In 1787, a year after his first published book of poems called the Kilmarnock Editions made him the toast of Edinburgh, Robert Burns began a platonic relationship with Edinburgh actress Agnes (Nancy) McLehose. The friendship is said to have lasted for four years. During that time he married Jean Armour, the mother of his twins and who went on to give him 9 children. McLehose was living separately from her husband at the time.
Burns and McLehose sent many letters to one another under the names Sylvander and Clarinda. The letters have come to be known as the Clarinda Letters. The relationship ended when McLehose decided to go back to her husband who had moved to Jamaica. Once they stopped seeing each other, they also stopped writing to one another. Burns was heartbroken and wrote the song Ae Fond Kiss as a remembrance of their romance.
Ae fond kiss, and then we sever;
Ae fareweel, alas, for ever!
Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.
Who shall say that Fortune grieves him,
While the star of hope she leaves him?
Me, nae cheerful twinkle lights me;
Dark despair around benights me.
I'll ne'er blame my partial fancy,
Naething could resist my Nancy:
But to see her was to love her;
Love but her, and love for ever.
Had we never lov'd sae kindly,
Had we never lov'd sae blindly,
Never met--or never parted,
We had ne'er been broken-hearted.
Fare-thee-weel, thou first and fairest!
Fare-thee-weel, thou best and dearest!
Thine be ilka joy and treasure,
Peace, Enjoyment, Love and Pleasure!
Ae fond kiss, and then we sever!
Ae fareweeli alas, for ever!
Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee,
Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee.
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