extensive knowledge of the classic literature of England; and, what is of more moment, such was the greatness of his endowment, that, as poet, he was enabled in great part to triumph over his peasant circumstances. The main individual characteristics — apart from his remarkable gifts of a purely artistic nature-by which he triumphed, were the fulness and intensity of his emotions. To them also was due-his circumstances being originally what they were the partial failure of his life in certain social and temporal respects, a failure which also impeded his highest poetic ambitions; but while his partial failure primarily concerned himself, his achievement was a benefaction to the world. Though that achievement be but a fragmentary representation of his poetic possibilities, it entitles him to, at least, a very high rank among lyrists, and includes certain specimens of genius such as "The Jolly Beggars" and "Tam o' Shanter"-which manifest his essential kinship with even the greatest of the world's bards.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

THE POET'S OWN EDITIONS

"Poems, chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, by Robert Burns. Kilmarnock: printed for John Wilson, 1786"; an enlarged edition "printed for the author, and sold by William Creech, Edinburgh, 1787"; a "third edition,-London: printed for A. Strahan, T. Cadell in the Strand, and W. Creech, 1787"; the second Edinburgh edition (entitled "the second edition considerably enlarged") in 2 vols., “Edinburgh: printed for T. Cadell, London, and William Creech, Edinburgh, 1793"; and the third Edinburgh edition (entitled "a new edition considerably enlarged," but merely the edition of 1793 with changes in spelling, etc.), "Edinburgh: printed for T. Cadell, London, and William Creech, Edinburgh, 1794." (See also ante, pp. 114, 115.)

PRINCIPAL POSTHUMOUS EDITIONS

"The Works of Robert Burns, with an Account of his Life and a Criticism on his Writings, etc., 4 vols., Liverpool, 1800" (Currie's edition); second edition, London, 1801; eighth edition, with new Notes, etc., by Gilbert Burns, London, 1820; "Poems ascribed to Robert Burns, the Ayrshire Bard, not contained in any Edition of his Works hitherto published. Glasgow: printed by Chapman & Lang for Thomas Stewart, 1801"; Stewart's edition of Burns's Poems, Glasgow, 1802; "Reliques of Robert Burns, consisting chiefly of Original Letters, Poems, and Critical Observations on Scottish Songs, by R. H. Cromek, London, 1808"; "Poems by Robert Burns, with an Account of his Life and Miscellaneous Remarks on his Writings [by Josiah Walker], 4 vols., Edinburgh, 1811"; "The Songs and Ballads of Robert Burns, including Ten never before Published, London, 1823"; The Works of Robert Burns, with his Life, by Allan Cunningham, 8 vols., London, 1834"; "The Works of Robert Burns, edited by the Ettrick Shepherd and William Motherwell, 5 vols., Edinburgh, 1834"; "The Poetical Works of Robert Burns, 3 vols., London, 1839" [Aldine edition]; "The Works of Robert Burns, with Dr. Currie's Memoir of the Poet, and an Essay on his Genius and Character by Professor Wilson, Glasgow, 1843-44"; "The Life and Works of Robert Burns,