ΤΕΑ-ΤΑBLE MISCELLANY: A COLLECTION O F CHOICE SONGS, SCOTS AND ENGLISH. IN TWO VOLUME S. BY ALLAN RAMSAY. VOLUME the FIRST. EDINBURGH: Printed by and for W. DARLING, Bridge-Street. M. DCC. LXXV. DEDICATIO N. To ilka lovely BRITISH lafs, Frae Ladies Charlotte, Anne and Jean, DEAR LASSES, YOUR most humble slave, Wha ne'er to serve you fhall decline, Kneeling, wad your acceptance crave, When he prefents this fma' propine. Then take it kindly to your care, The wanton wee thing will rejoice, While kettles dringe on ingles dour, Thir fangs may ward you frae the fowr, E'en while the tea's fill'd reeking round, May happiness had up your hearts, ALTHO' it be acknowledged, that our Scots tunes have not lengthened variety of mufic, yet they have an agreeable gaiety and natural sweetness, that make them acceptable wherever they are known, not only among ourselves, but in other countries. They are for the most part fo chearful, that on, hearing them well play'd or fung, we find a difficulty to keep ourfelves 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 confider, that for one that can tolerably entertain with vocal or inftrumental mufic, there are fifty that content themselves with the pleasure of hearing, and finging without the trouble of being taught: now, fuch are not judges of the fine flourishes of new mufic imported from Italy and elfewhere, yet will liften with pleasure to tunes that they know, and can join with in the chorus. Say that our way is only an harmonious fpeaking of merry, witty, or soft thoughts, after the poet has dreffed them in four or five ftanzas ; a:3 |