No More Learning

But I wad sing on wanton wing,
When youthfu' May its bloom renewed. [226]

R. B.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 224: Song CXCVI. ]

[Footnote 225: Better known as Herd's. Wotherspoon was one of the
publishers. ]

[Footnote 226: See Song CXCVII. ]

* * * * *




CCLX.


TO MR. THOMSON.

[Thomson, in his reply to the preceding letter, laments that anything
should untune the feelings of the poet, and begs his acceptance of
five pounds, as a small mark of his gratitude for his beautiful
songs. ]

_July 2d, 1793. _

MY DEAR SIR,

I have just finished the following ballad, and, as I do think it in my
best style, I send it you. Mr. Clarke, who wrote down the air from
Mrs.
Burns's wood-note wild, is very fond of it, and has given it a
celebrity by teaching it to some young ladies of the first fashion
here. If you do not like the air enough to give it a place in your
collection, please return it. The song you may keep, as I remember it.

There was a lass, and she was fair. [227]

I have some thoughts of inserting in your index, or in my notes, the
names of the fair ones, the themes of my songs. I do not mean the name
at full; but dashes or asterisms, so as ingenuity may find them out.

The heroine of the foregoing is Miss M'Murdo, daughter to Mr. M'Murdo,
of Drumlanrig, one of your subscribers. I have not painted her in the
rank which she holds in life, but in the dress and character of a
cottager.

R. B.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 227: Song CXCVIII. ]

* * * * *




CCLXI.


TO MR. THOMSON.

[Burns in this letter speaks of the pecuniary present which Thomson
sent him, in a lofty and angry mood: he who published poems by
subscription might surely have accepted, without any impropriety,
payment for his songs.