To Mrs Frances Anna Dunlop of DunlopMossgeil 15 November 1786 Madam, I am truly sorry I was not at home yesterday when I was so much honored with you order for my Copies, and incomparably more so by the handsome compliments you are pleased to pay my poetic abilities.- I am full persuaded that there is not any class of Mankind so feelingly alive to the titillations of applause as the Sons of Parnassus; nor is it easy to conceive how the heart of the poor bard dances with rapture, when Judged honor him with their approbation.- “Great Patriot hero! ill requited Chief!” The first books I met with in my early years, which I perused with pleasure, were, the lives of Hannibal and Sir William Wallace.- For several of my earlier years, I had few other Authors: and many a solitary hour have I stole out, after the laborious vocations of the day, to shed a tear over their glorious but unfortunate Story.- In those boyish days, I remember in particular, being struck with that part of Wallace’s history where the lines occur – “Syne to the Leglen wood when it was late I chose a fine summer Sunday, the only day of the week I my power and walked half a dozen miles to pay my respects to the “Leg Len Wood,” woith as much devout enthusiasm as ever a Pilgrim did Loretto; and as I explored every den and dell where I could suppose my heroic Countryman to have sheltered, I recollect (for even then I was a rhymer) that my heart glowed with a wish to be able to make a Song on him equal to his merits.- I have only been able to send you five Copies; they are all I can command.- I am thinking to go to Edinburgh in a week or two at farthest, to throw off a second Impression of my book: but on my return, I shall certainly do myself the honor to wait on you, and thank you in person for the obligding notice you have been pleased to take of. Madam |
|---|