^
 
 AT LOS ANGELES
 
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 \
 
 THE 
 
 CALEDONIAN MUSE: 
 
 A CHRONOLOGICAL SELECTION 
 
 OF 
 
 SCOTISH POETRY 
 
 FROM THE EARLIEST TIMES. 
 
 EDITED BY THE LATE 
 
 JOSEPH RITSON, ESQ. 
 
 WITH VIGNETTES ENGRAVED BY HEATH, 
 AFTER THE DESIGNS OP STOTHARD. 
 
 LONDON: 
 PRINTED 1785: 
 
 AND NOW FIRST PUBLISHED, 
 
 BY ROBERT TRIPHOOK, 23, OLD BOND STREET, 
 
 182L 
 
 • •■*. *.• *• •..' ' 
 
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 am » a I
 
 11. M'Millan, Printer, 
 BoW'Street, Coveut-Gardeo. 
 
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 THE 
 
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 CALEDONIAN MUSE. 
 
 
 PART L 
 
 PEBLIS TO THE PLAY. 
 
 BY KING JAMES I. • 
 
 from the Maitland manufcript, in the Tepyfian library, 
 \Cambridge. 
 
 AT Beltane, qulien ilk bodie bownis 
 To Peblis to the play. 
 
 To heir the fingin and the foundls, 
 
 The folace futh to fay, 
 
 ♦ 5«rn 1393; </yfrfl437. 
 
 V. I. Beltane, or Belteirt, was a great, av.d, crjglnal/y, Celtic, 
 fejll'val, held on the frft of May. 
 
 V. 2. Feblh^ or P(ebki, is the principal tiVin in tte /hire of 
 
 TiveeddaU, 
 
 s 
 
 Be 
 
 *2Hnr^'Ty
 
 » JAMES r. 
 
 Be firth and forreft furth thay found, ^ 
 
 Thay graythit thame full gay, 
 
 God wait ' ihat' wald thai do that Hound, 
 
 For it wes thair feift day, 
 
 Thay fald. 
 Of Peblis to tlie play. I© 
 
 All the wenchis of the wef! 
 
 War vp or the cok crew. 
 
 For reilling thair micht na man reft. 
 
 For garray and for glew, 
 
 Ane faid my curches ar nocht prell ; Ij 
 
 Than anfuerit Meg full blew. 
 
 To get ane hude I hald it beft. 
 
 Be goddis faull that is trew, 
 
 quod fcho. 
 Of Peblis to the play. 2« 
 
 Scho tuik the tippet be the end. 
 
 To lat it hing fcho leit nocht ; 
 
 Quod he, thy bak fall' beir ane bend ; 
 
 In fayth, quod fcho, we meit nocht. 
 
 Scho wes fo gucket and fo gend, »j 
 
 That day ane byt fcho eit nocht ; 
 
 * Than' fpak hir fallowis that hir kend. 
 
 Be Hill, my joy, and greit nocht, 
 
 Now. 
 Of Peblis to the play. 30 
 
 r. 7. yal. Af5. f^.zj. MS,Th&t. 
 
 £ulr
 
 J A M E S I. I 
 
 Euir, allace, than faid fcho. 
 
 Am I nocht cleirlie tynt, 
 
 1 dar nocht cum zon mercat to, 
 
 I am fo ewill fone brint ; 
 
 Amang zon merchandis my erandls do, 35 
 
 Marie I fall anis mynt. 
 
 Stand of far, and keik thaim to. 
 
 As I at hame wes wont, 
 
 Quod fcho. 
 OiF Peblis to the play. ^O 
 
 Hopcalze and Cardronow 
 
 Gaderit out thik fald. 
 
 With hay and how rolumbelow. 
 
 The zoung follis wer full bald 
 
 The • bag pyp' blew, and thai out threw A.e 
 
 Out of the townis vntald; 
 
 Lord ! fic ana fchout wes thame amang, 
 
 Quhen thai wer our the wald, 
 
 Thair weft. 
 • Off Peblis to the play. rg 
 
 Ane zonng man ftert in to that fteid, 
 
 Als cant as ony colt, 
 
 Ane birkin hat vpon his held, 
 
 With ane bow and ane bolt; 
 
 Said, mirrie madinis, think nocht lang, ee 
 
 The vvedder is fair and fmolt. 
 
 He cleikit vp ane hie ruf fang, 
 
 r, 41, Hopcalze and Cardronow are fuf-pofed to bt the nama tfad- 
 
 jaceni •villages, ' 
 
 y^ 45. byg pyk. MS, 
 
 B 2 Thaif
 
 4 J A M E S I. 
 
 Thair fure ane man to the holt. 
 
 Quod he. 
 Of Peblis to tlie play. 60 
 
 Thay had nocht gane half of the gait 
 Quhen the madinis come vpon thame, 
 Ilk ane man gaif his confait, 
 How at thai wald difpone thame : 
 Ane faid, the faireft falHs me, 65 
 
 Tak ze the laif and fone thame. 
 Ane vther faid, wyfe' ane lat be, 
 On Tweddell fyd, and on thame, 
 
 Swythe, 
 Of Pebles to the play. 70 
 
 Than he to ga and fcho to ga 
 
 And never ane bad abyd zow : 
 
 Ane winklot fell, and hir taill vp j^ 
 
 W. . . . , quod Malkin, hyd zow : 
 
 Quhat neidis zow to maik it fua ? 75 
 
 Zon man wul nocht our ryd zow. 
 
 Ar zc our gude, quod fcho, I fay. 
 
 To lat thame gang befyd zow, 
 
 Zonder. 
 Of Peblis to the play. *o 
 
 Than thai come to thetownis end 
 With outtin more delay. 
 He befoir, and fcho befoir, 
 To fe quha wes maift gay. 
 
 f^. 38. The beginning of his Jong,—-^ell knoivn, perhaps, in the 
 ttuthors time. 
 
 V, J A. A word cr two not legible. 
 
 All
 
 "J A M E S I. 5 
 
 All that luikit thame vpon 85 
 
 Leuche fall at thair array ; 
 
 Sum faid that thai wer merkat folk; 
 
 Sum faid the quene of may 
 
 Wes cumit. 
 Of Peblis to the play^ 90 
 
 Than thai to the taverne hous 
 
 With meikle oly prance ; 
 
 Ane fpak with wourdis wonder croufe, 
 
 A done .with ane mifchance. 
 
 Braid vp the burde, he ' bydls,' tyt, 95 
 
 We ar all in ane trance, 
 
 Se that our napre be quhyt. 
 
 For we will dyn aiid daunce, 
 
 Thair out. 
 Of Peblis to the play. 100 
 
 Ay as the gudwyf brocht in, 
 
 Ane fcorit vpon the wauch. 
 
 Ane bad pay, ane vther faid nay, 
 
 Byd quhill we rakin out lauche. 
 
 The gudwyf faid, haue ze na dreid, 105 
 
 Ze fall pay at zo ' auche'. 
 
 Ane zoung man ftert vpon his feit, 
 
 And he began to lauche, 
 
 For heydin. 
 OfF Peblis to the play. 1 10 
 
 y. 95. hydis. MS. V. 106. aucht. MS. 
 
 B 3 Hfl
 
 J A M E S L 
 
 He gat ane truncheair in his hand. 
 
 And he began to compt ; 
 
 Ilk man tua and ane happenie. 
 
 To pay thus we war wounC. 
 
 Ane vther ftert vpon his feit, 115 
 
 And faid, thovv art our blunt 
 
 To ' tak' fic office vponn hand ; 
 
 Be god thovv feruice ane dunt 
 
 Of me. 
 Of Peblis to the play. 12© 
 
 Ane dunt ! quod he, quhat dewill is that ? 
 
 Be god thow dar nocht dud. 
 
 He ftert till ane broggit ftauf, 
 
 Wincheand as he war woode. 
 
 All that hous wes in ane reirde; 125 
 
 Ane cryit, the halie rude ! 
 
 Help ws, lord, vpon this efde, 
 
 That thair be fpiit na blude. 
 
 Heir in. 
 Of Peblis to the play. 1 30 
 
 Thay thrang out at the dure at anis, 
 
 With outtin ony reddin ; 
 
 Gilbert in ane guttar glayde, 
 
 He gat na better beddin. 
 
 Thair wes nocht ane of thame that day 135 
 
 Wald do ane vtheris biddin. 
 
 Thair by lay thre and threttie fum 
 
 Thrumland in ane midding 
 
 Off draff. 
 Of Peblis to the play. 140 
 
 .r. 117. ftak. MS. 
 
 Ane
 
 J A M E S I. f 
 
 Ane cadgear on the merkat gait 
 
 Hard thame bargane begin. 
 
 He gaif ane fchout, his wyfF come out, 
 
 Scantlie fcho micht our hy him. 
 
 He held, fcho drew, for duft that day 14 J 
 
 Micht na man fe ane ftyme. 
 
 To red thame. 
 Of Peblis to the play. 
 
 He ftert to his greit gray meir. 
 
 And of he tumblit the creilis ; 150 
 
 Allace, quod fcho, hald our gud man : 
 
 And on hir kneis fcho knelis. 
 
 Abyd, quod fcho ; \vy nay, quod he ; 
 
 In till his (lirrappis he lap ; 
 
 The girding brak, and he flew of, 155 
 
 And vp llert bayth his heilis. 
 
 At anis. 
 Of Peblis to the play. 
 
 His wyf come out and gaif ane fchout. 
 
 And be the fute fcho gat him, 160 
 
 All be dirtin drew him out. 
 
 Lord god ! richt weill that fat him. 
 
 He faid, quhair is z6n culroun knaif ? 
 
 Quod fcho, I reid ze lat him 
 
 Gang hame his gaitis. Be god, quod lie, 165 
 
 I fall anis haue at him 
 
 Zit. 
 Of Peblis to the play. 
 
 y. I4Z. Tbis line it apparently defcEl'ivt in the mart, and two 
 
 ttl'fnfeem ivanting to amplett the jlaiixa. 
 
 £ 4 Z«
 
 JAMES I. 
 
 Ze fyllt me, fy for fchame, quod fcho, 
 
 Se as ze haue dreft me ; 1 70 
 
 How feill ze, fchir ? As my girdin brak, 
 
 Quhat meikle deuil may left me ; 
 
 I wait [nocht] weill quhat it wes. 
 
 My awin gray meir that keft me. 
 
 Or gif I wes forfochtin faynt, 175 
 
 And fyn lay cfoun to reft me, 
 
 Zonder. 
 Of Peblis to the play. 
 
 Be that the bargan wes all playit, 
 
 The ftringis ftert out of thair nokkis ; 1 80 
 
 Sewin fum that the tulze maid 
 
 Lay gruflingis in the ftokkis. 
 
 Tohne Nikfoun of the Nether 'warde 
 
 Had lever haue giffin ane ox 
 
 Or he had cuming in that cumpanie, 185 
 
 He fwore be Goddis cokkis. 
 
 And mannis bayth. 
 Of Peblis to the play. 
 
 With that Will Swane come fweitand out 
 
 Ane meikle miliar man ; I90 
 
 Gif I fall dance haue doune, lat fe, 
 
 Blaw vp the bagpyp than: 
 
 The fchamons dance I mon begia 
 
 I trow it fall nocht pane. 
 
 So havelie he hochit about, 195 
 
 To fe him, lord ! as thai ran 
 
 That tyd. 
 0/ Peiblis to ihe play. 
 
 Thay
 
 J A M E S I. 9 
 
 Thay gadderit out of the toun, 
 
 And neirar him thai dreuche ; 209 
 
 Anebaid gif the daunfaris rowme, 
 
 Will Swane makis wounder teuche. 
 
 Than all the wenfchis te he thai playit ; 
 
 Bet lord ! as Will Zoung leuche. 
 
 Grande goffip cum hyn zon gaitis, to^ 
 
 For we haue daunfit aneuche, 
 
 At anis. 
 At Peblls at the play. 
 
 Sa ferflie fyr hait wes the day 
 
 His face began to frekill, ZIO 
 
 Than 'i ifte tuik him by the hand, 
 
 Wes new cuming fra the heckill ; 
 
 Allace, quod fcho, quhat fall 1 do ? 
 
 And our doure hes na ftekill. 
 
 And fcho toga as hir taill brynt, »I5 
 
 And all the cairlis to kekill 
 
 ^ At hir. 
 
 Of Peblis to the play. 
 
 * The' pyper faid, now I begin 
 
 To tyre for playing to [zow], f SO 
 
 Bot zi: I haue gottin na thing 
 
 For all my pyping to zow; 
 
 Thre happennis for half ane day. 
 
 And that will nocht vndo zow : 
 
 F. 2H9. Thy. M 
 
 And
 
 lo J A M E S I. 
 
 And glf ze will gif me richt nocht, 225 
 
 ^The meikiil deuill gang with zow, 
 
 Quod he. 
 Of Peblis to the play. 
 
 Ba that the daunfing v/es all done, 
 
 Thair leif tuik les and mair ; 230 
 
 Quhen the vvinklottis and the wavvaris twynnit. 
 
 To fe it wes hart fair. 
 
 Quhat Atkin faid to fayr Ales, 
 
 My bird now will I fayr : 
 
 The dewill a wourde that fcho micht fpt'ik, 235 
 
 Bot fwownit that fweit of fwair, 
 
 For kyndnes. 
 Of Peblis to the play. 
 
 He iippillit lyk ane faderles fole. 
 
 And [faid] be ftill, my fweit thing. 240 
 
 Be the haly rud of Peblis, 
 
 I may nocht reft for greting. 
 
 He quhiffillit and he pypit bayth. 
 
 To mak hir blyth that meiting : 
 
 My hony hart, how fayis the fang ? 245 
 
 Thair fal be mirth at our metiag ' 
 
 Zit. 
 Of Peblis to the play. 
 
 Ee that the fone wes fettand fchaftis. 
 
 And neir done was the day : 250 
 
 Thair men micht heir fchukin of fchaftis, 
 
 Quhen that thai went thair way. 
 
 Had
 
 JAMES I. 
 
 Had thair bein mair made of this fang, 
 
 Mair fuld I to zow fay. 
 
 At Beltane ilka bodie bound 
 
 To Peiblis to the play. 
 
 II 
 
 25s
 
 THE 
 THRISSIL AND THE ROS, E. 
 
 BY WILLIAM DUNBAR.* 
 
 From the edition publijhed by fir David Dalrymple, hart, 
 lord Hailes, after the Hyndford MS. in the Advocates 
 library, Edinburgh, 1770. 
 
 QUHEN Merche wes with variand windis pall. 
 And Appryll had with hir filver (houris 
 Tane leif at nature, with ane orient blaft. 
 And lufiy May, -that muddir is of flouris. 
 Had maid the birdis to begyn thair houris r 
 
 Amang the tendir odouris reid and quhyt, 
 Quhois harmony to heir it wes delyt : 
 
 In bed at morrow, fleiping as I lay, 
 
 Methocht Aurora, with her criflall ene. 
 
 In at the window lukit by the day, I# 
 
 And halfit me, with vifage paile and grene ; 
 
 On quhois hand a lark fang fro the fplene, 
 
 Avvalk luvaris out of your flemering, 
 
 Se how the lufty morrow dois upfpring. 
 
 Methccht frefchc May befoir my bed upftude, 15 
 
 In wcid depaynt of mony diverfe hew. 
 
 Sober, benyng, and full of manfuetude. 
 
 In bright atteir of flouris forgit new, 
 
 Hevlnly of color, quhyt, reid, brown, and blew, 
 
 Balmit in dew, and gilt with Phebus bemys; 20 
 
 Qnhyl all the houfe illumynit of her lemys. 
 
 * Born 14..; dyed I^ ., , This poem was ivricteti on tke nuptials 
 •J Jamct IF. with Mergant, eldeji daughter of Henry VII. in IJ04. 
 
 Slug art.
 
 DUNBAR. 13 
 
 Slagart, fcho faid, awalk annone for fchame, 
 
 And in my honor fumthing thow go wryt; 
 
 The lark hes done the mirry day proclame, 
 
 To rais up luvaris with comfort and delyt ; 25 
 
 Yet nocht increfs thy curage to indyt, 
 
 Quhois hairt fumtyme hes glaid and blifsfull bene, 
 
 Sangis to mak undir the levis grene. 
 
 Quhalrto, quoth T, fall I upryfe at morrow, 
 
 For in this May few birdis herd I fing ; ' 30 
 
 Thay haif moir caufe to weip and plane their forrow; 
 
 Thy air it is nocht holfum nor benyng ; 
 
 Lord Eolus dois in thy feflbne ring: 
 
 So bufteous ar the blaftis of his home, 
 
 Amang thy bewis to walk I haif forborne. 35 
 
 With that this lady.fobirly did fmyll. 
 
 And faid, Uprife, and do thy obfervance. 
 
 Thou did promyt, in Mayis lufty qahyle, 
 
 For to difcryve the Rofe of mod plefance. 
 
 Go fe the birdis how thay fing and dance, 40 
 
 Illumynit our with orient feyis brychr, 
 
 Anamyllit richely with new afur lycht. ' 
 
 Quhen this wes faid, departit fcho this quene, 
 
 And entcrit in a lufty garding gent ; 
 
 And than methocht full heftely befenc, 45 
 
 In ferk and mantill after her I went 
 
 Into this garth moft dulce and redolent, 
 
 Of herb and flour, and tendir plantis fweit. 
 
 And grene levis doing of dew down fleit. 
 
 Th«
 
 14 DUNBAR. 
 
 The purpour Tone, with tendir bemys reld, 50 
 
 In orient bricht as angell did appeir. 
 
 Throw goldin ikyis putting up his heid, 
 
 Quhois gilt treffi's fchone fo wondir cleir. 
 
 That all the world tuke comfort, fer and neir, 
 
 To luke upone his frefche and blifsfull face, 55 
 
 Doing all fable fro the Hevynis chace. 
 
 And as the blifsfull fonene of cherarchy 
 
 The fovvlis fung throw comfort of the licht; 
 
 The burdis did with oppin vocis cry, 
 
 O luvaris fo away throw dully nicht, 60 
 
 And welcum day that comforiis every wicht; 
 
 Hail May, hail Flora, hail Aurora fchene. 
 
 Hail Princes Nature, hail Venus, Luvis quene. 
 
 Dame Nature gaif ane inhibitioun thair 
 
 To fers Neptunus, and Eolus the bauld, 65 
 
 Nocht to perturb the wattir nor the air, „ 
 
 And tliat no fchouris nor blaftis cawld 
 
 EfFray fuld flouris nor fowlis on the fauld : 
 
 Scho bad eik Juno, goddes of the fky. 
 
 That fcho the hevin fuld keip amene and dry. ^o 
 
 Scho ordaind eik that every bird and beift 
 
 Befoir her Hienes fuld annone compeir. 
 
 And every flour of vertew, moll and leift. 
 
 And every herb be feild fer and neir. 
 
 As they had wont in May fro yeir to yelr, 75 
 
 To hir thair makar to mak obediens, 
 
 Full law inclynand with all due reverens. 
 
 With
 
 D U N B A p. i^ 
 
 With that an none fcho fend the fwiyfi ro 
 
 To bring in beiftis of all conditioun ; 
 
 The reftles fwallow commandit fcho alfo io 
 
 To fetch all fouU of fmall and greit renown. 
 
 And to gar flouris compeir of all faffoun ; 
 
 Full craftely conjurit fcho the yarrow, 
 
 Quhilk did forth fwirk as fwift as ony arrow. 
 
 All prefent wer in twynkling of ane ee, 85 
 
 Baith beift, and bird, and flour, befoir the Quene. 
 
 And firll the Lyone, gretaft of degre, 
 
 Was callit thair, and he mofl fair to fene. 
 
 With a full hardy countenance and kei^e, 
 
 Befoir Dame Nature come, and did inclyne, 00 
 
 With vifage bauld, and courage leonyne. 
 
 This awfuU beift full terrible wes of cheir, 
 
 Perfing of luke, and ftout of countenance, 
 
 Ryght flrong of corpes, of faifoun fair, but feir, 
 
 Lufty of fhaip, lycht of deliverance, 9c 
 
 Reid of his cullour, as is the ruby glance. 
 
 In feild of gold he ftude full mychteiy. 
 
 With floure-de-Lycis fircullt luHely. 
 
 This lady liftit up his cluvls cleii*. 
 And leit him liftly lene upone hir kne, ico 
 
 And crownit him with dyademe full deir. 
 Of raydous ftonis, moft ryall for to fe ; 
 Saying, The King of Beillis mak I the. 
 And the cheif protedlor in Vvodds and fchawis, 
 Onto thy leigis go furth, and kei^ the lawis. 105 
 
 Exerce
 
 i6 DUNBAR. 
 
 Exerce juftice with mercy and confciens, 
 
 And lat no fmall belft fuffir fkaith na fcornis 
 
 Of greit beiftis that bene of moir pufience : 
 
 Do law alyk to aipis and unicornis, 
 
 And lat no bowgle with his bulleous hornis I lO 
 
 The meik pluch-ox opprefs, for all his pryd, 
 
 Bot in the yok go peciable him befyd. 
 
 Quhen this was faid, with noyis and foun of joy, 
 
 All kynd of beiftis into tKair degre 
 
 At onis cryit, laud, Fi--ve k Roy, 11^ 
 
 And till his feit fell with humilite ; 
 
 And all thay maid him homege and fewte; 
 
 And he did thame reffaif with princely laitis, 
 
 Quhois noble yre is proteir proftratis. 
 
 Syne crownit fcho the Egle King of Fowlis, 120 
 
 And as fteill dertis fcherpit fcho his pennis. 
 
 And bad him be als juft to awppis and owlis, 
 
 As unto pakokkis, papingais, or crenis. 
 
 And mak a law for wicht fowlis and for wrennis^ 
 
 And lat no fowU of ravyne do efFeray, 125 
 
 Nor birdis devoir bot his awin pray. 
 
 Than callit fcho all fiouris that grew on feild, 
 
 Difcryving all thair faffiouns and ciFeirs ; 
 
 Upon the awfull Thrissill fcho beheld, 
 
 And faw him keipit with a bufche of fpeiris ; 130 
 
 Confidering him fo able for the weiris, 
 
 A radius crown of rubies fcho him gaif, 
 
 And faid, In feild go furth, and fend the laif. 
 
 1 And
 
 DUNBAR. 17 
 
 And fen thou art a King, thou be difcrelr. 
 
 Herb without vertew thow hald nocht of fic pryce 135 
 
 As herb of vertew and of odor fweit ; 
 
 And lat no nettill vyie, and full of vyce, 
 
 Hir fallow to the gudly flour-de-lyce; 
 
 Nor lat no wyld ucid full of churlifhnefs 
 
 Compair her till the lilleis nobilnefs. 140 
 
 Nor hald no udir flour in fic denty 
 
 As the frefche Rose, of cullour reid and quhyt : 
 
 For gif thou dois, hurt is thyne honefty; 
 
 Confiddering tliat no flour is Co perfyt. 
 
 So full of vertew, pkfans, and delyt, 145 
 
 So full of bliGfull angelik bcwty, 
 
 Imperial birth, honour, and dignite. 
 
 Than to the Rose fcho turnit hir vifage, J* 
 
 And faid, O lufty dochtir moft henyng, 
 
 Aboif the iilly, illuflrare of lynage, 1 50 
 
 Fro the ftok ryell ryfing frefche and ying, 
 
 But ony fpot or macull doing fpring. 
 
 Cum blourae of joy with jemmis to be cround, 
 
 For our the laif thy bevvty is renound, 
 
 A coftly crown, with clarefeid flonis bricht, 15 j 
 
 This cumly Quene did on hir heid inclofe, 
 
 Quhyll all the land illumynit of the lycht; 
 
 Quhairfoir methocht the flouris did rejofe, 
 
 Crying, attanis, Haill be thou richeft Rofe, 
 
 Haill hairbis Empryce, haill fefchefl Quene of flouris, 1 60 
 
 To the be glorj' and honour at all houris. 
 
 C ' Thane
 
 i8 DUNBAR. 
 
 Thane all the birdis fong with voce on hicht, 
 Quhois mirthfull foun vves marvellus to heir; 
 The mavys fang, Haill Rofe moft riche and richt, 
 That dois upflureifs under Phebus fpeir! 165 
 
 Haill plant of youth, haill Princes dochtir deir, 
 Haill blofome breking out of the blud royall, 
 Quhois pretius vertevv is imperial. 
 
 The merle fcho fang, Haill Rofe of moft delyt, 
 
 Haill of all fluris quene and foverane. 170 
 
 The lark fcho fang, Haill Rofe both reid arid quhyt, 
 
 Moft pleafand flour, of michty coullours twane. 
 
 The nichtingaill fong, Haill Naturis fuffragene 
 
 In bewty, nurtonr, and every nobilnefs. 
 
 In riche array, renown, and gentilnefs. 17^ 
 
 The common voce upraife of burdis fmall 
 
 Upone this wys, O bliffit be the hour 
 
 That thou wes chofen to be our principal! ; 
 
 Welcome to be our Princes of honour. 
 
 Our perle, our plefans, and our paramour, 180 
 
 Our peace, our play, our plane felicite ; 
 
 Chryft the conferf frome all adverfite. 
 
 Than all the burdis fong with fic a fchout 
 
 That I anone awoilk quhair that I lay. 
 
 And with a braid 1 turnit me about 185 
 
 To fe this court; bot all wer went away; 
 
 Then up I leinyt, halflinges in afFrey, 
 
 And thus I wret as ye haif hard to forrow. 
 
 Of kfty May upone the nynt morrow.
 
 ADVICE TO THE COURTIER. 
 
 B Y QJJ YNTENE SCHA W.* 
 
 Frojn the Maitland manufcript. 
 
 SUPPOIS the courte zow cheir and tretis, 
 And fortoun on zow fchynis and betis, 
 I rid zow than, war lufe, war le; 
 Suppois ze fale betuix twa fcheittis, 
 Utheris hes falit als Weill as ze. f 
 
 GiiF chynges the wynd on force ze mon 
 
 Bolyn huke haik and fchete hale on, 
 
 Thairfoir bewar with ane fcharpe blawar ; 
 
 GifF ze be wys avyfe heiron. 
 
 And fet zour fale a little lawar. 10 
 
 For gif ze hauld zour fale ouir ftrek, 
 
 Thair may cum bubbjs ze not fufpek; 
 
 Thair may cum contrairis ze not knaw; 
 
 Thair may cum ftormes, and cans a lek, 
 
 That ze man cap be wynd and waw. ic 
 
 And thocht the air be fair and ftormles, 
 
 Zit thair hauld not zour fale ouir pros ; 
 
 For of hie landis thair may cum flaggis. 
 
 At Saint Tabbis heid and Buchan nes, 
 
 And ryve zour foirfaill all in raggis. 20 
 
 * Born r . . . ; ^yed IJ . . . Ncthhg of this aMtkcn it elfcwljert 
 to be found in print, 
 
 C 2 Be
 
 20 
 
 S C H A W. 
 
 Be than vexit and at undir, 
 
 Zour freindis will fre and on zou wondir ^ 
 
 Thairfoir bevvar with ouir hie landis. 
 
 Sic flaggis may fall, fuppois a hundir. 
 
 War zow to help thai have no handis. 25 
 
 Dreid this danger, gud freind and brudir, 
 
 And tak exemple befoir of uther ; 
 
 Knaw Courtis and wynd hes oft fys vareit : 
 
 Keip Weill to zour cours, and rewle zour rudir, 
 
 And think with kingis ze ar not mareit. 3a
 
 ROBENE AND MAKYNE. 
 
 BY ROBERT HENRYSONE.* 
 From Lord Haileses edition. 
 
 ROBENE fat on gud grene hill, 
 Keipand a flok of fie, 
 Mirry Makyne faid him till, 
 Robene, thow rew on me; 
 I half the luvit lowd and ftill, 5 
 
 Thir yeiris two or thre j 
 My dulc in dern bot gif thou dill, 
 Doutlefs bot dreid I de. 
 
 Robene anfwerit. Be the rude, 
 
 Na thing of lufe I knaw, 10 
 
 Bot keipis my fchcip undir yone wud, 
 
 Lo quhair thay raik on raw. * 
 Quhat hes marrit the in thy mude, 
 
 Makyne, to me thow fchaw ; 
 Or quhat is luve, or to be lude ? 15 
 
 Faine wald I leir that law. 
 
 At luvis lair gife thow will loir, 
 
 Tak thair ane A, B, C ; 
 Be kynd, courtas, and fair of feir, 
 
 Wyfe, hardy, and fre. 20 
 
 Se that no denger do the deir, 
 
 Quhat dule in dern thow dre; 
 Prcifs the with pane at all poweir. 
 
 Be patient and previe. 
 
 * " Sfbilmc'ijler af DtimfermlineC Born 1 . , . } dyed 15... 
 
 C 3 Roben«t
 
 Z2 H E N R y S O N E. 
 
 Robene anfwerit her agane, 25 
 
 I wait nocht quhat is luve, 
 Bot I haif mervell incertaine, 
 
 Quhat makis the this wanrufe ; 
 The weddir is fair, and I am fane. 
 
 My fcheip gois haill aboif, 30 
 
 And we wald play us in Ais plane, 
 
 Thay wald us bayth reproif. 
 
 Robene, tak tent unto my tail!. 
 
 And wirk all as I reid. 
 And thow fall haif my hairt all haill, 35 
 
 And eik my maidinheid. 
 Sen God fendis bute for baill. 
 
 And for murning remeid, 
 I dern with the ; bot gif I daill, 
 
 Dovvbtles 1 am bot deid. 40 
 
 Makyne, to morne this ilka tyde. 
 
 And ye will meit me heir, 
 Peraventure my fcheip ma gang befyd, 
 
 Quhyll we haif liggit full neir i 
 Bot maugre haif I and I.byd, 45 
 
 Fra they begin to fteir ; 
 Quhat lyis on hairt I will nocht hyd ; 
 
 Makyne, than mak gud cheir. 
 
 Robene, thou reivis me roifs and reft, 
 
 I lufe bot the allone. 50 
 
 Makyne, adew, the fone gois weft, . 
 
 The day is neirhand gone. 
 
 y, -56. this appears, from the Evergreen, to b« the genuine reading. 
 Lord Hailes has taken ihejirangeji liberty ivitb it, 
 
 2 Robene
 
 n E N R Y S O N E. 25 
 
 Robene, In dule I am fo dreft. 
 
 That lufe will be my bone. 
 Galufe, Makyne, quhair evir thou lift, 55 
 
 For leman I lue none. 
 
 Robene, I ftand in fie a ftyle 
 
 I ficht, and that full fair. 
 Makyne, I haif bene heir this quyle. 
 
 At hame God gif I wair. '60 
 
 My hinny Robene, talk ane quhyle, 
 
 GIf thou wilt do na mair. 
 Makyne, fum uthir man begyle, 
 
 For hamewart I will fair. 
 
 Robene on his wayis went, 65 
 
 As licht as leif of tre ; 
 Makyne murnit in her intent> 
 
 And trowd him nevlr to fe. 
 Robene brayd attour the bent ; 
 
 Than Makyne cryit on hie, ^o 
 
 Now ma thow fing, for I am fchent! 
 
 Quhat alls lufe with me ? 
 
 Makyne went hame withouttin faill. 
 
 Full werry eftir cowth weip : 
 Than Robene in a ful-fair dalU 75 
 
 Aflemblit all his fcheip. 
 Be that fum parte of Makynes ail 
 
 Out-throw his hairt cowd creip ; 
 He followit hir faft thair till afl'ai!, 
 
 And till her tiike gude keep. 80 
 
 C 4. Abyd,
 
 34 H E N R Y S O N E. 
 
 Abyd, abyd, thou fair Makyne, 
 
 A word for ony thing ; 
 For all my luve it fall be thyne, 
 
 Withouttin departing. ■ 
 All haiil ! thy hairt for till haif myne, T,^ 
 
 Is all my cuvating; 
 My fcheip to morn, quhill hourls nyne. 
 
 Will neid of no keping. 
 
 Robene, thou hes hard foung and fay, 
 
 In geftis and ftoreis auld, n» 
 
 The man that will not quhen he may. 
 
 Sail haif nocht quhen he wald. 
 I pray to Jefu every day. 
 
 Mot eik thair cairis cauld. 
 That firft preiffis with the to play, 95 
 
 Be firth, forreft, or fawld. 
 
 Makyne, the nicht is foft and dry. 
 
 The wedder is warme and fair. 
 And the grene woud rycht neir us by 
 
 To walk attour all quhair ; 10© 
 
 Thair ma na janglour us efpy. 
 
 That is to lufe contrair ; 
 Thairin, Makyne, bath ye and I, 
 
 Unfene we ma repair. 
 
 Robene, that warld is all away, 105 
 
 And quyt brocht till ane end. 
 And nevir again thereto perfay. 
 
 Sail it be as thou wend ; 
 
 For
 
 * 
 
 t 
 
 HENRYSONE. 
 
 For of my pane thou maide it pl^y. 
 
 And all in vane t fpend : 
 As thou hes done, fa fall I fay, 
 
 Murne on, I think to mend. 
 
 Makyne, the howp of all my hcill. 
 
 My hairt on the is fett. 
 And evir ma to the be leill, 
 
 Quhile I may Icif but lett ; 
 Nevir to faill, as utheris faill, 
 
 Quhat grace that evir I gett. " 
 Robene, with the I will not deill ; 
 
 Adew, for thus we mett. 
 
 Makyne went hame blyth anevvche, 
 
 Attoure the holtis hair; 
 Robene murnit, and Makyne levvche; 
 
 Scho fang, he fichit fair : 
 And fo left him, bayth wo and wreuch. 
 
 In dolour and in cair, 
 Kepand his hird under a huche, 
 
 Amangis the holtis hair. 
 
 no 
 
 115 t 
 
 IZO 
 
 1x5
 
 CHRISTS KIRK ON THE GREEN. 
 
 BY KING JAMES V.* 
 Ftoni the Maitland mantifcript. 
 
 W''AS never in Scotland hard nor fene 
 Sic danfing nor deray, 
 Nother in Falkland on the grene. 
 Nor Peblis to the PJay, 
 
 As was of wowaris, as I vvene, e 
 
 At Chryftis kirk on ane day, 
 Thair come our Kittie, wefching clene. 
 In hir new kirtill of gray, 
 
 Full gay, 
 At Chryftis kirk on the grene. lo 
 
 To dance the damifallis thame dicht. 
 
 And lafTis licht of laittis, 
 
 Thair gluvis war of the raffell richt, 
 
 Thair fchone war of the flraitis, 
 
 Thair kirtillis war of the lincum licht, 
 
 Weill prelt with iriony plaitis, 
 
 Thay war fo nyce quhen men thame nicht, 
 
 Thay fqueild lyk ony gaitis, 
 
 Ful loud. 
 At Chryftis kirk on the grene. 
 
 * Born Ijri; dyedlSA'i- 
 
 V. 3. Falkland in Fife, where the Scotijh kings had a palace. 
 
 V, 6. Cbrljii-klrk it a tozvn near Falkland. 
 
 Off 
 
 '5 
 
 20
 
 JAMES V. 2- 
 
 OiF all thir madlnis mylJ as meid, 
 
 Was nane fa gymp as Gillie, 
 
 As ony rofe hir rude was reid, 
 
 Hir lyre was lyk the lillie ; 
 
 Bot zallow, zallow was hir hcid, 25 
 
 And fche of luif fo fiUie, 
 
 Thocht all hir kin fuld haue bein deid, 
 
 Sche wald haue bot fwdt Willie 
 
 Allane, 
 At Chryftis kirk of the grein. 30 
 
 Sche fcornit Jok and fcrippit at him, "» 
 
 And morgeound him with mokkis. 
 
 He wald haue luffit hir fche wald nocht latTiim 
 
 For all his zallow lokkis ; 
 
 He cherift hir, fcho bad ga chat him, 35 
 
 Sche comptit him nocht twa clokkis. 
 
 So fchamfullie ane fchort goun fat him, 
 
 His lymmis was lyk twa rokkis, 
 
 Sche laid, 
 At Chryftis [kirk on the grcne].* 40 
 
 Stowin come fteppand in with ftcndis. 
 
 No renk mycht him arreft, 
 
 Plat fut he bobbit vp with bendis. 
 
 For Maid he maid requeift j 
 
 He lap quhlU he lay on his lendis, 4^ 
 
 Bot ryfand he was preft, 
 
 Quhill he hoftit at bayth the cndij, 
 
 * His and the preceding JJanxa art Iranspcied in the MS. 
 
 [a
 
 28 J A M E S V. 
 
 In honour of the feill. 
 
 That day. 
 At Chryllis [kirk] on the grein. 50 
 
 Thome Lucar was yair menftrale meit, 
 
 O lord ! gif he culd lance ! 
 
 He playit foTchill, and fang fo fweit, 
 
 Quhill Towfie tuik ane trance ; 
 
 All auld lycht futtis he did forleyt, 55 
 
 And ccunterfutit France, 
 
 He him avyfit as man difcreit, 
 
 And vp the moreis dance, 
 
 'He' tuik. 
 At Chryflis [kirk on the grene], Co 
 
 Than Robene Roy begouth to revell. 
 
 And Dowie to him druggit, 
 
 Lat be, quod Jokke, and callit him gavell. 
 
 And be the taill him tuggit, 
 
 He turnit and cleikit to the cavell, 65 
 
 Bot, lord, than gif thai luggit ! 
 
 Thai partit thair play thane with ane nevell. 
 
 Men wait gif hair wes ruggit 
 
 Betvvene thame. 
 At Chryfds kirk [on the grene.] 70 
 
 Ane bend ane bow, fic rturt couth fteir him. 
 
 Grit fcayth war to haue fcard him, 
 
 He'chefit ane ' flane' as did affeir him. 
 
 The tother faid dirdum dardum. 
 
 Throw bayth the cheikis he thocht to their him, 75 
 
 Or throw the chafcis haue charde him, 
 
 y. 59. Stho. M5. F, 73. flame. MS. 
 
 Bot
 
 J A M E S V. 29 
 
 Bot be ane myle it come nocht neir him, 
 
 I can nocht fay quhat mard him 
 
 Thair, 
 At Chryftis kirk [on the grene]. 80 
 
 With that ane freynd of his cryit fy. 
 
 And vp ane arow drew, 
 
 He forgeit it fo ferflye. 
 
 The bowe in flenders flew ; 
 
 Sa was the will of god trow T, 85 
 
 For had the tre bene trew. 
 
 Men faid, that kend his archerie. 
 
 That he had flane anew 
 
 That day, 
 
 At Chryftis kirk [on the grene]. 90 
 
 Ane haiftie henfour callit Harie, 
 
 Quhilk wes ane archer heynd. 
 
 Tit wp ane takill but ony tarye. 
 
 That turment fo him teynd ; 
 
 I wait nocht quhidder his hand cuid varie, 95 
 
 Or gif the man was his freynd, 
 
 Bot he chapit throw the michtis of Marie, 
 
 As man that na ewill meynd 
 
 That tyme. 
 At Chryftis kirk [on the grene]. 100 
 
 Than Lowrie as ane lyoun lap. 
 And fone ane flane culd fedder, 
 Jle hecht to pers hira at the pape, 
 Thairon to wed ane weddcr, 
 
 Jie hit him on the wambe ane wap, 105 
 
 And
 
 50 JAMES V. 
 
 And it buft lyk ane bledder, 
 But, lo ! as fortoun was and hap, 
 
 His doublat was of ledder, 
 
 And fauft him. 
 At Crhryilis kirk of [the grene], 110 
 
 The * buff* fo bouftuouflie abafit him. 
 
 To the erd he dufchit doun. 
 
 The tother for dreid he preiffit him. 
 
 And fled out of the toun ; 
 
 The wyffis come furth and vp thay paifit him, 1 15 
 
 And fand lyff in the loun, 
 
 And with thre routis [up] thay raifit him. 
 
 And coverit him of fwoune, 
 
 Agane, 
 At Crhyftis kirk [on the grene]. I20 
 
 Ane zaip zoung man that ftude him neift, 
 
 Loufit of ane fchot with ire, 
 
 He etlit the berne ewin in the breift, 
 
 The bout flew our the byre, 
 
 Ane cryit that he had flane ane prcift, 125 
 
 Ane niyle be zond ane myre. 
 
 Than bow and bag fra him he caift. 
 
 And fled als fcrs as fyre 
 
 Of flint. 
 At Chryfiis kirk [on the grene]. 130 
 
 With forkis and flalis thay leit grit flappis. 
 And flang togither with friggis. 
 With bougaris of bnrnis thai birfl blew cappis, 
 Quhill thay of bernis maid briggis : 
 
 F. III. baff. Mv^. 
 
 The
 
 '-?■ 
 
 J A M E S V. 31 
 
 The rerde rais rudlie with the rappis, 135 
 
 Quhen rungis was layd on riggis. 
 
 The wyffis come furth with cryis and clappis, 
 
 Lo quhair my lyking liggis ! 
 
 Quod fcho, 
 At Chryllis kirk [on the grene]. 140 
 
 Thay girnit and leit girdis with granis. 
 
 Ilk goflbp vther grevit, 
 
 Sum ftraikit ftingis, fum gadderit Ilanis, 
 
 Sum fled and ' ewill ' efchewit ; 
 
 The menflrall wan win ' twa' wanis, * 14.5 
 
 That day full weill he previt. 
 
 For he come hame with vnbrifde banis, 
 
 Quhair fechtaris war mifchevit 
 
 For ever. 
 At Chryftis kirk [on the grenej. 150 
 
 Heich Huchoun with ane hiffill ryfs, 
 
 To red can throw thame rummill. 
 
 He mudlit thame down lyk ony myfe. 
 
 He wes na baty bummill ; 
 
 Thocht he web wicht he wes nocht wyfs, 155 
 
 With fie jatouris to geummill. 
 
 For fra his thoume thay dang ane fldyfs, 
 
 Quhill he cryit barlaw fummill, 
 
 Ouris, 
 At Chryftis kirk [on the grene]. 160 
 
 V, 144. weill. "MS. 
 
 V, 145. ane. MS. But within twa wains (according to Ramfay) is 
 the reading of the Kyndford MS. and the ahcration is abfolutcly nccejj'ary 
 to render tije pi'ffage iiUilligiblc, The fiper prffcrvcd bimjclf by ge'.tivg 
 ictiveett two waggons, or carts, _ 
 
 ' Quhen
 
 32 J A M E S V. 
 
 Quhcn that he faw his blude fo reid. 
 
 To fle micht no man lat him. 
 
 He wend it had bene for aid feid. 
 
 The far farar it fat him. 
 
