“His sway the hardened bosom leads
To cruelty’s remorseless deeds:
As (or, so) the blue lightning when it springs
With fury on its livid wings,
Darts on the goal with rapid force,
Nor heeds that ruin marks its course.”
If you insert the word “like” where I have placed “as,” you must alter “darts” to “darting,” and “heeds” to “heeding” in order to make it grammar. A tempest is a favourite subject with the poets, but I do not remember anything even in Thomson’s Winter superior to your verses from the 347th to the 351st. Indeed, the last simile, beginning with “Fancy may dress,” &c., and ending with the 350th verse, is, in my opinion, the most beautiful passage in the poem; it would do honour to the greatest names that ever graced our profession.
I will not beg your pardon, Madam, for these strictures, as my conscience tells me, that for once in my life I have acted up to the duties of a Christian, in doing as I would be done by.
R. B.
XCV.
TO MR. RICHARD BROWN,
IRVINE.
[Richard Brown was the “hapless son of misfortune,” alluded to by Burns in his biographical letter to Dr. Moore: by fortitude and prudence he retrieved his fortunes, and lived much respected in Greenock, to a good old age. He said Burns had little to learn in matters of levity, when he became acquainted with him.]
Edinburgh, 30th Dec. 1787.