The power of Ramsay's re-mediation of proverbs to question the givens of the status hierarchy with a sharpness not present even in his pastorals can be seen in his sneering reference in the dedication to the paradoxically 'gentle vulgar' who, 'mair nice than wise', itself a proverb appearing in the volume, aim to show their superiority when they ' tartle ' at 'the braidness (or as they Name it) coarse expressions'.

(7) Grete Tartle , Identitate europeam, Bucuresti: Cartea Romaneasca, 2006, p.

TARTLE - Scottish: to hesitate when you are introducing someone whose name you can't quite remember.

tartle (TAR-tul; Scottish; verb): to hesitate in recognizing a person or thing.

Some amang the Gentle vulgar, that are mair nice than wise, may tartle at the Braidness, or, (as they name it) coarse Expressions.