 He gart his feit defend his heid, 165 
 
 He thocht thay cryit haue at him, 
 
 Quhiil he was paft out of all pleid. 
 
 He fuld be fwyft that gat him. 
 
 Throw fpeld. 
 At Chryilis kirk [on the grene]. 170 
 
 The toun foutar in breif was boudln, 
 
 Jlis wyf hang in his waift. 
 
 His body was in blude all browdin, 
 
 He granit lyk cny gaift, 
 
 Hir glitterand hairis that war full goldin, 175 
 
 So hard in luit him laift, 
 
 That for hir faifc he Wa2 vnzolrlin 
 
 Scvin myle quhen he wes chaiil. 
 
 And mair. 
 At Chryilis kirk [on the grene]. 10 
 
 The millai'was of manlie mak. 
 
 To n:eit him was na mowis, 
 
 Thair durft na ten cum him to tak. 
 
 So nobbit he thair nowis ; 
 
 The bufchement haill about him brak, '^*' 185 
 
 And bi'ckert him with bowis, 
 
 Syn tratourlie, behind his bak, 
 
 Ane hewit him on the howis, 
 
 Behind, 
 At Chryflis kirk [on the grene], 190 
 
 T>va 
 
 i
 
 JAMES V; 3j 
 
 Twa that was herdifmen of the herde 
 
 Ran vpone vther lyk rammis. 
 
 Thai forfy freikis richt vneffeird, 
 
 Bet on with barow trammis; 
 
 Bot quhan thair gobbis war bayth rngird, 195 
 
 Thai gat vpon the gammis, 
 
 Quhill bludie barkit was thair berd, 
 
 As thay had worreit lambis, 
 
 Moft lyk, 
 At Chryftis kirk [on the grcne]. 2co 
 
 The wyffis cafl vp ane hiddwous zell, 
 
 Quhen all the zoungkeiris zokkit ; 
 
 Als fers as ony fyr flauchtis fellj 
 
 Freikis to the feild yn flokit; 
 
 Thay cavellis with cliibbis culd vther quellj 205 
 
 Quhill blude at breiltis out bokk'it; 
 
 So riidlie rang the commoan bell, 
 
 Quhill all the fleipill rokkit, 
 
 For rerdci 
 AtChryflis kirk on [the grene]. 210 
 
 Quhen thai had beirit lyk batit bullls> 
 
 And brane wode brynt in balis. 
 
 Thai wox als inait as ony mulis 
 
 * That mangit ar' with malis : 
 
 For fantnes thay forfochtin fulis 2ib 
 
 Fell doun lyk flauchter falis; 
 
 Frefche men com hame, and halit the dulisj 
 
 F. 214. Thai maggit war. MS, 
 V. 21 s- forfochin. MS, 
 
 D An.i
 
 34- J A M E S V. 
 
 And dang thame doun in dalis, 
 
 Bedene, 
 At Chryftis kirk [on the grene], 220 
 
 Quhen all wes done, Die with ane ax 
 
 Come furth to fell ane futher, 
 
 Quod he, quhair ar zon hangit fmaikis, 
 
 Richt now that hurt my brother? 
 
 Hys wyf bad him gang hame, ' Gib' Glaikis, 225 
 
 And fua did Meg his mother, 
 
 He turnit and gaif thame bayth thair paikis. 
 
 For he durft llryk na vther. 
 
 Men faid. 
 
 At Crhryftis kirk on the grene. 230
 
 to HIS HEART. 
 
 BY ALEXANDER SCOTT.* 
 From Lord Haihses edition, 
 
 RETURNE the hamcwart, hairt, agane. 
 And byde quhair thou was wont to bej 
 Thou art ane fule to fufFer pane, 
 For luve of hir that luvis not the: 
 
 My hairt, lat be fic fantefie, 5 
 
 Luve nane bot as thay mak the caufe j 
 And lat her feik ane hairt for the. 
 For feind a crum of the fcho favvis. 
 
 To quhat efFedl fould thou be thrall ? 
 
 But thank fen thou hes thy fre willj lO 
 
 My hairt, be not fa belliall. 
 
 But knaw quha dois the guid or ill : 
 
 Remane with me, and tarry ftill. 
 
 And fe quha playis bell their pawis. 
 
 And lat fillok fling her fill, I^ 
 
 For feind a crum of the fcho fawis. 
 
 Thocht fcho be fair, I will not fenzie, 
 
 Scho is the kind of utheris ma : 
 
 For quhy ? thair is a felon menzie, 
 
 That femis gud, and ar not fa. ao 
 
 * Eorri I . . . ; dytd I . . . . 
 
 D z My
 
 36 
 
 SCOTT. 
 
 My hairt, tak nowdir pane nor wa. 
 For Meg, for Merjory, or yit Mawis, 
 But be thou glaid, and latt hir ga. 
 For feind a crum of the fcho fawis. 
 
 Becaus I find fcho tuk in ill, 
 At her departing thow mak na cair, 
 Bot all begyld ; go quhair fcho will, 
 A fhrew the hairt that mane makis mair. 
 My hairt, be mirry, lait and air. 
 This is the fynall end and claufe, 
 And let her fallow ane filly fair, 
 For feind a crum of the fcho fawis. 
 
 2; 
 
 3»
 
 THE 
 
 CHERRY AND THE SLAE. 
 
 COMPYLT INTO SCOTTIS MEETER. 
 BY CAPTAIN ALEXANDER MONTGOMERY." 
 From " the E'ver green,''* 1724. 
 
 ABOUT an bank with balmy bewis, 
 Quhair nychtingales thair notes renewis. 
 With gallant goldfpinks gay. 
 The mavis, merle, and Progne proud, 
 The lintwhyt, lark, and lavrock loud, 5 
 
 Salutit mirthful May. 
 Quhen Philomel had Aveitly Tung, 
 
 To Progne fcho deplord. 
 How Tereus cut out hir tung. 
 
 And falfly her deflourd ; lO 
 
 Quhilk ftory fo forie 
 To fhaw hir felf fho feimt ; 
 To heir hir, fo neir hir, 
 I doutit if I dreimt. 
 
 * Born 15 . . ; dyed I . . . . Tlusfoem isfeidio have been lorltu 
 tn in 1590. Ramjay tells us that his edition " is taken from two 
 curious old ones, the firji pr-inted by Robert TValgra-ve, the kings 
 printer, in 1597, according to a copy ccrreclcd by the author himjelf, 
 the other by Andro Hart, printed 1615, faid on the title page to bt 
 nttuly altered, perfyted, and divided into II4 quatuorxeims, not long 
 before the author's deaths'' Captain Montgomery -ivas not, as is ge- 
 nerally fuppofed, the inventor of tbii fort of jianz,a. He only irri- 
 tated a more ancient piece, intitJed Thz Banks or Helicon, 
 tuhich is Jiill extant ; hut the " tune" to luhich b^jtb poems appear to 
 twc been originally " J«ng' is urfor'.unately lojl, 
 
 D 3 The 

 
 38 MONTGOMERY. 
 
 The cufhat crouds, the corbie crys, i a 
 
 The coukow couks, the prattling pyes. 
 
 To geek hir they begin ; 
 Thejargoun 'of the jangling jayes. 
 The craiking craws, and keckling kaycs, 
 
 They deavt me with thair din : ' 20 
 
 The painted pawn, with Argos eyis. 
 
 Can on his mayock call, 
 The turtle wails on witherit tries. 
 And Eccho anfwers ■dll, 
 
 Repeting, with greiting, 25 
 
 How fair Narciffus fell. 
 By lying, and fpying 
 His fchadow in the well. 
 
 I faw the hurcheon and the hare. 
 
 In hidlings, hirpling here and thair, 30 
 
 To mak thair morning mange; 
 The con, the cuning, and the cat, 
 Quhais dainty downs with dew were wat, 
 With ftif muftachis ftrange ; 
 ^ The hart, the hynd, the dae, the rae, 35 
 
 t The fulmart and falfe fox; 
 The beardit buck clam up the brae, 
 With birfly bairs and brocks ; 
 Sum feiding, fum dreiding 
 The hunters fubtile fnairs, 4.Q 
 
 With flcipping, and tripping. 
 They playit them all in pairs. 
 
 r. 18. or. FCC. 
 3 The
 
 -MONTGOMERY. 39 
 
 The air was fobir, faft and fweit, 
 Nae mifty vapours, wind nor weit ; 
 
 But quyit, calm and clear ; 45 
 
 To foller Floras fragrant flowris, 
 Quhairon Apollos paramouris 
 
 Had trinklit mony a teir ; 
 The quhilk lyke filver fchaikers Ihynd, 
 
 Embroydering bewties bed ; $0 
 
 Quhairwith their heavy heids declynd. 
 In Mayis collouris cled ; 
 
 Sum knoping, fum droping 
 
 Of balmy liquour fweit. 
 
 Excelling in fmelling, 55 
 
 Throw Phebus hailfum heit. 
 
 PJethocht an heavenlie heartfum thing, 
 Quhair dew lyke diamonds did hing, 
 
 Owre twinkling all the treis. 
 To ftudy on the flurift twills, 60 
 
 Admiring natures alchymills, 
 
 Laborious buffie bies; 
 Quhairof fum fweiteft honie focht, 
 
 To ftay thair ly ves frae fterve ; 
 And fum the waxie vefchells wrocht, 65 
 
 Thair purchafe to preferve ; 
 So helping, for keiping. 
 It in thair hyves they hide; 
 Precifelie, and wyfelie. 
 For winter they provyde. 70 
 
 D 4 To
 
 4a MONTGOMERY, 
 
 To pen the pleafures of that park, 
 How every bloflbfn, branch and bark, 
 
 i^gainft the fun did fhyne, 
 I pafs to poetis to cqmpyle. 
 In hich, heroick, ftaitlie ftyle, ye 
 
 Quhais mufe furmatches myne. 
 But as I lukit niyne alane, 
 
 I faw a river rin, 
 put ovvre a fteipie rock of ftane. 
 
 Syne lichtit in a lin; JJo 
 
 With tumbling, and rumbling, 
 Amang the roches round, 
 Devalling, and falling 
 Into a pit profound. 
 
 Throw rovvting of the river rang 8 c 
 
 The roches, founding lyke a fang, 
 
 Quhair * defcant' did abound j 
 With triple, tenor, counter, mein. 
 And Ecchoe blew a bafe betwene. 
 
 In diapafon found, op 
 
 Set with the C-fol-fa-uth cleif. 
 
 With lang and large at Jill, 
 With quaver, crotchet, femibreif. 
 And not an minum mill: j 
 
 Compleitlie, mair fweitlie, gc 
 
 Scho fiidound flat and fnarp. 
 Nor mufes, that ufes 
 To pin Apollps harp. 
 
 r. 87. Das Kane. R. 
 
 Quh^
 
 MONTGOMERY. 41 
 
 Quha wald haif tyrt to heir that tune, 
 
 Quhilk birds corroborate ay abune, ido 
 
 With lays of luvefum larks, 
 Quhilk dim fae high in chryflal fkys ; 
 Quhyle Cupid vvalkens with the crys 
 
 Of natures chappel clerks: 
 Quha leving all the hevins abuve, 105 
 
 Allichted on the eird; 
 Lo, how that little lord of luve 
 Before me thair appeird, 
 
 Sae myld lyke, and chyld lyk, 
 
 With bow three quarters fcant, no 
 
 Syne moylie, and coylie. 
 
 He lukit lyke ane fant. 
 
 Ane cleinly crifp hang owre his eyis. 
 His quaver by his nakit thyis 
 
 Hang in an filver lace, j I - 
 
 Of gold betwixt his fchoulders grew 
 Twa pretty wings, quhairwich he flew. 
 
 On his left arm ane brace. 
 This god fone afFhis geir he fchuke. 
 
 Upon the graflle grund ; 1 20 
 
 I ran as lichtly for to luke, 
 Quhair ferlies micht be fund: 
 Amafit I gafit 
 To fee his geir fae gayj 
 
 Perfaifing myne haveing, 125 
 
 He countit me his prey. 
 
 Hi*
 
 42 MONTGOMERY. 
 
 His zouth and ftature made me flout. 
 Of doublenefs I had nae doubt. 
 
 Bat boarded with my boy: 
 Quod J, How call they thee, my cjiyld ? 130 
 
 Cupido, fir, quod he, and fmyld, 
 
 Pleafe you me to imploy : 
 for I can ferve you in yov'.r fuite. 
 
 If you pleafe to impyre, 
 With wings to flie, and fchafts to fchute, 135 
 
 Or flamis to fet on fyre. 
 
 Mak choice then of thofe then. 
 
 Or of a thoufand things. 
 
 But crave them, and have, them : 
 
 With that I wowd his wings. 140 
 
 Quhat wald thou gif, my freind, quod he. 
 To half thir wanton wings to flie. 
 
 To fport thy fprit a quhyle ? 
 Or, quhat gif I fuld lend the heir. 
 Bow, quaver, fchafts, and fchuting geir, 145 
 
 Sum body to begyle ? 
 That geir, quod I, cannot be bocht, 
 
 Zit I wald haif it fain. 
 Quhat gif, quod he, it coll thee nocht, 
 , But rendering all again ? 1$^ 
 
 His v/;ngs then he brings then, 
 And band them on my back : 
 Go flie now, quod he now ; 
 And fae my leif I tak. 
 
 I fpran
 
 MONTGOMERY. 43 
 
 I fprang up with Cupidoes wings, jrr 
 
 Quha bow and fchuting geir refigns. 
 
 To lend me for a day : 
 As Icarus with borrowit flicht, 
 I mountit hichar nor I icicht, 
 
 Owre perrilous ane play. 160 
 
 Then furth I drew that double dart 
 
 Quhilk fumtyme fchot his mother, 
 Quhairwitli I hurt my wanton hairl. 
 In hope to hurt ane uther: 
 
 It hurt me, or burnt me, 165 
 
 Quhyle either end I handilJ : 
 Come fe now in me now 
 The butterflie and candill. 
 
 As fcho delyts into the low. 
 
 So was I browdin of my bow, 170 
 
 As ignorant as fcho ; 
 And as fcho flies quhyl fcho be fyrt, 
 Sua with the dart that I defyrt, 
 
 My hand has hurt me to. 
 As fulifh Phaeton be fuit, ,75 
 
 His fathers cart obtaind, 
 Sa langt I in Lufis bow to fchute. 
 Not marking quhat it meind ; 
 Mair wilfull, than flcilfull, 
 To flie I was fae fond, ' 180 
 
 Defyring, afpyring ; 
 And fac was fene upond. 
 
 Too
 
 ^4 MONTGOMERY. 
 
 Too late I ktrew, quha hevvis to hie. 
 The fpail fall fall into his eie. 
 
 Too late I went to the fchuils; igr 
 
 To© late I heard the fwallow preich. 
 Too late experience dois teich. 
 The fchui'-mailier of fuits ; 
 Too late I find the neft I feik, 
 
 Quhen all the birds ar flowin ; ip© 
 
 Too late the ftabil-dore I fteik, 
 Qiihen all the ileids are ftowin ; 
 Too late ay, thair ftate ay, 
 All fulidi folk efpy ; 
 
 Behind fae, they find fae xop 
 
 Rcmeid, and fae do I. 
 
 Gif I had ryplie bene advy/^, 
 I had not rafchly enterpr)-it 
 
 To foir with borrowit penns; 
 Nor zet had feyd the archer-crafr, 
 To fdmte myfell with fik a fchaft. 
 
 As reafon quyte rni&enns. 
 Fiize willfulnefs gaif me my wound, 
 
 I had no force to flie, 
 Then cnrne I grainand to the ground; 20c 
 
 Freind, welcum hame, quod he; 
 
 Qiihair flev,' ze? Quhcme flew ze? 
 
 Or quha brings hame the buitino-? 
 
 1 fe now, quod he now, 
 
 2e hair bene at the fchuting. 210 
 
 As 
 
 200
 
 MONTGOMERY. 4; 
 
 As fkorne cums commonlie with fltaith, 
 Sa I behuift to byde them baith, 
 
 Sae ftakkering was my ftait ; 
 That undir cure I gat fik chek, 
 Quhilk I micht nocht remuif nor nek, 21- 
 
 But eyther ftail or mait: 
 My agony was fae extreme, 
 
 I fwelt and fwound for feir. 
 But or I walkynt of my dreme. 
 
 He fpulzied me of my geir; 220 
 
 With flicht then, on hicht then, 
 Sprang Cupid in the iTiyis, 
 Forzetting, and fetcing 
 At nocht my cairfull cryis. 
 
 Sae lang with ficht I followit him, 22- 
 
 Quhyle baith my dazelit eyis grew him. 
 
 With Hairing on the ftarns, 
 Quhilk flew fae thick befoir my ein, 
 Sum red, fum zellow, blew, fum grene, 
 
 Quhilk trublit all my harns, 230 
 
 That every thing apperit twae 
 
 To my barbulzeit brain ; 
 But lang micht I ly luiking fae, 
 Or Cupid came again ; 
 
 Quhais thundering, with wondering, 
 I hard up throw the air. 
 Throw cluds fo he thuds fo. 
 And flew I wift not qubair. 
 
 Then 
 
 1 ^ -
 
 46 MONTGOMERY. 
 
 Then frae I faw that god was gane^ 
 
 And in a langour left allane, 240 
 
 And fair tormentit to, 
 Sumtyme I ficht, quhyl I was fad, 
 Sumtyme I mufit, and maift gane mad> 
 
 I wift not quhat to do ; 
 Sumtyme I ravit, half in a rage, 245 
 
 As ane into difpair ; 
 To be oppreft with fic a page. 
 Lord, gif my heart was fair! 
 Like Dido, Cupido, 
 
 Iwiddill, and I warie, 25^ 
 
 Quha reft me, and left me, 
 In fic a feirie-farie. 
 
 Then felt I Curage and Defyre 
 Inflame my heart with uncouth fyre, 
 
 To me befoir unknawn : 25^ 
 
 But now nae blude in me remains 
 Unburnt and boyld within my vaines, 
 
 By Luve his bellies blawin ; 
 To quhertch it or I was devorit. 
 
 With fichs I went about ; 260 
 
 But ay the mair I fchupe to fmorit. 
 The baulder it brak out ; 
 
 Ay preifing bot ceifing, 
 
 Quhyl it micht breik the bounds. 
 
 My hew fo furth fchew fo - 265 
 
 The dolour of my wounds. 
 
 With
 
 MONTGOMERY. 47 
 
 With deidly vilage, pail and wan, 
 Mair lyke anatomy than man, 
 
 I widdert clein away; 
 As wax befoir the fyre, I felt 270 
 
 My heart within my bofom melt. 
 
 And peice and peice decay : 
 My veines with brangling Jyk to brek. 
 
 My punfis lap with pith; 
 Sae fervency did me infek, 275 
 
 That I was vext ihairwith : 
 Pvly heart ay did Hart ay. 
 The fyrie flamis to flie ; 
 Ay howping, throw lowping. 
 To leap at libertie. 2B0 
 
 But, O alace ! it was abufit. 
 My cairfull corps keipt it incluift. 
 
 In prefoun of my breift; 
 With fichs fae fowpit and owre-fet, 
 Lyk to ane fifch faft in the net, zT^ 
 
 In deid-thraw undeceift; 
 Quha thccht in vain fcho ftryve by flrenth 
 
 For to pull out hir heid, 
 Quhilk profits naething at the length. 
 
 But haillning to hir deid; 290 
 
 With wriiHng, and thirfting. 
 The fafter flill is fcho ; 
 Thair I fo did ly fo. 
 My death advancing to. 
 
 The
 
 48 MONTGOMERY. 
 
 The mair I wreftlit with the wind, 295 
 
 The falter ilill my fcif I find, 
 
 Nae mirth my mynd micht meifej 
 Mair noy nor I had nevir nane, 
 I was fae altert and owre-gane. 
 
 Throw drowth of my difeife : 300 
 
 Zit weakly, as I micht, 1 raife. 
 My ficht grew dim and dark, 
 I ftakkerit at the windill-ftraes, 
 Nae takin I was ftark ; 
 
 Both fichtles and michtles, 305 
 
 I grew allmaift at ains ; 
 
 In angwifche, I langwifche, 
 
 With mony grievous grains. 
 
 With fober pace I did approche 
 
 Hard to the river and the roche, 310 
 
 Quhairof I fpak befoir : 
 The river fic a murmur maid. 
 As to the fea it faftly flaid. 
 
 The craig hich, ilay and fchoir : 
 Then Pleafure did me fae provok 3I5 
 
 Thair pairtly to repair, 
 Betwixt the river and the rock, 
 Quhair Houp grew with Difpaire : 
 A trie than I fie than. 
 
 Of Cherries on the braes; 320 
 
 Below to I faw to 
 Ane bufs of bitter Slaes, 
 
 The
 
 MONTGOMERY. 49 
 
 The Cherries hang abune my heid, 
 Like tvvynkland rubies round and reid, 
 
 Sae hich up in the hewch ; 325 
 
 Quhais fchaddowis in the river fchew, 
 Als graithly glancing as they grew. 
 On trimbling tvviftis and tevvch ; 
 Quhilk bowed throw burding of thair birth, 
 
 Declyning doun thair toppis ; 23© 
 
 Reflex of Phebus afF the Firth 
 New colourit all their knoppis, 
 With danfing and glaniing, 
 In tyrles dornik champ, 
 
 Quhilk ftreimed and leimed, jj? 
 
 Throw lichtnefs of that lamp. 
 
 With earneft eie, qnhyl I efpy 
 The fruit betwixt me and the (ky, 
 
 Halfgaite almaift to hevin; 
 The craig fae cumberfum to dim, jio 
 
 The trie fae tall of growth, and trim. 
 
 As ony arrow evin ; 
 I calld to mynd, how Daphne did 
 
 Within the laurell fchrink; 
 Quhen from Apollo fcho hir hid, 345 
 
 A thoufand tymes I think : 
 
 That trie thair, to me thair. 
 As he his laurell thocht, 
 Afpyring, bot tyring, 
 
 To get the fruit I focht. 359 
 
 y- 335. ftreinianed. /f, 
 
 E Jo
 
 50 MONTGOMERY. 
 
 To dim the craig it was nae buit. 
 Let be to preifs to pull the fruit. 
 
 In top of all the trie; 
 I faw nae way quhairby to cum, 
 Be ony craft to get it clum, 355 
 
 Appeirandlie to me: 
 The craig was ugly, flay and dreich. 
 
 The trie lang, found and fmall, 
 I was affray d to dim fa hich. 
 
 For feir to fetch a fall ; S^Q 
 
 AfFrayit to fey it, 
 I laikit up on loft, 
 Quhyls minting, quhyls fllnting, 
 My purpofe changit oft. 
 
 Then Drdd, with Danger, and Difpair, 365 
 
 Forbad my Glinting onie mair 
 
 To rax abune my reiche. 
 Quhat, tufche, quod Curage, man, go to ! 
 He is but daft that has to do, 
 
 And fpairs for every fpeiche : 37 ^ 
 
 For I haif aft hard fuith men fay, 
 
 And we may fee curfells, 
 That Fortune helps the hardy ay. 
 And pukrones plain repells ; 
 
 Then feir nocht, nor heir nocht 375 
 
 Dread, Danger, or Difpair, 
 To fazarts, hard hazarts 
 Is deid, or they cum thair. 
 
 Quha
 
 MONTGOMERY. 51 
 
 Quha fpeids, but fic as heich afpyris ? 
 
 QuHa triumphs nocht, but fic as tyres 380 
 
 To win a nobill name ? 
 Of fchrinking quhat but fhame fucceids ? 
 Then do as thou \va!d haif thy deids 
 
 In regiiler of Fame. 
 I put the cais, thou nocht prevaild, 385 
 
 Sae thou with honour die, 
 Thy lyfe, but not thy courage, faild, 
 Sail poets pen of thee : 
 
 Thy name than from fame than 
 
 Sail nevir be cut afF, 300 
 
 Thy graif ay fall haif ay 
 
 That honeft epitaif. 
 
 Quhat can thou loffe, quhen honour lives ? 
 Renown thy vertew ay revives, 
 
 Gif valiauntlie thou end. 305 
 
 Quoth Danger, Huly, freind, tak held, 
 Untymous fpurring fpills the lleid, 
 
 Tak tent quhat ze pretend : 
 Thoch Courage counfcll thee to dim. 
 
 Beware thou kep nae Ikaith ; jqq 
 
 Haif thou nae help but Hope and him. 
 They may begyle thee baith : 
 Thyfell now may tell now 
 The counfell of thae clerks; 
 Quhairthrow zit, f trow zit, 405 
 
 Thy breift dois beir the marks, 
 y. 380. tryes. R. 
 
 ^ * Brunt
 
 52 MONTGOMERY. 
 
 Brunt bairn with fyre the danger dreids, 
 Sa I belief thy bofome bleids. 
 Sen lad: that fyre thou felt : 
 Befyds that, feindle tymes thou feis, 410 
 
 That evir Courage keips the keis 
 
 Of knavvledge at his belt ; 
 Tbocht he bid fordwart with his guns, 
 
 Small powder he provyds : 
 Be not ane novice of that nunnes 415 
 
 That faw not baith the fyds : 
 Fule-haifl: ay, almaift ay, 
 Owre-fails the ucht of fum ; 
 Quha huiks not, nor luiks not 
 Quhat eftirward may cum. 420 
 
 Zit wifdom wifches thee to wey 
 This figure in philofophy, 
 A leffoun worth to leir ; 
 Quhilk is in tyme for to tak tent, 
 And not, quhen tyme is pall, repent, 425 
 
 And buy repentance deir; 
 Is thair r^ae honour eftir lyfe. 
 
 Except thou flay thyfell ? 
 Quhairfoir has Atropos that knyfe ? 
 
 I trow thou can not tell : 430 
 
 Quha bot it wald cut it, 
 Quhilk Clotho fivairs has fpun, 
 Diflroying thy joying, 
 Befoir it be begun ? 
 
 All
 
 MONTGOMERY. 53 
 
 All owres ar repute to be vyce 435 
 
 Owre hich, owre law, owre rafch, owre nyce, 
 
 Owre het, or zit owre cauld ; 
 Thou feims unconftant, be thy ilgns, 
 Thy thocht is on a thoufand things. 
 
 Thou wats not quhat thou wald; 440 
 
 Let Fame hir pitie on the poure, 
 Quhen all thy banes ar brokin ; 
 Yon Slae, fuppc fe thou think it foure. 
 May fitisfie to flokkin 
 
 Thy drouth now of zouth now, 445 
 
 Quhilk drycs thee with def) re : 
 AfTwage than thy rage, man; 
 Foul waiter quenches fyre. 
 
 Quhat fule art thou to die of thrift. 
 
 And now may quench it, gif thou lift, _ acq 
 
 Sae eafylie bor pain ! 
 Mair honour is to vanquifch ane 
 Than feicht with tenfum, and be tane. 
 
 And owther hurt or flaiii. 
 The prattick is to bring to pas, 455 
 
 And not to enteipryfe; 
 And als gude drinking cut of glas, 
 As gold, in ony ways: 
 I levir haif evir 
 
 A foul in h nd or t\vay, 460 
 
 Nor fieand ten flieand 
 About me all the day. 
 
 E 3 Luke
 
 54 MONTGOMERY. 
 
 Luke quhair thou licht befoir thou lowp. 
 And flip na certainty for Howp, 
 
 Qnba gyds thee but begefs. 465 
 
 Quod Courage, Cowards tak nae cure 
 To fit with fchame, fae they be fure } 
 
 I lyke them all the lefs. 
 Quhat plefure purcheft is bot pain, 
 
 Or honour won with eife ? 470 
 
 fie will not ly quhair he is flain, 
 That douttis befoir he dies. 
 For feir then, I heir then 
 But only ane remeid, 
 
 Quhilk latt is, and that is, 475 - 
 
 For to cut afF the heid, 
 
 Quhat is the way to heil thy hurt ? 
 Quhat is the way to ftay thy (lurt ? 
 
 Quhat meins may mak thee merrie? 
 Quhat is the comfort that thou craivs ? 480 
 
 Suppofe thir fophifts thee defaivs. 
 Thou knaws it ,is the Cherrie : 
 Sen for it only thou but thrifts. 
 
 The Slae can be nae buit ; 
 In it alfo thy hekh confifts, 485 
 
 And in nae uther fruit, 
 
 Quhy i.uaiks now, and fchaiks thou, 
 
 And ftudys at our llryfe ? 
 
 Advyfe thee, it lyes thee 
 
 Qn nae lefs than thy lyfe. 49O 
 
 Fi 470. v.'in. R, 
 
 Gif
 
 MONTGOMERY. 55 
 
 Gif any patient wald be panft, 
 Quhy fuld he lowp quhen he is lanft. 
 
 Or fchrink quhen he is fchorn ? 
 Fori haif hard chirurgians fay, 
 Aftymes defFerring af a day 495 
 
 Micht not be mend the morn. 
 Tak tyme in time, dr*tyme Be tint. 
 
 For tyme will not remain ; 
 Quhat forces fyre out of the flint. 
 
 But als hard match again ? 500 
 
 Delay not, and fray not. 
 And thou fall fie it fae; 
 Sic gets ay that fetts ay 
 Stout ftomaks to the brae. 
 
 Thocht all beginnings be maift hard, 505 
 
 The end is plefand afterward, 
 
 Then fchrink not for a fchowre; 
 Frae anes that thou thy greining get. 
 Thy pain and travel is forzet. 
 
 The fweit exceids the foure: 5 10 
 
 Gae to then quicklie, feir not thir. 
 For Hcwp gude hap hes hechti 
 Quod Danger, Be not fudden, fir. 
 The matter is of wecht: 
 
 Firft fpy baith, and try baith, 515 
 
 Advyfement does nane ill j 
 I fay then, ye may then 
 Be willfull quhen ze will. 
 
 E 4, But
 
 56 MONTGOMERY. 
 
 But zit to mynd the proverb call, 
 
 Quha ufes perrils perlfh fall, 520 
 
 Schort quhyle thair lyfe them lafls, 
 And I half hard, quod Howp, that he 
 Sail nevir fchaip to fail the fe, 
 
 That for all perrills carts. 
 How mony throw Difpair are^deid, 525 
 
 That nevir perrills preivt ! 
 How mony alfo, gif thou reid. 
 Of lyves have we releivt ! 
 
 Quha being evin dicing, 
 
 Bot Danger, but difpaird ; 530 
 
 A hunder, I wonder. 
 
 But thou hall hard declalrd. 
 
 Gif we tvva hald not up thy heart, 
 Quhilk is the chcif and noblefl: part, 
 
 Thy wark wald not gang weil, 535 
 
 Confidering thae companions can 
 Difwade a filly fimple man. 
 
 To hafard for his heil. 
 Suppofe they half defavit fum. 
 
 Or they and we micht meit, 5 \o 
 
 They get nae credence quhair we cum, 
 With ony man of fpreit ; 
 
 By reafoun thair treafoun 
 
 Be us is iirft efpyt; 
 
 Revelling thair deiling, ^45 
 
 Quhilk dow not be denyt. 
 
 3 With
 
 MONTGOMERY. 57 
 
 With fleikit fophifms feiming fvveit. 
 As all thair doings war difcreit. 
 
 They wifli thee to be wyfe ; 
 Poftponing tyme frae hour to hour: jjo 
 
 But faith, in underneath the flowr 
 
 The lurking ferpent lyes ; 
 Suppofe thou feis her not a ftyme. 
 
 Till that fcho ftings thy futc; 
 Perfaivs thou nocht quhat precious tyrae 555 
 
 Thy flewthing does owrefchute. 
 AUace, man ! thy cafe, man. 
 In lingring I lament: 
 Go to now, and do now. 
 That Courage be content. eSa 
 
 Quhat gif Melancholy cum in. 
 And get ane grip or thou begin. 
 
 Than is thy labour loft; 
 For he will hald thee hard and faft. 
 Till tyme, and place, and fruit be paft, 565 
 
 And thou give up the ghoft : 
 Then fall be graivd upon the Itane, 
 
 Quhilk on thy graif is laid, 
 Sumtyme thair lived lie a ane ; 
 
 But how fall it be faid ? c j© 
 
 Here lyes now, but pryfe now. 
 Into dilhonours bed, 
 A covvait, as thou art. 
 That iTom his fortune fled. 
 
 Imagyne,
 
 5? MONTGOMERY, 
 
 Imagyne, man, gif thou wer laid 575 
 
 In graif, and fyne niicht heir this faid, 
 
 Wald thou not fweit for fchame ? 
 Yes, faith, I doubt nocht but thou wald ; 
 Thcrefoir, gif thou has ene, behald 
 
 How they wald fmoir thy fame. 580 
 
 Gae to, and mak nae mair excufe. 
 
 Or lyfe and^honour lofe ; 
 
 And outher them or us refufe. 
 
 There is nae uther chofc ; 
 
 Confider, togidder 585 
 
 That we can nevir dwell. 
 At length ay, by ftrenth ay, 
 Tlie pultrones we expell. 
 
 Good Danger, Sen I underftand. 
 
 That counfell can be nae command, 590 
 
 I have nae mair to fay; 
 Except gif that he thocht it good, 
 Tak counfel zit, or ze conclude. 
 
 Of wyfer men nor they; 
 They are but racklefs, zung and rafche, 595 
 
 Soppofe they think us fleid, 
 Gif of our fellowfchip zou fafche. 
 Gang with them hardly beit; 
 
 God fpeid zou, they leid zou 
 
 That has not meikle wit ; 600 
 
 Expell us, zeil tell us 
 
 Heiraftir comes not zit. 
 
 Quhyle
 
 MONTGOMERY. 5^ 
 
 Quliyle Danger and Difpair retyrt. 
 Experience came in and fpeirt 
 
 Quhat all the matter meind: 605 
 
 With him came Reafon, Wit and Skill ; 
 And they began to fpeir at Will, 
 Quhair mak ze to my freind ? 
 To pluck zone lully Cherrie lo. 
 
 Quod he, and quyte the Slae. 610 
 
 Quod they. Is there nae mair ado, 
 Or ze win up the brae, 
 But to it, and do it, 
 Perforce the fruit to pluck ? 
 Weil, brother, fum uther 615 
 
 V/cre better to conduft. 
 
 We grant ze may be gude aneucK ; 
 But zit the hazard of zon heuch, 
 
 Requyris ane graver gyde ; 
 As wyfe as ze are may gae wrang, 620 
 
 Thairfore tak counfaill or ze gang, 
 
 Of fum that Hand bcfyde. 
 But quha war zon three ze forbad 
 
 Zour company richt now? 
 Quod Will, Three prechours to perfwad 625 
 
 The poyfond Slae to pow. 
 
 They trattlit, and prattellit, 
 
 A lang half hour and mair; 
 
 Foul fall them, they call them, 
 
 Dreid, Danger and Difpair. 630 
 
 They
 
 6o MONTGOMERY. 
 
 They are mair fafchious nor of feck, 
 Zon fazards durft not, for thair neck, 
 
 Clim up the craig with us; 
 Frae we determinit to die, 
 Orelfe to clim zon Cherrie trie, 635 
 
 They baid about the bufs. 
 They are conditiond lyk the cat. 
 They wald not weit thair feit. 
 But zit gif ony fifch ze gat. 
 
 They wald be fain to eit. 640 
 
 Thocht they now, I fay now. 
 To hazard haif nae heart, 
 Zit lack we,, and pluck we 
 The fruit, they wald haif part. 
 
 But frae we get our voyage wun, 645 
 
 They fall not than a Cherrie cun. 
 
 That wald not enterpryfe. 
 Weil, quod Experience, ze boift ; 
 But he that counts without his oift^ 
 
 He aftentymes counts twyfe. 650 
 
 Ze fell the beirs (kin on his back. 
 
 But byde quhyle ze it get : 
 Qahen ze have done its tyme to crack, 
 Ze fifch befoir the net. 
 
 Quhat haift, fir, ze taift, fir, 655 
 
 The Cherry or ze pou it ; 
 Bewar zir, ze ar zit 
 Mair talkative not trowit. 
 
 Call
 
 MONTGOMERY. 61 
 
 Call Danger back again, quod Skill, 
 
 To fe quhat he can fay to Will ; 660 
 
 We fee him fchod fae ftrait: 
 We may nocht trow quTiat ilk anc tells. 
 Quod Courage, We concludit ells. 
 
 He fervis not for cur mait ; 
 For I can tell zou all perqueir, 665 
 
 His counfail or he cumc. 
 Quod Will, Quhairto foud he cum heir? 
 He cannot hald him dum : 
 
 He fpeiks ay, and feiks ay 
 
 Delay of tyme be drifts, 670 
 
 He grievis us, and deivs us. 
 
 With fophiftries and fchifti. 
 
 Quod Reafoun, Quhy was he debard ? 
 The tale is ill may not be hard ; 
 
 Zet let us heir him anis. 675 
 
 Then Danger to declair began. 
 How Hope and Courage took the man, 
 
 IT) leid him all thair lains. 
 For they wald haif him up the hill, 
 
 Bot owtlicr flap or flay ; 6io 
 
 And quha was welcomer than Will, 
 He vvald be formoft ay ; 
 
 He could do, and fould do, 
 
 Quha evir wald or nocht; 
 
 Sic fpeiding proceiding. 685 
 
 UnJyklie was I thocht. 
 
 y. 663. huldiiiihimduQi. R, 
 
 Thaix.<br
 
 6i MONTGOMERY. 
 
 Thairfor I wifht them to bewar. 
 And rafhly not to run owre far, 
 
 Without fie gyds as ze. 
 Quod Courage, Freind, I heir zou fail, 6gci 
 
 Tak bettir tent unto zour tale, 
 
 Ze faid it could not be ; 
 Befydls that ze wald not confent. 
 
 That evir we fuld dim. 
 Quod Will, For my pairt I repent 69 j 
 
 We faw them mair than him : 
 For they are the rtayer 
 Of us, as weil as he ; 
 I think now they fchrink now. 
 Go forwart, let them be. 700 
 
 Go, go, we naithing do but gucks, 
 They fay, the voyage nevir luks 
 
 Quhair ilk ane has a vote. 
 Quod Wifdom, gravely, Sir, I grant. 
 We were nae vvarfe zour vote to want, 705 
 
 Sum fentance heir I note : 
 Suppofe ze fpeak it but begefs, 
 
 Sume fruit thairin I fynd ; 
 Ze wald be forward I confefs. 
 
 And cums aftymis behynd. 71a 
 
 It may be, that they be 
 Defavit that nevir doutit : 
 Indeid, fir, that heid, fir. 
 Has mekle wit about it. 
 
 Then
 
 MONTGOMERY. 63 
 
 Then willful Will began to rage, 715 
 
 And fware, he faw naithing in age. 
 
 But anger, yre, and grudgfc ; 
 And for my fell, quod he, I fweir 
 To quit all my companzions heir, 
 
 Gif they admit zou judge. 720 
 
 Experience is grown fae auld. 
 
 That he begins to rave ; 
 The laif, but Courage, are fae cauld, 
 Nae hazarding they haif : 
 
 For Danger, far ftranger yxj 
 
 Hath made them than they war; 
 Gae frae then, we pray then. 
 That nowther dow nor dar. 
 
 Quhy may not thefe three leid this ane ? 
 
 I led an hunder myne alane, 23^ 
 
 Bot counfil of them all. 
 J grant, quod Wifdom, ze haif led. 
 But I wald fpeir how mony fped. 
 
 Or furdert bot a fall : 
 But owther few, or nane I trow, y^c 
 
 Experience can tell ; 
 He fays the man may wyte but zou. 
 The firit tyme that he fell ; 
 
 He kens then, quhais penns then. 
 
 Thou borrowit him to flee; yj.^ 
 
 His wounds zet, that Hounds zet. 
 
 He gat them then throu thee. 
 
 That
 
 64 MONTGOMERY. 
 
 That, quod Experience, istrew; 
 Will flatterit him, quhen firft he flew. 
 
 Will fet him in a low ; 745 
 
 Will was his counfell and convoy. 
 To borrow frae the blindit boy, 
 
 Baith quaver, wings, and bow : 
 Quhairwith before he feyd to fhute. 
 
 He nowther zleld to zouth, 750 
 
 Nor zet had neid of ony fruit. 
 To quench his deidlie drouth ; 
 
 Quhilk pyns him, and dwyns him 
 
 To deid, I wate not how : 
 
 Gif Will then did ill then, 755 
 
 Himfelf remembers now. 
 
 For I Experience was thair, 
 Lyke as I ufe to be all quhair, 
 Quhat tyme he wytit Will, 
 To be the grund of all his greif ; 760 
 
 As I my felf can be a preif. 
 
 And witnefs thairuntil ; 
 Thair are nae bounds but I half bene. 
 
 Nor hidlings frae me hid. 
 Nor fecret things but I haif fene, 765 
 
 That he or ony did. 
 
 Thairfoir now no moir now 
 
 Let him think to conceild; 
 
 For quhy now, even I now 
 
 Am det bound to reveild. 770
 
 MONTGOMERY. 65 
 
 My cuftotne is for to declair 
 
 The truth, and nowther eik nor pare. 
 
 For ony man, a jot : 
 Gif wilful Will delyts in leis, 
 Example in thy felf thou feis, 775 
 
 How he can turn his coatj 
 And with his language wald alure 
 
 Thee zet to brek thy bains: 
 Thou knaws thy felf, gif he ' be' fure, 
 
 Thou ufd his counfell anes : 780 
 
 Quha wald zet be bauld zet. 
 To wrak thee, war not we. 
 Think on now of zon now. 
 Quod Wifdom then to me. 
 
 Weil, quod Experience, gif he 785 
 
 Submits himfelf to you and me, 
 
 I ware quhat I fould fay; 
 Our gude advyfe he fall not want, 
 Provyding always that he grant 
 
 To put zon Will away ; 790 
 
 And banifch baith him and Difpair, 
 
 That all gude purpofe fpills ; 
 Sae he will mell with tliem nae mair, 
 Let them twa flyte thair fills: 
 
 Sic coining, bot loffing, ygr 
 
 All honeft men may ufe. 
 That change now were flrange now. 
 Quod Reafon, to refufe. 
 
 y. 779. was. R. 
 
 F Quod
 
 66 MONTGOMERY. 
 
 Quod Will, Fy on him, quhen he flew. 
 
 That poud not Cherries then anew, 80O 
 
 For to half ftayd his fturt. 
 Quod Reafon, Thccht he bear the blame, 
 He nowlher faw nor neidit them. 
 
 Till he himfelf had hurt. 
 Firft, quhen he miftert not, he micht ; 805 
 
 He neids, and may [not], now: 
 Thy foly, quhen he had his flicht, 
 Empafhed him to pow. 
 
