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 | ||
xxvii
TO Mr. ALLAN RAMSAY.
Too blindly partial to my native Tongue,Fond of the Smoothness of our English Song;
At first thy Numbers did uncouth appear,
And shock'd th'affected Niceness of the Ear.
Thro' Prejudice's Eye each Page I see;
Tho all were Beauties, none were so to me.
Yet sham'd at last, whilst all thy Genius own,
To have that Genius hid from me alone;
Resolv'd to find, for Praise or Censure, cause,
Whether to join with all, or all oppose;
Careful I read thee o'er and o'er again:
At length the useful Search requites my Pain;
My false Distaste to instant Pleasure's turn'd,
As much I envy as before I scorn'd:
And thus the Error of my Pride to clear,
I sign my honest Recantation here.
C. Beckingham.
The works of Allan Ramsay | ||