.-.~, THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES fe^ FREDERIC THOMAS BLANCHARD ENDOWMENT FUND / THE <*? POEMS ALLAN RAMSAY. A NEW EDITION, CORRECTED, AND ENLARGED; A GLOSS ART. TO WHICH ARE PREFIXED, A LIFE OF THE AUTHOR, FROM AUTHENTIC DOCUMENTS: AND REMARKS ON HIS POEMS, FROM A LARGE VIEW OF THEIR MERITS. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. * LONDON: Printed by A. Strahan, Printers Street, FOR T. CADELL JUN. AND W. DAVIES, STRAND, I800. AH \io$ v- 2. THE CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME. PASTORAL. PACK RICHY and Sandy : on the Death of Mr. Addifon 3 Robert, Richy, and Sandy : a Pafloral on the Death of Matthew Prior * - - 8 Keltha : an Elegy on the Death of Mary the Countefs of Wigton : * ' - - 15 An Ode, with a Paftoral Recitative, on the Marriage of James Earl of Wemy fs to Mifs Janet Charteris 2 1 A Mafque performed at celebrating the Nuptials of James Duke of Hamilton and Lady Ann Cochran - 25 A Paftoral Epithalamium upon the happy Marriage of George Lord Ramfay and Lady Jean Maule _ * .\ . * 39 Betty and Kate : a Paftoral Farewell to Mr. Aikman, when he went for London - , *. 42 The Gentle Shepherd - 49 AZ LYRIC. 898153 IV THE CONTENTS. LYRIC. The Dedication to the Tea-Table Mifcellany, 1 724 197 Wine and Mufic - 200 Horace to Virgil - _ - - 201 An Ode to Mr. F - - 203 An Ode to the Ph ... 205 A Ballad on Bonny Kate - - - 208 To Dr. J. C. who got the foregoing to give the young Lady ... - 210 An Ode on Drinking - - . - 2IO The laft Time I came o'er the Moor - 211 The Lafs of Patie's Mill - - 213 Ye watchful Guardians of the Fair - - 214 The Yellow-hair'd Laddie - 216 Nanny O - - - - -217 Bonny Jean 218 Auld lang fyne .... 219 The Penitent : to the Tune of the Lafs of Livingfton 221 Love's Cure : to the Tune of Peggy I muft love thee 223 Befly Bell and Mary Gray - 224 The young Laird and Edinburgh Katy - - 226 Katy's Anfwer - . 228 Mary Scot - - - - 229 O'er Bogie - 230 O'er the Moor to Maggie - 231 I '11 never leave thee - - .. 233 Polwart on the Green - - 235 Jo. Hay's Bonny Laffie ... 236 Genty Tibby and Sonfy Nelly - V - - 237 Up in the Air - " " '& - 238 To Mrs. E.G.: Now Phoebus advances on high - 240 To Califta : She fung, the Youth Attention gave - 241 Give THE CONTENTS. V PAGE Give me a Lafs with a Lump of Land t * . : - 243 Lochaber no more - - 244 Virtue and Wit : the Prefervative of Love and Beauty 245 Adieu for a while my native green Plains - - 246 And I '11 awa to bonny Tweed fide - - 248 The Widow - - 250 The Step Daughter's Relief - 251 Bonny Chrifty - "P-A - - 253 The Soger Laddie - 255 The bonny Scot : to the Tune of the Boatman - 256 Love inviting Reafon - - -, - 257 The Bob of Dumblane .... 259 Throw the Wood Laddie -- ' - 260 An thou were my am Thing - .. W : , - 261 There 's my Thumb, I '11 ne'er beguile thee - -*;: 263 The Highland Laddie - - - -264 The Coalier's Daughter " .-, . - - 266 The Mill, Mill-O '".'?* J?i - :.** 267 Colin and Grify parting - ... - 269 To L. L. in Mourning : to the Tune of Where Helen lies - - - -270 A Scots Cantata : Mufic by L. Bocchi . 271 TheToaft - - 272 A South Sea Sang : Tune of For our lang biding here 273 Hap me with thy Petticoat - '... . 274 Fy ! gar rub her o'er wi' ftrae - - - 276 The Cordial '' "?' >'*4 ' :;'i'. 277 Allan Water - - '>*' ;; r>. 279 O Mary thy Graces and Glances . . 280 This is no my ain Houfe - - ' ' 282 My Daddy forbad, my Minny forbad - . . 283 Steer her up and had her gawn - - -285 Clout the Caldron -:^-f! - ,U '. 3 >.- 286 TheMaltman - - , t*'7' : "&K! ; J - 287 Bonny VI THE CONTENTS. PAGE Bonny Betty - 289 The Quadruple Alliance - - 290 The Complaint : When abfent from the Nymph I love 291 The Carle he came o'er the Croft .;-,! 2 93 Mither dear, I 'gin to fear - - ., ", 2 94 A Song, to the Tune of Bufk ye my Bonny Bride 296 The Highland Laffie - - - 297 The Auld Man's beft Argument - - 298 To Mrs. A. C. : When Beauty blazes - - 300 1 have a green Purfe, and a wee pickle Gowd - 302 On the Marriage of Lord G. and Lady K. C. : Tune of the Highland Laddie - 303 Jenny Nettles .... 307 For the Sake of Somebody - - 308 The generous Gentleman : to the Tune of The bonny Laffi of Brankfome - ^!.%; f 3 10 The Cock Laird - .312 Let meaner Beauties ufe their Art - 314 EPISTOLARY. An Epiftle to Allan Ramfay, by Jofiah Burchet, Efq. 319 The Anfwer to the foregoing - - - 321 Seven familiar Epiftles, which pafled between Lieut. Hamilton and the Author t"/f : ; " 3 2 3 To the Mufic Club - < - 357 An Epiftle to James Arbuckle, defcribing the Author 359 To the Earl of Dalhoufie - . '"-> -/' __*. 367 To Mr. Aikman - - ,, ; rv 370 To Sir William Bennet - - , 7 , 37 z To a Friend at Florence .:*. j -'_, 375 To R. H. B. - -.' .--,K' - : T. 377 To Mr. Jofeph Mitchell, on the fuccefsful Reprefent- ation of his Tragedy - u - ; . 380 To THE CONTENTS. Vll PACK To Robert Yarde of Devonfliire ;a&.vil: irw-:V. 383 An Epiftle from Mr. William Starrat ?jf; *-" 389 To Mr. William Starrat, on receiving the foregoing 392 To Mr. Gay, on hearing the Duchefs of Queenfbury commend fome of his Poems ..-*. 395 An Epiftle to Jofiah Burchet, on his being chofen Member of Parliament - - 400 To Mr. David Malloch, on his Departure from Scotland 402 To William Somerville of Warwickshire - 405 An Epiftle from Mr. Somerville - - . - 410 An Anfwer to the foregoing ; 7 , - - 416 An Epiftle from William Somerville to Allan Ramfay, on publishing his fecond Volume of Poems - 42 1 Ramfay's Anfwer to the foregoing - - 425 To Donald M'Ewen, Jeweller, at St. Peterfburgh - 429 To the fame, on receiving a Prefent of a gold Seal 430 To his Friends in Ireland, who, on a Report of his Death, made and published feveral Elegies, &c. 43 1 An Epiftle from a Gentleman in the Country to his Friend in Edinburgh - 434 An Epiftle to James Clerk, Efq. of Pennycuik ; *'= 439 To A. R. on the Poverty of the Poets - - 444 The Anfwer ----- 445 FABLES AND TALES. An Epiftle to Duncan Forbes Lord Advocate - 451 A Fable of the Twa Books - - 455 The Clock and the Dial - - -457 The Ram and the Buck .... 459 The lovely Lafs and the Mirror ... 462 Jupiter's Lottery .... ^.64. The Miier and Minos .... 467 The Ape and the Leopard ... 470 The Vlll THE CONTENTS. PAGE The Afs and the Brock - > - - 472 The Fox and the Rat - 474 The Caterpillar and the Ant - - 476 The twa Cats and the Cheefe - - - 478 TheCameleon - 481 The Twa Lizards - - 484 Mercury in Queft of Peace - - 487 The Spring and the Syke - - . 491 The Phoenix and the Owl - - 492 The Boy and the Pig . 495 The Man with the twa Wives - - 496 The Fable of the condemned Afs - 498 The Gods of ./Egypt - 502 The Spectacles - 504 The Fox turned Preacher - - 506 The Bee and the Fly - - 509 The Horfe's Complaint - - - "-511 Tit for Tat - 513 The Parrot - - 516 TheEclipfe - - - 518 The Monk and the Miller's Wife - 520 The daft Bargain - 531 The twa Cutpurfes - - 533 The Lure - - - * 535 A Tale of the Three Bonnets - - 541 The Eagle and the Robin .Redbreaft - 577 The Conclufion ; the Author's Addrefs to his Book in Imitation of Horace - - 580 The Gloflary - - - - 583 PASTORAL. PASTORAL. VOL. II. 1721. RICHY AND SANDY * : ON THE DEATH OF MR. ADDISON, RICHY. WHAT gars thee look fae dowf, dear Sandy fay ? Cheer up, dull fellow, take thy reed and play " My apron deary," or fome wanton tune : Be merry, lad, and keep thy heart aboon. SANDY. -. . Na, na, it winna do ; leave me to mane : This aught days twice o'er tell'd I 'II whiftle nane. RICHY. * Sir Richard Steele and Mr. Alexander Pope. B 2 RAMSAY'S POEMS. RICHY. Wow, man, that 's unco* fad ! Is 't that ye'r jo Has ta'en the ftrunt ? Or has fome bogle-bo, Glowrin frae 'mang auld waws, gi'en ye a fleg ? Or has fome dauted wedder broke his leg ? SANDY. Naithing like that, fie troubles eith were borne : }Vhat 's bogles, wedders, or what Maufy's fcorn ? Our lofs is meikle mair, and paft remead : Adie, that play'd arid fang fae fweet, is dead. RICHY. Dead ! fay 'ft thou ? Oh, had up my heart, OPan! Ye gods, what laids ye lay on fecklefs man ! Alake therefore ! I canna wyt ye'r wae ; I '11 bear ye company for year and day. A better lad ne'er lean'd out o'er a kent, Or hounded coly o'er the mofTy bent : Blyth at the bught how aft ha* we three been, Heartfome on hills, and gay upon the green. SANDY. PASTORAL. 5 SANDY. That 's true indeed ; but now thae days are gane, And, with him, a* that 's pleafant on the plain. A fummer day I never thought it lang, To hear him make a roundel or a fang. How fweet he fung where vines and myrtles grow, Of wimbling waters which in Latium flow *. Titry the Mantuan herd, wha lang finfyne, Beft fung on aeten reed the lover's pine, Had he been to the fore now in our days, Wi' Adie he had frankly dealt his bays. As lang 's the warld mall Amaryllis ken, His Rofamond -j- mall echo thro* the glen : While on burn banks the yellow gowan grows, Or wand'ring lambs rin bleating after ewes, His fame mall laft : laft fhall his fang of weirs }, While Britifti bairns brag of their bauld forbeairs. We '11 meikle mifs his bly th and witty jeft, At fpaining time, or at our Lambmafs feaft. O, Richy ! but 'tis bard that death ay reaves Away the bed fowk, and the ill anes leaves. Hing down'ye'r heads, ye hills, greet out ye fprings, Upon ye'r edge na mair the mepherd fmgs. RICHY. * His poetic epiftle from Italy to the Earl of Halifax. J- An opera wrote by him. ^ His Campaign, an heroic poem. B 3 RAMSAY'S POEMS. RICHY. Then he had ay a good advice to gie, And kend my thoughts amaift as well as me ? Had 1 been thowlefe, vext, or oughtlins four, He wad have made me blyth in haff an hour : Had Rofie ta'en the dorts, or had the tod Worry'd my lambs, or were my feet ill mod, Kindly he 'd laugh when fae he faw me dwine, And tauk of happinefs like a divine. Of ilka thing he had an unco 5 (kill j He kend be moon-light how tides ebb and fill ; He kend (what kend he no ?) e'en to a hair He'd tell or night gin neift day wad be fair. Blind John *, ye mind, wha fang in kittle phrafe, How the ill fp'rit did the firfl mifchief raife j Mony a time, beneath the auld birk-tree, What 's bonny in that fang he loot me fee. The lafles aft flung down their rakes and pails, And held their tongues, O flrange ! to hear his tales. SANDY. Sound be his fleep, and faft his wak'ning be ; He 's in a better cafe than thee or me : He * The famous Milton, the author of the excellent poem on Paradife Loft, was blind. PASTORAL. He was o'er good for us j the gods hae ta'en Their ain but back he was a borrow'd len : Let us be good, gin virtue be our drift, Then we may yet forgether 'boon the lift. But fee the fheep are wyfmg to the cleugh ; Thomas has loos'd his oufen frae the pleugh ; Maggy by this has bewk the fupper-fcones ; And muckle kye (land rowting in the loans : Come, Richy, let us trufe and hame o'er bend, And make the bed of what we canna mend. B 4 RAMSAY'S POEMS. 1728. ROBERT, RICHY, AND SANDY : A PASTORAt ON THE DEATH OF MATTHEW PRIOR. ROBERT, the good, by a j the fwains rever'd, Wife are his words, like filler is his beard j Near faxty mining fimmers he has feen, Renting his hirfle on the moorland green : Unfhaken yet with mony a winter's wind, Stout are his limbs, and youthfu* is his mind. But now he droops, ane wad be wae to fee Him fae caft down ; ye wadna trow 'tis he. By break of day he feeks the dowy glen, That he may fcowth to a* his mourning len : Nane but the clinty craigs and fcrogy briers Were witnefles of a* his granes and tears. Howder'd wi* hills a cryftal burnie ran, Where twa young fhepherds fand the good auld man : Kind Richy Spec, a friend to a' diftreft, And Sandy, wha of fhepherds fings the befl ; With friendly looks they fpeer'd, wherefore he mourn'd ? He rais'd his head, and, fighing, thus return'd : ROBERT. PASTORAL. ROBERT. O Matt ! poor Matt ! my lads, e'en take a Ikair Of a* my grief: fweet-fmging Matt 's nae mair. Ah heavens ! did e'er this lyart head of mine Think to have feen the cauldrife mools on thine. RICHY. My heart mifga'e me when I came this way, His dog its lane fat yowling on a -brae ; I cry'd, " Ifk ! iik ! poor Ringwood, fairy man :" He wagg'd his tail, cour'd near, and lick'd my han': I clap'd his head, which eas'd a wee his pain ; But foon 's I gade away, he yowl'd again. Poor kindly beaft ! Ah, firs, how fie mould be Mair tender-hearted mony a time than we ! SANDY. Laft ouk I dream'd my tup that bears the bell, And paths the fnaw, out o'er a high craig fell, And brak his leg. I ftarted frae my bed, Awak'd, and leugh. Ah ! now my dream its red. How dreigh 's our cares! our joys how foon away, Like fun-blinks on a cloudy winter's day ! Flow 1O RAMSAY'S POEMS. Flow faft:, ye tears, ye have free leave for me ; Dear fweet-tongu'd Matt ! thoufands fhall greet for thee. ROBERT. Thanks to my friends, for ilka briny tear, Ye fhed for him ; he to us a* was dear. Sandy, I 'm eas'd to fee thee look fae wan ; Richy, thy fighs befpeak the kindly man. RICHY. But twice the fummer's fun has thaw'd the fnaw, Since frae our heights Addie * was tane awa' : Faft Matt has follow'd. Of fie twa bereft, To fmooth our fauls, alake ! wha have we left? Waes me ! o'er fhort a tack of fie is given, But wha may contradict the will of Heaven ? Yet mony a year he hVd to hear the dale Sing o'er his fangs, and tell his merry tale. Laft year I had a ftately tall afh-tree, Braid were its branches, a fweet made to me ; I thought it might have flourifh'd on the brae, Tho' paft its prime, yet twenty years or fae : But * Secretary Addifon. PASTORAL. I I But ae rough night, the blatt'ring winds blew fnell, Torn frae its roots adown it fouchan fell ; Twin'd of its nourifliment it lifelefs lay, Mixing its wither'd leaves amang the clay. Sae flourifti'd Matt : but where 's the tongue can tell How fair he grew ? how much lamented fell ? SANDY. How fnackly cou'd he gi'e a fool reproof, E'en wr* a canty tale he 'd tell aff loof ? How did he warning to the dofen'd fing, By auld Purganty, and the Dutchman's ring ? And Lucky's filler ladle maws how aft Our greateft wimes are but vain and daft. The wad-be wits, he bad them a' but pap Their crazy heads into Tarn Tinman's map 5 There they wad fee a fquirrel wi' his bells Ay wreftling up, yet rifing like themfells. Thoufands of things he wittily could fay, With fancy ftrang, and faul as clear as day ; Smart were his tales ; but where J s the tongue can tell How blyth he was ? how much lamented fell ? RICHY, 12 RAMSAY'S POEMS. RICHY. And as he blythfome was, fae was he wife, Our laird himfell wa'd aft take his advice. E'en cheek for chew he 'd feat him 'mang them a% And tauk his mind 'bout kittle points of law. When clan Red-yards *, ye ken, wi* wicked feud, Had fkail'd of ours, but mair of his ain blood ; When I, and mony mae that were right croufe, Wad fain about his lugs have burnt his heufe : Yet lady Anne, a woman meek and kind, A fae to weirs, and of a peacefu' mind, Since mony in the fray had got their dead, To make the peace our friend was fent wi' fpeed. The very faes had for him juft regard, Tho' fair he jib'd their formaft fmging bard f. Careful was Matt : but where 's the tongue can tell How wife he was ? how much lamented fell ? SANDY. Wha cou'd like him, in a fhort fang, define The bonny lafs and her young lover's pine ? I'll * Lewis XIV. king of France. f Bofleau, whofe ode on the taking Namur by the French in 1692, he burlefqued, on its being retaken by the Englifli in 1695. PASTORAL. 13 I '11 ne'er forget that ane he made on May, Wha brang the poor blate Symie to his clay ; To gratify the paughty wench's pride, The filly fhepherd " bow'd, obey'd, and dy'd." Sic conftant laffes, as the Nit-brown Maid, Shall never want juft praifes duly paid ; Sic claim' d his fang, and ftill it was his care, With pleafmg words to guide and reefe the fair. How fweet his voice when beauty was in view ! Smooth ran his lines, ay grac'd wi' fomething new ; Nae word flood wrang : but where *s the tongue can tell How faft he fung ? how much lamented fell ? RICHY. And when he had a mind to be mair grave, A minifter nae better cou'd behave j Far out of fight of fie he aften flew, When he of haly wonders took a view : Well cou'd he praife the Power that made us a', And bids us in return but tent his law ; Wha guides us when we 're waking or afleep, With thoufand times mair care than we our fheep. While he of pleafure, power, and wifdom fang, My heart lap high, my lugs wi' pleafure rang : Thefe 14 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Thefe to repeat braid fpoken I wad fpill, Altho* I fhould employ my utmoft (kill. He tow'rd aboon : but ah ! what tongue can tell How high he flew ? how much lamented fell ? ROBERT* My bennifon, dear lads, light on ye baith* Wha ha'e fae true a feeling of our Ikaith : Sandy ! draw his likenefs in fmooth verfe* As well ye can ; then mepherds (hall rehearfe His merit, while the fun metes out the day, While ews mall bleet, and little lambkins mae. I 've been a fauter, now three days are paft, While I for grief have hardly broke my faft : Come to my fhiel, there let 's forget our care, 1 dinna want a routh of country fair, Sic as it is, ye'r welcome to a fkair : Befides, my lads, I have a browft of tip, As good as ever wam'd a (hepherd's lip ; We '11 take a fcour o't to put aff our pain, For a' our tears and fighs are but in vain : Come, help me up j yon footy cloud mores rain. PASTORAL. 15 1.7*1. KEITHA: AN ElEGY ON THE DEATH OF- MARY, THE COUNTESS Ot WIGTON. RINGAN. O'ER ilka thing a gen'ral fadnefs hings : The burds wi* melancholy droop their wings ; My fheep and kye neglecl: to moup their food, And feem to think as in a dumpifh mood. Hark! how the winds fouch mournfu* thro* the broom, The very lift puts on a heavy gloqm. My neighbour Colin too, he bears a part, His face fpeaks out the fairnefs of his heart ; Tell, tell me, Colin, for my boding thought, A bang of fears into my bread has brought. :-V/' COLIN. Where haft thou been, thou fimpleton, wha fpeers The caufe of a* our forrow and our tears ? Wha unconcern'd can hear the common fkaith The warld receives by lovely Keitha's death ? The l6 RAMSAY'S POEMS. The bonnieft fample of what 's good and kind, Fair was her make, and heav'nly was her mind : But now this fweeteft flower of a* our plain Leaves us to figh j tho' a* our fighs are vain, For never mair fhe '11 grace the heartfome green ; Ay heartfome, when fhe deign'd there to be feen. Speak, flow'ry meadows, where fhe us'd to wauk ; Speak, flocks and burds, wha 've heard her fmg or tauk ; Did ever you fae meikle beauty bear ? Or ye fo mony heav'nly accents hear ? Ye painted haughs, ye minftrels of the air, Lament, for lovely Keitha is nae mair. RINGAN. Ye weftlin winds, that gently us'd to play On her white breaft, and fleal fome fweets away, Whilft her delicious breath perfum'd your breeze, Which gratefu' Flora took to feed her bees ; Bear on your wings round earth her fpotlefs fame, Worthy that noble race from whence fhe came *. Refounding braes, where'er fhe us'd to lean, And view the cryftal burn glide o'er the green, Return * She was daughter to the late Earl Marfhal, the third of that honourable rank of nobility. PASTORAL. 17 Return your echoes to our mournfu* fang, And let the dreams in murmurs bear J t alang. Ye unkend pow'rs wha water haunt or air, Lament, for lovely Keitha is nae mair. COLIN. Ah ! wha cou'd tell the beauties of her face ? Her mouth, that never op'd but wi* a grace ? Her een, which did with heav'nly fparkles low ? Her modeft cheek, flufh'd with a rofie glow ? Her fair brent brow, fmooth as th* unrunkled deep, When a' the winds are in their caves afleep f Her prefence, like a fi miner's morning ray, Lightened our hearts, and gart ilk place look gay. Now twin'd of life, thefe charms look cauld and blae, And what before gave joy now makes us wae. Her goodnefs fhin'd in ilka pious deed, A fubjecl:, Ringan, for a lofty reed ; A (hepherd's fang maun fie high thoughts decline, Left ruftic notes mould darken what 's divine. Youth, beauty, graces, a* that 's good and fair, Lament ! for lovely Keitha is nae mair ! VOL. II. C RINGAN. 1 8 RAMSAY'S POEMS. RINGAN. How tenderly fhe fmooth'd our mafter's mind, When round his manly waift her arms me twin'd, And look'd a thoufand faft things to his heart, While native fweetnefs fought nae help frae art. To him her merit flill appear'd mair bright, As yielding fhe own'd his fuperior right. Baith faft and found he flept within her arms, Gay were his dreams, the influence of her charms. Soon as the morning dawn'd he *d draw the fcreen, And watch the op'ning of her fairer een, Whence fweeteft rays guflit out in fie a thrang, Beyond expreflion in my rural fang. COLIN. O Clementina ! fprouting fair remains Of her wha was the glory of the plains ; Dear innocence, with infant darknefs blift, Which hides the happinefs that thou haft mift, May a* thy mither's fweets thy portion be, And a* thy mither's graces mine in thee. RINGAN. PASTORAL. 19 R1NGAN. She loot us ne'er gae hungry to the hill, And a' fhe ga'e, (he geed it wi* good will ; Fow mony, mony a ane will mind that day, On which frae us fhe J s tane fae foon away ; Baith hynds and herds whafe cheeks befpake nae fcant, And throu' the howms could whittle, fmg, and rant, Will mifs her fair till happily they find Anither in her place fae good and kind. The lafles wha did at her graces mint, Ha'e by her death their bonnieft pattern tint. O ! ilka ane who 2 BACCHUS. 36 RAMSAY'S POEMS. BACCHUS. Ha ! Gany, come, my dainty boy, Skink *t up, and let us prieve ; Without it life wad be a toy : Here, gi'e me *t in my nive. [Takes the glafs.] Good health to Hamilton, and his Lov'd mate : O, father Jove ! we crave Thou J lt grant them a lang tack of blifs, And rowth of bonny bairns and brave : Pour on them, frae thy endlefs ftore, A J bennifons that are divine, With as good will as I waught o'er This flowing glafs of heav'nly wine. [Drinks, and caufes all the company to drink round.] Come, fee 't about ; and fyne let 's all advance, Mortals and gods be pairs, and tak a dance : Minerva mim, for a* your mortal floor, Ye mail with billy Bacchus fit the floor. Play up there, laflie, fome blyth Scottim tune, Syne a' be blyth, when wine and wit gae round. [The PASTORAL. 37 [The health about, mufic and dancing begin. The dancing over, before her Grace retires with the ladies to be undreffed, CALLIOPE fings the] EPITHALAMIUM. Bright is the low of lawfu' love, Which fliining fauls impart, It to perfe&ion mounts above, And glows about the heart : It is the flame gives lading worth, To greatnefs, beauty, wealth, and birth. On you, illuftrious youthfu' pair, Who are high heaven's delight and care, The blifsfu* beam darts warm and fair, And mail improve the reft Of a* thefe gifts baith great and rare Of which ye are pofleft. Bacchus, bear off your dinfome gang, Hark ! frae yon howms the rural thrang Invite you now away j While ilka hynd, And maiden kind, Dance in a ring, While fhepherds fmg In honour of the day : Gae drink and dance 'Till morn advance, D 3 And 3** RAMSAY'S POEMS. And fet the twinkling fires ; While we prepare To lead the fair And brave to their defires. Gae, Loves and Graces, take your place, Around the nuptial bed abide ; Fair Venus heighten each embrace, And fmoothly make their minutes flide. Gae, Hymen, put the couch in cafe j Minerva, thither lead the Bride ; Neift, all attend his youthfu* Grace, And lay him fweetly by her fide. e ir. .' G PASTORAL. 39 ' A PASTORAL EPITHALAMIUM GEORGE LORD RAMSAY AND 1ADY JIAN MAULE. ; HAIL to the brave apparent chief, Boaft of the Ramfays* clanifh name, Whafe anceftors flood the relief Of Scotland, ages known to fame. Hail to the lovely me, whofe charms, Complete in graces, meet his love ; Adorn'd with all that greatnefs warms, And makes him grateful bow to Jove. Both from the line of patriots rife, Chiefs of Dalhoufie and Panmure, Whofe loyal fames mail ftains defpife, While ocean flows, and orbs endure. . The Ramfays ! Caledonia's prop ; The Maules ! ftruck ftill her foes with dread j Now join'd, we from the union hope A race of heroes (hall fucceed. D 4 Let 40 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Let meaner fouls tranfgrefs the rules, That 's fix'd by honour, love, and truth ; While little views proclaim them fools, Unworthy beauty, fenfe, and youth : Whilft you, bleft pair, belov'd by all The powers above, and bled below j Shall have delights attend your call, And lafting pleafures on you flow. What fate has fix'd, and love has done, The guardians of mankind approve : Well may they finifh what 's begun, And from your joys all cares remove. We wifh'd when ftraight a heavenly voice Infpir'd we heard the blue-ey'd maid Cry, " Who dare quarrel with the choice ? 66 The choice is mine, be mine their aid." Be thine their aid, O wifeft power ! And foon again we hope to fee Their plains return, fplendid their tower, And blofibm broad the Edgewell tree *. Whilft * See note, yol. i. p. 329. PASTORAL. 41 Whilft he with manly merits ftor'd, Shall rife the glory of his clan ; She for celeftial fweets ador'd, Shall ever charm the gracefu* man. Soon may their royal bird * extend His fable plumes, and lordfliips claim, Which to his valiant fires pertain'd, Ere earls in Albion were a name. Ye parents of the happy pair, With gen'rous fmiles confenting, own That they deferve your kindeft care : Thus, with the gods, their pleafure crown. Hafle, ev'ry Grace, each Love, and Smile, From fragrant Cyprus fpread the wing j To deck their couch, exhauft your ifle Of all the beauties of the fpring. On them attend with homage due, In him are Mars and Phcebus feen ; And in the noble nymph you '11 view The fage Minerva and your Queen. * The fpread eagle fable, or a field argent, in the arms of the earl of Dalhoufie. 42 RAMSAY'S POEMS. BETTY AND KATE : A PASTORAL FAREWELL TO MR. AIKMAK, WHEN HE WENT FOR LONDON. BETTY. DEAR Katie, Willy J s e'en away ! Willy, of herds the wale, To feed his flock, and make his hay, Upon a diftant dale. Far to the fouthward of this height Where now we dowie ftray, Ay heartfome when he cheer'd our fight, And leugh with us a* day. KATE. O Willy ! can dale dainties pleafe Thee mair than moorland ream ? Does Ifis flow with fweeter eafe Than Fortha's gentle ftream ? Or takes thou rather mair delyt In the ftrae-hatted maid, Than in the blooming red and whyt Of her that wears the plaid ? BETTY. PASTORAL. 43 ' . BETTY. Na, Kate, for that we needna mourn, He is not giv'n to change ; But fauls of fie a fhining turn, For honour like to range : Our laird, and a* the gentry round, Wha mauna be faid nay, Sic pleafure in his art have found, They winna let him flay. Blyth I have flood frae morn to een, To fee how true and weel He cou'd delyt us on the green With a piece cawk and keel ; On a flid ftane, or fmoother Hate, He can the pi&ure draw Of you or me, or fheep or gait, The likeft e'er ye faw. Lafs, think na fhame to eafe your mind, I fee ye 're like to greet : Let gae thefe tears, 'tis juftly kind, For fhepherd fae complete. KATE Far, far, o'er far frae Spey and Clyde, Stands that great town of Lud, To whilk our beft lads rin and ride, That 's like to put us wood j For 44 RAMSAY'S POEMS. For findle times they e'er come back, Wha anes are heftit there : Sure, Befs, their hills are nae fae black, Nor yet their howins fae bare. BETTY. Our rigs are rich, and green our heights, And well our cares reward ; But yield, nae doubt, far lefs delights, In abfence of our laird : But we maun cawmly now fubmit, And our ill luck lament, And leave 't to his ain fenfe and wit, To find his heart's content. A thoufand gates he had to win The love of auld and young, Did a' he did with little din, And in nae deed was dung. KATE. William and Mary never fail'd To welcome with a fmile, And hearten us, when aught we ail'd, Without defigning guile. Lang may fhe happily poffefs, Wha *s in his breaft infeft, And may their bonny bairns increafe, And a* with rowth be left. O, William ! PASTORAL. 45 O, William ! win your laurels faft, And fyne we '11 a* be fain, Soon as your wand'ring days are paft, And you 're return'd again. BETTY. Revive her joys by your return, To whom you firft gave pain ; Judge how her paflions for you burn, By thefe you bear your ain. Sae may your kirn with fatnefs flow, And a' your kye be fleek ; And may your hearts with gladnefs glow, In finding what ye feek. THE GENTLE SHEPHERD: A, PASTORAL COMEDT. 1725. DEDICATION SUS4NN4 COUNTESS OF EGLINTOUN. MADAM, 1 H E love of approbation, and a defire to pleafe the bett, have ever encouraged the poets to finifh their defigns with cheer- fulnefs. But, confcious of their own inability to oppofe a ftorm of fpleen and haughty ill-nature, it is generally an ingenious cuftom among them to chufe fome honourable (hade. Wherefore I beg leave to put my Paftoral under your Lady- fhip's prote&ion. If my Patronefs fays the fhepherds fpeak as they ought, and that there are feveral natural flowers that beautify the rural wild, I (hall have good reafon to think my- felf fafe from the awkward cenfure of fome pretending judges that condemn before examination. I am fure of vafl numbers that will crowd into your Lady- ftiip's opinion, and think it their honour to agree in their Yen- timents with the Countefs of Eglintoun, whofe penetration, fuperior wit, and found judgment, mine with an uncommon VOL. H. E luftre, 5 DEDICATION. luftre, while accompanied with the diviner charms of goodnefs and equality of mind. If it were not for offending only your Ladyfhip, here, Madam, I might give the fulleft liberty to my mufe to delineate the fineft of women, by drawing your Ladyfhip's chara&er, and be in no hazard of being deemed a flatterer, fince flattery lies not in paying what is due to merit, but in praifes mif- placed. Were I to begin with your Ladyfhip's honourable birth and alliance, the field is ample, and prefents us with numberlefs great and good patriots, that have dignified the names of Ken- nedy and Montgomery : be that the care of the herald and hiftorian : it is perfonal merit, and the heavenly fweetnefs of the fair, that infpire the tuneful lays. Here every Lefbia muft be excepted, whofe tongues give liberty to the flaves, which their eyes had made captives ; fuch may be flattered ; but your Ladyfhip juflly claims our admiration and profoundeft rcfpeft ; for whilft you are poflefled of every outward charm in the moft perfect degree, the never-fading beauties of wifdom and piety, which adorn your Ladyfhip's mind, command devotion. ". All this is very true," cries one of better fenfe than good- nature, " but what occafion have you to tell us the fun mines, *' when we have the ufe of our eyes, and feel his influence ?" Very true ; but I have the liberty to ufe the poet's privilege, which is, " to fpeak what every body thinks." Indeed there might be fome ftrength in the refle&ion, if the Idalian regifters were of as fhort duration as life ; but the bard who fondly hopes for immortality, has a certain praife-worthy pleafure in communicating to pofterity the fame of diflinguifhed characters. I write this laft fentence with a hand, that trembles between hope DEDICATION. 5 1 hope and fear : but if I mall prove fo happy as to pleafe your Ladyfliip in the following attempt, then all my doubts mail vanim like a morning vapour : I (hall hope to be claffed with Taflb, and Guarini, and fing with Ovid, " If 'tis allow'd to poets to divine, " One half of round eternity is mine." MADAM, Your Ladyfhip's Moit obedient and moft devoted fervant, . ALLAN RAMSAY. EDINBURGH, oyth June 1725- . 2 52 RAMSAY'S POEMS. TO THE COUNTESS OF EGLINTOUN, WITH TH FOLLOWING PASTORAL*. ACCEPT, O Eglintoun, the rural lays, That, bound to thee, thy poet humbly pays : The mufe that oft has rais'd her tuneful ftrains, A frequent gueft on Scotia's blifsful plains ; That oft has fung, her lift'ning youth to move, The charms of beauty, and the force of love ; Once more refumes the ftill fuccefsful lay, Delighted thro' the verdant meads to ftray. O ! come, invok'd, and pleas'd, with her repair To breathe the balmy fweets of purer air j In the cool evening negligently laid, Or near the ftream, or in the rural made, Propitious hear, and as thou hear'ft, approve The Gentle Shepherd's tender tale of love. Inftructed from thefe fcenes, what glowing fires Inflame the bread that real love infpires ! The fair fhal} read of ardours, fighs, and tears, All that a lover hopes, and all he fears : Hence * This addrefs was written by William Hamilton of Ban- gour, an elegant and original poetj and a moft accoraplifhed and amiable man. PASTORAL 53 Hence too, what paflions in his bofom rife ! What dawning gladnefs fparkles in his eyes ! When fir ft the fair-one, piteous of his fate, Cur'd of her fcorn, and vanquifh'd of her hate, With willing mind is bounteous to relent, And, bluming beauteous, fmiles the kind confent. Love's paflion here in each extreme is (hewn, In Charlotte's fmile, or in Maria's frown. With words like thefe, that fail'd not to engage, Love courted beauty in a golden age ; Pure and untaught, fuch nature firft infpir'd, Ere yet the fair affected phrafe defir'd. His fecret thoughts were undifguis'd with art, His words ne'er knew to differ from his heart : He fpeaks his love fo artlefs and fmcere, As thy Eliza might be pleas'd to hear. Heaven only to the rural ftate beftows Conqueft o'er life, and freedom from its woes j Secure alike from envy and from care, Nor rais'd by hope, nor yet deprefs'd by fear : Nor want's lean hand its happinefs conftrains, Nor riches torture with ill-gotten gains. No fecret guilt its ftedfaft peace deftroys, No wild ambition interrupts its joys : Bleft ftill to fpend the hours that heav'n has lent, In humble goodnefs, and in calm content : E 3 Serenely 54 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Serenely gentle, as the thoughts that roll, Sinlefs and pure, in fair Humeia's foul. But now the rural ftate thefe joys has loft ; Even fwains no more that innocence can boaft : Love fpeaks no more what beauty may believe, Prone to betray, and pradis'd to deceive. Now happinefs forfakes her bleft retreat, The peaceful dwellings where me fix'd her feat ; The pleafmg fields me wont of old to grace, Companion to an upright fober race. When on the funny hill, or verdant plain, Free and familiar with the fons of men, To crown the pleafures of the blamelefs feaft, She uninvited came a welcome gueft ; Ere yet an age, grown rich in impious arts, Brib'd from their innocence incautious hearts. Then grudging hate, and finful pride fucceed, Cruel revenge, and falfe unrighteous deed ; Then dow'rlefs beauty loft the power to move, The ruft of lucre ftain'd the gold of love ; Bounteous no more and hofpitably good, The genial hearth firft blufli'd with ftrangers* blood : The friend no more upon the friend relies, And femblant falfehood puts on truth's difguife : The peaceful houfehold fill'd with dire alarms ; The ravifh'd virgin mourns her flighted charms ; The PASTORAL. 55 The voice of impious mirth is heard around, In guilt they feaft, in guilt the bowl is crown'd : Unpunifh'd violence lords it o'er the plains, And happinefs forfakes the guilty fwains. O Happinefs ! from human race retir'd, Where art thou to be found, by all defir'd ? Nun, fober and devout ! why art thou fled, To hide in fhades thy meek contented head ? Virgin of afpecl: mild ! ah why, unkind, Fly'ft thou, difpleas'd, the commerce of mankind ? O ! teach our fteps to find the fecret cell, Where, with thy fire Content, thou lov'ft to dwell, Or fay, doft thou, a duteous handmaid, wait Familiar at the chambers of the great ? Doft thou purfue the voice of them that call To noify revel and to midnight ball ? Or the full banquet, when we feaft our foul, Doft thou infpire the mirth, or mix the bowl ? Or, with th' induftrious planter doft thou talk, Converfing freely in an evening walk ? Say, does the mifer e'er thy face behold, Watchful and ftudious of the treafur'd gold ? Seeks , knowledge not in vain thy much-lov'd pow'r, Still mufing filent at the morning hour ? May we thy prefence hope in war's alarms, In Stairs's wifdom, or in Erlkine's charms ? E 4 In 56 RAMSAY'S POEMS. In vain our flatt'ring hopes our fteps beguile, The flying good eludes the fearcher's toil : In vain we feek the city or the cell, Alone with Virtue knows the power to dwell : Nor need mankind defpair thofe joys to know, The gift themfelves may on themfelves beflow : Soon, foon we might the precious bleffing boaft, But many paflions muft the bleffing cofl ; Infernal malice, inly pining hate, And envy grieving at another's ftate ; Revenge no more muft in our hearts remain, Or burning luft, or avarice of gain. When thefe are in the human bofom nurft, Can peace refide in dwellings fo accurft ? Unlike, O Eglintoun ! thy happy breaft, Galm and ferene enjoys the heavenly gueft ; From the tumultuous rule of paffions freed, Pure in thy thought, and fpotlefs in thy deed : In virtues rich, in goodnefs unconfin'd, Thou fhin'ft a fair example to thy kind : Sincere and equal to thy neighbour's name, How fwift to praife ! how guiltlefs to defame ! Bold in thy prefence baihfulnefs appears, And backward merit lofes all its fears : Supremely bleft by heav'n, heav'n's richeft grace Confeft is thine, an early blooming race, Whofe pleafing fmiles mall guardian wifdom arm, Divine inftruction ! taught of thee to charm j What PASTORAL. 57 What tranfports {hall they to thy foul impart, (The confcious tranfports of a parent's heart,) When thou behold'ft them of each grace pofleft^ And fighing youths imploring to be bleft : After thy image form'd, with charms like thine, Or in the vifit or the dance to mine ! Thrice happy who fucceed their mother's praife, The lovely Eglintouns of other days. Meanwhile, perufe the following tender fcenes, And liften to thy native poet's (trains : In ancient garb the home-bred mufe appears, The garb our mufes wore in former years. As in a glafs reflected, here behold How fmiling goodnefs look'd in days of old : Nor blufh to read where beauty's praife is fhewn, Or virtuous love, the likenefs of thy own ; While 'midft the various gifts that gracious heaven To thee, in whom it is well pleas'd, has given, Let this, O Eglintoun ! delight thee moft, T' enjoy that innocence the world has loft. W. H. ' - i 5 8 RAMSAY'S POEMS. TO JOSIAH BURCHET, SECRETARY OF THE ADMIRATY, WITH THE FIRST SCENE OF THE GENTLE SHEPHERD*. THE nipping frofts, and driving fna, Are o'er the hills and far awa ; Bauld Boreas fleeps, the Zephyrs blaw, And ilka thing Sae dainty, youthfou', gay, and bra,' Invites to fmg. Then let 's begin by creek of day, Kind mufe fkiff to the bent away, To * The eclogue, intitled " Patie and Roger," which now forms the firft fcene of the " Gentle Shepherd," was publifhed feveral years before the author compofed the paftoral comedy of that name. It was from obferving the talents difplayed in that eclogue, and a fequel to it, intitled " Jenny and Meggy," likewife feparately published, that his friends advifed him to attempt a complete drama in the paftoral ftyle. PASTORAL. 59 To try anes mair the landart lay, With a' thy fpeed, Since Burchet awns that thou can play Upon the reed. Anes, anes again beneath fome tree Exert thy fkill and nat'ral glee, To him wha has fae courteoufly, To weaker fight, Set thefe rude fonnets * fung by me In trueft light. In trueft light may a' that 's fine In his fair character ftill mine, Sma* need he has of fangs like mine, To beet his name ; For frae the north to fouthern line, Wide gangs his fame. His fame, which ever mall abide, Whilft hift'ries tell of tyrants' pride, Wha 1 * Having done me the honour of turning fome of my paf- toral poems into Englifh, juftly and elegantly. 60 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Wha vainly (have upon the tide T' invade thefe lands, Where Britain's royal fleet doth ride, Which ftill commands. Thefe doughty actions frae his pen f, Our age, and thefe to come, mail ken, How ftubborn navies did contend Upon the waves, How free-born Britons fought like men. Their faes like flaves. Sae far infcribing, Sir, to you, This country fang, my fancy flew, Keen your juft merit to purfue ; But ah ! I fear, In giving praifes that are due, I grate your ear. Yet, tent a poet's zealous prayer ; May powers aboon with kindly care, Grant you a lang and muckle ikair Of a' that 's good, 'Till unto langeft life and mair You 've healthfu' flood. May f His valuable Naval Hiitory. PASTORAL. 6l May never care your bleflings four, And may the mufes, ilka hour, Improve your mind, and haunt your bow'r ! I'm but a callan ; Yet, may I pleafe you, while I J m your Devoted ALLAN. - , . THE PERSONS. SIR WILLIAM WORTHY. PATIE, the Gentle Shepherd, in love with Peggy. ROGER, a rich young Shepherd, in love with Jenny. SYMON, I two O id Shepherds, tenants to Sir William. GLAUD, 3 BAULDY, a hynd, engaged with Neps. PEGGY, thought to be Glaud's niece. JENNY, Glaud's only daughter. MAUSE, an old woman fuppofed to be a witch. ELSPA, Symon's wife. MADGE, Glaud's fitter. SCENE A (hepherd's village and fields fome few miles from Edinburgh. TIME OF ACTION Within twenty-four hours. Firft Aft begins at eight in the morning. Second Aft begins at eleven in the forenoon. Third Aft begins at four in the afternoon, Fourth Aft begins at nine o'clock at night. Fifth Aft begins by day-light next morning. THE GENTLE SHEPHERD, ACT I. SCENE I. PROLOGUE TO THE SCENE. Beneath the fouth fide of a craigy bield, Where cryftal fprings the halefome waters yield, Twa youthfu' fliepherds on the gowans lay, Tenting their flocks ae bonny morn of May. Poor Roger granes, till hollow echoes ring ; But blyther Patie likes to laugh and fing. PATIE and ROGER. SANG I. Tune " The wauking of the faulds." PATIE. MY Peggy is a young thing, Juft enter'd in her teens, Fair as the day, and fweet as May, Fair as the day, and always gay : My 64 RAMSAY'S POEMS. My Peggy is a young thing, And I *m not very auld, Yet well I like to meet her at The wauking of the fauld. My Peggy fpeaks fae fweetly, Whene'er we meet alane, I wim nae wair to lay my care, I wifh nae mair of a* that 's rare, My Peggy fpeaks fae fweetly, To all the lave I 'm cauld ; But me gars a* my fpirits glow. At wauking of the fauld. My Peggy fmiles fae kindly, Whene'er I whifper love, That I look down on a' the town, That I look down upon a crown. My Peggy fmiles fae kindly, It makes me blyth and bauld ; And nathing gi'es me fie delight As wauking of the fauld. My Peggy fmgs fae faftly, When on my pipe I play, By a* the reft it is confeft, By a' the reft that (he fmgs beft. My PASTORAL. 65 My Peggy fings fae faftly, And in her fangs are tald, With innocence the wale of fenfe, At vvauking of the fauld. This funny morning, Roger, cheers my blood, And puts all nature in a jovial mood. How hartfom is *t to fee the rifmg plants, To hear the birds chirm o'er their pleafing rants ! How halefome is 't to fnuff the cawler air, And all the fweets it bears, when void of care ! What ails thee, Roger, then ? what gars thee grane ? Tell me the caufe of thy ill-feafon'd pain. ROGER. I 'm born, O Patie ! to a thrawart fate ; I 'm born to drive with hardfhips fad and great : Tempefts may ceafe to jaw the rowan flood, Corbies and tods to grien for lambkins' blood ; But I, oppreft with never-ending grief, Maun ay defpair of lighting on relief. PATIE. The bees mall loath the flow'r, and quit the hive, , V ; The faughs on boggie ground {hall ceafe to thrive, . VOL. n. F Ere 66 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Ere fcornfu* queans, or lofs of warldly gear, Shall fpill my reft, or ever force a tear. ROGER. Sae might I fay j but it 's no eafy done By ane whafe faul 's fae fadly out of tune. Ye have fae faft a voice, and flid a tongue, You are the darling baith of auld and young. If I but ettle at a fang, or fpeak, They dit their lugs, fyne up their leglens cleek, And jeer me hameward frae the loan or bught, While I'm confus'd with mony a vexing thought Yet I am tall and as well built as thee, Nor mair unlikely to a lafs's ee j For ilka fheep ye have I '11 number ten, And mould, as ane may think, come farther ben, PATIE. i But ablins ! nibour, ye have not a heart, And downa eithly wi' your cunzie part ; If that be true, what fignifies your gear ? A mind that 's fcrimpit never wants fome care. ROGER. My byar tumbled, nine braw nowt were fmoor'd, Three elf-mot were, yet I thefe ills endur'd : In PASTORAL. 67 In winter laft my cares were very fma' r Tho' fcores of wethers perifh'd in the fnaw. PATIE. Were your bien rooms as thinly ftock'd as mine, Lefs ye wad lofs, and lefs ye wad repine. He that has juft enough can foundly fleep ; The o'ercome only fames fowk to keep. ROGER. May plenty flow upon thee for a crofs, That thou may'ft thole the pangs of mony a lofs : may'ft thou doat on fome fair paughty wench, That ne'er will lout thy lowan drowth to quench : 'Till bris'd beneath the burden, thou cry dool ! And awn that ane may fret that is nae fool. PATIE. Sax good fat lambs, I fauld them ilka clute At the Weft Port, and bought a winfome flute, Of plum-tree made, with iv'ry virles round ; A dainty whiftle, with a pleafant found : 1 '11 be mair canty wi' 't, and ne'er cry dool ! Than you with all your cafh, ye dowie fool. F 2 ROGER. 68 RAMSAY'S POEMS. ROGER. Na, Patie, na ! I'm nae fie churlifh beaft ; Some other thing lies heavier at my breaft : I dream'd a dreary dream this hinder night, That gars my flefti a* creep yet with the fright. PATIE. Now, to a friend, how filly 's this pretence, To ane wha you and a* your fecrets kens : Daft are your dreams, as daftly wad ye hide Your well-feen love, and dorty Jenny's pride. Take courage, Roger, me your forrows tell, And fafely think nane kens them but yourfell. ROGER. Indeed now, Patie, ye have guefs'd o'er true And there is naithing I '11 keep up frae you. Me dorty Jenny looks upon afquint, To fpeak but till her I dare hardly mint : In ilka place me jeers me ear and late, And gars me look bombaz'd and unko blate. But yeflerday I met her yont a know, She fled as frae a melly-coated kow. She Bauldy looes, Bauldy that drives the car, But geeks at me, and fays I fmell of tar. PATIE. PASTORAL. 69 PATIE. But Bauldy looes not her ; right well I wat, He fighs for Neps : fae that may (land for that. ROGER. I wifh I cou'd na looe her ; but in vain, I ftill maun doat, and thole her proud difdain. My Bawty is a cur I dearly like, 'Till he yowl'd fair flie ftrak the poor dumb tyke : If I had fill'd a nook within her breaft, She wad have fhewn mair kindnefs to my beaft. When I begin to tune my ftock and horn, With a' her face me maws a caulrife fcorn. Laft night I play'd ; ye never heard lie fpite ; " O'er Bogie " was the fpring, and her delyte : Yet tauntingly (he at her coufm fpeer'd, Gif me could tell what tune I play'd, and fneer'd. Flocks, wander where ye like, I dinna care, I '11 break my reed, and never whittle mair. FATIE. E'en do fae, Roger, wha can help mifluck ? Saebins me be fie a thrawin gabbit chuck, Yonder 's a craig, fince ye have tint all hope, Gae till 't your ways, and take the lover's lowp. F 3 ROGER. 