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

82 FAMOUS SCOTS
Alter them in any degree, even the slightest, and you
destroy the intrinsic character of the composition. ' In
making his compilation from the Bannatyne MSS.,'
continued Lord Hailes, 'Ramsay has omitted some
stanzas and added others, has modernised the versification
and varied the ancient mode of spelling.' To
offend thus was to render himself liable to the severest
censure from all literary antiquarians. The fault was
as inexcusable as would be a trader's in palming off
shoddy goods as those of the best materials. As an
example of the ruthless liberties our poet took with the
text, it may be well to follow Chalmers' example, and
print side by side a stanza of Ramsay's 'paraphrase'
and Lord Hailes' severely accurate rendering of the
opening of Dunbar's ' Thistle and the Rose '
Ramsay.
—
'Quhen Merch with variand winds was overpast,
And sweet Apryle had with his silver showers
Tane leif of Nature with an orient blast,
And lusty May, that mudder is of flowrs,
Had maid the birds begin the tymous hours ;
Amang the tendir odours reid and quhyt,
Quhois harmony to heir was grit delyt.'
Hailes.
'Quhen Merche wes with variand windis past,
And Appryll had with her silver shouris
Tane leif at Nature with ane orient blast.
And lusty May, that mudder is of flouris,
Had maid the birdis to begyn thair houris
Amang the tendir odouris reid and quhyt,
Quhois harmony to heir it wis delyt.'
In Dunbar's ' Lament for the Deth of the Makkaris
he not only varied but added several lines, and these
in the silliest manner possible. For example, at the
'