Thomson's list of songs for his publication.]
[Footnote 240: This is an alteration of one of Crawford's songs.]
[Footnote 241: His Christian name was William.]
[Footnote 242: Song CXCV.]
[Footnote 243: Song CCIX.]
[Footnote 244: By William Julius Mickle.]
[Footnote 245: The song here alluded to is one which the poet afterwards
sent in an entire form:--
"Where are the joys I hae met in the morning."]
[Footnote 246: Song CCX.]
[Footnote 247: A curious and rare book, which Leyden afterwards edited.]
* * * * *
CCLXXIV.
TO MR. THOMSON.
[Burns listened too readily to the suggestion of Thomson, to alter
"Bruce's Address to his troops at Bannockburn:" whatever may be the
merits of the air of "Louis Gordon," the sublime simplicity of the
words was injured by the alteration: it is now sung as originally
written, by all singers of taste.]
_September, 1793._
I am happy, my dear Sir, that my ode pleases you so much. Your idea,
"honour's bed," is, though a beautiful, a hackneyed idea; so, if you
please, we will let the line stand as it is. I have altered the song
as follows:--[248]
N. B. I have borrowed the last stanza from the common stall edition of
Wallace--
"A false usurper sinks in every foe,
And liberty returns with every blow.
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