70 RAMSAY'S POEMS. ROGER. I needna mak fie fpeed my blood to fpill, I '11 warrant death come foon enough a- will. PATIE. Daft gowk ! leave aff that filly whingin way ; Seem carelefs, there 's my hand ye '11 win the day. Hear how I ferv'd my lafs I love as well As ye do Jenny, and with heart as leel. Laft morning I was gay and early out, Upon a dyke I lean'd, glowring about, I faw my Meg come linkan o'er the lee 5 I faw my Meg, but Peggy faw na me ; For yet the fun was wading thro' the mid, And me was clofe upon me e'er (he wift ; Her coats were kiltit, and did fweetly maw Her ftraight bare legs that whiter were than fnaw. Her cockernony fnooded up fou fleek, Her haffet locks hang waving on her cheek ; Her cheeks fae ruddy, and her een fae clear ; And O ! her mouth 's like ony hinny pear. Neat, neat me was, in buftine waiftcoat clean, As me came fkiffing o'er the dewy green : Blythfome I cry'd, " My bonny Meg, come here, " I ferly wherefore, ye 're fo foon afteer ? " But I can guefs, ye 're gawn to gather dew." She fcour'd away, and faid, " What 's that to you?" Then, PASTORAL. /I " Then, fare ye well, Meg-dorts, and e'en 's ye " like," I carelefs cry'd, and lap in o'er the dyke. I trow, when that fhe faw, within a crack, She came with a right thievelefs errand back : Mifcaw'd me firft ; then bad me hound my dog, To wear up three waff ewes ftray'd on the bog. I leugh ; and fae did fhe ; then with great hafte. I clafp'd my arms about her neck and waift ; About her yielding waift, and took a fouth Of fweeteft kifles frae her glowing mouth. While hard and faft I held her in my grips, My very faul came lowping to my lips. Sair, fair fhe flet wi' me 'tween ilka fmack, But weel I kend fhe meant nae as fhe fpak. Dear Roger, when your jo puts on her gloom, Do ye fae too, and never fafh your thumb. Seem to forfake her, foon fhe '11 change her mood; Gae woo anither, and fhe '11 gang clean wood. SANG II. Tune" Fye, gar rub her o'er with ftrae." Dear Roger, if your Jenny geek, And anfwer kindnefs with a flight, Seem unconcern* d at her negled, For women in a man delight : F 4 But 73 RAMSAY'S POEMS. But them defpife who 're foon defeat, And, with a fimple face, give way To a repulfe ; then be not blate, Pufh bauldly on, and win the day. When maidens, innocently young, Say often what they never mean, Ne'er mind their pretty lying tongue, But tent the language of their een : If thefe agree, and me perfift To anfwer all your love with hate, Seek elfewhere to be better bleft, And let her figh when 'tis too late. ROGER. Kind Patie, now fair fa your honeft heart, Ye 're fae cadgy, and have fie an art To hearten ane j for now, as clean 's a leek, Ye 've cherifh'd me fince ye began to fpeak. Sae, for your pains, I '11 mak ye a propine (My mother, reft her faul ! me made it fine) j A tartan plaid, fpun of good hawflock woo, Scarlet and green the fets, the borders blue : With fpraings like gowd and filler crofs'd with black ; I never had it yet upon my back. Weel are ye wordy o't, wha have fae kind Red up my revel'd doubts, and clear'd my mind. PATIE. PASTORAL. 73 PATIE. Weel, had ye there ; and fmce ye* ve frankly made To me a prefent of your braw new plaid, My flute 's be yours, and me too that 's fae nice, Shall come a-will, gif ye '11 take my advice. ROGER. As ye advife, I '11 promife to obferve 't ; But ye maun keep the flute, ye beft deferv 't : Now tak it out and gie 's a bonny fpring, For I 'm in tift to hear you play and fmg. * PATIE. But firft we J ll take a turn up to the height, And fee gif all our flocks be feeding right ; Be that time bannocks and a fheeve of cheefe Will make a breakfaft that a laird might pleafe ; Might pleafe the daintieft gabs, were they fae wife To feafon meat with health, inftead of fpice. When we have tane the grace drink at this well, I '11 whiftle fyne, and fmg t* ye like myfell. [Exeunt. 74 RAMSAY'S POEMS. SCENE II. A flowrie howm between twa verdant braes, Where lafles ufe to wafh and fpread their claiths, A troting burnie wimpling throw the ground, Its channel peebles fhining fmooth and round : Here view twa barefobt.beauties clean and clear ; Firft pleafe your eye, then gratify your ear; While Jenny what (he wifhes difcommends, And Meg with better fenfe true loTe defends. PEGGY and JENNY. JENNY. Come, Meg, let *s fa to wark upon this green, This fhining day will bleach our linen clean ; The water *s clear, the lift unclouded blew, Will make them like a lily wet with dew. PEGGY. Gae farer up the burn to Habbie's How, Where a* that 's fweet in fpring and fimmer grow: Between twa birks out o*er a little lin, The water fa's, and makes a fingand din : A pool breaft-deep, beneath as clear as glafs, Kiffes with eafy whirles the bord'ring grafs. We PASTORAL. 75 We '11 end our wafhing while the morning 's cool, And when the day grows het we '11 to the pool, There wafh ourfells ; 'tis healthfu' now in May, And fweetly cauler on fae warm a day. JENNY. Daft laffie, when we 're naked, what '11 ye fay, Giff our twa herds come brattling down the brae, And fee us fae ? that jeering fellow, Pate, Wad taunting fay, " Haith, lafies, ye 're no blate." PEGGY. We 're far frae ony road, and out of fight ; The lads they 're feeding far beyont the hight j But tell me now, dear Jenny, we 're our lane, What gars ye plague your wooer with difdain ? The neighbours a' tent this as well as I ; That Roger loo 's ye, yet ye care na by. What ails ye at him ? Troth, between us twa, He 's wordy you the beft day e'er ye faw. JENNY. I dinna like him, Peggy, there 's an end ; A herd mair iheepifh yet I never kend. He kames his hair, indeed, and gaes right fnug, With ribbon-knots at his blue bonnet lug j Whilk 76 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Whilk penfylie he wears a thought a-jee, And fpreads his garters dic'd beneath his knee. He falds his owrelay down his bread with care, And few gangs trigger to the kirk or fair ; For a* that, he can neither fmg nor fay, Except, " How d' ye ?" or, " There 's a bonny " day." PEGGY. Ye dam the lad with conftant flighting pride, Hatred for love is unco fair to bide : But ye '11 repent ye, if his love grow cauld, Wha likes a dorty maiden when fhe 's auld ? Like dawted wean that tarries at its meat, That for fome fecklefs whim will orp and greet : The lave laugh at it till the dinner 's paft, And fyne the fool thing is oblig'd to faft, Or fcart anither's leavings at the laft. Fy, Jenny, think, and dinna fit your time. SANG III. Tune " Polwart on the green." The dorty will repent, If lover's heart grow cauld, And nane her fmiles will tent, Soon as her face looks auld. The PASTORAL. 77 The dawted bairn thus takes the pet, Nor eats tho' hunger crave, ^Whimpers and tarrows at its meat, And 's laught at by the lave. They jeft it till the dinner's paft, Thus by itfelf abus'd, The fool thing is oblig'd to faft, Or eat what they 've refused. JENNY. I never thought a fingle life a crime. PEGGY. Nor I : but love in whifpers lets us ken, That men were made for us, and we for men. JENNY. If Roger is my jo, he kens himfell, For fie a tale I never heard him tell. He glowrs and fighs, and I can guefs the caufe : But wha 's oblig'd to fpell his hums and haws ? Whene'er he likes to tell his mind mair plain, Ffe tell him frankly ne'er to do 't again. They 're fools that flav'ry like, and may be free j The chiels may a' knit up themfelves for me. PEGGY. 78 RAMSAY'S POEMS. PEGGY. Be doing your ways : for me, I have a mind To be as yielding as my Patie 's kind. JENNY. Heh ! lafs, how can ye loo that rattle-fkull ? A very deel, that ay maun have his will. We foon will hear what a poor feightan life You twa will lead, fae foon 's ye 're man and wife, PEGGY. I '11 rin the rifk ; nor have I ony fear, But rather think ilk langfome day a year, 'Till I with pleafure mount my bridal-bed, Where on my Patie's breaft I '11 lay my head. There he may kifs as lang as kitting 's good, And what we do there 's nane dare call it rude. He 's get his will j why no ? 'tis good my part To give him that, and he '11 give me his heart. JENNY. He may indeed for ten or fifteen days Mak meikle o' ye, with an unco fraife, And daut ye baith afore fowk and your lane : But foon as your newfanglenefs is gane, He PASTORAL. 79 He 'II look upon you as his tether-ftake, And think he 's tint his freedom for your fake. Inftead then of lang days of fweet dely te, Ae day be dumb, and a' the neift he '11 flyte : And may be, in his barlichoods, ne'er flick To lend his loving wife a loundering lick. SANG IV. Tune" O dear mother, what fhall I do ?' O dear Peggy, love 's beguiling, We ought not to truft his fmiling j Better far to do as I do, Left a harder luck betide you. Lafies, when their fancy 's carried, Think of nought but to be marry'd ; Running to a life deftroys Heartfome, free, and youthfu' joys. PEGGY. Sic coarfe-fpun thoughts as that want pith to move My fettl'd mind ; I 'm o'er fare gane in love. Patie to me is dearer than my breath, But want of him I dread nae other fkaith. There 's nane of a' the herds that tread the green Has fie a fmile, or fie twa glancing een. And then he fpeaks with fie a taking art, His words they thirle like mufic thro' my heart. How 80 RAMSAY'S POEMS. How blythly can he fport, and gently rave, And jeft at little fears that fright the lave. Ilk day that he 's alane upon the hill, He reads feii books that teach him meikle (kill ; He is but what need I fay that or this, I 'd fpend a month to tell you what he is ! In a* he fays or does there 's fie a gate, The reft feem coofs, compar'd with my dear Patej His better fenfe will lang his love fecure : Ill-nature hefts in fauls are weak and poor. SANG V. Tune " How can I be fad on my wedding-day ?" How mall I be fad when a hufband I hae, That has better fenfe than ony of thae ; Sour, weak, filly fellows, that ftudy, like fools, To fink their ain joy, and make their wives fnools. The man who is prudent ne'er lightlies his wife, Or with dull reproaches encourages ftrife, He praifes her virtue, and ne'er will abufe Her for a fmall failing, but find an excufe. JENNY. Hey, " bonny lafs of Brankfome 1" or 't be lang, Your witty Pate will put you in a fang. O 'tis a pleafant thing to be a bride ! Syne whindging gets about your ingle-fide, Yelping PASTORAL. 8 I Yelping for this or that with fafheous din : To make them brats then ye man toil and fpin. Ae wean fa's fick, an fcads itfelf wi* brue, Ane breaks his fhin, anither tines his fhoe : The " Deel gaes o'er John Wabfter :" hame grows hell, When Pate mifcaws ye war than tongue can tell. PEGGY. Yes, it 's a heartfome thing to be a wife, When round the ingle-edge young fprouts are rife. Gif I J m fae happy, I mall have delight To hear their little plaints, and keep them right. Wow, Jenny ! can there greater pleafure be, Than fee fie wee tots toolying at your knee ; When a' they ettle at, their greateft wifh, Is to be made of, and obtain a kifs ? Can there be toil in tenting day and night The like of them, when love makes care delight ? JENNY. But poortith, Peggy, is the warft of a', Gif o'er your heads ill chance mould begg'ry draw : There little love or canty cheer can come Frae duddy doublets, and a pantry toom. VOL. ii. G Your 82 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Your nowt may die ; the fpeat may bear away Frae aff the howms your dainty rucks of hay ; The thick-blawn wreaths of maw, or blafliy thows, May fmoor your wethers, and may rot your ews ; A dyvour buys your butter, woo, and cheefe, But or the day of payment breaks and flees ; With glooman brow the laird feeks in his rent, 'Tis no to gie, your merchant's to the bent ; His honour maunna want, he poinds your gear ; Syne driven frae houfe and hald, where will ye fleer ? Dear Meg, be wife, and lead a fingle life ; Troth, it *s nae mows to be a married wife. PEGGY. May fie ill luck befa' that filly fhe, Wha has fie fears, for that was never me. Let fowk bode weel, and ftrive to do their beft ; Nae mair 's requir'd let heaven make out the reft. I *ve heard my honeft uncle aften fay, That lads mould a* for wives that J s vertuous pray; For the maift thrifty man could never get A well-ftor'd room, unlefs his wife wad let : Wherefore nocht mail be wanting on my part To gather wealth to raife my fhepherd's heart. Whatever he wins I *11 guide with canny care, And win the vogue at market, tron, or fair, For healfome, clean, cheap, and fufficient ware. A flock PASTORAL. 3 A flock of lambs, cheefe, butter, and fome woo, Shall firft be fald to pay the laird his due j Syne a' behind 's our ain. Thus without fear, With love and rowth we throw the warld will fteer; And when my Pate in bairns and geer grows rife, He '11 blefs the day he gat me for his wife. JENNY. & But what if fome young giglit on the green, With dimpled cheeks, and twa bewitching een, Shou'd gar your Patie think his half-worn Meg, And her kend kifles, hardly worth a feg ? PEGGY. Nae mair of that : dear Jenny, to be free, There 's fome men conftanter in love than we : x Nor is the ferly great, when nature kind Has bleft them with folidity of mind ; They '11 reafon caumly, and with kindnefs fmile, When our fhort paflions wad our peace beguile : Sae, whenfoe'er they flight their maiks at hame, 'Tis ten to ane their wives are maift to blame. Then I J ll employ with pleafure a* my art To keep him cheerfu', and fecure his heart. At ev'n, when he comes weary frae the hill, I '11 have a' things made ready to his will : G 2 In 84 RAMSAY'S POEMS. In winter, when he toils thro' wind and rain, A bleezing ingle, and a clean hearth-ftane ; And foon as he flings by his plaid and ftaff, The feething pot 's be ready to take aff ; Clean hag-abag I '11 fpread upon his board, And ferve him with the beft we can afford : Good-humour and white bigonets mail be Guards to my face, to keep his love for me. JENNY. A difh of married love right foon grows cauld, And dozins down to nane, as fowk grow auld. PEGGY. But we '11 grow auld together, and ne'er find The lofs of youth, when love grows on the mind. Bairns and their bairns make fure a firmer tye, Than aught in love the like of us can fpy. See yon twa elms that grow up fide by fide, Suppofe them fome years fyne bridegroom and bride ; Nearer and nearer ilka year they 5 ve preft, Till wide their fpreading branches are increas'd, And in their mixture now are fully bleft : This fiiields the other frae the eaftlin blaft ; That in return defends it frae the weft. Sic PASTORAL. 85 Sic as ftand fmgle, (a ftate fae lik'd by you,) Beneath ilk florin frae every airt man bow. JENNY. I 've done. I yield, dear laffie, I man yield, Your better fenfe has fairly won the field, With the afliftance of a little fae Lies dern'd within my breaft this mony a day. SANG VI. Tune " Nanfy 's to the green-wood gane." I yield, dear laflie, you have won, And there is nae denying, That fure as light flows frae the fun, Frae love proceeds complying j For a' that we can do or fay 'Gainft love, nae thinker heeds us j They ken our bbfoms lodge the fae, That by the heartftrings leads us. PEGGY. Alake, poor pris'ner ! Jenny, that 's no fair, That ye '11 no let the wie thing take the air : Hafte, let him out j we'll tent as well 's we can, Gif he be Bauldy's, or poor Roger's man. G 3 JENNY. 86 RAMSAY'S POEMS. JENNY. Anither time 's as good ; for fee the fun Is right far up, and we /re not yet begun To freath the graith: if canker'd Madge, our aunt, Come up the burn, (he '11 gie us a wicked rant : But when we *ve done, I 3 ll tell you a* my mind ; For this feems true nae lafs can be unkind. [Exeunt, PASTORAL. 87 ACT II. SCENE I. A fnug thack houfe ; before the door a green ; Hens on the midding, ducks in dubs are feen : On this fide (rands a barn, on that a byre : A peet ftack joins, and forms a rural fquare. The houfe is Claud's. There you may fee him lean, And to his divet feat invite his frien. GLAUD and SYMON. GLAUD. GOOD morrow, nibour Symon : come, fit down, And gie 's your cracks. What 's a' the news in town? They tell me ye was in the ither day, And fauld your Crummock, and her bafiand quey. I '11 warrant ye 've coft a pund of cut and dry : Lug out your box, and gie 's a pipe to try. SYMON. With a* my heart : and tent me now, auld boy, I *ve gathered news will kittle your mind with joy. 04 I cou'dna 88 RAMSAY'S POEMS. I cou'dna reft till I came o'er the burn, To tell ye things have taken fie a turn Will gar our vile oppreffors ftend like flaes, And fkulk in hidlings on the hether braes. GLAUD. Fy blaw! -Ah! Symie, rattling chiels ne'er ftand To deck, and fpread the groffeft lies aff-hand ; Whilk foon flies round like wild-fire far and near ; But loofe your ppke, be 9 t true or faufe let 's hear. SYMON, Seeing 's believing, Glaud ; and I have feen. Hab, that abroad has with our mafter been ; Our brave good mafter, wha right wifely fled, And left a fair eftate to fave his head, Becaufe, ye ken fou well, he bravely chofe To mine or fet in glory with Montrofe. Now Cromwell 's gane to Nick ? and ane ca'4 Monk Has play'd the Rumple a right flee begunk ; Reftor'd king Charles, and ilka thing 's in tune ; tlabby fays, we '11 fee Sir William foon. CLAUD. PASTORAL. GLAUD. That makes me blyth indeed ! but dinna flaw, Tell o'er your news again, and fwear till 't a*. And faw ye Hab ? and what did Halbert fay ? They have been e'en a dreary time away. Now God be thanked that our laird 5 s come hame ; And his eftate, fay, can he eithly claim ? SYMON. They that hag-rid us till our guts did grane, 3Like greedy bears, dare nae mair do 't again, And good Sir William fall enjoy his ain. SANG VII. Tune" Cauld Kail in Aberdeen." Cauld be the rebels caft, Oppreflbrs bafe and bloody, I hope we '11 fee them at the laft Strung a' up in a woody, Bleft be he of worth and fenfe, And ever high in ftation, That bravely ftands in the defence Of confcience, king, and nation. OLAUD, 90 RAMSAY'S POEMS. GLAUD. And may he lang, for never did he ftent Us in our thriving with a racket rent ; Nor grumbl'd if ane grew rich, or ihor'd to raife Our mailens when we put on Sunday's claiths. SYMON. i Nor wad he lang, with fenfelefs faucy air,- Allow our lyart noddles to be bare : " Put on your bonnet, Symon ; tak a feat : " How 's all at hame ? how 's Elfpa? how does " Kate? " How fells black cattle? what gi'es woo this " year?" And fie like kindly queftions wad he fpeer. SANG VIII. Tune" Mucking of Geordy's byre." The laird who in riches and honour Wad thrive, fhould be kindly and free, Nor rack the poor tenants who labour To rife aboon poverty ; Elfe, like the pack-horfe that 's unfother'd And burthen'd, will tumble down faint : Thus virtue by hardfhips are fmother'd, And rackers aft tine their rent. GLAUD. PASTORAL. 91 GLAUD. Then wad he gar his butler bring bedeen The nappy bottle ben, and glafies clean, Whilk in our bread rais'd fie a blythfome flame, As gart me mony a time gae dancing hame. My heart 's e'en rais'd ! Dear nibour, will ye flay, And tak your dinner here with me the day ? We '11 fend for Elfpith too ; and upo' fight I '11 whittle Pate and Roger frae the height. I '11 yoke my fled, and fend to the neid town, And bring a draught of ale baith ftout and brown; And gar our cottars a', man, wife, and wean, Drink 'till they tine the gate to ftand their lane. SYMON. I wadna bauk my friend his blyth defign, Gif that it hadna fird of a* been mine : For here-yeftreen I brew'd a bow of maut, Yeftreen I flew twa wethers prime and fat ; A furlet of good cakes my Eifpa beuk, And a large ham hangs reeding in the nook : I faw myfell, or I came o'er the loan, Our meikle pot, that fcads the whey, put on, A mutton bouk to boil, and ane we '11 road ; And on the haggles Elfpa fpares nae coft ; Small are they morn, and fhe can mix fou nice The gufty ingans with a cum of fpice ; Fat 92 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Fat are the puddings ; heads and feet well fung : And we 've invited nibours auld and young, To pafs this afternoon with glee and game, And drink our matter's health and welcome hame: Ye mauna then refufe to join the reft, Since ye 're my neareft friend that I like beft : Bring wi' ye all your family ; and then, Whene'er you pleafe, I '11 rant wi' you again. GLAUD. Spoke like ye'rfell, auld birky ; never fear But at your banquet I (hall firft appear : Faith, we mall bend the bicker, and look bauld, Till we forget that we are fail'd or auld ; Auld, faid I ! troth, I'm younger be a fcore, With this good news, than what I was before ; I '11 dance or een. Hey, Madge ! come forth, d' ye hear ? Enter MADGE. MADGE. The man *s gane gyte ! Dear Symon, welcome here. What wad ye, Glaud, with a* this hafte and din ? Ye never -let a body fit to fpin. GLAUD. PASTORAL. 93 GLAUD. Spin ! Snuff ! Gae break your wheel, and burn your tow, And fet the meikleft peet-ftack in a low ; Syne dance about the bane-fire till ye die, Since now again we '11 foon Sir William fee. MADGE. BIyth news indeed! And wha was 't tald you o't? GLAUD. / What 's that to you ? Gae get my Sunday's coat ; Wale out the whiteft of my bobit bands, My whyt fkin hofe, and mittans for my hands ; Then frae their warning cry the bairns in hafte, And mak ye'rfells as trig, head, feet, and waift, As ye were a* to get young lads or een ; For we 're gawn o'er to dine with Sym bedeen. SYMON. Do, honeft Madge: and, Glaud, I'll o'er the gate, And fee that a' be done as I wad hae 't. [Exeunt. 94 -RAMSAY'S POEMS. SCENE II. The open field. A cottage in a glen ; An auld wife fpinning at the funny end. At a fmall diftance, by a blafted tree, With falded arms and half-rais'd look, ye fee BAULDY his lane. What 's this ? I canna bear J t ! 'tis war than hell, To be fae burnt with love, yet darna tell ! Peggy ! fweeter than the dawning day, Sweeter than gowany glens or new-mawn hay ; Blyther than lambs that frilk out o'er the knows ; Straighter than aught that in the foreft grows : Her een the cleareft blob of dew out-fhines ; The lily in her bread its beauty tines ; Her legs, her arms, her cheeks, her mouth, her een, Will be my deid, that will be fhortly feen ! For Pate loo's her, (waes me!) and me loo's Patej And I with Neps, by fome unlucky fate, Made a daft vow. O ! but ane be a beaft, That makes rafh aiths till he *s afore the prieft. 1 darna fpeak my mind, elfe a' the three, But doubt, wad prove ilk ane my enemy. 'Tis PASTORAL. 95 J Tis fair to thole. I '11 try fome witchcraft art, To break with ane, and win the other's heart. Here Maufy lives, a witch that for fma' price Can caft her cantraips, and gi'e me advice : She can o'ercaft the night, and cloud the moon, And mak the deils obedient to her crune : At midnight hours, o'er the kirk-yard fhe raves, And howks unchriften'd weans out of their graves j Boils up their livers in a warlock's pow : Rins witherfhins about the hemlock low ; And feven times does her prayers backwards pray, Till Plotcock comes with lumps of Lapland clay, Mixt with the venom of black taids and fnakes : Of this unfonfy pictures aft me makes Of any ane me hates, and gars expire With flow and racking pains afore a fire, Stuck fou of pins ; the devilifh pictures melt ; The pain by fowk they reprefent is felt. And yonder 's Maufe : ay, ay, fhe kens fou weil, When ane like me comes rinning to the deil. She and her cat fit becking in her yard : To fpeak my errand, faith, amaift I 'm fear'd : But I maun do 't, tho' I mould never thrive : They gallop fafl that deils and laifes drive. [Exit. 96 RAMSAY'S POEMS. SCENE III. A green kail-yard ; a little fount, Where water poplin fprings ; There fits a wife with wrinkled front r And yet (he fpins and fings. MAUSE. SANG IX. Tune " Carle and the king come." Peggy, now the king 's come, Peggy, now the king's come, Thou may dance, and I mall ling, Peggy, fince the king 's come : Nae mair the haukeys malt thou milk, But change thy plaiding-coat for filk, And be a lady of that ilk, Now, Peggy, fince the king 's come. Enter BAULDY. BAULDY. How does auld honeft lucky of the glen ? Ye look baith hale and fair at threefcore-ten. MAUSE, PASTORAL. 97 MAUSE. E'en twining out a thread with little din, And becking my cauld limbs afore the fun. What brings my bairn this gate fae air at morn ? Is there nae muck to lead, to threfh nae com ? BAULDY. Enough of baith : but fomething that requires Your helping hand employs now all my cares. MAUSE. My helping hand ! alake, what can I do, That underneath baith eild and poortith bow ? BAULDY. Ay, but you 're wife, and wifer far than we, Or maift part of the parifh tells a lie. MAUSE. Of what kind wifdom think ye I 'm poffeft, That lifts my character aboon the reft ? VOL. II. H BAULDY. 98 RAMSAY'S POEMS, BAULDY. The word that gangs, how ye *re fae wife and fell, Ye Ml may be tak it ill gif I fou'd tell. MAUSE. What fowk fay of me, Bauldy, let me hear j Keep naithing up, ye naithing have to fear. BAULDY. Well, fince ye bid me, I mall tell ye a* That ilk ane talks about you, but a flaw. When laft the wind made Glaud a rooflefs barn ; When laft the burn bore down my mither's yarn ; When Brawny, elf-mot, never mair came hame j When Tibby kirn'd, and there nae butter came ; When Befiy Freetock's chuffy-cheeked wean To a fairy turn'd, and cou'dna fland its lane ; When Wattie wander'd ae night thro* the maw, And tint himfell amaift amang the fnaw ; When Mungo's mare flood ftill and fwat wi" fright, When he brought eaft the howdy under night ; When Bawfy mot to dead upon the green ; And Sara tint a mood was nae mair feen j You, PASTORAL. 99 You, Lucky, gat the wyte of a' fell out ; And ilka ane here dreads ye round about, And fae they may that mean to do ye fkaith : For me to wrang ye, I '11 be very laith ; But when I neift make groats, I '11 ftrive to pleafe You with a firlot of them mixt with peafe. MAUSE. I thank ye, lad: now tell me your demand, And, if I can, I '11 lend my helping hand. BAULDY. Then, I like Peggy ; Neps is fond of me ; Peggy likes Pate ; and Patie 's bauld and flee, And loo's fweet Meg j but Neps I downa fee. Cou'd ye turn Patie's love to Neps, and then Peggy's to me, I 'd be the happiefl man. MAUSE. I '11 try my art to gar the bowls row right ; Sae gang your ways and come again at night j 'Gainft that time I '11 fome fimple things prepare, Worth all your peafe and groats, tak ye na care. H 2 BAULDY. IOO RAMSAY'S POEMS. BAULDY. Well, Maufe, I '11 come, gif I the road can find: But if ye raife the de'il, he '11 raife the wind ; Syne rain and thunder, may be, when 'tis late, Will make the night fae mirk, I '11 tine the gate. We 're a' to rant in Symie's at a feaft, O ! will ye come like badrans for a jeft ? And there you can our different haviours fpy ; There 's nane mall ken o't there but you and I. MAUSE. 'Tis like I may : but let na on what 's paft 'Tween you and me, elfe fear a kittle caft. BAULDY. If I aught of your fecrets e'er advance, May ye ride on me ilka night to France. [Exit. MAUSE PASTORAL. IOI MAUSE her lane. This fool imagines, as do mony fie, That I 'm a witch in compact with Auld Nick, Becaufe by education I was taught To fpeak and aft aboon their common thought. Their grofs miftake fhall quickly now appear ; Soon mail they ken what brought, what keeps me here. Now fince the royal Charles, and right *s reftor'd, A fhepherdefs is daughter to a lord. The bonny foundling that 's brought up by Glaud, Wha has an uncle's care on her beftow'd, Her infant life 1 fav'd, when a falfe friend Bow'd to th j ufurper, and her death defign'd, To eftablifh him and his in all thefe plains That by right heritage to her pertains. She J s now in her fweet bloom, has blood and charms Of too much value for a fhepherd's arms : None know J t but me : and if the morn were. come, I '11 tell them tales will gar them all fing dumb. 102 RAMSAY'S POEMS, SCENE IV. Behind a tree upon the plain, Pate and his Peggy meet, In love without a vicious (lain, The bonny lafs and cheerfu' fwain Change vows and Rifles fweet. PATIE and PEGGY. PEGGY. O Patie ! let me gang ; I mauna flay ; We 're baith cry'd hame, and Jenny fhe 's away. PATIE. I 'm laith to part fae foon, now we 're alane, And Roger he 's away with Jenny gane : They 're as content, for aught I hear or fee, To be alane themfelves, I judge, as we. Here, where primrofes thickeft paint the green, Hard by this little burnie let us lean : Hark how the lav'rocks chant aboon our heads, How faft the weftlin winds fough through the reeds. PEGGY, PASTORAL. PEGGY. The fcented meadows, birds, and healthy breeze, For aught I ken, may mair than Peggy pleafe. PATIE. Ye wrang me fair, to doubt my being kind 5 In fpeaking fae, ye ca' me dull and blind, Gif I cou'd fancy aught 's fae fweet or fair As my fweet Meg, or worthy of rny care. Thy breath is fweeter than the fweeteft brier, Thy cheek and breaft the fined: flow'rs appear : Thy words excel the maift delightfu* notes That warble through the merle or mavis' throats ; With thee I tent nae flowers that bufk the field, Or ripeft berries that our mountains yield j The fweeteft fruits that hing upon the tree, Are far inferior to a kifs of thee. PEGGY. But Patrick for fome wicked end may fleech, And lambs mould tremble when the foxes preach. I darna ft ay j ye joker, let me gang, Or fwear ye '11 never 'tempt to do me wrang. H 4 PATIE. 104 RAMSAY'S POEMS. PATIE. Sooner a mother mall her fondnefs drap, And wrang the bairn fits fmiling on her lap ; The fun mall change, the moon to change mall ceafe ; The gaits to clim, the fheep to yield the fleece j Ere aught by me be either faid or doon, Shall do thee wrang. I fwear by all aboon. PEGGY. Then keep your aith. But mony lads will fwear, And be manfworn to twa in half a year. Now I believe ye like me wonder weel ; But if anither lafs your heart fhould fteal, Your Meg, forfaken, bootlefs might relate How (he was dauted anes by faithlefs Pate. PATIE. I 'm fure I canna change j ye needna fear, Tho* we 're but young, I 've loo'd ye mony a year : I mind it well, when thou could'ft hardly gang, Or lifp out words, I choos'd thee frae the thrang Of a* the bairns, and led thee by the hand, Aft to the tanfy know or rafliy ftrand j Thou PASTORAL. 105 Thou fmiling by my fide : I took delight To pou the rafties green, with roots fae white, Of which, as well as my young fancy cou'd, For thee I plet the flow'ry belt and fnood. PEGGY. When firil thou gade with fhepherds to the hill, And I to milk the ews firft try'd my (kill, To bear a leglen was nae toil to me, When at the bught at ev'n I met with thee. SANG X. Tune " Winter was cauld, and my clalthing was thin." PEGGY. When firft my dear laddie gade to the green hill, And I at ewe-milking firft fey'd my young {kill, To bear the milk bowie no pain was to me, When I at the bughting forgathered with thee. PATIE. When corn-riggs wav'd yellow, and blue hether- bells Bloom' d bonny on moorland and fweet rifing fells, Nae birns, brier, or breckens, gave trouble to me, If I found the berries right ripen'd for thee. PEGGY, 106 RAMSAY'S POEMS. PEGGY. When thou ran, or wreftled, or putted the flane, And came off the vi&or, my heart was ay fain ; Thy ilka fport manly gave pleafure to me ; For nane can putt, wreftle, or run fwift as thec. PATIE. Our Jenny fmgs faftly the " Cowden broom. " knows ;" And Rofie lilts fwiftly the " Milking the ews ;" There 's few " Jenny Nettles" like Nanfy can fmg ; At " Throw the wood, laddie," Befs gars our lugs ring: But when my dear Peggy fmgs, with better (kill, The " Boatman," " Tweed-fide," or the " Laf* " of the mill," J Tis mony times fweeter and pleafmg to me ; For tho* they fmg nicely, they cannot like thee. PEGGY. How eafy can lafles trow what they defire ! And praifes fae kindly increafes love's fire ; Give me ftill this pleafure, my ftudy mall be To make myfelf better and fweeter for thee. PATIE. PASTORAL. 107 PATIE. When corns grew yellow, and the hetherbells Bloom'd bonny on the moor and rifmg fells, Nae birns, or briers, or whins, e'er troubled me, Gif I could find blae-berries ripe for thee. PEGGY. When thou didft wreftle, run, or putt the ftane, And wan the day, my heart was flightering fain : At all thefe fports thou ftill gave joy to me, For nane can wreftle, run, or putt with thee. PATIE. Jenny fings faft the " Broom of Cowden- " knows j" And Rofie lilts the " Milking of the ews j" There 's nane like Nanfy " Jenny Nettles Tings;" At turns in " Maggy Lawder" Marion dings : But when my Peggy fings, with fweeter (kill, The " Boatman," or the " Lafs of Patie's mill," It is a thoufand times mair fweet to me j Tho* they fmg well, they canna fmg like thee. PEGGY. IO8 RAMSAY'S POEMS. % PEGGY. How eith can lafles trow what we defire ! And, rees'd by them we love, blaws up the fire : But wha loves beft let time and carriage try j Be conftant, and my love mail time defy : Be flill as now, and a* my care mail be, How to contrive what pleafant is for thee. PATIE. Wert thou a gigljt gawky like the lave, That little better than our nowt behave j At naught they J ll ferly, fenfelefs tales believe, Be blyth for filly hechts, for trifles grieve ; Sic ne'er cou'd win my heart, that kenna how Either to keep a prize, or yet prove true : But thou in better fenfe without a flaw, As in thy beauty, far excels them a*. Continue kind, and a* my care mail be How to contrive what pleafing is for thee. PEGGY. Agreed : but hearken, yon 5 s auld aunty's cry, I ken they '11 wonder what can make us flay. PATIE. PASTORAL. PATIE, And let them ferly. Now a kindly kifs, Or fivefcore good anes wad not be amifs ; And fyne we J ll fmg the fang with tunefu* glee, That I made up laft owk on you and me. PEGGY. Sing firft, fyne claim your hyre. PATIE. Well, I agree. SANG XL To its awn tune. By the delicious warmnefs of thy mouth, And rowing eye that fmiling tells the truth, I guefs, my laffie, that, as well as I, Ye 're made for love, and why mould ye deny ? PEGGY. But ken ye lad, gif we confefs o'er foon, Ye think us cheap, and fyne the wooing 's done : The maiden that o'er quickly tines her pow'r, Like unripe fruit will tafte but hard and four. PATIE, HO RAMSAY'S POEMS. PATIE. But gin they hing o'er lang upon the tree, Their fweetnefs they may tyne, and fay may ye ; Red-cheeked ye completely ripe appear, And I have thol'd and woo'd a lang half year. PEGGY (Falling into Patie's arms.) Then dinna pow me, gently thus I fa* Into my Patie's arms for good and a* : But flint your wifhes to this kind embrace, And mint nae farther till we 've got the grace. PATIE (With his left hand about her waift.) charming armfu' ! Hence ye cares away, 1 '11 kifs my treafure a j the live lang day ; All night I '11 dream my kiffes o'er again, Till that day come that ye 'il be a' my ain. BOTH. Sun, gallop down the weftlin fkies, Gang fooh to bed, and quickly rife ; O lafh your fteeds, poft time away, And hafte about our bridal-day j And if you 're weary 'd, honeft light, Sleep, gin ye like, a week that night. [Curtain falls while they kifs. PASTORAL. J I I ACT HI. SCENE I. Now turn your eyes beyond yon fpreading Jyme, And tent a man whafe beard feems bleach'd with time j Ane elwand fills his hand, his habit mean, Nae doubt ye '11 think he has a pedlar been: But whifht, it is the knight in mafquerade, That comes hid in this cloud to fee his lad. Obferve how pleas'd the loyal fufTrer moves Thro' his auld av'nues, anes delightfu' groves. SIR WILLIAM folus. THE gentleman thus hid in low difguife, I J ll for a fpace, unknown, delight mine eyes With a full view of ev'ry fertile plain, Which once I loft, which now are mine again. Yet, 'midft my joy, fome profpects pain renew, Whilft I my once fair feat in ruins view. Yonder, ah me ! it defolately flands, Without a roof, the gates fall'n from their bands ; The cafements all broke down, no chimney left, The naked walls of tapeftry all bereft. My 112 RAMSAY'S POEMS. My (tables and pavilions, broken walls, That with each rainy blafl decaying falls : My gardens once adorn'd the moft complete, With all that nature, all that art makes fweet ; Where round the figur'd green and pebble walks, The dewy flow'rs hung nodding on their ftalks ; But overgrown with nettles, docks, and brier, No hyacinths or eglantines appear. Here fail'd and broke 's the rifing ample made, Where peach and necVrine trees their branches fpread, Bafking in rays, and early did produce Fruit fair to view, delightful to the ufe. All round in gaps the walls in ruin lye, And from what (lands the withered branches fly. Thefe foon (hall be repair'd : and now my joy Forbids all grief, when I 'm to fee my boy, My only prop, and object of my care, Since heav'n too foon call'd home his mother fair : Him, ere the rays of reafon clear* d his thought, I fecretly to faithful Symon brought, And charg'd him ftridly to conceal his birth, Till we mould fee what changing times brought forth. Hid from himfelf, he darts up by the dawn, And ranges carelefs o'er the height and lawn, After his fleecy charge ferenely gay, With other fhepherds whittling o'er the day. Thrice PASTORAL. 113 Thrice happy life ! that J s from ambition free, Remov'd from crowns, and courts, how cheerfully, A calm, contented mortal fpends his time, In health, his foul unftain'd with crime ! SANG XII. Tune " Happy Clown." Hid from himfelf, now by the dawn He flarts as frefh as rofes blawn, And ranges o'er the heights and lawn, After his bleating flocks. Healthful, and innocently gay, He chaunts and whittles out the day ; Untaught to fmile and then betray, Like courtly weathercocks. Life happy, from ambition free, Envy, and vile hypocrify, When truth and love with joy agree, Unfully'd with a crime: Unmov'd with what difturbs the great, In propping of their pride and ftate, He lives, and, unafraid of fate, Contented fpends his time. Now tow'rds good Symon's houfe I'll bend my way, And fee what makes yon gamboling to-day j All on the green in a fair wanton ring, My youthful tenants gaily dance and fing. [Exk. VOL. II. I IT4 RAMSAY'S POEMS. SCENE II. PROLOGUE. 'Tis Symon's houfe, pleafe to ftep in, And vily 't round and round ; There 's nought fuperfluous to give pain, Or coftly to be found : i Yet, all is clean ; a clear peat ingle Glances amidft the floor : The green horn-fpoons, beech higgles mingle, On (keifs forgainft the door. While the young brood {port on the green, The auld anes thit>k it beft With the brown cow to clear their een, Snuff, crack, and take their reft. SYMON, GLAUD, and ELSPA. V GLAUD. We anes were young ourfells. I like to fee The bairns bob round with other merrylie. Troth, Symon, Patie 's grown a ftrapan lad, And better looks than his I never bade ; Amang our lads he bears the gree awa', And tells his tale the clev'reft of them a*. ELSPA. .r Poor man ! he 's a great comfort to us baith ; God make him good, and hide him ay frae &aith j He PASTORAL. He is a bairn, I '11 fay 't, well worth our care, That gae us ne'er vexation late or air. GLAUD. I trow, good wife, if I be not miflane, He feems to be with Peggy's beauty tane, And troth my niece is a right dainty wean, As ye well ken ; a bonnyer needna be, Nor better, be 't fhe were nae kin to me. , SYMON. Ha, Glaud, I doubt that ne'er will be a match, My Patie 's wild, and will be ill to catch j And or he were, for reafons I '11 not tell, I 'd rather be mixt with the mools myfell. GLAUD. What reafons can ye have ? there 's nane, I *m fure, Unlefs ye may caft up that fhe 's but poor : But gif the laffie marry to my mind, I '11 be to her as my ain Jenny kind : Fourfcore of breeding ewes of my ain birn, Five kye that at ae milking fills a kirn, I '11 gie to Peggy that day fhe 's a bride j By and attour, if my good luck abide, i 2 Ten, Il6 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Ten lambs at fpaining time as lang 's I live, And twa quey cawfs I J ll yearly to them give. ELSPA. Ye offer fair, kind Glaud, but dinna fpeer What may be is not fit ye yet fhould hear. SYMON. Or this day eight days likely he mall learn, That our denial difna flight his bairn. GLAUD. We J ll nae mair o't: come, gi's the other bend, We '11 drink their healths, whatever way it end. [Their healths gae round. J SYMON. But Will ye tell me, - Glaud ? by fome 'd^ faid, Your niece is but a fundling, that was laid Down at your hallon-fide ae morn in May, Right clean row'd up, and bedded on dry hay. GLAUD. PASTORAL. 1 17 CLAUD. That clattern Madge, my titty, tells fie flaws, Whene'er our Meg her cankart humour gaws. Enter JENNY. O father, there 's an auld man on the green, The felleft fortune-teller e'er was feen ; He tents our loofs, and fyne whops out a book, Turns owre the leaves, and gies our brows a look ; Syne tells the oddeft tales that e'er ye heard. His head is grey, and lang and grey his beard, SYMON. Gae bring him in, we '11 hear what he can fay, Nane mail gang hungry by my houfe to-day. [Exit JENNY. But for his telling fortunes, troth, I fear He kens nae mair of that than my grey mare. GLAUD. Spae-men ! the truth of a' their faws I doubt, For greater liars never ran thereout. 1 3 Re-enter jjg RAMSAY'S POEMS. Re-enter JENNY, bringing in SIR WILLIAM ; PATIE following. SYMON. Ye 're welcome, honeft carle : here tak a feat. SIR WILLIAM. I give thee thanks, good man, Ife no be blat* GLAUD (Drinks). Come, t j ye, friend. How far came ye the day ? SIR WILLIAM. . I pledge ye, nibour. E'en but little way : Roufted with eild, a wie piece gate feems lang ; Twa miles or three 's the maift that I do gang. SYMON. Ye 're welcome here to ftay all night with me, And tak fie bed and board as we can gi'e. SIR PASTORAL. SIR WILLIAM. That *s kind unfought. Well, gin ye have a bairn That ye like well, and wad his fortune learn, I fhall employ the fartheft of my Ikill To fpae it faithfully, be 't good or ill. SYMON (Pointing to PATIE). Only that lad. Alack! I have nae mae, Either to make me joyful now or wae. Young man, let J s fee your hand. What gars ye fneer ? PATIE. Becaufe your fkill *s but little worth, I fear. SIR WILLIAM. J Ye cut before the point : but, billy, bide, I '11 wager there 's a moufe-mark on your fide. 1 4 ELSPA, 12O RAMSAY'S POEMS. ELSPA, Betootch-us-to ! and well I wat that *s true : Awa ! awa ! the deel 's owre girt wi' you. Four inch aneath his oxter is the mark, Scarce ever feen fmce he firft wore a fark. SIR WILLIAM, I '11 tell ye meir : if this young lad be fpair'd But a fliort while, he '11 be a braw rich laird. ELSPA. A laird! Hear ye, goodman,what think ye now? SYMON. I dinna ken. Strange auld man, what art thou ? Fair fa* your heart, 'tis good to bode of wealth, Come, turn the timmer to laird Patie's health. [PATIE'S health gaes round.] PATIE. A laird of twa good whittles and a kent, Twa curs, my trufty tenants on the bent, Is PASTORAL. 121 Is all my great eftate, and like to be ; Sae, cunning carle, ne'er break your jokes on me. SYMON. Whifht, Patie, let the man look ow'r your hand; Aftymes as broken a mip has come to land. [Sia WILLIAM looks a little at PATIE'S hand, then counterfeits falling into a trance. While they endea- vour to lay hina right :] ELSPA. Preferve 's ! the man J s a warlock, or poffeft With fome nae good, or fecond-fight at leaft. Where is he now ? GLAUD. He 's feeing a' that 's done In ilka place beneath or yont the moon. ELSPA. Thefe fecond-fighted fowks (his peace be here !) See things far aff, and things to come, as clear, As I can fee my thumb. Wow ! can he tell (Speer at him foon as he comes to himfell) How 122 ', RAMSAY'S POEMS. How foon we '11 fee Sir William ? Whifht, he heaves, And fpeaks out broken words like ane that raves. SYMON. He '11 foon grow better. Elfpa, hafte ye, gae And fill him up a tafs of ufquebae. SIR WILLIAM. (Starts up and fpeaks). A knight that for a lion fought Againft a herd of bears, Was to lang toil and trouble brought, In which fome thoufands mares : But now again the lion rares, And joy fpreads o'er the plain ; The lion has defeat the bears, The knight returns again. The knight in a few days mall bring A fhepherd frae the fauld, And mail prefent him to the king, A fubjecl: true and bauld ; He Mr. Patrick mall be call'd :~ All you that hear me now May well believe what I have tald, For it mail happen true. SYMON. RASTORAL. 123 SYMON. Friend, may your fpaeing happen Foon and well: But, faith, I 'm redd you 've bargained with th deel, , To tell fome tales that fowks wad fecret keep j Or do you get them tald you in your fleep ? SIR WILLIAM. Howe'er I get them never fafh your beard j Nor come I to redd fortunes for reward : But I '11 lay ten to ane with ony here, That all I prophefy mail foon appear. SYMON. You prophefying fowks are odd kind men ! They 're here that ken, and here that difna ken The wimpled meaning of your unko tale, Whilk foon will mak a noife o'er moor and dale. . GLAUD. 'Tis nae fma* fport to hear how Sym believes, And taks 't for gofpel what the fpae-man gives Of flawing fortunes, whilk he evens to Pate ; But what we wifli we trow at ony rate. SIR 124 RAMSAY'S POEMS. SIR WILLIAM. Whifht, doubtfu* carle ; for ere the fun Has driven twice down to the fea, What I have faid ye fhall fee done In part, or nae mair credit me. GLAUD. Well, be J t fae, friend ; I .fliall fay nathing mair : But I Ve twa fonfy lafies, young and fair, Plump, ripe for men : I wifli ye cou'd forefee Sic fortunes for them might bring joy to me. SIR WILLIAM. Nae mair thro j fecrets can I fift, Till darknefs black the bent j I have but anes a day that gift, Sae reft a while content. SYMON. Elfpa, caft on the claith, fetch butt fome meat, And of your beft gar this auld ftranger eat. SIR PASTORAL. 125 SIR WILLIAM. Delay a while your hofpitable care ; I 'd rather enjoy this evening calm and fair, Around yon ruin'd tower to fetch a walk, With you, kind friend, to have fome private talk. SYMON. Soon as you pleafe I '11 anfwer your defire I- And, Glaud, you '11 tak your pipe befide the fire : We '11 but gae round the place, and foon be back, Syne fup together, and tak our pint and crack. GLAUD. I '11 out a fpace, and fee the young anes play ; My heart 's ftill light, albeit my locks be grey. ^Exeunt. . , J25 RAMSAY'S POEMS. SCENE III. PROLOGUE. Jenny pretends an errand hame, Young Roger draps the reft, To whifper out his melting flame, And thow his laffie's breaft. Behind a bufli well hid frae fight they meet: See Jenny 's laughing ; Roger's like to greet. Poor fhepherd ! ROGER and JENNY ROGER. Dear Jenny, I wad fpeak t' ye, wad ye let ; And yet I ergh, ye 'r ay fae fcornfu' fet. JENNY. And what wad Roger fay, if he cou'd fpeak ? Am I oblig'd to guefs what ye 'r to feek ? ROGER. Yes, ye may guefs right eith for what I grein, Baith by my fervice, fighs, and langing een : And I maun out wi't, tho* I rifk your fcorn, Ye 're never frae my thoughts baith ev'n and morn. Ah! PASTORAL. 127 Ah ! cou'd I loo ye lefs, I 'd happy be ; But happier far, cou'd ye but fancy me. JENNY. t And wha kens, honeft lad, but that I may ? Ye canna fay that e'er I faid ye nay. ROGER. Alake ! my frighted heart begins to fail, Whene'er I mint to tell ye out my tale, For fear fo me tighter lad, mair rich than I, Has win your love, and near your heart may lie. JENNY. I loo my father, coufm Meg I love ; But to this day nae man my heart cou'd move : Except my kin, ilk lad 's alyke to me, And frae ye a' I beft had keep me free. ROGER. How lang, dear Jenny ? fayna that again ; What pleafure can ye tak in giving pain ? I 'in glad however that ye yet ftand free ; Wha kens but ye may rue, and pity me ? JENNY. X28 RAMSAY'S POEMS. JENNY. Ye have my pity elfe, to fee you fet On that whilk makes our fweetnefs fooii forget : Wow ! but we 're bonny, good, and every thing ! How fweet we breathe whene'er we kifs or fmg ! But we 're nae fooner fools to give confent, Than we our daffin and tint power repent : When prifon'd in four waws, a wife right tame, Altho' the firft, the greatefl drudge at hame. ROGER. That only happens, when for fake of gear Ane wales a wife, as he wad buy a mare : Or when dull parents bairns together bind Of different tempers, that can ne'er prove kind : But love, true downright love, engages me (Tho* thou mould fcorn) dill to delight in thee. JENNY. What fugar'd words frae wooers lips can fa' ! But girning marriage comes and ends them a'. I 've feen with mining fair the morning rife, And foon the fleety clouds mirk a' the Ikies ; I 've feen the filver fpring a while rin clear, And foon in mofly puddles difappear j The PASTORAL. 