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

138
FAMOUS SCOTS
But thinner sawn : they're sae pufft up wi' pride,
There's mony o' them mocks ilk haly guide
That shows the gate to heav'n. I've heard mysel
Some of them laugh at doomsday, sin, and hell.'
The last scene of the pastoral contains the denouement.
With great artistic skill, so as to avoid wearying the
reader, Ramsay only represents the delivering of the
verdict upon Bauldy's appeal against Mause, the result
being that the former was informed he only got what he
deserved. At this moment, however, Madge, Peggy,
and Jenny enter the room where Sir William was sitting.
On Peggy Sir Williams gazes with interest, but presently
starts with surprise. Her features are those of his long-
dead sister. Eagerly he inquires from Glaud if she be
his daughter. Glaud, after some hesitation, declares her
to be a foundling. At this juncture, however, old Mause
steps forward and unravels the tangled skein. She first
calls on Sir William to say if he does not recall her
features as his own old nurse. Sir William joyfully
recognises her, and then she relates how she had brought
Peggy as a babe thither, to save its life from those who
had usurped its rights after his sister's death. She
declares that Peggy is indeed his own niece, and Patie's
full cousin.
Patie's joy is now complete, and the two lovers, their
prospective union blessed by Sir William, fall into one
another's arms; while the happiness of the shepherds
and rustics is consummated when Sir William, restored
to his possessions, announces his intention never more
to leave them. To Symon and Glaud he assigns their
mailings (farms) in perpetual feu, while Roger is made
his chamberlain. As the curtain then descends over