“ THE JOLLY BEGGARS AN UNRECORDED EDITION. The Jolly Beggars: a cantata was first published, in a twopenny tract of sixteen pages, by Stewart & Meikle. booksellers in the Candleriggs of Glasgow, on 13th July, 1799; and was reprinted for the same firm shortly afterwards, with title The Jolly Beggars; or, Tatterdemallions. A cantata. A cantata. These are the only printed editions of the piece recorded in bibliographical works as having been issued at Glasgow. In a recent sale of books at Edinburgh there appeared an edition of the cantata bearing the imprint of "R. Chapman, Glasgow," and the date "1816." The appearance in the auction-room of an unknown edition of Burns's" puissant and splendid production "created much interest, with the result that the tract brought the large sum of £17 10s. Mr. Robert Henderson, of Glasgow, was the buyer. No one can safely say that any published book is unique, but the fact remains that this copy of The Jolly Beggars appears to be the only one known to exist. For the information of collectors the title-page is reproduced here. The size of the leaf is approximately seven inches by four; there are sixteen pages in the tract; and the text includes the "Merry Andrew" recitativo and song, which did not appear in either of the earlier issues. THE VOW OF LUVE. (Following the ring of Burns's "The Red, Red Rose.") DIALOGUE AND CHORUS. I. Krishna My luve fo' Radha's like the rose that blooms sae fine on tree; My luve's like, yea-the mellow tune, that's sweetly play'd by me." Radha "Thy luve! O, Krishna fause like Thee,- Sae ilka nicht i' mickle wise Krishna "Ay, nae,-My bonnie winsome lass! couldna tell, My words I Sae deep in luve am I, my sweet,—there's nane I luve sae well!" Radha II. "Ah, my braw and bonnie lad, thy wily wise I ken,Thou'lt win my luve and gang adrift to rove in wood and glen. Ay, dark thy visage, fause thy heart; I wat I aint sae bauld To tryst thy trickie sport of luve,- But altho' black thu' art, and fause,-sae deep i' luve am I, I'll luve but Thee, my winsome lad, till a' the seas gang dry!" K III. Krishna Ah, my charming lassie dear, thu' canna see my mind, Of all the maids in Gokul's grove, like Thee Ï winna find. Tho' Dark my visage,-True my Heart! I this maun say sae bauld, My depth o' luve will never wash In Jumna's water cauld! Tho' Fair thu' art, my bonnie lass, sae deep i' luve am I; I'll luve Thee still, my dearie dear, till a' the seas gang dry!" IV. Krishna and Radha (Chorus)— "Sae true Thu' art and guid, my luve, to Thee i' luve rin I,— I'll luve Thee till the end o' Time,-till all the seas gang dry: Till all the seas gang dry, my luve, And the rocks melt wi' the Sun: And I will luve Thee still, my dear, Ay, e'en when Life is o'er, my dear,-on still In Vow of Luve, entwin'd we'll cling, tho' the Seas hae ceas'd to roar!". SURES C. GHATAK. NOTE: From The Calcutta Review for November, 1925. Contributed by Mr. A. Bain Irvine, President of the Burns Club of London. |