129 The bridegroom may rejoice, the bride may fmile, But foon contentions a* their joys beguile. ROGER. I *ve feen the morning rife with faireft light, The day unclouded fink in calmeft night : I *ve feen the fpring rin wimpling throw the plain, Increafe and join the ocean without ftain ; The bridegroom may be blyth, the bride may fmile, Rejoice throw life, and all your fears beguile. SANG XIII. Tune" Leith Wynd." JENNY. Were I affur'd you '11 conftant prove, You mould nae mair complain ; The eafy maid, befet with love, Few words will quickly gain : For I muft own now, fmce you 're free, This too fond heart of mine Has lang, a black-fole true to thee, Wifh'd to be pair'd with thine. VOL. II. K ROGER. 130 RAMSAY'S POEMS. ROGER. I 'm happy now ; ah ! let my head Upon thy breaft recline : The pleafure ftrikes me near-hand dead ;- Is Jenny then fae kind ? O let me briz thee to my heart, And round my arms entwine : Delytfu' thought ! we '11 never part : Come, prefs thy mouth to mine. JENNY. Were I but fure ye lang wou'd love maintain, The feweft words my eafy heart cou'd gain ; For I man own, fmce now at laft you 're free, Altho' I jok'd, I lov'd your company ; And ever had a warmnefs in my breaft, That made ye dearer to me than the reft. ROGER. I 'm happy now! o'er happy! had my head! This gufti of pleafure 's like to be my deid. Come to my arms ! or ftrike me ! I 'm all fir'd With wond'ring love ! let 's kifs till we be tir'd : Kifs, PASTORAL. 131 Kifs, kifs ; we '11 kifs the fun and ftarns away, And ferly at the quick return of day. O Jenny ! let my arms about thee twine, And briz thy bonny breads and lips to mine. [They embrace. ' JENNY. With equal joy my fafter heart does yield, To own thy well-try'd love has won the field. Now by thefe warmeft kifies thou haft tane, Swear thus to love me when by vows made ane. ROGER. I fwear by fifty thoufand yet to come, Or may the firft ane ftrike me deaf and dumb, There mall not be a kindlier dawted wife, If you agree with me to lead your life. JENNY. Well, I agree : neift to my parent gae, Get his confent, he '11 hardly fay ye nae ; Ye have what will commend ye to him well, Auld fowks like them that want na milk and meal. K2 SANG 132 RAMSAY'S POEMS. SANG XIV. Tune" O'er Bogie." JENNY. Well, I agree, ye 're Cure of me ; Next to my father gae ; Make him content to give confent ; He '11 hardly fay ye nae : For ye have what he wad be at, And will commend you weel, Since parents auld think love grows cauld, Where bairns want milk and meal. Should he deny, I care na by, He 'd contradict in vain : Tho' a* my kin had faid and fworn, But thee I will have nane. Then never range, nor learn to change, Like thefe in high degree ; And if you faithful prove in love, You 'II find nae fault in me. ROGER. My faulds contain twice fifteen farrow nowt ; As mony newcal in my byers rowt ; Five pack of woo I can at Lammas fell, Shorn frae my bob-tail'd bleeters on the fell : Good PASTORAL. 133 Good twenty pair of blankets for our bed, With meikle care my thrifty mither made : Ilk thing that makes a hartfome houfe and tight, Was ftill her care, my father's great delight. They left me all, which now gi'es joy to me, Becaufe I can give a', my dear, to thee : And had I fifty times as meikle mair, Nane but my Jenny fhou'd the famen fkair : My love and all is yours ; now had them faft, And guide them as ye like to gar them laft. JENNY. I '11 do my beft : but fee wha gangs this way, Patie and Meg : befides, I mana flay : Let 's (leal frae ither now, and meet the morn j If we be feen, we '11 dree a deal of fcorn. ROGER. To where the faugh-tree fhades the menin pool, I J ll frae the hill come down when day grows cool : Keep tryft, and meet me there : there let us meet, To kifs and tell our loves j there J s nought fae fweet. [Exeunt. K 3 RAMSAY'S POEMS. SCENE IV. The fcene prefents the knight and Sym, Within a gallery of the place, Where all looks ruinous and grim; Nor has the baron fhewn his face ; But joking with his (hepherd leel, Aft fpeers the gate he kens fu' weeL SIR WILLIAM and SYMON. SIR WILLIAM. To whom belongs this houfe fo much decayed ? SYMON. To ane that loft it, lending gen'rous aid To bear the head up, when rebellious tail, Againfl the laws of nature, did prevail. Sir William Worthy is our matter's name, Wha fills us all with joy, now he 's come hame. Sir William draps his mafking beard : Symon, tranfported, fees The welcome knight, with fond regard, And grafps him round the knees. My mafter! my dear mafter ! do I breathe, To fee him healthy, ftrong, and free frae fkaith, Returned PASTORAL. 135 Returned to cheer his wifliing tenants' fight ; To blefs his fon, my charge, the world's delight ? SIR WILLIAM. Rife, faithful Symon, in my arms enjoy A place thy due, kind guardian of my boy. I came to view thy care in this difguife, And am confirm'd thy conduct has been wife j Since ftill the fecret thou 'ft fecurely feal'd, And ne'er to him his real birth reveal'd. 1 SYMON. The due obedience to your ftrict command Was the firft lock j neift my ain judgment fand Out reafons plenty ; fmce, without eftate, A youth, tho' fprung frae kings, looks baugh and blate. SIR WILLIAM. And aften vain and idly fpend their time, Till grown unfit for action, paft their prime, Hang on their friends ; which gi'es their fauls a caft, That turns them downright beggars at the laft. K 4 SYMON. RAMSAY'S POEMS. SYMON. Now well I wat, Sir, you have fpoken true ; For there 's laird Ky tie's fon, that 's loo'd by few; His father fteght his fortune in his wame, And left his heir nought but a gentle name. He gangs about fornan frae place to place, As fcrimpt of manners as of fenfe and grace j Opprefling a', as punifhment o* their fin, That are within his tenth degree of kin : Rins in ilk trader's debt wha 's fae unjuft To his ain family as to gi'e him truft. SIR WILLIAM. Such ufelefs branches of a commonwealth Should be lopt off, to give a (late mair health : Unworthy bare reflection. Symon, run O'er all your obfervations on my fon : A parent's fondnefs eafily finds excufe ; But do not with indulgence truth abufe. SYMON. To fpeak his praife, the langeft fimmer day Wad be owre fhort, could I them right difplay. In word and deed he can fae well behave, That out of fight he rins before the lave j And PASTORALt 137 And when there 's e'er a quarrel or conteft, Patrick 's made judge, to tell whafe caufe is beft ; And his decree ftands good he '11 gar it ftand ; Wha dares to grumble finds his correcting hand ; With a firm look, and a commanding way, He gars the proudeft of our herds obey. SIR WILLIAM. Your tale much pleafes : my good friend, proceed : What learning has he ? can he write and read ? SYMON. Baith wonder well ; for, troth, I didna fparc To gi'e him at the fchool enough of lear ; And he delights in books ; he reads and fpeaks, With fowks that ken them, Latin words and Greeks. SIR WILLIAM, Where gets he books to read, and of what kind ? Tho' fome give light, fome blindly lead the blind. ' SYMON, RAMSAY'S POEMS. SYMON. Whene'er he drives our iheep to Edinburgh Port, He buys fome books of hiftory, fangs, or fport : Nor does he want of them a rowth at will, And carries ay a poutchfu* to the hill. About ane Shakefpar and a famous Ben He aften fpeaks, and ca's them beft of men. How fweetly Hawthornden and Stirling fmg, And ane caw'd Cowley, loyal to his king, He kens fou well, and gars their verfes ring. I fometimes thought that he made o'er great fraze About fine poems, hiftories, and plays : When I reprov'd him anes, a book he brings ; " With this," quoth he, " on braes I crack with kings." SIR WILLIAM. He anfwer'd well ; and much ye glad my ear, When fuch accounts I of my fhepherd hear : Reading fuch books can raife a peafant's mind Above a lord's that is not thus inclin'd. SYMON. What ken we better, that fae findle look, Except on rainy Sundays, on a book ? When , PASTORAL. 139 When we a leaf or twa haf read, haf fpell, Till a* the reft fleep round as weel 's ourfell. SIR WILLIAM. Well jefted, Symon. But one queftion more I '11 only afk ye now, and then give o'er. The youth 's arriv'd the age when little loves Flighter around young hearts like cooing doves : Has nae young lafiie with inviting mien And rofy cheek, the wonder of the green, Engag'd his look, and caught his youthfu' heart ? . SYMON. I fear'd the warft, but ken'd the fmalleft part ; Till late I faw him twa three times mair fweet WithGlaud's fair niece thanl thought right or meet. I had my fears, but now have nought to fear, Since like youifelf your fon will foon appear ; A gentleman, enrich'd with all thefe charms, May blefs the faireft beft-born lady's arms. . SIR WILLIAM. This night muft end his unambitious fire, When higher views (hall greater thoughts infpire. Go, Symon, bring him quickly here to me ; None but yourfelf mail our firft meeting fee. Yonder I4O RAMSAY'S POEMS. Yonder 's my horfe and fervant nigh at hand ; They come juft at the time I gave command : Straight in my own apparel I '11 go drefs ; Now ye the fecret may to all confefs. SYMON. With how much joy I on this errand flee, There 's nane can know that is not downright me. [Exit. SIR WILLIAM folus. Whene'er th' event of hope's fuccefs appears, One happy hour cancels the toil of years : A thoufand toils are loft in Lethe's ftream, And cares evanifh like a morning dream ; When wifh'd-for pleafures rife like morning light, The pain that 's paft enhances the delight. Thefe joys I feel, that words can ill exprefs, I ne'er had known, without my late diftrefs. But from his ruftic bufmefs and love I muft in hade my Patrick foon remove To courts and camps that may his foul improve. Like the rough diamond, as it leaves the mine, Only in little breakings (hews its light, Till artful polifhing has made it fhine j Thus education makes the genius bright. SANG PASTORAL. I4i SANG XV. Tune " Wat ye wha I met yeftreen?" Now from rufticity and love, Whofe flames but over lowly burn, My gentle Ihepherd muft be drove, His foul muft take another turn : As the rough diamond from the mine, In breakings only mews its light, Till poliming has made it mine ; Thus learning makes the genius bright. [Exit. 142 RAMSAY'S POEMS. ACT IV. SCENE I. The fcene defcrib'd in former pag;e, Claud's onfet. Enter Mauie and Madge. MAUSE. OUR laird come hame ! and owns young Pate his heir ! That 's news indeed ! MADGE. As true as ye (land there. As they were dancing all in Symon's yard, Sir William, like a warlock, with a beard Five nives in length, and white as driven fnaw, Amang us came, cry'd, " Had ye merry a'." We ferly'd meikle at his unco look, While frae his poutch he whir I'd forth a book. As we flood round about him on the green, He view'd us a j , but fix'd on Pate his een : Then pawky lie pretended he could fpae, Yet for his pains and fkill wad naithing hae. MAUSE. PASTORAL. 143 MAUSE. Then fure the laffes, and ilk gaping coof, Wad rin about him, and had out their loof. MADGE. As faft as fleas (kip to the tate of woo, Whilk flee tod Lowrie hads without his mow, When he to drown them, and his hips to cool, In fummer days flides backward in a pool. In Ihort, he did for Pate braw things foretell, Without the help of conjuring or fpell. At laft, when well diverted, he withdrew, Pou'd off his beard to Symon. Symon knew His welcome mafter : round his knees he gat, Hang at his coat, and fyne for blythnefs grat. Patrick was fent for : happy lad is he ! Symon tald Elfpa Elfpa tald it me. Ye '11 hear out a* the fecret ftory foon : And troth 'tis e'en right odd, when a' is done, To think how Symon ne'er afore wad tell, Na, no fae meikle as to Pate himfell. Our Meg, poor thing, alake ! has loft her jo. MAUSE. It may be fa, wha kens, and may be no : To lift a love that 's rooted is great pain : E'en 144 RAMSAY'S POEMS. E'en kings have tane a queen out of the plain ; And what has been before may be again. MADGE. Sic nonfenfe ! love tak root, but tochergood, 'Tween a herd's bairn, and ane of gentle blood !- Sic fafhions in king Bruce's days might be, But liccan ferlies now we never fee. MAUSE. Gif Pate forfakes her, Bauldy me may gain : Yonder he comes ; and vow ! but he looks fain : Nae doubt he thinks that Peggy 's now his ain. MADGE. He get her ! flaverin doof ! it fets him well To yoke a plough where Patrick thought to teil ! Gif I were Meg, I 'd let young mafter fee MAUSE. Ye 'd be as dorty in your choice as he j And fo wad I : but whifht ! here Bauldy comes. Enter PASTORAL. 145 Enter BAULDY (Singing.) Jocky faid to Jenny, Jenny wilt thou do 't ? Ne'er a fit, quoth Jenny, for my tocher-good j For my tocher-good I winna marry thee i E'ens ye like, quoth Jocky, ye may let it be. j MADGE. Weel liltet, Bauldy, that 's a dainty fang. 3AULDY. I J ll gie ye 't a* 'tis better than 'tis lang. (Sings again.) I hae gowd and gear, I hae land eneugh, I have feven good owfen ganging in a pleiigh j Ganging in a pleugh, and linkan o'er the lee j And gin ye winna tak me, I can let ye be. I hae a good ha' houfe, a barn, and a byer, A peat-flack 'fore the door ; we '11 mak a rantin fire j I '11 mak a rantin fire, and merry fall we be : And gin ye winna tak me, I can let ye be. VOL. n. L Jenny 146 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Jenny faid to Jocky, gin ye winna tell, Ye fall be the lad, I J ll be the lafs myfell ; Ye 're a bonny lad, and I 'm a lame free ; Ye 're welcomer to tak me than to let me be. I trow fae : laffes will come to at laft, Tho' for a while they man their fnaw-baws cafl. MAUSE. Well, Bauldy, how gaes a* ? BAULDY. Faith, unco right ; I hope we '11 a* fleep found but ane this night. MADGE. And wha *s the unlucky ane, if we may a(k ? BAULDY. To find out that is nae difficult talk : Poor bonny Peggy, wha man think nae mair On Pate, turn'd Patrick, and Sir William's heir. Now, now, good Madge, and honefl Maufe, (land be; While Meg 's in dumps, put in a word for me : I'll PASTORAL. 147 I '11 be as kind as ever Pate could prove, Lefs wilfu', and ay conftant in my love. MADGE. As Neps can witnefs, and the bufliy thorn, Where mony a time to her your heart was fworn. Fy, Bauldy, blufli, and vows of love regard ; What other lafs will trow a manfworn herd ? The curfe of heaven hings ay aboon their heads, That 's ever guilty of fie fmfu' deeds. I '11 ne'er advife my niece fae grey a gate ; Nor will me be advis'd, fou well I wate. BAULDY. Sae grey a gate ! manfworn ! and a' the reft ! Ye lied, auld roudes ; and in faith had beft Eat in your words, elfe I mail gar you ftand, With a het face, afore the haly band. ' MADGE. Ye '11 gar me ftand ! ye fhevelling-gabbit brock; Speak that again, and trembling dread my rock, And ten fliarp nails, that when my hands are in, Can flyp the (kin o' y'er cheeks out o'er your chin. L 2 BAULDY. 148 RAMSAY'S POEMS. BAIJLDY. I take ye witnefs, Maufe, ye heard her fay That I *m manfworn : I winna let it gae. MADGE. Ye 're witnefs too, he ca'd me bonny names, And mould be ferv'd as his good-breeding claims : Ye filthy dog ! [Flees to his hair like a fury. A ftout battle. Maufe endeavours to redd them.] MAUSE. Let gang your grips : fye, Madge ! howt, Bauldy, leen : I widna wifli this tulzie had been feen, 'Tis fae daft like [Bauldy gets out of Madge's clutches with a bleeding nofe.] MADGE. 'Tis dafter like to thole An ether-cap like him, to blaw the coal. It fets him well, with vile unfcrapit tongue, To caft up whether I be auld or young 5 They PASTORAL. 149 They 're aulder yet than I have married been, And, or they died, their bairns bairns have feen. MAUSE. That J s true : and, Bauldy, ye was far to blame, To ca' Madge ought but her ain chriften'd name. .q oj tw BAULDY. My lugs, my nofe, and noddle finds the fame. MADGE. Auld roudes 1 filthy fellow, I (hall auld ye. '' i i^i.:"^ V :ai' MAUSE. Howt, no : ye '11 e'en be friends with honeft Bauldy. Come, come, make hands ; this man nae farder gae; Ye man forgi'e 'm : I fee the lad looks wae. BAULDY. In troth now, Maufe, I have at Madge nae fpite ; For fhe abufing firft, was a' the wyte L3 Of RAMSAY'S POEMS. Of what has happen'd, and mou'd therefore crave My pardon firft, and (hall acquittance have. MADGE. I crave your pardon, gallows-face! gae greet, And own your faut to her that ye wad cheat : Gae, or be blafled in your health and gear, Till ye learn to perform as well as fwear. Vow and lowp back! -was e'er the like heard tell? Swith tak him deel, he 's o'er lang out of hell. BAULDY. His prefence be about us ! curft were he That were condemn'd for life to live with thee. [Runs off. MADGE (Laughing.) I think I have towzled his harigalds a wee j He '11 no foon grein to tell his love to me. He 's but a rafcal that would mint to ferve A laffie fae, he does but ill deferve. MAUSE, PASTORAL. 15* MAUSE, Ye towin'd him tightly ; I commend ye for 't ; His bleeding fnout gae me nae little fport ; For this forenoon he had that fcant of grace, And breeding baith, to tell me to my face, He hop'd I was a witch, and wadna (land To lend him in this cafe my helping hand. MADGE. A witch ! how had ye patience this to bear, And leave him een to fee, or lugs to hear ? MAUSE. Auld wither'd hands and feeble joints like mine, Obliges fowk refentment to decline, Till aft 'tis feen, when vigour fails, that we With cunning can the lack of pith fupply : Thus I pat aff revenge till it was dark, Syne bade him come, and we mould gang to wark: I 'm fure he '11 keep his tryft ; and I came here To feek your help that we the fool may fear. MADGE. And fpecial fport we '11 hae, as I protefl j Ye '11 be the witch, and I fhall play the ghaifi. L 4 A linen 152 RAMSAY'S POEMS. A linen meet wound round me like ane dead, I '11 cawk my face, and grane, and make my head : We '11 fleg i;im fae, he '11 mint nae mair to gang A conjuring to do a laffie wrang. MAUSE. Then let us go ; for fee, 'tis hard on night, The wefllin cloud mines with a fetting light. [Exeunt. SCENE II. When birds begin to nod upon the bough, And the green fwaird grows damp with falling dew, While good Sir William is to reft retired, The Gentle Shepherd, tenderly infpir'd, Walks throw the broom with Roger ever leel, To meet, to comfort Meg, and tak farewel. PATIE and ROGER, ROGER. Wow! but I 'in cadgie, and my heart lowps light: % - O, Mr. Patrick, ay your thoughts were right. Sure gentle fowks are farer feen than we, That naithing hae to brag of pedigree. My PASTORAL. 153 My Jenny now, who brak my heart this morn, Is perfect yielding, fweet, and nae mair fcorn : I fpak my mind (he .heard I fpak again She frm'Pd I kifs'd I woo'd, nor woo'd in vain. PAT1E. I 'm glad to hear 't. But O ! my change this day Heaves up my joy ; and yet I J m fometimes wae. I 've found a father, gently kind as brave, And an eftate that lifts me boon the lave : With looks all kindnefs, words that love confeft, He all the father to my foul expreft, While clofe he held me to his manly bread : <* Such were the eyes," he faid, " thus fmiPd the " mouth . AN ODE TO MR. F Now gowans fprout, and lavrocks fing, And welcome weft winds warm the fpring, O'er hill and dale they faftly blaw, And drive the winter's cauld awa. The mips, lang gyzen'd at the peer, Now fpread their fails, and fmoothly fleer ; The nags and nowt hate wiflen'd ftrae> And frifking to the fields they gae ; Nor hinds wi' elfon and hemp lingle, Sit foleing moon out o'er the ingle. Now bonny haughs their verdure boaft, That late were clad wi' fnaw and froft ; With her gay train the Paphian queen By moon-light dances on the green ; She leads, while nymphs and graces fing, And trip around the fairy ring : Meantime 204 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Meantime poor Vulcan, hard at thrift, Gets mony a fair and heavy lift, Whilft rinnen down, his haff-blind lads Blaw up the fire, and thump the gads. Now leave your fitfted on the dew, And bulk yerfell in habit new ; Be gratefu' to the guiding pow'rs, And blythly fpend your eafy hours. O kanny F ! tutor time, And live as lang J s y're in your prime ; That ill-bred death has nae regard To king or cottar, or a laird ; As foon a caftle he '11 attack, As waus of divots rooPd wi* thack ; Immediately we J ll a' take flight, Unto the mirk realms of night, As {lories gang, with ghaifts to roam, In gloumy Pluto's goufty dome ; Bid fair good-day to pleafure fyne Of bonny lafles and red wine. Then deem ilk little care a crime, Dares wafte an hour of precious time ; And fince our life *s fae unco fhort, Enjoy it a', ye 've nae mair for 't. LYRIC. 205 I72I.- AN ODE TO THE PH . LOOK up to Pentland's tow'ring top, Buried beneath great wreaths of fnaw, O'er ilka cleugh, ilk fear, and flap, As high as ony Roman wa*. Driving their baws frae whins or tee, There 's no nae gowfer to be feen, Nor doufier fowk wyfing a-jee The byaft bouls on Tamfon's green. Then fling on coals, and ripe the ribs, And beek the houfe baith but and ben, That mutchkin ftoup it hads but dribs, Then let 's get in the tappit hen. Good claret beft keeps out the cauld, And drives away the winter foon ; It makes a man baith gam and bauld, And heaves his faul beyond the moon. Leave 206 .' . RAMSAY'S POEMS. Leave to the gods your ilka care, If that they think us worth their while, They can a' rowth of bleffings fpare, Which will our fafheous fears beguile. For what they have a mind to do, That will they do, mould we gang wood ; If they command the ftorms to blaw, Then upo' fight the hailftains thud. But foon as e'er they cry, " Be quiet," The blatt'ring winds dare nae mair move, But cour into their caves, and wait The high command of fupreme Jove. Let neift day come as it thinks fit, The prefent minute 's only ours j On pleafure let 's employ our wit, And laugh at fortune's fecklefs powers. Be fure ye dinna quat the grip Of ilka joy when ye are young, Before auld age your vitals nip, And lay ye twafald o'er a rung. Sweet youth 's a blyth and heartfome time ; Then, lads and lafles, while it 's May, Gae pou the gowan in its prime, Before it wither and decay. Watch LYRIC. Watch the faft minutes of delyte, When Jenny fpeaks beneath her breath, And kifies, laying a* the wyte On you, if flie keap ony fkaith. Haith, ye 're ill-bred," flie '11 fmiling fay, " Ye '11 worry me, you greedy rook ^" Syne frae your arms fhe '11 rin away, And hide herfell in fome dark nook. Her laugh will lead you to the place Where lies the happinefs you want, And plainly tells you to your face, Nineteen nay fays are haff a grant. Now to her heaving bofom cling, And fweetly toolie for a kifs, Frae her fair finger whop a ring, As taiken of a future blifs. Thefe bennifons, I 'm very fure, Are of the gods' indulgent grant j Then, furly carles, whiflit, forbear To plague us with your whining cant. 208 RAMSAY'S POEMS. 1728. A BALLAD ON BONNY KATE. CEASE, poets, your cunning devifing Of rhymes that low beauties o'er-rate ; They all, like the ftars at the rifmg Of Phoebus, muft yield to fair Kate. We fing, and we think it our duty To admire the kind bleflings of fate, That has favour'd the earth with fuch beauty, As mines fo divinely in Kate. In her fmiles, in her features, and glances, The graces mine forth in full ftate, While the god of love dang'roufly dances On the neck and white bofom of Kate. How ftraight, how well-turn'd, and genteel, are Her limbs ! and how graceful her gait ! Their hearts made of ftone or of fteel are, That are not adorers of Kate. But ah ! what a fad palpitation Feels the heart, and how fimple and blate Muft he look, almoft dead with vexation, Whofe love is fixt hopelefs on Kate ? Had LYRIC. 2O9 Had I all the charms of Adonis, And galeons freighted with plate, As Solomon wife, I 'd think none is, So worthy of all as dear Kate. Ah ! had me for me the fame paflion^ I M tune the lyre early and late j The fage's fong on his CircafTian Should yield to my fonnets on Kate. His pleafure each moment mail bloflbm Unfading, gets her for his mate ; He '11 grafp ev'ry blifs in his bofom, That 's linked by Hymen to Kate. Pale envy may raife up falfe ftories, And hell may prompt malice and hate ; But nothing mall fully their glories, Who are fhielded with virtue like Kate. " This name," fay ye, " many a lafs has, " And t j apply it may raife a debate j" But fure he as dull as an afs is, That cannot join Cochran to Kate. VOL. II. RAMSAY'S POEMS. TO DR. J. C. WHO GOT THE FOREGOING TO GIVE THE YOUNG LA0T. HERE, happy Doctor, take this fonnet ; Bear to the fair the faithful ftrains : Bow, make a leg, and d* off your bonnet j And get a kifs for Allan's pains. For fuch a ravifhing reward, The Cloud-Compeller's felf would try To imitate a Britifli bard, And bear his ballads from the fky. AN ODE ON DRINKING. HENCE every thing that can Difturb the quiet of man 1 - Be blyth, my foul, In a full bowl Drown thy care, And repair The vital ftream : Since life 's a dream, Let LYRIC. 2IJ Let wine abound, And healths go round, We '11 fleep more found ; And let the dull unthinking mob purfue Each endlefs wifh, and ftill their care renew. THE LAST TIME I CAME O'ER THE MOOR. THE laft time I came o'er the moor, I left my love behind me : Ye pow'rs ! what pain do I endure, When foft ideas mind me ! Soon as the ruddy morn difplay'd The beaming day enfuing, I met betimes my lovely ^naid, In fit retreats for wooing. Beneath the cooling made we lay, Gazing and chaftly fporting ; We kifs'd and promised time away, Till night fpread her black curtain. I pity'd all beneath the fkies, E'en kings, when me was nigh me ; In raptures I beheld her eyes, Which cou'd but ill deny me. Shou'd 2 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Shou'd I be call'd where cannons roar, Where mortal fteel may wound me j Or caft upon fome foreign more, Where dangers may furround me j Yet hopes again to fee my love, To feaft on glowing kifies, Shall make my cares at diftance move, In profpecl: of fuch bliffes* In all my foul there *s not one place To let a rival enter ; Since me excels in ev'ry grace, In her my love mail center. Sooner the feas mall ceafe to flow, Their waves the Alps (hall cover, On Greenland ice mail rofes grow, Before I ceafe to love her. The next time I go o'er the moor, She fhall a lover find me ; And that my faith is firm and pure, Tho' I left her behind me : Then Hymen's facred bonds mail chain My heart to her fair bofom, There, while my being does remain, My love more frefli (hall bloflbm. LYRIC. 213 THE LASS OF PATIE'S MILL. THE lafs of Patie's mill, So bonny, blyth, and gay, In fpite of all my {kill, She dole my heart away. When tedding of the hay, Bare-headed on the green, Love 'midft her locks did play, And wanton* d in her een. Her arms white, round, and fmooth, Breads rifing in their dawn, To age it would give youth To prefs 'em with his hand : Thro* all my fpirits ran An extafy of blifs, When I fuch fweetnefs fand Wrapt in a balmy kifs. Without the help of art, Like flowers which grace the wild, She did her fweets impart, Whene'er me fpoke or fmU'd. p 3 Her 214 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Her looks they were fo mild, Free from affected pride, She me to love beguil'd ; I wifh'd her for my bride. had I all the wealth Hopeton's high mountains * fill, Infur'd lang life and health, And pleafure at my will j 1 'd promife and fulfil, That none but bonny (he, The lafs of Patie's mill, Shou'd mare the fame wi' me. YE WATCHFUL GUARDIANS OF THE FAIR* YE watchful guardians of the fair, Who Ikiff on wings of ambient air, Of my dear Delia take a care, And reprefent her lover, With all the gaiety of youth, With honour, juflice, love, and truth ; Till. I return her paflions footh, For me in whifpers move her. Be * Thirty-three' miles fouth-weft of Edinburgh, where the Earl of Hopeton's mines of gold and lead are. LYRIC. 215 Be careful no bafe fordid flave, With foul funk in a golden grave, Who knows no virtue but to fave, With glaring gold bewitch her ; Tell her for me fhe was defign'd, For me who know how to be kind, And have more plenty in my mind Than one who 's ten times' richer. Let all the world turn upfide down, And fools run an eternal round, In queft of what can ne'er be found, To pleafe their vain ambition. Let little minds great charms efpy In fhadows which at diftance lie, Whofe hop j d-for pleafure, when come nigh, Proves nothing in fruition : But caft into a mould divine, Fair Delia does with luftre mine, Her virtuous foul 's an ample mine, Which yields a conftant treafure. Let poets in fublimefl lays Employ their fkill her fame to raife j Let fons of mufic pafs whole days, With well-tun'd reeds, to pleafe her. 2l6 RAMSAY'S POEMS. THE YELLOW HAIR'D LADDIE. IN April, when prirarofes paint the fweet plain, And fummer approaching rejoiceth the fwain, The yellow-hair'd laddie would oftentimes go To wilds and deep glens where the hawthorn trees grow; There, under the fhade of an old facred thorn, With freedom he fang his loves evening and morn ; He fang with fo foft and enchanting a found, That fy Ivans and fairies unfeen danc'd around. The fhepherd thus fung : Tho' young Maya be fair, Her beauty is dafli'd with a fcornful proud air ; But Sufie was handfome, and fweetly cou'd fmg, Her breath, like the breezes, perfum'd in the fpring. That Madia in all the gay bloom of her youth, Like the moon was inconftant,and never fpoke truth; But Sufie was faithful, good-humour'd and free, And fair as the goddefs who fprung from the fea. That mamma's fine daughter, with all her great dow'r, Was aukwardly airy, and frequently four : Then fighing, he wifh'd, wou'd parents agree, The witty fweet Sufie his miftrefs might be. LYRIC* 217 NANNY-O, WHILE fome for pleafure pawn their health, 'Twixt Lais * and the bagnio, I '11 fave myfelf, and without ilealth Kifs and carefs my Nanny-O. She bids more fair to engage a Jove, Than Leda did or Danae-O j- : Were I to paint the queen of love, None elfe mould fit but Nanny-O. How joyfully my fpirits rife, When dancing me moves finely-O ; I guefs what heav'n is by her eyes, Which fparkle fo divinely- O. Attend my vow, ye gods, while I Breathe in the bleft Britannio, None's happinefs I (hall envy, As long 's ye grant me Nanny. O f CHORUS. My bonny bonny Nanny-O, My loving charming Nanny-O, I care not tho* the world do know How dearly I love Nanny-O. * A famous Corinthian courtezan. f Two beauties to whom Jove made love ; to one in the figure of a fwan, 'to the other in a golden mower. 21 8 RAMSAY'S P6EMS. BONNY JEAN. LOVE'S goddefs, in a myrtle grove, Said, " Cupid, bend thy bow with fpeed, " Nor let the fhaft at random rove, " For Jenny's haughty heart muft bleed.*' The fmiling boy, with divine art, From Paphos (hot an arrow keen, Which flew unerring to the heart, And kill'd the pride of bonny Jean. No more the nymph, with haughty air, Refufes Willie's kind addrefs ; Her yielding blufhes fhew no care, But too much fondnefs to fupprefs. No more the youth is fullen now, But looks the gayeft on the green, Whilft every day he fpies fome new Surprifing charms in bonny Jean. A thoufand tranfports crowd his bread, He moves as light as fleeting wind, His former forrows feem a jeft, Now when his Jeanie is turn'd kind. Riches he looks on with difdain, The glorious fields of war look mean, The cheerful hound and horn give pain, If abfent from his bonny Jean. The LYRIC. 219 The day he fpends in am'rous gaze, Which, e'en in fummer, fhorten'd feems ; When funk in down, with glad amaze, He wonders at her in his dreams. All charms difclos'd, me looks more bright Than Troy's fair prize, the Spartan queen : With breaking day he lifts his fight, And pants to be with bonny Jean. AULD LANG SYNE. SHOULD auld acquaintance be forgot, Tho* they return with fears ? Thefe are the nobleft hero's lot, Obtain'd in glorious wars. Welcome, my Varo, to my breaft, Thy arms about me twine, And make me once again as bled As I was lang fyne. Methinks around us on each bough A thoufand Cupids play, Whilfl thro* the groves I walk with you, Each objeft makes me gay. Since your return, the fun and moon With brighter beams do fhine, Streams murmur foft notes while they run, As they did lang fyne. Defpife 220 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Defpife the court and din of ftate ; Let that to their fhare fall, Who can efteem fuch flav'ry great, While bounded like a ball : But funk in love, upon my arms Let your brave head recline; We '11 pleafe ourfelves with mutual charms, As we did lang fyne. O'er moor and dale with your gay friend You may purfue the chace ; And after a blyth bottle, end All cares in my embrace : And in a vacant rainy day, You mall be wholly mine ; We '11 make the hours run fmooth away, And laugh at lang fyne. The hero, pleas'd with the fweet air, And figns of gen'rous love, Which had been ptter'd by the fair, Bow'd to the pow'rs above. Next day, with glad confent and hafle, Th' approach'd the facred fhrine, Where the good prieft the couple bleft, And put them out of pine. LYRIC. 221 THE PENITENT. TUNE - " THE LASS OF LIVINGSTON. PAIN'D with her flighting Jamie's love, Bell dropt a tear, Bell dropt a tear, The gods defcended from above, Well pleas'd to hear, well pleas'd to hear. They heard the praifes of the youth, From her own tongue, from her own 'tongue, Who now converted was to truth ; And thus (he fung, and thus me fung : Bleft days, when our ingenuous fex, More frank and kind, more frank and kind, Did not their lov'd adorers vex, But fpoke their mind, but fpoke their mind. Repenting now, me promised fair, Wou'd he return, wou'd he return, She ne'er again wou'd give him care, Or caufe to mourn, or caufe to mourn, Why lov'd I the deferving fwain, Yet flill thought mame, yet ftill thought fhame, When he my yielding heart did gain, To own my flame, to own my flame ? Why 222 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Why took I pleafure to torment, And feem'd too coy, and feem'd too coy ? Which makes me now, alas ! lament My flighted joy, my flighted joy. Ye fair, while beauty 's in its fpring, Own your defire, own your defire, While love's young power with his foft wing Fans up the fire, fans up the fire. O do not with a filly pride, Or low defign, or low defign, Refufe t6 be a happy bride, But anfwer plain, but anfwer plain. Thus the fair mourner wail'd her crime, With flowing eyes, with flowing eyes ; Glad Jamie heard her all the time, With fweet furprife, with fweet furprife : Some god had led him to the grove, His mind unchanged, his mind unchanged- Flew to her arms, and cry'd, My love, I am reveng'd, I am reveng'd. LYRIC. 223 LOVE'S CURE. TUNE w PEGGY, I MUST LOVE THEE." As from a rock pad all relief, The fhipwreckt Colin fpying His native home, overcome with grief, Half funk in waves, and dying ; With the next morning fun he fpies A fliip, which gives unhop'd furprife, New life fprings up, he lifts his eyes With joy, and waits her motion : So when, by her whom I long lov'd, I fcorn'd was and deferted, Low with defpair my fpirits mov'd, To be for ever parted : Thus droopt I, till diviner grace I found in Peggy's mind and face j Ingratitude appear'd then bafe, But virtue more engaging. Then now fmce happily I 've hit, I '11 have no more delaying; Let beauty yield to manly wit, We lofe ourfelves in flaying : I'll 224 RAMSAY'S POEMS. I '11 hafte dull courtfhip to a clofe, Since marriage can my fears oppofe, Why fliou'd we happy minutes lofe, Since, Peggy, I muft love thee ? Men may be foolifh, if they pleafe, And deem 't a lover's duty To' figh, and facrifice their eafe, Doating on a proud beauty : Such was my cafe for many a year, Still hope fucceeding to my fear, Falfe Betty's charms now difappear, Since Peggy's far outmine them. BESSY BEJML AND MARY GRAY. O, BESSY BELL and Mary Gray 1 They are twa bonny lafles, They bigg'd a bower on yon burn-brae, And theck'd it o'er with rafhes : Fair Befiy Bell I loo'd yeftreen, And thought I ne'er cou'd alter, But Mary Gray's twa pawky een They gar my fancy falter. Now LYRIC. 225 Now Befly's hair 's like a lint tap, She fmiles like a May morning, When Phoebus ftarts frae Thetis' lap, The hills with rays adorning : White is her neck, faft is her hand, Her waift and feet 's fou genty, With ilka grace fhe can command, Her lips, O wow ! they 're dainty. And Mary's locks are like the craw, Her eyes like diamonds glances ; She 's ay fae clean red up and braw, She kills whene'er fhe dances : Blyth as a kid, with wit at will, She blooming, tight, and tall is ; And guides her airs fae gracefu' ftill, O Jove ! me 's like thy Pallas. Dear Befiy Bell and Mary Gray, Ye unco fair opprefs us, Our fancies jee between you twae, Ye are fie bonny laffes : Wae 's me ! for baith I canna get, To ane by law we 're ftinted ; Then I '11 draw cuts, and take my fate, And be with ane contented. VOL. II. S26 RAMSAY'S POEMS. THE YOUNG LAIRD AND EDINBURGH KATY. Now wat ye wha. I met yeflreen, Coming down the ftreet, my jo ? My miftrefs, in her tartan fcreen, Fou' bonny, braw, and fweet, my jo. My dear, (quoth I,) thanks to the night, That never wifhM a lover ill ; Since ye 're out of your mother's fight, Let 's tak a wauk up to the hill. O Katy ! wiltu gang wi' me, And leave the dinfome town a while ? The blofibm 's fprouting frae the tree, And a* the fummer 's gawn to fmile ; The mavis, nightingale, and lark, The bleeting lambs, and whiftling hynd, In ilka dale, green, (haw, and park, Will nourim health, and glad ye'r mind. Soon as the clear goodman of day Does bend his morning draught of dew, We '11 gae to fome burn-fide and play, And gather flow'rs to buik ye'r brow. We'll LYRIC. 227 We Ml pou the daizies on the green, The lucken gowans frae the bog ; Between hands now and then we '11 lean, And fport upo' the velvet fog. There 's up into a pleafant glen, A wee piece frae my father's tower, A canny, faft, and flow'ry den, Which circling birks has form'd a bower : Whene'er the fun grows high and warm, We '11 to the cawler made remove ; There will 1 lock thee in mine arms, And love and kifs, and kifs and love. 0.2 228 RAMSAY'S POEMS. KATY'S ANSWER, MY mither *s ay glowran o'er me, Tho' (he did the fame before me, I canna get leave To look to my love, Or elfe me '11 be like to devour me. Right fain wad I take ye'r offer, Sweet Sir, but I '11 tine my tocher, Then, Sandy, ye '11 fret, And wyte ye'r poor Kate, Whene'er ye keek in your toom coffer. For tho' my father has plenty Of filler and plenifliing dainty, Yet he 's unco fweer To twin wi* his gear ; And fae we hae need to be tenty. Tutor my parents wi' caution, Be wylie in ilka motion j Brag well o* ye'r land, And there 's my leal hand, Win them, I '11 be at your devotion. LYRIC. 229 MARY SCOTT. HAPPY 's the love which meets return, When in foft flames fouls equal burn j But words are wanting to difcover The torments of a hopelefs lover. Ye regifters of heav'n, relate, If looking o'er the rolls of fate, Did you there fee, mark'd for my marrow, Mary Scott, the flower of Yarrow ? Ah no ! her form 's too heav'nly fair, Her love the gods above muft fhare, While mortals with defpair explore her, And at a diftance due adore her.. O, lovely maid ! my doubts beguile, Revive and blefs me with a fmile ; Alas ! if not, you '11 foon debar a Sighing fwain the banks of Yarrow. Be hum, ye fears ! I '11 not defpair, My Mary 's tender as me 's fair ; Then I '11 go tell her all my anguifli, She is too good to let me languifh. With fuccefs crown'd, I '11 not envy The folks who dwell above the fky ; When Mary Scott 's become my marrow, We '11 make a paradife on Yarrow. 0.3 230 RAMSAY'S POEMS, O'ER EOGIE. I WILL awa wi* my love, I will awa wi' her, Thp' a* my kin had fworn and faid, I '11 o'er Bogie wi' her. If I can get but her confent, I dinna care a ftrae, Tho ilka ane be difcontent, Awa wi' her I '11 gae. I will awa, &c. For now me 's miftrefs of my heart, And worthy of my hand, And well I wat we manna part, For filler or for land. Let rakes delyte to fwear and drink, And beaus admire fine lace, But my chief pleafure is to blink On Betty's bonny face. I will awa, &c. There a' the beauties do combine, Of colour, traits, and air, The faul that fparkles in her een Makes her a jewel rare 5 - Her LYRIC. Her flowing wit gives mining life To a' her other charms ; How bleft I '11 be when (he 's my wife, And lockt up in my arms. I will awa, &c. There blythly will I rant and fmg, While o'er her fweets I range, I J ll cry, Your humble fervant, king, Shamefa' them that wad change. A kifs of Betty and a fmile, Ab'eet ye wad lay down The right ye hae to Britain's ifle, And offer me your crown. I will awa, &c. O'ER THE MOOR TO MAGGIR AND I '11 o'er the moor to Maggy, Her wit and fweetnefs call me, Then to my fair I '11 mew my mind, Whatever may befal me : If me love mirth I '11 learn to fmg ; Or likes the nine to follow, I '11 lay my lugs in Pindus* fpring, And invocate Apollo. 232 RAMSAY'S POEMS. IF {he admire a martial mind, I '11 fheath my limbs in armour j If to the fofter dance inclin'd, With gayeft airs I '11 charm her ; If me love grandeur, day and night I '11 plot my nation's glory, Find favour in my prince's light, And mine in future ftory. Beauty- can wonders work with eafe, Where wit is correfponding, And braveft men know beft to pleafe, With complaifance abounding. My bonny Maggy's love can turn Me to what fhape me pleafes, If in her bread that flame mall burn, Which in my bofom bleezes. LYRIC. 233 I'LL NEVER LEAVE THEE. . JONNY. THO* for feven years and mair honour fliould reave me To fields where cannons rair, thou need na grieve thee; For deep in my fpirit thy fweets are indented, And love mall preferve ay what love has imprinted. Leave thee, leave thee ! I '11 never leave thee, Gang the warld as it will, deareft, believe me. . NELLY. O Jonny, I 'm jealous whene'er ye difcover My fentiments yielding, ye '11 turn a loofe rover ; And nought i' the warld wad vex my heart fairer, If you prove inconftant, and fancy ane fairer, Grieve me, grieve me ! Oh it wad grieve me, A* the lang night and day, if you deceive me. JONNY. My Nelly, let never fie fancies opprefs thee, For while my blood 's warm I '11 kindly carefs ye: Your 234 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Your blooming faft beauties firft beeted love's fire, Your virtue and wit make it flame ay the higher. Leave thee, leave thee ! I'll never leave thee, Gang the warld as it will, deareft, believe me. NELLY. Then, Jonny, I frankly this minute allow ye To think me your miftrefs, for love gars me trow ye; And gin ye prove fa'fe, to ye'rfell be it faid then, Ye '11 win but fma' honour to wrang a kind maiden. Reave me, reave me, heav'ns ! it wad reave me Of my reft night and day, if ye deceive me. JONNY. Bid icicles hammer red gauds on the ftuddy, And fair fimmer mornings nae mair appear ruddy ; Bid Britons think ae gate ; and when they obey ye, But never till that time, believe I '11 betray ye : Leave thee, leave thee ! I '11 never leave thee, The ftars fhall gang witherfhins e'er I deceive LYRIC. 235 POLWART ON THE GREEN. . AT Polwart on the green If you '11 meet me the morn, Where lafles do conveen To dance about the thorn, A kindly welcome ye (hall meet Frae her wha likes to view A lover and a lad complete The lad and lover you. Let dorty dames fay na, As lang as e'er they pleafe, Seem caulder than the fna% While inwardly they bleeze ; But I will frankly (haw my mind, And yield my heart to thee j Be ever to the captive kind, That langs na to be free. At Polwart on the green, Among the new-mawn hay, With fangs and dancing keen, We '11 pafs the heartfome day : At night, if beds be o'er thrang laid, And thou be twin'd of thine, Thou (halt be welcome, my dear lad, To take a part of mine. 236 RAMSAY'S POEMS. JOHN HAY'S BONNY LASSIE. BY fmooth winding Tay a fwain was reclining, Aft cry'd he, O hey ! man I ftill live pining Myfell thus away, and darna difcover To my bonny Hay, that I am her lover. Nae mair it will hide, the flame waxes ftranger, If me 's not my bride, my days are nae langer ; Then I J ll take a heart, and try at a venture, May be, ere we part, my vows may content her. She 's frefli as the fpring, and fweet as Aurora, When birds mount 'and fing, bidding day a good morrow ; The fward of the mead enamell'd with daifies, Looks wither'd and dead when twin'd of her graces. But if fhe appear where verdures invite her, The fountains run clear, and flowers fmell the fweeter : 'Tis heaven to be by when her wit is a flowing, Her fmiles and bright eyes fet my fpirits a glowing. The mair that I gaze the deeper I 'm wounded, Struck dumb with amaze, my mind is confounded 5 I 'm all in a fire, dear maid, to carefs ye, For a* my defire is Hay's bonny laflie. LYRIC. 337 ' GENTY TIBBY AND SONSY NELLY. TIBBY has a (lore of charms, Her genty fhape our fancy warms, How ftarkly can her fma* white arms Fetter the lad wha looks but at her ! Frae ancle to her {lender waift, Thefe fweets conceal'd invite to dawt her, Her rofie cheek and rifmg breaft Gar ane's mouth gum bowt fou* o* water. Nelly's gawfy, faft and gay, Frefh as the lucken flowers in May,. Ilk ane that fees her cries, Ah hey ! She J s bonny, O I wonder at her ! The dimples of her chin and cheek, And limbs fae plump invite to dawt her, Her lips fae fweet, and fkin fae fleek, Gar mony mouths befide mine water. Now ftrike my finger in a bore, My wyzen with the maiden more *, Gin I can tell whilk I am for, When * Divide my windpipe with the maiden. The maiden was an engine for beheading, formerly ufed in Scotland ; it was of a couftrudtion funilar to that of the guillotine. 238 RAMSAY'S POEMS. When thefe twa ftars appear the gither. love ! why doft thou gi'e thy fires Sae large, while we 're oblig'd to nither Our fpacious fauls' immenfe defires, And ay be in a hankerin fwither ? Tibby's fhape and airs are fine, And Nelly's beauties are divine ; But. fmce they canna baith be mine, Ye gods ! give ear to my petition, Provide a good lad for the tane, But let it be with this provifion, 1 get the other to my lane, In profpeft piano and fruition. UP IN THE AIR. Now the fun 's gane out o' fight, Beet the ingle, and fnuff the light ; In glens the fairies fkip and dance, And witches wallop o'er to France ; Up in the air, On my bonny grey mare, And I fee her yet, and I fee her yet, Up in, &c. The LYRIC. 