THE GENTLE SHEPHERD; A SCOTS PASTORAL COMEDY. By ALLAN RAMSAY. The Seventh Edition with the SANGS. GLASGOW, Printed by ROBERT FOULIS, and fold by him there то The Right Honourable, SUSANNA, COUNTESS of EGLINTOUN. MADAM, Tpleate the beff, have ever encouraged HE love of approbation, and a defire to the Poets to finish their defigns with chearfulnefs. But, conscious of their own inability to oppose a storm of fpleen, and haughty ill na ture, it is generally an ingenious cuftom a mongst them to chufe fome honourable shade. WHEREFORE I beg leave to put my Pa ftoral under your Ladyship's protection. If my Patronefs fays, the Shepherds fpeak as they ought, and that there are feveral natural flowers that beautify the rural wild; I fhall have good reason to think myfelf fafe from the aukward cenfure of fome pretending Judges that condemn before Examination, I am fure of vaft numbers that will croud into your Ladyfhip's Opinion, and think it their honour to agree in their fentiments with the Countess of EGLINTOUN, whofe Penetration, fuperior Wit, and found Judgment fhines with an uncommon luftre, while accompanied with the diviner Charms of Goodnefs and Equality of Mind. If it were not for offending only your Ladyship, here, Madam, I might give the fullest liberty to my Mufe to delineate the finest of Women, by drawing your Ladyfhip's CharaEter, and be in no hazard of being deemed a flatterer; fince flattery lies not in paying what is due to Merit, but in praises mifplaced. WERE I to begin with your Ladyship's honourable Birth and Alliance, the field is ample, and prefents us with numberlefs, great and good Patriots, that have dignified the Names of KENNEDY and MONTGOMERY. Be that the care of the Herauld and Hiftorian: 'Tis perfonal Merit, and the heavenly Sweetnefs of the Fair, that infpire the tuneful lays. Here every Lesbia must be excepted, whofe tongues give liberty to the flaves, which their eyes had made captives. Such may be flatter'd; but your Ladyship juftly claims our admiration and profoundest refpect: For whilft you are poffeft of every outward Charm in the most perfect degree, the never-fading Beauties of Wif dom and Piety, which adorn your Ladyship's Mind, command Devotion. ALL this is very true, cries one of better fense than good nature; but what occafion have have you to tell us the Sun fhines, when we have the use of our eyes, and feel his influence? Very true; but I have the liberty to use the Poet's privilege, which is, To Speak what every body thinks. Indeed there might be fome ftrength in the reflexion, if the Idalian regifters were of as fhort duration as life: But the Bard, who fondly hopes immortality, has a certain praife-worthy pleasure, in communicating to Pofterity the fame of diftinguished Characters-I write this laft fentence with a hand that trembles between hope and fear; but if I fhall prove fo happy as to please your Ladyship in the following Attempt, then all my doubts fhall vanifh like a morning vapour; I fhall hope to be claffed with Tafo and Guarini, and fing with Ovid, If 'tis allow'd to Poets to divine, MADAM, Your Ladyship's Moft obedient, And most devoted Servant, ALLAN RAMSAY. A 2 T.Q |