Page images
PDF
EPUB

TEA-TABLE

MISCELLANY:

OR, A

COLLECTION

OF CHOICE

SONGS,

SCOTS and ENGLISH,

In FOUR VOLUME S.

Behold and liften, while the fair
Breaks in fweet founds the willing air;
And with her own breath fans the fire
Which ber bright eyes do firft infpire:
What reafon can that love controul
Which more than one way courts the foul?

E. WALLER.

The ELEVENTH EDITION,
Being the Compleatest and most Correct
of any yet published

By ALLAN RAMSAY.

VOL. I.

LONDON:

Printed for and Sold by A. MILLAR, at Buchanan's
Head, over against Katherine-Street in the
Strand. MDCCL.

ODLEIAN

2) MOV 1928

IBRARY

DEDICATION.

To ilka lovely BRITISH Lafs,
Frae Ladies Charlotte, Anne and Jean,
Down to ilk bonny finging Befs,
Wha dances barefoot on the Green,

DEAR LASSES,

Y

OUR moft humble flave, Wha ne'er to ferve youshall decline, Kneeling, wad 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. A 3

The

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

While kettles dringe on ingles dour,
Or clashes stay the lazy lass;
Thir fangs may ward you frae the fowr,
And gayly 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, January 1, 1724.

A. RAMSAY.

PREFACE.

A

LTHO' it be acknowledged, that our Scots tunes have not lengthened variety of mufick, yet they have an agreeable gaiety and natural fweetness, 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 bearing them well play'd or fung, we find a diffi culty to keep ourselves from dancing. What further adds to the esteem 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 mufick, there are fifty that content themselves with the pleasure of bearing, and finging without the trouble of being taught: Now, fuch are not judges of the fine flourishes of new mufick imported from Italy and elsewhere, yet will A. 4 liften

« PreviousContinue »