Transcriber’s Note.
1. The hyphenation and accent of words is not uniform throughout the book. No change has been made in this.
2. The relative indentations of Poems, Epitaphs, and Songs are as printed in the original book.
THE
COMPLETE WORKS
OF
ROBERT BURNS:
CONTAINING HIS
POEMS, SONGS, AND CORRESPONDENCE.
WITH
A NEW LIFE OF THE POET,
AND
NOTICES, CRITICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL,
BY ALLAN CUNNINGHAM.
ELEGANTLY ILLUSTRATED.
BOSTON:
PHILLIPS, SAMPSON, AND COMPANY.
NEW YORK: J.C. DERBY.
1855
TO
ARCHIBALD HASTIE, ESQ.,
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR PAISLEY
THIS
EDITION
OF
THE WORKS AND MEMOIRS OF A GREAT POET,
IN WHOSE SENTIMENTS OF FREEDOM HE SHARES,
AND WHOSE PICTURES OF SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC LIFE HE LOVES,
IS RESPECTFULLY AND GRATEFULLY INSCRIBED
BY
ALLAN CUNNINGHAM.
DEDICATION.
TO THE
NOBLEMEN AND GENTLEMEN
OF THE
CALEDONIAN HUNT.
[On the title-page of the second or Edinburgh edition, were these
words: “Poems, chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, by Robert Burns,
printed for the Author, and sold by William Creech, 1787.” The motto
of the Kilmarnock edition was omitted; a very numerous list of
subscribers followed: the volume was printed by the celebrated
Smellie.]
My Lords and Gentlemen:
A Scottish Bard, proud of the name, and whose highest ambition is to
sing in his country’s service, where shall he so properly look for
patronage as to the illustrious names of his native land: those who
bear the honours and inherit the virtues of their ancestors? The
poetic genius of my country found me, as the prophetic bard Elijah did
Elisha—at the plough, and threw her inspiring mantle over
me. She bade me sing the loves, the joys, the rural scenes and rural
pleasures of my native soil, in my native tongue; I tuned my wild,
artless notes as she inspired. She whispered me to come to this
ancient metropolis of Caledonia, and lay my songs under your honoured
protection: I now obey her dictates.
Though much indebted to your goodness, I do not approach you, my Lords
and Gentlemen, in the usual style of dedication, to thank you for past
favours: that path is so hackneyed by prostituted learning that honest
rusticity is ashamed of it. Nor do I present this address with the
venal soul of a servile author, looking for a continuation of those
favours: I was bred to the plough, and am independent. I come to claim
the common Scottish name with you, my illustrious countrymen; and to
tell the world that I glory in the title. I come to congratulate my
country that the blood of her ancient heroes still runs
uncontaminated, and that from your courage, knowledge, and public
spirit, she may expect protection, wealth, and liberty. In the last
place, I come to proffer my warmest wishes to the great fountain of
honour, the Monarch of the universe, for your welfare and happiness.
When you go forth to waken the echoes, in the ancient and favourite
amusement of your forefathers, may Pleasure ever be of your party: and
may social joy await your return! When harassed in courts or camps
with the jostlings of bad men and bad measures, may the honest
consciousness of injured worth attend your return to your native
seats; and may domestic happiness, with a smiling welcome, meet you at
your gates! May corruption shrink at your kindling indignant glance;
and may tyranny in the ruler, and licentiousness in the people,
equally find you an inexorable foe!
I have the honour to be,
With the sincerest gratitude and highest respect,
My Lords and Gentlemen,
Your most devoted humble servant,
ROBERT BURNS.
Edinburgh, April 4, 1787.
PREFACE.
I cannot give to my country this edition of one of its favourite
poets, without stating that I have deliberately omitted several pieces
of verse ascribed to Burns by other editors, who too hastily, and I
think on insufficient testimony, admitted them among his works. If I
am unable to share in the hesitation expressed by one of them on the
authorship of the stanzas on “Pastoral Poetry,” I can as little share
in the feelings with which they have intruded into the charmed circle
of his poetry such compositions as “Lines on the Ruins of Lincluden
College,” “Verses on the Destruction of the Woods of Drumlanrig,”
“Verses written on a Marble Slab in the Woods of Aberfeldy,” and those
entitled “The Tree of Liberty.” These productions, with the exception
of the last, were never seen by any one even in the handwriting of
Burns, and are one and all wanting in that original vigour of language
and manliness of sentiment which distinguish his poetry. With respect
to “The Tree of Liberty” in particular, a subject dear to the heart of
the Bard, can any one conversant with his genius imagine that he
welcomed its growth or celebrated its fruit with such “capon craws” as
these?
