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Hums.
Andante Expressive.
MUSICAL AND LITERARY MISCELLANY.
S H E'S FAIR AND PAUSE.
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fair an d fause that caus - es my smart, I
She's fair and fause that can
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lang, She's b ro - ken her vow, she's bro - ken my heart. And I may e'en gae
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hong.
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dear-est dear. But wo - man is but warld's gear, Sae let the bonnie lass gang.
-J.a.
AThae'er ye be that woman love.
To this be never blind ;
Nae ferlie 'tis, tho' fickle she prove,
A woman hast by kind.
O woman, lovely woman fair.
An angel form's faun to thy share :
'Twould been o'er m'ekle to 've gi'en theemair,
I mean an angel mind.
This, beyond doubt, is one of the most successful songs
in the language ; the severe and cutting satire it con-
tains, cannot be matched in the entire mass of lyrical
poetry in which Scotland is so rich. Vfe can scarcely
believe it possible that the idea of this song could have
suggested itself to the mind of Burns, without some
No. 39.
sufficiently powerful motive ; for, in perusing his other
songs, we are struck with the warmth of his language
while addressing "Woman, God's most perfect work."
And the chivalrous and romantic fervour displayed in
his other songs, makes this one stand out as the soli-
tary example of Burns's unprovoked spleen. Be that
as it may, no fair dame has claimed for herself the un-
enviable honour of being the " Fair and Fause." The
air is old — and one of the most beautiful of Scottish
minor airs, breathing forth the very soul of pathos.
We are not aware at present whether Burns wrote
this song to the air. If he did so, with reverence to
his immortal genius, we would say that they are not
suited to each other. But woe be to him who, with
sacrilegious hand, would divorce them. — Ed. B. M.