820.6
$43

ARTES
1817
SCIENTIA
LIBRARY
VERITAS
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
PLURIBID
TIEBOR
SI QUÆR.S PENINSULAM AMŒNAM
CIRCUMSPICE
(3), 4. V.23.3/
The Scottish Tert Society
THE POEMS
OF
ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE
THE POEMS
OF
ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE
EDITED BY
JAMES CRANSTOUN, LL.D.
Dignum laude virum Musa vetat mori
Printed for the Society by
WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS
EDINBURGH AND LONDON
MDCCCLXXXVII
All Rights reserved
CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION-
1. Biographical Sketch,
2. The Poems,
3. Manuscripts and Editions of Montgomerie's Poems,
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE, .
POLWART AND MONTGOMERIES FLYTING,
SONNETS-
1. To the Blessed Trinity, .
2. Of the Works of God,
3. Of the Iniquitie of Man,
4. To M. Dauid Drummond,
5. To the Same,
6. To M. P. Galloway,
7. To His Majestie,
8. In Praise of His Majestie,
9. In Praise of M. J. M.,. Chanceller,
10. In Prais of the Kings Vranie,
II. Of the Same,
12. Of the Same,
PAGE
xi
·
xxvi
·
xlvii
I
55
89
89
90
90
91
91
92
92
93
93
·
94
94
·
95
95
96
96
97
97
•
•
98
98
99
99
100
13. Of the Same,
14. To His Majestie, for his Pensioun,
15. To the Same,
16. To the Same,
17. To the Same,
18. To the Lords of the Session,
19. To the Same,
20. To the Same,
21. To the Same,
22. To his Aduersars Lauyers,
23. Of M. J. Sharpe,
vi
CONTENTS.
SONNETS-Continued:
24. Of the Same,
25. To R. Hudsone,
26. To the Same,
27. To the Same,
28. To the Same,
29. To the Same,
30. Christen Lyndesay to Ro. Hudsone,
31. To M. J. Murray,
32. To M. L. Ruthuen, Duches of Lennox,
33. A Ladyis Lamentatione,
34. The Same,
35. The Same,
36. The Same,
37. The Same,
38. The Same,
39. To his Maistres, .
40. To the Same,
41. To the Same,
42. James Lauder,
43. Issobell Yong,
44. Eufame Wemis, .
45. John Jhonsone-Jane Maxwell,.
46. His Maistres Name,
47. To his Maistres Messane,
48. To M. D.,
49. To the Same,
50. Of my Lady Seyton,
•
51. To The for Me, .
52. To the Same,
53. To the Same,
54. On his Maistres,
55. On the Same,
56. On the Same,
57. On the Same,
·
•
58. On the Same,
59. Of the Duleweid,
60. Of the Same,
61. Of the Same,
•
•
•
62. The Poets Apologie to the Kirk of Edinburgh,.
63. That he Wrot not aganste the Madins of Edinburgh,
64. To His Majestie,
65. To W. Murray, .
66. Ladyland to Cap. A. Montegomerie,
67. Ezechiel Montg. Ansueir to Ladyland, .
68. Ladyland to Ezech. Montg.,
69. The Old Maister,
70. Against the God of Love,
100
ΙΟΙ
ΙΟΙ
102
•
102
103
103
104
·
104
105
105
106
106
107
107
108
108
109
109
IIO.
110
•
III
III
II2
112
113
113
114
114
115
115
116
116
•
117
•
117
118
118
119
119
120
120
121
121
•
I22
123
123
B
124
CONTENTS.
vii
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS-
1. A Description of Tyme,
2. The Oppositione of the Court to Conscience,
127
128
•
3. Ane Invectione against Fortun; conteining ane Admonitione
to his Friends at Court,
129
4. The Poets Complaint of his Nativitie,
131
5. The Poets Complante against the Wnkyndnes of his Com-
panions vhen he wes in Prisone,
133
6. A late Regrate of Leirning to Love,
135
7. A Counsell aganst Dispair in Love,
8. Echo,
9. Address to Love,
10. A Descriptione of Vane Lovers,
II. The Well of Love,
12. Of the Same Well,
13. The Commendatione of Love,
14. Against Love,
15. The Solsequium,
16. A Regrate of Hard Luck in Love,
17. Ane Example for his Lady,
18. Natur passis Nuriture,
19. Address to the Sun,
20. Even Dead behold I Breath,
21. Love, if thou List,
22. In throu the Windoes of Myn Ees,
23. If Faithfulnes suld Friendship find,
24. Lyk as Aglauros,
25. The Sacrifice of Cupid,
•
26. The Secreit Prais of Love,
27. The Poets Legacie,
28. Melancholie, grit Deput of Dispair,
29. That his Hairt is Woundit,
30. The Poet complenes on Love and Fortun,
31. The Perversitie of his Inclinationes throu Love,
32. The Poet reasons with his Maistres,
33. The Poets Dreme,
34. To his Maistres,
35. In Prais of his Maistres,
36. Sen Fortun is my Fo,
37. To his Maistres,
•
38. He Rejoises, as did formerly the Greeks,
39. He bids Adeu to his Maistres,
136
138
140
140
142
144
•
145
147
148
151
152
155
157
158
160
161
163
·
164
167
168
170
171
173
174
176
176
179
181
•
183
185
187
188
189
40. He bewailes his Wofull Estait,
•
191
41. The Night is neir Gone,
193
42. An Admonitioun to 30ung Lassis,
195
43. Montgomeries Welcome to Lord Semple, on his Returne from
France,
196
44. He prayis to his Maistres for Pitie,
197
viii
CONTENTS.
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS-continued :
45. He callis on Death to Relieve him,
46. Displeasur, with his Deadly Dairt,
47. The Elegie,
48. The Navigatiovn,
199
200
202
205
49. A Cartell of the Thre Ventrous Knichts,
213
50. Sang on the Lady Margaret Montgomerie,
214
51. A Poeme on the Same Lady,
216
52. A Regrate of his Vnhappie Luve,
217
53. Ane Ansuer to ane Ingliss Railar Praysing his awin Genalogy,
54. Ane Answer to ane Helandmanis Invectiue,
219
220
EPITAPHS-
55. Epitaph of R. Scot,
221
56. Epitaph of the Maister of Work, [Sir Robert] Drummond of
Carnok [Knight],
221
57. Epitaph of Johne and Patrik Shaues,
222
•
58. Epitaph of Robert, Lord Boyd,
222
DEVOTIONAL POEMS-
1. The First Psalme,
3. The Poets Dreme,
2. The Seconde Psalme,
4. A Godly Prayer,
5. A Walkning from Sin,
•
6. A Lesone hou to Leirne to Die,
7. Away! Vane World,
8. Come, my Childrene dere, drau neir me,
9. His Morning Muse,
10. Psalme XXXVI.,
THE MINDES MELODIE—
Psalme I.,
Psalme IIII.,
Psalme VI.,
Psalme VIII.,
Psalme XV.,
Psalme XIX.,
Psalme XXIII.,
Psalme XLIII.,
Psalme LVII.,
Psalme XCI.,
1
Psalme CI.,
Psalme CXVII.,
Psalme CXXI.,.
Psalme CXXV.,
Psalme CXXVIII.,
The Song of Simeon,
Gloria Patri,
•
•
225
226
228
229
232
234
237
238
240
241
245
246
248
249
251
252
255
256
257
259
261
•
263
264
265
266
268
269
CONTENTS.
ix
1
POEMS ATTRIBUTED TO ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE—
1. The Bankis of Helicon,.
•
273
2. My Ladyis Pulcritud,
•
•
278
3. When 3e were Plesit,
•
279
4. Quhy sowld I Luve,
280
5. How the first Helandman, of God was maid of ane horss turd,
in Argylle, as is said,
280
NOTES-
Notes to "The Cherrie and the Slae,"
285
306
327
•
352
382
388
389
Notes to "Polwart and Montgomeries Flyting,"
Notes to the Sonnets,
Notes to Miscellaneous Poems,
Notes to Devotional Poems,
Notes to "The Mindes Melodie,'
Notes to Attributed Poems,
GLOSSARY,
•
397
INTRODUCTION.
I.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE is believed to have been born
at Hazelhead Castle in Ayrshire, somewhat before the
middle of the sixteenth century. On this point Timothy
Pont, who has recorded the bare event in his Cuningham
Topographized," is the sole authority. From the writings
of Montgomerie's contemporaries we can glean but little
concerning him. Our only sources of information with re-
gard to his personal history are his poems, a few references
to him in the Public Records, and that most untrustworthy
of all sources-tradition.
From Pont's statement, and from collateral evidence, it is
certain that Montgomerie was a younger son of the Laird of
Hazelhead, a scion of the noble house of Eglinton.² A sister
1 "Hasilhead-castle, a stronge old bulding environed with large ditches,
seatted one a loche, veill planted and comodiosly beutified: the heritage of
Robert Montgomery, laird therof. Faumes it is for ye birth of yat renomet
poet, Alexander Montgomery."-'Cuningham Topographized,' by Mr T. Pont,
in Sir James Balfour's 'Collection' on the Severall Shires. MS. in the Advocates'
Library. See also Sir Robert Sibbald's 'Account of the Writers who treat of
the Description of Scotland,' p. 22. Edinburgh, 1710, fol.
2 Son. lxiv., and note thereto on p. 348.
b
xii
INTRODUCTION.
of the poet was married to Sir William Mure of Rowallan,
father of Sir William Mure,¹ author of the 'True Crucifixe
for True Catholickes,' and other works. His family for
generations had been closely allied by intermarriage with
that of Semple of Castle Semple.³ Moreover, his inter-
course with the distinguished men of the time and his career
1 "Sir William Mure was the lineal descendant and successor of the family.
About the year 1593, his father, Sir William Mure of Rowallan, married first,
when very young, Elizabeth, daughter of Montgomery of Hazelhead, and by
whom our author was the eldest of two sons, and a daughter married to Boyd
of Pinkhill. This lady appears to have been daughter to Hugh Montgomery
of Hazelhead, Ayrshire (descended of Eglintoun), by Marion Sempill, daughter
of Lord Sempill, and sister to Montgomery, author of 'The Cherry and the
Slae.""-Ancient Ballads and Songs, by Thomas Lyle, p. 102. Lond., 1827, 8vo.
Lyle adds in a note: "Crawfurd, followed by subsequent genealogists, calls
her Janet; but in an original writ belonging to the family of Blair, Ayrshire,
wherein 'Hew Montgomerie of Heiselhead' grants a reversion of lands to John
Blair of that Ilk, 1581, she is named Marion, and was then living."
In the subjoined Address to Charles, Prince of Wales, afterwards Charles
I., printed, with the spelling modernised, in Lyle's 'Ancient Ballads,' p. 115,
Sir William Mure alludes to his relationship to Montgomerie. The piece is
inscribed, "To the Most hopeful and high-born Prince Charles, Prince of
Wales
"Matchless Montgomery in his native tongue,
In former times to thy great Sire hath sung,
And often ravish'd his harmonious ear
With strains fit only for a prince to hear.
My Muse, which nought doth challenge worthy fame,
Save from Montgomery she her birth doth claim,
(Although his Phoenix ashes have sent forth
Pan for Apollo, if compared in worth),
Pretendeth title to supply his place
By right hereditar to serve thy grace.
Though the puny issues of my weak engine
Can add small lustre to thy glories' shine,
Which, like the boundless ocean, swells no more,
Though springs and founts infuse their liquid store;
And though the gift be mean I may bestow,
Yet, gracious prince, my mite to thee I owe,
Which I with zeal present. O deign to view
These artless measures to thee only due;
When thy ancestors' passions I have shown,
If but offence, great Charles, I'll sing thine own.
-The most unworthy of your Highnesses Vassals, S. W. M.”
2 Edinburgh. Wreittoun 1629. 12mo.
3 Son. lxviii.; Miscel. Poems, xliii. See note on p. 349.
INTRODUCTION.
xiii
at Court point to a good social position. To be assured of
this, one has only to glance at his Sonnets and Miscellane-
ous Poems. He was an ardent admirer of Lady Margaret
Montgomerie, eldest daughter of Hugh, third Earl of Eglin-
ton, to whom he plied his suit with equal poetic skill and
courtier-like address. Though he says he was possessed
of means,¹ we are constrained, from numerous passages in
his poems, to think that these must have been but slender.2
Unquestionably, the family estate never came into his
possession.3
4
That his education was liberal and in every way be-
fitting his station, is amply attested by his poems, which
reveal throughout a man of scholarly tastes, culture, and re-
finement. In a poem in which he bewails his lot in life,¹
allusion is made to his birth, which took place “on Eister
day at morne "the solitary reference, so far as we can dis-
cover, to an event in his early years. One could hardly
have supposed that a man whose time was spent amid the
business and bustle of public life, and whose career was by
no means uneventful in a singularly eventful period of his
country's history, could have lived and passed away almost
wholly unnoticed by his contemporaries. But when, in
addition, we consider the poetic celebrity which Mont-
gomerie attained in his lifetime, the fact that his verses
were quoted as patterns of their kind by his sovereign,5 his
posthumous fame, and, above all, the comparative recent-
ness of his period, we are lost in astonishment that such a
cloud of darkness should have all along overshadowed his
1 Miscel. Poems, xxxii. 1. 76 sq.
2 Son. xiv., xv., xvi., xxv., &c.
3 Crawfurd's Baronage, pp. 289, 321. MS. Adv. Lib.
breviatio, vol. i. 54, 55. Ayr.
4 Miscel. Poems, iv.
Inquisitionum Ab-
5 Reulis and Cautelis to be observit and eschewit in Scottis Poesie, chap. vii.
xiv
INTRODUCTION.
1
personality. Those who feel a living interest in the history
of their illustrious countrymen cannot but regret that, al-
though in the case of Montgomerie the works of the poet
are left to us, nearly all that lends a charm to biographical
narrative is for ever lost.
At an early age Montgomerie appears to have been sent
to Argyleshire for his education, if we may credit his an-
tagonist in "The Flyting":-
"While that thou past baith poore and peild,
Into Argyle, some lair to leir.”¹
That he was in the Highlands in his youth, receives ad-
ditional support from a reference to him in a humorous
poem by an obscure versifier of the immediately succeeding
period,2 and also from Dempster's statement that he com-
monly went by the sobriquet of Eques Montanus,3 " the High-
land trooper." That such is the purport of the words is evi-
dent; for, although Montgomerie spent much of his time
at the Scottish Court, we have no grounds for supposing
that he ever received the honour of knighthood. Had he
ever been the recipient of such a distinction at the hands of
his sovereign, we may rest assured that it would not have
been left unchronicled by Dempster. When, why, or for
¹ The Flyting, ll. 183, 184.
2 A Facetious Poem, in Imitation of the "Cherrie and the Slae," giving
Account of the Entertainment Love and Despair got in the Highlands of Scot-
land, revealed in a Dream to one in Pursuit of his stoln Cows. By G. G. of
S. Edinburgh, 1701, 12m0.
3 "Alexander Montgomeri, eques Montanus vulgo vocatus, nobilissimo
sanguine, Pindarus Scoticus, ingenii elegantia et carminis venustate nulli vet-
erum secundus, regi charissimus Jacobo, qui poeticen mirifice eo ævo amplexa-
batur, quique poetas claros sodales suos vulgo vocari voluit, multis ingenii sui
monimentis patriam linguam ditavit et exornavit: ad me, qui impubes patriam
reliqui, paucorum notitia pervenit." - Dempsteri Hist. Eccles. Gent. Scot.,
p. 496. Bononiæ, 1627, 4to.
INTRODUCTION.
XV
what destination he left Argyleshire, we have no means of
satisfactorily deciding.
Finlayston, the seat of the Earl of Glencairn, has been
associated with his name by John Wilson, author of
'Clyde,' a poem, published in 1764, in the lines :-
"But Finlayston demands the choicest lays,
A generous muse's theme in former days,
When oft Montgomerie poured the rural lay,
Whether he sang the vermeil dawn of day,
Or in the mystic wreath, to soothe his woe,
Twined the red Cherrie with the sable Sloe."1
Finlayston's claim is clearly inadmissible, inasmuch as
the families of Montgomerie and Cunningham were
separated by an inveterate feud-a circumstance to which
the poet alludes in the following sonnet addressed to his
Majesty:
Sir, I am sorie that 3e suld suppone
Me to be one in lucre to delyte,
Or speu despyt against hir vho is gone :
No-nevir none culd fee me so to flyte.
I war to wyt, the bureit to bakbyte,
Or to indyt hir families defame,
Thoght Cuningham-in conscience I am quy[te,]
By word or wryt. Aneugh nou for my n[ame.]
I sueat for shame, besyd the blot and b[lame,]
Men suld proclame it wer Montgomrie[s muse :]
Fy! I refuse sik filthie these or theam,
Houbeit at hame mair vncouthnes we wse.
I must confes, it war a fekles fead,
Quha docht do nocht bot to detract the [deid.]”2
The proximity of Finlayston to Hazelhead Castle may
have given rise to a popular tradition; but, in any case,
Wilson's allusion to Montgomerie in this connection may
1 Cant. ii. ll. 399-404.
2 Son. lxiv.
xvi
INTRODUCTION.
be accounted for, and almost justified, on the ground of
poetical licence. An objection, however, quite as fatal to
Finlayston as the feud referred to, is to be found in the
scenery around it. We have here no sounding rocks; no
sheer and dizzy crag; no roaring linn; no rapid river rolling
into sleepy silence as it seeks the sea: but of these hereafter.
Another tradition which transfers Montgomerie to
Galloway seems to be entitled to a considerable degree of
attention. The poet's place of settlement is said to have
been Compston Castle-still a fine ruin situated a little
way above the town of Kirkcudbright, near the junction
of the Dee and the Tarff. Andrew Symson in his 'Large
Description of Galloway,' written nearly eighty years before
the appearance of Wilson's poem, says: "Two miles above
the said toun of Kirkubrigh, in the Abbacy of Tongland,
just where the water of Tarffe empties itselfe into the river
of Dee, are great rocks and craigs that in a dry summer do
hinder the salmon from going higher up.
I have
heard it reported (how treu I know not) that it was this
place, and the situation thereof, which contributed towards
the quickening of Alexander Montgomery his fancie when
he composed the poem intituled 'The Cherrie and the
Slae.'" Strange to say, this story is still fresh in the
mouths of the people of the district, by whom the memory
of the poet continues to be cherished with pardonable
pride. And not only is the tradition of Montgomerie's
residence in the district universally accredited by Gallovi-
dians, but it consists with the knowledge of the present
editor that the natives of Kirkcudbright and the surround-
ing country aver that the prototypes of "The Cherrie” and
1
¹ A Large Description of Galloway, by Mr Andrew Symson, MS. Adv. Lib.
This description was drawn up in 1684, and enlarged in 1692.
INTRODUCTION.
xvii
"The Slae" dwelt at a place still pointed out in the parish
of Tongland.¹
Few places could be found more likely to awaken the
slumbering genius of a sensitive and ardent poet than the
one in question-few indeed in which the scenery and
accessories would harmonise so well with Montgomerie's
description. The steep and precipitous banks waving with
"balmy bewis;" "the routing river;" "the roches sounding
like a sang;" the reflex of Phoebus of the firth; "the stark
streim," "past waiding deep" where it leaves the "bend
of craigs," till "sleiping and creiping" it enters the broad
Solway-are in every particular true to nature; while the
swarms of sounding bees,” the "lays of luvesome larks,"
and the skipping and tripping of four-footed creatures
<<
all
in pairs," complete the outlines of a singularly accurate
and charming picture of the Dee and its surroundings.
Some may object that "the dae,” “the rae," "the boar,"
"the brock," are not found in the locality. That they
were found there at no very remote period is incontesta-
¹ Preface to Nicholson's edition of "The Cherrie and the Slae." Kirkcud-
bright, 1842.
"The beautiful scenery of the banks of the Dee in this locality has been
often and justly admired. It inspired the muse of Montgomery when he wrote
the poem of 'The Cherry and the Slae.'"-Harper's Rambles in Galloway, p.
Edinburgh, 1876, 8vo.
64.
66
•
Immediately below the old bridge, it is thought that Montgomery laid the
scene of his popular poem 'The Cherry and the Slae.'
Montgomery
was a contemporary of Shakespeare, and lived at Compstone Castle, about a
mile from this spot, close by the junction of the Tarff and the Dee."-Ibid.,
pp. 71, 72.
'About the same period (prior to 1591) the old house of Compston, on the
Dee, was inhabited by Alexander Montgomery, author of that melodious and
long popular poem, 'The Cherrie and the Slae.' The descriptions of scenery
in this moral or religious allegory are vivid and charming. They have been
supposed to refer to the scenery of the Dee between Tongland and Kirkcud-
bright; and in any case, they often correspond well with its characteristic
features."-W. B. in 'Dumfries Standard' of 6th July 1887.
xviii
INTRODUCTION.
"
bly proved by the place-names all round, such as Hart-
burn, Buckland, Borland, Brockloch, &c.
3
It has already been said that the year of Montgomerie's
birth is unknown; but we shall probably not far err in
fixing on 1545 as an approximate date. If that assump-
tion be correct, he must have posed as a poet before the
age of twenty-three, for some of his shorter poems occur
in the Bannatyne MS., which was written in 1568.¹ We
first hear of him in a public capacity, in the service of the
Regent Morton,2 on whose resignation in 1578 he seems
to have been retained in the King's service. In the fol-
lowing year were written, in all likelihood, "The Naviga-
tiovn" and "A Cartell of the Thre Ventrous Knichts "—
pageants probably intended to celebrate his royal master's
“first and magnificent entry into Edinburgh," when he
assumed the reins of government. From the general tenor
of "The Navigatiovn," and from statements made therein,
one of Montgomerie's biographers makes him a German
by birth, though a Scotchman by extraction. This is
simply absurd; for if we are to credit the statement “I
am ane German borne,' we surely cannot refuse credence
to the averment in the immediately succeeding lines to
the effect that he has been
"' 4
Thrugh all Europe, Afrik, and Asia,
And throu the neu fund out America."5
It need hardly be said that Montgomerie never set his foot
outside the limits of Europe. It has also been inferred,
from the number of nautical expressions in the piece, that
the poet was a sailor. All the evidence, however, which
1 See p. 384, infra.
3 See the Sonnets to his Majesty, passim.
4 Miscel. Poems, xlviii. 1. 21.
2 Son. xvii. 1. 10.
5 Ibid., xlviii. 11. 25, 26.
INTRODUCTION.
xix
1
we possess points in a different direction. Montgomerie,
it is true, is generally styled Captain—a title which seems
to have been first given in Scotland to officers in the
immediate service of the sovereign. Now, in the 17th
Sonnet we have Montgomerie's explicit statement that he
had held such a position-a statement sufficiently corrobo-
rated by his receipt of an annual pension for his services.¹
This should be enough to establish his right to the title of
Captain; but as the following anecdote from Dr Irving's
biographical notice of Montgomerie bears upon the point,
we give it for what it is worth: "When Patrick Adamson
was promoted to the archbishoprick of St Andrews, an
event which occurred in the year 1577, there was then at
Court 'Captain Montgomerie, a good honest man, the
regent's domestic,' who, recollecting a phrase which the new
primate was apt to employ in his sermons, remarked to
some of his companions, 'for as often as it was reported by
Mr Patrick, the prophet would mean this, I never understood
what the prophet meant till now." This anecdote has
generally been believed to relate to the poet.
Moreover, in "The Navigatiovn" the narrator is simply
a passenger, ignorant, on his own admission, of the mys-
teries of deep-sea sailing. This is what he says of himself
and his companions :—
"Maisters and pilots, cunning in that arte,
Went to the compas for to prik the carte,
For to persaiv the dangers vhair they lay:
We passingers went to the chesse to play;
For in that airt we nothing understude,
Thairfor we did thame nather ill nor good."3
1 Son. xiv. and note thereto on p. 333.
2 Biographical Notice by Dr Irving, prefixed to Dr Laing's edition, pp.
ix. x. James Melville's Diary, p. 46, MS. in Adv. Lib. Dr M'Crie's Life of
Andrew Melville, vol. i. p. 191.
3 Miscel. Poems, xlviii. ll. 103-108.
XX
INTRODUCTION.
To assume, from a person's knowledge of a few nautical
terms, that he has been a sailor, is, to say the least, both
illogical and rash.
With the king he stood in high favour for a time; nor is
this to be wondered at. When we take into account the
empty pedantry, literary ambition, and inordinate vanity
of the king on the one hand, and on the other the poet's
wonderful obsequiousness, rare tact, and crafty adulation,
we have not far to seek for a reason for Montgomerie's
success.¹ But courtiers, as he soon learned, tread on slip-
pery ground; 2 and for some reason which he never deigns
to particularise, he fell into disgrace.³ Again and again
we find him imploring a reconciliation, sometimes by
direct appeal, at other times in sonnets to a friend whose
kindly offices he hoped would introduce them to the royal
eye or ear. From Robert Hudson he certainly expected
much; but all he experienced from his former associate
appears to have been, if not avowed hostility, at least cold
indifference or cruel neglect. In one of the sonnets ad-
dressed to this hollow-hearted friend, he acknowledges that
kings and courts and commonwealths are themes uncon-
genial to his muse, that he can write wantonly under
Venus' wings, and dance attendance in Cupid's train; but
all the while he longs to come to Court again and bask in
the sunshine of royal favour.4
The cringing servility evinced in some of these sonnets
has a tendency to lower Montgomerie in our estimation,
even more than has the savage bitterness of his pasquinades,
or the undisguised naturalism of "The Flyting." Nor here.
does his honesty appear to advantage, for in a serious poem
1 See the Sonnets to his Majesty, and Son. xxv.-xxix. to R. Hudson, passim.
2 Son. xxx.
3 Son. xlvii. 1. 8.
4 Son. xxvi.
INTRODUCTION.
xxi
he clearly sets forth how terribly at variance are Court and
conscience.1
Fawning submissiveness, spiteful rancour, and lack of
manly purpose-strange combination of weaknesses from
which it were fruitless to defend him—seem to have been
inherent in his nature; but withal he was possessed of
many noble qualities, and neither in respect of his personal
conduct nor of his writings can we agree with Pinkerton
that he was the "Marini of Scotland."2 The unbridled
licentiousness and rank obscenity which pervade the poetry
of the prurient Italian are foreign to Montgomerie and
his muse.
We know of no stain upon his moral character ;
and his writings, with almost the single exception of "The
Flyting," in palliation of which we shall have something to
say hereafter, are unstained by impure word or thought.
From some of his lines we should infer that he was some-
what vain and conceited. In one passage he has informed
us that he was small of stature; in another that he was, in
his own estimation, fairly good-looking.5 He seems, more-
over, to have been exceedingly amorous, yet wooing with
but scant success; ever "feeding his fancie on the sugred
gall," finding "no flower nor fruit," "pricking his hand"
but "leaving the rose behind."6 Thus, though his circle of
female friends was a tolerably extensive one, and included
some of the fairest and most eligible ladies of the land, we
find him constantly complaining that in Cupid's Court, no
less than in the Court of his peerless prince, he is the sport
of that "curst inconstant cative," Fortune, backed by the
"wicked Weirds" and "thrauard Faits."
1 Miscel. Poems, ii.
2 Pinkerton's Ancient Scotish Poems, p. cxviii. London, 1786
3 See pp. xxxii. sq., infra.
5 Miscel. Poems, xxxii. 50.
4 Miscel. Poems, xxxii. 83.
6 Ibid. xxxi.
xxii
INTRODUCTION.
Among his male friends or acquaintances he numbered
Sir John Maitland of Thirlestane, Ludovick Duke of
Lennox, Lord Semple of Castle Semple, Sir Robert
Drummond of Carnock, Robert (afterwards Sir Robert)
Montgomery of Skelmorlie, Sir Patrick Hume of Pol-
warth (the redoubtable Polwart of "The Flyting"), Hugh
Barklay of Ladyland, Robert Hudson (a musician of the
king's household), Scott, Semple, and Lindsay, poets of
the time, and others mentioned in his sonnets whom it
is impossible now to identify. The names of these last
he mentions, some with respect, others in the language
of invective. Indeed his satiric vein must have in no
small measure contributed to his alienation from men
who might otherwise have been well disposed to him.
Whether his writings in any way affected his position at
Court it is impossible to say. We only know that his
sovereign recognised his abilities as a poet, and that his
personal services merited and were rewarded with a pen-
sion of five hundred marks a-year, chargeable on certain
rents of the archbishopric of Glasgow.¹ The date of the
grant is not known, but that of its confirmation is ascer-
tained to have been 1583. The payment, moreover, was to
be computed from the preceding year.2 In 1586 he obtained
a royal licence to leave the kingdom for the space of five
years, and during that time to visit France, Flanders, Spain,
and other countries. On his tour he got into difficulties, and
was for a time confined in a foreign prison; but regarding
the ground of his imprisonment, as of his removal from the
Court, he is silent, though he bewails his mishap with great
bitterness and indignation.³
1 Son. xiv., and note on p. 333.
2
Register of Presentations to Benefices, vol. ii. f. 91.
3 Son. xv. 1. 2; Miscel. Poems, v.
"
INTRODUCTION.
xxiii
To add to his grievances his pension was withheld, a cir-
cumstance which led to a vexatious and protracted law-
suit in the Court of Session.¹ We have no means of dis-
covering whether his imprisonment had anything to do
with its withdrawal; but the absence of the Archbishop of
Glasgow certainly had, for Montgomerie says that Beaton
must either be alive or dead: and in either case he is
entitled to a favourable verdict.2
The picture he draws of the administration of justice, and
of the conduct of legal business in the Court of Session in
those days, is far from flattering; but doubtless the lan-
guage is tinged with the traditional acerbity and reckless-
ness characteristic of disappointed litigants in all ages.
From the castigation which he has administered to the
judges, and to his own and his adversaries' counsel alike,
we can at least form some estimate of his power and pun-
gency of pasquinade. He reminds his judges that there
is a God above-
'Quha seis the smallest secret of thair hairts;'
threatens to eternise their names; declares that all the
country knows their coal-black conscience; taxes them
with using jugglery for justice; and expresses the hope that
he may have the satisfaction of eventually seeing them
appear at the bar of Satan to receive the wages of their
iniquity. Nor is he less scrupulous in his tone to the
counsel. In short, he is an Ishmaelite so far as law and
lawyers are concerned. His hand is against every man,
and every man's hand is against him. Eventually the
grant was renewed and confirmed by a writ of privy seal,
3
1 Son. xviii.-xxiv.
2 Son. xix. 11. 7, S.
3 Son. xxi.
xxiv
INTRODUCTION.
dated at Holyrood House on the 21st March 1588,¹ after
which we hear no more of the pension.
Unquestionably Montgomerie suffered many misfortunes;
but making all allowance for these, and at the same time
bearing in mind his sensitive nature, satiric proclivities, and
the irritability inseparable from the painful disease under
which he laboured,2 we are almost forced to the conclusion
that some of his ills were the figments of his fancy, while
others were the result of his own inconsiderateness or in-
discretion. If they were not, he certainly had a singular
knack of falling into traps. In the following sonnet he has
summarised his Iliad of ills:-
"If lose of guids, if gritest grudge or grief,
If povertie, imprisonment, or pane,
If for guid will ingratitude agane,
If languishing in langour but relief,
If det, if dolour, and to become deif,
If travell tint, and labour lost in vane,
Do properly to poets appertane—
Of all that craft my chance is to be chief.
With August, Virgill wauntit his reuard,
And Ovids lote als lukles as the lave;
Quhill Homer livd, his hap wes wery hard,
zit, vhen he died, sevin cities for him strave :
Thoght I am not lyk one of thame in arte,
I pingle thame all perfytlie in that parte.”
"3
4
Whether Montgomerie was ever reconciled to the king
and reinstated at Court is mere matter of speculation.
One sonnet, addressed to W. Murray, has led some to
conjecture that he was; but there is nothing to show when
that sonnet was written. Dempster, it is true, tells us that
Montgomerie died in 1591, bewailed by his sovereign, who
was charmed in no ordinary measure with the effusions of
1 Register of Privy Seal, vol. lix. f. 88.
2 Son. xxv. 6, xxx. 14; The Flyting, 1. 716.
3 Son. xv.
4 Son, lxv.
INTRODUCTION.
XXV
his sportive and mirthful muse.¹ But Dempster's state-
ment is worth little, for Montgomerie did not die in 1591,
nor for some time thereafter. This view is also taken by
the writer of the brief notice of Montgomerie in the 'Ency-
clopædia Britannica,' who says Montgomerie "fell into
disgrace apparently for a time, was reinstated in favour,
and accompanied his patron to England." These state-
ments, however, are supported by no authority. It would
be pleasant to be assured that Montgomerie returned from
his weary toil and travel, to end his days within the royal
circle in peace with honour. This much we know, that
amid all his misfortunes and disappointments he remained
keenly alive to that sensibility ever inherent in poetic
natures, which finds occupation and delight in the worship
of beauty. Like Dunbar, whom in many ways he much
resembles, he became serious in his later years, the pro-
ductions of which breathe a tender melancholy and un-
affected piety, inspired with hopes of a fairer future, in
strange contrast to some of his earlier work.
There is nothing to lead us to conclude that Montgomerie
died before 1605, when "The Mindes Melodie" was printed
by Robert Charteris. The fact of this small work appear-
ing anonymously, rather favours the view that he was
living at the time when it was issued. For, as Dr Irving
remarks," a very small collection of Devotional poems
might be published anonymously by the author himself;
but if so inconsiderable a collection had been thought
worthy of publication after his death, it is much more
likely that his name would not have been suppressed." 2
The edition of "The Cherrie and the Slae," printed by
1 "Obiit magno regis dolore, qui ingenii ipsius festiva comitate non vulgar-
iter oblectabatur, anno 1591."-Dempsteri Hist. Eccles. Gent. Scot., p. 496.
2 Biographical Notice, pp. xv, xvi.
xxvi
INTRODUCTION.
Andro Hart in 1615, bears that that poem was revised
shortly before the author's death. These, and other in-
cidental circumstances, lead us, after all, only to the
vague conclusion that Montgomerie was probably living
in 1605, certainly not after 1615.
II.
THE POEMS.
Alexander Montgomerie is, perhaps, the most dis-
tinguished name in the poetical literature of Scotland
during a period singularly barren of poetic genius. The
asceticism born of the religious fervour that had taken deep
root in the minds of the people, absorbing lighter interests,
warped the fancy, and, for a season, wellnigh silenced the
song of the hitherto unfettered Scottish Muse. Sir Robert
Aytoun, Sir William Alexander, and William Drummond
of Hawthornden are almost the only other noteworthy
names in Scottish poetry during what is known as the
brilliant Elizabethan period of English literature.
The golden age of Scottish poetry which boasted the
names of Henryson, Dunbar, Lindsay, and Douglas, had
passed away, when James VI. was endeavouring for his
own glory to draw around him the residue of Scottish
talent. The King's literary vanity found vent in the
publication of his 'Essayes of a Prentise in the Divine Art
of Poesie,' and 'Ane schort Treatise conteining some
Reulis and Cautelis to be observit and eschewit in Scottis
Poesie,' published in 1584. To the former of these works
the sonnet by Montgomerie beginning "Can goldin
Titan" was prefixed. In the latter, three of Montgomerie's
INTRODUCTION.
xxvii
poems-viz., "Echo," "The Flyting betwixt Montgomerie
and Polwart," and "The Cherrie and the Slae"-are quoted
from, though in all probability these pieces were as yet
circulated only in manuscript. As we are ignorant of the
dates alike of composition and publication of most of the
poems, it seems best to notice them in the order in which
they appear in the text.
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE. This poem, Mont-
gomerie's most pretentious effort, has been the subject of
a good deal of discussion; and though its merits have
been pretty generally recognised, its warmest admirers are
divided as to the purport of the poem. One thing, however,
is certain; the piece caught the popular ear at once. The
continued popularity which it has enjoyed is attested by
the numerous editions through which it has run.
The drift of the poem may be briefly stated: On the
banks of a picturesque river rises a frowning and apparently
inaccessible crag, surmounted by a cherry-tree bearing
beautiful and tempting fruit; while at the base grows a
humble slae-bush, whose fruit can be plucked with ease by
the passer-by. The poet, smitten by Cupid's shaft, scorns
the fruit growing on the lowly bush and resolves to gain
the daintier cherry. Hope, Courage, and Will urge him to
the attempt. Dread, Danger, and Despair dissuade him
from the dangerous enterprise, and advise him to be satisfied
with the slae. The question is debated by Experience,
Reason, Wit, and Skill, with much zealous and forceful
argument, couched in pregnant proverbs pithily expressed.
At last, by the direction of Reason, all agree to accompany
the adventurous youth, whose persistence is duly rewarded
with the object of his search.
C
xxviii
INTRODUCTION.
"The Cherrie and the Slae" seems to have met with no
very hostile criticism till John Pinkerton, an industrious
littérateur and acute critic, assailed it in unmeasured terms,
and dismissed it with wholesale abuse. This learned writer,
whose verdicts on sundry other matters are by no means
free from prejudice and paradox, thus sums up its demerits :
'It is a very poor production; and yet, I know not how, it
has been frequently printed, while far superior works have
been neglected. The stanza is good for a song, but the
worst in the world for a long poem. The allegory is weak
and wire-drawn, and the whole poem beneath contempt.
Let it then sleep." 1
>>
•
>
This cavalier mode of treating a poem that had, by that
time, stood the test of two centuries, is of a piece with the
same writer's criticism, "that nobody could read Spenser 2
or with his opinion of the Scottish Highlanders, obviously
expressed with rarest gusto, "that they are mere savages,
but one degree above the brutes," that "like Indians and
negroes they will ever continue absolute savages," and that
"all that we can do is to plant colonies among them, and
by this and encouraging their emigration, to try to get rid
of the breed."3 We may be allowed to characterise this
style of criticism as, to put it mildly, rather rash; for it is
impossible by means of a contemptuous sneer to obliterate
either a poem or a people, whose roots are, so to speak, deep
down in the soil. The Roman poet Horace tried this with
his great lyric rival, and the result proved anything but
1 Pinkerton's Ancient Scotish Poems, p. cxviii.
2 "Witness Spencer, whom nobody can read, and yet he is thought a good
poet."-Preface to Ancient Scotish Poems.
3 An Enquiry into the History of Scotland preceding the reign of Malcolm
III., p. 340. London, 1789, 8vo.
INTRODUCTION.
xxix
encouraging.¹ In fairness, however, it must be admitted
that in this truculent treatment of Montgomerie's poem
there is a certain amount of reason. The stanza is, un-
questionably, ill chosen for such a long poem. There is in
the end of the strophe a dancing-tune jingle, that gets
tiresome and detracts from the dignity of a theme that has
nothing humorous in its character. The allegory, moreover,
in some wise resembles a tangled skein: it is obscure and
difficult of comprehension; and the debate between the
opposing mental qualities is, notwithstanding all its merits,
extremely tedious. These blemishes must be admitted ;
but they may be partially accounted for-nay, even to some
extent condoned-if we take into account the primary and
the ultimate design of the poet. Any one who carefully
studies "The Cherrie and the Slae" must see that the
earlier portion of the poem (11. 1-392) is a love-piece, while
the remainder partakes of the nature of a moral poem. The
former is, moreover, surely a much earlier effort, evincing, as
it does, a buoyancy and graceful ease alien to the succeeding
quatorziems. In it the poet sings of the rosy morning and
the songs of birds, of blooming branches and fresh budding
boughs; of musical rivulets and murmuring bees; of
diamond dewdrops and May-coloured flowers; of gentle
Cupid, in tiny armour drest. And every line is redolent of
dauntless courage, of lofty aspiration, of high hope—
In the Lexicon of youth, which fate reserves
For a bright manhood, there is no such word
As-fail." 2
On the other hand, the rest of the poem is didactic in its
1 "Simius iste
Nil præter Calvum et doctus cantare Catullum."
2 Lord Lytton's Richelieu, Act II. sc. 2.
-Sat. I. x. 18, 19.
XXX
INTRODUCTION.
tendency and purpose, and inculcates lessons learned amid
sterner scenes and more jarring surroundings. The mode
of thought, besides, is altogether in the poet's later and
Severely moral vein. Moreover, the view that the poem
was written at different times is favoured by the circum-
stance that, whereas in the first and second editions it ends
abruptly in the middle of the 77th stanza, in the next
edition nearly 37 new stanzas are added.
The theory which claims that "the allegory of this poem
is that moderate pleasures are better than high ones "1 may
be dismissed without consideration. Thomas Dempster,
who executed a Latin paraphrase of "The Cherrie and the
Slae," and who from that circumstance may be credited
with having weighed the difficulties and grasped the inner
meaning of the poem in a measure hardly otherwise attain-
able, has presented us with a double view of the piece. In
his 'Ecclesiastical History of the Scottish Nation' he
regards it as a love-allegory, in which a young man's choice
lies between a high-born and a humble mistress.2 Else-
where he explains the poem as symbolising a struggle
between Virtue and Vice ³-Virtue being represented by the
cherrie on a tree crowning a lofty precipice; Vice by the
lowly and bitter slae, growing within easy reach. The two
explanations are by no means irreconcilable. Indeed they
seem to point to the only rational solution of the difficulty:
that what the poet began as an amatory lay, he ended as a
¹ Pinkerton's Ancient Scotish Poems, p. cxviii.
2 "In his Cerasus et Vaccinium, Lib. I., poema divinum, quo amores suos
descripserat; per cerasum amicæ sublimis dignitatem, per vaccinium contem-
nendos inferioris et fastiditæ amasiæ amplexus intelligens." - Hist. Eccles.
Gent. Scot., p. 496.
3" Cerasum et Silvestre Prunum. Opus poematicum. De Virtutum et
Vitiorum Pugna. Sive Electio Status in Adolescentia."-Title of Dempster's
paraphrase.
INTRODUCTION.
xxxi
moral poem; what he meant for a song turned out a
sermon.
In any case, Montgomerie must to a large extent be
denied the faculty of design. At times, indeed, one is
almost inclined to think that he began to write "The
Cherrie and the Slae" without any very definite purpose
in view, and that, as a greater poet who came after him
said of his own immortal lyrics, he "rhymed for fun." His
rare mother wit and telling home-thrusts appeal more to
the head than to the heart; and we desiderate the magic
shaft that thrills the soul to its centre and makes the blood
tingle in the veins.
But, after making all allowances for defective construc-
tion, the candid reader will at once admit that this poem
is the birth of a highly poetic fancy; that it possesses
wonderful freshness; and that images of rare beauty are
scattered over almost every page with lavish profusion.
The descriptive power evinced in the opening stanzas is
of a high order; and, throughout the work, the poet, in the
management of the verse, shows wonderful facility in the
technical details of his art and great felicity of expression.
Especially are we struck with his rare faculty for alliteration
and his multitudinous wealth of rhymes. The mythological
lore is paraded, it may be, a little too ostentatiously; but
such was the fashion of his day. At the same time, few
poets have employed the most familiar proverbs with
happier effect, or invested the common objects of everyday
life with a livelier charm. Everywhere we find a sympa-
thetic expositor of nature; but for that infinite tenderness
of touch and genuine pathos which belong to the first order
of poets we look in vain. Enough: "The Cherrie and the
Slae" survives, and is the copestone of Montgomerie's fame.
xxxii
INTRODUCTION.
THE FLYTING BETWIXT MONTGOMERIE AND POL-
WART. This piece belongs to a class of compositions—
one can hardly dignify them with the name of poetry-that
were much in vogue with our ancestors of long ago. Their
origin is somewhat obscure; but just as the "“Elegies” of
Ovid are answerable for much of the sentimental poetry
of the middle ages, so these Flytings seem to have been
the birth of the scurrilous "Ibis." The piece in question
is an imitation of "The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie,”
only considerably longer, and containing a greater number
of coarse and abusive expressions than its prototype. In-
deed, it may be said to have exhausted the vocabulary of
vulgar vituperation. "The Flyting" is professedly a war
of words, in which the combatants are Alexander Mont-
gomerie and Sir Patrick Hume of Polwarth,¹ both young
men of mark, more or less intimately connected with the
royal household—both, like Virgil's swains, skilled in song,
and alike eager for the fray.
Beyond the few lines to the reader prefixed to "The
Flyting," a reference to the amusement the recital of it
gave to the King,² and a brief notice of it by Dempster in
his "Ecclesiastical History of the Scottish Nation," there
is no evidence, so far as I know, to support the view
of a dual authorship. Indeed, had "The Flyting" been
given to the world as the production of a single hand, I
venture to think no one would have had any difficulty in
accepting it as such. But "The Flyting" has always been
considered to be the work of two persons, and doubtless
it is so. There are, indeed, some noteworthy points of a
1 See p. 306, note, infra.
2 Son. xxvii. 11. 13, 14.
3 "Satyra in Poulwartum, qua nihil virulentius aut ingeniosius Musæ com-
miniscuntur, ætas certe nostra non vidit."-P. 496.
INTRODUCTION.
xxxiii
personal character in Polwart's portion, as for instance
the repeated allusions to Montgomerie's residence in
Argyleshire,¹ and to his bacchanalian proclivities. The
latter allegation is supported in some measure by other
and independent testimony. (Sonnets lxvi., lxvii. Cf. lxix.)
Moreover, in the composition of the piece itself there is
some evidence of dual authorship. In sportive virulence
and facetious ingenuity the combatants are fairly matched,
nor in these respects has Montgomerie the best of it on the
whole; but in poetic power and technical skill he is un-
questionably superior. Throughout the whole of "The
Flyting" we can clearly trace the influence of Dunbar and
Kennedie; but in Montgomerie's 'Answere to Polwart' (pp.
68-77) there is decided originality and native vigour, no-
where else discernible in the piece. On the other hand,
emulating Dunbar in the measure adopted in the concluding
part of "The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie,” Polwart
has shown himself more than a match for the older poet
in alliterative swing and verbal resource. But, after all,
the composition of such verses depends not on inborn power
but on patient perseverance; not on the writer's ability to
string the golden beads of fancy on music's silver thread,
but on the plodding persistence of the poetaster.
There can be no reasonable doubt, it is presumed, as to
Sir Patrick Hume being the Polwart of "The Flyting."
His connection with the King and Court, his social position,
his opportunities for associating with Montgomerie,—all
point to him as being our poet's antagonist. Dempster,
too, corroborates this view; 2 yet Sibbald, in his 'Chron-
1 The Flyting, 1. 181 sq.; 579 sq.
2 "Patricius Hume, equestri dignitate, a gentilicio patrimonio Poulwartius
vocatus."-Hist. Eccles. Gent. Scot., p. 355.
xxxiv
INTRODUCTION.
icle of Scottish Poetry,' conjectures that "Alexander Hume,
parson of Logie, is the person who carried on a flyting
correspondence with Montgomerie, in imitation of that
by Dunbar and Kennedie." This Alexander Hume was
a younger brother of Sir Patrick Hume of Polwarth. He
was educated at St Andrews, completed his studies in law,
began life as an advocate, and after a three years' probation,
which, according to his own statement in a poetical epistle
to Dr Moncreiff, the King's physician, proved far from
attractive, quitted the bar. He afterwards tried to estab-
lish himself at Court; but the life there also proving un-
congenial, he became, as stated by Sibbald, parson of
Logie in Clackmannanshire.2 In 1599 he published a
volume entitled 'Hymnes or Sacred Songs, wherein the
right use of poesie may be espied;'3 but, considering the
retiring and devotional nature of the author, and the char-
acter of his published works, it is impossible to regard
Sibbald's view in any other light than as evincing a sing-
ular want of discrimination and critical acumen. There is
not a single note sounded by his pious and humble muse
that bears the remotest resemblance to the blunt but often
vigorous lines of Polwart.
Assuming, then, that "The Flyting" was carried on by
two persons, and that these two were Alexander Mont-
gomerie and Sir Patrick Hume, we shall briefly consider the
character of the piece itself. Montgomerie assures us in the
introductory lines that "The Flyting" was not the birth
of "envy, malice, or despyte," but of "generous emulation."
This assurance is of itself consolatory. It is difficult in-
1 Sibbald's Chronicle of Scottish Poetry, vol. iii. p. 392.
2 See Ross's Book of Scottish Poems, vol. 1. p. 336. Paisley: Gardner,
1882, 8vo.
3 Edinburgh by Robert Walde-graue, 1599, 4to.
INTRODUCTION.
XXXV
""
deed for us of the present day, with our notions of moral
delicacy and conventional purity of speech, to realise a
state of society in which such tirades of abuse could be
tolerated; but we have the best reason for believing that
in Montgomerie's time they were not only tolerated by,
but immensely popular with, all classes, from the King to
the peasant. Into a detailed account of "The Flyting
it is needless to enter: the reader will best appreciate it
for, and by, himself. Suffice it to say that, although it is
extremely coarse and repulsive according to modern ideas
of propriety, it is in no wise the offspring of a prurient
imagination, delighting and revelling in impure images—
that it is, in short, unmoral, not immoral. However much
the morally pure and the rigidly righteous may be shocked
by the language they will find here, those who have even
a very limited acquaintance with the works of heathen
antiquity need not be told that habitual coarseness of ex-
pression is not incompatible with high culture and rare
refinement or even moral purity; and that both the Hel-
lenic and the Roman muse would be found at times
"coquetting with the shaggy, cloven-footed satyr."¹ We
should remember, too, that this poem was written more
than three hundred years ago, when our country was in
a state of semi-barbarism. Although the poetical merit
of the piece cannot be pleaded for its reproduction now,
the vocabulary which it contains entitles it to every con-
1 "Among the ancients plain speaking was the fashion; nor was that cere-
monious delicacy introduced which has taught men to abuse each other with
the utmost politeness, and express the most indecent ideas in the most modest
language. The ancients had little of this. They were accustomed to call a
spade a spade, to give everything its proper name. There is another sort of
indecency which is infinitely more dangerous, which corrupts the heart without
offending the ear."-Porson's Tracts and Miscellaneous Criticisms, p. 13.
Lond., 1815, 8vo.
xxxvi
INTRODUCTION.
sideration at the hands of the student of comparative
philology; while the volume of folk-lore that underlies the
all too outspoken language of the composition renders it
especially interesting to the antiquarian. It is instructive,
too, as reflecting the taste of the time. And after all it is
not without passages of power, as witness the witches' in-
vocation of the three-headed Hecate on the dedication of
"the dablet." 1 Moreover, as the austere Cato of old is
said to have sometimes warmed his virtue with wine, the
most virtuous reader may on occasion be tempted to smile
at the ludicrous oddities and quaint eccentricities of the
doughty champions in "The Flyting."
THE SONNETS.-Fortunately these have been pre-
served in manuscript in the Drummond Collection be-
queathed to the University of Edinburgh, and are the main
source from which we derive any trustworthy information
regarding Montgomerie's life and character. In these he
reveals himself as courtier, lover, friend, and foe. The
sonnets addressed to the King are characterised by great
poetic skill and singular felicity of diction; but the poet's
transparent flattery of the monarch and his own self-abase-
ment are almost on a par with the effusive adulation and
cringing servility of a pagan poet in the days of imperial
Rome. One cannot help regretting this insincerity, which,
though it is confined to no particular people or time, is
nevertheless one of the meanest and least manly acts to
which a man of genius can descend. The sonnets to his
friends are for the most part, alike in conception and ex-
ecution, patterns of good taste. On the other hand, those
dealing with the Lords of Session and his own and his
1 The Flyting, 1. 417 sq.
INTRODUCTION.
xxxvii
adversaries' counsel are exceedingly bitter, and afford signal
proof of the violence of Montgomerie's temper when roused
by real or fancied wrong. A number of miscellaneous
sonnets, several of them of great tenderness and beauty,
complete the series. In viewing these pieces critically, one
cannot help being struck with the poet's mastery of this
difficult kind of verse.. The apparent ease with which line
glides into line, the aptness of the similes, the correctness
of the rhymes, the quaint conceits as quaintly expressed,
and the oneness of the thought which is the characteristic
feature and sole aim of the sonnet, all point to a cultured
taste formed on a careful study of Italian models.
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. The Miscellaneous Poems
are chiefly lyrical in form, and are written in a great variety
of measures. They are nearly all of an amatory character,
and delineate the master-passion in its ever-shifting moods,
from rosy hope to hopeless misery, from poignant grief
to passionate despair. Whether they are the fruit of love's
delicious dreams or of moping melancholy, they never fail
to charm by their grace and elegance, though at times
from their too artistic setting they impress the reader
rather with the idea that they are verses laboured and
written to order than the spontaneous outpourings of the
self-oblivious and lovelorn heart. The apparently affected
and artificial tone of the poems, however, is, we feel
convinced as we read, natural to the poet, or is, at all
events, the result of a mannerism fostered by mingling
with men to whom the language of compliment and
flattery is familiar or habitual. On the other hand, some
of the pieces prompted by misfortune and neglect have all
the marks of genuine suffering and sincerity. Sometimes
xxxviii
INTRODUCTION.
the agony may appear intensified and exaggerated; but
we never question the reality of the situation, or for a
moment doubt the genuineness of the strain.
4
"The Navigatiovn"¹ and "A Cartell of the Thre Vent-
rous Knichts "2 are unquestionably pageants written in
honour of the sovereign. The poem entitled "Echo "3
exhibits, in the last stanza, a specimen of a fantastic kind
of verse common both in ancient and modern times.
These echoing verses, laborious trifles at the best, have
been chiefly the product of a debased and frivolous age of
poetry, and find no place in the works of the grander
singers of the world. Some of the shorter lyrics, such as
"The Night is neir gone "5 and "An Admonitioun to 3oung
Lassis," are very fine, and appeal alike to the heart and the
ear by their obvious spontaneity and musical chime. The
Epitaphs" do not rise above the ordinary level of this
species of composition; but they have a certain value in
establishing the fact that Montgomerie was living years
after his death had been chronicled by Dempster. More-
over, in the case of one or two individuals, they possess
somewhat of a biographical interest.
((
DEVOTIONAL POEMS.-In these pieces we see Mont-
gomerie in a phase of character totally different from any
in which we have contemplated him. Never was trans-
formation more complete. With him life's pantomime is
past. We have now no longer any of the quaint and pithy
proverbs that danced in a maze of many-twinkling feet in
1 Miscel. Poems, xlviii. See also Introductory Note to this poem, p. 374,
infra.
2 Miscel. Poems, xlix.
3 Ibid., viii.
4 See note to Miscel. Poems, viii. pp. 356, 357, infra.
5 Miscel. Poems, xli.
6 Ibid., xlii.
INTRODUCTION.
xxxix
"The Cherrie and the Slae"; nothing of the wild rollick-
ing verse of "The Flyting"; nothing of the tenderly
amorous or bitter unforgiving spirit of some of the Sonnets ;
nothing of the ecstatic joy, or of the many-voiced notes
that chimed in varying numbers in the Miscellaneous
Poems. With the exception of a Psalm or two, which
Montgomerie has rendered with great fidelity and force,
these pieces are the heartfelt outpourings of a sin-
awakened soul, confessing its manifold aberrations from
the path of duty, and looking forward to death, judg-
ment, and eternity. Alive to the dangers of subtle sins
and worldly lusts, the penitent is tired of the vain world
with its delusive joys, and, like an erring child confessing
its faults to a trusted parent, pours forth his "godly
prayer" in the ear of his heavenly Father. In a word, he
is done with the world, and is waiting for the eternal joys
secured to His faithful followers by Christ the Redeemer.
Such is the impression left on one after reading these
pieces. Without for a moment wishing to cast the shadow
of a doubt on the unaffected piety therein evinced-for
surely the piety is very real-one would naturally like to
know whether these poems, like some of Burns's in a
similar vein, were the utterances of the poet at intervals
during the course of his checkered life, or solely the out-
come of age, when life, so to speak, had wellnigh lost
its hold, and wranglings and bickerings and loves and
hates had ceased to find food to foster them any longer.
If they are the outcome of the latter condition, they are
quite intelligible; if, on the other hand, they are contem-
poraneous with "The Flyting" and "The Sonnets," they
reveal an inconsistency in human character almost un-
paralleled. In the absence of direct testimony to the con-
7
xl
INTRODUCTION.
trary, we gladly adopt the former view, although the fact
of several of the pieces occurring in the Bannatyne MS. is
sufficient to suggest a doubt of its accuracy.
"THE MINDES MELODIE."-This collection of Psalms-
fifteen in all, exclusive of "Simeon's Song" and "Gloria
Patri," was printed at Edinburgh by Robert Charteris in
1605. All of them are in the measure of "The Solsequium,"
the notation of the air of which-the new pleasant tune,
verie comfortable to everie one that is rightlie acquainted
therewith-is given in the Aberdeen Cantus.
Montgomerie, in conjunction with others, "principalls
of Inglish poesie in ther tymes," offered to execute a com-
plete version of the Psalms of David, free of all expenses
"ather frae the publicke state or privat mens purses."1
It would appear, therefore, that long before the attempt by
Charles I. in 1632 was made to supersede the old version
by that of King James, a movement to have the Psalms
re-done in new metres must have been made. Besides the
Psalms included in this collection, the 2d and a fragment of
the 36th Psalm will be found among the Devotional Poems.
Beyond these no others have been discovered. The work
of re-rendering all the Psalms, projected by Montgomerie,
was carried into effect by his nephew, Sir William Mure of
Rowallan, whose version, executed in 1639, was much ad-
mired in his day. This work, like so many of the produc-
tions of our old Scottish poets, still remains to be printed.
ATTRIBUTED POEMS. With the single exception of
"The Bankis of Helicon," which is preserved in the quarto
Maitland MS., the authenticity of the few poems included
¹ See Blackwood's Magazine, vol. iii. p. 180.
INTRODUCTION.
xli
under this heading is extremely doubtful. The second piece,
from the same MS., I have on my own responsibility in-
serted, from its close resemblance to Montgomerie's style.
The third and fourth pieces, from the Bannatyne MS., were
included in the body of the poems by Dr Laing in his
edition for a similar reason. The remaining piece, which
bears some resemblance to parts of "The Flyting” and to
"Ane Answer to ane Helandmanis Invectiue," was attri-
buted to Montgomerie by earlier authorities, but rejected
by Laing. So far as these minor poems are concerned, the
authorship matters little, inasmuch as they neither add to,
nor detract from, Montgomerie's reputation as a poet. It
is different with "The Bankis of Helicon," which, besides
being a charming love-lyric,¹ enjoys the reputation of being
the earliest poem written in the measure of "The Cherrie
and the Slae,” and has generally been considered to be the
work of an earlier poet than Montgomerie. Why it should
have so long enjoyed this distinction is by no means clear.
The MS. in which it is found was written in 1586. This, of
course, merely proves that the poem was written before
that time-how long before, it were vain to speculate; but
we do know that the earlier part of "The Cherrie and the
Slae" was composed as early as 1584, inasmuch as a stanza
(11. 99-112) is quoted by King James in his “Reulis and
Cautelis," published in that year.
Dr Laing thought it possible that Montgomerie was the
author of it; he did not, however, venture to include it among
the poems in his edition, but relegated it to the appendix.
1 Mr Campbell entertained a different opinion of its merits. He says: "In
the Maitland MS. is a song entitled 'The Bankis of Helicon'—it is the
panegyric of a doating lover on his mistress, possessing little merit save smooth-
ness of versification."-An Introduction to the History of Poetry in Scotland,
p. 66. Edinb., 1798-99, 2 vols. 4to.
xlii
INTRODUCTION.
((
Montgomery," says Ritson, speaking of the stanza of
"The Cherrie and the Slae," "was not, as is generally sup-
posed, the inventor of this sort of stanza. He only imitated
a more ancient piece entitled 'The Bankis of Helicon,'
which is still extant, and the music to which both poems
appear to have been originally sung is still known in Wales
by the name of Glyn Helicon." 1 Dr Laing printed the
musical notes from a MS. volume, bearing date 1639,
which belonged to Mr Alexander Campbell, and which
eventually fell into Mr Heber's possession.2 Alluding to
this set, Ritson, in a letter dated Gray's Inn, 1st March
1801, writes to Mr Campbell: "Your copy of the music
to 'The Bankis of Helicon' is essentially different from
that given to me by Edward Williams; but i readyly allow
that the former, if noted in an ancient MS., promises to be
the genuine air." Dr Laing adds: "But a still more ancient
melody, entitled 'About the Bankis of Helicon,' composed
by Blackhall, is inserted at the end of a MS. volume pre-
served in the University Library, which contains the
counter-tenor part of the psalm-tunes composed by Wode,
Blackhall, Angus, and the musicians of the Chapel Royal,
shortly after the Reformation. It may have been a dif-
ferent air bearing a similar title; although Mr Camp-
bell thinks it might be adapted to the words of 'The
Cherrie and the Slae' by repeating the tones to the rhyth-
mus and measure of the stanzas."
This is substantially all that has been said for and
against the authorship of the "The Bankis of Helicon."
For the present I shall leave out of the case the
rhythmus of the poem, and the tune to which it might
1 See letter of Ritson to George Paton in the Paton MSS., Adv. Lib.
2 See p. 389, infra.
INTRODUCTION.
xliii
have been sung, and confine myself to the question of the
authorship of it. After a very careful and dispassionate
examination of the piece, and a close comparison of it with
Montgomerie's other poems to and on his kinswoman, Lady
Margaret Montgomerie, I am constrained to admit its
claims to be one of the series. The poet's passion for that
lady seems to have been very real and sincere, and the
strain in which he addresses her and speaks of her is not
to be mistaken. The passages from the admittedly genu-
ine poems, which will be found in the Notes to the Bankis
of Helicon (pp. 389-394, infra), are sufficient to establish
the authorship of the piece, unless we are to consider
Montgomerie as the most shameless of plagiarists. This I
cannot do, for any imitations of earlier writers which I find
in him are such as are to be met with in writers of all ages,
and not wholesale pilferings. The set of expressions, nay,
the whole lines, which we find exactly the same in these
love-effusions one after another, are quite in the manner of
Montgomerie, who seems to have had a great liking for
some of his own verses. How often, for instance, he sets
and resets his little gems, "All is not gold that gleits,"
"Tak tym in tym," &c. In this respect he does not
differ from writers, both ancient and modern, who have
shown a strong liking for some of their lines.¹ The con-
stant recurrence of the same thoughts and aspirations, the
same images and metaphors, the same carefully chosen ex-
pressions in these poems to the lady, point, it seems to me,
to only one conclusion-viz., that they are all the birth of
one inspiration—the unmistakable tones of a lyre that, like
1 "Poets, teeming with imagination, often repeat themselves. The repetition
proceeds not from poverty, but what our French friends call embarras de rich-
esses. Plagiarism and Accidental Imitation," in Dublin University Maga-
zine, vol. lxxiii. p. 116.
d
1
xliv
INTRODUCTION.
Anacreon's, "echoes love alone." That Montgomerie, how-
ever, was the inventor of the stanza is quite another ques-
tion. He seems to have been the first Scottish poet who
employed it, and with that credit we may leave him till
an earlier poem in the same measure is discovered. I am
not aware of any French or Italian source which may have
supplied a model; but Dr Gregor has pointed out to me,
in medieval Latin hymns, verses involving at least the
principle of the recurrent rhymes in the 11th and 13th
lines, which constitute the distinctive feature of the
measure of "The Cherrie and the Slae," and a subsequent
search has confirmed his view that in that direction must
be sought the prototype of the strophe. These hymns
would of course supply a tune, so we need not concern
ourselves farther with "Glyn Helicon," or the psalm-tune
composers of the period of the Reformation.
The stanza, whatever its merits or demerits may be, has
been exceedingly popular in Scotland. "Ane Ballat of the
Creatioun of the Warld," by Sir Richard Maitland, in
George Bannatyne's MS., "Grange's Ballat," and Burel's
Passage of a Pilgrimer," all written in the latter half of
the 16th century, are in this measure. Its peculiar melody
won the ear of Allan Ramsay, who employed it in his
fine allegorical poem of "The Vision," and of Burns,
whose trials of his rhyming skill in it are to be found in
several of his most admired compositions; while the most
characteristic part of the strophe, with its measured recur-
rent chime, has been employed with signal effect by one of
the greatest of the living masters of melody, in a recent
poem of singular felicity and power.¹ Montgomerie, how-
ever, has not been surpassed, so far as technical skill is con-
1 Swinburne's "A Word for the Navy."
INTRODUCTION.
xlv
cerned, by any of his successors in this field, while in
musical ear he far excelled all the poets of his age, as is
clearly shown by the even flow of his verse, and by his
marvellous store of wellnigh faultless rhymes. The
measure of "The Cherrie and the Slae" has been often
spoken of in disparaging terms by carping critics; but the
incontrovertible fact remains that the poem has retained its
popularity for three hundred years, and is still read with
delight by Scotchmen—a survival which has been denied to
many poems of much loftier aim and of far more ambitious
pretensions.
GENERAL ESTIMATE. Having now passed under review
the life and work of Montgomerie, I shall conclude this
part of the Introduction with a brief recapitulation and a
general estimate of him as a man and a poet.
The personality of Montgomerie is hazy in the extreme.
We can form no idea of the colour of his eyes or hair;
whether his complexion was fair or dark; whether his
aspect was attractive or repellent. We can only conjure
up a figure below the average height-exorbitantly amorous,
intensely choleric, and somewhat addicted to melancholy,
but withal possessed of a lively imagination, keen percep-
tion, wonderful versatility, gifted in no ordinary measure
with “the vision and the faculty divine". a shadowy being
separated from us and our civilisation by three centuries,
and to be measured by a moral and æsthetic standard
widely different from ours; at one time basking in the sun-
shine of a court, at another confined in a foreign prison;
now trilling lays of love or breathing bitter sarcasms;
now pouring forth the jarring sounds of a coarse and ribald
realism, anon stringing his harp for the songs of Zion.
xlvi
INTRODUCTION.
In intellectual range and originality Montgomerie was
inferior to Dunbar and others of his predecessors, nor were
his surroundings such as to call into play the highest gifts
and functions of the poet. The insincerity, jealousy,
moroseness, and intolerance of his time, doubtless chilled
the warmer currents of his nature, and sowed in his soul
the seeds of discontent. Hence we too seldom find him
essaying the higher flights of poesy, or soaring in the ful-
ness of his strength. Yet, after all abatements, Mont-
gomerie was the foremost singer of his day. No Scottish
poem of his period has enjoyed a reputation approaching
that attained by "The Cherrie and the Slae," many of the
lines of which are enshrined in the proverbs of his country—
the treasure-house of a nation's wisdom. It is in portions
of this poem, in "Hay nou the Day dauis" and in some
of his impassioned love-lyrics, that we see him at his best,
and discover, for the first time in Scottish poetry, a smooth-
ness and melody, combined with an exquisite finish and
a realistic fidelity to nature, which we fail to find again for
a century and a half to come, and which attained unrivalled
excellence in the works of Ramsay and Burns.
To his immediate predecessors Montgomerie owed but
little: to Chaucer, however, he seems to have been con-
siderably indebted. Occasionally in his verse we find
reminiscences of Dunbar, Douglas, and Lindsay; but what
he took from these did not materially interfere with the
individuality of his genius, or seriously affect the tenor of
his song. He betrays but a meagre knowledge of Virgil,
and a still more slender acquaintance with Horace. Ovid
was the mine from which he, like all the medieval bards,
drew the burden of his mythic lore, the "fountaine Helicon"
whose exhaustless stream fed his budding fancy, whose
INTRODUCTION.
xlvii
sparkling waters mingled with the less limpid current of
his song.
As years rolled on, when vain and passionate regrets
took the place of dreams of levity and love, Montgomerie,
like most of his brothers in bard-craft from David down-
wards, took to moralising; and as the shadows began to
gather round him and the sandy foundations to slip from
under his feet, he clung firmly to the "Rock of Ages."
Thus, though his later years are wrapt in impenetrable
gloom, we may be allowed to hope that "when his moon
was in her last quarter" his days and nights were serene.
His entrance into life, his career, his exit, are alike in-
definite. Flashing upon us like a star on an immemorial
Easter-morn, then pursuing for a while an erratic and ill-
marked course, he disappears at last from the world's
unconscious gaze, and, breathing forth in all seeming
humility his earnest "peccavi Pater," at last enters the
quiet haven of rest through the calm and peaceful portal
of faith.
III.
MANUSCRIPTS AND EDITIONS OF MONTGOMERIE'S
POEMS.
Drummond MS.
The Drummond MS., so called from William Drummond
of Hawthornden, who presented it, along with a number of
books, to the University of Edinburgh, in the library of
which it is preserved, is by far the most important manu-
script collection of Alexander Montgomerie's poems known
to exist. It contains all the Sonnets; the Miscellaneous
xlviii
INTRODUCTION.
Poems, except 1.-liv. inclusive; and the Devotional Poems,
except ix. and x.
The MS. is a small quarto of 163 pages, written in a neat
and regular hand, and legible in every line. It has been
kept with great care, and is now handsomely bound in
morocco; but it is matter for deep regret that in the bind-
ing it has been ruthlessly cut on the outer margin, and
shorn of not a few lines at the foot of the pages. When-
ever it has seemed possible to supply the lacunæ, an at-
tempt has been made to do so. A number of the lines
were completed by Dr Laing; others I have done my best
to restore, with what success the reader must decide.
Whenever I have rejected a reading proposed by Dr Laing,
or read the MS. differently, I have been careful to call
attention to the passage by a note. The bracketed
letters in the end of lines in this edition, will be found in
many instances, on comparison, not to agree with those in
his edition; but I can vouch for the accuracy of the pres-
ent text. In the case of the Sonnets and Miscellaneous
Poems, in a very few instances where there has been an
obvious omission by the scribe, of a letter or letters, I have
ventured to print such letter or letters in italics. In other
words, the Roman type always represents the MS.
In no part of the MS. has any date been found, or any
clue by which one can identify the scribe or fix the time of
transcription. It seems, however, to have been possessed
at one time by "Margarat Ker," whose name is written on
the fly-leaf in a much more antique character than has
been employed in the succeeding contents.
INTRODUCTION.
xlix
Bannatyne MS.
was
This collection of Poems by the old "Makkaris
compiled by George Bannatyne, a Scottish merchant, in
1568. It found its way into the hands of the Hyndford
family, and was lent by William Carmichael, brother-ger-
man of the Earl of Hyndford, to Allan Ramsay, who drew
mainly on its stores for "The Evergreen," published by
him in 1724.1 The MS. was presented by the Earl of
Hyndford to the Library of the Faculty of Advocates,
Edinburgh, in 1772. As a collection of poems in the nor-
thern dialect of the old tongue, it is invaluable, and forms
one of the most cherished treasures of the famous library
in which it has at last found a permanent place.
Seven of Montgomerie's poems-about the genuineness
of which there is no question-occur in this MS., as here
noted: Miscellaneous Poems, lii. on folio 253 a and b;
liii. on folio 163 a and b; liv. on folio 163 a. Four are
found towards the end of the MS.,. in a collection of pieces
inserted after a duplicate text of some of the poems. They
are in George Bannatyne's handwriting, but were evidently
transcribed at a later date than that of the rest of the con-
tents. They are written on pp. 49-53 of the Appendix in
the following order: "Ane godlie Ballat maid be the
poet M."[ontgomery]; "The First Pshalme;" "The xxiij
Sphalme;" and [The Solsequium], which stands without
title.
Besides those enumerated, three small pieces, of doubtful
1 "In seventeen hundred twenty-four,
Did Allan Ramsay keen-
ly gather from this book that store
Which fills his Evergreen."
- Written by Allan Ramsay on the last leaf of the Bannatyne MS.
1
INTRODUCTION.
;
authenticity, are found in this MS. They are printed on
pages 279 and 280 infra, and are engrossed, the third and
fourth on folio 253 a, and the fifth on folios 162 b and
163 a.
Maitland MS..
The term Maitland MS. is used to designate what should
really be termed two manuscripts. Both of these are pre-
served in the Pepysian Library in Magdalene College, Cam-
bridge. The larger and much the more important one is
in folio. It was compiled between 1550 and 1585, and
seems to have been written by various hands. This latter
circumstance is not remarkable when we bear in mind that
Sir Richard Maitland had lost his eyesight prior to 1561,
when he was made a Lord of Session. The MS. is much
water-stained, and is in many places injured at the lower
corners. Most of the leaves have been inlaid, a plan which
has had its disadvantages as well as its manifest advan-
tages; inasmuch as many of the quaint marginal notes have
been destroyed in the process. It contains 176 poems, but
nothing by Montgomerie.
The other MS. is a neat, clearly written quarto, and
bears on the front fly-leaf the name of "Marie Maitland,"
daughter of Sir Richard, and the date 1586, the year of her
father's death. It contains 96 pieces.
These two MSS. were long preserved in Sir Richard
Maitland's family, and were in the possession of John Mait-
land, Duke of Lauderdale, great-grandson of Sir Richard,
at the time of his death. At the sale of the Lauderdale
MSS., by public auction, in London, in 1692, they were
purchased by Samuel Pepys, who in 1703 bequeathed, sub-
ject to stringent conditions, his rich and unique collection
of works to Magdalene College, Cambridge.
INTRODUCTION.
li
The two poems on Lady Margaret Montgomerie, Nos. 1.
and li. (pp. 214-217), "The Bankis of Helicon" (pp. 273-
278), and "My Ladyis Pulcritud” (pp. 278, 279), are printed
from this collection.
It may be remarked that in Dr Laing's edition of Mont-
gomerie, the first three of these pieces were printed from
Pinkerton's very inaccurate transcript.
Editions.
The Cherrie and the Slae. Composed into Scottis
Meeter by Alexander Montgomerie. Edinburgh: Printed
be Robert Walde-graue, Printer to the Kings Majestie.
Anno Domini, 1597, 4to.
Composed into Scottis Meeter be Alex-
ander Montgomerie. Prented according to a Copie cor-
rected be the Author himselfe. Edinburgh: Prented be
Robert Walde-graue, Prenter to the Kings Majestie. Anno
1597, 4to. Cum Privilegio Regio. Of this impression there
is a copy in the Advocates' Library, from which the text in
the present edition is taken.
Composed into Scottis Meeter be Alex-
ander Montgomerie. Newly altered, perfyted, and divided
into 114 Quatorziems, not long before the Author's death.
Edinburgh: Printed by Andro Hart, 1615, 12mo. This
edition, in conjunction with Walde-graue's second impres-
sion, was employed by Allan Ramsay in compiling his
version in "The Evergreen." It was eagerly sought for by
Lord Hailes, Ritson, G. Chalmers, Laing, and others; but
no copy has been discovered. It has probably ceased to
exist. Lines 127-140, 799-924, and 1071 to the end, occur
for the first time in this edition. In the present impression.
these portions are supplied from "The Evergreen."
lii
INTRODUCTION.
The Cherrie and the Slae. Edinburgh: Printed by
Iohn Wreittoun, 1636, 8vo.
Aberdene: Imprinted by Edward Raban,
Laird of Letters, and are to be sold at his shop, at the end
of the Broad-gate, 1645, 8vo.
With Alterations. Glasgow, 1668, 12m0.
Edinburgh: Printed by Andrew Ander-
son, and are to be sold at his house, on the north side of
the Cross. An. Dom., 1675, 12m0.
Edinburgh, 1699.
Inserted in A Choice Collection of Comic
and Serious Scots poems, both ancient and modern, by
Several hands. Part I. Edinburgh: Printed by James
Watson. Sold by John Vallange, 1706, 8vo.
Edinburgh, 1722, 12mo.
Inserted in "The Evergreen," being a Col-
lection of Scots Poems, wrote by the Ingenious before 1600.
Vol. ii. Edinburgh: Printed by Mr Thomas Ruddiman
for Allan Ramsay, 1724, 8vo. Collated for the present
edition.
Foulis, 1746, 12mo.
Glasgow Printed and sold by Robert
Glasgow Printed and sold by Robert
and Andrew Foulis, 1751, 12mo. Collated for the present
edition.
8vo and 12mo.
18mo.
Glasgow Printed by Robert Urie, 1754,
Collated for the present edition.
Glasgow: Printed by G. Hall, 1757,
Glasgow, 1768, 12m0.
The Cherry and the Sloe. Corrected and Modernised;
the old spelling being mostly altered, except where the
INTRODUCTION.
liii
rhime makes it necessary to preserve the old. By J. D.
Edinburgh: Printed for Robert Jamieson, Parliament
Square, 1779, 8vo.
The Cherrie and the Slae.
John Wilson, 1782, 12m0.
Kilmarnock: Printed by
Inserted, in abridged form, in Chronicle
of Scottish Poetry from the thirteenth century to the union
of the Crowns; to which is added a Glossary. Edinburgh,
1802. Crown 8vo, 4 vols.
with other Poems by Captain Alexander
Montgomery, with large notes selected and arranged by
the publisher, together with a Memoir of the Author's life.
Kirkcudbright: Printed and published by John Nicholson,
1842, 12mo.
Cerasum et Sylvestre Prunum. Opus Poematicum.
De virtutum et vitiorum pugna. Sive electio Status in
adolescentia. Authore primo nobili Domino Alexandro
Montgomrio Scoto poeta regio, idiomatis materni Laureato.
Nunc rursus auctum et in Latinos versus translatum.
Per T. D. S. P. M. B. P. P. In gratiam illustris et generosi
herois D. Alexandri Brussii capitanei cohortis peditum
Scotorum, Domini de Kinkawil. Arctauni Francorum,
typis Fleischmannicis, Anno 1631, 12m0.
Juxta examplar impressum Arctauni
Francorum, typis Fleschmannicis, Anno Dom. 1631. Edin-
burgi, Excudebant hæredes et successores Andreæ
Anderson, Regiæ Majestatis typographi. Anno Dom.
1696, et Vænales prodeunt ex officina M. Hen. Knox in
ædificiis vulgo dictis the Lucken-Booths, 12mo.
The Flyting betwixt Montgomerie and Polwart. Edin-
burgh: Printed by Andro Hart, 1621, 4to. A copy of this
liv
INTRODUCTION.
-the earliest known-edition of the Flyting was preserved
in the Harleian Library till its dispersion. In vol. iii. No.
6031, and again in vol. v. No. 4746, of the catalogue of that
famous collection, it is described as above.
This copy
seems to be irretrievably lost.
The Flyting betwixt Montgomery and Polwart. Edin-
burgh: Printed by the Heires of Andro Hart; 1629, 4to.
Dr Laing had a copy of this impression-14 leaves—from
which he printed the text in his edition. At Dr Laing's
sale it was bought by Mr Quaritch for the sum of fifty
guineas. The text of the present edition is printed from
Dr Laing's impression.
The Flytting betwixt Montgomerie and Polwart. Newlie
corrected and enlarged. Edinburgh: Printed by the Heirs
of Thomas Finlayson for John Wood, and are to be sold at
his shop on the south side of the High Street, a little above
the Croce, 1629. 14 leaves in 4to. Dr Laing says: “A
minute comparison, however, between the two impressions
in the year 1629, leaves any material alteration undiscovered,
and testifies that if these poems ever were 'corrected and
enlarged,' we have no means left to ascertain the extent
of the alterations."
Glasgow, 1665, 8vo.
Printed in the year 1688, 8vo, without
publisher's name or place. Collated for the present edition.
Inserted in Watson's Choice Collection
of Poems, Part III. Edinburgh, 1711. Collated for this
edition.
Portions inserted in Sibbald's Chronicle
of Scottish poetry among some productions of Alexander
Hume. Edinburgh, 1802. See Introduction, pp. xxxiii.,
xxxiv., supra.
INTRODUCTION.
lv
Sonnets and Miscellaneous Poems.
Only a few of these had appeared in print prior to the
issue of Dr Laing's edition.
Most of the impressions of "The Cherrie and the Slae"
contain the following pieces :- Sonnet to the Blessed
Trinity (No. i.); The Solsequium (Miscel. Poems, xv.);
The Author's Lamentation (Dev. Poems, iv.); His Morn-
ing Muse (Dev. Poems, ix.); Psalmes i., xxiij., and one
stanza of Ps. xxxvi.
""
In Pinkerton's 'Ancient Scotish Poems' (Lond., 1786,
8vo) the two poems "On Lady Margaret Montgomerie
(Miscel. Poems, 1. and li.) are given as Montgomerie's ;
while "The Bankis of Helicon" and "My Ladyis Pulcritud'
(Attributed Poems, i. and ii.) are set down as "Poems be
unknawin Makars."
""
In Sibbald's 'Chronicle of Scottish Poetry' (Edin., 1802,
4 vols. 8vo) are included:-" Invective against Fortune"
(Miscel. Poems, iii.); Complaint in Prison (ibid., v.); Echo
(ibid., viii.); The Solsequium (ibid., xv.); the two "Poems
on Lady Margaret Montgomerie" (ibid., 1. and li.) Son-
nets :-To His Majesty (No. vii.); To the Same (xiii.); To
Rob. Hudson (xxv.-xxix.); Christen Lindesay to Ro. Hud-
son (xxx.); A Ladyis Lamentation (xxxiii., xxxiv.); To
M. Dauid Drummond (iv. and v.); and the "Bankis of
Helicon," to which a note is appended to the effect that it
may, probably, be an early composition of Montgomery,
the author of 'The Cherrie and the Slae.'"
((
The Mindes Melodie, Contayning Certayne Psalmes of
the Kinglie Prophete Dauid, applyed to a new pleasant
tune, verie comfortable to everie one that is rightlie
acquainted therewith. Edinburgh: Printed be Robert
lvi
INTRODUCTION.
Charteris, Printer to the Kings Most Excellent Maiestie,
1605, 8vo. Cum privilegio regali.
The Poems of Alexander Montgomery: with Biograph-
ical Notices by David Irving, LL.D. Edinburgh: Printed
by James Ballantyne and Co., for W. and C. Tait, Princes
Street, 1821, 8vo. The only complete edition hitherto
published. Dr Laing edited the text and supplied the
Notes; Dr Irving's share in the work was limited to the
Biographical Notice.
** In the foregoing pages I have endeavoured to give
some account of Alexander Montgomerie and his work,
and to indicate the sources from which the present text has
been taken. As a most careful collation of every poem has
been made, the accuracy of the text may be relied on. At
the same time, every channel likely to furnish matter of
interest, whether in regard to the life of the poet, the history
of the poems, or the allusions contained in them, has been
conscientiously investigated, and the results have been em-
bodied in the Introduction and Notes. These results may
to some seem meagre; but if my shortcomings should
stimulate others to fresh exertion in the path of research
or of elucidation, my efforts will not have been made alto-
gether in vain. On the other hand, the Glossary is perhaps
fuller than will be required by the majority of readers. In
compiling it, I have kept in view the Scottish Text Society's
expressed intention to undertake a Dictionary of the Scot-
tish Language, and have admitted a more copious vocabu-
lary than I would otherwise have done, from a conviction
that elaborate glossaries to the different publications would
materially aid the labourers in such a field.
INTRODUCTION.
lvii
I have to express my obligations to Dr Irving's “Bio-
graphical Notice of Montgomerie," prefixed to Dr Laing's
edition, and to Dr Laing's Notes in the Appendix, both of
which have been freely laid under contribution.
I have also to record my thanks to several members of
the Scottish Text Society for valuable and kindly aid ;—to
Sheriff Mackay and Dr Gregor for advice and help in
various ways; to Professor Skeat, by whose influence I
obtained access to the Maitland MS.; to Mr Clark, Keeper
of the Advocates' Library, for facilities in consulting MSS.
and works of reference; and, not least, to Mr William
Tough, M.A., of the Royal High School of Edinburgh, for
re-collating several of the poems in the Drummond and
Bannatyne MSS., verifying references, and co-operating
with me in the investigation of many points of interest.
J. C.
ABBREVIATIONS.-B. MS., Bannatyne MS. E., Allan
Ramsay's "Evergreen," Edinb. 1724. F., Foulis's Edition of
"The Cherrie and the Slae," Glasg. 1751; U., Urie's, Glasg.
1754; L., Laing's Edition of the Poems, Edinb. 1821. W.,
Watson's "Collection," 1711. In "The Flyting," the vari-
ants without letter are from the edition of 1688.

