Skip directly to:Main content Main navigation

University of Virginia Library

The works of Allan Ramsay

edited by Burns Martin ... and John W. Oliver [... and Alexander M. Kinghorn ... and Alexander Law]

Ramsay, Allan (1686-1758)

collapse section

I.

VOL. I.—(Poems: 1721)

collapse section

COMMENDATORY POEMS.

TO Mr. ALLAN RAMSAY ON HIS Poetical Works.

TO Mr. ALLAN RAMSAY.

TO Mr. ALLAN RAMSAY ON THE Publication of his Poems.

THE Morning Interview.

collapse section

ELEGY ON MAGGY JOHNSTON , who died Anno 1711.

ELEGY ON JOHN COWPER Kirk-Treasurer's Man , ANNO 1714.

ELEGY ON Lucky Wood in the Canongate, May 1717.

Lucky Spence's last Advice.

collapse section

The happy Lover's Reflections.

The Lass of Peattie's Mill.

The Yellow-hair'd Laddie.

The Kind Reception.

Bessy Bell and Mary Gray.

The Young LAIRD and Edinburgh KATY.

EDINBURGH'S ADDRESS TO THE COUNTRY.

Written beneath the Historical Print of the wonderful Preservation of Mr. David Bruce, and others his School-fellows,

CHRIST'S KIRK ON THE GREEN,

THE SCRIBLERS LASH'D.

RICHY and SANDY ,

An Explanation of Richy and Sandy, by Josiah Burchet, Esq;

TO Mr. ALLAN RAMSAY, ON HIS Richy and Sandy. By Mr. BURCHET

To JOSIAH BURCHET, Esq

collapse section

FAMILIAR EPISTLES BETWEEN Lieutenant William Hamilton and Allan Ramsay.

I.

EPISTLE I. Gilbertfield June 26th, 1719.

I.

ANSWER I. Edinburgh, July 10th, 1719.

II.

EPISTLE II. Gilbertfield, July 24th, 1719.

II.

ANSWER II. Edinburgh, August 4th, 1719.

III.

EPISTLE III. Gilbertfield August 24th, 1719.

III.

ANSWER III. Edinburgh, September 2d, 1719.

AN EPISTLE To Lieutenant Hamilton

collapse section

PATIE and ROGER:

[The nipping Frosts and driving Sna]

Patie and Roger.

EDINBURGH'S SALUTATION

WEALTH, or the WOODY.

The Prospect of Plenty:

collapse section

Spoken to Mrs. N.

O'er the Moor to MAGGY.

I'll never leave Thee.

Polwart on the Green.

JOHN HAY'S Bonny Lassie.

Genty Tibby and Sonsy Nelly.

THE RISE and FALL OF STOCKS, 1720.

PATIE and PEGIE:

PROLOGUE. Spoke by one of the young Gentlemen, who, for their Improvement and Diversion, acted The Orphan, and Cheats of Scapin, the last Night of the year 1719.

The Life and Acts of, or An ELEGY on PATIE BIRNIE

CUPID thrown into the South-Sea.

THE SATYR'S COMICK PROJECT For recovering A young Bankrupt Stock-jobber.

TO THE MUSICK CLUB.

Wine and Musick, an ODE.

ON The Great Eclipse OF THE SUN,

The Gentleman's Qualifications, as debated by some of the Fellows of the Easy Club , April 1715.

To the Right Honourable, The Town-Council of EDINBURGH , THE ADDRESS of Allan Ramsay .

Inscription on the Gold Tea-pot, gain'd by Sir James Cunningham of Milncraig, Bart.

Inscription engraven on the Piece of Plate, which was a Punch-Bowl and Ladle, given by the Captains of the Train'd-Bands of Edinburgh, and gain'd by Captain Ch. Crockat's Swallow.

TO THE Whin-Bush Club , THE BILL Of ALLAN RAMSAY.

AN EPISTLE TO Mr. JAMES ARBUCKLE of Belfast , A. M.

To the Right Honourable, WILLIAM Earl of Dalhousie .

Horace to Virgil, on his taking a Voyage to Athens.

An ODE to Mr. F---.

To the Ph--- an ODE.

