But how Distress with horrors arming,
Thou, alas! hast known too well!

Fairest Flower, behold the lily,
Blooming in the sunny ray;
Let the blast sweep o'er the valley,
See it prostrate on the clay.

Hear the woodlark charm the forest,
Telling o'er his little joys;

But, alas! a prey the surest
To each pirate of the skies.

Dearly bought the hidden treasure
Finer feelings can bestow;
Cords that vibrate sweetest pleasure
Thrill the deepest notes of wo.1

1"I have sent in the verses On Sensibility, altered to

'Sensibility, how charming,

Dearest Nancy, thou canst tell,' etc.,

to the editor of the Scots Songs, of which you have three volumes, to set to a most beautiful air out of compliment to the first of women, my ever-beloved, my ever-sacred Clarinda.".

Burns to Mrs. M'Lehose.

AE FOND KISS.

TUNE-Rory Dall's Port.

Clarinda had resolved, though with much hesitation, to accept an invitation from her heartless husband, and join him in Jamaica. In the softened feeling arising from the contemplation of such a movement, she relented so far towards Burns as to admit him to a visit. What one would give to know the particulars of the interview! It took place on the 6th of December. That it gave occasion to an effusion of passionate feeling, is strongly hinted in a letter of the poet written a twelvemonth after. We may also hesitate little in reading as a record of the scene a series of lyrics, one of which is amongst the most earnest expressions of intense feeling ever composed in verse.

AE fond kiss, and then we sever!
Ae fareweel, and then for ever!

Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.

Who shall say that Fortune grieves him,
While the star of Hope she leaves him?

Me, nae cheerful twinkle lights me;
Dark despair around benights me.

I'll ne'er blame my partial fancy;
Naething could resist my Nancy;
But to see her was to love her,
Love but her, and love for ever.

Had we never loved sae kindly,
Had we never loved sae blindly,
Never met, or never parted,

We had ne'er been broken-hearted!

Fare thee weel, thou first and fairest!
Fare thee weel, thou best and dearest !
Thine be ilka joy and treasure,
Peace, Enjoyment, Love, and Pleasure!

Ae fond kiss, and then we sever!
Ae fareweel, alas! for ever!

Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.

SONG.1

To an old Scots Tune.

BEHOLD the hour, the boat, arrive!
My dearest Nancy, O fareweel!
Severed frae thee, can I survive,

Frae thee whom I hae loved sae weel?

Endless and deep shall be my grief;
Nae ray o' comfort shall I see,
But this most precious, dear belief,
That thou wilt still remember me.

Alang the solitary shore,

Where fleeting sea-fowl round me cry, Across the rolling, dashing roar,

I'll westward turn my wistful eye.

Happy, thou Indian grove, I'll say,
Where now my Nancy's path shall be!
While through your sweets she holds her way,
O tell me, does she muse on me?

1 Another copy of this song is given further on, at p. 83 of vol. iii.

SONG.

To a charming plaintive Scots Air.

ANCE mair I hail thee, thou gloomy December! Ance mair I hail thee wi' sorrow and care; Sad was the parting thou mak'st me remember, Parting wi' Nancy, oh, ne'er to meet mair!

Fond lovers' parting is sweet, painful pleasure, Hope beaming mild on the soft parting hour; But the dire feeling, oh, farewell for ever! Anguish unmingled and agony pure!

Wild as the winter now tearing the forest,

Till the last leaf o' the summer is flown, Such is the tempest has shaken my bosom, Since my last hope and last comfort is gone!

Still as I hail thee, thou gloomy December, Still shall I hail thee wi' sorrow and care; For sad was the parting thou mak'st me remember,

Parting wi' Nancy, oh, ne'er to meet mair!