တ္ထိဝ
嵬
​THE CHERRIE
AND THE SLAE.
Compofed into Scottis Meeter, be
ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE.
Prented according to a Copie corrected be
the Author himfelfe.

EDINBVRGH,
Prented be Robert Walde-graue,
Prenter to the Kings Majeſtie.
Anno 1597.
Cum Privilegio Regio.
THE CHERRIE
AND
THE SLAE.

BOUT ane bank, quhair birdis on bewis
Ten thusand tymis thair notis renewis
Ilke houre into the day,
The merle and maueis micht be sene,
The Progne and the Phelomene,
Quhilk caussit me to stay.
I lay and leynit me to ane bus
To heir the birdis beir;
Thair mirth was sa melodius
Throw nature of the 3eir:
Sum singing, sum springing
With wingis into the sky;
So trimlie and nimlie
Thir birdis they flew me by.
I saw the hurcheoun and the hair,
Quha fed amangis the flowris fair,
Wer happing to and fro:
4. A. the maueis may.
8. A. thir birdis.
9. A. Thair noyce are.
13. A. So nimlie and trimlie.
16. A. amang.
17. A. That happing.
5
сл
ΙΟ
15
略
​4
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
I saw the cunning and the cat,
Quhais downis with the dew was wat,
With mony beistis mo.
The hart, the hynd, the dae, the rae,
The fowmart, and the foxe
War skowping all fra brae to brae,
Amang the water broxe;
Sum feiding, sum dreiding
In cais of suddain snairis;
With skipping and tripping
They hantit all in pairis.
The air was sa attemperate,
But ony myst immaculate,
Bot purefeit and cleir;
The flouris fair wer flurischit,
As Nature had them nurischit,
20
25
30
Baith delicate and deir :
And euery blome on branche and bewch
35
So prettily wer spred,
And hang their heidis out ouir the hewch
In Mayis colour cled;
Sum knopping, sum dropping
Of balmie liquor sweit,
40
Distelling and smelling
Throw Phoebus hailsum heit.
The cukkow and the cuschet cryde,
The turtle, on the vther syde,
45
Na plesure had to play;
So schil in sorrow was her sang,
That, throw her voice, the roches rang;
For Eccho answerit ay,
20. A. With uther.
23. A. War skippand.
27. A. Some tripping, some skipping.
31. A. Baith purefeit.
36. A. was spred.
37. A. Syne hang-ane hewch.
40. A. The balmie.
48. A. And Eccho.
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
5
Lamenting sair Narcissus cace,
Quha staruit at the well;
Quha with the shaddow of his face.
For lufe did slay himsell:
Quhylis weiping and creiping
About the well he baid;
Quhylis lying, quhylis crying,
Bot it na answere maid.
The dew as diamondis did hing,
Vpon the tender twistis and zing,
Ouir-twinkling all the treis:
And ay quhair flowris flourischit faire,
Thair suddainly I saw repaire,
In swarmes, the sownding beis.
Sum sweitly hes the hony socht,
Quhil they war cloggit soir;
Sum willingly the waxe hes wrocht,
To help it vp in stoir:
So heiping, with keiping,
Into thair hyuis they hyde it,
Precyselie and wyselie,
50
55
60
65
For winter they prouyde it.
70
To pen the pleasures of that park,
How euery blossome, branche, and bark
Agaynst the sun did schyne,
I leif to poetis to compyle
In staitlie verse and lofty style:
It passis my ingyne.
Bot, as I mussit myne allane,
I saw an river rin
50. A. That staruit.
51. A. Quhairthrow.
52. A. that slieue himsell.
53. A. Sair weiping.
58. A. tuistis 3ing.
62. A. Ane swarme of.
65. A. Sum cunninglie.
67. A. for keiping.
68. A. hydit.
70. A. provydit.
72. A. How euery bloome on.
74. A. thir Poetis. E. I pass to P.
75
75. A. ornat style. E. In hich heroick stait.
lie style.
76. E. Quhais muse surmatchis myne.
77. E. But as I lukit.
6
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
Out ouir ane craggie rok of stane,
Syne lichtit in ane lin,
With tumbling and rumbling
Amang the rochis round,
Dewalling and falling
Into that pit profound.
To heir thae startling stremis cleir,
Me thocht it musique to the eir,
Quhair deskant did abound;
With trible sweit, an tenor iust,
And ay the echo repercust
Hir diapason sound,
80
85
9༠
Set with the Ci-sol-fa-uth cleife,
Thairby to knaw the note:
Thair soundt a michtie semibreif
Out of the Elphis throte;
Discreitlie, mair sweitlie,
Nor craftie Amphion,
Or Musis that vsis
At fountaine Helicon.
95
Quha wald haue tyrit to heir that tune,
Quhilk birdis corroborate ay abune,
Throw schowting of the larkis!
Sum flies sa high into the skyis,
Quhill Cupid walkinnes with the cryis
Of Natures chappell clarkis;
Quha, leving all the hevins aboue,
Alighted in the eird.
Loe! how that little God of Loue
Befoir me thair appeird!
79. A. ane craig and. E. Outowre a steipie
rock.
84. E. Into a pit.
86. A. I thocht.
90. A. The diapason.
91. A. C-sol-fa-ut.
92. A. Quhairby.
93. A. Thay soundt ane.
97. A. Nor muisses.
101. E With lays of luvesum, larks.
100
105
102. A. Quha flewe. E. Quhilk clim sae
high in chrystal skys.
103. A. walknit throw. F. and U. wak’ned
with.
106. A. Syne lichtit in. E. Allichtit on.
107. E. Lord of Luve.
!
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
7
!
So myld-lyke, and chyld-lyke,
With bow thrie quarteris scant;
So moylie and coylie,
He lukit like ane sant.
IIO
Ane cleinlie crispe hang ouir his eyis;
His quauer by his naked thyis
Hang in ane siluer lace:
Of gold, betwix his schoulders, grew
Twa pretty wingis quhairwith he flew;
On his left arme, ane brace :
This god aff all his geir he schuik,
And laid it on the grund:
I ran als busie for to luik
Quhair ferleis micht be fund:
Amasit I gasit
To see that geir sa gay:
Persawing my hawing,
He countit me his pray.
115
I 20
125
His 3outh and stature made me stout;
Of doubleness I had nae doubt,
Bot bourded with my boy:
Quod I, "How call they thee, my chyld?"
130
"Cupido, Sir," quod he, and smyld,
"Please zou me to imploy;
For I can serve 3ou in 3our suite,
If you please to impyre,
!
With wings to flie, and schafts to schute,
135
Or flamis to set on fyre.
III. A. So moylike and coylike. E. Syne
moylie.
113. A. and B. ouir. E. owre passim.
117. A. Twa proper.
119. A. of all. E. sone aff his geir.
120. E. Upon the grassie grund.
121. E. als lichtly.
124. E. his geir.
125. E. Persaifing myne haveing.
8
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
Mak choice then of those then,
Or of a thousand things;
Bot craue them, and haue them:"
With that I wowd his wings.
"Quhat wald thou giue, my freind," quod he,
"To haf thae prettie wingis to flie,
To sport thee for a quhyle?
Or quhat, gif I suld len thee heir
140
My bow and all my shuting geir,
145
Sum bodie to begyle?"
"That geir," quod I, "can not be bocht,
3it I wald haif it faine."
"Quhat gif," quod he, "it coist thee nocht
Bot randring it againe?"
150
His wingis than he bringis than,
And band them on my back :
"Go flie now," quod he now,
"And so my leif I tak."
I sprang vp on Cupidoes wingis,
155
Quha bow and quauir baith resingis,
To lend me for ane day:
As Icarus with borrowit flicht
I mountit hichar nor I micht;
Ouir perrelous ane play.
160
Than furth I drew that deadlie dairt
141. F. my heart.
Quhilk sumtyme schot his mother,
Quhair with I hurt my wanton heart,
In hope to hurt ane vther;
142. E. thir wanton wings.
143. E. To sport thy sprit.
144. F. and U. if Love should lend.
145. E. Bow, quaver, schafts and schuting
geir.
150. E. rendering all.
155. E. up with.
156. E. and schuting geir resigns.
161. F. and U. First forth. E. that double.
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
9
It hurt me, it burt me,
The ofter I it handill:
Cum se now, in me now,
The butter-flie and candill.
!
165
As scho delytis into the low,
Sa was I browdin in my bow,
170
Als ignorant as scho:
And as scho flies quhill sche be fyrit,
Sa, with the dart that I desyrit,
My hand hes hurt me to.
As fulisch Phaëton, be sute,
His fatheris cart obteind,
I langt in Luiffis bow to shute,
175
Bot weist not what it meind;
Mair wilfull than skilfull,
To flie I was so fond,
180
Desyring, impyring,
And sa was sene vpond.
To late I knaw, quha hewis to hie,
185
The spail sall fall into his eie:
To late I went to scuillis :
To late I heard the swallow preiche:
To late Experience dois teiche—
The skuill-maister of fuillis :
To late to fynde the nest I seik,
Quhen all the birdis are flowin;
To late the stabill dore I steik,
Quhen all the steids are stowin.
190
165. E. or burnt.
166. E. Quhyle either end I handill.
170. E. of my bow.
176. F. chair. U. car.
177. E. Sa langt I in Lufis bow.
178. E. Not marking quhat.
I&I. E. and U. Desyring, aspyring.
183. E. Too late I knew.
189. F. and U. Too late I find.
IO
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
To lait ay their stait ay
All fulische folke espye:
Behynd so, they fynd so
Remeid, and so do I.
195
Gif I had rypelie bene aduysit,
I had not rashlie enterprysit
To soir with borrowit pennis;
Nor zit had saied the archer craft,
Nor schot myself with sik a schaft
As resoun quite miskennis.
Fra wilfulnes gaue me my wound,
I had na force to flie;
Then came I granand to the ground:
"Freind, welcome hame," quod he;
"Quhair flew 3e, quhome slew 3e,
Or quha bringis hame the buiting?
I sie now," quod he now,
"3e haif bene at the schuting."
As skorne cummis commonlie with skaith,
Sa I behuifit to byde them baith:
O quhat an stakkering stait!
200
205
210
For vnder cure I gat sik chek,
Quhilk I micht nocht remuif nor nek,
215
Bot eyther stail or mait;
My agonie was sa extreme
I swelt and soundt for feir;
Bot, or I walkynnit of my dreme,
He spulzied me of my geir;
With flicht than, on hicht than,
Sprang Cupid in the skyis,
Forzetting and setting
195. E. sae--sae.
200. E. had seyd.
201. E. To schute.
At nocht my cairfull cryis.
!
J
213. E. Sae stakkering was my
214. E. That undir.
stait.
218. E. swound. U. swate and sown'd.
i
220
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
I I
Sa lang with sicht I followit him,
225
Quhill baith my feiblit eyis grew dim
With staruing on the starnis;
Quhilk flew sa thick befoir my ein,
Sum reid, sum 3ellow, blew, and grein,
Sa trublit all my harnis,
230
Quhill euery thing apperit two
To my barbuilziet braine
Bot lang micht I lye luiking so,
Or Cupid come againe;
Quhais thundring, with wondring
I hard vp throw the air;
Throw cluddis so he thuddis so,
235
And flew I wist not quhair.
Fra that I saw that god was gane,
And I in langour left allane,
240
And sair tormentit, to,
Sum tyme I sicht quhill I was sad,
Sµm tyme I musit and maist gane mad,
I wist not quhat to do;
Sum tyme I ravit, halfe in a rage,
245
As ane into dispaire:
To be opprest with sic ane page
Lord! gif my heart was saire !
Like Dido, Cupido
I widill and [I] warye,
250
Quha reft me, and left me
In sik a feirie-farye.
Then felt I Curage and Desyre
Inflame my heart with vncouth fyre
To me befoir vnknawin:
226. E. Quhyle baith my dazelit eyis.
227. E. stairing.
229. E. sum grene.
230. E. Quhilk trublit.
231. E. That euery; twae.
232. F. parboiled brain.
233. E. sae.
239. E. Then frae.
241. F. and U. too.
255
F. and U. Then when.
250. E. I widdill and I warie.
12
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
Bot now na blud in me remaines,
Vnbrunt and boyld within my vaines,
By luffis bellies blawin.
To quench it, or I was deuorit,
With siches I went about;
260
Bot ay the mair I schape to smorit,
The baulder it brak out;
Ay preising but ceising,
Quhill it may breik the boundis:
My hew so furth schew so
265
The dolour of my woundis.
With deidlie visage, paill and wan,
Mair like ane atomie nor man,
I widderit cleine away:
As wax befoir the fyre, I felt
270
My hart within my bosome melt,
And pece and pece decay:
My vaines with brangling like to brek-
My punsis lap with pith-
Sa feruently did me infek,
That I was vext thairwith.
275
My hart ay did start ay
The fyrie flamis to flie:
Ay houping, throu louping,
To win to liberty.
Bot ô alace! byde it behuissit,
Within my cairfull corpis incluissit,
In presoun of my breist;
With sichis sa sowpit and ouirset,
Like to an fische fast in the net,
In deid-thraw vndeceist,
258. E. Luve his bellies.
261. E. schupe.
268. E. and F. anatomy.
275. E. F. and U. fervency.
280. E. To leap at.
281. E. it was abusit.
280
285
282. E. My carefull corps keipt it incluist.
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
13
Quha, thocht in vaine, dois striue for strenth
For to pull out hir heid,
Quhilk profitis nathing at the lenth,
Bot haistes hir to hir deid;
With wristing and thirsting,
The faster still is scho:
Thair I so did lye so,
290
My death advancing to.
The mair I wrestlit with the wynd,
295
The faschter still myself I fynd:
Na mirth my mynd micht mease.
Mair noy, nor I, had neuer nane;
I was sa alterit and ouirgane,
Throw drowth of my disease:
Than weakly, as I micht, I rayis;
My sicht grewe dim and dark ;
I stakkerit at the windilstrayis,
Na takin I was stark.
Baith sichtles, and michtles,
I grew almaist at ainis;
In angwische I langwische,
With mony grievous grainis.
300
305
With sober pace I did approche
Hard to the riuer and the roche,
310
Quhairof I spak befoir;
Quhais running sic a murmure maid,
That to the sey it softlie slaid:
The craig was high and schoir:
Than pleasur did me so prouok
Perforce thair to repaire,
287. E. scho stryve by strenth. F. and U.
strives.
290. E. Bot haistning to.
291. F. and U. thristing and wristing.
296. E. F. and U. faster.
301. E. 3it weakly.
312. E. The river sic.
315
313. E. As to the sea.
314. E. The craig hich, stay and schoir. F.
The craig was stay and shore.
315. E. Then pleasure.
316. E. Thair partly to.
"
14
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
Betwix the riuer and the rok,
Quhair Hope grew with Dispaire;
A trie than, I sie than,
Of CHERRIES in the braes;
Belaw, to, I saw, to,
Ane buss of bitter SLAES.
320
The CHERRIES hang abune my heid,
Like twinkland rubies round and reid,
So hich vp in the hewch;
Quhais schaddowis in the riuer schew,
325
Als graithlie glansing, as they grewe
On trimbling twistis tewch,
Quhilk bowed throw burding of thair birth,
Inclining downe thair toppis:
330
Reflex of Phoebus of the firth
Newe colourit all thair knoppis;
With dansing, and glansing,
In tirles dornik champ,
Ay streimand and gleimand,
Throw brichtnes of that lamp.
With earnest eye quhil I espye
The fruit betwixt me and the skye,
Halfe gaite almaist to hevin ;
335
The craig sa cumbersume to clim,
340
The trie sa hich of growth, and trim
As ony arrowe evin;
I cald to mind how Daphne did
Within the laurell schrink,
Quhen from Apollo scho hir hid:
A thousand times I think
320. E. on the braes.
324. F. and U. trickling rubies.
327. F. Their shape as graithly as they grew.
328. E. twistis, and tewch.
330. E. F. and U. Declyning.
345
335. E. Quhilk streimaned and leimed. F.
and U. Which streamed and leamed.
336. E. lichtness.
341. E. sae tall of.
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
15
That trie then to me then,
As he his laurell thocht:
Aspyring but tyring
To get that fruit I socht.
350
To clime the craige it was na buit,
Lat be to presse to pull the fruit
In top of all the trie:
I saw na way quhairby to cum,
Be ony craft, to get it clum,
Appeirandly to me:
The craige was vgly, stay and dreich,
The trie heich, lang and smal;
I was affrayd to mount sa hich,
For feir to get ane fall:
Affrayit to say it,
I luikit vp on loft,
Quhiles minting, quhiles stinting,
My purpose changit oft.
355
360
Then Dreid, with Danger and Dispaire,
365
}
Forbad my minting anie mair,
To raxe aboue my reiche:
"Quhat? tusche!" quod Curage, "man, go to,
He is bot daft that hes ado,
And spairis for euery speiche;
For I haue oft hard wise men say,
And we may see our sellis,
That fortune helps the hardie ay,
And pultrones plaine repellis:
347. E. That trie thair to me thair.
352. F. preiss.
358. E. The trie lang, sound and small.
359. E. to clim sa.
361. F. Afrayed I stayed.
362. F. And looked up aloft.
369. E. that has to do.
370. A. that stays for.
371. E. suith men.
372. F. and U. see't.
374. F. and U. But pultrons ay repells.
370
16
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
Than feir not, nor heir not
Dreid, Danger, or Dispaire;
To fazarts, hard hazarts
Is deid or they cum thair.
"Quha speidis, bot sic as heich aspyris?
375
Quha triumphis nocht, bot sic as tyris
To win a nobill name?
380
Of schrinking quhat bot schame succeidis?
Than do as thou wald haif thy deidis
In register of fame.
I put the cais, thou nocht preuaild:
385
Sa thou with honour die,
Thy life, bot not thy courage faild,
Sall poetis pen of thee:
Thy name than, from fame than,
Sall neuir be cut aff;
390
((
Thy graif ay sall haif ay
That honest epitaff.
Quhat can thou losse, quhen honour lyuis?
Renowne thy vertew ay reuyuis,
Gif valiauntlie thou end:"
Quod Danger, "Hulie, friend, tak heid;
395
Vntymous spurring spillis the steid:
Tak tent quhat 3e pretend.
Thocht Courage counsell thee to clim,
Bewar thou kep na skaith:
400
Haif thou na help bot Hope and him?
They may beguyle the baith.
Thy sell now can tell now
The counsell of thae clarkis ;
Quhairthrow it, I trow zit,
Thy breist dois beir the markis.
397. A. the speid.
403. E. may tell now.
f
f
405
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
17
"Brunt bairn with fyre the danger dreidis:
Sa I beleif thy bosome bleidis,
Sen last that fyre thou felt:
Besydis this, seindell tymis the seis
410
That euer Curage keipis the keyis
Of knawledge at his belt:
Thocht he bid fordwart with the gunnis,
Small powder he prouydis:
Be not ane novice of the nunnis
That saw nocht baith the sydis:
Fuil-haist ay almaist ay
Ouirsylis the sicht of sum,
Quha huikis not, nor luikis not
Quhat eftirward may cum.
"3it Wisdome wischis the to wey
This figour of philosophey-
A lessoun worth to leir—
415
420
Quhilk is, in tyme for to tak tent,
!
And not, when tyme is past, repent,
425
And buy repentance deir.
Is thair na honoure efter lyfe,
Except thou slay thy sell?
I trow thou cannot tell,
Quhairfoir hes Attropus that knyfe?
430
That but it, wald cut it,
That Clotho skairse hes spun,
Distroying thy joying,
1
Befoire it be begun.
"All ouirs are repuit to be vyce;
435
Ore hich, ore law, ore rasch, ore nyce,
Ore heit, or zit ore cauld:
409. A. Sen first the.
410. E. Besyds that, seindle tymes thou seis.
413. E. with his guns.
415. E. of that nunnis.
418. A. Oresettis.
419. F. and U. Who luiks not, who huiks not.
422. A. This sentence of.
423. F. and U. the lear.
431. E. Quha but it.
432. E. Quhilk.
436. A. ore rych ore nyce.
B
E. This figure in.
18
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
Thou seemes vnconstant be thy sings;
Thy thocht is on ane thousand things;
Thou wattis not quhat thou wald.
Let fame hir pittie on the powre,
Quhan all thy banes ar brokin :
440
3one SLAE, suppose 3ou think it soure,
May satisfie to slokkin
Thy drouth now, o 3outh now!
445
Quhilk drownis thee with desyre:
Aswage than thy rage, man;
Foull water quenches fyre.
"Quhat fule art thou to die of thirst,
And now may quench it, gif thou list,
450
So easily, but paine?
Maire honor is to vanquisch ane,
Nor feicht with tensum and be tane,
And outhir hurt or slane:
The prattick is, to bring to passe,
And not to enterprise;
And als guid drinking out of glas
As gold in ony wise.
I leuir haue euer
i
455
Ane foule in hand, or tway,
{
460
438. E. signs.
Nor seand ten fleand
About me all the day.
"Luik quhair to licht before thou loup,
And slip na certenty for Houp,
Quha gydis thee bot be gesse."
Quod Curage, "Cowartis takis na cuire
To sit with schame, sa they be suire:
I like them all the lesse.
445. E. F. and U. of 3outh.
446. E. F. and U. dryes.
447. F. and U. Asswage then thy rage then.
445-448. A.-
Thy thrist now I traist now,
}
{
Gif that thou wald it preife ;
I say to it may to
Thy painis all releife.
449. E. thrist.
455. A. Now all the practick is to passe.
463. E. thou licht.
465
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
19
Quhat plesure purchest is but paine,
Or honor wyn with eis?
He will not ly quhair he is slaine,
That douttis befoir he dies.
For feir than, I heir than
Bot onlie ane remeid
That latt is, and that is,
For to cut of the heid.
"Quhat is the way to heill thy hurt?
Quhat way is thair to stay thy sturt?
Quhat meinis may make thee merrie?
Quhat is the comfort that thou cravis?
Suppose thir sophistis the decewis,
Thou knawis it is the CHERRIE.
Sen for it only thou bot thristis,
The SLAE can be na buit:
In it also thy health consistis,
And in na vther fruit.
Thou quakis now, and schakis now,
And studyes at our strife:
Advise thee, it lyes thee
On na les nor thy life.
"Gif ony pacient wald be pancit,
Quhy suld he loup quhen he is lancit,
Or schrink quhen he is schorne ?
For I haue heard chirurgianes say,
Oft tymes deferring of ane day
Micht not be mend the morne.
470
475
480
485
490
495
Tak time in time, or time be tint,
For tyme will not remaine:
Quhat forces fire out of the flint,
Bot als hard match againe?
475. E. Quhilk latt is. F. and U. late—from
a misapprehension of the meaning.
478. E. Quhat is the way.
487. E. Quhy quaiks now and schaiks thou.
500
F. and U. quakes thou and shakes
thou.
488. F. and U. Or studies.
491. E. panst.
1
}
20
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
Delay not, and stay not,
And thou sal sie it swae:
So gets ay, that sets ay
Stout stomackis to the brae.
"Thocht all beginnings be most hard,
505
And yschewis pleasand efterward,
Then schrink not for ane schoure:
Frae anes that thou thy grening get,
Thy paine and trauel is forzet:
The sweit exceidis the soure.
510
Go to than quickly, feir not thir,
For Hope gud hap hes hecht."
Quod Danger, "Be not soddane, sir,
The mater is of wecht;
First spye baith, syne try baith;
515
Aduisement dois na ill:
I say than, 3e may than
Be wilful quhen 3e will;
"Bot get to mynd the proverbe call,
'Quha vsis perrillis perische sall;'
520
Schort quhile thair lyfe them lastis."
“And I haif hard," quod Hope, "that he
Sall nevir schaip to sayle the se,
That for all perrils castis.
How many throw dispaire ar deid
525
That neuer perrillis preiuit!
How many also, gif thou reid,
Of liues we haue releiuit !
Quha being euin deing,
But danger, bot dispaird;
A hunder, I wunder
Bot thou hes hard declaird.
501. E. and fray not. F. and U. nor fray
not.
503. E. Sic gets.
506. A. and E. The end is plesand.
507. F. no shower.
528. E. have we.
530. U. or despair.
532. U. declair,
1
530
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
21
"Gif we twa hald not vp thy hart,
Quhilk is the cheife and noblest part,
Thy wark wald not gang weill;
Considdering thae companions can
Perswade a sillie simpill man
To hazard for his heill.
Suppose they haue desauit some,
Or thay and we micht meit,
:
535
540
Thay get na credit quhair we come,
In ony man of spreit;
Be resoun thair tressoun
Be vs is first espyit;
Reveiling thair deiling,
Quhilk dowe not be denyit.
"With sleikit sophismis seiming sweit,
As all their doings war discreit,
545
Thay wische thee to be wise;
Postponing tyme from hour to hour:
550
Bot, faith, in vnderneath the flour,
The lurking serpent lyis;
Suppois thou seis hir not a styme,
Till tyme scho sting thy fute :
Persawis thou nocht quhat precious tyme
555
Thy slewthing dois ouirschute?
Allace! man, thy cace, man,
(6
In lingring I lament:
Go to now, and do now,
That Curage be content.
Quhat gif Melancholie cum in,
And get an grip or thou begin?
Than is thy labour lost;
537. E. F. and U. Diswade.
540. F. and U. we and they.
541. E. F. and U. credence.
542. E. With ony man.
544. F. and U. plainly spy'd.
547. A. With sleikit sonats.
551. F. its underneath.
554. E. Till that scho stings.
560
556. F. and U. Thy sleuth doth overshoot.
22
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
For he will hald thee hard and fast,
Till tyme and place and fruit be past,
565
Till thou giue vp the ghost:
Than sall be graud vpon the stane
Quhilk on thy graue beis laid,
Sum tyme their liued sik a ane.
Bot how suld it be said?
Heir lyis now, but prise now,
Into dishonors bed,
Ane cowart, as thou art,
That from his fortune fled.
570
"Imagyne, man, gif thou were laid
575
In graue, and syne micht heir this said,
Wald thou nocht sweit for schame?
3es, faith, I doubt not bot thou wald;
580
Thairfoir, gif thou hes eyis, behald
How they wald smoir thy fame!
Go to, and make na mair excuse:
Now life or honor lose,
And outher them or vs refuis;
Thair is na vther chose.
Considder, togidder
That we can neuer dwell:
At length ay, at strength aye,
Thae pultrons we expell.”
Quod Danger, "Sen I vnderstand
That counsall can be na command,
I haif na mair to say;
Except, gif that he thocht it gude,
Take counsall zit, or 3e conclude,
Of wyser men nor thay:
566. E. And thou.
568. E. tomb is laid.
567-569. U.-
Then shall be grav'n upon that place
Which on thy tomb is laid,
Sometime there liv'd such one, alace!
570. E. sall.
579. E. ene.
585
!
$590
582. E. Or life and honour lose. F. Ere life.
587. E. F. and U. by strength.
588. U. Sic pultrons.
592. F. 3e think. U. thou think.
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
23
They are bot rakles, 3oung and rasche,
595
Suppois thay think vs fleid:
Gif of our fellowschip 3ou fasche,
Gang with tham hardlie beid.
God speid 3ou, they leid 30u,
That hes not meikill wit;
Expell vs, and tell vs,
Heirefter comes not zit."
Quhyle Danger and Dispaire retyrit,
Experience came in, and speirit
Quhat all the matter meind:
600
605
With him came Ressoun, Wit and Skill,
And thay began to speir at Will,
'Quhair mak ze to, my friend?"
Quod he, "and not the SLAE.”
"To pluk zone lustie CHERRIE, loe!"
610
Quod thay "Is thair na mair adoe,
Or 3e cum vp the brae,
Bot to it, and do it,
Perforce the fruit to pluck?
Weill, brother, some vther
615
Wer meter to conduct.
"I grant 3e may be gude aneuch,
Bot it the hazard of 3on hewch,
Requyris ane grauer gyde.
As wyse as ze ar may gang wrang;
Thairfore tak counsaill, or ze gang,
620
598, E. beit.
601. E. 3eil.
Of sum that standis besyde.
Bot quhilk wer 3one thrie 3e forbad
3our company richt now?"
Quod Will, "Thrie prechours, to perswad
The poysand SLAE to pow.
610. E. and quyte the slae.
612. E. Or ze win.
616. E. Were better.
617. E. We grant.
625
619. F. greater guide.
622. E. stand.
623. E. quha war.
24
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
They tratlit and ratlit,
A lang half houre and mair;
Foull fall them! they call them
Dreid, Danger and Dispaire.
66
Thay are maire faschious nor of feck:
3on faizardis durst not, for thair neck,
630
Clim vp the craig with vs.
Fra we determinit to die,
Or else to climb 30n CHERRIE trie,
635
Thay baid about the bus.
Thay are conditionate like the cat;
Thay wald not weit their feit,
Bot zit, gif of the fruit we gat,
They wald be fayne to eit:
640
Thocht thay now, I say now,
To hazard hes na hart;
3it luck we, and pluck we
The fruit, they wauld haue part.
[
"Bot fra we get our voyage wun,
They sall not than the CHERRIE cun,
645
1
That wald not enterpryse."
"Weill," quod Experience, "ze boist;
Bot he that countis without his oist,
Oft tymes he countis twyse.
650
3e sell the beir skin on his back,
Bot byde quhill 3e it get;
Quhen ze haue done, its tyme to crak:
3e fische befoir the net.
627. E. They trattlit and prattellit.
639. E. gif ony fisch 3e gat.
640. F. and U. apt to eat.
642. E. haif nae.
643. F. and U. or pluck.
646. E. a cherrie.
649, 650. F.-
Bot he who reck'ned but his hoast,
Of-times has counted twise.
650. E. He aftentymes counts twyse.
651. E. beirs. F. boar's. U. bear's.
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
25
Quhat haist, sir, 3e taist, sir,
655
The CHERRIE, or 3e pow it:
Bewar zit, ze ar zit,
Mair talkatiue nor trowit."
"Call Danger back againe," quod Skill,
"To se quhat he can say to Will,
660
We see him schod sa strait :
We may nocht trow that ilk ane tellis."
Quod Curage, "We concludit ellis,
He seruis not for our mait;
For I can tell you all perqueir
His counsail or he cum.”
665
Quod Will, "Quairto suld he cume heir?
He can not hald his tung;
He speikis ay, and seikis ay
670
Delay of tyme be driftis;
He greuis vs and deues vs
With sophistries and schiftis.”
Quod Ressoun, "Quhy was he debard?
The tale is ill may not be hard;
3it let vs heir him anis.”
Than Danger to declair began,
675
How Hope and Curage tuik the man,
And led him all thair lanis ;
For they wald haif him vp the hill,
But outher stop or stay;
And quha was welcomer nor Will?
He wald be formaist ay:
657. F. and U. Beware sir, 3e are sir.
667. F. and U. Quoth Hope.
668. E. He cannot hold his himdumb-an
obvious misprint for hold him dumb.
Cf. line 820 infra. F. and U. hold
him dumb.
680
670. F. Delay of time and drifts. U. Delay
oft-times and drifts.
671. F. and U. To grieve us and dieve us.
674. F. and U. cannot.
678. E. To lead him.
679. F. and U. How they.
26
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
He culd do, and suld do,
Quha euir wald or nocht.
Sic speiding proceiding
Vnlikelie was, I thocht;
"Thairfoir I wischt them to be war,
And rashlie not to ryn ouir far,
Without sik gydis as 3e."
685
Quod Curage, "Friend, I heir zou faill,
690
Remember better on 3our taill,
3e sayd it culd not be:
Besydis that ze wald not consent
That euir we suld clym."
Quod Will, "For my pairt I repent,
695
We saw them mair nor him ;
For they ar the stayer
Of vs, alsweill as he:
I think now they schrink now;
Go fordwart, let them be:
700
"Go, go, we do not heir bot guckis;
They say that voyage nevir luckis,
Quhair ilke ane hes ane vote."
Quod Wisdome grauelie, "Sir, I grant,
We wer na war 3our vote to want,
705
Sum sentence heir I note:
Suppose ze speak it bot be gesse,
Sum fruit thairin I fynd;
3e wald be fordward I confesse,
And cummis oft tymis behynd.
It may be that thay be
Dissauit that neuir doutit :
Indeid, sir, that heid, sir,
Hes meikill wit about it."
684. F. and U. or dought.
691. E. Tak bettir tent unto 3our tale.
701. E. Go, go we naithing do bot gucks.
702. E. the voyage.
706. F. and U. now I note.
709. F. and U. foremost.
710. F. and U. Bot comes.
712. E. Desavit.
710
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
27
Than wilfull Will began to rage,
715
And sware he fand na thing in age,
Bot anger, yre and grudge:
“And for my selfe," quod he, "I sweir
To quyte all my companions heir,
And they admit the iudge.
720
Experience is grown sa auld,
That he begins to raue:
The laif, bot Curage, are sa cauld,
Na hazarding thay haif;
For Danger far stranger
725
Hes maid them nor they war;
Ga fra them, we pray them,
That nouther dow nor dar.
(6
Quhy may nocht these thre leid this ane?
I led ane hunder all my lane,
730
But counsall of them all."
"I grant," quod Wisdom, "ze haue led;
Bot I wald speir, how many sped,
Or furderit but ane fall?
Bot vther few or nane, I trow:
735
Experience can tell:
He sayis that man may wyte bot 30w,
The first tyme that he fell :
He kennis now, quhais pennis now
Thou borrowit him to flee.
740
His wounds zit, quhilk stounds zit,
He gat them than throw thee.”
"That," quod Experience, "is trew:
Will flatterit him, when first he flew,
And set him in an low:
745
716. E. saw naithing.
720. E. 30u judge.
727. E. Gae frae then, we pray then.
730. E. myne alane.
735. A. For there is nane or few I trow. E.
Bot owthir.
739. E. then-then.
740. A. Thow borrowit fra the clarkis.
742. A. I trowe dois beir the markis.
745. E. Will set him.
28
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
Will was his counsell and conuoy,
To borrow, fra the blindit boy,
Baith quiver, wingis and bow:
Quhairwith befoir he seyit to schuit,
He neither zeild to 3outh,
750
Nor zit had neid of any fruit,
To quench his deidly drouth;
Quhilk pynis him, and dwynis him
To deid, he wattis not how :
Gif Will than did ill than,
Himselfe remembers now.
"For I, Experience, was thair,
755
Lyke as I vse to be all quhair,
Quhat tyme he wytit Will
To be maist cause of his mischeif;
760
For I myself can be ane preif
And witnes thairintill.
Thair is na boundis bot I haif bene,
Nor hidlingis fra me hid;
Nor secret thingis bot I haif sene,
765
That he or onie did:
Thairfoir now, no moir now,
Lat him think to conceild;
For quhy now, euin I now
Am detbound to reveild."
66
My custome is for to declair
The treuth, and neuir eik nor pair,
For onie man, ane jote:
Gif wilfull Will delytis in leis,
Exampill in thy self thou seis,
How he can turne his cote,
748. E. quaver.
750. U. never.
754. E. I wate not.
756. A. considder now.
760. E. To be the grund of all his greif.
761. E. As I.
762. E. thairuntill.
763. E. There are.
764. U. heich things from.
770
775
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
29
F
And with his langage wald alluir
Thee it to brek thy bainis:
Sum tyme thou knawis gif he was suir:
Thou vsd his counsell ainis;
Quha wald zit be bald zit
To wrak thee, wer not we.
Think on now of 30n now,”
Quod Wisdome than to me.
780
"Weill," quod Experience, "gif that he
Submittis himself to 30w and me,
785
I wait quhat I suld say:
Our gude advyse he sall nocht want,
Provyding alwayis gif he grant
To put 30n Will away,
790
And banische baith him and Dispair,
That all gude purpose spillis;
Sa he will melle with them na mair,
Lat them twa flyte thair fillis :
Sic coissing but loissing
795
All honest men may vse."
"That change now wer strange now,"
Quod Ressoun, "to refuse."
Quod Will, "Fy on him, when he flew,
800
•
That poud not Cherries then anew
For to haue staid his sturt."
Quod Reason, “Thocht he bear the blame,
He nowther saw nor neidit them,
Till he himself had hurt.
First quhen he mistert not, he micht,
He neids, and may not now:
Thy foly, quhen he had his flicht,
Empashed him to pow.
779. E. Thou knaws thyself.
785. E. gif he.
795. E. lossing. F. tossing but lossing.
U. coisting but lossing.
803. F. and U. never.
805
30
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
Baith he now and we now
Persaive thy purpose plain,
To turn him, and burn him,
And blaw on him again."
810
Quod Skill, "Quhy suld we langer stryve?
Far better late than never thryve;
Cum let us help him 3it:
Tint tyme we may not get again,
We wast bot present tyme in vain :"
"Beware with that," quod Wit:
66
Speik on, Experience, lets see;
We think 3e hald ze dum."
"Of by ganes I haif hard," quod he;
I knaw not things to cum."
Quod Reason, "The season
With slowthing slyds away;
First tak him, and mak him
A man, gif that ze may."
Quod Will, "Gif he be not a man,
I pray 3ou, sirs, quhat is he than?
He lukes lyk ane at leist.”
Quod Reason, "Gif he follow thee,
And mynd not to remain with me,
Nocht bot a brutal beist.
A man in schape doth not consist,
For all your taunting tales;
Thairfor, Sir Will, I wald 3e wist
3our metaphysick fails.
Gae leir zit, a 3eir zit,
3our logick at the schulis,
Sum day then, 3e may then
Pass master with the mulis."
815
820
825
830
835
840
809. F. But he now.
1
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
31
Quod Will, "I marvell quhat ze mein;
Suld not I trow my ain twa een,
For all 3our logick schulis:
If I did not, I war not wyse."
Quod Reason, "I haif tald 3ou thryse,
845
Nane ferlies mair than fulis ;
Thair be mae sences than the sicht;
Quhilk ze owre-hale for haste,
To wit, gif 3e remember richt,
Smell, heiring, touch, and taste.
850
All quick things haif sic things,
I mein baith man and beist,
By kynd then, we fynd then
Few laks them in the leist.
"Sae, be that consequens of thyne,
855
Or syllogism said lyke a swyne,
A cow may teach thee lair.
Thou uses only bot thyne eies:
Scho touches, tastes, smells, heirs, and seis;
Quhilk matches thee, and mair.
860
Bot since to triumph ze intend,
As presently appeirs,
Sir, for 3our clergie to be kend,
Tak ze twa asses eirs.
Nae myter perfyter
Gat Midas for his meid;
That hude, sir, is gude, sir,
To hap 30ur brain-sick heid.
"3e haif nae feil for to defyne,
Thoch ze haif cunning to declyne
A man to be a mule:
With little wark 3it, 3e may vowd
To grow a galant horse and gude,
To ryde thairon at zule.
853. F. and U. By kind ay we find ay.
865
870
32
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
Bot to our ground quhair we began,
For all your gustless jests,
I must be master to the man,
Bot thou to brutall beists;
875
Sae we twae maun be twae,
To cause baith kynds be knawn;
880
Keip thyne then frae myne then,
And ilk ane vse thair awin."
Then Will, as angrie as an ape,
sa
Ran ramping, sweiring, rude and rape,
Saw he non other schift;
885
He wald not want an inch of will,
Quhither it did him gude or ill,
For thirty of his thrift:
He wald be formoist in the field,
And maister, gif he micht;
890
3ea, he suld rather die than 3ield,
Though Reason had the richt:
"Sall he now mak me now
His subject or his slaif?
Na, rather my father
Sall quick gang to his graif.
"I hecht him, quhyle my heart is heal,
To perisch first, or he prevail,
Cum after quhat so may."
895
Quod Reason, "Dout 3e not, indeed,
900
3e hit the nail upon the heid :
It sall be as 3e say.
Suppose ze spur for to aspyre,
3our brydle wants a bit;
That meir may leif 30u in the myre,
905
As sicker as 3e sit.
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
33
3our sentence repentance
Sall learn you, I believe,
And anger 30u langer,
Quhen ze that pratick prieve.
"As 3e haif dyted 3our decreit,
3our prophesie to be complete,
Perhaps, and to 3our pains;
It has bein said, and may be sae,
'A wilful man wants neuir wae,'
Thocht he gets little gains.
Bot sen ze think it easy thing
To mount aboif the mune,
910
915
Of your awin fidle tak a spring,
And daunce quhen ze haif done.
If than, sir, the man, sir,
920
Lykes of your mirth, he may;
Bot speir first, and heir first,
Than all togidder they began
To say,
Quhat he himsell will say."
"Cum on, thou martyrit man,
And do as we deuyse."
925
Abasd, ane bonie quhyle I baid,
And musd, or I my answere maid;
I turnd me ainis or twyse,
930
Behalding euerie ane about:
I feird to speik in haist.
Sum seimd assurd, sum dred for doubt:
Will ran reid-wood almaist;
With wringing and thringing,
935
908. F. Shall 30u leave.
His hands on vther dang:
Dispair to, for cair to,
Wald needs himselfe go hang.
U. Shall leave zou.
926. F. and U. And said.
927. E. Quhat is thy will advyse.
928. E. Abaisd.
3༠u.
932. E. Quhais motions muvit me maist.
934. E. Will ran reid-wod for haist.
935. E. and F. With wringing and flinging.
936. E. For madness lyke to mang.
C
34
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
Quhilk quhen Experience persauit,
Quod he, "Remember gif we rauit,
940
As Will alledgit of laite,
Quhen as he sware, na thing he saw
In age, bot anger, slack and slaw,
And cankerit of consait:
3e culd not luck as he alledgit,
That all opinions sperit.
He was sa frak and fyerie edgit,
945
He thocht vs four bot feirit.
Quha pansis on chancis,"
Quod he, "na worschip winnis.
Ay some best sall come best,
950
That hap weill, rak weill rinnis."
"3it," quod Experience, "behauld,
For all the tales that he has tauld,
How he himselfe behaues.
Because Dispaire could come na speid,
Lo quhaire he hangs, all bot the heid,
And in ane withie waues.
955
Gif 30n be suir ains thou may se,
To men that with them mellis;
Gif thay had hurt or helpit the,
Consider be thame selfis :
Than chuse the, to vse the
Be vs, or sik as zone:
Say sone now, haue done now;
Mak outher aff or on."
"Persaues thou not quhairfra proceids
The frantik fantasies, that feids
Thy furious flaming fyre?
940. A. Remember 3e ressavit. F. and U.
if I rav'd.
зе
942. E. he naithing saw.
948. A. He thocht not to be feirit.
949. E. quhat chansis.
956. E. could not cum speid.
958. E. And in ane widdy waifs.
960
965
959. E. and U. Gif zou be sure. F. true.
965. F. and U. Syne soon.
968. E. fantasie.
951. E. F. and U. To sum best.
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
35
Quhilk dois thy bailfull briest combuir,
That nane bot we," quod thay, "can cuir,
Or knawis quhat dois requyre.
970
The persing passion of thy spreit,
That waists thy vitall breath,
Hes holit thy heauie hart with heit:
975
Desyre drawes on thy death.
Thy punsis renuncis
All kynd of quiet rest;
That fever hes ever
Thy person sa opprest."
Quod thay, "Were thou acquaint with Skill,
He knawis quhat humors dois thee ill;
Quhair thou thy cares contrakis;
He knawis the ground of all thy griefe,
And recept, to, for thy releife;
All medicines he makis.'
""
"Cum on," quod Skill, "content am I
To put my helping hand:
980
985
Provyding alwayis he apply
To counsall and command.
990
Quhill we than," quod he than,
"Ar myndit to remaine,
Gif place now, in cace now
Thou get vs not againe.
"Assuire thy selfe, gif that we sched,
995
Thou sall not get thy purpose sped;
Tak tent, we haif thee tald.
Haif done, and dryue nocht aff the day:
The man that will nocht, quhen he may,
He sall not quhen he wald.
972. E. Or help thy hearts desyre. F. and
U. Nor help.
973. A. The passions of thy pensiue spreit.
974. A. thy fatall breath.
975. F. and U. Doth hold.
977. A. denuncis.
1000
981. E. Could thou cum anes acquaint.
983. E. And how thy cair contracks.
985. E. And recipies.
997. F. and U. Take heed.
36
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
1
Quhat wald thou do, I wald we wist:
Except, or giue us oure."
Quod he, "I think me mair than blist,
To fynde sick famous foure
Besyde me, to guyde me
Now quhen I haif to doe;
Considering the swidering
3e fand me first into.
"Quhen Courage craued ane stomack stout,
And Danger draue me into dout,
With his companione Dreid:
Quhylis Will wald vp aboue the aire;
Quhylis I was dround into dispaire ;
Quhyllis Hope held vp my heid.
So pithie resounis and replyis,
On euery side, they shewe,
That I, quha was not verie wyis,
Thocht all thair tales was trew.
Sa mony and bony,
All problemis they propond,
Baith quicklie and liklie,
I marveld mekill ond.
1005
ΙΟΙΟ
1015
I020
3it Hope and Curage wan the field,
Thocht Dreid and Danger nevir zeild,
Bot fled to fynde refuge:
1025
Swa, fra ze fowr met, they were fayne,
Because 3e cauld them back againe,
And glad that ze war judge;
For thay were fugitive befoir,
Now thay are frank and fre
1030
1002. E. Accept.
1003. E. F. and U. Quod I.
1013. E. in deip dispair.
1018. E. wer trew.
1024. E. neir wald zeild.
1026. A. Fra we conveind thay were sa fain.
1027. E. 3e gart us cum again.
1028. E. They greind to get 3e judge.
1030. E
3ou maid them frank and fre,
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
37
To speak and stand na aw na moir.”
Quod Reasoun, "Swa suld be.
Oft tymes now, but crymes now,
Bot evin be force, it falls,
The strang ay with wrang ay
1035
Puttis waiker to the walls;
"Quhilk is a fault, thou maun confesse;
Strenth is not ordaynd till oppresse
With rigour by the richt,
Bot, be the contrair, to sustein
1040
The waik anes that oreburdenit bein,
Als meikill as thay micht."
"Sa Hope and Curage did," quod I,
"Experimented lyke,
Schaw skild and pithie resouns quhy
1045
That Danger lap the dyke."
Quod Dreid, "Sir, tak heid, sir;
Lang speiking part man spil;
Insist not, 3e wist not
We went agains our will.
1050
"With Curage 3e were sa content,
3e nevir socht our small consent;
Of vs ze stand na aw.
Thair logique ressouns ze allowit,
3e ware determined to trow it:
Alledgence past for law.
For all the proverbs they pervsit,
1055
3e thocht them skantly skild;
Our ressouns had bene als weill rusit,
Had 3e bene als weill wild
1031. E. in aw na moir.
1037. F. and U. was a fault. E. 3e maun.
1040. E. on the contrair.
1048. F. and U. Long spoken.
E.
maun
spill.
тобо
1053. E. stude nae aw.
1054. E. F. and U. logick lessons.
1057. E. we perusd.
38
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
Till our side as 3our side,
Sa trewlie is it termd;
We se now in thee now
Affection dois affermd."
Experience then smyrkling smyld :
"We ar na barnis to be begyld,"
Quod he, and schuik his heid;
"For authours quha alledgis vs,
They may not go about the bus
1065
For all their deadly feid:
1070
For we are equall for 3e all;
Nae person we respect;
We haif bene sae, ar zit, and sall
Be found sae in effect.
Gif we wer as 3e wer,
1075
We had cumd unrequyrd;
Bot we now, 3e see now,
Do naithing undesyrd.
"Thair is a sentence said be sum,
‘Let nane uncalld to counsell cum,
1080
That welcum weins to be;'
3ea, I half hard anither zit,
Quha cum uncallt, unservd suld sit;'
Perhaps, sir, sae may 3e."
"Gudeman, gramercy for 3our geck;"
1085
Quod Hope, and lawly louts:
"Gif ze were sent for, we suspect,
Because the doctour douts.
1062. E. I may term it.
1063. F. and U. I see.
1064. E. affirm it.
1069. E. and U. They wald not gae. F.
They still would win.
1070. E. F. and U. To foster deidlie feid.
1084. F. Perhaps sit so may 3e.
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
39
3our 3eirs now appeir now
66
With wisdom to be vext, .
Rejoycing in glossing,
Till 3e haif tint 3our text.
Quhair ze wer sent for, let us se
Quha wald be welcomer than we?
Pruve that, and we are payd."
"Weill," quod Experience, "beware ;
3e ken not in quhat case ze are;
3our tung has 3ou betrayd.
The man may ablens tyne a stot
That cannot count his kinsch;
In your awin bow 3e are owre-schot,
Be mair than half ane inch.
Quha wats, sir, if that, sir,
Be sour, quhilk seimeth sweit?
I feir now 3e heir now
A dangerous decreit.
"Sir, by that sentence ze haif sayd,
I pledge, or all the play be playd,
That sum sall lose a laike.
Sen ze bot put me for to pruve
Sic heids as help for my behuve,
3our warrand is but waik:
Speir at the man 3our self, and se,
Suppose ze stryve for state,
Gif he regarded not how he
Had learned my lesson late,
And granted he wanted
Baith Reason, Wit and Skill;
Compleining and meining
Our absence did him ill.
1089. F. and U. appears.
1115. U. regretted.
1090
1095
IIOO
I105
IIIO
1115
II20
40
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
"Confront him furder face to face,
Gif zit he rews his rackles race,
Perhaps and 3e sall heir;
For ay since Adam and since Eve,
Quha first thy leisings did believe,
I sald thy doctrine deir.
Quhat has bein done, even to this day,
I keip in mynd allmaist:
3e promise furder than 3e pay,
Sir Hope, for all 3our haist;
Promitting, unwitting,
3our hechts zou neuir huiked ;
I schaw 3ou, I knaw 30u;
3our byganes I haif buiked.
1125
1130
"I could, in case a count wer craivt,
1135
Schaw thousands, thousands thou desaivt,
Quhair thou was trew to ane;
And, by the contrair, I may vaunt
Quhilk thou maun, thocht it grieve thee, grant,
I trumpit neuir a man,
1140
Bot trewly tald the naikit truth
To men that melld with me,
For nowther rigour nor for reuth,
Bot only laith to lie.
To sum it to cum zit
1145
Thy suckour will be slicht;
Quhilk I then maun try then,
And register it richt."
"Ha, ha!" quod Hope, and loudlie leuch,
"3e are bot a prentise at the pleuch,
Experience, 3e prieve.
Suppose all byganes as 3e spak,
Be are nae prophet worth a plak,
Nor I bund to believe.
1150
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
4I
3e suld not say, sir, till 3e se;
1155
Bot, quhen ze se it, say."
“Zit,” quod Experience, “at thee
Mak mony mints I may,
By signs now, and things now,
1160
Quhilk ay befoir me beirs,
Expressing, by guessing,
The perril that appeirs."
Then Hope replyd, and that with pith,
And wyselie weyd his words thairwith
Sententiouslie and short;
1165
Quod he, "I am the anchor grip
That saifs the sailours and thair ship
Frae perril, to thair port."
Quod he, "Aft times the anchor dryves,
As we haif fund befoir,
1170
And loses mony thousand lyves
By shipwrack on the shore.
3our grips aft bot slips aft,
Quhen men haif maist to do,
Syne leivs them, and reivs them
Of thy companzions to.
1175
"Thou leifs them not thy self alane,
Bot to thair grief quhen thou art gane
Gars courage quat them als."
Quod Hope, "I wald 3e understude,
I grip fast gif the grund be gude,
And fleit quhair it is false.
1180
Ther suld nae fault with me be fund,
Nor I accusd at all:
Wyte sic as suld haif plumd the grund
1185
Befoir the anchor fall.
42
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
Their leid ay, at neid ay,
Micht warn them, if they wald;
Gif they thair wald stay thair,
Or haif gude anchor hald.
"Git 3e reid richt, it was not I,
Bot only ignorance, quhairby
""
Thair carvells all were cloven.
I am not for a trumper tane :
"All," quod Experience, "is ane;
I haif my process proven,
To wit, that we wer cald, ilk ane,
To cum before we came;
That now objection 3e haif nane,
3ourself may say the same.
3e are now, owre far now,
Cum forward, for to flie;
Persave then, ze haif then
The warst end of the trie."
1190
1195
1200
Quhen Hope was gawd into the quick,
1205
Quod Courage, kicking at the prick,
"We let ze weil to wit;
Mak he zou welcomer than we,
Then byganes, byganes, fareweil he,
Except he seik us zit.
He understands his awn estate;
Let him his chiftains chuse:
Bot zit his battill will be blate,
Gif he our forss refuse.
Refuse vs, or chuse vs,
Our counsell is, he clim;
Bot stay he, or stray he,
We haif nae help for him."
I210
1215
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
43
(6
Except the CHERRIE be his chose,
Be 3e his friends, we are his foes;
His doings we dispyte.
Gif we persave him settled sae
To satisfie him with the SLAE,
I220
His companie we quyte."
Then Dreid and Danger grew full glad,
1225
And wont that they had won;
They thocht all seild that they had said,
Sen they had first begun.
They thocht then, they moucht then
Without a party pleid;
1230
Bot it thair, with Wit thair,
They wer dung doun with speid.
"Sirs, Dreid and Danger," then quod Wit,
"3e did 3our sells to me submit ;
Experience can proife."
1235
"That," quod Experience, "I past:
Thair awin confessions make them fast;
They may nae mair remoife.
For, gif I richt remember me,
This maxime then they made,
1240
To wit: The man with wit sould wey
Quhat philosophs haif said.
Quhilk sentance repentance
Forbad him deir to buy;
They knew then how trew then,
1245
And pressd not to reply."
Thocht he dang Dreid and Danger doun,
Zit Courage could not be owrecum,
Hope hecht him sic a hyre;
He thocht himsell, how sone he saw
1250
His enemies were laid sae law,
It was nae tyme to tyre.
44
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
He hit the yron quhyle it was het,
In case it sould grow cauld;
For he esteemt his faes defate,
Quhen anes he fand them fald.
"Thoch we now," quod he now,
"Haif been sae frie and frank,
Unsocht zit, he mocht zit
For kyndness cund us thank.
"Suppose it sae as thou hast said,
That unrequyrd we proffert aid,
At leist that came of luve.
Experience, 3e start owre sone,
1255
1260
3e naithing dow till all be done,
1265
And then perhaps 3e pruve
Mair plain than pleasant, to, perchance:
Sum tell that have 3ou tryt;
As fast as 3e 3our sell advance,
3e cannot weil denyt.
Abyde then 3our tyde then,
And wait upon the wind;
3e knaw, sir, 3e aw, sir,
1270
To hald ze ay behind.
"Quhen ze haif done sum duchtie deids,
1275
Syne ze suld se how all succeids,
To wryt them as they wer."
"Friend, huly, hast not half sae fast,
Leist," quod Experience, "at last
3e buy my doctrine deir.
Hope puts that hast into 30ur heid,
Quhilk boyls 30ur barmy brain;
Howbeit, fulis hast cums huly speid;
Fair hechts will mak fulis fain.
1268. F. and U. 3ou have.
1280
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
45
Sic smyling, begyling,
Bids feir not any freits;
3it I now deny now
That all is gold that gleits.
"Suppose not silver all that shynes:
1285
Aftymes a tentless merchand tynes,
For bying geir begess;
1290
For all the vantage and the winning
Gude buyers get at the beginning."
Quod Courage, "Nocht the less
Quhyls as gude merchants tynes as wins,
I295
Gif auld mens tales be trew.
Suppose the pack cum to the pins,
Quha can his chance eschew?
Then, gude sir, conclude, sir,
Gude buyers haif done baith;
1300
Advance then, tak chance then,
As sundrie gude ships hath.
"Quha wist quhat wald be cheip or deir
Sould neid to traffique bot a zeir,
Gif things to cum were kend.
Suppose all bygane things be plain,
3our prophesie is bot prophane;
3e had best behald the end.
1305
3e wald accuse me of a cryme
Almaist befoir we met;
1310
Torment zou not befoir the tyme,
Since dolour pays nae det.
Quhats bypast, that I past,
3e wot gif it was weil:
To cum 3it, by dume zit,
Confess 3e haif nae feil."
1286. F. and U. feir not for no freits.
1304. F. not traffique but.
1311. F. and U. Torment me.
1315
46
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
"Zit," quod Experience, "quhat than?
Quha may be meitest for the man,
Let vs his answer haif."
Quhen they submitted them to me,
1320
To Reason I was fain to flie,
His counsell for to craif.
Quod he, "Since 3e 3oursells submit
To do as I decreit,
I sall advyse with Skill and Wit,
1325
Quhat they think may be meit.”
They cryd then, "We byde then
At Reason for refuge;
Allow him, and trow him,
As governour and juge."
Then said they all, with ane consent,
1330
66
'Quhat he concludes, we are content
His bidding to obey.
He hath authoritie to vse;
Then tak his choice quhom he will chuse,
1335
And langer not delay."
Then Reason raise and was rejoysd:
Quod he, "Myne hearts, cum hidder;
I hope this pley may be composd,
1340
That we may gang togidder.
To all now I sall now
His proper place assign;
That they heir sall say heir,
They think nane vther thing."
"Come on," quod he, "companzion, Skill;
3e understand baith gude and ill,
1345
In physic 3e are fyne;
1331. F. and U. So said,
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
47
Be mediciner to the man,
And schaw sic cunning as 3e can,
To put him out of pyne.
1350
First gaird the grund of all his grief,
Quhat sicknes ze suspect;
Syne luke quhat laiks for his relief,
Or furder he infeck.
Comfort him, exhort him,
1355
Give him your gude advyce;
And pance not, nor skance not,
The perril nor the pryce.
"Thoch it be cummersom, quhat reck?
Find out the cause by the effect
And working of his veins.
3it quhyle we grip it to the grund,
Se first quhat fashion may be fund
To pacifie his pains.
Do quhat ze dow to haif him haile,
And for that purpose preise;
Cut aff the cause, the effect maun fail,
1360
1365
Sae all his sorrows ceise.
His fever sall nevir
Frae thenceforth haif a forss;
1370
Then urge him to purge him,
""
He will not wax the warse.
Quoth Skill, "His sences are sae sick,
I knaw na liquor worth a leik
To quench his deidlie drouth;
1375
Except the CHERRIE help his heit,
Quhais sappy slokning, sharp and sweit,
Micht melt into his mouth,
And his melancholie remuve,
To mitigate his mynd.
1370. F. and U. have no force.
1380
48
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
Nane hailsomer for his behuve,
Nor of mair cooling kynd;
Nae nectar directar
Could all the gods him give,
Nor send him, to mend him,
Nane lyke it, I believe.
1385
"For drouth decays as it digests."
"Quhy, then," quod Reason, "naithing rests
Bot how it may be had?"
"Maist trew," quod Skill, "that is the scope, 1390
3it we maun haif sum help of Hope."
Quod Danger, "I am red
His hastyness bred us mishap,
Quhen he is highlie horst:
I wiss we lukit or we lap.”
Quod Wit, "That wer not warst.
I mein now, convein now
The counsell ane and all;
1395
Begin then, call in then :"
Quod Reason, "Sae I sall."
1400
Then Reason raise with gesture grave,
Belyve conveining all the lave,
To heir quhat they wald say ;
With silver scepter in his hand,
As chiftain chosen to command,
And they bent to obey.
He pansed long befoir he spak,
And in a studie stude;
Syne he began and silenss brak:
"Cum on," quod he, "conclude
1393. F. breeds. U. breed.
1403. F. and U. To see.
1405
1410
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
49
Quhat way now we may now
3on CHERRIE cum to catch;
Speik out, sirs, about, sirs;
Haif done-let us dispatch."
Quoth Courage, "Skurge him first that skars; 1415
Much musing memorie bot mars;
I tell you myne intent."
Quod Wit, "Quha will not partlie panse
In perils, perishes perchanse,
Owre rackles may repent.'
"Then," quod Experience, and spak,
"Sir, I have sein them baith,
In braidieness and lye aback,
Escape and cum to skaith.
1420
Bot quhat now of that now?
1425
Sturt follows all extreams;
Retain then the mein then,
The surest way it seims.
Quhair sum has furdered, sum has faild;
Quhair part has perisht, part prevaild;
1430
Alyke all cannot luck.
Then owther venture, with the ane,
Or, with the vther, let alane
The CHERRIE for to pluck."
Quod Hope, "For feir folk maun not fash.”
1435
Quod Danger, "Let not licht."
Quod Wit, "Be nowther rude nor rash.”
Quod Reason, "3e haif richt."

The rest then thocht best then,
1440
Quhen Reason said it sae,
That, roundlie and soundlie,
They suld togidder gae
1423. F. bairnliness.
D
50
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
To get the CHERRIE in all hast,
As for my saftie serving maist.
Tho Dreid and Danger feird
The perril of that irksome way,
Lest that thairby I sould decay,
1445
Quha then sae weak appeird,
3it Hope and Courage hard besyde,
Quha with them wont contend,
1450
Did tak in hand us all to gyde
Unto our journeys end;
Implaidging and waidging,
Baith twa thair lyves for myne,
Provyding the gyding
1455
To them were granted syne.
Then Dreid and Danger did appeal,
Alledging it could neir be weil,
Nor zit wald they agrie;
Bot said they sould sound thair retreit,
1460
Because they thocht them nae ways meit
Conducters unto me,
Nor to no man in myne estate,
With sickness sair opprest;

For they tuke ay the neirest gate,
1465
Omitting of the best.
Thair neirest perquierest
Is always to them baith,
Quhair they, sir, may say, sir,
"Quhat recks them of 30ur skaith?"
1470
"Bot as for us twa, now we sweir
Be Him, befoir we maun appeir,
Our full intent is now
1450. F. went content.
1472. F. and U. before whom
appear.
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
51
To haif ze hale, and always was,
That purpose for to bring to pass;
Sae is not thairs, I trow."
Then Hope and Courage did attest
The gods, of baith these parts,
Gif they wrocht not all for the best
1475
Of me, with upricht hearts.
1480
Our chiftain then, liftan
His scepter, did enjoyn
Nae moir thair uproir thair-·
And sae there stryfe was done-
Rebuiking Dreid and Danger sair,
Suppose they meint weil evirmair
To me, as they had sworn ;
1485
Because thair nibours they abusit,
In swa far as they had accusit
Them, as 3e hard beforn.
1490
"Did he not els," quod he, "consent
The CHERRIE for to pow?"
Quod Danger, "We are weil content;
Bot zit, the manner how?
We sall now, even all now,
1495
Get this man with vs thair;
It rests then, ands best then,
3our counsell to declair."
"Weil said," quod Hope and Courage, "now,
We thairto will accord with 30u,
And sall abyde by them;
Lyk as befoir we did submit,
Sae we repeit the samyn 3it;
We mynd not to reclaime.
1478. F. and U. at both these parts.
1500
52
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
Quhome they sall chuse to gyde the way,
1505
We sall them follow straight;
And furder this man, quhat we may,
Because we haif sae hecht;
Promitting, but flitting,
To do the thing we can
1510
To pleise baith and eise baith
This silly sickly man."
Quhen Reason heard this, "Then," quod he,
"I se 3our chiefest stay to be,
That we haif namd nae gyde.
1515
The worthy counsell hath, therfoir,
Thocht gude that Wit suld gae befoir,
For perrills to provyde."
Quod Wit, "There is bot ane of thre
Quhilk I sall to ze schaw,
1520
Quhairof the first twa cannot be,
For ony thing I knaw.
The way heir sae stey heir
Is, that we cannot clim
Evin owre now, we four now:
1525
That will be hard for him.
"The next, gif we gae doun about
Quhyle that this bend of craigs rin out,
The streim is thair sae stark,
And also passeth waiding deip,
1530
And braider far than we dow leip,
It suld be ydle wark.
It grows ay braider to the sea,
Sen owre the lin it came;
The rinning deid dois signifie
The deipness of the same.
1505. F. and U. we shall chuse.
1506. F. and U. shall him follow.
1511. F. and U. To ease both and please
both.
1535
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
53
I leive now to deive now,
How that it swiftly slyds,
As sleiping and creiping;
Bot nature sae provyds.
"Our way then lyes about the lin,
Quhairby, I warrand, we sall win,
It is sae straight and plain;
1540
The watter allso is sae schald,
We sall it pass, evin as we wald,
With plesour and but pain.
1545
For as we se a mischeif grow
Aft of a feckless thing;
Sae lykways dois this river flow
Forth of a prettie spring;
1550
Quhois throt, sir, I wot, sir,
3e may stap with 3our neive;
As 3ou, sir, I trow, sir,
Experience, can preive."
((
That," quod Experience, "I can,
And all 3e said sen 3e began,
1555
I ken to be a truth."
Quod Skill, "The samyn I apruve."
Quod Reason, "Then let us remuve,
And sleip nae mair in sleuth.
1560
Wit and Experience," quod he,
"Sall gae befoir a pace;
The man sall cum, with Skill and me,
Into the second place.
Attowre now, 3ou four now
1565
Sall cum into a band,
Proceiding and leiding
Ilk vther by the hand.”
54
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
As Reason ordert, all obeyd ;
Nane was ower rasch, nane was affrayd,
1570
Our counsell was sae wyse :
As of our journey Wit did note,
We fand it trew in ilka jot:
God bliss the enterpryse!
For even as we came to the tree,
1575
Quhilk, as 3e heard me tell,
Could not be clum, thair suddenlie
The fruit for rypeness fell.
Quhilk haisting and taisting,
I fand myself relieyd
Of cairs all and sairs all
That mynd and body grievd.
1580
Praise be to God, my Lord, thairfoir,
Quha did myne helth to me restoir,
Being sae lang tyme pynd;
1585
And blessed be His haly name,
Quha did frae deith to lyfe reclaim
Me, quha was sae unkynd.
All nations allso magnifie
This evirliving Lord;
1590
Lat me with 3ou, and 3ou with me,
To laud Him ay accord;
Quhois luve ay we pruve ay
To us abune all things;
And kiss Him and bliss Him
1569. F. ordained.
Quhois glore eternall rings.
1586. F. and U. 3ea, blessed.
1595
SONNETS
-1
SONNET S.
I.
[TO THE BLESSED TRINITY.]
VPREME Essence, beginning, vnbegun,
Ay Trinall Ane, ane vndevydit Three,
Eternall Word, vha victorie hes wun
Ouir death, ouir hell, triumphing on the trie,
Forknavlege, Wysdome, and All-seing Ee,
Iehovah, Alpha and Omega, All,
Lyk vnto nane, nor nane lyk vnto Thee,
Vnmovt vha movis the rounds about the Ball,
Contener vnconteind; is, was, and sall
Be, sempiternall, mercifull, and just.
Creator vncreatit, nou I call.
Teich me Thy treuth, since vnto Thee I trust,
Incres, confirme, and strenthen from aboue
My faith, my hope, and, by the lave, my loue.

