The Works of Michael Bruce, Edited with Memoir and Notes by the REV. Alexander B. Grosart; (Mit 1 Facsim.-Taf.) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1865 Excerpt: ...Bruce, ' It is a Law-maxim of Coke, ' Cum duo inter se pugnantia reperiuntur in testamento, ultimum ratum est.' The principle holds here. The volume is a 'deed, ' not a 'Will, ' and the 'first' statement, not the last, is binding. That first wasthat Bruce was the author of all the Poems. and excludes the whole from Logan; and finally, inasmuch as (5) Other Editors have unhesitatingly given all to Bruce, --the whole, save the ' Vernal Ode' of Sir James Foulis, will be found in our edition. In estimating the position of Michael Bruce among the minor Poets of our Country, three things must be remembered. I. That the ' Ode to the Cuckoo ' and the ' Hymns, ' being proven to be his, we have in them atoken of what, had years been given him, he might and would have done. 2. That the quarto volume into which he had transcribed all his Poems under the shadow of departure, was DESTROYED by Logan. It probably contained many such gems as those named. I strongly suspect that the ballad of the 'Braes of Yarrow, ' and the Tale commencing, 'Where pastoral Tweed, renown'd in song, ' were, in substance, from his Muse, not Logan's. 3. That he died only three months beyond his__twentyfirst year. This explains the immaturity of his taste, and his echoes of Milton and Thomson, Gray and Collins, and Young and other poets. But as it is, this volume of the ' Works ' of our Poet deserves a place among the genuine ' Malekarr.' Even in his barest productions, as ' Lochleven ' and ' The Last Day, ' there are bits of description not at all unworthy of the master, Thomson. Thus, --' Fair from his hand behold the vi