 Baith he now and we now 
 
 Peifaive thy purpofe plain, 810 
 
 To turn him, and burn him, 
 
 And blaw on him again. 
 
 Quod Skill, Quhy fuld we langer ftryve? 
 Far better late than never thryve. 
 
 Cum let us help him zit: 815 
 
 Tint tyme we may not get aeain. 
 We waft but prefent tyme in vain. 
 
 Beware with that, quod Wit ; 
 Speik on. Experience, lets fe, 
 
 We think ze hald ze dum. 820 
 
 Of byganes I half hard, quod he, 
 I knaw not things to cum. 
 
 Quod Reafon, The feafon 
 
 With flowthing 11yds away : 
 
 Firft tak him, and mak him 825 
 
 A man, gif that ze may. 
 
 Qood
 
 MONTGOMERY. 67 
 
 Quod Will, Gif he be not a man, 
 I pray zou, firs, quha: is he than ? 
 
 He lukes lyke ane at leift. 
 Quod Reafon, Gif he follow thee, 830 
 
 And mynd not to remain with me, 
 
 Nocht but a brutal beift : 
 A man in fchape doth not confilt, 
 
 For all zour taunting tales j 
 Thairfoir, fr Will, I wald ze wift 835 
 
 Zour metaphyfick fails. 
 Gae leir zit a zeir zit, 
 Zour logick at the fchulis; 
 Sum day then, ze may then 
 Pafs mafler with the mulis. 840 
 
 Quod Will, I marvell quhat ze mein j 
 Suld not I trow my ain twa een, 
 
 For all zour logick fchulis ? 
 If I did not, I war not wyfe. 
 Quod Reafon, I haif tald zou thryfe, 845 
 
 Nane ferlies mair than fulis : 
 Thair be mae fences than the ficht, 
 
 Quhilk ze owre-hale for hafte. 
 To wit, gif ze remember richt. 
 
 Smell, heiring, touch, and tafte : 850 
 
 All quick things haif fic things, 
 I mein baith man and beill ; 
 By kynd then we fynd then 
 Few laks them in the leift. 
 
 F z Sae
 
 68 MONTGOMERY. 
 
 Sae be that confequens of thyne, 855 
 
 Or fyllogifm faid lyke a fwine, 
 A cow may teach thee lair ; 
 Thou ufes only but thyne eies, 
 Scho touches, taftes, fmells, heirs, and feis, 
 
 Quhilk matches thee and mair. 86p 
 
 But fince to triumph ze intend, 
 
 As prefently appeirs, 
 Sir, for zour clergie to be kend, 
 Tak ze twa affes eirs ; 
 
 Nae myter perfyter 865 
 
 Gat Midas for his meid ; 
 That hude, fir, is gude, fir. 
 To hap zour brain-fick heid. 
 
 Ze haif nae feil for to defyne, 
 
 Thoch ze haif cunning to declyne 870 
 
 A man to be a mule : 
 With little wark zit ze may vowd, 
 To gro\v a galant horfe and gude. 
 
 To ryde thairon at Zule. 
 But to our ground quhair we began ; 875 
 
 For all zour guftlefs jefts, 
 I mult be matter to the man. 
 But thou to biutall beifts. 
 
 Sae we twae maun be twae. 
 
 To caufe baith kynds be knawn j 880 
 
 Keip thyne then frae myne then. 
 
 And ilk ane ufe thair avvin. 
 
 Then
 
 MONTGOMERY.' 69 
 
 Then Will, as angrie as an ape. 
 
 Ran ramping, fweiring, rude and rape. 
 
 Saw he none other fchift ; 885 
 
 He wald not want ane inch of will, 
 Quhither it did him gude or ill, 
 
 For thirty of his thrift : 
 He wald be formoift in the feild. 
 
 And n aifler, gif be micht ; 890 
 
 Yea he fuld rather die than zield, 
 Though Reafon had the richt. 
 Shall he now mak me now 
 His fubjeft or his flaif ? 
 
 Na, rather my father 895 
 
 Shall quick gang to his graif. 
 
 I hecht him, quhyle my heart is heal. 
 To perifch firft or he prevail, 
 
 Cum after quhat fo may. 
 Quod Reafon, Dout ze not indeed, 900 
 
 Ze hit the nail upon the heid. 
 
 It fall be as ze fay. 
 Suppofe ze fpur for to afpyre, 
 
 Zour brydle wants a bit; 
 That meir may leif zou in the myre, 905 
 
 As ficker as ze fit : 
 
 Zour fentance repentance 
 
 Sail learn zou, 1 believe, 
 
 And anger zou langer, 
 
 <^hen ze that pratick pricve. 910 
 
 F 3 As
 
 7© MONTGOMERY. 
 
 As ze half dyted zour decreit, 
 Zour prophefie to be complete. 
 
 Perhaps, and to zour pains. 
 It has bein faid, and may be fae, 
 A wiJfull man wants nevir wae, 915 
 
 Thocht he gets litle gains. 
 But fen ze think it eafy thiog 
 To mount aboif the mune, 
 Of zour awin fidle tak a fpring. 
 
 And daurfce quhen ze haif done : §20 
 
 If than, fir, the man, fir, 
 Lykes of zour mirth, he may ; 
 But fpeir firft, and heir firft, 
 Quhat he himfell will fay. 
 
 Then all togither they began, 92J 
 
 To fay. Cum on, thou martyrit man, 
 
 Quhat is thy will, advyfe? 
 Abaifd a bony quhyle I baid. 
 And mufd or I my anfwer maid, 
 
 I turnd me anes or tvvyfe, 930 
 
 Behalding ilky ane r.ttou.t, 
 
 Quhils motioiis muvit me maill. 
 Sum feimd alTurd, fum dred for dout. 
 Will ran reid-wod for haifl: : 
 
 With wringing and flinging, 935 
 
 For madiiej's lyke to mang; 
 Dii'ijair tc, for care to, 
 Wald neids himfell gae hang. 
 
 Quhilk
 
 ' MONTGOMERY. 71 
 
 Quhilk quhen Experience perfavit. 
 
 Quod he. Remember gif we ravit, 940 
 
 As Will alledgtof lait; 
 Quhen that he fware he naething faw. 
 In age, but anger, flak and flaw. 
 
 And cankert of confait : 
 Ze could not luck, as he aledgt, 945 
 
 That all opinioni fpeirt ; 
 He was fae frak, and fyrie edgt, 
 He thocht us four but feirt: 
 
 Quha panfis, quhat chanfis, 
 
 Quod he, nae worfchip wins, 950 
 
 To fum bcfl fall cum beft. 
 
 That hap vveil rak well rlns. 
 
 Zit quod Experience, behald, 
 For all the tales that he has tald. 
 
 How he himfell behaifs ; 955 
 
 Becaufe Difpair could not cum fpeid, 
 Lo quhair he hangs all but the heid, 
 
 And in a widdie waifs : 
 ^if zou be fare anes thou may fe. 
 
 To men that with them mells, 960 
 
 Gif they had hurt or helpit thee, 
 Confidder be themfells. 
 
 Then chufe thee, to ufc thee 
 
 By us, or lie as zone ; 
 
 Say fone now, haif done now, 965 
 
 Make owther aff or on. 
 
 F 4 Perfaves
 
 72 MONTGOMERY. 
 
 Perfaves thou not, quhairfrae proceids 
 That frantick fantafie that feids 
 
 Thy furious flaming fyre; 
 Quhilk dois thy bailfull breift combuir, 970 
 
 That nane but we, quod they, can cuir, 
 
 Or help thy hearts dif-re? 
 The perfing paffion of thy fpreit, 
 
 That waifts thy vital breath. 
 Has holit thy heavy heart with heit, 975 
 
 Defyre draws on thy death. 
 Thy puncis renourcis 
 All kynd. of quiet reft ; ■ 
 That fever has ever 
 Thy perfon fae oppreft. 980 
 
 Coud thou cum anes acquaint with Skill, 
 He kens quhat humors dois the ill. 
 
 And how thy cair contracks ; 
 He knaws the ground of all thy greife, 
 And recipies for thy releife, 985 
 
 All medicines he maks. 
 Cum on, quod Skill, content am I 
 
 To put my helping hand, 
 Providing allways he apply 
 
 To counfell and command. g<^Q 
 
 Quhyle we than, quod he than, 
 Ar mindit to remain, 
 Gife place now, in cafe now 
 Thou get us not again. 
 
 Aflurc
 
 MONTGOMERY. 73 
 
 Affure thyfell, gif that we fched, 995 
 
 Thou fall not get thy purpofe fped, 
 
 Tak tent, we half thee tald ; 
 Half done, and dryve not afF the day, 
 The man that will not quhen he may, 
 
 He fall not quhen he wald. looo 
 
 Quhat wald thou do ? I wald we will ; 
 
 Accept, or gife us owre. 
 Qood I, I think me mair than blift 
 To find fic famous four 
 
 Befyde me, to gyde me, 1005 
 
 Now quhen I haif to do, 
 Confiddering the fwiddering 
 Ze fand me firll into. 
 
 Quhen Courage craift, a ftamok flout, 
 
 And Danger draif me into dout, xoio 
 
 With his companzion Dreid ; 
 Quhyls Will wald up aboif the air, 
 Quhyls I was dround in deip difpair, 
 
 Quhyls Hope held up my heid : 
 Sic pithy refouns and replys, 1015 
 
 On ilka fyde, they fchew. 
 That I, quha was not verie wyfe, 
 Thocht all thair tales vver trew; 
 Sae mony and bony 
 
 Auld problemes they propond, 1020 
 
 Baith quicklie and liklie, 
 I marveld meikle ond. 
 
 Zit
 
 74 MONTGOMERY. 
 
 Zit Hope and Courage wan the feild, 
 Tbocht Dreid and Danger neir wald yeild. 
 
 But fled to find refuge : 1025 
 
 S\va, fra zog four met, they wer fain, 
 Eecaufe ze gart us cum again. 
 They greind to get ze juge. 
 Quhair they wer fugitive befoir. 
 
 Zoo maid them frank and fre ' 1030 
 
 To fpeik, and Hand in aw nae moir. 
 Quod Reafon, Swa fuld be: 
 
 Aft tymes now, hot crymes now. 
 
 But even per force it fails; 
 
 The ftrang^ ay, with wrang ay, 1035 
 
 Put weaker to the walls. 
 
 Quhilk is a fault ze maun confcfs. 
 Strength is not ordaind to opprefs 
 
 With rigour, bye the richt; 
 Bat, on the contrair, to fuftein 1040 
 
 The waik-ancs, that owreburdent bein, 
 
 Als mekle as they micht. 
 Sae Hope and Courage did, quod I, 
 
 Experimented lyke, 
 Schaw fkilld and pithie refouns quhy, 1045 
 
 That Danger lap the dyke. 
 
 Quod Dreid, Sir, tak heid, fir, 
 
 Lang fpeiking part maun fpiU ; 
 
 Iniift not, ze wift not, 
 
 We went againft our will. TO^o 
 
 With
 
 MONTGOMERY. 75 
 
 With Courage ze wer fae content, 
 Ze nevir focht our fmall confent. 
 
 Of us ze ftude nae aw; * 
 
 Thair logick lefTons ze allowt, 
 Ze wer determined to trowit, locr 
 
 Alledgence pad for law. 
 For all the proverbs we perufd, 
 
 Ze thocht them flcantly fkilld; 
 Our reafons had bein als weil rufd. 
 
 Had ze bein as weil willd I060 
 
 Till our fyde, as zour fyde, 
 Sae treWIie I may term ir, 
 V/e fee now in thee now 
 AlTeftion dois affirm it. 
 
 Experience then fmyrkling fmyld, 106'- 
 
 We are nae bairns to be begyld, 
 
 Quod he, and fchuke his heid ; 
 For authors quha alledges us, 
 They wald not gae about the bufs 
 
 To fofler deidlie feid : 
 For we ar equall for ze all, 
 
 Nae perlbn we refpeft ; 
 We haif bene fae, ar zit, and fall 
 Be found fae in effecl. 
 
 Gif we wer as ze wer, I07S 
 
 We had cum unrequyrd; 
 But we now, ze ft-e now. 
 Do naithing undefyrd. 
 
 Thair 
 
 1070
 
 76 MONTGOMERY. 
 
 Thair is a fentence faid be fum. 
 
 Let nane uncalld to counfell cum, lo8o 
 
 That welcum weins to be ; 
 Zea, I haif hard anither zrt, 
 Qoha cum uncallt unfervd fuld fit. 
 
 Perhaps, fir, fae may ze. 
 Gude man, gramercy for your geek, 1085 
 
 Quod Hope, and lawly louts ; 
 Gif ze wer feiit for, we fufpedl, 
 
 Becaufe the doftour douts: . . 
 
 Zour yeirs now appeirs now 
 With wifdom to be vext, 1090 
 
 Rejoycing in gloffing. 
 Till ze haif tint zour text. 
 
 Quhair ze wer fent for, let us fe, 
 Quha wald be welcomer than we. 
 
 Prove that, and we ar payd. 1095 
 
 Weill, quod Experience, beware, 
 Ze ken not in quhat cafe ze are, 
 
 Zour tung has zou betrayd : 
 The man may ablens tyne a ftot. 
 
 That cannot count his kinfch, iioo 
 
 In zour awin bow ye ar owre-fchot. 
 Be mair than half ane inch: 
 
 Quha wars, fir, if that, fir, 
 
 Be four, quhilk feimeth fweit; 
 
 I feir now, ze heir now iiOj 
 
 A dangerous decreit. 
 
 Sir,
 
 MONTGOMERY. 77 
 
 Sir, by that fentence ze half fayd, 
 I pledge, or all the play be playd. 
 
 That fum fall lofe a lailce; 
 Sen ze but put me for to pruve 1 1 10 
 
 Sic heids as help for my behuve, 
 
 Zour warrand is but waik; 
 Speir at the man zour felf, and fe, 
 
 Suppofe ze ftryve for ftate, 
 Gif he regarded not, how he H15 
 
 Had learnd my leffon late; 
 And granted, he wanted 
 Baich Reafon, Wit and Skill, 
 Compleining, and meining 
 Our abfence did him ill. 11 ta 
 
 Confront him furder face to face, 
 Gif zit he rews hb rackles race, 
 
 Perhaps, and ze fall heir; 
 For ay fince Adam and fince Eve, 
 Quha firft thy leifings did believe, 1125 
 
 I fald thy doArine deir. 
 Quhat has bein done, even to this day, 
 
 I keip in mynd allmaift : 
 Ze promife furder than ze pay. 
 
 Sir Hope, for all zour hailt; 1 1 10 
 
 Promitting, unwitting, 
 Zour hechts zou nevir huiked : 
 I fchaw zou, I knaw zou, 
 Zour byganes 1 Ivaif bulked. 
 
 I coi-ld
 
 7«N MONTGOMERY. 
 
 I could, in cafe a count vver craivt, 1135 
 
 Schaw thoufands thoufands thou defalvt, 
 
 Quhair thou was trew to ane ; 
 And, by the contrair, I may vaunt, 
 Quhilk thou maun, thocht it greive thee, grant, 
 
 I trumpit nevir a ma^'' ; 1 140 
 
 But trewly tald the nakit truth 
 To men that melld with me. 
 For nowther rigour nor for rueth. 
 But only laith to lie. 
 
 To fum zit, to cum zlt, 1 1 45 
 
 Thy fuckour will be flicht, 
 Quhilk I then maun try then. 
 And regifter it richt. 
 
 Ha, ha! quod Hope, and loudlte leuch, 
 
 Ze are but a prentife at the pleuch, 1 150 
 
 Experience, ye prieve ; 
 Suppofe all byganes as ze fpak, 
 Ze are nae prophet worth a plak. 
 
 Nor I bund to believe: 
 Ze fuld not fay, fir, till ze fe, 1155 
 
 But quhen ye fe it fay. 
 Zit, quod Experience, at thee 
 Mak mony mints I may. 
 
 By figns now, and things now, 
 
 Quhilk ay befoir me beirs, 1 160 
 
 ExpreiTing, by gueffing. 
 
 The perril that appeirs. 
 
 2 . Then
 
 MONTGOMERY. 79 
 
 Then Hope replyd, and that with pith. 
 And wyfelie weyd his words ihairwith, 
 
 Sententiouflie and fhort: H'Sz 
 
 Quod he, I am the anchor grip. 
 That faifs the failours, and thair Ihlp, 
 
 From perril to thair port. 
 Quod he, Aft times that anchor dryves. 
 
 As we half fund befoir; aj7<u 
 
 And lofes mony thoufand lyves. 
 By fhipwrack on the fhore : 
 
 Zour grips aft, but flips aft 
 
 Quhen men half maift to do; 
 
 Syne leivs them, and reivs them, 3^-7;^ 
 
 Of thy companzions to. 
 
 Thou leifs them not thyfelf alane, 
 
 But, to thair grief, quhen thou art ^ane. 
 
 Gars Courage quhat thera als. 
 Quod Hope, I wald ze underllude, irSs 
 
 I grip fall:, gif the grund be gode. 
 
 And fleit quhair it is falfe. 
 Ther fuld nae fault with me be fund. 
 
 Nor I accufd at all, 
 Wyte fic as fuld haif plumd the grund, ' li^z 
 
 Befoir the anchor fall ; 
 
 Their leid ay, at rieid ay, 
 
 Micht warn them, if they wald, 
 
 Gif they thair wald ftay chair^ 
 
 Or haif gude anchor hald. g im® 
 
 Gif
 
 8o MONTGOMERY- 
 
 Gif ze reid richt, it was not I, 
 But only Ignorance, quhairby 
 
 Thair carvels all wer cloven : 
 I am not for a trumper tane. 
 All, quod Experience, is ane, 1195 
 
 I half my procefs proven ; 
 To wit, that we wer cald ilk ane. 
 
 To come before we came; 
 That now objedion ze half nane, 
 
 Zour felf may fay the fame. 1 200 
 
 Ze are now, owre far now, 
 Cum forward for to file ; 
 Perfave then, ze haif then, 
 The warft end of the trie. 
 
 Quhen Hope was gawd into the quick, 1205 
 
 Quod Curage, kicking at the prick. 
 
 We let ze weil to wit, 
 Mak he zou welcomer than we 
 Then byganes, byganes, fareweil he. 
 
 Except he feik us zit : 1 2 10 
 
 He underflands his awn eftate, 
 Let him his chiftains chufe ; 
 But zit his battill will be blate, 
 Gif he our forfs refufe. 
 
 Refufe us, or chufe us, 1215 
 
 Our counfell is, he dim ; 
 But ftay he, or ftray he. 
 We haif nae help for him. 
 
 Except
 
 MONTGOMERY. 8i 
 
 Except the Cherrie be his chofe. 
 
 Be ze his freinds, we are his foes j 1220 
 
 His doings we difpyte : 
 Gif we perfave him fettled fae. 
 To fatisfie him with the Slae, 
 
 His companie we quyte. 
 Then Dreid and Danger grew full glad, 1225 
 
 And wont that they had won ; 
 They thocht all feild that they had faid. 
 Sen they had firfl: begun: 
 
 They thocht then, they moucht then 
 Without a party pleid ; 1 230 
 
 But zlt thair, with Wit thair. 
 They wer dung doun with fpeid. 
 
 Sirs, Dreid and Danger, then quod Wit, 
 Ze did yourfells to me fubmit. 
 
 Experience can proife. 123? 
 
 That, quod Experience, I paft. 
 Their awin confcflions make them fad. 
 
 They may nae mair remoife. 
 For, gif I richt remember me. 
 
 This maxime then they made, 1240 
 
 To wit, the man with Wit fould wey 
 Quhat philofophs haif faid. 
 
 Quhilk fentance repentance 
 
 Forbad him deir to buy; 
 
 They knew then how trew then, 1245 
 
 And prcfTd not to reply. 
 
 G Thocht
 
 82 MONTGOMERY. 
 
 Thocht he dang Dreid and Danger doun, 
 Zit Courage could not be owrecum, 
 
 Hope hecht him fie a hyre ; 
 He thocht himfell, how Tone he faw 1250 
 
 His enemies were laid fae law. 
 
 It was nae tyme to tyre : 
 He hit the yron quhyle it was het. 
 
 In cafe it fould grow cauld ; 
 For he etteemt his faes defate, 1 255 
 
 Quhen anes he fand them fald. 
 
 Thoch we now, quod he now, 
 
 Haif bein fae frie and frank, 
 
 Unfocht zit, he mocht zit 
 
 For kyndnefs cund us thank. 1260 
 
 Suppofe it fae as thou haft faid. 
 That unrequyrd we profFert aid. 
 
 At leift that came of luve. 
 Experience, ze ftart owre fone ; 
 Ze naething dow till all be done, 1 265 
 
 And then perhaps ze pruve 
 IVlair plain than pleafant to, perchance. 
 
 Sum tell, that have zou trytj 
 As faft as ze your fell advance, 
 
 Ze can not weil denyt : 1270 
 
 Abyde then zour tyde then. 
 And wait upon the wind : 
 Ze knaw, fir, ze aw, fir, 
 To hald ze ay behind. 
 
 Quhen
 
 MONTGOMERY. 83 
 
 Quhen ze half done fum ducUtie deids, 127c 
 
 Syne ze fuld fe how all fucceids. 
 
 To wryt them as they wer. 
 friend, huly, haft not half fae faft. 
 Left, quod Experience, at laft 
 
 Ze buy my doftrine deir. 1 280 
 
 Hope puts that hafte into zour head, 
 
 Quhilk boyls your barmy brain : 
 Howbeit fulis haft cums huly fpeid, 
 fair hechts will mak fulls fain. 
 
 Sic fmyling, begyling, ,285 
 
 Bids feir not any freits ; 
 Zit I now deny now 
 That all is gold that gleits. 
 
 Suppofe not filver all that fhynesj 
 
 Aftymes a tentlefs merchand tynes, 1250 
 
 For bying geir begefs. 
 For all the vantage and the winning, 
 Gude buyers get at the beginning. 
 Quod Courage, Nocht the lefs ; 
 Quhyls as gude merchants tynes as wins, 1295 
 
 Gif auld mens tales be trew : 
 
 Suppofe the pack cum to the pins, 
 
 Quha can his chance efchew? 
 
 Then, gude fir, conclude, fir, 
 
 Gude buyers haif done baith : i-qo 
 
 Advance then, tak chance then. 
 
 As fundrie gude ftiips hath. 
 
 G 2 
 
 C^iha
 
 84 MONTGOMERY. 
 
 Quha wift quhat wald be cheip or deir. 
 Should neid to traffique but a zeir, 
 
 Gif things to cum were kend. 1305 
 
 Suppofe all bygane things be plain, 
 Zour prophefie is but prophane, 
 
 Ze had beft behald the end. 
 Ze wald accufe me of a cry me, 
 
 Almaift befoir we met; 1310 
 
 Torment ' me' not befoir the tyme, 
 Since dolour pays nae det: 
 
 Quhats bypaft, that T paft, 
 
 Ze wot gif it was weil. 
 
 To cum zit, by dume zit, 1315 
 
 Confefs ze haif nae feil. 
 
 Zit, quod Experience, quhat then ? 
 Quha may be meiteft for the Man, 
 
 Let us his anfvver haif. 
 Quhen they fubmitted them to me, 132© 
 
 To Reafon I was fain to fiie, 
 
 His counfell for to craif. 
 Quod he. Since ze zourfells fubmit. 
 
 To do as I decreit ; 
 I fall advyfe with Skill and Wit, 1325 
 
 Quhat they think may be meit. 
 
 They cryd then. We byde then 
 
 At Reafon for refuge ; 
 
 Allow him, and trow him, 
 
 As governour and juge. I33<^ 
 
 V. 1311. aou. S. 
 
 Then
 
 MONTGOMERY. {5 
 
 Then faid they all with ane confent^ 
 Quhat he concludes we are content 
 
 His bidding to obey ; 
 He hath authoritie to ufe. 
 Then tak his choice quhom he will chufe, 1335 
 
 And langer not delay. 
 Then Reafon raife, and was rejoyfd, 
 
 Quod he, Myne hearts cum hidder, 
 I hope this pley may be compofd. 
 
 That we may gang togidder. 1340 
 
 To all now I fall now 
 His proper place aflign, 
 That they heir fall fay heir. 
 They think nane udier thing. 
 
 Come on, quoth he, companzion Skill, 1345 
 
 Ze underftand baith gude and ill. 
 
 In phyfick ze are fyne j 
 Be mediciner to the man, 
 And fchaw fic cunning as ze can. 
 
 To put him out of pyne. M50 
 
 Firft gaird the grund of all his grief, 
 
 Quhat ficknes ze fufpedt ; 
 Syn luke quhat laiks for his relief. 
 Or furder he infeck. 
 
 Comfort him, exhort him, Mj" 
 
 Give him 2our gude advyce; 
 And pance not, nor ikance not 
 The perril nor the pryce. 
 
 G 3 " Thoch
 
 ^6 MONTGOMERY. 
 
 Thoch it be cummerfom, quhat reck? 
 
 Find out the caufe by the efFedl, I360 
 
 And working of his veins j 
 Zit quhyle we grip it to the grund, 
 Se firft quhat fafhion may be fund 
 
 To pacific his pains ; 
 Do quhat ye dow to haif him haile, '^3^5 
 
 And for that purpofe preife ; 
 Cut afF the caufe, the effeft maun fail, 
 3ae all his forrows ceife. 
 His fever fall nevir 
 
 Frae thencefurth haif a forfs, ^37^ 
 
 Then urge him to purge him. 
 He will not wax the warfe. 
 
 Quoth Skill, His fences are fae fick, 
 I knaw nae liquor worth a leik, 
 
 To quench his deidlie drouth J 137^ 
 
 Except the Cherrie help his heit, 
 Quhais fappie flokning, fharp and fweit, 
 
 Micht melt into hib mouth. 
 And his meiancholie remuve. 
 
 To mitigate his mynd j I380 
 
 ^fane hailfomer for his behuve. 
 Nor of mair cooling kynd; 
 Nae neif^ar direftar 
 Could all the gods him give. 
 Nor fend him, to mend himj, 1 385; 
 
 Nane lyk? it, I believe, 
 
 For
 
 MONTGOMERY. 87 
 
 For drouth decays as it digells, 
 
 Quhy then, quod Reafon, naithing refts. 
 
 But how it may be had. 
 Maifl true, quod Skill, that is the fcope, 1390 
 
 Zit we maun haif fum help of Hope. 
 
 Quod Danger, I am red. 
 His haftynefs breeds us mifhap, 
 
 Quhen he is highlie horft; 
 I wifs we lukit or we lap. 1395 
 
 Quod Wit, That wer not ward: 
 I mein now, con vein now 
 The counfell, ane and all: 
 Begin then, call in then. 
 Quod Reafon, Sae I fall. 1400 
 
 Then Reafon raife with gefture grave, 
 Belyve conveining.all the lave, 
 To heir quhat they wald fay. 
 With filver fcepter in his hand. 
 As chiftain chofen to command, 1 405 
 
 And they bent to obey. 
 He panfed lang befoir he fpak. 
 
 And in a ftudie flude ; 
 Syne he began and filenfs brak, 
 
 Cum on, quod he, conclude, 1410 
 
 Quhat way now we may now 
 Zon Cherrie cum to catch : 
 Speik out, firs, about, firs, 
 Haif done, let us difpatch. 
 
 G 4 Quoth
 
 S8 MONTGOMERY. 
 
 Quoth Courage, Skurge him firft that Hears, 1415 
 yiuch mufing memory but mars ; 
 
 I tell zou myne intent. 
 Quod Wit, Quha will not partly panfe. 
 In perils periflies perchanfe ; 
 
 Owre rackles may repent. 1420 
 
 Then, quod Experience, and fpak. 
 
 Sir, I have fein them baith 
 In braidiedienefs, and lye aback, 
 Efcape and cum to fkaith : 
 
 But quhat now of that now? 1425 
 
 Sturt follows all extreams; 
 Retain then the mein then. 
 The furefl: way it feims. 
 
 Qnhair fum has furderd, fum has falld, 
 
 Quhair part has periiht, part prevaild, - 1430 
 
 Alyke all cannot luck ; 
 Then owther venture with the ane. 
 Or with the uther let alane. 
 The Cherrie for to pluck. 
 Quod Houp, For feir folk maun not fafh. J435 
 
 Quod Danger, Let not licht. 
 Qaod Wit, Be nowther rude not ralh. 
 Quod Reafon, Ze haif richt. 
 
 The reft then thocht bell then, 
 
 Quhen Reafon faid it fae, 1440 
 
 That roundlie and foundlie. 
 
 They fuld togidder gae. 
 
 To
 
 MONTGOMERY. S9 
 
 To get the Cherrie in all haft. 
 As for my faftie ferving maift. 
 
 Tho Dreid and Danger feird j^^j 
 
 The perril of that irkfom way. 
 Left that thairby I fould decay, 
 Quha then fae weak appeird : 
 Zit Hope and Courage hard befydo, 
 
 Quha with them wont contend, '-fS® 
 
 Did tak in hand us all to gyde 
 Unto our journeys end ; 
 
 Implaidging, and vvaidging 
 
 Baith twa thair lyves for myne, 
 
 Provyding the gyding '455 
 
 To them were granted fyne. 
 
 Then Dreid and Danger did appeal, 
 Alledging it could neir be weil. 
 
 Nor zet wald they agrie ; 
 But faid they fould found thair retreit, 2460 
 
 Becaufe they thocht them nae ways mei: 
 
 Condufters unto me ; 
 Nor to no roan in myne eftate. 
 
 With ficknefs fair oppreft ; 
 For they tuke ay the neireft gate 14^5 
 
 Omitting of the beft: 
 
 Thair neireft perqucireft 
 
 Is always to them baith, 
 
 Quair they, fir, rnay fay, fir, 
 
 Quhat recks them of zour (kaith. 1470 
 
 But
 
 go MONTGOMERY. 
 
 Eat as for us twa, now we fweir. 
 Be him befoir we rnaun appeir. 
 
 Our full intent is now 
 To haif ze hale, and always was. 
 That purpofe for to bring to pafs, 147S 
 
 Sae is not thairs I trow. 
 Then Hope and Courage did atteft 
 
 The gods of baith thefe parts, 
 Gif they wrocht not all for the bed 
 
 Cf me uiih upricht hearts : 14^0 
 
 Our chiftain, then liftan 
 His fcepter, did enjoyn 
 Nae moir thair uproir there. 
 And fae their ilryf was done. 
 
 Eebuiking Dreid and Danger fair, I4S5 
 
 Suppofe they mcint weil evirmair 
 
 To me, as they had fworn ; 
 Becaufe thair nibours they abafit. 
 In fwa far as they had ace u fit 
 
 Them, as ze hard befora. 149° 
 
 Did he not els, quod he, confent, 
 
 TheCherrie for to poa? 
 C^od Danger, We are weil content. 
 But zit the manner how I 
 
 We fall now, evin all now, 1495 
 
 Get this man with us thair; 
 It refts then, ands bell then, 
 Zouf counlell to declair. 
 
 r. 1484. there. R. 
 
 Weil
 
 M O N T G O M E R.Y. 91 
 
 Weil faid, quod Hope and Courage, now 
 
 We thairto will accord with zou, icoo 
 
 And fall abyde by them j 
 Lyk as befoir we did fubmit, 
 Sae we repeit the famyn zit. 
 
 We mynd not to reclaime : 
 Quhome they fall chufe to gyde the way, J 505 
 
 We fall them follow flraight. 
 And furder this man, quhat we may, 
 Becaufe we haif fae hecht: 
 Promitting, hot flitting. 
 
 To do the thing we can, 1510 
 
 To pleife baith, and eife baith. 
 This fillie fickly man. 
 
 Quhen Reafon heard this. Then, quod he, 
 1 fe zour cheifell flay to be. 
 
 That we haif namd nae gyde: *J*S 
 
 The worthy counfell hath therfoir, 
 Thocht gude that Witt fuld gae befoir. 
 
 For perrills to provyde. 
 Quod Witt, Ther is but ane of thre, 
 
 Quhilk I fall to ze fchaw, f 52» 
 
 Quhairof the firfl twa cannot be, 
 for ony thing I knaw ; 
 
 The way heir fae ftey heir 
 
 Is that we cannot dim, 
 
 Evin owre now, we four new, '5^5 
 
 That will be hard for him. 
 
 The
 
 §2 MONTGOMERY. 
 
 The next, gif we gae doun aboat, 
 Quhyle tliat this bend of craigs zin ont. 
 
 The ftreini is thair fae ftark, 
 Ai>d alfo pafleth vvaiding deip, ^SS* 
 
 And braider far than we dow leap. 
 
 It fuld be ydle wark : 
 It grows ay braider to the fea. 
 
 Sea owre the lin it came ; 
 The rinning deid dois fignifie J535 
 
 The deipnefs of the fame, 
 
 I Icive now, to deive now. 
 
 How that it fvviftly flyds. 
 
 As fleiping and creiping. 
 
 But Nature fae provyds. *54* 
 
 Our way then lyes about the lin, 
 Quhairby I vvarrand we fall win. 
 
 It is fae flraight and plain : 
 The watter allfo is fae fchald. 
 We fall it pafs, evin as we wald, '1545 
 
 With plefour, and bot pain : 
 For as we fe a mifcheif grow 
 
 Aft of a feckles thing, 
 Sae lykways dois this river flow 
 
 Forth of a prettie fpring ; 1 5 50 
 
 Qahois throt, fir, I wot, fir, 
 Ze may flap with your neive ; 
 As zou, fir, I trow, fir. 
 Experience can preive. 
 
 That,
 
 MONTGOMERY. 
 
 91 
 
 That, qaod Experience, lean, i^^- 
 
 All that ze faid fen ze began 
 
 I ken to be a truth. 
 Quod .kill, The famyn I apruve. 
 Quod Reafon, Then let us remuvc. 
 
 And fleip nae mair in fleuth. 1560 
 
 Witt and Experience, quod he. 
 
 Sail gae befoir a pace ; 
 The Man fall cum with Skill and me 
 Into the fecond place. 
 
 Attowre now, zou four new J565 
 
 Sail cum into a band, 
 Proceiding, and leiding . 
 
 Ilk uthcr be rhe hand. 
 
 ij 
 
 • 
 
 As Reafon ordert, all obeyd; 
 
 Nane was owre rafch, nane was affrayd, j 
 
 Our counfell was fae wyfe ; 
 As of our journey Witt did note. 
 We fand it true in ilka jot, 
 God blifs the enterpryfe. 
 For evin as we came to the tree, '^'^'^^ 
 
 Quhilk, as ze heard me tel!. 
 Could not be clum, thair fudder.lle 
 The fruit, for rypenefs, fell ; 
 
 Quhilk hailling and taifting, 
 
 I fand my kli relievd 158a 
 
 Of cairs all, and fairs all. 
 
 That mynd and body grievd. 
 
 Pralfc
 
 94 
 
 MONTGOMERY. 
 
 Praife be to God my Lord thairfoir, 
 Quha did myne helth to me relloir. 
 
 Being fae lang tyme pynd ; 
 And blefled be His Haly Name, 
 Quha did frae deith to lyfe reclaim 
 
 Me quha was fae unkynd. 
 All nations allfo magnifie 
 
 This evirliving Lord ; 
 Lat me with zou, and zou with me. 
 To laud Him ay accord ; 
 
 Quhois luve ay we pruve ay 
 To us abune all things; 
 And kifs Him, and blifs Him, 
 Quhois glore eternall rings. 
 
 1585 
 
 1590 
 
 1595
 
 SONNET. 
 £T O PRINCE HENRY] 
 
 BY KING JAMES VI.* 
 From the '* Ba?iX»xov Aw^cv," l6o3» 
 
 GOD giues not Kings the ftile of God5 in valise. 
 For on his throne his Scepter doe they fwey : 
 And as their fubieds ought them to obey. 
 So Kings ihould feare and ferue their God againe. 
 If then ye would enioy a happie raigne, ^ 
 
 Obferue the ftatutes of your heaiienly King; 
 And from his Law make all your Lawes to fpring: 
 Since his Lieuetenant here ye fhould remaine. 
 Reward the iuft, be fledfaft, true and piaine; 
 Reprefle the proud, maintayning aye the right; lO 
 
 Walke alwaies fo, as euer in his fight, 
 Who guards the godly, plaguing the prophane: 
 And fo ye fhall in Princely vertue fhine, 
 Refembling right your mightie King Uiulnc. 
 
 ♦ Born 1566 J dye J I/j2J. 
 
 .,^f», 

 
 ON LOVE. 
 
 BY SIR ROBERT AITON.* 
 From "A .. colle^ion of ,.. Scots Poems''\ 1706, &C. 
 
 THERE is no worldly pleaAire here below. 
 Which by experience Joth not folly prove; 
 But amoneft all the follies that I know. 
 
 The fweeteil folly in the world is love : 
 But not that paffion which with fools confent 5 
 
 Above the reafon bears imperious fway, 
 Making their lifetime a perpetual Lent, 
 
 As if a man were born to fa ft and pray. 
 No, that is not the humour I approve. 
 
 As either yielding pleafure or promotion; 10 
 
 I like a mild and lukewarm zeal in love, 
 
 Altho' I do not like it in devotion : 
 For it has no coherence with my creed. 
 
 To think that lovers die as they pretend ; 
 If all, that fay they dy, had dy'd indeed, 15 
 
 Sure long ere now the world had had an end. 
 Befides, we need not love but if we pleafe. 
 
 No deftiny can force mens difpofition; 
 And ho'-v can any die of that difeafe. 
 
 Whereof himfelf may be his own phyfician. 20 
 
 But fome feems fo diftraded of their wits. 
 
 That I would think it but a venial fin 
 To take feme of thofe Innocents that fits 
 
 In Bedlam out, and put fome lovers in» 
 
 Born IJ70} djtdld^Z, 
 
 Yet
 
 A I T O N. 97 
 
 Yet fome men, rather than incur the flandcr 25 
 
 Of true apoAates, will falfe martyrs prove. 
 But I am neither fphis nor Leander, 
 
 I'll neither drown nor hang my felf for love. 
 Methinks a wife man's adions Ihould be fuch 
 
 As always yields to reafon's belt advice, 30 
 
 Now for to love too little or too much 
 
 Are both extreams, and all extreams are vice. 
 Yet have I been a lover by report. 
 
 Yea I have dy'd for love, as others do ; 
 Cut, prais'd be God, it was in fuch a fort, 35 
 
 That I rcviv'd within an hour or two. 
 Thus have I liv'd, thi^s have I lov'd, 'till now, 
 
 And find no reafon to repent me yet ; 
 And whofoever otherways will do. 
 
 His courage is as little as his wit. 40 
 
 ON A WOMAN'S INCONSTANCY. 
 
 BY THE SAM E. 
 
 Fro^i the fame colleSiion. 
 
 m 
 
 I Lov'd thee once, I'll love no.#orc, 
 Thine be the grief, as is thej^pe: 
 Thou art not what' thou wall bef(| 
 What reafon I fliould be the fS 
 
 He that can love unlov'd again 5 
 
 Hath better ftore of love than brain. 
 God fend me love my debts to pay, 
 While unthrifts fools their love away. 
 
 II Nothing 

 
 98 A I T O N. 
 
 Nothing could have my love o'erthrovvn, 
 
 If thou had ftiy continued mine ; lO 
 
 Yea, if thou had remain'd thy own, 
 I might perchance have yet been thine. 
 But thou thy freedom did recal. 
 That if thou might elfev/here inthral; 
 
 And then how could I but difdain 15 
 
 A captive's captive to remain. 
 
 When new defires had conquer'd thee. 
 And chang'd the objeft of thy will. 
 It had been lethargy in me. 
 
 No conftancy, to love thee ftill : 20 
 
 Yea it had been a fin to go 
 And proftitute afFeftion fo. 
 
 Since we are taught no pray'rs to fay 
 To fuch as mufl to others pray. 
 
 Yet do thou glory in thy choice, 25 
 
 Thy choice of his good fortune boaftj 
 I'll neither grieve, nor yet rejoice. 
 To fee him gain what I have loft : 
 The height of my difdain fhall be 
 To laugh at him, to blulh for thee; 30 
 
 To love thee ftill, but go no more 
 A begging at a beggar's door.
 
 SONNETS. 
 
 BY [9fR] WILLIAM [^VLEXANDER OF MENSTRIEJ 
 EARL OF STIRLING.* 
 
 From his " Aurora . . the Jirjl fancies of the authors 
 youth" 1604. 
 
 W'HEN as that louely tent of beautie dies. 
 And that thou as thine enemie fleefl: thy glafle. 
 And doeft with griefe remember what it was 
 That to betray my heart ailur'd mine eyes; 
 Then hauing bought experience with great paines, 5 
 Thou fhalt (although too late) thine errour find, 
 Whilft thou reuolu'ft in a digefled mind, 
 My faithful loue, and thy vnkind difJaines: 
 And if that former times might be recald. 
 While as thou fadly fitft retir'd alone, lO 
 
 Then thou wouldfl fatisfie for all that's gone. 
 And I in thy hearts throne would be inftald : 
 Deare, if I know thee of this mind at laft. 
 He thinke my felfe aueng'd of all that's part. 
 
 LONG time I did thy cruelties detell. 
 And blaz'd thy rigor in a thoufand lines ; 
 But now through my complaints thy vertue fhines, 
 That was but working all things for the bed : 
 Thou of my ra(h affeftions held'ft the raines, 5 
 
 And fpying dangerous fparkes come from my fires, 
 Didft wifely temper my enflam'd defires. 
 With fome chart fauours, mixt with fweet difdaines: 
 
 ' Birn 15 . . ; dyed 1640. 
 
 . H 2 And
 
 100 
 
 STIRLING. 
 
 And when thou faw'ft I did all hope defplfe. 
 
 And look'd like one that wreftled with defpaire. 
 
 Then of my fafetie thy exceeding care 
 
 Shew'd that I kept thine heart, thou but thine eyes: 
 For whilft thy reafon did thy fancies tame, 
 I faw the fmoke, although thou hidll the flame. 
 
 10
 
 SONNETS. 
 
 BY WILLIAM DRUMMOND OF HAWTHORNDEN 
 ESQUIRE.* 
 
 From his *' Poems," 1659. 
 
 ALEXIS, here fhe ftay'd, among thefe pines, 
 Sweet hermitrefTe, flie did all alone repaire ; 
 Here did (he fpread the treafure of her haire, 
 More rich than that brought from the Cokhian mines; 
 Here fate flie by thefe muDcet eglantines, 5 
 
 The happy flow'rs feeme yet the print to beare. 
 Her voice did fweeten here thy fugred lines. 
 To which winds, trees, beafts, birds, did lend an eare ; 
 She here me firft perceiv'd, and here a morne 
 Of bright carnations did o'refpread her face ; 19 
 
 Here did fhe figh, here firft my hopes were borne. 
 Here firft I got a pledge of promis'd grace : 
 
 But ah! what ferves't t' have been made happy foe, 
 Sith pafled pleafures double but new woe? 
 
