The works of Allan Ramsay edited by Burns Martin ... and John W. Oliver [... and Alexander M. Kinghorn ... and Alexander Law] |
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An Exchange of Epistles
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 | The works of Allan Ramsay |  |
272
An Exchange of Epistles
About the moneth, sir, of September
When you wer here, I do remember
I promised to write my mind.
Indeed, good sir, you were not kind.
Coldness in age is a great failing—
I match you there, but am not willing
That all the love from me shoud come;
This is a thing that's seldom done.
Least I be guilty of false charge,
Express your love by gifts that's large—
A diamond ring or a gold chain
Will ty me always to remain
To be your jo as herefore,
But tys of priests can scarce get o'er.
Yet bonny wallys in my time
Hath caught young lasses in their prime,
And realy you must owe such charms
For auld folks turn oftimes bairns.
When you wer here, I do remember
I promised to write my mind.
Indeed, good sir, you were not kind.
Coldness in age is a great failing—
I match you there, but am not willing
That all the love from me shoud come;
This is a thing that's seldom done.
Least I be guilty of false charge,
Express your love by gifts that's large—
A diamond ring or a gold chain
Will ty me always to remain
To be your jo as herefore,
But tys of priests can scarce get o'er.
Yet bonny wallys in my time
Hath caught young lasses in their prime,
And realy you must owe such charms
For auld folks turn oftimes bairns.
His Answer
Dear Lady Gay, grant me I am auld,Yet am I neither faild nor cauld;
And tho I wer a score of years
Aulder than you, we'r head-a-pears,
For I'm for generation stout
Lang time after your pipe's gane out.
I own indeed when kirtle woos
It spaes baith speed and luck to trews,
But gowden chains and diamond rings
Upon my troth are costly things
To gie a mistress in propine
Wha winna cast the knot divine.
In ae respect I'le serve ye brawly
With what maid loo, a bonny wally;
But gin ye ergh to be my wife
And hazard take of me for life,
The complement ye's never thumb
But for as mickle in its room.
And this, faith, you maun tak in hand
Or els the bargain winna stand.
Madam, yours
| The works of Allan Ramsay | |