as well as the two preceding ones, are unequalled almost by anything I ever heard or read: and the lines,
“The present moment is our ain,
The neist we never saw,”—
are worthy of the first poet. It is long posterior to Ramsay’s days. About the year 1771, or 72, it came first on the streets as a ballad; and I suppose the composition of the song was not much anterior to that period.
TARRY WOO.
This is a very pretty song; but I fancy that the first half stanza, as well as the tune itself, are much older than the rest of the words.
GRAMACHREE.
The song of Gramachree was composed by a Mr. Poe, a counsellor at law in Dublin. This anecdote I had from a gentleman who knew the lady, the “Molly,” who is the subject of the song, and to whom Mr. Poe sent the first manuscript of his most beautiful verses. I do not remember any single line that has more true pathos than
“How can she break that honest heart that wears her in its core!”