The works of Allan Ramsay edited by Burns Martin ... and John W. Oliver [... and Alexander M. Kinghorn ... and Alexander Law] |
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ON The Great Eclipse OF THE SUN,
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 | The works of Allan Ramsay |  |
197
ON The Great Eclipse OF THE SUN,
The 22d April, nine a Clock of the Morning, wrote a Month before it hapned, March 1715.
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N.B. The Order of Time in placing some of my Manuscript Poems, with Regard to them formerly printed, is not observed in some few of the following, but their Dates shall be given.
Now do I press among the learned Throng,
To tell a great Eclipse in little Song.
At me nor Scheme, nor Demonstration ask,
That is our Gregory's , or fam'd Hally's Task:
'Tis they who are conversant with each Star,
Who knows how Planets Planets Rays debar.
This to pretend my Muse is not so bold,
She only echoes what she has been told.
To tell a great Eclipse in little Song.
At me nor Scheme, nor Demonstration ask,
That is our Gregory's , or fam'd Hally's Task:
'Tis they who are conversant with each Star,
Who knows how Planets Planets Rays debar.
This to pretend my Muse is not so bold,
She only echoes what she has been told.
Our rolling Globe
will scarce have made the Sun
Seem half way up Olympus to have run,
When Night's pale Queen in her oft changed Way,
Will intercept in direct Line his Way,
And make black Night usurp the Throne of Day.
The curious will attend that Hour with Care,
And wish no Clouds may hover in the Air,
To dark the Medium, and obstruct from Sight
The gradual Motion and Decay of Light,
Whilst thoughtless Fools will view the Water Pale,
To see which of the Planets will prevail:
For then they think the Sun and Moon make War,
Thus Nurses Tales oftimes the Judgment mar.
Seem half way up Olympus to have run,
When Night's pale Queen in her oft changed Way,
Will intercept in direct Line his Way,
And make black Night usurp the Throne of Day.
The curious will attend that Hour with Care,
And wish no Clouds may hover in the Air,
198
The gradual Motion and Decay of Light,
Whilst thoughtless Fools will view the Water Pale,
To see which of the Planets will prevail:
For then they think the Sun and Moon make War,
Thus Nurses Tales oftimes the Judgment mar.
When this strange Darkness overshades the Plains,
'Twill give an odd Surprise t'unwarned Swains,
Plain honest Hinds, who do not know the Cause,
Nor know of Orbs, their Motions or their Laws,
Will from the half plough'd Furrows homeward bend,
In dire Confusion, judging that the End
Of Time approacheth; thus possest with Fear,
They'll think the general Conflagration near.
The Traveler benighted on the Road
Will turn devout, and supplicate his God.
Cocks with their careful Mates and younger Fry,
As if't were Evening, to their Roosts will fly.
The horned Cattle will forget to feed,
And come home lowing from the grassie Mead.
Each Bird of Day will to his Nest repair,
And leave to Bats and Owls the dusky Air.
The Lark and little Robin's softer Lay
Will not be heard till the Return of Day.
Now this will be great Part of Europe's Case,
While Phebe's as a Mask on Phœbus' Face.
The unlearn'd Clowns, who don't our Æra know,
From this dark Friday will their Ages show;
As I have often heard old Country Men
Talk of dark Munday, and their Ages then.
'Twill give an odd Surprise t'unwarned Swains,
Plain honest Hinds, who do not know the Cause,
Nor know of Orbs, their Motions or their Laws,
Will from the half plough'd Furrows homeward bend,
In dire Confusion, judging that the End
Of Time approacheth; thus possest with Fear,
They'll think the general Conflagration near.
The Traveler benighted on the Road
Will turn devout, and supplicate his God.
Cocks with their careful Mates and younger Fry,
As if't were Evening, to their Roosts will fly.
The horned Cattle will forget to feed,
And come home lowing from the grassie Mead.
Each Bird of Day will to his Nest repair,
And leave to Bats and Owls the dusky Air.
The Lark and little Robin's softer Lay
Will not be heard till the Return of Day.
Now this will be great Part of Europe's Case,
While Phebe's as a Mask on Phœbus' Face.
The unlearn'd Clowns, who don't our Æra know,
From this dark Friday will their Ages show;
As I have often heard old Country Men
Talk of dark Munday, and their Ages then.
Not long shall last this strange uncommon Gloom
When Light dispels the Ploughman's Fear of Doom;
With merry Heart he'll lift his ravish'd Sight
Up to the Heavens, and welcome back the Light.
How just's the Motions of these whirling Spheres!
Which ne'er can err while Time is met by Years.
How vast is little Man's capacious Soul!
That knows how Orbs throw Weilds of Æther roll.
How great's the Power of that Omnifick Hand!
Who gave them Motion by his wise Command,
That they should not while Time had Being stand.
When Light dispels the Ploughman's Fear of Doom;
With merry Heart he'll lift his ravish'd Sight
Up to the Heavens, and welcome back the Light.
How just's the Motions of these whirling Spheres!
Which ne'er can err while Time is met by Years.
199
That knows how Orbs throw Weilds of Æther roll.
How great's the Power of that Omnifick Hand!
Who gave them Motion by his wise Command,
That they should not while Time had Being stand.
| The works of Allan Ramsay | |