Bonie Peg-a-Ramsay

Versicles of 1795

The Solemn League And Covenant

The Solemn League and Covenant Now brings a smile, now brings a tear; But sacred Freedom, too, was theirs: If thou’rt a slave, indulge thy sneer. Compliments Of John Syme Of Ryedale

Lines sent with a Present of a Dozen of Porter.

O had the malt thy strength of mind, Or hops the flavour of thy wit, ’Twere drink for first of human kind, A gift that e’en for Syme were fit. Jerusalem Tavern, Dumfries.

Inscription On A Goblet

There’s Death in the cup, so beware! Nay, more—there is danger in touching; But who can avoid the fell snare, The man and his wine’s so bewitching!

Apology For Declining An Invitation To Dine

No more of your guests, be they titled or not, And cookery the first in the nation; Who is proof to thy personal converse and wit, Is proof to all other temptation.

Epitaph For Mr. Gabriel Richardson

Here Brewer Gabriel’s fire’s extinct, And empty all his barrels: He’s blest—if, as he brew’d, he drink, In upright, honest morals.

Epigram On Mr. James Gracie

Gracie, thou art a man of worth, O be thou Dean for ever! May he be damned to hell henceforth, Who fauts thy weight or measure!

Cauld is the e’enin blast, O’ Boreas o’er the pool, An’ dawin’ it is dreary, When birks are bare at Yule. Cauld blaws the e’enin blast, When bitter bites the frost, And, in the mirk and dreary drift, The hills and glens are lost: Ne’er sae murky blew the night That drifted o’er the hill, But bonie Peg-a-Ramsay Gat grist to her mill.