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

152 FAMOUS SCOTS
like Burns, or Beranger, or Heine, with masterful hand
over the entire gamut of human passions ; that to him
was not given, as to them, the supremely keen insight
into the workings of the human heart, and the magical
witchery of wedding sense to sound so indissolubly, that
alter but a word in the texture of the lines and the
poem is ruined. Yet, in his province, Ramsay was
dowered with a gift but little less notable, that of
portraying so faithfully the natural beauties of his
country, and the special characteristics of his country-
men, that, in a greater degree even than Burns,
were Ramsay's songs only recognised as his, in place
of being ascribed to others,—he has a right to the
proud title of Scotland's national song -writer. Not
for a moment do I seek to place Ramsay on a
pedestal co-equal with Burns — that were an error
worse than folly; not for a moment do I seek to
detract from the transcendent merit of our great
national poet. But though I do not rate Burns
the less, I value Ramsay the more, when I say that,
had there been no Ramsay there might have been
no Burns nor any Fergusson — at least, the genius
of the two last named poets would not have found
an adequate vehicle of expression lying readymade to
their hand. Ramsay it was who virtually rendered
the Scots vernacular a possible medium for the use
of Burns ; and this service, unconsciously rendered
by the lesser genius to the greater, is generously
acknowledged by the latter, who could not but be
aware that, as his own star waxed higher and yet
higher from the horizon line of popularity, that of
his elder rival waned more and more. Therefore his
—