Letter from Robert Burns to Agnes McLehose, 18 February 1788

Glasgow Monday even: 9 o'clock

The attraction of love, I find, is in an inverse propor-
tion ^to the attraction of the Newtonian Philosophy: in the
system of Sir Isaac, the nearer objects were to one ano
ther, the stronger was the attractive force; in my
system, every milestone that marked my progress
from Clarinda, awaked a keener pang of attachment
to her. How do you feel, my Love? is your heart
ill at ease? I fear it. God forbid that these Persecutors
should harass that Peace which is more precious to
me than my own. Be assured I shall ever think
of you, muse on you, and in my moments of devo
tion pray for you. - The hour that you are not
in all my thoughts - "be that hour darkness.
"let the shadows of Death cover it! let it not be

"numbered in the hours of the day!"
-- "When I forget the darling theme -
" Be my tongue mute! may fancy paint no more
" And dead to joy, forget my heart to beat! "
I have just met with my old friend, the ship Captain;
guess my pleasure: to meet you could alone have given
me more. My brother William too, the young Sad-
ler, has come to Glasgow to meet me; and here are
we three spending the evening.
I arrived here too late to write by post; but I'll wrap
half a dozen sheets of bank paper together and
send it by the Fly under the name of a
parcel. - You shall hear from me, next post
town. - I would write you a longer letter but
for the present circumstance of my friend
Adieu, My Clarinda! I am just going to propose
your health by way of grace drink.

Sylvander