13 APRIL 1878, Page 25

We have to notice the third volume of The Works

of Robert Burns. (William Paterson, Edinburgh.)—This volume concludes the "Poetry." It contains some few pieces which are either wholly or partially new to the public, but little or nothing of importance. Perhaps the most noticeable thing is the first version of "Scots wha hae wi' Wallace lied." The last stanza runs thus :—

Do you hear your children cry— 'Were we born in chains to lie ?' No! come Death, or Liberty ! Yea! they shall be free!

Lay the proud usurpers low! Tyrants fall in every foe! Liberty's in every blow!

Let us Do—or Die!!!

Was it improved into

By oppression, woes, and pains ! By your Sons in servile chains! We will drain our dearest veins, But they skill be free!" Lay," &c.?

We wonder whom Burns thought to have led the English army at Ban- nockburn when he speaks of a "cruel, but able usurper." This volume, like its predecessors, is handsome and carefully got up, though we notice a misprint, " maniatn " for "maneam," in the only Latin quotation which we have lighted upon. We should personally prefer an edition of Burns that was not complete. Bat if we are to have everything he wrote, it is to be found here.