 THRICE happy he who by fome fliady grove. 
 Far from the clamorous world, doth live his own. 
 Though folitary, who is not alone. 
 But doth converfe with that eternall love ; 
 
 * Bornis2>G\ tfyetf i64(), 
 
 a. I. f, I. j'Jkxis is Lrd Stirling. 
 
 H 3 Ohow
 
 102 D R U M M O N D. 
 
 O how more fweet is birds harmonious moane, 5 
 
 Or the hoarfe fobbings of the widovv'd dove. 
 Than thofe fmooth whifperings near a princes throne, 
 Which good make doubtful! do the evill approve ! 
 O how more fweet is Zephyres wholefome breath. 
 And iighs embalm'd, which new-born flow'rs unfold, 10 
 Than that applaufe vaine honour doth bequeath ! 
 How fweet are ftreames, to poyfon dranke in gold ! 
 The world is full of horrours, troubles, flights, 
 Woods harmeleffe fhades have only true delights. 
 
 MADRIGAL. 
 
 BY THE SAME. 
 From the fame authority. 
 
 SWEET rofe, whence is this hue. 
 Which doth all hues excell ? 
 
 Whence this mod fragrant fmell ? 
 
 And whence this forme and graceing grace in you ? 
 
 In faire Paeftanas fields perhaps you grew, 5 
 
 Or Hybla's hills you bred. 
 
 Or odoriferous Enna's plaines you fed, 
 
 Or Tmolus, or where bore yong Adon flew; 
 
 Or hath the Queen of Love you died of new 
 
 In that deare bloud, which makes you look fo red? 19 
 No, none of thofe, but caufe more high you blifl. 
 My ladies breft you bore, her lips you kill. 
 
 
 TO
 
 DRUMMOND. 
 
 103 
 
 TO AN O W L E. 
 
 BY THE SAME. 
 From the fame authority. 
 
 ASCALAPHUS, tell me, 
 So may nights curtaine long time cover thee. 
 So ivy ever may 
 
 From irkfome light keep thy chamber and bed. 
 And in moons liv'ry cled, 5 
 
 So may'ft thou fcorne the quirefters of day, 
 When playning thou doft ftay 
 Neare to the facred window of my deare, 
 Doft ever thou her heare 
 
 To wake, and fteale fwift houres from drowfie fleep? 10 
 And when ftie wakes, doth ere a ftollen figh creep 
 Into thy lift'ning eare ? 
 If that deafe god doth yet her carelefle keep, 
 In louder notes my griefe with thine exprefle, 
 Till by thy ftiriekes fhe think on my diftrefTe. 15
 
 MAJESTY IN MISERY: 
 
 O R A N 
 
 IMPLORATION to the KING of KINGS, 
 
 BY KING CHARLES I.* 
 Wp.itten during his CA"TiviTy at Carissroce 
 
 CASTLE, ANKO DOM. l6^\.S. 
 
 F om Burnet 5 Memoirs of {he dukes of HamiUon, 1677. 
 
 ""'' REAT Monarch of the World, from vvhofe Power 
 Sprir>gs 
 
 The Potency and Power of Kings, 
 Record the Royal Woe my Suffering fings ; 
 
 And teach my tongue, that ever did confine 
 
 Its faculties in Truths Seraphick Line, 5 
 
 To track the Treafons of thy foes and mine. 
 
 Nature and law, by thy Divine Decree, 
 (The only Root of Righteous P.oyaltie) 
 With this dim Diadem inverted mc: 
 
 With it, the facred Scepter, Purple Robe, 10 
 
 The Koly Undlion, and the Royal Glebe: 
 Yet am I levell'd with the life of Job. 
 
 The fidrcefc Furies, that do daily tread 
 
 Upon my Grief, my Gray Dif-crowned Head, 
 
 Are thoie that owe my Bounty for their Bread. 15 
 
 * Born 1600 ; .Avv/ 1648. 
 
 They
 
 C H A R L E S I. 105 
 
 They raife a War, and Chriften it I'he Caufcy 
 Whillt facrilegious hands have beft applaufe. 
 Plunder and Murder are the Kingdoms Laws ; 
 
 Tyranny bears the Title of Taxation, 
 Revenge and Robbery are Reformation, 20 
 
 Oppreffion gains the name of SequeJIration. 
 ft 
 My loyal Subjects, who in this bad feafon 
 Attend me, (by the law of God and Rcafon), 
 They dare impeach, and punifla for High Treafon. 
 
 Next at the Clergy do their Furies frown, 25 
 
 Pious Epifcopacy mufl. go down. 
 
 They will deftroy the Crofier and the Crown. 
 
 Church-men are chain'd, and Schifmaticks are free'd, 
 
 Mechanicks preach, and Holy Fathers bleed. 
 
 The Crown is crucified with the Creed. 30 
 
 The Church of England doth all faiflions follcr, 
 The pulpit is ufurpt by each importer. 
 Ex tempore excludes the Pater jicjler. 
 
 The Prejliyter, and Independent feed 
 
 Springs with broad blades ; to make Religion bleed 35 
 
 Herod and Pontius Pilate are agreed. 
 
 The Corner-Hone's mifplac'd by every Pavier : 
 With fuch a bloody method and behaviour 
 Their Anceflors did crucifie our Saviour. 
 
 My
 
 io6 C H A R L E S I. 
 
 My Royal Confort, from whofe fruitful Womb 40 
 
 So many Princes legally have come. 
 Is forc'd in Pilgrimage to feek a Tomb. 
 
 Great Britain's Heir is forced into France, 
 
 "Whil'ft on his father's head his foes advance ; 
 
 Poor Child ! He weeps out his Inheritance. 45 
 
 With my own Power my Majefty they wound. 
 
 In the King's Name the King himfelf 's uncrown'd : 
 
 So doth the Dufl defiroy the Diamond. 
 
 With Proportions daily they enchant 
 
 My Peoples ears, fuch as do Reafon daunt, 50 
 
 And the Almighty will not let me grant. 
 
 They promife to ereft my Royal Stem, 
 To make Me great, t' advance my Diadem, 
 If I will firft fall down, and worfhip them. 
 
 But for refufal they devour my Thrones, ^^ 
 
 Diftrefs my Children, and deftroy my bones ; 
 I fear thty'l force me to make bread of Hones. 
 
 My Life they prize at fuch a {lender rate, 
 
 That in my abfence they draw Bills of hate. 
 
 To prove the King a Tray tor to the State. 60 
 
 Felons obtain more priviledge than I, 
 They are allow'd to anfwer c're they die ; 
 'Tis death for me to alk the reafon. Why. 
 
 But,
 
 CHARLES I. 
 
 But, Sacred Saviour, with thy words I woo 
 
 Thee to forgive, and not be bitter to 
 
 Such as thou know'ft do not know what they do. 
 
 For fince they from their Lord are fo disjointed. 
 As to contemn thofe Edicts he appointed. 
 How can they prize the Power of his Anointed? 
 
 Augment my Patience, nullifie my Hate, 
 Preferve my IfFue, and infpire my Mate, 
 Yet, though We perifh, blefi this Church and State, 
 
 107 
 65 
 
 70
 
 I N 
 
 UPON THE 
 
 DEATH OF JCI N G CHARLES t. 
 BY JAMES MARQUIS OF MONTROSE,* 
 
 Fro7n the Ilif.ory of his IVars, 1726. 
 
 GREAT, good, and jufl ! could I but rate 
 My grief, and thy too rigid fate, 
 I'd weep the world to fuch a ftrain, 
 As it fhould once deluge again : 
 But fince thy loud-tongu'd blood demands fupplies 
 More from Briareus hands than /^rgus eyes, 
 I'll fing thy obfequies with trumpet founds. 
 And write thy epitaph with blood and wounds.
 
 O N 
 
 BLACK EVES. 
 
 B-Y GEORGE? LORD GORDON.* 
 
 From the " Colknion of ... Scots Poems " 1 706, &c, 
 
 BLESS me! how fuange a light appears 
 Shrewded within thofe jettilh fpheres ! 
 Where no viciilitude is known, 
 But day dill bears dominion : 
 Dark circles, which about them run, 
 Are but like fliadows to the fun. 
 Which curious Nature only meant 
 Not in defeft, but ornament. 
 
 * Son of George marquh of Huntley f Bon 16 . . J djed 1 645 f
 
 STRUJN'S FAREWELL to the HERMITAGE, 
 
 SITTING ON THE TOP OF 
 
 MOUNT ALEXANDER. 
 
 BY ALEXANDER ROBERTSON OF STRUAN 
 
 ESQJJIRE.* 
 
 From his " Poems:' 
 
 WITH this diverfity of view. 
 Oft have I wav'd my anxious pain. 
 When from the fummit I purfue 
 
 The rock, the river, woods, or plain j 
 
 • Born 1668 ; ^yed 1 749. Thh gentleman tvas a powerful 
 Highland chief, of an ancient and honorable family, and, from his 
 infamy till bis death, a zealous, aSii've, and firm adherent to the 
 JiouJ'e of Stewart, ivhoje cauje he Juj-ported with his fword, his 
 followers, and his fen. His ejlate was repeatedly forfeited, and his 
 perjon reduced to inconceifuahle dijireffes. Independently of his political 
 principles, be appears to La've been a moft amiable and reJpeBable cha- 
 ra£ier, honoured by his friends, and adored by his clan. And, as a poet, 
 the pieces here reprinted will Jhew that be was inferior to none of any 
 (ountry or of any age. 
 
 Since the mak-volence of party is noiv fubjided, it ivill gi-ve plea- 
 fure to e-very reader to learn that the heir of this ingenious and unfor- 
 tunate man is one of thofe rejlored by the late forfeited-ejlates-bill, a 
 proceeding tvhiih rcfeSs the higheji honour on the iujiice and humanity 
 of all concerned in it. 
 
 This frji poem feems to have been cccafoned by the fatal confejuences 
 if the affair of i-]!^. 
 
 Lakes
 
 6 T R U A N. lit 
 
 Lakes, mountains, meads, fields fertile far and nigh, 5 
 Divert my gloomy thought, and court my wand'ring eye. 
 
 Imagine then, thou blefs'd abode, 
 
 Ere while thy matter's fond delight, 
 Where he was certain to unload 
 
 His anguifh, fpite of lawlefs might, |0 
 
 Think on the woes our firll forefathers knew, 
 Thruft out of Paradife, and fuch I feel for you. 
 
 And you, my pretty feather'd quire. 
 
 Who fung each morn your chearful lays, 
 
 Who could your patron's foul infpire, 15 
 
 To join in your Creator's pralfe. 
 
 For whom will you rehearfe your heav'nly notes, 
 
 Ered your gorges, and diilend your throats ? 
 
 A barb'rous unrelenting throng 
 
 Cuts down your bow'rs with ev'ry tree, 20 
 
 Revenging your melodious fong, 
 
 Meerly becaufe you fung for me. 
 Soon from your native manfions muft you fly. 
 Be for your rightful lord expell'd, as well as I. 
 
 Alas ! that I fhould fee an age, 25 
 
 Which boundlefs perjury has brought. 
 That I muft leave to noify rage. 
 
 The peaceful labours of my thought. 
 What fwain fo void of fympathy but grieves 
 To think my fpotlefs cell is made a den of thieves ? 30 
 
 The
 
 iiz S T R U A N. 
 
 Tlie groves that raptures to me gave. 
 
 Contemplating the works above, 
 Mufl harbour now each filthy Have, 
 
 Compos'd of the reverfe of love : 
 My folitary pure recefles muft 35 
 
 Suffer rebellious hate, and ihelter lull. 
 
 The letcher, on each flowry brink. 
 
 Will hear his fulfom doxy fing; 
 The traitors, too, with lab'ring think 
 
 How to withlland their native king; 40 
 
 Abominations of fuch deep difgrace. 
 As ne'er polluted yet this holy place. 
 
 The thickets of yon fhady brow. 
 
 Where wildeft creatures freely rang'd, 
 Ko more that privilege allow, 45 
 
 So wonderfully things are chang'd : 
 All muft pour out their little lives apace. 
 To feaft the vileft fons of human race, 
 
 Methinks I fee that harmlefs crowd. 
 
 Viewing their murderers around, 50 
 
 In dying fighs and groans aloud 
 
 Proclaim the pain of every wound; 
 Wilhing him fafe who ne'er could fee them bleed, 
 Ev'n to fubfift himfelf, whom they were born to feed. 
 
 And thou, my lovely fountain, fhovv, 55 
 
 For thou could'ft well infpire the fwain. 
 
 And make his icy bofom glow, 
 Or cool or quench his raging pain. 
 
 Tell
 
 S T R U A N," 113 
 
 TeM how the friendly bu flies ftrovc t' excel. 
 
 To rear a fhade for fo divine a well. 60 
 
 As I revere thy filver ftreams, 
 
 Thy cooling rills, thy murmuring noifc. 
 
 Where oftenj with a health to James, 
 Thou could'ft revive our fcanty joys, 
 
 Ee muddy ftill, if any wretch begin 65 
 
 A health to tyrants, or fuccefs to fin. 
 
 Lo ! Argentinus lifts his he?id. 
 
 With melancholy in his look. 
 Whither ! O whither art thou fled 
 
 (He cries) from thy beloved brook? 70 
 
 By this my godhead, till thy face return, 
 I'll pour out arfnick, or I'll clofe my urn. 
 
 Vet e'er we part, let's once remind 
 
 Diviner pow'rs, as heretofore, 
 Theworthieil prince of humah kind, 75 
 
 With all his faithful to reftore. 
 He quaff'd ; with much ado he drank it up. 
 So fall his gulhing eyes fupply'd the cup. 
 
 Then I ! and ftreight the watry fire 
 
 Sunk down into the reedy ground j 86 
 
 Adieu, faid he, I muft retire, 
 
 Then utter'd with a broken found. 
 Since thou'rt for ading juflly, thus opprefs'd. 
 Go keep thy fortitude, and hope the bell. 
 
 I And
 
 ir4 ST R U A N. 
 
 And now the helllfh bands advance, 85 
 
 Bent to deflroy whate'er they meet : 
 Lo ! while the furious horfemen prance, 
 
 Poor peafants gafp beneath their feet : 
 Yet Cruelty fits fmiling on their cheeks, 
 To hear the orphan'^ cries and widow's fhrieks. gQ> 
 
 O Heav'ns! let me remove as far> 
 
 If ever fhip fo far could roll. 
 To freeze beneath the northern liar. 
 
 Or perifh at the other pole. 
 Ere I behold fuch an unnat'ral war, 95 
 
 Chriflians commit whatpagans would abhor. 
 
 What then remains, but that I go, 
 
 As Argentinus kindly bid. 
 Since there's a fate that rules below. 
 
 From whom there nothing can be hid? 100 
 
 That fate can bear me witnefs of my heart, 
 How I have lov'd this land, how loath I am to part. 
 
 Retraa not, O my foul! I muft 
 
 Perform what deftiny ordains; 
 In providence I put my truft, 105 
 
 Adieu to woods, to hills, to plains. 
 Thou envy of the turbulently great ! 
 Farewel my fweet, my innocent retreat ! 
 
 »>-o-*^ 
 
 THE
 
 T H B 
 
 MYMN of argentinus 
 
 On STRUJN'S RETURN to the HERMITAGE. 
 
 BY THE SAME. 
 
 From the fame authority. 
 
 EXPAND thy gates, thou blefs'd abode ! 
 Thy long neglefled cells repair, 
 Confefs the bounteous care of God, 
 
 OurStrephon breathes his native air: 
 Lo! he returns to chear our difmal ftate, 5 
 
 And purify once more his fweet, his lov'd retreat. 
 
 Ere while we mourn'd, with honeft grief, 
 
 Strephon, juft objedl of our tears, 
 Our fwains in fighing fought relief. 
 
 Our nymphs in filent floods of tears; 19 
 
 Our callow fhepherds, in a doleful mood, 
 Like orphans dwindled, and defpair'd of food. 
 
 But now they congregate to fing 
 
 Te Deums with dillended throats ; 
 The woody rocks, difus'd to ring, 15 
 
 Repeat with joy the heav'nly notes, 
 And blefs the great Creator, who difplays 
 His fecret providence in wondrous ways, 
 
 I 2 Our
 
 ii6 ' S T R U A N. 
 
 Our pretty feather'd quire apace, 
 
 In fhady bow'rs commence to build, 20 
 
 And propagate a num'rous race. 
 
 Fearing no more to be expell'd. 
 Like Strephon, in their manfions to remain 
 Obfcure, till Innocence revive her drooping train. 
 
 The groves that raptures nightly gave ;. 25 
 
 While we furvey'd the works above. 
 Harbour no more the wretched flave. 
 
 Who boafts of the reverfe of love : 
 Our folitary pure recefTes hold 
 Unfpotted faith, as in the days of old. - 3® 
 
 The thickets of yon fhady brow. 
 
 Where wildeft creatures freely rang'd, 
 Once more that privilege allow. 
 
 So bountifully things are chang'd ; 
 They lofe no more their little lives to feaft 35 
 
 The glutt'nous maw, or the luxurious tafte. 
 
 The gleanings of the flaughter'd train. 
 
 Who 'fcap'd from their devouring foes, 
 Whofe fires fent up their vows to gain 
 
 For Strephon his defir'd repofe, 4» 
 
 Behold they pour a deluge from each eye. 
 The common fymptoms of uncommon joy. 
 
 And lo! his lovely fountain fwells 
 With gladnefs at his fafe return ; 
 
 His
 
 S T R U A N. 117 
 
 His cryftal purity excels 4.5 
 
 The common glories of my urn, 
 Inviting us to tafte the limpid flreams 
 Rcferv'J for Strephon, — to remember James. 
 
 And I, (obedient to his will. 
 
 When tears fupply'd our parting bowl) 50 
 
 When traitors fued, grew muddy ftill. 
 
 Haling the purpofe of their foul : 
 And often fpying rheir approach from far, 
 I chang'd my channel, and I feal'd my jar. 
 
 Oh Strephon ! he whofe deftin'd hour 55 
 
 Has calm'd the tempefl of thy foes. 
 Will bounteoufly exert his pow'r. 
 
 To fix the feat of thy repofe. 
 And, for the troubles of thy dawn and prin-.e. 
 Will crown thy wifhes in the clofe of time. 60 
 
 Then ftrike thy lute unftrung fo lonj. 
 
 And footh the forrows of thy mind, 
 Difplay the force of facred fong. 
 
 And heal the obflinately blind; 
 Seraphick airs, from a melodious hand, ,65 
 
 May calm the rage of a dillradled land. 
 
 So Saul, pofll-fs'd with inward fmart. 
 
 Unable for the rueful fway 
 Of rancour, refllefs in his heart, 
 
 Th' harmonious minftrel call'd to play, 70 
 
 I 3 And
 
 ii8 S T R U A N. 
 
 And as the numbers of the heavn'ly fpell 
 Rofe to their higheft pitch, his fury fell. 
 
 Thus let us fue in hymns divine, 
 
 Addreffing plaints and offering praife. 
 The ftars that o'er the righteous ftiine 75 
 
 Will yet reflore our halcyoa days : 
 Let's hope our facred Lord, that Son of Grace, 
 At length will bkfs our land with equity and peace. 
 
 THE 
 
 HOLY ODE. 
 
 BY THE S A M E« 
 From the fame authority. 
 
 WHEN we furvey this mighty frame, 
 With all its orbs around, 
 Tho' ftill in motion, ftill the fame, 
 
 In fpace without a bound ; 
 The various feafons of the year 5 
 
 In beauteous order fall ; 
 Which makes it to our reafon clear. 
 That God muft govern all. 
 
 Yet do we find, to our difgrace, 
 
 Of mifcreants profane, lO 
 
 A crooked, perverfe, ftubborn race, 
 
 Who fcoffingly maintain, 
 
 I Becaufe
 
 S T R U A N. 
 
 419 
 
 Becaufe they profper in their luft. 
 
 And virtue's force defy, 
 That Heav'n approves of the unjufl:, ic 
 
 Or there's no God on high. 
 
 Thus haughty man, in reafon low 
 
 Compar'd with thee. All-wife] 
 Prcfumes he can the fecret know 
 
 That's hid from human eyes. 20 
 
 Could fhallow man thy depth explore. 
 
 Thy godhead were but fmall ; 
 Thy fov'reign care needs be no more, 
 
 And man might rule the ball. 
 
 But oh! thy providential fpring 25 
 
 Is paft all human ken, 
 And flows to the minuteft thing 
 
 That moves, as well as men. 
 Permitting or commanding ftill. 
 
 In each thy pow'r's exprefs'd, ?o 
 
 And all perform their good or ill. 
 
 As fits thy glory beil. 
 
 Why then ftiould trials of mankind. 
 
 Which thou doft here bellow^ 
 Exalt a fublunary mind, 35 
 
 Or yet dcprefs it low? 
 The wicked thou permitt'll to reign, 
 
 And bloom but for a while ; 
 The righteous only drag their chaia, 
 
 Till Heav'n thinks fit to fmile. 4P 
 
 I 4 Then,
 
 120 8 T R U A N. 
 
 Then, facred James, let not thy lot, 
 
 Tho' feemingly fevere. 
 Make thee fufpeft thy caufe forgot. 
 
 Thy croffes nobly bear : 
 He who thy heart has in his hand, . 4S 
 
 (Truft thou his holy fkill) 
 JIas too the people's at command, 
 
 And turns them at his will. 
 
 But thou who fit'ft upon the throne 
 
 Of Stuarts ancient race, ^0 
 
 Abandoning thy rightful own 
 
 To fill another's place, 
 A crown's but a precarious thing, 
 
 Thy fate thou doft not fee. 
 They who betray 'd their native king 55 
 
 Will ne'er prove true to thee. 
 
 O great, eternal Source of love 1 
 
 Extend thy gracious hand. 
 And haften juftice from above, 
 
 To this unhappy land. 6c 
 
 O ! let our panting hearts have peace. 
 
 And innocence reftore, 
 Then fhall thy facred law take place, 
 
 And faftion rule no more. 
 
 'f^^^i.^j^'*^ 
 
 A ME-
 
 >IELANCHOLY MIDNIGHT THOUGHT. 
 
 BY THE SAME. 
 
 From the fame authority. 
 
 THE fable emprefs of die duflcy fphere 
 In ftate * had' re-affuni'd her rowling chair. 
 And o'er the face of the terreflrial globe 
 Had fpread abroad her univerfal robe, 
 Her gloomy veil involv'd the ftary flcies, 5 
 
 And left no light but in Celeftia's eyes; 
 When lo ! the midnight god, who IHII defcends. 
 When night her fhady canopy extends. 
 Waving his drowfy fceptre round his head, ' 
 
 Hufh'd all to filence, as if all lay dead. 10 
 
 Young Philocles alone awake remains. 
 And finds no refpite from his raging pains. 
 But from his dark recefs, opprefs'd with love, 
 Curs'd the malignant ftars that rule above j 
 He fetch'd a groan, and chid ll>e cruel fair, i ? 
 
 He paus'd a while, and then he dropt a tear. 
 At length, in doleful words, he thus began 
 His melancholy thought of wretched man. 
 If vvand'ring mortals pondcr'd human life. 
 With all its troubles and unequal ftrife, 20 
 
 The viceful events that attend the maze 
 pf tranfitory things by length of days j 
 
 v. 2. that. PC. 
 
 The
 
 122 S T R U A N. 
 
 The fleeting pleafures of their youthful rage. 
 
 And the contempt of their decrepid age ; 
 
 The little eafe that nature does beflow 25 
 
 On the proud monarch of the world below. 
 
 With all the pains about a gafp of breath. 
 
 Who would not ope his arms and welcome death ? 
 
 Who would not gladly chufe the filent grave, 
 
 In fearch of eafe, rather than live a flave, 30 
 
 And gratefully reftore his earthy frame 
 
 To the material dull from whence it came. 
 
 Here in this baneful world we daily fee 
 
 Both rich and poor accurs'd in each degree, 
 
 Down from the monarch in his lofty chair, 35 
 
 To the mean clown that breathes the common air ; 
 
 All ftruggle to fubfift, nor know the caufe. 
 
 But yield to Nature's arbitrary laws. 
 
 As if they hop'd, upon the barren foil. 
 
 An everlafting harveft for their toil. 40 
 
 Not all the dire examples which arife. 
 
 And Hill prefent themfelves before our eyes. 
 
 Can influence our perverfe hearts to leave 
 
 Thofe fleeting follies, which at length deceive: 
 
 So the deluded trav'ller wanders on, 45 
 
 Till by the faithlefs meteor he's undone. 
 
 Once we beheld Lewis the Great of France, 
 
 With num'rous armies in the field advance. 
 
 Driving the vanquifh'd princes thro' the plain, 
 
 Scatt'ring their fleets, and ruling on the main, 50 
 
 Nor ought his fury ftay'd; where'er he flew 
 
 The mighty vidlor conquer'd ftill a-new j 
 
 Whole
 
 S T R U A N. 123 
 
 Whole nature feem'd to favour his intent. 
 
 And Fame proclaim'd his adions as he went. 
 
 But when his lovely millrefs prov'd unkind, 55 
 
 Who can exprefs the tempeft of his mind ? 
 
 Not all the fam'd fuccefs he woh in arms. 
 
 Could equal half his fair La Vallier's charms : 
 
 Reftlefs he roam'd about from place to place. 
 
 With royal fury raging in his face, 60 
 
 And found no gentle cure to footh his care. 
 
 But on the bofom of the haughty fair. 
 
 Who would have thought a monarch fo renown'd. 
 
 Loaded with riche.v, and with laurels crown'd, 
 
 O'er-charg'd with all that Fortune could beftow, 65 
 
 To pleafe her darling favourite below. 
 
 Might be reduc'd at length to fue in vain. 
 
 And fee his flames repell'd by cold difdain, 
 
 Ev'n in his younger days, and his then glorious reign? 
 
 But this he felt, he faw his love defpis'd, 70 
 
 The nymph averfe whom he fo much had priz'd. 
 
 Now in his drooping age, his pleafure crofs'd, 
 
 *His will control'd, his reputation loft. 
 
 He fpends the reft of his unhappy days. 
 
 Dropping the trophies which his youth could raife. 75 
 
 Was it not better far his life to clofe. 
 
 Than live the laughter of infulting foes. 
 
 And bravely, Roman-like, in fuch a cafe. 
 
 Teach kings not to furvive their own difgrace ? 
 
 But he ignobly lives, ev'n tho' he knows 80 
 
 A glorious way to difappoint his woes. 
 
 * At the Peace of Ryfwick. 
 
 Next, 
 
 I
 
 124 S T R U A N. 
 
 Next, {hould I trace the much commended life 
 Of country fvvains, fo void of care and ftrife. 
 Sum all their fatisfadion up, and try 
 To view their joys with an impartial eye ; 85 
 
 Yet find I not, ev'n in their happy ftate, 
 A fanftuary from the reverfe of fate. 
 Here one removes far from the noife of town, 
 Defpifing fame, and carelefs of renown. 
 In queft of happinefs, and hopes to find, go 
 
 In his retreat, tranquillity of mind : 
 Pleas'd with the profpeft of his country-feat, 
 Expreffing more of nature than of ftate. 
 He feeks the murmuring grove and purling ftream, 
 And each becomes the fubjedl of his theme; 95 
 
 Sometimes to fhady forefts he reforts. 
 And with his friends purfues the manly fports, 
 Till weary with the pleafing toil, they flay, 
 Drencli'd in the fatal brook, the trembling prey. 
 Then he invites his weary friends to tafte 100 
 
 The fweet refrefhments of a rural feaft j 
 His board is loaded with the choiceft meat. 
 They drink v/ith joy, with fatisfadlion eat; 
 And having chear'd their fpirits with the beft 
 Of homely dainties, they retire to reft: 105 
 
 We fee him blefs'd with all that's fit for life. 
 With fprightly children and a careful wife, 
 And each contributes to increafe his joys. 
 She fmooths his forrow, while his prattling boys 
 
 V. 108. contribute. PC. 
 
 Hang
 
 S T R U A N. tzy 
 
 Hang on his neck, rejoice their fmiling fire, i lo 
 
 Nor can he wifli his fatisfadlion higher. 
 
 But ah ! perhaps a difmal hour attends. 
 
 When grief commences, and when pleafure ends; 
 
 Perhaps the confort of his halcyon days. 
 
 By fome pernicious inward caufe decays ; 115 
 
 Her blooming beauty fades, the youthful grace 
 
 Forfakes the lovely features of her face. 
 
 Till wafted by degrees Ihe yields her breath. 
 
 While the bewailing hulband mourns her death : 
 
 Nor is this all, for Fate purfues him ftill, 120 
 
 Bent upon mifchief, fond of doing ill ; 
 
 Accumulated forrows fhe contrives, 
 
 And next invades the tender offspring's lives, 
 
 Deftroying, to conclude what flie begun, 
 
 His beauteous daughter and his hopeful fon. i2j 
 
 Then he, whofe eafy mind once knew no cares. 
 
 Bedews his lonely couch with floods of tears. 
 
 Runs to the gloomy Ihade, abhors the light. 
 
 Sighs all the day, and groans the live-long night ; 
 
 His life's a curfe, yet he is glad to live, 130 
 
 And fuffer what capricious Fate ca^ give. 
 Laftly, we fee a beggar, in the ftreets. 
 
 Whining his indigence to all he meets. 
 
 With piteous groans expofing all his rags. 
 
 His ftarving orphans, and his empty bags ; 135 
 
 He craves the means of living to fupport 
 
 His finking fabrick, and is grateful for't j 
 
 The miferable wretch goes thus about, 
 
 Pain'd with the ftone, contrailed with the gout; 
 
 He
 
 ,26 S t R U A N. 
 
 He too would gladly live, tho' fcarce can crawl 140 
 
 To the next door fupported by the wall ; 
 
 Where, bending to his mother-earih, he pines. 
 
 And on a faplefs morfel poorly dines ; 
 
 Next day more happy, when he gafping lyes. 
 
 Spite of himfelf, and on a dunghill dies. 145 
 
 Since then malicious liars, too plain we find. 
 Love to difturb the race of poor mankind, 
 And haughty kings and princes are the fcorn 
 Of Fate, as well as he that's meanly born, 
 Ts there a mortal upon earth can fay 150 
 
 He can fecure his happinefs a day ? 
 No ; nor prolong his time a minute's fpace 
 Beyond the deftin'd hour of his deceafe ; 
 And one would think that Heav'n, with fury warm'd 
 Again ft a mifcreant while yet unform'd, 155 
 
 Ordains a lingring life, fo full of pain. 
 Only to make him long to be diflblv'd again. 
 Then tell me, wretched man, whence does proceed 
 This love of living ? Since 'tis once decreed 
 We leave this worthlefs world, why fl:iould we fear 160 
 The period of a beln^- fo fevere ? 
 Your fofteft joys endure but for a while. 
 And if capricious Fortune longer fmile. 
 She but deludes, for 'tis her ufual way 
 To fink by night whom fhe upholds by day ; 165 
 
 To live in pain, fure there are fecret bands. 
 That daunt our courage and reftrain our hands ; 
 And what that deep myfterious force can be, 
 What human wifdom can reveal to me ? 
 
 Is
 
 S T R U A N. ,27 
 
 Is It the fear of an eternal fire, i^o 
 
 That feeds this unaccountable defire ? 
 
 Or the diftradling doubts of future ftate, 
 
 So much the world's belief and world's debate. 
 
 Uncertain of your vifionary blifs, 
 
 Forbids your leap into the dark abyfs ? 17- 
 
 Or do you frame the grim and grifly foe, 
 
 Impending over while you ftrike the blow. 
 
 Dreadful alone becaufe you think him fo? 
 
 Sure this it is, elfe man could ne'er endure 
 
 So much afflit^ion, when he knows the cure. 180 
 
 I 
 
 THE CAPRICIOUS. 
 
 BY THE SAME. 
 
 Fro?n the fame authority. 
 
 WHEN on my helplefs bed I gafping ly, 
 Expedling the laft ftroke of Nature's hand. 
 When no relief is left, but I muft die, 
 Might I the hated univerfe command. 
 
 With what delight my fenfes (hould expire, 5 
 
 If, in obedience to my pow'rful nod. 
 The mighty fabrick ihould, at my defire, 
 
 Tremblea fiiock by fome avenging God. 
 
 This petty globe of earth, that's but a fpan. 
 
 When we compare it to the All fo vaft 10 
 
 Should, with its haughty favorite call'd Man, 
 
 Diflblve to trumbled atoms by my blall. 
 
 Rous'd
 
 I2S 
 
 S T R U A N. 
 
 Rous'd by offence, I'd all the heav'ns confound. 
 While 'tis defign'd to crufh ray little world. 
 
 And in my rage the rolling orbs around 
 
 Should be to Nothing's ancient bofom hurl'd. 
 
 Juft as the daily^ labourer, who tryes 
 
 To eafe his weary limbs with needful relt. 
 
 Blows out the lamp, obnoxious to his eyes. 
 When gentle fleep becomes a welcome gueft. 
 
 So, when eternal night would feal my eye. 
 And life's no more than if't had ne'er begun, 
 
 Since ufelefs rays inftruft not where I ly, 
 I'd with my latefl; breath puff out the fun. 
 
 Thus Nature's workmanfliip I'd quite deface, 
 And all fhould perlfli by my indignation. 
 
 Nor fiiould I leave fo much as mighty fpace. 
 Left idle cods fhould raife a new creation. 
 
 ^.21. eyes. PC. 
 
 20 
 
 25 

 
 PATIE AND ROGER: 
 
 A PASTORAL, 
 
 INSCRIBED TO JOSIAH BURCHET, ESQ^ SECRETARY 
 OF THE ADMIRALTY. 
 
 BY ALLAN RAMSAY.* 
 
 From his "Poems,'' 173 1. 
 
 (dedication.) 
 
 THE nipping frofts and driving fna 
 Are o'lc the hills and far awa; 
 Bauld Boreas lleeps, the Zephyres blaw, 
 
 And ilka thing 
 Sae dainty, youthfou, gay and bra' 4 
 
 Invites to fing. 
 
 Then let's begin by creek of day. 
 Kind mufe IkifF to the bent away. 
 To try anes mair the landart lay 
 
 With a' thy fpeed. 
 Since Burchet awns that thou can play 8 
 
 o Upon the reed. 
 
 Anes, anes again beneath fomc tree 
 Exert thy {kill and nat'ral glee, 
 To him v/ha has fae courteoufly. 
 
 To weaker fight. 
 
 Set thefe rude fonnets fung by me 12 
 
 In trued light. 
 
 • Bornl,,.; dyed 1758. Tbh eclogue, afur Us original fulli- 
 CJfhn, was adopted by the authour as the firft fccne cf " The Gentle 
 She f herd." 
 
 II. To weaker fight, fet thefe, &c.] Having done mc the ho- 
 nour of turning fomc of my paftoral poems into Engliili juftly and 
 >ckgantly, 
 
 J^ In
 
 130 R A M S A r. 
 
 In trueil light may a' that's fine 
 In his fair charadler ftill fhine, 
 Sma' need he has of fangs like mine. 
 
 To beet his name; 
 For frae the north to fouthern line, i& 
 
 Wide gangs his fame. 
 
 His fame, which ever fnall abide, 
 While hift'ries tell of tyrants pride, 
 Wha vainly flrave upon the tide 
 
 T' invade thefe lands 
 Where Briton's royal fleet doth ride 20 
 
 Which ftill commands. 
 
 Thefe doughty aflions frae his pen. 
 Our age, and thefe to come, ftiall ken. 
 How llubborn navies did contend 
 
 Upon the waves. 
 How free-born Britons faught like men, 2^ 
 
 Their faes like flaves. 
 
 Sae far incribing, fir, to you. 
 This country fang my fancy flew. 
 Keen your juft merit to purfue ; 
 
 But ah 1 I fear. 
 In giving praifes that are due, 28 
 
 I grate your ear. 
 
 ai, Frae his pen,] His valuable Naval Hiilory. 
 
 Yet
 
 RAMSAY. 131 
 
 Vet tent a poet's zealous pray'r; 
 May powers aboon with kindly care. 
 Grant you a king and muckle flcair 
 
 Of a' that's good, 
 Till unto langefl life and mair 32 
 
 You've healthfu' Hood. 
 
 May never care your bleffings fowr. 
 And may the mufes ilka hour 
 Improve your mind, and hnunt your bower: 
 
 I'm but a callan : 
 Yet may I pleafe you, while I'm your 36 
 
 Devoted Allan. 
 
 PATIE AND ROGER. 
 
 BENEATH the fouth-Hde of a craigy bield, 
 Where a clear fpring did healfome water yield, 
 Twa youthfou fhepherds on the gowans lay. 
 Tenting their flocks ae bonny morn of May : 
 Poor Roger gran'd, 'till hollow echoes rang, 5 
 
 While merry Patie humm'd himfel a fang : 
 Then turning to his friend in blythfome mood. 
 Quoth he, how does this funfhine chear my blood? 
 How heartfome ia't to foe the rifing plants ! 
 To he»r the birds chirm o'er their mornins: Kmts ! 10 
 
 5. Poor Roger.] Yet the richeft fliepbeid in liis Ilores, btt 
 difconfolate, whom 
 
 6. Merry Patie.] A chearful fiiephcrd of Ief» weaUL endeavours 
 to comfort. 
 
 K 2 ■ How
 
 132 RAMSAY. 
 
 How tofle is't to fnuff the cauller air. 
 And a' the fvveets it bears, when void of care! 
 What ails thee, Roger, then ? what gars thee grane?' 
 Tell me the caufe of thy ill feafon'd pain. 
 
 ROGER. 
 Fm born, O Patie, to a thrawart fate I 15 
 
 Fm born to ftrive with hardfhips dire and great; 
 Tempeils may ceafe to jaw the rowan flood. 
 Corbies and tods to grein for lambkins blood ; 
 But I oppreft with never ending grief. 
 Maun ay defpair of lighting on relief, 20- 
 
 PATIE. 
 
 The bees fhall loath the flower and quit the hive^ 
 The faughs on boggy ground fliall ceafe to thrive. 
 E'er fcornfou queans, or lofs of warldly gear. 
 Shall fpill my reft, or ever force a tear. 
 
 ROGER. 
 
 Sae might I fay, but it's nae eafy done 25 
 
 By ane wha's faul is fadly out o'tune : 
 You have fae faft a voice and Aid a tongue,. 
 You are the darling of baith auld and young, 
 H I but ettle at a fang, or fpeak. 
 
 They dit their lugs, fyn up their leglens cleek, 3© 
 
 And jeer me hamevvard frae and loan or bught. 
 While I'm confus'd with mony a vexing thought : 
 Yet I am tall, and as well fiiap'd as thee. 
 Nor mair unlikely to a laffe's eye t 
 
 For
 
 RAMSAY. 133 
 
 For ilka flieep yc have I'll number ten, 35 
 
 And fliould, as r.ne might think, come farrer ben. 
 
 P A T I E. 
 
 But ablins, nibour, ye have not a heart. 
 Nor downa eithly wi' your cunzie part : 
 If that be true, what fignifies your gear? 
 ' A' mind that's fcrimpit never wants fome care. 40 
 
 ROGER. 
 
 My byar tumbled, nine braw newt were fmoor'J, 
 Three elf-fhot were, yet I thefe ills endur'd. 
 In winter laft my cares were very fma, 
 Tho' fcores of vvedders perilTi'd in the fna. 
 
 P A T I E. 
 Were your bcin rooms as thinly ftock'd as mine, 45 
 Lefs you wad lofs, and lefs you wad repine : 
 Hewha has jufl: enough can foundly fleep, 
 The o'ercome only faflies fowk to keep. 
 
 ROGER. 
 
 May plent)' flow upon thee for a crni's, 
 That thou may'il thole the pangs of frequent lof;:; 5c 
 
 /'. 40. And. PC. 
 
 41. Eli-fliot.] Bcwitch'J, fiiot by fairies; country people tell 
 odd tales of this dif.emper amongft cows. \V;,cn tlf-ihat, the cow- 
 falls down fuddenly dead, no part of the Ikin is pierced, but often 
 a little triangular flat ftone is found near the tcaft, as they report, 
 svliich is calL'd the elj's ii!ro'.Y. 
 
 K 3 • O may'il
 
 134 R A M S A Y. 
 
 may'ft thou dote on feme fair paughty vvencli, 
 Wha ne'er will lout thy lowan drouth to quench, 
 'Till, birfs'd beneath the burden, thou cry dool. 
 And awn that ane may fret ' that' is nae fool. 
 
 P' A T I E. 
 Sax good fat lambs, I fald them ilka cloot 55 
 
 At the Weft-port, and bought a winfome flute, * 
 Of plumb-tree made, with iv'ry virles round, 
 A dainty whillle \vi' a pleafant found ; 
 I'll be mair canty wi't, and ne'er cry dool. 
 Than you with a' your gear, ye dowie fool. 60 
 
 ROGER. 
 
 Na, Patie, na, I'm nae fic churlifii bcaft, 
 Some ither things ly heavier at my breaft ; 
 
 1 dream'd a dreery dream this hinder night. 
 That gars my flelh a' creep yet wi' the fright. 
 
 PATIE. 
 
 Now to your friend how filly's this pretence, $z 
 
 To ane wha you and a' your fecrets kens : 
 Daft are your dreams, as daftly wad ye hide 
 Your well-feen love, and dorty Jenny's pride. 
 Take courage, Roger, me your forrows tell, 
 And fafely think nane kens them but your fell. 70 
 
 r. 34. there. PC. 
 
 56. Weft-port,] The flieep market-place of Edinhurgh. 
 
 64. Plefh a' creep.] A plirafe which expjcfTes juddering. 
 
 ROGER,
 
 RAMSAY. 135 
 
 ROGER. 
 O Patie, ye have gheft indeed o'er true. 
 And there is naething I'll keep up frae you ; 
 Me dorty Jenny looks upon afquint. 
 To fpeak but 'till her I dare hardly mint ; 
 In ilka place fhe jeers me air and late, 75 
 
 And gars me look bumbas'd and unco' blate, 
 But yeflerday I met her yount a know. 
 She fled as frae a ihellycoat or kow ; 
 She Bauldy loo's, Bauldy that drives the car. 
 But geeks at me, and fays I fmell o'tar. 8o 
 
 P A T 1 E. 
 But BauIJy loo's nae her rirjht well I wat, 
 lie fighs for Neps; Sae that may ftand for that. 
 
