Volume II, song 186, page 194 - 'Talk not of love, it gives me pain' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Verse 1 (to the tune of 'Banks of Spey): 'Talk not of love, it gives me pain, For love has been my foe; He bound me with an iron chain, And plung'd me deep in woe. But friendship's pure and lasting joys, My heart was form'd to prove; There, welcome win and wear the prize, But never talk of love.' The 'Scots Musical Museum' is the most important of the numerous eighteenth- and nineteenth-century collections of Scottish song. When the engraver James Johnson started work on the second volume of his collection in 1787, he enlisted Robert Burns as contributor and editor. Burns enthusiastically collected songs from various sources, often expanding or revising them, whilst including much of his own work. The resulting combination of innovation and antiquarianism gives the work a feel of living tradition. The top right corner of the sheet reveals that the song was written by a lady, and Burns in his personal commentary on the collection revealed that it was written by Clarinda. Clarinda was the alias used by Nancy (Agnes) Craig M'Lehose to correspond with Burns, to ensure her public reputation remained intact. Although married to James M'Lehose, the couple were separated and after a short interval a passionate but unfilled attachment occurred between Burns and Nancy. This poem was written at Christmas by Nancy, in the very early stages of the relationship. The first two lines alluded to her cruel and now broken marriage, while the last two lines remind Burns of the limitations that must be placed on their relationship. It is curious to note that 'only' in the second last line was a replacement for Nancy's word 'odious'.

Collection

Scots Musical Museum

Inventory Number

4503382

Title

Volume II, song 186, page 194 - 'Talk not of love, it gives me pain' - Scanned from the 1853 edition of the 'Scots Musical Museum', James Johnson and Robert Burns (Edinburgh and London: W. Blackwood & Sons, 1853)

Object Type

PhysicalObject

Measurements

- 130 x 211 mm