IN the beginning of the year 1787, another work had commenced at Edinburgh, entitled, The Scots Musical Museum, conducted by Mr. James Johnson, the object of which was to unite the songs and the music of Scotland in one general collection. The first volume of this work appeared in May 1787, when our poet was in Edinburgh; and in it appeared one of his printed songs, to the tune of, Green grow the rashes, beginning "There's nought but care on every hand." He appears also to have furnished from his MSS the last song in that volume, which was an early production, and not thought by himself worthy of a place in his works. The second volume appeared in the spring of 1788, and contained several original songs of Burns'; who also contributed liberally to the third, fourth, and fifth volumes, the last of which did not appear till after his death. In his communications to Mr. Johnson, to which his name was not in general affixed, our Bard was less careful than in his compositions for the greater work of Mr. Thomson. Several of them he never intended to acknowledge, and others, printed in the Museum, were found somewhat altered afterwards among his manuscripts. In the selection which follows, attention has been paid to the wishes of the author as far as they are known. The printed songs have been compared with the MSS, and the last corrections have been uniformly inserted. The reader will probably think many of the songs which follow, among the finest productions of his muse. THE THE BIRKS OF ABERFELDY. Bonny lassie, will ye go, will ye go, will ye go, Bonny lassie, will ye go to the Birks of Aberfeldy? Now simmer blinks on flowery braes, While o'er their heads the hazels hing, Or lightly flit on wanton wing The braes ascend like lofty wa's, Bonny lassie, &c. The The hoary cliffs are crown'd wi' flowers, And rising weets wi' misty showers Let fortune's gifts at random flee, STAY * This is written in the same measure as the Birks, of Abergeldie, an old Scottish song, from which nothing is borrowed but the chorus. STAY, MY CHARMER, CAN YOU LEAVE ME? Tune-"AN GILLE DUBH CIAR DHUBH." STAY, my charmer, can you leave me ? Well you know how much you grieve me; By my love so ill requited; STRATHALLAN'S STRATHALLAN'S LAMENT. THICKEST night o'erhang my dwelling! Chrystal streamlets gently flowing, In the cause of right engaged, VOL. IV. T Ruin's |