To Mr. William Aikman.

Spoken to three young Ladies, who would have me to determine which of them was the bonniest.

TO Sir William Bennet Of Grubbet, Bart.

An EPISTLE to a Friend at Florence, in his Way to Rome.

The beautiful Rose Tree enclosed.

To R--- H--- B---, an ODE.

Clyde's Welcome TO HIS PRINCE.

On the most Honourable The Marquess of BOWMONT's Cutting off his Hair.

TO SOME YOUNG LADIES

To Mr. Joseph Mitchel on the successful Representation of a Tragedy wrote by him.

Colin and Grisy parting.

collapse section

Spoken to two young Ladies who asked if I could say any thing on them: One excell'd in a beautiful Complection, the other in fine Eyes.

The Mill, Mill,—O.

The Poet's Wish:

THE CONCLUSION.

collapse section

II.

VOL. II.—(Poems: 1728)

The Ram and Buck

EPIGRAM On Receiving a Present of an Orange from Mrs. G. L. now Countess of Aboyne.

Robert, Richy, and Sandy;

EPISTLE To the Honourable DUNCAN FORBES, Lord Advocate.

The Clock and Dial.

AN ODE To the Memory of Lady Margaret Anstruther.

ELEGY On the Right Honourable James Lord Carnegie,

AN ODE Sacred to the Memory of the Right Honourable ANNE Lady Gairlies.

THE Lovely Lass and the Mirror.

JUPITER's Lottery.

The Miser and Minos.

The Ape and the Leopard.

The Ass and Brock.

The Fox and Rat.

The Caterpillar and the Ant.

The twa Cats and the Cheese.

The Chamaeleon.

The twa Lizards.

Mercury in Quest of Peace.

The Spring and the Syke.

The Daft Bargain.

The twa Cut-Purses.

EPISTLE TO Robert Yarde of Devonshire, Esquire.

THE LAST SPEECH OF A Wretched Miser.

EPISTLE From Mr. William Starrat

To Mr. William Starrat, on receiving the above Epistle.

Love Inviting Reason.

The Bob of Dunblane.

Throw the Wood Laddie.

Ann thou were my ain Thing.

There's my Thumb I'll ne'er beguile Thee.

The Highland Laddie.

The Coalier's bonny Lassie.

To L. L. in Mourning.

AN ODE, With a Pastoral Recitative on the Marriage of the Right Honourable, James Earl of Wemyss and Mrs. Janet Charteris.

collapse section

On seeing the ARCHERS diverting themselves at the Buts and Rovers, &c.

Wrote on Lady Somervile's Book of Scots Sangs.

collapse section

ODE On the Marriage of the Right Honourable George Lord Ramsay and Lady Jean Maule.

ODE On the Birth of the Most Honourable Marquis of Dumlanrig .

EPISTLE To Mr. JOHN GAY, Author of the Shepherd's Week, on hearing her Grace Dutchess of Queensberry commend some of his Poems.

ODE To the Right Honourable Grace Countess of Aboyn,

On the Marriage of Alexander Brodie of Brodie, Lord Lyon King of Arms, and Mrs. Mary Sleigh.

To Josiah Burchet Esq;

The General Mistake:

The Phœnix and the Owl.

To the Honourable Sir John Clerk of Pennycuik Baronet, one of the Barons of Exchequer, on the Death of his most accomplished Son John Clerk Esq; who died the 20th Year of his Age.

On receiving a Letter to be present at the Burial of Mr. Robert Alexander of Blackhouse.

The Fair Assembly:

On the Royal Company of Archers, shooting for the Bowl, July 6th, 1724.

On the Royal Company of Archers, marching under the Command of his Grace Duke of Hamilton, in their proper Habits, to shoot for the Arrow at Musselburgh, August 4, 1724.

To the Right Honourable Earl of Hartford, Lord Peircy, President, and the rest of the Honourable Members of the Society of British Antiquarians.

On the Marquis of Annandale's conveying me a Present of Guineas in my Snuff-mill, after he had taken all the Snuff.

The Monk and the Miller's Wife.

Advice to Mr.---on his Marriage.

To Mrs. M. M. on her Painting.

An Anacreontique on Love.

