Classic Poem

A Poem.

TO THE MANAGERS.

Right Honourable Ladies,
How much is our whole nation indebted to your Ladyships for your reasonable and laudable undertaking to introduce politeness among us, by a cheerful entertainment, which is highly for the advantage of both body and mind, in all that is becoming in the brave and beautiful; well foreseeing that a barbarous rusticity ill suits them, who, in fuller years, must act with an address superior to the common class of mankind; and it is undeniable, that nothing pleases more, nor commands more respect, than an easy, disengaged, and genteel manner. What can be more disagreeable than to see one, with a stupid impudence, saying and acting things the most shocking amongst the polite; or others (in plain Scots) blate, and not knowing how to behave.
Warmed with these reflections, and the beautifulness of the subject, my thoughts have made their way in the following stanzas, which, with humility, I beg leave to present to your Ladyships. — It is amazing to imagine, that any are so destitute of good sense and manners as to drop the least unfavourable sentiment against the Fair Assembly. It is to be owned, with regret, that the best of things have been abused. The church has been, and in many countries is, the chief place for assignations that are not warrantable: wine, one of Heaven's kindly blessings, may be used to one's hurt: the beauty of the fair, which is the great preserver of harmony and society, has been the ruin of many: learning, which assists in raising the mind of man up to the class of spirits, has given many a one's brain a wrong cast: so places, designed for healthful and mannerly dancing, have, by people of an unhappy turn, been debauched by introducing gaming, drunkenness, and indecent familiarities. But will any argue from these, that we
must have no churches, no wine, no beauties, no literature, no dancing — Forbid it Heaven! Noble and worthy Ladies, whatever is under your auspicious conduct must be improving and beneficial in every respect. May all the fair daughters copy after such virtuous and delightful patterns, as you have been, and continue to be. That you may be long a blessing to the rising generation, is the sincere prayer of,

May it please your Ladyships,

Your most faithful and humble servant,
ALLAN RAMSAY .

A WAKE , Thalia, and defend,
With cheerfu' carroling,
Thy bonny care: thy wings extend,
And bear me to your spring,
That harmony full force may lend
To reasons that I bring: —
Now Caledonian nymphs attend,
For 'tis to you I sing.

As lang as minds maun organs wear
Compos'd of flesh and blood,
We ought to keep them hale and clear,
With exercise and food.
Then, but debate, it will appear,
That dancing must be good;
It stagnant humours sets a-steer,
And fines the purple blood.

Diseases, heaviness, and spleen,
And ill things mony mae,
That gar the lazy fret and grane,
With visage dull and blae.
'Tis dancing can do mair alane,
Than drugs frae far away,
To ward aff these, make nightly pain,
And sour the shining day.

Health is a prize — yet meikle mair
In dancing we may find;
It adds a lustre to the fair,
And, when the fates unkind
Cloud with a blate and aukward air
A genius right refin'd,
The sprightly art helps to repair
This blemish on the mind.

How mony do we daily see
Right scrimp of wit and sense,
Who gain their aims aft easily
By well-bred confidence?
Then, whate'er helps to qualifie
A rustic negligence
Maun without doubt a duty be,
And should give nae offence.

Hell's doctrine's dung, when equal pairs
Together join their hands,
And vow to soothe ilk other's cares,
In haly wedlock's bands:
Sae when to dance the maid prepares,
And flush'd with sweetness stands,
At her the wounded lover stares,
And yields to Heaven's commands.

The first command he soon obeys,
While love inspires ilk notion;
His wishing look his heart displays,
While his lov'd mate 's in motion:
He views her with a blyth amaze,
And drinks with deep devotion
That happy draught, that thro' our days
Is own'd a cordial potion.

The cordial which conserves our life,
And makes it smooth and easy;
Then, ilka wanter wale a wife,
Ere eild and humdrums seize ye,
Whase charms can silence dumps or strife,
And frae the rake release ye,
Attend th' Assembly, where there 's rife
Of virtuous maids to please ye.

These modest maids inspire the muse,
In flowing strains to shaw
Their beauties, which she likes to roose,
And let th' envious blaw:
That task she canna well refuse,
Wha single says them na —
To paint Belinda first we chuse,
With breasts like driven snaw.

