"And sweetly the nightingale sung from the wi”” In the first place, the nightingale sings in a low bush, but never from a tree; and in the second place, there never was a nightingale seen, or heard, on the banks of the Dee, or on the banks of any other river in Scotland. Exotic rural imagery is always comparatively flat. If I could hit on another stanza, equal to The small birds rejoice, &c. I do myself honestly avow, that I think it a superior song.* John Anderson my jo-the song to this tune in Johnson's Museum, is my composition, and I think it not my worst if it suit you, take it, and welcome. Your collection of sentimental and pathetic songs, is, in my opinion, very complete; but not so your comic ones. Where are Tullochgorum, Lumps o' puddin, Tibbie Fowler, and several others, which, in my humble judgment, are well worthy of preservation? There is also one sentimental song of mine in the Museum, which never was known out of the immediate neighbourhood, until I got it taken down from a country girl's singing. It is called Craigie burn Wood; and, in the opinion of Mr Clarke, is one of the sweetest Scottish songs. He is quite an enthusiast about it: and I would take his taste in Scottish music against the taste of most connoisseurs. You are quite right in inserting the last five in your list, though they are certainly Irish. Shepherds, I have lost my love! is to me a heavenly airwhat would you think of a set of Scottish verses to * It will be found, in the course of this correspondence, that the Bard produced a second stanza of The Chevalier's Lament, (to which he here alludes) worthy of the first. age, which it? I have made one to it a good while I think * * * **** * * but in its original state is not quite a lady's song. I enclose an altered, not amended copy for you, if you choose to set the tune to it, and let the Irish verses follow.* Mr Erskine's songs are all pretty, but his Lone Vale is divine. Yours, &c. Let me know just how you like these random hints. No. XX. MR THOMSON to MR BURNS.. Edinburgh, April, 1793. I REJOICE to find, my dear Sir, that balladmaking continues to be your hobby-horse- Great pity 'twould be were it otherwise. I hope you will amble it away for many a year, and "witch the world with your horsemanship." Mr Thomson, it appears, did not approve of this song, even in its altered state. It does not apppear in the correspon dence; but it is probably one to be found in his MSS. beginning, "Yestreen I got a pint of wine, A place where body saw na ; The gowden locks of Anna." It is highly characteristic of our Bard, but the strain of sentiment does not correspond with the air to which he proposes it should be allied. I know there are a good many lively songs of merit that I have not put down in the list sent you; but I have them all in my eye. My Patie is a lover gay, though a little unequal, is a natural and very pleasing song, and I humbly think we ought not to displace or alter it, except the last stanza*. No. XXI. MR BURNS to MR THOMSON. I April, 1793. I HAVE yours, my dear Sir, this moment. shall answer it and your former letter, in my desultory way of saying whatever comes uppermost. The business of many of our tunes wanting, at the beginning, what fiddlers call a starting-note, is often a rub to us poor rhymers. "There's braw, braw lads on Yarrow braes, That wander thro' the blooming heather," you may alter to "Braw, braw lads on Yarrow braes, Ye wander, &c. My song, Here awa, there awa, as amended by Mr Erskine, I entirely approve of, and return you.t * The original letter from Mr Thomson contains many observations on the Scottish songs, and on the manner of adapting the words to the music, which, at his desire, are suppressed. The subsequent letter of Mr Burns refers to several of these ob servations. E. The reader has already seen that Burns did not finally adopt all of Mr Erskine's alterations. E. Give me leave to criticise your taste in the only thing in which it is in my opinion reprehensible. You know I ought to know something of my own trade. Of pathos, sentiment, and point, you are a complete jadge; bet there is a quality more necessary than either, in a song, and which is the very essence of a ballad, I mean simplicity: now, if I mis Rassay, as every other poet, has not been always and restless love. At any rate my other grow the rashes, will never suit. That song, Green rent in Scotland under the old title, and to the merry is cursong old tune of that name, which of course would mar the progress of your song to celebrity. Your book will be the standard of Scots songs for the future: let this idea ever keep your judgment on the alarm. I send a song, on a celebrated toast in this country, to suit Bonnie Dundee. I send you also a ballad to the Mill mill 0.* The last time I came o'er the moor, I would fain attempt to make a Scots song for, and let Ramsay's be the English set. You shall hear from me soon. When you go to London on this business, can you come by Dumfries? I have still several MS. Scots airs by me which I have pickt up, mostly from the singing of country lasses. They please me vastly; but your learned lugst would perhaps be displeased with the very feature for which I like them. I call them simple; you would pronounce them silly. Do you know a fine air called Jackie Hume's Lament? I have a song of considerable merit to that air. I'll enclose you both the song and tune, as I had them ready to send to Johnson's Museum.‡ I The song to the tune of Bonnie Dundee, is that in No. XVI. The ballad to the Mill mill O, is that beginning, "When wild war's deadly blast was blawn.” + Ears. The song here mentioned is that given in No. XVIII. Oken ye what Meg o' the mill has gotten ? Mr Burns's own writing, though he does not wn songs so much. D 2 This song is surely generally praise his Note by Mr Thomson. |