5
IO
II.
[OF THE WORKS OF GOD.]
High architectur, vondrous-vautit-rounds;
Huge host of hevin in restles-rolling spheers;
Firme-fixit polis whilk all the axtrie beirs;
Concordant-discords, suete harmonious sounds;
8. MS. round.
13. kendill from above, vulgo.
90
SONNETS.
Boud 3odiak, circle-belting Phoebus bounds;
Celestiall signis, of moneths, making zeers;
Bright Titan, to the tropiks that reteirs,
Quhais fyrie flammis all chaos face confounds;
Just balanced ball, amidst the hevins that hings;
All creaturs that Natur creat can,
To serve the vse of most vnthankfull man ;—
Admire 3our Maker, only King of Kings.
Prais him, O man! His mervels that remarks,
Quhais mercyis far exceids His wondrous warks.
сл
5
IO
III.
[OF THE INIQUITIE OF MAN.]
Iniquitie on eirth is so increst,
All flesh bot feu with falset is defyld,
Givin ouir of God, with gredynes beguyld;
So that the puir, but pitie, ar opprest.
God in his justice dou na mair digest
Syk sinfull suyn with symonie defyld,
Bot must revenge, thair vyces ar so vyld,
And pour doun plagues of famin, suord, and pest.
Aryse, O Lord, delyuer from the lave
Thy faithfull flock befor that it infect.
Thou sees hou Satan sharps for to dissave,
If it were able, euen thyn auin elect.
Sen conscience, love, and cheritie all laiks,
Lord, short the season, for the chosens saiks.
IV.
TO M. DAUID DRUMMOND.
As curious Dido Enee did demand,
To vnderstand vha wrakt his toun, and hou
Him self got throu and come to Lybia land;
To vhom fra hand his body he did bou :
5
ΙΟ
SONNETS.
91
With bendit brou, and tuinkling teirs, I trou,
He said, if thou, O Quene, wald knau the cace
Of Troy, alace! it garis my body grou,
To tell it nou, so far to our disgrace ;
Hou, in short space, that som tym peirles place,
Before my face, in furious flammis did burne;
Compeld to murne, and than to tak the chace,
I ran this race, bot nevir to returne :
Sa thou, lyk Dido, Maister Dauid Drummond,
Hes me to ansueir, by thy sonet, summond.
сл
5
ΙΟ
V.
[TO THE SAME.]
The hevinly furie that inspyrd my spreit,
Quhen sacred beughis war wont my brouis to bind,
With frostis of fashrie frozen is that heet;
My garland grene is withrit with the wind.
3e knau Occasio hes no hair behind;
The bravest spreits hes tryde it treu, I trou;
The long forspoken proverb true I find,
"No man is man," and man is no thing nou.
The cuccou flees befor the turtle dou;
The pratling pyet matchis with the Musis;
Pan with Apollo playis, I wot not hou;
The attircops Minervas office vsis.
These be the grievis that garris Montgomry gr[udge]
That Mydas, not Mecenas, is our judge.
VI.
TO M. P. GALLOWAY.
Sound, Gallovay, the trompet of the Lord;
The blissit brethren sall obey thy blast;
Then thunder out the thretnings of the word
Aganst the wicked that auay ar cast.
сл
5
ΙΟ
92
SONNETS.
Pray that the faithfull in the fight stand fast.
Suppose the Divill the wickeds hairts obdure,
3it perseveir, as in thy preichins past,
For to discharge thy conscience and cure.
Quhat justice sauld! vhat pilling of the pure!
Quhat bluidy murthers ar for gold forgivin!
God is not sleipand, thoght He tholde, be sure.
Cry out, and He shall heir the from the heuin ;
And wish the king his court and counsell clenge,
Or then the Lord will, in His wrath, revenge.
5
сл
ΙΟ
VII.
TO HIS MAJESTIE.
Shir, clenge 3our cuntrie of thir cruell crymis,
Adultries, witchcraftis, incests, sakeles bluid;
Delay not, bot as David did betymis,
3our company of such men soon secluid.
Out with the wicked;-garde 3ou with the gude;
Of mercy and of judgment sey to sing.
Quhen ze suld stryk, I wald 3e vnderstude;
Quhen ze suld spair, I wish 3e were bening.
Chuse godly counsel, leirne to be a king.
Beir not thir burthenis longer on 30ur bak.
Jumpe not with justice for no kynd of thing.
To just complantis gar gude attendance tak.
Thir bluidy sarks cryis alwayis in 3our eiris:
Prevent the plague that presently appeirs.
сл
ΙΟ
VIII.
IN PRAISE OF HIS MAJESTIE.
Support me, sacred Sisters, for to sing
His praise, vhilk passis the antartik pole,
And fand the futsteppe of the fleing fole,
And from Parnassus spyd the Pegase spring.
SONNETS.
93
The hundreth saxt, by lyne, vnconqueist king,
Quhais knichtlie curage, kindling lyk a cole,
Maks couarts quaik, and hyde thame in a hole:
His brand all Brytan to obey sall bring.
Come, troup of tuinis, about his temple tuyn
3our laurell leivis with palmis perfytly plet,
Wpon his heid Cæsarean to sett.
Immortalize ane nobler nor the Nyne-
A martiall monarch, with Minervas spreit,
That Prince vhilk sall the prophesie comp[leit.]
5
IO
IX.
IN PRAISE OF M. J. M., CHANCELLER.
Of Mars, Minerva, Mercure, and the Musis,
The curage, cunning, eloquence, and vain
Maks maikles Maitland mirrour to remane,
As instrument vhilk these for honour vsis,
Quhais fourfald force with furie him infusis
In battells, counsels, orisones, and brain.
It neids no proofe; experience is plane ;
A cunning king a cunning chanceller chuisis.
Quhat happines the hevins on him bestoues
Hes trimlie at this trublous tyme bene tryde.
Thoght worthynes of wreches be invyde,
3it wonted verteu ay the grener grouis.
Then, lyk his name, the gods for armis him giv[es]
Suord, pen, and wings, in croun of laurel lei[ves.]
5
IO
X.
IN PRAIS OF THE KINGS VRANIE.
Bellonas sone, of Mars the chosen chyld,
Minervas wit, and Mercuris goldin tung,
Apollos light, that ignorance exyld,
From Jove ingendrit, and from Pallas sprung,
94
SONNETS.
Thy Vranie, O second Psalmist! sung,
Triumphis ouer death, in register of fame;
Quharfor thy trophee trimlie sall be hung
With laurell grene, eternizing thy name.
Bot euen as Phoebus shyning does ashame
Diana with hir boroude beimis and blind;
So vhen I preis thy praysis to proclame,
Thy weghtie words maks myne appeir bot wind.
3it, worthy Prince! thou wald tak in gude pairt
My will for weill; I want bot only arte.
XI.
[OF THE SAME.]
Of Titans harp, sith thou intones the strings,
Of ambrose and of nectar so thou feeds,
Not only vther poets thou outsprings,
Bot vhylis also thy very self excedes ;
Transporting thee as ravishd, vhen thou redes
Thyn auin inventione, wondering at thy wit.
Quhat mervell than, thoght our fordullit hedes
And blunter brainis be mare amaisd at it;
To sie thy geirs and age, vhilks thou hes zit,
Inferiour far to thy so grave ingyne ;
Quha hazard at so high a mark, and hit,
In English, as this Vranie of thyne:
Quharfor thy name, O Prince! eternall ringis,
Quhais muse not Jove, bot grit Jehova singis.
XII.
[OF THE SAME.]
Can goldin Titan shyning bright at morne,
For light of torches, cast a gritter shau?
Can thunder reird the higher for a horne?
Craks cannouns louder thoght a cok suld crau ?
5
IO
5
IO
SONNETS.
95
Can our waik breathis help Boreas to blau?
Can candle lou give fyr a griter heet?
Can quhytest suanis more quhyter mak the snau?
Can virgins teirs augment the winter[s weet?]
Helps pyping Pan Apollos musik sueet?
Can fontans smal the ocean sea incres?
No: they augment the griter not a quheet,
Bot they thaim selfis appeir to grou the les :
So, peirles Prince! thy cunning maks the knoune;
Ours helps not thyn: we steinzie bot our aune.
5
ΙΟ
XIII.
[OF THE SAME.]
As bright Apollo staineth euiry star
With goldin rayis, vhen he begins to ryse,
Quhais glorious glance 3it stoutly skaillis the sk[yis,]
Quhen with a wink we wonder vhair they war;
Befor his face for feir they faid so far,
And vanishis auay in such a wayis,
That in thair spheirs thay dar not interpryse
For to appeir lyk planeits, as they ar:
Or as the phoenix, with her fedrum fair,
Excels all foulis in diverse hevinly heuis,
Quhais natur, contrare natur, sho reneuis,
As onlie but companione or compair :
So, quintessenst of kings! vhen thou compyle,
Thou stanis my versis with thy staitly style.
5
ΙΟ
XIV.
TO HIS MAJESTIE, FOR HIS PENSIOUN.
Help, Prince, to vhom, on vhom not I complene,
Bot on, not to fals fortun, ay my fo;
Quha but, not by a resone, reft me fro;
Quho did, not does, 3it suld my self sustene.
96
SONNETS.
Of crymis, not cairs, since I haif kept me clene,
I thole, not thanks thame, Sir, vho servd me so;
Quha heght, not held to me, and mony mo,
To help, not hurt, bot hes not byding bene:
Sen will, not wit, to lait vhilk I lament,
Of sight, not service, shed me from 3our grace.
With, not without. 3our warrand, 3it I went;
In wryt, not words; the papers ar in place:
Sen chance, not change, hes put me to this pane,
Let richt, not reif, my pensioun bring agane.
LO
5
IO
XV.
[TO THE SAME.]
If lose of guids, if gritest grudge or grief,
If povertie, imprisonment, or pane,
If for guid will ingratitude agane,
If languishing in langour but relief,
If det, if dolour, and to become deif,
If travell tint, and labour lost in vane,
Do properly to poets appertane—
Of all that craft my chance is to be chief.
With August, Virgill wauntit his reuard,
And Ovids lote als lukles as the lave;
Quhill Homer livd, his hap wes wery hard,
Zit, vhen he died, sevin cities for him strave :
Thoght I am not lyk one of thame in arte,
I pingle thame all perfytlie in that parte.
XVI.
[TO THE SAME.]
If I must begge, it sall be far fra hame;
If I must want, it is aganis my will;
I haif a stomok, thoght I hold me still,
To suffer smart, bot not to suffer shame.
5
ΙΟ
SONNETS.
97
In spyt of fortun, I shall flie with fame;
Sho may my corps, bot not my curage kill:
My hope is high, houbeit my hap be ill,
And kittle aneugh, and clau me on the kame.
Wes Bishop Betoun bot restord agane,
To my ruin reserving all the rest,
To recompence my prisoning and pane!
The worst is ill, if this be bot the best.
Is this the frute, Sir, of your first affectione,
My pensioun perish vnder your protectione?
5
IO
XVII.
[TO THE SAME.]
Adeu, my King, court, cuntrey, and my kin:
Adeu, suete Duke, vhose father held me deir :
Adeu, companiones, Constable and Keir:
Thrie treuar hairts, I trou, sall neuer tuin.
If byganes to revolve I suld begin,
My tragedie wald cost 3ou mony a teir
To heir hou hardly I am handlit heir,
Considring once the honour I wes in.
Shirs, 3e haif sene me griter with his Grace,
And with 30ur vmquhyle Maister, to, and myne;
Quha thoght the Poet somtyme worth his place,
Suppose ze sie they shot him out sensyne.
Sen wryt, nor wax, nor word is not a word:
I must perforce ga seik my fathers suord.
5
ΙΟ
XVIII.
TO THE LORDS OF THE SESSION.
Quhare bene 3e, brave and pregnant sprits, becum?
Quik vive inventionis, ar 3e worne auay ?
I am assuird by simpathie that sum
Wald never wish that cunning suld decay.
G
Dor M
98
SONNETS.
If ony be, your Lordships must be thay,
Whose spreits 3our weeds of verteu hes you spun ;
Then mak the poet pensioner, I pray,
And byde be justice, as 3e haif begun.
Sen I haif richt, vhy suld I be ouirrun?
Incurage me, and able I can carpe:
Hald evin the weyis; the victory is wun,
As I confyde in King and solid Sharpe :
Quhom I culd len a lift, your Lordships knauis,
War they in love, as I am in the lauis.
XIX.
[TO THE SAME.]
Alace! my Lords, hou long will 3e delay
To put the poets pensione out of plie?
3on shifting sophists hes no thing to say;
Their feckles flyting is not worth a flie.
Mak Bishop Betone vhat they lyk to be:
He must perforce be ather quik or deid.
If he be deid, the mater maks for me;
If he be quik, then they can cum no speid.
By consequence, it can not bot succeid,
For laik of forces they must tyn the feild;
And for the Bishope, I defy his feid;
3ok vhen we will, I hope to gar him 3eild.
So, good my Lords, I crave no more of 30u,
Bot shift me not vhill 3e haif slane my sou.
XX.
[TO THE SAME.]
How long will 3e the poets patience prove?
Shaip 3e to shift him lyk a pair of cartis?
Look vp, my Lords; thair is a Lord above,
Quha seis the smallest secreit of your hairts.
5
IO
5
LO
ΙΟ
SONNETS.
99
He vnderstands 3our offices and 3our airts;
He knauis vhat is committit to 3our cure;
He recompencis, as 3e play your pairts,
Once, soon or syne, 3our Lordships must be sure;
For he respects no princes more then pure.
Quhat evir ze do then, hald the ballance evin ;
Sa to do justice, I 3ou all conjure,
As 3e will merit ather hell or hevin.
Deserv not de (before 3our Lordships) fames;
For I may able enternize 3our names.
5
ΙΟ
XXI.
[TO THE SAME.]
My Lords, late lads, nou leidars of our lauis,
Except 3our gouns, some hes not worth a grote.
3our colblak conscience all the cuntrey knauis;
Hou can ze live, except ze sell your vote?
Thoght 3e deny, thair is aneu to note
How 3e for justice jouglarie hes vsit:
Suppose 3e say 3e jump not in a jote,
God is not blind, He will not be abusit.
The tym sall come vhen ze sall be accu[sit,]
For mony hundreth 3e haif herryit heir;
Quhare 3e sall be forsakin and refusit,
And syn compeld at Plotcok to appeir.
I hope in God at lenth, thoght it be late,
To sie sum sit into [dirk hellis gate].
5
ΙΟ
XXII.
TO HIS ADUERSARS LAUYERS.
Presume not, Prestone, Stirling is no strenth ;
Suppose 3e come to cleik auay my King,
Beleiv me baith, 3e sall be lost at lenth ;
Assure 3our selfis, and think nane other thing.
Uor M
ΙΟΟ
SONNETS.
Byde ze the brash, vhill I my battrie bring.
For all your Craig, vharin 3e so confyde,
Experience will play 3ou sik a spring,
Sall pluk zour pennis, and pacifie 3our pryde.
I sall beseige zou sa on euirie syde,
3our baggage, buluarks, sall not be na buit;
3e sall not haif ane hoill 3our heids to hyde,
Fra tym ze caus my cannoun royal shuit.
Haif at your rocks and ramparts with a rattill;
Sho shuits so Sharpe, 3e dou not byde a brattill.
5
ΙΟ
XXIII.
OF M. J. SHARPE.
If gentle blude ingendrit be by baggis,
Then culd I ges vho wer a gentle Jhone;
If he be wysest, with the world that waggis,
3it culd I wish 3ou to a wittie one;
If he be all, vha thinks his nichtbours none,
Then surely I suld shau 3ou vho wer all;
If he be Cæsar, vho doth so suppone,
Then I conjecture vhom I Cæsar call;
If he be sure, vho sueirs and sayis he sall,
Then certainly I wot weill vho wer sure;
If he be firme, vho neuer feirs to fall,
I doubt not then vhose dayis suld lang indure;
Sed quæritur, vhat lau he leivis at leist?
He wald not preich; he can not be a preist.
XXIV.
[OF THE SAME.]
A Baxters bird, a bluiter beggar borne,
Ane ill heud huirsone, lyk a barkit hyde,
A saulles suinger, seuintie tymes mensuorne,
A peltrie pultron poysond vp with pryde,
5
IO
1
SONNETS.
ΙΟΙ
A treuthles tongue that turnes with eviry tyde,
A double deillar with dissait indeud,
A luiker bak vhare he wes bund to byde,
A retrospicien vhom the Lord outspeud,
A brybour baird that mekle baill hes breud,
Ane hypocrit, ane ydill atheist als,
A skurvie skybell for to be esheud,
A faithles, feckles, fingerles, and fals,
A Turk that tint Tranent for the Tolbuith:
Quha reids this riddill he is Sharpe forsuith.
}
5
IO
XXV.
TO R. HUDSONE.
My best belouit brother of the band,
I grein to sie the sillie smiddy smeik.
This is no lyfe that I live vpaland
On rau rid herring reistit in the reik,
Syn I am subject somtyme to be seik,
And daylie deing of my auld diseis.
Eit bread, ill aill, and all things are ane eik;
This barme and blaidry buists up all my bees.
3e knau ill guyding genders mony gees,
And specially in poets. For example,
3e can pen out tua cuple and 3e pleis ;
3ourself and I, old Scot and Robert Semple.
Quhen we ar dead, that all our dayis bot daffis,
Let Christan Lyndesay wryt our epitaphis.
نا
5
ΙΟ
XXVI.
[TO THE SAME.
With mightie maters mynd I not to mell,
As copping courts, or comonwelthis, or kings,
Quhais craig 3oiks fastest, let tham sey thame sell;
My thoght culd nevir think vpon sik things.
(
1
:
102
SONNETS.
I wantonly wryt vnder Venus wings;
In Cupids court 3e knau I haif bene kend,
Quhair Muses zit som of my sonets sings,
And shall do aluayis to the worlds end.
Men hes no caus my cunning to commend,
That it suld merit sik a memorie;
3it 3e haif sene his Grace oft for me send,
Quhen he took plesure into poesie.
Quhill tyme may serve, perforce I must refrane,
That pleis his Grace I come to Court agane.
5
ΙΟ
XXVII.
[TO THE SAME.]
I feid affectione vhen I sie his Grace,
To look on that vhairin I most delyte;
I am a lizard, fainest of his face,
And not a snaik, with poyson him to byte;
Quhais shapes alyk, thoght fashions differ quyt :
The one doth love, the other hateth still.
Vhare some taks plesur, others tak despyte:
One shap, one subject, wishis weill and ill;
Euen so will men-bot no man judge [I will,]—
Baith loue and loth, and only bot ane thing.
I can not skan these things above my skill.
Loue vhome they lyk; for me, I loue the King,
Vhose Highnes laughed som tym for to look
Hou I chaist Polwart from the chimney [nook.]
5
ΙΟ
XXVIII.
[TO THE SAME.]
Remembers thou in Æsope of a taill?
A louing dog wes of his maister fane;
To faun on him wes all his pastym haill.
His courteous maister clappit him agane.
SONNETS.
103
By stood ane asse, a beist of blunter brane,
Perceiving this, bot looking to no freet,
To pleis hir maister with the counterpane,
Sho clambe on him with hir foull clubbit feet.
To play the messan thoght sho wes not [meit,]
Sho meinit weill, I grant; hir mynd wes guid:
Bot vhair sho troude hir maister suld hir [treit,]
They battound hir vhill that they sau hir bluid.
So stands with me, vho loues with all my [hairt]
My maister best: some taks it in ill pa[irt.]
XXIX.
[TO THE SAME.]
Bot sen I sie this proverbe to be true,
"Far better hap to court, nor service good,”
Fairueill, my brother Hudsone [nou to 3ou]
Vho first fand out of Pegase fut the flood,
And sacred hight of Parnase mytred hood;
From vhence som tyme the son of [Venus] sent
Tua seuerall shaftis vher he of Delphos stood,
With Pennevs dochter hoping to acquent.
Thy Homers style, thy Petrarks high invent,
Sall vanquish death, and live eternally;
Quhais boasting bou, thoght it be aluayis bent,
Sall neuer hurt the sone of Memorie.
Thou onlie brother of the Sisters Nyne,
Shau to the King this poor complant of myne.
5
ΙΟ
5
ΙΟ
XXX.
CHRISTEN LYNDESAY TO RO. HUDSONE.
Oft haive I hard, bot ofter fund it treu,
That courteours kyndnes lasts bot for a vhyle.
Fra once 3our turnes be sped, vhy then adeu
3our promeist freindship passis in exyle.
29, 6. MS. Delos, evidently from Delphos in next line.
;
104
SONNETS.
Bot, Robene, faith, 3e did me not beguyll;
I hopit ay of you as of the lave :
If thou had wit, thou wald haif mony a wyle,
To mak thy self be knaune for a knaive.
Montgomrie, that such hope did once conceave
Of thy guid-will, nou finds all is forgotten.
Thoght not bot kyndnes he did at the craiv,
He finds thy friendship as it rypis is rotten.
The smeikie smeithis cairs not his passit trauel,
Bot leivis him lingring, déing of the gravell.
5
ΙΟ
XXXI.
TO M. J. MURRAY.
Flie louer, Phoenix. Feirs thou not to fyre
Invironing the aluayis-upuard ayr?
Vhich thou must pas, before that thou come [thair]
Vharas thy sprit so spurris thee to aspyre;
To wit, aboue the planetis to impyre,
Behind the compas of Apollos chayr,
And tuinkling round of burning rubies rare,
Quhair all the gods thy duelling do desyre.
Bot duilfull doom of destinies thee dammis,
Before thy blissit byding be above,
The mortal from immortall to remove,
To sacrifice thy self to Phœbus flammis.
I prophecye, vhen so sall come to pa[sse,]
We nevir sie such one come of thy [asse.]
XXXII.
TO M. L. RUTHUEN, DUCHES OF LENNOX.
I love the lillie as the first of flours,
Vhose staitly stalk so streight vp is and stay,
To vhome the laive ay lowly louts and [cours,]
As bund so brave a beuty to obey.
ΙΟ
сл
5
SONNETS.
105
Amongs thame selfis it semes as they suld [say:]
"Sueet Lillie, as thou art our lamp of light,
Resave our homage to thy honours ay,
As kynd commands to render thee thy right.
Thy blisfull beams, with beutie burnisht bright,
So honours all the gardein vhair thou grouis,
For suetest smell and shyning to the sight;
The heuins on the sik [matchless grace bestouis,]
That vho persaivis thy excellence by ours
Must love the lillie as the first of flours."
LO
5
ΙΟ
XXXIII.
A LADYIS LAMENTATIONE.
Vhom suld I warie bot my wicked weard,
Vha span my thriftles thrauard fatall threed?
I wes bot skantlie entrit in this eard,
Nor had offendit, vhill I felt hir feed.
In hir vnhappy hands sho held my heed,
And straikit bakuard wodershins my hair;
Syne prophecyed, I suld aspyre and speed:
Quhilk double sentence wes baith suith and sair,
For I wes matchit with my match and mair;
No worldly woman neuir wes so weill;
I wes accountit Countes but compair,
Quhill fickle Fortun whirld me from hir vheell:
Rank and renoun in lytill roum sho ranged,
And Lady Lucrece in a Cressede changed.
XXXIV.
[THE SAME.]
MELPOMENE, my mirthles murning Muse!
Wouchsaiv to help a wrechit woman weep,
Vhose chanch is cassin that sho can not chuse
Bot sigh, and sobbe, and soun, vhen sho suld sleep.
сл
5
ΙΟ
106
SONNETS.
More hevynes within my hairt I heep,
Nor cative Cresside, vhair sho lipper lay.
Dispair hes dround my hapeless hope so deep,
My sorrie song is, oh and welauay!
Euen as the oul that dar not sie the day,
For feir [of foulis that then about do proull,]
So am I nou, exyld from honour ay,
Compaird to Cresside and the vgly oull.
Fy, lothsome lyfe! Fy, death, that dou not [serve me]
Bot quik and dead a bysin thow must [preserve me].
5
IO
XXXV.
[THE SAME.]
LORD, for my missis micht I mak a mends,
By putting me to penance as thou pleasd!
Good God! forgive offenders that offends,
And heall the hurt of sik as are diseasde;
Hou soon they murne, with mercy thou [art measde]
As thou hes said; and surely so it semes:
Suppose my silly saull with sin be seasde,
3it the reversiones rests that it redemes.
Destroy me not, that so of the estemes,
My suete Redemer; let me neuer die,
Bot blink on me euen with Thy blisful b[eames,]
And mak ane other Magdelene of me.
Forgive my gylt, sen nane bot God is gude;
So with "Peccavi Pater" I conclude.
XXXVI.
[THE SAME.]
Fane wald I speir vhat spreit doth me [inspyre.]
I haif my wish, and 3it I want my will;
I covet lyfe, and 3it my corps I kill ;
I vrne for anger, 3it I haif no yre;.
5
IO
SONNETS.
107
I flie the flammis, 3it folouis on the [fire ;]
I lyk my lote, and 3it my luk is ill;
I 30ldin am, and 3it am stryving still;
I dreid dispair, 3it hope hes heght me hyre ;
My bluid is brunt, and 3it my breist does bleid;
I haif no hurt, and 3it my hairt hes harmes;
I am ouircome, but enimie or armis :
The doctours doubtis if I be quik or deid:
If that I kneu of vhome I culd inquyre,
Fain wold I speir vhat spreit does me inspyre.
5
IO
XXXVII.
[THE SAME.]
My plesuris past procures my present pain;
My present pain expels my plesurs past;
My languishing, alace! is lyk to last;
My greif ay groues, my gladenes wants a grane ;
My bygane joyes I can not get agane,
Bot, once imbarkit, I must byde the blast.
I can not chuse; my kinsh is not to cast:
To wish it war, my wish wald be bot vane:
3it, vhill I sey my senses to dissaive,
To pleis my thoght, I think a thousand things,
Quhilks to my breist bot boroude blythnes brings :
Anis hope I had, thoght nou dispair I haive:
A stratagem, thoght strange, to stay my sturt,
By apprehensioun for to heill my hurt.
5
ΙΟ
XXXVIII.
[THE SAME.]
I wyt myne ee for vieuing of my wo;
I wyt myn earis for heiring my mishap;
I wyt my senses vhilks dissavit me so;
I wyt acquentance that in credit crap;
108
SONNETS.
I wyt the trane that took me with a trap;
I wyt affectione formest to the feild;
I wyt misluk that suld me [so enwrap ;]
I wyt my 3outh that bot a promeis zeild;
I wyt my stomoch wes not stoutly ste[ild ;]
I wyt hir looks vhilk left me not alane;
I wyt my wisdome suld haif bene my sheild ;
I wyt my tongue that told vhen I wes ta[ne:]
Had I my counsell keepit vndeclairde,
I might haif dred, bot deidly not dispairde.
5
ΙΟ
XXXIX.
[TO HIS MAISTRES.]
Bright amorous ee vhare Love in ambush [lyes]—
Cleir cristal tear distilde at our depairt—
Sueet secreit sigh more peircing nor a dairt—
Inchanting voce, beuitcher of the wyse-
Quhyt ivory hand, vhilk thrust my finger [s pryse]—
I challenge 3ou, the causers of my smarte,
As homiceids, and murtherers of my harte,
In Resones court to suffer ane assyse.
Bot, oh! I fear, 3ea rather wot I weill,
5
To be repledgt 3e plainly will appeill
ΙΟ
To Love, whom Resone never culd comm[and :]
Bot, since I can not better myn estate,
Zit, vhill I live, at leist I sall regrate
Ane ee, a teir, a sigh, a voce, a hand.
XL.
[TO THE SAME.]
Thyne ee the glasse vhare I beheld my [hairt ;]
Myn ee the windo throu the vhilk thyn ee
May see my hairt, and thair thy self espy
In bloody colours hou thou painted art.
SONNETS.
109
Thyne ee the pyle is of a murth[erers dairt ;]
Myne ee the sicht thou taks thy levell by,
To shute my hairt, and nevir shute aury:
Myn ee thus helpis thyn ee to work my smarte.
Thyn ee consumes me lyk a flamming fyre ;
Myn ee most lyk a flood of teirs do run.
Oh! that the water, in myne ee begun,
Micht quench the burning fornace of desyre!
Or then the fyr els kindlit by thyn ey,
The flouing teirs of sorrou micht mak dry!
XLI.
[TO THE SAME.]
So suete a kis 3istrene fra thee I reft,
In bouing doun thy body on the bed,
That evin my lyfe within thy lippis I left;
Sensyne from thee my spirits wald neuer shed;
To folou thee it from my body fled,
And left my corps als cold as ony kie.
Bot vhen the danger of my death I dred,
To seik my spreit I sent my harte to thee;
Bot it wes so inamored with thyn ee,
With thee it myndit lykuyse to remane:
So thou hes keepit captive all the thrie,
More glaid to byde then to returne agane.
Except thy breath thare places had suppleit,
Euen in thyn armes thair doutles had I deit.
XLII.
JAMES LAUDER.
I wald se mare.
I wald se mare nor ony thing I sie;
I sie not it the thing that I desyre:
Desyre it is that does content the ee;
The ee it is vhilk settis the hairt in fyre.
5
ΙΟ
5
ΙΟ
IIO
SONNETS.
In fyre to fry, tormentit thus, I tyre;
I tyre far mair, till tyme these flammis I feid:
I feed affectione, spurring to aspyre
Aspyre I sall, in esperance to speid;
To speed I hope, thoght danger still I dreid;
I dreid no thing bot ouer long delay :
Delay in love is dangerous indeed;
Indeid I shape the soner to assay;
Assay I sall, hap ill or weill, I vou;
I vou to ventur, to triumph I trou.
XLIII.
ISSOBELL YONG.
By loving so.
I trou 3our love by loving so vnsene;
Vnsene siklyk I languish for 3our love:
3our love is comely, constant, chaste, and clene;
And clene is myne, experience sall prove;
Prove vhen ze pleis, I mynd not to remove;
Remove vho may, if Destinies decreit:
Decreit is givin by Hymen high above;
Aboue all bands that blissed band is sweet:
Sueit is that 30k so mutuall and meet;
And meit it war we met, if that we might:
We might perhaps our purpose then compleit:
Compleit it quickly, Reson thinks it right.
Right beiring rule, the righteous suld rejose:
Rejose in God, and on His will repose.
XLIV.
EUFAME WEMIS.
Treu fame we mis thy trumpet for to tune,
To blau a blast a beuty for to blaise;
A paragone vhilk poets oght to praise :
Had I that science, I suld sey it sune:
5
IO
5
ԼՈ
ΙΟ
SONNETS.
III
Zit, as I dar, my deutie sall be done
With more affectione nor with formall phrais.
I seme, vhill I vpon hir graces gaze,
Endymion enamord with the Mone.
My Muse, let Mercure language to me len,
With Pindar pennis, for to outspring the spheirs ;
Or Petrarks pith, surpassing all my peirs,
To pingill Apelles pynsell with my pen,
And not to say, as we haif said abone,
TREW FAME, WE MIS thy trumpet for to tone.
er
5
ΙΟ
XLV.
JOHN JHONSONE-JANE MAXWELL.
Sueit soull, perceive hou secreit I conceill,
Rad to reveill that peirtly I propone. .
Look ony one before me loved so leill;
Examene weill; oh! oh! we seet in none.
Good love is gone, except my love alone,
Thoght gromes can grone as they wald give the ghost;
Half mangd almost, als stupefact as stone,
Lyk treuth in throne, they look as they wer lost.
They turne, they tost, they rave, they rage, they rost,
As catives crost, vhill they 3our favour find.
To bid you bind thair purpose, runs the post;
Bot bund they bost how
Zit trying tyme, the touchstone of my treuth,
As resone wold, requests 3ou to haif reuth.
XLVI.
HIS MAISTRES NAME.
Quhat pregnant sprit the letters can espy
My ladyis name and surname that begins?
Betuixt thame (ay) in ordour, is bot I,
And only I these lovely letters tuins;
5
ΙΟ
II2
SONNETS.
Thoght rekles redars rashly ouer this rins,
3it sharper shuters ner the mark will shute.
Shute on; lat sie vho first my wedfie w[ins ;]
For I will wed ane apple and a nute.
To brek 3our brains, 3e bunglers, is no bute;
The mair 3e muse, the mare 3e misse the [mark.]
I count 3our cunning is not worth a cute,
That cannot kyth 3our self to be a c[lark.]
Or 3e this find, I feir 3e first be fane
For to begin your A, B, C agane.
5
сл
ΙΟ
XLVII.
TO HIS MAISTRES MESSANE.
Ha! lytill dog, in happy pairt thou crap,
If thou had skill thy happynes to spy,
That secreit in my ladyis armis may ly,
And sleip so sueitly in hir lovely lap.
Bot I, alace! in wrechednes me wrap,
Becaus ouer weill my misery knou I,
For that my youth to leirne I did apply;
My ouer grit skill hes maid my oune mishap.
Vhy haif I not, O God, als blunt a [braine]
As he that daylie worbleth in the wyne,
Or to mak faggots for his fuid is fane?
Lyk as I do I suld not die and duyn:
My pregnant spreit, the hurter of my harte,
Lyk as it does, suld not persave my smarte.
XLVIII.
TO M. D.
For Skelmurley.
Sweet Philomene, with cheiping chyrris and charris,
In hauthornes vher thou hyds thy self and hants,
Beuailing thy virginitie thou wants,
My harte to grone for very grief thou garris,
5
IO
SONNETS.
113
Thy mirthles mone my melody so marris;
Vhill as thy changing, chivring nots thou chants,
The peircing pyks groues at thy gorge thou grants;
So neir is skaith, suppose thou skantly skarris.
For murning I may be thy mirthles match :
As thou art banishd, so am I exyld;
As thou art trumped, so am I begyld;
Thou art vnweirdit, I a woful wrech ;
Thou art ashamed to shau thy secreit smart :
My ladyis bagie beirs my bluidy hart.
XLIX.
[TO THE SAME.]
+
Thoght peirlis give pryce, and diamonds be deir,
Or royall rubies countit rich and rare,
The MARGARIT does merit mekle mare,
As jem of jeuels, paragone but peir.
Wald God if it wer gettible for geir!
Culd it be coft, for cost I wald not care;
Both lyfe and goods, to win it, wold I [ware,]
Provyding I war worthy it to weir.
Nixt wald I wish my purpose broght to [pas,]
That I micht tak and tame the turtle DO[U,]
And set hir syne vhare that I micht sie th[rou]
Ane costly cage of cleirest cristall GLAS;
Vhilks with my jeuell micht I joyne, I gra[nt,]
I culd not wish in world [ought] that I want.
L.
OF MY LADY SEYTON.
M. M.
O happy star, at evning and at morne,
Vhais bright aspect my maistres first out [fand !]
O happy credle! and O happy hand
Vhich rockit hir the hour that sho wes b[orne !]
48, 12. an weirdit. variant in the MS,
H
5
ΙΟ
LO
5
IO
114
SONNETS.
O happy pape, 3e rather nectar hor[ne,]
First gaiv hir suck, in siluer suedling band!
O happy wombe consavit had beforne
So brave a beutie, honour of our land!
O happy bounds, vher dayly 3it scho duells,
Vhich Inde and Egypts happynes excells!
O happy bed vharin sho sall be laid!
O happy babe in belly sho sall breid!
Bot happyer he that hes that hap indeid,
To mak both wyfe and mother of that [maid.]
er
ΙΟ
LI.
TO THE FOR ME.
Suete Nichtingale! in holene grene that han[ts,]
To sport thy self, and speciall in the spring;
Thy chivring chirlis, vhilks changinglie thou [chants,]
Maks all the roches round about the ring;
Vhilk slaiks my sorou, so to heir the sing,
And lights my louing langour at the leist;
3it thoght thou sees not, sillie, saikles thing!
The piercing pykis brods at thy bony breist.
Euin so am I, by plesur lykuyis preist,
In gritest danger vhair I most delyte:
Bot since thy song, for shoring, hes not ceist,
Suld feble I, for feir, my conqueis quyt?
Na, na-I love the, freshest Phoenix fair!
In beuty, birth, in bounty but compair.
5
ΙΟ
LII.
[TO THE SAME.]
Love lent me wings of hope and high desyre,
Syn bad me flie, and feir not for ane fall.
3it tedious trauell tystit me to tyre,
Vhill Curage come, and culd me couart call.
SONNETS.
115
As Icarvs with wanton waxit wings,
Ayme at the only A per se of all;
Vhilk staynis the sun, that sacred thing of things,
And spuris my spreit, that to the heuins it springs,
Quyt ravisht throu the region of the air,
Vhair zit my hairt in hoping hazard hings,
At poynt to speid, or quikly to despair.
3et shrink not, hairt! as simple as thou semes,
If thou be brunt, it is with beuties bemes.
5
IO
LIII.
[TO THE SAME.]
Go, Pen and Paper! publish my complantis ;
Waill weghtie words, because 3e cannot weep;
For pitthie poemis prettilie out paintis
My secreit sighis as sorouis gritest heep,
Bred in my breist, 3e rather dungeon deep,
As prisoners perpetually in pane,
Vhilk hes the credit of my harte to keep,
In martyrdome, but mercy, to remane.
Anatomeze my privie passionis plane,
That sho my smart by sympathie may [sie,]
If they deserve to get some grace agane;
Vhilk if they do not, I desyr to die.
Go, sonet, soon unto my Soveran say,
Redeme 3our man, or dam him but delay.
LIV.
[ON HIS MAISTRES.]
Vhat subject, sacred Sisters, sall I sing?
Vhase praise, Apollo, sal my pen proclame?
Vhat nymph, Minerva, sall thy novice [name?]
The bravest blossome beutie can outbring,
52, 5. Omitted by the transcriber.
5
ΙΟ
116
SONNETS.
On staitly stalk new sprouting, furth [sall spring.]
Hou sall I sound the fanphar of hir fame,
Vhais angels ees micht mak the sun thin[k shame,]
As half eclipsed, in the heuins to hing!
Bot hola, Muse! thou mints at such a ma[rk,]
Vhais merit far excedes thy slender skill;
3it, if hir grace, for weill, accept gude [will,]
Then war thou weil reuardit for thy wark :
Bot since to mount thy maistres the commands,
With hope, once hazard for to kis hir hands.
5
ΙΟ
LV.
[ON THE SAME.]
Hir brouis, tuo bouis of ebane ever bent;
Hir amorous ees the awfull arrouis ar;
The archer, Love, vho shoots so sharpe and far;
My breist, the butt vhairat hir shots ar sent;
My lyf, the wageour, if I win the war;
My patience pleids my proces at the bar;
My bluid, the long expensis I haif spent ;
My secrete sighis, solisters for my sute;
My trinkling teirs, the presents I propyne;
My constancie, hir councellours to enclyne:
Bot rigour ryvis the hairt out by the root.
Hope heghts me help, bot feir finds no refuge:
My pairties ar my javellour and my judge.
LVI.
[ON THE SAME.]
Excuse me, Plato, if I suld suppone
That vnderneth the heuinly vauted round,
Without the world, or in pairts profound
By Stix inclosd, that emptie place is none.
55, 5. Omitted by the transcriber.
5
IO
SONNETS.
117
If watrie vauts of air be full echone,
Then vhat contenis my teirs vhich so abound
With sighis and sobbis, which to the hevins I sound,
Vhen Love delytis to let me mak my mone?
Suppose the solids subtilis ay restrantis,
Vhich is the maist, my maister, 3e may mene;
Thoght all war void, 3it culd they not contene
The half, let be the haill of my complaintis.
Vhair go they then? the question wald I c[rave,]
Except for ruth the hevins suld thame [ressave.]
5
ΙΟ
LVII.
[ON THE SAME.]
Vha wald behold him vhom a god so grievis?
Vhom he assaild, and dantond with his [dairt,]
Of vhom he freizis and inflams the hairt,
Vhais shame siclyk him gritest honour givis?
Vha wald behald a 3outh that nevir [leives,]
In vain, to folou the object of his smarte?
Behold bot me, persaiv my painfull pairt,
And the archer that, but mercy, me misch[eivis.]
Thair sall he sie vhat Resone then [can do]
Against his bou, if once he mint bot to
Compell our hairts in bondage basse to be[ir,]
3it sall he se me happiest appeir,
That in my hairt the amorous heid does [lie]
Vith poysond poynt, vhairof I glore [to die.]
сл
5
ΙΟ
LVIII.
[ON THE SAME.]
Hou long sall I in languishing lament?
Hou long sall I bot duyne, and dou not di[e?]
Hou long sall Love, but mercy, murther me?
Hou long against me sall his bou be bent?
118
SONNETS.
Hou long sall pane my plesur so prevent?
Hou long sall weping blind my watrie ee?
Hou long sall baill my bed felou zit be?
Or vhen sall I with comfort be acquent?
Hou long sall hope be hindrit be mishap?
Hou long zit, Love, will thou my patience prove?
Hou long sall wo in wrechitnes me wrap?
Vp once, and my melancholie remove.
Revenge, revert, revive, revest, reveall,
My hurt, my hairt, my hope, my hap, my heall.
LO
5
IO
LIX.
OF THE DULEWEID.
The burning sparkis of Helens angells ee,
But missing any, woundit eviry wicht
That come within the boushot of her sicht;
Bot Love, vhose harte compassion had to see
5
Sa many lovers, but redemption, dee,
Vha war attrapit with so sueet a slicht,
In murning blak he cled this beutie bricht,
As funerall mark and handsenzie to be.
But all in vane, alace! I must confes;
For why? a thousand lovers not the les,
Thoght they persaivd that Burrio Death to bost
Within [hir] eyis, and sau him vhar he sat,
3it feirles ran they, not withstanding that,
To se these eyis; and syn gaiv vp the ghost.
LX.
[OF THE SAME.]
Had I a foe that hated me to dead,
For my reuenge, I wish him no more ill
Bot to behold hir eyis, vhilk euer still
Ar feirce against me with so sueet a feid.
59, 12. MS. his; but see 60, 3, infra.
IO
SONNETS.
119
Hir looks belyve such horrour suld him b[reid,]
His wish wold be, his cative corps to kill.
Euen Plesurs self could not content his wi[ll ;]
Except the, Death, no thing culd him rem[eid.]
The vgly looks of old Medusas eyi[s,]
Compaird to hirs, ar not bot poets leyis ;
For hirs exceids thame in a sharper sort:
The Gorgon bot transformit men in sta[nis,]
Bot she inflammis and freizis both at anis.
To spulzie hairt, that minion makes hir sp[ort.]
LXI. ·
[OF THE SAME.]
Quhat suld I wish, if wishing war not va[ne?]
Gold? silver? stones? or precious peirlis of I[nd?]
No, no; I carie not a misers mynd;
I wish no more bot to be borne agane;
Provyding that I micht a man rema[ne,]
And sho that bure me, euen of sik a kyn[d]
That in hir birth hir persone war not py[nd,]
Bot ay the plesur to exceid the pane.
Then to be borne into a bonie bark,
To saill the seyis, in sik tym of the zeir
Vhen hevy hartis it helthsum halds to he[ir]
The mirthful mav[is] and the lovesome [larke.]
In end, I wold, my voyage being maid,
5
LXII.
THE POETS APOLOGIE TO THE KIRK OF EDINBURGH.
I wonder of your Wisdomes, that ar wyse,
That baith miskennis my method and my Muse;
Quhen I invey, such epithets I wse,
That evin Alecto laughing at me lyis.
61, 14. Cut away in the MS.
ΙΟ
сл
5
ΙΟ
I 20
SONNETS.
My trumpets tone is terribler be tuyis
Nor 30n couhorne, vhereof 3e me accuse;
For fra the Fureis me with fyr infuse,
Quhom Bautie byts, he deir that bargan byis;
For if I open wp my anger anes,
To plunge my pen into that stinking Styx,
My tongue is lyk the lyons; vhair it liks,
It brings the flesh, lyk bryrie, fra the banes:
I think it scorne, besyd the skaith and sklander,
To euin an ape with aufull Alexander.
5
ΙΟ
1
LXIII.
THAT HE WROT NOT AGANSTE THE MADINS
OF EDINBURGH.
Quhat reckles rage hes armde thy tygirs tung,
On sueit and simple soulis to speu thy spyte?
Quhat syren suld such poysond songs haif sung?
Quhat deuill such ditties devysit to indyte?
Quhat madnes movd such venemous vords to [write?] 5
Quhat hellish hands hes led thy bluidie pen?
Quhat furious feynd inflamde thee so to fl[yte?]
Thee—no wyse nou to numbred be with men.
Quhat euer thou be, thou art a knave, [I ken,]
So leudly on these lassis to haif leid;
And if thou pleis, appoint hou, vhair, and vhen,
And I sall mak thee, Beist! not to byde be [it,]
That nather they ar sik as thou hes said,
Nor I am he these rascall raylings maid.
ΙΟ
LXIV.
TO HIS MAJESTIE.
That he wrote no[t] against vmqull M. Jane Cuninghame.
SIR, I am sorie that ze suld suppone
Me to be one in lucre to delyte,
Or speu despyt against hir vho is gone:
No-nevir none culd fee me so to flyte.
SONNETS.
121
I war to wyt, the bureit to bakbyte,
Or to indyt hir families defame,
Thoght Cuningham—in conscience I am quy[te,]
By word or wryt. Aneugh nou for my n[ame.]
I sueat for shame, besyd the blot and b[lame,]
Men suld proclame it wer Montgomrie[s muse:]
Fy! I refuse sik filthie these or theam,
Houbeit at hame mair vncouthnes we wse.
I must confes, it war a fekles fead,
Quha docht do nocht bot to detract the [deid.]
сл
5
IO
LXV.
From London,
TO W. MURRAY.
Belouit brother, I commend me to 30u.
Pleis 3ou, resaiv this lytil pretie ring,
With all the rest of goodnes I may do 30u,
Quhan I may vaik fra service of the king.
Sen for your saik I keepit sik a thing,
I mene the pece of lether from 3our spur,
If I forget-in hemp, God! nor 3e hing!—
Vncourtessie comes aluayis of a cur.
Bat ze sall find me byding lyk a bur,
Quhilk lichtlie will not leiv the grip it gettis ;
And am right dortie to come ouir the dur,
For thame that by my kyndnes no-thing settis.
Thus haif I bene as 3it, and sal be so;
Kynd to my freind, bot fremmit to my fo.
5
ΙΟ
LXVI.
LADYLAND TO CAP. A. MONTEGOMERIE.
My best belouit brother of the craft,
God! if ze kneu the stait that I am in !
Thoght ze be deif, I knou ze ar not daft,
Bot kynd aneugh to any of 3our kin ;
122
SONNETS.
If ze bot sau me, in this winter win,
With old bogogers, hotching on a sped,
Draiglit in dirt, vhylis wat evin to the [skin,]
I trou thair suld be tears or we tua shed.
Bot maist of all, that hes my bailis bred,
To heir hou ze, on that syde of the m[ure,]
Birlis at the wyne, and blythlie gois to [bed ;]
Forzetting me, pure pleuman, I am sure.
So, sillie I, opprest with barmie jugg[is,]
Invyis 3our state, that's pouing Bacchus [luggis.]
5
ΙΟ
LXVII.
E3ECHIEL MONTG. ANSUEIR TO LADYLAND.
Beloued brother, I haif sene 3our bill,
And smyld to sie the Sonet that ze send.
I sie 30w skornfull, thoght 3e haif no sk[ill,]
Becaus to play the poet ze pretend.
Bot sen ze craiv 3our cunning to be [kend,]
Come on, companion; I becall 3our crak[s:]
For all the poeme, pleuman, 3e haif pe[nd,]
I am ouer sair for 3ou and other sax.
To match Montgomerie, thoght a mint [thou maks,]
5
Thou menes be me thy maich, and mair nor match; 10
Hou beit thou brave vs, bour! behind our baks,
No man invyis our weilfair, bot a wrech.
Mell not with vs, vhose heads weirs l[aurel . . .]
Our Muse drinks wyne, vhen thyn bot suims in suaits.
If I haif shod 3ou strait, or on a vane,
Gar Peter Barkley drau the naill agane.
15
SONNETS.·
123
LXVIII.
LADYLAND TO EZECH. MONTG.
Sir Icarus, 3our sonet I haiv sene,
Nocht ignorant vhose bolt that bag come fro.
3e lent 3our name to feght against your frene,
Till one durst neuir avou him self my fo.
I mak a vou-and I heir ony mo
Such campillmuts, 3e better hold you still.
