Page:The poetical works of Robert Burns.djvu/384

Page 1, line 1. The tale of the 'Twa Dogs,' Gilbert Burns writes, 'was composed after the resolution of publishing was nearly taken. Robert had a dog which he called Luath, that was a great favourite. The dog had been killed by the wanton cruelty of some person the night before my father's death. Robert said to me, that he should like to confer such immortality as he could bestow, on his old friend Luath; and that he had a great mind to introduce something into the book, under the title of Stanzas to the Memory of a Quadruped Friend: but this plan was given up for the poem as it now stands. Cæsar was merely of the poet's imagination, created for the purpose of holding chat with his favourite Luath.'

Page 1, line 26. Luath, Cuchullin's dog in Ossian's Fingal. R. B.

Page 2, line 7. Var.

Till tired at last wi' many a farce,

They sat them down upon their a—.

Till tired at last, an' doucer grown,

Upon a knowe they sat them down.

Page 3, line 14. Burns alludes to the factor in the autobiographical sketch communicated to Dr. John Moore.

'My father's generous master died: the farm proved a ruinous bargain: and, to clench the misfortune, we fell into the hands of a factor who sat for the picture I have drawn of one in my tale of the "Twa Dogs." . . . My indignation yet boils at the recollection of the scoundrel's insolent threatening letters, which used to set us all in tears.'

Page 8, line 8. In the first edition the stanza closed as follows:—

Wae worth them for't!

While healths gae round to him, wha tight,

Gies famous sport.

Page 9, line 23. This was wrote before the ACt anent the Scotch Distilleries, of Session, 1786; for which Scotland and the author return their most grateful thanks. R. B.

Page 11, line 1. The allusion in the text is primarily to Hugh Montgomerie of Coilsfield, twelfth Earl of Eglintoune.

Page 11, line 2. James Boswell of Auchinleck, Johnson's biographer.

Page 11, line 17. George Dempster, Esq. of Dunnichen.

Page 11, line 18. Sir Adam Fergusson of Killkerran, Bart.

Page 11, line 20. The Marquis of Graham, eldest son of the Duke of Montrose.

Page 11, line 22. The Right Hon. Henry Dundas, Treasurer of the Navy, and M. P. for the city of Edinburgh.

Page 11, line 24. Lord Frederick Campbell, second brother of the Duke of Argyle, and Ilay Campbell, Lord Advocate of Scotland.

Page 11, line 28. After this line the following stanza occurs in Burns' MS.—in allusion, it is understood, to the imperfect elocution of Colonel Montgomerie of Coilsfield.

See, sodger Hugh, my watchman stented,

If bardies e'er are represented,

I ken if that your sword were wanted

Ye'd lend a hand;

But when there's ought to say anent it,

Ye're at a stand.

Page 12, line 17. The Earl of Chatham, Pitt's father, was the second son of Robert Pitt of Boconnock, in the county of Cornwall.

Page 12, line 19. A worthy old hostess of the author's in Mauchline, where he sometimes studies politics over a glass of guid auld Scotch drink. R. B. Nanse was surprised at her house and name being thus dragged before the public. She declared that Burns had never taken three half-mutchkins in her house in all his life.

Page 14, line 1. Holy Fair is a common phrase in the west of Scotland for a sacramental occasion. R. B.

Page 14, line 1. Var.

'Twas on a simmer Sunday morn. MS.

Page 14, line 9. Var.

Fu' braw that day. MS.

Page 14, line 21. Var.

Their faces withered, lang and thin. MS.

Page 14, line 28. Var.

Wi' bonnet aff, cothie, sweet lass. MS.

Page 14, line 34. Var.

Ye, for my aske, hae broke the feck. MS.

Page 14, line 36. Var.

By night or day. MS.