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

CHAPTER VII
'the gentle shepherd'; Scottish idyllic poetry;
Ramsay's pastorals— 1725-30
In the quarto of 1721, not the least remarkable of
its contents had been two Pastoral Dialogues, the
one between Richy (Sir Richard Steele) and Sandy
(Alexander Pope), and based on the death of Addison :
the other between Patie and Roger, and concerning
itself solely with a representation of rural hfe. Amongst
the best pieces in the volume both undoubtedly ranked.
In 1723 appeared another metrical dialogue, y^?/;rj; and
Meggy, betraying obvious kinship with Patie and Roger.
So delighted were his friends, the Clerks and the Bennets,
Professors Drummond and Maclaurin, and many others,
with the vraisembhmce to Scottish rural life, and with
the true rustic flavour present in the two dialogues, that
they entreated him to add some connecting links, and to
expand them into a pastoral drama. Doubtful of his
ability to execute a task demanding powers so varied,
and so supreme, Ramsay for a time hesitated. But at
length, induced by their advice, he threw himself into the
undertaking with enthusiasm. In a letter to his kinsman
William Ramsay of Templehall, dated April 8, 1724, he
writes : " I am this vacation going through with a
Dramatick Pastoral, whilk I design to carry the length of
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