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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,
And o'er the chrystal streamlet plays,
Come let us spend the lightsome days
In the birks of Aberfeldy.
Bonny lassie, &c.

While o'er their heads the hazels hing,
The little birdies blythely sing,

Or lightly flit on wanton wing
In the birks of Aberfeldy.
Bonny lassie, &c.

The braes ascend like lofty wa's,
The foaming stream deep-roaring fa's,
O'er-hung wi' fragrant spreading shaws,
The birks of Aberfeldy.

Bonny lassie, &c.

The

The hoary cliffs are crown'd wi' flowers,
White o'er the linns the burnie pours,

And rising weets wi' misty showers
The birks of Aberfeldy.
Bonny lassie, &c.

Let fortune's gifts at random flee,
They ne'er shall draw a wish frae me.
Supremely blest wi' love and thee
In the birks of Aberfeldy.
Bonny lassie, &c.*

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 ?
Cruel, cruel to deceive me!

Well you know how much you grieve me;
Cruel charmer, can you go!
Cruel charmer, can you go!

By my love so ill requited;
By the faith you fondly plighted;
By the pangs of lovers slighted;
Do not, do not leave me so!
Do not, do not leave me so!

STRATHALLAN'S

STRATHALLAN'S LAMENT.

THICKEST night o'erhang my dwelling!
Howling tempests o'er me rave!
Turbid torrents, wintry swelling,
Still surround my lonely cave!

Chrystal streamlets gently flowing,
Busy haunts of base mankind,
Western breezes softly blowing,
Suit not my distracted mind.

In the cause of right engaged,
Wrongs injurious to redress,
Honor's war we strongly waged,
But the heavens deny'd success.

VOL. IV.

T

Ruin's

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