“Upo’ this tree there grows sic fruit,
Its virtues a’ can tell, man;
It raises man aboon the brute,
It mak’s him ken himsel’, man.
Gif ance the peasant taste a bit,
He’s greater than a lord, man,
An’ wi’ a beggar shares a mite
O’ a’ he can afford, man.”
There are eleven stanzas, of which the best, compared with the “A
man’s a man for a’ that” of Burns, sounds like a cracked pipkin
against the “heroic clang” of a Damascus blade. That it is extant in
the handwriting of the poet cannot be taken as a proof that it is his
own composition, against the internal testimony of utter want of all
the marks by which we know him—the Burns-stamp, so to speak, which is
visible on all that ever came from his pen. Misled by his handwriting,
I inserted in my former edition of his works an epitaph, beginning
“Here lies a rose, a budding rose,”
the composition of Shenstone, and which is to be found in the
church-yard of Hales-Owen: as it is not included in every edition of
that poet’s acknowledged works, Burns, who was an admirer of his
genius, had, it seems, copied it with his own hand, and hence my
error. If I hesitated about the exclusion of “The Tree of Liberty,”
and its three false brethren, I could have no scruples regarding the
fine song of “Evan Banks,” claimed and justly for Miss Williams by Sir
Walter Scott, or the humorous song called “Shelah O’Neal,” composed by
the late Sir Alexander Boswell. When I have stated that I have
arranged the Poems, the Songs, and the Letters of Burns, as nearly as
possible in the order in which they were written; that I have omitted
no piece of either verse or prose which bore the impress of his hand,
nor included any by which his high reputation would likely be
impaired, I have said all that seems necessary to be said, save that
the following letter came too late for insertion in its proper place:
it is characteristic and worth a place anywhere.
ALLAN CUNNINGHAM.
TO DR. ARCHIBALD LAURIE.
Mossgiel, 13th Nov. 1786.
Dear Sir,
I have along with this sent the two volumes of Ossian, with the
remaining volume of the Songs. Ossian I am not in such a hurry about;
but I wish the Songs, with the volume of the Scotch Poets, returned as
soon as they can conveniently be dispatched. If they are left at Mr.
Wilson, the bookseller’s shop, Kilmarnock, they will easily reach me.
My most respectful compliments to Mr. and Mrs. Laurie; and a Poet’s
warmest wishes for their happiness to the young ladies; particularly
the fair musician, whom I think much better qualified than ever David
was, or could be, to charm an evil spirit out of a Saul.
Indeed, it needs not the Feelings of a poet to be interested in the
welfare of one of the sweetest scenes of domestic peace and kindred
love that ever I saw; as I think the peaceful unity of St. Margaret’s
Hill can only be excelled by the harmonious concord of the Apocalyptic
Zion.