3e crak so crouse, I ken, becaus 3e'r tuo;
Bot I am dour, and dou not want my will.
Grou I campstarie, it may drau to ill;
Thairfore it's good in tyme that we wer shed.
My Bee's aloft, and daggit full of skill:
It getts corne drink, sen Grissall toke the bed.
Come on, good gossopis; let vs not discord;
With Johne and George 3e must convoy my Lord.
5
ΙΟ
LXIX.
To my old Maister, and his zong disciple;
Tua bairnis of Beath, by Natur taught to tipple.
THE OLD MAISTER.
The Lesbian Lad, that weirs the wodbind w[reath,]
With Ceres and Cylenus, gled 3our ging.
Be blyth, KILBVRNIE, with the Bairns of BE[ATH ;]
And let LOCHWINNOCH Lordie lead your ri[ng.]
Be mirrie men; feir God, and serve the K[ing ;]
And cair not by Dame Fortuns fead a fl[ea ;]
Syne, welcome hame, suete SEMPLE, sie 3e [sing ;]
Gut ouer, and let the wind shute in the [sea.]
5
124
SONNETS.
I, Richie, Jane, and George are lyk to [dee ;]
Four crabit crippilis crackand in our crouch.
Sen I am trensh-man for the other thri[e,]
Let drunken Pancrage drink to me in D[utch.]
Scol frie, al out, albeit that I suld brist
Ih wachts, hale beir, fan hairts and nych [sum] drist.
LXX.
AGAINST THE GOD OF LOVE.
Blind brutal Boy, that with thy bou abuses
Leill leisome love by lechery and lust,
Judge, jakanapis and jougler maist vnj[ust,]
If in thy rageing resone thou refuises ;
To be thy chiftanes changers ay thou chuisis
To beir thy baner, so they be robust.
Fals tratur, Turk, betrayer vnder trust,
Quhy maks thou makrels of the modest Muses?
.
Art thou a god? No-bot a gok disguysit;
A bluiter buskit lyk a belly blind,
With wings and quaver waving with the wind;
A plane playmear for vanitie devysit.
Thou art a stirk, for all thy staitly stylis;
And these, good geese, vhom sik a god begylis.
69, 9. For Jane we should surely read Johne. Cf. 68, 14, supra.
FINIS.
IO
5
IO
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
I.
20
A DESCRIPTION OF TYME.

JAK tyme in tym, or tym will not be tane;
Thairfor tak tent hou thou this tyme suld tak :
Sho hes no hold, to hold hir by, bot ane;
A toppe befor, bot beld behind hir bak.
Let thou hir slippe, or slipperly grou slak,
Thou gettis no grippe agane fra sho be gane.
If thou wald speid, remember vhat I spak;
Tak tyme in tyme, or tym will not be tane.
5
For I haif hard in adagies of auld,
That tyme dois waist and weir all things auay;
Then trou the taill that treu men oft hes tauld-
A turne in tyme is ay worth other tuay.
Siklyk, I haif hard oft-tymis suith men say,
That negligence 3it nevir furtherit nane;
Als, seindle tymis luck foloues long delayis.
Tak tyme in tyme, or tyme will not be tane.
ΙΟ
15
128
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
II.
THE OPPOSITIONE OF THE COURT TO CONSCIENCE.
THE Court and Conscience wallis not weill;
These tua can nevir weill accord.
Quha leivis in Court and halds him leill,
Lang or that lyf mak him a lord;
And Conscience stenzies if he steill :
5
So Court and Conscience walis not weill.
The Court some qualities requyrs
Quhilk Conscience can not bot accuse;
And, specially, sik as aspyris
Mon honest adulation wse;
I dar not say, and doubly deill:
Bot Court and Conscience wals not weill.
IO
First thou mon preis thy Prince to pleis,
Thoght contrare Conscience he commands,
With Mercuris mouth, and Argos eis,
15
And with Briarius hundreth hands;
And seme vhatsoever he sayis to seill.
So Court and Conscience wallis not weill.
Syn evirie minioun thou man mak
To gar thame think that thou art thairs,
Houbeit thou be behind thair bak
No furtherer of thair effairs,
Bot mett thame moonshyn ay for meill.
So Court and Conscience wallis not weill.
To pleis men vhen thou art imployde,
Give glorifluikims in thair face;
Quhilks wald be cunningly convoyde,
To gar thame haif the griter grace,
20
25
To mak thame fonde that hes no feill.
So Court and Conscience walis not weill.
30
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
129
III.
ANE INVECTIONE AGAINST FORTUN;
Conteining ane Admonitione to his Friends at Court.
NoT Clio nor Calliope I chuse ;
Megera, thou must be my mirthles Muse,
For to inspyre my spreit with thy despyte,
And with thy fervent furie me infuse,
Quhat epithets or arguments till vse,
With fals and feinzed Fortun for to flyte.
Both wey my words and waill my verse to wry[te,]
That curst inconstant cative till accuse,
Quhais variance of all my wois I wyt.
Sho is mair mobile mekle nor the mone:
It keeps a course, and changis not so sone,
Bot in ane ordour waxis ay and wanis;
Sing sho tua notis, the one is out of tone,
As B acre lau and B moll far abone:
In mesur not a moment sho remanes.
Sho givis by gesse; sho weyis no gold by granes.
Hir doings all ar vndiscreitly done,
Without respect of persons or of pains.
For men of merit sho no mater maks:
Bot vhen a toy intill hir heid sho taks,
But ryme or reson or respect to richt,
The worthiest and valiantest sho wraks,
And honours out-waills for wnworthie acts;
As of a kitchin knaive to mak a knicht.
That witch, that warlok, that vnworthie wic[ht]
Turnis ay the best men tittest on thair bakis;
Syn settis vp sik as somtym war bot slycht.
I
I
5
ΙΟ
15
20
25
130
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
Quhen with a quhisk sho quhirlis about hir quheill,
Rude is that rattill running with a reill,
Quhill top ouer tail goes honest men atains.
Then spurgald sporters they begin to speill;
The cadger clims, neu cleikit from the creill;
And ladds vploips to lordships all thair lains:
Doun goes the bravest, brecking al their banis.
30
Sho works hir will; God wot if it be weill.
35
Sho stottis at strais, syn stumbillis not at stanis.
How sho suld hurt or help sho neuer huiks.
Luk as it lyks, sho laughis and neuer luiks,
Bot wavers lyk the widdircok in wind.
Sho counts not kings nor cazards mair nor cuiks.
Reid bot hou scho hes bleckit Bocas buiks:
40
Thairin the fall of princes sall ze find.
That bloodie bitch, that buskit belly blind
Dings dounuards ay the duchtiest lyk duiks:
Quha hopped highest oft tyms comes behind.
I neid not nou to nominat thair names
Quhom sho hes shent, and dayly shifts and shames;
That longsome labour wold be ouer prolixt:
3our selfis may sie, I think, a thousand thames
Quhilks poets, as hir pursevants, proclames.
Hir fickle freindship is not firmely fixt:
Quhair ane is nou his nichtbour may be nixt.
Sho causles culzies, and but falt defames;
Hir mirrines with missheif ay is mixt.
45
50
Thairfor, my freinds vha nevir feirs to fall,
Resaiv my eirnest admonition all.
55
Quhillis ze ar weill I wish 3ou to be war.
Remember, shirs, that somtym ze war small;
And may be 3it: I will not say 3e sall;
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
131
For, I confes, that war a fut too far.
Houbeit ze think my harrand something har,
Quhen ze leist wein, 30ur baks may to the wall.
Things byds not ay in ordour as they ar.
60
Tak tyme in tyme, and to my taill tak tent;
Let ze it pass, perhaps, 3e may repent,
65
And wish it war, vhen 3e may want 3our will.
Had Cæsar sene the cedul that wes sent,
3e wat he had not with the wicked went,
Quha war concludit causles him to kill:
Bot in his bosome he put vp that bill;
The vhilk at last, thoght lait, maid him repent:
His vnadvertence only did him ill.
Judge of your self by Julius, my joyes,
70
Quhais fenzeid freinds wer worse then open foes,
If that ze stand not in a stagring stait.
Think 3e that sho will thole zou more nor those
Quha war zour auin companzons, I suppose,
75
Quhom sho gart slyde, or 3e sat on thair seat?
Some got a blind, vho thoght they war not bleat.
Chuse or refuse my counsel; tak 3our chose.
80
Fairweill, my freinds, I bot with fortun fleat.
IV.
THE POETS COMPLAINT OF HIS NATIVITIE.
SINCE that the Hevins are hinderers of my hap,
And all the starris so strange against me stand,
Quhy kild not Jove me with his thunder clap,
Hou soon the midwyfe held me in hir hand?
Quhy wald not Mercure with his wrethin wand
Depryve me baith of senses, wit, and shape,
Since that the Hevins ar hinderers of my hap?
5
132
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
Quhy thoild my mothers bouels me to breath ?
Quhy wes hir belly not my bureall bed?
Quhy wes not hir delyverie my death?
Quhy suelt I not, so soon as we wer shed?
Quhy come the Muses and my cradle cled?
Quhat movit these Vestal Virgins me to wrap,
Since that the Hevins ar hinderers of my hap?
Quhy wes my mother blyth vhen I wes borne?
Quhy heght the Weirds my weilfair to advance?
Quhy wes my birth on Eister day at morne ?
Quhy did Apollo then appeir to dance?
Quhy gaiv he me good morou with a glance?
Quhy leugh he in his golden chair and lap,
Since that the Hevins ar hinderers of my hap?
Quhy had he me to Helicon to heive?
Quhy wes I novece to the Nobles nyne?
Quhy did the gods for godbarne-gift me geive
Ambrosian bread and hevinly nectar wyn,
To quintessence a goldin grave ingyne,
Both for invention and for uttrance apt,
Since that the Hevins ar hinderers of my hap?
Quhy wes I nurisht with the noble Nymphs?
IO
15
20
25
Quhy wes I fostred for to flie with fame?
For drinking of these Ladyis hallouit lymphs,
Extold among ye rare men wes my name.
Quhy did Apollo Poet me proclame,
30
To cleith my heid with his grene laurell cap,
Since that the Hevins ar hinderers of my hap?
35
Quhat helpeth me, thought Maia or Minerve
With hevinly fury haif my spreit infusde?
Quhat do these sacred ceremonies serve,
Quhilks they haif on thair auin adoptit wsde?
Quhat profits me vhom fortun hes refusde,
40
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
133
Thoght with my king in credit once I crap,
Since that the Hevins ar hinderers of my hap?
Quhy wes my will to vertue mair then vyce?
Quhy wes I faithfull, and refusde to fane?
Quhy soght I aye warme water vnder yce,
Quhair wylis availls and veritie is vane?
Forgive me this, and if I do it agane,
Then tak me with the foxis taill a flap,
Since that the Hevins are hinderers of my hap.
V.
THE POETS COMPLANTE AGAINST THE WNKYNDNES OF HIS
COMPANIONS VHEN HE WES IN PRISONE.
No wonder thoght I waill and weip,
That womplit am in woes ;
I sigh, I sobbe, vhen I suld sleep;
My spreit can not repose.
My persone is in prisone pynit,
And my companions so vnkind,
Melancholie mischeivis my mind,
That I can not rejose.
So long I lookit for releif,
Vhill trewlie nou I tyre;
My guttis ar grippit so with grief,
It eitis me vp in yre.
The fremmitnes that I haif felt,
For syte and sorrou garris me suelt,
And maks my hairt within me melt
Lyk waxe befor the fyre.
Quhen men or wemen visitis me,
My dolour I disguyse;
By outuard sight that nane may sie
Quhair inward langour lyis.
45
5
IO
15
20
134
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
Als patient as my pairt appeirs,
With hevy hairt, vhen no man heirs,
For baill then burst I out in teirs,
Alane with cairfull cryis.
All day I wot not vhat to do,
I loth to sie the licht;
At evin then I am trublit, to;
So noysum is the nicht.
Quhen Natur most requyrs to rest,
With pansing so I am opprest,
So mony things my mynd molest,
My sleiping is bot slicht.
25
30
Remembring me vhair I haif bene
· Both lykit and belovt,
And nou sensyne vhat I haif sene,
My mynd may be commovt.
35
If any of my dolour dout,
Let ilkane sey thair tym about:
Perhaps vhois stomok is most stout;
Its patience may be provt.
40
I sie, and namely nou a dayis,
All is not gold that gleitis ;
Nor to be seald that ilkane sayis;
Nor water all that weitis.
Sen fristed goods ar not forgivin,
45
Quhen cuppe is full, then hold it evin ;
For man may meit at unsetstevin,
Thoght montanis nevir meitis.
Then do as 3ee wald be done to,
Belouit brethren all;
For, out of doubt, quhat so ze do,
Resaiv the lyk ze sall.
50
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
135
And with quhat mesur ze do mett,
Prepair again the lyk to gett.
3our feet ar not so sicker sett,
Bot fortun ze may fall.
VI.
55
A LATE REGRATE OF LEIRNING TO LOVE.
QUHAT mightie motione so my mynd mischeivis ?
Quhat vncouth cairs throu all my corps do creep?
Quhat restles rage my resone so bereivis ?
Quhat maks me loth of meit, of drink, of sleep?
I knou not nou vhat countenance to keep
For to expell a poysone that I prove.
Alace! alace! that evir I leirnd to love.
A frentick fevir thrugh my flesh I feill;
I feill a passione can not be exprest ;
I feill a byll within my bosum beill;
No cataplasme can weill impesh that pest.
I feill my self with seiknes so possest,
A madnes maks my mirth from me remove.
Alace! alace! that evir I learnd to love.
5
сл
ΙΟ
My hopeles hairt, vnhappiest of hairts,
15
Is hoild and hurt with Cupids huikit heeds,
And thirlit throu with deidly poysond dairts,
That inwardly within my breist it bleids.
3it fantasie my fond affection feeds
To run that race but ather rest or rove.
20
Alace! alace! that evir I leirnd to love.
Nou sie I that I nevir sau afore ;
Nou knou I that, vhill nou, I nevir kneu;
Nou sie I weill that servitude is sore:
Bot vhat remeid? It is no tym to reu;
25
136
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
Quhair Love is Lord, all libertie adeu.
My baill is bred by destinies above.
Alace! alace! that evir I leirnd to love.
All gladnes nocht bot aggravats my grief;
All mirrines my murning bot augments.
Lamenting toons best lyks me for relief,
My sicknes soir to sorou so consents;
For cair the cairfull commounly contents;
Sik harmony is best for thair behove.
Alace! alace! that evir I leirnd to love.
I felt, fra anis I entred in that airt,
A grit delyte that leson for to leir,
Quhill I become a prentise ouer expert;
For, but a book, I cund it soon perqueir.
My doctours wage and deuty will be deir,
I grant, except I get hir jelous glove.
Alace! alace! that evir I leirnd to love.
30
35
40
VII.
A COUNSELL AGANST DISPAIR IN LOVE.
DRIE furth the inch as thou hes done the span,
My gentle hairt, and die not in dispair.
I sheu the first vhen thou to love began,
It wes no moues to mell with Loves lair.
Thou wald not ceis till thou wes in that snair :
Think of it nou as thou thoght of it than :
With patience thou mayst thy self prepair
To drie the inch as thou hes done the span.
Quhat meins thou nou fra thou be in hir waird?
Thy libertie, alace! it is to lait.
Except hir grace thou hes no other gaird.
Thair is no chose, for nou thou art chekmait.
5
ΙΟ
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
137
Thair is no draught that dou mak the debait.
Thou art inclosde, for all the craft thou can.
With patience persaiv thy auin estait :
15
Drie furth the inch as thou hes done the span.
The mair thou grudgis, the griter is thy grief.
The mair thou sighis, the mair thou art ouirsett.
The mair thou loipis, the les is thy relief.
The mair thou flings, the faster is the net.
20
The mair thou feghts, the mair thou art defett.
The mair behind, the faster that thou ran.
Tak patience, sen dolour peyis no dett :
Drie furth the inch as thou hes done the span.
3it werie not, thoght of thy will thou want.
25
I am assuird that shortly thou sall sie
Thy Love and Lady grace vnto the grant,
Sa far as may stand with hir honestie-
Hir gentlenes and hir humanitie
War advocats till thou thy proces wan-
30
Provyding aluayis thou suld stedfastly
Drie furth the inch as thou hes done the span.
Then mak thy self als mirrie as thou may;
The tyme may come thou longis for so fast.
Rome wes not biggit all vpon ane day,
35
And 3it it wes compleitit at the last.
Of all thy pains account the perrils past;
For vhy? sho is not come of Cresseids clan.
Be glade, thairfor, and be no more agast:
Drie furth the inch as thou hes done the span.
O noblest nymph of Naturs nurishing!
O most excellent only A per se !
O fairest flour in firmnes florishing!
O treuest turtle, root of constancie !
40
138
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
O worthie wicht both wyse and womanlie !
O myn but mo! shau mercy to thy man,
To plesur him vho dois so patiently
Drie furth the inch as he hes done the span.
VIII.
ECHO.
To the, Echo, and thou to me agane,
In the deserts among the wods and wells,
Quhair destinie hes bund [the] to remane,
But company within the firths and fells,
Let vs complein, with wofull 3outs and 3ells,
On shaft and shooter that our hairts hes slane:
To the, Echo, and thou to me agane.
Thy pairt to mine may justlie be compaird
In mony poynts, vhilk both we may repent,
Thou hes no hope, and I am clene dispaird;
Thou tholis but caus, I suffer innocent;
Thou does bewaill, and I do still lament;
IO
Thou murns for nocht, I shed my teirs in vane :
To the, Echo, and thou to me agane.
Thou pleins Narcissus, I my love also;
He did the hurt, bot I am kild by myne;
He fled from the, myne is my mortall fo,
Without offence, and crueller nor thyne.
The Weirds vs baith predestinat to pyne,
Continually to others to complane:
To the, Echo, and thou to me agane.
Thou hyds thyself; I list not to be sene;
Thou banisht art, and I am in exyle-
By Juno thou, and I by Venus Quene.
Thy love wes fals, and myn did me begyle;
25
3. MS. him to remane.
20
15
er
5
45
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
139
Thou hoped once, so wes I glaid a vhyle;
Zit lost our tyme in love, I will not lane :
To the, Echo, and thou to me agane.
Thy elrish skirlis do penetrat the roks;
The roches rings, and rendirs me my cryis.
30
Our saikles plaints to pitie thame provoks,
Quhill they compell our sounds to pierce the skyis.
All thing bot love to plesur vs applyis,
Quhais end, alace! I say is bot disdane:
To the, Echo, and thou to me agane.
Som thing, Echo, thou hes for to rejose,
Suppose Narcissus some tyme the forsook.
First he is dead, syne changed in a rose,
35
Quhom thou nor nane hes pouer for to brook.
Bot, be the contrair, evirie day I look
40
To sie my love attraptit in a trane
From me, Echo, and nevir come agane.
Nou welcome, Echo, patience perforce.
Anes eviry day, with murning, let vs meet.
Thy love nor myne in mynds haif no remorse;
We taist the sour that nevir felt the sueet.
As I demand, then ansueir and repeit.
Let teirs aboundant ouir our visage rane :
To the, Echo, and thou to me agane.
Quhat lovers, Echo, maks sik querimony?
Quhat kynd of fyre doth kindle thair curage?
Quhat medicine, (O Echo! knouis thou ony?)
Is best to stay this Love of his passage?
Quhat merit thay that culd our sigh assuage?
Quhat wer we first in this our love profane?
Quhair is our joy? O Echo! tell agane.
45
Mony. 50
Rage.
Ony?
Age.
Wage.
Fane.
55
Gane!
140
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
IX.
[ADDRESS TO LOVE.]
BLIND Love! if euer thou made bitter sueet,
Or turnd the sugar to the taist of gall,
Or zit dissolvit a frostie hairt with heet;
If on thyn altar sacrifice I sall,
As to the Lord of Love vho may do all,
Vhois pouer maks the stoutest stomoks 3eeld,
And waikest somtyme for to win the feeld;
If thou can brek ane allabaster breist,
Or if no sheeld be shotfrie vhare thou shoots,
Let not thy lau be lichtleit, at the leist,
Bot tak revenge vhen rebels thee reboots.
If thou be he of vhom so mony moots,
Quha maks the hardiest flintie harts to melt,
And beirs thame ay about the lyk a belt;
5
ΙΟ
Or if thou be that archer so renound,
15
That vhair thou mints thou missis not the mark,
Bot, lyk a king, is for thy conqueis cround,
To vhom all stoupis, thoght they war neuer so s[tark ;]
If of thy fyr be resting it a spark,
I pray thee, nou, thy cunning for to kyth,
And burne hir breist that of my baill is blyth.
X.
A DESCRIPTIONE OF VANE LOVERS.
NANE lovis bot fools vnlovd agane,
Quha tyns thair tyme and comis no speid.
Mak this a maxime to remane,
That Love beirs nane bot fools at feid;
20
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
I4I
And they get ay a good goosheid
In recompense of all thair pane.
So of necessitie mon succeid,
Nane lovis bot fools, vnlovd agane.
3e wot a wyse man will be war,
And will not ventur but advyse.
Greit fuills, for me, I think they ar,
That seeks warme water vnder yce.
3it some mair wilfull ar nor wyse,
That for thair lovis saik wold be slane.
Buy on repentance of that pryce:
Nane lovis bot fools, vnlovd agane.
Thoght some we sie, in evry age,
Lyk glaikit fools, gang gooked gaits,
Quhair reson gets no place for rage,
They love best them vhilk thame bot haits,
Syne of thair folies wyts the Faits,
As Destinie did thame disdane;
Quhilks are bot cappit vane conceats:
Nane loves bot fools, vnlovd agane.
5
ΙΟ
15
20
Some by ane proverbe fane wald prove,
25
Quha skantly nevir sau the scuills,
That love with resone is no love,
Nor constance, vhare occasion cools.
Thair they confes, lyk frantick fools,
That wilfully thay will be vane.
But resone what ar men bot mulis?
Nane lovis bot fools, vnlovd agane.
They speik not leirnd-lyk, at the leist,
That rage, in steid of reson, ruisis :
Vhat better ar they nor a beist,
Fra tym that reson thame refuisis?
15. Laing has no.
30
35
142
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
Some beistlily thamselfis abusis,
As constancie did them constrane;
Quhilks ar bot ignorant excusis :
Nane lovis bot fools, vnlovd agane.
40
For ding a dog, and he will byte,
And fan on him vha givis him fude;
And can as caus requyrs acquyt,
As ill with ill, and good with good.
Than love nane bot vhare thou art lude,
And vhar thou finds tham faynd refrane;
45
Tak this my counsell: I conclude,
Nane lovis bot fools, vnlovd agane.
XI.
THE WELL OF LOVE.
AMONG the gods that sittis above,
And ruleth in the skyis,
That blindit boy, the god of love,
All creatur espyis.
Vha may withstand his stroke, I say,
5
Quhen he list for to shute?
For to reveill I minted ay ;
Bot yet it was no bute.
Fra tym that winged god did sie
That I did love disdane,
He took a shaft and shot at me
And peirsit evirie vane.
The head so deeply in me sank,
That all my body brist
Then of the well of Love I drank,
To quench my burning thrist.
ΙΟ
15
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
143
So soon as I thairof did taist,
My breist began to burne;
Then to the gods of love, in haist,
My visage did I turne,
With trimbling teirs, vpon my knees,
My pains for to deploir;
Then they did open vp my ees,
Quhilk long wer shut before.
20
Quhen that my dimmit sight greu cleir,
25
Incontinent I sau
A palice stand before me neir;
And thidder did I drau
For to refresh my werynes,
Quhilk I susteind before :
30
Bot then my pains they did incres,
And vexd me more and more.
Into that place I sau repair
Of nymphis mony a one;
Lyk burning gold thair glistering hair
35
Thair shulders hang vpon.
Amongst thame one I sau appeir,
Quhilk did excell thame all;
Lyk Venus with hir smyling cheir
That wan the goldin ball.
Hir deasie colour, rid and vhyte,
Lyk lilies on the laik ;
Hir glistring hair, of grit delyte,
Behind hir nek did shaik.
40
Of diamonds hir ees were maid,
45
That in hir heid did stand;
With armis long, and shulders braid,
And middle small as wand.
144
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
Fra I beheld hir beuty bright,
I had no strenth to steir;
50
I wes so woundit with that sight,
That I micht not reteir.
The gods of love reliev my pain,
And caus hir for to reu!
For nou the fyre of love agane
Is in me kindlit neu.
55
O happie war that man indeid,
Quha micht hir love obtene!
For hir my thirlit hairt does bleid;
Sair vexit is my splene.
60
Sen I haif lost my libertie,
In bondage for to duell,
God give hir grace to reu on me,
And meit me at the well!
XII.
OF THE SAME WELL.
To the, O Cupid! king of love,
We pray, whair thou does duell,
That, but respect, thou wold remove
All rebells from thy well:
And if to drink they haif desyre
This water; then, thou turne
Into the element of fyre,
With baill thair breist to burne.
And let thame, with Apollo, prove
The fury of thy fyre;
And let them haif no luk in love,
Bot droun thame with desyre.
5
ΙΟ
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
145
•
J
I
Bot vnto vs that subjects ar
To Love, and to his lauis,
Mair mercifull I wald thou war,
Nor 3it thy self thou shauis.
As we do serve thy Celsitude,
In hope to haif reuaird;
Let thame, vhom we haif so long lude,
Our service once regaird.
15
20
XIII.
THE COMMENDATIONE OF LOVE.
I RATHER far be fast nor frie,
Albeit I micht my mynd remove;
My maistres hes a man of me,
That lothis of euery thing bot love.
Quhat can a man desyre,
Quhat can a man requyre,
Bot tym sall caus him tyre,
And let it be,
Except that fervent fyre
Of burning love impyre?
Hope heghts me sik a hyre,
I rather far be fast nor frie.
But love—vhat wer bot sturt or stryfe?
5
IO
But love-vhat kyndnes culd indure?
But love-hou lothsum war our lyfe!
15
But love-vhairof suld we be sure?
But love-vhar wer delyt?
But love—vhat bot despyt?
But love-vhat wer perfyt?
Sure suld we sie.
K
20
146
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
But love-vhat war to wryt?
But love-vha culd indyt?
No-nothing worth a myte:
I rather far be fast nor frie.
Love maks men glazard in thair geir;
Love maks a man a martial mynd;
25
Love maks a man no fortun feir;
Love changes natur contrare kynd.
Love maks a couard kene;
Love maks the clubbit clene;
30
Love maks the niggard bene;
That-vho bot he?
Love maks a man, I mene,
Mair semely to be sene;
Love keeps ay curage grene:
I rather far be fast nor frie.
Love can not be, bot from above,
Quhilk halds the hairt so quik in heit.
Fy on that freik that can not love!
He hes not worth a sponk of spreit.
Remember ony man,
In chronikle, ze can,
That ever worship wan,
But love, let sie,
And once that rink he ran.
Sen this is treu-vhy than,
I end as I began:
I rather far be fast nor frie.
35
40
45
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
147
XIV.
[AGAINST LOVE.]
I RATHER far be frie nor fast;
I hope I may remove my mynd;
Love is so licht, it can not last ;
It is smal pleasur to be pynd;
Sen I haif ees tuo,
What need I blindlings go,
Ay fundring to and fro,
Quhill clods me cast?
I am not one of tho,
To work my wilfull wo;
I shaip not to do so:
I rather far be frie nor fast.
།
But libertie-what micht me meis?
But libertie—all things me grieve.
But libertie-vhat might me pleis?
But libertie--I loth to leive.
But libertie—alace!
Hou cairfull wer my case!
But libertie—my grace
And joy wer past.
Suppose I, for a space,
War captive in a place,
I reu that rekles race:
I rather far be frie nor fast.
Of prisone fredome brings me furth:
My fredome maks contentment kyth :
But fredome all things war no worth:
My fredome maks me glade and blyth:
P
5
ΙΟ
15
20
25
148
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
My fredome maks me fain :
In mirth vhair I remain,
I pas the tym but pain,
And vnagast.
Quharas I purpose plain,
From folies to refrain,
30
Sen love hes syndrie slain :
35
I rather far be frie nor fast.
Love can not be bot very ill,
That folk with fury so infects;
Abusing manheid, wit, and skill,
No ryme nor resone it respects,
Bot ramping in a rage,
Not sparing ony age
Of cazard, king, nor page,
Bot byds thair blast.
Sen sik as suld be sage
Ar korpit in that cage,
I work not for sik wage:
I rather far be frie nor fast.
XV.
[THE SOLSEQUIUM.]
LYK as the dum
Solsequium,
With cair ouercum,
And sorou, vhen the sun goes out of sight,
Hings doun his head,
And droups as dead,
And will not spread,
Bot louks his leavis throu langour of the nicht,
The following variants occur in the Bannatyne MS.:-
1. Lyik.
4. Dois sorou.
7. Nor will.
8, all the nicht,
40
45
5
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
149
・
Till folish Phaeton ryse,
With vhip in hand,
To cleir the cristall skyis,
And light the land:
Birds in thair bour
Luiks for that hour,
And to thair prince ane glaid good-morou givis;
Fra thyn, that flour
List not to lour,
Bot laughis on Phoebus lousing out his leivis :
So fairis with me,
Except I be
Vhair I may se
My lamp of licht, my Lady and my Love.
Fra scho depairts,
Ten thousand dairts,
In syndrie airts,
Thirlis throu my hevy hart, but rest or rove ;
My countenance declairs
My inward grief;
Good hope almaist dispairs
To find relief.
I die-I duyn-
Play does me pyn—
II.
I loth on euiry thing I look-alace!
Till Titan myne
Vpon me shyne,
That I revive throu favour of hir face.
Fra she appeir
[Into hir spheir,]
Begins to cleir
11. To purge.
14. Watis.
15. king.
16. than.
17. List not till.
19. standis.
24. Ane.
29. And howp.
38. Into hir spheir.
20
25
30
35
IO
15
150
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
The dauing of my long desyrit day:
Then Curage cryis
On Hope to ryse,
Fra he espyis
My noysome nicht of absence worne auay.
No wo, vhen I aualk,
May me impesh;
Bot, on my staitly stalk,
I florish fresh.
I spring-I sprout—
My leivis ly out—
40
45
50
My colour changes in ane hartsum heu.
No more I lout,
Bot stands vp stout,
As glade of hir, for vhom I only greu.
O happie day!
55
Go not auay.
Apollo ! stay
Thy chair from going doun into the west:
Of me thou mak
Thy zodiak,
60
That I may tak
My plesur, to behold vhom I love best.
Thy presence me restores
65
To lyf from d[eath ;]
Thy absence also shores
To cut my breath.
I wish, in vane,
Thee to remane,
Sen primum mobile sayis aluayis nay;
At leist thy wane
Turn soon agane.
[Fareweill, with patience perforce, till day.]
43. Quhen he aspyis.
44. The noysome . . went.
45. fra I.
64. death.
•
65. lykwayis.
69. sayis me.
71. Bring.
70
72. Fareweill with patience perforce till day.
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
151
1
XVI.
A REGRATE OF HARD LUCK IN LOVE.
O VHAT a martyrd man am I !
I freat-I fry-
I wreist-I wry—
I wrassill with the wind;
Of duill and dolour so I dry,
And wot not vhy
This grit invy
Of Fortun nou I find;
Bot at this tym hir spyt I spy:
O vhat a martyrd man am I !
Quhat pen or paper can expres
The grit distres
And hevynes,
Quhilk I haif at my hairt?
My comfort ay grouis les and les;
My cairs incres
With sik excess,
I sigh, I sobbe, I smarte;
So that I am compeld to cry,
O vhat a martyrd man am I !
With weping ees my verse I wryt,
Of comfort quyt:
Adeu delyt!
5
IO
15
20
My hairt is lyk the lead.
Of all my sorou and my syte
25
The Weirds I wyt,
That span with spyt
My thrauart fatall threid.
God wat that barrat deir I buy :
O vhat a martyrd man am I !
30
152
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
Of ill befor I vnderstude,
It had bene gude
Into my cude,
Bereiving me my breath,
Nou to haif bene of noy denude,
Quhilk boyllis my blude:
Come zit conclude
My dolour, gentle Death;
And lat me not in langour ly:
O vhat a martyrd man am I!
XVII.
[ANE EXAMPLE FOR HIS LADY.]
QUHEN first Apollo Python sleu,
Sa glorious that god he greu,
Till he presumit to perseu
35
40
The blindit archer boy;
Quhais Turkie bou and quaver bleu,
5
Quharin appeirit noks aneu,
He bad him 3eild to him, as deu,
Quha best culd thame imploy.
Quod Cupid: "Shortly sall thou reu,
That euer thou sik cunning kneu;"
Syne to Parnassus fast he fleu,
His shaft for to convoy.
Thair he ane deidly dairt outdreu,
At proud Apollo he it threu,
Syn him a sight of Daphne sheu,
Quhose beutie wroght him noy.
3it crabit Cupid, not content,
Apollois anger to augment,
Did nok agane incontinent,
IO
15
20. Cut away in the MS.
20
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
153
With fethers rugh, and all too rent,
At Daphne slaulie doun he sent,
Quhais frostie head, vhair so it went,
Bedeazit evry vane.
That winged archer insolent
25
Did wound thame baith, bot different;
Apollois harte to love he bent,
Bot Daphnes to disdane.
To lait Apollo did repent
That he with Cupid wes acquent,
30
Quha wilfullie did ay invent
Hou to augment his pane.
His hurt wes with the goldin heid,
Quhilk inward in his hairt did bleid;
No medicin micht him remeid
35
From Cupids angrie yre :
Hirs with the blunted bolt of leid, :
Ane hevy mettall cauld and deid,
Repelling love, as yce may reid,
And quencher of desyre.
His pain wes lyk the pyralide,
A beist in birning that does breid,
And in the fyry flammis dois feid,
And fosters of the fyre.
Cupido bare him so at feid,
That in his love he come no speid:
Both his persute and Daphnes dreid,
To tell, my tongue suld tyre.
40
45
About Penneus, did repair
This noble nymph, of beuty rare;
50
Quhais comely clothing to declare,
My author does indyt.
154
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
Most from the belt vp scho wes bair;
Behind hir hang hir hevinly hair,
Vnkamed hovring in the air,
Shed from hir visage vhyt;
With blinkis dulce and debonair
Lyk beuties freshest florish, fair,
Exemed clene from Loves lair,
To work Apollo spyt.
Hir countenance did move him mair,
Quhen throu hir garments, heir and thair,
Appeirit hir lustie limis square,
As sho ran by him quyt.
Quhen as he sau that Virgin flie,
He folloude in a frenesie,
55
60
65
And cryde: "O Daphne! deir to me,
66
Why does thou tak the chace?
"Go slau, and sie vha folouis thee-
"Thy lover, and no enemie;
70
"Nixt michtie Jove, into degrie,
"I bruik the cheifest place;
"And I sall stay my course," quod he,
"Leist thou resave some hurt from me:
"Thou sees, thair is no remedie,
75
"Bot thou must lose the race."
Sho prayd the gods hir helpers be,
To saif hir pure virginitie;
Quha shupe hir in a laurell trie,
As he did hir embrace.
Nou, lovesome lady, let vs leir
Example of these ladyis heir;
Sen Daphne boght hir love so deir,
Hir fortun suld effray 30u.
80
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
155
Bot I haif no sik caus to feir,
85
That obstinat ze perseveir ;
On Lovis book, my self I sueir,
3our bundman, til obey you.
Then lyk Penelope appeir,
Quha wes so constant tuenty 3eir :
90
Quhen 3our Vlysses is not neir,
Tentation may assay 30u;
Zit vary not, I 3ou requeir,
And I sall stoppe Vlysses eir.
Fairweill, my Love and Lady cleir;
95
Be permanent, I pray 30u.
FINIS.
XVIII.
NATUR PASSIS NURITURE.
As Natur passis Nuriture,
Of Natur all things hes a strynd;
So evrie leving creature
Ay covets comounly thair kynd:
As buk the dae-the harte the hynd:
Lyk drauis to lyk, we sie this sure;
So I am aluayis of that mynd,
That Natur passis Nuriture.
Thoght Nuriture be of that strenth,
To war the Natur vhylis a wie;
3it Natur ay prevailis at lenth,
As by experience we sie;
Except throu destinie it be
In some; vhilk does not long indure.
Vhat fortun will, may no man flie;
Bot Natur passis Nuritur
5
сл
ΙΟ
15
156
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
To prove this proverbe to be true,
Difficultie, I think, is nane,
By ald examplis past aneu,
Quharof I mycht haif tuentie tane.
Nou I will vse bot only ane,
Quhilk lang within my breist I bure,
And let the lave nou all alane;
Hou Natur passis Nuriture.
Thair wes a gentle girking gay,
Of plesand plume, and fair of flicht,
Quha wes so proud, vhen he wald pray,
That he outsprang all halks for hight.
He wes so lordly, for to light,
He wald not look vpon a lure;
Bot fleu, ay soaring, out of sight,
As Natur passis Nuriture.
The falconis folouit vhair he fleu;
To fang his friendship they war fane,
Quharof so glorious he greu,
20
25
30
35
That he thair offers did disdane;
Quhilks vhen they sau they wroght in vane,
The formels fair auay they fure.
Ingratitude gets sik agane,
As Natur passis Nuriture.
40
This girking pearkit in a place,
Quharin ouer long he did delyt;
Quhill, at the last, throu love, alace!
He come acquantit with a kyt,
And quat his auld acquentance quyt.
45
Of his oun kynd he took no cure :
Wo worth the Weirds that had the wyt
That Natur zeildt to Nuriture!
39. MS. a gane.
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
157
Fra once hir company he vsit,
He greu so goked with that gled;
Blind love his reson so abvsit,
He suore that they suld neuer shed.
Fra sho with fedrit flesh wes fed,
Quhilk prayd befor on poddoks pure,
50
With tym sho tystit him to tred:
55
Thair Natur zeildt to Nuriture.
Hir meit of modeuarts and myce,
He changed in partridge, and in pout.
3it Natur, nottheles, is nyce:
Thair brald a bissat neir about,
60
Quhilk vsd hir, vhen the halk fleu out,
Suppose they held it long obscure.
Do vhat ze dou, thair is no doubt
Bot Natur passis Nuriture.
Thair companie [it] wes not quyet,
Bot or they wist they wer beuryde;
And that throu pearking of a pyet
Besyde thame, vhilk thair palks espyde.
To tell the halk, in haist sho hyde,
65
The kyt wes palzard and perjure.
70
The tersel troude not, vhill he tryde,
That Natur passis Nuriture.
XIX.
[ADDRESS TO THE SUN.]
QUHILL as with vhyt and nimble hand,
My maistres gathring flours doth stand,
Amidst the florisht meid;
Of lilies vhyt, and violets,
A garland properly sho plets,
To set vpon hir heid.
LO
5
158.
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
O Sun! that shynis so bright above,
If euer thou the fyre of love
Hes felt, as poets fayne-
If it be sik—as sik it semes,
Of courtessie withdrau thy bemes,
Leist thou hir colour stayne.
She, if thou not hir beutie burne,
Sall quyt thee with a better turne,
To close hir cristall ees-
A brightnes far surmounting thyne,
Leist thou, thairby ashamd, suld tyne
Thy credit in the skyis.
XX.
[EVEN DEAD BEHOLD I BREATH.]
EVIN dead behold I breath!
My breath procures my pane;
Els dolour, eftir death,
Suld slaik, vhen I war slane:
Bot destinies disdane
So span my fatall threid,
But mercy, to remane
A martyr, quik and deid.
O fatall deidly feid!
O rigour but remorse!
Since thair is no remeid,
Come patience, perforce.
My hairt, but rest or rove,
Reuth, reson, or respect,
With fortun, death, and love,
Is keipit under check;
ΙΟ
15
LO
5
ΙΟ
15
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
159
That nou thair is no nek,
Nor draught to mak debate,
Bot let it brist or brek;
For love must haif it mait.
Relief, alace! is lait,
Quhen I am bund to flie:
I stand in strange estate;
I duyn and dou not die.
20
The Faits—the thrauard Faitis,
25
The wicked Weirds hes wroght
My state, of all estates,
Vnhappiest to be thoght.
Had I offendit oght,
Or wroght aganst thair will,
30
But mercy, than they moght
Conclvde my corps to kill:
Bot, as they haif no skill
Of gude, nor zit regard,
The innocent, with ill,
Ressaves the lyk reuard.
3it tyme sall try my treuth,
And panefull patient pairt.
Thoght love suld rage but reuth,
And death with deidly dairt
Suld sey to caus me smart;
Nor fortuns fickill vheill—
All suld not change my hairt,
Quhilk is als true as steill.
I am not lyk ane eill;
To slippe, nor get to slyde.
Love, fortun, death, fairueill,
For I am bound to byd.
35
40
45
160
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
XXI.
[LOVE, IF THOU LIST.]
LOVE, if thou list, I pray the let me leiv;
Devoir me not, withdrau thy deidly dairt.
Quhat right or resone hes thou to bereiv
Me, wofull wretch, of my vnhappie hairt?
Thy fyre, through yre,
My bailfull bosome burnis.
Quhat gloir the moir
Vnto thy trophee turnis?
To prove on me thy pith,
Ane innocent, but ill,
That oldin am in will,
If thou thy captive kill,
I dou not do thairwith.
O Reson! thou regards not to be reft;
Weill I persaiv thy pairt is to reprove:
Quhy hes thou me alone in langour left?
Delyvring me vnto this lokman Love,
Vhose strenth at lenth
Sall shuff the by the skaith;
That I deir buy
And thou be banisht baith; ;
Quhilk sore we may repent.
Fra thou be in exyle,
That boy will me beguyll.
O! waryit be the vhyle
That euer we wer acquent!
5
IO
15
20
25
Quhen I wes lous, at libertie I lap;
I leugh vhen ladyis spak to me of love;
To hald me sa, alace! I had no hap,
Bot purposly I wald gang pastym prove.
30
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
161
I thoght I moght,
But perrell, pas the tym ;
Fra hand, I fand
My fethers in the lyme.
Quhair I took leist regaird,
And lothest wes to look,
Bot seimd that I forsook,
Sho had me on hir hook :
O! welcome, just reuard!
My pane is bot hir pastyme and hir play.
35
40
As fyr I burne-lyk yce scho is als cauld:
I sie, the man wha will not vhen he may,
The tym sall come, he sall not vhen he wald.
I sie in me
This proverbe to be true;
Quha wald not hald
45
Me frie, vhilk I may reu;
Bot proudly wald presume,
And hazard to come speid.
Quhen gone is all remeid,
Dispair will be my deid:
I sie nane other dome.
50
XXII.
[IN THROU THE WINDOES OF MYN EES.]
In throu the windoes of myn ees—
A perrillous and open pairt-
Hes Cupid hurt my hevy hairt,
Quhilk daylie duyns, bot nevir dees,
Throu poyson of his deidly dairt.
I bad him bot to sey ane shot;
I smyld to se that suckling shute :
"Boy, with thy bou do vhat thou dou,"
Quod I, "I cair the not a cute."
L
5
162
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
""
ΙΟ
"Fell peart," quod Cupid, "thou appeirs;
Syn to his bou he maid a braid,
And shot me soon be I had said;
Quhill all my laughter turnd to teirs.
"Now gesse,” quod he, "if thou be glaid;
Nou laugh at Love, that pastym prove:
Am I ane archer nou or nocht?”
His skorne and skaith, I baid them baith,
And got it sikker that I socht.
Fra hand I frei3d in flamis of fyre;
I brint agane als soon in yce:
My dolour wes my auin devyce ;
Displesur wes my auin desyre.
All thir by natur nou ar nyce;
Bot Natur nou, I wot not how
15
20
Sho meins to metamorphose me,
25
In sik a shappe as hes no happe
To further weill, nor zit to flie.
Quhen I wes frie, I micht haif fled;
I culd not let this love allane:
Nou, out of tym, vhen I am tane,
I seik some shift that we may shed,
Becaus it byts me to the bane.
Bot, pruif is plane, I work in vane,
It war bot mouis thairat to mint:
Fra I be fast, that pairt is past;
30
35
My tym and travell war baith tint.
Micht I my Ariadne move,
To lend hir Theseus a threed,
Hir leilest lover for to leed
Out of the laberinth of love;
Then wer I out of dout of deed.
40
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
163
Bot sho, alace! knauis not my cace;
Hou can I then the better be?
Quhill I stand au, my self to shau,
The Minotaur does murdr[e me.]
Go once, my longsome looks, reveill
My secrete to my lady sueet;
Go, sighs and teirs, for me intreet,
That sho, by sympathie, may feill
Pairt of the passionis of my spreet.
Than, if hir grace givis pitie place,
Ineugh; or, covets sho to [kill,]
Let death dispetch my lyf, puir wretch!
I wold not live aganst hi[r will.]
XXIII.
[IF FAITHFULNES SULD FRIENDSHIP FIND.]
IF faithfulnes suld friendship find-
If patience suld purches pitie place—
If resone love with bands micht bind-
If service gude suld guerdond be with grace-
If loving all for ane—
If loving hir allane
Suld recompence resave ;
Sen tym hes tryde my treuth,
If rigour reiv not reuth,
Quhat neids thou, Cupid, all thir dairts,
Me to ouirthrou, that els am cum thy thrall?
Thought I had had ane hundreth hairts,
Long syne my lady had bereft thame all.
Since that a hairtles man
Mak na resistance can,
10. Cut away in the MS,
45
50
5
ΙΟ

