No. XIII. BURNS TO G. THOMSON. 20th March, 1793. MARY MORISON. Tune-" Bide ye yet." I. O MARY, at thy window be, It is the wish'd, the trysted hour! Those smiles and glances let me see That make the miser's treasure poor : How blithely wad I bide the stoure, A weary slave frae sun to sun; Could I the rich reward secure, The lovely Mary Morison. II. Yestreen, when to the trembling string To thee my fancy took its wing, I sat, but neither heard or saw : III. O Mary, canst thou wreck his peace, MY DEAR SIR: The song prefixed is one of my juvenile works. I leave it in your hands. I do not think it very remarkable, either for its merits or demerits. It is impossible (at least I feel it so in my stinted powers) to be always original, entertaining, and witty. What is become of the list, &c. of your songs? I shall be out of all temper with you by and by. I have always looked on myself as the prince of indolent correspondents, and valued myself accordingly; and I will not, cannot bear rivalship from you, nor any body else. ["Of all the productions of Burns," says Hazlitt, "the pathetic and serious love-songs which he has left behind him in the manner of the old ballads, are perhaps those which take the deepest and most lasting hold of the mind. Such are the lines to Mary Morison, those entitled Jessy,' and the song beginning 'O, my love is like a red, red rose.'”—ED.] ✓ No. XIV. BURNS TO G. THOMSON. March, 1793. WANDERING WILLIE. . HERE awa, there awa, wandering Willie, And tell me thou bring'st me my Willie the same. II. Loud blew the cauld winter winds at our parting; It was na the blast brought the tear in my e'e: Now welcome the simmer, and welcome my Willie, The simmer to nature, my Willie to me. III. Ye hurricanes, rest in the cave o' your slumbers! IV. But if he's forgotten his faithfullest Nannie, But, dying, believe that my Willie's my ain! I leave it to you, my dear Sir, to determine whether the above, or the old "Thro' the lang muir," be the best. [The idea of " Wandering Willie" is taken from an old song published by Herd, which commences in these words:: "Here awa, there awa, here awa, Willie, Here awa, there awa, here awa hame; Lang have I sought thee, dear have I bought thee, "Through the lang muir I have followed my Willie, Older words than these may still be heard "lilted" by a shepherd lad or lass on a pasture hill, or in some sequestered glen: : "Gin that ye meet my love, kiss her and clap her, The heroine of the "Wandering Willie" of Burns is said to have been the lovely and accomplished Mrs. Riddell.-ED.] No. XV. BURNS TO G. THOMSON. OPEN THE DOOR TO ME, OH! I. Он, open the door, some pity to show, Tho' thou has been false, I'll ever prove true, II. Cauld is the blast upon my pale cheek, The frost that freezes the life at my heart, III. The wan moon is setting behind the white wave, False friends, false love, farewell! for mair IV. She has open'd the door, she has open'd it wide; I do not know whether this song be really mended. * This second line was originally-"If love it may na be, Oh!' |