 ROGER. 
 I \vi{h Icou'd na loo her, — but in vain, 
 I Hill maun dote and thole her proud difdain. 
 My Bauty is a cur I dearly like, S5 
 
 'Till he youl'd fiiir, flie drake the poor dumb tyke : 
 If I had fill'd a nook v/ithin her bread. 
 She wad ha'e fhawn mair kindnefs to my bead. 
 
 72. Keep up.] Hide or retain. 
 
 78. Shelly coat.] One of thofe frightful fpeiftrcs the ignorant 
 people are terrified at, and tell us ftrange ftorics of; that they ars 
 clothed with a coat of fliells, which make a horrid rcttiing ; that 
 they'll be fure to deftroy one, if he gets not a running water be- 
 tween him and it ; it dares not medc Ic wltii a Woman with child, 
 J:c. // is (iK-lly-coated k')W hi the drtU Sk,b'^.id. 
 
 K 4 Whea
 
 if 3^ RAMSAY. 
 
 When I begin to time my {lock and horn, 
 
 With a' her face flie fhaws a cauldrife fcorn : 90 
 
 Lall time I play'd, ye never faw fic fpite, 
 
 O'er Bogie was the Tpring, and her delyte. 
 
 Yet tauntingly {he at her nibour fpeer'd 
 
 Gin {he cou'd tell what tune I play'd, and fncer'd. 
 
 Flocks wander where ye like, I dinna care j 95 
 
 I'll break my reed, and never whittle mair. 
 
 P A T I E. 
 
 E'en^do fae, Roger, wha can help mifluck, 
 Saebeins {lie be {jc a thrawn-gabet chuck ; 
 Yonder's a craig, fmce ye have tint a' hope, 
 Gae till't ye'r ways, and take the lover's loup. loQ 
 
 ROGER. 
 I need na make fic fpccd my blood to fpill, 
 I'll warrand death come foon enough a will. 
 
 P A T I E. 
 Daft gowk ! leave aff that filly whindging way. 
 Seem carelefs, there's my hand ye'll win the day, 
 Lall morning I was unco' airly cut, lOC 
 
 Upon a dyke 1 lean'd and glowr'd about ; 
 I faw my Meg come linkan o'er the lee, 
 I faw my Meg, but Maggie faw na me: 
 For yet the fun was wading throw the mill. 
 And {he was clofs upon me e'er fne will. i jo 
 
 Her coats were kiltit, and did fvveetly {haw 
 Her ftraight bare legs, which whiter were than fnaw : 
 
 89. Stock and h«rn.] A reed or v.'hifulc, with a horn fixed fo 
 it by the I'raalkr end. 
 
 Her
 
 RAMSAY. 137 
 
 Her cokernony fnooded up fou fleek, 
 
 Her hafFet locks hung waving on her cheek : 
 
 Her cheek fae ruddy ! and her een fae clear! 115 
 
 And O! her mouth's like ony hinny pear. 
 
 Neat, neat flie was in bufline waftccoat clean. 
 
 As fhe came fkifHng o'er the dewy green : 
 
 Blythfome I cry'd, my bonny Meg come here, 
 
 I fairly wherefore ye'er fae foon a fleer ; jzo 
 
 But now I guefs ye'er gawn to gather dew. 
 
 She fcour'd awa, and faid what's that to you ? 
 
 Then fare ye well, Meg Dorts, and e'en's ye like, 
 
 I carelcfs cry'd, and lap in o'er the dyke. 
 
 I trow, when that fhe faw, within a crack 125 
 
 With a right thievelefs errand (he came back ; 
 
 Mifcau'd me firll, — then bade me hound my dog 
 
 To weer up three wafF ews were on the bog. 
 
 I leugh, and fae did fhe, then wi' great hafle 
 
 I clafp'd my arms about her neck and wafle; 130 
 
 About her yielding wafle, and took a fouth 
 
 Of fweetell kifTes frae her glowan mouth : 
 
 While hard and fafl I held her in my grips. 
 
 My very faul came louping to my lips. 
 
 Sair, fair fhe flete wi' me 'tween ilka fmak, 135 
 
 But well I kend flie mean'd na as fhe fpak. 
 
 Dear Roger, when your jo puts on her gloom. 
 
 Do ye fae too, and never fafli your thumb: 
 
 Seem to forfake her, foon flie'll change her mood ; 
 
 Gae woo anither, and flie'II gang clean wood. i^O 
 
 120. Soon a fleer.] Soon ftirring- or up. 
 
 J3S. Never fafh your thumb,] Be not the Icafl vexed, be aSy. 
 
 3 ROGER.
 
 ij8 R A M 5 A Y. 
 
 ROGER. 
 
 Kind Patie, now fair faw your honell heart, 
 Ye'r ay fae kedgie, and ha'e fick an art 
 To hearten ane: — for now as clean's a leek 
 Ye've cherifht me fince ye began to fpeak : 
 Sae for your pains I'll make you a propinc, 145 
 
 My mither, honefi; wife, has made it fine ; 
 A tartan plaid, fpun of good hauflock woo. 
 Scarlet ami green the fets, the borders blue, 
 With fpraings like gou'd and filler, crofs'd wi' black, 
 I never had it yet upon my back. 15'^ 
 
 Well are ye wordy o't wha ha'e fac kind 
 Redd up ijiy ravel'd doubts, and clear'd my mind. 
 
 PATIE. 
 Well, had ye there, — and fince ye've frankly made 
 A prefent to me of your bra new plaid. 
 My flute's be yours, and fhe too that's fae nice. 155 
 
 Shall come a will, if you'll take my advice. 
 
 ROGER. 
 
 As ye advife, I'll promife to obferv't. 
 But ye maun keep the fluce, ye beft defcrv't; 
 
 143. Clean's a leek.] Perfeiftly clever and riglit. 
 
 147. Hauflock woo.] A fine wool which is pv.llcd off the 
 neck.s of fhcep before tHe knife be put in, this being fo much gain- 
 ed without fpoiling the fale of the fldn, is gathered for fuch an ufe. 
 
 152. Red up.] Is a metaphorical phrafe from the putting in 
 order, or winding up yarn that has been ravel'd. 
 
 156. Come a will.] Come willingly, of her ov/n accord, with- 
 out conftraiut. 
 
 Now
 
 RAMSAY. 
 
 Now take it out, and gi'es a bonny fpring, 
 For I'm in tift to hear you play or fing. 
 
 «39 
 
 I Co 
 
 P A T r E. 
 
 But firft we'll take a turn up to the hight. 
 And fee gin a' our flocks be feeding right : 
 Be that time bannocks and a fliave of cheefe 
 Will make a breakfafl that a laird might pleafe; 
 Might pleafe our laird, gin he were but fae wife 165 
 To feafon meat wi' health inftead of fpice : 
 When we ha'e ta'en the grace-drink at this well, 
 I'll whiflle fine, and fing t'yc like my foil. 
 
 T.6y. The grace-drlnlc] The king's health, begun firll by the 
 religious Margaret queen of Scots, known by the name of St. 
 Margaret. The piety of her defign was to oblige the courtiers 
 not to rife from table till the thankfgiving-grace was faid, wcJI 
 judging, that though fomc folks have little regard for rcligiorj 
 yet they will be mannerly to their prince.
 
 -HYMN TO SOLITUDE. 
 BY JAMES THOMSON ES QJJ I R E.* 
 From his *' Works " 1762. 
 
 HAIL, mildly pleafing Solitude ! 
 Companion of the wife and goodj 
 But from whofe holy, pieicing eye 
 The herd of fools, and villains fly. 
 
 Oh ! how I love with thee to walk, c 
 
 And Hften to thy whifper'd talk. 
 Which innocence, and truth imparts, 
 And melts the moft obdurate hearts. 
 
 A thoufand (hapes you wear with eafe. 
 And flill in every fhape you pleafe. I (J 
 
 Now wrapt in fome myfterious dream 
 A lone philofopher you feem ; 
 Now quick from hill to vale you fly, 
 And now you fweep the vaulted flcy, 
 A Ihepherd next, you haunt the plain, i| 
 
 And warble forth your oaten ftrain. 
 A lover now v.'ith all the grace 
 Of that fweet paflicn in your face : 
 Then, calm'd to fricndfliip, you aflume 
 The gentle-looking Harford's bloom, ^0 
 
 As, with her Mufidora, flie 
 (Her Mufidora fond of tliee) 
 Amid the long-withdrawing vale 
 Awakes the rival'd nightingale. 
 
 Thine is the balmy breath of morn, 25 
 
 Juft as the dew-bent rofe is born ; 
 
 * Bort: I ^oo; ^^L'^ 1748. 
 
 And
 
 THOMSON. 141 
 
 And while meridian fervours beat, 
 
 Thine is the woodland dumb retreat; 
 
 But chief, when evening fcenes decay. 
 
 And the faint landfkip fvvims away, 30 
 
 Thine is the doubtful foft decline. 
 
 And that bed hour of mufing thine. 
 
 Defcending angels blefs thy train. 
 The virtues of the fage and fwain ; 
 Plain Innocence, in white array'd, ^j 
 
 Before thee lifts her fearlefs head: 
 Religion's beams around thee fhine, 
 And cheer thy glooms with light divine: 
 About thee fports fweet Liberty ; 
 And rapt Urania fings to thee. 40 
 
 Oh ! let me pierce thy fecret cell. 
 And in thy deep recefles dwell. 
 Perhaps from Norwood's oak-clad hIJI, 
 When Meditation has her fill, 
 
 I juil may cad my carelefs eyes 4j 
 
 Where London's fpiry turrets rife. 
 Think of its crimes, its cares, its pain. 
 Then Ihield me in the woods again.
 
 ODE. 
 
 ( TO MRS. A. R.) 
 
 BY WILLIAM HAMILTON OF BANGOUR 
 ESQJJIRE.* 
 
 From his ^^ Poems, ^^ l~6o. 
 Immortalia ne fperes, 7nonet atnuis 
 
 HOR. 
 
 Now Spring begins her fmiling round, 
 Lavifli to paint th' enameli'd ground ; 
 The birds exalt their chearful voice. 
 And gay on ev'ry bough rejoice. 
 The lovely Graces, hand in hand, 5 
 
 Knit in love's eternal band. 
 With dancing Hep at early dawn. 
 Tread lightly o'er the dewy lawn. 
 Where'er the youthful fifters move. 
 They fire the foul to genial love. 19 
 
 Now, by the river's painted fide. 
 The fwain delights his country bride : 
 While, pleas'd, fhe hears his artlefs vows. 
 Above the feather'd fongfter wooes. 
 Soon will the rip'ned Summer yield icj 
 
 Her various gifts to ev'ry field ; 
 Soon fruitful trees, a beauteous fliow. 
 With ruby-tindur'd births fhall glow ; 
 
 • Bomi-jo:^; dyed 1-;$:^. 
 
 Sweet
 
 HAMILTON. J43 
 
 Sweet fmells, from beds of lilies born, 
 
 Perfume the breezes of the morn : 20 
 
 The funny day, and dewy night. 
 
 To rural play my fair invite. 
 
 Soft on a bank of violets laid. 
 
 Cool fhe enjoys the evening fhade ; 
 
 The fvveets of Summer feaft her eye : 25 
 
 Yet foon, foon will the Summer fly. 
 
 Attend, my lovely Maid, and know 
 
 To profit by th' inltrudlive fliow: 
 
 Now young and blooming thou art feen, 
 
 Frelh on the ftalk, for ever green ; 30 
 
 Now does th' unfolded bud difclofc 
 
 Full blown to fight the blufliing rofe: 
 
 Yet, once the funny feafon part. 
 
 Think not the coz'ning fcene will lall: 
 
 Let not the flau'rer Hope perfuade ; 35 
 
 Ah 1 mull I fay that it will fade? 
 
 For fee the Summer polls away. 
 
 Sad emblem of cur own decay. 
 
 Now Winter, from the frozen North, 
 
 Drives his llifF iron chariot forth ; 4.0 
 
 His grizly hand in icy chains 
 
 Fair Tweda's filver flood conftrains ; 
 
 Call up thy eyes, how bleak and bare 
 
 He wanders on the tops of Yare '. 
 
 Behold his footlleps dire are feen /j5 
 
 Confefs'd on many a with'ring green. 
 
 Griev'd at the fight, when thou flialt fee, 
 
 A fnowy vvreatlie to clothe each tree. 
 
 Frequenting
 
 144 HAMILTON, 
 
 Frequenting now the flream no more 
 
 Thou fly'fr, difpleas'd, the frozen Ihore. 50 
 
 When thou fhalt mifs the flow'rs that grew 
 
 But late to charm thy raviih'd view, 
 
 Shall I, ah horrid ! wilt thou fay. 
 
 Be like to this fome other day ? 
 
 Yet, when in fnow and dreary froft 55 ' 
 
 The pleafure of the field is loft. 
 
 To blazing hearths at home we run. 
 
 And fires fupply the diftant fun; 
 
 In gay delights our hours employ, 
 
 We do not lofe, but change our joy j 60 
 
 Happy abandon ev'ry care,- 
 
 To lead the dance, to court the fair. 
 
 To turn the page of facred bards, 
 
 To drain the bowl, and deal the cards. 
 
 But when the beauteous white and red 65 
 
 From the pale afhy cheek is fled ; 
 
 When wrinkles, dire, and age fevere, 
 
 "Make beauty fly we know not where ; 
 
 The fair whom Fates unkind difarm. 
 
 Have they for ever ceas'd to charm ? 7*^ 
 
 Or is there left fome pleafing art. 
 
 To keep fecure a captive heart ? 
 
 Unhappy Love! might lovers fay. 
 
 Beauty thy food does fvvift decay ; 
 
 When once that fliort-liv'd ftock is fpent, 75 
 
 What art thy famine can prevent ? 
 
 Lay virtues in with early care. 
 
 That love may live on wifdom's fare: 
 
 The'
 
 HAMILTON. 
 
 Tho' extafy with beauty flies, 
 Efteem is born when beauty dies. 
 Happy to whom tbe Fates decree 
 The gift of heav'n in giving thee: 
 Thy beauty fhall his youth engage. 
 Thy virtues fliall delight his age. 
 
 So 
 
 L
 
 EDWIN AND EMMA. 
 
 BY DAVID MALLET ESQJJIRS.* 
 
 From his ^^ Poems, ^^ 1762. 
 
 Mark It, Cefario, it is true and plain. 
 
 The fpinlitrs and the knitters in the fun, 
 
 Jind the free maids that nveave their thread mith bone:. 
 
 Do ufe to chaunt it. It is filly Sooth, 
 
 And dallies with the innocence of love. 
 
 Like the old age. 
 
 Shakes, Twelfth Nibht. 
 
 FAR In the windings of a vale, 
 Faft by a fhekering wood. 
 The fafe retreat of health and peace. 
 An humble cottage Hood. 
 
 There beauteous Emma flourifli'd fair,. 5 
 
 Beneath a mother's eye; 
 Whofe only wifli on earth was now 
 
 To fee her bleft, and die. 
 
 The foftcft blufli that Nature fpreads 
 
 Gave color to her cheek : 1^9 
 
 Such orient color fmiles thro heaven^ 
 
 Wlien vernal mornings break. 
 
 Nor let the pride of great ones fcom 
 
 This charmer of the plains : 
 That fun, who bids their diamond blaze, r^ 
 
 To paint our lilly deigns. 
 
 * Born 17..} dyed lj6s. 
 
 Long
 
 \ 
 
 MALLET. 147 
 
 Long had fhe fill'd each youth wiih love. 
 
 Each maiden with defpair ; 
 And tho' by all a \Vonder own'd. 
 
 Yet knew not flie was fair. iCI 
 
 Till Edwin came, the pride of fwains, 
 
 A foul devoid of aft; 
 And from whofe eye, ferenely mild. 
 
 Shone forth the feeling heart. 
 
 -I 
 
 A mutual flame was quickly caught : 2J 
 
 Was quickly too reveal'd : 
 For neither bofom lodg'd a wifti. 
 
 That virtue keeps conceal'd. 
 
 "What happy hours of home-felt blifs 
 
 Did love on both bellow ! 30 
 
 But blifs too mighty long to laft. 
 
 Where fortune proves a foe. 
 
 His Sifter, who, like Envy form'd. 
 
 Like her in mifchief joy'd. 
 To work them harm, with wicked ikill, JJ 
 
 Each darker art employ'd. 
 
 The Father too, a fordid man. 
 
 Who love nor pity knew. 
 Was all-unfeeling as the clod. 
 
 From whence his riches grew. 46 
 
 L 2 Long
 
 hS m a l l e t. 
 
 Long had he feen their fecret flame, 
 
 And feen it long unmov'd: 
 Then with a father's frown at laft 
 
 Had fternly difapprov'd. 
 
 In Edwin's gentle heart, a war 45 
 
 Of differing paffions ftrove : 
 His heart, that durft not difobey. 
 
 Yet could not ceafe to love. 
 
 Deny'd her fight, he oft behind 
 
 The fpreading hawthorn crept, 50 
 
 To fnatch a glance, to mark the fpot 
 
 Where Emma walk'd and wept. 
 
 Oft too on Stanemore's wintry wafte. 
 
 Beneath the moonlight-fhade. 
 In fighs to pour his foften'd foul, 55 
 
 The midnight-mourner ftray'd. 
 
 His cheek, where health with beauty glow'd, 
 
 A deadly pale o'ercaft : 
 So fades the frefh rofe in its prime. 
 
 Before the northern blaft. 60 
 
 The parents now, with late remorfe, 
 
 Hung o'er his dying bed ; 
 And weary'd heaven with fruitlefs vows. 
 
 And fruitlefs forrow (hed. 
 
 'Tis
 
 MALLET. H9 
 
 'Tispaft! hecry'd — but if your fouls 65 
 
 Sweet mercy yet can move. 
 Let thefe dim eyes once more behold 
 
 What they muft ever love ! 
 
 She came ; his cold hand foftly touch'd, 
 And bath'd with many a tear : 7° 
 
 Faft-falling o'er the primrofe pale. 
 So morning dews appear. 
 
 But oh 1 his fitter's jealous care, 
 
 A cruel fifter fhe ! 
 Forbade what Emma came to fay j 75 
 
 ** My Edwin live for me." 
 
 Now homeward as fhe hopelefs wept 
 
 The church-yard path along. 
 The blaft blew cold, the dark owl fcream'd 
 
 Her lover's funeral fong. 80 
 
 Amid the falling gloom of night. 
 
 Her ftartling fancy found 
 In every bufli his hovering fhade. 
 
 His groan in every found. 
 
 Alone, appall'd, thus had flie pafs'd 85 
 
 The vifionary vale — 
 When lo! the death-bell fmote her ear. 
 
 Sad-founding in the gale ! 
 
 L 3 Juft
 
 15© M A L L E T. 
 
 Juft then {he reach'd, with trembling flep. 
 
 Her aged mother's door — OQ 
 
 He's gone! fhe cry'd ; and I fhall fee 
 That angel-face no more I 
 
 I feel, I feel this breaking heart 
 
 Beat high againll my fide— 
 From her white arm down funk he^ head ; pj 
 
 She fhivering figh'd, and died, 
 
 ExtraSI of a letter from the Q urate of Bonves in Yorkjhire^ 
 on the fubjeSi of the preceding poem. 
 To Mr. Copper THWAiTE at JVIarripk. 
 Worthy Sir, 
 *^* As to the affair meutioned in yours; it happened long be- 
 fore my time. I have therefore been obhged to confult my clerk, 
 and another perfon in the neighbourhood for tlie truth of that 
 melancholy event. The hiftory of it is as follows. 
 
 THE family name of the youn^ man was Wrlghtfon ; of the 
 young maiden Railton, They were both much of the 
 fame age ; that is growing up to twenty. In their birth was no 
 difparity : but in fortune, alas! flie was his inferior. His father, 
 a hard old man, who had by his toil acquired a handfome com- 
 petency, expetSled and required that his fon fliould marry fuitably. 
 • But, as atnor-jincit omma, his heart was unalterably fixed on the pretty 
 ywung creature already named. Their courtiliip, which was all by 
 Health, unknown to the family, continued about a year. When 
 it was found out, old Wrightfcn, his wife, and particularly 
 their crooked daughter Ilannah^ flouted at the maiden, ancj 
 treated her with notable contempt. For they held it as a maxim, 
 and a ruftic one it is, that blood was nothing withont groats. 
 
 The young lover fickened, and took to his bed about Shrove-; 
 tuejday, and died the funday fennight after. 
 
 On the lift day of his illnefs, he dtfired to fee his miflrefs. She 
 ynii civilly received by the Mother, who bid her welcome— when
 
 MALLET. IS* 
 
 ■h was too latr. But her daughter Hannah lay at his back; to 
 cut them off from all opportunity of exchanging their thoughts. 
 
 At her return home, on hearing the bell toll out for his depar- 
 ture, (he fcreamed aloud that her heart was burft, and expired 
 fome moments after. 
 
 I'he then Curate of Bowes* inferted it in his regiflcr, that 
 
 they both died of love, and were buried in the fame grave, 
 
 March 15. 1714. I am. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Yours, &c. 
 
 • Bowes is a fmall village in Yorkfhire, where in former times the earls of 
 F.ichniona had a caHle. It ftands on the edge of that vaft and mountainous 
 traa, named by the neighbouring people Stanemore ; which is always ex- 
 pofed to wind and weather, defolate and folitary throughout. Carab, Brit. 
 
 A 
 
 FRAGMENT. 
 
 BY THE SAME. 
 From his ^^ JVorks," 1759. 
 
 FAIR morn afcends : fofc Zephyr's wing 
 O'er hill and vale renews the fpring : 
 Where, fown profufely, herb and flower^ 
 Of balmy fmell, of healing power. 
 Their fouls in fragrant dews exhale, 5 
 
 And breathe frelh life in every gale. 
 Here, fpreads a green expanfe of plains. 
 Where, fweetly-penfive, Si/ence reigns i 
 And there at utmoll ftretch of eye, 
 A mountain fades into the flcyj 10 
 
 L 4 While
 
 «52 MALLET. 
 
 While winding round, dlffus'd and deep, 
 A river rowls with founding fweep. 
 Of human art no traces near, 
 I feem alone with Nature here ! 
 
 Here are thy walks, O facred Health ! 15 
 
 The monarch's blifs, the beggar's wealth! 
 The feafoning of all good below ! 
 The fovereign friend in joy or woe ! 
 O Thou, moft courted, moft defpis'd. 
 And but in abfence duly priz'd! 20 
 
 Pomjer of the foft and rofy face ! 
 The vivid pulfe, the vermil grace. 
 The fpifits when they gayeft fhine. 
 Youth, beauty, pleafure, all are thine! 
 O fun of life! whofe heavexily ray 25 
 
 Lights up, and chears, our various day. 
 The turbulence of hopes and fears, 
 The ftorm of fate, the cloud of years. 
 Till Nature, with i\iy parting light, 
 Repofes late in Death^s calm night: 50 
 
 Fled from the trophy 'd roofs of ftate. 
 Abodes of fplendid pain, and hate; 
 Fled from the couch, where, in fweet fleep. 
 Hot Riot would his anguifh fteep. 
 
 But to/Tes thro' the midnight-fhade, '55 
 
 Of death, of life, alike afraid ; 
 For ever fled to fhady cell. 
 Where Tejnferance, where the Mufes dwell; 
 7'hou oft art feen, at early dawn. 
 
 Slow-pacing o'er the breezy lawn ; 40 
 
 Or
 
 MALLET. 153 
 
 Or on the brow of mountain high. 
 
 In filence feafting ear and eye, 
 
 With fong and profpeft, which abound 
 
 From birds, and woods and waters round. 
 
 But when the fun, with noontide ray, 45 
 
 Flames forth intolerable day ; 
 While Heat fits fervent on the plain. 
 With Thirjl and Languor in his train ; 
 All nature fickening in the blaze : 
 
 Thouy in the wild and woody maze, ra 
 
 That clouds the vale with umbrage deep, 
 Impendent from the neighbouring fteep. 
 Wilt find betimes a calm retreat. 
 Where breathing Coolne/s has her feat. 
 
 There, plung'd amid the fliadows brown, er 
 
 hnagination lays hira down ; 
 Attentive, in his airy mood. 
 To every murmur of the wood : 
 The bee in yonder flowery nook; 
 
 The chidings of the headlong brock; go 
 
 The green leaf fhivering in the gale ; 
 The warbling hill, the lowing vale; 
 The diftant woodman's echoing flroke; 
 The thunder of the falling oak. 
 
 From thought to thought in vifion led, 6; 
 
 He holds high converfe with the dead j 
 Sages, or Poets. See they rife! 
 And ihadowy Ikim before his eyes. 
 
 Hark!
 
 154 ■ M A L L E T. ^ 
 
 Hark! Orpheus ftrikes the lyre again. 
 
 That foften'd favages to men : 70 
 
 Lo ! Socrates, the ^ifv/ of heaven, 
 
 To whom its moral ^vill was given. 
 
 Fathers and friends of human kind. 
 
 They form'd the nations or refin'd. 
 
 With all that mends the head and heart, 75 
 
 Enlightening truth, adorning art. 
 
 While thus I mus'd beneath the fhade, 
 At once the founding breeze was laid : 
 And Nature, by tlie unknavn la-iv. 
 Shook deep with reverential awe. So 
 
 Dumb filence grew upon the hour ; 
 A browner night involv'd the bower : 
 When iiluing from the inmofl wood, 
 Appear'd fair Freedom's Genius good. 
 O Freedom! fovereign boon of heaven; 85 
 
 Great Charter, with our being given ; 
 For which the patriot, and the fage. 
 Have plan'd, have bled thro every 9gel 
 High privilege of human race, 
 
 Beyond a mortal monarch's grace : 9® 
 
 Who could not give, nor can reclaim, 
 What but from God immediate came*. 
 
 =^?*#JW 

 
 ELEGY. ^ 
 
 ^N IMITATION OF TIBULLUI. 
 
 BY TOBIAS SMOLLETT, M.D.* 
 from •• The Adventures of Roderick Random" (1766). 
 
 WHERE now are all my flatt'ring dreams of joy? 
 Monimia, give my foul her wonted reft j — 
 Since firft thy beauty fix'd my roving eye, 
 ^eart gnawing cares corrode my penfive breaft ! 
 
 Let happy lovers fly where pleafures call, r 
 
 With feftive fongs beguile the fleeting hour ; 
 
 Lead beauty thro' the mazes of the ball. 
 Or prefs her wanton in love's rofeate bower. 
 
 For me, no more I'll range th' empurpled mead. 
 Where fhepherds pipe, and virgins dance around j 10 
 
 Nor wander thro' the woodbine's fragrant fhade, 
 Xo hear the mufick of the grove refound. 
 
 I'll feek fome lonely church, or dreary hall. 
 Where fancy paints the glimm'ring taper blue. 
 
 Where damps hang mould'ring on the ivy'd wall, 15 
 And fheeted ghofts drink up the midnight dew; 
 
 • Born 17JOJ dyed I771. 
 
 There
 
 156 SMOLLETT. 
 
 There leagu'd with hopelefs anguifh and defpair, 
 A-while in filence o'er my fate repine : 
 
 Then, with a long farewel to love and care. 
 To kindred dull my weary limbs confign. 20 
 
 Wilt thou, Monimia Ihed a gracious tear 
 On the cold grave where all my forrows reft ? 
 
 Strew vernal flow'rs, applaud my love fincere. 
 And bid the turf lie eafy on my breaft? 
 
 THE 
 
 TEARS OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 MDCC XL VI. 
 
 BY THE SAME. 
 
 From a coUeSlion of Songs, 
 
 OURN, haplefs Caledonia, mourn 
 
 M 
 
 Thy banifh'd peace, thy laurel torn ! 
 Thy fens, for valour long renown'd. 
 Lye flaughter'd on their native ground j 
 Thy hofpitable roofs no more 5 
 
 invite the ftranger to the door. 
 In fmoaky ruins funk they lye, 
 The monuments of cruelty. 
 
 The wretched owner fees afar 
 His all become the prey of war, 10 
 
 Bethinks
 
 SMOLLETT. 157 
 
 Bethinks him of his babes and wife, 
 
 Then fmites his breafl:, and curfes life ! 
 
 Thy fwains are famiih'd on the rocks. 
 
 Where late they fed their wanton flock?; 
 
 Thy ravilh'd virgins (hriek in vain, 15 
 
 Thine infants perifh on the plain! 
 
 What boots it, that in every clime. 
 Thro' the wide-fpreading wafte of time. 
 Thy martial glory, crown 'd with praife. 
 Still flione with u^diminilh'd blaze ? 20 
 
 Thy tow'ring fpirit now is broke, 
 Thy neck is bended to the yoke ! 
 What foreign arms could never quell. 
 By civil rage, and rancour fell. 
 
 The rural pipe, and merry lay 25 
 
 No more fhall chear the happy day. 
 No fecial fcenes of gay delight 
 Beguile the dreary winter's night ; 
 No ftrains, but thofe of forrovv, flow. 
 And nought be heard but founds of woe; 30 
 
 Whilft the pale phantoms of the flain 
 Glide nightly o'er the filent plain. 
 
 O baleful caufe ! O fatal morn ! 
 Accurs'd to ages yet unborn : 
 
 The fons again ft their fathers ftood, 35 
 
 The parent fhcd his children's blood ; 
 Yet when the rage of battle ceas'd. 
 The vii^or's foul was not appeas'd ; 
 
 The
 
 1S8 
 
 S M O L L E T f. 
 
 The naked and forlorn muft feel 
 Devouring flames and conqu'ring fteel ! 
 
 The pic-US mother, doom'd to death, 
 Forfaken wanders o'er the heath ; 
 The bleak wind whiftles round her head> 
 Her helplefs orphans cry for bread ; 
 Bereft of flielter, food, and friend. 
 She views the (hades of night defcend ; 
 And, ftretch'd beneath inclement fltles. 
 Weeps o'er her tender babes, and dies! 
 
 While the warm blood bedews my veins. 
 And unimpair'd remembrance reigns, 
 Refentment of my country's fate 
 Within my filial breaft fhall beat ; 
 And, fpite of her infulting foe. 
 My fympathizing verfe fhall flow : 
 Mourn, haplefs Caledonia, mourn 
 Thy banifh'd peace, thy laurel torn ! 
 
 4^ 
 
 4S 
 
 5<> 
 
 SS
 
 131* 
 
 THB 
 
 GRAVE, 
 
 By Robert Blair*. 
 Tht hOQse appointed for all living. JOB. 
 
 WHILST some affect the sun, and some the shade^ 
 Some flee the city, some the hermitage; 
 Their aims as various as the roads they take 
 In journeying through life; — the task be mine 
 To paint the gloomy horrors of the tomb; 6 
 
 Th' appointed place of rendezvous, where all 
 These traTellers meet. — Thy succours I implore, 
 Eternal King! whose potent arm sustains 
 The keys of hell and death — The Grave, dread thing! 
 Men shiver when thou'rt nam'd : nature, appall'd, 10 
 Shakes off her wonted firmness. — Ah ! how dark 
 Thy long-extended realms, and rueful wastes ! 
 Where nought but silence reigns, and night, dark night, 
 Dark as was chaos, ere the infant sun 
 Was roU'd together, or had try'd his beams 15 
 
 Athwart the gloom profound. — The sickly taper 
 
 •Bom 1699; dice 1746.
 
 132* BLAIR. 
 
 By glimm'ring through thy low-brow'd misty vaults, 
 
 (Furr'd round with mouldy damps and ropy slime) 
 
 Lets fail a supernumerary horror, 
 
 And only serves to make thy night more irksome. 20 
 
 Well do I know thee by thy trusty yew, 
 
 Cheerless, unsocial plant ! that loves to dwell 
 
 'Midst skulls and coffins, epitaphs and worms; 
 
 Where light-heel'd ghosts, and visionary shades, 
 
 Beneath the wan cold moon (as fame reports) 25 
 
 Embody'd, thick, perform their mystic rounds. 
 
 No other merriment, dull tree! is thine. 
 
 See yonder hallow'd fane ; — the pious work 
 Of names once fam'd, now dubious or forgot, 
 And bury'd midst the wreck of things which were; 30 
 There lie interr'd the more illustrious dead. 
 The wind is up : hark ! howit howls! Methinks 
 Till now I never heard a sound so dreary : 
 Doors creak, and window* clap, and night's foul bird, 
 Rook'd in the spire, screams loud : the gloomy ailes, 35 
 Black-plaster'd, and hung round with shreds of 
 
 'scutcheons 
 And tatter'd coats of arms, send back the sound 
 Laden with heavier airs, from the low vaults, 
 The mansions of the dead — Rous'd from their slumbers, 
 In grim array the grisly spectres rise, 40 
 
 Grin horrible, and obstinately sullen, 
 Pass and repass, hush'd as the foot of night. 
 Again the screech-owl shrieks ; ungracious sound ! 
 I'll hear no more; it makes one's blood run chill. 
 Quite round the pile, a row of reverend elms, 45 
 
 (Coeval near with that) all ragged show,
 
 BLAIR. •133 
 
 Long lafli'd by the rude winds. Some rift half down 
 Their branchlefs trunks : others fo thin a top. 
 That fcarce two crows can lodge in the fame tree. 
 Strangethings, the neighbours fay, have happen'd here: 50 
 Wild fhrieks have i/Tu'd from the hollow tombs : 
 Dead men have come again, and walk'd about ; 
 And the great bell has toll'd, unrung, untouch'd. 
 (Such tales their ehear, at Wake or Gofliping, 
 When it draws near to witching time of night.) 55 
 
 Oft, in the lone church-yard at night I've feen 
 By glimpfe of moonihine, chequering through the trees* 
 The fchool-boy, with his fatchel in his hand, 
 Whiftling aloud to bear his courage up. 
 And lightly tripping o'er the long flat Hones, 6© 
 
 (With nettles ikirted, and with mofs o'ergrown,) 
 That tell in homely phrafe who lie below. 
 Sudden he ftarts, and hears, or thinks he hears. 
 The found of fomething purring at his heels : 
 Full fafl he flies, and dares not look behind, 65 
 
 Till out of breath he overtakes his fellows : 
 Who gather round, and wonder at the tale 
 Of horrid Apparition, tall and ghaftly. 
 That walks at dead of night, or takes his ftand 
 O'er fome new open'd grave ; and (flrange to tell !) 70 
 Evaniflies at crowing of the cock. 
 
 The new-made JVidoiv, too I've fometimes 'fpy'i, 
 Sad fight ! flow moving o'er the prollrate dead : 
 
 y. 7Z- ov'r.
 
 134* BLAIR. 
 
 Llfllefs, (he crawls along in doleful black, 
 
 Whilft burlls of forrow gufh from either eye^ 75 
 
 Faft falling down her now un tailed cheek. 
 
 Prone on the lowly grave of the dear man 
 
 She drops ; whilft bufy meddling Memory 
 
 In barbarous fuccefiion, mufters up 
 
 The paft endearments of their fofter hours, 80 
 
 Tenacious of its theme. Still, ftill flie thinks 
 
 She fees him, and, indulging the fond thought, 
 
 Clings yet more clofely to the fenfelefs turf. 
 
 Nor heeds the pailenger who looks that way. 
 
 Invidious Grate — how doft thou rend in funder 85 
 Whom Love has knit, and Sympathy made one ! 
 A tie more ftubborn far than Nature's band ! 
 triendfpip ! myfterious cement of the foul ; 
 Sweetner of life, and folder of fociety ; 
 I owe thee much. Thou haft deferv'd from me 90 
 
 Far, far beyond what I can ever pay. 
 Oft have I prov'd the labours of thy love. 
 And the warm efforts of the gentle heart 
 Anxious to pleafe. — -Oh \ when my friend and I 
 In fome thick wood have wander'd heedlefs on, 95 
 
 Hid from the vulgar eye, and fat us down 
 Upon the (loping cowflip-cover'd bank. 
 Where the pure limpid ftream has flid along. 
 In grateful errors through the under-wood, 
 Sweet murmuring; methought the (hrill-tongu'd Thrufii 
 Mended his fong of love ; the footy Blackbird loi 
 
 Mellow'd his pipe, and foften'd ev'ry note : 
 
 The
 
 BLAIR. •ijj, 
 
 The Eglantine fmell'd fweeter ; and the Rofc 
 
 AfTum'd a dye more deep ; whilfl ev'ry flower 
 
 Vy'd with its fellow-plant in luxury joq 
 
 Of drefs. — Oh ! then the longed fummer's day 
 
 Seem'd too too much in hafte : flill the full heart 
 
 Had not imparted half: 'Twas happinefs 
 
 Too exquifite to laft. Of joys departed 
 
 Not to return, how painful the remembrance! i lo 
 
 Dull Gra've--ihou fpoil'ft the dance of youthful blood, 
 S^k'ft out the dimple from the cheek of Mirth, 
 And ev*ry fmirking feature from the face; 
 Branding our laughter with the name of madnefs. 
 Where are the Jejlers now ? the men of health, 1 15 
 Complexionally pleafant ? where the Droll 
 Whofe ev'ry look and jeflure was a joke 
 To clapping theatres and fhouting crouds. 
 And made ev'n thick-lip'd mufing Melancholy 
 To gather up her face into a fmiJe 1 20 
 
 Before Ihe was aware ? Ah ! fullen now. 
 And dumb, as the green turf that covers them. 
 
 Where are the mighty thunderbolts of war ? 
 The Roman Cafars, and the Grecian Chiefs, 
 The boaft of flory ? Where the hot-brain'd youth, 125 
 Who the Tiara at his pleafure tore, 
 From Kings of all the then difcover'd globe; 
 And cry'd, forfooth, becaufe his arm was hamper 'd. 
 And had not room enough to do its work ? 
 Alas ! how Aim, difhonourably Aim ! 130 
 
 * K ^ And
 
 136* BLAIR. 
 
 And cramra'd into a fpace we blufh to namt. 
 
 Proud Royalty ! how alter'd are thy looks ! 
 
 How blank thy features, and how wan thy hue 1 
 
 !Son of the 7norning! whither art thou gone ? 
 
 Where haft thou hid thy many-fpangled head, 135 
 
 And the majeftic menace of thine eyes. 
 
 Felt from afar ? Pliant and powerlefs now, 
 
 Like new-born infant wound up in his fwathes. 
 
 Or vidini tumbled flat upon its back. 
 
 That throbs beneath the facrificer's knife : 14© 
 
 Mute mull thou bear the ftrife of little tongues. 
 
 And coward infults of the bafe-born croud. 
 
 That grudge a privilege thou never hadft, 
 
 But only hop'd for in the peaceful Grave^ 
 
 Of being unmolefted and alone. HS 
 
 Arabia's guuis and odoriferous drugs. 
 
 And honours by the Heralds duly paid 
 
 In mode and form, ev'n to a very fcruple— 
 
 O cruel Irony ! Thefe come too late ; 
 
 And only mock whom they were meant to honour. i^s 
 
 Surely there's not a dungeon-flave, that's bury'd 
 
 In the highway, unfhrouded and uncofRn'd, 
 
 But lies as fofc, and fleeps as found as he. 
 
 Sorry pre-eminence of high defcent, 
 
 Above the vulgar born, to rot in ftate. 155 
 
 But fee ! the well-plum'd Hear/e comes nodding on. 
 Stately and flow ; and properly attended 
 By the whole fable tribe, that painful watch 
 The fick man's door, and live upon the dead, 
 
 B7
 
 BLAIR. •i^y 
 
 By Jetting out their perfons by the hour 160 
 
 To mimic forrovv, when the heart's not fad. 
 
 How rich the trappings! now they're all unfurl'd, 
 
 And glittering in the fun ; triumphant entries 
 
 Of Conquerors, and Coronation-pomps, 
 
 In glory fcarce exceed. Great gluts of people i6j 
 
 Retard th' unwieldy fhow ; whilll: from the cafements 
 
 And houfes tops, ranks behind ranks clofe wedg'd 
 
 Hang bellying o'er. But tell us, why this vvafte? 
 
 Why this ado in earthing-up a Carcafc 
 
 That's fall'n into difgrace, and in the noftrll ijo 
 
 Smells horrible ? — Ye Undertakers tell us, 
 
 >Midft all the gorgeous figures you exhibit. 
 
 Why is the principal conceal'd, for which 
 
 Ye make this mighty ftir? — 'Tis wifely done : 
 
 What would offend the eye in a good piclure 175 
 
 The painter calls difcreetly into fliades. 
 
 Proud Lineage, now how little thou appear'll 
 Below the envy of the private man. 
 Honour, that meddlefome officious ill, 
 Purfues thee ev'n to death ; nor flops there fhort. 180 
 Strange perfecution ! when the Grave itfelf 
 Is no proteftion from rude fuiFerance. 
 
 Absurd to think to over-reach the Grave^ 
 And from the wreck of names to refcue ours. 
 The bell concerted fchemes men lay for fame 18c 
 
 Die fall away : only themfelves die fader. 
 The far-fam'd Sculptor, and the laurell'd Bard, 
 
 •K 3 Thof*
 
 138* BtAIK. 
 
 Thofe bold infurancers of deathiefs fame. 
 
 Supply their little feeble aids in vain. 
 
 The tap'ring Pyramid, th' ^.gyptian\ pride, 190 
 
 And wonder of the world, whofe fpiky top 
 
 Has wounded the thick cloud, and long outliv'd 
 
 The angry fhaking of the winter's ftorm ; 
 
 Yet fpent at laft by th' injuries of heav'n, 
 
 Shatter'd with age, and furrow'd o'er with years, 195 
 
 The myllic cone, with hieroglyphics crufted. 
 
 At once gives way. Oh ! lamentable fight : 
 
 The labour of whole ages, lumbers down, 
 
 A hideous and mi[s]{hapen length of ruins. 
 
 Sepulchral columns wrellle but in vain 200 
 
 With all-fubduing Time : his cank'ring hand 
 
 With calm delib'rate malice walleth them : 
 
 Worn on the edge of days, the brafs confumes. 
 
 The bufto moulders, and the deep-cut marble, 
 
 Unfteady to the fleel, gives up its charge : 205 
 
 JmbitioTj, half convided of her folly, 
 
 Hangs down the head, and reddens at the tale. 
 
 Here all the mighty Troublers of the earthy 
 Who fwam to fov'reign rule through feas of blood ; 
 Th' oppreffive, fturdy, man-deflroying Villains, 210 
 Who ravag'd kingdoms and laid empires wafte. 
 And in a cruel wantonnefs of power 
 Thinn'd ftates of half their people, and gave up 
 To want the reft; now, like a ftorm that's fpent. 
 Lie hufh'd, and meanly fneak behind thy covert. 215 
 
 V. aoi. her. 
 
 Vain
 
 BLAIR. •iSP 
 
 Vain thought ] to hide them from the gen'ral fcorn. 
 