15
164
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
Quhat worship can 3e win?
To slay me ouer agane,
That am alredy slane!
That war baith shame and sin.
To vhom suld I preis to appeill,
To seik redres, if thou wold wark me wrong?
It is too dangerous to deall,
Or
r stryve with ane vhom I persave too strong.
Far rather had I zeild,
Nor feght and tyn the feild.
Vnequal is that match,
Ane captive with a king;
If euir I thoght sik thing,
Forgive me wofull wretch!
20
25
30
Quhair I haif recklest, I recant;
In tyms to cum, I promise to be true.
Laith wes I to begin, I grant,
To love; bot nou my reklesnes I rue.
Ouir rashly I rebeld,
35
Quhill Cupid me compeld,
Quhais force I find thairfor.
Will he my 3ongnes zit
With mercy once remit,
I trou to faill no more.
40
XXIV.

[LYK AS AGLAUROS.]
LVK as Aglauros, curious to knau
Vhat Mercurie inclosit within the creell,
Suppose defendit, ceist not till sho sau
The serpent chyld, that Juno causit to steell,
Quhilk, to hir sisters willing to reveill,
5
Or sho wes war, evin with the word, anone
Sho wes transformit in a marble stone :-

MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
165
Or [lyk as Psyche,] by her Mother movd
Hir sleeping Cupid secreitly to sie,
Resavd the lamp to look him vhom sho lovd;
Quhais hevenly beautie blindt hir amorous ee,
That sho forget to close the lamp, till he
In wrath auok, and fleu sho wist not vhair,
And left his deing lover in dispair :-
Euen so am I. O, wareit be my weird,
For wondring on a deitie divyne—
The idee of perfectione in this eird!
Quhilk sorie sight oft gart me sigh sensyne.
I sau tua sunnis in semicircle shyne,
Compelling me to play Acteons pairt,
And be transformd into a bloody hairt.
For lurking Love, vha lang had lyne in wait,
Persaving tym, he took me at a stot;
Fra he beheld me broudin on the bait,
10
15
20
He tuik a shaft, and suddently me shot;
Quhais fyrie heid brint in my harte so hot,
25
I gave a grone as I had givin the ghost;
And, with a look, my liberty I lost.
My qualities incontinent did change;
For I, that som tyme solide wes and sage,
30
Begouth to studie, stupefact and strange,
Bereft of resone, reaving in a rage.
No syrops sueet my sorou culd assuage;
For cruell Cupid, to revenge his wroth,
First made me love, and syn my lady loth.
35
Lo, I, that leugh in liberty at Love,
And thoght his furie bot a feckles freet,
Am nou compeld that pastym for to prove,
8. MS. as Pysitches.
166
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
Quharof the sour, I sie, exceeds the sueet.
That poysond pest perplexis so my spreet,
I sitt and sighis all soliter and sad,
Half mangd in mynd, almost as I war mad.
Meit, drink, and sleip, and company I hait;
I leive most lyk ane [eremite] allone :
Bot, as the buk, vhare he is bund, mon blait,
Becaus delyverance he persaifis none;
So must I needs nou mak my mirthles mone,
And wair my words, with weiping, all in vane,
Quhair nane, bot Echo, ansueirs me agane.
Hir modest looks, with majestie so mixt,
Bad me be war, if I had not bene blind;
Hir purpose grave, more pithie nor prolixt,
Prognosticat my wrasling with the wind:
3it foolish I, vhose folie nou I find,
Forcit by affectione, sau not vhat I soght;
Bot negligence, alace! excuisis nocht.
So long as I my secreit smart conceild,
It seimd I wes a gaituard in hir grace;
Bot, welauay, hou soon it wes reveild,
Then I persaivit that pitie had no place.
40
45
50
55
60
Hou soon sho kneu my languishing, allace!
I gat comand hir company to quyt,
And not to send hir nather word nor wryt.
O sentence sharpe! too suddan and seveir;
O bailfull bidding! bitter to obey ;
~65
O wareit orange! willed me to weir;
O wofull absence! ordande me for ay.
O duilfull dume! delyvrit but delay ;
The worst is ill, if ze be bot the best;
I grant ze ar weill grevous to digest.
MS. hermit.
70
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
167
Proud ee, that looked not befor thou lap,
Distill thy teirs of murning evermair.
Proud hart! vhilk hazardt vhair thou had no [hap,]
To drie thy penance patiently prepair.
Cast of thy comfort; cleith thy self with [cair ;]
Sen thou art thrald, think thou mon thole a thr[ist :]
To plesur hir thou may be blyth to brist.
XXV.
THE SACRIFICE OF CUPID.
Hou oft throu compass of the christall skyis—
Hou oft throu voyd and watrie vaults of air-
Hou oft throu cluds vhair exhalations lyis-
Hou oft, Cupido, vnto thyn auin repair,
For sacrifice, haif I sent sighing sair,
Accompanied with sharpe and bitter teirs?
Hou oft haif I—thou knauis hou, vhen, and vhair-
Causd my complante ascend into thy eirs?
Suppose thou sees not, zit I hope thou heirs,
Or otherwyse, but dout, I suld dispair.
Releiv my breist, that sik a burthen beirs,
And thou sall be my maister evermair;
And I sall be thy seruand, in sik sort
To merit thy mantenance, if I may.
3ea, I sall on thyn alter, evrie day,
75
5
ΙΟ
My pen thy princely pussance sall report:
15
Tua turtle dous, for ane oblatione, lay;
A pair of pigeons, vhyt as ony flour;
A harte of wax; a branch of myrhe; and ay
The blood of sparouis thairon sprinkle and pour.
3ea, I sall, for thyn honour, evrie hour,
In songs and sonets sueetly sing and say,
Tuyse or atanes, "Vive, vive l'amour!"
And sa my voues I promise for to pay.
74. MS. patiently the prepair.
20
168
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
Triumphantly thy trophee sall I trim;
Quhair I sall brave and gallant buitings bring,
And wryt thairon: "Behold the spoills of him.
Quha, for his conqueis, may be calde a king."
My happy harte thair highest sall I hing,
In signe that thou by victorie it wan;
A rubie rich, within a royal ring,
Quhilk first I got vhen I to love began.
Als willing nou, as I ressavt it than,
To thee my self, with service, I resigne.
Quhat wald a maister wish mair of his man,
Then till obey his thoght in evry thing?
Bot, oh! as one that in a rageing ravis,
Bereft of baith his resone and his rest,
Compeld to cry, bot knauis not vhat he craivis,
Impatient throu poysone of his pest:
So do I nou, mair painfully opprest,
25
30
35
40
Hope help at him, vhais help culd nevir heall,
Bot, be the contrair, martyr and molest.
Forgive me, Cupid, I confess I faill,
To crave the thing that may me not availl;
45
3it, to the end I may my grief digest,
Anis burne hir breist, that first begouth my baill,
That sho may sey vhat sicknes me possest.
XXVI.
THE SECREIT PRAIS OF LOVE.
As evirie object to the outuard ee,
Dissaivis the sight, and semis as it is sene,
Quhen not bot shap and cullour zit we se,
For no thing els is subject to the ene;
As stains and trees appeiring gray and grene,
Quhais quantities vpon the sight depends;
Bot qualities the cunning [sense transcends.]
5
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
169
Euen sa, vha sayis they sie me as I am—
I mene-a man, suppose they sie me move,
Of ignorance they do tham selfis condam.
By syllogisme, this properly. I prove:
Quha sees, by look, my loyaltie in love—
Quhat hurt in hairt, vhat hope or hap I haiv?
Quhilk ressone movis the senses to consaiv.
Imaginatione is the outuard ee,
To spy the richt anatomie of mynd;
Quhilk, by some secreit sympathie, may see
The force of love vhilk can not be defynd.
Quharthrou the hairt, according to his kynd,
Compassionat, as it appeiris plane,
Participats of plesur or of pane.
Of hevins or earth, some simlitude or shape,
By cunning craftismen, to the ees appeir;
Bot vho is he can counterfutt the ape,
Or paint a passion palpable, I speir,
Quhilk enters by the organ of the eir,
And bot vhen it is pithilie exprest?
And it I grant the gritest pairt is gest.
IO
15
20
25
Suppose the heuins be huge for to behold,
Contening all within thair compas wyde,
30
The starris be tyme, thoght tedious, may be told;
Becaus within a certan bounds they byd:
The carde the earth from waters may devyde:
Bot vho is he can limit love, I wene,
Quhom nather carde nor compas can contene?
35
Quhat force is this, subdeuing all and sum?
Quhat force is this that maks the tygris tame?
Quhat force is this that na man can ouircum?
Quhat force is this, that rightlie nane can name?
Quhat force is this, that careis sik a fame?
40
170
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
A vehemency that words can not reveill,
Quhilk I conclude to suffer and conceill.
XXVII.
[THE POETS LEGACIE.]
RESSAVE this harte, vhois constancie wes sik,
Quhill it wes quick, I wot ze never kneu
A harte more treu within a stomok stik,
Till tym the prik of jelousie it sleu;
Lyk as my heu, by deidly signis, furthsheu,
Suppose that feu persavd my secreit smart.
Lo, heir the hairt that 3e 3our self ouirthreu :
Fairweill! adeu! sen death mon vs depart.
Bot, lo! hou first my legacy I leiv:
To God I give my spirit in heuin so hie;
My poesie I leave my prince to preiv;
No richt can reiv him of my rhetorie :
My bains to be bot bureit vhair I die;
I leiv to thee the hairt wes nevir fals,
About thy hals to hing, vhare thou may sie:
Let thyn to me, then, be so constant als.
Remember vhair I said, once eftirnone,
Or March wer done, that thou thy cheeks suld weet,
And for me greet, or endit war that mone:
I sie, ouer soon, my prophesie compleit.
O Lady sueet, I feir we neuer meet ;
I feill my spreet is summond from above
For to remove: nou welcome windin sheet !
Death givis decreet that thou must lose thy love.
This sentence som thing I persaiv too sair,
To meit na mair with thee, my love, alace!
God give the grace, that na vnkyndlie cair
Do the dispair, nor thy gude fame deface!
5
ΙΟ
15
20
25
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
171
Give patience place-considder weill the cace;
This is the race that euery man must rin,
Thoght I begin, vha had no langer space.-
Thee to imbrace once, God! if I micht win!
30
Sen for thy saik, Death with his darte me shot,
That I am bot a carioun of clay,
Quha quhylome lay about thy snauie throt,-
35
Nou I must rot, vha some tym stoud so stay.
Quhat sall I say? This warld will auay.
Anis on a day, I seimd a semely sight.
Thou wants the wight that neuer said the nay:
Adeu for ay! This is a lang guid nicht!
XXVIII.
[MELANCHOLIE, GRIT DEPUT OF DISPAIR.]
MELANCHOLIE, grit deput of Dispair,
With painfull pansing comis apace,
Acompanyde with Cair,
Quhais artalzie is Angvish shooting sair,
Of purpose to perseu the place
Vhair Plesvr maid repair.
Presuming to prevaill,
A muster grit they mak.
Amids thair battell, bitter Bail
Displayis his baner blak,
Quhais colours do declair
To signifie bot smart;
Quharin is painted cold Dispair,
Quha wrings a hop[les harte ;]
Quhilk armes on far so vglie ar,
And ay convoyd with Dolovr and with Dvil,
That Hope micht skar, if they come nar,
And fray ane hairt perhaps out of his huill.
40
5
IO
15
172
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
For sighis and sobbis of shooting hes not ceist,
Quhill they haif brasht the buluark of my bre[ist],
And cryis, "Go to, the hous is win.
Melancholie! cum in.'
""
Thoght Rigovr then be rekles rash,
3it Curage bydis the brash;
20
And then the hairt vhilk never zeild,
25
Of Constancie hes maid his sheild,
Quharon thair shaftis and sharpest shottis,
Lyk hailstanes aff ane studie stottis.
3it pairties proudlie baith pretend
The victorie in end;
30
And so the tyme, but treuis, they spe[nd,]
To assaill and to defend.
The rendring reid, vhilk bouis with euerie blas[t,]
In stormis bot stoupis, vhen strongest treis
[Ar to the ground down-cast;]
Bot 3it the rok, vhilk firmer is and fast
Amidst the rage of roring seas,
He nevir grouis agast:
The busteous blast he byds,
35
With watring wauis and huge,
40
Quhilk ramping ouer his rigging ryds,
Bot can not caus him budge.
Quhat reks then of the reid?
Or of the trees vhat reks?
The rok remanes a rok indeid,
45
Quhilk nather bouis nor breks;
So sall my harte, with patient parte,
Remane a rok all rigour to resist,
And sall not start to suffer smart
For ane, quhom to obey, I count me blist.
3ea, thoght I had a hundreth thousand hairts,
And euiry hairt peirc't with als mony dairts,
50
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
173
And euirie dairt thairof also
Als mony shafts and mo,
And eviry shaft thairof must needs
To haif als mony heeds,
And euirie head als mony huikis,
And evirie huik als mony fluiks,
And evirie fluik in me war fast,
So long as breath of lyf micht last,
I suld not seme for shame to shrink,
For hir, of death to drink;
Quhais angels ees micht ay, I think,
Revive me with a wink.
55
60
XXIX.
[THAT HIS HAIRT IS WOUNDIT.]
THE cruell pane and grevous smart,
That I endure, baith day and nicht,
Hes so bereft my woundit hairt,
That I am lyk nane other wight.
With pansing sair I am opprest,
In absence of hir I love best.
Sometym I buir ane hert wes frie,
Quhilk nevir will be so agane;
Thoght Cupid markit oft at me,
He wastit monie a shot in vane:
3it Fortun broght me in that place,
Quhare I might sie hir plesand face.
A burning darte of hot desyre,
That bearne buir aluayis at his belt,
Quhairwith he set my breist on fyre,
And maid my woundit hairt to melt.
Fra I the force thairof did feild,
I wes constraned for to 3eeld
5
сл
ΙΟ
15
174
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
To hir, the lustiest on lyve
That euer was, or euer will be;
Quhais beutie does with Venus stryve,
And, in the end, gettis victorie.
Hir colour does exceid, als far
As Phoebus does the morning star.
Hir hair above hir forheid grouis,
By Natur curling bright and shene;
Hir brouis they are lyk bendit bouis,
Hir ees lyk pearcing arroues kene;
Quharuith sho hes me woundit so,
I want a harte-and she hes tuo.
It is a thing most evident,
Quhilk Natur dois to all men give;
It folouis also, consequent,
No man without a harte can live.
20
25
30
Sen 3e posses my hairt all hours,
35
3e bruik it weill, an len me 3ours.
Then freshest Phoenix, freind and fo,
Both fremmd and freindly, nou fair weill.
Quhen I sall be full far the fro,
My verse before thy feet sall kneill,
40
To caus thee tak this hairt to thee,
Quhilk wald no more remane with me.
XXX.
[THE POET COMPLENES ON LOVE AND FORtun.]
ON Love and Fortun I complene,
On 30u, and on my hairt also
Bot, most of all, on my tuo ene,
The gritest workers of my wo:
;
All vhilks hes causit so my smart,
That I must live without a hairt.
LO
5
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
175
First, to the eyis committit war,
The keepers of the hairt to be,
To spy and to persaiv on far
The coming of the enemie:
Bot they that had this watch to keep,
In Beuties bosum fell on sleep.
Then, fra the pairty adversar
Persavit the fortres but defence,
They clam the buluark, soft and fair,
Quharas the hart maid residence.
Bot zit I wyt the harte be sake
It zeildt to Love without a strake.
The blindit Archer als I blame,
Beginner of my grevous grains;
Quhilk shameles shooter thoght no shame
To smyll, and shute me, baith at ains.
Bot, sen he took me vnder trest,
He band me bundman to the best,
To wit, vnto your womanheid;
Quhilk worst I wyt of all my woes:
Quhais beutie, be it homicide,
I feir it most of all my foes;
Quhilk Natur set so far above
The rest, vhill that it vanquisht Love.
I wyt Dame Fortun, not that sho
Hes set you highest in degrie,
Bot rather, that sho wald not do
The lyk, in all respects, to me.
Had our estates bene weill compaird,
I had no vterlie dispaird.
ΙΟ
15
20
25
30
35
176
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
XXXI.
[THE PERVERSITIE OF HIS INCLINATIONES THROU
LOVE.]
My fansie feeds vpon the sugred gall;
Against my will, my weill does work my wo;
My cairfull chose does chuse to keep me thrall;
My frantik folie fannis vpon my fo:
My lust alluirs my licorous lippis to taist
The bait vharin the suttle hook is plaic't.
My hungry hope doth heap my hevy hap;
My syndrie sutes procuris the mair disdane ;
My stedfast steppis zit slydis into the trap;
My tryed treuth intanglis me in trane:
I
spy the snair, and will not bakuards go ;
My resone zeelds, and 3it sayis na thairto.
In plesand path I tred vpon the snaik;
My flamming thrist I quench with venemous wyne;
In daintie dish I do the poyson tak
My langour bids me rather eit nor pyne:
I sau, I sett—no flour nor fruit I find;
I prik my hand, 3it leavis the rose behind.
5
ΙΟ
15
XXXII.
[THE POET REASONS WITH HIS MAISTRES.]
3ONG tender plante! in spring tym of 3our zeirs,
Quhais fame mot floorish fresh and never faid,
Clene polisht pearle! vnspottit as appeirs,
On vhom my Love is, if 3e lyk it, laid;
Not that I grene 3our honour to degraid,
Bot rather wald 3our weilfair ay advance;
3it I must say, as sooth men oft hes said:
Love maks the choyce, bot Fortun maks the cha[nce.]
5
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
177
Quhare Weirds will work, vha may withstand thair [will?]
Nane dou reduce the Destinies decreit;
Bot vhat they ordane, ather gude or ill,
Force is to suffer, ather sour or sueit.
Quhat they determe, no sentence can retreit ;
Not as men wald, bot as they will, they vote.
Thoght some hold fortun for a fekles freit,
Luk as it lyks, I look bot for my lote.
Quhair I haif chosen I culd be content,
If that my luk war vhair I love to light.
If I come speid, I think my tyme weill spent;
And if I mis to mend it as I micht,
I can reteir vhan resone thinks it richt.
Thair is no match bot vhair tuo mutuall [meits ;]
Men mettall tryis by sey, and not by slight;
For 3e mon grant, all is not gold that gleits.
Some flours may shoot, suppose they haif no seed,
Als trees may floorish, and bring furth feu fruit.
Not that in 30u sik doublenes I dreid,
Suppose ze seme to shift me vhen I suit.
I can forbeir, if once I get rebuit;
I will not bind, bot vhair I bound to byde.
At syndrie marks, if that ze shaip to shoot,
3e may shoot short, or sometym far asyde.
IO
15
20
25
30
Dreigh river marks, with hights and hidden houis,
Ar perrillous, and not as they appeir;
Beguyling bairnis that shoots with brissall bouis,
And dou not drau thair arrouis to thair eir.
Short butts ar better, vhair thair bouis may beir.
Far foullis hes ay fair fethers, sum will say:
35
Quhen 3e haif lost, it is too lait to leir:
A turne in tyme is ay worth other tuay.
M
40
178
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
Tak tym in tyme, vhill tyme is to be tane,
Or 3e may wish, and want it vhen ze wald:
3e get no grippe agane, if it be gane;
Then, vhill 3e haif it, best is for to hald.
Thoght 3e be 3ong, 3it once 3e may be ald :
Tyd will not tarie; speid or it be spent.
To prophesie, I dar not be so bald,
Bot tyn ze tyme-perhaps 3e may repent.
Houbeit zour beuty far on breid be blaune,
I thank my God I shame not of my shap;
If ze be guid, the better is 3our auin,
And he that getis 3ou hes the better hap.
I wald not sik men in 3our credit crap,
Quha heght 3ou fairer nor I feir ze find;
45
50
Thairfor, I wald 3e lookit or 3e lap,
55
And waver not, lyk widdercok in wind.
If ze be constant, I sall neuer change;
If 3e be fickle, I am forc't to flitt;
If ze be stedfast, I sall not be strange;
If 3e be wylie, I wald leirne a wit.
Ay as ze wse 3ou, I agrie with it.
60
Be doing on, I dout not ze ar wyse.
Baith heft and blead ar in 3our hand, as 3it;
Then barlacheis or barlachois advyse.
65
Can 3e not play at "nevie nevie nak "?
A pretty play, whilk children often wse,
Quhair tentles bairnis may to their tinsall tak
The neiv with na thing, and the full refuse.
I will not skar 30u, sen ze mynd to chuse,
Bot put your hand by hazard in the creill;
70
3it men hes mater vharvpon to muse,
For they must drau ane adder or ane eill.
ra
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
179
Thoght 3e be, as I mon confes 30u, fair,
I wald not wish that fra 3our friends 3e r[an.]
Houbeit ze think me to 3ou no compair,
75
I haif the moyan, lyk ane other man.
I neid not waist it that my elders wan;
I hope to help it, if I had my helth.
Gar 3e me gang from 30u, whair I began,
If I wald vant, I wot of griter welth.
3it I am not so covetous of kynd,
Bot I prefer my plesur in a pairt;
Thoght I be laich, I beir a michtie mynd;
I count me rich, can I content my hairt.
3it, or I enter in ane other airt,
3our vter ansueir courteously I crave,
Quhom ze will keep, or vhom 3e will decairt:
Sa fair ze weill, vhill I the same resave.
XXXIII.
[THE POETS DREME.]
QUHEN folish Phaeton had his course outrun,
And plung'd the fyrie Phlægon in the sea,
And bright [Diana] had bot neu begun
Vpon the grund to cast hir watrie ee ;
Quhat tyme the bluid vnto the hairt does flie,
As sojouris sure thair capitan to keep,
At that tyme Morpheus sent to summond me;
Quhom I obeyde, and sa I fell asleep.
Quhair, in my dreme, I sau anone appeir
A naiked boy, vha bure a Turkish bou;
He nokt ane arrou longer nor a speir,
The heid wes gold, vhilk brint lyk ony lou.
ΙΟ
сл
85
80
180
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
His countenance begouth ay for to grou
Mair vncouthlyk, vharof I wox afrayde:
Quod he, "Defend thee, gallant, if thou dou,
For thou sall be no longer vnassayit.”
With that he shot and hat me on the breist;
The sheirand shaft soon slippit to my hairt;
Syne bad me cum to 3ou, and mak requeist
Quhair I suld find the salue to heall my smar[t.]
Vpon my feet incontinent I start,
And stagring stood, astonisht with the straik :
Haiv pitie thairfor on my painfull harte,
And saif the man that suffers for 3our sa[ik.]
15
20
My harte wes ay at libertie till nou
That I did sie 3our cumly cristall ene,
Quhais luifsum looks so peirc't my body th[rou,]
That, ay sen syne, 3our bondman I haif be[ne.]
I pray thairfor, with sighing from my splen[e,]
3our womanheid for to be treu and k[ynd.]
This paper, in my absence, sall obtene
25
30
To hold me aluay present in 3our mynd.
Fra I be gane, I knau thair are aneu
Quha wald be glade 3our favour to pro[cure :]
Be permanent, houbeit they perseu ;
35
Let not sik louns with leasings you allure;
Sua our twa loves for evir sall indure,
Conjoynd in ane, as fyr is in the flint.
Found ay 3our bigging vhair the grund is sur[e;]
Sa nather tyme nor travel sall be tint.
40
Tak heid thairto, I hairtlie zou exhort,
And keep in mynd the counsel I 3ou give ;
If that perchance some 3onkiers cum athort
With facund words, and preissis 3ou to prieve,
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
181
45
Luik this my letter; it sall 3ou relieve
In absence, alsueil as I war in sight.
I will not stand with mo words you to deiv,
Bot, for this tyme, I bid 3ou haif "Guid nicht."
XXXIV.
+
[TO HIS MAISTRES.]
O CLEIR, most deir, give eir unto my cry.
Sueit thing, bening and zing, of zeiris grene,
But sleuth, haiv reuth: my treuth the tym sall try.
Remeid with speid, or deid I must sustene ;
For thoght hes wroght and broght me to dispair;
Becaus no signe is shaune
That ze held me 3our aune,
That I micht it haif knaune,
To comfort me of cair.
5
My hairt inwart does smart within my briest;
ΙΟ
My mynd most kynd is pynd but recompence
Of you, I trou, wha nou regardeth leist
My wo, but ho to slo me, but offence,
That am ane lam; the sam 3e may persaive,
For I am innocent
And eik obedient.
If I be permanent,
15
Some pruif thairof I haif.
3our ee may se, in me is no deceit ;
3our eir perqueir may heir my constance als.
Espye if I applye ane vther geat,
Or oght hes soght quhilk moght be to you fals.
20
182
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
Bot ay I stay aluay vpon 3our grace.
In esperance I byd,
And firmely do confyd
That Fortun sall provyd
For us baith tym and p[lace,]
25
Secreit to meit, my spreit to recreat,
And pleis myn eis, quhilks deis for laik of sight,
And kisse with blisse; for this may mitigat
30
My quent torment. Consent, sen it is richt,
And do thairto as sho that may alone
My persone saiv or spill.
To grant me lyf, or kill—
All lyes into your will,
As 3e list to dispone.
Restore thairfore to glore precordiall
35
My lif from stryf or knyf of Atropus.
With noy destroy my joy terrestriall,
To blame your name with fame most odious,
40
If ze sall be to me without respect
So strange to let me sterv,
Except ze sie me suerv;
Then do as I deserv,
Bot causles not correct.
For that, ze wat, may lat a man to love,
45
And hald him cauld vha wald to 3ou obey.
Be war ouir far 3e gar me not remove ;
Bot give me leiv, and greiv me not, I pray :
For out of doubt about vs ar aneu
50
Quha deadly hatred haith
That we love other baith.
God keep vs from thair skaith!
Fair weill, my Lady treu.
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
183
XXXV.
[IN PRAIS OF HIS MAISTRES.]
QUнY bene 3e, Musis, all so long
On sleep this mony a day?
Let not your harmony and song
In silence thus decay.
Distill by influence
3our stremis of eloquence,
That, throu your heuinlie liquor sueit,
My pen in rhetoric may fleit,
For till expres
The comlines
Of my Maistres,
With joy repleit.
To kythe hir cunning, Natur wald
Indeu hir with sik grace,
My spreit rejosis to behald
Her smyling angels face,
Lyk Phoebus in the south,
To skorne the rest of zouth.
Hir curling loks, lyk golden rings,
About hir hevinly haffats hings,
Quhilks do decore
Hir body more,
5
IO
15
20
Quhom I adore
Above all things.
Hir brouis ar brent: lyk golden threeds
25
Hir siluer shyning brees.
The bony blinks my courage feeds
Of hir tua christall ees,
Tuinkling illuminous,
With beamis amorous;
30
184
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
1
Quhairin tua naikit boyis resorts,
Quhais countenance good hope reports;
For they appeir
Vith smyling cheir,
As they wald speir
·
At me some sports.
Hir comelie cheeks of vive colour,
Of rid and vhyt ymixt,
Ar lyk the sanguene jonet flour
Into the lillie fixt.
Hir mouth mellifluous,
Hir breathing savorous,
Hir rosie lippis most eminent,
Hir teeth lyk pearle of orient,
Hir halse more vhyt
Nor I can wryt;
With that perfyt
And sapient.
35
40
45
Hir vestall breist of ivorie,
Quhairon ar fixit fast
50
Tua tuins of clene virginitie,
Lyk boullis of alabast.
Out throu hir snauie skin,
Maist cleirlie kythes within
Hir saphir veins, lyk threids of silk,
55
Or violets in vhytest milk.
If Natur sheu
Hir hevinly heu
In vhyt and bleu—.
It wes that ilk.
Hir armes ar long, hir shulders braid,
Hir middill gent and small:
The mold is lost, vharin wes maid
This A per se of all.
60
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
185
The gods ar in debait
Concerning hir estait ;
Diana keeps this Margarit,
Bot Hymen heghts to match hir meit :
Deserve let sie
Amount from thrie.
Go merie she,
That is so sueet.
Quhat can both shoot and open loks
As can the only kie?
Persaiv this pithie paradox,
And mark it weill in me.
Quhais beutie hes me burt?
Quhais beutie healls my hurt?
Quhais beutie blythnes me bereivis ?
Quhais beutie gladnes to me givis?
Quhais beutie, lo,
Does me vndo?
Quhais beutie, to,
My spreit revivis?
XXXVI.
[SEN FORTUN IS MY FO.]
O LOVESOME Lady, lamp of light!
Freshest of flouris fair!
Thy beutie and thy bemes bright
Maks me to sigh full sair.
My noy reneueth evirie nicht,
And kendlis all my cair;
[And so]
I sigh suppose I may na mair,
Sen Fortun is my fo.
65
70
75
80
5
186
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
Sometyme I had gude confidence
That plesur suld succeid,
Quhill in the tyme of our absence
Good fortun did me leid;
But nou I find my esperance
IO
Almaist ouercome with dreid:
15
Also
I feill the fatal Nymphis threid,
Sen Fortun is my fo.
Is this your lau? 3e gods of love!
Or do zee so consent,
Into your counsels from above,
All lovers to torment?
Better it war for our behove
We had not bene acquent,
Nor go
To love, and na way be content,
Sen Fortun is our fo.
20
25
I put no doubt bot ze wald do
3our pouer me to saive,
Bot tym will not consent thairto,
30
So grit vnhap we haif;
Zit be 3e sure, that ze ar scho
Quhome-to my harte I gaive,
But mo.
Grant me some kyndnes vhen I crave,
Thoght Fortun be our fo.
35
Let not my treuth and constancie
For euer be forzet,
Nor tak no plesur for to sie
Me fettrit in 3our net;
40
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
187
Bot grant me als grit libertie,
As first vhen we tua mett,
My jo.
I greue, for it I can not gett,
Sen Fortun is my fo.
45
Alace! these golden houris ar gone,
Quhen nane did vs debar;
That nou sik licience haif we none—
Skantlie to speik afar :
3it wicked peple will suppone
We do the thing we dar,
Both tuo.
My curage prikis me to ryd nar,
Thoght Fortun be my fo.
XXXVII.
[TO HIS MAISTRES.]
O PLESAND plant, passing in pulchritude!
O lillie, lude of all the Muses nyne!
I laik ingyne to shau thy celsitude;
A tearie fluid does blind thir ees of myne.
Thyn eirs inclyne vnto my cairfull cry:
Sen nane bot I hes for thy person pyne,
Let me not tyn, whom thou intends to try.
Tak tym in tym, for tym will not remane,
Nor come agane, if that it once be lost.
Sen we ar voced, whairfor suld we refrane,
To suffer pain for ony bodies bost?
My vexit ghost, quhilk rageing love dois roste,
Is brint almost, thrugh heit of my desyr;
Then quench this fyre, quhilk runneth ay the poste
Out throu my cost, consuming bain and lyre.
50
5
ΙΟ
15
188
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
Nou if this heit descend into my levir,
A fervent fevir sall soon my harte infect;
Thairfor correct this humor nou or nevir,
Or we dissevir, suppose we be suspect.
Go to vhat rek? and gar the bealing brek;
For, fra it lek, I hald the danger done.
Then speid zou soon, that we no tym neglect.
To tak effect in waning of the mone.
XXXVIII.
[HE REJOISES, AS DID FORMERLY THE GREEKS.]
BEFORE the Greeks durst enterpryse
In armes to Troy toun to go,
They set a Counsell sage and wyse,
Apollos ansueir for to kno
Hou they suld speid, and haif succes
In that so grit a busines.
Then did they send the wysest Grekis
To Delphos, vhare Apollo stode ;
Quha, with the teiris vpon thair cheeks,
And with the fyrie flammis of wod,
And all such rites as wes the guyse,
They made that grit god sacrifyce.
Quhen they had endit thair requests,
And solemnely thair service done,
20
5
ΙΟ
And drunke the vyne, and kild the beists,
15
Apollo made them ansueir soon
Hou Troy and Trojans haiv they suld,
To vse them hailly as they wold.
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
189
Quhilk ansueir maid thame not so glad,
That thus the victors they suld be,
As evin the ansuer that I had
Did gritly joy and comfort me,
Quhen, lo! thus spak Apollo myne:
All that thou seeks, it sall be thyne.
20
XXXIX.
[HE BIDS ADEU TO HIS MAISTRES.]
ADEU, O desie of delyt ;
Adeu, most plesand and perfyt;
Adeu, and haif gude nicht:
Adeu, thou lustiest on lyve;
Adeu, suete thing superlatyve;
Adeu, my lamp of licht!
Lyk as the lyssard does indeid
Leiv by the manis face,
Thy beutie lykuyse suld me feid,
If we had tyme and space.
Adeu nou; be treu nou,
Sen that we must depairt.
Forzet not, and set not
At licht my constant hairt.
Albeit my body be absent,
My faithfull hairt is vigilent
To do 30u service true;
Bot, vhen I hant into the place
Quhair I wes wont to sie that face,
My dolour does reneu.
Then all my plesur is bot pane,
My cairis they do incres ;
Vntill I sie your face agane,
I live in hevynes.
er
5
IO
15
20
1
190
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
Sair weeping, but sleeping,
The nichts I ouerdryve;
Quhylis murning, vhylis turning,
With thoghtis pensityve.
25
Somtym Good Hope did me comfort,
Saying, the tym suld be bot short
30
Of absence to endure.
Then Curage quickins so my spreit,
Quhen I think on my lady sueet,
I hald my service sure.
I can not plaint of my estait,
I thank the gods above;
For I am first in hir consait,
Quhom both I serve and love.
Hir freindis ay weindis
To caus hir to revok ;
Sho bydis, and slydis
No more then does a rok.
O lady, for thy constancie,
A faithfull servand sall I be,
35
40
Thyn honour to defend;
And I sall surelie, for thy saik,
45
As doth the turtle for her maik,
Love to my lyfis end.
No pene nor travell, feir nor dreid,
50
Sall caus me to desist.
Then, ay vhen ze this letter reid,
Remember hou we kist;
Embracing, with lacing,
With others teiris sueet.
Sik blissing in kissing
55
I quyt till we tua meit.
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
191
XL.
[HE BEWAILES HIS WOFULL ESTAIT.]
QUHA wareis all the wicked weirds, bot I?
Or vha, bot I, suld curse the thrauard faits?
To vhom, bot me, does destinies deny
Some kynd of comfort to thair auin estaits?
For vhom, bot me, doth Love in ambush ly,
With hidden huiks in his beguyling baits
Of sugred sueet dissaitis?
Weill ward thou weep, O ouer audacious ee!
Sen with a sight thou wes so soon ouersyld.
I sent the forth as centinall to see;
Bot with a blink dame Beutie thee begyld:
Fra thou wes fast, and had no force to flie,
My wofull hairt auay with thee thou wyld,
Fra me to be exyld.
To follou thee, Affectioun tuk the feeld;
Fair-heghting Hope wes laith to byd behind:
Then Curage, with a stomok stoutly steeld,
Bad Will ga wave his baner with the wind.
Last, Reson rais, ay shotfrie vnder sheeld;
Bot Fantasie fast folloud him behind,
And bleu him bravelie blind.
Then lyk a neu maid mariner, in mist
Quha saillis the sea but compasse, lead or carte,
By change of wind wes wrong befor he wist,
сл
5
ΙΟ
15
20
As prentise proud, mair peirter nor expert ;
25
Evin so did I, als ignorant, insist,
As novice neu vnvsit in that art,
Till I had hurt my harte.
192
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
Or I wes war, I had resauit the wound,
So dangerous, so deidly, and so deip,
The strenth vharof gart all my stomok stou[nd].
30
From vein to vein I felt the canker creep,
The poysound poynt had peirc't me so profou[nd,]
That, welauay! I culd bot waill and weip
And sigh, vhen I sould sleep.
35
Love maid my chose, bot Fortun maid my ch[ance.]
Love folloud fast, bot fenzeid Fortun fled.
Love perseveird, in hope of recompance;
Bot Fortun fals ay shorde that we suld shed.
40
Love willing wes my labour to advance,
Bot Fortun ay my brydall bakuard led ;
Quhilk all my bail hes bred.
3it not a vheet my thraldome I forthink:
War I to chuse I wald not change my ch[ose.]
I shaip not, for no suddan shours, to shrink,
45
Sen peircing pyks ar kyndlie with the rose.
Houbeit mishap be in my harte a hink, ·
3it I will on hir permanence repose,
In spyte of Fortuns nose.
The highest hillis mair thretnit ar with thunder;
And tallest trees with tempest ofter tryde
Nor hillocks small, or bramble bushis vnder :
50
Vnworthie things ar aluay leist invyde.
Quhat Natur works, we may not think it wonder;
Love longer lastis the derer that we by it:
This dou not be denyit.
55
Let Weirds rin wod; let furious Faits be fearce;
Let absence vrne; let Cupids arrou peirce;
Let Fortun froun; let Destinies despyte;
Let tratling tongues, let bablers ay bakbyte ;
60
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
193
Let enemies my haples hap reheirce-
I cair not by thair malice all a myte :
In Love is my delyte.
XLI.
[THE NIGHT IS NEIR GONE.]
Hay! nou the day dauis;
The jolie Cok crauis;
Nou shroudis the shauis,
Throu Natur anone.
The thissell-cok cryis
On louers vha lyis.
Nou skaillis the skyis:
The nicht is neir gone.
The feildis ouerflouis
With gouans that grouis,
Quhair lilies lyk lou is,
Als rid as the rone.
The turtill that treu is,
With nots that reneuis,
Hir pairtie perseuis :
The night is neir gone.
Nou Hairtis with Hyndis,
Conforme to thair kyndis,
Hie tursis thair tyndis,
On grund vhair they grone.
Nou Hurchonis, with Hairis,
Ay passis in pairis;
Quhilk deuly declaris
The night is neir gone.
N
er
5
[O
15
20
194
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
The sesone excellis
Thrugh sueetnes that smellis;
Nou Cupid compellis
Our hairtis echone
On Venus vha vaikis,
25
To muse on our maikis,
30
Syn sing, for thair saikis :-
The night is neir gone.
All curageous knichtis
Aganis the day dichtis
The breist plate that bright is,
35
To feght with thair fone.
The stoned steed stampis
Throu curage and crampis,
Syn on the land lampis :
The night is neir gone.
The freikis on feildis
That wight wapins weildis
40
With shyning bright shieldis
[As] Titan in trone :
Stiff speiris in reistis,
Ouer cursoris cristis,
45
Ar brok on thair breistis:
The night is neir gone.
So hard ar thair hittis,
Some sueyis, some sittis,
50
And some perforce flittis
On grund vhill they grone.
Syn groom's that gay is,
On blonkis that brayis,
With suordis assayis :
The night is neir gone.
44. MS. At Titan in trone.
55
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
195
XLII.
[AN ADMONITIOUN TO 3OUNG LASSIS.]
A BONY "No," with smyling looks agane,
I wald 3e leirnd, sen they so comely ar.
As touching "3ES," if 3e suld speik so plane,
I might reprove you to haif said so far.
Noght that your grant, in ony wayis, micht gar
Me loth the fruit that curage ocht to chuse ;
Bot I wald only haif 3ou seme to skar,
And let me tak it, fenzeing to refuse ;
And warsill, as it war against 3our will,
Appeiring angrie, thoght 3e haif no yre :
For haif, 3e heir, is haldin half a fill.
I speik not this, as trouing for to tyre:
Bot, as the forger, vhen he feeds his fyre,
With sparks of water maks it burne more bald;
So, sueet denyall doubillis bot desyr,
And quickins curage fra becomming cald.
Wald ze be made of, 3e man mak it nyce;
For dainties heir ar delicat and deir,
Bot plentie things ar prysde to lytill pryce;
Then thoght 3e hearken, let no wit 3e heir,
Bot look auay, and len thame ay 3our eir:
For, folou love, they say, and it will flie.
Wald 3e be lovd, this lessone mon 3e leir;
Flie vhylome love, and it will folou thee.
5
сл
IO
15
20
196
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
XLIII.
[MONTGOMERIES WELCOME TO LORD SEMPLE, ON HIS
RETURNE FROM FRANCE.]
Aualk, MONTGOMERIES Muse,
And sey vhat thou can say:
Thy long and just excuse
Maecenas taks auay;
Quhais high heroique actis
His name immortall maks.
Then welcome hame, my lord;
Suete SEMPLE, welcome hame;
Quhais vertues wan the word
That formest flies with Fame;
Quha-of all cuntreyis crakis,
And [the immortall maks.]
Thou wan the flour in France,
With eviry kynd of armes,
As dager, suord, and lance,
In pastyme and alarmes.
Thy leiving no man laks,
Bot the immortall maks.
Thy body, mynd, and spreit,
Disposd, resolvd, and quik;
Thy hairt, thy hands, thy feit,
Magnanime, strong, and sik
As curage all contracts:
Quhilk the immortall maks.
Thy meeknes into moues,
And aufulnes in yre,
From sik a fontan floues
As springs for till aspyre.
5
сл
IO
15
20
25
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
197
Sik frute thy travell taks,
And the immortal maks.
Thy cuntrie, king, and kin,
Thy qualities decoird.
All pairts vhair thou wes in,
Thinks long for thee, my lord:
So wyd thy word does waxe,
That the immortall maks.
Sen poets maist profound
Thy praysis do proclame,
My trompet, to, sall sound
The famphar of thy fame,
Quod he vhom siknes wraks,
And the immortall maks.
Then happy travell tane,
Sen thou hes boght the best;
Thoght pairt of gold be gane,
Thy honour is increst.
Men weill imployes thair paks,
That thame immortall maks.
30
35
40
XLIV.
[HE PRAYIS TO HIS MAISTRES FOR PITIE.]
REMEMBER rightly, vhen 3e reid,
The woe and dreid, but hope to speid,
I drie into dispair.
My hairt within my breist does bleid
Vnto the deid, vithout remeid;
I'm hurt, I wot not vhair.
Alace! vhat is the caus, think I,
But grace that I in langour ly?
45
5
**
198
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
The more I drink, more I desyr:
As I aspyre, the fervent fyre
My cairfull corps consume.
Me to torment, no tym 3e tyre,
Baith bane and [lyre,] throu Cupids yre,
To dead, but ony dome.
I burne, I freize in yce also ;
I turne, for freindship, to my fo.
In prison sen 3e hald my hairt,
Releiv my smart; drau out this darte
Furth of my bailfull breist.
Haif pitie on my painfull parte.
As by the carte men knoues the arte,
Both south, north, west, and eist,
3e may persave my wounds ar grene,
I say, and look bot to my ene,
Quhais longsum looks my lyf beuryis.
Wo to the spyis first did suppryis
My hairt within your hald!
Quhilk fast into 3our fetters lyis,
In dout vhat wyse that feirfull syse
Pronunce thair sentence wald.
I quake for feir-my puncis lope-
I shake betuixt dispair and hope.
To crueltie if 3e consent,
I am content, as patient,
3our plesur to fulfill;
Or, pleis 30ur pitie to prevent
My grit torment, or I be shent,
Chuse you to spair or kill.
I stand of death no vhitt affrayde:
Command, and 3e sall be obeyde.
ΙΟ
15
20
25
30
35
40
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
199
XLV.
[HE CALLIS ON DEATH TO RELIEVE HIM.]
THE wofull working of my woundit hairt,
Quhilk danger hes neir drivin in dispair,
Is sorer to sustene then is the darte
Of Death, vhilk suld dissolve my cruell cair.
Thrugh fortun frail; vhais vnfelicitie
Hes wroght in me sik caus of sighing sair,
That death suld be no lothsum thing to me.
Come, gentill Death, and that with suddentie,
And mak dispatch of this puir hairt of myne.
Thy sterving straik with force thou let out flie,
And light on me, to end my peirles pyne.
Sen sho vhom I do serve will not inclyne,
Nor grant me grace, my pains for to deploir,
Bot will, for want of pitie sie me tyne,
Come, gentle Death, and let me die thairfor.
Alace! that euer sik perfyte beutie
As is in 3ou, my lovesome Lady deir,
Suld haif bene plac't thair, vhair as Pietie
Might not most frelie in hir place appeir!
Alace! that Danger, with hir deidly cheir,
Such lordship had [vhair we maist treuly love!]
Alace! that ever a 30ldin prisoneir
Suld feill the peirles painis that I nou prove!
Alace! suld I for hairtie love be hated?
Or suld I find, for friendly favour, fead?
Alace! suld my treu service thus be quated
With hir that is the chose of womanheid?
5. Cut away in the MS.
17. MS. be-ü-tie.
сл
5
IO
15
20
25
1
200
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
Alace! suld sho that suld, of right, remeid
The deidly dolour daylie I sustene,
Be merciles -Then wish I to be deid,
And so be quyt of all my cairis clene.
XLVI.
30
[DISPLEASUR, WITH HIS DEADLY DAIRT.]
DISPLESUR, with his deadly dairt
So horriblie hes hurt my hairt,
With sik ane heid
That no remeid,
Save only deid,
Can cure my smart.
The poysond poynt me priks,
Quhilk in my stomok stiks.
Profound;
Quhais venom rains
Thrugh al my vains:
No salue can mak me sound.
5
ΙΟ
I count not of my lyf a cute.
My hairt hes biddin sik rebute,
That it wald evin,
God knauis in hevin,
Wish to be revin
[Out by the rute.]
It is so crost with cair,
That it may nevir mair
Revive.
Cum thairfor, Death,
And cut my breath :
I list not longer live.
15
20
!
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
201
The Destinies my lyf despytis,
And bitter baill my bouells bytis ;
These thrauard Thrie-
Curst mot they be
To martyr me !—
Laughis and delyts ;
For they haif wroght my weird
Vnhappiest on eird,
And ay
Continues still
To work my ill,
With all mishief they may.
Hes hevins-hes erth-hes God-hes air,
Determinat that I dispair?
Hes all in ane
My contrare tane ?
For me allane,
They ar too sair.
Sen thair is no remorce,
My patience perforce
Hes bene.
Of ills, I wse
The leist to chuse :
I may not mend bot mene.
Might my misluk look for relief,
Or zit doght I digest my grief,
Then wer I wyse,
It to disguyse;
Bot lo, vhair lyis
My maist mischief!
I smore if I conceill,
I wrak if I reveill,
My hurt.
25
30
35
40
45
50
55
202
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
Judge, 3e vha heirs,
Quhat burthene beiris
My stomok, stuft with sturt.
For, from Carybdis vhill I flie,
I slyde in Sylla, 3e may sie;
I saill, it semes,
Tuixt tua extremis,
That danger demes
My ship sall die.
Nou, Sone, since I must smart,
Thou of my age that art
The staffe,-
Evin MVRRAY myne,
Len me a lyne,
To end my epitaph.
XLVII.
THE ELEGIE.
Now, since the day of our depairt appeirs,
Guid resone wald my hand to 30u suld wr[yt]
That vhilk I can not weill expres but teirs;
Videlicet :—" Adeu! my Lady vhyt."
60
65
70
Adeu, my love, my lyking, and delyt,
Till I returne; for vhilk I think so lang,
5
That absence els does all my bouells byt:
Sik gredie grippis I feell befor I gang.
Resave, vhill than, a harte lyk for to mang,
Quhilk freats and fryis in furious flammis of fy[re ;]
Keep it in gage, bot let it haif no wrang
Of sik as may perhaps his place desyre.
This is the summe of that vhilk I requyre:
If it hes ocht offendit, let it smart ;
ΙΟ
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
203
If it be true, then let it haif the hyre.
Oh! wold to God ze might behold this harte !
Quharin a thousand things ze suld advert:
Thair suld ze sie the wound vhilk 3e it g[ave ;]
Thair suld ze sie the goldin deadly darte;
Thair suld ze sie, hou ze bereft it haiv;
Thair suld be sie 3our image by the laiv ;
Thair suld ze sie 3our hevinly angels face;
Thair suld 3e soon my permanence persaiv ;
Thair suld 3e sie zour name haif only p[lace ;]
Thair suld ze sie my languishing, alace!
For our depairt: bot since 3e knou my painis,
I hope, if 3e considder weill the case,
H
15
20
25
And spyis the teirs vhilks ouer my visage rains,
If in 3our breist sik sympathie remanis,
30
Then sall ze suffer som thing for my saik.
Quhair constant love is aluay, it constranis,
