The works of Allan Ramsay edited by Burns Martin ... and John W. Oliver [... and Alexander M. Kinghorn ... and Alexander Law] |
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The Poet's Wish:
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 | The works of Allan Ramsay |  |
243
The Poet's Wish:
An ODE.
Quid dedicatum poscit Apollinem
Vates? ------
Hor.
Vates? ------
Hor.
Frae great Apollo, Poet say,
What is thy Wish, what wadst thou hae,
When thou bows at his Shrine?
Not Karss o' Gowrie's fertile Field,
Nor a' the Flocks the Grampians yield,
That are baith sleek and fine:
Not costly Things brought frae afar,
As Ivory, Pearl and Gems;
Nor those fair Straths that water'd are
With Tay and Tweed's smooth Streams,
Which gentily and daintily
Eat down the flowry Braes,
As greatly and quietly
They wimple to the Seas.
What is thy Wish, what wadst thou hae,
When thou bows at his Shrine?
Not Karss o' Gowrie's fertile Field,
Nor a' the Flocks the Grampians yield,
That are baith sleek and fine:
Not costly Things brought frae afar,
As Ivory, Pearl and Gems;
Nor those fair Straths that water'd are
With Tay and Tweed's smooth Streams,
Which gentily and daintily
Eat down the flowry Braes,
As greatly and quietly
They wimple to the Seas.
Whaever by his kanny Fate
Is Master of a good Estate,
That can ilk Thing afford,
Let him enjoy't withoutten Care,
And with the Wale of curious Fare
Cover his ample Board.
Much dawted by the Gods is he,
Wha to the Indian Plain,
Successfu' ploughs the wally Sea,
And safe returns again,
With Riches that hitches
Him high aboon the rest
Of sma' Fowk, and a' Fowk
That are wi' Poortith prest.
Is Master of a good Estate,
That can ilk Thing afford,
Let him enjoy't withoutten Care,
And with the Wale of curious Fare
Cover his ample Board.
244
Wha to the Indian Plain,
Successfu' ploughs the wally Sea,
And safe returns again,
With Riches that hitches
Him high aboon the rest
Of sma' Fowk, and a' Fowk
That are wi' Poortith prest.
For me I can be well content
To eat my Bannock on the Bent,
And kitchen't wi' fresh Air;
Of Lang-kail I can make a Feast,
And cantily had up my Crest,
And laugh at Dishes rare.
Nought frae Apollo I demand,
But throw a lengthen'd Life
My outer Fabrick firm may stand,
And Saul clear without Strife.
May he then but gie then
Those Blessings for my Skair,
I'll fairly and squairly
Quite a' and seek nae mair.
To eat my Bannock on the Bent,
And kitchen't wi' fresh Air;
Of Lang-kail I can make a Feast,
And cantily had up my Crest,
And laugh at Dishes rare.
Nought frae Apollo I demand,
But throw a lengthen'd Life
My outer Fabrick firm may stand,
And Saul clear without Strife.
May he then but gie then
Those Blessings for my Skair,
I'll fairly and squairly
Quite a' and seek nae mair.
The Response of the Oracle.
To keep thy Saul frae puny Strife,
And heeze thee out of vulgar Life,
We in a morning Dream
Whisper'd our Will concerning thee,
To Marlus stretch'd beneath a Tree,
Hard by a pop'ling Stream,
He full of me shall point the Way,
Where thou a Star shalt see,
The Influence of whose bright Ray,
Shall wing thy Muse to flee.
Mair speer na, and fear na,
But set thy Mind to rest,
Aspire ay still high'r ay,
And always hope the best.
And heeze thee out of vulgar Life,
We in a morning Dream
Whisper'd our Will concerning thee,
To Marlus stretch'd beneath a Tree,
Hard by a pop'ling Stream,
He full of me shall point the Way,
Where thou a Star shalt see,
The Influence of whose bright Ray,
Shall wing thy Muse to flee.
Mair speer na, and fear na,
But set thy Mind to rest,
Aspire ay still high'r ay,
And always hope the best.
| The works of Allan Ramsay | |