On Mr. Drummond's being chosen one of the Honourable Commissioners of the Customs;

The Address of the MUSE,

On his Grace the Duke of Hamilton's shooting an Arrow through the Neck of an Eel.

Betty and Kate;

To Mr. David Malloch, On his Departure from Scotland.

INSCRIPTION on the Tomb-stone of Mr. Alexander Wardlaw, late Chamberlain to the Right Honourable Earl of Wigton, erected by his Son Mr. John Wardlaw in the Church of Biggar.

AN ODE Sacred to the Memory of her Grace Anne Dutchess of Hamilton .

ODE To the Memory of Sir ISAAC NEWTON;

To William Somerville of Warwickshire Esq;

AN EPISTLE From Mr. Somervile.

Answer to the above Epistle From William Somervile Esq; of Warwickshire.

REASONS for not answering the Hackney Scribblers, my obscure Enemies.

To Mr. DONALD MACEWEN Jeweller at St. Petersburg.

To the same [Mr. Donald Macewen], on receiving a Present from him of a Seal, Homer's Head finely cut in Crystal, and set in Gold.

A Ballad on bonny Kate.

To Dr. J. C. who got the foregoing to give to the young Lady.

PROLOGUE, before the acting of Aurenzebe and the Drummer, by the young Gentlemen of the Grammar School of Haddington, August 1727, spoke by Mr. Charles Cockburn, Son to Colonel Cockburn.

EPILOGUE, after the acting of the Drummer, spoke by Mr. Maurice Cockburn, another Son of Colonel Cockburn's.

PROLOGUE spoke by Mr. Anthony Aston, the first Nigh[t] the[y] acted in Winter 1726.

ODE To Alexander Murray of Brughton, Esq;

ODE To the Memory of Mrs. Forbes, Lady Newhall.

On a Slate's falling from a House on Mris. M. M---k's Breast.

To my kind and worthy Friends in Ireland, who on a Report of my Death, made and published several Elegies Lyrick and Pastoral, very much to my Honour.

collapse section

THE GENTLE SHEPHERD,

To the Countess of Eglintoun, with the following Pastoral.

collapse section

THE GENTLE SHEPHERD.

collapse section

I.

I.

II.

collapse section

II.

I.

II.

III.

IV.

collapse section

III.

I.

II.

III.

IV.

collapse section

IV.

I.

II.

collapse section

V.

I.

II.

III.

Lass with a Lump of Land.

Vertue and Wit.

The STEP-DAUGHTER's Relief.

The Soger Laddie.

collapse section

III.

VOL. III.—(Poems: Miscellaneous and Uncollected)

collapse section

I.

PART I. Poems published during Ramsay's Lifetime.

TO MR. LAW. [1720]

collapse section

A Tale of Three Bonnets: 1722

I.

II.

III.

IV.

collapse section

From Fables and Tales [1722]

Bag-pipes no Musick:

Grubstreet nae Satyre.

collapse section

From The British Journal: March 9, 1723

Translation of the Aeneid, X, 693–6.

collapse section

From The Tea-Table Miscellany [1724–29]

A Scots Cantata

A South-Sea Sang.

Hap me with thy Petticoat.

Fy gar rub her o'er wi' Strae.

This is not mine ain House.

My Dady forbad, my Minny forbad.

[O steer her up, and had her gawn]

Clout the Caldron.

The Quadruple Alliance.

The young Lass contra auld Man.

Sleepy Body, drowsy Body.

The Highland Lassie.

The Auld Man's Best Argument.

On the Marriage of the R. H. L. G--- and L. K--- C---.

For the Sake of Some-body.

THE GENEROUS GENTLEMAN.

collapse section

SONGS INSERTED IN THE GENTLE SHEPHERD [1725–34]

I.

SANG I. The wawking of the Faulds

II.

SANG II. Fy gar rub her o'er with Strae

III.

SANG III. Polwart on the Green.

IV.

SANG IV. O dear Mother, what shall I do?

V.

SANG V. How can I be sad on my Wedding-Day.

VI.

SANG VI. Nansy's to the Green Wood gane.

VII.

SANG VII. Cald Kale in Aberdeen

VIII.

