The first scene of the Fourth Act relieves, by the introduction of humorous episodes, the sentimentality whereinto the drama at this stage shows signs of lapsing. Mause, Madge, and Bauldy have an interview, at which the two last named come to blows; and when Bauldy has taken himself off, the two women perfect their plans for playing on the foolish fellow's superstitious fears. The remainder of the Fourth Act deals with Patie's sorrow and Peggy's anguish when Sir William's decision is made known. Of course, they vow everlasting 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 simplicity constitutes his strength. He never attempts to depict any complex interaction of human passions. Like Æschylus, he contents himself with the representation of one elemental emotion at a time, and he thoroughly exhausts the one '_moment_' before he passes on to another. Few passages are there in literature more genuinely pathetic, yet keeping more rigidly within the modesty of nature, than that wherein poor Peggy, after dwelling on the golden past, tries to picture the dull grey round of duty in the future when Patie shall have been taken from her-- 'Speak on, speak ever thus, and still my grief; But short, I dare to hope the fond relief. New thoughts a gentler face will soon inspire, That with nice airs swims round in silk attire; Then I, poor me! with sighs may ban my fate, When the young laird's nae mair my heartsome Pate. Nae mair again to hear sweet tales expresst By the blyth shepherd that excelled the rest,-- Nae mair be envied by the tattling gang When Patie kissed me when I danced or sang; Nae mair, alake! we'll on the meadows play, And rin half-breathless round the rucks of hay, As aft-times I have fled from thee right fain, And fa'n on purpose, that I might be tane.'-- But Patie reiterates his vows to her, and Peggy, comforted, declares she will set herself to learn 'gentler charms, through ilka school where I may manners learn.' Patie applauds her resolution, but declares that ----'without a' the little helps of art Thy native sweets might gain a prince's heart, Yet now, lest in our station we offend, We must learn modes to innocence unken'd.' The scene closes with Peggy's vows of fidelity. In this scene Ramsay touched the high-water mark of his genius, and for the elements of simplicity, strength, 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.