Allan Ramsay. [A biography.] - National Library of Scotland

ALLAN RAMSAY 135
Patie and Peggy take part, and that wherein Jenny
declares her love for Roger. The latter scene is
more decidedly tinged with rusticity than the former.
In the fourth scene Sir William reveals himself to
Symon, and inquires eagerly about the progress made
by his son during his years of absence. Symon
praises the youth's devotion to letters, and then hints
at his love for Peggy, which Sir William declares must
be forgotten.
The first scene of the Fourth Act relieves, by the
introduction of humorous episodes, the sentimentality
whereinto the drama at this stage shows signs of lapsing.
Mause, Madge, and Bauldy have an interview, at which
the two last named come to blows ; and when Bauldy
has taken himself off, the two women perfect their plans
for playing on the foolish fellow's superstitious fears.
The remainder of the Fourth Act deals with Patie's
sorrow and Peggy's anguish when Sir William's decision
is made known. Of course, they vow everlasting fidelity
to each other. The scene between the lovers is a very
powerful one, wherein Ramsay evinced his sway over
the subtler emotions. Yet here, as elsewhere, his
simplicity constitutes his strength. He never attempts
to depict any complex interaction of human passions.
Like ^schylus, he contents himself with the repre-
sentation of one elemental emotion at a time, and
he thoroughly exhausts the one ' moment ' before he
passes on to another. Few passages are there in
literature more genuinely pathetic, yet keeping more
rigidly within the modesty of nature, than that
wherein poor Peggy, after dwelling on the golden
past, tries to picture the dull grey round of duty