SANG VIII. Mucking of Geordy's Byer.

X.

SANG X. Winter was cauld, and my Cleathing was thin.

XII.

SANG XII. Happy Clown

XIII.

SANG XIII. Leith-Wynd.

XIV.

SANG XIV. O'er Bogie.

XV.

SANG XV. Wat ye wha I met Yestreen.

XVI.

SANG XVI. Kirk wad let me be.

XVII.

SANG XVII. Woes my heart that we shou'd sunder.

XVIII.

SANG XVIII. Tweed-side.

XIX.

SANG XIX. Bush aboon Traquair.

XX.

SANG XX. Bony gray ey'd Morn.

collapse section

From The Tea-Table Miscellany [1729]

On our Ladies being dressed in SCOTS Manufactory at a publick Assembly.

collapse section

From The Evergreen [1724]

THE Eagle and Robin Red-breist

AN ODE Sacred to the MEMORY Of Her Grace ANNE Dutchess of HAMILTON .

collapse section

From Poems in English and Latin on the Archers and Royal Company of Archers [1726]

The POET'S Thanks to the ARCHERS, on being admitted into their Royal Company.

The ARCHERS March.

collapse section

From The Caledonian Mercury: July 12, 1726.

A POEM ON THE ROYAL COMPANY OF ARCHERS

collapse section

From Poems [1729]

The Callan and the Pig

The Man with the twa Wives.

Fable of the Condemn'd Ass.

The Gods of Egypt

The Fox turn'd Preacher

The Bee and the Fly

The Horse's Complaint

ANE EPISTLE to A. R.

ANSWER [To the foregoing Epistle]

To Mr ALLAN RAMSAY, upon his publishing his second Volume of POEMS

To William Somervile, of Warwick-shire Esq

collapse section

From The Echo, or Edinburgh Weekly Journal: 29th January, 1729

EPILOGUE Spoken After Acting The Orphan and The Gentle Shepherd in January 1729

collapse section

From The Scarborough Miscellany: 1732.

Verses by the celebrated ALLAN RAMSAY, to his Son.

ADDRESS of Thanks from the Society of Rakes. [1735]

EPISTLE to the Reverend Philosarchus Minister of the Kirk of Scotland, occasioned by his late Essay, proving the Lawfulness of FORNICATION.

collapse section

From The Caledonian Mercury, August 2, 1736

collapse section

From The Caledonian Mercury, November 8, 1736

PROLOGUE for the Opening of the New Theatre in Carrubber's Close, 8 Nov., 1736

To the Honourable DUNCAN FORBES of Culloden, Lord President of the SESSION,

collapse section

From The Scots Magazine, October, 1741

AN EPISTLE To James Oswald

collapse section

II.

PART II. Poems in manuscript or posthumously published.

collapse section

1.

(1) Poems for which dates can be assigned.

To the Most Happy Members of the Easy Club, 1712

On Andrew Brown Hanging Himself

A Rebuke to Antony Uneasy

THE LAMENTATION

To the Right Honourable George, Lord Ramsay

[To Mr. Jo. Kerr of King's College, Aberdeen]

ON THE MARRIAGE OF URBAN AND BELLA. JULY 10th, 1721.

To His Grace John Duke Of Roxburgh,

TO THE MEMORY OF MARY, DUCHESS DOWAGER OF BEAUFORT AND COUNTESS DOWAGER OF DUNDONALD

SILVIA TO A--- R---

ANSWER Octr 1722

collapse section

The Pleasures of Improv[e]ments in Agriculture

[To the Duke of Queensberry]

A Pastoral Welcome To her Grace Cathrine Dutches of Queensbery on her coming first to Scotland June 1723

[To the Duchess of Queensberry]

[Another Poem to the Duchess of Queensberry]

On the B[ritish] P[arliament's] design of Taking The Bounty off the Victual exported. Decemr 1724

[A Dedication for the Evergreen]

SOME FEW OF THE CONTENTS [of The Evergreen]

[FRAGMENT OF AN EPISTLE]

Allan Ramsay Bard to the Royall Company July 13 1724

[The Men of Totness Town]

[A Poem to Mr. Drummond]

