To the most Beautiful,

THE SCOTS LADIES.

Fair Patronesses,

For your innocent Diversion, and to invite those engaging Smiles which heighten your other Beauties, the most part of my Poems were wrote, having had the Pleasure to be sometimes approv’d by you, which was the Mark I chiefly aim’d at. Allow me then to lay the following Collection at your Feet; accept of it as a grateful Return of every Thought happily express’d by me, they being less owing to my natural Genius, than to the Inspiration of your Charms.

I shall hope to be excus’d, when I drop the common Form, and enter not into a Detail of your Qualities, altho the fairest Field for Panegyrick, but too extensive for a Dedication, and many of them the Subjects which embellish the whole Book.

With Difficulty I curb my self, and decline so delightful a Theme: The ravishing Images crowd upon me ; but I’ll reserve them for Numbers. Prose is too low, and looks affected, when dress’d in the Ornaments of Panegyrick.

Dear Ladies, pardon my Escapes, and honour me always with your indulgent Protection, and allow me ever to be,

May it please your Ladyships,

Your most humble,

Most obedient,

And most faithful

Servant,

Allan Ramsay.

Edinb. 14. July

1721.

THE PREFACE.

Tis some of the least of my Diversions to see one Part of the World laughing at the other, yet all seem fully satisfied with their own Opinions and Abilities; but I shall never quarrel with any Man whose Temper is the reverse of mine, and enters not into the Taste of the same Pleasures. ‘Tis as ridiculous for one to be disobliged at another's different Way of Thinking, as it is to challenge him for having a Nose not of a Shape with his. Every Man is born with a particular Bent, which will discover itself in Spite of all Opposition. Mine is obvious, which since I knew, I never inclined to curb; but rather encouraged my self in the Pursuit, tho many Difficulties lay in my Way.