In weill or wo, coequall pairt to take;
Lyk as my members all begins to quake,
That of 3our duill the half I do indure,
Quhilk I suppone ze for my absence mak.
Then haif no dout that ony creature
Can dispossesse 3ou of my hairt, be sure,
35
Nor zit remove from 3ou my constant mynd.
Since I am 3ours, quhom love culd not allure,
Sen I wes borne, till nou that I enclynd
To 3ou allone, for whom my hairt is pynd.
40
Of lovis fyr, befor, I nevir kneu,
Nor zit acquent with Cupid in this kynd;
Bot look! hou soon gude fortun to me sheu
3our sueet behaviour and 3our hevinly heu,
45
As A per se, that evir Natur wroght,
Then vncouth cairs in me began aneu,
Both in my spreit and in my trublit thoght:
My libertie vhilk I in bondage broght,
Sa that my frank and frie desyre, or than,
50
204
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
Ane hunder places for my plesur soght,
And ay sall do, whill I am leving man.
Sall ze then, efter our depairt, forzet
That vhilk is yours, and change on na wyse can?
Hou soon myn ee no sight of 3ours culd get,
It weeping said :-"O deidly corps, defet!
Quhair bene these lamps of light, these crista[ll ees,]
Quhilks maid ws ay so mirrie vhen we mett?"
Quod I agane, with sighing voce:-"Thou sees,
Thoght thou for dolour vnder shadou dees.
Be not abaisd, suppose thou haif no sight.
Thy sun is hid, and keeps no more degre[es ;]
Bot, for thy sake, goes to at none, for night:
That is to say that hevinly visage bright,
Quharon thou wont thy fantasie to feid,
Is far fra the; vhair throu thou laikis th[y sight.”"]
55
60
65
So, lustie Lady, well of womanheid !
Myne ee and I but comfort ar indeed,
And do bewaill thy wofull absence ay.
Regrating 3ou, my woundit hairt does bleed;
70
And than I think, vhen I am far auay,
Leist that, mein tym, blind Love suld thus a[ssay]
All meins he micht, by craft or 3it ingyne,
To open vp his blindit ees, that they
Might clerelie see these gratious ees of thyn;
75
And so, beholding sik a sight divyn,
His mynd, to love the, shortly suld be movd;
And caus me, at ane instant, for to tyne
The thing quhilk I sa lang and leall haiff lovd.
Be 3e not constant, vhen ze sall be provd,
Love sall ouercome 3our honest ansueirs all;
That ze sall think, to 3eild, it zou behovd :
Love is so slie; vhais fairdit language sall
Peirce and get entrie throu a stony wall.
I wish you, thairfor, with him to be war:
His mouth is hony, bot his hairt is gall.
80
85
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
205
On kitlest huiks the sliest baits they ar.
If he the heght, or slielie drau the nar,
Thou ansueir him :- "Go, Love, reteir the hence;
For I love one vho hes my hairt so far,
He merits not to tyne him, but offence."
90
XLVIII.
THE NAVIGATIOVN.
HAILL! bravest burgeoun brekking to the rose,
The deu of grace thy leivis mot vnclose;
The stalk of treuth mot grant the nurishing;
The air of faith support thy florishing;
Thy noble counsell, lyk trees about thy grace,
Mot plantit be, ilk ane into his place;
Quhais ruiting sure and toppis reaching he
Mot brek the storme, befor it come to the.
They of thy bluid mot grou about thy bordour,
To hold thy hedge into ane perfyt ordour,
As fragrant flouris of ane helthsome smell,
All venemous beistis from the to expell.
The preachers treu mot ay thy gardners b[e]
To clense thy root from weeds of heresie.
Thy gardene wall mak the Neu Testament;
So sall thou grou without impediment;
All lands about sall feir thy Excellence,
And come fra far to do thee reverence:
As I myself and all the rest ze se
From Turkie, Egypt, and from Arabie.
As for my self, I am ane German borne,
Quha ay this fasion, vhilk 3e se, hes worne;
Quhilk lenth of tym culd nevir caus me change,
Thoght I haiv bene in mony cuntrey strange;
Thrugh all Europe, Afrik, and Asia,
And throu the neu fund out America.
5
сл
IO
15
20
25
206
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
All thair conditiouns I do vnderstand,
Baith of the peple, and also of the land;
Quhais trim attyre wer tedious to tell:
Something 3our grace sall shortly sie 3our sell:
30
In contrair clething, 30ur Excellence sall ke[n]
The Turk, the More, and the Egyptien.
Nou sall I shau vnto 3our Majestie
Hou they and I fell first in company.
Constantinopil, sometym of Christendome,
Pertening to ane Empreour of Rome,
Quho, as we reid, wes callit Constantyn:
Eftir his name he callit the citie syn,
Becaus he lovit it best of tounis all.
Euen thair he sat into his tribunall,
35
40
As in the Metropolitan of Grece ;
Quhilk his successours bruikit lang in peace,
Till tym that they, throu thair iniquitie,
Were givin ouer vnto the enemie,
As for ane prey, al hail to be devoird.
45
Thair 3ong men slayn, thair virgins war deflorde;
Thair tender babis, 3it on the nurish knee,
Tane by the feet and cast into the see.
Let vther lands a mirrour of this mak,
And, by thair nichtbours, example let thame tak.
50
I will not judge vhairfor that God so did,
Becaus his secreits ar to all men hid:
Bot weill I wot the Lord did so permit ;
For vhy? the Turk does bruik this citie zit,
And much of Grece he hes into his hands.
Bot for to tell you hou the citie stands
Hard by the syde of the auld Pontus sea,
Fornent it lyis the land of Natalie.
Quha in these pairtis pleisis for to hant,
55
The Turkis pasport neids not for to want;
Sa I myself, as ane among the laiv,
Requyrit ane, vhilk he me glaidly gaiv,
60
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
207
That I micht come and sie this noble toun,
Quharof befor I hard so grit renoun.
Quhilk vhen I come, my fortun wes to be
65
Ludgit perchance with this same companie;
Soupit togither; in ane chalmer lay,
Crackand ouer heid, whill it wes neir hand [day.]
I speird at thame vhair that they last com[e fra,]
And eftirward, vhair they myndit to ga.
"We duell," say they, "vnder the star Antart[ic :]
Nou wald we sie the Vrses and Pole Arti[c.]
We shaip to saill neir the Septentrion,
Touards the North, and helthsome regione
70
Nou callit Scotland, as we haif hard repor[t]
75
Of wandring fame, vhilk fleeth ay athort.
Quhair presently beginneth for to ring
So sapient a zing and godly King,
A Salomon for richt and judgiment:
In eviry langage he is eloquent.
All lands about do beir of him record,
He is the chosen vessell of the Lord.
To sie this King nou glaidly wald we go ;
And, if 3e pleis to tak ane pairt also,
3e ar bothe welcome, and richt necessar,
Vnto his Grace our comming to declair;
Far 3e haif travellit throu mony lands,
And eviry language also vnderstands."-
"Content," quod I; and so we wer agreit:
Fraughtit our ship, and syne our anker weyde.
Phœbus nou rysing, with his laughing grace
Smylit on Neptuns still and calmit face.
Vp uent our saillis, tauntit to the huins ;
The trumpets soundit tuentie mirrie tuins.
Vp went our boyis to the toppis abone,
And ouer the bordour shook our topsaill soon.
Some went before for to shaik out the blind.
Wp went our bonnets; our missens vp behind.
80
85
90
95
208
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
Some, to the gueit fattis for to bedeu the saills,
Bothe foir and eft, our taikle drauis and haillis.
Our bottismen our geir perfytlie neits.
100
Fair wes the wind, and roum betuene tua sheits.
Maisters and pilots, cunning in that arte,
Went to the compas for to prik the carte,
For to persaiv the dangers vhair they lay:
We passingers went to the chesse to play;
For in that airt we nothing vnderstude,
Thairfor we did thame nather ill nor good.
Our ship wes clene and saillit very fast.
Of Hellespont or we the straits had past,
We struik at Cestus, and at Abydon;
Quhair passing ships are rypit, euery one,
To sie if they haif goods that ar forbiddin;
So from thair presence 3e may haif no thing hiddin;
For these tua Castells ar the only kees
Of all Turkie, and do divyde the sees-
Pontus Euxinus from the Mediterran.
On Asia syd, appeiris 3it most plane
The walls of the old and famous Troy,
Quhilks long ago the Greekis did destroy.
The poets wryts that in that place also
Leander died, suimming to Hero.
Sik Pleonasmus figurs I refuse:
I shape a shorter syncopa till vse.
And, to my purpose quicklie for to cum,
We entred nixt in Mediterraneum.
Vnto the Rhods we saild the redy way;
Quhilk wes shortsyne of Christendome, they say.
To Creta nixt our course directit we,
Quhair that they mak this noble Malmesie.
105
IIO
115
I 20
125
130
Betuixt the Malt and Cicill lay our rout.
The wind come skant: we docht not double [out.]
Fra that we sau thair micht no better be,
We plungit vp the coast of Calabrie.
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
209
Our Maister soon his lyttil vhissell cheir[d;]
His mariners incontinent compeird;
135
And eviry man did by his taikling stand,
To haill and drau, as he gaiv them command.
"To saill vp Sigeum, mates, we ar assuir[d ;]
Thairfor tak on 30ur babert luif abuird.
140
Out with your boulings. The wind is south south west.
Wp with your sheats, and haill them to the bes[t.]
Come no lauer, bot luif a lytill we;
For 30n is Sicill with his headis thrie ;
Quhais shape, ze sie, is lyk to Cerberus ;
145
And, for to deall with, no les dangerous.
3on is Mount Etna whair the fyre comis out;
3on is Charybdis that vhirlis ay about;
And 3on is Sylla, on the other shore,
Resisting Neptun, making him to rore.
150
Steir studdie, mate, fra 3e 3our self hes sene thame :
Thair is bot dead, or we mon throu betuene thame."
Fra that we come this gredy gulph within,
We micht not heir ane other for the din.
On baburd syde, the vhirling of the sand;
On steirbuird syd, the roks lay off the land.
Betuixt the tua we tuik sik taill3eweis,
At hank and buick we skippit syndrie seis.
As ane is done, another neu begins.
155
Quhill we war past our hair stude widdershins.
160
God saifd our ship, and ruled our noble ruther,
And helpt vs throu, as he hes mony vther.
Fra we wer past, I wot if we were fane.
We will not grene to gang that gait agane.
We entrit next in the Tyrrhenum sea,
165
And sailit to tua ylis in Italie—
Sardinia, not far from Corsica.
We wat ane anchor evin betuixt they tua.
We weyde fra thyn, and peyde our anchor custum,
And entrit nixt into the sea Liguscum,
170
О
210
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
By Minork and Majork, in the Mediterran;
And so alongis all the coast of Spane.
Gebraltars straits, at length, syn passit we,
And entred in the wyd and ocean sea;
Quhais moving maks, as writis Plutarc[hus,]
Into the mone ane face appeir to vs.
I will not dippe into Astronomie,
For feir I fall, in cace I clim so hie:
It is the arte that I did nevir leirne.
Belyve we left all Aragon asterne.
Be we had saillit four and tuentie hours,
The lift begouth for to ouercast with shours.
The cludis blak ouerquhelmit all the skyis.
Neptunus ryders begouth also to ryis;
The bouand dolphin, tumbland lik a vhele:
Quharby our maister vnderstude right wei[11]
That Eolus wes kindling vp in yre.
The heuins all vox rid as ony fyre.
175
180
185
The cludis rave in shours of grit hailstanis.
Doun, with a clappe, come all our saillis at an[is.]
From the northeist thair come an vgly blas[t.]
Maid vp our takill, and ouer buird went our [mast.]
The storme increst, four dayis, mair and ma[ir ;]
Our maister also begouth for to dispair;
190
Quhill the fifth day, that it began to cleir:
195
Then, as we micht, we mendit vp our ge[ir ;]
Quharof the leist pairt wes remanit haill;
3it at the last we come to Portingaill.
Glaid wes our fellouis, fra that they sau the sho[re,]
And bettir hairted nor they wer before.
They tuik some curage, and begouth to crak.
First, the Egyptian, he began and spak :
200
'Wes it not heir vhair Pharaos dochter landit,
First of the Scots, as we do vnderstand it?"
The Turk alledgit Gathelus wes a Greke.
So everie man did his opinione speke.
205
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
2II
3it baith thair menings wes, I vnderstude,
3our grace wes cumming of thair ancient blude:
Quhilk wes the caus that they so willinglie
Had cum so far, to se 3our Majestie.
210
Thus cracking on, we did the way ouerdryve,
Quhill we, at lenth, in Ireland did aryve;
Quhilk wes begun, they said, be thair forbears.
Some held thame treu, and others held them lears;
215
Some wald say 3ea, and others some said nay.
With Pro and Contra, so shortnit we the way.
Of Osshane syne we passit soon the yle,
In Jarsay and Grinisay, within a pretie vhyle,
Alongst Ingland, within the Yle of Wight;
In at the Nedles our pilot tuke vs right;
Furth at Sanct Ilands; and entrit in pace
Then to the Douns, vhair that we raid a space.
Fra they persaivd the hills high of calk,
One to another they begouth to talk:
220
"Thir ar the hillis, surely we suppone,
Quharthrou this land is callit Albion.”
They daskand farther :-What if the Quene war de[id?]
Quha suld be nixt, or to the croun succeid?
They follouit furth this argument so far;
Syndrie wes sibbe, bot ay 3our Grace wes nar.
225
230
66
Quha wat," quod they, "bot his Grace may prete[nd ?]
The thing is it far of that God may send.
Becaus heirin we na thing vnderstand,
We will not hazard for to go a land,
Leist they perchance micht find some falt in [vs ;]
235
As Inglishmen ar very captious.
We weyd from thyn, and wald no langer b[yde,]
Bot saild alongst the Inglish haill cost sy[de ;]
The vhilk to vs appeired very fair,
Thoght notwithstanding all wes ind and bair;
3et fertill baith for bestiall and corne,
240
Houbeit, or than, that all wes win and shorn[e.]
212
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
Quharas no rare thing in our way we fand,
Quhill we aryvit hard heir at the hand;
Quhar that we sau, evin standing in the see,
The strongest craig, we thoght, in Christentie;
Baith high and stay, when we wer to it come ;
Thair wes no way vharby it might be clum :
And als it stude tua mylis of from the land.
Euen thair perchance ane fisher boat we fa[nd ;]
We speirit at them vhat kind of craig it w[es]
They ansueird vs, that it wes cald The Basse.
They sheu us als, vha wes thairof the lord;
And hou that men went vp it in a corde;
And als, hou tua might keep it weil aneugh.
We said na mair, bot come our way, and leugh.
"3e sall," quod they, "sie mony stranger thing,
If that 3e chance to trauell with our King."
Then we come sailing to the Porte of Leith.
To come right in we thoght it very eith;
For other shippis, ather sax or sevin,
Had come befor ws thair, in to the hevin.
Becaus that we wer nevir thair afore,
We tuke the ludging nerest to the shore.
I haif bene far, bot zit in all my lyfe
I neuer sau a mirrier hartsum wyfe :
66
245
250
255
260
265
'Be blyth," quod sho, "for 3e sall se our King;
God blisse his Grace, and mak him long to ring!"
Becaus she saw that it wes groune lait,
Sho gart hir boyis come with vs all the gait ;
Quho broght vs heir, vnto 3our Highnes zett,
Quharas the court with torches all wes sett,
To shau the way vnto 3our Graces hall,
That, eftir supper, we might sie the ball.
My fellouis comes nou :-I mon mak auay.
God blisse 3our Grace! I haif no more to say.
270
275
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
213
XLIX.
A CARTELL OF THE THRE VENTROUS KNICHTS.
As Ydilnes is mother of all vyce,
And Sluggishnes the very sone of shame,
So Honour is that only pearle of pryce
That leivis to men ane everlasting name,
Quhen they ar dead, to live agane by fame,
Quharof the gredy Curage evir gloirs.
Quhilk wes the caus, we come so far from ha[me,]
To knau this Court, vhilk all the world de[coirs ;]
Quhilk for to sie, we saild by syndry shoirs,
And past the perillous gredy gulfe of Perse,
And levir sees that syndry shippis devoirs ;
Quhare is no fish, bot monsters fell and feir[se ;]
Quhais vgly shappis wer tyrsum to reherse;
And mairatour, we come not to that end,
To wery 3ou, and wast the day in verse,
Quhilk otheruyse we purpose for to spend;
As pairtly by our clething may be kend,
And vncouth armes, that errant knichts we [ar,]
Of forrein lands, vhom Fortun heir hes send,
To find thy grace, vhom we haif soght so [far.]
Than grant thou vs, befor that we come n[ar,]
Thy saiv sure conduct, that we may be frie
5
IO
15
20
To prove thy knights. We dout not bot they d[ar,]
In play or ernest, be bold to brek a tre.
And so, I trou, dar ony of 3on thrie:
25
Bot they are not come heir for sik a thing;
Bot rather, for thair Ladyes sake, to se
Quha fairest runis, and oftest taks the ring.
Go to than, shirs, and let vs streik a sting.
Cast crosse or pyle, vha sall begin the play;
And let the luifsume Ladyis and the King
Decerne, as judges, vha dois best, this day.
30
214
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
So, for my pairt, I haif no more to say.
God speid 3ou weill, and keip the timber haill!
Wait on 30ur fortun, vhill sho say 30u nay.
I wish you weill, if Fortun may availl.
L.
SANG ON THE LADY MARGARET MONTGOMERIE.
LUIFFARIS, leif of to loif so hie
3our ladyes; and thame styell no mair,
But peir, the erthlie A per se,
And flour of feminine maist fair:
Sen thair is ane without compair,
Sic tytillis in 30ur sanges deleit;
And prays the pereles [perle] preclair,
Montgomrie, maikles Margareit.
Quhose port, and pereles pulchritud,
Fair forme, and face angelicall,
Sua meik, and full of mansuetud,
With vertew supernaturall,
Makdome, and proper memberis all,
Sa perfyte, and with joy repleit,
Pruiffis hir, but peir or peregall,
Of maidis the maikles Margareit.
Sa wyse in 3outh, and verteous;
Sic ressounis for to reull the rest,
As in greit age wer mervelous;
Sua manerlie, myld, and modest;
Sa grave, sa gracious, and digest;
And in all doingis sa discreit;
The maist bening, and boniest,
Mirrour of madinis, Margareit.
Poems 50 and 51 are printed from the Maitland MS.
35
сл
5
IO
15
20
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
215
Pigmaleon, that ane portratour,
25
Be painting craft, did sa decoir,
Himself thairwith in paramour
Fell suddanlie, and smert thairfoir ;—
Wer he alyve, he wald deploir
His folie, and his love forleit,
This fairer patrone to adoir
30
Of maidis the maikles Margareit.
Or had this nymphe bene in these dayis
Quhen Paris judgit in Helicon,
Venus had not obtenit sic prayis:
35
Scho, and the goddessis ilk one,
Wald have preferrit this paragon,
As marrowit, but matche, most meit
The goldin ball to bruik alone;
Merveling in this Margareit.
40
Quhose nobill birth, and royall bluid,
Hir better nature dois exeid.
Hir native giftes, and graces gud,
Sua bonteouslie declarris indeid
As waill, and wit of womanheid,
45
That sa with vertew dois ouerfleit,
Happie is he that sall posseid
In marriage this Margareit!
Helpe, and graunt hap, gud Hemene!
Lat not thy pairt in hir inlaik;
50
Nor lat not doulful destanie,
Mishap, or fortoun, worke hir wraik,
Grant lyik vnto hirself ane maik!
That will hir honour, luif, and treit;
And I sall serve him for hir saik.
Fairweill, my Maistres Margareit.
55
A. M.
216
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
LI.
A POEME ON THE SAME LADY.
3E hevinis abone, with heavinlie ornamentis,
Extend 3our courtingis of ye cristall air!
To asuir colour turne 3our elements,
And soft yis seasoun, quhilk hes bene schairp and sair :
Command the cluddis that thay dissolve na mair,
Nor us molest with mistie vapouris weit;
For now scho cummis, the fairest of all fair,
The mundane mirrour, maikles Margareit.
The myildest may; the mekest, and modest;
Tho fairest flour, the freschest flourisching;
The lamp of licht; of 3outh the lustiest;
The blythest bird, of bewtie maist bening;
Groundit with grace, and godlie governing,
As A per se, abone all elevat;
LO
5
IO
To quhome comparit is na erthlie thing,
Nor with the goddis so heichlie estimat.
15
The goddes Diana, in hir hevinlie throne,
Evin at the full of all hir maiestie,
Quhen scho belevit that dainger was thair none,
Bot in hir sphere ascending vp maist hie,
20
Vpon this nymph fra that scho casit hir ei,
Blusching for schame, out of hir schyne scho slippis ;
Thinking scho had bene Phoebus verelie,
At quhose depairt scho fell into the eclipis.
The asters cleir, and torchis of the nicht,
Quhilk in the sterrie firmament wer fixit,
25
Fra thay persavit dame Phoebes lost hir licht,
Lyik diamontis with cristall perlis mixit,
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
217
They did discend, to schyne this nymph annixit,
Vpon hir schoulderis twinkling everie on;
30
Quhilk to depaint it wald be ouer prolixit,
How thay in ordour glisteris on hir goun.
Gif she had bene into the dayis auld,
Quhen Jupiter the schap of bull did tak,
Befoir Europe quhen he his feit did fauld,
Quhill scho throw courage clam vpon his bak;
Sum greater mayck, I wait, he had gart mak,
Hir to haue stollin be his slichtis quent;
For to have past abone the zodiak,
As quein and goddes of the firmament.
35
40
With goldin schours, as he did Clemene,
He wald this virgine furteouslie desave;
Bot I houp in the goddes Hemene,
Quhilk to hir brother so happie fortoun gave,
That scho sallbe exaltit by the laif,
45
Baith for hir bewtie and hir nobill bluid;
And of my self ane servand scho sall have
Vnto I die and so I doe conclvid.
FINIS quod A. Montgomerie.
LII.
[A REGRATE OF HIS VNHAPPIE LUVE.]
IRKIT I am with langsum luvis lair,
Oursett with inwart siching sair;
For in the presone of dispair
I ly,
Seing ilk wicht gettis sum weilfair
Bot I.
Poems 52, 53, 54, are printed from the Bannatyne MS.
5.
218
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
My hairt is pynd and persit so with panis,
Quhilk teiris over my visage ranis,
And makis the bluid within my vanis
To dry.
Quha ma sic greif resist aganis
Bot I?
My mad misfortoun dois me so comm[u]ve,
That I may nowthir rest nor ruve,
Bot wary all the goddis ab[u]ve
The sky,
That every leid obtenis thair luve
Bot I.
All nobill hairtis of nateur ar inclynd,
Quhair they find constance, to be kynd;
Thairfor to me scho sowld hir mynd
Apply,
Sen non is for hir persone pynd
Bot I.
The facultie of famenene is so,
Vnto thair freind to be his fo,
Syne menis him quhen he is ago:
For thy
Vncourtesly thus keill thay mo
Than I.
Thay covet not the man that thay may get;
For him thay hald as propper det:
On strangeris ay thair myndis ar set
ΙΟ
15
20
25
30
To spy.
Thus mo bene fetterit with thair net
35
Nor I.
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
219
Grit fule am I to follow the delyte
Of thame that hes no faith perfyte ;
Thairfoir sic cumpany I quyt
Denny.
Off all my wo hes non the wyt
Bot I.
Quhat woundir is thocht I do weip and pleid,
This fellon crewall lyfe I leid;
The quhilk but dowt wil be my deid
In hy,
For every man obtenis remeid
Bot I.
My lady hes ane hairt of stone so hard,
On me to rew scho hes no regard,
But bustously I am debard
Ay by,
And every man gettis sum reward
But I.
FINIS quod Montgomery.
LIII.
ANE ANSUER TO ANE INGLISS RAILAR PRAYSING HIS
AWIN GENALOGY.
3E, Inglische hursone! sumtyme will avant
3our progeny frome Brutus to haif tane ;
And sumtyme frome ane angell or ane sanctt,
AS ANGELUS and ANGLUS bayth war ane:
Angellis in erth 3it hard I few or nane,
Except ye feyndis with Lucifer yat fell.
Avant! 30w villane of that lord allane,
Tak thy progeny frome Pluto prence of hell.
5
}
50
45
40
220
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
Becaus ze vse in hoillis to hyd 30vr sell,
Angluss is cum frome Angulus in deid;
Aboive all vderis Brutus bure ye bell,
Quha slew his fader howping to succeid:
Than chus 30w ane of thais; I rek not ader;
Tak Beelzebub, or Brutus to 30vr fader.
FINIS.
LIV.
ΙΟ
5
ANE ANSWER TO ANE HELANDMANIS INVECTIUE.
FYNDLAY McCONNOQUHY, fuf McFadzan,
Cativilie geilzie with ye poik-braik;
Smoir cunary takin trewis breikles McBradzan ;
3eill fart fast in Baquhidder, or ye corne schaik.
Insteid of grene gynger 3e eit gray gradzan,
For lyce in 3our limschoch 3e haif na inlaik ;
Mony mvntir moir in mviggis of mvre madzan;
Sawis seindill saffroun in sawt for yair sarkis saik.
Oknewling Occonnoquhy Ochreigry McGrane
With fallisty mvnter moy,
Soy in scho sorle boy,
Callin feane aggis endoy,
Firry braldich ilkane.
FINIS quod Montgumary.
і
Ic
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
221
EPITAPHS.
LV.
EPITAPH OF R. SCOT.
Good Robert SCOT, sen thou art gone to God,
Cheif of our souerane Colledge Justice Clerks,
Vho, vhill thou livd, for honestie wes od,
As wryt beirs witnes of thy worthy werks:
So faithfull, formall, and so frank and frie
Sall nevir vse that office eftir thee.
LVI.
EPITAPH OF THE MAISTER OF WORK, [SIR ROBERT]
DRUMMOND OF CARNOK, [KNIGHT.]
STAY, passinger, thy mynd, thy futt, thy ee:
Vouchsaif, a we, his epitaph to vieu,
Quha left bot feu behind him, sik as he;
Syn leirnd to de, to live agane aneu.
All knoues this treu, vho noble CARNOK kneu.
This realme may reu that he is gone to grave.
All buildings brave bids DRUMMOND nou adeu;
Quhais lyf furthsheu he lude thame by the laiv.
Quhair sall we craiv sik policie to haiv?
Quha with him straiv to polish, build, or plante?
These giftis, I grant, God lent him by the laiv;
Quha mot resaiv his saull to be a sante!
To regne with him in evirlasting glore,
Lyk as his corps his cuntrey did decore.
The Epitaphs are printed from the Drummond MS.
5
IO
сл
222
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
LVII.
EPITAPH OF JOHNE AND PATRIK SHAUES.
If ethnik ald by superstitious stylis,
Quhilk poyson zit of Paganisme appeirs,
Wer stellified to rule the rolling spheirs,
As pagnisme poets and profane compylis;
Quhais senceles sences Satan so ouersylis,
By oracles illuding all thair eirs,
In double speches ansuers sik as speirs;
Quhilk godles gods the graceles Grekes begylis :
Then more praisuorthie Pelicans of Shawis
Quhais saikles bluid wes for 3our souerane shed,
Lo, blessit brether, both in honours bed!
His sacred self our trumpet bravely blauis.
By Castor and by Pollux, 3ou may boste,
Deid Shawis, 3e live, suppose 3our lyfis be loste.
сл
5
ΙΟ
LVIII.
EPITAPH OF ROBERT, LORD BOYD.
HEIR lyis that godly, noble, wyse, Lord Boyd,
Quha Kirk, the King, and Commounweill decorde;
Quhilks war, vhill they this jeuell all injoyd,
Defendit, counseld, governd be that lord.
His ancient hous, oft perreld, he restord.
Tuyse sax and saxtie 3eirs he livd; and syne,
By death, the thrid of Januar, devord,
In anno thryse fyve hundreth auchtie nyne.
FINIS.
сл
5
DEVOTIONAL POEMS
DEVOTIONAL POEMS.
I.
W
THE FIRST PSALME.

EILL is the man,
3ea blissed than,
By grace that can
Esheu ill counsell and the godles gait;
That stands not in
The way of sin,
Nor does begin
To sitt with mockers in the scornefull sait ;
Bot in Jehovahis lau
Delyts aricht,
And studies it to knaw,
Both day and nicht;
For he sall be
Lyk to the trie
Quhilk plantit by the running river grouis;
Quhilk frute does beir
In tym of 3eir;
Quhais leaf sall never fade nor rute sall louis.
P
5
ΙΟ
15
226
DEVOTIONAL POEMS.
His actionis all
Ay prosper sall,
Quhilk sall not fall
To godles men bot as the chaffe or sand,
Quhilk day by day
Winds dryvis away,
Thairfor I say
The wicked in the judgment sall not stand;
Nor sinners ryse na mair,
Vhom God disdanes,
In the assembly vhair
The just remanes.
For why? the Lord.
Doth beir record;
He knauis the richteous conversation ay,
And godles gaits,
Quhilk he so haitis,
Sall doutles perish and decay aluay.
II.
THE SECONDE PSALME.
To the Tone of" In throu the," &c.
QUHY doth the Heathin rage and rampe,
And peple murmur all in vane?
The kings on earth ar bandit plane,
And princes ar conjonit in campe,
20
25
30
35
Aganst the Lord and Chryst ilk ane.
5
"Come let our hands
Brek all thair bands,”
Say they, "and cast from vs thair 30ks."
Bot he sall evin
That duells in hevin
Laugh thame to scorne, lyk mocking stoks.
ΙΟ
DEVOTIONAL POEMS.
227
[In] wraith then sall he speik thame till,
And vex thame in his anger sore,
And say "I set my King with glore
On Sion Mount, my holy hill.”
I will declair his will thairfoir ;
That is, that he
Hes said to me,
"Thou art my Sone beloved ay,
From vhome my Love
Sall not remove;
I haif begotten thee this day.
Ask thou of me, and thou sall haive
The Heathin to enherit haill,
And all the earth thou sall not faill
15
20
25
For thy possessioun to resaive.
Thy princely scepter sall prevaill;
For they sall feill
It made of steill,
To render thame thair just reuaird ;
Quhairvith thou sall
30
Evin bruis thame all
In peces, lyk a potters shaird."
Be wyse, thairfor, 3e kingis, and heir.
3e judges of the earth, I say,
35
Be leirned and instructit ay.
Rejoyce and serve the Lord in feir,
And kisse the Sone and him obey;
Leist, vhen his yre
Sall burne as fyre,
3e perish in the way and fall.
And sik as trust
In God most just
Sall happy be and blissed all.
41. MS.
zea perish.
40
4
228
DEVOTIONAL POEMS.
7
III.
THE POETS DREME.
GOD give me grace for to begin
My spousing garment for to spin,
And to be one till enter in
With the brydgrome in blisse;
And sleep na mair in sleuth and sin,
Bot rather ryse and richtly rin
That hevinly wedfie for to win
Vhilk he prepairs for his.
The way is strait, the nomber small;
Therfor we may not entir all:
3it he hes said that sik men sall
Vhais faith brings furth gude frute.
My [saull,] then, fash not for a fall;
Contineu knocking; clim and call:
Thair is no winning ouer the wall
Fra ains the dur be shute.
сл
ΙΟ
15
Tak tym in tyme, or tym be tint,
To stryve with sin, and nevir stint;
And vhar thou may not, mak a mint,
Sa that thy faith be fast.
As raynie dropis do peirce the flint
Throu falling oft, and not throu dint;
Of hope if thou hold fast the hint,
Thou sall prevaill at last.
Presume not, nor dispair to speid.
To lyf that leddir sall the leid,
Quhilk stude at godly Jacobs heid
Quhen he to dream wes drevin ;
20
25
DEVOTIONAL POEMS.
229
Quhairby the angels come and zeid
From hevin to earth, as thou may reid :
30
That is the only way indeid
To help the vp to hevin.
Assure thy self, it is the sam
Vharby the godly fathers clam,
Vha war the heires of Abraham,
Beloved of the Lord.
If thou beleive into that Lamb
Vha said, "I am evin that I am,"
The Deuill dou nevir the condam ;
Thy warand is the word.
When he wes rent vpon the rude,
He boght belevers with his blude;
I mene the godly men and gude
Quha keepit his commands,
And by instinction vnderstude,
35
40
45
Thair saulls resaued his flesh for fude.
Then clim by Chryst, for, I conclude,
Thy help lyes in his hands.
IV.
A GODLY PRAYER.
PECCAVI Pater, miserere mei :
I am not worthy to be cald thy chylde,
Vho stubburnely haif lookt so long astray,
Not lyk thy sone, bot lyk the prodigue wyld.
The following variants occur in the Bannatyne MS. and in F. and U. :—
1. F. and U. I've sinnd, Father, be merci-
ful to me.
3. F. and U. That stubbornly. B. MS. so
long hes went. F. and U. so long have
gone.
230
DEVOTIONAL POEMS.
My sillie saull with sin is so defyld,
That Satan seeks to catch it as his pray.
God grant me grace that he may be begyld:
Peccavi Pater, miserere mei.
I am abashd how I dar be sa bald
Befor thy godly presence to appeir,
Or hazard anes the hevins to behald,
Vha am vnworthy that the earth suld beir.
3it damne me noght vhom thou hes boght so deir;
Sed salvum me fac, dulcis Fili Dei,
For out of Luk this leson nou I leir,
Peccavi Pater, miserere mei.
If thou, O Lord, with rigour woldst revenge,
Vhat flesh befor the faultles suld be fund?
Or vho is he vhois conscience can him clenge,
Bot by his birth to Satan he is bund?
3it, of thy grace, thou took auay that grund,
And sent thy Sone our penalty to pay,
To saiv us from that hiddious hellish hund.
Peccavi Pater, miserere mei.
I hope for mercy, thoght my sinnes be huge:
I grant my gylt, and grones to thee for grace.
Thoght I suld flie, vhair sall I find refuge?
In hevin, O Lord? thair is thy duelling place.
The erth, thy futstule; 3ea in helis, alace!
Doun with the dead; bot all must the obey.
Thairfor I cry, vhill I haif tyme and space,
Peccavi Pater, miserere mei.
5. U. filthy soul. B. MS. synnis is.
6. F. and U. thinks to catch.
9. B. MS. abaisd. F. and U. abas'd.
10. F. and U. holy presence.
13. B. MS. dampne.
15. B. MS. Lowik. F. we may lear. U. we
do lear.
18. F. and U. shall be found.
19.
F. and U. his conscience. B. MS. cowld
him clenge.
20. F. and U. To sin and Satan from his
birth's not bound.
5
10
15
20
25
30
21. F. and U. of meer grace. F. tak'st.
23. B. MS. hiddouss hellesch. F. the hideous.
hell's. U. that hideous hell's.
27. F. and U. Though I would flee, where
should I.
28. B. MS. Till hevin.
29. F. and to hell, alace! U. and to the
hells.
30. F. Down to the dead. U. Down go the
dead.
DEVOTIONAL POEMS.
231
.
O gratious God, my gyltines forgive,
In sinners death since thou does not delyte,
Bot rather that they suld convert and live,
35
As witnessis thy sacred holy wryte.
I pray the, then, thy promise to perfyte
In me; and I sall with the Psalmist say
To pen thy prais, and wondrous works indyte:
Peccavi Pater, miserere mei.
Suppose I slyde, let me not sleep in sleuth,
In stinking sty with Satans sinfull swyn;
Bot make my tongue the trompet of thy treuth,
And lend my verse sik wings as ar divyne.
40
Sen thou hes grantit me so good ingyn
To loif the, Lord, in gallant style and gay,
Let me no moir so trim a talent tyne:
45
Peccavi Pater, miserere mei.
Thy Spirit, my spirit to speik, with speed, inspyre.
Help, Holy Ghost! and be Montgomeries Muse;
Flie doun on me in forked tongues of fyre,
As thou did, on thy oune Apostills, vse;
And with thy fyre me fervently infuse
To laud the, Lord, and longer not delay.
My former folish fictiouns I refuse:
Peccavi Pater, miserere mei.
1
50
55
34. B. MS. synnaris.
35. F. and U. would they should.
36. F. As witnesseth Prophets in holy write.
U. As witnesseth prophets in holy writ.
37. F. and U. I pray thee, Lord.
38. F. and U. that I may with the Psalmist
say. B. MS. Psalpmest.
39. F. and U. I will thy praise.
40. F. and U. Therefore, dear Father, be
merciful to me.
41. F. and U. Though I do slide.
42. F. and U. Me to revive from sin let grace
begin.
43. F. and U. Make, Lord, my tongue.
46. F. and U. To praise thy name with.
49. F. and U. My sp'rit to speak, let thy
Sp'rit, Lord, inspire.
50. F. and U. mine heav'nly muse.
52-55. F. and U.-
As on th' apostles, with thy fear me in-
fuse;
All vice expel, teach me sin to refuse,
And all my filthy affections, I thee
pray;
Thy fervent love on me pour night
and day.
232
DEVOTIONAL POEMS.
Stoup, stubborne stomock, that hes bene so stout;
Stoup, filthie flesh, and carioun of clay;
Stoup, hardint hairt, befor the Lord, and lout
Stoup, stoup in tyme, defer not day by day.
60
Thou knouis not weill vhen thou man pass away;
The Tempter, als, is bissie to betrey.
Confes thy sinnes, and shame not for to say,
Peccavi Pater, miserere mei.
65
To grit Jehovah let all glore be gevin,
Vha shupe my saul to his similitude;
And to his Sone, vhom he sent doun from hevin,
Vhen I wes lost, to buy me with his blude;
And to the Holy Ghost, my gyder gude,
Vho must confirme my faith to tak no fray.
70
In me cor mundum crea-I conclude:
Peccavi Pater, miserere mei.
V.
A WALKNING FROM SIN.
THINK on the end and thou sall seindle sin.
Since vnadwysment wraks or thou be war,
To call for grace betyms at God begin,
Befor thou folou on the flesh too far.
Throu vnadvertance, oh! hou mony ar
Involvit so vhill out they can not win?
Wald thou be clene? touch nather pick nor tar :
Think on the end and thou sall seindle sin.
58. F. and U. carion made of clay.
61. F. and U. Thou wots not when that thou
must.
62. F. and U. To the great glore where thou
must be for ay. B. MS. reddy to be-
tray.
63. F. and U. and think no shame to say.
LO
5
65. F. and U. O great Jehovah to thee all
glore be given.
66. F. and U. to thy similitude.
67. F. and U. thy
thou sent'st.
70. F. and U. my faith in the right way.
72. F. and U. O heavenly Father be merciful
to me.
DEVOTIONAL POEMS.
233
As trees hes leafis, then florishis, syn fruit;
So thou hes thoghts, syn words, and actions last.
Thus, grie by grie, sin taks in the sik rute,
Infecting saull and body baith so fast,
To stay repentance till the tyme be past.
Then turne in tym and not so rekles rin,
Or thou thy self in condemnation cast.
Think on the end and thou sall seindle sin.
IO
15
Or thou be sommound by vncerten death,
Count with thy conscience; knau if it be cle[ne.]
Defer not to the latter blast of breath,
Sen lait repentance seindle sure is sene.
Then thrau the wand in tyme vhill it is grene;
Sen tym is precious tak it or 3e tuin.
Sen thou began, look bak vhat thou hes bene:
Think on the end and thou sall seindle sin.
20
Sen death is debt, prepair thee for to pay;
25
Thou knauis not vhen thy Creditour will crave.
Remember death, and on that dreidfull day
Quhen as thy saull hir sentence sall resave,
Of endles pain or endles joy to haive,
The goatis ar many, thoght the lambis be thin :
Seek thy salvation; be not Satans slaive;
Think on the end and thou sall seindle sin.
30
Seik, knok, and ask in Faith, with Hope and Love,
And thou sall find, and enter, and obtene.
35
Obey his blissed bidding from above;
So thou sall purchess proffeit, to, betuene.
Inclyne thyn eiris, and open wp thy ene
To heir and sie; and comfort all thy kin.
Do good; repent; in tym to come abstene:
Think on the end and thou sall seindle sin.
40
234
DEVOTIONAL POEMS.
Thoght Natur force thee to commit offence,
3it it is divelish daylie to delyte
Or perseveir in, onder this pretence,
That Chryst sall be compeld to mak the quyte:
As some will say, "Sen flesh is imperfyte,
God mon forgive, or think his court bot thin."
These words ar vain-but warrand of the wryt:
Think on the end and thou sall seindle sin.
45
VI.
A LESONE HOU TO LEIRNE TO DIE.
BE war, be war, leist it be war ;
The dreidfull day drauis to the duris.
Exame 3our selfis; sie vhat 3e ar,
And spy hou Death comis at the spurris ;
Whais sharpe seveirest summond sayis :
Without contineuing of dayis.
He keepis no dyet, day, nor table ;
Bot vhen he calis thou mon compeir;
Euen vhen thou art vnmetest, able.
Then fruitles faith is fraught with feir;
That message so thy mynd dismayis :
Without contineuing of dayis.
Quhen all thy sensis the forsaikis,
And thou persaivis no dome bot dead,
Then courage lyk a couart quaikis ;
15
Vane hope dar not hold vp his head;
Thy sinfull saull astonisht stayis,
Bot no contineuing of dayis.
ΙΟ
сл
5
DEVOTIONAL POEMS.
235
Fra conscience brings furth his books,
Into thy stomok is a stryfe.
It is no laughter, vhen thou looks
Vpon the legend of thy lyfe;
Vharin ar writtin all thy wayis,
Without contineuing of dayis.
That register may mak thee rad,
Reveiling both thy good and evill.
Thy saull sall sie, to mak hir sad,
Hir vgly enemie the Divill;
Quhilk all that lybel to hir layis,
Without contineuing of dayis.
Fra sho haif gazed in that glasse,
Sho hes a gesse vhair sho suld gang.
Be sho provydit, or sho passe—
20
25
30
It's weill; if not-all will be wrang.
To lait for pardon then sho prayis,
Quhen no contineuing of dayis.
35
A bitter battell sall sho byde
Betuixt quick hope and dead dispair,
Quhen sho sall trimble to be tryde,
Remembring on long Euermair;
Quhair peirles pain or plesur ay is
Without contineuing of dayis.
Thoght, word, and deid, all sall be weyde,
Befor thy lingring lyf disluge.
40
Vhat ferly, freind, thoght thou be fleyd
45
To go befor so grit a Judge,
Vhais feirfull face the wicked frayis,
Without contineuing of dayis?
236
DEVOTIONAL POEMS.
Thy beutie, riches, wit, and strenth,
Quhilk God thee, to his glory, gaive,
50
Sall caus the cry, Alace! at lenth,
Quhen he thy checker compt sall craive;
Vho will allou the no delayis,
Nor zit contineuing of dayis.
Thair thou, that in this warld wes wont
To griev thy God without regaird,
Sall be compeld to give account,
And as thou thoght resave rewaird
Of him vho presently repayis,
Without contineuing of dayis.
Then prayers, almesdeids, and tearis,
Vhilks 3it to skorne zee skantly skar,
Sall mair availl than jaks and spearis,
For to debait thee at that bar
Quhair nane rebelis, bot all obeyis,
Without contineuing of dayis.
Quhen Justice halds the ballance evin,
Sho mettis no inshis with the ell.
The hevy saulis ar had to hevin ;
The light, alace, ar hoyde to hell,
Quhair Belzebub in burning brayis
In wter darknes vhair no day is.
Quhat wald thou give, if God wold grant
Thee longer licience for to leive?
Wald thou not sueir to be a sant,
And all thy goods for God's saik give;
3ea, and instruct all sik as strayis
Without contineuing of dayis?
55
60
65
710
75
DEVOTIONAL POEMS.
237
Quhy art thou miserable, O Man?
Quhy pretermits thou tyme and place?
Quhy art thou ydler nou nor than?
80
Quhy speids thou not vhill thou hes space?
Quhy tyins thou tyme, that the betrayis?
Quhy dreeds thou not these duilfull dayis?
3it, hear vhill Chryst knokis at thy hairt,
And open it to let him in:
85
Or thou sall abill efteruard
Crave entrie vhair thou sall not win ;
As the fyve folish virgins playis:
Then with the wyse redeme thy dayis.
90
VII.
[AWAY! VANE WORLD.]
To the Toon of—" Sall I let hir go,” &c.
AUAY! vane world, bewitcher of my hairt!
My sorouis shauis my sins maks me to smart ;
3it will I not dispair,
Bot to my God repair :
He has mercy ay,
Thairfor will I pray :
He hes mercy ay, and lovis me,
Thoght by his humbling hand he provis m[e.]
Auay, auay! too long thou hes me snaird ;
I will not tyne more tyme: I am prepaird
Thy subtill slychts to flie,
Vhilks hes allured me.
Tho they sueitly smyle,
Smoothly they begyle:
Tho they sueitly smyle, I feir thame.
5
IO
15
I find thame fals; I will forbeir thame.
238
DEVOTIONAL POEMS.
Once more, auay! shauis loth the world to le[ave :]
Bids oft adeu with it that holds me slave.
Loth am I to forgo
This sueet alluring fo:
Sen thy wayis ar vane,
Sall I the retane?
Sen thy wayis ar vane, I quyt thee;
20
Thy plesuris sall no more delyt me.
A thousand tymis auay !-Oh! stay no more.
25
Sueit Chryst, conduct, leist subtile sin devore.
Without thy helping hand
No man hes strenth to stand.
Tho I oft intend
All my wayis to mend-
30
Tho I oft intend, strength fails ay:
The sair assaults of sin prevailis ay.
Quhat sal I say? ar all my plesurs past?
Sall worldly lustis nou tak thair leiv at last?
3ea, Chryst, these earthly toyes
35
Sall turne in hevinly joyes.
Let the world be gone;
I'l love Chryst allone.
Let the world be gone-I cair not :
Chryst is my love alone—I feir not.
VIII.
[COME, MY CHILDRENE DERE, DRAU NEIR ME.]
COME, my Childrene dere, drau neir me,
To my Love vhen that I sing;
Mak 3our ears and hairts to heir me,
For it is no eirthly thing,
40
DEVOTIONAL POEMS.
239
5
Bot a love*
Far above
Other loves all, I say,
Vhich is sure
To indure
Vhen as all things sall decay.
O my Lord and Love most loyal,
Vhat a prais does thou deserve!
Thoght thou be a Prince most Royal,
With thy Angels thee to serve,
3it a pure
Creature
Thou hes lovit al thy lyfe;
Thou didst chuis
The refuis
Of the world to be thy wyfe.
Whill I did behold the favor
Of his countenance so fair—
Whill I smellit the sueet savor
Of his garments rich and rair—
"Oh !" I said,
"If I had,
To my Love, 3on Prince of Glore!
For my chose
Wold I lose
Other loves I lovd befor."
Vhill I did these words besyd me,
With a secreit sigh, confes,
Lo! my Lord and Love espyd me,
And dreu neir me vhair I wes;
Then a ring
Did he thring
IO
15
20
25
30
35
240
DEVOTIONAL POEMS.
On my finger, that wes fyne:-
"Tak," quod he,
"This to the,
For a pledge that I am thyne.
Nou thou hes that thou desyrit—
Me to be thy Lord and Love—
All the thing that thou requyrit,
To the heir, I do approve:
3it agane,
For my pane,
Only this I crave of thee;
For my pairt,
Keep thy hairt
40
45
As a virgin chast to me.”
50
IX.
HIS MORNING MUSE.
[NON TARDES CONVERTI AD DEUM.]
LET dread of pain for sin in aftertime,
Let shame to see thy self ensnared so,
Let grief conceived for foul accursed crime,
Let hate of sin, the worker of thy wo,
With dread, with shame, with grief, with hate, enforce
To dew thy cheeks with tears to deep remorse.
So hate of sin shall make God's love to grow ;
So grief shall harbour hope within thine heart;
So dread shall caus the flood of joy to flow;
So shame shall send sweet solace to thy smart:
So love, so hope, so joy, so solace sweet
Shall make my soul in heavenly bliss to fleet.
сл
5
ΙΟ
DEVOTIONAL POEMS.
241
Wo, where no hate doth no such love allure!
Wo, where such grief makes no such hope proceed!
Wo, where such dread doth not such joy procure!
Wo, where such shame doth not such solace breed!
Wo, where no hate, no grief, no dread, no shame
No love, no hope, no joy, no solace frame!
15
X.
PSALME XXXVI.
DECLINA A MALO, ET FAC BONUM.
LEAVE sin, ere sin leave thee; do good,
And both without delay;
Less fit he will to morrow be,
Who is not fit to day.
The Devotional Poems are printed from the Drummond MS., with the exception of the
pieces numbered 9 and 10, which are found in no MS., but are contained in all the ordinary
editions of "The Cherrie and the Slae."
Q

EX
IS WELS ZIS INS
THE MINDES
Melodie.
CONTAYNING CERTAYNE
Pfalmes of the Kinglie Prophete
Dauid, applyed to a nevv pleaſant
tune, verie comfortable to
everie one that is rightlie ac-
quainted therewith.

