Happier still would it have been could he have realized one of his purest aspirations :

"To make a happy fireside clime

For weans and wife,

That's the true pathos and sublime
Of human life."

The question as to the morality of Burns's poetry may be reduced to a simple statement. That he, in his way of life, departed widely from paths which his conscience vainly persuaded him to, in opposition to ungovernable passions, cannot and ought not to be concealed. He never debased himself to a sottish intemperance, but sought convivial excitement, and the worst relief from morbid bodily affections brought on by premature distress. He has uttered a touching appeal for charitable judgments :

"Gently scan your brother man, Still gentler sister woman;

Though they may gang a kennin' wrang!

To step aside is human :

One point must still be greatly dark,—

The moving why they do it:

And just as lamely can ye mark
How far perhaps they rue it.

"Who made the heart, 'tis He alone

Decidedly can try us;

He knows each chord-its various tone,
Each spring-its various bias:

Then at the balance let's be mute;

We never can adjust it:

What's done we partly may compute,

But know not what's resisted."

His poetry has been charged-falsely, it seems to me— with a contempt or affectation of prudence, decency, and regularity, and an admiration of thoughtlessness, oddity, and vehement sensibility; in short, with a belief in the dispensing power of genius in all matters of morality. Burns had too much masculine good sense ever to fall into that wretched fallacy. He never so deceived himself. Wild words, indeed, often broke from him; and once, in well-known lines, most wrongly, perhaps somewhat impiously, he pleaded that the light which led astray was light from heaven. But he has written enough of self-condemnation, self-reproach, to show he did not think so.

Who can doubt this on reading that sincere and solemn avowal in the stanzas he styled “The Bard's Epitaph ?"—as touching a confession as ever was composed :

"Is there a whim-inspired fool,

Owre fast for thought, owre hot for rule,
Owre blate to seek, owre proud to snool?
Let him draw near,

And owre this grassy heap sing dool,
And drap a tear.

"Is there a bard of rustic song,

Who, noteless, steals the crowds among,

That weekly this area throng?

Oh, pass not by!

But, with a frater-feeling strong,

Here heave a sigh.

"Is there a man whose judgment clear
Can others teach the course to steer,
Yet runs himself life's mad career

Wild as the wave?

Here pause, and, through the starting tear,
Survey this grave.

"The poor inhabitant below

Was quick to learn and wise to know,
And keenly felt the friendly glow

And softer flame;

But thoughtless follies laid him low,
And stained his name.

"Reader, attend: whether thy soul
Soars fancy's flights beyond the pole,
Or darkling grubs this earthly hole
In low pursuit;

Know, prudent, cautious self-control
Is wisdom's root."

That grave for which this epitaph in fancy was meant has been visited by those who perhaps deemed the poor inhabitant below to have been no better than a miserable drunkard, by others who wrongly condemned him for having perverted his great endowment to the vindication of moral lawlessness. It has been, too, visited phrenologically. The phrenologists, as Allan Cunningham sarcastically describes the affair, disinterred the skull, applied their compasses, and satisfied themselves that Burns had capacity equal to the composition of "Tam O'Shanter," "The Cotter's Saturday Night," and "Mary in Heaven" "Oh for an hour of Burns for these men's sakes!" exclaims a kindred spirit: "were there a witch of Endor in Scotland, it would be an act of comparative piety in her to bring up his spirit: to stigmatize them in verses that would burn forever would be a gratification for which he might think it worth while to be thus brought again upon earth." All mankind have heard of the malediction which Shakspeare utters from his monument, and of the dread which came upon the boors of Stratford-upon-Avon as they presumed to gaze upon his dust. No such fears,

however, fell upon the craniologists of D clock struck one as they touched the dre tried their hats upon the head and found little, and, having made a mould, they depos in a leaden box, carefully lined with the sof and returned it once more to the hallowed The grave has been visited by those w better power and a better purpose,—a poet a He has described their finding it in a c churchyard; and, looking at it with melanch ful reflections, they repeated to each other h beginning

"Is there a man whose judgment clear?

He, taking the music of that epitaph, ha is at once the best tribute to the dead and th ing to the living. I know of no fitter c

lecture than Wordsworth's lines "To the So after visiting their father's grave."

"Mid crowded obelisks and urns,

I sought the untimely grave of Burns:
Sons of the Bard, my heart still mourns
With sorrow true;

And more would grieve, but that it turns
Trembling to you!

"Through twilight shades of good and ill
Ye now are panting up life's hill;
And more than common strength and skil
Must ye display

If ye would give the better will

Its lawful sway.

"Hath nature strung your nerves to bear Intemperance with less harm, beware!

But if the poet's wit ye share,

Like him can speed

The social hour,-of tenfold care

There will be need.

"For honest men delight will take
To spare your failings for his sake;
Will flatter you,—and fool and rake
Your steps pursue,

And of your father's name will make
A snare for you.

"Far from their noisy haunts retire,
And add your voices to the quire
That sanctify the cottage fire

With service meet:

There seek the genius of your sire;

His spirit greet.

"Or where, 'mid 'lonely heights and hows, He paid to nature tuneful vows,

Or wiped his honourable brows

Bedewed with toil,

While reapers strove, or busy ploughs

Upturned the soil.

"His judgment with benignant ray

Shall guide, his fancy cheer, your way;

But ne'er to a seductive lay

Let faith be given,

Nor deem that 'light which leads astray

Is light from heaven.'

"Let no mean hope your souls enslave; Be independent, generous, brave: Your father such example gave,

And such revere;

But be admonished by his grave,

And think and fear!"