Burns poems (The Penguin Poetry Library) Book

PREFATORY NOTE. IT is hoped that this Selection from the poetry of Burns, while fairly representative of his best work, will serve also to shew the versatility of his genius. The Jolly Beggars and Holy Willies Prayer it has been found necessary to exclude altogether, brilliant and charac- teristic specimens of his poetical quality though they are. From the admitted poems an occasional line here, or stanza there, has, for one reason or another, also been dropped. It is with the utmost reluctance that the Editor has ventured upon any alteration of the Text. These alterations are few, and of the slightest. The Selection has been divided into Poems and Songs, and each series arranged as accurately as pos- sible in strict chronological order. It is not only that such an arrangement reveals the development of the Authors poetical faculty it also casts a suggestive light upon the history of his life. Special attention has been paid to the Notes. Here only I have offered, as the occasion required, and the space at my disposal per- mitted, some remarks on the characteristics of Burnss style, and on his indebtedness to the Scottish and Eng- lish poets ofthe eighteenth century. Care has been taken, by collation with the various editions, to give the most approved Text and where variations of value occur, they have been quoted in the Notes. The form, or spelling, of the words of the Text is for the most part Burnss own. It is to be noted, how- ever, that there is considerable difference in respect of verbal form between the Kilmarnock and the Edinburgh Editions of his Poems. Some deference has occasionally been shewn to familiar usage been substituted for bonie. The Glossary, it is believed, is full bonnie, for example, has it is as correct as I have been able to make it. The derivation of the principal words has been given only where it seemed safe, or at least reasonable. The Introduction is notmore than it professes to be a clear outline of the life of Burns. I have, however, given a prominence, usually denied, to his early train- ing. The outline is to some extent necessarily supplemented in the Notes, for the Poems are largely autobiographical. The best life of Burns, indeed, is still to be found in his poems and letters. In regard to the pronunciation of Scottish words, it would, I think, be of little service to lay down hard and fast rules, even if it were possible to do so. The form is for the most part phonetic, and the rhyme will often sug- gest the pronunciation. The student who has mastered the language of Chaucer should find it an easier task to master that of Burns, pronunciation and all. LOCKHARTON TERRACE, SLATEFORD, N.B. 2 77 December, 1888. J. LOGIE ROBERTSON. INTRODUCTION. A RACE ofyeomen or small farmers of the name of Burnes had been resident in Kincardineshire for at least two cen- turies when, in 1748, William, the third son of one of them, reluctantly left his fathershouse at Clochnahill, and travelled southward in search of a livelihood. He was then twenty- six years of age, and beyond health and a general knowledge of agricultural work carried from his native county little else that was likely to be of service to him, except a certificate which truthfully testified that he was the son of an honest farmer and a very well-inclined lad himself...Read More