ET. 36.] A RED, RED ROSE. You leave me here to lament and sigh, 101 Though all our friends should never be pleased – Till the stars fall from the sky, my love, I'll aye prove true to thee, my love, Do you not see yon turtle-dove It is making its moan for the loss of its love, As I shall do for thee. Now fare-thee-well, my dearest love, Till I return on shore; And thou shalt be my only love, Though it were for evermore. It is worth while thus to preserve one or two of the original songs on which Burns improved, if only to mark the vastness of the improvement. A VISION. A favorite walk of Burns during his residence in Dumfries, was one along the right bank of the river above the town, terminating at the ruins of Lincluden Abbey and Church, which occupy a romantic situation on a piece of rising-ground in the angle at the junction of the Cluden Water with the Nith. These ruins include many fine fragments of ancient decorative architecture, and are enshrined in a 'natural scene of the utmost beauty. Burns, according to his eldest son, often mused amidst the Lincluden ruins. There is one position on a little mount, to the south of the Church, where a couple of landscapes of witching loveliness are obtained, set, as it were, in two of the windows of the ancient building. It was probably the “ Calvary" of the ancient church precinct. This the younger Burns remembers to have been a favorite resting-place of the poet. Such is the locality of the grand and thrilling ode, entitled A Vision, in which he hints - for more than a hint could not be ventured upon his sense of the degradation of the ancient manly spirit of his country under the conservative terrors of the passing era. As I stood by yon roofless tower, Where the wa'-flower scents the dewy air, Where th' howlet mourns in her ivy bower, The winds were laid, the air was still, And the distant echoing glens reply. The stream; adown its hazelly path, The cauld blue North was streaming forth Athort the lift they start and shift, 103 awe-inspiring athwart Like Fortune's favours, tint as win. lost as won By heedless chance I turned mine eyes, A stern and stalwart ghaist arise, 1 Variation To join yon river on the Strath. 2 Variation Now looking over firth and fauld, Her horn the pale-faced Cynthia reared; When, lo! in form of minstrel auld, A stern and stalwart ghaist appeared. Had I a statue been o' stane, His darin' look had daunted me; And on his bonnet graved was plain, The sacred posy - "Libertie!" And frae his harp sic strains did flow, But oh! it was a tale of wo, As ever met a Briton's ear. He sang wi' joy the former day, He weeping wailed his latter times; OUT OVER THE FORTH. TUNE Charlie Gordon's welcome hame. OUT over the Forth I look to the north, But what is the north and its Highlands to me? The south nor the east gie ease to my breast, The far foreign land, or the wild rolling sea. ET. 36.] LOUIS, WHAT RECK I BY THEE. 105 But I look to the west, when I gae to rest, That happy my dreams and my slumbers may be ; For far in the west lives he I lo'e best, The lad that is dear to my babie and me. LOUIS, WHAT RECK I BY THEE? TUNE-Louis, what reck I by thee? LOUIS, what reck I by thee, Or Geordie on his ocean? Let her crown my love her law, Thief-beggars. |