[A Jacobite Poem]

Again the Royal Band in fair array

[To the Royal Company of Archers]

[A Marching Song]

[To a Gentleman in Ireland]

To my unknown Corospondent in Irland

On the Ever Green's being gathered out of this Manuscript By Allan Ramsay who had the Loan of it from the Honourable Mr William Carmichaell Advocat Brother german to the Earl of Hynford

ANSWER [TO LADY SOMERVILLE'S POEM]

[To William Somerville]

THE MILLER AND HIS MAN:

THE CLEVER OFFCOME

[A Prologue for Julius Caesar]

[A Prologue to The Gentle Shepherd]

[An Epilogue for a Schoolplay]

[An Elegy in Memory of William Aikman]

[A Second Elegy on William Aikman]

[In Memory of a Youth]

[Reversal of Situation]

[A Prologue to Macbeth]

KATE AND SUSAN,

TO THE Rt HONble SUSANA, COUNTESS OF EGLINTOUN.

To Dr Robinson when at Edinburgh July 30th 1734

[AN ELEGY ON THE COUNTESS OF MORAY]

[In Praise of Caroline]

To the Countes of Eglingtoun with the bass-relief Bustos of the 12 Cesars

Dalkieths Welcome to Her prince

Epistle to John Wardlaw

UPON THE RIGHT REV(EREN)D RALPH ERSKIN

MR. EBENEZER ERSKINS PROTEST

[On Church Patronage]

THE MARROW BALLAD

TO MR. JAMES HOME

EPISTLE TO MR. H. S. AT LONDON NOVr 1738

ON GEORGE WHITEFIELD THE STROLLING PREACHER

To Dr Cunninghame

'TIS WELL THATS NOT WARSE

[A POEM OF CIVIC REJOICING]

TO L[ADY] D[ICK]

TO DOCTOR BOSWELL With the Two Vols. of my Poems.

[EPITAPH ON ROBERT MYLNE]

AN EPISTLE WROTE FROM MAVISBANK MARCH 1748 TO A FRIEND IN EDR.

To the Lairds of Annandale Conjunctly & Severaly A. R. not Greeting, wishes them all a good Bridle-Hand

[To George Clerk of Drumcrieff)

[THE EXCOMMUNICATION OF RALPH ERSKINE]

VERSES ADDRESST TO THE MAVIS WELL WHICH FLOWS IN THE GARDENS OF MAVIS BANK

TO Sir ALEXander DICK OF PRESTONFIELD, BARONET, WITH MR. RAMSAY'S POEMS IN THIS AND SECOND VOLUME

AN EPISTLE TO JAMES CLERK, ESQ. OF PENNYCUIK

collapse section

2.

(2) Poems for which dates have not been established.

Spoke to a Chapin Stowp

The Ingenious and Entertaining Interlocutory of The Reverend Presbytry of Inverness

A Note of a Papist's Preaching

[A Reply to Critics]

[Defiance of a Critic]

On Allexr Mitchell Butler to the Earl of Wigtoun

The Hand preferd to the Hat a Epigrame

[Cards and Politics]

To a Gentlman who would have me always to write Epigrams

[The Dying Parishioner]

THE DISTRESS AND COMPLAINT OF MUSTAPHA FOR LOSS OF HIS FUR

THE TYKES TOOLY

THE BROAD HINT CUNNINGLY ANSWERD

BABBAND AND TITTYPOW

AN ELEGY ON MR. SAMUEL CLERK RUNNING STATIONER

On Flavia's Fan

[CHLOE AND DAMON]

To A fa[i]r Quaker in [the] Dumps

[A Morning Song]

[A Forsaken Lover]

[In Praise of Scottish Ladies]

[An Evening Frolic]

THE VIRTUES OF SCOBIE WELLS

[TO THE EARL OF DALHOUSIE]

[TO SIR WILLIAM BENNET OF MARLEFIELD]

Spoken to Aeolus, in the House of Marlefield, on the Night of a violent Wind.

