeated perusal of these gives new delight. The other song to "Laddie, lie near me," though not equal to these, is very pleasing.

NO. CCCXLVII.

TO MISS FONTENELLE.

Dumfries, 1795.

MADAM-In such a bad world as ours, those who add to the scanty sum of our pleasures are positively our benefactors. To you, Madam, on our humble Dumfries boards, I have been more indebted for entertainment than ever I was in prouder theatres. Your charms as a woman would ensure applause to the most indifferent actress, and your theatrical talents would ensure admiration to the plainest figure. This, Madam, is not the unmeaning or insidious compliment of the frivolous or interested; I pay it from the same honest impulse that the sublime of nature excites my admiration, or her beauties give me delight.

Will the foregoing lines (209) be of any service to you in your approaching benefit night? If they will, I shall be prouder of my muse than ever. They are nearly extempore: I know they have no great merit; but though they should add but little to the entertainment of the evening, they give me the happiness of an opportunity to declare how much I have the honour to be, &c.

R. B.

NO. CCCXLIX.

BURNS TO MR. THOMSON. (210)

WELL! this is not amiss. You see how I answer your orders-your tailor could not be more punctual. I am just now in a high fit for 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.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

NO. CCCL.

BURNS TO MR. THOMSON.

May, 1795.

TEN thousand thanks for your elegant present-though I am ashamed of the value of it being bestowed on a man who has not, by any means, merited such an instance of kindness. I have shown it to two or three

judges of the first abilities here, and they all agree with me in classing it as a firstrate production. My phiz is sae kenspeckle, that the very joiner's apprentice, whom Mrs. Burns employed to break up the parcel (I was out of town that day), knew it at once. My most grateful compliments to Allan, who has honoured my rustic muse so much with his masterly pencil. One strange coincidence is, that the little one who is making the felonious attempt on the cat's tail, is the most striking likeness of an ill-deedie, d-n'd, wee, rumble-gairie urchin of mine, whom, from that propensity to witty wickedness, and manfu' mischief, which, even at twa days' auld, I foresaw would form the striking features of his disposition, I named Willie Nicol, after a certain friend of mine, who is one of the masters of a grammarschool in a city which shall be nameless.

my

Give the enclosed epigram to much-valued friend Cunningham, and tell him, that on Wednesday I go to visit a friend of his, to whom his friendly partiality in speaking of me, in a manner introduced me--I mean a well-known military and literary character, Colonel Dirom.

You do not tell me how you liked my two last songs. Are they condemned?

NO. CCCLI.

MR. THOMSON TO BURNS.

May 13th, 1795.

It gives me great pleasure to find that you are all so well satisfied with Mr. Allan's

production. The chance resemblance of your little fellow, whose promising disposition appeared so very early, and suggested whom he should be named after, is curious enough. I am acquainted with that person, who is a prodigy of learning and genius, and a pleasant fellow, though no saint.

You really make me blush when you tell me you have not merited the drawing from me. I do not think I can ever repay you, or sufficiently esteem and respect you, for the liberal and kind manner in which you have entered into the spirit of my undertaking, which could not have been perfected without you. So I beg you would not make a fool of me again by speaking of obligation.

I like your two last songs very much, and

am happy to find you are in such a high fit of poetising. Long may it last! Clarke has made a fine pathetic air to Mallet's superlative ballad of "William and Margaret," and is to give it to me, to be enrolled among the elect.

NO. CCCLII.

BURNS TO MR. THOMSON,

IN "Whistle, and I'll come to ye, my lad," the iteration of that line is tiresome to my ear. Here goes what I think is an improvement :

"O whistle, and I'll come to ye, my lad; Oh whistle, and I'll come to ye, my lad; Tho' father and mother and a'should gae mad,

Thy Jeanie will venture wi' ye, my lad.”

In fact, a fair dame, at whose shrine I, the Priest of the Nine, offer up the incense of Parnassus-a dame whom the Graces have attired in witchcraft, and whom the Loves have armed with lightning-a fair one, herself the heroine of the song, insists on the amendment, and dispute her commands if you dare!

[Here follows "This is no my ain lassie."]

Do you know that you have roused the torpidity of Clarke at last? He has requested me to write three or four songs for him, which he is to set to music himself. The enclosed sheet contains two songs for him, which please to present to my valued friend Cunningham.

I enclose the sheet open, both for your inspection, and that you may copy the song "Oh bonnie was yon rosy brier." I do not know whether I am right, but that song pleases me; and as it is extremely probable that Clarke's newly-roused celestial spark will be soon smothered in the fogs of indolence, if you like the song, it may go as Scottish verses to the air of "I wish my love was in a mire; " and poor Erskine's English lines English lines may follow.

I enclose you a "For a' that and a' that," which was never in print; it is a much that it was composed by a lady. superior song to mine.

I have been told

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Edinburgh, August 3rd, 1795.

MY DEAR SIR-This will be delivered to you by a Dr. Brianton, who has read your works, and pants for the honour of your acquaintance. I do not know the gentleman; but his friend, who applied to me for this introduction, being an excellent young man, I have no doubt he is worthy of all acceptation.

My eyes have just been gladdened, and my mind feasted, with your last packetfull of pleasant things indeed. What an imagination is yours!-it is superfluous to tell you that I am delighted with all the tiree songs, as well as with your elegant and tender verses to Chloris.

[ocr errors]

i am sorry you should be induced to alter Oh whistle and I'll come to ye, my lad,” to the prosaic line, "Thy Jeanie will venture wi' ye, my lad." I must be permitted to say, that I do not think the latter either reads or sings so well as the former. I wish, therefore, you would in my name petition the charming Jeanie, whoever she be, to let the line remain unaltered.

I should be happy to see Mr. Clarke produce a few airs to be joined to your verses. Everybody regrets his writing so very little, as everybody acknowledges his ability to write well. Pray was the resolution formed coolly before dinner, or was it a midnight yow made over a bowl of punch with the

bard?

I shall not fail to give Mr. Cunningham what you have sent him.

P.S.-The lady's "For a' that, and a' that," is sensible enough, but no more to be compared to yours than I to Hercules.

NO. CCCLV.

BURNS TO MR. THOMSON. (212) SUCH is the peculiarity of the rhythm of this air, that I find it impossible to make another stanza to suit it.

I am at present quite occupied with the charming sensations of the toothache, so have not a word to spare.

NO. CCCLVI.

MR. THOMSON TO BURNS. June 3rd, 1795.

[ocr errors]

MY DEAR SIR-Your English verses to "Let me in this ane night," are tender and beautiful; and your ballad to the "Lothian Lassie" is a master-piece for its humour and naïveté. The fragment for the Caledonian Hunt is quite suited to the original measure of the air, and, as it plagues you I would so, the fragment must content it. rather, as I said before, have had bacchanalian words, had it so pleased the poet; but, nevertheless, for what we have received. Lord, make us thankful!

NO. CCCLVII.
TO MRS. DUNLOP.

December 15th, 1795.

MY DEAR FRIEND-AS I am in a com

plete Decemberish humour, gloomy, sullen, stupid, as even the Deity of Dulness herself letter with a number of heavier apologies could wish, I shall not drawl out a heavy for my late silence. Only one I shall mention, because I know you will sympathise in it

these four months, a sweet little girl, my youngest child, has been so ill, that every day, a week or less threatened to terminate her existence. There had much need be

« AnteriorContinuar »