DEDICATION.

To ilka lovely BRITISH lass,

Frae Ladies Charlotte, Anne, and Jean, Down to ilk bonny finging Befs,

Wha dances barefoot on the

DEAR LASSES,

Our most humble flave,

YOU

Wha ne'er to ferve you

Kneeling, wad

green.

fhall decline,

your acceptance crave, When he presents this fma' propine.

Then take it kindly to your care,

Revive it with your tunefu' notes: Its beauties will look fweet and fair,. Arifing faftly through your throats.

The wanton wee thing will rejoice,
When tented by a fparkling eye,
The fpinet tinkling with her voice,
It lying on her lovely knee.

While kettles dringe on ingles dour,
Or clashes stay the lazy lafs;
Thir fangs may ward you frae the four,
And gaily vacant minutes pafs.

E'en while the tea's fill'd reeking round,
Rather than plot a tender tongue,

Treat a' the circling lugs wi' found,

>

Syne fafely fip when

ye

have fung.

May happiness had up your hearts, And warm you lang with loving fires: May pow'rs propitious play their parts, In matching you to your defires.

EDINBURGH, Jan. 1.

1724.

A. RAMSAY.

*

PREFACE.

A L

Lthough it be acknowledged, that our Scors tunes have not lengthened variety of mufic, yet they have an agreeable gaiety and natural fweetnefs that make them acceptable where-ever they are known, not only among ourfelves, but in other countries. They are, for the moft part fo chearful, that, on hearing them well played, or fung, we find a difficulty to keep ourselves from dancing. What further adds to the efteem we have for them, is their antiquity, and their being univerfally known. Mankind's love for novelty would appear to contradict this reafon; but will not, when we confi

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