ROB MOSSGIEL. [1785.-AGE 26.] For me, I'm on Parnassus' brink, Rivin the words to gar them clink; Whyles daez't wi love, whyles daez't wi drink, An' whyles, but aye owre late, I think Braw sober lessons.-(P. 127, Vol. II.) JANUARY 1ST, 1785.-Epistle to Davie, a brother Poet.-(Page 73, Vol. I.) Epistle to John Goudie, Kilmarnock.-(Page 193, Vol. II.) Holy Willie's Prayer, and Epitaph on Do.--(Page 195 and 198, Vol. II.) APRIL 1ST, 1785.-Epistle to J. Lapraik.—(Page 104, Vol. I.) 21ST, 1785.-Second Epistle to J. Lapraik.-(Page 109, Vol. I.) MAY, 1785.-SONG: Rantin', rovin' Robin.—(Page 260, Vol. IL) ,, 1785.-SONG: Though cruel Fate.-(Page 210, Vol. I.) 1785.-Epitaph on Robert Ruisseaux.-(Page 261, Vol. II.) 1785.-Epistle to William Simpson, Ochiltree.-(Page 113, Vol. I.) AUGUST, 1785.-The Holy Fair.-(Page 19, Vol. I.) SEPTEMBER 13TH, 1785.—Third Epistle to J. Lapraik.-(Page 262, Vol. II.) 17TH, 1785.-Epistle to Rev. John M Math.-(Page 264, Vol. II.) SONG: Young Peggy blooms our boniest lass.-(Page 199, Vol. I.) Man was made to mourn: a Dirge.-(Page 83, Vol. I.) NOVEMBER, 1785.-To a Mouse.-(Page 71, Vol. I.) Second Epistle to Davie.-(Page 127, Vol. II.) SONG: The Braes o' Ballochmyle.-(Page 259, Vol. I.) "ST. JAMES' LODGE, TARBOLTON.-The poet's attendances as Depute-master, were-in 1785-June 29, July 20, Aug. 2, Aug. 18, Sept. 15, Oct. 26, Nov. 10, Dec. 1, Dec. 7; in 1786, Jan. 7, March 1:-At this meeting, Gilbert Burns was passed and raised.'"-Notes from Lodge Records. 6 THE AYRSHIRE BARD.-THE GRIEF BEHIND THE GLORY. [1786-JANUARY 1 TO APRIL 3.—AGE 27.] now o'er all my wide domains thy fame extends, And some, the pride of Coila's plains, become thy friends.—(P. 50 Vol. I.) The auld Farmer's New-Year-morning salutation.-(Page 61, Vol. I.) A Winter Night.-(P. 169, Vol. I.) The Cotter's Saturday Night.—(P. 65, Vol. L.) The Vision.-(Page 44, also page 157, Vol. I.) "The farm of Mossgiel lies very high, and mostly on a cold wet bottom. The first years that we were on the farm were very frosty, and the Spring was very late. Our crops, in consequence, were very unprofitable; and, notwithstanding our utmost diligence and economy, we found ourselves obliged to give up our bargain, with the loss of a considerable part of our stock. It was during these years that Robert formed his connexion with Jean Armour; afterwards, Mrs. Burns. This connexion could no longer be concealed, about the time we came to a final determination to quit the farm. Robert durst not engage with a family in his poor, unsettled state; but was anxious to shield his partner by every means in his power, from the consequences of their imprudence. It was agreed, therefore, between them, that they should make a legal acknowledgment of their marriage, that he should go to Jamaica to push his fortune; and that she should remain with her father, till it might please Providence to put the means of supporting a family in his power. "Mrs. Burns was a great favorite of her father's. The intimation of a marriage was the first suggestion he received of her real situation. He was in the greatest distress, and fainted away. A husband in Jamaica, appeared to him and his wife little better than none, and an effectual bar to any other prospects of a settlement in life that their daughter might have. They, therefore, expressed a wish to her, that the written papers respecting the marriage should be cancelled, and the marriage thus rendered void. Jean, in her melancholy state, felt the deepest remorse at having brought such heavy affliction on parents that loved her so tenderly, and submitted to their entreaties. Humble as Miss Armour's station was, and great though her imprudence had been, she still, in the eyes of her partial parents, might look to a better connection than that with my friendless and unhappy brother."