The latest editor of Burns does a good service by correcting an absurdity in the most familiar song in the language which has puzzled every generation since Burns’s death, namely:
“We’ll tak’ a right gude willie-waught
For Auld Lang Syne.”
He says “willie-waught” is neither Scotch nor sense; that the hyphen is simply misplaced, and the line should read:
“We’ll tak’ a right gude-willie waught—”
i.e., good-will draught. This is obvious when pointed out, for “gude-willie” and “ill-willie” are familiar compounds. But it is odd that every other editor should have servilely followed the misprint.
In the “Heart of Midlothian” (ch. 47), Scott says, “thus our simple and unpretending heroine had the merit of those peacemakers, to whom it is pronounced as a benediction, that they shall inherit the earth.” The Master said (Matt. v, 9), “Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God.” It is “the meek” who shall inherit the earth.
Sir Walter Scott says in “The Antiquary” (ch. x), “The philosopher who appealed from Philip inflamed with wine to Philip in his hours of sobriety, did not choose a judge so different as if he had appealed from Philip in his youth to Philip in his old age.” This “philosopher” was a poor old woman.