 That haunts and dogs them like an injur'd ghoft 
 
 Implacable. — Here too the pet/j Tyrant, 
 
 Whofe fcant domains Geographer ne'er notic'd. 
 
 And well for neighbouringgroundsjof arm as Ihort; 230 
 
 Who fix'd his iron talons on the poor. 
 
 And grip'd them like fome lordly beaft of prey ; 
 
 Deaf to the forceful cries of gnawing Hunger, 
 
 And piteous plaintive voice of Mifery : 
 
 (As if a Slave was not a fhred of nature, 22^ 
 
 Of the fame common feelings with his Lon^ :) 
 
 Now tame and humble, like a child that's whipp'd, 
 
 Shakes hands with dull, and calls the worm hiskinfman ; 
 
 Nor pleads his rank and birth-right. Underground 
 
 Precedency'^ a jeft j Vaflal and Lord, <- 239 
 
 Grofsly familiar, fide by fide confume. 
 
 When felf-efteem, or others adulation. 
 Would cunningly perfuade us we were fomething 
 Above the common level of our kind. 
 The Grwve gainfays the fmooth-complexion'd flatt'ry. 
 And with blunt truth acquaints us what we are. 236 
 
 Beauty — thou pretty play-thing., dear deceit. 
 That fteals fo foftly o'er the ilripling's heart. 
 And gives it a new pulfe, unknown before, 
 The Gra've difcredits thee : thy charms expung'd, 240 
 Thy rofes faded, and thy lilies foil'd. 
 What haft thou more to boall of? Will thy Lovers 
 flock round thee now, to gaze and do thee homage ? 
 
 *K 4 Mcthinks
 
 H°* BLAIR. 
 
 Methinki I fee thee witth thy head low laid, 
 
 Whillt, furfeited upon the damaflc cheek, 241 
 
 The high-fed i^orm, in lazy volumes roll'd. 
 
 Riots unfcar'd. — For this was all thy caution ? 
 
 For this thy painful labours at thy glafs, 
 
 T'improve thofe charms, and keep them in repair, 
 
 For which the fpoiler thanks thee not ? Foul feeder, 
 
 Coarfe fare and carrion pleafe thee full as well, 25 1 
 
 And leave as keen a relifh on the fenfe. 
 
 Look, how the fair one weeps I — the confcious tears 
 
 Stand thick as dew drops on the bells of flowers : 
 
 Honeft effufion ! the fwoln heart in vain 255 
 
 Labours to put a glofs on its diHrefs. 
 
 Strength too — thou furly, and lefs gentle boafl 
 Of thofe that laugh loud at the village-ring j 
 A fit of common ficknefs pulls thee down, 
 With greater eafe than e'er thou didft the ftripling, 260 
 That raflily dar'd thee to th' unequal fight. 
 What groan was that I heard ?— Deep groan indeed I 
 With anguifh heavy laden ; let me trace it : 
 From yonder bed it comes, where the ftrong man. 
 By ftronger arm belabour'd, gafps for breath 265 
 
 Like a h^d-hunted beaft. How his great heart 
 Beats thick 1 his roomy cheft by far too fcant 
 To give the lungs full play.— What now avail 
 The ftrong-built finewy limbs, and well-fpread Ihoulders ? 
 See how he tugs for life, and lays about him, 270 
 
 Mad with his pain ! — Eager he catches hold 
 Of what comes next to hand, and grafps it hard, 
 
 Juft
 
 BLAIR. *H^ 
 
 JiiftUlce a creature drowning ; hideous fight ! 
 
 Oh! how his eyes ftand out, and flare full ghaflly! 
 
 Whilft the diftemper's rank and deadly venom, 275 
 
 Shoots lilce a burning arrow crofs his bowels, 
 
 And drinks his marrow up. — Heard you that groan ? 
 
 It was his laft. — See how the great Goliah, 
 
 Juft like a child that brawl'd itfelf to reft. 
 
 Lies ftill. — What mean'ft thou then, O mighty Boafter, 
 
 To vauntofnerves Mike' thine? Whatmeans the Bull, 281 
 
 Unconfcious of his ftrength, to play the coward, 
 
 And flee before a feeble thing like man ; 
 
 That, knowing well the flacknefs of his arm, 
 
 Trufts only in the well-invented knife f 285 
 
 "With JiuJj pale, and midnight vigils fpcnt. 
 The ftar-furveying Sage, clofe to his eye 
 Applies the fight-invigorating Tube ; 
 And, travelling through the boundlefs length of fpace, 
 Marks well the courfes of the far-feen orbs, 290 
 
 That roll with regular confufion there. 
 In ccftafy of thought. But ah ! proud Man, 
 Great heights are hazardous to the weak head : 
 Soon, very foon, thy firmeft footing fails; 
 And down thou dropp'll into that darkfome place 295 
 Where nor device nor knowledge ever came. 
 
 Here the Tongue-Warrior lies, difablcd now, 
 Difarm'd, diftionour'd, like a wretch that's gagg'd. 
 And cannot tell his ail to paflers by. 
 
 V. a8i. of. 
 
 Great
 
 142* BLAIR. 
 
 Great man of language, — whence this mighty change ? 
 
 This dumb defpair, and drooping of the head ? 301 
 
 Tho' ftrong Perfuafion hung upon thy lip. 
 
 And fly Infinuaiion's fofter arts 
 
 In ambufh lay about thy flowing Tongue ; 
 
 Alas I how chop-fall'n now ! Thick mifts and filence 
 
 Reft, like a weary cloud, upon thy breaft 306 
 
 Unceafing. — Ah ! where now's the lifted arm. 
 
 The ftrength of adlion, and the force of words. 
 
 The well-turn'd period, and the well-tun'd voice. 
 
 With all the leflier ornaments of Phrafe ? 310 
 
 Ah ! fled for ever, as they ne'er had been, 
 
 Raz'd from the book of Fame : or, more provoking. 
 
 Perhaps fome hackney hunger-bitten Scribbler 
 
 Infults thy memory, and blots thy tomb 
 
 With long flat narrative, or duller rhimes, 315 
 
 With heavy-halting pace that drawl along ; 
 
 Enough to roufe a dead man into rage. 
 
 And warm with red Refentment the wan Cheek. 
 
 Here the great mailers of the Healing-art, 
 Thefe mighty mock-defrauders of the Tombt 320 
 
 Spite of their 'Juleps and Catholicons, 
 Refi^rn to fate. — Proud ^Jculapius* fon ! 
 Where are thy boafted implements of Art, 
 And all thy well-cramm'd magazines of Health ? 
 Nor Hill, nor Vale, as far as fliip could go, 325 
 
 Nor margin of the gravel bottom'd Brook, 
 Eicap'd thy rifling hand : — from ftubborn flirubs 
 Thou wrung'ft their fliy-retiring Virtues out, 
 
 Acd
 
 BLAIR. ♦i^j 
 
 And vex'd them in the fire; nor fly, nor infeft. 
 
 Nor writhy fnake, efcap'd thy deep refearch. 330 
 
 But why this apparatus ? why this coft ? 
 
 Tell us, thou doughty keeper from the Graue, 
 
 Where are thy Recipes and Cordials now. 
 
 With the long lill of vouchers for thy cures ? 
 
 Alas! thou fpeakeft net. — The bold impoflor 31- 
 
 Looks not more filly when his cheat's found out. 
 
 Here the lank-fided AH/er, worfl of felons. 
 Who meanly dole, (difcrcditable fhifc,) 
 From back, and belly too, their proper cheer; 
 Eas'd of a tax, it irk'd the wretch to pay 5^0 
 
 To his own carcafe ; now lies cheaply lodg'd. 
 By clam'rous Appetites no longer teaz'd. 
 Nor tedious Bills of charges and repairs. 
 But ah! where are his rents, hiscomings-in ? 
 Ay ! now you've made the rich man poor indeed. 34- 
 Robb^d of his Gods, what has he left behind? 
 Oh ! curfed luft of Gold ; when for thy fake. 
 The fool throws up his Int'reft in both Worlds, 
 Firft ftarv'd in this, then damn'd in that to come. 
 
 How {hocking muft thy fummons be, Oh Death ! 350 
 To him who is at eafe in his pofleflions ; 
 Who, counting on long years of pleafure here, 
 Is quite unfurnifh'd for that world to come ! 
 In that dread moment, how the frantic foul 
 Raves round the walls of her clay Tenement, 3^5 
 
 Runs to each avenue, and ihricks for help. 
 
 But
 
 »44* BLAIR. 
 
 But fhrlekj in vain ! — How wifhfully (lie looks 
 
 On all fhe's leaving, now no longer hers ! 
 
 A little longer, yet a little longer. 
 
 Oh ! might Ihe ftay, to waih away her ftains, 360 
 
 And fit her for her pafTage ! — Mournful fight ! 
 
 Her very eyes weep blood ; — and every groan 
 
 She heaves is big with horror. — But the Foe, 
 
 Like a flaunch murd'rer, fleady to his purpofe, 
 
 Purfues her clofe through ev'ry lane of Life, 365 
 
 Nor mifies once the track, but prefTes on ; 
 
 Till, forc'd at lafl to the tremendous Verge, 
 
 At once (he finks to everlafting ruin. 
 
 Sure 'tis a ferious thing /o ^ie ! My foul. 
 What a ftrange moment muft it be, when near 370 
 
 Thy journey's end thou haft the gulf in view ! 
 That awful gulf no mortal e'er repafs'd. 
 To tell what's doing on the other iide. 
 Nature runs back, and Ihudders at the fight, 
 And every life-ftring bleeds at thoughts of parting; '^']^ 
 For part they muft : Body and Soul muft part; 
 Fond couple; link'd more clofe than wedded pair. 
 7his wings its way to its almighty Source, 
 The Witnefs of its ad^ions, now its Judge; 
 7hat drops into the dark and noifome Grave, 38a 
 
 Like a difabled pitcher of no ufe. 
 
 If Death was nothing, and nought after death, 
 If when men dy'd, at once they ceas'd to be. 
 Returning to the barren womb of Nothing, 
 
 Whence
 
 BLAIR. •145 
 
 Whence firllthey fprung; then might the debauchee 385 
 Untrembling mouth the Heav'ns : — Then might ihe dru«- 
 
 kard 
 Reel over his full bowl, and when 'tis drain'd. 
 Fill up another to the brim, and laugh 
 At the poor bug-bear Death: — Then might the Wretch 
 That's weary of the world, and tir'd of life, 390 
 
 At once give each inquietude the flip. 
 By dealing out of being, when he pleas'd, 
 And by what way; whether by hemp, or ftcel. 
 Death's thou/and doors Hand open. — Who could force 
 The ill-pleas'd guell to fit out his full time, 39; 
 
 Or blame him if he goes ? — Sure he does well 
 That helps himfelf as timely as he can. 
 When able. But if there is an Hereafter, 
 And that there is, Confcience, uninfluenc'd. 
 And fuffer'd to fpeak out, tells ev'ry man ; 40O 
 
 Then muft it be an awful thing to die: 
 More horrid yet, to die by one's own hand. 
 Self murder ! — name it not : our ifland's Ihame : 
 That makes her the reproach of neighbouring Hates. 
 Shall Nature, fwerving from her earlieft diclate, 405 
 6elf-prefervation, fall by her own aft ? 
 Forbid it heaven ! — Let not, upon difguft. 
 The fhamelefs hand be foully crimfon'd o'er 
 With blood of his own lord. — Dreadful attempt ! 
 JuU reeking from felf-flaughter, in a rage 410 
 
 To rufli into the prefence of our Judge ; 
 As if we cballeng'd him to do his worft. 
 And matter'd not his wrath. — Unheard of tortures 
 
 Muft
 
 146* BLAIR. 
 
 Muft be referv'd for fuch : thefe herd together ; 
 
 The common danin'd fhun their fociety, 415 
 
 And look upon themfelves as Fiends lefs foul. 
 
 Our time is fix'd, and all our days are number'd ; 
 
 How long, how fhort, we know not :— this we know. 
 
 Duty requires we calmly wait the fummons. 
 
 Nor dare to ftir till Heav'n ihall give permiffion : 420 
 
 Like Gentries that mufl keep their deftin'd Hand, 
 
 And wait th' appointed hour, till they're reliev'd. 
 
 Thofe only are the Brave, who keep their ground, 
 
 And keep it to the laft. To run away 
 
 Is but a coward's trick : to run away 425 
 
 From this world's ills, that at the very worft. 
 
 Will foon blow o'er, thinking to mend ourfelves 
 
 By boldly vent'ring on a world unknown. 
 
 And plunging headlong in the dark ; — 'tis mad : 
 
 No frenzy half fo defperate as this. 430 
 
 V 
 
 Tell us, ye Dead ; will none of you, in pity 
 To thofe you left behind, difclofe the fecret ? 
 Oh ! that fome courteous ghoft would blab it out ; 
 AVhat 'tis you are, and we mufl. fhortly be. 
 I've heard, that fouls departed have fometimes 435 
 
 Forewarn'd men of their death : — 'Twas kindly done 
 To knock, and give 'th' alarum'. — But what means 
 This Hinted charity ? — 'Tis but lame kindnefs 
 That does its work by halves. — Why might you not 
 Tell us what 'tis to die ? — Do the ftrift laws 440 
 
 Of your fociety forbid your fpeaking 
 
 V. 437. the alarm. 
 
 Upon
 
 BLAIR. •147 
 
 Upon a point fo nice ? — I'll aflc no more : 
 Sullen, like lamps in fepulchres, ye Ihine, 
 Enlight'ning but yourfelves. Well,— -'tis no matter; 
 A very little time will clear up all, 44.5 
 
 And make us learn'd as you are, and as clofe. 
 
 Death' sjhafts fly thick: — Here falls the Village fwain. 
 And there his pamper'd Lord. — The cup goes round ; 
 And who fo artful as to put it by ? 
 
 'Tis long fince Death had the majority ; 450 
 
 Yet ftrange ! the Living lay it not to heart. 
 See yonder maker of the dead man's bed. 
 The Sexton, hoary-headed chronicle. 
 Of hard unmeaning face, down which ne'er ftole 
 A gentle Tear; with mattock in his hand 455 
 
 He digs through rows of Kindred and Acquaintance, 
 By far his Juniors. — Scarce a fcuU's call up. 
 But well he knew its Owner, and can tell 
 Some paflage of his life. — Thus hand in hand 
 The fot has walk'd with Death twice twenty years ; 460 
 And yet ne*er Yonker on the green laughs louder. 
 Or clubs a fmuttier tale : — When drunkards meet. 
 None fings a merrier catch, nor lends a hand 
 More willing to his cup. — Poor wretch ! he minds not. 
 That foon fome trufiy brother of the trade, 465 
 
 Shall do for him what he has done for thoufands. 
 
 On this fide, and on that, men fee their friends 
 
 Drop off, like leaves in autumn ; yet launch out, 
 
 Into fantaflic fchcmes, which the lon<j Livers 
 
 la
 
 t4S* BLAIR. 
 
 In the world's hale and undegen'rate days, 470 
 
 Could fcarce have leifure for. — Fools that we are. 
 
 Never to think of Death and of eurfelves 
 
 At the fame time : as if to learn to die 
 
 Where no concern of ours. — Oh ! more than fottifli, 
 
 For creatures of a Day in gamefome mood 475 
 
 To frolic on Eternity's dread brink, 
 
 Unapprehenfive ; when, for aught we know, 
 
 The very firft fwoln Surge fliallfweep us in. 
 
 Think we, or think we not, Time hurries on 
 
 With a refilllefs unremitting ftream ; 480 
 
 Yet treads more foft than e'er did midnight-thief. 
 
 That Aides his hand under the Mifer's pillow, 
 
 And carries off his prize. — What is this World? 
 
 "What ? but a fpacious lurial-jield unwall'd, 
 
 Strew'd with Death's fpoils, the fpoils of animals 485 
 
 Savage and tame, and full of dead men's bones. 
 
 The very turf on which we tread, once liv'd; 
 
 And we that live mull lend our carcafes 
 
 To cover our own offspring : — In their turns 
 
 They too mult cover theirs. — 'Tis here all meet; 49* 
 
 The fhiv'ring Icelander, and fun-burnt Moor j 
 
 Men of all climes, that never met before ; 
 
 And of all creeds, the Jenv, the Turk, and Chripan. 
 
 Here the proud Prince, and Fa^vourite yet prouder, 
 
 His Sov'reign's keeper, and the People's fcourge, 495 ** 
 
 Are huddled out of fight. — Here lie abafli'd 
 
 The great Nrgociators of the earth, 
 
 V. 477. oujjht. 
 
 Ani
 
 BLAIR. •149 
 
 And celebrated Majlen of the balance ^ 
 
 Deep read in ftratagems, and wiles of courts. 
 
 Now vain their Treaty-Jkill : — Death fcorns to treat. 500 
 
 Here the o'crloaded Slaije flings down his burthen 
 
 From his gall'd fhoulders ; — and when the cruel Tyrant, 
 
 With all his guards and tools of pow'r about him. 
 
 Is meditating fome unheard-of hardfhips, 
 
 Mocks his fhortarm : — and quick as thought efcapes 505 
 
 Where Tyrants vex not, and the Weary reft. 
 
 Here the warm Lover, leaving the cool Ihade, 
 
 The tell-tale Echo, and the bubbling ftream, 
 
 (Time out of mind the fav'rite feats of Love,) 
 
 Faft by his gentle Miftrefs lays him down, 5 10 
 
 Unblafted by foul tongue. — Here friends and foes 
 
 Lie clofe ; unmindful of their former feuds. 
 
 The lawn-rob'd Prelate, and plain Prejhyter, 
 
 * Erewhile' that flood aloof, as (hy to meet. 
 
 Familiar mingle here, like fiftcr-ftreams 515 
 
 That fome rude interpofing rock had fplit. 
 
 Here is the large limb'd Peafant : here the Chi/ti 
 
 Of a fpan long, that never faw the fun, 
 
 Nor prefs'd the nipple, ftrangled in Life's porch. 
 
 Here is the Mother, with her fons and daughters : 520 
 
 The barren IV/fe ; and long-demurring Matt/, 
 
 Whofe lonely unappropriated fvveets 
 
 Smil'd like yon knot of cowflips on the cliff. 
 
 Not to be come at by the willing hand. 
 
 Here are the Prui/e fcvere, the gay Coquet, ^2? 
 
 r. 514. E'erwhilc. Z'. 5aj. coullips. 
 
 *L And
 
 i5o» BLAIR. 
 
 And fober Widanx;, and the young green Virgin^ 
 
 Cropp'd like a rofe, before 'tis fully blown, 
 
 Or half its worth difclos'd. Strange medley here-! 
 
 Here garrulous Old Jge winds up his tale ; 
 
 And jovial Youths of lightfome vacant heart, ^30 
 
 VVhofe ev'ry day W4S made of melody. 
 
 Hears not the voice of mirth: — The fhrill-tongu'd ShrcWf 
 
 Meek as the turtle-dove, forgctsj her. chiding. 
 
 Here are the wife, the generous, and the brave. 
 
 The juft, the good, the worthlefs, the profane ; 535 
 
 'l"he downright clown, and perfectly well-bred ; 
 
 The fool, the churl, the fcoundrel, and the mean. 
 
 The fupple ftatefman, and the patiiot Hern ; 
 
 The wrecks of Nations, and the fpoils of Time, 
 
 With all the lumber of fix thoufand years. 540 
 
 Poor Man ! how happy once in x\\y frji ftate ! 
 W^tw yet but v.'arm from thy great maker's hand. 
 He ikrap'd thee with his image, and, well pleas'd, 
 Smil'd on his laft fair work. — Then all v/as well. 
 Sound was the Body, and the Soul ferene ; 54.; 
 
 Like two fweet inftruments ne'er out of tune. 
 That play their feveral parts. — Nor head nor heart 
 Offer'd to ache : Nor was there caufe they Ihould ; 
 For all was pure within : No fell remorfe, 
 Nor anxious caftings-up of what might be, 550 
 
 Alarm'd his peaceful bofom : — Summer Teas 
 Shew not more fmooth,when kifs'd by fouthern winds 
 Juft ready to expire. — Scarce importun'd. 
 The generous foil with a luxuriant hand 
 
 OiFer'd
 
 BLAIR. ♦isi 
 
 Offer'd tlie various produce of the year, 555 
 
 And ev'ry thing moft perfefl in its kind. 
 
 Blefled! thrice blefled days! — But, ah ! how fhorl ! 
 
 Blefs'd as the pleafing dreams of Holy Men; 
 
 But fugitive like thofe, and quickly gone. 
 
 Oh! flipp'ry ftate of things. — What fudden turns ! 560 
 
 What Aran freviciffitudes, in the firft leaf 
 
 Of man's fad hiftory ? — To-day moft happy. 
 
 And ere to-morrow's fun has fet, moft abjeft. 
 
 How fcant the fpace between thefe vaft extremes ! 
 
 Thus far'd it with our Sire : — Not long h' enjoy'd 565 
 
 His paradife. — Scarce had the happy tenant 
 
 Of the fair fpot due time to prove its fweets. 
 
 Or fum them up ; when ftrait he mull be gone, 
 
 Ne'er to return again. — And mufl he go? 
 
 Can nought compound for the liril dire offence 570 
 
 Of erring man ? — Like one that is condemn'd. 
 
 Fain would he trifle time with idle talk. 
 
 And parly with his fate. — But 'tis in vain. 
 
 Not all the lavifli odours of the place v 
 
 Offer'd in incenfe can procure his pardon, j-c 
 
 Or mitigate his doom. — A mighty Angel, 
 
 With flaming fword, forbids his longer flay, 
 
 And drives the loiterer forth ; nor muft he take 
 
 One laftand farewel round. — At once he loft 
 
 His glory, and his God. — If mortal now, 580 
 
 And forely maim'd, no wonder. — Man hasjinji'd. 
 
 Sick of his blifs, and bent on new adventures, 
 
 E--uil he would needs try : Nor try'd in vain. 
 
 (Dreadful experiment ! deftruftive meafure ! 
 
 *L 2 Where
 
 ,5i» BLAIR. 
 
 "Where the word thing could happen 'was' fuccefs,) 585 
 
 Alas ! too well he fped:— The Good he fcorn'd 
 
 Stalk'd ofF reluaant, like an ill-us'd ghoft. 
 
 Not to return ;— or, if it did, its vifits, 
 
 Like thofe of Angels, fhort, and far between : 
 
 Whilll the black D^mon, with his hell-fcap'd Train, 590 
 
 Admitted once into its better room. 
 
 Grew loud and mutinous, iior would be gone; 
 
 Lording it o'er the Man ; who now too late 
 
 Saw the ralh error which he could not mend ; 
 
 An error fatal not to him alone, 595 
 
 But to his future fons, his fortune's heirs. 
 
 Inglorious bondage '.—Human nature grones 
 
 Beneath a vaffalage fo vile and ciuel. 
 
 And its vaft body bleeds through ev'ry vein. 
 
 WHAxhavock W^^ thou made, foul monfter,5/«/ 600 
 Greateft and firft of Ills.— The fruitful parent 
 Of Woes of all dimenfions ! — But for thee 
 Sorrow had never been.— All noxious Thing, 
 Of vileft nature.— Other forts of Evils, 
 Are kindly circumfcrib'd, and have their bounds. 605 
 The fierce Folcano, from its burning entrails 
 That belches molten Stone and globes of Fire, 
 Involv'd in pitchy clouds of fmoke and flench, 
 Marrs the adjacent fields, for fome leagues round. 
 And there it Hops.— The big-fwoln Inundation , 610 
 Of mifchief more difFufive, raving loud, 
 
 r, 585. is. 
 
 Buries
 
 BLAIR. •153 
 
 Buries whole tracks of country, threat'ning more j 
 
 But that too has its Shore it cannot pafs. 
 
 More dreadful far than thefe ! Sin has laid wafte, 
 
 Not here and there a country, but a World : 615 
 
 Difpatching at a wide-extended blow 
 
 Entire mankind ; and for their fakes defacing 
 
 A whole Creation's beauty with rude hands ; 
 
 Blading the f )odfuI grain, the loaded branches. 
 
 And marking all along its way with ruin. 620 
 
 Accurfed Thing ! — Oh ; where fhall Fancy find 
 
 A proper name to call thee by, exprefiive 
 
 Of all thy horrors ? — Pregnant womb of Ills ! 
 
 Of temper fo tranfcendently malign. 
 
 That Toads and Serpents of mod deadly kind, 625 
 
 Compar'd to thee, are harmlefs. — Sickneffes 
 
 Of ev'ry iize and fymptom, racking pains. 
 
 And blueft plagues, are thine. — See how the fiend 
 
 Profufely fcatters the contagion round ! 
 
 Whilft deep-mouth'd Slaughter, bellowing at her heeis^ 
 
 Wades deep in blood new fpiltj yet for to-morrow 631 
 
 Shapes out new work of great uncommon daring. 
 
 And inly pines till the dread blow is flruck. 
 
 But hold, — I've gone too far ; too much difcover'd 
 My Father's nakednefs, and Nature's fliame. 635 
 
 Here let me paufe, and drop an honeft Tear, 
 One burft of filial duty and condolence, 
 O'er all thofe ample defarts Death hath fpread. 
 This C^flj/ of mankind. O giQzi Man-eater ! 
 
 •L 3 Whofe
 
 154* BLAIR. 
 
 Whofe ev'ry day is Carnival, not fated ! 64.0 
 
 Unheard-of Epicure ! without a fellow ! 
 The verieft Gluttons do not always cram ; 
 Some intervals of abftinence are fought 
 To edge the Appetite : Thou feekeft none. 
 Methinks the countlefs fwarms thou haft devour'd, 645 
 And thoufands that each hour thou gobbleft up; 
 Thisy lefs than this, might gorge thee to the full. 
 But ah! rapacious ftill, thou gap'ft for more : 
 Like one, whole days defrauded of his meals, 
 On whom lank Hunger lays her Ikinny hand, 650 
 
 ■ And whets to keeneft eagernefs his cravings. 
 (As if difeafes, mafiacres, and poifon, 
 Famine, and war, were not thy Caterers. 
 
 But know, that thou muft render up thy Dead, 
 And with high Int'reft too. They are not thine; 655 
 But only in thy keeping for a feafon, 
 Till the great promis'd day of Reftitution ; 
 When loud diifufive found, from brazen trump 
 Of ftrong-lung'd Cherub, fhall alarm thy Captives, 
 And roufe the long, long fleepers into life, 660 
 
 Day-light, and liberty. 
 
 7hen muft thy Gates fly open, and reveal 
 
 The mines that lay long forming under ground, 
 
 In their dark cells immur'dj but now full ripe, 
 
 And pure as filver from the crucible, 665 
 
 That twice has flood the torture of the fire 
 
 And inqui^i^'on of the forge. — We know 
 
 V. 640. not fated yet ! 
 
 Th'
 
 BLAIR. •ijj 
 
 Th' illuflrious Deliverer of mankind, 
 
 The Son of God, thee foil'd. — Him in thy pow'r 
 
 Thou could'ft not hold : — felf-vigorous he rofe, 670 
 
 And, fliaking oiFthy fetters, foon retook 
 
 Thofe fpoils his voluntary yielding lent: 
 
 (Sure pledge of our releafement from thy thralJ) 
 
 Twice twenty days he fojourn'd here on earth. 
 
 And fhevv'd himfelf alive to chofen JVitneJ/es, 675 
 
 By proofs fo ftrong, that the moft flow affenting 
 
 Had not a fcruple left. — This having done. 
 
 He mounted up to heav'n. — Methinks I fee him 
 
 Climb the aerial heights, and glide along. 
 
 Athwart the fevering clouds: But the faint eye, 680 
 
 Flung backwards in the chace, foon drops its hold, 
 
 Difabled quite, and jaded with purfuing. 
 
 Heaven's portals wide expand to let him in ; 
 
 Nor are his friends fhut out : as fome great Prince 
 
 Not for himfelf alone procures admiffion, 685 
 
 But for his train : — It was his Royal will. 
 
 That where he is, there (hould his followers be. 
 
 Death only lies between. — A gloomy path ! 
 
 Made yet more gloomy by our coward fears : 
 
 But not untrod, nor tedious : The fatigue 690 
 
 Will foon go off. — Befides, there's no by-road 
 
 To blifs. — Then why, like ill-condition'd children. 
 
 Start we at tranfient hardfhips, in the way 
 
 That leads to purer air and fofter fkies. 
 
 And a ne'er-fetting fun ? — Fools that we are ! 695 
 
 We wilh to be where Sweets unwith'ring bloom j 
 
 But ftrait our wilh revoke, and will not go. 
 
 So
 
 156* BLAIR. 
 
 So have I feen upon a fummer's ev'n, 
 
 Faft by the riv'let's brink, a Youngfter play : 
 
 How wi(hfully he looks to ftem the tide, 70Q 
 
 This moment refolute, next unrefolv'd : 
 
 At laft, he dips his foot ; but as he dips. 
 
 His fears redouble, and he runs away 
 
 From th' incffenfive ftream, unmindful now 
 
 Of all the flow'rs that paint the further bank, 705 
 
 And fmil'd fo fweet of late. — Thrice welcome Death ! 
 
 That after many a painful bleeding ftep 
 
 Condufts us to our home, and lands us fafe 
 
 On the long-wifh'd-for fhore. —Prodigious change ! 
 
 Our bane turn'd to a blefling ! — Death difarm'd 710 
 
 Lofes his fellnefs quite. — All thanks to him 
 
 Who fcourg'd the venom out.— — Sure the laji end 
 
 Of the good Man is Peace ! — 'How calm his Exit ! 
 
 Night-dews fall not more gently to the ground, 
 
 Nor weary worn-out winds expire fo foft. 715 
 
 Behold him in the evening-tide of Life, 
 
 A life well fpent, whofe early care it was 
 
 His riper years Ihould not upbyaid his green : 
 
 By unperceiv'd degrees he wears away ; 
 
 Yet, like the fun, feems larger at his fetting. 720 
 
 (High in his faith and hopes,) look how he drives 
 
 After the prize in view ! and, like a bird 
 
 That's hamper'd, ftruggles hard to get away : 
 
 Whilft the glad gates of fight are wide expanded 
 
 To let new glories in, the firft fair fruits 725 
 
 Of the faft-coming harvell. — Then ! Oh ! then ! 
 
 Each earth-born joy grows vile, or difappears. 
 
 Shrunk
 
 BLAIR. •i^j 
 
 Slirunk to a thing of nought. Oh ! how he longs 
 
 To have his paflport fign'd, and be d fmifs'd ! 
 
 'Tis done ! and now he's happy : — The ghd Soul 730 
 
 Has not a wifh uncrown'd. — Ev'n the lag FUjJlr 
 
 Rejis too in Hope of meeting once again 
 
 Its better half, never to funder more. 
 
 Nor (hall it hope in vain : — The time draws on 
 
 When not a fingle fpot of burial-earth, 73c 
 
 Whether on Land, or in the fpacious Sea, 
 
 But muft give back its long committed dull 
 
 Inviolate : — And faithfully fliall thefe 
 
 Make up the full account; not the leaft atom 
 
 Embezzl'd, or miflaid, of the whole tale. 7x0 
 
 Each Soul Ihall have a Body ready furnifh'd ; 
 
 And each (hall have his own. — Hence ye prophane, 
 
 Afk not, how this can be ? — Sure the fame pow'r 
 
 That rear'd the piece at firft, and took it down. 
 
 Can re-aflemble the loofe fcatter'd parts, -j^e 
 
 And put them as they were. — Almighty God 
 
 Has done much more; nor is his arm impair'd 
 
 Thro' length of days ; and what he can, he will : 
 
 His Faithfulnefs Hands bound to fee it done. 
 
 When the dread trumpet founds, the flumb'ring duft, 
 
 (Not unattentive to the call,) fliall wake : 751 
 
 And ev'ry joint pofTefs its proper place 
 
 With a new elegance of form, unknown 
 
 To its firft ftate. — Nor fliall the confcious Soul 
 
 Miftake its partner ; but amidft the Croud 755 
 
 V. 729. difmis'd. 
 
 Singling
 
 !58* 
 
 BLAIR. 
 
 Singling its other half, into its arms 
 
 Shall rufh, with all th' impatience of a Man 
 
 That's new come home, who, having long been abfent 
 
 With halle runs over ev'ry different room, 
 
 In pain to fee the whole. Thrice happy meeting ! 760 
 
 Nor Tiine, nor Death, fhall ever part them more. 
 
 'Tis but a Night, a long and moonlefs Night, 
 
 We make the Grave our bed, and then are gone. 
 
 Thus, at the fhut of ev'n, the weary Bird 
 Leaves the wide air, and in fome lonely brake 
 Cow'rs down, and dozes till the dawn of day. 
 Then claps his well-fledg'd wings, and bears away. 
 
 76^
 
 E L E G Y: 
 TO SPRING. 
 
 (written in the authors last sicknesj.) 
 
 BY MICHAEL BRUCE.* 
 from his " Poems," 1782. 
 
 ? 'T~^IS part ; the iron North has fpent his rage ; 
 
 X Stern Winter now refigns the length'ning day ; 
 The ftormy howlings of the winds afiwage. 
 And warm o'er ether weftern breezes play. 
 
 Of genial heat and cheerful light the fource, 5 
 
 From fouthern climes, beneath another fky. 
 
 The fun, returning, wheels his golden courfe ; 
 Before his beams all noxious vapours fly. 
 
 Far to the North grim Winter draws his train 
 
 To his own clime, to Zembia's frozen (hore ; 10 
 
 Where, thron'd on ice, he holds eternal reign ; 
 
 Where whirlwinds madden, and where tempells roar. 
 
 Loos'd from the bands of froft, the verdant ground 
 Again puts on her robe of cliecrful green, 
 
 Again puts forth her flow'rs ; and all around, ic 
 
 Smiling, the cheerful face of Spring is feen. 
 
 *■ Born-lf. , ; dyed I J. . . 
 
 Behold !
 
 i6o BRUCE. 
 
 Behold ! the trees new-deck their wither'd boughs j 
 Their ample leaves the hofpitable plane. 
 
 The taper elm, and lofty afh difclofe; 
 
 The blooming hawthorn variegates the fcene. 20 
 
 The lily of the vale, of flow'rs the queen. 
 Puts on the robe flie neither few'd nor fpun : 
 
 The birds on ground, or on the branches green. 
 Hop to and fro, and glitter in the fan. 
 
 Soon as o'er eaftern hills the morning peers, 25 
 
 From her low neft the tufted lark upfprings ; 
 
 And cheerful finging, up the air fhe fleers ; 
 
 Still high fhe mounts, flill loud and fweet fhe fings. 
 
 On the green furze, cloth'd o'er with golden blooms. 
 That fill the air with fragrance all around, 30 
 
 The linet fits, and tricks his glofTy plumes. 
 While o'er the wild his broken notes refound. 
 
 While the fun journeys down the weflern fky, 
 
 Along the green-fward, mark'd with Roman mound, 
 
 Beneath the blithfome fhepherd's watchful eye, 35 
 
 The cheerful lambkins dance and frifk around. 
 
 Now is the time for thofe who wifdom love, ' 
 Who love to walk in virtue's flow'ry road. 
 
 Along the lovely paths of Spring to rove. 
 
 And follow Nature up to Nature's God, 40 
 
 Thus
 
 B R U C E, i6r 
 
 Thus Zoroafler ftudied Nature's laws; 
 
 Thus Socrates, the wifell: of mankind; 
 Thus heav'n-taught Plato trac'd th' Almighty caufe, 
 
 And left the wond'ring multitude behind. 
 
 Thus Aftiley gather'd Academic bays ; 45 
 
 Thus gentle Thomfon, as the Seafons roll. 
 
 Taught them to fing the great Creator's praife, 
 And bear their poet's name from pole to pole. 
 
 Thus have I walk'd along the dewy lawn; 
 
 My frequent foot the blooming wild hath worn; 50 
 Before the lark I've fung the beauteous dawn. 
 
 And gather'd health from all the gales of morn. 
 
 And, even when Winter chill'd the aged year, 
 
 I wander'd lonely o'er the hoary plain ; 
 Tho' frofly Boreas warn'd me to forbear, 55 
 
 Boreas, with all his tempefts, warn'd in vain. 
 
 Then fkep my nights, and quiet blefs'd my days; 
 
 I fear'd no lofs, my Mind was all my (lore; 
 No anxious wifhes e'er difturb'd my eafe; 
 
 Heav'n gave content and health — I afk'd no more. 60 
 
 Now Spring returns : but not to me returns 
 The vernal joy my better years have known ; 
 
 Dim in my bread life's dying taper burns, 
 And all the joys of life with health are flown. 
 
 M Starting
 
 i62 BRUCE. 
 
 Starting and fhiv'ring in th' inconftant wind, 6^ 
 
 Meagre and pale, the ghoft of what I was. 
 
 Beneath fome blafted tree 1 lie reclin'd, 
 
 And count the filent moments as they pafs : 
 
 The winged moments, whofe unftaying fpeed 
 
 No art can flop, or in their courfe arreft ; - 70 
 
 Whofe flight ftiall Ihortly count me with the dead, 
 And lay me down in peace with them that reft. 
 
 Oft morning-dreams prefage approaching fate ; 
 
 And morning-dreams, as poets tell, are true : 
 Led by pale ghofts, I enter Death's dark gate, 75 
 
 And bid the realms of light and life adieu. 
 
 I hear the helplefs wail, the ftrlek of wo; 
 
 I fee the muddy wave, the dreary fhore. 
 The fluggilh ftreams that flowly creep below. 
 
 Which mortals vifit, and return no more. 8© 
 
 Farewell, ye blooming fields ! ye cheerful plains! 
 
 Enough for me the church-yard's lonely mound. 
 Where Melancholy with Itill Silence reigns. 
 
 And the rank grafs waves o'er the cheerlefs ground. 
 
 There let me wander at the fhut of eve, 85 
 
 When fleep fits dewy on the labourer's eyes. 
 
 The world and all its bufy follies leave. 
 
 And talk with wifdom where my Daphnis* lies. 
 
 * " yi young boy of great parts,"" to whofe mmiry the autber hat 
 left a momclf, is imitation of Miltons Lycidas.
 
 BRUCE. 
 
 163 
 
 There let me fleep forgotten in the clay. 
 
 When death fhall fhut thefc weary aching eyes, 90 
 Reft in the hopes of an eternal day. 
 
 Till the long night's gone, and the ♦ laft' morn 'rife*. 
 
 y. 91. loft, arife. PC. 
 
 
 »»•"■••*' 
 
 M 2
 
 
 "''^-V 
 
 ^ ^S*.**^ tj^ 
 
 ^u )i;^ 
 
 THE 
 
 CALEDONIAN MUSE 
 
 PART II. 
 
 POEMS 
 BY UNCERTAIN AUTHORS. 
 
 S I R P E N N y. 
 
 Frcm Lord Haikses edition, after the Hyndfor^i MS, 
 
 RYCHT fane wald I my quentans mak 
 With Sir Penny; and wat ye quhy ? 
 He is a man will undertak 
 Lands for to fell, and [als to] by; 
 Thairfoir, me think, rycht fane wuld I 
 With him in fellofchip to repair; 
 Becaus he is in cumpany 
 Ane noble gyd bayth lait and air. 
 
 Sir
 
 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 165 
 
 Sir Penny for till hald in hand. 
 
 His cumpany thay think fo fweit, 10 
 
 Sum givis na cair to fell his land. 
 
 With gud Sir Penny for to melt ; 
 
 Becaufe he is a noble fpreit, 
 
 Ane furthy man, and ane forfeand; 
 
 Thair is no matter to end compleit, 1 5 
 
 Quhill he fett to his feill and hand. 
 
 Sir Penny is a vallyeant man, 
 
 Off mekle ftrenth and dignitie. 
 
 And evir fen the warld began. 
 
 In to this land autoreift is he ; 20 
 
 With king and quene may ye nocht fe. 
 
 They treit him ay fo tendirly. 
 
 That thair can na thing endit be. 
 
 Without him in thair cumpany. 
 
 Sir Penny is a man of law, 25 
 
 Witt ye Weill, bayth wyis and war. 
 
 And mony reflbnis can furth fchaw, 
 
 Quhen he is ftandand at the bar ; 
 
 Is nane fo wyis can him defar, 
 
 Quhen he proponis furth ane pie, jO 
 
 Nor yit fa hardy man that dar 
 
 Sir Penny tyne, or difobey. 
 
 Sir Penny is baith fcherp and wyis. 
 The kirks to fteir he takks on hand ; "l^ 
 
 Difponar he is of benefyis, je 
 
 In to this realme, our all the land, 
 
 M 3 Is
 
 i66 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 
 
 Is none fo vvlcht dar him ganeftand ; 
 
 So wyifly can Sir Penny wirk. 
 
 And als Sir Simony his ferwand, . 
 
 That now is gydar of the kirk. 40 
 
 Gif to the courts thow maks repair. 
 And thow haif materls to proclame, 
 Thow art unable weill to fair, 
 • Sir Penny and thow leif at hame. 
 To bring him furth thynk thow na fchame, 4.5 
 
 I do ye weill to undetlland ; 
 Into thy bag beir thow his name. 
 Thy mater cummis the bettir till hand. 
 
 Sir Penny now is made ane owie, 
 
 Thay wirk him mekle tray and tene, fO 
 
 Thay hald him in quhill he hair-mowie. 
 
 And makis him blind of baith his ene; 
 
 Thairowt he is bot feyndill fene, 
 
 Sa fafl thairain they can him fteik. 
 
 That pure commownis can nocht obtene 5J 
 
 Ane day to byd with him to fpeik. 
 
 --.;;i.llWlllM!';mf]|riinirIU!liniHI!llfli(..'(J
 
 THE 
 
 WIFE OF AUCHTERMUCHTY. 
 
 From the fame authority. 
 
 IN Auchtermuchty thair dwelt ane man. 
 An hufband, as I hard it tawld, 
 Quha weill could tippill out a can, 
 And naithir luvit hungir nor cauld : 
 <iuhill anis it fell upon a day, 5 
 
 He yokkit his pleuch upon the plain ; 
 Gif it be trew, as I heard fay. 
 The day was fowll for wind and rain. 
 
 He lowfit the pleuch at the landis end. 
 
 And draife his oxin hame at evinj 40 
 
 Quhen he come in he lukit ben. 
 
 And faw the wif baith dry and clene. 
 