239 The wind 's drifting hail and fna* O'er frozen hags like a footba* ; Nae ftarns keek thro* the azure flit, 'Tis cauld and mirk as ony pit ; The man i* the moon Is caroufing aboon, D* ye fee, d* ye fee, d* ye fee him yet ? The man, &c. Take your glafs to clear your een, J Tis the elixir hales the fpleen, Baith wit and mirth it will infpire, And gently puff the lover's fire, Up in the air, It drives away care. Ha'e wi* ye, ha'e wi* ye, and ha'e wi* ye, lads, yet, Up in, &c. Steek the doors, keep out the froft, Come, Willy, gi r e J s about ye'r toaft ; Tilt it, lads, and lilt it out, And let us ha'e a blythfome bowt ; Up wi't there, there, Dinna cheat, but drink fair ; Huzza ! huzza ! and huzza ! lads, yet, Up wi't, &c. 240 RAMSAY'S POEMS. TO MRS. E. C. " NOW PHOEBUS ADVANCES ON HIGH." Now Phoebus advances on high, No footfteps of winter are feen ; The birds carol fweet in the fky, And lambkins dance reels on the green- Thro* groves, and by rivulets clear, We wander for pleafure and health ; Where buddings and bloffoms appear, Giving profpe&s of joy and of wealth. View every gay fcene all around, That are, and that promife to be j Yet in them all nothing is found So perfect, Eliza, as thee. Thine eyes the clear fountains excel ; Thy locks they out-rival the grove j When zephyrs thefe pleafmgly fwell, Each wave makes a captive to love. The rofes and lilies combin'd, And flowers of mod delicate hue, By thy cheek and thy breads are out-fhin'd, Their tin&ures are nothing fo true. What LYRIC* 241 What can we compare with thy voice, And what with thy humour fo fweet ? No mufic can blefs with fuch joys ; Sure angels are juft fo complete. Fair bloflbm of every delight, Whofe beauties ten thoufands outfhine, Thy fweets mall be laftingly bright, Being mixt with fo many divine* Ye powers ! who have given fuch c'harms To Eliza, your image below, O fave her from all human harms, And make her hours happily flow. TO CALISTA. " SHE SUNG; THE YOUTH ATTENTION GAVE." SHE fung j the youth attention gave, And charms on charms efpies, Then, all in raptures, falls a Have Both to her voice and eyes ! So fpoke and fmil'd the eaftern maid, Like thine, feraphic were her charms, That in CircamVs vineyards ftray'd, And bleft the wifeft monarch's arms. VOL. ii. R A thoufand 242 RAMSAY'S POEMS. A thoufand fair of high defert Strave to enchant the amorous king, But the Circafiian gain'd his heart, And taught the royal hand to fmg. Califta thus our fang infpires, And claims the fmooth and higheft lays ; But while each charm our bofom fires, Words feem too few to found her praife. Her mind in ev'ry grace complete, To paint, furpafles human fkill ; Her majefty, mixt with the fweet, Let feraphs fmg her if they will : Whiift wond'ring, with a ravifh'd eye, We all that *s perfect in her view, Viewing a fifter of the fky, To whom an adoration J s due. LYRIC. 243 GIVE ME A LASS WITH A LUMP OF LAND. GI'E me a lafs with a lump of land, And we for life mall gang the gither ; Tho J daft or wife I J ll never demand, Or black or fair it maks na whether. I 'm aff with wit, and beauty will fade, And blood alane is no worth a milling ; But me that 's rich her market J s made, For ilka charm about her is killing. Gi'e me a lafs with a lump of land, And in my bofom I '11 hug my treafure j Gin I had anes her gear in my hand, Shou'd love turn dowf, it will find pleafure. Laugh on wha likes, but there J s my hand, I hate with poortith, tho* bonny, to meddle j Unlefs they bring cam, or a lump of land, They'fe never get me to dance to their fiddle. There J s meikle good love in bands and bags, And filler and gowd 's a fweet complexion j But beauty, and wit, and virtue in rags, Have tint the art of gaining affection. Love tips his arrows with woods and parks, And caftles, and riggs, and moors, and meadows ; And naithing can catch our modern fparks, But well-tocher'd lafies, or jointur'd widows, R 2 244 RAMSAY'S POEMS. LOCHABER NO MORE. FAREWELL to Lochaber, and farewell my Jean, Where heartfome with thee I 've mony day been ; For Lochaber no more, Lochaber no more, We '11 may be return to Lochaber no more. Thefe tears that I fhed they are a* for my dear, And no for the dangers attending on wear, Tho' bore on rough feas to a far bloody more, May be to return to Lochaber no more. Tho' hurricanes arife, and rife ev'ry wind, They '11 ne'er make a tempeft like that in my mind j Tho' loudefl of thunder on louder waves roar, That 's naithing like leaving my love on the more. To leave thee behind me my heart is fair pain'd ; By eafe that 's inglorious no fame can be gain'd ; And beauty and love 's the reward of the brave, And I muft deferve it before I can crave. Then glory, my Jeany, man plead my excufe j Since honour commands me, how can I refufe ; Without it I ne'er can have merit for thee, And without thy favour I 'd better not be. I gae then, my lafs, to win honour and fame, And if I mould luck to come glorioufly hame, I '11 bring a heart to thee with love running o'er, And then I'll leave thee and Lochaber no more. LYRIC. 245 VIRTUE AND WIT: CONFESS thy love, fair blufhing maid ; For fmce thine eyes confenting, Thy fafter thoughts are a' betray'd, And nafays no worth tenting. Why aims thou to oppofe thy mind, With words thy wifli denying ? Since nature made thee to be kind, Reafon allows complying. Nature and reafon's joint confent Make love a facred bleffing ; Then happily that time is fpent, That 's war'd on kind careffing. Come then, my Katie, to my arms, 1 '11 be na mair a rover, But find out heav'n in a* thy charms, And prove a faithful lover. SHE. What you defign by nature's law, Is fleeting inclination j That willy-wifp bewilds us a' By its infatuation : R 3 When 24-6 RAMSAY'S POEMS. When that gaes out, careffes tire, And love *s nae mair in feafon j Syne weakly we blaw up the fire, With all our boafted reafon. HE. The beauties of inferior caft May ftart this juft reflection ; But charms like thine man always laft, Where wit has the protection. Virtue and wit, like April rays, Make beauty rife the fweeter j The langer then on thee I gaze, My love will grow completer. ADIEU FOR A WHILE MY NATIVE GREEN PLAINS. HE. ADIEU for a while my native green plains, My neareft relations, and neighbouring fwains ; Dear Nelly, frae thefe I 'd ftart eafily free, Were minutes not ages while abfent frae thee. SHE, LYRIC. 247 SHE. Then tell me the reafon thou doft not obey The pleading of love, but thus hurries away : Alake ! thou deceiver, o'er plainly I fee, A lover fae roving will never mind me. HE. The reafon unhappy is owing to fate, That gave me a being without an eftate ; Which lays a neceflity now upon me, To purchafe a fortune for pleafure to thee. SHE. Small fortune may ferve where love has the fway, Then, Johny, be counfell'd nae langer to ftray j For while thou proves conftant in kindnefs to me, Contented I '11 ay find a treafure in thee. Ceafe, my dear charmer, elfe foon I '11 betray A weaknefs unmanly, and quickly give way To fondnefs, which may prove a ruin to thee, A pain to us baith, and diflionour to me. Bear witnefs ye ftreams, and witnefs ye flow'rs, Bear witnefs ye watchful invifible pow'rs, If ever my heart be unfaithful to thee, May nothing propitious e'er fmile upon me. R4 RAMSAY'S POEMS. AND I 'LL AWA' TO BONNY TWEED-SIDE. AND I '11 awa To bonny Tweed-fide, And fee my deary come throw. And he fall be mine, Gif fae he incline, For I hate to lead apes below. While young and fair, I '11 make it my care To fecure myfell in a jo ; I J m no fie a fool, To let my blood cool, And fyne gae lead apes below. Few words, bonny lad, Will eithly perfuade, Tho' blufhing, I daftly fay no j Gae on with your ft rain. And doubt not to gain, For I hate to lead apes below. Unty'd LYRIC. 249 Unty'd to a man, Do whate'er we can, We never can thrive or dow ; Then I will do well, Do better wha will, And let them lead apes below. Our time is precious, And gods are gracious, That beauties upon us beftow ; 'Tis not to be thought We got them for nought, Or to be fet up for a fliow. *Tis carry'd by votes, Come kilt up your coats, And let us to Edinburgh go ; Where me that 's bonny May catch a Johny, And never lead apes below. 250 RAMSAY'S POEMS. I THE WIDOW. THE widow can bake, and the widow can brew, The widow can fhape, and the widow can few, And mony braw things the widow can do, Then have at the widow, my laddie : With courage attack her baith early and late ; To kifs her and clap her ye manna be blate : Speak well, and do better ; for that 5 s the beft gate To win a young widow, my laddie. The widow me J s youthfu', and never a hair The war of the wearing, and has a good fkair Of every thing lovely ; me 's witty and fair, And has a rich jointure, my laddie. What cou'd ye wifh better, your pleafure to crown, Than a widow the bonnieft toaft in the town, With nathing but draw in your ftool and fit down, And fport with the widow, my laddie. Then till her, and kill her with courtefy dead, Tho' ftark love and kindnefs be all ye can plead ; Be heartfome and airy, and hope to fucceed With a bonny gay widow, my laddie. Strike iron while 'tis het, if ye *d have it to wald ; For fortune ay favours the active and bauld, But ruins the wooer that 's thowlefs and cauld, Unfit for the widow, my laddie. LYRIC. 251 ;, -: THE STEPDAUGHTER'S RELIEF. I WAS anes a well-tocher'd lafs, My mither left dollars to me ; But now I J m brought to a poor pafs, My ftep-dame has gart them flee. My father he 's aften frae hame, And me plays the deel with his gear j She neither has lawtith nor fhame, And keeps the hale houfe in a fleer. She 's barmy-fac'd, thriftlefs, and bauld, And gars me aft fret and repine, While hungry, haff naked, and cauld, I fee her deftroy what J s mine. But foon I might hope a revenge, And foon of my forrows be free, My poortith to plenty wad change, If me were hung up on a tree. Quoth Ringan, wha lang time had loo'd This bonny lafs tenderly, I J ll take thee, fweet May, in thy fnood, Qif thou wilt gae hame with me. 'Tis 252 RAMSAY'S POEMS. J Tis only yourfell that I want ; Your kindnefs is better to me Than a' that your ftep-mother, fcant Of grace, now has taken frae thee. Pm but a young farmer, 'tis true, And ye are the fprout of a laird j But I have milk-cattle enow, And rowth of good rucks in my yard Ye mail have naithing to fafh ye ; Sax fervants mail jouk to thee : Then kilt up thy coats, my laffie, And gae thy ways hame with me. The maiden her reafon employ'd, Not thinking the offer amifs, Confented ; -while Ringan o'erjoy'd, Receiv'd her with mony a kifs. And now me fits blythly fmgan, And joking her drunken ftep-dame, Delighted with her dear Ringan, That makes her goodwife at hame. LYRIC. 253 BONNY CH1RSTY. How fweetly fmells the fimmer green ! Sweet tafte the peach and cherry j Painting and order pleafe our een, And claret makes us merry : But fined colours, fruits and flowers, And wine, tho* I be thirfty, Lofe a* their charms and weaker powers, Compar'd with thofe of Chirfty. When wand'ring o'er the flow'ry park, No nat'ral beauty wanting, How lightfome is 't to hear the lark. And birds in concert chanting ! But if my Chirfty tunes her voice, I 'm wrapt in admiration, My thoughts with extafies rejoice, And drap the hale creation. Whene'er me fmiles a kindly glance, I take the happy onien, And aften mint to make advance, Hoping me '11 prove a woman ; But 254 RAMSAY'S POEMS. But dubious of my ain defert* My fentiments I fmother, With fecret fighs I vex my heart, For fear me love another. Thus fang blate Edie by a burn, His Chirfty did o'erhear him ; She doughtna let her lover rnourn, But, ere he wift, drew near him. She fpake her favour with a look, Which left nae room to doubt her : He wifely this white minute took, And flang his arms about her. My Chirfty ! witnefs, bonny ftream, Sic joys frae tears arifmg ! I wifh this may not be a dream ; O love the maift furprifing ! Time was too precious now for tauk ; This point of a* his wifhes He wad na with fet fpeeches bauk, But wair'd it a* on kifles. LYRIC. 255 THE SOGER LADDIE. MY foger laddie is over the fea, And he will bring gold and money to me ; And when he comes hame, he '11 make, me a lady: My blefling gang with my foger laddie. My doughty laddie is handfome and brave, And can as a foger and lover behave ; True to his country, to love he is fteady, There 's few to compare with my foger laddie. Shield him, ye angels, frae death in alarms, Return him with laurels to my langing arms ; Syne frae all my care ye '11 pleafantly free me, When back to my wifhes my foger ye gi'e me. O ! foon may his honours bloom fair on his brow, As quickly they muft if he get his due ; For in noble aclions his courage is ready, Which makes me delight in my foger laddie. 256 RAMSAY'S POEMS, THE BONNY SCOT; TUNE " THE BOATMAN.' YE gales that gently wave the fea, And pleafe the canny boatman, Bear me frae hence, or bring to me My brave, my bonny Scotman. In haly bands We join'd our hands, Yet may not this difcover, While parents rate A large eftate, Before a faithful lover. But I lure chufe in Highland glens To herd the kid and goat man, Ere I cou'd for fie little ends Refufe my bonny Scotman. Wae worth the man Wha firft began The bafe ungenerous falhion, Frae greedy views, Love's art to ufe, While ftrangers to its paffion. Frae LYRIC. 357 Frae foreign fields, my lovely youth, Hafte to thy longing laflie, Wha pants to prefs thy bawmy mouth, And in her bofom hawfe thee. Love gi'es the word, Then hafte on board ; Fair winds, and tenty boatman, Waft o'er, waft o'er, Frae yonder more, My blyth, my bonny Scot man. LOVE INVITING REASON. WHEN innocent paftime our pleafure did crown, Upon a green meadow, or under a tree, Ere Annie became a fine lady in town, How lovely, and loving, and bonny was (he ! Rouze up thy reafon my beautifu' Annie, Let ne'er a new whim ding thy fancy a-jee ; O ! as thou art bonny, be faithfu* and canny, And favour thy Jamie, wha doats upon thee. Does the death of a lint white give Annie the fpleen? Can tyning of trifles be uneafy to thee ? Can lap-dogs and monkies draw tears frae thefe een, That look with indifference on poor dying me ? VOL. ii. s Rouze 258 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Rouze up thy reafon, my beautiful Annie, And dinna prefer a paroquet to me ; O ! as thou art bonny, be prudent and canny, And think on thy Jamie, wha doats upon thee. Ah ! fhou'd a new gown, or a Flanders-lace head* Or yet a wee coatie, tho* never fae fine, Gar thee grow forgetfu', and let his heart bleed, That anes had fome hope of purchafing thine ? Rouze up thy reafon, my beautifu* Annie, And dinna prefer your fleegeries to me ; O ! as thou art bonny, be folid and canny, And tent a true lover that doats upon thee. Shall a Paris edition of new-fangle Sanny, Tho J gilt o'er wi* laces and fringes he be, By adoring himfelf, be adrmVd by fair Annie, And aim at thefe bennifons promis'd to me ? Rouze up thy reafon, my beautifu' Annie, And never prefer a light dancer to me ; O ! as thou art bonny, be conftant and canny, Love only thy Jamie, wha doats upon thee. O ! think my dear charmer, on ilka fweet hour, That flade away faftly between thee and me, Ere fquirrels, or beaus, or fopp'ry^ had power TO rival my love, and impofe upon thee. Rouze LYRIC. 259 Rouze up thy reafon, my beautifu* Annie, And let thy defires be a* center* d in me ; O ! as thou art bonny, be faithfu* and canny, And love him wha 's langing to centre in thee. THE BOB OF DUNBLANE. LASSIE, lend me your braw hemp heckle, And I Ml lend you my thripling kame j For fainnefs, deary, I '11 gar ye keckle, If ye '11 go dance the Bob of Dunblane. Hafte ye, gang to thee ground of ye'r trunkies, Bufk ye braw, and dinna think fhame ; Confider in time, if leading of monkies Be better than dancing the Bob of Dunblane. Be frank, my laflie, left I grow fickle, And take my word and offer again ; Syne ye may chance to repent it meikle Ye did na accept of the Bob of Dunblane. The dinner, the piper, and prieft, fhall be ready, And I J m grown dowie with lying my lane ; Away then, leave baith minny and daddy, And try with me the Bob of Dunblane. s 2 260 RAMSAY'S POEMS. THROW THE WOOD LADDIE. O SANDY, why leaves thou thy Nelly to mourn ? Thy prefence cou'd eafe me, When naithing can pleafe me ; Now dowie I figh on the bank of the burn, Or throw the wood, laddie, until thou return. Tho* woods now are bonny, and mornings are clear, While lavrocks are fmging, And primrofes fpringirig, Yet nane of them pleafes my eye or my ear, When throw the wood, laddie, ye dinna appear. That I am forfaken fome fpare no to tell ; I 'm fafh'd wi* their fcorning, Baith ev'ning and morning ; Their jeering gaes aft to my heart wi* a knell, When throw the wood, laddie, I wander myfell. Then flay, my dear Sandy, nae langer away, But quick as an arrow, Hafte here to thy marrow, Wha J s living in languor till that happy day, When throw the wood, laddie, we '11 dance, fing, and play. LYRIC. x6r . kau i AN THOU WERE MY AIN THING. AN thou were my ain thing, I would love thee, I would love thee j An thou were my ain thing, How dearly would I love thee. Like bees that fuck the morning dew Frae flowers of fweeteft fcent and hue, Sae wad I dwell upo* thy mou, And gar the gods envy me. An thou were, &c. Sae lang 's I had the ufe of light, I 'd on thy beauties feaft my fight, Syne in faft whifpers through the night I 'd tell how much I loo'd thee. An thou were, &c. How fair and ruddy is my Jean ! She moves a goddefs o'er the green : Were I a king thou fhou'd be queen, Nane but myfelf aboon thee. An thou were, &c. S3 RAMSAY'S POEMS. I J d grafp thee to this breaft of mine, Whilft thou like ivy, or the vine, Around my ftronger limbs fliou'd twine, Form'd hardy to defend thee. An thou were, &c. Time 's on the wing and will not ftay, In mining youth let 's make our hay, Since love admits of no delay, O let na fcorn undo thee. An thou were, &c. While love does at his altar ftand, Hae there J s my heart, gi'e me thy hand, And with ilk fmile thou malt command The will of him wha loves thee. An thou were, &c. LYRIC. 263 THERE'S MY THUMB I'LL NE'ER BEGUILE THEE. MY fweeteft May, let love incline thee T' accept a heart which he defigns thee j And as your conftant Have regard' it, Syne for its faithfulnefs reward it : 'Tis proof a (hot to birth or money, But yields to what is fweet or bonny : Receive it then with a kifs and fmily, There 's my thumb it will ne'er beguile thee. How tempting fweet thefe lips of thine are ! Thy bofom white, and legs fae fine are, That when in pools I fee thee clean 'em, They carry away my heart between 'em. I wifh, and I wifll, while it gaes duntin, O gin I had thee on a mountain j Tho kith and kin and a' fhou'd revile thee, There's my thumb I '11 ne'er beguile thee. Alane thro' flow'ry hows I dander, Tenting my flocks, left they mould wander ;. Gin thou '11 gae alang I '11 dawt thee gaylie, And gi'e my thumb I '11 ne'er beguile thee. O my dear laflie, it is but daffin To had thy wooer up ay niflf naffin : That na, na, na, I hate it moft vilely ; O fay yes, and I '11 ne'er beguile thee. 264 RAMSAY'S POEMS. THE HIGHLAND LADDIE. THE Lawland lads think they are fine, But O they J re vain and idly gaudy ; How much unlike that gracefu* mien And manly looks of my Highland laddie ! O my bonny, bonny Highland laddie ! My handfome, charming Highland laddie ! May heaven ftill guard, and love reward, Our Lawland lafs and her Highland laddie ! If I were free at will to chufe To be the wealthieft Lawland lady, I 'd take young Donald without trews, With bonnet blew and belted plaidy. O my bonny, &c. The brawefl beau in borrows town, In a* his airs with art made ready, Compar'd to him he *s but a clown ; He *s finer far in 's tartan plaidy. O my bonny, &c. O'er LYRIC. 265 O'er benty hill with him I '11 run, And leave my Lawland kin and daddy ; Frae winter's cauld and fummer's fun, He '11 fcreen me with his Highland plaidy. O my bonny, &c. A painted room and filken bed May pleafe a Lawland laird and lady, But I can kifs and be as glad Behind a bum, in 's Highland plaidy. ) my bonny, &c. Few compliments between us pafs, I ca' him my dear Highland laddie ; And he ca's me his Lawland lafs, Syne rows me in his Highland plaidy. O my bonny, &c. Nae greater joy I '11 e'er pretend, Than that his love prove true and fteady, Like mine to him, which ne'er mail end, While heaven preferves my Highland laddie. O my bonny, &c. . RAMSAY'S POEM8. THE COALIER'S DAUGHTER. THE coalier has a daughter, And O (he 's wonder bonny ! A laird he was that fought her, Rich baith in lands and money. The tutors watch'd the motion ,^ Of this young honeft lover j But love is like the ocean ; Wha can its depths difcover ? He had the art to pleafe ye, And was by a' refpe&ed ; His airs fat round him eafy, Genteel, but unaffected. The coalier's bonny laflie, Fair as the new-blown lily, Ay fweet and never faucy, Secur'd the heart of Willy. He lov'd beyond expreffion The charms that were about her, And panted for pofieffion ; His life was dull without her. After LYRIC. fl6/ After mature refolving, Clofe to his breaft he held her, In fafteft flames diffolving, He tenderly thus tell'd her : My bonny coalier's daughter, Let naithing difcompofe ye, 'Tis not your fcanty tocher Shall ever make me lofe ye ; For I have gear in plenty, And love fays, 'tis my duty To ware what heaven has lent me Upon your wit and beauty. THE MILL, MILL-O. , BENEATH a green made I fand a fair maid Was fleeping found and ftill-O, A* lowing wi* love, my fancy did rove Around her with good will-O : Her bofom I prefs'd, but, funk in her reft, She ftir'd na my joy to fpill-O : While kindly me flept, clofe to her I crept, And kifs'd, and kifs'd her my fill-O. Oblig'd 268 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Oblig'd by command in Flanders to land, T* employ my courage and {kill-O, Frae 'er quietly I ftaw, hois'd fails and awa, For wind blew fair on the hill-O. Twa years brought me hame, where loud-frafmg fame Tald me with a voice right mrill-O, My lafs, like a fool, had mounted the ftool *, Nor kend wha *d done her the ill-O. Mair fond of her charms, with my fon in her arms, I ferlying fpeer'd how (he fell-O : Wi J the tear in her eye, quoth (he, Let me die, Sweet Sir, gin I can tell-O. Love gae the command, I took her by the hand, And bad her a* fears expel-O, And nae mair look wan, for I was the man Wha had done her the deed myfell-O. My bonny fweet lafs, on the gowany grafs, Beneath the Shilling-hill-O f ; If I did offence, I 'fe make ye amends, Before I leave Peggy's mill-O. O! the mill, mill-O, and the kill, kill-O, And the cogging of the wheel-O, The fack and the fieve, a* thae ye man leave, And round with a foger reel-O. * Of repentance. f- Where they winnow the chaff from the corn. LYRIC. 269 COLIN AND GRISY PARTING. WITH broken words and downcaft eyes, Poor Colin fpoke his paflion tender, And parting with his Grify, cries, Ah ! woe 's my heart that we fhould funder. To others I am cold as fnow, But kindle with thine eyes like tinder ; From thee with pain I 'm forc'd to go, It breaks my heart that we mould funder. Chain'd to thy charms, I cannot range, No beauty new my love (hall hinder, Nor time nor place mail ever change My vows, tho' we 're oblig'd to funder. The image of thy graceful air, And beauties which invite our wonder, Thy lively wit, and prudence rare, Shall ftill be prefent, tho' we funder. i Dear nymph, believe thy fwain in this, You '11 ne'er engage a heart that 's kinder ; Then feal a promife with a kifs, Always to love me, tho' we funder. Ye gods ! take care of my dear lafs, That as I leave her I may find her, When that bleft time mall come to pafs, We '11 meet again, and never funder. 270 RAMSAY'S POEMS. TO L. L. IN MOURNING. TUNE" WHERE HELEN LIES."' AH ! why thofe tears in Nelly's eyes ? To hear thy tender fighs and cries, The gods (land lift'ning from the fkies, Pleas'd with thy piety. To mourn the dead, dear nymph, forbear, And of one dying take a care, Who views thee as an angel fair, Or fome divinity. O ! be lefs graceful, or more kind, And cool this fever of my mind, Caus'd by the boy fevere and blind, Wounded I figh for thee ; While hardly dare I hope to rife To fuch a height by Hymen's ties, To lay me down where Helen lies, And with thy charms be free. Then muft I hide my love and die, When fuch a fov'reign cure is by ? No, me can love, and I '11 go try, Whate'er my fate may be. Which foon I '11 read in her bright eyes ; With thofe dear agents I '11 advife, They tell the truth, when tongues tell lies The leaft believ'd by me. LYRIC. 271 A SCOTS CANTATA. MUSIC BY L. BOCCHJ. RECITATIVE. BLATE Jonny faintly tald fair Jean his mind - 9 Jeany took pleafure to deny him lang ; He thought her fcorn came frae a heart unkind, Which gart him in defpair tune up this fang. AIR. bonny laflie, fince 'tis fae, That I 'm defpis'd by thee, - 1 hate to live j but O ! I 'm wae And unko fweer to die. Dear Jeany, think what dowy hours I thole by your difdain ; Ah ! fhou'd a breaft fae faft as yours Contain a heart of ftane ? RECITATIVE. Thefe tender notes did a* her pity move ; With melting heart me liften'd to the boy r- O'ercome, fhe fmird, and promis'd him her love j He in return thus fang his rifmg joy. AIR. 372 RAMSAY'S POEMS. AIR. Hence frae my bread, contentious care ! Ye *ve tint the power to pine ; My Jeany 's good, my Jeany 9 s fair, And a* her fweets are mine. O ! fpread thine arms, and gi'e me fowth Of dear enchanting blifs, A thoufand joys around thy mouth, Gi'e heaven with ilka kifs. THE TOAST. COME, let *s ha'e mair wine in, Bacchus hates repining, Venus loos nae dwining, Let 's be blyth and free. Away with dull ! here t' ye, Sir ; Ye'r miftrefs, Robie, gi'e 's her j We '11 drink her health wi* pleafure, Wha 's belov'd by thee. Then let Peggy warm ye, That 's a lafs can charm ye, And to joys alarm ye 5 Sweet LYRIC. 273 Sweet is {he to me : Some angel ye wad ca* her, And never wifh ane brawer, If ye bare-headed faw her, Kiltet to the knee. Peggy a dainty lafs is, Come let 's join our glafles, And refrefli our haufes With a health to thee. Let coofs their cafh be clinking. Be ftatefmen tint in thinking, While we with love and drinking Give our cares the lie. ' A SOUTH-SEA SANG. TUNE " FOR OUR LANG BIDING HERE." . WHEN we came to London town, We dream'd of gowd in gowpings here, And rantinly ran up and down, In rifing ftocks to buy a fkair : We daftly thought to row in rowth, But for our daffin paid right dear ; The lave will fare the war in trouth, For our lang biding here. , VOL. II. T 274 RAMSAY'S POEMS. But when we fand our purfes toom, ' And dainty flocks began to fa', We hang our lugs, and wi' a gloom, Girn'd at flock-jobbing ane and a*. If we gang near the South-Sea houfe, The whillywhas will grip ye'r gear, Syne a' the lave will fare the war, For our lang biding here. HAP ME WITH THY PETTICOAT. BELL ! thy looks have kill'd my heart, I pafs the day in pain, When night returns I feel the fmart, And wifh for thee in vain. 1 'm ftarving cold, while thou art warm ; Have pity and incline, And grant me for a hap that charm- ing petticoat of thine. My ravifh'd fancy in amaze Still wanders o'er thy charms ; Delufive dreams ten thoufand ways Prefent thee to my arms : But LYRIC. 275 But waking, think what I endure, While cruel you decline Thofe pleafures which can only cure This panting breaft of mine. I faint, I fail, and wildly rove, Becaufe you ftill deny The juft reward that 's due to love, And let true paflion die. O ! turn and let compaflion feize That lovely breaft of thine ; Thy petticoat could give me eafe, If thou and it were mine. Sure heaven has fitted for delight That beauteous form of thine, And thou *rt too good its laws to flight, By hind'ring the defign. May all the powers of love agree At length to make thee mine ; Or loofe my chains, and fet me free From ev'ry charm of thine. T 2 RAMSAY'S POEMS. FY GAR RUB HER O'ER WF STRAE. GIN ye meet a bonny laffie, Gi'e her a kifs, and let her gae ; But if ye meet a dirty huffy, - Fy gar rub her o'er wi' ftrae. Be fure ye dinna quat the grip Of ilka joy, when ye are young, Before auld age your vitals nip, And lay ye twafald o'er a rung. Sweet youth 's a blyth and heartfome time ; Then, lads and lafles, while 'tis May, |Gae pu' the gowan in its prime, Before it wither and decay. Watch the faft minutes of delyte, When Jenny fpeaks beneath her breath, And kifles, laying a' the wyte On you, if me kepp dny fkaith. " Haith, ye 're ill-bred," me '11 fmiling fay, " Ye '11 worry me, ye greedy rook." Syne frae your arms fhe '11 rin away, And hide herfelf in fome dark nook. Her LYRIC. 277 Her laugh will lead you to the place, Where lies the happinefs ye want, And plainly tell you to your face, Nineteen na-fays are half a grant. Now to her heaving bofom cling, And fweetly toolie for a kifs ; Frae her fair finger whoop a ring, As taiken of a future blifs. Thefe bennifons, I 'm very fure, Are of the gods* indulgent grant : Then, furly carles, whifht, forbear To plague us with your whining cant. THE CORDIAL. . HE. WHERE wad bonny Anne ly ? Alane ye nae mair man ly : Wad ye a goodman try ? Is that the thing ye 're laking ? SHE. Can a lafs fae young as I Venture on the bridal tye, Syne down with a goodman ly ? I 'm fleed he 'd keep me wauking. T 3 HE, 278 RAMSAY'S POEMS, HE. Never judge until ye try, Mak me your goodman, I Shanna hinder you to ly, And fleep till ye be weary. SHE, What if I fliould wauking ly, When the hautboys are gawn by, Will ye tent me when I cry, My dear, I *m faint and iry ? HE. In my bofom thou mall ly, When thou waukrife art or dry, Healthy cordial {landing by, Shall prefently revive thee. SHE. To your will I then comply, Join us, prieft, and let me try How I '11 wi' a goodman ly, Wha can a cordial gi' me. LYRIC. 279 .. ALLAN WATER. WHAT numbers fliall the mufe repeat, What verfe be found to praife my Annie ? On her ten thoufand graces wait, Each fwain admires, and owns me 's bonny. Since firft me trod the happy plain, She fet each youthful heart on fire ; Each nymph does to her fwain complain, That Annie kindles new defire. This lovely darling, deareft care, This new delight, this charming Annie, Like fummer's dawn me J s freih and fair, When Flora's fragrant breezes fan ye. All day the am'rous youths conveen, Joyous they fport and play before her ; All night, when (he no more is feen, In blifsful dreams they ftill adore her. . Among the crowd Amyntor came, He look'd, he lov'd, he bow'd to Annie ; His rifing fighs exprefs his flame, His words were few, his wiihes many. T 4 With p. RAMSAY'S POEMS. With fmiles the lovely maid reply'd, Kind fhepherd, why fhould I deceive ye ? Alas ! your love muft be deny'd, This deftin'd bread can ne'er relieve ye. Young Damon came with Cupid's art, His wiles, his fmiles, his charms beguiling, He ftole away my virgin heart ; Ceafe, poor Amyntor, ceafe bewailing. Some brighter beauty you may find, On yonder plain the nymphs are many ; Then chufe fome heart that 's unconfin'd, And leave to Damon his own Annie. O MARY! THY GRACES AND GLANCES. O MARY ! thy graces and glances, Thy fmiles fo enchantingly gay, And thoughts fo divinely harmonious, Clear wit and good humour difplay. But fay not thou 'It imitate angels Ought fairer, tho' fcarcely (ah me!) Can be found, equalizing thy merit, A match amongft mortals for thce. Thy LYRIC. 28l Thy many fair beauties fhed fires May warm up ten thoufand to love, Who, defpairing, may fly to fome other, While I may defpair, but ne'er rove. What a mixture of fighing and joys This diftant adoring of thee Gives to a fond heart too afpiring, Who loves in fad filence like me ? Thus looks the poor beggar on treafure 5 And fhipwreck'd on landfcapes on more : Be ftill more divine, and have pity j I die foon as hope is no more. For, Mary, my foul is thy captive, Nor loves nor expefts to be free j Thy beauties are fetters delightful, Thy Havery 's a pleafure to me. 282 RAMSAY'S POEMS. THIS IS NO MY AIN HOUSE. THIS is no mine ain houfe, I ken by the rigging o't ; Since with my love I *ve changed vows, I dinna like the bigging o't : For now that I J m young Robie's bride, And miftrefs of his fire-fide, Mine ain houfe I '11 like to guide, And pleafe me with the trigging o't. Then farewell to my father's houfe, I gang where love invites me j The ftriaeft duty this allows, When love with honour meets me. When Hymen moulds us into ane, My Robie *s nearer than my kin, And to refufe him were a fin, Sae lang *s he kindly treats me. When I *m in mine ain houfe, True love mail be at hand ay, To make me ftill a prudent fpoufe, And let my man command ay ; Avoiding ilka caufe of ftrife, The common peft of married life, That makes ane wearied of his wife, And breaks the kindly band ay. X.YRIC. 283 MY DADDY FORBAD, MY MINNY FORBAD. WHEN I think on my lad, I figh and am fad, For now he is far frae me : My daddy was harih, My minny was warfe, That gart him gae yont the fea : Without an eftate, That made him look blate, And yet a brave lad is he : Gin fafe he come hame, In fpite of my dame, He J ll ever be welcome to me. Love fpeers nae advice Of parents o'erwife, That have but ae bairn like me, That looks upon cafh As naithing but tram, That fliackles what mou'd be free. And tho* my dear lad Not ae penny had, Since qualities better has he, Abeit I 'm an heirefs, I think it but fair is To love him, fince he loves me. Then 284 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Then my dear Jamie, To thy kind Jeanie Hafte, hafte thee in o'er the fea, To her wha can find Nae eafe in her mind, Without a blyth fight of thee. Tho' my daddy forbad, And my minny forbad, Forbidden I will not be ; For fmce thou alone My favour haft won, Nane elfe mall e'er get it for me. Yet them I *11 not grieve, Or without their leave, Gi'e my hand as a wife to thee : Be content with a heart That can never defert, Till they ceafe to oppofe or be : My parents may prove Yet friends to our love, When our firm refolves they fee ; Then I with pleafure Will yield up my treafure, And a' that love orders, to thee. ' , LYRIC. 285 ' STEER HER UP AND HAD HER GAWN, O STEER her up and had her gawn, Her mither 's at the mill, jo ; But gin fhe winna tak a man, E'en let her tak her will, jo. Pray thee, lad, leave filly thinking, Caft thy cares of love away ; Let 's our forrows drown in drinking, J Tis daffin langer to delay. See that fhining glafs of claret, How invitingly it looks ! Take it aff, and let *s have mair o't, Pox on fighting, trade, and books. Let *s have pleafure while we 're able, Bring us in the meikle bowl, Place \ on the middle of the table, And let wind and weather gowl. Call the drawer, let him fill it Fou as ever it can hold : O tak tent ye dinna fpill it, 'Tis mair precious far than gold. By you J ve drunk a dozen bumpers, Bacchus will begin to prove, Spite of Venus and her mumpers, Drinking better is than love. 286 RAMSAY'S POEMS. CLOUT THE CALDRON. HAVE you any pots or pans, Or any broken chandlers ? I am a tinkler to my trade, And newly come frae Flanders : As leant of filler as of grace, Difbanded, we 've a bad run ; Gae tell the lady of the place, I 'm come to clout her caldron. Fa adrie, didle, didle, &c. Madam, if you have wark for me, I J ll do 't to your contentment, And dinna care a lingle flea For any man's refentment : For, lady fair, tho' I appear To every ane a tinkler, Yet to yourfell I 'm bauld to tell, I am a gentle jrnker. Fa adrie, didle, didle, &c. Love Jupiter into a fwan Turn'd, for his lovely Leda ; He like a bull o'er meadows ran To carry off Europa : Then LYRIC. 287 Then may not I as well as he, To cheat your Argos blinker, And win your love, like mighty Jove, Thus hide me in a tinkler ? Fa adrie, didle, didle, &c. Sir, ye appear a cunning man, But this fine plot you '11 fail in, For there is neither pot nor pan Of mine you '11 drive a nail in. Then bind your budget on your back, And nails up in your apron, For I 've a tinkler under tack, That 's us'd to clout my caldron. Fa adrie, didle, didle, &c. THE MALTMAN. THE maltman comes on Monday, He craves wonder fair, Cries, Dame, come gi'e me my filler, Or malt ye fall ne'er get mair. I took him into the pantry, And gave him fome good cock-broo, Syne paid him upon a gantree, As hoftler wives mould do. When 288 RAMSAY'S POEMS. When maltmen come for filler, And gaugers with wands o'er foon, Wives, tak them a* down to the cellar, And clear them as I have done. This bewith, when cunzie is fcanty, Will keep them frae making din, The knack I learn'd frae an auld aunty, The fnackeft of a* my kin. The maltman is right cunning, But I can be as flee, And he may crack of his winning, When he clears fcores with me : For come when he likes, I *m ready ; But if frae hame I be, Let him wait on our kind lady, She '11 anfwer a bill for me. LYRIC. 289 BONNY BESSY. BESSY'S beauties fhine fae bright, Were her many virtues fewer, She wad ever give delight, And in tranfport make me view her. Bonny Beffy, thee alane Love I, naithing elfe about thee ; With thy comelinefs I 'm tane, And langer cannot live without thee. Befiy's bofom 's faft and warm, Milk-white fingers ftill employ'd j He who takes her to his arm, Of her fweets can ne'er be cloy'd. My dear Befly, when the rofes Leave thy cheek, as thou grows aulder, Virtue, which thy mind difclofes, Will keep love frae growing caulder. Befly's tocher is but fcanty, Yet her face and foul difcovers Thefe inchanting fweets in plenty Muft entice a thoufand lovers. It 's not money, but a woman Of a temper kind and eafy, That gives happinefs uncommon ; Petted things can nought but teez ye. VOL. II. U 290 RAMSAY'S POEMS. THE QUADRUPLE ALLIANCE, SWIFT, Sandy, Young, and Gay, Are ftill my heart's delight, I fmg their fangs by day, And read their tales at night. If frae their books I be, 'Tis dullnefs then with me ; But when thefe ftars appear, Jokes, fmiles, and wit mine clear. Swift, with uncommon flile, And wit that flows with eafe, Inftrufts us with a fmile, And never fails to pleafe. Bright Sandy greatly fmgs Of heroes, gods, and kings : He well defer ves the bays, And ev'ry Briton's praife. While thus our Homer mines ; Young, with Horacian flame, Corre&s thefe falfe defigns We pufli in love of fame. Blyth LYRIC. 291 Blyth Gay, in pawky drains, Makes villains, clowns, and fwains Reprove, with biting leer, Thofe in a higher fphere. Swift, Sandy, Young, and Gay, Long may you give delight ; Let all the dunces bray, You 're far above their fpite : Such, from a malice four, Write nonfenfe, lame and poor, Which never can fucceed, For who the tram will read ? THE COMPLAINT. " WHEN ABSENT FROM THE NYMPH I LOVE." . WHEN abfent from the nymph I love, I 'd fain make off the chains I wear ; But whilft I drive thefe to remove, More fetters I J m obliged to bear : My captiv'd fancy, day and night, Fairer and fairer reprefents Belinda, form'd for dear delight, But cruel caufe of my complaints. u 2 All 2 RAMSAY'S POEMS. All day I wander thro* the groves, And, fighing, hear from every tree The happy birds chirping their loves, Happy compar'd with lonely me. When gentle fleep with balmy wings To left fans ev'ry weary'd wight, A thoufand fears my fancy brings, That keep me watching all the night. Sleep flies, while like the goddefs fair, And all the graces in her train, With melting fmiles and killing air, Appears the caufe of all my pain. A while my mind delighted flies O'er all her fweets with thrilling joy, Whilft want of worth makes doubts arife, That all my trembling hopes deftroy. Thus while my thoughts are fix'd on her, I 'm all o'er tranfport and defire, My pulfe beats high, my cheeks appear All rofes, and mine eyes all fire. When to myfelf I turn my view, My veins grow chill, my cheeks look wan Thus whilft my fears my pains renew, I fcarcely look or move a man. LYRIC. 293 THE CARLE HE CAME O'ER THE CROFT. THE carle he came o'er the croft, And his beard new {haven, He look'd at me as he 'd been daft, The carle trows that I wad hae him. Howt awa ! I winna hae him, Na forfooth I winna hae him, For a* his beard 's new Ihaven, Ne'er a bit will I hae him. A filler broach he gae me nieft, To faften on my curtchea nooked ; 1 wor'd a wee upon my breaft, But foon, alake ! the tongue o't crooked ; And fae may his : I winna hae him, Na forfooth I winna hae him ; Ane twice a bairn 5 s a lafs's jeft ; Sae ony fool for me may hae him. The carle has nae fault but ane, For he has land and dollars plenty ; But waes me for him ! fkin and bane Is no for a plump lafs of twenty. Howt awa ! I winna hae him, Na forfooth I winna hae him ; What fignifies his dirty riggs And cafh, without a man with them ? u 3 But 294 RAMSAY'S POEMS. But fhou'd my canker'd daddy gar Me take him 'gainft my inclination, I warn the fumbler to beware, That antlers dinna claim their ftation. Howt awa ! I winna hae him, Na forfooth I winna hae him ; I *m flee'd to crack the haly band, Sae Lawty fays I fhou'd na hae him. MITHER DEAR ! I 'GIN TO FEAR. CHORUS. UP flairs, down flairs, Timber flairs fear me ; 1 J m laith to ly a* night my lane, And Johny's bed fae near me. mither dear ! I 'gin to fear, Tho* I 'm baith good and bonny, 1 winna keep ; for in my fleep I ftart and dream of Johny. When Johny then comes down the glen To woo me, dinna hinder ; But with content gi'e your confent, For we twa ne'er can finder. Better LYRIC. * Better to marry than mifcarry, For fhame and fkaith 's the clink o't j To thole the dool, to mount the flool, I downa bide to think o't : Sae while 'tis time, I '11 fhun the crime, That gars poor Epps gae whinging, With hainches fow, and een fae blew, To a* the bedrals bindging. < Had Eppy's apron bidden down, The kirk had ne'er a kend it ; But when the word 's gane thro' the town, Alake ! how can (he mend it ? Now Tarn man face the minifter, And fhe man mount the pillar ; And that 's the way that they man gae, For poor folk has na filler. , Now ha'd ye'r tongue, my daughter young, Replied the kindly mither $ Get Johny's hand in haly band, Syne wap ye'r wealth together. I 'm o* the mind, if he be kind, Ye '11 do your part difcreedy, And prove a wife will gar his life And barrel run right fweetly. ' u 4 RAMSAY'S POEMS. A SONG. BUSK ye, bufk ye, my bonny bride ; Bulk ye, bufk ye, my bonny marrow ; Bufk ye, bufk ye, my bonny bride, Bufk, and go to the braes of Yarrow ; There will we fport and gather dew, Dancing while lavrocks fmg the morning ; There learn frae turtles to prove true : Bell ! ne'er vex me with thy fcorning. To weftlin breezes. Flora yields, And when the beams are kindly warming, Blythnefs appears o'er all the fields, And nature looks mair frefh and charming. Learn frae the burns that trace the mead, Tho' on their banks the rofes bloflbm. Yet haftily they flow to Tweed, And pour their fweetnefs in his bofom. Hafte ye, hafte ye, my bonny Bell, Hafle to my arms, and there I '11 guard thee ; With free confent my fears repel, 1 '11 with my love and care reward thee. Thus fang I faftly to my fair, Wha rais'd my hopes with kind relenting, O queen of fmiles ! I afk nae mair, Since now my bonny Bell 's confenting. LYRIC. 297 THE HIGHLAND LASSIE. THE Lawland maids gang trig and fine, But aft they 're four and unco faucy ; Sae proud they never can be kind, Like my good-humour'd Highland laffie. O my bonny, bonny Highland laffie, My hearty fmiling Highland laffie, May never care make thee lefs fair, But bloom of youth ftill blefs my laffie. Than ony lafs in borrows-town, Wha mak their cheeks with patches mode, I 'd tak my Katie but a gown, Barefooted, in her little coatie. O my bonny, &c. Beneath the brier or brecken bum, Whene'er I kifs and court my dautie, Happy and blyth as ane wad wifh, My flighteren heart gangs pittie-pattie. O my bonny, &c. O'er higheft heathery hills I '11 flen, With cockit gun and ratches tenty, To drive the deer out of their den, To feafl my lafs on dimes dainty. O my bonny, &c. There ' 298 RAMSAY'S POEMS. There *s nane (hall dare, by deed or word, ' 'Gainft her to wag a tongue or finger, While I can wield my trufty fword, Or frae my fide whilk out a whinger, O my bonny, &c. ,* '");<>( ~D fill .-;/:"! The mountains clad with purple bloom, And berries ripe, invite my treafure To range with me ; let great fowk gloom, While wealth and pride confound their plea- fure. O my bonny, &c. THE AULD MAN'S BEST ARGUMENT, O WHA 's that at my chamber door ? " Fair widow, are ye wawking ?" Auld carle, your fuit give o'er, Your love lies a* in tawking : Gi'e me the lad that 's young and tight, Sweet like an April meadow ; 'Tis fie as he can blefs the fight And bofom of a widow. " O widow ! LYRIC. 299 " O widow ! wilt thou let me in, " I 'm pawky, wife, and thrifty, " And come of a right gentle kin ; " I 'm little mair than fifty." Daft carle, dit your mouth, What fignifies how pawky, Or gentle born ye be ; but youth, In love you 're but a gawky. " Then, widow, let thefe guineas fpeak, " That powerfully plead clinkan ; " And if they fail my mouth I '11 fteek, " And nae mair love will think on." Thefe court indeed, I man confefs, I think they make you young, Sir, And ten times better can exprefs Affection, than your tongue, Sir. j ; 300 RAMSAY'S POEMS. TO MRS. A. C. " WHEN BEAUTY BLAZES." WHEN beauty blazes heavenly bright, The mufe can no more ceafe to fmg, Than can the lark, with rifing light, Her notes negleft with drooping wing. The morning mines, harmonious birds mount hy ; The dawning beauty fmiles, and poets fly. Young Annie's budding graces claim The infpir'd thought, and fofteft lays, And kindle in the breaft a flame, Which muft be vented in her praife. Tell us, ye gentle fhepherds, have you feen E'er one fo like an angel tread the green ? Ye youth, be watchful of your hearts, When fhe appears, take the alarm j Love on her beauty points his darts, And wings an arrow from each charm. Around her eyes and fmiles the graces fport, And to her fnowy neck and breaft refort. But LYRIC* 301 But vain muft every caution prove ; When fuch enchanting fweetnefs fhines, The wounded fwain muft yield to love, And wonder, tho' he hopelefs pines. Such flames the foppifh butterfly mould mun ; The eagle 's only fit to view the fun. She 's as the opening lilly fair, Her lovely features are complete ; Whilft heaven indulgent makes her (hare, With angels, all that 's wife and fweet. Thefe virtues which divinely deck her mind, Exalt each beauty of th* inferior kind. Whether (he love the rural fcenes, Or fparkle in the airy town, O ! happy he her favour gains ; Unhappy, if (he on him frown. The mufe unwilling quits the lovely theme, Adieu fhe fings, and thrice repeats her name. ' 302 RAMSAY'S POEMS. I HAVE A GREEN PURSE, AND A WEE PICKLE GOWD. I HAVE a green purfe, and a wee pickle gowd, A bonny piece land and planting on 't, It fattens my flocks, and my bairns it has ftow'd ; But the beft thing of a's yet wanting on J t ; To grace it, and trace it, And gi'e me delight ; To blefs me, and kifs me, And comfort my fight With beauty by day, and kindnefs by night, And nae mair my lane gang faunt'ring on 't. My Chrifty (he 's charming, and good as me 's fair, Her een and her mouth are enchanting fweet j She fmiles me on fire, her frowns gi'e defpair j I love while my heart gaes panting wi't. Thou faireft, and deareft, Delight of my mind, Whofe gracious embraces By heaven were defign'd For happieft tranfports, and blifles refin'd, Nae langer delay thy granting fweet. For LrYRIC. 303 For thee, bonny Chrifty, my fhepherds and hynds Shall carefully make the year's dainties thine : Thus freed frae laigh care, while love fills our minds, Our days mall with pleafure and plenty fliine. Then hear me, and cheer me With fmiling confent, Believe me, and give me No caufe to lament ; Since I ne'er can be happy till thou fay, Content, I 'm pleas'd with my Jamie, and he mall be mine. , ON THE MARRIAGE OF LORD G. AND LADY K. C. TUNE " THE HIGHLAND LADDIE." BRIGANTIUS. Now all thy virgin fweets are mine, And all the mining charms that grace thee j My fair Melinda, come recline Upon my breaft, while I embrace thee, And tell, without diffembling art, My happy raptures on thy bofom : Thus will I plant within thy heart A love that mail for ever bloflbm. . CHORUS. 