The poetical works of Robert Burns; with memoir, prefatory notes, and a complete marginal glossary ...

Preface To The Present Edition

There are now so many editions of -Burns's Poetical Works, that the issuing of a new one undoubtedly demands an explanation of the essential difference upon which it founds its claim to the attention of the public. In 1787, Cowper thus wrote regarding the perusal of Burns: — " Poor Burns loses much of his deserved praise in this country through our ignorance of his language. I despair of meeting with any Englishman who will take the pains that I have taken to understand him. His candle is bright, but shut up in a dark lantern. I lent him to a very sensible neighbour of mine, but his uncouth dialect spoiled all ; and before he had read him through, he was quite ramfeczled" Since Cowper wrote, this ignorance of the Scottish language has been increasingly prevalent even in Scotland. Now, to understand Burns's Scotch, the chief aid required is a good glossary. In this edition the words are glossed in the margin at the end of each line, so that no interruption occurs in perusal, for the translation is picked up at once without the delay attending the consultation of a glossary.

All the Poems and Songs having a reasonable claim to be considered the composition of Burns, have been included, and those only kept out which had neither wit nor character to overlook, so far, their questionable tendency.

PREFACE TO THE PRESENT EDITION.

The arrangement of the Poems and Songs has been made so as to present, in the order of perusal, the means of justly estimating the varied character of the poet's powers — "from grave to gay, from lively to severe." Prefixed to each composition, when necessary or beneficial, are Notes, explanatory of what might not be otherwise easily understood by the general reader. In these have been engrossed most of the valuable notes by Currie, Gilbert Burns, Lockhart, Cunningham, Hogg, Motherwell, Chambers, Wilson, and some others.

The fidelity of the text has been closely attended to, and, where it varied, the best, or both readings, have been given.