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

When I receiv'd thy kind Epistle,
It made me dance, and sing, and whistle;
O sic a Fyke, and sic a Fistle
I had about it!
That e'er was Knight of the Scots Thistle
Sae fain, I doubted.

The bonny Lines therein thou sent me,
How to the Nines they did content me;
Tho', Sir, sae high to compliment me,
Ye might defer'd,
For had ye but haff well a kent me,
Some less wad ser'd.

122

With joyfou Heart beyond Expression,
They're safely now in my Possession:
O gin I were a Winter-Session
Near by thy Lodging,
I'd closs attend thy new Profession,
Without e'er budging.

In even down earnest, there's but few
To vie with Ramsay dare avow,
In Verse, for to gi'e thee thy due,
And without fleetching,
Thou's better at that Trade, I trow,
Than some's at preaching.

For my Part, till I'm better leart,
To troke with thee I'd best forbear't;
For an' the Fouk of Edn'burgh hear't,
They'll ca' me daft,
I'm unco' irie and Dirt-feart
I make wrang Waft.

Thy Verses nice as ever nicket,
Made me as canty as a Cricket;
I ergh to reply, lest I stick it,
Syne like a Coof
I look, or ane whose Poutch is picket
As bare's my Loof.

Heh winsom! How thy saft sweet Stile,
And bonny auld Words gar me smile;
Thou's travel'd sure mony a Mile
Wi' Charge and Cost,
To learn them thus keep Rank and File,
And ken their Post.

123

For I maun tell thee, honest Allie,
I use the Freedom so to call thee,
I think them a' sae bra and walie,
And in sic Order,
I wad nae care to be thy Vallie,
Or thy Recorder.

Has thou with Rosycrucians wandert?
Or thro' some doncie Desart danert?
That with thy Magick, Town and Landart,
For ought I see,
Maun a' come truckle to thy Standart
Of Poetrie.

Do not mistake me, dearest Heart,
As if I charg'd thee with black Art;
'Tis thy good Genius still alart,
That does inspire
Thee with ilk Thing that's quick and smart,
To thy Desire.

E'en mony a bonny knacky Tale,
Bra to set o'er a Pint of Ale:
For Fifty Guineas I'll find Bail,
Against a Bodle,
That I wad quat ilk Day a Mail,
For sic a Nodle.

And on Condition I were as gabby,
As either thee, or honest Habby,
That I lin'd a' thy Claes wi' Tabby,
Or Velvet Plush,
And then thou'd be sae far frae shabby,
Thou'd look right sprush.

124

What tho young empty airy Sparks
May have their critical Remarks
On thir my blyth diverting Warks;
'Tis sma Presumption
To say they're but unlearned Clarks,
And want the Gumption.

Let Coxcomb Criticks get a Tether
To ty up a' their lang loose Lether;
If they and I chance to forgether,
The tane may rue it,
For an' they winna had their Blether,
They's get a Flewet.

To learn them for to peep and pry
In secret Drolls 'twixt thee and I;
Pray dip thy Pen in Wrath, and cry,
And ca' them Skellums,
I'm sure thou needs set little by
To bide their Bellums.

Wi' Writing I'm so bleirt and doited,
That when I raise, in Troth I stoited;
I thought I shou'd turn capernoited,
For wi' a Gird,
Upon my Bum I fairly cloited
On the cald Eard.

Which did oblige a little Dumple
Upon my Doup, close by my Rumple:
But had ye seen how I did trumple,
Ye'd split your Side,
Wi' mony a long and weary Wimple,
Like Trough of Clyde.

The antient and most noble Order of Knighthood, erected by King Achaius. The ordinary Ensign worn by the Knights of the Order, was a green Ribband, to which was appended a Thistle of Gold crown'd with an imperial Crown, within a Circle of Gold, with this Motto, Nemo me impune lacesset.

This Compliment is intirely free of the fulsome Hyperbole.

A People deeply learn'd in the occult Sciences, who convers'd with aerial Beings. Gentlemanny Kind of Necromancers, or so.