Part 8 (2/2)

The second scene introduces a new element into the drama Another shepherd, Bauldy (Archibald) by nay's charms--and it affords an excellent idea of the simplicity of these rural districts in Scotland, when he repairs to a poor old woman named Mause, whom the district reputes to be a witch, to entreat her aid in turning Peggy's heart towards hiy, in his soliloquy, is beautiful in its very si day, Sweeter than gowany glens or nen hay; Blyther than laht that in the forest grows

Her een the clearest blob of dew out-shi+nes, The lily in her breast its beauty tines; Her legs, her arms, her cheeks, her mouth, her een, Will bethe Scottish peasantry, a state of things lasting until well on into last century, is also well brought out in Bauldy's soliloquy, when he refers to Mausy, 'a witch that for sieto read the faithless lover of Neps a lesson, consents to help him The fourth scene of the Second Act is undoubtedly one of the finest in the drareat constituents of a successful piece, strength and pathos, are both present in rich measure To test her lover's fidelity, the ht alter his mind and deceive her if she trusted his hi his fidelity, and that he would be dull and blind

'Gif I could fancy aught's sae sweet and fair As , or worthy of my care

Thy breath is sweeter than the sweetest brier, Thy cheek and breast the finest flowers appear, Thy words excel the h the merle or mavis' throats; With thee I tent nae flowers that busk the field, Or ripest berries that ourupon the tree Are far inferior to a kiss frae thee'

With all a loving woy still affects to doubt, only to be indulged in the delicious bliss of hearing her lover's vows anew--

'Sooner athe bairn sits se shall cease; The gaits to cliht by ;--I swear by all aboon'

In no scene does Rae of the huy and Patie then sing a duet, taking alternate verses, into which are introduced s,--'The Broo the Ewes,'

'Jenny Nettles,' 'Thro' the Wood, Laddie,' 'The Boatie Lauder,' 'The Lass o' Patie's Mill,' and the curtain falls over one of the htful scenes illustrative of pure affection, in modern drama

The Third Act sees the return of Sir Williauise of a wizard, introduces hi at Sy discovery is ere long made that the youth is Sir Williaht had to go into exile on the execution of Charles I The description of the little festivity at Syht out The third scene contains the love-er, where the faithful swain's happiness is rendered cousto Ramsay paints this episode, as well as with consuly apparent when one notes the gy take part, and that wherein Jenny declares her love for Roger The latter scene is ed with rusticity than the former In the fourth scene Sir Williaerly about the progresshis years of absence

Symon praises the youth's devotion to letters, and then hints at his love for Peggy, which Sir Williaotten

The first scene of the Fourth Act relieves, by the introduction of humorous episodes, the sentins of lapsing Mause, Madge, and Bauldy have an interview, at which the two last named come to blows; and when Bauldy has taken hi on the foolish fellow's superstitious fears The rey's anguish when Sir Willia fidelity to each other The scene between the lovers is a very powerful one, wherein Ramsay evinced his sway over the subtler emotions Yet here, as elsewhere, his sith He never attempts to depict any complex interaction of human passions Like aeschylus, he contents himself with the representation of one elehly exhausts the one '_es are there in literature idly within the y, after dwelling on the golden past, tries to picture the dull grey round of duty in the future when Patie shall have been taken frorief; But short, I dare to hope the fond relief

New thoughts a gentler face will soon inspire, That with nice airs swihslaird's nae ain to hear sweet tales expresst By the blyth shepherd that excelled the rest,-- NaeWhen Patie kissed ; Nae mair, alake! we'll on the meadows play, And rin half-breathless round the rucks of hay, As aft-tiht fain, And fa'n on purpose, that I ht be tane'--

But Patie reiterates his vows to her, and Peggy, coentler charh ilka school where I may manners learn' Patie applauds her resolution, but declares that

----'without a' the little helps of art Thy native sweets ain a prince's heart, Yet now, lest in our station we offend, We must learn y's vows of fidelity In this scene Raenius, and for the eleth, and propriety of the sentiments expressed by each character with the root-idea of that character, it is rivalled by very few scenes of its kind in the literature of our land

The first scene of the last Act opens with Bauldy's fright He had gone to fulfil his engagey's heart to hiy's aunt, in the fore part of the day, the latter, to punish hihosts,to Mause's cottage She is draped in a white sheet, and utters ghastly groans Bauldy, having sunk terror-stricken to the ground, is soundly cuffed and trounced by the toht breaks, he seeks an intervieith Sir Willia the night in Symon's house, enters fully into the spirit of the joke, and orders Mause to be brought before hiain, and the fao down to Syy is very sad,--so ued aunt cannot refrain fro!--Look, Jenny, was the like e'er seen?

How bleared and red wi' greetin' look her een!

This day her brankan wooer taks his horse To strut a gentle spark at Edinburgh Cross

But Meg, poor Meg! maun wi' the shepherds stay, And tak what God will send in hodden gray'

To this ill-tiyof reainst being too free with Patie, seeing he could not entle reproach--

'Sir Williaentle blood; And ood?'

Glaud's answer exhibits the simple faith of the rural inhabitants of the district in a striking light--

'That's true and entry mae than he, As they are wiser, better are than we; But thinner sawn: they're sae pufft up wi' pride, There's ate to heav'n I've heard h at doomsday, sin, and hell'