Farewell, thou fair day, thou green earth, and ye skies Farewell, loves and friendships, ye dear tender ties, Thou grim king of terrors, thou life's gloomy foe, Go, teach them to tremble, fell tyrant! but know, Thou strik'st the dull peasant, he sinks in the dark, Thou strik'st the young hero, a glorious mark! In the field of proud honour, our swords in our hands, The last of these specimens is sufficient to evince that Burns could employ the English language with considerable efficacy: but the advice which he received from Dr Moore can hardly be considered as altogether judicious. “It is evident," says his correspondent, "that you already possess a great variety of expression and command of the English language; you ought therefore to deal more sparingly for the future in the provincial dialect: why should you, by using that, limit the number of your admirers to those who understand the Scottish, when you can ex tend it to all persons of taste who understand the English language." The situation and studies of Burns had prepared him for excelling in Scotish poetry; but it is far from being evident that he was qualified to contend with the mighty masters of the English lyre. It was therefore with sufficient prudence that he chiefly confined himself to a department in which he was without a rival. His superiority to Ramsay and Fergusson is manifest; he possesses in an infinitely higher degree the power of captivating the heart, and of arresting the understanding. THE END. 1 INDEX OF SCOTISH AUTHORS. A ii. 346. 433. Beattie, James Hay, i. 163. Blackwood, i. 85. Blair, Arnald, i. 360. Blyth, ii. 144. Boyce, (Boëthius) i. 63. 65. 72. 84. Boyd, (Bodius) Mark Alexander, i. 131. Chalmers, Dr David, 'î. 67. Cone, (Concus) i. 112. Craig, Sir Thomas, i. 103. 125. Craig, John, i. 148. Craig, Alexander, ii. 301. Crichton, (Critonius) James, i. 74. E Echlin, i. 103. Eglintoun, Sir Hugh, i. 366. 447- F Fairley, (Farleus) ii. 293. Forrest, i. 18. D Danskin, i. 103. Dempster, i. 27. 100. 103. 107. 176. 221. ji. 191. G G. G. of S. ii. 184. |