The works of Allan Ramsay edited by Burns Martin ... and John W. Oliver [... and Alexander M. Kinghorn ... and Alexander Law] |
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ELEGY On the Right Honourable James Lord Carnegie,
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 | The works of Allan Ramsay |  |
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ELEGY On the Right Honourable James Lord Carnegie,
Who died the 7th January 1722, the Eighth Year of his Age.
As Poets feign, and Painters draw,
Love and the Paphian Bride;
Sae we the fair SOUTHESKA saw,
CARNEGIE by her Side.
Love and the Paphian Bride;
Sae we the fair SOUTHESKA saw,
CARNEGIE by her Side.
Now sever'd frae his Sweets by Death,
Her Grief wha can express?
What Muse can tell the waefu' Skaith,
Or Mother's deep Distress!
Her Grief wha can express?
What Muse can tell the waefu' Skaith,
Or Mother's deep Distress!
Sae Roses wither in their Buds,
Kill'd by an Eastlen Blast,
And sweetest Dawns in May with Clouds
And Storms are soon o'ercast.
Kill'd by an Eastlen Blast,
And sweetest Dawns in May with Clouds
And Storms are soon o'ercast.
Ah checquer'd Life! Ae Day gives Joy,
The niest our Hearts maun bleed:
Heaven caus'd a Seraph turn a Boy,
Now gars us trow he's dead.
The niest our Hearts maun bleed:
Heaven caus'd a Seraph turn a Boy,
Now gars us trow he's dead.
Wha can reflect on's ilka Grace,
The Sweetness of his Tongue,
His manly Looks, his lovely Face,
And Judgment ripe sae young;
The Sweetness of his Tongue,
His manly Looks, his lovely Face,
And Judgment ripe sae young;
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And yet forbear to make a doubt,
As did the Royal Swain,
When he with Grief of Heart cry'd out,
That Man was made in vain?
As did the Royal Swain,
When he with Grief of Heart cry'd out,
That Man was made in vain?
Mortals the Ways of Providence
But very scrimply scan;
The changing Scene eludes the Sense
And Reasonings of Man.
But very scrimply scan;
The changing Scene eludes the Sense
And Reasonings of Man.
How mony Thousands ilka Year,
Of hopefu' Children, crave
Our Love and Care, then disappear,
To glut a gaping Grave.
Of hopefu' Children, crave
Our Love and Care, then disappear,
To glut a gaping Grave.
What is this Grave? A Wardrobe poor,
Which hads our rotting Duds;
Th'immortal Mind, serene and pure,
Is cleath'd aboon the Clouds.
Which hads our rotting Duds;
Th'immortal Mind, serene and pure,
Is cleath'd aboon the Clouds.
Then cease to grieve, dejected Fair,
You had him but in trust;
He was your beauteous Son, your Heir,
Yet still ae haff was Dust.
You had him but in trust;
He was your beauteous Son, your Heir,
Yet still ae haff was Dust.
The other to its native Skies
Now wings its happy Way;
With glorious Speed and Joy he flys,
There blessfully to stray.
Now wings its happy Way;
With glorious Speed and Joy he flys,
There blessfully to stray.
CARNEGIE then but changes Clay,
For fair Celestial Rays:
He mounts up to eternal Day,
And, as he parts, he says,
Adieu, Mamma, forget my tender Fate,
These rushing Tears are vain, they flow too late.
This said, he hasted hence with pleasing Joy;
I saw the Gods embrace their darling Boy.
For fair Celestial Rays:
He mounts up to eternal Day,
And, as he parts, he says,
Adieu, Mamma, forget my tender Fate,
These rushing Tears are vain, they flow too late.
This said, he hasted hence with pleasing Joy;
I saw the Gods embrace their darling Boy.
| The works of Allan Ramsay | |