[TO SAUNDERS WOOD]

[The Function of Satiric Poetry]

[A Fragment of an Epistle]

[With a Gift of Books]

[To the Lovely Lechmere]

[A Poem in Honour of the Return of the Sons of Sir William Bennet of Marlefield]

A PASTORAL EPITHALIUM

[On the Death of his daughter, Christy]

ON THE MARRIAGE OF Mr BULL PREACHER AND Mrs MARY ------

The Last Speech just before he hangd himself of Caleb Bailey who was Blawn Blind Breaking doun with Gun Pouder some curious Remains of Celtik Antiquity at Abery to mend a Park dike

[ON JOHN NORIE]

[Translation of Horace: Book I, Ode IV, lines 15–20]

[Translation of Horace: Book I, Ode V]

[Translation of Horace: Book I, Ode VI]

[To a Noble Lord]

On the Birth Day of Mrs M. O. like her self fair & serene

collapse section

IV.

VOL. IV.—(Poems not hitherto collected: Poems attributed to Ramsay)

collapse section

POEMS NOT HITHERTO COLLECTED

To Dr John Theophilus Desaguliers, on presenting him with my book.

A Dedication to The Fables

On The Dutches of Marlbrugh's offer of five hundred pounds to the poet that would make the best Elegy on the Duke.

Annother Epigram or Epitaph on the above Subject [The Dutches of Marlbrugh's offer of five hundred pounds to the poet that would make the best Elegy on the Duke].

Epitaph for His Grace the Duke of Marlbrugh.

On the Royal Company of Scottish Archers.

On the Royal Company of Scottish Archers.

The Roundell to her Health

Fable of the Lost Calf

Another Epigram

Another Epigram

collapse section

Songs from The Devil of a Duke or Trappolin's Vagaries (1733).

1.

2.

Song 2. What should a Lassie do with an old man.

3.

Song 3. Willy was a wanton wag.

4.

Song 4. The Lads of Dunse.

5.

6.

Song 6. O'r Boggy.

7.

Song 7. Colin's Complaint.

8.

Song 8. What tho' they call me a Country Lass.

9.

Song 9. My Deary, if thou die.

10.

Song 10. John Anderson my Jo.

11.

Song 11. My Dady forbad.

12.

Song 12. Hap me with thy Petticoat.

13.

Song 13. Yellow hair'd Laddie.

14.

Song 14. Nansy to the Greenwood gane.

15.

The merry meeting on The Moor

On false Greatness

An Exchange of Epistles

Bogi-Dow a Sang to the Tune of Jeny Beguild the wobster.

[Verses] To the tune of Over the hills and far away.

On Priests not marrying.

On the Clergy's minding themsells mair than their flock.

[Fragment of a Song]

[Fragment of a Song]

collapse section

POEMS ATTRIBUTED TO RAMSAY

Lines writ on seeing Boys act the Tragedy of Cato in the Taylors' Hall, March 16, 1742.

On the foregoing by ---

To the Memory of Alexr Strachan sometime School master in Pennycuik who died aged 80 years 1733.

collapse section

Collapse All | Expand All expand section

[To a Noble Lord]

My Lrd

When furious winds storm on the Mountain brow
oft fall the pines & stately cedars bow
the skillfull forester then tends the grove
to watch & prop the Plants belovd by Jove
when Raging Tempest threats with evry Sweep
to sink the hardy vessell in the Deep
The Pilot then with steady Eye & hand
Exerts his Skill to bring his charge to Land
Thus you My Lord (acquainted with each source
from whence the strongest Passions have their course
and by true Judment & a strenght of mind
Know when they should be Loosd & when confind)
Like a wise fforester take care to save
the Noblest Plant the Caledonians have
When such a Schok attempts his Bloom to Blight
as makes a Nation bend beneath its weight
O from the Sea of Greif & sinking Roar
of dire Reflection steer him to the shore
wher Resignation yields to soveraign fate
while Reason is Chief Minister of State
So may the Best of Blessings chear your soul
May long your days in circling pleasures rol
To him to you your countrey owes & pays
The justest Tribute of their Love & praise
Who as their Kindest Stars amongst them shine
When other Cheifs their Influence decline

[_]

The poem ends with two partly deleted lines:—

“May neer again the foreign Clyms Invite
Our Hamiltoun our Johnstoun from Their Plain.”