[Who will say, after reading the following
distressing
letter, lately
come to light, that Burns did not die in great poverty.
come to light, that Burns did not die in great poverty.
Robert Burns
_
[This is the last letter which the poet wrote to this accomplished
lady. ]
_Dumfries, 4th June, 1796. _
I am in such miserable health as to be utterly incapable of showing my
loyalty in any way. Rackt as I am with rheumatisms, I meet every face
with a greeting like that of Balak to Balaam--"Come, curse me Jacob;
and come, defy me Israel! " So say I--Come, curse me that east wind;
and come, defy me the north! Would you have me in such circumstances
copy you out a love-song?
I may perhaps see you on Saturday, but I will not be at the ball. --Why
should I? "man delights not me, nor woman either! " Can you supply me
with the song, "Let us all be unhappy together? "--do if you can, and
oblige, _le pauvre miserable_
R. B.
* * * * *
CCCXXXV.
TO MR. CLARKE,
SCHOOLMASTER, FORFAR.
[Who will say, after reading the following distressing letter, lately
come to light, that Burns did not die in great poverty. ]
_Dumfries, 26th June, 1796. _
MY DEAR CLARKE,
Still, still the victim of affliction! Were you to see the emaciated
figure who now holds the pen to you, you would not know your old
friend. Whether I shall ever get about again, is only known to Him,
the Great Unknown, whose creature I am. Alas, Clarke! I begin to fear
the worst.
As to my individual self, I am tranquil, and would despise myself, if
I were not; but Burns's poor widow, and half-a-dozen of his dear
little ones--helpless orphans! --_there_ I am weak as a woman's tear.
Enough of this! 'Tis half of my disease.
I duly received your last, enclosing the note. It came extremely in
time, and I am much obliged by your punctuality. Again I must request
you to do me the same kindness. Be so very good, as, by return of
post, to enclose me _another_ note. I trust you can do it without
inconvenience, and it will seriously oblige me.
[This is the last letter which the poet wrote to this accomplished
lady. ]
_Dumfries, 4th June, 1796. _
I am in such miserable health as to be utterly incapable of showing my
loyalty in any way. Rackt as I am with rheumatisms, I meet every face
with a greeting like that of Balak to Balaam--"Come, curse me Jacob;
and come, defy me Israel! " So say I--Come, curse me that east wind;
and come, defy me the north! Would you have me in such circumstances
copy you out a love-song?
I may perhaps see you on Saturday, but I will not be at the ball. --Why
should I? "man delights not me, nor woman either! " Can you supply me
with the song, "Let us all be unhappy together? "--do if you can, and
oblige, _le pauvre miserable_
R. B.
* * * * *
CCCXXXV.
TO MR. CLARKE,
SCHOOLMASTER, FORFAR.
[Who will say, after reading the following distressing letter, lately
come to light, that Burns did not die in great poverty. ]
_Dumfries, 26th June, 1796. _
MY DEAR CLARKE,
Still, still the victim of affliction! Were you to see the emaciated
figure who now holds the pen to you, you would not know your old
friend. Whether I shall ever get about again, is only known to Him,
the Great Unknown, whose creature I am. Alas, Clarke! I begin to fear
the worst.
As to my individual self, I am tranquil, and would despise myself, if
I were not; but Burns's poor widow, and half-a-dozen of his dear
little ones--helpless orphans! --_there_ I am weak as a woman's tear.
Enough of this! 'Tis half of my disease.
I duly received your last, enclosing the note. It came extremely in
time, and I am much obliged by your punctuality. Again I must request
you to do me the same kindness. Be so very good, as, by return of
post, to enclose me _another_ note. I trust you can do it without
inconvenience, and it will seriously oblige me.
