The Poet imagined himself in a distant land; and recalling the romantic hills and lovely valleys of Nithsdale as he mused, composed this sweet song. The Comyns "once had high command" in the district: one of their strong places was at Castledykes, immediately below Dumfries another was at Dalswinton, a spot of great beauty, now the residence of one more than worthy of being its proprietor-James Macalpine Leny, Esq. Part of Comyn's Castle was standing as late as the year 1794. The walls were twelve feet thick, composed of hewn freestone, and cemented with mortar of such strength that the stones separated any where save at the joints. The castle had evidently been consumed by fire. Opposite Dalswinton stands The Isle, an old tower surrounded by gardens and orchards. Ellisland is farther up the Nith; with Friars-Carse, already described, and Blackwood, the property of William Copland, descended from that John Copland who took David Bruce prisoner in the battle of Durham. The house of Blackwood stands on a bend of the stream; behind is a lofty hill studded with fine clumps of natural wood, the relics of the old Caledonian forest; before it the Nith winds along a rich extent of holmland; while towards the north, in the middle of the high road from Glasgow, grows that magnificent oak called the "Three Brethren." Three straight, tall shafts spring up at an equal distance from each other, and it is believed that they unite in the ground below: they are of similar girth: the branches of each are perfectly alike; and the peasantry say there is not a bough nor a leaf on one but the same will be found on the other. The three, at a distance, seem one vast tree, of a conical shape. MY HEART IS A-BREAKING, DEAR TITTIE! Tune-" Tam Glen." I. My heart is a-breaking, dear Tittie! To anger them a' is a pity, But what will I do wi' Tam Glen? II. I'm thinking wi' sic a braw fellow, If I mauna marry Tam Glen? III. There's Lowrie the laird o' Dumeller, "Guid day to you, brute !" he comes ben: He brags and he blaws o' his siller, But when will he dance like Tam Glen? IV. My minnie does constantly deave me, V. My daddie says, gin I'll forsake him, VI. Yestreen at the valentine's dealing, VII. The last Halloween I was waukin My droukit sark-sleeve, as ye ken; His likeness cam up the house staukin, And the very gray breeks o' Tam Glen! VIII. Come counsel, dear Tittie! don't tarryI'll gie you my bonnie black hen, Gif ye will advise me to marry The lad I lo'e dearly, Tam Glen. Tam Glen is the title of an old song and older Scottish air. Of the former nothing remains save a portion of the chorus; and the latter is not likely to die, if one of the cleverest lyrics of the north can preserve it. This song no sooner made its appearance than it became a favourite: it was sung in the field and at the fireside.Husban man, as he met husbandman, slapped his thigh and exclaimed The very grey breeks o' Tam Glen!" When Burns sent it to the Musical Museum, he likewise furnished Johnson with a preface to the volume, in which he says, "As this is not one of those many publications which are hourly ushered into the world merely to catch the eye of Fashion in her frenzy of a day, the editor has little to hope or fear from the herd of readers. Consciousness of the well-known merit of our Scottish music, and the national fondness of a Scotchman for the productions of his own country, are at once the editor's motive and apology for this undertaking; and where any of the pieces in the Collection may, perhaps, be found wanting at the critical bar of the first, he appeals to the honest prejudices of the last.” FRAE THE FRIENDS AND LAND I LOVE. Air-" Carron Side." I. FRAE the friends and land I love Frae my best belov'd I rove, Never mair to taste delight; Never mair maun hope to find II. restore; Brightest climes shall mirk appear, Cross the seas and win his ain. |