animal life was fostered by his avocations; and his interest in his fellow-men, even of the outcast class, had been acquired by mingling with them on terms of comradeship. But while socially a peasant, his training as a poetic artist-limited though in certain aspects it was—had been in a manner unique; for while thoroughly versed by minute and careful study in the vernacular poetic tradition, so far as it then survived, and specially qualified by virtue of the simplicity of his peasant life, to appreciate that tradition, his gift of expression, preserving though it did its original vernacular raciness, had been disciplined and enriched by his familiarity with many of the best specimens of English verse. Thus though the effort to rival English models as a rule "gravelled him to death," he yet acquired a poetic diction of a directness, exactness, vividness, and force Lunequalled by any poetic contemporary. CHAPTER V EDINBURGH, AND SCOTTISH TOURS Reluctance to Emigrate-Feelings of a Father-A Secret Wretchedness-"The Gloomy Night "-Death of Mary Campbell-Proposed Second Edition of Poems-Sets out for Edinburgh-Reception on the Way-Arrival— Impressions-Patrons-The Crochallan Club "The Brothers of the Mystic Tie "-Personal Influence— Subscriptions for the New Volume-Arrangement with Creech-Publication-Southern Tour-At Mauchline -Tour in the West Highlands-Northern Tour-Love Adventures-Mrs. Maclehose. M EANWHILE Burns, having obtained the unenviable post of book-keeper on a Jamaica estate, had completed arrangements for emigrating, and proposed to sail on the brigantine Nancy, advertised to leave Greenock on the 10th August. But for some reason its departure was delayed, and this induced his employers to propose that he should sail by a ship which on 1st September was to sail direct to the port of his later verses, contrasting piquantly with stanzas almost frankly pagan, or mockingly scornful of ecclesiastical pretence, or brimful of wild gaiety and humour, or glowing with the warmth of amorous passion. But only those exceptionally stupid or soulless, or enslaved by the artificialities of a heartless or worldly creed, could resist the influences of poetry so strongly human, and appealing so directly to the general heart of mankind; for Burns, be it remembered, addressed the common people as one of themselves. His standpoint-except in his artificial strivings to ape the eighteenth-century English poets-was very much that of the mere peasant. He wrote of that in which even the humblest was interested, and he so wrote that all could so sufficiently understand as to appreciate and admire, though not necessarily with just discrimination. He glorified to them their own everyday life, and their own common things, and their own sentiments and aspirations. It was mainly here that he found his true poetic vocation. By reason of the very greatness of his genius he was bound to be intensely true to himself; and comprehensive and soaring though his genius was, his most hallowed memories and his chief experiences, bitter and joyous alike, were those of a peasant. His knowledge and love of Nature had come to him by virtue of his peasanthood; his sympathy with |