The Genius of Scotland Part 10

To which, Sir William adds, summing up the whole:

"My friends I'm satisfied you'll all behave, Each in his station as I'd wish or crave.

Be ever virtuous, soon or late you'll find Reward and satisfaction to your mind.

The maze o' life sometimes looks dark and wild; And oft when hopes are highest, we're beguiled.

Oft when we stand on brinks of dark despair, Some happy turn, with joy, dispels our care."

Thus ends the "Gentle Shepherd," which with all its faults, possesses an inimitable charm. In Scotland it is a sort of household poem. Every one, young and old, reads it with delight. Indeed, it is probably the most popular pastoral drama ever written. The common people, in the rural districts of Scotland, know it by heart. The Bible, the Pilgrim's Progress, Robinson Crusoe and "the Gentle Shepherd" are read by them a thousand times more than any other book.

CHAPTER XI.

Biographical Sketch of Allan Ramsay--La.s.swade--Ramble along the banks of the North Esk--Glenesk--A Character--Anecdote of Sir W.

Scott--Hawthornden--Drummond the Poet--His Character and Genius--Sonnets--Chapel and Castle of Roslin--Barons of Roslin--Ballad of Rosabelle--Hunting Match between Robert Bruce and Sir William St. Clair.

Leaving Habbie's Howe, we will let Sandy drive us along the banks of the river, through Auchindinny, Roslin and Hawthornden, to the pretty village of La.s.swade, where we will spend the night. Sandy can take the carriage back to Edinburgh, and to-morrow we will ramble on foot through the cla.s.sic shades of Roslin and Hawthornden, visit Dalkeith and some other places, and return to Edinburgh by the railway. In the meantime I will give you some account of Allan Ramsay.

Allan was born on the 15th of October, 1686, in Crawford Muir, Lanarks.h.i.+re, and died in the city of Edinburgh, in the year 1784. He was at first a wigmaker, and afterwards a bookseller. In 1726 he kept a little bookstore opposite Niddry's Wynd in the city of Edinburgh, whence he removed to another, somewhat more commodious at the east end of the Luckenbooths, having exchanged his old sign of Mercury for the heads of Ben Jonson and Drummond of Hawthornden, whom he greatly admired. His early education was limited. He attended the village school at Leadhills, where, as he himself informs us, he acquired just learning enough to read Horace "faintly in the original." Of a vigorous const.i.tution, and a cheerful temper, he spent his time happily in the country, till his fifteenth year, though his lot seems to have been a hard one.

"Wading through glens wi' chorking feet, Where neither plaid nor kilt could fend[56] the weet; Yet blithely would he bang out o'er the brae, And stend o'er burns as light as ony rae, Hoping the morn[57] might prove a better day."

[Footnote 56: Keep off.]

[Footnote 57: To-morrow.]

He went to Edinburgh, a poor country boy, and gradually made his way to competence, and respectability. Whether he was particularly successful as a wigmaker we are not informed; but he found the trade of bookseller infinitely more congenial. Ensconced behind his counter, he could study, write poetry, chat with his customers, and publish his own lucubrations.

His first princ.i.p.al poem was "Christ's Kirk on the Green," a continuation of King James's poem of the same name, a rough but graphic and humorous picture of rustic revelry. Its indelicacy is rather gross, but it has all the vigor and humor of Hogarth's pictures. His other poems, containing songs, fables, pastorals, complimentary verses (of which he has a very large number,) stories and epistles are quite numerous. They contain a large amount of trash, with here and there some beautiful gems. He is mainly successful in Scottish verse. His imitations of the English poets are rather poor. "_The Vision_" is one of his ablest productions. The Genius of Scotland is painted "with a touch of the old heroic Muse:"

"Great daring darted frae his ee, A braid sword s.h.a.ggled[58] at his knee, On his left arm a targe; A s.h.i.+ning spear filled his right hand, Of stalwart make in bane and brawnd, Of just proportions large; A various rainbow colored plaid Owre his left spaul[59] he threw, Down his braid back, frae his white head The silver wimplers[60] grew.

Amazed, I gazed To see, led at command, A stampant and rampant Fierce lion in his hand."

[Footnote 58: Dangled.]

[Footnote 59: Shoulder.]

[Footnote 60: Ta.s.sels or dangles.]

But his most popular production is the "Gentle Shepherd" which appeared in 1725--and was received with enthusiasm, not only in Scotland, but in England and Ireland. It was much admired by Pope and Gay, the latter of whom, when on a visit to Scotland, with the Duke and d.u.c.h.ess of Queensberry, used to lounge in Allan Ramsay's shop, and obtain from him explanations of the Scottish expressions that he might communicate them to Pope.

