Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Gentle shepherd

t DEDICATION.
tfiat the care of the herald and hittoriar^. ^Tis perfi;--
nal merit, and the heavenly Iweetnefs of the fair, thac
in 1 1 lire the tuneful lays: Here every Lefuia muft be
excepted whole tongues give liberty to the flaves
which their eyes had made captives ; fuch may be flat-
tered : But your Ladyfhipjuftly claims our admira-
l!P)n and profoundeil refpecl ; for whiltl you are pot-
feft or every outward charm in the moil ]ierfe6l degree,
t&€ never-fading beauties of wiidom and piety, which
adorn your Ladyftiip'smind, command devotion.
*' All this is very true," cries one of better fenfe
than goodnature, " but v/li,it occaiion have you to
ceil us the ibn fhines, when we have the ufe of our
eyes, and feel his influence?" — Very true, but I have
c!'e liberty tnule the poet's priviie^;e, which is, '•' To
ip.ral: V, hat every body thinks." Indeed there mi^hc.
be ibme ftrength in the reftedtion, if theldalian regi-
fsers Were of as i>iort duration as life ; but the bard*
■who fondly hopes immortality, has a certain jMaife-
vorfhy pltafure in coinniunicating to pofterity tliej
iame of diitingaifliefl charadlers - — 1 write this latl
feiir.ence with a hand that trembles between hope and
fear: But if i (hall prove fo iiappy as to pleafe your
I,ady(hipin the following attempt, then all mydoubtSi
iliall vaniih like a morning vapour :— I Ihall hope to be
ftlatred with Taffo and Guarini, and fing with Ovid,
" If 'tis allow'd to poets to divine.
One half of round eteniity is mine."
MADAM,
Ytur Ladyfliip's rai^ obedient,
and nioft devoted fervant,
ALLAN RAMSAY.