EDINBVRGH
PRINTED BE ROBERT CHAR-
teris, Printer to the Kings most
Excellent Maiestie. 1605.
Cum Priuilegio Regali.
THE MINDES
MINDES MELODIE.
PSALME I.

B
LEST is the man,
3ea, happie than,
By grace that can
Eschew ill counsell and the godles gates;
And walkes not in
5
The way of sin,
Nor doth begin
To sit with mockers in the scornful sates;
Bot in IEHOVAES law
Delites aright,
And studies it to knaw
Both day and night.
That man shall bee
Like to the tree
Fast planted by the running river growes ;
That frute doth beare,
In tyme of 3eare;
Whose leafe shall neuer fade, nor rute vnlouse.
ΙΟ
15
246
THE MINDES MELODIE.
His actions all
Ay prosper shall :
Which shall not fall
The godles men; bot as the calfe or sand,
That, day by day,
Winde driuth away :
Therefore, I say,
The wicked in the judgement shall not stand;
Nor sinners rise na mair,
Whom God disdaines,
In the assemblie where
The just remaines.
20
25
30
For why? the Lord,
Who bearth record,
Doth know the righteous conuersations ay;
And godles gates,
Which he so hates,
35
Shall quite die, perish, and doubtlesse decay.
PSALME IIII.
To thee I call,
In my great thrall
And troubles all:
Hear me, O Lord, my God of righteousnesse.
Of mercie free,
Thou hast set mee
At libertie.
Haue mercie, Lord, and rid me from distresse..
O men of mortall name,
How long will zee
My glorie turne to shame,
With vanitie?
O sonnes of men,
Why doe ze then
5
ΙΟ
THE MINDES MELODIE.
247
Seeke after lies, with the vngodly ghuest?
The Lord aboue
Doth surelie loue
The godlie man, and heareth my request.
In aw therefore,
Giue God the glore,
And sinne no more,
With quyet mynde examine well 3our heart.
3our sweete incense
Of innocence
With confidence
Bring to the Lord : 30ur selves to him conuert.
The worldlie wretch, all day,
Doth neuer cease
For well and wealth to pray,
This life to ease.
Bot thou, thy grace
And louing face,
With brightfull beames, make on vs, Lord, to shine.
Graunt vs thy light
15
20
25
30
And fauour bright.
35
We pray the, Lord, thine eare to vs incline.
With heart and voice
I will rejoice;
And make my choise
Of this thy grace, before all worldlie care.
40
This treasure grit
Doth me delite
With joy perfite,
More than the wretch for al his goods and gear;
As granes and grapes so gay,
In tyme of 3eare,
That filles his heart, I say,
With joyfull cheare.
45
248
THE MINDES MELODIE.
In rest and peace
I find release;
And wil ly down, and sleepe with sound repose:
For thou, my guarde,
And sure rewarde,
My help, my hope, doest keep me from my foes.
PSALME VI.
LORD, I requyre,
That, in thine yre
Fuming as fyre,
Thou me no wayes rebuke, nor zet reject.
Though I doe swerue,
And so deserue
That I should sterue,
In mercie, Lord, I pray thee zet correct.
For griefe and anguish hes
Me so opprest,
That in my weary bones
I finde no rest.
My soule and mynde
Are so sore pynde,
50
LO
5
ΙΟ
That it I can expresse in no degree.
15
O Lord, I say,
How long delay
Wilt thou, to cure my woe and miserie?
Let thy sweete face
And wonted grace,
In tyme and space
Returne, to free my soule from all her paine:
Not for no thing
That she can bring,
20
That is condigne ;
25
Bot for thy mercie freely made her gaine.
THE MINDES MELODIE.
249
For why? amongst the dead
Who shall thee praise?
Shall dust and asse in earth
Thy glorie blaise?
My plaintes trewlie
So grieuous be,
That I am like to swerue, I am so faint.
All night I greet;
My couch I weet
With trickling tears, gusht out with my complaint.
Mine eyes dim bee,
And will not see
My sinne trewlie;
And griefe hes so possest my heauie heart,
For feare of those
That be my foes,
And would rejoise
To see my wreak, and would my soule subuert.
Bot now-away, all 3e
That wicked be!
For the Lord he hath heard
My plaint and crie ;
And not onelie
He hath heard me,
Bot granted my request and whole desyre,
And shall my foes
In tyme disclose,
And them confound with shame in his hote yre.
PSALME VIII.
IEHOVA, Lord,
Who can record,
In writ or word,
30
35
40
45
50
250
THE MINDES MELODIE.
Thy name so great on earth and euerie where?
Which thou hast plaist,
As pleasde thee best,
And worthiest,
Aboue the heauens and christall cleared aire.
Thou makes thy laude and praise,
Thy strength and might,
From breath of babes to rise,
Both day and night.
In suckling anes
Thy grace remaines
For to be seene, and beautie excellent;
The mouth to close
Of godlesse foes,
That readie are to slay the innocent.
When I behold
5
ΙΟ
H
15
The high heauens mould,
20
That doth vnfold
Thy wondrous works by thy owne fingers wrought;
The moone so bright,
And starrie light,
That shines by night,
25
With gleaming fires, all formed out of noght;
What thing is mortal wight,
Then do I say,
Of whome thou, Lord of might,
Are myndfull ay?
30
The sonne of man,
What is he than,
Whom thou by grace doest choose and beautifie?
3et little lesse,
I must confesse,
35
Thou hast him made, than angels, in degree;
THE MINDES MELODIE.
251
And thou his name
And glorious frame
Exalts with fame,
And crownes his head with royall Majestie;
And, as a King,
Him sets, to raigne
Ouer euerie thing,
That life, breath, forme, and shape, hath taine of thee;
As sheepe, oxe, horse, and beast
That feeds on land;
3ea, all such things are preast
At his command;
The fishe that swym
With out-spred fin,
And fowls, each one, that haunt into the aire :
IEHOVA, Lord,
Who can record
Thy name, so great on earth and euery wher?
PSALME XV.
O LORD, who shall
Thy tent indwall
Celestiall?
Who shall abide within thine holie hill?
That walks in light,
And doth that's right,
With all his might;
His brother's name doth not reproach and spill;
Nor 3et can heare his fame,
In any sort,
To be imparde with blame
Or false report:
That doth abstaine
From euerie meane
40
45
50
сл
5
ΙΟ
252
THE MINDES MELODIE.
And wrongful way to work his neighbour wo;
And in whose sight
The wicked wight,
That God despytes, despyted is also:
Bot such as loue
The Lord aboue,
He doth approue,
And honours them with loue and reuerence:
That band doth make,
I
2
And will not breake,
For loose nor lacke
2
That may ensue, nor any such pretence;
Nor zet doth put his coyne
To vsurie;
Nor the just cause purloyne,
Through bryberie.
Who means, right so,
These thinges to do,
And steadfastlie doth keepe the perfite way;
As Syon Hill
He shall stand still,
And neuer moue, nor perishe, or decay.
PSALME XIX.
THE firmament,
And heauens out-stent,
So excellent,
Thy handywork and glorious praise proclaim:
Each day to day
Succeeding ay
In their array,
And night to night, by course, doe preache the same.
3
3
THE MINDES MELODIE.
253
No sound of breath nor speach
Of men haue they,
3et eueriewhere they preache
Thy praise, I say.
Their lyne goeth out
The earth about:
Their voice is heard throughout the world so wide.
There he a throne
Set for the sunne,
And paylion plight, his mansion to abide;
ΙΟ
15
Who, like a groome
Of great renoume,
Right braue doth come
From chamber straight, with comlie countenance ;
Or, like a knight
In pleasant plight,
Doth haste with might
To runne the race, his honor to aduance.
His rysing and his race,
It doth appeare
Euen from the out-most space
Of heauens spheare.
Then hes he taine
His course againe,
Through azurde sky, by reuolution right.
Nothing can be
Hid from the eye
And burning beames of that great lampe of light.
God's word is cleare;
His law sinceere,
And most enteere,
20
25
30
35
254
THE MINDES MELODIE.
The sinfull soule to him for to conuert:
His precepts pure,
Both firme and sure,
And can allure,
And make right wise the sober simple heart.
Thy ways and statutes all
Are righteousnesse,
Which glad the soules in thrall,
With joyfulnesse :
They giue cleare light
40
45
To our blinde sight.
50
Thy feare is pure, and euer permanent:
Thou cannot rew:
Thy judgments trew
And righteous are, O Lord Omnipotent.
Much gold of price,
55
Refyned twyce,
3ea, more than thryce,
Is not in worth with them for to be valude:
The honie white,
Pure and perfite,
60
Mouing delite,
Is not so sweete, nor so much to be craued.
They make thy seruants wise
And circumspect;
And, what to enterprise,
They him direct.
In keeping them,
65
Great is the gaine,
And rich rewarde, for such lade vp for euer.
Bot who can count
70
Sinnes that surmount?
From secreet sins, good Lord, my soule deliuer.
THE MINDES MELODIE.
255
O Lord, vouchsaue,
I humblie craue,
Me for to saue,
And cleanse my hart from proud presumptuous sin :
Then shall I bee
From sinnes set free,
75
That troubles mee.
Preserue me, Lord, that I walke not therein ;
80
And let them not preuaile,
Me to possesse:
Then I will, without faile,
Loue righteousnesse.
Accept my plaint,
Which I present
Before thy sight, with humble hart and voice.
My strength and stay
Thou art for ay,
And Sauiour sweete, in whom I do rejoyce.
PSALME XXIII.
THE Lord most hie,
I know, will be
An heyrde to me:
I can not long haue stresse, nor stand in neede.
He makes my leare
In feelds so fare,
That without care
I doe repose, and at my pleasure feede.
He sweetlie me conuoyes
To pleasant springes,
Where nothing me annoyes,
But pleasure bringes.
He giues my minde
Peace in such kinde,
85
90
5
сл
ΙΟ
256
THE MINDES MELODIE.
That feare of foes nor force can not me reaue.
By him I am lead
In perfite tread;
And, for his name, he will me neuer leaue.
Though I should stay,
Euen day by day,
In deadlie way,
3et would I be assurde, and fear no ill;
For why? thy grace,
In euerie place,
Doth me imbrace;
Thy rod and shiphirds-crook comforts me still.
In despyte of my foe,
My table growes.
Thou balmes my head with ioy :
My cuppe ouerflowes:
Kindnesse and grace,
Mercie and peace,
Shall follow me, for all my wretched dayes;
Then endles joy
Shall me conuoy
To heauen, where I with thee shall be alwaies.
PSALME XLIII.
O LORD of grace,
Iudge thou my cace :
From thy high place,
My cause reuenge against my deadlie foes.
From wicked traine
Of fraudfull men
That thee misken,
Saue me, O Lord, for I in thee rejoise.
15
20
25
30
35
5
THE MINDES MELODIE.
257
Thou art my God and aide,
My strength and stay ;
Why go I then dismaide
In this array?
Why shouldst thou mee
Reject from thee,
As pray to those that seeke my soul to spill ?
Send out thy light,
Thy treuth, and right;
And guide my wayes vnto thy holie hill:
ΙΟ
15
4x4
Then will I to
Thine altar goe,
Not fearing foe,
With harp in hand, to sing thy praise for euer.
My God so deare,
20
My joy and cheare,
Who doest me heare,
25
With readie help do now my soule deliuer.
My soule, why doest thou freate
Thus in my breast,
With grudging griefe ouer-set,
Not taking rest?
In God most just
Set all thy trust ;
And call on him with all thy stresse and greefe.
I will alwayes
30
Him laude and praise:
35
He is my God, my helpe, my whole releefe.
PSALME LVII.
HAVE reuth on me—
Haue reuth on me,
O Lord, from hie,
R
1
258
THE MINDES MELODIE.
Haue mercy, Lord: in thee my soule doth trust :
Vntill at last
This stormie blast
Be ouer-past,
In shadow of thy winges my hope shall rest.
On God most high I call,
My heart's delyte;
Who will his promise all
To me perfite.
From heauen's throne,
He will send downe,
And saue me from the sharp rebuke and shame
Of cruell foes
That me inclose:
His mercie sure shall keepe me from al blame.
I lie beset
With lyons net;
And men are met,
In fyrie rage, my seelie soule to catch;
Whose teeth, I weene,
Like arrowes keene
Are to be seene;
Their tongues like swordes, some mischeef for to hatch.
Exalt thy selfe, therefore,
The heauens aboue:
On earth shew forth thy glore,
And power proue.
A snare is made,
And grins are laide,
My steps to trap, my fate to fold withall.
I am opprest:
5
ΙΟ
15
20
25
30
A ditche is drest
35
For me-bot, loe! my foes therein doe fall.
THE MINDES MELODIE.
259
My heart is bent,
And permanent,
With full intent
To praise the Lord, and to extoll his name.
40
"My tongue," alway
"Awake," I say,
By breake of day:
"My harpe, in haste, and viole, doe the same."
I will thee praise among
The people all:
As God and Lord most strong
Thee praise I shall.
Thy mercies grit,
And treuth perfite
Doe reache vnto the heauens and cloudie sky :
Exalt, therefore,
Thy name and glore
Aboue the clouds and limites of the day.
PSALME XCI.
WHO doth confyde,
And so abyde,
All tyme and tyde,
In secreete and in shade of the Most High,
He may well say,
"God is my stay
And strength alway-
My faith, my hope, in whom my trust doth lie.”
He shall thee keepe and fence
From hunter's snare,
From cruell pestilence,
And all such feare;
And shall the hide
On euerie side,
45
50
5
IO
260
THE MINDES MELODIE.
In shadow safe and couert of his winges:
His treuth, most sure
Ay to indure,
Thy sheeld shal be, against all noysome things.
Thou shalt not care
For any feare,
By night or eare;
Or, noone-day bright, for the swift fleing dart:
No fearefull pest
That may molest
By night shall rest
On thee; nor plague by day that falles athwart.
Although a thousand men,
Before thine eye—
Yea, more than thousands ten,
Should fall hard by ;
None ill at all
15
20
25
30
Shall thee befall;
No dangerous death, nor dread shall come thee neare:
Bot wicked anes,
That God disdaines,
35
He will rewarde; as thou shalt see most clear.
Be not affraide,
Sence thou hast said,
"God is mine aide,”
And the Most High hast set for thy refuge.
40
No harme nor hurt
Within thy court
Shall doe thee sturt;
No skaith shall come within thy tent to ludge :
For he his angels bright
Hath geuen command,
To keep thee, day and night,
On euerie hand;
45
THE MINDES MELODIE.
261
And, by their arme,
To saue from harme,
50
And stay thy steps from stumbling at a stone.
Thou shalt down-tread
The dragon's head—
The lyons fearce-the aspes-their 3ong, each one;
Because the Lord,
Of his accord,
Hath said the word:
"I will him saue and send deliuerance.
He doth adore,
And loue my glore;
I will therefore
Him," saith the Lord, "to honor high aduance.
When he shall on me call
In tyme of neede,
I will from dangers all
Rid him with speede;
And him defend
And succour send,
In troubles all; and then him glorifie
I will alwayes
Prolong his dayes;
And he, doubtlesse, my sauing health shall see."
PSALME CI.
Now will I sing
To thee, O King,
Aboue all thing,
Of mercie mixt with judgement righteous.
In perfite way,
I will me stay;
Awaiting ay
Vntill thou come, my God most gratious.
55
60
65
70
5
сл
262
THE MINDES MELODIE.
In mynde and heart vpright,
I will begin
To walke before thy sight,
My house within.
ΙΟ
No wickednesse
Shall me possesse.
The sinner's worke I hate with all disdaine.
15
Nor ill at all
Shall with me dwall;
Mine heart, mine hand, from such I will refrain.
Thou froward heart,
That workes me smart,
From me depart;
Go take thy leaue; for I no ill will know.
Such as defame,
With slanderous blame,
Their neighbour's name,
I will destroy, and them no mercie show.
The proud presumptuous ghuest,
With loftie looke,
And hautie minde possest,
I can not brooke.
Myne heart, myne eye,
Shall euer be
Vpon the just and faithfull of the land.
They shall abyde
All tyme and tyde
Within thy court, to serue at thy command:
The man, I say,
That doth not stray
From the right way,
20
25
30
35
I will aduance, in honour to excell.
40
THE MINDES MELODIE.
263
The guilefull man,
That no good can,
Bot lie and faine,
Out of mine house with speed I will expell.
I will cut out, by tyme,
Out of the land,
All the rebellious trayne
And godlesse band.
And I doe meane
For to maintaine
God's holie house, and sacred cittie, free;
That wicked men
May not remaine
Within his gates, for their iniquitie.
PSALME CXVII.
O NATIONS all,
Both great and small,
With Israell,
Vnto the Lorde, sing laude and lasting praise:
Exalt his name,
And glorious fame
Alwhere proclame;
For why? his grace and glore abides alwaies :
He doth his tender loue
To vs extend;
As well, each day, we proue:
It hath no end.
This mightie Lord,
In worke and word,
Is constant, sure; his treuth cannot decay.
Giue him, therefore,
All laude and glore,
Who doth on vs his loue and grace display.
45
50
5
ΙΟ
15
264
THE MINDES MELODIE.
→
PSALME CXXI.
WHEN I behold
These montanes cold,
Can I be bold
To take my journey through this wildernesse,
Wherein doth stand,
On eyther hand,
A bloudie band,
To cut me off with cruell craftinesse?
Heere, subtle Sathan's slight
Doth me assaill:
Ther, his proud worldly might
Thinks to preuaill.
In euerie place,
With pleasant face,
The snares of sinne besets me round about;
With poysone sweete
To slay the spirite,
Conspyred all, to take my life, no doubt.
But God is hee
Will succour mee,
And let me see
His sauing health ay readie at command:
Euen IEHOVA,
That creat al,
5
ΙΟ
15
20
Both great and smal,
25
In heauen and aire, and in the sea and land.
Freat not, my fearefull heart,
My breast within :
This God will take thy part,
Thy course to rin.
He will thee guyde;
Thou shalt not slyde;
30
THE MINDES MELODIE.
265
Thy feet shall steadfast stand in the right way:
He will thee keepe;
He will not sleepe,
Nor suffer foes to catch thee as a pray.
The Lord doth keepe
:
35
Israel his sheepe,
And will not sleepe.
Beneath his shadow thou shalt saiflie ly.
40
Right sure and firme,
With his right arme,
Saue the from harme
He shall; and all thy fearefull foes defy.
45
The day, hote sunnes offence
Shall not thee greeue;
Nor cold moones influence,
By night, the moue.
God, of his grace,
From his high place,
50
Shall saue thee from all ill: in euerie way
Thou goes about,
Both in and out,
He shall the blesse and prosper, now and ay.
PSALME CXXV.
As Sion Hill,
That's firme and still,
And neuer will
Nor can remoue, through danger of decay,
So that man shall,
Lord, with thee dwall,
Fearing no fall,
Who trustes in thee; and shall indure for ay.
4. Edit. 1605, decayes.
5
266
THE MINDES MELODIE.
Like mountaines round about
Ierusalem,
IEHOVA So, no doubt,
Shall couer him.
The rod and 3ocke
Of God's owne flocke
Shall not ay rest vpon the godlie race ;
Lest they, through griefe,
Without releefe,
The wandring waies of wicked men imbrace.
O Lord, our God,
Remoue thy rod !
Make not abode
From such as feare thy name with perfite hart,
ΙΟ
15
20
And walke vpright,
Before thy sight,
In thy trew light:
25
Thy grace, their guyde, let not from them depart.
Bot such as slide abacke
In crooked wayes,
The Lord shall ouertake,
With sudden frayes:
Their lot and part
30
Shall be, in smart,
With sinfull men, that perishe in thy rage.
With Israell,
Thy peace let dwell,
35
O blessed Lord! to last from age to age.
PSALME CXXVIII.
O BLEST is hee
That feareth thee,
O Lord, most hie,
THE MINDES MELODIE.
267
And doth obserue thy constant will and way!
O well to him
That hath begun
This course to run!
His labour shall him pleasant frute repay.
To his great joyes encrease,
In reuthfull neede,
IEHOVA will him dresse,
His life to feede.
His wife shall bee
Like to the tree
That growes full gay, fast by his houses side:
His children fair,
Like olyues rare,
His table shall decore, both tyme and tyde.
Such man's successe
And happinesse
Shall still increase,
As feares thee, O Lord most righteous:
Thou will not misse
5
IO
15
20
Right so to blesse
Both him and his,
25
With riches rare, and pleasure plenteous.
From Sion's holie Hill,
Thou shalt see then,
To stand, and flourish still,
Ierusalem.
Thy race and seede
Shall budde and breed,
30
Before thine eyes, in happie state and store.
With Israell
And Iuda, shall
35
Thy peace, O Lord, abyde for euer more.
268
THE MINDES MELODIE.
THE SONG OF SIMEON.
S. Luke, 2. verse 25.
SINCE that mine eye,
Before I die,
O Lord doth see
Thine holie one-our hope and onelie stay—
Whom thou hast send,
In latter end,
For to extend
Thy mercies great, that doe endure for ay;
Then let thy seruant, Lord,
Depart in peace;
And me, of thine accord,
Send to my place;
As thou hast said,
5
IC
And promise made,
That can not faile nor fall in vaine away:
I
For I rejoyce,
In heart and voyce,
That I haue seene thy sauing health this day;
Whom thou, a light,
Hast set, full bright,
Before the sight
Of Gentiles far, and people round about;
And sendst with grace,
Sinne to deface,
And glorious peace
For to proclame, the earth and world throughout;
And, as thy prophetes told,
A signe to bee,
For nations to behold
With faithfull eye;
In speciall
Thine Israel
20
25
39
THE MINDES MELODIE.
269
To rid from thral, and saue them by his might ;
That he, their glore,
For euer more
On Sion Hill may shine in beautie bright.
GLORIA PATRI.
O KING of Kings,
In heauen that rings
Aboue all things,
Thy people chosen of thine onelie grace,
To raigne with thee
Eternallie,
Them sanctifie,
Into thy sweete and euerlasting peace.
Laude to the Trinitie,
On which we call!
Our God, in persons three,
Surmounting all.
Fountaine profound!
All praise redound
To thee, O Father, with thy Son most sweete!
That Prince of glore
Did vs restore;
Likewise all praise be to the Holie Spirite!
Gloria in excelsis Deo. Amen.
35
IO
15
The Psalmes that are contened in this Booke are these-1, 4, 6, 8, 15, 19, 23, 43, 57, 91, 101,
17, 121, 125, 128, Simeon's Song, and Gloria Patri.
POEMS
ATTRIBUTED TO
ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE
1
POEMS
ATTRIBUTED TO
ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE.
I.
THE BANKIS OF HELICON.

ECLAIR, ze bankis of Helicon,
Pernassus hillis and daillis ilkon,
And fontaine Cabellein,
Gif ony of your Muses all,
Or nymphes may be peregall
Vnto my lady schein?
Or if the ladyis that did lave
Thair bodyis by your brim
So seimlie war or [3it] so suave,
So bewtiful or trim?
Contempill, exempil
Tak be hir proper port,
Gif onye sa bonye
Amang zou did resort.
S
5
ΙΟ
274
POEMS ATTRIBUTED TO
No, no.
Forsuith wes neuer none,
That with this perfyte paragon
In beawtie micht compair :
The Muses wald have gevin the grie
To her, as to the Aperse,
And peirles perle preclair ;
Thinking with admiratioun
Hir persone so perfyte.
Nature, in hir creatioun,
To forme hir tuik delyte.
Confes then, expres then,
3our nymphes and all thair trace,
For bewtie, of dewtie,
Sould zield and give hir place.
Apelles, quha did sa decoir
Dame Venus face and breist befoir,
With colouris exquiseit,
That nane micht be compared thairtill,
Nor zit na painter had ye skill.
The bodye to compleit :-
War he this lyvelie goddes grace
And bewtie to behauld,
He wald confes his craft and face
Surpast a thousand fauld:
Not abill, in tabill,
With colours competent,
So quiklie or liklie
A form to represent.
Or, had my ladye bene alyve,
Quhen the thrie goddessis did stryve,
And Paris wes made judge,
Fals Helene, Menelaus maik,
Had neer causd King Priamus wraik
In Troy, nor had refudge;
1
ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE.
275
For ather scho the pryis had wone,
As weill of womanheid;
Or ellis with Paris, Priams sone,
Had gone in Helens steid;
Estemed and demed
Of colour twyis so cleir;
Far suetar, and metar
To have bein Paris feir.
50
55
As Phoebus tress hir hair and breeis;
With angel hew and cristall eeis,
And toung most eloquent;
Hir teithe as perle in curall set;
60
Hir lypis and cheikis pumice fret ;
As rose maist redolent;
With yvoire nek, and pomellis round,
65
And comlie intervall;
Hir lillie lyire so soft and sound,
And proper memberis all;
Bayth brichter and tichter
Then marbre poleist clein;
Perfyter and quhyter
Then Venus, luiffes quein.
Hir angell voice in melodie
Dois pass the hevinlie harmonie,
And Sirens songe most sueit;
For to behauld hir countenance,
Hir gudelie grace and governance,
It is a joy compleit;
Sa wittie, verteous, and wyis,
And prudent but compair;
Without all wickednes and vyce,
Maist douce and debonair :
70
75
80
:
276
POEMS ATTRIBUTED TO
In vesture and gesture
Maist seimlie and modest;
With wourdis and bourdis
To solace the opprest.
Na thing thair is in hir at all
That is not supernaturall,
Maist proper and perfyte;
So fresche, so fragrant and so fair,
As Dees and dame Bewties air,
And dochter of delyte ;
85
90
With qualeteis and forme devine
Be nature so decoird,
As goddes of all feminine,
Of men to be adoird:
Sa blissed that wissed
95
Scho is in all men's thocht,
As rarest and fairest
That euer Nature wrocht.
Hir luikis, as Titan radiant,
Wald pers ane hairt of adamant,
And it to love alluire;
Hir birning beawtie dois embrayis
My breist, and all my mind amayis,
And bodye haill combuire.
I have no schift bot to resing
All power into hir handis,
And willinglie my hairt to bring
To bind it in hir bandis;
To langwiss in angwiss,
Soir woundit and opprest,
Forleitit, or treitit,
As scho sall think it best.
ΙΟΟ
105
ΙΙΟ
ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE.
277
I houp sa peirles pulchritud
Will not be voyde of mansuetud,
Nor cruellie be bent;
Sa, ladye, for thy courtesie,
Have pitie on my miserie,
And lat me not be schent.
Quhat prayis have 3e to be seueir,
Or cruellie to kill
3our wofull woundit prisoneir
All 3ouldin in 3our will;
115
120
Ay preising but ceising
Maist humlie for to serue?
Then pruif me, and luif me,
As deidis sall deserve.
125
And gif ze find dissait in me,
зе
Or ony quent consait in me,
3our bontie till abuse,
My dowbill deling be disdaine
130
Acquyt, and pay me hame againe
And flatlie me refuise ;
Bot sen I mein sinceritie,
And trew luif from my hairt,
To quyt me with austeritie
Forsuith war not 3our pairt,
Or trap me, or wrap me,
Maist wrangfullie in wo,
Forsaiking and wraiking
3our seruand as 3our fo.
Alace! let not trew amitie
Be quyite with so greit crueltie,
Nor service be desdaine;
Bot rather, hairt, be reuthfull,
And 3e sall find me treuthfull,
Constant, secreit and plaine :
135
140
145
278
POEMS ATTRIBUTED TO
In sorrow lat me not consome,
Nor langer dolour drie,
Bot suddanlie pronounce the dome
Giff I sall leif or die;
That, having my craving,
Mirthfull I may remaine;
Or speid sone the deid sone,
And put me out of paine.
FINIS.
II.
[MY LADYIS PULCRITUD.]
My ladyis pulcritud
Hes me so plonged in paine
That, mard in mynd and muid,
Mirthles I man remaine;
Vnles that fluid
Of graces gud,
Be mansuetud,
My rest restoir againe.
Blind boy! thou dois so beir
My fortoun in ballance,
I flow from houp to feir,
From feir till esperance:
Now thair, now heir,
Now peace, now weir,
Chainging my cheir,
As chaingis ay my chance,
As in ye wind I wie,
Ay wavering with the wechtis,
Feir wald force faith to flie,
150
5
ΙΟ
15
And faith with fortoun fechtis;
20
ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE.
279
And yis 3e se
Is my degrie,
Now low, now hie,
As houp gud hap me hechtis.
3it houp hings be ane hair,
Houping aganis all houp;
Albeit from cair to cair
Thou catche my hairt in coup;
3it mair and mair
I lyik thy lair,
And for no sair
Nor sorrow can I soup.
And hap I apprehend,
25
30
Be houp, I wait not how,
And pertlie I pretend
35
And preis agains the prow ;
And ay intend
That way to wend,
And in the end
For to attein I trow.
III.
[WHEN 3E WERE PLESIT.]
QUHEN 3e wer plesit to pleiss me hertfully,
I was applesit to pleiss 30w sickerly;
Sen ze ar pleisit to pleiss an vyir wy,
Be nocht displeisit to pleiss quhair pleisit am I.
40
Bor M
280
POEMS ATTRIBUTED TO
IV.
[QUHY SOWLD I LUVE.]
QUHY Sowld I luve bot gif I war luvit?
Quhy sowld I sett myne hert in variance?
Quhy sowld I do the thing to be reprovit?
Vnto my spreit it war richt grit grevance.
Quhy sowld I schamefully thus me avance-
To lovin on, and scho not loving me?
Than war I gydit with misgovirnance,
That I sowld luve and I not lovit be.
V.
How the first Helandman, of God was maid
Of ane horss turd, in Argylle, as is said.
GOD and Sanct Petir was gangand be the way,
Heiche up in Ardgyle, quhair thair gait lay.
Sanct Petir said to God in a sport word,
"Can ze nocht mak a Heilandman of this horss tord?"
God turned owre the horss turd with his pykit staff,
And up start a Helandman blak as ony draff.
Quod God to the Helandman "Quhair wilt thow now?"
"I will down in the Lawland, Lord, and thair steill a kow."
"And thow steill a cow, cairle, thair they will hang the."
((
Quattrack, Lord, of that? For anis mon I die.”
God than he leuch and owre the dyk lap,
And owt of his scheith his gowly owtgatt.
Sanct Petir socht this gowlly fast vp and doun,
3it could not find it in all that braid rownn.
"Now," quod God, "heir a mervell! how can this be
That I sowld want my gowly, and we heir bot thre?"
I
I
ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE.
281
"Humff!" quod the Helandman, and turned him abowt,
And at his plaid nuk the guly fell owt.
"Fy," quod Sanct Petir, "thow will neuir do weill !
And thow bot new maid sa sone gais to steill."
"Vmff!" quo the Helandman, and swere be yon Kirk,
"Sa lang as I may geir get will I nevir wirk."
FINIS.
20
The 1st and 2d pieces are printed from the Maitland MS.; the 3d, 4th, and 5th from the
Bannatyne MS
1
NOTES
NOTES
ΤΟ
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
LINES 1-70 and 85-98 of "The Cherrie and the Slae" were recast
by the poet shortly before his death, and first appeared in their
altered form, so far as is known, in the edition of Andro Hart, 1615.
Of this impression no copy is known to exist; but the Latin version of
Dempster, first printed in 1631, confirms the view that the text in
'The Evergreen' (1724) is substantially that of the edition in ques-
tion. The opening stanzas are printed below from the last-mentioned
source, to enable the reader to compare the original with the later
version.
As every word requiring explanation will be found in the Glossary,
it has been deemed inexpedient to swell the Notes with lengthy re-
marks on single words and common phrases. On the other hand, ex-
tensive drafts have been made on Dempster's Latin version of the poem
—a work, from its scarceness, too little known, but reflecting in many
cases the spirit of the original with singular fidelity and force. Quo-
tations therefrom are distinguished by the letter D. Passages cited
from Chaucer are given, volume and page, from Bell's edition, 8 vols.
"About an bank with balmy bewis,
Quhair nychtingales thair notis renewis,
With gallant goldspinks gay,
The mavis, merle, and Progne proud,
The lintquhyt, lark and lavrock loud
Salutit mirthful May;
Quhen Philomel had sweitly sung,
To Progne scho deplord,
How Tereus cut out hir tung,
And falsly hir deflourd;
Quhilk story so sorie
To schaw hirself scho seimt,
To heir hir so neir hir,
I doutit if I dreimt.
5
ΙΟ
286
NOTES TO THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
The cushat crouds, the corbie crys,
The coukow couks, the prattling pyes
To geck hir they begin ;
The jargoun of the jangling jayes,
The craiking craws and keckling kays,
They deavt me with thair din.
The painted pawn with Argos eyis
Can on his mayock call;
The turtle wails on witherit treis,
And Eccho answers all,
Repeting with greiting
How fair Narcissus fell,
By lying and spying
His schadow in the well.
I saw the hurcheon and the hare
In hidlings hirpling heir and thair,
To mak thair morning mange.
15
20
25
30
The con, the cuning, and the cat,
Quhais dainty downs with dew were wat,
With stiff mustachis strange.
The hart, the hynd, the dae, the
The fulmart and false fox;
rae,
35
The beardit buck clam up the brae
With birssy bairs and brocks;
Sum feiding, sum dreiding
The hunters subtle snairs,
With skipping and tripping
They playit them all in pairs.
The air was sobir, saft and sweit;
Nae misty vapours, wind nor weit,
Bot quyit, calm, and cleir,
To foster Floras fragrant flouris,
Quhairon Apollos paramouris
Had trinklit mony a teir;
The quhilk lyke silvir schaikers shynd,
Embroydering Bewties bed,
Quhairwith their heavy heids declynd,
In Mayis collouris cled:
Sum knoping, sum droping
Of balmy liquour sweit,
Excelling and smelling
Throw Phebus hailsum heit.
Methocht an heavenlie heartsum thing,
Quhair dew lyke diamonds did hing,
Owre twinkling all the treis,
To study on the flurist twists,
Admiring Natures alchymists,
Laborious bussie bies,
Quhairof sum sweitest honie socht
To stay thair lyves frae sterve,
40
45
1
50
-
55
60
NOTES TO THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE (1-29). 287
And sum the waxie veschells wrocht,
Thair purchase to preserve;
So heiping for keiping
It in thair hyves they hyde,
Precisely and wysely
For winter they provyde."
1-28. Compare Chaucer :-
"On every bough the birdes heard I singe,
With voice of angel in hir armonie,
That busied hem hir birdes forth to bring;
The prety conies to hir playe gan hie;
And further al about I gan espie
The dredeful roe, the buck, the hart, and hind,
Squirrels, and bestes smale, of gentle kind."
-'The Assembly of Foules,' vol. iv. p. 196.
65
70
5. The Progne and the Phelomene. The swallow and the night-
ingale. Phelomene is from Philomena, Low Lat. form for classical
Philomela. In Sonnet xlviii. 1, the spelling is Philomene.
Progne and Philomela were daughters of Pandion, King of Athens.
The former was married to Tereus, King of Thrace, who basely vio-
lated Philomela, cut out her tongue and shut her up in a tower, pre-
tending the while to her sister that she was dead. Philomela, how-
ever, contrived to work her sad story on a piece of tapestry, which she
conveyed to her sister, who effected her escape. This accomplished,
the sisters slew Itys, the infant prince, cooked him, and served him
up in a dish before his father. Tereus, on being informed of the
shocking repast of which he had partaken, drew his sword to slay
them both, when all three were changed into birds: Tereus into
a hoopoe, Progne into a swallow, and Philomela into a nightingale.
This tragic legend is beautifully told by Ovid, ‘Met.,' vi. ll. 424-675.
Cf. also Chaucer :-
"The swalow Progne, with a sorowful lay,
Whan morow come, gan make her waymenting
Why she forshapyn was; and ever lay
Pandare a bed, half in a slombryng
Till she so ny hym made her chiteryng,
How Thereus gan forth her sustir take,
That with the noyse of her he gan awake.'
"
'Troylus and Cryseyde,' vol. v. p. 57.
13. Nimlie. Early and correct form of modern English nimbly, in
which 6 is excrescent. M.E. nimel, nimil, nimble; A.S. niman, Ger.
nehmen, to take. See Skeat, s.v. Nimble.
20. Mo. Comparative of many or mony, not of much or mikle.
It is used of number, not of quantity, in the Northern dialect.
29. The air was sa attemperate. Compare Chaucer :-
"The aire of the place so attempre was."
-'The Assembly of Foules,' vol. iv. p. 196.

288
NOTES TO THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE (48-98).
48-56.
For Eccho answerit ay,
Lamenting sair Narcissus cace, &c.
The legend of Echo and Narcissus is told by Ovid, ' Met.,' iii. 345-510.
See also "Miscellaneous Poems,” p. 138 ante, and cf. Chaucer :-
"And Ecquo died, for Narcisus
Nolde nat love hir."
-'Boke of the Duchesse,' vol. vi. p. 160.
50. Staruit. Stared? or perished? The spelling of the pres.
part. staruing in line 227, where there can be no doubt as to the
meaning, favours the first interpretation, which, it may be remarked,
is quite in agreement with the legend. Cf. Ovid, ' Met.,' iii. ll. 415-424
""
Dumque sitim sedare cupit, sitis altera crevit :
Dumque bibit, visæ correptus imagine formæ,
Spem sine corpore amat, corpus putat esse quod umbra est.
Adstupet ipse sibi, vultuque immotus eodem
Hæret, ut e Pario formatum marmore signum.
Spectat humi positus geminum, sua lumina, sidus,
Et dignos Baccho, dignos et Apolline crines,
Impubesque genas, et eburnea colla, decusque
Oris et in niveo mixtum candore ruborem :
Cunctaque miratur, quibus est mirabilis ipse."
And Chaucer :-
"This is the mirrour perilous,
In which the proude Narcisus
Sawe alle his face faire and bright,
That made hym swithe to ligge upright."
-'Romaunt of the Rose,' vol. vii. p. 65.
To ligge upright to lie with the face upwards (resupinus), to die. Ct
the slang phrase, to turn up one's toes.
Staruit, however, is also past tense of sterue (Ger. sterben), to die
Cf. Chaucer :-
"And on the border alle withoute
Was writen, on the stone aboute,
Leteres smale, that seiden thus:
Here starf the faire Narcisus.”
-Ibid., vol. vii. p. 62.
76. Ingyne understanding (Latin ingenium). Cf. Chaucer:-
"Now kythe thyn engyne and thy myghte."
-'The House of Fame,' vol. vi. p. 210.
85-98. These lines appear in 'The Evergreen,' as under :—
"Throw rowting of the river rang
The roches sounding lyke a sang,
Quhair Das Kane did abound;
With triple, tenor, counter, mein,
And Ecchoe blew a base betwene,
In diapason sound,
NOTES TO THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE (91-104). 289
Set with the C-sol-fa-uth cleif,
With lang and large at list ;
With quaver, crotchet, semibreif,
And not an minum mist,
Compleitly, mair sweitly
Scho fridound flat and schairp,
Nor Muses that uses
91. Ci-sol-fa-uth cleife.
To pin Apollos harp."
The Sol-fa nomenclature had its origin in
the following stanza of a hymn to St John by Paulus Diaconus, a
learned Lombard, born at Friuli about A.D. 730.
“UT queant laxis REsonare fibris
MIra gestorum FAmuli tuorum,
SOLve polluti LAbii reatum
Sancte Joannes."
These syllables are said to have been first used in the teaching of
singing by Guido of Arezzo in the 11th century. Le Maire, a French
musician of the 17th century, added si for the seventh of the scale.
94. Out of the Elphis throte. The Elves had their dwellings in the
clefts of rocks, lone caverns, and tumuli. These homes were furnished
with singular magnificence and splendour, and the sweet music which,
according to ancient legend, has been heard to issue therefrom, has
often filled with rapture the weary wanderer, and lured him from his
way, as did the charmed song of the Sirens of old.
96. Nor craftie Amphion. Amphion, son of Antiope by Jupiter, and
husband of Niobe, was renowned for his performances on the lyre, by
the magical power of which the stones were collected for the building
of Thebes, and placed in position.
"Saxa Citharonis Thebas agitata per artem
Sponte sua in muri membra coïsse ferunt."
-Propert., 'Eleg.' IV. ii. 3, 4.
98. At fountaine Helicon. Hippocrene. But Montgomerie else-
where seems to confuse this spring with the fons Castalius on Par-
nassus. See Sonnets, viii. 1. 4; xxix. 4, 5, &c.
99-112. This stanza is cited by King James in his " Reulis and
Cautelis," in which he describes the measure as one of the "kyndis
of cuttit and brokin verse, quhair of new formes are daylie inuentit
according to the Poëtes pleasour." After quoting the stanza, he
adds: “This onely kynde of brokin verse abonewrittin man of
necessitie, in thir last shorte fete as so moylie and coylie, haue bot
twa fete and a tayle to ilkane of thame, as 3e sie, to gar the cullour
and tyme be in the penult syllabe."
99-104. Compare with these the following lines in Eric Mackay's
lovely lyric, "The Waking of the Lark" :-
"This is the advent of the lark-the priest in gray apparel-
Who doth prepare to trill in air his sinless summer carol,
T
290
NOTES TO THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE (109-113).
This is the prelude to the lay
The birds did sing in Cæsar's day,
And will again for aye and aye, in praise of God's creation.
O dainty thing, on wonder's wing, by life and love elated,
Oh! sing aloud from cloud to cloud, till day be consecrated;
Till, from the gateways of the morn,
The sun with all his light unshorn,
His robes of darkness round him torn, doth scale the lofty heavens!"
-11. 31-40.
109-112. So myld-lyke and chyld-lyke, &c. Imitated by Allan Ram-
say:
"Richt auld lyke, and bauld lyke,
With baird thre quarters skant,
Sae braif lyke, and graif lyke,
He seemt to be a sanct.'
'The Vision,' 11. 53-56.
110. With bow thrie quarteris scant.
arcum qui haud longior ulna est.”—D.
111. So moylie and coylie. If moy means mild or gentle, it must
be from Fr. mou, molle, Lat. mollis; if, however, the idea of bashful-
ness or reserve is implied in the word, it is probably from Danish moe,
a maiden, Gaelic modh, modest. The folk expression, mim and moy=
"prim and prudish," favours the latter derivation. Cf. Dunbar,
S.T.S. p. 168 :—
"With littill noy thay can convoy
Ane mater fynaly,
Richt myld and moy and keep it coy
On evyns quyetly."
113-126. This stanza has been imitated by Ramsay :-
"Grit darring dartit frae his ee;
A braid-sword schogled at his thie;
On his left arm a targe;
A shynand speir filled his richt hand,
Of stalwart mak, in bane and brawnd,
Of just proportions, large;
A various rain-bow colourt plaid
Owre his left spaul he threw ;
Doun his braid back, frae his quhyt heid,
The silver wymplers grew ;
Amaisit, I gaisit,
To se, led at command,
A strampant and rampant
Ferss lyon in his hand."
-'The Vision,' ll. 57-70.
113. Ane cleinlie crispe hang ouir his eyis.
"Involvens nivea de sindone lumina velo."-D.
NOTES TO THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE (116-168).
291
116, 117. Of gold, &c.
"Et geminæ ex auro mediis crevere pusillis
Alæ humeris, super aërio quibus axe volaret.”—D.
122. Ferleis = marvels (A.S. faerlic). Ferlie, though a northern
word, is found in Chaucer :—
"Wha herkned ever swilk a ferly thing?"
-'The Reeves Tale,' vol. i. p. 229.
Burns has the verb :-
And ferlie at the folk in Lon'on.'
-'The Twa Dogs,' 1. 122.
127-140. This stanza, which does not occur in either of the editions
of Walde-grave, is supplied from the version in 'The Evergreen.'
127. Made me stout = made me bold, gave me confidence.
***
134. If you please to impyre if you desire to lord it or hold sway.
Impyre (Lat. imperare) is found again in this poem, l. 181, in Sonnet
xxxi. 1. 5, and Miscel. Poems, xiii. 1. 10. Aspyring, which in ‘The
Evergreen' replaces impyring in 1. 181, seems to be the sense in
which it is used there.
137-140. Mak choice then, &c.
"
•
Pete quod libet horum,
Aut alias res mille, mea est tibi prompta voluntas.
Posce, tene, quodcunque voles. Tunc ambio pennas.”—D.
158. As Icarus with borrowit flicht, &c. Icarus, son of Dædalus,
according to the legend, attempted to fly with waxen wings. Soaring
too high he had them melted by the sun, and fell into that part of
the Ægean to the north of Crete, which afterwards, from his mis-
adventure, was called the Icarian Sea.
"Dum petit infirmis nimium sublimia pennis
Icarus, æquoreis nomina fecit aquis."
-Ovid, 'Trist.' I. i. 89, 90.
161. Than furth I drew that deadlie dairt, &c. E. double. Dempster,
who invariably follows the later version, renders the lines :—
"Lethiferam eduxi duplici mucrone sagittam,
Qua matris puer incestus transfixerat olim
Pectus.
}}
168. The butter-flie and candill. A common figure. Cf. Lauder :—
"The sapient Salomon with wemen was confoundit,
Thocht he was wysest that euer nature wrocht;
The force of Samson, that in to strenth aboundit,
Be Dalyla was suttellie out socht;
The Propheit Dauid, full deir his loue he bocht,
With mony mo that vsit sic vaniteis,
Was dyuers wayis vnto confusioun brocht,
And brint thame selffs as dois the butterfleis.'
-'Ane Gude Exempill,' ll. 9-16.
292
NOTES TO THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE (175-213).
175. As fulisch Phaëton, &c.
"Ut stultus quondam Phaethon deposcere patris
Ausus erat solium, Solisque ascendere currus.”—D.
Phaethon, son of Apollo by Clymene, besought his father to attest
his celestial origin by granting him permission to drive his chariot
for one day. The strength and skill of the youth proving unequal to
the management of the fiery steeds, they swerved from their wonted
course, wrecked the car of Sol, and set the world on fire. Jupiter, to
save the universe, felled him with a thunderbolt. The story of
Phaethon is told by Ovid in 'Metam.' i. 750 to the end, and ii. 1-328.
The folly of Phaethon passed into a proverb.
"Vitaret cælum Phaethon, si viveret, et quos
Optarat stulte, tangere nollet equos.'
-Ovid, 'Trist.' I. i. 79, 80.
186. To late I heard the swallow preiche. The Æsopian fable here
referred to is to the following effect: A farmer was sowing a field
with flax the swallow observed this, and asked the other birds to
assist her in picking up the seed, telling them that flax was the
accursed material of which the thread which composed the fowler's
net was made; but the poor swallow's words passed unheeded, and
the flax soon appeared above ground. Once more she convened her
feathered friends and urged them to pluck it, but they still neglected
her warnings, and ridiculed her as a silly bird. The swallow finding
her remonstrances unavailing, resolved to quit the society of such
thoughtless and wayward creatures, and repaired to the habitations
of men, where she ever after continued to dwell. This fable is the
subject of Henryson's poem,. "The Preaching of the Swallow."
189-196. To late to fynde the nest I seik, &c. These proverbs are
elegantly and tersely expressed by Dempster :
"Serius invenio nidum dum pullus abivit;
Serius ablatis stabulum mihi claudo caballis ;
Serius helleborum dum jam cutis ægra tumescit;
Serius et medicum peto, pollinctore parato."
197. Rypelie = Lat. mature, seasonably, duly.
206-210. "Freind, welcome hame," quod he, &c.
'Bene veneris,' inquit, ‘amice,
Quæ nova, qui reditus, quæ sors, quæ denique tellus
Prædam forte tulit? vel quem portare ferinam
Iussisti? quia sanguineas geris, ecce ! sagittas.'”—D.
213. O quhat an stakkering stait. Compare Rolland :-
"So vp he rais into ane stakkerand stait,
As he had bene fra wit examinat.
"}
-'The Court of Venus,' Bk. ii., 11. 363, 364.