304 RAMSAY'S POEMS. zl/rryrf -bns -dr.. ' ) ?f?noH & CHORUS. O the happy, happy, brave, and bonny ! Sure the gods well pleas'd behold ye ; Their work admire, fo great, fo fair, And will in all your joys uphold ye. MELINDA. No more I blufli, now that I 'm thine, To own my love in tranfport tender, Since that fo brave a man is mine, To my Brigantius I furrender. By facred ties I 'm now to move, As thy exalted thoughts direct me ; And while my fmiles engage thy love, Thy manly greatnefs mall proteft me. CHORUS. O the happy, &c. BRIGANTIUS. Soft fall thy words, like morning dew New life on blowing flowers bedewing : Thus kindly yielding, makes me bow To heaven, with fpirit grateful glowing. My LYRIC. 305 My honour, courage, wealth, and wit, Thou dear delight, my chiefeft treafure, Shall be employ'd as thou thinks fit, As agents for our love and pleafure. CHORUS. O the happy, &c. MEL1NDA. With my Brigantius I could live In lonely cot, befide a mountain, And nature's eafy wants relieve With fhepherds* fare, and quaff the fountain. What pleafes thee, the rural grove, Or congrefs of the fair and witty, Shall give me pleafure with thy love, In plains retir'd, or focial city. CHORUS. O the happy, &c. ' BRIGANTIUS. How fweetly canft thou charm my foul, O lovely fum of my defires ! Thy beauties all my cares controul, Thy virtue all that 's good infpires. VOL. ii. x Tune 306 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Tune every inftrument of found, Which all the mind divinely raifes, Till every height and dale rebound, Both loud and fweet, my darling's praifes. CHORUS. O the happy, &Cr MELINDA. Thy love gives me the brighteft fhine, My happinefs is now completed, Since all that 's generous, great, and fine, In my Brigantius is united ; For which I '11 fludy thy delight, With kindly tale the time beguiling ; And round the change of day and night, Fix throughout life a conftant fmiling. CHORUS. O the happy, &c. LYRIC* 307 JENNY NETTLES. SAW ye Jenny Nettles, Jenny Nettles, Jenny Nettles ; Saw ye Jenny Nettles, Coming frae the market ; Bag and baggage on her back, Her fee and bountith in her lap j Bag and baggage on her back, And a babie in her oxter ? I met ayont the cairny Jenny Nettles, Jenny Nettles, Singing till her bairny, Robin Rattle's baftard. To flee the dool upo' the flool, And ilka ane that mocks her, She round about feeks Robin out, To flap it in his oxter. ' Fy, fy ! Robin Rattle, Robin Rattle, Robin Rattle ; Fy, fy ! Robin Rattle, Ufe Jenny Nettles kindly : Score out the blame, and fhun the fhame, And without mair debate o't, Take hame your wean, make Jenny fain, The leel and leefome gate o't. X 2 308 RAMSAY'S POEMS. FOR THE SAKE OF SOMEBODY. FOR the fake of fomebody, For the fake of fomebody, I cou'd wake a winter night For the fake of fomebody. I am gawn to feek a wife, I am gawn to buy a plaidy ; I have three ftane of woo, Carling, is thy daughter ready ? For the fake of fomebody, &c. Betty, laffie, fay 't thyfell, Tho' thy dame be ill to moo, Firft we '11 buckle, then we '11 tell, Let her flyte and fyne come too : What fignifies a mither's gloom, When love and kiffes come in play ? Shou'd we wither in our bloom, And in fimmer mak nae hay ? For the fake, &c. SHE. LYRIC. 309 SHE. Bonny lad, I carena by, Tho' I try my luck with thee, Since ye are content to tye The haff mark bridal band wi' me : I '11 flip hame and wafli my feet, And fteal on linnings fair and clean, Syne at the tryfting-place we '11 meet, To do but what my dame has done. For the fake, &c. HE. Now my lovely Betty gives Confent in fie a heartfome gate, It me frae a* my care relieves, And doubts that gart me aft look blate Then let us gang and get the grace, For they that have an appetite Shou'd eat ; and lovers fhou'd embrace ; If thefe be faults, 'tis nature's wyte. For the fake, &c. S ' 3 io RAMSAY'S POEMS. THE GENEROUS GENTLEMAN. TUNE " THE BONNY LASS OF BRANKSOW As I came in by Tiviot fide, And by the braes of Brankfome, There firft I faw my bonny bride, Young, fmiling, fweet, and handfome : Her ikin was fafter than the down, And white as alabafter ; Her hair a mining wavy brown ; In ftraightnefs nane furpaft her. Life glow'd upon her lip and cheek, Her clear een were furprifing, And beautifully turn'd her neck, Her little breads juft rifing : Nae filken hofe with gurnets fine, Or moon with glancing laces, On her fair leg forbad to mine, Well fhapen native graces. Ae little coat, and bodice white, Was fum of a* her claithing ; Even thefe o'er'mickle ; mair delyte She 'd given cled wi* naithing. She J.YRIC, 3 11 She lean'd upon a flow'ry brae, By which a burnie trotted ; On her I glowr'd my faul away, While on her fweets I dotted. A thoufand beauties of defert Before had fcarce alarm'd me, Till this dear artlefs ftruck my heart, And but defigning, eharm'd me. Hurry'd by love, clofe to my bread I grafp'd this fund of blifles ; Wha fmil'd, and faid, without a prieft, Sir, hope for nought but kifles. I had nae heart to do her harm, And yet I couldna want her ; What (he demanded, ilka charm Of her's pled, I mould grant her. Since heaven had dealt to me a routh, Straight to the kirk I led her, There plighted her my faith and troth, And a young lady made her. 1 312 RAMSAY'S POEMS. THE COCK LAIRD. A COCK laird fou cadgie, With Jenny did meet, He haws'd her, he kifs'd her, And ca'd her his fweet. Wilt thou gae alang Wi' me, Jenny, Jenny ? Thoufe be my ane lemmane, Jo Jenny, quoth he. If I gae alang wi* ye, Ye manna fail, To feaft me with caddels And good hacket-kail. The deel *s in your nicety, Jenny, quoth he ; Mayna bannocks of bear-meal Be as good for thee ? And I man hae pinners With pearling fet round, A Ikirt of puddy, And a waftcoat of broun. Awa LYRIC. 313 Awa with fie vanities, Jenny, quoth he, For kurchis and kirtles Are fitter for thee. My lairdfhip can yield me .As meikle a year, As had us in pottage And good knockit beer : But having nae tenants, O Jenny, Jenny ! To buy ought I ne'er have A penny, quoth he. The borrowftoun merchants Will fell ye on tick, For we man hae braw things, Abeit they foud break. When broken, frae care The fools are fet free, When we make them lairds In the Abbey, quoth me. 314 RAMSAY'S POEMS. c ?nirii;7 pA sliiY; jr.vA LET MEANER BEAUTIES USE THEIR ART, LET meaner beauties ufe their art, And range both Indies for their drefs j Our fair can captivate the heart, In native weeds, nor look the lefs. More bright unborrow'd beauties ftiine, The artlefs fweetnefs of each face Sparkles with luftres more divine, When freed of every foreign grace. The tawny nymph, on fcorching plains, May ufe the aid of gems and paint, Deck with brocade and Tyrian flains Features of ruder form and taint : What Calecjonian ladies wear, Or from the lint or woolen twine, Adorn'd by all their fweets, appear Whate'er we can imagine fine. Apparel neat becomes the fair, The dirty drefs may lovers cool, But clean, our maids need have no care, If clad in linen, filk, or wool. T* adore Myrtilla who can ceafe ? Her active charms our praife demand, Clad in a mantua, from the fleece Spun by her own delightful hand. Who LYRIC. 315 Who can behold Califta's eyes, Her bread, her cheek, and fnowy arms, And mind what artifts can devife To rival more fuperior charms ? Compared with thofe, the diamond 's dull, Lawns, fatins, and the velvets fade, The foul with her attractions full Can never be by thefe betray'd. Saphira, all o'er native fweets, Not the falfe glare of drefs regards, Her wit her character completes, Her fmile her lover's fighs rewards, When fuch firft beauties lead the way, The inferior rank will follow foon $ Then arts no longer mail decay, But trade encouraged be in tune. Millions of fleeces mail be wove, And flax that gn the vallies blooms, Shall make the naked nations love And blefs the labours of our looms. We have enough, nor want from them But trifles hardly worth our care ; Yet for thefe trifles let them claim What food and cloth we have to fpare. How happy 's Scotland in her fair ! Her amiable daughters mail, J3y acting thus with virtuous care, Again the golden age recal : Enjoying 316 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Enjoying them, Edina ne'er Shall mifs a court ; but foon advance In wealth, when thus the lov'd appear Around the fcenes, or in the dance. Barbarity mall yield to fenfe, And lazy pride to ufeful arts, When fuch dear angels in defence Of virtue thus engage their hearts. Bleft guardians of our joys and wealth ! True fountains of delight and love ! Long bloom your charms, fixt be your health, Till, tir'd with earth, you mount above. EPISTOLARY. . - . AN EPISTLE TO ALLAN RAMSAY, BY JOSIAH BURCUET, ESCJ. WELL fare thee, Allan, who in mother tongue So fweetly hath of breathlefs Addie fung : His endlefs fame thy nat'ral genius fir'd, And thou haft written as if he infpir'd. Richy and Sandy, who do him furvive, Long as thy rural ftanzas laft, mail live ; The grateful fwains thou 'ft made, in tuneful verfe, Mourn fadly o'er their late, loft patron's hearfe. Nor would the Mantuan bard, if living, blame Thy pious zeal, or think thou 'ft hurt his fame, Since Addifon's inimitable lays Give him an equal title to the bays. When 32O RAMSAY'S POEMS. When he of armies fang in lofty (trains, It feem'd as if he in the hoftile plains Had prefent been ; his pen hath to the life Trac'd every a&ion in the fanguine flrife. In council now fedate the chief appears, Then loudly thunders in Bavarian ears ; And ftill purfuing the deftructive theme, He putties them into the rapid ftream : Thus beaten out of Blenheim's neighboring fields, The Gallic gen'ral to the victor yields, Who, as Britannia's Virgil hath obferv'd, From threatened fate all Europe then preferv'd. Nor doft thou, Ramfay, fightlefs Milton wrong, By ought contained in thy melodious fong j For none but Addie could his thoughts fublime So well unriddle, or his myftic rhyme. And when he deign'd to let his fancy rove Where fun-burnt fhepherds to the nymphs make love, No one e'er told in fofter notes the tales Of rural pleafures in the fpangled vales. So much, O Allan ! I thy lines revere, Such veneration to his mem'ry bear, That I no longer- could my thanks refrain For what thou 'ft fung of the lamented fwain. EPISTOLARY. 32 J ' v ' ',':-. t.-rj' ;*;rJ ; THE ANSWER TO THE FOREGOING. THIRSTING for fame, at the Pierian fpring, The poet takes a waught, then 'feys to fmg Nature, and with the tended view to hit Her bonny fide with bauldeft turns of wit. Streams flide in verfe, in verfe the mountains rife j When earth turns room, he rummages the Ikies, Mounts up beyond them, paints the fields of reft, Doups down to vifit ilka lawland ghaift. O heai tfome labour ! wordy time and pains ! That frae the bed efteem and friendmip gains : Be that my luck, and let the greedy bike, Stock-job the warld among them as they like. In blyth braid Scots allow me, Sir, to (haw My gratitude, but * fleetching or a flaw. May rowth o* pleafures light upon you lang, Till to the bleft Elyfian bow'rs ye gang, Wha 've clapt my head fae brawly for my fang. When honour'd Burchet and his maikes are pleasM With my corn-pipe, up to the ftars I 'm heez'd ; Whence * " But" is frequently ufed for " without ;" i. e. without flattering. VOL. II. Y 322 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Whence far I glowr to the fag-end of time, And view the warld delighted wi* my rhyme : That when the pride of fprufh new words are laid, I, like the claffic authors, fhall be read. Stand yond, proud czar, I wadna niffer fame With thee, for a* thy furs and paughty name. If fie great ferlies, Sir, rny mufe can do, As fpin a three-plait praife where it is due, Frae me there 's nane deferves it mair than you. Frae me ! frae ilka ane j for fure a breaft Sae gen'rous is, of a* that 's good pofleft ! Till I can ferve ye mair, I '11 wifh ye weel, And aft in fparkling claret drink your heal ; Minding the mem'ry of the great and good Sweet Addifon, the wale of human blood, Wha fell (as Horace anes faid to his billy) " Nulli flebilior quam tibi Virgili." EPISTOLARY. 323 1719. SEVEN FAMILIAR EPISTLES, WHICH PASSED BETWEEN tlEUT. HAMILTON * AND THE AUTHOR. EPISTLE I. GlLBERTFlELD, June !l6th, I?!^ FAM'D and celebrated Allan ! Renown'd Ramfay ! canty callan ! There 's nowther Highland-man nor Lawlan, In poetrie, But may as foon ding down Tamtallan f, As match wi* thee. For ten times ten, and that 's a hunder, 1 ha'e been made to gaze and wonder, When frae Parnaffus thou didfl thunder, Wi' wit and fkill ; Wherefore I '11 foberly knock under, And quat my quill. Of * For fome account of this gentleman, fee the Life of Ramfay prefixed* f An old caftle upon the firth of Forth in Eaft Lothian. Y 2 $24 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Of poetry the hail quintefcence Thou haft fuck'd up, left nae excrefcence To petty poets, or fie meffens, Tho* round thy ftool They may pick crumbs, and lear fome leflbns At Ramfay's fchool. Tho* Ben * and Dryden of renown Were yet alive in London town, Like kings contending for a crown, 'Twad be a pingle, Whilk o' you three wad gar words found And beft to gingle. Transferred may I be to a rat, Wer't in my pow'r, but I 'd create Thee upo* fight the laureat f Of this our age, Since thou may 'ft fairly claim to that As thy juft wage. Let * The celebrated Ben Jonfon. { Scots Ramfay prefs'd hard, and fturdily vaunted, He 'd fight for the laurel before he would want it f But rifit Apollo, and cry'd, Peace there, old ftile, Your wit is obfcure to one half of the ifle. B. SESS. OF POETS. EPISTOLARY. 325 Let modern poets bear the blame, Gin they refpeft not Ramfay's name, Wha foon can gar them greet for fhame, To their great lofs, And fend them a* right fneaking hame Be Weeping-crofs. Wha bourds wi* thee had need be wary, And lear wi' Ikill thy thruft to parry, When thou confults thy di&ionary Of ancient words, Which come from thy poetic quarry As fharp as fwords, Now tho* I mould baith reel and rottle, And be as light as Ariftotle, At Ed'nburgh we fall ha'e a bottle Of reaming claret, Gin that my half-pay * filler mottle Can fafely fpare it. At * He had held his commiffion honourably in Lord Hynd- ford's regiment. And may the ftars who fliine aboon, With honour notice real merit, Be to my friend aufpicious foon, And cherifh ay fae fine a fpirit. Y 3 RAMSAY'S POEMS. At crambo then we '11 rack our brain, Drown ilk dull care and aking pain, Whilk aften does our fpirits drain Of true content ; Woy, woy ! but we's be wonder fain, When thus acquaint. Wi f wine we '11 gargarize bur craig, Then enter in a lading league, Free of ill afpeft or intrigue ; And, gin you pleafe it, Like princes when met at the Hague, We *11 folemnize it. Accept of this, and look upon it With favour, tho* poor I *ve done it ; Sae I conclude and end my fonnet, Who am moft fully, While I do wear a hat or bonnet, Yours, WANTON WILLY. POST- EPISTOLARY. 327 POSTSCRIPT. By this my poftfcript I incline To let you ken my hail defign Of fie a long imperfect line Lies in this fentence, To cultivate my dull engine By your acquaintance. Your anfwer therefore I expect ; And to your friend you may direct At Gilbertfield * ; do not neglect, When ye have leifure, Which I '11 embrace with great refpect, And perfect pleafure. * Nigh Glafgow. Y 4 328 RAMSAY'S POEMS. ANSWER 1. EDINBURGH, July loth, 1719. SONSE fa* me, witty, Wanton Willy, Gin blyth I was na as a filly ; Not a fou pint, nor fhort-hought gilly, Or wine that J s better, Cou'd pleafe fae meikle, my dear Billy, As thy kind letter. Before a lord and eik a knight, In gofly Don's be candle-light, There firfl I faw 't, and ca'd it right, And the maift feck Wha J s feen 't finfyne, they ca'd as tight As that on Heck. Ha, heh ! thought I, I canna fay But I may cock my nofe the day, When Hamilton the bauld and gay Lends me a heezy, In verfe that flides fae fmooth away, Well tell'd and eafy. Sae EPISTOLARY, 329 Sae roos'd by ane of well-kend mettle, Nae fma' did my ambition pettle, My canker'd critics it will nettle, And e'en fae be 't : This month I 'm fure I winna fettle, Sae proud I 'm wi't. When I begoud firft to cun verfe, And cou'd your Ardry whins * rehearfe, Where Bonny Heck ran faft and fierce, It warm'd my bread ; Then emulation did me pierce, Whilk fince ne'er ceaft. May I be licket wi* a bittle, Gin of your numbers I think little, Ye 're never rugget, man, nor kittle, But blyth and gabby, And hit the fpirit to a tittle OfftaridartHabbyf. Ye 'II * The laft words of " Bonny Heck," of which he was the author. It is printed in a Choice Colle&ion of Comic and Serious Stots Poems, by Watfon, Edinburgh, 1 706. f The elegy on Habby Simpfon, piper of Kilbarchan ; a finifhed piece of its kind, which was printed in the fame Choice Collection. 330 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Ye '11 quat your quill Ithat were ill, Willy, Ye's fmg fome mair yet nill ye will ye, O'er meikle haining wad but fpill ye, . And gar ye four ; Then up and war them a* yet, Willy, 'Tis in your pow'r. To knit up dollars in a clout, And then to card them round about, Syne to tell up, they downa lout To lift the gear ; The malifon lights on that rout, Is plain and clear. The chiels of London, Cam, and Ox, Ha'e rais'd up great poetic flocks Of Rapes, of Buckets, Sarks, and Locks, While we neglect To fhaw their betters ; this provokes Me to reflect On the lear'd days of Gawn Dunkell* ; Our country then a tale cou'd tell, Europe * Gawn Douglafs, the brother of the earl of Angus, the biflibp of Dunkell, who, befides feveral original poems, hath left a moft exaft translation of Virgil's JEneis into the Scotifh language of his age : he died in 1522. EPISTOLARY. 331 Europe had nane mair mack and fnell At verfe or profe : Our kings * were poets too themfell, Bauld and jocofe. To Edinburgh, Sir, whene'er ye come, I '11 wait upon ye, there 's my thumb, Were 't frae the gill-bells to the drum f, And tak* a bout, And faith I hope we '11 not fit dumb, Nor yet caft out. * James the Firft, and Fifth. f From half an hour before twelve at noon, when the mufio bells begin to play, (frequently called the gill-bells, from, people's taking a whetting dram at that time,) to the drum at ten o'clock at night, when the drum goes round to warn fober folks to call for a bill. 332 RAMSAY'S POEMS. K P I S T L E II. GlLBERTFIELD, July 24tll DEAR RAMSAY, WHEN I receiv'd thy kind epiftle, It made me dance, and fmg, and whittle ; O fie a fike and fie a fiftle I had about it ! That e'er was knight of the Scots thiftle * Sae fain, I doubted, The bonny lines therein thou fent me, How to the nines they did content me ; Tho', Sir, fae high to compliment me Ye might deferr'4 For had ye but haff well a kent me, Some lefs wad fer'd, With * The ancient and moft noble order of knighthood, inftituted by king Achaius, and renewed by James VII. The ordinary enfign, worn by the knights of the order, is a green ribband, to which is appended a thiflle of gold crowned with an im- perial crown, within a circle of gold, with this motto, " Nemo *' me impune lacefiet." EPISTOLARY. 333 With joyfu* heart beyond expreflion, They 're fafely now in my poffeffion : gin I were a winter feflion Near by thy lodging, 1 M clofe attend thy new profeffion, Without e'er budging. In even down earned, there 's but few To vie with Ramfay dare avow, In verfe, for to gi'e thee thy due, And without fleetching, Thou 's better at that trade, I trow, Than fome 's at preaching *. - For my part, till I 'm better lear't, To troke with thee I 'd bed forbear 't, For an' the fouk of Ed'nburgh hear 't, They '11 ca' me daft; I 'm unco 5 iri, and dirt feart I mak' wrang waft. Thy verfes nice as ever nicket, Made me as canty as a cricket ; lergh * This compliment is entirely free of the fulfome hy- perbole. 334 RAMSAY'S POEMS. I ergh to reply, left I ftick it ; Syne like a coof I look, or ane whofe pouch is pickit As bare 's my loof. Heh winfom ! how thy faft fweet ftyle, And bonny auld words gar me fmile ; Thou 's travell'd fure mony a mile Wi* charge and coft, To learn them thus keep rank and file, And ken their poft; For I man tell thee, honeft Allie, (I ufe the freedom fo to call thee,) I think them a* fae braw and walie, And in fie order, I wad nae care to be thy vallie, Or thy recorder. Has thou with Roficrucians * wandert, Or thro* fome doncie defart dandert ? That * A people deeply learned in the occult fciences, who con- verfed with aerial beings : gentlemanlike kind of necro- mancers, or fo. EPISTOLARY. 335 That with thy magic, town and landart, For ought I fee, Man a* come truckle to thy ftandart Of poetrie. k Do not miftake me, deareft heart, As if I charg'd thee with black art ; 'Tis thy good genius, ftill alert, That does infpire Thee with ilk thing that 's quick and fmart To thy defire. E'en mony a bonny nacky tale Bra to fit o'er a pint of ale : For fifty guineas I '11 find bail Againft a bodle, That I wad quat ilk day a meal For fie a nodle. And on condition I were as gabby As either thee or honeft Habby, That I lin'd a* thy claes wi' tabby, Or velvet plufh, And then thou 'd be fae far frae fliabby, Thou 'd look right fprufh. What 336 RAMSAY'S POEMS. What tho' young empty airy fparks May have their critical remarks On thir my blyth diverting warks ; 'Tis fma prefumption, To fay they 're but unlearned clarks, And want the gumption. Let coxcomb critics get a tether To tye up a* their lang loofe leather ; If they and I chance to forgether, The tane may rue it ; For an they winna had their blether, They's get a flewet. To learn them for to peep and pry In fecret drolls 'twixt thee and I, Pray dip thy pen in wrath, and cry, And ca* them fkellums ; I J m fure thou needs fet little by To bide their bellums. Wi* writing I 'm fae bleirt and doited, That when I raife, in troth I ftoited ; I thought I fiiou'd turn capernoited, For wi* a gird, Upon my bum I fairly cloited On the cald card j Which EPISTOLARY. 337 Which did oblige a little dumple Upon my doup, clofe by my rumple But had ye feen how I did trumple, Ye 'd fplit your fide, Wi* mony a lang and weary wimple, Like trough of Clyde. VOL. II. 338 RAMSAY'S POEMS. ANSWER II. EDINBURGH, Auguft 4th, 1719* DEAR Hamilton, ye '11 turn me dyver. My mufe fae bonny ye defcrive her ; Ye blaw her fae, I 'm fear'd ye rive her, For wi' a whid, Gin ony higher up ye drive her, She '11 rin red-wood *. Said I. " Whifht," quoth the vougy Jade, " William 's a wife judicious lad, " Has havins mair than e'er ye had, " Ill-bred bog.ftakerf; " But me ye ne'er fae croufe had craw'd, " Ye poor fcull-thacker J. " It * Run diftrafted. f The mufe, not unreafonably angry, puts me here in mind of the favours (he has done, by bringing me from ftalking over bogs or wild marmes, to lift my head a little briiker among the polite world, which could never have been acquired by the low movements of a mechanic. t Thatcher of fkulls. EPISTOLARY. 339 " It fets ye well indeed to gadge * ! ." Ere 1 1* Apollo did ye cadge, " And got ye on his Honour's badge, " Ungratefu' beaft ! " A Glafgow capon and a fadge t " Ye thought a feaft. " Swith to Caftalius* fountain brink, " Dad down a grouf {, and tak* a drink, " Syne whifk out paper, pen, and ink, " And do my bidding : " Be thankfou, elfe I'fe gar ye ftink . " Yet on a midding." , My miftrefs dear, your fervant humble, Said I, I fliou'd be laith to drumble Your * Ironically fhe fays, It becomes me mighty well to talk haughtily, and affront my benefactrefs, by alleging fo meanly, that it were poffible to praife her out of her folidity. f A herring, and a coarfe kind of leavened bread ufed by the common people. J Fall flat on your belly. Z 2 340 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Your paflions, or e'er gar ye grumble ; Tis ne'er be me Shall fcandalize, or fay ye bummil Ye'r poetrie. Frae what I 've tell'd, my friend may learn How fadly I ha'e been forfairn, I M better been ayont fide Cairn- amount *, I trow ; I 've kifs'd the taz t 5 like a good bairn. Now, Sir, to you : Heal be your heart, gay couthy carle, Lang may ye help to toom a barrel ; Be thy crown ay unclowr'd in quarrel, When thou inclines To knoit thrawn-gabbit fumphs that fnarl At our frank lines. Ilk good chiel fays, ye 're well worth gowd, And blythnefs on ye 's well beftow'd, 'Mang witty Scots ye'r name 's be row'd, Ne'er * A noted hill in Kincardinefh'ire. f Rifled the rod ; owned iny fault like a good child. EPISTOLARY. 34 1 ' tfi'js; Ne'er fame to tine ; The crooked clinkers (hall be cow'd *, But ye fhall mine. Set out the burnt fide of your (hin f, For pride in poets is nae fin ; Glory 's the prize for which they rin, And fame 's their jo ; And wha blaws beft the horn fhall win : And wharefore no ? Quifquis vocabit nos vain-glorious, Shaws fcanter ikill than malos mores, Multi et magni men before us Did ftamp and fwagger ; Probatum eft exemplum, Horace Was a bauld bragger. Then let the doofarts, fafli'd wi' fpleen, Caft up the wrang fide of their een, Pegh, * The fcribbling rhymers, with their lame verification, (hall be cow'd, i. e. morn off. f As if one would fay, " Walk {lately with your toes out." An expreffion ufed when we would bid a perfon (merrily) look brifk. Z3 342 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Pegh, fry, and girn, wi* fpite and teen, And fa* a flyting ; Laugh, for the lively lads will fcreen Us frae back-biting. If that the gypfies dinna fpung us, And foreign whilkers ha'e na dung us j Gin I can fnifter thro* mundungus, Wi J boots and belt on, I hope to fee you at St. Mungo's *, Atween and beltan. The high church of Glafgow, EPISTOLARY. 343 . =i\V E P I S T L E III. ' GlLBERTFIELD. Allguft 34th, 1719. ACCEPT my ifiird and laft efiay Of rural rhyme, I humbly pray, Bright Ramfay, and altho* it may Seem doilt and donfie, Yet thrice of all things, I heard fay, Was ay right fonfie. ' Wharefore I fcarce cou'd fleep or flumber, Till I made up that happy number : The pleafure counterpoised the cumber In every part, And fnoovt away * like three-hand ombre, Sixpence a cart. Of thy laft poem, bearing date Auguft the fourth, I grant receipt ; It was fae braw, gart me look blate, 'Maift tyne my fenfes, And look juft like poor country Kate, In Lucky Spence's f. I fliaw'd * Whirl'd fmoothly round. " Snooving " always exprefles the aftion of a top or fpindle, &c. f Vide Elegy on Lucky Spence, vol. i. p. 301. Z4 344 RAMSAY'S POEMS. I fhaw'd it to our parifli prieft, Wha was as blyth as gi'm a feaft ; He fays, thou may had up thy creeft, And craw fu* croufe, The poets a* to thee 's but jeft, Not worth a foufe. t vBi-:i yinni.v'ii I < "-.. : / r n IKIUI iO Thy blyth and cheerfu' merry mufe, Of compliments is fae profufe, For my good havins dis me roofe Sae very finely, It were ill breeding to refufe To thank her kindly. ' J v.ififll i Jill What tho* fometimes, in angry mood, When me puts on her barlichood, Her dialect feem rough and rude, Let 's ne'er be fleet, But tak our bit, when it is Rood, A A U tC M And buffet wit. For gin we ettle anes to taunt her, And dinna cawmly thole her banter, She '11 tak* the flings *, verfe may grow fcanter Syne wi* great fhame We *il rue the day that we do want her ; Then wha 's to blame ? _ ^^.uq^ocioJrloHo; P . - , - , ,i - : - * Turn fallen, reftive, and kick. EPISTOLARY. 345 But let us ftill her kindnefs culzie, And wi' her never breed a tulzie, For we '11 bring aff but little fpulzie In fie a barter ; And (he '11 be fair to gar us fulzie, And cry for quarter. Sae little worth 's my rhyming ware, My pack I fcarce dare apen mair, 'Till I tak' better wi* the lair, My pen 's fae blunted ; And a' for fear I file the fair *, And be affronted. The dull draff-drink f makes me fae dowff, A' I can do 's but bark and yowff j Yet fet me in a claret howff, Wi' fouk that 's chancy, My mufe may lend me then a gowff To clear my fancy. Then Bacchus-like I 'd bawl and blufler, And a' the mufes 'bout me mufter ; Sae * This phrafe is ufed when one attempts to do what is handfome, and is affronted by not doing it right : not a rea- fonable fear in him. f Heavy malt-liquor. 346 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Sae merrily 1 5 d fqueeze the clufter, And drink the grape, TO THE MUSIC CLUB. ERE on old Shinar's plain the fortrefs rofe, Rear'd by thofe giants who durft heav'n oppofe, An univerfal language mankind us'd, Till daring crimes brought accents more confus'd j Difcord and jar for punifhment were huil'd On hearts and tongues of the rebellious world. - The primar fpeech with notes harmonious clear, (Tianfporting thought !) gave pleafure to the ear : Then mufic in its full perfection fhin'd, When man to man melodious fpoke his mind. As when a richly-fraughted fleet is loft In rolling deeps, far from the ebbing coaft, Down many fathoms of the liquid mafs, The artift dives in ark of oak or brafs ; Snatches fome ingots of Peruvian ore, And with his prize rejoicing makes the more : Oft this attempt is made, and much they find ; They fwell in wealth, tho* much is left behind. A A 3 Amphion's 358 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Amphion's fons, with minds elate and bright, Thus plunge th* unbounded ocean of delight, And daily gain new ftores of pleafing founds, To glad the earth, fixing to fpleen its bounds ; While vocal tubes and confort firings engage To fpeak the dialect of the golden age. Then you, whofe fymphony of fouls proclaim Your kin to heav'n, add to your country's fame, And mew that mufic may have as good fate In Albion's glens, as Umbria's green retreat ; And with Correlli's foft Italian fong Mix " Cowdenknows," and " Winter nights are "long:" Nor mould the martial " Pibrough " be defpis'd ; Own'd and refin'd by you, thefe mall the more be priz'd. Each ravim'd ear extols your heav'nly art, Which foothes our care, and elevates the heart ; Whilft hoarfer founds the martial ardours move, And liquid notes invite to fhades and love. Hail ! fafe reftorer of diftemper'd minds, That with delight the raging paffions binds ; Extatic concord, only banim'd hell, Moft perfect where the perfect beings dwell. Long may our youth attend thy charming rites. Long may they relifli thy tranfported fweets. EPISTOLARY. 359 AN EPISTLE TO MR. JAMES ARBUCKLE } DESCRIBING THE AUTHOR. EDINBURGH, January 1719. As errant knight, with fword and piftol, Beftrides his fteed with mighty fiftle ; Then (lands fome time in jumbled fwither, To ride in this road, or that ither ; At laft fpurs on, and difna care for A how, a what way, or a wherefore. Or like extemporary quaker, Wafting his lungs, t j enlighten weaker Lanthorns of clay, where light is wanting, With formlefs phrafe, and formal canting ; While Jacob Bcehmen's * fait does feafon, And faves his thought frae corrupt reafon, Cowling aloud with motions queered, Yerking thofe words out which lye neareft. Thus * The Teutonic philofopher, who wrote v.olumes of unin- telligible enthufiaftic bombatt. A. A 4 360 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Thus I (no longer to illuftrate With fimiles, left I fhould fruftrate Defign laconic of a letter, With heap of language, and no matter,) Bang'd up my blyth auld-fafhion'd whittle, To fowf ye o'er a fhort epiftle, Without rule, compaffes, or charcoal, Or ferious fludy in a dark hole. Three times I ga'e the mufe a rug, Then bit my nails, and claw'd my lug ; Still heavy at the laft my nofe I prim'd with an infpiring dofe *, Then did ideas dance (dear fafe us !) As they 'd been daft. Here ends the preface. Good Mr. James Arbuckle, Sir, (That 's merchants' ftyle as clean as fir,) Ye 're welcome back to Caledonie f, Lang life and thriving light upon ye, Harveft, winter, fpring, and fummer, And ay keep up your heartfome humour, That ye may thro' your lucky tafk go, Of brufhing up our fifter Glafgow ; Where * Vide Mr. Arbuckle's Poem on Snuff. f Having been in his native Ireland, vifiting his friends. EPISTOLARY. 361 Where lads are dext'rous at improving, And docile lafles fair and loving : But never tent thefe fellows' girning, Wha wear their faces ay in mourning, And frae pure dulnefs are malicious, Terming ilk turn that 's witty, vicious. Now, Jamie, in neift place, fecundo, To give you what 's your due in mundo ; That is to fay in hame-o'er phrafes, To tell ye, men of mettle praifes Ilk verfe of yours, when they can light on 't, And trouth I think they 're in the right on 't ; For there 's ay fomething fae auld-farran, Sae flid, fae unconftrain'd, and darin, In ilka fample we have feen yet, That little better here has been yet : Sae much for that. My friend Arbuckle, I ne'er afore roos'd ane fo muckle : Faufe flatt'ry nane but fools will tickle, That gars me hate it like auld Nicol : But when ane 's of his merit confcious, He 's in the wrang, when prais'd, that glunfhes. Thirdly, not tether'd to connection, But rattling by infpir'd direction, Whenever fame, with voice like thunder, Sets up a chield a warld's wonder, Either Z RAMSAY'S POEMS. Either for flafhing fowk to dead, Or having wind-mills in his head, Or poet, or an airy beau, Or ony twa-legg'd rary-mow, They wha have never feen J t are bifiy To fpeer what like a carlie is he. Imprimis then, for tallnefs, I Am five foot and four inches high ; A black-a-vic'd fnod dapper fallow, Nor lean, nor over-laid wi* tallow j With phiz of a Morocco cut, Refembling a late man of wit, Auld gabbet Spec *, wha was fae cunning To be a dummie ten years running. Then for the fabric of my mind, J Tis mair to mirth than grief inclin'd : I rather choofe to laugh at folly, Than mew diflike by melancholy ; Well judging a four heavy face Is not the trueft mark of grace. I hate * The Spe&ator ; who gives us a fictitious defcription of his fhort face and taciturnity i that he had been efteemed a dumb man for ten years. EPISTOLARY. 363 I hate a drunkard or a glutton, Yet I J m nae fae to wine and mutton : Great tables ne'er engag'd my wimes, When crowded with o'er mony dimes ; A healthfu' ftomach fharply fet Prefers a back-fey piping het. I never cou'd imagine 't vicious Of a fair fame to be ambitious : Proud to be thought a comic poet, And let a judge of numbers know it, I court occafion thus to mew it. Second of thirdly, pray take heed, Ye's get a fhort fwatch of my creed. To follow method negatively, Ye ken, takes place of pofitively : Well then, I *m nowther whig nor tory *, Nor credit give to Purgatory j Tranfub., * Ramfay was a zealous 'tory from principle. But he was much careffcd by Baron Clerk and other gentlemen of oppofite principles, which made him outwardly affeft neutrality. His " Vifion," and " Tale of Three Bonnets," are fufficient proofs of his zeal as an old Jacobite : but, wiming to difguife himfelf, he publimed this, and the " Eagle and Redbreaft," as ancient poems, and with the fiftitious fignature of " A. R. SCOT ;" v/hence they are generally attributed to an 364 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Tranfub., Loretta-houfe, and mae tricks, As prayers to faints Katties and Patricks ; Nor Afgilite *, nor Befs Clarkfonian f, Nor Mountaineer J, nor Mugletonian ; Nor can believe, ant's nae great ferly, In Cotmoor fowk and Andrew Harlay |{. Neift, an old poet, Alexander Scot, of whofe compofition there are feveral pieces in the collection publifhed by Ramfay, called " The Evergreen." * Mr. Afgil, a late member of parliament, advanced (whe- ther in jeft or earned I know not) fome very whimfical opi- nions ; particularly, that people need not die if they pleafed, but be tranflated alive to heavea like Enoch and Elijah. f Befiy Clarkfon, a Lanarkfhire woman. Vide the hiftory v of her life and principles. ^ Our wild folks, who always prefer a hill fide to a church under any civil authority. A kind of quakers, fo called from one Mugleton. See Leflie's Snake in the Grafs. II A family or two who had a particular religion of their own, valued themfelves on ufmg vain repetitions in prayers of fix or feven hours long : were pleafed with minifters of no kind. Andrew Harlaw, a dull fellow of no education, was head of the party. EPISTOLARY. . 365 Neift, Anti-Toland, Blunt, and Whifton, Know pofitively I 'm a Chriftian, Believing truths and thinking free, Wifhing thrawn parties wad agree. Say, wad ye ken my gate of fending, My income, management, and fpending ? Born to nae lairdfliip, (mair 's the pity !) Yet denifon of this fair city ; I make what honeft fhift I can, And in my ain houfe am good-man, Which Hands on Edinburgh's ftreet the fun-fide: I theck the out, and line the infide Of mony a doufe and witty pafh, And baith ways gather in the cam ; Thus heartily I graze and beau it, And keep my wife ay great wi' poet : Contented I have fie a Ikair, As does my bufmefs to a hair ; And fain wad prove to ilka Scot, That poortith 's no the poet's lot. Fourthly and laftly baith togither, Pray let us ken when ye come hither ; There 's mony a canty carle and me Wad be much comforted to fee ye : But if your outward be refractory, Send us your inward manufactory, That 366 RAMSAY'S POEMS. That when we 're kedgy o'er our claret, We correfpond may with your fpirit. Accept of my kind wiihes, with The fame to Dons Butler, and Smith ; Health, wit, and joy, fauls large and free, Be a* your fates : fae God be wi* ye. EPISTOLARY. 367 1721. TO THE EARL OF DALHOUSIE. DALHOUSIE of an auld defcent, My chief, my ftoup, and ornament, For entertainment a wee while, Accept this fonnet with a fmile. Setting great Horace in my view, He to Maecenas, I to you j But that my mufe may fmg with eafe, I '11 keep or drap him as I pleafe. I-Mial ;!;!. How differently are fowk inclin'd, There 's hardly twa of the fame mind ! Some like to ftudy, fome to play, Some on the Links to win the day, And gar the courfer rin like wood, A* drappin down with fweat and blood : The winner fyne aflumes a look Might gain a monarch or a duke. Neift view the man with pawky face Has mounted to a fafhious place, Inclin'd by an o'er-ruling fate, He 's pleas'd with his uneafy ftate j Glowr'd 368 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Glowr'd at a while, he gangs fou braw, Till frae his kittle poft he fa*. The Lothian farmer he likes beft To be of good faugh riggs pofieft, And fen upon a frugal flock, Where his forbeairs had us'd the yoke ; Nor is he fond to leave his wark, And venture in a rotten bark, Syne unto far aff countries fleer, On tumbling waves to gather gear. The merchant wreck'd upon the main, Swears he '11 ne'er venture on 't again j That he had rather live on cakes, And myrefl fwats, with landart maiks, As rin the rifk by florms to have, When he is dead, a living grave. But feas turn fmooth, and he grows fain, And fairly takes his word again, Tho' he fhou'd to the bottom fink, Of poverty he downa think. Some like to laugh their time away, To dance while pipes or fiddles play j And have nae fenfe of ony want, As lang as they can drink and rant. The EPISTOLARY. 369 The rattling drum and trumpet's tout Delight young fwankies that are flout ; What his kind frighted mother ugs, Is mufic to the foger's lugs. The hunter with his hounds and hawks Bangs up before his wife awakes ; Nor fpeers gin me has ought to fay, But fcours o'er highs and hows a* day, Thro mofs and moor, nor does he care Whether the day be foul or fair, If he his trufty hounds can cheer To hunt the tod or drive the deer. May I be happy in my lays, And won a lading wreath of bays, Is a* my wifli ; well pleas'd to fing Beneath a tree, or by a fpring, While lads and lafles on the mead Attend my Caledonian reed, And with the fweeteft notes rehearfe My thoughts, and reefe me for my verfe. If you, my Lord, clafs me amang Thofe who have fung baith faft and ftrang, Of fmiling love, or doughty deed, To ftarns fublime I '11 lift my head. VOL. II. B B 37O RAMSAY'S POEMS. 1721, TO MR. AIKMAN. J Tis granted, Sir, pains may be fpar'd Your merit to fet forth, When there 's fae few wha claim regard, That difna ken your worth. Yet poets give immortal fame To mortals that excel, Which if negle&ed they 're to blame ; But you 've done that yourfell. While frae originals of yours Fair copies (hall be tane, And fix'd on brafs to bulk our bow'rs, Your mem'ry mail remain. To your ain deeds the maift deny'd, Or of a tafte o'er fine, May be ye 're but o'er right, afraid To fink in verfe like mine. The EPISTOLARY. 371 The laft can ne'er the reafon prove, Elfe wherefore with good will Do ye my nat'ral lays approve, And help me up the hill ? By your affiftance unconftrain'd, To courts I can repair, And by your art my way I *ve gain'd To clofets of the fair. Had I a mufe like lofty Pope, For tow'ring numbers fit, ", Then I th* ingenious mind might hope In trueft light to hit. But comic tale, and fonnet flee, Are caften for my {hare, And if in thefe I bear the gree, I '11 think it very fair. . .;,>;:i "-T ' B B 2 372 RAMSAY'S POEMS. 1721. TO SIR WILLIAM BENNET. WHILE now in difcord giddy changes reel, And fome are rack'd about on fortune's wheel, You, with undaunted (talk and brow ferene, May trace your groves, and prefs the dewy green ; No guilty twangs your manly joys to wound, Or horrid dreams to make your fleep unfound. To fuch as you who can mean care defpife, Nature 's all beautiful 'twixt earth and fkies. Not hurried with the thirft of unjuft gain, You can delight yourfelf on hill or plain, Obferving when thofe tender fprouts appear, Which crowd with fragrant fweets the youthful year. Your lovely fcenes of Marlefield abound With as much choice as is in Britain found : Here faireft plants from nature's bofom flart From foil prolific, ferv'd with curious art ; Here oft. the heedful gazer is beguil'd, And wanders thro* an artificial wild, While EPISTOLARY. 373 While native flow'ry green, and cryftal ftrands, Appear the labours of ingenious hands. Mod happy he who can thefe fweets enjoy With tafte refin'd, which does not eafy cloy. Not fo plebeian fouls, whom fporting fate Thrufts into life upon a large eftate, While fpleen their weak imagination fours, They 're at a lofs how to employ their hours : The fweeteft plants which faired gardens mow Are loft to them, for them unheeded grow : Such purblind eyes ne'er view the fon'rous page, Where mine the raptures of poetic rage ; Nor thro* the microfqope can take delight T' obferve the tulks and briftles of a mite ; Nor by the lengthen' d tube learn to defcry Thofe mining worlds which roll around the iky. Bid fuch read hift'ry to improve their (kill, Polite excufe ! their memories are*ill : Moll's maps may in their dining-rooms make mow, But their contents they 're not oblig'd to know ; And gen'rous friendfliip 's out of fight too fine, They think it only means a glafs of wine. But he whofe cheerful mind hath higher flown, And adds learn* d thoughts of others to his own ; B B 3 Has 374 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Has feen the world, and read the volume Man, And can the fprings and ends of action fcan ; Has fronted death in fervice of his king, And drunken deep of the Caftalian fpring ; This man can live, and happieft life 's his due ; Can be a friend a virtue known to view j Yet all fuch virtues ftrongly fliine in you. EPISTOLARY. 375 1721, *-'r . TO A FRIEND AT FLORENCE *. You R fteady impulfe foreign climes to view, To fludy nature, and what art can fhew, I now approve, while my warm fancy walks O'er Italy, and with your genius talks ; We trace, with glowing bread and piercing look, The curious galPry of th* illuftrious duke, Where all thofe matters of the arts divine, With pencils, pens, and chifiels greatly fhine, Immortalizing the Auguftan age, On medals, canvas, ftone, or written page. Profiles and bufts originals exprefs, And antique fcrolls, old ere we knew the prefs. For J s love to fcience, and each virtuous Scot, May days unnumber'd be great Cofmus' lot ! The * Mr. Smibert, a painter. Mr. Walpole, in his " Anec- " dotes of Painting," chara&erifes him as an ingenious artift, and a modeft worthy man. He died at Boilon, in New Eng- land, in 1751. Allan Ramfay, the painter, was a fcholar of Smibert's. B B 4 376 RAMSAY'S POEMS. The fweet Hefperian fields you '11 next explore, 'Twixt Arno's banks and Tiber's fertile (bore. Now, now I wifh my organs could keep pace, With my fond mufe and you thefe plains to trace ; We 'd enter Rome with an uncommon tafte, And feed our minds on every famous wafte ; Amphitheatres, columns, royal tombs, Triumphal arches, ruins of vaft domes, Old aerial aqueducts, and ftrong-pav'd roads, Which feem to 've been not wrought by men but gods. Thefe view'd, we 'd then furvey with utmoft care What modern Rome produces fine or rare ; Where buildings rife with all the ftrength of art, Proclaiming their great architect's defert. Which citron fhades furround and jeflamin, And all the foul of Raphael mines within. Then we 'd regale our ears with founding notes Which warble tuneful thro' the beardlefs throats, Join'd with the vibrating harmonious firings, And breathing tubes, while the foft eunuch fings, Of all thofe dainties take a hearty meal j But let your refolution ftill prevail : Return, before your pleafure grow a toil, To longing friends, and your own native foil : Preferve your health, your virtue ftill improve, Hence you '11 invite protection from above. EPISTOLARY. 377. I 1721. TO R. H. B. O B ! cou'd thefe fields of thine Bear, as in Gaul, the juicy vine, How fweet the bonny grape wou'd fliine On wau 's where now, Your apricots and peaches fine Their branches bow. Since human life is but a blink, Why fhould we then its fliort joys fink ? He difna live that canna link The glafs about, When warmM with wine, like men we think, And grow mair flout. The cauldrife carlies clog'd wi* care, Wha gathering gear gang hyt and gare, If ram'd wi* red, they rant and rair, Like mirthfu' men, It foothly maws them they can fpare A rowth to fpend. What 7 RAMSAY'S POEMS. What foger, when with wine he 's bung, Did e'er complain he had been dung, Or of his toil, or empty fpung ? Na, o'er his glafs, Nought but braw deeds employ his tongue, Or fome fweet lafs. Yet trouth 'tis proper we mould flint Ourfells to a frefh mod'rate pint, Why fhou'd we the blyth bleffing mint To wafte or fpill, Since aften when our reafon 's tint, We may do ill. Let 's fet thefe hair-brain'd fowk in view, That when they 're ftupid, mad, and fow, Do brutal deeds, which aft they rue For a' their days, Which frequently prove very few To fuch as thefe. Then let us grip our blifs mair licker. And tap our heal and fprightly liquor, Which fober tane, makes wit the quicker, And fenfe mair keen, While graver heads that 's muckle thicker Grane wi' the fpleen. May EPISTOLARY. 379 May ne'er fie wicked fumes arife In me, mail break a' iacred ties, And gar me like a fool defpife, With fliffnefs rude, Whatever my bed friends advife, Tho' ne'er fo gude. 