My wish is not to stand aloof, the
uncomplying bigot of _opiniatrete_, but cordially to join issue with
you in the furtherance of the work.
R. B.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 200: Song CLXXVII]
[Footnote 201: It is something worse in the Edinburgh edition--"Behind
yon hills where Stinchar flows."--Poems, p 322.]
[Footnote 202: Song CLXXIX.]
* * * * *
CCXXXVIII.
TO MR. THOMSON.
[The poet loved to describe the influence which the charms of Miss
Lesley Baillie exercised over his imagination.]
_November 8th, 1792._
If you mean, my dear Sir, that all the songs in your collection shall
be poetry of the first merit, I am afraid you will find more
difficulty in the undertaking than you are aware of. There is a
peculiar rhythmus in many of our airs, and a necessity of adapting
syllables to the emphasis, or what I would call the feature-notes of
the tune, that cramp the poet, and lay him under almost insuperable
difficulties. For instance, in the air, "My wife's a wanton wee
thing," if a few lines smooth and pretty can be adapted to it, it is
all you can expect. The following were made extempore to it; and
though on further study I might give you something more profound, yet
it might not suit the light-horse gallop of the air so well as this
random clink:--
My wife's a winsome wee thing, &c.
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