-Gilbert's Narrative. "This is the unfortunate story that gave rise to my printed poem, The Lament. This was a most melancholy affair, which I cannot yet bear to reflect on. I gave up my part of the farm to my brother (in truth, it was only nominally mine), and made what little preparation was in my power for Jamaica. But before leaving my native country for ever, I resolved to publish my poems. I was pretty confident that they would meet with some applause; but, at the worst, the roar of the Atlantic would deafen the voice of censure, and the novelty of West Indian scenes would make me forget neglect."-Autobiography. MOSSGIEL, FEBRUARY 17TH, 1786.-I have some very important news with respect to myself, not the most agreeable,-news that I am sure you cannot guess; but I shall give you the particulars another time. I am extremely happy with my friend Smith: he is the only friend I have now in Mauchline." -Burns to John Richmond. MOSSGIEL, FEBY. 22.-The Inventory, addressed to Mr. Aiken.-(P. 128, Vol. II.) Lament, occasioned by the unfortunate issue of a friend's amour.—(Page 78, Vol. I.) SONG: Again rejoicing Nature sees.-(Page 191, Vol. I.) "APRIL 3RD, 1786.-My proposals for publishing I am just going to send to the press. I am ever, dear sir, yours, ROBERT BURNESS."-Letter to Mr. Aiken. [This appears to be the last known instance of Burns spelling his name with two syllables. Chambers notes that, in the records of the St. James' Tarbolton Lodge, he thus signs the minutes, as Deputy-master, from 27th July, 1784, to 1st March, 1786, after which date, the name appears contracted into the form in which it is now known all over the world.] THE PRINTING PRESS-CROSS AFFECTIONS-AMOROUS MADNESS. [1786-APRIL 3 TO MAY 14.-AGE 27.] The followers o' the ragged Nine, poor, thoughtless devils! yet may shine "APRIL 14TH, 1786.-Proposals for Publishing, by Subscription, Scottish Poems, by ROBERT BURNS. One Vol. Svo. Price (stitched) Three Shillings."-See p. 417, Vol. II. [J. B. Greenshields, Esq., Kerse. Lesmahagow, possessor of the only known copy of this Prospectus, is of opinion that the Subscribers whose names are appended to the paper, belonged to the Cumnock and Auchinleck district. The "blockhead who refused to take the book he had subscribed for-by name, William Lorrimer, little dreamed that a copy of the precious volume would bring at a public sale, in May, 1871, the sum of Seventeen Pounds sterling!] "APRIL 15th, 1786.-My proposals came to hand last night. I enclose you half a sheet of them. I must consult you, first opportunity, on the propriety of sending my quondam friend, Mr. Aiken, a copy. If he is now reconciled to my character as an honest man, I would do it with all my soul; but I would not be beholden to the noblest being ever God created, if he imagined me to be a rascal. Apropos, old Mr. Armour prevailed with him to mutilate that unlucky paper yesterday. Would you believe it?-though I had not a hope, nor even a wish to make her mine after her conduct, yet, when he told me the names were all out of the paper, my heart died within me, and he cut my veins with the news."-Letter to Ballantyne of Ayr. To a Mountain-Daisy, uprooted by the Plough.-(Page 88, Vol. I.) "MOSSGAVIL, MAY 3, 1786."-Rhyming note to Gavin Hamilton.-(P. 267, Vol. II.) Answer to a trimming Epistle from a Tailor.-(Page 201, Vol. II.) The Court of Equity: a Poem.-12TH MAY, 1786: "In Truth and Honor's name, amen! And by our brethern constituted [Such are the opening lines of a long composition of Burns which can never appear in any edition of his works intended for public circulation. A notice of it, however, cannot consistently in this place be withheld, if a full view of every phase of Burns' mind and character is to be presented in the epitomized form here attempted. If the compiler had any doubt regarding the authenticity of this comic production, he would, of course, have passed it by; but the piece has been pretty widely circulated in privately printed