The works of Allan Ramsay :: :: University of Virginia Library

To me, far in the frozen north,
in winter on the banks of Forth,
where Boreas thuds with all his Strength,
through Nights of eighteen hours of Length,
ther's hardly aught coud please me better
than friendly love & your kind letter,
Happy the man who needs not roam,
but when he pleases, from his home,
who, when the Summer fields invite
and healthfull Hunting his delight,
can tire out a whole pack of Hounds
upon his oun paternall Grounds,
then soon as Winter gins to frown
in Coach and Six wheel to the Toun,
there ratle about, in spangl'd cloathing,
in mighty hurry doing—nothing,
unless for Nation's good, or so
the Orator says—Yes or No.

But we, who by our cast of fate
have not been tagg'd to an Estate,
must rouze up all our thinking Arts,
to ravish fortune by our parts,
now here, now there, whiles up, whiles down,
plodding for Rhino, or Renown,
should put our Tallents to the Test,
and of our Bargins make the best,
for, while gay Hopes are our support
faith all our Labour's but a sport,
and in our turn, ev'n in their faces,
can laugh at Lords, & even their Graces,
who rust unactive, standing still,
turn heavy, having all their will,
sunk oft in spleen, of life they tire,
Born to their best, they rise no higher,
the Stream of Joy must still grow less
when no more springs make it increase,

248

Ye want to know, ye say, what passes
Amongst the Edinburgh Lads & Lasses,
'Mongst Statesmen, and Kirk moderators,
'Mongst Gamsters, Bawds, & fornicators,
Then be it known, in this same place
folk seem as little crampt with grace,
as the unhallowd crouds who dwell
from Wapping west to the Pall-Mall.
the Scarlet Whore, indeed, they snarl at
but like right well a whore in scarlet,
and here, in plenty, ev'ry Lad
may have them in all collours clad,
from the silk Damask doun to Tartane
that's manufactur'd at Dunbartane,
a choice of goods, & mighty cheap,
for one a pox or clap may reap,
if with but litle pains he'll try,
for sixpence wet & sixpence dry,
and, if he's not a simple Stirk,
may bite the Treasurer of the Kirk,
for now, none heeds that dismall Dunner,
unless it be some sighing Sinner,

Thus whore, & Bawd, Doctor & pox,
the Tavern & a large white Ox,
are the whole sum for Lord or clown
of the Diversions of our Town,
since by a late sour-snouted law
which makes great Heroes stand in awe
the morall Teachers of broad Truths
have gotten padlocks on their mouths,
fierce Bajezet, and bold Macbeth
Othello, Cato, & Macheath,
now dumb, and of their Buskins stript,
our stage is in its blossom nipt,
which spreads ane universall frown
to see a Theater pull'd down,
which for seven years, at small expence,
had pleasd, without the least offence,

249

advanced a great way to remove
that Scarcrow of all social Love,
Enthousiastick vile delusion
which glorys in stift-rumpt confusion,
gives sanction to Rebellious plots,
and finds out grace in cutting Throats,
which, in the reigns of James & Charles,
prompted these Covenanted Quarles
and heezd the Leaguers up the Ladders
to swing aloft in hempen Tedders,
now since the softener of this rage,
the mannerly reforming Stage,
is tane away, 'tis justly dreaded,
'twill be by Biggotry succeeded,
Divisions from Divisions spring,
and partys spiteful dart the sting,

My friend be blyth, nor fash your Head
with nick-nack of each different creed
that various molds the Golden Calf
from stile of Rome to that of Ralf
yet never from these virtues start
which spring up in an honest Heart
quite strangers to the party Squable
which mads the great & litle Rable,
enjoy your Laugh, your friend, & Glass,
and, with chast Love, a chosen Lass,
sleep sound & never break your brains,
whither the Turk, or Russian gains,

Farewell, & let me be your debtor
for what would over-cram a letter,
till we meet fairly nose to nose,
then balance shall be payd in prose.