 And fittand at ane fyre, beik and bawld. 
 
 With ane fat fowp, as I hard fay : 
 
 The man being verry weit and cawld, 1 5 
 
 Betwein thay twa it was na play. 
 
 Quoth he, Quhair is my horfis corn ? 
 
 My ox hes naithir hay nor ftray ; 
 
 Dame, ye man to the pleuch to morn, 
 
 I fall be hufly, gif I may. £0 
 
 M 4 Hulband,
 
 i68 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 
 
 Hufjand, quoth fcho, content am I 
 To tak the pleuch my day about, 
 Sa ye will rewll baith kavis and ky. 
 And all the houfe baith in and out. 
 
 But fen that ye will huflyfkep ken, 25 
 
 Firfl: ye fall fift, and fyne fall kned ; 
 
 And ay as ye gang but and ben, 
 
 Luke that the bairnis 6rji not the bed. 
 
 Yeis lay ane foft wyfp to the kill, 
 
 We half ane deir ferme on our heid, 30 
 
 And ay as ye gang furth and in, 
 
 Keip weill the gaiilingis fra the gled. 
 
 The wyf was up richt late at evin, 
 
 I pray God gife her evill to fair, 
 
 Scho kirnd the kirn, and fkumd it dene, 35 
 
 And left the gudeman bot the bledoch bair j 
 
 Than in the morning up fcho gat. 
 
 And on hir hairt laid hir disjune. 
 
 And pat als meikle in hir lap. 
 
 As micht haif ferd them baith at nunc, 40 
 
 Says, Jok, will be thou maifter of wark, 
 
 And thou fall had, and I fall kail; 
 
 Ife promife the ane gude new fark, 
 
 Outhir of round cLaith or of fmall. 
 
 Scho lowfit the oxin aught or nine, 45 
 
 And hynt ane gad-ftafF in her hand ; 
 
 Up the gudeman raife aftir fyne. 
 
 And faw the wyf had done command. 
 
 And
 
 UNCERTAIN A UT HOURS. 169 
 
 And cawd the gaiflingis furth to feU, 
 
 Thair was bot fevenfum of tham all ; 50 
 
 And by thair cumis the gredy gled, 
 
 jAnd lickit up five, left him bot twa; 
 
 Than out he ran in all his mane. 
 
 How fune he hard the gaiflingis cry; 
 
 But than or he came in againe, 55 
 
 The calvis brak loufe, and fuckit the ky. 
 
 The calvis and ky met in the lone. 
 
 The man ran with ane rung to red ; 
 
 Than thair cumis ane ill-willy cow. 
 
 And brodit his buttok quhill that it bled. Co 
 
 Than hame ran to an rok of tow. 
 
 And he fatt down to fay the fpinning ; 
 
 ^I trow he lowtit our neir the low. 
 
 Quoth he, this wark hes ill beginning. 
 
 Than to the kirn that did he ftoure, 65 
 
 And jumlit at it quhill he fvvat : 
 
 ,Quhcn he had fumblit a full lang hour. 
 
 The forow fcrap of butter he gatL. 
 
 Albeit na butter he could gett, 
 
 Yit he was cummerit with the kirne, 70 
 
 And fyne he het the milk our het. 
 
 And forrow a fpark of it wald yyrne. 
 
 Than ben their cam ane greidy fow, 
 
 I trow he cund hir littill thank ; 
 
 For in fcho fchot hir mekle mow, 7 5 
 
 And ay fcho winkit afld fcho drank. 
 
 He
 
 170 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 
 
 He cleikit up ane crukit club. 
 
 And thocht to hitt the fow a rout. 
 
 The tv/a gai flings the gled had left. 
 
 That ftraik dang baith their harnis out. So 
 
 Than he bear kendling to the kill. 
 
 But fcho fiart all up in ane low; 
 
 Quhat evir he hard, qui5at evir he faw. 
 
 That day he had na will to wow. 
 
 Than he gied to take up the bairnis, 85 
 
 Thocht to haif fund thame fair and clene ; 
 
 The firll that he got in his armis. 
 
 Was all bedirtin to the ene. 
 
 The firil that he gat in his armh, 
 
 it was all dii t up to the eine ; 90 
 
 The devill cut aff thair hands, quoth he. 
 
 That fild you all as fow yiftrein. 
 
 He trailit the fouU fheitis down the gait, 
 
 Thocht to haif wafcht them on an ftane. 
 
 The burn wes rifen grit of fpait, 95 
 
 Away fra him the flieitis hes tane. 
 
 Then up he gat on ane know heid. 
 
 On hir to cry, on hir to fchout, 
 
 Scho hard hiin, and fcho hard him not, 
 
 Bot ftoutly fteirid the ftottis about. lOO 
 
 Scho draif the day unto the nicht, 
 
 Scho lowfit the pleuch and fyne come hame; 
 
 Scho fand all wrang that fould bene richt, 
 
 I trow the man thocht right grit fchame. 
 
 Quotk
 
 UNCERTAIN A UT HOURS. 
 
 Quoth he, my office I forfaik. 
 
 For all the dayis of my lyfe. 
 
 For I wald put anc houfe to wrailc, 
 
 Had I bene twenty dayis gudwife. 
 
 Quoth fcho, Weill met ye bruke your place. 
 
 For trewlie I will never excepit ; 
 
 Quoth he, fcind fall the lyaris face, 
 
 Bot yit ye may be blyth to get it. 
 
 Than up fcho gat ane mekle rung. 
 And the gudnian maid to the doir; 
 Quoth he, Dcme, I fall hald my tung, 
 ' For and we fecht I'll gett the woir. 
 Quoth he, quhen I forfeik my pleu«h, 
 I trow I bot forfuk my feill. 
 And I will to my plench agane, 
 for I and this hous will nevir do weill. 
 
 I7» 
 105 
 
 no 
 
 ^J> 
 
 120
 
 ^ BE 
 
 H N E T-M O ON, 
 
 Frtm a MS. of the latter fart of the i6i& century, in the 
 Cotton library. 
 
 By weft of late as I dyd walkc. 
 In the pryme tyme of the day, 
 Yt was my chaunce to here the talke 
 Of two yonge folkes in * fay' ; 
 
 They had not bene marred ar the kyrfte 5 
 
 Thre dayes then fully paft. 
 The good man bad his wyife to worke. 
 Nay foft, quod fhe, no hafte. 
 
 For now 
 I wyll, quod fhe, not worke for the, lO 
 
 I make to God a vowe. 
 
 And yf thow wylt not worke, quod he. 
 
 Thou drab I fhall the dryve. 
 
 1 would to God, thow knave, quod fhe. 
 
 Thou durft that matter ♦ pryve/ 15 
 
 The godman for to beate his wyffe 
 
 In hande a pafe he went, — 
 
 He caught two blowes vpon his head 
 
 For every one he lent. 
 
 In dede j 2» 
 
 He never * blan' beating her than— ■ 
 Tyll both hys eares dyd blede. 
 
 V. 4. fay. M^. V. 15. preve, MS. 
 
 V, %i. blandc. MS. 
 
 He
 
 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 173 
 
 He was Co flowte and fterne that ftourc. 
 
 And fearfle with her in fyght. 
 
 That even vpon the ftony flowre — 25 
 
 She knokt his head full ryght. 
 
 The <yood wyffe was wonderous wake in handc, 
 
 Fearefull and nothing bold. 
 
 But he — had never a fott to ftande 
 
 When Ihe of hym caught hold, 3© 
 
 By the crage; 
 And with her fyfl: his mouth flie kyft, 
 As faft as yt myght wagge. 
 
 Now then, fhe cryed lowd, a lake ! 
 
 I do you well to wytt — 55 
 
 But he lay downe vpon his bake. 
 
 And (he ftode on her fett; 
 
 Bending her felfFe to hym a pacce. 
 
 She cryed him merfy then, — 
 
 And pylled the barke even of hys face 40 
 
 With her commaundementes ten ; 
 
 And oft 
 She dyd hjm doffe abowt the nolle, 
 Tyll ' al' hys facce was fofte. 
 
 Now when the neybowres hard the noyfe, 45 
 
 So longe betwen them twayne, 
 
 They wyft yt was no wanton toyes, 
 
 And faft thether they ranne; 
 
 But when they came, in vayne y| was. 
 
 The dores was fparred rounde, 50 
 
 r, 44. at. MS. 
 
 The
 
 174- UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 
 
 The good wyfFe cryed owt alas ! 
 But he — lay on the grounde, 
 
 Well beate ; 
 Lying alonge he fayd among 
 That better he would her heate. 
 
 V. 60. wvrkc. r^'ii^. 
 
 55 
 
 Hys neybowres they were fore afrayde 
 That he would kyll hys wyfFe, 
 Then hym full inftantly they prayde 
 To ftynt ana leave hys ftryfte, 
 ■ And not hys wrath vpon her ' wreache*, 60 
 
 They dyd hym all exorte ; 
 Nay, nay, quod he, I (hall her teache 
 How Ihe Ihall be fo fliorte 
 
 With me; — 
 Yet on his face fhe layd apace, 6^ 
 
 And cryed hym ftyll merfc. 
 
 Whiche thing to here the neyboures all 
 
 Dyd pytty her {0 fore. 
 
 That to the goodman they dyd call. 
 
 And fayd, for (hame, no more: 70 
 
 He bad them then go pyke them home. 
 
 And there go medle them now ; 
 
 I am, quod he, not fuche a one. 
 
 To leave fighting for yowe, 
 
 I trow: 
 Yet for all this, they fayd, I wys. 
 
 Small nej-boure hede he dyd fhowe. 
 
 75 
 
 Some
 
 UNCERTAIN AUTIIOURS. 175 
 
 Some prayed hym, in avoyding cryme. 
 
 That he hys hande would hold ; 
 
 Let her, quod he, another tyme, 80 
 
 Not be with me fo bolde ; 
 
 For furedly, and owght I \Vere 
 
 To bede her taunte or cheke,— 
 
 But he could fcante the fame declare, 
 
 She held fo faft hys neke, 85 
 
 In a bande ; 
 Alas, quod fhe, wyll ye kyll me? 
 Swete hufbaund, hold youre hande. 
 
 His neyboures then were fore afrayed. 
 
 That he would her devoiire, 90 
 
 The dorres then being fail fparred 
 
 They threw them in the flowre; 
 
 The good wyffe lepte away apace. 
 
 When fhame had put to flyght. 
 
 And he, well blowen abowt the face, 95 
 
 Began to flande upright, 
 
 Nere made; 
 
 Xo wyght of ikyll, I think, judge wyll 
 
 But he thcreoiF was glade. 
 
 All thoughe his bake were fomewhat dud, roo 
 
 After a folyfhe guylTe, 
 
 Yet was the man hym fclfFe fo lull,— 
 
 That fcarcly he could ryfle. 
 
 The good wyffe dyd her chamber take-> 
 
 Shewing her feliF in drede; loj 
 
 V. 92. flowre. MS. 
 
 To
 
 \j^ UNCERTAIN AUTHOURg. 
 
 To neyboures the goodman myrtli dyd make. 
 To them that fliwe that dede, 
 
 All and fotne; 
 To whom he fware, that he had thare 
 Slane her had they not come. 
 
 I lO 
 
 * Wifh' all yong msrryed wyvcs I wyll 
 No fuch mafters to • pryve'. 
 But even obey youre hufbandes flyll, 
 Lefie they to vvorke yowe dryve j 
 And feing that yt ys not the beft 
 To leve in debate and ftryfFe, 
 God fend all • then' that quiet reft 
 May be with man and wyffe. 
 
 To the end ; 
 Grant vs all pray both night and day. 
 That God fuch grace may fende. 
 
 I ¥5 
 
 IZO 
 
 V. III. with. MS. V. 112. prcvc. M^. 
 
 r. ii;. them. MS. V. izo. Grant] fie MS. f. Lat {Lct\
 
 THE 
 
 BATTLE OF HARLAW, 
 
 FOUCHTEN UPON FRIDAY, JULY 24. I4II, AGAINST 
 DONALD OF THE ISLES. 
 
 From ** the E-ver Green" 
 
 FRAE Dunideir as I cam throuch, 
 Doun by the hill of Banochie, 
 Allangft the lands of Garioch, 
 Grit pitie was to heir and fe 
 The noys and dulefum hermonie, c 
 
 That evir that dreiry day did daw. 
 Cry and the Corynoch on hie, 
 Alas! alas! for the Harlaw. 
 
 I marvHt quhat the matter meint, 
 
 All folks war in a fiery fairy : 10 
 
 I will nocht quha was fae or freind ; 
 
 Zit quietly I did me carrie. 
 
 But fen the days of auld king Hairy, 
 Sic flauchter was not hard nor fcne, 
 
 And thair I had nae tyme to tairy, j 5 
 
 For biflinefs in Aberdene. 
 
 Thus as I walkit on the way, 
 
 To Inverury as I went, 
 I met a man and bad him ftay, 
 
 Requeifting him to mak me quaint, 20 
 
 N Qf
 
 178 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 
 
 Of the beginning and the event, 
 That happenit thair at the Harlavv ; 
 
 Then he entreited me tak tent. 
 And he the truth fould to me fchavv. 
 
 Grit Donald of the Yles did claim 25 
 
 Unto the lands of Rofs fum richt. 
 And to the Governour he came. 
 
 Them for to haif gif that he micht: 
 
 Quha favv his intereft was but flicht ; 
 And thairfore anfvverit with difdain ; 30 
 
 He haftit hame baith day and nicht. 
 And fent nae bodward back again. 
 
 But Donald rieht impatient 
 
 Of that anfwer duke Robert gaif. 
 He vowd to God omnipotent, 3j 
 
 All the hale lands of Rofs to haif, 
 
 Or ells be graithed in his graif. 
 He wald not quat his richt for nocht. 
 
 Nor be abufit lyk a llaif. 
 That bargin fould be deirly bocht. 40 
 
 Then haiftylie he did command. 
 
 That all his weir-men fhould convene. 
 
 Ilk an well harnifit frae hand. 
 
 To meit and heir quhat he did mein ; 
 
 V. a;. Governour.] Robert duke of Albany, uncle to King 
 James I. The account of this famous battle may be feen in 
 our Scots hiftories. 
 
 He
 
 UNCERTAIN AUTH0UR3. 179 
 
 He waxit wrath and vowit tein, 45 
 
 Sweirand he wald furpryfe the North, 
 
 Subdew the brugh of Aberdene 
 Mearns, Angus, and all Fyfi:, to Forth. 
 
 Thus with the weir-men of the Yles, 
 
 Quha war ay at his bidding bown, 50 
 
 With money maid, with forfs and wy!s, 
 
 Richt far and neir baith up and doun : 
 
 Throw mount and muir, frae town to town, 
 Allangft the lands of Rofs he roars. 
 
 And all obey'd at his bandown, j- 
 
 Evin frae the North to Suthren fhoars. 
 
 Then all the countrie men did zield ; 
 
 For nae refillans durft they mak. 
 Nor offer battil in the feild. 
 
 Be forfs of arms to beir him bak; 60 
 
 Syne they refolvit all and fpak, 
 That bell it was for thair behoif. 
 
 They fould him for thair chiftain tak. 
 Believing weil he did them luve. 
 
 Then he a proclamation maid, 65 
 
 All men to meet at Invernefs, 
 Throw Murray land to mak a raid, 
 
 Frae Arthurfyre unto Spey-nefs. 
 
 And further mair, he fent exprefs. 
 To fchaw his collours and enfenzie, 70 
 
 To all and findry, mair and lefs, 
 Throchout the boundis of Boyn and Enzie. 
 
 N z And
 
 i8o UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 
 
 And then throw fair Strathbogie land. 
 
 His purpofe was for to purfew, 
 And quhafoevir durft gainftand, 75 
 
 That race they fhould full fairly rew. 
 
 Then he bad all his men be trew, 
 And him defend by forfs and flicht. 
 
 And promift them rewardis anew, 
 And mak them men of mekle micht. 80 
 
 Without refiftans as he faid, 
 
 Throw all thefe parts he ftoutly paft, 
 Quhair fum war wae, and fum war glaid, 
 
 But Garloch was all agaft. 
 
 Throw all thefe feilds he fped him faft, 8^ 
 
 For fic a ficht was never fene; 
 
 And then, forfuith, he lang'd at la ft 
 To fe the bruch of Aberdene. 
 
 To hinder this prowd enterprife. 
 
 The ftout and michty erie of Marr 90 
 
 With all his men in arms did ryfe. 
 
 Even frae Curgarf to Craigyvar, 
 
 And down the fyde of Don richt far, 
 Angus and Mearns did all convene 
 
 To fecht, or Donald came fae nar 95 
 
 The ryall bruch of Aberdene. 
 
 V. 90. Marr] Alexander earl of Mar, fon of Alexander the 
 govemour's brother. 
 
 ~ And
 
 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. i?i 
 
 And thus the martial erle of Marr, 
 
 Marcht with his men in richt array, 
 Befoir the enemie was aware, 
 
 His banner bauldly did difplay. loo 
 
 For weil enewch they kend the way. 
 And all their femblance weil they faw. 
 
 Without all dangir or delay, 
 Came haiftily to th2 Harlaw. 
 
 With him the braif lord Ogilvy, 105 
 
 Of Angus fherriff principall, 
 The conftabill of gude Dunde, 
 
 The vanguard led before them all. 
 
 Suppofe in number they war fmall, 
 Thay firft richt bauldlie did purfew, 1 10 
 
 And maid thair faes befoir them fall, 
 Quha then that race did fairly rew. 
 
 And then the worthy lord Salton, 
 
 The rtrong undoubted laird of Drum, 
 The ftalwart laird of Lawriftone, 1 1 5 
 
 With ilk thair forces all and fum. 
 
 Panmuir with all his men did cum. 
 The provoft of braif Aberdene, 
 
 With trumpets and with tuick of drum, 
 Came fchortly in thair armour fchene. 120 
 
 Thefe with the erle of Marr came on, 
 
 In the reir-ward richt crderlie, 
 Thair enemies to fett upon; 
 
 In awfull manner hardily, 
 
 N 3 Togither
 
 1^2 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 
 
 Togither vowit to live and die, l^S 
 
 Since they had marchit mony mylis. 
 
 For to fupprefs the tyrannic 
 Of douted Donald of the Yles. 
 
 But he in number ten to ane, 
 
 Richt fubtilie alang did ryde, 13® 
 
 With Malcomtofch and fell Maclean, 
 With all their power at thair fyde, 
 Prefumeand on thair ftrenth and pryde. 
 
 Without all feir or ony aw, 
 
 Richt bauldie battill did abyde, 135 
 
 Hard by the town of fair Harlaw. 
 
 The armies met, the trumpet founds. 
 
 The dandring drums alloud did touk, 
 
 Baith armies byding on the bounds. 
 
 Till ane of them the feild fould bruik. 140 
 
 Nae help was thairfor, nane wald jouk, 
 
 Ferfs was the fecht on ilka fyde. 
 
 And on the ground lay mony a bouk 
 
 Of them that thair did battill byd. 
 
 » 
 
 With doutfum viftorle they dealt, 1 45 
 
 The bludy battil laftit lang. 
 Each man his nibours forfs thair felt; 
 
 The weakefl aft-tymes gat the wrang: 
 
 Thair was nae mowis thair them amang, 
 Naithing was hard but heavy knocks, 150 
 
 That Eccho maid a dulefull fang, > 
 
 Thairto refounding frae the rocks. 
 
 But
 
 UNCERTAIN AUT HOURS. 183 
 
 But Donalds men at laft galf back; 
 
 For they war all out of anay. 
 The erl of Marriis men throw them brak, 155 
 
 Purfewing fhairply in thair way, 
 
 Thair enemys to tak or flay. 
 Be dynt of forfs to gar them yield, 
 
 Quha war richt biyth to win away. 
 And fae for feirdnefs tint the feild. 160 
 
 Then Donald fled, and that full fafl. 
 
 To mountains hich for all his micht ; 
 For he and his war all agaft. 
 
 And ran till they war out of ficht; 
 
 And fae of Rofs he loft his richt, 165 
 
 Thocht mony men with him he brocht. 
 
 Towards the Yles fled day and nicht. 
 And all he wan was deirlie bocht. 
 
 This is, (quod he) the richt report 
 
 Of all that I did heir and knaw, 170 
 
 Thocht my difcourfe be fumthing fchort, 
 
 Tak this to be a richt futhe faw : 
 
 Contrairie God and the kings law, 
 Thair was fpilt mekle Chriftian blude, 
 
 Into the battil of Harlaw ; 175 
 
 This is the fum, fae I conclude. 
 
 But zit a bony quhyle abyde. 
 
 And I fall mak thee cleirly ken 
 Quhat flauchter was on ilkay fyde. 
 
 Of Lowland and of Highland men, 180 
 
 N 4 Quha
 
 184 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 
 
 Quha for thair awin haif evir bene : 
 Thefe lazie lowns micht weil be fpaird, 
 
 Cheffit lyke deirs into thair • den'. 
 And gat thair waiges for rewaird, 
 
 Malcomtofch of the clan heid cheif, 185 
 
 Macklean with his grit hauchty heid, 
 
 With all thair fuccour and releif. 
 
 War dulefully dung to the deid : 
 And now we are freid of thair feid. 
 
 They will not lang to cum again ; 190 
 
 Thoufands with them without remeid. 
 
 On Donalds fyd that day war flain. 
 
 And on the uther fyde war loft. 
 
 Into the feild that difmal day. 
 Chief men of worth (of mekle coft) 195 
 
 To be lamentit fair for ay. 
 
 The lord Saltoun of Rothemay, 
 A man of micht and mekle main ; 
 
 Grit dolour was for his decay. 
 That fae unhappy lie was flain. 200 
 
 Of the beft men amang them was, 
 
 The gracious gude lord Ogilvy, 
 The flieriff-principal of Angus ; 
 
 Renownit for truth and equitie, 
 
 For faith and magnanimitie ; 205 
 
 He had few fallows in the field, 
 
 Zit fell by fatall deftinie. 
 For he nae ways wad grant to zield. 
 V. 183. dens. R. 
 
 Sir
 
 UNCERTAIN AUTHOUR'S. 185 
 
 Sir James Scrimgeor of Duddap, knicht, 
 
 Grit conllabill of fair Dunde, 210 
 
 Unto the dulefuU deith was dicht. 
 
 The kingis cheif banner-man was he, 
 
 A valziant man of chevalrie, 
 Quhais predecelTors wan that place 
 
 At Spey, with gude king William frie, 215 
 
 Gainft Murray and Macduncans race. 
 
 Gude fir Allexander Irving, 
 
 The much renownit laird of Drum, 
 Nane in his days was bettir fene, 
 
 Quhen they were femblit all and fum ? 220 
 
 To praife him we fould not be dumm, 
 For valour, witt and worthynefs. 
 
 To end his days he ther did cum, 
 Quhois ranfom is remeidylefs. 
 
 And thair the knicht of Lawrifton 225 
 
 Was flain into his armour fchene. 
 And gude fir Robert Davidfon, 
 
 Quha proveft was of Aberdene, 
 
 The knicht of Panmure, as was fene, 
 A mortall man in armour bricht, 230 
 
 Sir Thomas Murray ftout and kene. 
 Left to the warld thair lall gude nicht. 
 
 Thair was not fen king Keneths days 
 
 Sic ftrange intelline crewel ftryfe 
 In Scotland fene, as ilk man fays, 235 
 
 Quhair mony liklie loft thair lyfe; 
 
 a Quhilk
 
 i86 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 
 
 Quhilk maid divorce twene man and wyfe,. 
 And niony childrene fatherlefs, 
 
 Quhilk in this realme has bene full ryfe; 
 
 Lord help thefe lands, our wrangs redrefs. 240 
 
 * 
 In July, on Saint James his even. 
 
 That four and twenty difmall day. 
 Twelve hundred, ten fcore and eleven. 
 
 Of zeirs fen Chryft, the futhe to fay : 
 
 Men will remember as they may, 245 
 
 Quhen thus the veritie they knaw. 
 
 And mony a ane may mum for ay. 
 The brim battil of the Harlaw.
 
 THE 
 
 BALLAT OF THE REID-SCLUAIR, 
 
 FOUGHT ON THE 7TH JULY I576. 
 
 From the fame authority. 
 
 ON July feventh, the futhe to fay, 
 At the Reid Squair the tryft was fet. 
 Our wardens they affixt the day, 
 
 And as they promift, fae they met : 
 Allace ! th^t day I'll neir forzet, 5 
 
 Was fure fac feird, and then fae fain. 
 They came ther juftice for to get. 
 Will nevir grein to cum again. 
 
 Carmichael was our warden then, _ 
 
 He caufit the countrey to convene, 10 
 
 And the laird Watt, that worthy man, 
 
 Brocht in his furname weil be fene : 
 
 The Armftrangs to that ay haif bene 
 A hardy houfe, but not a hail ; 
 
 The Eliots honours 'to mentain, 15 
 
 Broucht in the laif of Liddifdail. 
 
 Then * Tewidail' came to with fpeid. 
 
 The fchcrif brocht the Douglas doun. 
 
 With Cranftane, Gladftane, gude at neid, 
 
 Baith Rewls-Watter and Hawick-Toun. 20 
 
 f'. 17. ' Tewidail'] i. e.T«/;Va/c er TVviWtf/^ TwiJaJl. "R. 
 
 Beangeddert
 
 i83 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 
 
 Beangeddert bauldly maid him boun. 
 With all the Trumbulls ftrang and ftout ; 
 
 The Rutherfuirds, with grit renoun, 
 Convoyit the town of Jedbruch out. 
 
 With uther clanns I can nocht tell, 25 
 
 Becaufe our vvairning was nocht wyde. 
 Be this our folk hes tane the fell. 
 
 And plan tit palllons thair to byde : 
 
 We lukit doun the uther fyde, 
 And faw cum breifting owre the brae, 30 
 
 And fr George Fofter was thair gyde, 
 With fyftene hundrid men and mae. , 
 
 It greivt him fair that day I trow. 
 
 With fr John Hinrome of Schipfydehoufe, 
 Becaufe we wer not men enow, 35 
 
 He counted us not worth a foufe ; 
 
 Sr George was gentill, meik and doufe. 
 But he was hail, and het as fyre ; 
 
 But zit, for all his cracking croufe. 
 He rewd the raid of the Reid-fquyre. 40 
 
 To deil with proud men is but pain. 
 
 For ether ze maun ficht or flie. 
 Or els nae anfwer mak again. 
 
 But play the beift, and let him be. 
 
 It was nae wondir tho he was hie, 45 
 
 Had Tyndall, Redfdaile at his hand. 
 
 With Cuckfdaile, Gladfdaile on the lie, 
 Auld Hebfrime and Northumberland. 
 
 Zit
 
 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 189 
 
 Zit was our meiting meik enough, 
 
 Begun with mirrines and mows, 50 
 
 And at the brae abune the heugh 
 
 The clerk fat doun to call the rows. 
 
 And fum for ky and fum for ewis, 
 Callit in of Dandrie, Hob and Jock, 
 
 I faw cum merching owre the knows, 55 
 
 Fyve hundred Fennicks in a flock. 
 
 With jack and fpeir, and bowis all bent, 
 And warlick weaponis at thair will; 
 
 Hovvbeit we wer not weil content, 
 
 Zit be my trowth we feird nae ill : 60 
 
 Sum zeid to drink, and fum ftude llill, 
 
 And fum to cairds and dyce them fped, 
 
 Quhyle on ane farltein they fyld a bill. 
 
 And he was fugitive that fled. 
 
 Carmichaell bad them fpeik out plainly, 65 
 
 And cloke nae caufe for ill nor guJe, 
 The uther anfwering him full vainly, 
 
 Begouth to reckon kin and blude. 
 
 He raife and raxd him quhair he flude. 
 And bad him match him with his marrows: 70 
 
 Then Tyndall hard thefe refouns rude. 
 And they lute afF a flichi of arrows. 
 
 Then was ther nocht but bow and fpeir. 
 And ilka man puUit out ane brand, 
 
 A Schaften and a Fennick their, 75 
 
 Gude Symmingtoun was flain frae hand. 
 
 Th«
 
 ,90 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 
 
 The Scotifmen cryd on uther to ftand, 
 Frae tyme they faw John Robfon flain : 
 
 Quhat fuld they cry ! The kings command 
 Culd caufe nae cowards turn again. 80 
 
 Up raife the laird to red the cumber, 
 
 Quhilk wald not be for all his boift, 
 Quhat fuld we do with fic a number, 
 
 Fyve thoufand men into ane hoift ? 
 
 Then Henrie Purdie proud hes coft, - 85 
 
 And verie narrowlie had mifcheifd him. 
 
 And ther we had our warden loft, 
 Wart not the grit God he releivd him. 
 
 Ane uther throw the breiks him bair, 
 
 Quhyle flatlines to the ground he fell : 90 
 
 Then thocht I, we had loft him thair. 
 
 Into my heart it ftruk a knell; 
 
 Zit up he raife, the truth to tell, 
 And laid about him dunts full dour. 
 
 His horfemen they faucht ftout and fnell, 95 
 
 And ftude about him in the ftour. 
 
 Then raifd the flogan with ane fchout, 
 
 Fy, Tyndall to it, Jedbrugh heir : 
 I trow he was not half fae ftout. 
 
 But anes his ftomak was a fteir, ico 
 
 With gun and genzie, bow and fpeir. 
 He micht fe mony a crackit crown. 
 
 But up amang the merchant geir 
 The buffie wer as we were down. 
 
 The
 
 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 191 
 
 The fwallow-tail frae teckles flew, 105 
 
 Fyve hundred flain into the flicht. 
 But we had peltellets anew. 
 
 And fchot among them as we micht. 
 
 With help of God the game gade richt, 
 Frae tymc the furemoft of them fell; 1 10 
 
 Hynd owre the know, without guJe-nicht, 
 They ran with mony a fchout and zell. 
 
 And after they had turned back?, 
 
 Zit Tyndall men they turnd again. 
 And had not berte the merchant packs, 115 
 
 There had bene mae of Scotland flain : 
 
 But Jefu gif the folk was fain 
 To put the buffing on thair theis, 
 
 And fae they fled with all thair main, 
 Doun owre the brae lyke clogged beis. 1 20 
 
 Sr Francis Rufiell tane was thair. 
 
 And hurt as we heir men reherfe; 
 Proud Wallingtoun was woundit fair, 
 
 Albeit he was a Fennick fei-fs. 
 
 But gif ze wald a fouldier ferche 125 
 
 Amang them all was tane that nicht. 
 Was nane fae wordie of our verfe 
 As Colingwood that courteous knicht. 
 
 Zung Henrie fkaplt hame, is hurt, 
 
 A fouldier fchot him with a bow, 130 
 
 Scotland has caufe to mak grit fturt. 
 
 For laiming of the laird of Mow. 
 
 The
 
 192 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 
 
 The laird Watt did weil indeid. 
 His friends ftude floutly by himfell. 
 
 With litle Gladftane, gude in neid, 135 
 
 For Gretein kend not gude be ill. 
 
 The Scheriff wantit not gude-will, 
 
 Howbeit he micht not ficht fae fall : 
 Beanjeadart, Hundlie and Hunthill, 
 
 Three, on they laid weil at the laft, 140' 
 
 Except the horfe-men of the gaird, 
 If I could put men to avail, 
 
 Nane ftoutlier ftude out for thair laird, 
 Nor did the lads of Liddifdail. 
 
 But litle harnife had we thair, 14S 
 
 But auld Badrule had on a jack, 
 And did richt weil, I zou declair, 
 
 With all the Trumbulls at his back. 
 
 Gude Ederflane was not to lack. 
 With Kirktoun, Newtoun, nobill-men ; 150 
 
 Thir is all the fpecials I haif fpak, 
 Forby them that I could nocht ken. 
 
 Quha did invent that day of play. 
 
 We neid nocht feir to find him fune, 
 For fr John Fofter, I dare weil fay, 155 
 
 Maid us that noyfome afternune: 
 
 Not that I fpeik preceifly out, 
 That he fuppofd it wald be perrill, 
 
 But pryde and breaking out, but dout, 
 Gart Tyndall lads begin the quarrell. 160
 
 THE 
 
 LIFE AND DEATH 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PIPER OP KILBARCHAN: 
 
 OR,. 
 
 The epitaph of Habbie Simfon, 
 Who on his drone bore bonny flags; 
 He made his cheeks as red as crimfon. 
 And babbed when he blew the bags. 
 
 From the colle^iion of *' Scots Poems ^^^ 1706, &C. 
 
 KILBARCHAN now may fay, Alas! 
 For (he hath loft her game and grace. 
 Both trixie and the maiden trace : 
 
 But what remead ? 
 For no man can fupply his place, 5 
 
 Hab Simfon's dead ! 
 
 Now who (hall play, The Day it daivs f 
 Or, hunt up, when the cock he craws? 
 Or who can for our Kirk-town caufe. 
 
 Stand us in ftead ? 10 
 
 On bagpipes (now) no body blavvs, 
 
 Sen Habbie's dead. 
 
 Or wha will caufe our (hearers (hear? 
 Wha will bend up the brags of weir. 
 Bring in the bells or good play meir, 1 5 
 
 O In
 
 194 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 
 
 In time of need? 
 Hab Simfon cou'd, what needs you fpeer? 
 But (now) he's dead! 
 
 So kindly to his neighbours neeft> 
 
 At Beltan and Saint Barchan's feeft, zo 
 
 He blew, and then held up his breeft 
 
 As he were weid ; 
 But now we need not him arreft. 
 
 For Habbie's dead ! 
 
 At fairs he play'd before the fpearmen, 25 
 
 All gaily graithed in their gear-men. 
 
 Steel bonnets, jacks, and fwords fo clear then. 
 
 Like any bead. 
 Now wha (hall play before fuch weir -men. 
 
 Sen Habbie's dead ? 30 
 
 At Clark-plays when he wont to come, 
 His pipe play'd trimly to the drum. 
 Like bikes of bees he gart it bum, 
 
 And tun'd his reed. 
 Now all our pipers may fing dum 35 
 
 Sen Habbie's dead! 
 
 And at horfe races many a day. 
 Before the black, the brown, the gray. 
 He gart his pipe when he did play, 
 
 Baith fkirl and fkreed. +© 
 
 Now all fuch pallime's quite away, 
 
 Sen Habbie's dead! 
 
 He
 
 UNCERTAIN A UT HOURS. 195 
 
 He counted was a weil'd wightman, 
 
 And fiercely at foot-ba' he ran ; 
 
 At every game the gree he wan, 45 
 
 For pith and fpeed. 
 The like of Habbie was na than. 
 
 But now he's dead ! 
 
 And than, befides his valiant ads. 
 
 At bridals he wan many placks, 50 
 
 He bobbed ay behind fo'ks backs, 
 
 And Ihook his head. 
 Now we want many merry cracks. 
 
 Sen Habbie's dead ! 
 
 He was conveyer of the bride, 55 
 
 With kittock hinging at his fide ; 
 About the kirk he thought a pride 
 
 The ring to lead. 
 But now we may gae but a guide ; 
 
 For Habbie's dead. 60 
 
 Sa well's he keeped his decorum, 
 
 And all the ftots of Whip-meg-morum, 
 
 He flew a man, and wae's me for him. 
 
 And bare the feed; 
 But yet the man wan hame before him, 65 
 
 And was not deed. 
 
 Ay whan he play'd, the lafTes leugh. 
 To fee him teethlefs, auld and teugh. 
 He wan his pipes befide Eorcheugh, 
 
 O a Wiihoutten
 
 196 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 
 
 Withoutten dread ; 7® 
 
 Which after wan him gear enough, 
 But now he's dead ! 
 
 Ay whan he play'd, the gaitlings gedder'd, _ 
 
 And whan he fpake, the carl bledder'd. 
 
 On fabbath days, his cap was fedder'd, 75 
 
 A feemly weid. 
 In the kirk-yard his mare flood tedder'd. 
 
 Where he lies dead ! 
 
 Alas ! for him, my heart is fair. 
 For of his fprings I gat a fkair, 80 
 
 At every play, race, feaft and fair, 
 : But guile or greed. 
 
 We need not look for piping mair. 
 Sen Habbie's dead !
 
 THE 
 
 BANISHMENT of POVERTY, 
 
 BY J. D. OF ALBANY.- 
 
 To the tune of The laji Good-night. 
 
 From an old printed copy, con^ared 'with one in the col- 
 kaion of *' Scots Poems" 1706, &C. 
 
 POX fa that poultring Poverty, 
 Wae worth the time that I him faw! 
 Since firft he laid his fang on me, 
 Myfelf from him I dought ne'er draw: 
 His wink to me hath been a law, , S 
 
 He haunts me like a penny-dog. 
 Of him I ftand far greater awe, 
 Than pupil does of pedagogue. 
 
 The firft time that he met with me 
 
 Was at a clachen in the weft, 10 
 
 Its name, I trow, Kilbarchan be. 
 
 Where Habbies drones blew many a blaft. 
 
 There we ftiook hands, cald be his caft. 
 
 An ill deed may that cufteron die: 
 
 For there he gripped me right faft 15 
 
 Where firft I fell in cautionry. 
 
 • ^fur-wards K. James VII. See the concluding Jianma. 
 
 O 3 Yet
 
 198 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 
 
 Yet I had hopes to be rellev'd, 
 
 And freed from that foul laidly lown, 
 
 Fernzier when whiggs were all mifchiev'd. 
 
 And forc'd to fling their weapons down ; 20 
 
 When we chaft them from Glafgow town, 
 
 I with that fwinger thought to graple. 
 
 But when Indempnity came down. 
 
 The lathron pow'd me by the thraple. 
 
 And yet in hope of fome relief 25 
 
 A rade I made to Arinfrew ; 
 
 Where they did bravely buff my bief, 
 
 And made my body black and blew : 
 
 At luftice court, I them purfew, 
 
 Expeding help by their reproof; 30 
 
 Indempnity thought nothing dew. 
 
 The deill a farthing for my loof. 
 
 But wifhing that I wode ride eaft. 
 To trot on foot I foon wode tire, 
 My page allow'd me not a beaft, 35 
 
 .1 wanted guilt to pay the hire : 
 He and I lap o're many a fire, 
 I ieucked him at Cather-cult j 
 But long er I wan to Slipes-myre, 
 The ragged rogue raught me a whilt. 40 
 
 By Hollin-bufh and brig of Bony 
 We bickered down toward Bankier, 
 We fear'd no reavers for our money, 
 Nor whilly-whaes to grip cur gear ; 
 
 My
 
 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 199 
 
 My tatter'd tutor took no fear, 45 
 
 Tho' we did travel in the mirk. 
 
 He thought it fit, when we drew near, 
 
 To filih a forrage at Falkirk. 
 
 No man wo'd open me the door, 
 
 Bccaufe my comrade flood me by, 5° 
 
 They dread full ill I was right poor 
 
 By my forcaften company. 
 
 Then Cuningham did me efpy, 
 
 By how and hair he haild me in, 
 
 And fwore we fhould not part fo dry, 55 
 
 Tho' I were flripped to the (kin. 
 
 We baid all night, but, lang or day, ' 
 
 My curft companion bade me rife, 
 
 I ftart up foon and took my way. 
 
 He needed not to bid me twice. 60 
 
 But what to do we did advife. 
 
 In Lithgow we might not fit down. 
 
 On a Scots groate we baited thrice. 
 
 And in at night to Edinburgh town. 
 
 We held the lang-gate to Lieth-wind, 65 
 
 Where pureft purfes ufe to be. 
 
 And in the Caltown lodged fine. 
 
 Fit quarters for fik company. 
 
 Yet the High-town I fain would fee. 
 
 But that my man did me difcharge, 70 
 
 He will'd me Blackburns ale to prie. 
 
 And mufFmy baird, it was right large. 
 
 O 4 The
 
 200 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 
 
 The morn I ventur'd up the w'lnde. 
 
 And flung'd in at the Nether-bow, 
 
 Thinking that trooker for to tine, 75 
 
 Who does me damnage what he dow; 
 
 His company he does bellow 
 
 On me to my great grief and pain. 
 
 Ere I the throng c6uld wrellle throw, 
 
 The lown was at my heills again. 80 
 
 I grien'd to gang on the plain -ftanesj 
 
 To fee if comrades wad me ken. 
 
 We twa gaid paceing there our lanes, 
 
 The hungry hours 'twixt twelve and an&; 
 
 When I kent na way how to fen, 85 
 
 My guts rumbl'd like a hurle-barrow, 
 
 I din'd with fainfts and noblemen, 
 
 Ev'n fweet St. Giles and earle of Murray. 
 
 Tykes teftment take him for his treat, 
 
 I needed not my teeth to pike, 90 
 
 Though 1 was in a cruel fweat. 
 
 He fet not by, fay what I like : 
 
 I call'd him Turk and traked tyke. 
 
 And wearied him with many a curfe. 
 
 My banes were hard like a ftone-dyke, 95 
 
 No Reg. Mart, was in my purfe. 
 
 Kind widow Caddel fent for me. 
 To dine, as fhe did oft forfooth, 
 But ere alace that might not be 
 Her houfe was o're near the Tolbuith. 100 
 
 Yet
 
 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 20! 
 
 Yet God reward her for her love 
 And kindnefs, whilk I fedlie fand, 
 Moft ready ftill for my behove. 
 Ere this hell's hound took her in hand. 
 
 I flipt my page, and ftour'd to Lieth, I0| 
 
 To try mv credit at the wine. 
 
 But fouU a dribble fyl'd my teeth, 
 
 He gripp'd me at the CoiFy-figne. 
 
 I fta' down through the Nether-winde, 
 
 My lady Semples houfe was near, 1 10 
 
 To enter there was my defigne. 
 
 Where Poverty durft ne're appear. 
 
 I din'd there but I bade not lang. 
 
 My lady fain would fhelter me. 
 
 But e'r alace T needs mufl gang, ll^ 
 
 And leave that comely company. 
 
 Her lad convey'd me, with her key. 
 
 Out throw her garden to the fields. 
 
 But I the Links cou'd grathly fee. 
 
 My governour was at my heills. 120 
 
 I dought not dance to pipe nor harpj 
 
 I had no flock for cards and dice ; 
 
 But I fuir to fir William Sharp, 
 
 Who never made his counfel nice. 
 
 That little man he is right wife, 125 
 
 And fliarp as anf briar can be. 
 
 He bravely gave me his advice. 
 
 How I might poyfon Poverty. 
 
 V. 107. fed full found. Old Coj>}, 
 
 Quoth
 
 202 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 
 
 Qnoth he, there grows, hard by the dyal. 
 
 In Hattons garden bright and fheen, 13® 
 
 A foveraigne herb call'd penny-royal, 
 
 Whilk all the year grows frefh and green. 
 
