No. XLIX. MR. BURNS to MR. THOMSON. December, 1793. TELL me how you like the following verses to the tune of Jo Janet: HUSBAND, husband, cease your strife, Yet I am not your slave, sir. "One of two must still obey, Is it man or woman, say, If 'tis still the lordly word, I'll desert my sov'reign lord, } VOL. IV. L "Sad "Sad will I be, so bereft, Yet I'll try to make a shift, My poor heart then break it must, Strength to bear it will be given, Well, sir, from the silent dead, "I'll wed another, like my dear Then all hell will fly for fear, Air Air" THE SUTOR'S DOCHTER." WILT thou be my dearie? When sorrow wrings thy gentle heart, Wilt thou let me cheer thee? Only thou, I swear and vow, Lassie, say thou lo’es me; Thou for thine may choose me, Let me, lassie, quickly die, Trusting that thou lo'es me. No. L. MR. THOMSON to MR. BURNS. MY DEAR SIR, Edinburgh, 17th April, 1794. OWING to the distress of our friend for the loss of his child, at the time of his receiving your admirable but melancholy letter, I had not an opportunity, till lately, of perusing it.* How sorry I am to find Burns saying, "Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased?" while he is delighting others from one end of the island to the other. Like the hypochondriac who went to consult a physician upon his case-Go, says the doctor, and see the famous Carlini, who keeps all Paris in good humour. Alas, Sir, replied the patient, I am that unhappy Carlini ! Your * A letter to Mr. Cunningham to be found in vol. ii. E. Your plan for our meeting together pleases me greatly, and I trust that by some means or other it will soon take place; but your Bacchanalian challenge almost frightens me, for I am a miserable weak drinker! Allan is much gratified by your good opinion of his talents. He has just begun a sketch from your Cotter's Saturday Night, and if it pleases himself in the design, he will probably etch or engrave it. In subjects of the pastoral and humorous kind, he is perhaps unrivalled by any artist living. He fails a little in giving beauty and grace to his females, and his colouring is sombre, otherwise his paintings and drawings would be in greater request. I like the music of the Sutor's dochter, and will consider whether it shall be added to the last volume; your verses to it are pretty; but your humorous English song, to suit Jo Janet, is inimitable. What think you of the air, Within a mile of Edinburgh? It has always struck me as a modern English imitation, but it is said to be Oswald's, and is so much liked that I believe I must include it. The verses are little better than namby pamby. stanza or two? Do you consider it worth a No. |