I am, dear Sir, yours sincerely,
Robert Burns.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
| PAGE |
| Winter. A Dirge |
61 |
| The Death and dying Words of poor Mailie |
61 |
| Poor Mailie’s Elegy |
62 |
| First Epistle to Davie, a brother Poet |
63 |
| Second |
65 |
| Address to the Deil |
65 |
| The auld Farmer’s New-year Morning Salutation
to his auld Mare Maggie |
67 |
| To a Haggis |
68 |
| A Prayer under the pressure of violent Anguish |
69 |
| A Prayer in the prospect of Death |
69 |
| Stanzas on the same occasion |
69 |
| A Winter Night |
70 |
| Remorse. A Fragment |
71 |
| The Jolly Beggars. A Cantata |
71 |
| Death and Dr. Hornbook. A True Story |
76 |
| The Twa Herds; or, the Holy Tulzie |
78 |
| Holy Willie’s Prayer |
79 |
| Epitaph to Holy Willie |
80 |
| The Inventory; in answer to a mandate by the
surveyor of taxes |
81 |
| The Holy Fair |
82 |
| The Ordination |
84 |
| The Calf |
86 |
| To James Smith |
86 |
| The Vision |
88 |
| Halloween |
92 |
| Man was made to Mourn. A Dirge |
95 |
| To Ruin |
96 |
| To John Goudie of Kilmarnock, on the publication
of his Essays |
97 |
| To J. Lapraik, an old Scottish Bard. First
Epistle |
97 |
| To J. Lapraik. Second Epistle |
99 |
| To J. Lapraik. Third Epistle |
100 |
| To William Simpson, Ochiltree |
101 |
| Address to an illegitimate Child |
103 |
| Nature’s Law. A Poem humbly inscribed to
G.H., Esq. |
103 |
| To the Rev. John M’Math |
104 |
| To a Mouse |
105 |
| Scotch Drink |
106 |
| The Author’s earnest Cry and Prayer to the Scotch
Representatives of the House of Commons |
107 |
| Address to the unco Guid, or the rigidly Righteous |
110 |
| Tam Samson’s Elegy |
111 |
| Lament, occasioned by the unfortunate issue of
a Friend’s Amour |
112 |
| Despondency. An Ode |
113 |
| The Cotter’s Saturday Night |
114 |
| The first Psalm |
117 |
| The first six Verses of the ninetieth Psalm |
118 |
| To a Mountain Daisy |
118 |
| Epistle to a young Friend |
119 |
| To a Louse, on seeing one on a Lady’s Bonnet
at Church |
120 |
| Epistle to J. Rankine, enclosing some Poems |
121 |
| On a Scotch Bard, gone to the West Indies |
122 |
| The Farewell |
123 |
| Written on the blank leaf of my Poems, presented
to an old Sweetheart then married |
123 |
| A Dedication to Gavin Hamilton, Esq. |
123 |
| Elegy on the Death of Robert Ruisseaux |
125 |
| Letter to James Tennant of Glenconner |
125 |
| On the Birth of a posthumous Child |
126 |
| To Miss Cruikshank |
126 |
| Willie Chalmers |
127 |
| Verses left in the room where he slept |
128 |
| To Gavin Hamilton, Esq., recommending a boy |
128 |
| To Mr. M’Adam, of Craigen-gillan |
129 |
| Answer to a Poetical Epistle sent to the Author
by a Tailor |
129 |
| To J. Rankine. “I am a keeper of the law.” |
130 |
| Lines written on a Bank-note |
130 |
| A Dream |
130 |
| A Bard’s Epitaph |
132 |
| The Twa Dogs. A Tale |
132 |
| Lines on meeting with Lord Daer |
135 |
| Address to Edinburgh |
136 |
| Epistle to Major Logan |
137 |
| The Brigs of Ayr |
138 |
| On the Death of Robert Dundas, Esq., of Arniston,
late Lord President of the Court of
Session |
141 |
| On reading in a Newspaper the Death of John
M’Leod, Esq. |
141 |
| To Miss Logan, with Beattie’s Poems |
142 |
| The American War, A fragment |
142 |
| The Dean of Faculty. A new Ballad |
143 |
| To a Lady, with a Present of a Pair of Drinking-glasses |
144 |
| To Clarinda |
144 |
| Verses written under the Portrait of the Poet
Fergusson |
144 |
| Prologue spoken by Mr. Woods, on his Benefit-night,
Monday, April 16, 1787 |
145 |
| Sketch. A Character |
145 |
