The works of Allan Ramsay edited by Burns Martin ... and John W. Oliver [... and Alexander M. Kinghorn ... and Alexander Law] |
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 | The works of Allan Ramsay |  |
To Mr. William Aikman.
'Tis granted, Sir, Pains may be spar'd
Your Merit to set forth,
When there's sae few wha claim Regard,
That disna ken your Worth.
Your Merit to set forth,
When there's sae few wha claim Regard,
That disna ken your Worth.
Yet Poets give immortal Fame
To Mortals that excel,
Which if neglected they're to blame;
But you've done that your sell.
To Mortals that excel,
Which if neglected they're to blame;
But you've done that your sell.
While frae Originals of yours
Fair Copies shall be tane,
And fix'd on Brass to busk our Bow'rs,
Your Mem'ry shall remain.
Fair Copies shall be tane,
And fix'd on Brass to busk our Bow'rs,
Your Mem'ry shall remain.
To your ain Deeds the maist deny'd,
Or of a Taste o'er fine,
Maybe ye're, but o'er right, afraid
To sink in Verse like mine.
Or of a Taste o'er fine,
Maybe ye're, but o'er right, afraid
To sink in Verse like mine.
226
The last can ne'er the Reason prove,
Else wherefore with good Will
Do ye my nat'ral Lays approve,
And help me up the Hill?
Else wherefore with good Will
Do ye my nat'ral Lays approve,
And help me up the Hill?
By your Assistance unconstrain'd
To Courts I can repair,
And by your Art my Way I've gain'd
To Closets of the Fair.
To Courts I can repair,
And by your Art my Way I've gain'd
To Closets of the Fair.
Had I a Muse like lofty Pope,
For touring Numbers fit,
Then I the ingenious Mind might hope
In truest Light to hit.
For touring Numbers fit,
Then I the ingenious Mind might hope
In truest Light to hit.
But comick Tale and Sonnet slee
Are coosten for my Share,
And if in these I bear the Gree,
I'll think it very fair.
Are coosten for my Share,
And if in these I bear the Gree,
I'll think it very fair.
| The works of Allan Ramsay | |