The Poetical Works of Robert Burns Author:Robert Burns Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: DEDICATION PREFIXED TO THE SECOND EDITION. PUBLISHED AFRIL 21ST, 1787. To ike Noblemen and OenOemen of the Caledonian Hunt. My Lords And Gentlemen. — A ... more »Scottish bard, proud of the name, and whose highest ambition is to sing in his country's service — where shall he so properly look for patronage as to the illustrious names of his native land, those who bear the honours, and inherit the virtues, of their ancestors? The poetic genius of my country found me, as the prophetic bard Elijah did Elisha, at the plough, and threw her inspiring mantle over me. She bade me sing the loves, the joys, the rural scenes and rural pleasures of my native soil, in my native tongue. I tuned my wild, artless notes, as she inspired. She whispered me to come to this ancient metropolis of Caledonia, and lay my songs under your honoured protection. I now obey her dictates. Though much indebted to your goodness, I donot approach you, my Lords and Gentlemen, in the usual style of dedication, to thank you for past favours ; that path is so hackneyed by prostituted learning, that honest rusticity is ashamed of it. Nor do I present this address with the venal soul of a servile author, looking for a continuation of those favours : — I was bred to the plough, and am independent. I come to claim the common Scottish name with you, my illustrious countrymen, and to tell the world that I glory in the title. I come to congratulate my country that the blood of her ancient heroes still runs uncon- taminated; and that from your courage, knowledge, and public spirit, she may expect protection, wealth, and liberty. In the last place, I come to proffer my warmest wishes to the great fountain of honour, the Monarch of the Universe, for your welfare and happiness. When you go forth to waken the echoes, in the a...« less