| To Mr. Scott, of Wauchope |
145 |
| Epistle to William Creech |
146 |
| The humble Petition of Bruar-Water, to the
noble Duke of Athole |
147 |
| On scaring some Water-fowl in Loch Turit |
148 |
| Written with a pencil, over the chimney-piece,
in the parlour of the Inn at Kenmore, Taymouth |
149 |
| Written with a pencil, standing by the Fall of
Fyers, near Loch Ness |
149 |
| To Mr. William Tytler, with the present of the
Bard’s picture |
150 |
| Written in Friars-Carse Hermitage, on the
banks of Nith, June, 1780. First Copy |
150 |
| The same. December, 1788. Second Copy |
151 |
| To Captain Riddel, of Glenriddel. Extempore
lines on returning a Newspaper |
152 |
| A Mother’s Lament for the Death of her Son |
152 |
| First Epistle to Robert Graham, Esq., of Fintray |
152 |
| On the Death of Sir James Hunter Blair |
153 |
| Epistle to Hugh Parker |
154 |
| Lines, intended to be written under a Noble
Earl’s Picture |
155 |
| Elegy on the year 1788. A Sketch |
155 |
| Address to the Toothache |
155 |
| Ode. Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Oswald, of
Auchencruive |
156 |
| Fragment inscribed to the Right Hon. C.J. Fox |
156 |
| On seeing a wounded Hare limp by me, which a
Fellow had just shot |
157 |
| To Dr. Blacklock. In answer to a Letter |
158 |
| Delia. An Ode |
159 |
| To John M’Murdo, Esq. |
159 |
| Prologue, spoken at the Theatre, Dumfries, 1st
January, 1790 |
159 |
| Scots Prologue, for Mr. Sutherland’s Benefit-night,
Dumfries |
160 |
| Sketch. New-year’s Day. To Mrs. Dunlop |
160 |
| To a Gentleman who had sent him a Newspaper,
and offered to continue it free of expense |
161 |
| The Kirk’s Alarm. A Satire. First Version |
162 |
| The Kirk’s Alarm. A Ballad. Second Version |
163 |
| Peg Nicholson |
165 |
| On Captain Matthew Henderson, a gentleman
who held the patent for his honours immediately
from Almighty God |
165 |
| The Five Carlins. A Scots Ballad |
167 |
| The Laddies by the Banks o’ Nith |
168 |
| Epistle to Robert Graham, Esq., of Fintray, on
the close of the disputed Election between
Sir James Johnstone, and Captain Miller,
for the Dumfries district of Boroughs |
169 |
| On Captain Grose’s Peregrination through Scotland,
collecting the Antiquities of that kingdom |
170 |
| Written in a wrapper, enclosing a letter to Captain
Grose |
171 |
| Tam O’ Shanter. A Tale |
171 |
| Address of Beelzebub to the President of the
Highland Society |
174 |
| To John Taylor |
175 |
| Lament of Mary Queen of Scots, on the approach
of Spring |
175 |
| The Whistle |
176 |
| Elegy on Miss Burnet of Monboddo |
178 |
| Lament for James, Earl of Glencairn |
178 |
| Lines sent to Sir John Whitefoord, Bart., of
Whitefoord, with the foregoing Poem |
179 |
| Address to the Shade of Thomson, on crowning
his Bust at Ednam with bays |
179 |
| To Robert Graham, Esq., of Fintray |
180 |
| To Robert Graham, Esq., of Fintray, on receiving
a favour |
181 |
| A Vision |
181 |
| To John Maxwell, of Terraughty, on his birthday |
182 |
| The Rights of Women, an occasional Address
spoken by Miss Fontenelle, on her benefit-night,
Nov. 26, 1792 |
182 |
| Monody on a Lady famed for her caprice |
183 |
| Epistle from Esopus to Maria |
184 |
| Poem on Pastoral Poetry |
185 |
| Sonnet, written on the 25th January, 1793, the
birthday of the Author, on hearing a thrush
sing in a morning walk |
185 |
| Sonnet on the death of Robert Riddel, Esq., of
Glenriddel, April, 1794 |
186 |
| Impromptu on Mrs. Riddel’s birthday |
186 |
| Liberty. A Fragment |
186 |
| Verses to a young Lady |
186 |
| The Vowels. A Tale |
187 |
