POEMS, CHIEFLY IN THE SCOTTISH DIALECT. BY. ROBERT BURNS. IN TWO VOLUMES. A NEW EDITION, CONSIDERABLY ENLARGED. VOL. I. EDINBURGH: PRINTED FOR T. CADELL, LONDON, AND WILLIAM CREECH, EDINburgh. M DCC XCIV. DEDICATIO N. TO THE NOBLEMEN AND GENTLEMEN OF THE CALEDONIAN HUNT. MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, A SCOTTISH Bard, proud of the name, and whofe highest ambition is to fing in his Country's fervice, where shall he fo properly look for patronage as to the illuftrious names of bis native Land; thofe who bear the honours and and inherit the virtues of their Ancestors? The Poetic Genius of my Country found me, as the prophetic bard Elijah did Elifba―at the plough; and threw her infpiring mantle over me. She bade me fing the loves, the joys, the rural fcenes and rural pleasures of my natal Soil, in my native tongue: I tuned my wild, artlef's notes, as she infpired.-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 do not approach you, My Lords and Gentlemen, in the ufual file of dedication, to thank you for paft favours; that path is fo backneyed by prostituted Learning, that honeft Rufvicity is afhamed of it.-Nor do I prefent this Addrefs with the venal foul of a fervile Author, looking for a continuation of those fa vours: |