The works of Allan Ramsay edited by Burns Martin ... and John W. Oliver [... and Alexander M. Kinghorn ... and Alexander Law] |
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 | II. |
The Caterpillar and the Ant.
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| III. |
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 | The works of Allan Ramsay |  |
44
The Caterpillar and the Ant.
A pensy
Ant, right trig and clean,
Came ae Day whiding o'er the Green;
Where to advance her Pride, she saw
A Caterpillar moving slaw:
Good-e'en t'ye, Mistress Ant, said he,
How's a' at hame? I'm blyth to s'ye.—
The sawcy Ant view'd him with Scorn,
Nor wad Civilities return;
But gecking up her Head, quoth she,
Poor Animal, I pity thee,
Wha scarce can claim to be a Creature,
But some Experiment of Nature,
Whase silly Shape displeas'd her Eye,
And thus unfinish'd was flung by.
For me, I'm made with better Grace,
With active Limbs, and lively Face;
And cleverly can move with Ease
Frae Place to Place where e'er I please:
Can foot a Minuet or Jig,
And snoov't like ony Whirly-gig;
Which gars my Jo aft grip my Hand
Till his Heart pitty-pattys, and—
But laigh my Qualities I bring,
To stand up clashing with a Thing,
A creeping Thing, the like of thee,
Not worthy of a Farewell t'ye.
The airy Ant syne turn'd awa,
And left him with a proud Gaffa.
The Caterpillar was struck dumb,
And never answer'd her a Mum:
The humble Reptile fand some Pain
Thus to be banter'd with Disdain.
Came ae Day whiding o'er the Green;
Where to advance her Pride, she saw
A Caterpillar moving slaw:
Good-e'en t'ye, Mistress Ant, said he,
How's a' at hame? I'm blyth to s'ye.—
The sawcy Ant view'd him with Scorn,
Nor wad Civilities return;
But gecking up her Head, quoth she,
Poor Animal, I pity thee,
Wha scarce can claim to be a Creature,
But some Experiment of Nature,
Whase silly Shape displeas'd her Eye,
And thus unfinish'd was flung by.
For me, I'm made with better Grace,
With active Limbs, and lively Face;
And cleverly can move with Ease
Frae Place to Place where e'er I please:
Can foot a Minuet or Jig,
And snoov't like ony Whirly-gig;
Which gars my Jo aft grip my Hand
Till his Heart pitty-pattys, and—
But laigh my Qualities I bring,
To stand up clashing with a Thing,
A creeping Thing, the like of thee,
Not worthy of a Farewell t'ye.
The airy Ant syne turn'd awa,
And left him with a proud Gaffa.
The Caterpillar was struck dumb,
And never answer'd her a Mum:
The humble Reptile fand some Pain
Thus to be banter'd with Disdain.
45
But tent neist time the Ant came by
The Worm was grown a Butterfly;
Transparent were his Wings and fair,
Which bare him flightering throw the Air:
Upon a Flower he stapt his Flight,
And thinking on his former Slight,
Thus to the Ant himsell addrest,
Pray, Madam, will ye please to rest,
And notice what I now advise,
Inferiors ne'er too much despise;
For Fortune may gi'e sic a Turn,
To raise aboon ye what ye scorn:
For instance, now I spread my Wing
In Air, while you're a creeping Thing.
The Worm was grown a Butterfly;
Transparent were his Wings and fair,
Which bare him flightering throw the Air:
Upon a Flower he stapt his Flight,
And thinking on his former Slight,
Thus to the Ant himsell addrest,
Pray, Madam, will ye please to rest,
And notice what I now advise,
Inferiors ne'er too much despise;
For Fortune may gi'e sic a Turn,
To raise aboon ye what ye scorn:
For instance, now I spread my Wing
In Air, while you're a creeping Thing.
| The works of Allan Ramsay | |