But if he's forgotten his faithfulest Nanie, I leave it to you, my dear Sir, to determine whether the above, or the old Thro' the lang muir be. the best. No. XV. MR. BURNS TO MR. THOMSON. Open the door to me, Oh! WITH ALTERATIONS. Он open the door, some pity to shew, Oh, open the door to me, Oh, * Tho' thou hast been false, I'll ever prove true, * This second line was originally, If love it may na be, Ob. E. Cauld is the blast upon my pale cheek, The wan moon is setting behind the white wave, False friends, false love, farewell! for mair She has open'd the door, she has open'd it wide, I do not know whether this song be really mended, No. No. XVI. MR. BURNS TO MR. THOMSON. JESSIE. Tune-"BONIE DUNDEE." TRUE hearted was he, the sad swain o' the Yarrow, O fresh is the rose in the gay, dewy morning, Enthron'd in her een he delivers his law: Her modest demeanor's the jewel of a'. No. No. XVII. MR. THOMSON TO MR. BURNS. Edinburgh, 2d April, 1793. I WILL not recognize the title you give yourself, "the Prince of indolent correspondents;" but if the adjective were taken away, I think the title would then fit you exactly. It gives me pleasure to find you can furnish anecdotes with respect to most of the songs these will be a literary curiosity. I now send you my list of the songs, which I believe will be found nearly complete. I have put down the first lines of all the English songs, which I propose giving in addition to the Scotch verses. If any others occur to you, better adapted to the character of the airs, pray mention them, when you favour me with your strictures upon every thing else relating to the work. Pleyel has lately sent me a number of the songs, with his symphonies and accompaniments added to them. them. I wish you were here, that I might serve up some of them to you with your own verses, by way of desert after dinner. There is so much delightful fancy in the symphonies, and such a delicate simplicity in the accompaniments: they are indeed beyond all praise. I am very much pleased with the several last productions of your muse your Lord Gregory, in my estimation, is more interesting than Peter's, beautiful as his is! Your Here awa Willie must undergo some alterations to suit the air. Mr. Erskine and I have been conning it over; he will suggest what is necessary to make them a fit match.* HERE awa, there awa, wandering Willie, The same. Winter |