Burns's love songs are in many keys, ranging from strains of the most pure and exalted passion, like Ae Fond Kiss and To Mary in Heaven, to such loose ditties as When Januar' Winds and Green Grow the Rashes O. Burns liked a glass almost as well as a lass, and at Mauchline, where he carried on a farm with his brother Gilbert, after their father's death, he began to seek a questionable relief from the pressure of daily toil and unkind fates, in the Convivialities of the tavern.
"Brief History of English and American Literature"
Henry A. Beers
But besides these duties by day, and the Convivialities by night, there were other calls on his time and strength, to which Burns was by his reputation exposed.
"Robert Burns"
Principal Shairp
He therefore recommended me strongly to behave with as much resolute self-reliance and as little embarrassment as possible, if I desired to possess any consideration in the Freiherr's eyes; and at length he began to describe the apartments in the castle which he had selected to be his own once for all, since they were warm and comfortable, and so conveniently retired that we could withdraw from the noisy Convivialities of the hilarious company whenever we pleased.
"Weird Tales. Vol. I"
E. T. A. Hoffmann