The Genius and Character of Burns (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. 1854 Excerpt: ...flowing clover gay; And when ye wing your annual way Frae our cauld shore, Tell thae far worlds, wha lies in clay, Wham ye deplore. ' Ye houlets, frae your ivy bow'r, In some auld tree, or eldritch tow'r, What time the moon, wi' silent glow'r Sets up her horn, Wail thro' the dreary midnight hour Till waukrife morn "Oh, rivers, forests, hills, and plains Oft have ye heard my canty strains: But now, what else for me remains But tales of wo? And frae my een the drapping rains Maun ever flow. "Mourn, spring, thou darling of the year Ilk cowslip cup shall kep a tear: Thou, simmer, while each corny spear Shoots up its head, Thy gay, green, flow'ry tresses shear For him that's dead. "Thou, autumn, wi' thy yellow hair, In grief thy sallow mantle tear Thou, winter, hurling thro' the air The roaring blast, Wide o'er the naked world declare The worth we've lost "Mourn him, thou sun, great source of light Mourn, empress of the silent night And you, ye twinkling starnies bright, My Matthew mourn For through your orbs he's ta'en his flight, Ne'er to return." Of all Burns's friends, the most efficient was Graham of Fintry. To him he owed Exciseman's diploma--settlement as a gauger in the District of Ten Parishes, when he was gudeman at Ellisland--translation as gauger to Dumfries--support against insidious foes despicable yet not to be despised with rumor at their head--vindication at the Excise Board--pro loco et tempore supervisorship--and though he knew not of it, security from dreaded degradation on his deathbed. "His First Epistle to Mr. Graham of Fintry " is in the style, shall we say it, of Dryden and Pope? It is a noble composition; and these fine, vigorous, rough, and racy lines truly and duly express at once his indepen...