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 Fair Assembly:
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 | The works of Allan Ramsay |  |
129
The Fair Assembly:
A Poem.
Awake, Thalia, and defend,
With chearfu' carrolling,
Thy bonny Care,—thy Wings extend,
And bear me to your Spring;
That Harmony full Force may lend
To Reasons that I bring:—
Now Caledonian Nymphs attend,
For 'tis to you I sing.
With chearfu' carrolling,
Thy bonny Care,—thy Wings extend,
And bear me to your Spring;
That Harmony full Force may lend
To Reasons that I bring:—
Now Caledonian Nymphs attend,
For 'tis to you I sing.
As lang as Minds maun Organs wear,
Compos'd of Flesh and Blood,
We ought to keep them hale and clear,
With Exercise and Food.
Then, but Debate, it will appear
That Dancing must be good,
It stagnant Humours sets a steer,
And fines the purple Flood.
Compos'd of Flesh and Blood,
We ought to keep them hale and clear,
With Exercise and Food.
Then, but Debate, it will appear
That Dancing must be good,
It stagnant Humours sets a steer,
And fines the purple Flood.
Diseases, Heaviness and Spleen,
And ill things mony mae,
That gar the Lazy fret and grane,
With Visage dull and blae.
'Tis Dancing can do mair alane,
Than Drugs frae far away,
To ward aff these, make nightly Pain,
And sowr the shining Day.
And ill things mony mae,
That gar the Lazy fret and grane,
With Visage dull and blae.
'Tis Dancing can do mair alane,
Than Drugs frae far away,
To ward aff these, make nightly Pain,
And sowr the shining Day.
130
Health is a Prize;—yet meikle mair
In Dancing we may find;
It adds a Lustre to the Fair,
And, when the Fates unkind
Cloud with a blate and aukward Air
A Genius right refin'd,
The sprightly Art helps to repair
This Blemish on the Mind.
In Dancing we may find;
It adds a Lustre to the Fair,
And, when the Fates unkind
Cloud with a blate and aukward Air
A Genius right refin'd,
The sprightly Art helps to repair
This Blemish on the Mind.
How mony do we daily see,
Right scrimp of Wit and Sense,
Wha gain their Aims aft easily
By well bred Confidence?
Then what e'er helps to qualifie
A rustick Negligence,
Maun without doubt a Duty be,
And shou'd give nae Offence.
Right scrimp of Wit and Sense,
Wha gain their Aims aft easily
By well bred Confidence?
Then what e'er helps to qualifie
A rustick Negligence,
Maun without doubt a Duty be,
And shou'd give nae Offence.
Hell's Doctrine's dung, when equal Pairs
Together join their Hands,
And vow to sooth ilk other's Cares,
In haly Wedlock Bands:
Sae when to dance the Maid prepares,
And flush'd with Sweetness stands,
At her the wounded Lover stares,
And yields to Heaven's Commands.
Together join their Hands,
And vow to sooth ilk other's Cares,
In haly Wedlock Bands:
Sae when to dance the Maid prepares,
And flush'd with Sweetness stands,
At her the wounded Lover stares,
And yields to Heaven's Commands.
131
The first Command
he soon obeys,
While Love inspires ilk Notion;
His wishing Look his Heart displays,
While his lov'd Mate's in Motion:
He views her with a blyth Amaze,
And drinks with deep Devotion
That happy Draught, that throu' our Days
Is own'd a cordial Potion.
While Love inspires ilk Notion;
His wishing Look his Heart displays,
While his lov'd Mate's in Motion:
He views her with a blyth Amaze,
And drinks with deep Devotion
That happy Draught, that throu' our Days
Is own'd a cordial Potion.
The Cordial which conserves our Life,
And makes it smooth and easy:
Then, ilka Wanter, wale a Wife,
E'er Eild and Humdrums seize ye,
Whase Charms can silence Dumps or Strife,
And frae the Rake release ye,
Attend th'Assembly, where there's Rife
Of vertuous Maids to please ye.
And makes it smooth and easy:
Then, ilka Wanter, wale a Wife,
E'er Eild and Humdrums seize ye,
Whase Charms can silence Dumps or Strife,
And frae the Rake release ye,
Attend th'Assembly, where there's Rife
Of vertuous Maids to please ye.
These modest Maids inspire the Muse,
In flowing Strains to shaw
Their Beauties, which she likes to roose,
And let the Envious blaw:
That Task she canna well refuse,
Wha sinle says them Na.—
To paint Bellinda first we chuse,
With Breasts like driven Snaw.
In flowing Strains to shaw
Their Beauties, which she likes to roose,
And let the Envious blaw:
That Task she canna well refuse,
Wha sinle says them Na.—
To paint Bellinda first we chuse,
With Breasts like driven Snaw.
