The works of Allan Ramsay edited by Burns Martin ... and John W. Oliver [... and Alexander M. Kinghorn ... and Alexander Law] |
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On the Royal Company of Archers, shooting for the Bowl, July 6th, 1724.
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 | The works of Allan Ramsay |  |
136
On the Royal Company of Archers, shooting for the Bowl, July 6th, 1724.
On which Day his Grace JAMES Duke of Hamilton was chosen their Captain General; and Mr. David Drummond their Præses won the Prize.
Again the Year returns the Day,
That's dedicate to Joy and Play,
To Bonnets, Bows and Wine.
Let all who wear a sullen Face,
This Day meet with a due Disgrace,
And in their Sowrness pine;
Be shun'd as Serpents, that wad stang
The Hand that gi'es them Food:
Sic we debar frae lasting Sang,
And all their grumbling Brood.
That's dedicate to Joy and Play,
To Bonnets, Bows and Wine.
Let all who wear a sullen Face,
This Day meet with a due Disgrace,
And in their Sowrness pine;
Be shun'd as Serpents, that wad stang
The Hand that gi'es them Food:
Sic we debar frae lasting Sang,
And all their grumbling Brood.
While, to gain Sport and halesome Air,
The blythsome Spirit draps dull Care,
And starts frae Bus'ness free:
Now to the Fields the Archers bend,
With friendly Minds the Day to spend,
In manly Game and Glee;
First striving wha shall win the Bowl,
And then gar't flow with Wine:
Sic manly Sport refresh'd the Soul
Of stalwart Men lang syne.
The blythsome Spirit draps dull Care,
And starts frae Bus'ness free:
Now to the Fields the Archers bend,
With friendly Minds the Day to spend,
In manly Game and Glee;
First striving wha shall win the Bowl,
And then gar't flow with Wine:
Sic manly Sport refresh'd the Soul
Of stalwart Men lang syne.
137
E'er Parties thrawn, and Int'rest vile,
Debauch'd the Grandeur of our Isle,
And made ev'n Brethren Faes:
Syne Truth frae Friendship was exil'd,
And fause the honest Hearts beguil'd,
And led them in a Maze
Of Politicks;—with cunning Craft,
The Issachars of State,
Frae haly Drums first dang us daft,
Then drown'd us in Debate.
Debauch'd the Grandeur of our Isle,
And made ev'n Brethren Faes:
Syne Truth frae Friendship was exil'd,
And fause the honest Hearts beguil'd,
And led them in a Maze
Of Politicks;—with cunning Craft,
The Issachars of State,
Frae haly Drums first dang us daft,
Then drown'd us in Debate.
Drap this unpleasing Thought, dear Muse;
Come, view the Men thou likes to roose;
To Bruntsfield Green let's hy,
And see the Royal Bowmen strive,
Wha far the feather'd Arrows drive,
All soughing thro' the Sky;
Ilk ettling with his utmost Skill,
With artfu' Draught and stark,
Extending Nerves with hearty Will,
In hopes to hit the Mark.
Come, view the Men thou likes to roose;
To Bruntsfield Green let's hy,
And see the Royal Bowmen strive,
Wha far the feather'd Arrows drive,
All soughing thro' the Sky;
Ilk ettling with his utmost Skill,
With artfu' Draught and stark,
Extending Nerves with hearty Will,
In hopes to hit the Mark.
See
HAMILTON, wha moves with Grace,
Chief of the Caledonian Race
Of Peers; to whom is due
All Honours, and a' fair Renown;
Wha lays aside his Ducal Crown,
Sometime to shade his Brow
Beneath St. Andrew's Bonnet blew,
And joins to gain the Prize:
Which shaws true Merit match'd by few,
Great, affable and wise.
Chief of the Caledonian Race
Of Peers; to whom is due
All Honours, and a' fair Renown;
Wha lays aside his Ducal Crown,
Sometime to shade his Brow
Beneath St. Andrew's Bonnet blew,
And joins to gain the Prize:
Which shaws true Merit match'd by few,
Great, affable and wise.
This Day, with universal Voice,
The Archers Him their Chiftain chose;
Consenting Powers divine,
They blest the Day with general Joy,
By giving him a princely Boy,
To beautify his Line;
Whose Birth-day, in immortal Sang
Shall stand in fair Record,
While bended Strings the Archers twang,
And Beauty is ador'd.
The Archers Him their Chiftain chose;
Consenting Powers divine,
They blest the Day with general Joy,
By giving him a princely Boy,
To beautify his Line;
138
Shall stand in fair Record,
While bended Strings the Archers twang,
And Beauty is ador'd.
Next
DRUMMOND view, who gives their Law;
It glads our Hearts to see him draw
The Bow, and guide the Band;
He, like the Saul of a' the lave,
Does with sic Honour still behave,
As merits to command.
Blyth be his Hours, heal be his Heart,
And lang may he preside:
Lang the just Fame of his Desert
Shall unborn Archers read.
It glads our Hearts to see him draw
The Bow, and guide the Band;
He, like the Saul of a' the lave,
Does with sic Honour still behave,
As merits to command.
Blyth be his Hours, heal be his Heart,
And lang may he preside:
Lang the just Fame of his Desert
Shall unborn Archers read.
How on this fair propitious Day,
With Conquest leal he bore away
The Bowl victoriously;
With following Shafts in Number four,
Success the like ne'er kend before,
The Prize to dignify.
Haste to the Garden then bedeen,
The Rose and Laurel pow,
And plet a Wreath of white and green,
To busk the Victor's Brow.
With Conquest leal he bore away
The Bowl victoriously;
With following Shafts in Number four,
Success the like ne'er kend before,
The Prize to dignify.
Haste to the Garden then bedeen,
The Rose and Laurel pow,
And plet a Wreath of white and green,
To busk the Victor's Brow.
The Victor crown, who with his Bow,
In Spring of Youth and am'rous Glow,
Just fifty Years sinsyne,
The Silver Arrow made his Prize,
Yet ceases not in Fame to rise,
And with new Feats to shine.
May every Archer strive to fill
His Bonnet, and observe
The Pattern he has set with Skill,
And Praise like him deserve.
In Spring of Youth and am'rous Glow,
Just fifty Years sinsyne,
The Silver Arrow made his Prize,
Yet ceases not in Fame to rise,
And with new Feats to shine.
May every Archer strive to fill
His Bonnet, and observe
The Pattern he has set with Skill,
And Praise like him deserve.
| The works of Allan Ramsay | |