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 |  |
171
The Pleasures of Improv[e]ments in Agriculture
[Dedication]
To the Honourable & Ingenious Fraternity for
Improvments in Agriculter Planting Gardening &c
Success Plenty & Joy their Humble Poet Begs them
to attend his Landwart Lays while he attemps
to Sing their Benficial & Generous Design, which
we Introduce with a Text from the Renownd Sr
David Lindsay in his conversation with Dame
Rememberance about the State of Scotland you'll
excuse its being Some Longer than a Common Sentance or So of Horace or Ovid
while we attempt to Chaunt in Rural Strains
Improvments in the Forest Garth & Plains
aid us ye Powers that changing Seasons Grant
with Dew & Rays to Nurish evry Plant
with flaming fancy fond of fit(t)er fame
fain wald we saftly sing sae sweet a Theme
that on ae styl our Labours may be seen
with Mantuan Maro & the French Rapin
These sung beneath the Mirtle & the Vine
upon the Banks of Tyber & the Sein
whilst we beneath a Hathorn farther North
upon the Caulder shore of Rowling Forth
may be allowd a drawback in our fire
if its allowd warm Beams the Bards Inspire
This Nation Long more keen of martial toil
than cultivating of a yeilding Soil
neglected Left each height & valey fair
without the help of art to natures care
she Plenteous did the Pregna(n)t mold adorn
with Bloming whins Broom Brackens Brier & Thorn
while Stagnnant Lakes o'er many straths did flow
wher Eells did sport & seggs did Plentous Grow
here ane Estate was hid beneath a flood
and flowry Parks lay buried under mud
wittness our Straitens Loch which we have seen
a wavy Lake now a Prolifick Green
of late by Rankeilier worthy lasting fame
whose Breast Glows with a Bright Inproving flame
now ditchd & hedgd and Circling Groves arise
to save its verdures from Inclement Skys
in these sweet walks beneath the Blooming Shade
the Citizen shall drop the cares of trade
while in the fragrant Scenes he takes delight
to Bask in Rising or in Setting Light
while Chearful rays throu Trembling Branches Glance
when they or Late or Early shoot askance
Here the Hermonious tennants of the air
to keep their Naturall consorts shall repair
thither in comely crouds the youthfull gang
in numerous Pairs to court shall Smiling thrang
no harm to virtue—This high powers aprove
when faith & honour are the Gaurds of Love
observing these ye Lovly plants with Ease
your Bon(n)y cheekys will but short time please
you'll follow out what renders you complet
if beauty neer with sence & action meet
by Education only you can rise
but Lasting Graces bless her tongue and eyes
that takes the most delight to deck her mind
Hope hear the sang which thy unwearied mind
for Publick good me thus to sing inclind
continou Best of Clubs Long to Improve
your native Plains and gain your nations Love
Rowse evry Lazy Laird of each wide feild
that unmanurd not half their Product yeild
shew them the proper season soils and art
how they may Plenty to their Lands impart
Treeple their Rents encrease the farmers store
without the Purches of one Acre more
Improvments in the Forest Garth & Plains
aid us ye Powers that changing Seasons Grant
with Dew & Rays to Nurish evry Plant
with flaming fancy fond of fit(t)er fame
fain wald we saftly sing sae sweet a Theme
that on ae styl our Labours may be seen
with Mantuan Maro & the French Rapin
These sung beneath the Mirtle & the Vine
upon the Banks of Tyber & the Sein
whilst we beneath a Hathorn farther North
upon the Caulder shore of Rowling Forth
may be allowd a drawback in our fire
if its allowd warm Beams the Bards Inspire
This Nation Long more keen of martial toil
than cultivating of a yeilding Soil
neglected Left each height & valey fair
without the help of art to natures care
she Plenteous did the Pregna(n)t mold adorn
with Bloming whins Broom Brackens Brier & Thorn
172
wher Eells did sport & seggs did Plentous Grow
here ane Estate was hid beneath a flood
and flowry Parks lay buried under mud
wittness our Straitens Loch which we have seen
a wavy Lake now a Prolifick Green
of late by Rankeilier worthy lasting fame
whose Breast Glows with a Bright Inproving flame
now ditchd & hedgd and Circling Groves arise
to save its verdures from Inclement Skys
in these sweet walks beneath the Blooming Shade
the Citizen shall drop the cares of trade
while in the fragrant Scenes he takes delight
to Bask in Rising or in Setting Light
while Chearful rays throu Trembling Branches Glance
when they or Late or Early shoot askance
Here the Hermonious tennants of the air
to keep their Naturall consorts shall repair
thither in comely crouds the youthfull gang
in numerous Pairs to court shall Smiling thrang
no harm to virtue—This high powers aprove
when faith & honour are the Gaurds of Love
observing these ye Lovly plants with Ease
your Bon(n)y cheekys will but short time please
you'll follow out what renders you complet
if beauty neer with sence & action meet
by Education only you can rise
but Lasting Graces bless her tongue and eyes
that takes the most delight to deck her mind
Hope hear the sang which thy unwearied mind
for Publick good me thus to sing inclind
continou Best of Clubs Long to Improve
your native Plains and gain your nations Love
Rowse evry Lazy Laird of each wide feild
that unmanurd not half their Product yeild
shew them the proper season soils and art
how they may Plenty to their Lands impart
Treeple their Rents encrease the farmers store
without the Purches of one Acre more
| The works of Allan Ramsay | |