Burns was of about the average height and of heavy build. with features inclined to coarse ness. According to Scott, the portraits (of which the most trustworthy is that by Nasmyth, 1787) have unduly refined them. His face became singularly animated and expressive in conversa tion, and numerous observers have commented on the extraordinary glow of his fine eyes. "I never saw such another eye," says Scott, "in any human head." His character has perhaps been sufficiently indicated above; but if regret tably weak in certain directions, it hail very respectable elements—an honorable pride, a sense of duty toward his relatives, and a real desire to act a manly and not a heartless part. His poetry was nearly always written on the spur of the moment—the response of the feel ings to the immediate circumstances. Its charm and power lie in the justness of the feelings ex pressed, and in the truthfulness and freshness which it derives direct from life. Seldom have such manliness, tenderness, and passion been united as in the songs of Burns. Ile is weak only when, acting on bad advice, like David in Saul's armor, lie tries to write in the conven tional English instead of the simple. natural
Scottish dialect. He had no slight. influence in preparing the way for that outburst of the natural in English poetry, whose epoch-making date, the publication of the Lyrical Ballads, falls only two years after his death. The hundredth anniversaries of his birth and death were cele brated with enthusiasm, not only in Scotland, but throughout the English-speaking world.
For editions of Burns consult: Chambers, with Life and Letters, revised by Wallace ( 4 vols., Edinburgh, 1896) ; Douglas, with Life and es timate by Nichol (7 vols., Edinburgh, 1896) ; Henley and Henderson, centenary edition (4 vols., Edinburgh, 1896-97) ; and for his life, Lock hart (latest edition, Edinburgh, 1890) ; Shairp, in "English Men of Letters Series" ( London, 1879) ; Angellier, Robert Burns, sa vie ct ses waives ( Paris, I 89:3 ) ; and Iliggi ( London, 1893). Consult also: Wallace (editor), Cor Between Burns and Mrs. Dunlop I London. 1898) ; Carlyle, Essays (London, 1547) ; Stevenson, "Robert Burns," in Familiar Studies of lien and Books (London, McKie, Bibliography of Burns (Kilmarnock, 1S61).