The complete poetical works of Robert Burns arranged in chronological order Volume 2 ; With new annotations, biographical notices, etc

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1890 Excerpt: ...and my tongue was sinvere. The subject of it was a young girl who really deserved all the praises I have bestowed on her. I not only had this opinion of her Men, but I actually think so still, now that the spell is long since broken, and the enchantment at an end. I composed it in a wild enthusiasm of passion, and to this hour I never recollect it but my heart melts and my blood sallies at the remembrance." In his poem addressed to the Gudewife of Wauchope House (page 134), and, again, in his autobiography, he reverts to this subject in beautiful passages, which are so well known that we need only refer to them here. The incident happened in his "fifteenth autumn " at Mount Oliphant, and for a moment lightened "the cheerless gloom of a hermit, and the on ceasing moll of a galley-slave." Kelly Kllpatrick was the name of this "sweet sonsy lass"--a daughter of the neighbouring blacksmith, to whom the boy-bard was indebted fora loan of the History of Sir William Wallave, In his after-criticism of this song, the poet points out the 2nd, 5th, and 6th stanzas as the best; skillfully noting, however, that verse 6th is marred in consequence of the second and fourth lines ending with short syllables. 0 Once I loVd a bonie lass, An' aye I love her still, An' whilst that virtue warms my breast, I'll love my handsome NelL As bonie lasses I hae seen, And mony full as braw, But, for a modest, gracefu' mein, The like I never saw. A bonie lass, I will confess Is pleasant to the e'e; But without some better qualities, She's no' a lass for me. But Nelly's looks are blythe and sweet, And what is best of a', Her reputation is complete, And fair without a flaw. She dresses ay sae clean and neat, Both decent and genteel; And then there's somethi...