Classic Poem

Assist me, ye friends of Old Books and Old Wine,
To sing in the praises of sage Bannatyne,
Who left such a treasure of old Scottish lore
As enables each age to print one volume more.
One volume more, my friends, one volume more,
We'll ransack old Banny for one volume more.

And first, Allan Ramsay was eager to glean
From Bannatyne's Hortus his bright Evergreen ;
Two light little volumes (intended for four)
Still leave us the task to print one volume more.

His ways were not ours, for he cared not a pin
How much he left out, or how much he put in;
The truth of the reading he thought was a bore,
So this accurate age calls for one volume more.

Correct and sagacious then came my Lord Hailes,
And weighed every letter in critical scales,
But left out some brief words, which the prudish abhor,
And castrated Banny in one volume more.

John Pinkerton next, and I'm truly concern'd
I can't call that worthy so candid as learn'd,
He rail'd at the plaid and blasphemed the claymore,
And set Scots by the ears in his one volume more.

As bitter as gall, and as sharp as a razor,
And feeding on herbs like a Nebuchadnezzar;
His diet too acid, his temper too sour,
Little Ritson came out with his one volume more.

The stout Gothic Yeditur, next on the roll,
With his beard like a brush, and as black as a coal;
And honest Greysteel, that was true to the core,
Lent their hearts and their hands each to one volume more.

Since by these single champions what wonders were done,
What may not be achieved by our Thirty and One?
Law, Gospel, and Commerce, we count in our corps,
And the Trade and the Press join for one volume more.

Ancient libels and contraband books, I assure ye,
We'll print as secure from Exchequer or Jury;
Then hear your Committee and let them count o'er
The Chiels they intend in their three volumes more.
They'll produce you King Jamie, the sapient and sext,
And the Rob of Dumblane and her bishops come next;
One tome miscellaneous they'll add to your store,
Resolving next year to print four volumes more.
Four volumes more, my friends, four volumes more,
Pay down your subscriptions for four volumes more.