No More Learning

* * * * *


STREPHON AND LYDIA.

The following account of this song I had from Dr. Blacklock.

The Strephon and Lydia mentioned in the song were perhaps the
loveliest couple of their time. The gentleman was commonly known by
the name of Beau Gibson. The lady was the "Gentle Jean," celebrated
somewhere in Hamilton of Bangour's poems. --Having frequently met at
public places, they had formed a reciprocal attachment, which their
friends thought dangerous, as their resources were by no means
adequate to their tastes and habits of life. To elude the bad
consequences of such a connexion, Strephon was sent abroad with a
commission, and perished in Admiral Vernon's expedition to Carthagena.

The author of this song was William Wallace, Esq. of Cairnhill, in
Ayrshire.

* * * * *


I'M O'ER YOUNG TO MARRY YET.

The chorus of this song is old. The rest of it, such as it is, is
mine.

* * * * *


M'PHERSON'S FAREWELL.

M'Pherson, a daring robber, in the beginning of this century, was
condemned to be hanged at the assizes of Inverness.
He is said, when
under sentence of death, to have composed this tune, which he called
his own lament or farewell.

Gow has published a variation of this fine tune as his own
composition, which he calls "The Princess Augusta. "

* * * * *


MY JO, JANET.

Johnson, the publisher, with a foolish delicacy, refused to insert the
last stanza of this humorous ballad.

* * * * *


THE SHEPHERD'S COMPLAINT.

The words by a Mr. R. Scott, from the town or neighbourhood of Biggar.

* * * * *


THE BIRKS OF ABERFELDY.

I composed these stanzas standing under the falls of Aberfeldy, at or
near Moness.

* * * * *


THE HIGHLAND LASSIE O.

This was a composition of mine in very early life, before I was known
at all in the world. My Highland lassie was a warm-hearted, charming
young creature as ever blessed a man with generous love. After a
pretty long tract of the most ardent reciprocal attachment, we met by
appointment on the second Sunday of May, in a sequestered spot by the
banks of Ayr, where we spent the day in taking a farewell before she
should embark for the West Highlands, to arrange matters among her
friends for our projected change of life. At the close of autumn
following she crossed the sea to meet me at Greenock, where she had
scarce landed when she was seized with a malignant fever, which
hurried my dear girl to the grave in a few days, before I could even
hear of her last illness.

* * * * *


FIFE, AND A' THE LANDS ABOUT IT.