 Cou'd ye but gather 't fair and clean. 
 
 Your bufinefle would go the better; 
 
 But let account of it be feen 135 
 
 To the phyfitians of Exchequer. 
 
 Or if that ticket ye bring with you, 
 
 Come unto me, ye need not fear ; 
 
 For I fome of that herb can give you, 
 
 Whilk I have planted this fame year. 14» 
 
 Your page it will caufe difappear * 
 
 Who waits on you againft your will. 
 
 To gather it I fhall you leave. 
 
 In my own yards of Stonny-hill. 
 
 But when I dread, that wod not work, 14$ 
 
 I underthought me of a wyle. 
 
 How I might at my leafure lurk. 
 
 My graceleffe guardion to beguile. 
 
 It's but my galloping a myle, - , 
 
 Throw Cannogate with little lofs, 1^0 
 
 Till I have fanftuary a while 
 
 Within the girth of Abbey clofle. 
 
 There I wan in, and blyth was I 
 
 When to the Inner- court I drew. 
 
 My governourl did defy, 155 
 
 For joy I clapt my wings and crew. 
 
 y. 134. not go backward. 0. C. 
 
 There
 
 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 203 
 
 There menengers dare not purfue. 
 
 Nor with their wands mens fhou'ders Hear, 
 
 There dwells diftreffed lairds enew 
 
 In peace, tho' they have little gear, jfc 
 
 There twa hours I did not tarry, 
 
 Till my bleft fortune was to fee 
 
 A fight, fure by the mights of Mary, 
 
 Of that brave duke of Albany. 
 
 Where one blink of his princely eye 165 
 
 Put that fowle foundling to the flighty 
 
 Frae me he banifht Poverty, 
 
 And gard him take his lall goodnight.
 
 T HE 
 
 VISION.* 
 
 COMPVLIT IN LATIN BE A MOST LERNIT CLEitK 
 IN TYME OF OUR HAIRSHIP AND OPPRESSION, 
 ANNO 1300, AND TRANSLATIT IN I524. 
 
 From the Ever Green, 
 
 BEDOUN the bents of Banquo brae 
 Milane I wandert waif and wae, 
 Mufand our main mifchaunce ; 
 How be thay faes we ar undone. 
 That flaw the facred ftanef frae Scone, 5 
 
 And leids us fie a daunce: 
 
 * Dr. Beattie has pronounced this piece *' the bejl Scotijh poem of 
 inodirn timet that ' he has" feert." He adds that " there are noble 
 vnagcs in it, and a harmony of -verjif cation fuperior to emery thing 
 ♦ he has' jccn in the kind" And, ncfwithfianding the pretence ofre^ 
 mote antiquity in the title, the learned critic JufpeBs, with e-videti: 
 reajon, " that it is the work of fome friend of the family of Stuart, 
 aiid_i»uf have been compofed about the year I715." I'his information 
 is derived fr'.m a volume of «' StleEi Scotijh Ballads" {as they are 
 called), puhUJhedin 1 783. 
 
 f The old chair (now in WeAmlnder Abbey) in which the 
 Scots kings were always crown'd, wherein there is a piece of 
 marble with thi? infrription : 
 
 Ni f allot fat um, ScoTi, quocunqut locatum 
 Inxmunt lepidtm, regnare tenenttir ibidem. 
 
 Qubyle
 
 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 205 
 
 Quhyle Inglands Edert taks our tours, 
 
 And Scotland ferft obeys. 
 Rude ruffians ranfakk ryal hours. 
 
 And Ballol homage pays ; lO 
 
 Throch feidom our freldom 
 Is blotit with this fkore 
 Quhat Romans or no mans 
 Pith culd eir do befoir. 
 
 The air grew ruch with boufteous thuds, j - 
 
 Bauld Boreas branglit outthrow the cluds, 
 
 Maift lyke a drunken wicht ; 
 The thunder crakt, and flauchts did rift 
 Frae the blak viflart of the lift : 
 
 The fonefl fchuke with fricht; 20 
 
 Nae birds abune thair wing extenn. 
 
 They ducht not byde the blaft. 
 Ilk beift bedeen bangd to thair den, 
 Untill the ftorm was pall : 
 
 Ilk creature in nature 2^ 
 
 That had a fpunk offence. 
 In neid then, with fpeid then, 
 Methocht cryt, In defence. 
 
 To fe a morn in May fae ill, 
 
 I deimt dame Nature was gane will, 30 
 
 To rair with rackles reil; 
 Quhairfoir to put me out of pain, 
 And (konce my fkap and Ihanks frae rain, 
 
 I bure me to a beil, 
 
 V. 7. Edii-jrdl.
 
 2o6 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 
 
 Up ane hich craig that lundgit alaft, . 35 
 
 Out owre a canny cave, 
 A curious cruif of Natures craft, 
 Quhilk to me fchelter gaif ; 
 Ther vexit, perplexit, 
 
 I leint me doun to weip, 40 
 
 In brief ther, with grief ther 
 I dottard owre on fleip. 
 
 Heir Somnus in his filent hand 
 Held all my fences at command, 
 
 Quhyle I forzet my cair ; 45 
 
 The myldeft meid of mortall wichts 
 Quha pafs in peace the private nichts. 
 
 That wauking finds it rare; 
 Sac in fall flumbers did I ly. 
 
 But not my wakryfe mind, 50 
 
 Quhilk ftill ftude watch, and couth efpy 
 A man with afpeck kynd ; 
 
 Richt auld lyke and bauld lyke^ 
 
 With baird thre quarters fkant, 
 
 Sae braif lyke and graif lyke, 55 
 
 He feemt to be a fanft. 
 
 Grit darring dartit frae his ee, 
 A braid-fword fchogled at his thie, 
 
 On his left arm a targe ; 
 A fliynand fpeir filld his richt hand, 60 
 
 Of ftalwart mak, in bane and brawnd. 
 
 Of juft proportions, large ; 
 
 A various
 
 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 207 
 
 A various rain-bow colourt plaid 
 
 Owre his left fpanl he threw, 
 Down his braid back, frae his quhyt heid, 65 
 
 The filver wymplers grew ; 
 Amaifit, I gaifit 
 To fe, led at command, 
 A ftrampant and rampant 
 Ferfs lyon in his hand, 7® 
 
 Quhilk held a thiftle in his paw, 
 And round his collar graift 1 faw 
 
 This poefie pat and plain, 
 Nemo me impune lactjf- 
 
 Et : In Scots, Nane fall opprefs 75 
 
 Me unpuniji ivith pain. 
 Still fchaking, I durft naithing fay, 
 
 Till he with kynd accent 
 Sayd^ Fere let nocht thy hairt affray, 
 
 I cum to hier thy plaint ; So 
 
 Thy graining and maining 
 Haith laitlie reikd myne eir. 
 Debar then affar then 
 All eirynefs or feir. 
 
 For I am ane of a hie flation, 85 
 
 The warden of this auntient nation. 
 
 And cannocht do the wrang; 
 I viflyt him then round about. 
 Syne with a refolution flout, 
 
 Speird, quhair he had bene fae laogi' 90 
 
 Quod
 
 zoS UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 
 
 Quod he, Althocht I fum forfuke, 
 
 Becaus they did me flicht. 
 To hills and glens I me betuke. 
 To them that luves my richt; 
 
 Quhafe mynds zet inclynds zet 95 
 
 To damm the rappid fpate, 
 Devyfing and pryfing 
 Freidom at ony rate. 
 
 Our trechour peirs thair tyranns trelt, 
 
 Quha jyb them, and thair fubftance eit, lOO 
 
 And on thair honour flramp ; 
 They, pure degenerate ! bend thair baks. 
 The viftor, Lang(hanks, proudly cracks 
 
 He has blawn out our lamp: 
 Quhyle trew men, fair complainand, tell, 1 05 
 
 With fobs, thair filent greif. 
 How Baliol thair richts did fell. 
 With fmall howp of releife ; 
 Regretand and fretand 
 Ay at his curfit plot, 
 Quha rammed and crammed 
 That bargin doun thair throt. 
 
 Bralf gentrie fweir, and burgers ban, 
 Revenge is muuert be ilk clan 
 
 Thats to'their nation trew ; "S 
 
 The cloyfters cum to cun the evil, 
 Mailpayers wifs it to the devil. 
 
 With its contiyving crew ; 
 
 The 
 
 no
 
 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 209 
 
 The hardy wald, with hairty wills. 
 
 Upon dyre vengance fall; 120 
 
 The fccklefs fret owre heuchs and hills. 
 And Eccho anfwers all, 
 
 Repetand and greitand, , 
 
 With mony a fair alace. 
 
 For blafting and calling 125 
 
 Our honour in difgrace. 
 
 Waes me ! quod I, our cafe is bad. 
 And mony of us are gane mad. 
 Sen this difgraceful paftion: 
 We are felld and herryt now by forfe; 130 
 
 And hardly help fort, thats zit warfe. 
 
 We are fae forfairn with fa<51ion. 
 Then has not he gude caufe to grumble, 
 
 Thats forft to be a flaif ? 
 Oppreflion dois the judgment jumble, jsi- 
 
 And gars a wyfe man raif. 
 
 May cheins then, and pains then 
 
 Infernal be thair hyre 
 
 Quha dang us, and flang us 
 
 Into this ugfum myre. I^,^ 
 
 Then he with bauld forbidding luke, 
 And llaitly air, did me rebuke. 
 
 For being of fprite fae mein: 
 
 Said he, its far beneatk a Scot 
 To ufe weak curfes quhen his loc 145 
 
 May fumtyms four his fplein. 
 
 P He
 
 210 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 
 
 He rather fould, mair lyke a man. 
 
 Some braif defign attempt; 
 Gif its nocht in his pith, what than ? 
 
 Reft but a quhyle content; 150 
 
 Nocht feirful, but cheirful. 
 And wait the will of fate. 
 Which mynds to defygns to 
 Renew zour auntient ftate. 
 
 I ken fum mair than ze do all 155 
 
 Of quhat fall afterwart befall, 
 
 In mair aufpicious tymes ; 
 For aften, far abufe the mune. 
 We watching beings do convene, 
 
 Frae round cards outmoft climes, 160 
 
 Quhair evry warden reprefents 
 
 Cleirly his nations cafe, 
 Gif famyne, pert, or fword torments, 
 Or vilains hie in place, 
 
 Quha keip ay, and heip ay 165 
 
 Up to themfelves grit ftore, » 
 By rundging and fpunging 
 The leil laborious pure. 
 
 Say then, faid I, at zour hie fate, 
 
 Lernt ze ocht of auld Scotland's fate, I"® 
 
 Gifeir fchoil be her fell ? 
 With fmyle celeft, quod he, I can, 
 £ut its nocht fit an mortal man 
 
 Scald ken all I can tell ; 
 
 But
 
 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 211 
 
 But part to the I may unfold, 175 
 
 And thou may faifly ken, 
 Quhen Scottifii peirs flicht Saxon gold, 
 And turn trew heartit men ; 
 
 Quhen knaivry and flavrie 
 
 Ar equally difpyfd, 1 8® 
 
 And loyalte and royalte 
 
 Univerfalie are pryfd. 
 
 Quhen all zour trade is at a Hand, 
 And cunzie clene forfaiks the land, 
 
 Quhilk will be very fune; 185 
 
 Will preills without their ftypands preich * 
 For nocht will lawyers caufes ftreich? 
 
 Faith thatis nae eafy done. 
 All this and mair maun cum to pafs. 
 
 To cleir zour glamourit fichtj igo 
 
 And Scotland maun be made an afs. 
 To fet her jugment richt. 
 
 Theyil jade hir and blad hir, 
 
 Untill fcho brak hir tether, 
 
 Thocht auld fchois zit bauld fcliois, 105 
 
 And teuch lyke barkit lether. 
 
 But mony a corfs fall braithlefs ly, 
 And wae fall mony a widow cry. 
 
 Or all rin richt again ; 
 Owre Cheviot prancing proudly North, 200 
 
 The faes fall tak the fcild neir Forthe, 
 
 And think the day their ain ; 
 
 P 2 But
 
 212 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS- 
 
 But burns that day fall rln with blude 
 
 Of them that now opprefs ; 
 Thair carcafTes be corbys fude, . '205 
 
 By thoufands on the grefs. 
 
 A king then fall ring then. 
 
 Of wyfe renoun and braif, 
 
 Quhafe pufians and fapiens 
 
 Sail richt reftoir and faif. 2 lo 
 
 The view of freidomis fweit, quod I, 
 O fay, grit tennant of the fkye, 
 How neiris that happie tyme. 
 We ken things but be circumftans, 
 Nae mair, quod he, I may advance, 215 
 
 Leift I commit a cryme, 
 Quhat eir ze pleis, gae on, quod I, 
 
 I fall not falh ze moir. 
 Say how, and quhair ze met, and quhy, 
 
 As ze did hint befoir. 2.20 
 
 With air then fae fair then, 
 That glanft like rayis of glory, 
 Sae godlyk and oddlyk, 
 He thus refumit his ftorie. 
 
 Frae the funs ryfing to his fett, 225 
 
 All the pryme rait of wardens met, 
 
 In folemn bricht array. 
 With vehicles of aither cleir. 
 Sic we put on quhen we appeir 
 
 To fauls rowit up in clay ; 230 
 
 Thair
 
 UNCERTAIN AUTH0UR3. 213 
 
 Thalr in a wyde and fplendit hall, 
 
 Reird up with fliynand beims, 
 Quhais rufe-treis wer of rainbows all. 
 And paift with ftarrie gleims, 
 
 Quhilk prinked and twinkled 235 
 
 Brichtly beyont compair. 
 Much famed, and named 
 A caflill in the air. 
 
 In midfl of quhilk a table dude, 
 
 A fpacious oval reid as blude, 240 
 
 Made of a fyre-flaucht, 
 Arround the dazeling walls were drawn, 
 With rays be a celeftial hand. 
 
 Full mony a curious draucht. 
 Inferiour beings flew in haift, 245 
 
 Without gyd or deredour. 
 Millions of myles throch the wyld wade. 
 To bring in bowlis of neflar : 
 Then roundly and foundly 
 We drank lyk Roman gods ; 350 
 
 Quhen Jove fae dois rove fae. 
 That Mars and Bacchus nods. 
 
 Quhen Phebus heid turns licht as cork. 
 And Neptune leans upon his fork. 
 
 And limpand Vulcan blethers ; 255 
 
 Quhen Pluto glowrs as he were wyld. 
 And Cupid, luves we wingit chyld, 
 
 Fals down and fyls his fethers; 
 
 P 3 Quhen
 
 214 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 
 
 Quhen Pan forzets to tune his rel d, 
 
 And ' flings' it cairlefs bye, 260 
 
 And Hermes, vvingd at heils and heid. 
 Can nowther Hand nor lye : 
 
 Quhen flaggirand and fwaglrrand. 
 
 They ftoyter hame to fleip, 
 
 Quhyle centeries at enteries 265 
 
 Imortal watches keip. 
 
 Thus we tuke in the high browin liquour. 
 And bangd about the neftar biquour; 
 
 But evir with * this' ods : 
 We neir in drink our judgments drenfch, 27* 
 
 Nor fcour about to feik a wenfch, 
 
 Lyk thefe auld baudy gods; 
 But franklie at ilk uther aflc, 
 
 Quhats proper we fuld know, 
 How ilk ane hes performt the tafk 275 
 
 Afllgnd to him below : 
 
 Our minds then, fae kind then. 
 
 Are fixt upon our care. 
 
 Ay noting and ploting 
 
 Quhat tends to thair weilfair, 289 
 
 Gothus and Vandall baith lukt bluff", 
 Quhyle Gallus fneerd and tuke a fnuiF, 
 
 QuhJlk made Allmane to flare; 
 Latinus bad him naithing feir, 
 Put lend his hand to haly weir, 385 
 
 And of eowd crouns tak care ; 
 
 V. 360. flings. R. V. aCp. his. /?, 
 
 Batavius
 
 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 215 
 
 Batavius, with his paddock- face, 
 Luking afquint, cryd, Pifch ! 
 Zour monks ar void of fence or grace, • 
 I had leur ficht for fifch ; ig» 
 
 Zour fchule-men ar fule-men, 
 Carvit out for dull debates. 
 Decoying and deftroying 
 Baith monarchies and ftatej. 
 
 Iberius, with a gurlie nod 295 
 
 Cryd, Hogan, zes, we ken zour God, 
 
 Its herrings ze adore. 
 Heptarchus, as he ufd to be. 
 Can nocht with his ain thochts agre. 
 
 But varies bak and fore; 300 
 
 Ane quhyle he fays. It is not richt 
 
 A monarch to refill ; 
 Neifl: braith all ryall powir will flicht. 
 And paflive homage jell : 
 
 He hitches and fitches 305 
 
 Betwein the ^ic and hoc, 
 Ay jieand and flieand 
 Round lyk a wedder-cock. 
 
 I ftill fupport my precedens 
 
 Abune them all, for fword and fens, c 10 
 
 Thocht I haif layn richt now lown, 
 Quhylk was, becaus I bure a grudge 
 At fum fule Scotis, quha lykd to drudge 
 
 To princes no thair awin ; 
 
 P 4 Sum
 
 2i6 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 
 
 Sum thanis thair tennants pykit and fqueift, 315 
 
 And purfit up all thair rent. 
 Syne wallopit to far courts, and bleift, -' . 
 
 Till riggs and fchaws war fpent ; 
 
 Syne byndging and whyndging, 
 
 Quhen thus redufit to howps, 320 
 
 They dander and wander 
 
 About pure lickmadowps. 
 
 But now its tyme for me to draw 
 My fhynand fword againft club-law. 
 
 And gar my lyon roir j 325 
 
 He fall or lang gie fic a found. 
 The ecchoe fall be hard arround 
 Europe, frae fchore to fchore ; 
 Then lat them gadder all thair flrenth. 
 
 And ftryve to vvirk my fall, 330 
 
 Tho numerous, zit at the lenth 
 I will owrecum them all. 
 
 And raife zit and blafe zit 
 
 My braifrie and renown. 
 
 By gracing and placing 335 
 
 Arright the Scottis crown, 
 
 Quhen my braif Bruce the fame fall weir 
 Upon his ryal heid, full cleir 
 
 The diadem will fliyne ; 
 Then fall zour fair opprefTion ceis, 340 
 
 His intreft zours, he will not fleice. 
 
 Or leif zou eir inclyne : 
 Thocht millions to his purfe be lent, 
 
 IZeJl neir the puirer be. 
 
 But
 
 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 217 
 
 But rather richer, quhyle its fpent 345 
 
 Within the Scoti(h fe: 
 
 The field then fall zeild then 
 
 To honeft hufbands welth; 
 
 Gude laws then fall caufe then 
 
 A fickly ftate haif helth. 35« 
 
 Quhyle thus he talkit, methocht ther came 
 A wondir fair etherial dame, 
 
 And to our warden fayd. 
 Grit Callidon, I cum in ferch 
 Of zou, frae the hych ftarry arch, 355 
 
 The counfiU wants zour ayd ; 
 Frae every quarter of the fky. 
 
 As fwift as quhirl-wynd. 
 With fpirits fpeid the chiftains hy, 
 
 Sum grit thing is defygnd : 360 
 
 Owre muntains, be funtains. 
 And round ilk fairy ring, 
 I haif chain ze, O haifl ze, 
 Thay talk about zour king. 
 
 With that my hand methocht he fchuke, 365 
 
 And wifcht I happynefs micht bruke. 
 
 To eild be nicht and day j 
 Syne quicker than an arrows flicht. 
 He mountit upwarts frae my ficht, 
 
 Straicht to the milkie way ; 37^' 
 
 My mynd him foUowit throw the flcyes, 
 
 UntlU the brynie ftreme 
 
 For
 
 «i8 UNCERTAIN AUTHOURS. 
 
 For joy ran trinckling frae myne eyes, 
 And wakit me frae dreme ; 
 
 Then peiping, half fleiping, 
 Frae furth my rural beild. 
 It eifit me and pleifit me 
 To fe and fmell the feild. 
 
 375 
 
 For Flora, in hir dene array. 
 
 New wafhen with a fhowir of May, 386 
 
 Lukit fall fweit and fair ; 
 Quhyle hir cleir hulband frae aboif 
 Sched doun his rayis of genial luve, 
 
 Hir fweits perfumt the air; 
 The winds war huflit, the welkin clcird, 385 
 
 The slumand clouds war fled. 
 And all as faft and gay appeird 
 As ane Elyfion fched ; 
 
 Quhilk heifit and bleifit 
 
 My heart with fic a fyre, 390 
 
 As raifes thefe praifes 
 
 That do to heaven afpyre. 
 
 9uod hvi,. Scot.
 
 ^itM^i^^^fJi:^- 
 
 THE 
 
 C A LEDONIAN MUSE, 
 
 PART III. 
 
 EXTRACTS. 
 
 " V I R G I L'S JEN E I S, 
 
 TRANSLATED INTO SCOTTISH VERSE, 
 
 BY THE FAMOUS GAWIN DOUGLAS BISIIO? 
 OF DUNKELD.*" 
 
 From the edition of \yio. 
 THE PROLOGUE OF THE VII BUKE. 
 
 AS bricht Phebus fchene fouerane heuinnis E 
 The oppofit held of his chymes hie, ^ eloquent dir 
 
 * * _ , cription of wyn, 
 
 Clere fchynand bemes, and goldin fumeris hew f" wyth hy» 
 
 grete Horinej 
 
 In lattoua cuUour altering all of new, 
 • Born I47J J <iyedjs%%: 
 
 and tenipeiUs. 
 
 Kything
 
 22© EXTRACTS. [Douglas. 
 
 Kything no figne of heit be his vlflage, 5 
 
 So nere approchit he his wynter ftage, 
 
 Reddy he was to enter the thrid morne 
 
 In cludy ficyes vnder Capricorne : 
 
 All thoucht he be the lampe and hert of heuin, 
 
 Forfeblit wox his lemand gilty leuin, 10 
 
 Throw the declynyng of his large round fpere. 
 
 The frofty regioun ryngis of the zere, 
 
 The tyme and feflbun bitter, cauld and pale, 
 
 Thay fchort dayis, that clerkis clepe Brumale : 
 
 Quhcn brym blaflis of the northyn art 15 
 
 Ouerquhelmyt had Neptunus in his cart. 
 
 And all to fchaik the leuys of the treis. 
 
 The rageand ftormes ouerwelterand wally feis, 
 
 Ryueris ran rede on fpate with wattir broun. 
 
 And burnis harlis all thare bankis doun, 20 
 
 And landbirft rumbland rudely with fic here, 
 
 Sa loud neuir rummyft wyld lyoun nor bere : 
 
 Fludis monftouris, fic as merefwynis and quhalis. 
 
 For the temped law in the depe deualis: 
 
 Mars Occident retrogade in his fpere, 25 
 
 Prouocand llryfFe, regnit as lord that zere. 
 
 Rany Orioun, with his ftormy face, 
 
 Bywauit oft the fchipman by hys race : 
 
 Frawart Saturne chil of complexioun. 
 
 Throw quhais afpeft darth and infeftioun 3© 
 
 Bene caufit oft and mortall peftilence. 
 
 Went progreffiue the greis of his afcence r 
 
 And lufty Kebe, Junois dochter gay, 
 
 Stude fpulzete of hir office and array : 
 
 The
 
 Douglas.] EXTRACTS. 221 
 
 Th? fole yfowpit in to wattir wak, 35 
 
 The firmament ouercall with cludis blak: 
 
 The ground fadit, and fauch wox al the feildis, 
 
 Mountane toppis flekit with fnaw ouer heildis : 
 
 On raggit reikis of hard harflc quhyn llane, 
 
 With frofyn frontis cald clynty clevvis fchane : 40 
 
 Bewty was loill, and barrand fchew the landis, 
 
 With froflis hare ouerfret the feildis ilandis. 
 
 Sere birtir bubbis and the fchoutls fnell 
 
 Semyt on the fwarde in fimilitudc of hell, 
 
 Reducing to oure myndc in euery llede 45 
 
 Goufty fchaddois of eild and grilly dede: 
 
 Thik drumly ikuggis dirkinnit fo the heuin, 
 
 Dym fkyis oft furth vvarpit fereful leuin, 
 
 Flaggis of fyre, and mony felloun flaw, 
 
 Scharp foppis of flcit, and of the fnyppand fnaw : 50 
 
 The dolly dikis war al donk and wate. 
 
 The law valis flodderit all wyth fpate. 
 
 The plane ftretis and euery hie way 
 
 Full of flufchis, dubbis, myre and clay, 
 
 Laggerit leyis wallowit fernis fchew, 55 
 
 Broun muris kythit thare wiffinyt mofTy hew. 
 
 Bank, bray and boddum blanfchit wox and bare; 
 
 For gourl weddir growit beiftis hare, 
 
 The wynd maid waif the rede wede on the dyk, 
 
 Bedowin in donkis depe was euery fike : 60 
 
 Ouer craggis and the frontis of rochys fere 
 
 Hang grete yfe fchokkillis lang as ony fpere: 
 
 The grund ftude bairane, widderir, dofk and gray, 
 
 Herbis, ftouris and gerffis wallowit away: 
 
 i Woddis,
 
 222 EXTRACTS. [Douglas. 
 
 Woddis, foreftis with naket bewis blout 65 
 
 Stude ftripit of thare wede in euery hout: 
 
 Sa buflouflle Boreas his bugill blew. 
 
 The dere full derne doun in the dalis drew : 
 
 Small birdis flokand throw thik ronnys thrang, 
 
 In chirmynge, and with cheping changit thare fang, 70 
 
 Sekand hidlis and hirnys thame to hyde 
 
 Fra ferefull thuddis of the tempeftuus tyde : 
 
 The wattir lynnys rowtis, and euery lynd 
 
 Quhiflit and blayit of the fouchand wynd: 
 
 Pure lauboraris and byfly hufband men 75 
 
 Went weet and wery, draglit in the fen : 
 
 The cilly fchepe and thare litill hird gromes 
 
 Lurkis vnder lye of bankis, woddis and bromes : 
 
 And vtheris dantit greter beillial. 
 
 Within thare ftabill fefit in the ftall, 80 
 
 Sic as mulis, hors, oxin or ky, 
 
 Fed tufeit baris, and fat fwyne in fly, 
 
 Sullenit war be mannis gouernance 
 
 On hervift and on fomeris puruiance: 
 
 Widequhare with fors fo Eolus fchoutis fchili S^ 
 
 In this congelit fefoun fcharp and chill. 
 
 The callour are penetratiue and pure, 
 
 Dafing the blude in euery creature. 
 
 Made feik warme ftouis and bene fires hotc. 
 
 In doubill garment cled and wylecote, 90 
 
 With mychty drink, and metis confortiue, 
 
 Aganis the fterne wynter for to ftriue. 
 
 Recreate wele and by the chymnay bekit. 
 
 At euin be tyme doun in ane bed me ftrekir, 
 
 Warpit
 
 Douglas.] EXTRACTS. 22J 
 
 Warpit my hede, kefl on clalthis thrynfald 95 
 
 For to expell the perrellus perfand cald : 
 
 I crofit me, fyne bownit for to flepe : 
 
 Quhare lemand throw the glas I did tak kepe 
 
 Latonia the lang irkfum nycht 
 
 Hir fubtell blenkis fched and watry lycht, 100 
 
 Full hie vp quhirlit in hir regioun. 
 
 Till Phebus richt in oppoficioun. 
 
 Into the Crab hir propir manfioun draw, 
 
 Haldand the hicht althocht the ion went law : 
 
 The hornyt byrd, quhilk we clepe the nicht oule, 105 
 
 Within hir cauerne hard I fchout and zoule, 
 
 Laithely of forme, with crukit camfcho beik, 
 
 Ugfum to here was hir wyld elrifche fkreik. 
 
 The wyld geis eik claking by nychtis tyde 
 
 Attour the ciete fleand hard I glyde. 1 10 
 
 On flummer I flade full fone, and flepyt found, 
 
 Quhill the horifont vpwart can rebound : 
 
 Phebus crounit bird, the nichtis orlagere, 
 
 Clappin his wingis thryis had crawin clere: 
 
 Approching nere the greking of the day, 1 15 
 
 Within my bed I walkynnyt quhare I lay, 
 
 Sa faft declynnys Cynthia the mono. 
 
 And kayis keklys on the rufe abone : 
 
 Palamedes birdis crowpand in the fky, 
 
 Fleand on randoun, fchapin lyk ane Y, 120 
 
 And as ane trumpit rang thare vocis foun, 
 
 Quhais cryis bene pronofticacioun 
 
 Of wyndy blaftis and ventofiteis. 
 
 Faft by my chalmer on hie wifnit treis 
 
 The
 
 »24 EXTRACTS. [Douglas, 
 
 The fary gled quhifsllis with mony ane pew, 125 
 
 Quharby the day was dawing wele I knev/; 
 
 Bad bete the fyre, and the candyll alichr. 
 
 Syne bliffit me, and in my wedis dicht ; 
 
 Ane fchot wyndo unfchet ane litel on char, 
 
 Perfauyt the mornyng bla, wan and har, 130 
 
 Wyth cloudy gum and rak ouerquhelmyt the are. 
 
 The fulze fliche, hafard, rouch and hare ; 
 
 Branchis brattlyng, and blaiknyt fchew the brayis. 
 
 With hirflis haiflc of waggand wyndil llrayis. 
 
 The dew droppis congelit on ftibbil and rynd, 135 
 
 And fcharp hailftanys mortfundyit of kynd, 
 
 Hoppand on the thak and on the caufay by : 
 
 The fchote I clofit, and drew inwart in hy, 
 
 Cheuerand for cald, the feflbun was fa fnelJ, 
 
 Schupe with hait flambis to fteme the fiefing fell. 140 
 
 And as I bounit me to the fire me by, 
 
 Baith vp and doun the houfe I did efpy ; 
 
 And feand Virgil on ane letteron Hand, 
 
 To wryte anone I hynt my pen in hand. 
 
 For till perform the poet graif and fad, 145 
 
 Quhen fa fer furth or than begun I had : 
 
 And wox anoyit fum dele in rny hart/ 
 
 Thare reftit vncompletit fa grete ane pjrt. 
 
 And to my felf I fayd. In gude eftedt 
 
 Thou mon draw furth, the zoik lyis on thy nek. ij* 
 
 Within my mynd compafiing thocht I fo, 
 
 Na thing is done quhil ocht remanis ado : 
 
 For befynes quhilk occurrit on cafe, 
 
 Ouer voluit I this volume lay ane fpace : 
 
 And
 
 Douglas.] EXTRACTS. 2i5 
 
 Add thocht I wery was, me list not tyrej 155 
 
 Full laid) to leif our werk sa in the myrcj 
 
 Or zit u* stynt for bittir storme or rane : 
 
 Here 1 assayit to zoik cure jjleuch agane : 
 
 And u:> 1 culd, Willi aiie fald diligence 
 
 This nixi t'uke followand of profound science, 160 
 
 Thus h IS bt'giin in the chill wynter cald, 
 
 Quhen trubiis dms ouer flete baitb Brth and fald. 
 
 A commend acion of this Proloug. 
 
 The Proloug smellis new cum farih of holI» 
 
 Aii(l Hs our bukf big'iuth hi- weiefare tellj 
 
 So well according deulie bir-ne annext, 1^5 
 
 Thou Hnry preaml)'!, w th ane bludy text. 
 
 Ot Siibill bene ih\i)e letteres illuminate, 
 
 According to thy {jroces and thy stale.
 
 f ' ANE DIALOG BETUIX 
 EXPERIENCE and ane COURTEOUR, 
 
 OP THE 
 
 MISERABYLL ESTAlt OF THE WARLD. 
 
 Corapylit be Sghir Dauid Lyndesay of ye MoNT 
 Knycht alias Lyone Kyng of Aumes.*'* 
 
 From the edition dated 1552. 
 
 THE PROLOGE. 
 
 MVSING, and maruelling on the miserie 
 Fromeday to day, in erth, quhilk dois incres; 
 And ofilkstait, the instabilitie, 
 Proceding of the restles besynes, 
 
 Quhare on the most part doith thair mynd addres, fi 
 Inordinatlie, on houngrye couatyce 
 Vaine glore, dissait, and vthir sensuall ryce. 
 
 Bot tumlyng in my bed, I mycht nocht lye, 
 Quhairfore I fuir furth, in ane Maye mornyng; 
 Conforte to gett of my melancolye, 10 
 
 Sumquhat afTore fresche Phebus vperysing, 
 Quhare I mycht heir the birdis sweitlic syng J 
 Intyll ane park I past, for my plesure, 
 Decorit weill be craft of dame Nature. 
 
 Quhov I ressauit confort naturallj IS 
 
 For tyll discryue at lenth, it war to lang ; 
 
 Smelling the holsum herbis medicinall, 
 
 Quhare on thedulce, and balmy dew down dang 
 
 Lylce aurient peirles on the twistis hang 
 
 Or quhov that the aromatik odouris 20 
 
 Did proceid from© the tender fragrant flouris. 
 
 * Bom 149. Died 155.
 
 Lyndsat.] extracts. 2«r 
 
 Or quhov Phebus, that king etheriall, 
 
 Swyttlie sprang vp into the orient ; 25 
 
 AscenJing in his throne imperiall, 
 
 Quhose brycht, and buriall hemes resplendent, 
 
 Ilium) nit all on to the Occident; 
 
 Confortand euerye corporall creature 
 
 Quhilk formit war, in erth, be dame Nature: 
 
 Quhose donk impurpurit vestiment nocturnall, 
 
 With his imbroudit mantyll matutyne; 30 
 
 He left intyll his regioun aurorall 
 
 Quhilk on hym watit, quhen he did declyne 
 
 Towarte his Occident palyce vespertyne, 
 
 And rose in habyte gaye and glorious ''> 
 
 Brychtar nor gold, or stonis precious. 35 
 
 Bot Synthea, the hornit nychtis quene, 
 
 Scho loste hir lycht, and lede ane lawar saill ; 
 
 Frome tyme hir souerane lorde that scho had sene 
 
 And in his presens, waxit dirk, and paill, 
 
 And ouer hir visage kest ane mistye vailJ ; 40 
 
 So did Venus, the goddes amorous. 
 
 With Jupiter, Mars, and Mercurius. 
 
 Rycht so, the auld intoxicat Saturne, 
 
 Persauyng Phebus powir, his beymes brycht, 
 
 Abufe the erth, than maid be no sudgeourne 41 
 
 Bot soddandlye did lose his borrowit lycht, 
 
 Quhilk he durst neuir schaw, bot on the nycht. 
 
 The pole artick, wrsis, and sterris all 
 
 Quhilk situate ar, in the septemtrionall.
 
 228. EXTRACTS. [Ltndbay; 
 
 Tyll errand schjppis, quhi'k* ai h" spuer gyde, 50 
 
 Conuoyaiid thauie vpone the ^tr. n ye nychi; 
 
 Wifhin ihare frostie circle did thame h)de; 
 
 Hawbtii ihcil sterrishaue none vtiiir l>cht, 
 
 But the reflex of Phebus bemes brjcht; 
 
 Tkat day doftjiflODe in toihe heuin appeir, Si 
 
 Tyll he had circuit all our hemibpeir. 
 
 Me thocht, it was ane sycht celestiall, 
 
 To sene Phebus, so angellyke ascend. 
 
 In tyll his fyrie chariot triumphall 
 
 Quhose bewte brycht, I culd notht comprehend 60 
 
 All warldlie cure anone did fro me wend, 
 
 Quhen fresche Flora ^pred t'urth hir tapestrie 
 
 Wrocht be dame Nature quent and curiouslie. 
 
 Depaynt, with mony hundreth heuinlie hewis, 
 
 Glaid of therjsirtg, of thare royall Roye, 65 
 
 With blomes brtckand on the tender bewis 
 
 Quhilk did prouokf myne hart tyl natural jnye, 
 
 Neptune that day, and E .11 held thame coye; 
 
 That men on far mycht heir the birdis sounde, 
 
 Quhose noyis did to the bterrye heuvin redounde. 70 
 
 The plesand powne prunzeand his feddrem fair 
 
 Tne myrthfull maues maid gret melodic 
 
 The lustve laik, ascending in the air, 
 
 Numerand hir naturall notis craftel>e, 
 
 The gay gt>ld-pink, ihe merll r\cht myrralye, 75 
 
 The noyis of the nobyll nychtingalis, 
 
 ISedunditthroucb the montans, meids, and valis.
 
 Ltndsat.] extracts. ^29 
 
 Contempling this melodious armonye, 
 
 QuhoTeuenlke biiddrest thame for tyl aduancc, 
 
 To salubs nature with thare melodye 89 
 
 That I stude gasing, halflings in ane trance 
 
 To heir thame mak thare nalurall obseruancej 
 
 So royaliie, that all the roches rar.g 
 
 Throuch repcrcussiuun of thare suggurit sang. 
 
 I lose my tyme allace for to rehers, 85 
 
 fiick uufrutful and vaine discriptioun 
 
 Or wrytt in to my raggit rurall vers 
 
 Mater without edificatioun, 
 
 Consydering quhov that myne intentoun, 
 
 Bene tyll deplore the mortall misereis 'SO 
 
 With conlinuall cairfuU calamiteis. 
 
 Consisting in this wracheit vaill of sorrow ; 
 
 Bet sad sentence sulde haue ane sad indytej 
 
 So termes brjcht, I lyste nocht for to borrovr, 
 
 Off murnyng mater men hes no delyte 93 
 
 With rouslye termes, tharcfor wyl Iwrjte, 
 
 With sorrowful seychis, a!^cendirlg fromo the splene, 
 
 And bitter teris, distellyng frorae myne eine. 
 
 Withoute ony vaine inuocatioun 
 
 To Minerua, or to Melpominee ; 100 
 
 Nor zitt wyll 1 mak supplicatioun, 
 
 for help, to Clec, nor Caliopee ; 
 
 Sick marde musis, may mak me no supplee. 
 
 Proserpyne, I refuse, and Apollo, 
 
 Add rycbt so Ewterpj Jupiter, and Juno. 105
 
 230. EXTRACTS. [Lyndsat; 
 
 Quhilks bene to plesand poetis conforting; 
 
 Quharefor, because I am nocht one of the, 
 
 I do desyre of thame no supporting 
 
 For 1 did neuer sleip on Pernaso, 
 
 As did the poetis of lang tyme ago ; 110 
 
 And speciallie the ornate Ennius, 
 
 Nov drank I neuer with Hysiodus; 
 
 Off Grece, the perfyte poet souerane ; 
 
 Off Hylicon the sors of eloquence, 
 
 Off that mellifluus, famous fresche fontane; I1& 
 
 Quharefor I awe to thame no reucrence 
 
 I purpose nocht to mak obedience 
 
 To sic mischeand musis, nor malmontrye 
 
 Afore tyrae vsit into poetrye* 
 
 Raueand Rhammusia, goddes of dispyte, 120 
 
 Mycht be to me ane muse rycht conuenabyll, 
 
 Gyff I desyrit sic help for tyll indyte 
 
 Thismurnyng mater, mad, and miserabyll ; 
 
 I men go seik ane muse more confortabyl 
 
 And sic vaine superstitioun to refuse 125 
 
 Beseikand the great God to be my muse : 
 
 Be quhose wysdome al maner of thing bene wrocht, 
 
 The heych heuinns, wit all thair ornamentis 
 
 And without mater maid all thing of nocht, 
 
 Hell in myd centir of the dementis; 130 
 
 That heuinlye muse, to seik my hole intent is 
 
 The quhilk gaif sapience to king Salomone 
 
 To Dauid grace, strenth to the Strang Saropsone.
 
 Ltkdsat.] extracts. £31 
 
 And of pure Peter, maid ane prudent precheour, 
 
 And be the power of his deitee 135 
 
 OfFcreuellPauU he maid aue cunnyng techeour; 
 
 Imon beseik, rycht lawly on my knee, 
 
 His heych superexcellent maiestie 
 
 That with his heuinlye spreit, he me inspyre 
 
 To wrytt no tbyng, contrarye his disyre. 140 
 
 Beseikand als his souerane sonne Jestt 
 
 Quhilk wes consauit be the holy spreit 
 
 Incarnat of the purifyit Virgin trev, 
 
 Into the quhome the prophicie wa» compleit 
 
 That prince of peace moist humyll, and mansweit, 145 
 
 Quhilk onder Pylate sufferit passioun 
 
 Vpon thecrocej for our saluattoun: 
 
 And be that creuell deith intollcrabyll 
 
 Lowsit we wer frome bandis of Balyall 
 
 And mairattouir, it wes so proffitabyll, 150 
 
 That to this hour, come neuir man, nor sail, 
 
 To the tryumphant ioye imperiaJl 
 
 Off lyfe, quhowbeit that thay war neucr sa gude, 
 
 Bot, be the vertew of that precious blude. 
 
 Quharefor, insteid of the mont Pernaso, 155 
 
 Swyftlie I sail go seik my souerane 
 
 To Mont Caluare ; the straucht waye mon I go 
 
 To oett ane taist of that moibl fresche fontane, 
 
 That sors to seik my hart may nocht refrane, 
 
 Off Hylicone, quhilk wes boith deip and wyde l6Q 
 
 That Longeous did graue in tyll his side.
 
 232 EXTRACTS. [LYNDSAf. 
 
 From that fresche fontane sprang a famous flude, 
 
 Quhilk redolent reuer throuch the warld Z\t rynnis 5 
 
 As christall cleir, and mixit bene w th blude, 
 
 Quhose sound abufe the h. yest V.euinns dinnis, l65 
 
 All faithfull peple purgeing fr-me ihare synnis; 
 
 Quharefor, I sail beseik his excellence 
 
 To grant me gracC) wysedome, and eloquence. 
 
 And bayth me^with those dulce and balmy strandis, 
 Quhilk on the croce did spedalie out f^pryng 170 
 
 Frorae his moste tender felt, and beuinly handis ; 
 And grant me grace, to wrytt nor dyte nothyng; 
 Bot tyll his heych honour and loude louyng : 
 But quhose support thare may na gud be wrocht 
 Tyll his plesure, gude worksj word, nor thocht. 175 
 
 Tharefor, O Lord, I pray thy maiestie 
 
 As thoT did schaw thy heych power diuyne 
 
 First plaaelie, in the Cane of Galelee 
 
 Quharethov conueriit cauld watter in wyne 
 
 Conuoye my mater, tyll ane fructuous fyne 180 
 
 And saue my sayings baith frome schame and syn 
 
 Tak tent for now I purpose to begyn. 
 
 Heir endis the prologe. 
 
 /^
 
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