COPYRIGHT, 1920,

BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY

BOOL LIBR

JAN. 1922

OXFORU

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

FOREWORD

Two things are to be regretted in regard to Burns. First, some of his biographers magnified what they regarded as his weaknesses, and devoted far too much space to them. It is strange that even yet some people in speaking of Burns devote so much time to the weaker elements in his life, instead of trying to reveal his divine elements of power. Second, some poems which Burns himself did not write for publication were published.

In his last interview with Mrs. Maria Riddell a few days before his death he said he had written things which he "earnestly wished to have buried in oblivion." He lamented that "he had written many epigrams on persons against whom he entertained no enmity, and whose characters he would be sorry to wound; and many indifferent poetical pieces which he feared would now, with all their imperfections on their head, be thrust upon the world. On this account he deeply regretted having deferred to put his papers in a state of arrangement."

To publish his greatest masterpieces of universal importance would seem to be in harmony with the deepest wish of Burns himself. It is done by one who regards Burns as one of the greatest interpreters and revealers of the highest thought of humanity in re

gard to religion and ethics, to human freedom, to brotherhood and to love.

Burns was a genius worthy to rank with Shakespeare. As an interpreter of Christ's philosophy of democracy and brotherhood, Burns is greater than any other poet. His religious and ethical poems and his love songs are unequalled; yet many people fear to have the poems of Burns in their libraries, so thousands miss the uplift and clearer vision which they might receive from his truly great poems.

Some of his most brilliant poems are, in the light of present standards, indelicate, but nearly all such poems relate to local people, events, and conditions that do not exist at the present time.

Great poetry is universal in its appeal to the minds of men. Burns wrote so many profoundly kindling and elevating poems that it seems reasonable to publish them, omitting those that are merely local but presenting those in which his great love of nature is evidenced.

This book is published with the view of securing a wider reading and study of the universal poems of Burns, especially by young people. I have arranged the poems in four classes: 1. Poems of Nature; 2. Religious and Ethical Poems; 3. Poems of Democracy and Brotherhood; 4. Love Songs.

In order to help readers of Burns to understand the conditions under which he lived and wrote, and the beauty of the rivers, the woods, the hills and glens of his native district, I personally made the photographs used for illustrations in this volume, except the por

FOREWORD

traits. I hope these illustrations of places associated with the life of Burns, which he made immortal by associating them with his poems, may enable readers to understand the atmosphere of the great lover of nature in her fairest and, to Burns, most inspiring forms.

While the great poem, "Tam o' Shanter" may be regarded as mainly local, it is included in this collection because in addition to being a great poem, it is associated with Alloway, where Burns was born, and it is an evidence of his remarkable powers, as he wrote it in a single day sitting on the bank of the Nith at Ellisland farm.

Toronto, Canada.

JAMES L. HUGHES.