and manuscript copies, and Chambers, in his last edition of Burns, makes pointed reference to it in these words:"In the midst of the cross-fire of various affections, and the dreary prospects of exile, he composed a poem on the reigning scandals of his village, cases on which the Session record throws ample light, if light were of any use in the matter; but, unfortunately, though the mock-serious was never carried to a greater pitch of excellence than in this poem, its license of phrase renders it utterly unfit for publication.' The date of its composition given by Chambers, is 4th June, 1786 (Sunday, King George Third's Birthday), and although we have seen several copies, with that date inserted in its text, yet we are assured by Mr. Greenshields of Kerse, possessor of one or more copies of it which formed part of what are known as THE PICKERING MSS., that 12th May, 1786, is the date in the body of the Pickering copy, although the other date (4th June) is inscribed on the margin as that of citation or service. He also mentions that Pickering's editor (Sir Harris Nicolas), had collated the copy with several others, and marked, in red ink, innumerable variations.] THE EPISODE OF HIGHLAND MARY. [1786 MAY 14.-AGE 27.] Truth is stranger than Fiction-Aye, and stronger too! "THE SECOND SUNDAY OF MAY."-SONG: The Highland Lassie, O.-(P. 208, Vol. I.) "THIS was a composition of mine in very early life, before I was known at all in the world. My Highland lassie was a warm-hearted, charming young creature as ever blessed a man with generous love. After a pretty long tract of the most ardent reciprocal attachment, we met by appointment, on the second Sunday of May, in a sequestered spot by the banks of Ayr, where we spent the day in taking a farewell, before she should embark for the West Highlands, to arrange matters among her friends for our projected change of life."-Cromek's Reliques, page 237. SONG: Will ye go to the Indies, my Mary?-(Page 85, Vol. II.) "I hae sworn by the Heavens to my Mary, "In my very early years, when I was thinking of going to the West Indies [!], I took this farewell of a dear girl. All my earlier love songs were the breathings of ardent passion; and though it might have been easy for me in aftertimes to have given them a polish, yet that polish to me, whose they were, and who alone cared for them, would have defaced the legend of my heart, which was so faithfully inscribed on them. Their uncouth simplicity was, as they say of wines, their race."-Letter to Thomson, Nov., 1792. "Such epochs in the history of our lives, may be termed the trials of the heart. We treasure them deeply in our memory, and as time glides silently away, they help us to number our days. Of this character was the parting of Burns with his Highland Mary, that interesting female, the first object of the youthful poet's love []. This adieu was performed with all those simple and striking ceremonials which rustic sentiment devised to prolong tender emotions and to inspire awe. The lovers stood on each side of a small, purling brook; they laved their hands in its limpid stream, and holding a Bible between them, pronounced their vows to be faithful to each other. They parted-never to meet again!"-Cromek, 1808. Inscriptions on the Bibles presented by Burns to Highland Mary, accurately copied from the originals, on their return from Canada, to be deposited in the Monument at Ayr, December, 1840: Vol. I. (Inside of board): " And ye shall not swear by My name falsely: I am the Lord."-Levit. xix, 12. (Below Inscription): Obliterated Mason-mark. (On opposite fly-leaf): Inscription obliterated—apparently "Mary Campbell." (Below Inscription): The Poet's Mason-mark (very perfect). Vol. II.-(Inside of board): "Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oath."-Matthew v, 33. (On opposite fly-leaf): Inscription considerably effaced, "ROBERT BURNS, MOSSGIEL." |