Like Lilly-banks see how they rise,
With a fair Glen between,
Where living Streams, blew as the Skies,
Are branching upward seen,
To warm her Mouth, where Rapture lyes,
And Smiles, that banish Spleen,
Wha strikes with Love and saft Surprise,
Where e'er she turns her Een.
With a fair Glen between,
Where living Streams, blew as the Skies,
Are branching upward seen,
To warm her Mouth, where Rapture lyes,
And Smiles, that banish Spleen,
Wha strikes with Love and saft Surprise,
Where e'er she turns her Een.
132
SABELLA gracefully complete,
Straight as the Mountain Pine,
Like Pearls and Rubies set in Jet,
Her lovely Features shine:
In her the Gay and Solid meet,
And blended are sae fine,
That when she moves her Lips or Feet,
She seems some Power Divine.
Straight as the Mountain Pine,
Like Pearls and Rubies set in Jet,
Her lovely Features shine:
In her the Gay and Solid meet,
And blended are sae fine,
That when she moves her Lips or Feet,
She seems some Power Divine.
O
Daphne! sweeter than the Dawn,
When Rays glance on the Height,
Diffusing Gladness o'er the Lawn,
With Strakes of rising Light.
The dewy Flowers when newly blawn,
Come short of that Delight,
Which thy far fresher Beauties can
Afford our joyfu' Sight.
When Rays glance on the Height,
Diffusing Gladness o'er the Lawn,
With Strakes of rising Light.
The dewy Flowers when newly blawn,
Come short of that Delight,
Which thy far fresher Beauties can
Afford our joyfu' Sight.
How easy sits sweet Celia's Dress,
Her Gate how gently free;
Her Steps, throu'out the Dance, express
The justest Harmony:
And when she sings, all must confess,
Wha're blest to hear and see,
They'd deem't their greatest Happiness
T'enjoy her Company.
Her Gate how gently free;
Her Steps, throu'out the Dance, express
The justest Harmony:
And when she sings, all must confess,
Wha're blest to hear and see,
They'd deem't their greatest Happiness
T'enjoy her Company.
And wha can ca' his Heart his ain,
That hears Aminta speak?
Against Love's Arrows, Shields are vain,
When he aims frae her Cheek;
Her Cheek, where Roses free from Stain,
In Glows of Youdith beek:
Unmingl'd Sweets her Lips retain;
These Lips she ne'er shou'd steek,
That hears Aminta speak?
Against Love's Arrows, Shields are vain,
When he aims frae her Cheek;
Her Cheek, where Roses free from Stain,
In Glows of Youdith beek:
Unmingl'd Sweets her Lips retain;
These Lips she ne'er shou'd steek,
133
Unless when fervent Kisses close
That Av'new of her Mind,
Thro' which true Wit in Torrents flows,
As speaks the Nymph design'd:
The Brag and Toast of Wits and Beaus,
And Wonder of Mankind;
Whase Breast will prove a blest Repose
To him with whom she'll bind.
That Av'new of her Mind,
Thro' which true Wit in Torrents flows,
As speaks the Nymph design'd:
The Brag and Toast of Wits and Beaus,
And Wonder of Mankind;
Whase Breast will prove a blest Repose
To him with whom she'll bind.
See with what Gayety, yet grave,
Serena swims alang;
She moves a Goddess 'mang the lave,
Distinguish'd in the Thrang.
Ye Sourocks, hafflines Fool, haf Knave,
Wha hate a Dance or Sang,
To see this stately Maid behave,
'Twad gi'e your Hearts a Twang.
Serena swims alang;
She moves a Goddess 'mang the lave,
Distinguish'd in the Thrang.
Ye Sourocks, hafflines Fool, haf Knave,
Wha hate a Dance or Sang,
To see this stately Maid behave,
'Twad gi'e your Hearts a Twang.
Your Hearts! said I, trowth I'm to blame,
I had amaist forgotten,
That ye to nae sic Organ claim;
Or if ye do, 'tis rotten.
A Saul with sic a thowless Flame,
Is sure a silly Sot ane:
Ye scandalize the humane Frame,
When in our Shape begotten.
I had amaist forgotten,
That ye to nae sic Organ claim;
Or if ye do, 'tis rotten.
A Saul with sic a thowless Flame,
Is sure a silly Sot ane:
Ye scandalize the humane Frame,
When in our Shape begotten.
These Lurdanes
came just in my Light,
As I was tenting Chloe,
With jet black Een that sparkle bright,
She's all o'er form'd for Joy;
With Neck and Waist, and Limbs as tight
As her's wha drew the Boy,
Frae feeding Flocks upon the Height,
And fled with him to Troy.
