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

CHAPTER XII
Ramsay's miscellaneous poems; conclusion
Our survey is now drawing to a close. To say a word
upon those miscellaneous poems that do not fall naturally
into any convenient category for classification is all that
remains to be done.
Already attention has been called to the poem on
Content^ when its purpose was sketched. Though con-
taining many passages of no little power and beauty, yet
as a whole it is heavy and uninteresting. Written
during the time when the glamour of Pope's influence
was upon Ramsay, it exhibits many of Pope's faults with-
out his redeeming features. True, the characters are
drawn with great vigour and distinctive individuality, but
the trail of dulness lies over it, and Content slumbers,
with James Thomson's chef d'oeitvre on Libe7't)\ on the
top shelf amongst the spiders. The description of the
palace of the goddess Content has, however, often been
praised for its vigorous scene-painting
—
' Amidst the glade the sacred palace stood,
The architecture not so fine as good
Nor scrimp, nor gousty, regular and plain,
Plain were the columns which the roof sustain
An easy greatness in the whole was found,
Where all that nature wanted did abound :
154
;
;