| Verses to John Rankine |
187 |
| On Sensibility. To my dear and much-honoured
friend, Mrs. Dunlop, of Dunlop |
188 |
| Lines sent to a Gentleman whom he had offended |
188 |
| Address spoken by Miss Fontenelle on her
Benefit-night |
188 |
| On seeing Miss Fontenelle in a favourite character |
189 |
| To Chloris |
189 |
| Poetical Inscription for an Altar to Independence |
189 |
| The Heron Ballads. Balled First |
190 |
| The Heron Ballads. Ballad Second |
190 |
| The Heron Ballads. Ballad Third |
192 |
| Poem addressed to Mr. Mitchell, Collector of
Excise, Dumfries, 1796 |
193 |
| To Miss Jessy Lewars, Dumfries, with Johnson’s
Musical Museum |
193 |
| Poem on Life, addressed to Colonel de Peyster,
Dumfries, 1796 |
193 |
| On the Author’s Father |
194 |
| On R.A., Esq. |
194 |
| On a Friend |
194 |
| For Gavin Hamilton |
194 |
| On wee Johnny |
195 |
| On John Dove, Innkeeper, Mauchline |
195 |
| On a Wag in Mauchline |
195 |
| On a celebrated ruling Elder |
195 |
| On a noisy Polemic |
195 |
| On Miss Jean Scott |
195 |
| On a henpecked Country Squire |
195 |
| On the same |
196 |
| On the same |
196 |
| The Highland Welcome |
196 |
| On William Smellie |
196 |
| Written on a window of the Inn at Carron |
196 |
| The Book-worms |
196 |
| Lines on Stirling |
197 |
| The Reproof |
197 |
| The Reply |
197 |
| Lines written under the Picture of the celebrated
Miss Burns |
197 |
| Extempore in the Court of Session |
197 |
| The henpecked Husband |
197 |
| Written at Inverary |
198 |
| On Elphinston’s Translation of Martial’s Epigrams |
198 |
| Inscription on the Head-stone of Fergusson |
198 |
| On a Schoolmaster |
198 |
| A Grace before Dinner |
198 |
| A Grace before Meat |
198 |
| On Wat |
198 |
| On Captain Francis Grose |
199 |
| Impromptu to Miss Ainslie |
199 |
| The Kirk of Lamington |
199 |
| The League and Covenant |
199 |
| Written on a pane of glass in the Inn at Moffat |
199 |
| Spoken on being appointed to the Excise |
199 |
| Lines on Mrs. Kemble |
199 |
| To Mr. Syme |
200 |
| To Mr. Syme, with a present of a dozen of
porter |
200 |
| A Grace |
200 |
| Inscription on a goblet |
200 |
| The Invitation |
200 |
| The Creed of Poverty |
200 |
| Written in a Lady’s pocket-book |
200 |
| The Parson’s Looks |
200 |
| The Toad-eater |
201 |
| On Robert Riddel |
201 |
| The Toast |
201 |
| On a Person nicknamed the Marquis |
201 |
| Lines written on a window |
201 |
| Lines written on a window of the Globe Tavern,
Dumfries |
201 |
| The Selkirk Grace |
202 |
| To Dr. Maxwell, on Jessie Staig’s recovery |
202 |
| Epitaph |
202 |
| Epitaph on William Nicol |
202 |
| On the Death of a Lapdog, named Echo |
202 |
| On a noted Coxcomb |
202 |
| On seeing the beautiful Seat of Lord Galloway |
202 |
| On the same |
203 |
| On the same |
203 |
| To the same, on the Author being threatened
with his resentment |
203 |
| On a Country Laird |
203 |
| On John Bushby |
203 |
| The true loyal Natives |
203 |
| On a Suicide |
203 |
| Extempore, pinned on a Lady’s coach |
203 |
| Lines to John Rankine |
204 |
| Jessy Lewars |
204 |
| The Toast |
204 |
| On Miss Jessy Lewars |
204 |
| On the recovery of Jessy Lewars |
204 |
| Tam the Chapman |
204 |
| “Here’s a bottle and an honest friend” |
205 |
| “Tho’ fickle fortune has deceived me” |
205 |
| To John Kennedy |
205 |
| To the same |
205 |
| “There’s naethin’ like the honest nappy” |
205 |
| On the blank leaf of a work by Hannah More,
presented by Mrs. C |
206 |
| To the Men and Brethren of the Masonic Lodge
at Tarbolton |
206 |
| Impromptu |
206 |
| Prayer for Adam Armour |
206 |
