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ative of the character of his mind. On a first view, his physiognomy had a certain air of coarseness, mingled, however, with an expression of deep penetration, and of calm thoughtfulness, approaching to melancholy. There appeared in his first manner and address, perfect ease and selfpossession, but a stern and almost supercilious elevation, not, indeed, incompatible with openness and affability, which, however, bespoke a mind conscious of superior talents. Strangers that supposed themselves approaching an Ayrshire peasant who could make rhymes, and to whom their notice was an honor, found themselves speedily overawed by the presence of a man who bore himself with dignity, and who possessed a singular power of correcting forwardness and of repelling intrusion. But though jealous of the respect due to himself, Burns never enforced it where he saw it was willingly paid; and though inaccessible to the approaches of pride, he was open to every advance of kindness and of benevolence. His dark and haughty countenance easily relaxed into a look of good-will, of pity, or of tenderness; and as the various emotions succeeded each other in his mind, assumed with equal ease the expression of the broadest humor, of the most extravagant mirth, of the deepest melancholy, or of the most sublime emotion. The tones of his voice happily corresponded with the expression of his features, and with the feelings of his mind. When to these endowments are added a rapid and dis

tinct apprehension, a most powerful understanding, and a happy command of language of strength as well as brilliancy of expression-we shall be able to account for the extraordinary attractions of his conversation for the sorcery which, in his social parties, he seemed to exert on all around him. In the company of women, this sorcery was more especially apparent. Their presence charmed the fiend of melancholy in his bosom, and awoke his happiest feelings; it excited the powers of his fancy, as well as the tenderness of his heart; and by restraining the vehemence and the exuberance of his language, at times gave to his manners the impression of taste, and even of elegance, which in the company of men they seldom possessed. This influence was doubtless reciprocal. A Scottish lady accustomed to the best society, declared with characteristic naïveté, that no man's conversation ever carried her so completely off her feet, as that of Burns;1 and an English lady, familiarly acquainted with several of the most distinguished characters of the present times, assured the editor, that in the happiest of his social hours, there was a charm about Burns which she had never seen equalled.2 This charm arose not more from the power than the versatility of his genius. No languor could be felt in the society of a man who passed at 1 It has been stated that this lady was Jane, Duchess of Gordon.

2 Mrs. Walter Riddel is here meant.

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pleasure from grave to gay, from the ludicrous to the pathetic, from the simple to the sublime; who wielded all his faculties with equal strength and ease, and never failed to impress the offspring of his fancy with the stamp of his understanding. "This, indeed, is to represent Burns in his happiest phasis. In large and mixed parties, he was often silent and dark, sometimes fierce and overbearing; he was jealous of the proud man's scorn, jealous to an extreme of the insolence of wealth, and prone to avenge, even on its innocent possessor, the partiality of fortune. By nature, kind, brave, sincere, and in a singular degree compassionate, he was, on the other hand, proud, irascible, and vindictive. His virtues and his failings had their origin in the extraordinary sensibility of his mind, and equally partook of the chills and glows of sentiment. His friendships were liable to interruption from jealousy or disgust, and his enmities died away under the influence of pity or self-accusation. His understanding was equal to the other powers of his mind, and his deliberate opinions were singularly candid and just; but, like other men of great and irregular genius, the opinions which he delivered in conversation were often the offspring of temporary feelings, and widely different from the calm decisions of his judgment. This was not merely true respecting the characters of others, but in regard to some of the most important points of human speculation."

PREFACE

ΤΟ

THE FIRST EDITION OF BURNS'S POEMS.

[THE first edition of Burns's poetry was published at Kilmarnock towards the end of July, 1786, with the title, Poems, chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, by Robert Burns, and the motto:

"The Simple Bard, unbroke to rules of art,

He

pours the wild effusions of the heart:
And if inspired, 'tis Nature's powers inspire;

Hers all the melting thrill, and hers the kindling fire."

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ANONYMOUS.

It contained the following pieces - The Twa Dogs Scotch Drink - The Author's Earnest Cry and Prayer - The Holy Fair Address to the Deil Mailie - To J. S**** [Smith] - A Dream The Vision - Halloween The Auld Farmer's New-year Morning's Salutation to his Auld Mare Maggie The Cotter's Saturday Night-To a Mouse Epistle to Davie - The Despondency, an Ode Man was

Lament

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Made to Mourn Winter, a Dirge — A Prayer in the Prospect of Death To a Mountain Daisy To Ruin - Epistle to a Young Friend

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- On

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a Scotch Bard gone to the West Indies A Dedication to G**** H*******, Esq. - To a Louse - Epistle to J. L******, an old Scots Bard To the Same Epistle to W. tree Epistle to J. R****** upon a Lammas Night"

S******, Ochil

Song, "It was Song, "Now Westlin'

Winds" Song, "From thee, Eliza, I must go" The Farewell to the Brethren of St. James's Lodge, Torbolton-Epitaphs and Epigrams-A Bard's Epitaph.

It was introduced by the following preface :

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"The following trifles are not the production of the poet, who, with all the advantages of learned art, and perhaps amid the elegances and idlenesses of upper life, looks down for a rural theme, with an eye to Theocritus or Virgil. To the author of this, these and other celebrated names, their countrymen, are, in their original languages, a fountain shut up, and a book sealed. Unacquainted with the necessary requisites for commencing poet by rule, he sings the sentiments and manners he felt and saw in himself and his rustic compeer's around him, in his and their native language. Though a rhymer from his earliest years, at least from the earliest impulses of the softer passions, it was not till very lately that the applause, perhaps the partiality, of friendship, wakened his vanity so far as to make him think anything of his worth shewing; and none of the fol

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