'Tis beft then to evite the fin Of bending till our fauls gae blin, Left, like our glafs, our breads grow thin, And let fowk peep At ilka fecret hid within, That we mould keep. 380 RAMSAY'S POEMS. TO MR. JOSEPH MITCHELL, ON TJfE SUCCESSFUL REPRESENTATION OF A TRAGEDY*. BUT jealoufy, dear Jof. which aft gives pain To fcrimpit fauls, I own myfelf right vain To fee a native trufty friend of mine Sae brawly 'mang our bleezing billies fhine. Yes, wherefore no, (haw them the frozen north Can tow'ring minds with heav'nly heat bring forth : Minds * The piece here alluded to was " Fatal Extravagance," a Tragedy, 1721 ; which Mitchell himfelf afterwards avowed to have been written by Aaron Hill, Efq. who, with a gene- rofity peculiar to himfelf, allowed this author, who was himfelf a tolerable poet, both the reputation and the profits of this piece, to extricate him from fome pecuniary embarraflments brought on by his own extravagance : thus in the very title of the piece conveying a gentle reproof, while he generoufly re- lieved him. Mitchell was the author of two volumes of mif- cellaneous poems ; " Fatal Extravagance," a tragedy, 8vo, 1721 ; the " Fatal Extravagance," enlarged, I2mo, 1725 ; " The Highland Fair," a ballad opera, 8vo, 1731. Mitchell died in 1738. EPISTOLARY. 381 Minds that can mount with an uncommon wing, And frae black heath'ry-headed mountains fmg, As faft as he that haughs Hefperian treads, Or leans beneath the aromatic fhades; Bred to the love of literature and arms, Still fomething great a Scottifii bofom warms ; Tho* nurs'd on ice, and educate in fnaw, Honour and liberty eggs him up to draw A hero's fword, or an heroic quill, The monft'rous faes of right and wit to kill. Well may ye further in your leal defign To thwart the gowks, and gar the brethren tine The wrang opinion which they lang have had, That a' which mounts the ftage is furely bad. Stupidly dull ! but fools ay fools will be, And nane 's fae blind as them that winna fee. Where J s vice and virtue fet in jufter light ? Where can a glancing genius mine mair bright ? Where can we human life review mair plain, Than in the happy plot and curious fcene ? If in themfells fie fair defigns were ill, We ne'er had priev'd the fweet dramatic (kill, Of Congreve, Addifon, Steele, Rowe, and Hill ; Hill, wha the higheft road to fame doth chufe, And has fome upper feraph for his mufe ; It 382 RAMSAY'S POEMS. It maun be fae, elfe how could he difplay, With fo juft ftrength, the great tremendous day? Sic patterns, Jofeph, always keep in view, Ne'er fafh if ye can pleafe the thinking few, Then, fpite of malice, worth mail have its due. EPISTOLARY. 383 TO ROBERT YARDE OF DEVONSHIRE. FRAE northern mountains clad with fnaw, Where whittling winds inceffant blaw, In time now when the curling-ftane Slides murm'ring o'er the icy plain, What fprightly tale in verfe can Yarde Expect frae a cauld Scottifh bard, With brofe and bannocks poorly fed, In hoden grey right hamly clad, Skelping o'er frozen hags with pingle, Picking up peets to beet his ingle, While fleet that freezes as it fa's, Thecks as with glafs the divot waws Of a laigh hut, where fax the gither Ly heads and thraws on craps of heather ? Thus, Sir, of us the ftory gaes, By our mair dull and fcornfu' faes : But let them tauk, and gowks believe, While we laugh at them in our fleeve : For we, nor barbarous nor rude, Ne'er want good wine to warm our blood ; Have tables crown'd, and heartfome beils, And can in Cumin's, Don's, or Steil's, Be 384 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Be ferv'd as plenteoufly and civil As you in London at the Devil. You, Sir, yourfelf, wha came and faw, Own'd that we wanted nought at a', To make us as content a nation As any is in the creation. This point premis'd, my canty mufe Cocks up her creft without excufe, And fcorns to fcreen her natural flaws With ifs, and buts, and dull becaufe ; She pukes her pens, and aims a flight Thro* regions of internal light, Frae fancy's field thefe truths to bring, That you mould hear, and me mould fing. Langfyne, when love and innocence Were human nature's beft defence, Ere party jars made lawtith lefs, By cleathing 't in a monkifh drefs ; Then poets fhaw'd thefe evenly roads That lead to dwellings of the gods. In thefe dear days, well kend of fame, Divini vates was their name : It was, and is, and mall be ay, While they move in fair virtue's way ; Tho' rarely we to ftipends reach, Yet nane dare hinder us to preach. Believe EPISTOLARY. 385 Believe me, Sir, the neareft way To happinefs is to be gay ; For fpleen indulg*d will banifli reft Far frae the bofoms of the bed j Thoufands a year *s no worth a prin, Whene'er this fafhious queft gets in : But a fair competent eftate Can keep a man frae looking blate ; Say eithly it lays to his hand What his juft appetites demand. Wha has, and can enjoy, O wow ! How fmoothly may his minutes flow ! A youth thus bleft with manly frame, Enliven'd with a lively flame, Will ne'er with fordid pinch control The fatisfaftion of his foul. Poor is that mind, ay difcontent, That canna ufe what God has lent, But envious girns at a* he fees, That are a crown richer than he 's ; Which gars him pitifully hane, And hell's afe-middins rake for gain j Yet never kens a blythfome hour, Is ever wanting, ever four. Yet ae extreme fhou'd never make A man the gowden mean forfake, It (haws as much a (hallow mind, And ane extravagantly blind, VOL. n. c c If 386 RAMSAY'S POEMS. If carelefs of his future fate, He daftly waftes a good eflate, And never thinks till thoughts are vain, And can afford him nought but pain. Thus will a joiner's fhavings* bleeze Their low will for fome feconds pleafe, But foon the glaring leam is part, And cauldrife darknefs follows faft ; While flaw the faggots large expire, And warm us with a lading fire. Then neither, as I ken ye will, With idle fears your pleafures fpill ; Nor with neglecting prudent care, Do fkaith to your fucceeding heir : Thus fleering cannily thro* life, Your joys fhall lafting be and rife. Give a* your paffions room to reel, As lang as reafon guides the wheel : Defires, tho* ardent, are nae crime, When they harmonioufly keep time ; But when they fpang o'er reafon's fence, We fmart for J t at our ain expence. To recreate us we 're allow'd, But gaming deep boils up the blood, And gars ane at groom-porter's, ban The Being that made him a man, When his fair gardens, houfe, and lands, Are fa'n amongft the {harpers' hands. A cheerfu' EPISTOLARY. 387 A cheer fu' bottle fooths the mind, Gars carles grow canty, free, and kind, Defeats our care, and heals our ftrife, And brawly oils the wheels of life ; But when juft quantums we tranfgrefs, Our bleffing turns the quite reverfe. To love the bonny fmiling fair, Nane can their paffions better ware ; Yet love is kittle and unruly, And fhou'd move tentily and hooly ; For if it get o'er meikle head, 'Tis fair to gallop ane to dead : O'er ilka hedge it wildly bounds, And grazes on forbidden grounds, Where conftantly like furies range Poortith, difeafes, death, revenge : To toom anes poutch to dunty clever, Or have wrang'd hufband probe ane's liver, Or void ane's faul out thro' a (hanker, In faith 't wad any mortal canker. Then wale a virgin worthy you, Worthy your love and nuptial vow ; Syne frankly range o'er a' her charms, Drink deep of joy within her arms ; Be ftill delighted with her bread, And on her love with rapture feaft. c c 2 May RAMSAY'S POEMS. May (he be blooming, faft, and young, With graces melting from her tongue 5 Prudent and yielding to maintain Your love, as well as you her ain. Thus with your leave, Sir, I 've made free To give advice to ane can gi'e As good again : but as mafs John Said, when the fand tald time was done, " Ha'e patience, my dear friends, a wee, " And take ae ither glafs frae me ; " And if ye think there 's doublets due, " I manna bauk the like frae you, 1 * EPISTOLARY. 389 ' . AN EPISTLE FROM MR. WILLIAM STARR AT. AE windy day laft owk, I '11 ne'er forget, I think I hear the hail-ftanes rattling yet ; On Crochan-bufs my hirdfell took the lee, As ane wad wifh, juft a* beneath my ee : I in the bield of yon auld birk-tree fide, Poor cauldrife Coly whing'd aneath my plaid* Right cozy lie was fet to eafe my flumps, Well hap'd with bountith hofe and twa-fol'd pumps ; Syne on my four-hours luncheon chew'd my cood, Sic kilter pat me in a merry mood ; My whiftle frae my blanket nook I drew, And lilted owre thir twa three lines to you. Blaw up my heart-firings, ye Pierian quines, That gae the Grecian bards their bonny rhymes, And learn'd the Latin lowns fie fprings to play, As gars the world gang dancing to this day. In vain I feek your help ; 'tis bootlefs toil With fie dead afe to muck a moorland foil j Give me the mufe that calls paft ages back, And (haws proud fouthern fangfters their miftak, That frae their Thames can fetch the laurel north, And big Parnaffus on the firth of Forth. c c 3 Thy 39 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Thy bread alane this gladfome guefl does fill With flrains that warm our hearts like cannel gill, And learns thee, in thy umquhile gutcher's tongue, The blytheft lilts that e'er my lugs heard fung. Ramfay ! for ever live ; for wha like you, In deathlefs fang, fie life-like pictures drew ? Not he wha whilome with his harp cou'd ca' The dancing flanes to big the Theban wa' ; Nor he (mame fa's fool head !) as ftories tell, Cou'd whittle back an auld dead wife frae hell ; Nor e'en the loyal brooker of bell trees, Wha fang with hungry wame his want of fees ; Nor Habby's drone, cou'd with thy wind-pipe pleafe : ... ; ; . When, in his well-ken'd clink, thou manes the death Of Lucky Wood and Spence, (a matchlefs fkaith To Canigate,) fae gam thy gab-trees gang, The carlines live for ever in thy fang. Or when thy country bridal thou purfues, To red the regal tulzie fets thy mufe, Thy foothing fangs bring canker'd carles to eafe, Some loups to Lutter's pipe, fome birls babies. But gin to graver notes thou tunes thy breath, And fings poor Sandy's grief for Adie's death, ( )r Matthew's lofs, the lambs in concert mae, And lanefome Ringwood yowls upon the brae. Good EPISTOLARY. 39! Good God ! what tunelefs heart-firings wadna twang, When love and beauty animate the fang ? Skies echo back, when thou blaws up thy reed In Burchet's praife for clapping of thy head : And when thou bids the paughty Czar (land yon, The wandought feems beneath thee on his throne. Now, be my faul, and I have nought behin, And well I wat faufe fwearing is a fin, I 'd rather have thy pipe and twa three fheep, Than a' the gowd the monarch's coffers keep. Coly, look out, the few we have 's gane wrang, This fe'enteen owks I have not play'd fae lang ; Ha ! Crummy, ha ! trowth I man quat my fang ; But, lad, neift mirk we '11 to the haining drive, When in frefh lizar they get fpleet and rive : The royts will reft, and gin ye like my play, I '11 whiftle to thee all the live-lang day. . c c 4 392 RAMSAY'S POEMS. TO MR. WILLIAM STARRAT, ON RECEIVING THE FOREGOING. FRAE fertile fields where nae curs'd ethers creep, To ftang the herds that in rafh bufles fleep ; Frae where Saint Patrick's bleffings freed the bogs Frae taids, and alks, and ugly creeping frogs ; Welcome to me the found of Starrat's pipe, Welcome as weftlen winds or berries ripe, When fpeeling up the hill, the dog-days' heat Gars a young thirfty fhepherd pant and fweat : Thus while I climb the mufes' mount with care, Sic friendly praifes give refrefhing air. O ! may the laflfes loo thee for thy pains, And may thou lang breathe healfome o'er the plains : Lang mayft thou teach, with round and nooked lines, Subftantial fkill, that 's worth rich filler mines ; To maw how wheels can gang with greateft cafe, And what kind barks fail fmootheft o'er the feas ; How wind-mills mould be madej and how they work The thumper that tells hours upon the kirk j How EPISTOLARY. 393 How wedges rive the aik ; how pullifees Can lift on higheft roofs the greateft trees, Rug frae its roots the craig of Edinburgh cattle, As eafily as I cou'd break my whittle ; What pleugh fits a wet foil, and whilk the dry ; And mony a thoufand ufeful things forby. I own 'tis cauld encouragement to fing, When round ane's lugs the blatran hail-ftancs ring; But feckfu' folks can front the baldeft wind, And flunk thro* moors, and never fafh their mind. Aft have I wid thro* glens with chorking feet, When neither plaid nor kelt cou'd fend the weet j Yet blythly wald I bang out o'er the brae, And fiend o'er burns as light as ony rae, Hoping the morn might prove a better day. Then let 's to lairds and ladies leave the fpleen, While we can dance and whittle o'er the green. Mankind's account of good and ill 's a jeft, Fancy 's the rudder, and content *s a feaft. Dear friend of mine ! ye but o'er meikle reefe The lawly mints of my poor moorland mufe, Wha looks but blate, when even'd to ither twa, That lull'd the deel, or bigg'd the Theban wa' ; But trowth 'tis natural for us a* to wink At our ain fauts, and praifes frankly drink : Fair 394 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Fair fa' ye then, and may your flocks grow rirf , And may nae elf twin crummy of her life. The fun mines fweetly, a' the lift looks blue, O'er glens hing hov'ring clouds of rifing dew Maggy, the bonniefl lafs of a* our town, Brent is her brow, her hair a curly brown, I have a tryft with her, and man away, Then ye J ll excufe me till anither day, When I 've mair time ; for (hortly I J m to fmg Some dainty fangs, that fall round Crochan ring. EPISTOLARY. 395 rrc^r ,. ^ TO MR. GAY, ONT HEARING THE DUCHESS OF qtlEENSBUKY COMMEND SOME OF HIS POEMS *. - DEAR lad, wha linkan o'er the lee, Sang Blowzalind and Bowzybee, And, like the lavrock, merrily Wak'd up the morn, When thou didft tune, with heartfome glee, Thy bog-teed horn. . To thee frae edge of Pentland height, Where fawns and fairies take delight, And revel a* the Hve-lang night O'er glens and braes, A bard that has the fecond fight, Thy fortune fpaes. Now * Gay was a great admirer of the poems of Ramfay, par- ticularly of his " Gentle Shepherd ;" and they afterwards became perfonally acquainted, when Gay vifited Scotland with the duke and duchefs of Queenfbury. 396 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Now lend thy lug, and tent me, Gay, Thy fate appears like flow'rs in May, Frefh, flourifliing, and lading ay, Firm as the aik, Which envious winds, when critics bray, Shall never (hake. Come, (haw your loof ; ay, there *s the line Foretells thy verfe (hall ever mine, Dawted whilft living by the nine, And a* the beft, And be, when paft the mortal line, Of fame pofleft. Immortal Pope, and fkilfu' John *, The learned Leach frae Callidon, With mony a witty dame and don, O'er lang to name, Are of your roundels very fon, . And found your fame. And fae do I, wha reefe but few, Which nae fma* favour is to you ; For to my friends I ftand light true, With (hanks a-fpar ; And my good word (ne'er gi'en but due) Gangs unko far. Here * Dr. John Arbuthnot. EPISTOLARY. 597 Here mettled men my mufe maintain, And ilka beauty is my friend ; Which keeps me canty, brifk, and bein, Ilk wheeling hour, And a fworn fae to hatefu* fpleen, And a j that 's four. But bide ye, boy, the main 's to fay j Clarinda, bright as rifing day, Divinely bonny, great and gay, Of thinking even, Whafe words, and looks, and fmiles, difplay Full views of heaven : To rummage nature for what 's braw, Like lilies, rofes, gems, and fnaw, Compared with hers, their luflre fa% And bauchly tell Her beauties, me excels them a', And 's like herfeli : As fair a form as e'er was bleft To have an angel for a gueft ; Happy the prince who is poffeft Of fie a prize, Whofe virtues place her with the bed Beneath the fkies : O fonfy j8 RAMSAY'S POEMS. O fonfy Gay ! this heavenly born, Whom ev'ry grace ft rives to adorn, Looks not upon thy lays with fcorn ; Then bend thy knees, And blefs the day that ye was born With arts to pleafe. She fays thy fonnet fmoothly fings, Sae ye may craw and clap your wings, And fmile at ethercapit ftings, With carelefs pride, When fae much wit and beauty brings Strength to your fide. Lilt up your pipes, and rife aboon Your Trivia, and your Moorland tune, And fmg Clarinda late and foon, In towring llrains, Till gratefu' gods cry out, " Well done," And praife thy pains. Exalt thy voice, that all around May echo back the lovely found, Frae Dover cliffs with famphire crown'd, To Thule's more, Where northward no more Britain 's found, But feas that rore. Thus EPISTOLARY. Thus fmg ; whilft I frae Arthur's height, O'er Chiviot glowr with tired fight, And langing wifh, like raving wight, To be fet down, Frae coach and fax baith trim and tight, In London town. But lang I '11 gove and bleer my ee, Before, alake ! that fight I fee ; Then (bed relief) I '11 ftrive to be Quiet and content, And flreek my limbs down eafylie Upon the bent. There fing the gowans, broom, and trees, The cryftal burn and weftlin breeze, The bleeting flocks and bify bees, And blythfome fwains, Wha rant. and dance, with kiltit dees, O'er mofly plains. Farewell ; but ere we part, let 's pray, God fave Clarinda night and day, And grant her a' (he 'd wifh to ha'e, Withoutten end. Nae mair at prefent I 've to fay, But am your friend. 399 400 RAMSAY'S POEMS. joiviiiO tij'O t> ." .- I Kn A AN EPISTLE TO JOSIAH BURCHET, OS HIS BEING CHOSEN MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT. MY Burchet's name well pleas'd I faw Amang the chofen leet, Wha are to give Britannia law, And keep her rights complete. O may the reft wha fill the houfe Be of a mind with thee, And Britiih liberty efpoufe ; We glorious days may fee. The name of patriot is mair great Than heaps of ill-won gear ; What boots an opulent eftate, Without a conscience clear ? While fneaking fauls for cafh wad trock Their country, God, and king, With pleafure we the villain mock, And hate the worthlefs thing. With EPISTOLARY. 40 1 With a' your pith, the like of you, Superior to what 's mean, Shou'd gar the trockling rogues look blue, And cow them laigh and clean. Down with them, down with a* that dare Oppofe the nation's right ; Sae may your fame, like a fair ftar, Throu* future times mine bright. Sae may kind heaven propitious prove, And grant whatever ye crave ; And him a corner in your love, Wha is your humble flave. . Ihov; . VOL- II. D D 402 RAMSAY'S POEMS. oirl srft>rfiiq*iKr/ "j ibbcrd srfl 'i& TO MR. DAVID MALLOCH, SINCE fate, with honour, bids thee leave Thy country for a while, It is nae friendly part to grieve, When powers propitious fmile. The talk afiign'd thee 's great and good, To cultivate two Grahams, Wha from bauld heroes draw their blood, Of brave immortal names. Like wax, the dawning genius takes Impreffions thraw*n or even ; Then he wha fair the moulding makes, Does journey-work for heaven. The four weak pedants fpoil the mind Of thofe beneath their care, Who think inftruftion is confin'd To poor grammatic ware. But EPISTOLARY. 403 But better kens my friend, and can Far nobler plans defign, To lead the boy up to a man That 's fit in courts to mine. Frae Grampian heights (fome may object) Can you fie knowledge bring ? But thofe laigh tinkers ne'er reflect, Some fauls ken ilka thing, With vafter eafe, at the firft glance, Than mifty minds that plod And threfh for thought, but ne'er advance Their ftawk aboon their clod. But he that could, in tender drains, Raife Margaret's plaining made *, And paint diftrefs that chills the veins, While William's crimes are red ; Shaws to the world, cou'd they obferve, A clear deferving flame : Thus I can reefe without referve, When truth fupports my theme. Gae, * " William and Margaret," a ballad, in imitation of the old manner, wherein the ftrength of thought and paifion is more obferved than a rant of unmeaning words. D D 2 404 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Gae, lad, and win a nation's love, By making thofe in truft, Like Wallace's Achates *, prove Wife, generous, brave, and juft. Sae may his Grace th' illuftrious fire With joy paternal fee Their rifmg blaze of manly fire, And pay his thanks to thee. * The heroic Sir John Graham, the glory of his name, the deareft friend of the renowned Sir William Wallace, and the anceftor of his Grace the duke of Montrofe. EPISTOLARY. ,405 - ' 1728. TO WILLIAM SOMERVI LLE OF WARWICKSHIRE. SIR, I have read, and much admire Your mufe's gay and eafy flow, Warm'd with that true Idalian fire, That gives the bright and cheerful glow. I con'd each line with joyous care, As I can fuch from fun to fun ; And, like the glutton o'er his fare, Delicious, thought them too foon done. The witty fmile, nature, and art, In all your numbers fo combine, As to complete their juft defer t, And grace them with uncommon mine. Delighted we your mufe regard, When me, like Pindar's, fpreads her wings, And virtue being its own reward, Exprefles by " The Sifter Springs." D D 3 Emotions 406 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Emotions tender crowd the mind, When with the royal bard you go, To figh in notes divinely kind, " The Mighty fall'n on mount Gilbo." Much furely was the virgin's joy, Who with the Diad had your lays ; For, ere and fmce the fiege of Troy, We all delight in love and praife. Thefe heaven-born paflions, fuch defire, I never yet cou'd think a crime ; But firft-rate virtues, which infpire The foul to reach at the fublime. But often men miftake the way, And pump for fame by empty boaft, Like your " Gilt Afs," who flood to bray, Till in a flame his tail he loft. Him th* incurious bencher hits, With his own tale, fo tight and clean, That while I read, ftreams gum by fits Of hearty laughter from my een. Old Chaucer, bard of vaft ingine ; Fontaine and Prior, who have fung Blyth tales the beft ; had they heard thine On Lob, they 'd own themfelves out-done. The EPISTOLARY. 407 The plot *s purfu'd with fo much glee, The too officious dog and prieft, The fquire opprefs'd, I own for me I never heard a better jeft. Pope well defcrib'd an ombre game, And king revenging captive queen ; He merits, but had won more fame, If author of your " Bowling-green." You paint your parties, play each bowl, So natural, jufl, and with fuch eafe, That while I read, upon my foul, I wonder how I chance to pleafe. Yet I have pleas'd, and pleafe the beft ; And fure to me laurels belong, Since Britifh fair, and 'mong the beft, Somervile's confort likes my fong. Ravifli'd I heard th* harmonious fair Sing, like a dweller of the fky, My verfes with a Scotian air ; Then faints were not fo bleft as I. In her the valu'd charms unite, She really is what all wou'd feem, Gracefully handfome, wife, and fweet ; 'Tis merit to have her efteem. D D 4 Your 408 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Your noble kinfman, her lov'd mate, Whofe worth claims all the world's refpeft, Met in her love a fmiling fate, Which has, and muft have good effect. You both from one great lineage fpring, Both from de St>mervile, who came With William, England's conquering king, To win fair plains and lading fame : Whichnour, he left to J s eldefl fon, That nrft-born chief you reprefent ; His fecond came to Caledon, From whom our Somer'le takes defcent. On him and you may fate beftow Sweet balmy health and cheerful fire, As long *s ye *d wifli to live below, Still bleft with all you wou'd defire. O Sir ! oblige the world, and fpread In print * thofe and your other lays ; This mail be better'd while they read, And after-ages found your praife. Lcpu'd * Since the writing of this ode, Mr. Somerville's poems are printed by Mr. Lintot in an 8vo. volume. Somerville died, in 1742. Tnisfuferior to Pope is allowed by Johnfon " to write " well, for a gentleman." EPISTOLARY. 409 I cou'd enlarge ; but if I fhou'd On what you 've wrote, my ode wou'd run Too great a length j your thoughts fo crowd, To note them all I 'd ne'er have done. Accept this offering of a mufe, Who on her Pi&land hills ne'er tires ; Nor ftiou'd, when worth invites, refufe To fmg the perfon (he admires. ! . , ' 410 RAMSAY'S POEMS. AN EPISTLE FROM MR SOMERVILLE. NEAR fair Avona's filver tide, Whofe waves in foft meanders glide, I read to the delighted fwains Your jocund fongs and rural {trains. Smooth as her ftreams your numbers flow, Your thoughts in vary'd beauties mow, Like flow'rs that on her borders grow. While I furvey, with raviih'd eyes, This friendly gift *, my valu'd prize, Where fifter arts, with charms divine, In their full bloom and beauty mine, Alternately my foul is bleft : Now I behold my welcome gueft, That graceful, that engaging air, So dear to all the brave and fair : Nor has th* ingenious artift mown His outward lineaments alone, But * Lord SomervJlle was pleafed to fend me his own picture and Mr. Ramfay's Works. In 1730, Somerville concluded a bargain with James Lord Somerville, for the reverfion of his eftate at his death. His connexion with Lord Somer- ville, probably occafioned his poetical correfpondence with Ramfay, who was patronized by that nobleman. EPISTOLARY. 4U But in th* expreffive draught defign'd The nobler beauties of his mind ; True friendlhip, love, benevolence, Unftudied wit, and manly fenfe. Then as your book I wander o'er, And feaft on the delicious (tore, (Like the laborious bufy bee, Pleas'd with the fweet variety,) With equal wonder and furprife, I fee refembling portraits rife. Brave archers march in bright array, In troops the vulgar line the way : Here the droll figures flily fneer, Or coxcombs at full length appear : There woods and lawns, a rural fcene, And fwains that gambol on the green. Your pen can act the pencil's part, With greater genius, fire, and art. o o N Believe me, bard, no hunted hind That pants againfl the fouthern wind, And feeks the ftreams thro' unknown ways ; No matron in her teeming days, E'er felt fuch longings, fuch defires, As I to view thofe lofty fpires, Thofe domes where fair Edina fhrouds Her tow'ring head amid the clouds. But 1* RAMSAY'S POEMS. But oh ! what dangers interpofe ! Vales deep with dirt, and hills with mows, Proud winter-floods, with rapid force, Forbid the pleafmg intercourfe. But fure we bards, whofe purer clay Nature has mixt with lefs allay, Might foon find out an eafier way* Do not fage matrons mount on high, And fwitch their broom-flicks thro* the fky ; Ride pod o'er hills, and woods, and feas, From Thule to the Hefperides * ? And yet the men of Grefham own, That this and ftranger feats are done By a warm fancy's power alone. This granted, why can't you and I Stretch forth our wings and cleave the iky ? Since our poetic brains, you know, Than theirs muft more intenfely glow. Did not the Theban fwan take wing, Sublimely foar, and fweetly fmg ? And do not we, of humbler vein, Sometimes attempt a loftier ftrain, Mount * The Scilly iflands were fo called by the ancients, as Mr. Camden obferves. EPISTOLARY. 413 Mount fheer out of the reader's fight, Obfcurely loft in clouds and night ? m Then climb your Pegafus with fpeed, I J ll meet thee on the banks of Tweed ; Not as our fathers did of yore, To fwell the flood with crimfon gore ; Like the Cadmean murd'ring brood, Each thirfting for his brother's blood ; For now all hoflile rage mall ceafe, Lull'd in the downy arms of peace, Our honeft hands and hearts mail join O'er jovial banquets, fparkling wine. Let Peggy at thy elbow wait, And I mall bring my bonny Kate. But hold : oh ! take a fpecial care T' admit no prying kirkman there j I dread the penitential chair. What a ftrange figure mould I make, A poor abandon'd Englifli rake ; A fquire well born, and fix foot high, Perch'd in that facred pillory ! Let fpleen and zeal be banifh'd thence, And troublefome impertinence, That tells his ftory o'er again ; Ill-manners and his faucy train, And felf-conceit, and ftiff-rumpt pride, That grin at all the world betide j Foul 4H RAMSAY'S POEMS. Foul fcandal, with a load of lies, Intrigues, rencounters, prodigies, Fame's bufy hawker, light as air, That feeds on frailties of the fair : Envy, hypocrify, deceit, Fierce party rage, and warm debate ; And all the hell-hounds that are foes To friendfhip and the world's repofe. But mirth inflead, and dimpling fmiles, And wit, that gloomy care beguiles ; And joke, and pun, and merry tale, And toafts, that round the table fail ; While laughter, burfling thro* the crowd In vollies, tells our joys aloud. Hark ! the fhrill piper mounts on high, The woods, the ftreams, the rocks reply To his far-founding melody. Behold each lab'ring fqueeze prepare Supplies of modulated air : Obferve Croudero's a&ive bow, His head ftill nodding to and fro, His eyes, his cheeks with raptures glow : See, fee the bafliful nymphs advance, To lead the regulated dance. Flying ftill, the fwains purfuing, Yet with backward glances wooing. This, this ihall be the joyous fcene ; Nor wanton elves that fkim the green, Shall EPISTOLARY. 415 . Shall be fo bleft, fo blyth, fo gay, Or lefs regard what dotards fay. My rofe mall then your thiftle greet, The union fhall be more complete ; And in a bottle and a friend, Each national difpute fhall end. - . - 1 . ' 416 RAMSAY'S POEMS. AN ANSWER TO THE FOREGOING. .1 :':T! - :.' ! SIR, I had yours, and own my pleafure, On the receipt, exceeded meafure. You write with fo much fp'rit and glee, Sae fmooth, fae ftrong, correct, and free, That any he (by you allow'd To have fome merit) may be proud. If that J s my fault, bear you the blame, Wha J ve lent me fie a lift to fame. Your ain tow'rs high, and widens far, Bright glancing like a firft-rate flar, And all the world bellow due praife On the Collection of your lays ; Where various arts and turns combine, Which even in parts firft poets mine : Like Matt and Swift ye fing with eafe, And can be Waller when you pleafe. Continue, Sir, and mame the crew That 's plagu'd with having nought to do ; Whom fortune in a merry mood Has overcharg'd with gentle blood, But has deny'd a genius fit For action or afpiring wit j Such EPISTOLARY. 417 Such kenna how t* employ their time, And think activity a crime. Ought they to either do or fay, Or walk, or write, or read, or pray, When money, their faclotum's able To furnifh them a numerous rabble, Who will, for daily drink and wages, Be chairmen, chaplains, clerks, and pages ? Could they, like you, employ their hours In planting thefe delightful flowers, Which carpet the poetic fields, And lafting funds of pleafure yields ; Nae mair they'd gaunt and gove away, Or fleep or loiter out the day, Or wafte the night, damning their fauls, In deep debauch and bawdy brawls ; Whence pox and poverty proceed, An early eild, and fpirits dead. Reverfe of you, and him you love, Whofe brighter fpirit tow'rs above The mob of thoughtlefs lords and beaux, Who in his ilka adion mows " True friendmip, love, benevolence, " Unftudy'd wit, and manly fenfe." Allow here what you Ve faid yourfell, Nought can b* expreft fo juft and well. VOL. ii. E E To 4l8 RAMSAY'S POEMS. To him and her, worthy his love, And every blefling from above, A fon is given, God fave the boy, For theirs and every Som'ril's joy. Ye wardens ! round him take your place, And raife him with each manly grace j Make his meridian virtues mine, To add frefli luftres to his line : And many may the mother fee Of fuch a lovely progeny. I ::-.' -ill J..-CJJSJ ;bi!7/ Now, Sir, when Boreas nae mair thuds Hail, fnaw, and fleet, frae blacken 5 d clouds j While Caledonian hills are green, And a* her ftraths delight the een ; While ilka flower with fragrance blows. And a* the year its beauty fhows j Before again the winter lour, What hinders then your northern tour ? Be fure of welcome j nor believe Thefe wha an ill report would give To Edinburgh and the land of cakes, That nought what s s necefiary lacks. Here plenty's goddefs frae her horn Pours fifh and cattle, claith and corn, In blyth abundance ; and yet mair, Our men are brave, our ladies fair : Nor EPISTOLARY. 419 Nor will North Britain yield for fouth Of ilka thing, and fellows couth, To ony but her fifter South. True, rugged roads are curfed dreigh, And fpeats aft roar frae mountains heigh : The body tires, (poor tottering clay !) And likes with eafe at hame to ftay ; While fauls ftride warlds at ilka ftend, And can their widening views extend. Mine fees you, while you cheerfu' roam On fweet Avona's flow'ry howm, There recolle&ing, with full view, Thefe follies which mankind purfue ; While, confcious of fuperior merit, You rife with a correcting fpirit, And as an agent of the gods, Lam them with fharp fatyric rods : Labour divine ! Next, for a change, O'er hill and dale I fee you range After the fox or whidding hare, Confirming health in pureft air ; While joy frae heights and dales refounds, Rais'd by the holla, horn, and hounds : Fatigu'd, yet pleas'd, the chace out run, I fee the friend, and fetting fun, Invite you to the template bicker, Which makes the blood and wit flow quicker. E E 2 The 420 RAMSAY'S POEMS. The clock ftrikes twelve, to reft you bound, To fave your health by fleeping found. Thus with cool head and healfome bread, You fee new day ftream frae the eaft ; Then all the mufes round you fhine, Infpiring ev*ry thought divine : Be long their aid : your years and blifles, Your fervant Allan Ramfay wifhes. EPISTOLARY. 421 I ' AN EPISTLE FROM W. SOMERVILLE TO ALLAN RAMSAY, ON PUBLISHING BIS SECOND VOLUME OF POEMS. - __ HAIL ! Caledonian bard ! whofe rural ftrains Delight the lift'ning hills, and cheer the plains j Already polifh'd by fome hand divine, Thy purer ore what furnace can refine ? Carelefs of cenfure, like the fun fliine forth In native luftre and intrinfic worth. To follow nature is by rules to write, She led the way and taught the Stagyrite : From her the critic's tafte, the poet's fire, Both drudge in vain till (he from heav'n infpire. By the fame guide inftrucled how to foar, Allan is now what Homer was before. Ye chofen youths wha dare like him afpire, And touch with bolder hand the golden lyre, Keep nature flill in view ; on her intent, Climb by her aid the dang'rous fteep afcent .| To 422 RAMSAY'S POEMS. To lafting fame. Perhaps a little art Is needful to plane o'er fome rugged part ; But the moft laboured elegance and care T' arrive at full perfection muft defpair ; Alter, blot out, and write all o'er again, Alas ! fome venial fins will yet remain. Indulgence is to human frailty due, E'en Pope has faults, and Addifon a few ; But thofe, like mifts that cloud the morning ray, Are loft and vanifli in the blaze of day. Tho' fome intruding pimple find a place Amid the glories of Clarinda's face, We ftill love on, with equal zeal adore, Nor think her lefs a goddefs than before. Slight wounds in no difgraceful fears mail end, Heal'd by the balm of fome good-natur'd friend. In vain mall canker'd Zoilus afifail, While Spence * prefides, and Candor holds the fcale : His gen'rous bread nor envy fow'rs, nor fpite ; Taught by his founder's motto f how to write, Good * Mr. Spence, poetry profeflbr in Oxford, and fellow of New College. f William of Wickham, founder of New College in Oxford, and of Winchefter College. His motto is, " Manners maketh man." EPISTOLARY. 423 Good manners guides his pen ; learn'd without' pride ; In dubious points not forward to decide : If here and there uncommon beauties rife, From flow'r to flow'r he roves with glad furprize : In failings no malignant pleafure takes, Nor rudely triumphs over fmall miftakes ; No naufeous praife, no biting taunts offend, W expect a cenfor, and we find a friend. Poets improved by his correcting care, Shall face their foes with more undaunted air, Strip'd of their rags, mall like Ulyfles mine *, With more heroic port and grace divine. No pomp of learning, and no fund of fenfe, Can e'er atone for loft benevolence. May Wickham's fons, who in each art excel, And rival ancient bards in writing well, While from their bright examples taught, they fing, And emulate their flights with bolder wing, From their own frailties learn the humbler part, Mildly to judge in gentlenefs of heart. Such critics, Ramfay, jealous for our fame, Will not with malice infolently blame, But lur'd by praife, the haggard mufe reclaim. Retouch * Vide Horn. Od. lib. xxiv. EE 4 424 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Retouch each line till all is juft and neat, A whole of proper parts, a work almoft complete. So when fome beauteous dame, a reigning toaft, The flow'r of Forth, and proud Edina's boaft, Stands at her toilet in her tartan plaid, And all her richeft head-gear trimly clad ; The curious handmaid, with obfervant eye, Corrects the fwelling hoop that hangs awry j Thro* ev'ry plait her bufy fingers rove> And now me plys below, and then above ; With pleafmg tattle entertains the fair, Each ribbon fmooths, adjufts each rambling hair, Till the gay nymph in her full luftre mine, And Homer's Juno was not half fo fine *. * Vide Horn. II.. lib. xiv. EPISTOLARY. 425 1729. RAMSAY'S ANSWER TO THE FOREGOING, AGAIN, like the return of day, From Avon's banks the cheering lay Warms up a mufe was well nigh loft In depths of fnow and chilling froft ; But generous praife the foul infpires, More than rich wines and blazing fires. Tho* on the Grampians I were chain'd, And all the winter on me rain'd ; Altho' half ftarv'd, my fp'rit would fpring Up to new life to hear you fmg. I take even criticifm kind, That fparkles from fo clear a mind : Friends ought and may point out a fpot, But enemies make all a blot. Friends fip the honey from the flow'r ; All 's verjuice to the wafpifh four. With RAMSAY'S POEMS. With more of nature than of art, From ftated rules I often dart, Rules never ftudied yet by me ; My mufe is Britim, bold and free, And loves at large to frifk and bound Unmankl'd o'er poetic ground. I love the garden wild and wide, Where oaks have plumb-trees by their fide ; Where woodbines and the twifling vine Clip round the pear-tree and the pine ; Where mixt jonckeels and go wans grow, And rofes 'midft rank clover blow, Upon a bank of a clear ftrand, Its wimplings led by nature's hand ; Tho' docks and bramble here and there, May fometimes cheat the gardner's care, Yet this to me 's a paradife, Compared with prime cut plots and nice, Where nature has to art refign'd, Till all looks mean, ftiff, and confin'd. May ftill my notes of ruftic turn Gain more of your refpect than fcorn ; I '11 hug my fate, and tell four fools, I 'm more oblig'd to heav'n than fchools. Heaven Homer taught : the critic draws Only from him, and fuch, their laws : The EPISTOLARY. 427 The native bards firft plunge the deep, Before the artful dare to leap. I 've feen myfelf right many a time Copy'd in didion, mode, and rhyme. Now, Sir, again let me exprefs My wifhing thoughts in fond addrefs j That for your health, and love you bear To two of my chief patrons * here, You 'd, when the lavrocks roufe the day, When beams and dews make blythfome May, When blooming fragrance glads our ifle, And hills with purple heather fmile, Drop fancy'd ails, with courage ftout, Ward off the fpleen, the ftone, and gout. May ne'er fuch foes difturb your nights, Or elbow out your day delights. Here you will meet the jovial train, Whofe clangors eccho o'er the plain, While hounds with gowls both loud and clear, Well tun'd, delight the hunter's ear, As they on courfers fleet as wind, Purfue the fox, hart, hare, or hind : Delightful game ! where friendly ties Are clofer drawn, and health the prize. We * Lord and Lady Somer vile. 428 RAMSAY'S POEMS. We long for, and we wifh you here, Where friends are kind, and claret clear The lovely hope of Sorn'ril's race, Who fmiles with a feraphic grace, And the fair fitters of the boy, Will have, and add much to your joy. Give warning to your noble friend ; Your humble fervant mail attend, A willing Sancho and your flave, With the beft humour that I have, To meet you on that river's fhore, That Britons now divides no more. ALLAN RAMSAY. EPISTOLARY. 429 TO DONALD M'EWEN, JEWELLER, AT ST. PETERSBURG. - How far frae hame my friend feeks fame ! And yet I canna wyte ye, T employ your fire, and flill afpire By virtues that delyte ye. Shou'd fortune lour, 'tis in your power, If heaven grant balmy health, T* enjoy ilk hour a faul unfow'r ; Content 's nae bairn of wealth. It is the mind that 's not confin'd To paflions mean and vile, That 's never pin'd, while thoughts refin'd Can gloomy cares beguile. Then Donald may be e'en as gay On.Ruffia's diftant more, As on the Tay, where ufquebae He us'd to drink before. . But howfoe'er, hafte gather gear, And fyne pack up your treafure ; Then to Auld Reekie come and beek ye, And clofe your days with pleafure. 430 RAMSAY'S POEMS. TO THE SAME, ON RECEIVING A PRESENT OF A GOLD SEAL, WITH HOMER's HEAD. THANKS to my frank ingenious friend : Your prefent 's moil genteel and kind, Baith rich and fhining as your mind : And that immortal laurell'd pow, Upon the gem fee well defign'd And execute, fets me on low. The heavenly fire inflames my bread, Whilft I unweary'd am in queft Of fame, and hope that ages nieft Will do their Highland bard the grace, Upon their feals to cut his creft, And blytheft ftrakes of his fhort face. Far lefs great Homer ever thought (When he, harmonious beggar ! fought His bread thro* Greece) he mould be brought Frae Ruflia's more by captain Hugh *, To Piftland plains, fae finely wrought On precious (lone, and fet by you. * Captain Hugh Eccles, mafter of a fine merchant- (hip, which he loft in the unhappy fire at St. Peterfburg. EPISTOLARY. ' 1728. TO HIS FRIENDS IN IRELAND, WHO, ON A REPORT OF HIS DEATH, MADE AND PUBLISHED SEVERAL ELEGIES, &C. t SIGHING fliepherds of.Hibernia, Thank ye for your kind concern a', When a faufe report beguiling, Prov'd a draw-back on your fmiling : Dight your een, and ceafe your grieving, Allan's hale, and well, and living, Singing, laughing, fleeping foundly, Cowing beef, and drinking roundly ; Drinking roundly rum and claret, Ale and ufquas, bumpers fair out, Supernaculum but fpilling, The leaft diamond * drawing, filling ; Sowfing fonnets on the lafles, Hounding fatires at the afles, Smiling at the furly critics, And the pack-horfe of politics ; Painting * See the note J on p. 216, vol. i. 432 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Painting meadows, fhaws, and mountains, Crooking burns, and flowing fountains 5 Flowing fountains, where ilk gowan Grows about the borders glowan, Swelling fweetly, and inviting Poets* lays, and lovers meeting ; Meeting kind to niffer kifies, Bargaining for better blifies. Hills in dreary dumps now lying, And ye zephyrs fwiftly flying, And ye rivers gently turning, And ye Philomelas mourning, And ye double lighing echoes, Ceafe your fobbing, tears, and hey-ho's ! Banifh a' your care and grieving, Allan J s hale, and well, and living ; Early up on mornings mining, Ilka fancy warm refining ; Giving ilka verfe a burnifh, That man fecond volume furnifh, To bring in frae lord and lady Meikle fame, and part of ready ; Splendid thing of conftant motion, Fifli'd for in the fouthern ocean ; Prop of gentry, nerve of battles, Prize for which the gamefter rattles ; Belzie's banes, deceitfu', kittle, Rifking a* to gain a little. Pleafmg EPISTOLARY. 433 Pleafmg Philip's tunefu' tickle, Philomel, and kind Arbuckle ; Singers fweet, baith lads and lafTes, Tuning pipes on hill Parnafius, - Allan kindly to you wifhes Lading life and rowth of blifles ; And that he may, when ye furrender Sauls to heaven, in numbers tender Give a' your fames a happy heezy, And gratefully immortalize ye. VOL. ii. - F F 434 RAMSAY'S POEMS. AN EPISTLE FROM A GENTLEMAN IN THE COUNTRY TO HIS FRIEND IN EDINBURGH. O FRIEND ! to fmoke and din confin'd, Which fouls your claiths and frets your mind, And makes you rufty look and crabbed, As if you were bep 'd or fcabbed, Or had been going thro* a dofe Of mercury to fave your nofe ; Let me advife you, out of pity, To leave the chatt'ring, (linking city, Where pride and emptinefs take place Of plain integrity and grace ; Where hideous fcreams wad kill a cat, Of wha buys this ? or wha buys that ? And thro' the day, frae break o' morning, The buz of bills, protefts, and horning ; Befides the everlafling fquabble Among the great and little rabble, Wha tear their lungs, and deave your ears, With all their party hopes and fears ; While rattling o'er their filly cant, Learn'd frae the Mercury and Courant, About EPISTOLARY. 435 About the aid that comes frae Ruffia, And the neutrality of Pruffia ; Of France's tyranny and flavery, Their faithlefs ficklenefs and knavery ; Of Spain, the beft beloved fon Of the old whore of Babylon, The warden of her whips and faggots, And all her fuperftitious maggots j Of all our gambols on the green, To aid the bauld Imperial Queen, When the Moft Chriftian fhoars to ftrike, And fafheous Frederic gars her fike ; Of Genoa, and the refiftance Of Corfica without afiiftance ; Of wading var-freging Savona, And breaking riddles at Cremona ; What jaws of blood and gore it coft, Before a town is won or loft ; How much the allied armies have been a* Propp'd by the monarch of Sardinia ; Of popes, ftatholders, faith's defenders, Generals, marfhals, and pretenders ; Of treaties, minifters, and kings, And of a thoufand other things ; Of all which their conceptions dull Suits with the thicknefs of the fcull. Yet with fuch fluff ane man be worried, That 's thro your city's gauntlet hurried. F F 2 But 4j6 RAMSAY'S POEMS. But ah ! (ye cry) ridotts and dances, With lafles trig that pleafe your fancies, For five or fix gay hours complete, In circles of th' aflembly fweet ; Wha can forfake fo fair a field, Where all to conquering beauty yield ? No doubt, while in this am'rous fit, Your next plea 's boxes and the pit ; Where wit and humour of the age Flow entertaining from the ftage ; Where, if the drama J s right conducted, Ane 's baith diverted and inftrucled. Well, I mail grant it 'grees wi* reafon ; Thefe have their charms in proper feafon, But muft not be indulg'd too much, Left they the faften'd faul bewitch, And faculties in fetters bind, That are for greater ends defign'd. Then rouze ye frae thefe dozing dreams, And view with me the golden beams Which Phoebus ilka morning pours Upon our plains adorn'd with flow'rs ; With me thro* howms and meadows ftray, Where wimpling waters make their way ; Here, frae the aiks and elms around, You '11 hear the faft melodious found Of a* the quirifters on high, Whafe notes re-echo thro* the iky, Better EPISTOLARY. Better than concerts in your town, Yet do not coft you half a crown : Here blackbirds, mavifes, and linnets, Excel your fiddles, flutes, and fpinnets ; Our jetty rooks e'en far excels Your flrim-flrams and your jingling bells, As do the cloven-footed tribes, And ruftics whittling o'er the glybes. Here we with little labour gain Firm health, with all its joyful train ; Silent repofe, the cheerful fmile Which can intruding cares beguile : Here fragrant flow'rs of tinctures bright, Regale the fmell and pleafe the fight, And make the fprings of life to flow Through every vein with kindly glow, Giving the cheek a rofy tint Excelling all the arts of paint. If cauld or rain keep us within, We J ve rooms neat, warm, and free from din ; Where, in the well-digefted pages, We can converfe with by-pad ages j And oft, to fet our dumps adrift, We fmile with Prior, Gay, and Swift j Or with great Newton take a flight Amongft the rolling orbs of light ; With Milton, Pope, and all the reft Who fmoothly copy nature beft : F F 3 From 43 8 RAMSAY'S POEMS. From thofe infpir'd, we often find What brightens and improves the mind, And carry men a pitch beyond Thofe views of which low fouls are fond. This hinders not the jocund fmile With mirth to mix the moral ftile ; In converfation this being right, As is in painting made and light. This is the life poets have fung, Wifli'd for, my friend, by auld and young ; By all who would heaven's favour mare : Where lead ambition, leaft of care ' Difturbs the mind ; where virtuous eafe And temperance never fail to pleafe. ALLAN RAMSAY. PEVNYCUICK, May 1748. EPISTOLARY. 