Many of Burns’ songs were already in existence in the lips
and minds of the people, rough and coarse, and obscene. Our
benefactor takes them, and with a touch of inspired alchemy
transmutes them and leaves them pure gold. He loved the old
catches and the old tunes, and into these gracious molds he
poured his exquisite gifts of thought and expression. But for
him these ancient airs, often wedded to words which no decent
man could recite, would have perished from that corruption
if not from neglect. He rescued them for us by his songs,
and in doing so he hallowed life and sweetened the breath of
Scotland.--LORD ROSEBERY.
(3282)
=Trap, A Natural=--See DEVICES, FATAL.
=Traps=--See BARRIERS; ENEMIES.