The masonic lyrics form a class by themselves; they are generally about the pleasures of the table, or other friendly socialities, and deal in dark allusions to the "Mason's mystic word and grup." Some of them perceive freemasonry in all things; and one, in particular, hesitates not to claim Eve as a comrade of the mystic order, for— "A fig-leaf apron she put on, To show her masonrie." Tarbolton Lodge, of which the Poet was a member, had considerable fame in the west for its socialities, and also for its deep knowledge in the mysteries of masonry. The reputation of the Lodge of Kilmarnock is of old standing; indeed, the west of Scotland has long been famous for its associations, social, political, and religious. "The heretic blast" of the Reformation was first blown there, and some of its most distinguished leaders belonged to that land. ELIZA. Tune-" Gilderoy." I. FROM thee, Eliza, I must go, They never, never can divide My heart and soul from thee! II. Farewell, farewell, Eliza dear, The latest throb that leaves my heart, That throb, Eliza, is thy part, And thine that latest sigh! To the heroine of this song the Poet's thoughts turned when, rejected of Jean Armour, he wrote his pathetic "Lament." She is the Miss Betty of one of his epigrams, where he praises her taste in dress; and she figures in the first edition of the "Vision." He is speaking of Coila: "Down flowed her robe, a tartan sheen, And such a leg! my Bess I ween Could only peer it; Sae straught, sae taper, tight and clean, Nane else came near it. My friend John Galt informs me that this lady was his relative: her name was Elizabeth Barbour; she was handsome rather than beautiful, very lively, and of a ready wit. The Poet seems to have realized in his loves the fortune of the "wight of Homer's craft," in the " "Jolly Beggars." When change of mind, marriage, or other casualties, carried away one of his heroines, he could sing with justice, "I've lost but ane, I've twa behin.", Or, if not content with what remained, his youth and eloquence soon supplied the vacancy with a lass from Lugar, or from Cessnock-bank. When he made his appearance among the polished dames of Edinburgh, he found that the language which caused the maids to listen on the Ayr and the Doon wrought the same enchantment elsewhere. THE SONS OF OLD KILLIE. Tune-" Shawnboy.” I. YE sons of old Killie, assembled by Willie, To follow the noble vocation; Your thrifty old mother has scarce such another I've little to say, but only to pray, As praying's the ton of your fashion; A prayer from the muse you well may excuse, 'Tis seldom her favourite passion. II. Ye powers who preside o'er the wind and the tide, Who marked each element's border; Who formed this frame with beneficent aim, Whose sovereign statute is order; Within this dear mansion may wayward contention Or withered envy ne'er enter; May secresy round be the mystical bound, And brotherly love be the centre. The original, in the Poet's handwriting, belongs to Gabriel Neil, Glasgow, and has the following interesting note attached to it :-"This song, wrote by Mr. Burns, was sung by him in the Kilmarnock Kilwinning Lodge, in 1786, and given by him to Mr. Parker, who was Master of the Lodge." MENIE. Tune-" Johnny's grey Breeks.” I. AGAIN rejoicing nature sees Her robe assume its vernal hues, And maun I still on Menie doat, And bear the scorn that's in her e'e? For it's jet, jet black, and like a hawk, And winna let a body be. II. In vain to me the cowslips blaw, In vain to me, in glen or shaw, III. The merry ploughboy cheers his team, But life to me 's a weary dream, A dream of ane that never wauks. |