As I was tenting Chloe,
With jet black Een that sparkle bright,
She's all o'er form'd for Joy;
With Neck and Waist, and Limbs as tight
As her's wha drew the Boy,
Frae feeding Flocks upon the Height,
And fled with him to Troy.
134
Now
Myra dances; mark her Mien,
Sae disengag'd and gay,
Mixt with that Innocence that's seen
In bonny Ew-bught May,
Wha wins the Garland on the Green
Upon some Bridal-Day;
Yet she has Graces for a Queen,
And might a Scepter sway.
Sae disengag'd and gay,
Mixt with that Innocence that's seen
In bonny Ew-bught May,
Wha wins the Garland on the Green
Upon some Bridal-Day;
Yet she has Graces for a Queen,
And might a Scepter sway.
What Lays, Calista, can commend
The Beauties of thy Face!
Whase Fancy can sae touring stend,
Thy Merits a' to trace!
Frae 'boon the Starns, some Bard, descend,
And sing her ev'ry Grace,
Whase wondrous Worth may recommend
Her to a God's Embrace.
The Beauties of thy Face!
Whase Fancy can sae touring stend,
Thy Merits a' to trace!
Frae 'boon the Starns, some Bard, descend,
And sing her ev'ry Grace,
Whase wondrous Worth may recommend
Her to a God's Embrace.
A Seraph wad our Aikman paint,
Or draw a lively Wit;
The Features of a happy Saint,
Say, art thou fond to hit?
Or a Madona compliment,
With Lineaments maist fit?
Fair Copies thou need'st never want,
If bright Calista sit.
Or draw a lively Wit;
The Features of a happy Saint,
Say, art thou fond to hit?
Or a Madona compliment,
With Lineaments maist fit?
Fair Copies thou need'st never want,
If bright Calista sit.
MELLA the heaviest Heart can heez,
And sowrest Thoughts expell,
Her Station grants her Rowth and Ease,
Yet is the sprightly Belle
As active as the eydent Bees,
Wha rear the Waxen Cell;
And, place her in what Light you please,
She still appears hersell.
And sowrest Thoughts expell,
Her Station grants her Rowth and Ease,
Yet is the sprightly Belle
As active as the eydent Bees,
Wha rear the Waxen Cell;
And, place her in what Light you please,
She still appears hersell.
135
Beauties on Beauties come in view
Sae thick, that I'm afraid
I shall not pay to Ilk their Due,
Till Phœbus lend mair Aid:
But this in gen'ral will had true,
And may be safely said,
There's ay a Something shining new
In ilk delicious Maid.
Sae thick, that I'm afraid
I shall not pay to Ilk their Due,
Till Phœbus lend mair Aid:
But this in gen'ral will had true,
And may be safely said,
There's ay a Something shining new
In ilk delicious Maid.
Sic as against th'Assembly speak,
The rudest Sauls betray,
When Matrons noble, wise and meek,
Conduct the healthfu' Play:
Where they appear, nae Vice dare keek,
But to what's good gives way,
Like Night, soon as the Morning Creek
Has usher'd in the Day.
The rudest Sauls betray,
When Matrons noble, wise and meek,
Conduct the healthfu' Play:
Where they appear, nae Vice dare keek,
But to what's good gives way,
Like Night, soon as the Morning Creek
Has usher'd in the Day.
Dear
Ed'nburgh, shaw thy Gratitude,
And of sic Friends make sure,
Wha strive to make our Minds less rude,
And help our Wants to cure;
Acting a gen'rous Part and good,
In Bounty to the Poor:
Sic Vertues, if right understood,
Shou'd ev'ry Heart alure.
And of sic Friends make sure,
Wha strive to make our Minds less rude,
And help our Wants to cure;
Acting a gen'rous Part and good,
In Bounty to the Poor:
Sic Vertues, if right understood,
Shou'd ev'ry Heart alure.
Since nothing appears to me to give Children so much becoming Confidence and Behaviour, and so raise them to the Conversation of those above their Age, as Dancing; I think they should be taught to dance as soon as they are capable of learning it. For tho' this consists only in outward Gracefulness of Motion; yet I know not how, it gives manly Thoughts and Carriage more than any thing. Lock.
It is certain, that for want of a competent Knowledge in this Art of Dancing, which should have been learned when young, the Publick loses many a Man of exquisite Intellectuals and unbyass'd Probity, purely for Want of that so necessary Accomplishment, Assurance; while the pressing Knave or Fool shoulders him out, and gets the Prize. Mr. Weaver.
| The works of Allan Ramsay | |