Allan uniformly had an eye to the "main chance." He sedulously courted the great, and managed to acc.u.mulate a good many pennies. "In the mingled spirit of prudence and poetry," he contrived

"To theek[61] the out and line the inside Of many a douce and witty pash,[62]

And baith ways gathered in the cash."

[Footnote 61: Thatch.]

[Footnote 62: Head.]

He was foolish enough however to lay out his gains in the erection of a theatre which was prohibited by the magistrates, as an injury to good morals. So that Allan lost his cash and his pains together, and not only so, but his good temper. This exposed him to much obloquy, in part perhaps deserved. He was somewhat Jacobinical in his views, and hated the Presbyterian clergy, who were afraid of him, as "a half papist," and a some what licentious writer. Hence he lampooned them with great severity, in consequence of which he was pretty well lampooned in his turn.

After all Allan was a true poet, and by no means a bad man. He was honest, kind-hearted and cheerful. Some of his poetical strains indicate much elevation and tenderness of spirit.

In personal appearance he was somewhat peculiar. The following amusing description he has given of himself:

"Imprimis, then, for tallness, I Am five foot and four inches high, A black a viced[63] snod dapper fellow, Nor lean, nor overlaid wi' tallow; With phiz of a morocco cut, Resembling a late man of wit, Auld gabbet Spec[64] who was sae cunning, To be a dummie ten years running.

Then for the fabric of my mind, 'Tis mair to mirth than grief inclined: I rather choose to laugh at folly Than show dislike by melancholy; Well judging a sour heavy face Is not the truest mark of grace.

I hate a drunkard or a glutton, Yet I'm nae fae[65] to wine and mutton: Great tables ne'er engaged my wishes When crowded with o'er many dishes; A healthfu' stomach, sharply set, Prefers a back-say,[66] piping het, I never could imagine 't vicious Of a fair fame to be ambitious; Proud to be thought a comic poet, And let a judge of numbers know it, I court occasion thus to show it."

[Footnote 63: Of a dark complexion.]

[Footnote 64: Does this mean Spectator?]

[Footnote 65: Foe.]

[Footnote 66: Sirloin.]

Allan never suffered his poetry to interfere with his business. Indeed he abandoned verse altogether in the latter part of his life, rightly judging that he might not equal his earlier productions, and feeling moreover that other and more serious engagements demanded his attention.

The following epistle to Mr. Smibert, an eminent painter and intimate friend, dated Edinburgh, 10th May, 1736, is highly characteristic;

"MY DEAR OLD FRIEND:--

Your health and happiness are ever _ane_ addition to my satisfaction. G.o.d make your life ever easy and pleasant. Half a century of years have now row'd oe'r my brow, that begins now to be _lyart_;[67] yet thanks to my Author, I eat, drink, and sleep as sound as I did twenty years _syne_;[68] yes, I laugh heartily too, and find as many subjects to employ that faculty upon as ever; fools, fops and knaves, grow as rank as formerly, yet here and there are to be found good and worthy men, who are _ane_ honor to _human_ life. We have small hopes of seeing you again in our world; then let us be virtuous and hope to meet in heaven. My good _auld_ wife is still my bedfellow; my son Allan has been pursuing your science since he was a dozen years _auld_--was with Mr. Hyffidg, at London, for some time, about two years ago--has been since at home, painting here like a Raphael--sets out for the seat of the beast, beyond the Alps, in a month hence--to be away about two years. I'm _sweer_[69] to part with him, but _canna_ stem the current which flows from the advice of his patrons and his own inclination. I have three daughters, one of seventeen, one of sixteen, and one of twelve years of old, and no _rewayled dragle_[70] among them, all fine girls. These six or seven years past I have not written a line of poetry. I e'en gave over in good time, before the coolness of fancy, that attends advanced years, should make me risk the reputation I had acquired.

Frae twenty-five to five and forty, My muse was neither _sweer_[71] nor _dorty_,[72]

My Pegasus wad break her _tether_,[73]

E'en at the _s.h.a.gging_ of a feather; And _throw_[74] ideas scour like _drift_, _Streaking_ his wings up to the lift; Then when my soul was in a low[75]

That gart[76] my numbers safely row;[77]

But _eild_[78] and judgment _gin_[79] to say, Let be your _sangs_ and learn to pray.

I am, Sir, your friend and servant, ALLAN RAMSAY."

[Footnote 67: Wrinkled.]

[Footnote 68: Since.]

[Footnote 69: Loth.]

[Footnote 70: Uncouth sloven.]

[Footnote 71: Reluctant.]

[Footnote 72: Proud or stiff.]

[Footnote 73: Halter.]

[Footnote 74: Through.]