Tis Friendship's pledge, my young, fair friend, Nor thou the gift refuse, Nor with unwilling ear attend. The moralizing muse.. Since thou, in all thy youth and charms, Must bid the world adieu, (A world 'gainst peace in constant arms) To join the friendly few. Since, thy gay morn of life o'ercast, Did nip a fairer flower). Since life's gay scenes must charm no more, Still much is left behind; Still nobler wealth hast thou in store- Thine is the self-approving glow, On conscious honour's part; And dearest gift of heaven below, Thine, friendship's truest heart. The joys refined of sense and taste, Une bagatelle de l' amitie. COILA, No. LXXVII. MR THOMSON to MR BURNS. MY DEAR SIR, Edinburgh, 3d Aug. 1795. THIS will be delivered to you by a Dr Brian. ton, who has read your works, and pants for the honour of your acquaintance. I do not know the gentleman, but his friend, who applied to me for this introduction, being an excellent young man, I have no doubt he is worthy of all acceptation. My eyes have just been gladdened, and my mind feasted, with your last packet-full of pleasant things. indeed. What an imagination is yours! It is superfluous to tell you that I am delighted with all the three songs, as well as with your elegant and tender verses to Chloris. I am sorry you should be induced to alter whistle, and I'll come to ye, my lad, to the prosaic line, Thy Jeany will venture wi' ye, my lad. I must be permitted to say, that I do not think the latter either reads or sings so well as the former. I wish, therefore, you would in my name petition the charming Jeany, whoever she be, to let the line remain. unaltered.* *The Editor, who has heard the heroine of this song sing it herself in the very spirit of arch simplicity that it requires, thinks Mr Thomson's petition unreasonable. If we mistake not, this is the same lady who produced the lines to the tune of Roy's Wife, p. 159. E. I should be happy to see Mr Clarke produce a few airs to be joined to your verses. Every body regrets his writing so very little, as every body acknowledges his ability to write well. Pray was the resolution formed coolly before dinner, or was it a midnight vow, made over a bowl of punch with the bard? I shall not fail to give Mr Cunningham what you have sent him. P. S. The lady's For a' that and a' that, is sensible enough, but no more to be compared to yours than I to Hercules. No. LXXIX. MR BURNS to MR THOMSON. ENGLISH SONG. Tune" LET ME IN THIS AE NIGHT." FORLORN, my love, no comfort near, CHORUS. O wert thou, love, but near me ; But near, near, near me : How kindly thou wouldst cheer me, And mingle sighs with mine, love. Around me scowls a wintry sky, Cold, alter'd friendship's cruel part, But dreary tho' the moments fleet, How do you like the foregoing? I have written it within this hour: so much for the speed of my Pegasus, but what say you to his bottom? No. LXXX. MR BURNS to MR THOMSON. SCOTTISH BALLAD. Tune THE LOTHIAN LASSIE." LAST May a braw wooer cam down the lang glen, I said there was naething I hated like men, He spak o' the darts in my bonnie black een, A weel-stocked mailen, himsel for the laird, And marriage aff-hand, were his proffers: I never loot on that I kenn'd it, or car'd, But thought I might hae waur offers, waur offers, But thought I might hae waur offers. But what wad ye think? in a fortnight or less, He up the lang loan to my black cousin Bess,* In the original MS. this line runs, "He up the Gateslack to my black cousin Bess." Mr Thomson objected to this word, |