ET. 35.] YESTREEN I GOT A PINT OF WINE. 59 ; The Laird was a widdiefu', bleerit knurl 1 The Miller he hecht her a heart leal and offered loving; The Laird did address her wi' matter more moving, A fine pacing horse wi' a clear chainèd bridle, A whip by her side, and a bonny side-saddle. O wae on the siller, it is sae prevailing! mailen! estate A tocher's nae word in a true lover's parle, But gie me my love, and a fig for the warl! 2 YESTREEN I GOT A PINT OF WINE. "Shepherds, I have lost my Love! is to me a heavenly air what would you think of a set of Scottish verses to it? I have made one to it, a good while ago, 1 A poor little creature. 2 The poet had retouched an old song of this name for Johnson's Museum in 1788. It appeared in the sixth volume, as "written for this work by Robert Burns," but is so rude and wretched a production, that we cannot believe many words of it to have been supplied by so masterly a pen. 60 YESTREEN I GOT A PINT OF WINE. [1793. which I think * * *, but in its original state it is not quite a lady's song. I enclose an altered, not amended, copy for you, if you choose to set the tune to it, and let the Irish verses follow."- Burns to Mr. Thomson, 7th April, 1793. Mr. Thomson, it appears, did song, even in its altered state. not approve of this It does not appear in the correspondence; but it is probably one which stands in his manuscripts as follows: YESTREEN I got a pint of wine, Was naething to my hinny bliss Ye monarchs, tak the east and west, Gie me within my straining grasp While dying raptures in her arms Awa', thou flaunting god o' day! Ilk star gae hide thy twinkling ray, honey ET. 35.] YOU'RE WELCOME TO DESPOTS. Come, in thy raven plumage, Night! 61 YOU'RE WELCOME TO DESPOTS, DUMOURIER. Burns was not quite a silent and complying observer of the war carried on against the patriotic party in France. When General Dumourier, after unparalleled victories, deserted the army of the Republic, April 5, 1793, only prevented by narrow accidents from betraying his troops into the hands of the enemy, some one expressing joy in the event where Burns was present, he chanted almost extempore the following verses to the tune of Robin Adair. YOU'RE welcome to Despots, Dumourier; Ay, and Beurnonville too? 1 Why did they not come along with you, Dumourier? 1 Dampierre was one of Dumourier's generals, whom he expected to desert along with him. Beurnonville was an 62 LAST TIME I CAME O'ER THE MOOR. [1793. I will fight France with ; you, Dumourier I will fight France with you, Dumourier; I will fight France with you, I will take my chance with you; By my soul, I'll dance a dance with you, Du mourier. Then let us fight about, Dumourier; Then let us fight about, Dumourier ; Then let us fight about, Till freedom's spark is out, Then we'll be damned, no doubt Dumourier. THE LAST TIME I CAME O'ER THE MOOR. The sentiments expressed in this song are not pleasing. They hint at a discreditable passion, in which no pure mind could possibly sympathize; therefore they must be held as unfitted for song. It can scarcely be doubted that they were suggested by some roving sensations of the bard towards the too-witching Mrs. Riddel, though that these bore no great proportion to the emissary of the Convention, so much his friend that he had similar hopes of him, which, however, were disappointed. The latter person lived to figure in the crisis of the Restora tion in 1814. ET. 35.] LAST TIME I CAME O'ER THE MOOR. 63 mere métier of the artist aiming at a certain literary effect is equally probable. It will be found that Burns afterwards made considerable alterations in the song. THE last time I came o'er the moor, And left Maria's dwelling, What throes, what tortures passing cure, To feel a fire in every vein, Yet dare not speak my anguish. Love's veriest wretch, despairing, I I know my doom must be despair, Thou wilt nor canst relieve me; But, O Maria, hear my prayer, The music of thy tongue I heard, The wheeling torrent viewing, April, 1793. |