439 . ; >ih ,: T : AN EPISTLE TO JAMES CLERK, ESQ^ OF PENNYCUICK. BLYTH may he be wha o'er the haugh, All free of care, may fing and laugh ; Whafe owfen lunges o'er a plain Of wide extent, that 's a* his ain. No humdrum fears need break his reft, Wha 's not with debts and duns oppreft ; Wha has enough, even tho* it 's little, If it can ward frae dangers kittle, That chiels, fated to fkelp vile dubs thro', For living are oblig'd to rub thro', To fend by troaking, buying, felling, The profit 's aft no worth the telling. When aft'er, in ane honeft way, We 've gained by them that timely pay, In comes a cuftomer, looks big, Looks generous, and fcorns to prig, Buys heartily, bids mark it down, He '11 clear before he leaves the town ; F F 4 Which, 440 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Which, tho' they fay 't, they ne'er intend it j We 're bitten fair, but canna mend it. A year wheels round, we hing about ; He 's fleeping, or he 's juft gane out : If catch'd, he glooms like ony devil, Swears braid, and calls us damn'd uncivil : Or aft our doited lugs abufes, With a ratrime of cant excufes ; And promifes they ftoutly ban to, Whilk they have ne'er a mind to (land to. As lang 's their credit hads the feet o't, They hound it round to feek the meat o't, Till jointly we begin to gaud them, And Edinburgh grows o'er het to had them : Then aff they to the country fcowp, And reave us baith of cafh and hope. Syne we, the lovers of fair dealing, Wha deem ill payment next to ftealing, Rin wood with care how we fhall pay Our bills againft the deftin'd day ; For lame excufe the banker fcorns, And terrifies with caps and horns j Nae trader flands of trader awe, But nolens volens gars him draw. 'Tis hard to be laigh poortith's flave, And like a man of worth behave j Wha EPISTOLARY. 44! Wha creeps beneath a laid of care, When intereft points he 's gleg and gare, And will at naithing flap or ftarid, That reeks him out a helping hand. But here, dear Sir, do not miftake me, As if grace did fae far forfake me, As to allege that all poor fellows, Unbleft with wealth, deferv'd the gallows. Na, God forbid that I mould fpell Sae vile a fortune to myfell, Tho* born to not ae inch of ground, I keep my confcience white and found j And tho' I ne'er was a rich heaper, To make that up I live the cheaper ; By this ae knack I Ve made a Ihift To drive ambitious care a-drift ; And now in years and fenfe grown auld, In eafe I like my limbs to fauld. Debts I 'abhor, and plan to be Frae mochling trade and danger free, That I may, loos'd frae care and ftrife, With calmnefs view the edge of life ; And when a full ripe age mail crave, Slide eafily into my grave. Now feventy years are o'er my head, And thirty mae may lay me dead ; Should 442 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Should dreary care then ftunt my mufe, And gar me aft her jogg refufe ? Sir, I have fung, and yet may fmg, Sonnets that o'er the dales may ring, And in gafh glee couch moral faw, Reefe virtue and keep vice in awe ; Make villainy look black and blue, And give diftinguiftYd worth its due ; Fix its immortal fame in verfe, That men till doomfday mall rehearfe. I have it even within my pow'r, The very kirk itfelf to fcow'r, And that you J ll fay 's a brag right bauld ; But did not Lindfay this of auld ? Sir David's fatyres help'd our nation To carry on the Reformation, And gave the fcarlet whore a box Mair fnell than all the pelts of Knox. Thus far, Sir, with no mean defign, To you I 've poured out my mind, And Iketch'd you forth the toil and pain Of them that have their bread to gain With cares laborious, that you may, In your bleft fphere be ever gay, Enjoying EPISTOLARY. 443 Enjoying life with all that fpirit That your good fenfe and virtues merit. Adieu, and ma* ye as happy be As ever (hall be wifli'd by me, Your ever obliged, humble fervant, PENNYCUICK, ALLAN RAMSAY. May()y 1755. - ' . ' ' ' ; ' 444 RAMSAY'S POEMS. . '(, -n ' j;;f!T 1728. TO A. R. ON THE POVERTY OF THE POETS. DEAR Allan, with your leave, allow me To alk you but one queftion civil ; Why thou J rt a poet pray thee (how me, And not as poor as any devil ? I own your verfes make me gay, But as right poet flill I doubt ye j For we hear tell benorth the Tay, That nothing looks like want about ye. In anfwer then, attempt folutiori, Why poverty torments your gang ? And by what fortitude and caution Thou guards thee from its meagre fang ? Yours, &c. W. L. EPISTOLARY. 445 ' ' . SIR, rrA 1 HAT mony a thriftlefs poet 's poor, Is what they very well deferve, 'Caufe aft their mufe turns common whore, And flatters fools that let them ftarve. Ne'er minding bufmefs, they lye, Indulging floth, in garret couches, And gape like gorblins to the fky, With hungry wames and empty pouches. Dear billies, tak advice for anes, If ye 'd hope honour by the mufe, Rather to mafons carry ftanes, Than for your patrons blockheads chufe : For there 's in nature's fecret laws Of fympath and antipathy, Which is, and will be flill the caufe, Why fools and wits can ne'er agree. A wee thing ferves a cheerfu' mind That is difpos'd to be contented, But he nae happinefs can find That is with pride and floth tormented. Still 446 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Still cautious to prevent a dun, With caps and horns on bills and bands ; The fweets of life I quietly cun, And anfwer nature's fmall demands. Lucky for me, I never fang Faufe praifes to a worthlefs wight, And ftill took pleafure in the thrang Of them wha in good fenfe delight. To fuch I owe what gave the rife To ought thou in my verfe efteems, And, Phoebe like, in darker fkies, I but refleft their brighter beams. FABLES AND TALES. FABLES AND TALES. ib .& 'jtti. ; :1l;V- I722I730. ADVERTISEMENT. SOME of the following are taken from Meffieurs la Fontaine and la Motte, whom I have endeavoured to make fpeak Scots with as much eafe as I can ; at the fame time aiming at the fpirit of thefe eminent authors, without being too fervfle a tranflator. If my manner of escpreffing a defign already in- vented have any particularity that is agreeable, good judges will allow fuch imitations to be originals formed upon the idea of another. Others, who drudge at the dull verbatim, are like timorous attendants, who dare, not move one pace without their mafter's leave, and are never from their back but when they are not able to come up with them. Thofe amongft them which are my own invention, with re- fpeft to the plot as well as the numbers, I leave the reader to find out ; or if he think it worth his while to afk me, I mall tell him. If this Collection prove acceptable, as I hope it will, I know not how far the love I have for this manner of writing may engage me to be divertingly ufeful. Inflru&ion in fuch a drefs is fitted for every palate, and ftrongly imprints a good moral upon the mind. When I think on the " Clock and ** the Dial," I am- never upon the blufh, although I mould fit in company ten minutes without fpeaking. The thoughts of the " Fox and Rat " has hindered me fometimes from difobliging a perfon I did not much value. ' The Wife " Lizard " makes me content with low life. " The Judg- VOL. n. o G ' ment 450 RAMSAY'S POEMS. " ment of Minos " gives me a difguft at avarice ; and " Ju- " piter's Lottery " helps to keep me humble, though I own it has e'en enough ado wi't, &c. A man who has his mind furnimed with fuch a ftock of good fenfe as may be had from thofe excellent Fables, which has been approved of by ages, is proof againft the infults of all thofe miftaken notions which fo much harafs human life: and what is life without ferenity of mind ? How much of a philofopher is this fame moral mufe like to make of me ! " But," fays one, " ay, ay, you're a canny lad, " ye want to make the other penny by her." Pofitively I dare not altogether deny this, no more than if I were a clergyman or phyfician ; and although all of us love to be ferviceable to the world, even for the fake of bare naked virtue, yet appro- bation and encouragement make our diligence ftill more de- lightful. Important truths ftill let your Fables hold, And moral myfteries with art unfold : As veils tranfparent cover, but not hide ; Such metaphors appear, when right apply'd. LD. LANSDOWNE. AN EPISTLE TO DUNCAN FORBES, LORD ADVOCATE. SHUT in a clofet fix foot fquare, No fafli'd with meikle wealth or care, I pafs the live-lang day ; Yet fome ambitious thoughts I have, Which will attend me to my grave, Sic bufked baits they lay. G G 2 Thefe 2 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Thefe keep my fancy on the wing, Something that 's blyth and fnack to fmg, And fmooth the runkled brow : Thus care I happily beguile. Hoping a plaudit and a fmile Frae beft of men, like you. You wha in kittle cafts of ftate, When property demands debate, Can right what is done wrang ; Yet blythly can, when ye think fit, Enjoy your friend, and judge the wit And flidnefs of a fang. How mony, your reverfe, unbleft, Whafe minds gae wand'ring thro' a mift, Proud as the thief in hell, Pretend, forfooth, they 're gentle-fowk, 'Caufe chance gi'es them of gear the yowk, And better chiels the (hell ! I 've feen a wean aft vex itfell, And greet becaufe it was not tall : Heez'd on a board, O ! than/ Rejoicing in the artfu' height, How fmirky look'd the little wight, And thought itfell a man ! Sic FABLES AND TALES. 453 Sic bairns are fome, blawn up a wee With fplendor, wealth, and quality, Upon thefe (lilts grown vain, They o'er the pows of poor fowk ftride, And neither are to had nor bide, Thinking this height their ain. Now fliou'd ane fpeer at fie a puff, What gars thee look fae big and bluff? Is 't an attending menzie ? Or fifty difhes on your table ? Or fifty horfes in your ftable ? Or heaps of glancing cunzie ? Are thefe the things thou ca's thyfell ? Come, vain gigantic fhadow, tell j If thou fayeft yes, I '11 fhaw Thy picture ; mean 's thy filly mind, Thy wit 's a croil, thy judgment blind, And love worth nought ava. Accept our praife, ye nobly born, Whom heaven takes pleafure to adorn With ilka manly gift ; In courts or camps to ferve your nation, Warm'd with that generous emulation Which your forbears did lift. 003 In 454 RAMSAY'S POEMS. In duty, with delight, to you Th* inferior world do juftly bow, While you 're the maift deny'd j Yet {hall your worth be ever priz'd, When ftrutting nathings are defpis'd, With a' their {linking pride. This to fet aff as I am able, I '11 frae a Frenchman thigg a fable, And bufk it in a plaid ; And tho' it be a bairn of Motte's *, When I have taught it to fpeak Scots, I am its fecond dad. * Monf. la Motte, who has written lately a curious Col- leftion of Fables, from which the following is imitated. FABLES AND TALES. 45$ FABLE I. THE TWA BOOKS. TWA books, near neighbours in a Ihop, The tane a gilded Turky fop ; The tither's face was weather-beaten, And cauf-fkin jacket fair worm-eaten. The corky, proud of his braw fuit, Curl'd up his nofe, and thus cry'd out : , " Ah ! place me on fome frefher binks ; " Figh ! how this mouldy creature (links ! " How can a gentle book like me " Endure fie fcoundrel company ! 66 What may fowk fay to fee me cling " Sae clofe to this auld ugly thing, " But that I 'm of a fimple fpirit, " And difregard my proper merit !" Quoth grey-baird, " Whiftit, Sir, with your din; " For a* your meritorious {kin, " I doubt if you be worth within : * 6 For as auld-fafhion'd as I look, " May be I am the better book." " O heavens ! I canna thole the clafli " Of this impertinent auld hafh ; 004 " I winna 456 RAMSAY'S POEMS. " Iwinna ftay ae moment langer." " My lord, pleafe to command your anger ; " Pray only let me tell you that " " What wad this infolent be at ? * e Rot out your tongue ! pray, matter Symmer, " Remove me frae this dinfome rhymer ; " If you regard your reputation, 6t And us of a diftinguifh'd ftation, " Hence frae this beaft let me be hurried, " For with his ftour and (link I'm worried.** Scarce had he (hook his paughty crap, When in a cuftomer did pap ; He up doufe Stanza lifts, and eyes him, Turns o'er his leaves, admires, and buys him : " This book," faid he, " is good and fcarce, " The faul of fenfe in fweetefl verfe." But reading title of gilt cleathing, Cries, " Gods ! wha buys this bonny naithing ? " Nought duller e'er was put in print : " Wow ! what a deal of Turky's tint !". Now, Sir, t* apply what we J ve invented : You are the buyer reprefented ; And may your fervant hope My lays mail merit your regard, I '11 thank the gods for my reward, And fmile at ilka fop. TABLES AND TALES. 457 FABLE II. THE CLOCK AND THE DIAL. AE day a Clock wad brag a Dial, And put his qualities to trial ; Spake to him thus : " My neighbour, pray " Can'ft tell me what J s the time of day ?" The Dial faid, " I dinna ken." " Alake! what ftand ye there for then?" " I wait here till the fun fhines bright, " For nought I ken but by his light." " Wait on," quoth Clock, " I fcorn his help; " Baith night and day my lane I Ikelp : " Wind up my weights but anes a week, " Without him I can gang and fpeak ; " Nor like an ufelefs fumph I ftand, " But conftantly wheel round my hand : " Hark, hark ! I ftrike juft now the hour, " And I am right ane, twa, three, four." While thus the Clock was boafting loud, The bleezing fun brak thro* a cloud : The Dial, faithfu* to his guide, Spake truth, and laid the thumper's pride : Ye 458 RAMSAY'S POEMS. " Ye fee," faid he, " I 've dung you fair, " *Tis four hours and three quarters mair. " My friend," he added, " count again, " And learn a wee to be lefs vain j " Ne'er brag of conftant clavering cant, " And that you anfwers never want ; " For you 're not ay to be believ'd, " Wha truft to you may be deceived. " Be counfell'd to behave like me j " For when I dinna clearly fee, " I always own I dinna ken, " And that *s the way of wifeft men." TABLES AND TALE Si 459 FABLE III. THE RAM AND THE BUCK. A RAM, the father of a flock, Wha 'd mony winters flood the mock Of northern winds and driving fnaw, Leading his family in a raw, Through wreaths that clad the higher field, And drave them frae the lowner bield, To crop contented frozen fare, With honefty on hills blown bare : This Ram, of upright hardy fpirit, Was really a horn'd head of merit. Unlike him was a neighbouring Goat, A mean-faul'd, cheating, thieving fot, That tho' poffeft of rocks the prime, Crown' d with frefh herbs and rowth of thyme, Yet, Have to pilfering, his delight Was to break gardens ilka night, And round him fteal, and aft deflroy Even things he never could enjoy j The pleafure of a dirty mind, That is fae vicioufly inclined. Upon 460 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Upon a harrowing day, when fleet Made twinters and hog-wedders bleet, And quake with cauld ; behind a ruck Met honed Toop and fneaking Buck ; Frae chin to tail clad with thick hair, He bad defiance to thin air ; But trufty Toop his fleece had riven, When he amang the birns was driven : Half naked the brave leader flood, His look composed, unmov'd his mood : When thus the Goat, that had tint a* His credit baith with great and fma', Shun'd by them as a peft, wad fain New friendfhip with this worthy gain : " Ram, fay, fhall I give you a part " Of mine ? I '11 do 't with all my heart : " 'Tis yet a lang cauld month to Beltan, " And ye 've a very ragged kelt on ; " Accept, I pray, what I can fpare, " To clout your doublet with my hair." " No," fays the Ram, " tho' my coat 's " torn, " Yet ken, thou worthlefs, that I fcorn " To be oblig'd at any price " To fie as you, whofe friendmip 's vice : I'd FABLES AND TALES. 461 cc I M havejefs favour frae the beft, " Clad in a hatefu' hairy veft " Beftow'd by thee, than as I now " Stand but ill dreft in native woo*. " Boons frae the generous make ane fmile ; " From mifcreants, make receivers vile." ' . ' i 462 RAMSAY'S POEMS. FABLE IV. THE LOVELY LASS AND THE MIRROR, A NYMPH with ilka beauty grac'd, Ae morning by her toilet plac'd, Where the leal-hearted Looking-glafs With truths addrefl the lovely Lafs. " To do ye juftice, heavenly fair, " Amaift in charms ye may compare " With Venus' fell ; but mind amaifl, " For tho* you 're happily pofleft " Of ilka grace which claims refpeft, " Yet I fee faults you mould correct ; " I own they only trifles are, " Yet of importance to the fair : " What fignifies that patch o'er braid, " With which your rofy cheek *s o'erlaid ? " Your natural beauties you beguile, " By that too much affe&ed fmile ; " Saften that look j move ay with eafe, " And you can never fail to pleafe." Thofe FABLES AND TALES. 463 Thofe kind advices fhe approved, And mair her monitor fhe lov'd, Till in came vifitants a threave j To entertain them fhe man leave Her Looking-glafs. They fleetching praife Her looks, her drefs, and a* fhe fays, Be 't right or wrang ; fhe 's hale complete, And fails in naithing fair or fweet. Sae much was faid, the bonny Lafs Forgat her faithfu* Looking-glafs. 1 i J> iSL K> EA Clarinda, this dear beautie 's you, The mirror is ane good and wife, Wha, by his counfels juft, can mew How nobles may to greatnefs rife. God blefs the wark ! If you J re oppreft By parafites with faufe defign, Then will fie faithfu' mirrors befl Thefe under-plotters countermine. 4^4 RAMSAY'S POEMS. FABLE V. JUPITER'S LOTTERY. ANES Jove, by ae great aft of grace, Wad gratify his human race, And order'd Hermes, in his name, With tout of trumpet to proclaim A royal lott'ry frae the fkies, Where ilka ticket was a prize. Nor was there need for ten per cent. To pay advance for money lent ; Nor brokers nor flock-jobbers here Were thol'd to cheat fowk of their gear : The firft-rate benefits were health, Pleafures, honours, empire, and wealth ; But happy he to whom wad fa* Wifdom, the higheft prize of a*. Hopes of attaining things the beft, Made up the maift feck of the reft. Now ilka ticket fald with eafe, At altars, for a facrifice : Jove a' receiv'd, ky, gaits, and ews, Moor-cocks, lambs, dows, or bawbee-rows ; Nor FABLES AND TALES. Nor wad debar e'en a poor droll, Wha nought cou'd gi'e but his parol. Sae kind was he no to exclude Poor wights for want of wealth or blood ; Even whiles the gods, as record tells, Bought feveral tickets for themfells. When fou, and lots put in the wheel, Aft were they turn'd to mix them weel ; Blind Chance to draw Jove order'd fyne, That nane with reafon might repine. He drew, and Mercury was dark, The number, prize, and name to mark. Now hopes by millions faft came forth, But feldom prizes of mair worth, Sic as dominion, wealth, and ftate, True friends, and lovers fortunate. Wifdom at laft, the greateft prize, Comes up : aloud dark Hermes cries, " Number ten thoufand ; come, let 's fee " The perfon bleft." Quoth Pallas, " Me." Then a* the gods for blythnefs fang, Thro* heaven glad acclamations rang ; While mankind, grumbling, laid the wyte On them, and ca'd the hale a byte. " Yes," cry'd ilk ane, with fobbing heart, " Kind Jove has play'd a parent's part, " Wha did this prize to. Pallas fend, " While we 're fneg'd off at the wob's end." vou n. H H Soon 466 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Soon to their clamours Jove took tent, To pimifh which to wark he went : He ftraight with follies filPd the wheel j In wifdom's place they did as weel, For ilka ane wha folly drew, In their conceit a* fages grew : Sae, thus contented, a* retired, And ilka fool himfelf admir'd. FABLES AND TALES. 467 FABLE VI. . THE MISER AND MINOS. SHORT fyne there was a wretched mifer, With pinching had fcrap'd up a treafure ; Yet frae his hoords he doughtna take As much wou'd buy a mutton (lake, Or take a glafs to comfort nature, But fcrimply fed on crumbs and water : In fhort, he famifh'd 'midft his plenty j Which made furviving kindred canty, Wha fcarcely for him pat on black, And only in his loof a plack, Which even they grudg'd : fie is the way Of them wha fa* upon the prey ; They J ll fcarce row up the wretch's feet, Sae fcrimp they make his winding-meet, Tho' he fhou'd leave a vaft eftate, And heaps of gowd like Arthur's Seat. Well, down the ftarving ghaift did fink, Till it fell on the Stygian brink 5 H H 2 Where 468 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Where auld Van Charon flood and raught His wither'd loof out for his fraught ; But them that wanted wherewithal He dang them back to ftand and blaw. The Mifer lang being us'd to fave, Fand this, and wadna pafiage crave ; But fhaw'd the ferryman a knack, Jumpt in, fwam o'er, and hain'd his plack. Charon might damn, and fink, and roar 5 But a* in vain, he gain'd the more. Arriv'd, the three-pow'd dog of hell Gowl'd terrible a triple yell j Which rous'd the fnaky filters three, Wha furious on this wight did flee, Wha *d play'd the fmuggler on their coaft, By which Pluto his dues had loft ; Then brought him for this trick fae hainous Afore the bench of juftice Minos. The cafe was new, and very kittle, Which puzzl'd a' the court na little ; Thought after thought with unco' fpeed Flew round within the judge's head, To find what punimment was due For fie a daring crime, and new. Shou'd he the plague of Tantal. feel ? Or ftented be on Ixion's wheel ? Or FABLES AND TALES. 469 Or ftung wi* bauld Prometheus' pain? Or help Syfiph. to row his ftane ? Or fent amang the wicked rout, To fill the tub that ay rins out ? " No, no," continues Minos," no ; " Weak are our punifhments below " For fie a crime ; he man be hurl'd " Straight back again into the world : " I fentence him to fee and hear " What ufe his friends make of his gear." H H 3 470 RAMSAY'S POEMS. FABLE VII. THE APE AND THE LEOPARD. THE Ape and Leopard, beads for fhow, The firft a wit, the laft a beau, To make a penny at a fair, AdvertisM a* their parts fae rare. The tane gae out with meikle wind, His beauty 'boon the brutal kind : Said he, " I 'm kend baith far and near, " Even kings are pleas'd when I appear ; " And when I yield my vital puff, " Queens of my {kin will make a muff; " My fur fae delicate and fine, " With various fpots does fleekly fhine. J> Now lads and laffes faft did rin To fee the beaft with bonny {kin : His keeper fliaw'd him round about ; They faw him foon, and foon came out. But mafter Monkey, with an air, Hapt out, and thus harangu'd the fair : " Come, FABLES AND TALES. " Come, gentlemen, and ladies bonny, " I '11 give ye paftime for your money : " I can perform, to raife your wonder, " Of pawky tricks mae than a hunder. " My coufm Spotty, true he 's braw, " He has a curious fuit to maw, " And naithing mair. But frae my mind " Ye (hall blyth fatisfadion find : " Sometimes I '11 aft a chiel that 's dull, " Look thoughtfu', grave, and wag my fcull " Then mimic a light-headed rake, " When on a tow my houghs I make ; " Sometime, like modern monks, I '11 feem " To make a fpeech, and naithing mean. " But come away, ye needna fpeer " What ye 're to pay, Ffe no be dear j " And if ye grudge for want of fport, " I '11 give it back t' ye at the port." The Ape fucceeded ; in fowk went ; Stay'd long, and came out well content. Sae much will wit and fpirit pleafe, Beyond our fhape, and braweft claiths. How mony, ah ! of our fine gallants Are only Leopards in their talents ! . H H 4 RAMSAY'S POEMS. FABLE VIII. THE ASS AND THE BROCK? UPON a time a folemn Afs Was dand'ring thro* a narrow pafs, Where he forgather'd with a Brock, Wha him faluted frae a rock ; Speer'd how he did ? how markets gade ? What 's a* ye'r news ? and how is trade ? How does Jock Stot and Lucky Yad, Tam Tup, and Bucky, honeft lad ? Reply'd the Afs s and made a heel, " E'en a* the better that ye 're weel : " But Jackanapes arid fnarling Fitty " Are grown fae wicked, (fome ca's *t witty,) " That we wha folid are and grave, " Nae peace on our ain howms can have ; " While we are bify gathering gear, " Upon a brae they '11 fit and fneer. " If ane fhou'd chance to breathe behin', '" Or ha'e fome flaver at his chin, " Or 'gainft a tree fhou'd rub his arfe, " That f s fubjed for a winfome farce. There FABLES AND TALES. 473 " There draw they me, as void of thinking ; " And you, my dear, famous for (linking; " And the bauld birfy bair, your frien', " A glutton, dirty to the een : " By laughing dogs and apes abus'd, " Wha is 't can thole to be fae us'd !" " Dear me ! heh ! wow ! and fay ye fae ?" Return* d the Brock : " I 'm unko wae, " To fee this flood of wit break in : " O fcour about, and ca't a fin ; " Stout are your lungs, your voice is loud, " And ought will pafs upon the crowd." The Afs thought this advice was right, And bang'd away with a* his might : Stood on a know among the Cattle, And furioufly 'gainft wit did rattle : Pour'd out a deluge of dull phrafes ; While dogs and apes leugh, and made faces. Thus a* the angry Afs held forth Serv'd only to augment their mirth. . 474 RAMSAY'S POEMS. FABLE IX. THE FOX AND THE RAT. THE lion and the tyger lang maintained A bloody weir : at laft the lion gain'd. The royal vidor (Irak the earth with awe 5 And the four-footed world obey'd his law. Frae ilka fpecies deputies were fent, To pay their homage due, and compliment Their fov'reign liege, wha 'd gart the rebels cour And own his royal right and princely power. After difpute, the monieft votes agree That Reynard mould addrefs his majefty, Ulyfles-like, in name of a* the lave ; Wha thus went on : " O prince ! allow thy Have " To reefe thy brave atchievements and renown ; " Nane but thy daring front fhou'd wear the " crown, " Wha art like Jove, whafe thunderbolt can make " The heavens be hum, and a' the earth to make ; " Whafe very gloom, if he but angry nods, " Commands a peace, and flegs th* inferior gods. " Thus thou, great king, haft by thy conquering " paw " Gi'en earth a fhog, and made thy will a law : " Thee FABLES AND TALES. 475 " Thee a' the animals with fear adore, " And tremble if thou with difpleafure roar ; " O'er a* thou canft us eith thy fceptre fway, " As badrans can with cheeping rottans play." This fentence vex'd the envoy rottan fair ; He threw his gab, and girn'd ; but durft nae mair. The monarch pleas'd with Lowry, wha durfl gloom ? A warrant '$ ordered for a good round fum, Which dragon, lord chief treafurer, muft pay To fly-tongu'd Fleechy on a certain day ; Which fecretary ape in form wrote down, Sign'd, Lion, and a wee beneath, Baboon.-. 'Tis given the Fox. Now Bobtail, tap o* kin, Made rich at anes, is nor to had nor bin : He dreams of nought but pleafure, joy, and peace, Now bleft with wealth to purchafe hens and geefe. Yet in his loof he hadna tell'd the gowd, And yet the Rottan's bread with anger glow'd. He vow'd revenge, and watch'd it night and day j He took the tid when Lowry was away, And thro* a hole into his clofet flips, There chews the warrant a j in little nips. Thus what the Fox had for his flatt'ry gotten, E'en frae a Lion, was made nought by an offended Rottan. 476 RAMSAY'S POEMS. FABLE X. THE CATERPILLAR AND THE ANT. A PENSY Ant, right trig and clean, Came ae day whidding o'er the green ; Where, to advance her pride* fhe faw A Caterpillar moving flaw. " Good ev'n t' ye, miftrefs Ant," faid he ;. " How '& a j at hame ? I 'm blyth to s' ye." The faucy Ant view'd him with fcorn, Nor wad civilities return ; But gecking up her head, quoth fhe, " Poor animal ! I pity thee ; " Wha fcarce can claim to be a creature, " But fome experiment of nature, " Whafe filly mape difpleas'd her eye, " And thus unfmifti'd was flung bye. " For me, I 'm made with better grace, " With active limbs, and lively face ; " And cleverly can move with eafe " Frae place to place where'er I pleafe ; " Can foot a minuet or a jig, " And fnoov 't like ony whirly-gig ; " Which FABLES AND TALES. 477 * 6 Which gars my jo aft grip my hand, " Till his heart pitty-pattys, and faid ae cangler, " what d* ye mean ? " I J ll lay my lugs on 't that he 's green," Said th' ither, " Were I gawn to death, " I M fwear he 's blue, with my laft breath." " He 's black," the judge maintained ay (lout ; And to convince them, whop*d him out : But to furprize to ane and a', The animal was white as fnaw ; And thus reprov'd them : " Shallow boys ! " Away, away, make nae mair noife : " Ye 're FABLES AND TALES. 483 -;tt. '"' l " r^ ' ' . ' I I 2 484 RAMSAY'S POEMS. n^ro oJ^msa luM ' FABLE XIII. THE TWA LIZARDS. BENEATH a tree, ae fhining day, On a burn bank cwa Lizards lay, Becking themfells now in the beams, Then drinking of the cauller dreams. " Waes me !" fays ane of them to th' ither, " How mean and filly live we, brither ! " Beneath the moon is ought fae poor, " Regarded lefs, or mair obfcure ? " We breathe indeed, and that 's juft a* j " But, forc'd by deftiny's hard law, " On earth like worms to creep and fprawl ; " Curft fate to ane that has a faul ! " Forby, gin we may trow report, " In Nilus giant Lizards fport, " Ca'd crocodiles : ah ! had I been " Of fie a fize, upon the green " Then might I had my fkair of fame, " Honour, refpeft, and a great name ; " And man with gaping jaws have fhor'd, " Syne like a pagod been ador'd." c Ah, FABLES AND TALES. 485 * e Ah, friend !" replies the ither Lizard, " What makes this grumbling in thy gizzard ? " What caufe have ye to be uneafy ? " Cannot the fweets of freedom pleafe ye ? " We, free frae trouble, toil, or care, " Enjoy the fun, the earth, and air, " The cryftal fpring, and greenwood maw, " And beildy holes when tempefts blaw. " Why mould we fret, look blae or wan, " Tho* we 're contemn'd by paughty man ? " If fae, let 's in return be wife, " And that proud animal defpife." " O fy !" returns th' ambitious beaft, " How weak a fire now warms thy bread ! " It breaks my heart to live fae mean ; " I M like t' attraft the gazer's een, " And be admir'd. What (lately horns " The deer's majeftic brow adorns ! " He claims our wonder and our dread, " Where'er he heaves his haughty head. " What envy a' my fpirit fires, " When he in cleared pools admires " His various beauties with delyte ; " I J m like to drown myfelf with fpite." Thus he held forth ; when ftraight a pack Of hounds, and hunters at their back, 1 1 3 Ran 486 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Ran down a deer before their face, Breathlefs and wearied with the chace : The dogs upon the victim feize And beugles found his obfequies. But neither men nor dogs took tent Of our wee Lizards on the bent j While hungry Bawty, Buff, and Tray, Devour'd the paunches of the prey. Soon as the bloody deed was pad, The Lizard wife the proud addreft : " Dear coufm, now pray let me hear " How wad ye like to be a deer ?" " Ohon !" quoth he, convinc'd and wae, " Wha wad have thought it anes a-day ? " Well, be a private life my fate, " I '11 never envy mair the great : cc That we are little fowk, that J s true ; " But fae J s our cares and dangers too." FABLES AND TALKS. 487 - FABLE XIV. '. MERCURY IN QUEST OF PEACE. THE gods cooft out, as ftory gaes, Some being friends, fome being faes, To men in a befieged city : Thus fome frae fpite, and fome frae pity, Stood to their point with canker'd ftrictnefs, And leftna ither in dog's likenefs. Juno ca'd Venus whore and bawd,. Venus ca'd Juno fcaulding Jad : E'en cripple Vulcan blew the low, Apollo ran to bend his bow, Dis fhook his fork, Pallas her fhield, Neptune his grape began to wield. " What plague !" cries Jupiter, " hey hoy ! " Man this town prove anither Troy ? " What, will you ever be at odds, " Till mankind think us foolim gods ? " Hey ! miftrefs Peace, make hafte, appear." But madam was nae there to hear. " Come, Hermes, wing thy heels and head, " And find her out with a' thy fpeed : " Trowth, this is bonny wark indeed !" 1 1 4 Hermes 488 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Hermes obeys, and ftaptna fhort, But flies dire&ly to the court ; For fure (thought he) fhe will be found On that fair complimenting ground, Where praifes and embraces ran, Like current coin, 'tween man and man. But foon, alake ! he was beguil'd ; And fand that courtiers only fmil'd, And with a formal flatt'ry treat ye, That they mair fickerly might cheat ye. Peace was na there, nor e'er could dwell Where hidden envy makes a hell. Nieft to the ha', where juftice ftands With fword arid balance in her hands, He flew ; no that he thought to find her Between the accufer and defender ; But fure he thought to find the wench Amang the fowk that fill the bench, Sae muckle gravity and grace Appear'd in ilka judge's face : Even here he was deceiv'd again, For ilka judge ftack to his ain Interpretation of the law, And vex'd themfells with had and draw. Frae thence he flew ftiaight to the kirk : In this he prov'd as daft a ftirk, To FABLES AND TALES. 489 To look for Peace, where never three In ev'ry point cou'd e'er agree : Ane his ain gait explain'd a text Quite contrair to his neighbour next, And teughly toolied day and night To gar believers trow them right. Then fair he figh'd : " Where can fhe be ?- " Well thought the univerfity : " Science is ane, thefe man agree." There did he bend his ftrides right clever, But is as far miftane as ever ; For here contention and ill nature Had runkled ilka learn'd feature : Ae party flood for ancient rules, Anither ca'd the ancients fools ; Here ane wad fet his (hanks afpar, And reefe the man that fang Troy war ; Anither ca's him Robin Kar. Well, fhe 's no here. Away he flies To feek her amangfl families : Tout ! what fhou'd fhe do there, I wonder ? Dwells fhe with matrimonial thunder, Where mates, fome greedy, fome deep drinkers, Contend with thriftlefs mates or jinkers ? This fays 'tis black ; and that, wi' fpite, Stifly maintains and threaps 'tis white. Weary'd 490 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Weary'd at laft, quoth he, Let 's fee " How branches with their ftocks agree." But here he fend ftill his miftake ; Some parents cruel were, fome weak ; While bairns ungratefu' did behave, And wifh'd their parents in the grave. " Has Jove then fent me 'rnang thir fowk,' Cry'd Hermes, " here to hunt the gowk ? " Well I have made a waly round, *' To feek what is not to be found." Juft on the wing towards a burn, A wee piece aff, his looks did turn ; There miftrefs Peace he chanc'd to fee Sitting beneath a willow tree. " And have I found ye at the laft ?" He cry'd aloud, and held her faft. Here I refide," quoth me, and fmil'd, " With an auld hermit in this wild." Well, Madam," faid he, " I perceive That ane may long your prefence crave, And mifs ye flill j but this feems plain, To have ye, ane man be alane." 4C FABLES AND TALES. 491 ' FABLE XV. THE SPRING AND THE SYKE, FED by a living Spring, a rill Flow'd eafily a-down a hill ; A thoufand flowers upon its bank Flourim'd fu' fair, and grew right rank. Near to its courfe a Syke did lye, Whilk was in fummer aften dry, And ne'er recover'd life again, But after foaking fhowers of rain ; Then wad he fwell, look big and fprufh, And o'er his margin proudly gufh. Ae day, after great waughts of wet, He with the cryftal current met, And ran him down with unco' din. Said he, " How poorly does thou rin ! " See with what ftate I dafli the brae, " Whilft thou canft hardly make thy way." The Spring, with a fuperior air, Said, " Sir, your brag gives me nae care, " For foon 's ye want your foreign aid, " Your paughty cracks will foon be laid : " Frae my ain head I have fupply, " But you muft borrow, elfe rin dry." RAMSAY'S POEMS. FABLE XVI. THE PHCENIX AND THE OWL. PHOENIX the firft, th* Arabian lord, And chief of all the feather'd kind, A hundred ages had ador'd The fun, with fanftity of mind. Yet, mortal, ye man yield to fate ; He heard the fummons with a fmile, And, unalarm'd, without regret, He form'd himfell a fun'ral pile. A Howlet, bird of mean degree, Poor, dofen'd, lame, and doited auld, Lay lurking in a neighboring tree, Curfmg the fun loot him be cauld. Said Phoenix, " Brother, why fo griev'd, " To ban the Being gives thee breath ? " Learn to die better than thou 'ft liv'd ; " Believe me, there 's nae ill in death." : bid! iki nool luw t: " Believe ".-ib nil all? .wo i}dd Jbm uo-( Juff FABLES AND TALES. 493 " Believe ye that ?" the Owl reply'd : " Preach as ye will, death is an ill : " When young I ilka pleafure try'd, " But now I die againfl my will. " For you, a fpecies by yourfell, " Near eeldins with the fun your god, " Nae ferly 'tis to hear you tell " Ye 're tir'd, and inclin'd to nod. " It (hou'd be fae ; for had I been " As lang upon the warld as ye, " Nae tears ihou'd e'er drap frae my een, " For tinfel of my hollow tree." " And what," return'd th' Arabian fage, " Have ye t' obferve ye have not feen ? " Ae day 's the picture of an age, " 'Tis ay the fame thing o'er again. " Come, let us baith together die : " Bow to the fun that gave thee life, " Repent thou frae his beams did flee, " And end thy poortith pain, and ftrife. CC M Thou wha in darknefs took delight, Frae pangs of guilt could'ft ne'er be free : What won thou by thy fhunning light ? " But time flies on, I hafte to die." Ye'r 494 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Ye'r fervant, Sir," reply'd the Owl, " I likena in the dark to lowp : ' The byword ca's that chiel a fool, " That flips a certainty for hqpe." Then flraight the zealous feather'd king To *s aromatic neft retired Collected fun-beams with his wing, And in a fpicy flame expir'd. Meantime there blew a weftlin gale, Which to the Howlet bore a coal j The faint departed on his pile, But the blafphemer in his hole: He died for ever. Fair and bright The Phoenix frae his aflies fprang. Thus wicked men fmk down to night, While juft men join the glorious thrang. : ijib 1t?tti3DOJ n. red" gii 13] .oincO FABLES AND TALES. 495 i ;' FABLE XVII. THE BOY AND THE PIG, DEEP in a narrow craiged Pig Lay mony a dainty nut and fig* A greedy Callan, half a fot, Shot his wee nive into the pot, And thought to bring as mony out As a' his fangs cou'd gang about ; But the ftrait neck o't wadna fuffer The hand of this young foolifh truffer, Sae ftruted, to return again, Which gae the gowkie nae fma* pain. He gowls to be fae difappointed, And drugs till he has 'maift disjointed His fhekelbane. Anither lad Stood by, wha fome mair judgment had j Said, " Billy, dinna grip at a', 66 And you with eafe a part may draw." This fame advice to men I 'd lend ; Ne'er for o'er much at anes contend, But take the cannyeft gate to eafe, And pike out joys by twas and threes. 496 RAMSAY'S POEMS. FABLE XVIII. THE MAN WITH THE TWA WIVES. IN ancient tales, there is a ftory, Of ane had twa Wives, whig and tory. The Garlic's head was now attir'd With hair, in equal mixture lyart. His Wives (faith ane might well fuffic'd) Alternately was ay ill pleas'd : They being reverfe to ane another In age and faith, made a curs'd pother Whilk of the twa mou'd bear the bell, And make their man maift like themfell. Auld Meg the tory took great care To weed out ilka fable hair, Plucking out all that look'd like youth, Frae crown of head to weeks of mouth ; Saying, that baith in head and face, Antiquity was mark of grace. But Befs the whig, a raving rump, Took figmaliries, and wald jump, With fword and piftol by her fide, And cock a-ftride a rowing ride On FABLES AND TALES. 497 On the hag-ridden fumph, and grapple Him hard and fail about the thrapple ; And with her furious fingers whirle Frae youthfu' black ilk filver curie. Thus was he ferv'd between, the twa, Till no ae hair he had ava. MORAL. THE moral of this fable 's eafy But I fall fpeak it out to pleafe ye. 'Tis an auld faying and a trow, " Between twa ftools the arfe fa's throw." Thus Britain's morals are much plucked, While by two oppofites inftru&ed ; Who ftill contending, have the trick The ftrongeft truths to contradict ; Tho' orthodox, they '11 error make it, If party oppofite has fpake it. Thus are we keytch'd between the twa, Like to turn deifts ane and a*. . . '. :ji Li. . VOL. II. K K 498 RAMSAY'S POEMS. sfqfin^ ban c rfqm:A s^l FABLE XIX. THE FABLE OF THE CONDEMNED ASS, A DREADFUL plague, the like was fmdle feen, Caft mony a beaft wame upwards on the green : By thoufands down to Acheron they fank, To dander ages on the dowie bank, Becaufe they lay unburied on the fward, The fick furvivors cou'dna give them card. The wowf and tod with fighing fpent the day, Their fickly ilamacks fcunner'd at the prey ; Fowls droop the wing, the bull neglefts his love ; Scarce crawl the fheep, and weakly horfes move : The bauldeft brutes that haunt Numitfian glens, Ly panting out their lives in dreary dens. Thick lay the dead, and thick the pain'd and weak, The profpeft gart the awfu* Lion quake. He ca's a council. " Ah! my friends," faid he, 2 5l6 RAMSAY'S POEMS. THE PARROT. AN honed man had tint his wife, And, wearied of a dowy life, Thought a parroquet bade maift fair, With tatling to divert his care : For the good woman fair he griev'd ; He J ad needed nane if me had liv'd ! Streight to a bird-man's mop he hies, Who, flock'd with a* that wing the {kies, And give delight with feathers fair, Or pleafe with a melodious air ; Larks, gowdfpinks, mavifes, and linties, Baith hame bred, and frae foreign countries j Of parrots he had curious choice, Carefully bred to make a noife ; The very ward had learn'd his tale, To afk a cup of fack or ale ; Cry weftlin herrings, or frefh falmons, White fand, or Norway nuts like almonds. Delighted with their various claver, While wealth made all his wits to waver, He FABLES AND TALES. 517 " He caft his look beneath the board, Where flood ane that fpake ne'er a word : " Pray what art thou {lands fpeechlefs there ?" Reply'd the bird, " I think the mair." The buyer fays, " Thy anfwer 's wife, " And thee I '11 have at any price. " What muft you have ?" " Five pounds." "''Tis thine " The money, and the bird is mine." Now in his room this feather'd fage Is hung up in a gilded cage, The mafter's expectations fully Ported to hear him tauk like Tully : But a hale month is paft and gane, He never hears a rhyme but ane ; Still in his lugs he hears it rair, " The lefs I fpeak I think the mair." " Confound ye for a filly fot, c< What a dull idiot have I got ! " As dull myfell, on fhort acquaintance, " To judge of ane by a fmgle fentence !" V j I j[> L L 3 51 8 RAMSAY'S POEMS. THE ECLIPSE. UPON his guilded chariot, led by hours, With radiant glories darting throw the air, The Sun, high fprung in his diurnal courfe, Shed down a day ferenely fweet and fair. The earth mair beautiful and fertile grew ; The flow'ry fields in rich array, Smird lovely on the beamy day, Delightful for the eye to view ; Ceres, with her golden hair, Difplaying treafure ilka where, While ufeful plenty made her ftalks to bow. A thoufand little funs glanc'd on the wave ; Nature appeared to claim the Sun's refpeft, All did fae blyth and beauteoufly behave. " Ah !" cry'd the Moon, " too much for him " ye deck ; " My aking een cannot this glory bear ; " This fun pretends nane in the fky " Can mine but him, then where am I ? " Soon FABLES AND TALES. ' 519 " Soon I the contrary fhall clear : " By ae bauld ftrake, " With him I '11 make " My equal empire in the heaven appear. " 'Tis I that gives a luftre to the night, " Then mould not I my proper right difplay, " And now, even now dart down my filver light ? " I give enough, this Sun gives too much day. 1 The projeft fram'd, pale Cynthia now to (haw Her mining power, right daftly run Direftly 'tween the earth and Sun. Unwife defign ! the warld then faw Inftead of light, the Moon Brought darknefs in at noon, And without borrowing, had no light at a*. Thus many empty and imprudent men, Wha to their ain infirmities are blind, Rax yont their reach, and this way let us ken A jealous, weak, and infufficient mind* L L 4 52O RAMSAY'S POEMS. - THE MONK AND THE MILLER'S WIFE. Now lend your lugs, ye benders fine, Wha ken the benefit of wine ; And you wha laughing feud brown ale, Leave jinks a wee, and hear a tale. An honed miller won'd in Fife, That had a young and wanton wife, Wha fometimes thol'd the parifli prieft To mak* her man a twa horn'd beaft. He paid right mony vifits till her, And to keep in with Hab the miller, He endeavoured aft to mak' him happy, Where'er he ken'd the ale was nappy. Sic condefcenfion in a paftor, Knit Halbert's love to him the fafter ; And by his converfe, troth 'tis true, Hab learn'd to preach when he was fou. Thus all the three were wonder pleas'd, The wife well ferv'd, the man well eas'd. This ground his corns, and that did cherilh Himfelf with dining round the parifli. Befs, FABLES AND TALES. 52! Befs, the good wife, thought it nae Ikaith, Since fhe was fit to ferve them baith. When equal is the night and day, And Ceres gives the fchools the play, A youth fprung frae a gentler pater, Bred at Saint Andrew's alma mater, Ae day gawn hameward, it fell late, And him benighted by the gate. To lye without, pit-mirk, did more him, He cou'dna fee his thumb before him ; But clack, clack, clack, he heard a mill, Whilk led him by the lugs theretill. To tak* the threed of tale alang, This mill to Halbert did belang ; Not lefs this note your notice claims, The fcholar's name was Mafter James. Now, fmiling mufe, the prelude paft, Smoothly relate a tale mail lad As lang as Alps and Grampian hills, As lang as wind or water mills. In enter'd James, Hab faw and ken'd him, And offer'd kindly to befriend him With fie good cheer as he cou'd make, Baith for his ain and father's fake. The 522 RAMSAY'S POEMS. The fcholar thought himfelf right fped, And gave him thanks in terms well bred. Quoth Hab, " I canna leave my mill " As yet ; but ftep ye weft the kill '* A bow-mot, and ye '11 find my hame ; " Gae warm ye, and crack with our dame, " Till I fet aff the mill, fyne we " Shall tak' what Beflfy has to gi'e." James, in return, what 's handfome faid, O'er lang to tell, and aff he gade. Out of the houfe fome light did mine, Which led him till 't as with a line : * c Arriv'd, he knock'd, for doors were fteekit ; Straight throw a window Beffy keekit, And cries, " Wha 's that gi'es fowk a fright " At fie untimous time of night ?" James, with good humour, maift difcreetly Tald her his circumftance completely. " I dinna ken ye," quoth the wife, " And up and down the thieves are rife ; " Within my lane, I *m but a woman, " Sae I '11 unbar my door to nae man,: * c But fmce 'tis very like, my dow, * c That all ye 're telling may be true, " Hae, there 's a key, gang in your way " At the neift door, there 's braw ait ftrae j * e Streek down upon 't, my lad, and learn ** They 're no ill lodg'd that get a barn." Thus, FABLES AND TALES. 