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 works of Allan Ramsay |  |
The Spectacles
Ae Day when Jove, the High Director,Was merry o'er a Bowl of Nectar,
Resolv'd a Present to bestow,
On the Inhabitants below.
Momus, wha likes his Joke and Wine,
Was sent frae Heaven with the Propine:
Fast throw the Aether-fields he whirl'd
His rapid Car, and reach'd the Warld:
Conveen'd Mankind, and told them Jove
Had sent a Token of his Love,
Considering that they were short sighted,
That Faut shou'd presently be righted.
Syne loos'd his Wallet frae the Pillions,
And toss'd out Spectacles by Millions.
There were enow, and ilk an chose,
His Pair and cock'd them on his Nose:
And thankfully their Knees they bended
To Heaven, that thus their Sight had mended.
Streight Momus hameward took his Flight,
Laughing fou'd loud, as well he might.
For ye maun ken, 'tis but o'er true,
The Glasses were some Red, some Blue,
Some Black, some White, some Brown, some Green,
Which made the same Thing different seem.
Now all was wrong, and all was right,
For ilk believ'd his aided Sight,
And did the Joys of Truth partake,
In the absurdest gross Mistake.
| The works of Allan Ramsay | |