It is called
"Craigieburn wood," and, in the opinion of Mr. Clarke, is one of the
sweetest Scottish songs. He is quite an enthusiast about it; and I
would take his taste in Scottish music against the taste of most
connoisseurs.
You are quite right in inserting the last five in your list, though
they are certainly Irish. "Shepherds, I have lost my love!" is to me a
heavenly air--what would you think of a set of Scottish verses to it?
I have made one to it a good while ago, which I think * * *, but in
its original state it is not quite a lady's song. I enclose an
altered, not amended copy for you,[216] if you choose to set the tune to
it, and let the Irish verses follow.
Mr. Erskine's songs are all pretty, but his "Lone-vale"[217] is divine.
Yours, &c.
R. B.
Let me know just how you like these random hints.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 208: Burns here calls himself the "Voice of Coila," in
imitation of Ossian, who denominates himself the "Voice of
Cona."--CURRIE.]
[Footnote 209: By Thomson, not the musician, but the poet.]
[Footnote 210: This song is not old; its author, the late John Mayne,
long outlived Burns]
[Footnote 211: By Crawfurd.]
[Footnote 212: By Ramsay.
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