5*3 Thus, after meikle clitter clatter, James fand he cou'dna mend the matter ; And fmce it might na better be, With refignation took the key ; Unlockt the barn, clam up the mow, Where was an opening near the hou, Throw whilk he faw a glent of light, That gave diverfion to his fight : By this he quickly cou'd difcern, A thin wa j fep'rate houfe and barn ; And throw this rive was in the wa% All done within the houfe he faw : He faw what ought not to be feen, And fcarce gave credit to his een, The parifh prieft, of reverend fame, In active courtfhip with the dame ! To lengthen out defcription here Wou'd but offend the modeft ear, And beet the lewder youthfu* flame That we by fatire drive to tame. Suppofe the wicked action o'er, And James continuing ftill to glowr ; Wha faw the wife as fad as able Spread a clean fervite on the table, And fyne, frae the ha* ingle, bring ben A piping het young roafted hen, And twa good bottles flout and clear, Ane of ftrong ale, and ane of beer. But, 524 RAMSAY'S POEMS. But, wicked luck ! juft as the priefl Shot in his fork in chucky's breaft, Th* unwelcome miller ga'e a roar, Cry'd, " Befiy, hafte ye ope the door." With that the haly letcher fled, And darn'd himfell behind a bed ; While Befly huddl'd a* things by, That nought the cuckold might efpy ; Syne loot him in ; but, out of tune, Speer'd why he left the mill fae foon ? " I come," faid he, " as manners claims, " To crack and wait on Matter James, " Whilk I (hou'd do tho' ne'er fae bifiy ; " I fent him here, good wife, where is he ?" " Ye fent him here !" quoth Befly, grum- bling ; " Ken'd I this James ? a chiel came rumbling, " But how was I aflur'd, when dark, " That he had been nae thievifh fpark, " Or fome rude wencher gotten a dofe, " That a weak wife cou'd ill oppofe ?" " And what came of him ? fpeak nae langer ;"* Cries Halbert, in a Highland anger. " I fent him to the barn," quoth fhe : " Gae quickly bring him in," quoth he. James was brought in ; the wife was bawkedj The prieft flood clofe ; the miller cracked : Then FABLES AND TALES. 525 Then afk'd his funkan gloomy fpoufe, What fupper had (he in the houfe, That might be fuitable to gi'e Ane of their lodger's qualitie ? Quoth (he, " Ye may well ken, goodman, " Your feaft comes frae the pottage-pan ; " The ftov'd or roafted we afford " Are aft great ftrangers on our board."- " Pottage," quoth Hab, " ye fenfelefs tawpie ! " Think ye this youth 's a gilly-gawpy ; " And that his gentle ftamock 's mafter, " To worry up a pint of plaifter, " Like our mill-knaves that lift the lading, " Whafe kytes can ftreek out like raw plaid- " ing? " Swith road a hen, or fry 'fome chickens, " And fend for ale frae Maggy Picken's." " Hout I," quoth (he, " ye may well ken, " 'Tis ill brought but that 's no there ben ; " When but laft owk, nae farder gane, " The laird got a' to pay his kain." Then James, wha had as good a guefs Of what was in the houfe as Befs, With pawky fmile, this plea to end, To pieafe himfell, and eafe his friend, Firft open'd, with a flee oration, His wond'rous ikill in conjuration : Said 526 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Said he, " By this fell art I *m able " To whop aff any great man's table " Whatever I like to make a meal of, " Either in part, or yet the hail of ; " And, if ye pleafe, I '11 maw my art." Cries Halbert, " Faith, with all my heart." Befs fain'd herfelf, cry'd, Lord, be here !" And near-hand fell a-fwoon for fear. James leugh, and bade her naithing dread ; Syne to his conjuring went with fpeed : And firft he draws a circle round, Then utters mony a magic found Of words, part Latin, Greek, and Dutch, Enow to fright a very witch. That done, he fays, " Now, now, 'tis come, " And in the boal befide the lum : " Now fet the board, good wife, gae ben, " Bring frae yon boal a roafted hen." She wadna gang, but Haby ventur'd ; And foon as he the ambrie enter'd, It fmell'd fae well he fliort time fought it, And, wond'ring, 'tween his hands he brought it. He view'd it round, and thrice he fmell'd it, Syne with a gentle touch he felt it. Thus ilka fenfe he did conveen, Left glamour had beguil'd his een : They all in an united body, Declar'd it a fine fat how towdy. Nae FABLES AND TALES. 527 " Nae mair about it," quoth the miller, " The fowl looks well, and we '11 fa* till her." " Sae be 't," fays James ;" and, in a doup, They fnapt her up baith ftoup and roup. " Neift, O!" cries Halbert, " cou'd your fldll " But help us to a waught of ale, " I 'd be oblig'd t* ye a* my life, " And offer to the deel my wife, " To fee if he '11 difcreeter mak' her, " But that I 'm fleed he winna tak' her." Said James, " Ye offer very fair ; " The bargain 's hadden, fae nae mair." Then thrice he fhook a willow wand, With kittle words thrice gave command ; That done, with look baith learn'd and grave, Said, " Now ye '11 get what ye wad have : " Twa bottles of as nappy liquer " As ever ream'd in horn or bicquer, " Behind the ark that hads your meal " Ye Ml find twa ftanding corkit well." He faid, and faft the miller flew, And frae their neft the bottles drew ; Then firft the fcholar's health he toafted, Whafe art had gart him feed on roafled ; His father's neift, and a' the reft Of his good friends that wifh'd him beft, Which 528 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Which were o'er langfome at the time In a fhort tale to put in rhyme. Thus while the miller and the youth Were blythly flocking of their drowth, Befs fretting, fcarcely held frae greeting, The prieft inclos'd flood vex'd and fweating. " O wow !" faid Hab, " if ane might fpeer, " Dear Mafter James, wha brought our cheer " Sic laits appear to us fae awfu', " We hardly think your learning lawfu'." " To bring your doubts to a conclufion,'* Says James, " ken I 'm a Roficrucian, " Ane of the fet that never carries " On traffic with black deels or fairies ; " There 's mony a fpirit that 's no deel " That conftantly around us wheel. " There was a fage call'd Albumazor, " Whafe wit was gleg as ony razor ; " Frae this great man we learn'd the fldll " To bring thefe gentry to our will ; " And they appear, when we 've a mind, " In ony fhape of human kind : " Now if you '11 drap your foolifli fear, " I '11 gar my Pacolet appear." Hab FABLES AND TALES. 52 Hab fidg'd and leugh, his elbuck clew, Baith fear'd and fond a fp'rit to view : At lad his courage wan the day, He to the fcholar's will gave way. Befly by this began to fmell A rat, but kept her mind to 'rfell : She pray'd like howdy in her drink, But mean time tipt young James a wink. James frae his e'e an anfwer fent, Which made the wife right well content ; Then turn'd to Hab, and thus advis'd : " Whatever you fee, be nought furpriz'd ; " But for your faul move not your tongue ; " And ready (land with a great rung, " Syne as the fp'rit gangs marching out, " Be fure to lend him a found rout : " I bidna this by way of mocking, " For nought delytes him mair than knocking." Hab got a kent, flood by the hallan, And ftraight the wild mifchievous callan Cries, " Rhadamanthus hufky mingo, " Monk, homer, hipock, jinko, jingo, " Appear in likenefs of a prieft ; " No like a deel, in fhape of beaft, " With gaping fhafts to fleg us a* j " Wauk forth, the door ftands to the wa'." VOL. ii. MM Then, 530 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Then, frae the hole where he was pent, The prieft approach'd, right well content ; With filent pace ftrade o'er the floor, Till he was drawing near the door, Then, to efcape the cudgel, ran ; But was not mifs'd by the good-man, Wha lent -him on his neck a lounder, That gart him o'er the threftiold founder. Darknefs foon hid him frae their fight ; , Ben flew the miller in a fright ; " I trow," quoth he, " I laid well on ; " But, wow ! he 's like our ain Mefs John." FABLES AND TALES. 531 THE DAFT BARGAIN. ft AT market anes, I watna how, Twa herds between them coft a cow : Driving her hame, the needfu' hacky, But ceremony, chanc'd to k y. Quoth Rab right ravingly to Raff, " Gin ye '11 eat that digefted draff " Of Crummy, I (hall quat my part." " A bargain be 't with a' my heart," Raff foon reply'd, and lick'd his thumb, To gorble 't up without a gloom : Syne till 't he fell, and feem'd right yap His mealtith quickly up to gawp. Haff done, his heart began to fcunner, But lootna on till Rab ftrak under ; Wha fearing fkair of cow to tine, At his daft bargain did repine. " Well, well," quoth Raff, " tho* ye was rafli, " I '11 fcorn to wrang ye, fenfelefs hafli ! " Come, fa' to wark as I ha'e done, " And eat the ither haff as foon, M M 2 " Ye 's 53* RAMSAY'S POEMS. " Ye 's fave ye'r part/'" Content," quoth Rab, And flerg'd the reft o't in his gab. Now what was tint, or what was won, Is eithly feen ; my ftory 's done : Yet frae this tale confederate ftates may learn To fave their cow, and yet no eat her fharn. FABLES AND TALES. 533 THE TWA CUT-PURSES. IN borrows-town there was a fair, And mony a landart coof was there ; Baith lads and lafles bulked brawly, To glowr at ilka bonny waly, And lay out ony ora-bodles On fma* gimcracks that pleas'd their noddles, Sic as a jocktaleg, or fheers, Confeckit ginger, plumbs, or pears. Thefe gaping gowks twa rogues furvey, And on their cafh this plot they lay : The tane, lefs like a knave than fool, Unbidden clam the high cookftool, And pat his head and baith his hands Throw holes where the ill-doer ftands. Now a' the crowd with mouth and een Cry'd out, " What does this ideot mean ?" They glowr'd and leugh, and gather'd thick, And never thought upon a trick, Till he beneath had done his job, By tooming poutches of the mob j M M 3 Wha 534 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Wha now poffeft of rowth of gear, Scour'd aff as lang 's the coaft was clear. But, wow ! the ferly quickly chang'd, When throw their empty fobs they rang'd : Some girn'd, and fome look'd blae wi' grief; While fome cry'd out, Fy ! had the thief." But ne'er a thief or thief was there, Or cou'd be found in a' the fair. The jip, wha flood aboon them a', His innocence began to maw ; Said he, " My friends, I 'm very forry " To hear your melancholy ftory ; * e But fure where'er your tinfel be, " Ye canna lay the wyte on me." FABLES AND TALES. 535 THE LURE. THE fun juft o'er the hills was peeping, The hynds arifmg, gentry fleeping, The dogs were barking, cocks were crawing, Night-drinking fots counting their lawin ; Clean were the roads, and clear the day, When forth a falconer took his way, Nane with him but his me knight-errant, That afts in air the bloody tyrant ; While with quick wing, fierce beak, and claws, She breaks divine and human laws ; Ne'er pleas'd but with the hearts and livers Of peartricks, teals, moor-powts, and plivers : Yet is me much efteem'd and dandl'd, Clean lodg'd, well fed, and faftly handPd. Reafon for this need be nae wonder, Her parafites. mare in the plunder. M M 4 Thus 3^ RAMSAY'S PdEMS. Thus fneaking rooks about a court, That make oppreffion but their fport, Will praife a paughty bloody king,' And hire mean hackney poets to fmg His glories ; while the deel be licket He e'er attempt but what he ftidet. So, Sir, as I was gawn to fay, This falconer had tane his way O'er Calder-moor ; and gawn the mofs up, He there forgather'd with a goffip : And wha was 't, trow ye, but the de'el That had difguis'd himfell fae weel In human fhape, fae fnug and wylie, Jude took him for a burlie-bailie : His cloven cloots were hid with moon, A bonnet coor'd his horns aboon : Nor fpat he fire, or briniftone rifted, Nor awfome glowr'd ; but cawmly lifted His een and voice, and thus began : " Good morning t' ye, honeft man ; " Ye 're early out ; how far gae ye * c This gate ? I 'm blyth of company, " What fowl is that, may ane demand, " That ftands fae trigly on your hand ?" - " Wow ! man," quoth Juden, * e where won ye ? " The like was never fpeer'd at me ! " Man FABLES AND TALES. 537 ** Man, 'tis a hawk, and e'en as good " As ever flew, or wore a hood." " Friend, I 'm a ftranger," quoth auld Symmie, " I hope ye '11 no be angry wi* me ; " The ignorant man ay be fpeering " Queftions, till they come to a clearing. " Then tell me mair : what do ye wi't ? " Is 't good to fmg, or good to eat ?" " For neither," anfwer'd fimple Juden ; " But helps to bring my lord his food in : " When fowls ftart up that I wad hae, " Straight frae my hand I let her gae ; " Her hood tane aff, me is not langfome " In taking captives, which I ranfome " With a dow's wing, or chicken's leg." " Trowth," quoth the de'el, " that 's nice, I beg " Ye '11 be fae kind as let me fee " How this fame bird of yours can flee." ^ " T' oblige ye, friend, I winna ftand." Syne loos'd the falcon frae his hand. Unhooded, up (he fprang with birr, While baith flood flaring after her. " But how his bonnet he retains, Yet on his creft he mayna cock it, But in a coffer clofs man lock it. Bareheaded thus he e'en knocks under, And lets them drive awa the plunder, Sae have I feen, befide a tow'r, The king of brutes oblig'd to cour, And on his royal paunches thole A dwarf to prog him wi j a pole ; While he wad (haw his fangs, and rage. Wi* bootlefs wrangling in his cage. Now follows that we tak* a peep O* Bawfy, looking like a meep, By Bridle hated and defpifed, By Jouk and Rofie little priz'd. Soon FABLES AND TALES. 573 Soon as the horfe had heard his brither Joukum and Rofe were prick' d thegither, Awa he fcours o'er hight and how, Fu J fidgin fain whate'er he dow, Counting what things he now did mifter, That wad be gi'en him by his fifter. Like {hallow bards, wha think they flee, Becaufe they live fax ftories high, To fome poor lifelefs lucubration Prefixes fleeching dedication, And blythly dream they '11 be reftor'd To alehoufe credit by my Lord. Thus Bawfy's mind in plenty row'd, While he thought on his promis'd gowd And baillyfhip, which he wi' fines . Wad mak' like the Weft India mines ; Arrives, wi' future greatnefs dizzy, Ca's, where 's Mefs Jouk ? BEEF. Mefs Jouk is bify. BAWSY. My Lady Rofe, is (he at leifure ? BEEF. 574 RAMSAY'S POEMS. "-- '-, ? v-ir f -"'- "{> ' ' ' *' BEEF. No, Sir, my Lady 's at her pleafure. BAWSY. I wait for her or him, go mew. BEEF. And pray you, mafter, wha are you ? BAWSY. Upo* my faul this porter J s faucy ! Sirrah, go tell my name is Bawfy, Their brither wha made up the marriage. BEEF. And fae I thought by your daft carriage. Between your houghs gae clap your gelding, Swith hame and feaft upon a fpelding, For there 's nae room beneath this roof To entertain a fimple coof. The like o' you, that nane can truft, Wha to your ain ha'e been unjuft. " BARD. FASLES AND TALES. 575 BARD. This faid, he dadded to the yate, And left poor Bawfy in a fret, Wha loudly gowPd, and made a din, That was overheard by a* within. Quoth Rofe to Jouk, Come, let 's away, And fee wha's yon mak's a* this fray. Awa' they went, and faw the creature Sair runkling ilka filly feature O' his dull phiz, wi' girns and glooms, Stamping and biting at his thumbs. They tented him a little while, Then came full on him wi' a fmile, Which foon gart him forget the torture Was rais'd within him by the porter. Sae will a fucking weanie yell, But make a rattle, or a bell, It hauds its tongue ; let that alane, It to its yamering fa's again ; Lilt up a fang, and ftraight it 's feen To laugh wi' tears into its een. Thus eithly anger'd, eithly pleas'd, Weak Bawfy lang they tantaliz'd Wi' promifes right wide extended, They ne'er perform'd, nor e'er intended : But now and then, when they did need him, A fupper and a pint they gie'd him j That 576 RAMSAY'S POEMS. That done, they ha'e nae mair to fay, And fcarcely ken him the nieft day. Poor fallow ! now this mony a year, , Wi' fome faint hope, and rowth o' fear, He has been wreftling wi' his fate, A drudge to Joukum and his mate. While Bridle faves his manly look, Regardlefs baith o' Rofe and Jouk, Maintains right quietly 'yond the kairns, His honour, confcience, wife, and bairns, Jouk and his rumblegarie wife Drive on a drunken gaming life, 'Caufe, fober, they can get nae reft, For Nick and Duniwhiftle's ghaift, Wha in the garrets aften tooly, And more them wi' a bloody gully. Thus I ha'e' fung, in hamelt rhyme, A fang that fcorns the teeth o* time j Yet modeftly I hide my name, Admiring virtue mair than fame. But tent ye wha defpife inftruclion, And gi'es my wark a wrang conftru&ion, Frae 'hind my curtain, mind I tell ye, L '11 moot a fatire through your belly : But wha wi' havins je'es his bonnet, And fays, Thanks t' ye for your fonnet, He manna want the praifes due To generofity. Adieu. FABLES AND TALES. 577 .. ' THE EAGLE AND THE ROBIN REDBREAST. THE Prince of all the fethert kind, That with fpred wings outflees the wind, And tours far out of human ficht, To view the fchynand orb of licht : This ryall bird, tho' braif and great, And armit ftrang for ftern debait, Nae tyrant is, but condefcends Aftymes to treit inferiour friends. Ane day, at his command did flock To his hie palace on a rock, The courtiers of ilk various fyze That fwiftly fwim in chriftal fkyis. Thither the valiant Terfals doup, And heir rapacious Corbies croup, With greidy Gleds, and flie Gormahs, And dinfome Pyis, and clatterin Daws ; Proud Pecocks, and a hundred mae, Brufcht up thair pens that folemn day, Bowd firft fubmiffive to my lord, Then tuke thair places at his borde. VOL. n. p p Mein 578 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Mem tyme, quhyle feifting on a fawn, And drinking blude frae lamies drawn, A tunefull Robin trig and zung Hard by upon a bour-tree fung. He fang the Eagle's ryall lyne, His perfmg ee and richt divyne To fway out owre the fetherit thrang, <^uha dreid his martial bill and fang : His flicht fublime, and eild renewit, His mynd with clemencie endewit ; In fafter notes he fang his luve ; Mair hie, his beiring bolts for Jove. The monarch bird with blythnefs hard The chaunting litil filvan bard, Calit up a buzart, quha was Jthan His favourite and chamberlane. " Swith to my treafury," quod he, " And to zon canty Robin gie " As meikle of our currant geir " As may mentain him throw the zeir ; " We can weil fpair 't, and it J s his due." He bad, and furth the Judas flew Straight to the bench quhair Robin fung, And with a wickit lieand tung Said, " Ah ! ze fing fae dull and ruch, " Ze haif deivt our lugs mair than enuch ; " His FABLES AND TALES. 579 " His majeftie hes a nyfe eir, " And nae mair of zour fluff can beir ; Soap Home Home Sair Sore Halt, or bet Hot 5af Song Laitb Loath S&w Slow Laid Load Snow Snow Lain, or len Loan /rott Stroak Lang Long Staw Stole Mae More S/w Stone Maifl Moft 5o/ Soul Mair More Tae Toe Mane Moan 7a/*f Token Na No Tangs Tongs None GLOSSARY. 587 SCOTISH. ENGLISH. SCOTISH. ENGLISH. None None Tap Top Naitbing Nothing Tbrang Throng Pap, Pope Wat Woe Rae Roe Wane Womb Raip Rope Wan Won Raw Row War Worfe Work Work World World Wba Who V. The o or u is frequently changed im to i; as, Anitbtr Another Jtber Other Bill Bull Mitber Mother Birn Burn Nits Nuts Srither Brother Nifc Nole Fit Foot Pit Put Fitber Pother Sin Run Hinny Honey Sin Sun 5 88 RAMSAY'S POEMS. , albeit, although Ablin^ perhaps Aboon, above Aeten> oaten Aik, oak Aikerbread, the breadth of an acre Air, long fince. //, early. Air up, fbon up in the morning Ambrie, cupboard Anew, enow Annual-rent, yearly intereft of money Aftn, open Aria, earned of a bargain Afe, afhes Afe-midding, dunghill of afhes Afteer, ftirring Atains, or Atones, at once, at the fame time Attour, out-over Auld-farren, knowing, flirewd Auld Reeky, a cant name for Edin- burgh ; old and fmoky Aurglebargin, or Eagglebargin, to contend and wrangle A"-wjbme, frightful, terrible Aynd, the breath B Ba\ ball Back-fey, a firloin Badrans, a cat .ff, mournful, wanting vivacity Dowie, fickly, melancholy, fad,doleful Dotvna, doiu not, i. e. though one has the power, he wants the heart to doit GLOSSARY. 593 EIT Doivp, the arfe, the fmall remains of a candle, the bottom of an egg- fhell : " better half egg as tootn " do-wp" Drant, to fpeak flow, after a fighing manner Dree, to fufFer, endure Dreery, wearifbme, frightful Dreigh, flow, keeping at diftance: hence, an ill payer of his debts we call dreigb : tedious * Dribs, drops Dring, the noife of a kettle 1 efore it boils Drizel, a little water in a rivulet, fcarce appearing to run Droning, fitting lazily, or moving heavily ; fpeaking with groans Drouked, drenched, all wet Dubs, wire Duds, rags. Duddy, ragged Dung, driven down, overcome Dunt, ftroke or blow Dunty, a doxy Durk, a poniard or dagger Dujht, driven down Divine, to pine away Dynles, trembles, fhakes Dyvour, a bankrupt To Eag, to egg, to incite, ftirup Eard, earth, the ground Edge of a hill, is the fide or top Een, eyes EM, age Eildetns, of the fame age Eith, eafy. Either, eafier VOL. II. FAN Elbuck, elbow Elf-Jbot, bewitched, (hot by- fai- ries Ell-tvand, the ell meafure Elritcb, wild, hideous, uninhabited except by imaginary ghofts Elfon, a fhoemaker's awl Endlang, along Ergh, fcrupulous, when one makes faint attempts to do a thing, without a fteady refolu- tion EJihler, AJbler, hewn ftone Ether, an adder Ethercap, or Ettercap, a venomous fpiteful creature Etle, to aim, defigrt Even'd, compared Evite, to (hun Eydent, diligent, laborious Fa, a trap, fuch as is ufed for catch- ing rats or mice Facing-tools, drinking-pots Fadge, a fpungy fort of 'bread in Ihape of a roll Fae, foe Fail, thick turf, fuch as are ufed for building dykes for folds, in- clofures, &c. Fairfaw, when we wifli well to one, that a good or fair fate may be- fall him Fait, neat, in good order Fand, found Fang, the talons of a fowl To* Fang, to grip, or hold faft <*. Fajb, 594 RAMSAY'S POEMS. FLE Fajh, to vex or trouble. Fafbeous, troublefome Faugh, a colour between white and red. Faugh riggs, fallow ground f 'aught, a broil Fatife, falfe Fawn, fallen Feck, a part, quantity ; as, maift feck, the greateft number; nae feck, very few Feckfo-w, able, active fecklefs, feeble, little and weak Feed, or f cad, feud, hatred, quarrel Feil, many, feveral Fen, (hift. Fending, living by induf- try. Make a fen, fall upon methods Ferlie, wonder Fernzier, the lad or forerun year File, to defile or dirty Firejtciught, a flam of lightning Fijile, to ftir, a fHr Fit, the foot Fitfted, the print of the foot Fizzing, whizzing Fluffing, moving up and down ; railing wind by motion, as birds with their wings Flags, flafhes, as of wind and fire Plane, an arrow Flang, flung Flaugbter, to pare turf from the ground Flaw, iie or fib Fleetch, to coax or flatter Fleg, fright Flet, the preterite offyte, did chide Flegeeries, gewgaws Flnvet, a fmart blow Fley, or flie, to affright. Fleyt, afraid or terrified FUR Flinders, fplinters Flit, to remove Flite, or flyte, to fcold or chide. Flet, did fcold Flujbes, floods Fog, mofs Fan, fond Foordays, the morning far advanced, fair day-light Forty, befides Forebears, forefathers, ancestors Forfairn, abufed, befpattered Forfoughten, weary, faint and out of breath with fighting Fergainft, oppofite to Forgether, to meet, encounter Forleet, to forfake or forget Fore/tarn, the forehead Fou, drunk Fouth, abundance, plenty Foiv-iveel, full well Fozy, fpungy, foft Fraife, to make a noife. We ufe to fay, " one makes afraife," when they boaft, wonder, and talk more of a matter than it is wor- thy of, or will bear Fray, buftle, fighting Freik, a fool, light impertinent fellow Fremit, ftrange, not a-kin Frijled, trufted Frujb, brittle, like bread baken with butter Fuff, to blow. Puffin, blowing Furder, profper Furthj, forward Fuijb, brought Fyk, to be reftlefs,~uneafy Furlet, four pecks Cai>, GLOSSARY. 595 To Gab, to Gift, a wicked imp, a term of re- proach To gab Gillygacus, or gillygapus, a daring gaping fool, a gormandizer Gilpy, a roguilh boy G GOV Gab, the mouth prate Gabbing, prating pertly again, when fervants give faucy returns when reprimanded Gabby, one of a ready and eafy ex- Gimmer, a young flieep-ewe preflion ; the fame with auld Gin, if gobbet Gird, to drike, pierce Gadge, to diftate impertinently, Girn, to grin, fnarl ; alfo a fnare or talk idly with a dupid gravity trap, fuch as boys make of horfe- To Gae, to go Gafaw, hearty loud laughter. ga-wf, to laugh Gaifl, orghaij}, a ghod Gait, a goat Gams, gums Gantrees, a dand for ale-barrels Gar, to caufe, make, or force hair to catch birds To Girth, a hoop Glaiks, the reflexion of the fun thrown from a mirror; an idle good-for-nothing fellow. Glaiked, foolith, wanton, light. To give the glaiks, to beguile one by giving him his labour for his pains Glalflcr, to bawl or bark Gare, greedy, rapacious, earned to have a thing Gajb, folid, fagacious. One with a Glamour, a fafcinating fpell in order long out chin, we call gajh-gab- to deceive the eyes Glar, mire, ouzy mud Glee, to fquint. Gleed, or glcid, fquint-eyed Gleg, (harp, quick, aclive Glen, a narrow valley between mountains let, or gajb-beard Gate, way Gaunt, yawn Ga-w, to take the pet, to be galled Gawd, or gad, a bar of iron, a ploughman's rod Gawky, an idle, daring, idiotical Gloom, to fcowl or frown perfon Ga-wn, going Gaws, galls Gawfy, jolly, buxom To geek, to mock, to tofs the head with difdain Geed, or gade, went Genty, handfbmc, genteel Get, a brat, a child, by way of con- tempt or derifion Gielainger, an ill debtor Gif, if Glowming, or gloming, the twilight or evening gloom Glo-wr, to dare Glunch, to hang the brow and grumble Goan, a wooden di(h for meat Goalie, a large knife Gorlings, or gorblings, young un- fledged birds GoJJie, goflip Cowans, daizies Gave, to look with a roving eye q. o, a Govtf, 596 RAMSAY'S POEMS. GYT Go-wf, or golf, befides the known game, a racket or found blow on the chops, we call " a gotvf on " thehaffet" Gotvk, the cuckow. In derifion, we call a thoughtlefs fellow, and one who harps too long on one fub- jeft, a gowk Go-wl, a howling; to bellow and cry Gonjly, ghaftly, large, wafte, defo- late, and frightful Graith, furnituie, hainefs, armour To Grane, tb groan Grany, grandmother, any old wo- man Grape, a trident fork; alfo, to grope Gree, prize, viftory To Gree, to agree Green, orgrien, to long for Creel, to weep. Grat, wept Grieve, an overfeer Graff, grofs, coarfe Grotts, milled oats Grouf, to lie flat on the belly Grounds,, or Glunjl], to murmur, grudge Gmtten, wept Gryfe, a pig Gully, a large knife. A kail-jiity, a knife for cutting cabbages Gumption, good fenfe Gurly, rough, bitter, cold (wea- ther) Gttfly, favoury Gtttcfier, goodfire, grandfather Gyfened, when the wood of any veilel is fhrunk with drynefs Gytlings, young children Had, hold Haffet, the cheek, fide of the head Hagabag, coarfe table-linen Haggife, a kind of pudding made of the lungs and liver of a (heep, and boiled in the big bag Hags, hacks, peat-pits, or breaks in moffy ground ; portions of copfe- wood regularly cut Hain, to fave, manage narrowly Hait, or hot, hot Hale, whole Halefome, whole/erne Hallen, a fenee of turf, twigs, or ftone, built at the fide of a cot- tage door, to fcreen from the wind Home, home Hameld, domeftic Hamelj, friendly, frank, open, kind To Hanker, to doubt or waver Hanty, convenient, handfome Harle, drag Hams, brains. Ham-pin, the fcutt Harjhif, hairfhip, mifchance Hajh, afloven Havcrcn, or barrel, an infignificant chatterer, a half-witted fellow Houghs, valleys, or low grounds on the fides of rivers Havins, good breeding Huviour, behaviour To baufe, to hug Hau/lock, the wool that grows on the flieep's neck Ha-duky, a cow ; a white-faced cow Haivs, or haufe, the throat or gul- let Heal, or heel, health, or whole Heartfome, blyth and happy Hecbt, to promife, promifed Htepy, GLOSSARY* 597 HOW JYB Heepy, a perfon hypochondriac Hoivk, to dig Hereyeftreen, the night before yef- Howms, holms, plains on river-fides ternight Ho-wt ! fy ! Heez, to lift up a heavy thing a Howtowdy, a young hen little. A heezy is a good lift Hurdies, the buttocks like a cat, hedge-hog, or hare for Hyt, mad Heftit, accuflomed to live in a place Hurkle, to crouch^or bow together Hegbt, promifed ; alfo, named Hempy, a tricky wag, fuch whom the hemp grows Hereit, or berried, ruined in eftate : when a bird's neft is robbed, it is , I 8c ] faid to be berried Hefp, a hafp, a clafp or hook, bar Jack, a jacket or bolt : alfo, in yarn, a certain Jag, to prick as with a pin number of cuts J> a wave or gulh of water Hcther-bells, the heath-bloflbm Jawp, the dafhing of water Heugh, a rock or fteep hill ; alfo, a Iccfliogles, icicles coal-pit Jet, to incline on one fide. To Hiddils, or Hidlings, lurking, hid- jee back and fore, is to move like ing-places. To do a thing in bidlings, i. e. privately To Hing, to hang Hips, the buttocks Hirple, to move (lowly and lamely Hirfle, to move as with a milling noife Hirfle, or bird/ale, a flock of cattle Ho, a fingle (locking Holblejhew, confufed racket, noife Hodden-grey, coarfe grey cloth Hog, a flieep of two years old Hool, huik. Hooled, inclofed Hooly, flow Hoft, or tvboj}, to cough Hou, or bu, a cap or roof-tree How, low ground, a hollow How! ho! Howdered, hidden Howdy, a midwife a balk up and down, to this and the other fide Jelly, pretty Jig, to crack, to make a noife like a cart-wheel Jimp, flender Jip, gypfie Ilk, each. Ilka, every Ingan, onion Ingine, genius Ingle, fire Jo, fweetheart Jockfaleg, a clafp-knife Joiik, a low bow /nV, fearful, terrified, as if afraid of fome ghoft or apparition : alfo, melancholy I'fe, I Ihall ; as, /'//, for I will I/Its, embers Junt, a large joint or piece of meat Howff, a haunt, or accuftomed ren- Jute, four or dead liquor dezvous Jjh, to mock. Gibe, a taunt Q. ^ 3 Kabar, 59 8 RAMSAY'S POEMS. Kaber, a rafter Kale, or kail, colewort ; and fome- times, broth Katky, to dung Kain, a part of a farm-rent paid in fowls Kame, comb Kanny, or canny, fortunate : alfo, wary, one who manages his af- fairs difcreetly ; cautious Kehtck, a cheefe Keckle, to cackle like a hen, to laugh, to be noify Ktdgy, or eadgte, jovial Keek, to peep Keel, or keil, black or red chalk Kelt, cloth with a freeze, commonly made of native black wool Kemp, to ftrive who (hall perform mod of the fame work in the fame time Ken, to know ; ufed in England as a noun : a thing within ken, i. e. within view Kent, a long ftaff, fuch as (hepherds ufe for leaping over ditches Kepp, to catch a thing that moves towards one Kieft, did caft. Vide caofl Kilted, tucked up Kimmer, or cummer, a female goflip Kirn, a churn ; to churn Kirtle, an upper petticoat Kitchen, fauces or liquids eat with folid food : " hunger is good " kitchen" Kiltie, a frolicfome wench Kittle, difficult, myfterious, knotty (writings) Kittle, to tickle, ticklifti Knacky, witty, facetious LAR Knoit, to beat or ftrike fliarply Knoofed, buffeted and bruifed Knooft, or knuift, a large lump Know, a hillock Knubloci, a knob Kow, goblin, or any perfon one (lands in awe to difoblige, and fears Ky, kine or cows Kyth, to appear : " he '11 kyth in " his ain colours" Kyle, the belly Ladren, a rogue, rafcal, thief Laggert, befpattered, covered with clay Laigb, low Laltb, loth Laits, manners Lak, or lack, undervalue, contemn ; as, " he that lacks my mare, will " buy my mare" Landart, the country, or belonging to it ; ruftic Lane, alone Lang, long Langour, languifhing, melancholy. To hold one out of langour, i. e. divert him Lang-nebit, long-nofed Lang-fyne, long ago : fometimes ufed as a fubftantive noun, auld lang-fyne, old times by-paft Lankale, coleworts uncut Lap, leaped Lappered, cruddled or clotted Lore, bog Lore, GLOSSARY. 599 LIN Lore, a place for laying, or that has been lain in Latter-meet, victuals brought from the matter's to the fervants' table Lave, the reft or remainder Latvia, a tavern reckoning Laiuland, low country Lavrock, the lark Lavty, or latvtitb, juftice, fidelity, honefty Leal, true, upright, honeft, faithful to truft, loyal : " a leal heart " never lied" Learn, flame Lear, learning ; to learn Lee, untilled ground ; alfo an open grafly plain Leet, a chofen number, from which one or more is to be elected Leglen, a milking-pail with one Jug or handle Leman, a kept mifs Lends, buttocks, loins Leitgh, laughed Le-w--warm, lukewarm ( Libht, gelded Lick, to whip or beat : a wag or cheat we call a great lick Lied, ye lied, ye tell a lie Lift, the fky or firmament Liggs, lies Lilts, the holes of a wind inftrument of mufic ; hence, " //'// up a, " fpring :" " //// it out," take off your drink merrily Limmer, a whore Limp, to halt Lin, a cataract Ling, quick career in a ftraight line ; to gallop Lingle, cord, fhoemakers' thread Linkati, walking fpeedily MAI Linhvhite, a linnet Lire, breafts : alfo, the moft muf- cular parts : fometimes, the air or complexion of the face Lirk, a wrinkle or fold Lift, the groin Lith, a joint Loan, or Loaning, a pafTage for the cattle to go to pafture, left untill- ed ; a little common, where the maids often aflembled to milk the ewes Loch, a lake Loe , to love Loof, the hollow of the hand Looms, tools, inftruments in general, veflels Loot, did let LOTV, flame. Lowan, flaming Loivn, calm : keep loivn, be fecret Loun, rogue, whore, villain Lounder, a found blow Lout, to bow down, making cour- tefy ; to ftoop Luck, to enclofe, fhut up, faften : hence, lucken handed, clofe fitted ; lucken gowans, booths, &c. Lucky, grandmother, or goody Lug, ear, handle of a pot or veflel Luggie, a difh of wood with a handle Lum, the chimney Ltirdane, a blockhead Lure, rather Lyart, hoary or grey-haired M Magil, to mangle Maiden, an engine ufed for behead- ing Maik, or make, t& match, equal Maiklefs, matchlefs Mailen, a farm Makly, 6oo RAMSAY'S POEMS. MOO Matty, feemly, well-proportioned Makfna, 'tis no matter Malifon, a curfe, malediction Mangit, galled or bruifed by toil or ftripes Mank, a want Mant, to ftammer in fpeech March, or merch, a landmark, bor- der of lands Marb, the marrow Marrow, mate, fellow, equal, com- rade Mafk, to mafh (brewing). Majk- , ing-\oom, mafh-vat Ma-vis, a thrufli Maun, muft. Mauna, muft not, may not Maivt, malt Meikle, much, big, great, large Meith, limit, mark, fign Mends, fatisf action, revenge, retali- ation : to make a mends, to make a grateful return Meufe, difcretion, fobriety, good breeding. Mensfou, mannerly Menzie, a company of men, army, affembly, one's followers Mcffen, a little dog, lap-dog Midding, a dunghill Midges, gnats, little flies M im, affectedly modeft Mint, aim, endeavour Mirk, dark Mifca-w, to give names Mijken, to neglect or not take no- tice of one ; alfo, let alone Miflujhious, malicious, rough Miflers, necefllties, wants Milher, mother Many, many Mools, the earth of the grave NUC Mou, mouth Moup, to eat, generally ufed of children, or of old people, who have but few teeth, and make their lips move faft, though they eat but flow Mo-w, a pile or bing, as of fuel, hay, fheaves of corn, &c. Murgeond, made a mock of Muckle, fee meikle Murgullied, mifmanaged, abufed Mutch, a coif Mutchkin, an Englifb. pint N Nacky, or knacky, clever, active in fmall affairs Neefe, nofe Ne~vel, a found blow with the nine > or fift Ne-wj "angle, fond of a new thing Nick, to bite or cheat. ^ Nicked, cheated. Alfo a cant word to drink heartily ; as, " he nicks " fine" Nieft, next Niffer, to exchange or barter Nifnafan, trifling Nignays', trifles Nips, bits Nitber, to ftraiten. Nithered, hun- gered or half-ftarved in mainten- ance Nive, the fift Nock, notch or nick of an arrow or fpindle Noit, fee knoit Noiut, cows, kine Noivther, neither Nuckle, new calved (cows) GLOSSARY. 60 1 Qe, a grandchild O'er, or oivre, too much ; as," a' o'crs " is vice" O'ercome, furplus Otty, any Or, fometimes ufed for ere, or be- fore. Or day, 5. e. before day- break Ora, any thing over what is needful Orp, to weep with a convulfive pant OugMens, in the leaft, any thing 0-wk, week Oivrlay, a cravat Oivfen, oxen Oivther, either Oxter, the armpit Paddock, a frog. Paddock-ride, the fpawn of frogs Paiks, chaftifement. To paik, to beat or belabour one foundly Pang, to fqueeze, prefs, or pack one thing into another Papery, popery . Pafement, livery-lace Pat, did put Paughty, proud, haughty Pawky, witty or fly in word or ac- tion, without any harm or bad de Tigris Peer, a. quay or wharf Petts, turf for fire Pegh, to pant Penfy, finical, foppifh, conceited Pcrquire, by heart Pett, a favourite, a fondling. To fettle, to dandle, "feed, cherilh, PRI flatter. Hence, to take the pelt, is to be peevifli or fullen, as com- monly petts are when in the leaft difobliged Pibroughs, fuch Highland tunes as are played on bag-pipes before the warriors when they go to battle Pig, an earthen pitcher Pike, to pick out or chufe Pimpin, pimping, mean, fcurvy Pine, pain or pining Pingle, to contend, ftrive, or work hard Pirn, the fpool or quill within the fhuttle, which receives the yarn. Pirny, (cloth or a web) of unequal threads or colours, ftriped ' Pit, to put Pith, ftrength, might, force Plack, two bodies, or the third of a penny Englifli Pletiijhing, houfhold furniture Pvple, or paple , the bubbling, purl- ing, or boiling up of water Poortith, poverty Pou, pull Poufe, to pufli Poutch, a pocket Po-w, the poll, the head Poivny, a little horfe or galloway ; alfo a turkey Pratick, praftice, art, ftratagem. Priving fratick, trying ridiculous experiments Prefs, tricks, rogueries. We fay, " he played me a fret" i. e. cheat- ed : " the callan's fou of prets," i. e. has abundance of waggifh tricks Prig, to cheapen, or importune for a lower price of goods one is buying Prin, 602 RAMSAY'S POEMS. PUT Prin, a pin Prive, to prove or tafle Propine, gift or prefent Prym, or prime, to fill or fluff P*ke, to pluck Pulliejbees, pulleys Putt a ftane, throw a big (lone Quaff, or uat, to quit Quey, a young cow Racklefs, carelefs : one who does things without regarding whether they be good or bad, we call him racklefs handed Rae, a roe Raffan, merry, roving, hearty Xaird, a loud found Rair, roar Rak, or rook, a mift or fog Rampage, to fpeak and al furioufly Rape, a rope Rajhes, ruflies Rave, did rive or tear Rauglal, reached Rax, to ftretch. Raxed, flretched Rax, andirons Ream, cream : whence reaming ; as reaming liquor Redd, to rid, unravel ; to feparate folks that are fighting. It alfo fignifies clearisg of any pafTage. a I am redd" I am apprehenfive RYP Rede, counfel, advice ; as, " I wad " na rede you to do that" Reek, reach ; alfo, fmoke Reeje, or rufe, to commend, extol Reejl, to rufl, or dry in the fmoke Reft, bereft, robbed^ forced, or car- ried away Reif, lapine, robbery Reik, or rink, a courfe or race Rever, a robber or pirate Rewth, pity Rice, or rife, bulrulhes, bramble branches, or twigs of trees Rierd, a roar Rife, or ryfe, plenty Rift, to belch Rigging, the back or rig-back, the top or ridge of a houfe Rigs of corn, ridges Ripples, a weaknefs in the back and reins Rock, a diftaff Roove, to rivet Rattan, a rat Roundel, a witty, and often fatiric kind of rhyme Rowan, rolling Roivt, to roar, efpecially the Ipwing of bulls and cows Ro-wth, plenty Ruck, a rick or flack of hay or corns Rude,the red taint of the complexion Ruefu, doleful Rug , to pull, take away by force Rumple, the rump Rungs, fmall boughs of trees lopped off Runkle, a wrinkle ; to ruffle Rype, to fearch Saelem. GLOSSARY. 603 Saebiens, feeing it is, fince Saiklefs, guiltlefs, free Sained, blefled Sair, or fare , fore Sairy, forlorn and pitiable Sail, (hall : \\kefottd for fliould Sand-blind, purblind, fhort-fighted Safe, or faip, fbap Sar, favour or fmell Sark, a (hirt Saugh, a willow or fallow-tree Saul, foul Saw, an old faying, or proverbial expreflion Sa-wty fait Scad, fcald Scar, the bare places on the fides of hills waflied down with rains Scart, to fcratch Scauld, fcold Scanvp, a bare -dry piece of (tony ground Scon, bread the country people bake over the fire, thinner and broader than a bannock Scoivp, to leap or move haftily from one plate to another ScoTtitb, room, freedom Scrimp, narrow, ftraitened, little Scroggs, (hrubs, thorns, briars. Scraggy, thorny Scuds, ale ; a late name given it by the benders, or drinkers Satldudry, lewdnefs Scunner, to loath Sett, felf Seuch, furrow, ditch Sty, to try Shan pitiful, filly, poor Sbarn, cow's dung Sha-w, a wood or foreft SKI To Shaw, to (hew Shawl, (hallow Shaivps, empty huflts Sheen, (hining Shellycoat, a goblin Sbiel, a fhepherd's cot Skill, (hrill, having a (harp found Shire, clear, thin. We call thin cloth, or clear liquor, Jbire ; alfo a clever wag, a Jbire lick Shog , to wake, (hake, or jog back* wards and forwards Shool, (hovel Shoon, (hoes Shore, to threaten Shotle, a drawer Sib, a-kin Sic, fuch Sicker, firm, fecure Sike, a. rill or rivulet, commonly dry in fummer Siller, filvei , Sindle, orjinle, feldom Sinjyne, fince that time : lang Jin* fync, long ago Skail, to fpill, to difperfe: hence we fay, " the kirk is failing," for the congregation is feparat- ing Skair, (hare Skaith, hurt, damage, lofs Skeigh, (kittifli Skelf, ftelf Skelp, to run ; ufed when one runs barefoot : alfo, a fmall fplinter of wood : likewife, to flog the but- tocks Skif, to move fmoothly away Skink, a kind of ftrong broth made of cows' hams or knuckles ; alfo, to fill drink in a cup Skirl, 604 RAMSAY'S POEMS. SNO Skirl, to fliriek or cry with a fhrill voice " Sklate, flate. Skailie is the fine blue (late Skowrie, ragged, nafty, idle Skreed, a rent, a hearty drinking bout To Skreigh, to fhriek Skybald, a tatterdemalion Sty, to fly out haftily Slade, or Slaid, did flide, moved, or made a thing move eafily Slap, or Jlak, a gap, or narrow pafs between two hills ; alfo, a breach in a wall Slee, Hy Slerg, to bedawb or plaifter S//rf, fmooth, cunning, flippery ; as, " he's a Jlid loun." Slidry, flippery Slippery, fleepy Slonk, a mire, ditch, or Hough ; to wade through a mire Slate, a bar or bolt for a door Slough, huflc or coatr Smaik, a filly, little, pitiful fellow ; the fame \v\thfmatcbet Smirky, fmiling Smittle, infectious or catching Smoor, to {mother Snack, nimble, ready, clever Sued, to cut Sneg, to cut ; as, "fneg'd off at the web end" Snell, fliarp, fmarting, bitter, firm Snib, to fnub, check, or reprove, to correct Snifter, to fnuff or breathe through the nofe a little ftopt Sni/bing, or fneijbing, fnuff Sued, metaphorically ufed for neat, handfome, tight _~ SPE Snood, the band for tying up a wo- man's hair Snool, to difpirit by chiding, hard labour, and the like ; alfo, a pi- tiful grovelling (lave Sriwue, to whirl round Snotter, fnot Snurl, to ruffle or wrinkle Sonfy, happy, fortunate, Iwk-y ; fometimes ufed for large \nd lufty Sore, forrel, reddilh coloured Sorn, to fpunge, 01 hang on others for maintenance Sofs, the noife that a thing makes when it falls to the ground Soud, fhould Sough, the found of wind amongft trees, or of one fleeping Souming, fwimming Soup, a fup Souter, a (hoemaker Sarwens, flummery, or oatmeal fbured amongft water for fome time, then boiled to a confiftency, and eaten with milk or butter Sotvf, to conn over a tune on an inftrument Spae, to foretel or divine. Spaemen, prophets, augurs Spain, to wean from the breaft Spait, a torrent, .flood, or inun- dation Spang, a jump ; to leap or jump Spaul-. fhoulder, arm Speel, to climb Speer, to afk, inquire Spelder, to fplit, ftretch, fpread out, draw afunder Spence, the place of the houfe where provifions are kept spin, GLOSSARY. 605 STO Spill, to fpoil, abufe Spoolie, or fpulzie, fpoil, booty, plunder Sprai/igs, dripes of different co- lours Spring, a tune on a mufical indru- ment Sprujb, fpruce Sprutthd, fpeckled, fpotted Spung, the fob Spunk, tinder Stalwart, drong and valiant $tane, done Slang, did ding, to ding ; alfo a ding or pole Stank, a pool of {landing water Stark, ftrong, robud Starns, the dars. Starn, a fniall moiety : we fay, " ne'er zftarn' StJ-w, dole Stay, deep ; as, " fet a ftout heart " to a. ft ay brae'" Steek, to flint, clofe Stegh, to cram Stead, or ft en, to move with a hady long pace Stcnt, to dretch or extend, to limit or dint Sting, a pole, a cudgel , Stirk, a deer or bullock Stock-and-born, a fliepherd's pipe, made by inferting a reed pierced like a flute into a cow's horn ; the mouth-piece is like that of a hautboy Stoit, orftot, to rebound or reflect Stoken, to flake the third Stoor, rough, hoarfe Stu, to cut or crop. A ftou, a large cut or piece Stound, a fmarting pain or ditch SWI Stoup, a pot of tin of a certain meafure. Milk ftoup, a wooden milk-pail Stour, duft agitated by winds, men, or horfe feet. To Jtour, to run quickly Stirwtb, ftealth Straitis, probably a kind of narrow kerfey cloth, called ftrafa. See Bailey and Miege Strand, a gutter Strapan, clever, tall, handfomc Street;, to ftretch Striddle, to ftride, applied commonly to one that is little Strinkle, to fprinkle or drew Siroot, or finite, duffed full, drunk Strunt, a pet : " to take the ftrunt" to be petted or out of humour Studdy, an anvil, or fmith's ftithy Sturdy, giddy headed ; alfo ftrong Sture, ovftoor, ftiff, ftrong, hoarfe Sturt, trouble, difturbance, vexa- tion Stym, a blink, or a little fight of a thing Suddle, to fully or defile Sumph, blockhead Sunkan, fplenetic Sunkots, (bmething S-wak, to throw, cad with force S-wankies, clever young fellows S-warf, to fwoon away S-waJb, fwollen with drink S-watch, a pattern S-ivots, fmall ale Stvecbt, burden, weight, force Siveer, lazy, flow, loth Sweeties, confections Swelt, fuffocated, choaked to death S-witb, begone quickly Swltbcf, 6o6 RAMSAY'S POEMS. THA S-wither, to be doubtful whether to do this or that Sybou, a fmall onion Syke, a rill which is fometimes dry Syne, afterwards, then rack, a leafe Tackel, an arrow Taid, a toad Taken, token fane, taken Tane and tither, the one and t'other Tangle, fea-weed Tangs, the tongs Tap, a head. Such a quantity of lint as fpinfters put upon the di- ftaff is called a lint-tap Tape, to ufe any thing fparingly Tappit-hen, the Scots quart-floup Tarro-w, to refufe what we love, from a crofs humour Tartan, crofs-ftriped fluff of various colours, checkered : the High- land plaids Tafs, a little dram-cup Tate, a fmall lock of hair, or any little quantity of wool, cotton, &c. Ta-wpy, a foolifh wench Taz, a whip or fcourge Ted, to fcatter, fpread Tee, a little earth on which thofe who play at the gowf fet their balls before they ftrike them off Teen, or tynd, anger, rage, forrow Teet, to peep out Tenfome, the number of ten Teat, attention. Tcnty, cautious Thack, thatch TOS Thae, thofe Tharmes, fmall tripes, catgut Tbeek, to thatch Thievelefs, fleevelefs, wanting pro- priety Thig, to beg or borrow , Thir, thefe Thole, to endure, fuffer Tho-w, thaw Thowlefs, unaftive, filly, lazy, heavy Thra-wart, froward, crofs, crabbed Thraivin, ftern and crofs-grained Thrtrwn-gabbit, wry-mouthed Tbreep, or threap, to aver, allege, urge and affirm boldly Thrimal, or tbrummil, to prefs or fqueeze through with difficulty Thud, a blaft, blow, ftorm, or the violent found of thefe , " cry'd " heh at ilka thud," i. e. gave a groan at every blow Tid, tide or time, proper time ; as, " he took the fid" Tift, good order, health Till, to. Till't,toit Tine, tolofe. 7Y/,loft Tinfel, lofs Tip, or tippony, ale fold for two- pence the Scots pint Tippanizing, drinking twopenny ale Tirle, or tirr, to uncover a houfe Titty, fifter Tocher, portion, dowry Tod, a fox Tooly, to fight ; a fight or quarrel Toom, empty, applied to a barrel, purfe, houfe, &c. : alfo, to empty Tojh, tight, neat Tofie, warm, pleafant, half fud- dled To GLOSSARY. 607 UUN To the fore, in being, alive, uncon- fumed Toufe, or Toufle, to rumple, teaze Tout, the found of a horn or trumpet Tow, a, rope Toivmond, a year or twelvemonth Tree, a cafk of liquor, a nine-gallon tree Trewes, hofe and breeches all of a piece Trig, neat, handfome Troke, exchange Trite, to trow, truft, believe Truf, fteal Truncher, trencher, platter Tryft, appointment Turs, turfs, trufs Twin, to part with, or feparate from T-witch, touch T-winters, fheep of two years old Tydie, plump, fat, lucky Tynd, Vide Teen Tyft, to entice, ftir up, allure U & V Ugg, to deleft, hate, naufeate Ugfome, hateful, naufeous Pirle, a ferrule Fifty, to view with care Umivbile, or umquhile, the late or deceafed ; fome time ago ; of old Uneitb, not eafy 7e