Composed by Mr Burns on Miss Cruickshank, Edin.r --
The Music by Mr Sillar, a gentleman in Irvine, Ayrshire --
A Rose-bud by my early walk,
Adown a corn-enclosed bawk,
Sae gently bent its thorny stalk,
All on a dewy morning. --
Ere twice the shades of dawn are fled,
In a' its crimson glory spread;
And drooping, rich, the dewy head,
It scents the early morning. --
Within the bush her covert nest
A little linnet fondly prest,
The chilly dew sat on her breast
Sae early in the morning. --
She soon shall see her tender brood,
The pride the pleasure of the wood,
Amang the fresh green leaves bedew'd,
Awauk the early morning. --
On trembling string or vocal air,
Shalt sweetly pay the tender care
That tents thy early morning. --
So thou, sweet Rose-bud young and gay,
Shalt beauteous blaze upon the day;
And bless the Parent's evening ray
That watch'd thy early morning.-
_______________
To Mrs Cruickshank, his kind Hostess, with
his best Compliments ----
Robt. Burns
January 16th. 1788 ----
Key details
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/02/84
- Alt. number
- 3.6242
- Date
- 1788
- On display
- Yes
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Recipient
- Cruikshank, Jean
- Archive number
- NTS/02/25/BRN/02/84
- Alt. number
- 3.6242
- Date
- 1788
- On display
- Yes
- Creator
- Burns, Robert (Author)
- Recipient
- Cruikshank, Jean
Description
The Rosebud. Begins: "A Rosebud by my early walk". 6 four-line verses, with a dedication inscription to Miss Cruikshank.
This page shows the last verse of the poem in which Burns compares young Jean to a linnet. She also produces music "on trembling string" (her harpsichord) and "vocal air" (her sweet voice) She will, herself, soon burst forth in beauty and, later, bless her parents later years.
This poem was composed on Miss Jean Cruikshank the 12 year old daughter of William Cruikshank with whose family Burns lodged in Edinburgh from autumn 1787 to Feb 1788. Their daughter caught Burns affection and he wrote two poems on her. She was a good musician able to sing Burns airs and accompany herself. Even at that tender age she assisted Burns by adjusting words and music by repeated trials of the effect.
Archive information
Themes
Hierarchy
-
Robert Burns, collection of poems and songs
(
a sub-fonds is a subdivision in the archival material)
- The Rosebud