Like lily-banks see how they rise,
With a fair glen between,
Where living streams, blue as the skies,
Are branching upward seen,
To warm her mouth, where rapture lies,
And smiles that banish spleen,
Wha strikes with love and saft surprise,
Where'er she turns her een.

Sabella, gracefully complete,
Straight as the mountain-pine,
Like pearl and rubies set in jet,
Her lovely features shine:
In her the gay and solid meet,
And blended are sae fine,
That when she moves her lips or feet,
She seems some power divine.

O Daphne! sweeter than the dawn,
When rays glance o'er the height,
Diffusing gladness o'er the lawn,
With streaks of rising light.
The dewy flowers, when newly blawn,
Come short of that delight
Which thy far fresher beauties can
Afford our joyfu' sight.

How easy sits sweet Celia's dress!
Her gait how gently free!
Her steps throughout the dance express
The justest harmony:
And when she sings, all must confess,
Wha 're blest to hear and see,
They 'd deem 't their greatest happiness
T' enjoy her company.

And wha can ca' his heart his ain,
That hears Aminta speak?
Against Love's arrows shields are vain,
When he aims frae her cheek;
Her cheek, where roses free from stain,
In glows of youdith beek:
Unmingled sweets her lips retain,
These lips she ne'er should steek.

Unless when fervent kisses close
That av'nue of her mind,
Thro' which true wit in torrents flows,
As speaks the nymph design'd,
The brag and toast of wits and beaux,
And wonder of mankind;
Whase breast will prove a blest repose,
To him with whom she 'll bind.

See, with what gaiety, yet grave,
Serena swims alang;
She moves a goddess 'mang the lave,
Distinguish'd in the thrang.
Ye sourocks, hafflines fool, haf knave!
Wha hate a dance or sang,
To see this stately maid behave,
'T wad gi'e your hearts a twang:

Your hearts, said I? — troth I 'm to blame;
I had amaist forgotten,
That ye to nae sic organ claim,
Or if ye do, 't is rotten:
A saul with sic a thowless flame,
Is sure a silly sot ane;
Ye scandalise the human frame,
When in our shape begotten.

These lurdanes came just in my light,
As I was tenting Chloe,
With jet-black een that sparkle bright,
She 's all o'er form'd for joy;
With neck, and waist, and limbs as tight
As her's wha drew the boy
Frae feeding flocks upon the height,
And fled with him to Troy.

Now Myra dances: — mark her mein,
Sae disengag'd and gay,
Mix'd with that innocence that 's seen,
In bonny ew-bught May,
Wha wins the garland on the green,
Upon some bridal day;
Yet she has graces for a queen,
And might a sceptre sway.

What lays, Calista, can commend
The beauties of thy face?
Whase fancy can sae tow'ring stend,
Thy merits a' to trace?
Frae boon the starns, some bard, descend,
And sing her ev'ry grace,
Whase wond'rous worth may recommend
Her to a god's embrace.

A seraph wad our Aikman paint,
Or draw a lively wit?
The features of a happy saint,
Say, art thou fond to hit?
Or a madona compliment,
With lineaments maist fit?
Fair copies thou need'st never want,
If bright Calista sit.

Mella the heaviest heart can heeze,
And sourest thoughts expel,
Her station grants her rowth and ease,
Yet is the sprightly belle
As active as the eydent bees,
Wha rear the waxen cell;
And place her in what light you please,
She still appears hersell.

Beauties on beauties come in view
Sae thick, that I 'm afraid
I shall not pay to ilk their due,
Till Phaebus lend mair aid:
But this in gen'ral will had true,
And may be safely said,
There 's ay a something shining new
In ilk delicious maid.

Sic as against th' Assembly speak,
The rudest sauls betray,
When matrons, noble, wise, and meek,
Conduct the healthfu' play:
Where they appear, nae vice dare keek,
But to what 's good gives way,
Like night, soon as the morning creek
Has usher'd in the day.

Dear Ed'nburgh shaw thy gratitude,
And of sic friends make sure,
Wha strive to mak our minds less rude,
And help our wants to cure;
Acting a gen'rous part and good,
In bounty to the poor;
Sic virtues, if right understood,
Should ev'ry heart allure.