NOTES TO THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE (249-296). 293
249, 250.
Like Dido, Cupido
I widill and [I] warye.
I wriggle and storm at Cupid. Widill is from Ger. wedeln, to wag
the tail; warye from A.S. wærgian, to curse. In "Havelok the Dane'
we have:
"Crist warie him with his mouth
Waried w[o]rthe he of North and Suth."-11. 95, 96.
Cf. "The Flyting," 1. 587; Miscellaneous Poems, xxi. 25; xxiv. 15,
&c. Widill and warye is a compound expression like English curse
and swear.
Widdle or widill is generally found in conjunction with
another verb, as widdle and ban; widdle and flyte. Cupido is the
objective case, not the vocative or nominative of address, as the
common punctuation puts it. Compare the following lines from a
burlesque poem in the Bannatyne MS. :—
"Sensyne the cokkis of Crawmound crew nevir a day
For dule of that devillisch deme wes with Mahoun mareit,
And the hennis of Hadingtoun sensyne wald nocht lay,
For this wyld wilroun wich them widlit sa and wareit."
Dempster thus paraphrases the lines of Montgomerie :—
"Ut quondam infelix Dido moritura dolore,
Funestum lacrymans Veneris damnavit alumnum,
Ascanii sub veste, sibi crudele venenum
Fundentem in gremium, sceleratum taliter arcum
Crudelemque deum diris ter mille dicavi."
257. Vnbrunt and boyld=unburnt and unboiled. The negative un
goes with both words.
259. It—i.e., the fire, in line 254.
268. Mair like ane atomie nor man. Atomie or attamie, a skeleton,
abbreviated from Fr. anatomie, is still a common folk-word in Scot-
land. E. and F. read anatomy, which is also frequently used for
a skeleton by old writers. Shakespeare has it in "The Comedy of
Errors"
Along with them
They brought one Pinch, a hungry, lean-faced villain,
A mere anatomy."—Act v. ll. 236-238.
270. As wax befoir the fyre, &c. Cf. Miscellaneous Poems, v. 11.
15, 16.
291. Thirsting. The rhyme requires thristing, which is found in
the later impressions. Thirst or thrist=thrust, is from Icelandic
thrysta, to thrust or press.
296. Faschter. So the older editions. E. F. and U. have faster;
but faschter, more perplexed," makes excellent sense, and indeed
seems to be the correct word here. This is one of the cases in which
one dreads Ramsay's interference with the version of 1615. Dempster,
who is extremely diffuse in this part of the poem, affords us no clue
to the word.
294
NOTES TO THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE (329-374).
329. Throw burding of thair birth
=
through the weight of their
produce. Burding, from A.S. byrden, a load; birth, A.S. beord, produce.
There is no tautology in the line.
331. Reflex of Phœbus, &c. Compare with this whole stanza (II. 323-
336) the following lines of Dunbar :-
Doun throu the ryce a ryuir ran wyth stremys,
So lustily agayn thai lykand lemys,
That all the lake as lamp did leme of licht,
Quhilk schadovit all about wyth twynkling glemis;
That bewis bathit war in secund bemys
Throu the reflex of Phebus visage brycht;
On every syde the hegies raise on hicht,
The bank was grene, the bruke vas full of bremys,
The stanneris clere as stern in frosty nycht."
-'The Goldyn Targe,' 11. 28-36.
334. In tirles dornik champ-i.e., in ripples or wavelets, like the
pattern on diaper. Tirles= ripples; dornik-diaper; and champ
(Fr. champ) the figure raised thereon. Sibbald has the follow-
ing note on this line, "In tyrl as dornik-champ; so this line is found
in several old editions;” and in 'The Evergreen,' 1724, In tyrles
dornik champ,—both of them obscure. The passage is thus rendered
in the Latin version :-
"(
·
rubet sub gurgite claro
Umbra velut rutilo ardentes præ sole pyropi."
Dornick is a sort of cloth inwrought with flowers or figures: so that
the meaning may be "like the variegated appearance of Dornick or
Tournay cloth." In a poem called "The Woman's Univers" (1652), we
have:
343, 344.
"The webster with his jumbling hand,
And dornick champion naperies,
Will make the coyest wench to stand
A prentice to his fopries."
I cald to mind how Daphne did
Within the laurell schrink.
The myth of Apollo and Daphne is told by Ovid in his 'Metamorphoses,'
Bk. i. ll. 452-567. See also Miscellaneous Poems, xvii. pp. 152-155
ante, and notes thereto infra.
373, 374.
That fortune helps the hardie ay,
And pultrones plaine repellis.
"Me senior juvenem docet Experientia, quantum
Audentes Fortuna juvet, timidosque repellat."—D.
Cf. Terence :—
"Fortes Fortuna adjuvat."
-'Phormio,' I. iv. 26.
Kelly says of this proverb that it is "out of the book called 'The
NOTES TO THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE (375-420). 295
Cherrie and The Slae,' but ever since used as a proverb on jovial
occasion."
375. Than feir not, nor heir not. "3e man also tak heid, that quhen
there fallis any short syllabis efter the last lang syllabe in the lyne,
that 3e repeit thame in the lyne quhilk rymis to the vther, even as 3e
set them downe in the first lyne: as for exempill, 3e man not say—
bot
'Then feir nocht
Nor heir ocht,'
'Then feir nocht
Nor heir nocht.
>
Repeting the same nocht in baith the lynis: because this syllabe,
nocht, nather seruing for cullour nor fute, is bot a tayle to the lang
fute preceding, and thairfore is repetit lykewayis in the nixt lyne,
quhilk rymes vnto it, euen as it set doun in the first."-James VI.,
'Reulis and Cautelis in Scottis Poesie,' chap. ii.
377, 378.
To fazarts, hard hazarts
Is deid or they cum thair.
Cowards are killed by the very sight of danger. Fazart="coward,”
“dastard,” is from Scand. fasa, to fear. Cf. line 632.
383-392. Than do, &c. This passage is vigorously, albeit somewhat
diffusely, rendered by Dempster :-
Incipe, facto
Est opus, æternam virtute amplectere famam.
Nam licet haudquaquam fructu potiare, juvabit
Occubuisse virum valide. Quid? vita recedit,
Non tamen interitum patitur tua gloria: semper
Vivus in ore virûm volitans, celebrabere vatum
Carminibus, nunquam cessabit nuncia laudis
Fama tuæ, sæclis transmittere gesta futuris
Hæc præclara sacro scribentur carmina saxo:
Hic situs est, sua quem virtus mortalibus oris
Extulit, ut melior Dominum fortuna coronet.
Fama dedit vitam decori, decus æthera famæ.”
402. They may beguyle the baith.
""
Spes te decipiet, deceptum Audacia perdet."-D.
407. Brunt bairn with fyre the danger dreidis. Compare Chaucer :—
Brent child of fier hath mych drede."
'Romaunt of the Rose,' vol. vii. p. 72.
417-420. Fuil-haist ay almaist ay, &c.
"
'Sæpe oculos animosque tegit temerarius error
Ignavis, dum non curant quid sera reportet
Vespera, vel quanti comitentur gaudia luctus."-D
296 NOTES TO THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE (429-448).
429-432. Quhairfoir hes Attropus that knyfe? &c.
"Quo tenet arbitrio funestum lurida cultrum
Atropos, aut quonam Lachesis tua stamina nevit
Omine? adhuc nescis propria cur sponte resolvas
Licia quæ glomerat primum crescentia Clotho."-D.
The Parcæ or Fates, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, watch over man's
birth, life, and death respectively.
pressed in the line:—
Their functions are neatly ex-
“Clotho colum retinet, Lachesis net, et Atropos occat."
435. All ouirs are repuit to be vyce.
"Omne nimis cadit in vitium."-D.
Compare Terence :--
"Ne quid nimis."
—' Andria,' I. i. 34.
and the Greek proverb, undèv ǎyav, said to have been one of the inscrip-
tions on the tripod of the Delphic oracle. The Greek adage is, I
believe, first found in Theognis (fl. 548 B.C.) :—
· Μηδὲν ἄγαν σπεύδειν πάντων μέσ᾽ ἄριστα· καὶ οὕτως,
Κύρνο, ἕξεις ἀρετὴν, ἥντε λαβεῖν χαλεπόν.”
-'Sentent.,' 335, 336.
This is one of the very first dictates of wisdom, the truth of which is
confirmed by the experience alike of ancients and moderns. Horace
has transmuted the expression into lines that are familiar to every
one :-
"Est modus in rebus, sunt certi denique fines,
Quos ultra citraque nequit consistere rectum.
"}
—'Sat.,' I. i. 106, 107.
Elsewhere the same poet pictures the serene happiness of the man
who elects to observe the "golden mean":—
"Auream quisquis mediocritatem
Diligit, tutus caret obsoleti
Sordibus tecti, caret invidenda
Sobrius aula."-'Odes,' II. x. 5-8.
443-448. 3one SLAE, &c. Thus paraphrased by Dempster:-
"PRUNA licet spernas, humili crescentia spino,
Quantumvis attrita putes ingrata palato,
Quantus in hoc lateat fructu favor, inde medelam
Percipiens mihi testis eris, satis apta superque
Ferventem experiere sitim restinguere, qua te
Incautum vexat male circumspecta juventus.
Perfice, rumpe moras, juveniles desine flammas:
Fusa palus luteis premit orta incendia lymphis."
448. Foull water quenches fyre. Compare Propertius:-
NOTES TO THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE (452-498).
297
"Cui fuit indocti fugienda hæc semita vulgi
Ipsa petita lacu nunc mihi dulcis aqua est."
Eleg.,' III. xvii. 1, 2.
'This proverb has but a foul meaning." (Kelly.)
452-456. Maire honor is to vanquisch ane, &c.
"
•
Plus namque meretur
Laudis honorifico miles post victa duello
Unius arma viri, quam septem in prælia ducens,
Turpiter infamem fundens cum sanguine vitam.
Virtutis quia finis opus, non cœpta coronant.”—D.
473-476. For feir than, &c. Fear is beyond all arguments: there
is no remedy for it but death.
•
Medicina timorem
Altera nulla juvat citius quam protinus ense
Extenta truncare caput cervice revulsum."—D.
481, 482. Suppose thir sophistis the decewis, &c.
""
•
Licet ore sophistæ
Mellito tibi dulce canant, latet anguis in herba.
Scande, petas CERASUM."-D.
489. It lyes thee it concerns thee. Nothing less than thy life is
at stake.
491-493. Gif ony pacient wald be pancit, &c. Pancit (or pansit)=
cured, from Fr. panser, to dress (wounds); as panser des blessures;
panser une plaie.
!
"Curari infirmus cupiens cur mordeat ægra
Scindentis medici dextram loca? spernat amara
Pocula? cur fugiat portantem pharmaca?"-D.
| 495-498. Oft tymes deferring of ane day, &c. The proverbs con-
tained in these lines are common to all times and peoples. Cf.
Ovid:-
Martial :-
Principiis obsta: sero medicina paratur,
Cum mala per longas convaluere moras.
Sed propera, nec te venturas differ in horas:
Qui non est hodie cras minus aptus erit."
-'Remed. Amoris,' 91-94.
"Non est, crede mihi, sapientis dicere 'vivam':
Sera nimis vita est crastina: vive hodie."
-'Epigr.,' Bk. I. xv. 11, 12.
Horace :-
"Dum loquimur fugerit invida
Ætas. Carpe diem."
-'Odes,' Bk. I. xi. 7, 8.
and Dempster, whose version is a mixture of Ovid, Martial, and
Cato :-
298
NOTES TO THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE (512-617).
"Crastina sera nimis vita est; hodie minus aptus
Curari cras forte nequit; cape tempore tempus:
Omnia tempus habent: celeri pede labitur hora.
Fronte capillata est, sed post Occasio calva."
512. For Hope gud hap hes hecht.
""
Spes fida secundos
Eventus tibi promittit."-D.
520, 521. Quha vsis perrillis perische sall, &c.
Qui sequitur proprio ducente pericula sensu
Præcipitem petit interitum, meritoque peribit.”—D.
522-524. He sall nevir schaip, &c.
"Non nauta futurus
Tressis erit, qui permetuit maris omne periclum."-D.
Cf. the proverb, Youth ne'er casts for perils="youth never dreads
danger."
543. Be resoun=by reason, because.
546. Dowe=can. Dow, to be able, to avail; A.S. dugan; Dutch
doogan,—whence do in the expression "that will do"=that will suit or
suffice; and perhaps in 'How do you do?" although Professor
Skeat thinks this may be a translation of Old French "Comment le
faites-vous?"—how do you manage it? how do you get along? Cf.
Hor., Serm. I. ix. 4—“Quid agis, dulcissime rerum?”—how are you,
my jewel? Cf. Miscel. Poems, xxi. 1. 13. See Skeat, s.v. do (2).
555, 556. Persawis thou nocht, &c.
""
Usque adeo pretiosi temporis usum
Contemnes?"-D.
587, 588. At length ay, at strength aye, &c.
""
Degeneres tandem usque asinos vi pellimus istos."-D.
598-600. Gang with tham hardlie beid, &c.=go with them boldly;
be it so; God speed you, &c. Hardlie-boldly, courageously. It
is used in this sense by Dunbar, S. T. S. p. 58, 1. 115. Compare
Dempster:-
"I tua te fortuna trahat quoscunque magistros
Quære tibi, quibus idem animus: zephyrisque secundis
Carbasa pande. Duces tibi sunt sapientiæ inanes.”
602. Heirefter comes not zit. “Your project is sure to come to an
ill ending," is the meaning universally attached to this proverb.
613, 614. Bot to it, &c.
"Scandam, cerasumque vel ipsis
Invitis etiam superis, mora nulla, tenebo."-D.
617. I-i.e., Experience, as spokesman for the rest.
NOTES TO THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE (625-770). 299
}
1
625, 626. Thrie prechours, &c.
"Tres fuerant Oratores, lethale venenum
Conantes suadere mihi decerpere prunum."-D.
627, 628. They tratlit and ratlit, &c.
"Cornicabantur, vanis garritibus aures
Vexabant mihi, dimidiâ, et prope longius, horâ.”—D.
629. Foull fall them
=
dispereant (D.) A common curse.
"The Flyting," 340 and 366, &c.
See
636. Thay baid about the bus=ad spineta latebant (D.) Cf. Virgil:—
"}
"Tu post carecta latebas.'
-'Eclog.,' iii. 20.
649, 650. He that countis without his oist, &c.
"
Qui computat ante
Hospitis arbitrium numerat quandoque secundo.”—D.
651, 652. Ze sell the beir skin on his back, &c.
"Vivit aper, nec enim silvas venator adivit,
Et vendis tamen, ecce! cutim."-D.
Compare Shakespeare:-
"The man that once did sell the lion's skin
While the beast lived, was killed with hunting him."
Henry V., Act iv. sc. 3.
654. 3e fische befoir the net. "Spoken of those who devour by expec-
tation what they have not in possession; for the fish are not gotten
till the net be drawn ashore."—(Kelly.)
667. Quod Will. So, too, in 'The Evergreen': F. and U. have
quod Hope. Ramsay must have reverted to the reading of the earlier
éditions, for Dempster has Spes.
690. Friend, I heir zou faill-i.e., I hear you speak falsely. Cf.
Dempster:-
"Mentiris crudelis anus; sed parcius isthæc
Objicienda velim discas; tua cana senectus
Veracem magis esse jubet."
701. Go, go, we do not heir bot guckis=we spend our time in trif-
ling. Nugamur duntaxat (D.)
727, 728. Ga fra them, we pray them, &c. This is the reading of the
earlier editions; but that of 'The Evergreen,' then-then, is undoubt-
edly right. Cf. Dempster:-
"Maturate fugam timidi, latebrisque salutem
Servate, O stolidi, non ulla audacia vobis."
769, 770. For quhy now, &c.
Euge! palam facinus volo divulgare nefandum." -D.
300
NOTES TO THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE (799-952).
799-924. These lines do not occur in either of Walde-grave's im-
pressions. They are printed in the text from the version in 'The
Evergreen.'
809-812. Baith he now, &c.
"Sed nunc manifesto lumine cuncti
Cernimus insidias, fraudesque advertimus: urens
Incautam, modo vis vulpinâ illudere caudâ.”—D.
848. Owre-hale=overlook, from A.S. ofer, and helan, to hide. Sw.
oefwerhaelja, to cover.
864. Tak ze twa asses eirs. Midas, King of Phrygia, for his in-
solence and stupidity in preferring the music of Pan to the divine
strains of Apollo, had his ears changed into those of an ass by the
latter divinity.
"Partem damnatur in unam,
Induiturque aures lente gradientis aselli."
865-868. Nae myter perfyter, &c.
—Ovid, 'Metam.' xi. 11. 178, 179.
"Mercedem pro laude Midas hanc maximus olim
Rex Phrygiæ tulerat, Phœbo dum Pana canentem
Prætulit, ista tuæ debetur laurea linguæ."—D.
883, 884. Then Will, as angrie as an ape, &c.
"
Cæca iterum in furias fertur sine more Voluntas,
Jurans per Superos ac tristia Tartara."-D.
893-896. Sall he now, &c.
""
Quid? num serva tibi fuero? Rationis habebor
Mancipium? prius hercle pater meus ibit ad Orcum."-D.
901. Ze hit the nail upon the heid.
"
•
Haud dubites, certissima cuncta tenebis."-D.
912-916. 3our prophesie to be complete, &c.
phesy, &c. Cf. Miscellaneous Poems, xxvii. 20.
""
=
}
complete your pro-
Respice principio finem, temararia nunquam
Mens caret insidiis: injuria nulla volenti est."-D.
>
ľ
919, 920. Of 3our awin fidle, &c. take your course and reap the
fruits of it.
934-938. Will ran reid-wood, &c.
"Perniciem accelerans propriam rabiosa Voluntas
Cursitat huc illuc furiis agitata malignis;
Et laqueum sibimet mala Desperatio tendit."-D.
1
↓
1
935. Thringing = "driving," "thrusting," or "pressing," A.S
þringan. This forceful word is replaced by flinging in 'Thẻ
Evergreen.'
947-952. He was sa frak, &c.
NOTES TO THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE (957-1100).
301
"Omnia sola regens, pavidam me dixit, inertes
Esse, leves, animo ignavos vos, denique nunquam
Curandum in rebus quæ sit fortuna, quis ordo,
Ante operis summi fastigia, cuncta repente
Ni fiant, fore nulla putans, dans omnia fatis."-D.
957, 958. Lo quhaire he hangs, all bot the heid, &c.
"
Hospes in aëria corvos regione salutat."-D.
991. Quhill-while; the general meaning of quhill, however, is
until, which may be considered the established usage.
in the sense of until by Shakespeare
While then, God be with you."
While is used
-'Macbeth,' iii. 1. 43.
1003. Quod he in Walde-grave's impressions should be quod I, as in
E. F. and U. Quod ich may have been the original form.
1023-1025. 3it Hope and Curage, &c.
"Evasere tamen Spes atque Audacia primum
Victrices, neque litigio cessere Periclum
Et Metus, at saltem auxilium latitando petebant.”—D.
1044. Experimented lyke=like people of experience. Experiment
is used in the sense of experience by Rolland :—
"Bot he thairof had na experiment.
=
1046. Lap the dyke fled and hid.
equivalent for “in silvas condidit.”
-'Court of Venus,' Bk. ii. 1. 662.
This phrase is the Scotch
1065. Smyrkling smirking, simpering; A.S. smercian, Lat. sub-
ridere.
=
1069. They may not go about the bus they may not have recourse
to deception or underhand dealing. Dempster happily renders the
phrase by "uti ambagibus."
1079-1084. Thair is a sentence, &c.
"Est apud antiquos lepide paradigma notatum :
Consilii cave sis, nullo vocitante, sodalis,
Turpius ejicitur quam non admittitur hospes."-D.
1088. Because the doctour douts-i.e., Skill.
Ambiguo tamen hæc sub judice lis est."-D.
1091, 1092. Glossing, &c. Commenting, explaining; Lat. glossa=
a difficult word requiring explanation.
"Garris et mentem præcurrit lingua fugacem."-D.
1099, 1100. The man may ablens tyne a stot
That cannot count his kinsch.
Henderson gives the proverb :—
"The man may eithly tine a stot that cannot count his kine."
-'Scottish Proverbs,' p. 92.
302
NOTES TO THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE (1101-1226).
1101. In 3our awin bow ze are owre-schot – you are beaten with
your own weapon.
"
Propriâ te jam superamus arenâ.”—D.
1109. That sum sall lose a laike=shall lose a stake (at play), (Icel,
leik). Earle says lake is still common in Cumberland and West-
moreland for “play”—e.g., “lakefellow.”
1124-1126. For ay since Adam, &c. Thus paraphrased by Demp-
ster :-
"Ex quo primævus genitor tellure rubenti
Formatus, dictisque tuis, heu! credula blandis
Eva nimis, cecidere bonis florentibus horti
Elysii, et fortunatis tu pulsa viretis.
Tempore jam ex illo casus mihi cognitus orbis
Pene omnis, laudesque tuas, fraudesque reservo."
=
1132. 3our hechts zou neuir huiked you never regarded your
promises. Hecht, a promise, from A.S. hátan, pret. heht; huik. A.S.
hogan, Teut. hugghen, to observe.
1135. In case a count wer craivt-i.e., in case I were required to
-
do so.
1140-1144. I trumpit neuir a man, &c. i.e., I deceived (Fr.
tromper), &c.
"Mea vota peregi:
Non technis, non usa dolis, ambage remota ;
Vera loquens, ope consilio, fidissima cunctis
Non auri, non laudis amans, non fracta rigore,
Non precibus, non flexa minis, sed falsa perodi."-D.
1158. Mints=threats. This word is generally explained by aims
or attempts; but threats is surely the meaning here. At least
Dempster so understood it :-
“Multa minax licet improperes," &c.
1169-1172. Quod he, Aft times the anchor dryves, &c.
Objicit: hæc tamen infelix persæpe carinas
Anchora quassatas fallit, dum fune soluto
Rumpitur, haud obscura loquor: quot millia vidi
Fraude tua, sistens vicino in littore, vitas
In portu dare cum gemitu, stridentibus undis ?”—D.
1187. Their leid-i.e., the plummet used in sounding.
1193. Carvells, ships (Fr. caravelle). This word has been wrongly
derived from Lat. corbis, a basket, dim. corbella.
grave: carvell a "cutter."
1209. Then byganes, byganes.
Hesternos vanum est revocare labores."-D.
It is kindred to
1226. Wont boasted? past tense of verb to wind, to tell marvellous
stories; to blow or bounce. Compare Dempster :—
NOTES TO THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE (1249-1357). 303
"Lætitiæ nova signa ferunt, nova classica cantant,
Clara triumphales tollunt ad sidera voces."
It may, however, be for wint=weened; but the other meaning suits
better here.
1249. Hope hecht him sic a hyre. Cf. Miscellaneous Poems,
xiii. II.
1256. Fald=bend or yield; A.S. fealdan.
1260. For kyndness cund us thank-thank us for the kindness he
has experienced. Cund seems to be past part. of verb cun, to taste or
experience. But cf. the phrase to cun thanks=to feel grateful.
1275. Duchtie valiant; A.S. dyhtig, brave; dugan, to be strong.
See dowe, line 546 supra.
1286. Freits=superstitions. There is a proverb to the effect that
"He that follows freits, freits will follow him "-i.e., if a person gives
heed to omens and other superstitious observances, it will happen to
him accordingly.
1287, 1288.
Zit I now deny now
That all is gold that gleits.
See Miscellaneous Poems, v. 42. Compare Chaucer :-
"But al thing which that schineth as the gold
Is nought gold as that I have herd told."
-'The Prologe of the Chanounes Yeman,' vol. iii. p. 37.
The proverb is found in the 'Parabolæ' of Alanus de Insulis, who
died in 1294 :—
"Non teneas aurum totum quod splendet ut aurum,
Nec pulchrum pomum quodlibet esse bonum."
It also occurs, with but little change, in Shakespeare, Middleton,
Lydgate, Spenser, Herbert, Dryden, and a host of others, and may
fairly be said to be common property. Cf. Virg. 'Ecl.,' ii. 17-Nimium
ne crede colori.
=
1350. To put him out of pyne to relieve him from suffering, to
cure him. The phrase is also common in the sense of "to kill"; "to
put beyond suffering."
Exime lethiferis."-D.
1351. Gaird, &c.=ascertain, &c.
"Cruciatibus ægram
"Morbi prius arte profunda
Disce tua, quæ causa latet.”—D.
1357. And pance not, nor skance not-i.e., don't think or concern
yourself about, &c.; pance, O.F.panser, Mod. F. penser, to think; skance
is evidently the same as English scan (Lat. scando), to scrutinise or
give particular attention to. Scance was in use until recently in
Aberdeenshire in this signification. The word properly formed should
be scand; but the s of the supine has prevailed. See Skeat, s.v. scan.
304
NOTES TO THE CHERRIE.AND THE SLAE (1376-1480).
1376. Except the CHERRIE help his heit.
"Si non Cerasorum suave rubenti
Hepatis assiduas restinguat sanguine tædas.”—D.
1383, 1384. Nae nectar directar, &c.
"Scilicet ambrosia nullus meliore deorum
Nectareove hominem pascat libamine."-D.
1392. I am red=I am afraid; red, elsewhere rad-e.g., Son. xlv. 2,
and Devotional Poems, vi. 25—is from Danish raed or red, timid. Cf.
Burns:-
"O ance ye danced upon the knowes,
And ance ye lightly sang-
But in herrying o' a bee byke
I'm rad ye've got a stang.”
-"Fragment" (Globe Edit., p. 164).
1422-1424. Sir, I have sein them baith, &c.
"Ast ego præcipites, ait Experientia, vidi
Et pavidos quandoque suas persolvere pœnas
Utrosque et vitare vices."-D.
1423. Braidieness recklessness; lye aback=timidity, cowardice.
1435-1438. Quod Hope, &c.
"
Spes' ne cede metu' dixit; cauteque Periclum
Ire rogat, mediam statuit Sapientia legem,
Et Ratio rata cuncta facit.”—D.
1453-1456. Implaidging and waidging, &c.=pledging and staking,
&c.
1471, 1472.
"Suum caput objectare periclis
Promittunt, modo ducendi sit facta potestas."-D.
Bot as for us twa, now we sweir
Be Him, befoir we maun appeir.
F. and U. have before whom we appear, an obvious but not very
successful attempt at emendation. The relative quhom is necessary,
and the auxiliary maun is no less so. Something such as
"Be Him 'fore whom we maun appeir"
is wanted. Compare Dempster :-
1477-1480.
"Nos tibi per Superos, ter sancta per atria cœli
Juramus, nihil istorum meditamur: at omnis
Et labor, et studium, solersque intentio pura est,
Te miserans, satagitque tuæ sine fraude salutis."
Then Hope and Courage did attest
The gods, of baith these parts, &c.
F
J
It is difficult to determine the meaning of the words of baith these
parts. They may mean on both sides," or "of the upper and under
""
1
NOTES TO THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE (1495-1596). 305
world." Dempster gets over the difficulty by giving both in his
version :-
:-
“Illæ autem e contra cœli spirabile lumen
Testantur pro parte sua, et crudelia Ditis
Regna tenebrosi, se cordibus omnia rectis
Consulere et spectare meam sine fraude salutem."
1495, 1496. We sall now, even all now, &c.
"In unum
Ibimus ad Cerasum comitabimur usque Juventam.”—D.
1551-1554. Quhois throt, sir, &c.
"Totum uno clausero rivum
Pollice quem præsens Rerum Experientia vidit.”—D.
1579-1582. Quhilk haisting and taisting, &c.
Quæ simul atque avidis primum data gusto labellis,
Me subito adverti prorsus languore levari,
Morbus abit, cessatque dolor, tristisque recedit
Anxietas, corpusque premens, animamque fatigans."-D.
1589 to the end. All nations allso magnifie, &c. Thus paraphrased
by Dempster :—
"Postera gens seris pandet mea gaudia natis.
Eia animæ Dominum celebrate in sêcla redemtæ;
Vos mecum, atque ego vobiscum, laudabimus una
Voce Deum sine fine bonum, qui, divite pollens
Justitia, veniam præstat mortalibus ægris.
Numen adoremus, castâ quod Virgine natum
In cruce fortis Amor nostri confixit Amorem.
Cantemus sanctâ innocuam cum prole parentem."
U
NOTES
ΤΟ
POLWART AND MONTGOMERIES
FLYTING.
I
{
J
1. Polwart. . Sir Patrick Hume of Polwarth, Montgomerie's an-
tagonist in "The Flyting," was held in high esteem by James VI. His
Majesty first preferred him to be master of the household; then one
of the gentlemen of the bedchamber; and Warden of the Marches
towards England-an office which was discontinued on the Union of
the Crowns (1603).
[
Dempster thus refers to him in his character of poet: "Patricius
Hume, equestri dignitate, a gentilicio patrimonio Poulwartius vocatus,
magno ingenio, præclaro eventu poeticen Scoticam adornavit."— Hist.
Eccles. Gent. Scot.,' p. 355. He died 15th June 1609. His grand
son, Patrick, was created Lord Polwarth, and afterwards Earl of
Marchmont. The Polwarth family were zealous in the Protestant
cause. See Crawfurd's 'Peerage,' p. 313.
6. Cannigate breiks. I can find no explanation of this expression;
but from the connection in which it is used here and in 1. 303 it
seems to mean a "diarrhoea."
9. Merse. The name specially given to the low-lying lands of
Berwickshire. The word was originally applied to land that had
been under water (Teut. marsche, marse, a marsh; cf. Lat. mersus),
and afterwards to alluvial lands, plains, valleys, &c.
13. Cultron cuist. I have not been able to find, nor am I prepared
to offer, any satisfactory explanation of these words. It may, how
ever, be remarked, that both in this and in the 16th line the edition of
1688 has custron. See note to line 222, where custroun occurs in the
text.
45. Knaue scoundrel. This word has sadly deteriorated in mean-
ing,-A.S. cnapa, later cnafa, Ger. knabe, a boy.
1
NOTES TO THE FLYTING (55-79).
307
55. In pilgrimage to Alarite. Alarite=à Larite-i.e., to our Lady
of Loretto. There was a chapel dedicated to our Lady of Loretto,
which stood a little to the east of Musselburgh, where a small cell
may still be seen. The place is now called Loretto. The frequent
mention of this chapel by our old poets is evidence of its once wide
celebrity. It was a favourite rendezvous for persons of both sexes;
and the most flagrant abuses were committed there under the name
and cloak of religion. Alexander Scott, in his poem on "May,"
tells us that the maidens of Edinburgh used to go a-maying to
Alareit or Lareit :-
"In May gois Maidens till La Reit,
And hes their myngeons on the streit
To horse them quhair the gate is ruch :
Sum at Inchbuckling-brae they meit ;
Sum in the mids of Musselbrugh.”
-11. 56-60.
Attached to the chapel at one time was a hermit who had an ex-
traordinary reputation for sanctity and miraculous power. The Earl
of Glencairn entitled his satire against the Romish clergy "Ane
Epistle direct fra the halie Hermeit of Alareit to his brethren the
Gray Friars."-Knox, 'History,' p. 24.
70. Ga sey thy science-go try thy skill.
71. Mandrage=mandrake,.a term of contempt. See note to line
289 infra.
75. Menswering, "falsely declaring on oath," "perjuring thyself."
"He is mansworn " is still a common expression for "he is perjured.”
76. Awe-owned; same as aucht, A.S. agan, to possess. English
owe is used in the sense of own in the passages subjoined :-
"And if any man, that any beast oweth,
Once in the week ere the cock croweth,
Fasting, will drink of this well a draught,
As that holy Jew hath us taught,
His beasts and his stores shall multiply."
The Pardoner and the Friar.'
"BARTLEY. Prithee, tell's who owes this building.
CLOWN. He that dwells in it, sir.
ILFORD. Who dwells in it then?
CLOWN. He that owes it."
"IAGO.
'The Miseries of Enforced Marriage.'
Not poppy or mandragora,
Nor all the drowsy syrops of the world,
Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep
Which thou owedst yesterday."
-Shakespeare, 'Othello,' Act iii. sc. 3.
79. Burreauc the band the executioner bound thee (Fr. bourreau).
308
NOTES TO THE FLYTING (84-104).
“Cor mundum;" these words are from Psalm 1., v. 12. They occur in
line 222 infra, and in Devotional Poems, iv. 71, 72 :—
In me cor mundum crea'—I conclude:
'Peccavi Pater, miserere mei.'"
Compare Dunbar :—
"Cursit croapand craw, I sall ger crop thy tong,
And thou sall cry 'Cor mundum' on thy knees."
And Rolland :-
-'The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie,' ll. 393, 394.
"And maist part was my prayers to com[pleit]
Knowit on breist, and 'Cor mundum,' I [cryde]."
The Court of Venus,' Bk. i. 11. 44, 45.
84. Pod, a term of contempt applied to a little stout man. Cf.
English podge, pudding, &c. It occurs again in line 431.
(6
85. Thou shup sike a sunzie=you framed such an excuse. Sunzie
is from essonzie, law term, meaning excuse for non-appearance in a
court of law" (Fr. essoine).
(Fr. essoine). Ze mak aye sae mony sunzies=you have
always so many excuses, is a Roxburghshire expression. Jamieson
gives the meaning as "pains," "industry," from Fr. soin, and quotes
this passage as an example. The other interpretation seems to be
more in harmony with the preceding lines.
93. Attercop. See Sonnet v. l. 12, note.
94. The gray meir. "The vulgar proverb that 'the gray mare is
the better horse' originated, I suspect, in the preference generally
given to the gray mares of Flanders over the finest coach-horses of
England."-Macaulay's 'History of England,' vol. i. p. 150, note
(People's Edition).
95. I'll pull thee like a paipe. The meaning is by no means clear.
By paipe the popinjay has been supposed to be meant.
Dr Gregor
suggests, I'll pull thee as one does a cow's pap." Perhaps it means :
I will pull the hair from thy head and leave thee "close shaven above
the ears as monks are shorn." Compare line 72 :—
"Wee will heir tydance, peild Polwart, of thy pow."
and line 447 sqq.
97. To thy chafts ill cheir—¿.e., little to eat.
98. To licke at the lowder. The lowder was the handspoke for
lifting the millstones, where there would always be some of the ground
grain to be had.
101. This twise sealed trumper. Compare Dunbar :-
(
'Thryse scheild trumpir, with ane threid bair goun."
-'The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie,' 1. 30.
104. Crowes. I can find this word in no dictionary or glossary.
It seems to be correctly explained by "witness," the reading in the
edition of 1688; but crowes is required for the rhyme.
NOTES TO THE FLYTING (109-143).
309
109. Proud, poysond pikthanke=proud, poisoned parasite. Com-
(pare Shakespeare:-
'By smiling pick-thanks and base newsmongers."
-'The First Part of King Henry the Fourth,' Act iii. sc. 2.
113. Fra Lindesay thou tooke; thourt Chaucers cuike. Sir David
Lindsay—born about 1490, died some time before 1555—was once the
most popular poet in Scotland. He was appealed to as an infallible
authority on the Scottish language, and his lines may be said to have
been on every Scottish tongue. "Ye'll no find that in Davie Lindsay,"
was an insuperable objection to any newly coined word or phrase
which either speaker or writer ventured to employ. A story is related
of an honest farmer, to whom, on his deathbed, a pious neighbour
brought an English Bible, with a view to reading to him some words
of hope and consolation. The dying man had never seen such a book
or even heard of its existence; accordingly, after listening attentively
for a while to some of its wonderful contents, he exclaimed, Hoot
awa'! bring me Davie Lindsay. That's a made story." Thourt
Chaucers cuike. The early poets, whether of North or South Britain,
were nearly as much indebted, in Christian times, to Chaucer for form
and style, for apt expressions and quaint conceits, for native freshness
and perennial bloom, as they were to Ovid, among the ancients, for
wealth of classical illustration, old-world allusion, and polytheistic
lore.
114. Aye lying like a ruike=always, like a rook, lying in wait to
steal whatever came in your way.
115. The king's chimney nuike—i.e., the king's fireside. See Sonnet
xxvii. 1. 14, and "The Flyting," 1. 666. And cf. Sir Philip Sidney (1554-
1586): "He cometh unto you with a tale which holdeth children from
play and old men from the chimney-corner.”—“The Defence of Poesy.'
125. Bystour-baird=noisy rhymester? or ribald railer? The deri-
vation and meaning of bystour are alike uncertain. Fr. bistorie,
crooked; boister, to limp; bustarin, a great lubber, have all been sug-
gested as parent, or at least kindred words. The forms bystour, boys-
tour, and boisture all occur in "The Flyting," and are treated as the
same word by Jamieson. They may, however, be different. The first
form may be connected with one or other of the words here sug-
gested; but it is much more likely that it is from Welsh bwystus, and
simply means "boisterous" or "brutal." From their use and con-
nection in this poem, boystour and boisture seem rather to be derived
from Fr. boire, to drink, sb. boisson, and to indicate a sot, or one incap-
able of retention. See lines 215, 655. Baird, "bard," or "poet," has
has also been explained "lampooner" or "railer," presumably from
"lampoons" and "flytings" being written in verse.
143. Mightie. Maighty-maggoty-i.e., crotchety or whimsical—
in edition of 1688, may be correct here.
310.
NOTES TO THE FLYTING (154-184).
154. To buckle him that beares the bell to engage with the cham-
pion or victor. "To bear the bell" is "to carry off the palm." In
the days before cups were presented to winners in horse-races and
other contests, a small gold or silver bell used to be given as the
prize.
165, 166.
Also I may beè Chaucers man,
And get my master not the lesse.
In line 166 the edition of 1688 reads thy master; but if Laing's
reading be, as it seems to be, correct, the meaning is: "Although I
be a follower and imitator of Chaucer, I am none the less my own
master—¿.e., the framer of my own song; and consequently am not
entitled to be set down as his slave and plagiarist.”
175. Some sayes mee=some tell me.
176. Betwixt the deuil and a dun kow. Kennedie says of Dunbar
that he was
"" Generit betuix ane sche beir and a deill.
-'The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie,' 1. 259.
But Polwart had doubtless good reason for selecting a
"dun cow
as Montgomerie's female parent. This animal was famous in old
legends, and her milk is renowned in tales of superstition. From
the popular belief in the superiority of the dun cow's milk, it was
quite a common thing to have a figure of the animal for a sign on
public-houses and inns, and, by a legend extolling the liquor sold
within, to woo the passing traveller to try it. On an inn between
York and Durham might be seen the verse:—
"
O come you from the east,
O come you from the west,
If
ye will taste the dun cow's milk
Ye'll say that it is best."
Have not the charms and virtues of the national beverage of every
land been invariably extolled under euphemistic designations? The
Dutchman has his "goldwasser"; the Frenchman his "eau-de-vie"
and the Scotchman his "mountain dew." See Hardwick's 'Tradi
tions, Superstitions, and Folk-lore,' p. 112.
!
178. At banket birland at the beir drinking plentifully, &c.; banket
=banquet; birland = draining, from A.S. birlian. The edition of
1688 has bridland, an obvious misprint. On bridland Jamieson has
the following characteristic note: "This is one of Polwart's doggrel
which has no other claim to attention than the use of a variety of old
words that do not occur elsewhere. The only conjecture I can form
as to this word, is that it is derived from bridal q. bridalling, drinking
as freely as men do at a bridal." It is satisfactory to find, from the
earlier edition of "The Flyting," that no such word as bridland occurs
here. Cf. Son. lxvi. 1. II.
183, 184.
While that thou past baith poore and peild,
Into Argyle, some lair to leir.
NOTES TO THE FLYTING (186-274).
311
These lines are considered in the Introduction. Compare Rolland :—
"For laik of pith he is sa puir and peild."
186, 187.
-'The Court of Venus,' Bk. iv. 1. 673.
When thou stood fidgeing at the fire,
Fast fikand with thy Heiland cheir.
The following extract from Macaulay's 'History of England' will
serve to illustrate these lines. Speaking of the Highlanders, he
says:-
At supper,
"In general, the traveller would have been forced to content him-
self with very different quarters. In many dwellings the furniture,
the food, the clothing, nay, the very hair and skin of his hosts, would
have put his philosophy to the proof. His lodging would sometimes
have been in a hut of which every nook would have swarmed with
vermin. He would have inhaled an atmosphere thick with peat-
smoke, and foul with a thousand noisome exhalations.
grain fit only for horses would have been set before him, accompanied
by a cake of blood drawn from living cows. Some of the company
with which he would have feasted would have been covered with
cutaneous eruptions, and others would have been smeared with tar
like sheep. His couch would have been the bare earth, dry or wet,
as the weather might be, and from that couch he would have risen
half poisoned with stench, half blind with the reek of turf, and half
mad with the itch."-Vol. iii. pp. 29, 30 (People's Edition).
It is said that the Duke of Argyle erected a row of posts to mark
his property, and these posts were used by the neighbours when their
shoulders itched, to rub against." This is said to have given rise to
the expression, God bless the Duke of Argyle! See Hotten's 'Slang
Dictionary,' and Brewer's 'Dictionary of Phrase and Fable,' s.v. God.
215. Boistures. See line 125 supra.
220. Deare of the dog brawne in the Merse. Jamieson takes deare
for a verb, and conjectures that it means "savour." This would make
excellent sense if any such verb could be traced. There was un-
doubtedly a legend current in Berwickshire, in which a dog was said
to have been cooked and served as food. Deare therefore may be the
noun, in apposition to banquet. The lines would then mean, “Your
choicest banquets are venison of the dog that was cooked in the
Merse." Or deare may be a misprint for sare=savour. Brawne, A.S.
browen cooked.
222. Custroun=bastard; low-born fellow. O.F. coestron, bâtard;
Gl. Roquefort.
249. Craig in a cord-neck in a halter. Cf. Sonnet xxvi. 3, and note.
260. Mister=need, require. Chaucer has the noun :-
"If that men had myster of thee,'
""
—' Romaunt of the Rose,' vol. vii. p. 205.
274-284. These lines are quoted by King James in "Reulis and
312
NOTES TO THE FLYTING (274-280).
Cautelis." He says, “For Flyting or Inuectiues vse this kind of verse
following, callit Rouncefallis or Tumbling Verse." As the variations
are considerable, it is perhaps well to give the passage entire :—
"In the hinder end of haruest vpon Alhallow ene,
Quhen our gude nichtbors rydis (nou gif I reid richt)
Some bucklit on a benwod and some on a bene,
Ay trottand into troupes fra the twylicht:
Some sadland a sho ape all grathed into grene:
Some hotcheand on a hemp stalk hovand on a heicht.
The King of Fary with the court of the Elfe Quene,
With many elrage Incubus rydand that nicht.
There ane elf on an ape ane unsell begat:
Besyde a pot baith auld and worne,
This bratshard in ane bus was borne:
They fand a monster on the morne
War facit nor a cat.
In these lines, as in ll. 391 sq., we have a vivid picture of the hellish
host in one of their midnight revels. In these journeys they travelled
through the air, stealing and killing children, poisoning herds, and
scattering broadcast storms and tempests, and all manner of plagues.
Devils and imps and elves and fairies, women perched on broomsticks
or astride of monkeys, stark naked, of haggard mien and with streaming
hair, clove the air like meteors on their way to the place of rendezvous.
The prince of darkness presided at the orgies, and with head down-
ward, feet turned up and his back to the altar, celebrated his blas-
phemous mass, while his witches careered in indecent dances or rode
"widdershins" around the shrine. Cf. Burns, "Tam o' Shanter,"
11. 114 sq., and Hogg, "Queen's Wake":
"Some horses were of the broom cow framed,
And some of the green bay tree;
But mine was made of a hemlock-shaw,
And a stout stallion was he," &c.
274. Alhallow euen.
-The Eighth Bard's Song,' 11. 25-28 sq.
Halloween, according to the Scottish myth-
ology, the time when warlocks, witches, devils, elves, fairies, incubi,
succubi, and other imps of darkness, earth, and air hold their grand
annual festival, has been immortalised in the verse of Burns.
275. Good nighbours. The fairies are generally called by this title,
but the words have a much wider signification here.
278. All graithed into green
Dunbar :-
=
all arrayed in green. Compare
All grathit in to garlandis of fresche gudlie flouris."
-'The Tua Mariit Wemen and the Wedo,' 1. 18.
280. The King of Pharie, and his court, with the Elfe Queen.
Understand the medieval representatives of Pluto and Proserpine,
with their train of attendant witches, elves, fairies, &c.
NOTES TO THE FLYTING (281-287).
313
!
1
Compare Chaucer :-
(1).
and (2)
"Ful ofte tyme he Pluto and his queene
Preserpina, and al the fayerie,
Desporten hem and maken melodye
Aboute that welle, and daunced, as men tolde."
-"The Marchaundes Tale," vol. ii. p. 187.
"In olde dayes of the kyng Arthour,
Of which that Britouns speken gret honour,
Al was this lond fulfilled of fayrie,
The elf-queen, with hir joly compaignye,
Daunced ful oft in many a grene mede.
"
"The Wyf of Bathes Tale," vol. ii. pp. 72, 73.
281. With many elrich Incubus. The incubus, like sundry gods.
of the old mythology, was a general lover, and easily overcome by
beauty. His proclivities are clearly indicated in "The Ballade of
Tamlane":-
"O I forbid ye, maidens a',
That wear gowd in your hair,
To come or gae by Carterhaugh,
For young Tamlane is there.
There's nane that gaes by Carterhaugh,
But maun leave him a wad;
Either gowd rings or green mantles,
Or else their maidenhead."
The incubus sometimes afforded a very convenient explanation of
what might otherwise have proved an awkward business. Sir Walter
Scott tells of a lady who accounted to her lord, on his return from the
Crusade, for the presence of a boy whose age could not be made to
correspond with the time of his departure, by declaring that the river
Tweed had insisted on becoming the father of her son. This lad
became the ancestor of the well-known family of Tweedie. The
paternity of Romulus and Remus is another case in point, though
the averment of the mother in their case proved abortive, so far as
she was concerned. Alluding to the rape of Proserpine, Dunbar says
of the king of the underworld :—
"There was Pluto, the elrich Incubus,
In cloke of grene."
-'The Goldyn Targe,' ll. 125, 126.
282. Ane vnsell: a wicked or worthless creature; a "devil." A.S.
unsælig, unhappy; Moso-Gothic unsel, wicked.
283. Pomathorne. The readings vary here. See the stanza quoted
above from "Reulis and Cautelis." Sibbald reads Powartthorne.
287. The Weird Sisters-i.e., the Fates. Earle, in his 'Philology of
the English Tongue,' says: "The combination weird sisters in 'Mac-
beth,' being the parent of all extant usage of weird, it has resulted
that this word is known only as an adjective to the modern language,
314
NOTES TO THE FLYTING (289-340).
although in Saxon it was known only as a substantive-viz., wyrd,
fate." As the word occurs repeatedly both as adjective and substan-
tive in Montgomerie,' and as this very poem was written and in
circulation long before 'Macbeth' was composed, it is difficult to see
how Shakespeare's use of the formula can have been the parent of all
extant usage of weird.
289. The mandrake unmade like a man. The term mandrake is
here and elsewhere used contemptuously of a human being, to whose
form the root is believed to bear a resemblance. It appears to have
been used in this country by sorcerers, as the image of a victim to bẹ
operated on. Coles, in his 'Art of Simpling'!(Lond. 1656), says that
Witches take the roots of the mandrake according to some, or, as I
rather suppose, the roots of briony, which simple folk take for the
mandrake, and make thereof an ugly image by which they represent
the person on whom they intend to exercise their witchcraft."
He adds, "Some plants have roots with a number of thread-
like beards, as mandrakes, whereof witches and impostors make
an ugly image, giving it the form of a face at the top of the root, and
leave these strings to make a broad beard down to the feet.” See
also Hardwick's 'Traditions, Superstitions, and Folk-lore,' pp. 255,
256.
‘The mandrake,” says another authority, “has been the source of
much superstition both in Scotland and England; the belief being
that it had a human heart at its root. It was believed that the person
who pulled it would instantaneously fall dead; that the root shrieked
or groaned when separated from the earth, and that whoever heard
the shriek died shortly after, or became afflicted with madness." See
'English Folk-lore,' by T. F. Thistleton Dyer, M.A., pp. 30, 31. (2d
ed., 1880.)
Randolph, in "The Jealous Lovers" (Camb. 1632), makes Dipsos
say to Chremylas-
"The ravens, screech owls, and the mandrake's voice
Shall be thy constant music."
299. Into Pandoraes purse. Pandora, according to Hesiod, was the
first woman on earth. She was made by Vulcan at the command of
Jupiter. Each of the immortals presented her with some gift. Min-
erva gave her wisdom, Venus beauty, Apollo music, Mercury elo-
quence, &c.
Incensed at the conduct of Prometheus in stealing the
fire from heaven, Jupiter sent her to Epimetheus, Prometheus's brother,
with a box in which were shut up all sorts of diseases and calamities.
On the removal of the lid the contents escaped, producing innumer-
able woes to mortals.
336. Hips and hawes. The berries of the wild brier and the haw-
thorn.
340. Cauld bee her cast bleak be her lot—a common form of im-
NOTES TO THE FLYTING (360-398).
315
precation. Compare Scott, 'Guy Mannering,' chap. iii.: "And there's
Dunbog has warned the Red Rotten and John Young aff his grunds
-black be his cast!"
360. Warwolfes and wild cates. A warwolf (A.S. were-wolf) was
a man who possessed the power of transforming himself into a wolf,
as the witch had of assuming the semblance of a cat or hare. Lycan-
thropism seems to have been a contagious disease, and to have mani-
fested itself in all the terrors of a maniacal epidemic. Though at first
the term was employed to denote a mental condition, in process of
time the transformation was believed to be real, and to affect the body
as well as the mind. To such transformations Gervase of Tilbury, an
English Chronicler of the thirteenth century, bears testimony as an eye-
witness: "Vidimus frequenter in Anglia per lunationes homines in
lupos mutari, quod hominum genus Oerulfos Galli vocant, Angli vero
wer-wlf dicunt.
ever-20
Wer enim Anglice 'virum' sonat, wlf 'lupum.'
-‘Otia Imperialia: De oculis apertis post peccatum.' See Sir W.
Scott's 'Scottish Minstrelsy.' Kempion, note.
362. Tousled and tuggled with towne tykes. Compare Dunbar :-
"And all the toun tykis hingand in thy heilis."
-'The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie,' 1. 226.
368. Nicneuen. One of the names given to the Scottish Hecate or
Mother Witch. See line 460.
370. Can deuyse-began to say, or simply said. Can is an auxiliary
equivalent to gan or did. See 'The Kingis Quair,' stanza iv. 1. 7, and
Professor Skeat's note thereto.
384. With charmes from Caitness and Chanrie of Rosse. Both places
were celebrated for witches, and figure in the history of the witch per-
secutions.
385. Whose cunning consists in casting of a clew. This was one of
the rites formerly practised on Halloween by those who wished to
know their future lot in wedlock. See note to line 411 infra.
389. See note to line 281 supra.
396. Murgeons. This word occurs again in l. 495. It may mean
either "wry faces" or "mutterings," probably the latter. The verb is
used in "Christ's Kirk on the Green" in the sense of "to ridicule."
1
Scho skornit Jok and skrapit at him,
And murgeonit him with mokkis.'
-11. 31, 32.
398. Withershins (A.S. wither, against; sunne, the sun), contrary to
the course of the sun. One of the most ancient and persistent of
superstitions is connected with this movement. It seems to have
been accepted in all places that the safe and proper way to move was
with the sun. To move in the opposite direction, or withershins, was
sure to entail calamity. Witches in their dances and in the per-
316
NOTES TO THE FLYTING (401-411).
formance of their spells always went withershins. Nor has this super
stitious belief been confined to the nations of the West. Mr Simpson,
in his work 'Meeting the Sun,' says: "The Llama monk whirls his
praying cylinder in the way of the sun, and fears lest a stranger should
get at it and turn it contrary, which would take from it all the virtue it
had acquired. They also build piles of stone, and always pass them
on one side and return on the other, so as to make a circuit with the
Mahommedans make the circuit of the Caaba in the same way.
The ancient dagobas of India and Ceylon were also traversed round
in the same way; and the old Irish and Scotch custom is to make all
movements Deisual or sunwise, round houses and graves, and to turn
their bodies in this way at the beginning and end of a journey for
luck, as well as at weddings and other ceremonies." See Napier's
'Folk Lore' (Paisley, 1879), pp. 133, 134.
sun.
1
401. Cairne, misprinted catine in edition of 1688 and in Watson's
'Collection,' which doubtless led to the insertion of that meaningless
form in Jamieson's Dictionary.
407. On three headed Hecatus. Hecatus is an error for Hecate, the
witch-queen of Greek and Roman mythology. She is a mysterious
divinity, about whom are many traditions. Briefly, she was generally
regarded as a spectral hag, who in the darkness of night sent forth
from the lower world all sorts of demons and phantoms; taught sor-
cery and witchcraft; frequented graveyards and the scenes of murder
and bloodshed. In her nocturnal peregrinations, her companions
were the souls of the dead; and her approach was heralded by the
whining and howling of dogs. She is sometimes described as a
monster of terrible aspect with three bodies or three heads-the one
of a dog, the second of a horse, and the third of a lion. Dogs and
black female lambs were offered to her in sacrifice. Hecate preserved
in medieval times all the hideous characteristics attributed to her in
pagan antiquity.
411. This blue threed. There seems to have been some special
virtue in the colour. Compare Burns :-
"But Merran sat behint their backs,
Her thoughts on Andrew Bell;
She lea'es them gashin' at their cracks,
And slips out by hersel' :
She thro' the yard the nearest taks,
An' to the kiln she goes then,
An' darklins graipit for the bauks,
And in the blue clue throws then,
Right fear't that night.
An' aye she win't, an' ay she swat,
I wat she made nae jaukin';
Till something held within the pat,
Guid Lord! but she was quakin'!
!
NOTES TO THE FLYTING (417-429).
317
But whether 'twas the Deil himsel',
Or whether 'twas a bauk-en',
Or whether it was Andrew Bell,
She didna wait on talkin',
To spier that night."
'Halloween,' st. xi., xii.
417 sq. Be the hight of the heauens, &c. These lines seem to have
been inspired by a passage in Gavin Douglas's "Proloug of the Aucht
Buik of Eneados" :-
F
Wyth that he raucht me a roll: to reyd I begane
The riotest ane ragment wyth mony rat rane,
Off all the mowis in this mold, sen God merkit man :
The moving of the mappamond and how the mone schane,
The pleuch and the polys, the planettis begane,
The son, the sevin sternis, and the Charll wane,
The elwand, the elementis, and Arthuris hufe,
The horne and the hand staff
Prater John and Port Jaff,
Quhy the corn hes the caff,
And kow weris clufe.
-11. 146-156.
418. The Charlewaine. The constellation Ursa Major or the Greater
Bear was distinguished by the Greeks as early as the times of Homer
by the names of Arktos, the "Bear," and Hamaxa, the "Waggon" or
Wain." The poetical mind of the Greek, ever pregnant with happy
fancies, was not slow to discover in the rude outline of the stars in
this brilliant constellation a resemblance to objects with which he was
familiar in everyday life. The Romans called the seven bright stars
Septentriones, the “seven plough oxen." The names "Charles's Wain,”
the "Plough," the "Bear," &c., by which this constellation has been,
and still is, known throughout Europe, are merely translations of the
ancient epithets.
419. The hornes, the handstaff, and the king's ell. The hornes, Capri-
cornus? In the passage from Gavin Douglas cited above, Mr Small
thinks the horne is monoceros, "The Unicorn" (Small's Gavin
Douglas,' vol. iii. p. 364), but there the form is singular. The handstaff
is "Orion's sword"; the King's Ell or elwand, called also Our Lady's
ellwand, is "Orion's belt." It is a striking coincidence that in Suio-
Gothic Orion's girdle was called Friggerock, "the distaff of Freya or
Frigga," the Venus of the Goths. After the introduction of Chris-
tianity it was changed to Marirock, Mary's distaff." Jamieson, s.v.
Ellwand.
426. That, an obvious error for thae. Watson has thir. Lethe and
Styx are rivers in the underworld. See Sonnet lvi. 1. 4, note.
429. Mahowne, Mahomet, who, according to the orthodox notions of
our pious forefathers, was none other than the devil. In the following
318
NOTES TO THE FLYTING (435).
poem from the Bannatyne MS. (Fol. 136) he is, with great propriety',
wedded to the gyrecarline or Mother Witch :-
"In Tiberus tyme, the trew imperiour,
Quhen Tynto hillis fra skraiping of toun henis wes keipit,
Thair dwelt ane grit Gyre Carling in awld Betokis bour,
That levit vpoun Christiane menis flesche and rewheidis vnleipit ;
Thair wynit ane hir by, on the west syd, callit Blasour,
For luve of hir lawchane lippis, he walit and he weipit ;
He gadderit ane menzie of modwartis to warp doun the tour;
The Carling with ane yrne club, quhen that Blasour sleipit,
Behind the heill scho hatt him sic ane blaw,
Quhill Blasour bled ane quart
Off milk pottage inwart,
The Carling luche and lut fart
North Berwik Law.
The King of Fary than come with elfis mony ane,
And sett ane sege and ane salt, with grit pensallis of pryd ;
And all the doggis fra Dumbar wes thair to Dumblane,
With all the tykis of Tervey, come to thame that tyd ;
Thay gnew doun with thair gomes mony grit stane,
The Carling schup her in ane sow and is hir gaitis gane,
Gruntlyng our the Greik sie, and durst na langer byd,
For brukling of bargane, and breking of browis:
The Carling now for dispyte
Is mareit with Mahomyte,
And will the doggis interdyte,
For scho is quene of Iowis.
Sensyne the cokkis of Crawmound crew nevir a day
For dule of that devillisch deme wes with Mahoun mareit,
And the hennis of Hadingtoun sensyne wald nocht lay,
For this wyld wilroun wich them widlit sa and wareit:
And the same North Berwik Law, as I heir wyvis say,
This Carling, with a fals cast, wald away carreit;
For to luk on quha sa lykis, na langer scho tareit;
All this langour for lufe befoirtymes fell,
Lang or Betok wes born
Sho bred of ane accorne,
The laif of the story to morne
To 30w I sall tell.”
435. All barret and baill all strife and mischief.
Rolland :-
"Now may I bruik with greit barret and baill,
Like ane fond fuill fulfillit with Fantasie.'
and Dunbar :-
"
"}
1
Compare
-The Court of Venus,' Bk iv. ll. 378, 379.
"
'It, that 3e call the blist band that bindis so fast,
Is bair of bliss and bailfull and greit barrat wirkis.
-'The Tua Mariit Wemen and the Wedo,' 11. 50, 51.
NOTES TO THE FLYTING (436-462).
319
436. Als bair as the birk. "As bare as the birk at Yule", is still a
common expression in Clydesdale to denote absolute bareness or
barrenness.
437. Taidrell, either "weakling," from A.S. tedre, or diminutive of
taide, a toad. See line 392.
447. Kytrall, heretic. Sibbald in his Glossary says it is “ a term
expressive of the greatest contempt and abhorrence." It is also spelt
Retrail. Teut. ketter, hæreticus.
=
448. Doones neir very close. The forms doyn, done, doon, doons,
doones, dunze, dooms, very, are each found as a mark of the superlative
absolute. The last form is found in Sir Walter Scott's 'Guy
Mannering,' chap. xlv.: "Aweel,' said he, 'this suld be nae sic
dooms desperate business surely—the lad's doing weel again that was
hurt, and what signifies twa or three draps in his shouther?'"
461. To saill sure in a seiffe. To sail in a sieve or riddle was one
of the accomplishments of a witch. Compare Shakespeare :—
"A sailor's wife had chestnuts in her lap
And munched, and munched, and munched :—
'Give me,' quoth I:
'Aroint thee, witch!' the rump-fed ronyon cries.
Her husband's to Aleppo gone, master of the Tiger,
But in a sieve I'll thither sail,
And like a rat without a tail,
I'll do, I'll do, I'll do.”
-'Macbeth,' Act i. sc. 3.
462. And milk of an hairne tedder. The subjoined extracts illustrate
this process :-
A farmer in the north-west of Glasgow engaged a Highland lad
as herd, and my informant also served with this farmer at the time.
It was observed by the family, that after the lad came to them every-
thing went well with the farmer. During the winter, however, the
kye became yell, and the family were consequently short of milk.
The cows of a neighbouring farmer were at the same time giving
plenty of milk. Under these circumstances the Highland lad pro-
posed to his mistress that he would bring milk from their neighbour's
cows, which she understood to be by the aid of the black airt, through
the process known as milking the tether. The tether is the rope
halter, and by going through the form of milking this, repeating
certain incantations, the magic transference was supposed capable of
being effected."-'Folk Lore,' by James Napier, F.R.S.E., &c.
(Paisley Alex. Gardner, 1879.)
:
'Mr Kelly tells of a rope, which, in the hands of a witch, would
yield milk, adding that it must be made from the hair of different
cows, with a knot for each cow. The following verse was sung by
way of incantation on such occasions:-
320
NOTES TO THE FLYTING (464-472).
'Meare's milk and deer's milk,
And every beast that bears milk,
Between St Johnston and Dundee,
Come a' to me, come a' to me.'
In the same writer we find it stated that an old gentleman once.
burned one of these hair tethers, on which were several knots, every
one of which went off like a pistol-shot when it was burnt."—' Folk
Lore of the Northern Counties of England and of the Borders,' by
William Henderson, page 199. (London, 1879.)
In the 'Malleus Maleficarum' we have a particular account of the
manner of draining a neighbour's cows by a somewhat similar pro-
cess: "Quædam enim nocturnis temporibus et sacratioribus utique
ex inductione Diaboli, ob majorem offensam divinæ majestatis, quo-
cumque angulo domus suæ se collocant, urceum inter crura habentes,
et dum cultrum vel aliquod instrumentum in parietem aut columnam
infigunt, et manus ad mulgendum apponunt, tunc suum diabolum,
qui semper eis ad omnia cooperatur, invocant, et quod de tali vacca
ei tali domo quæ sanior et quæ magis in lacte abundat, mulgere
affectat, proponit, tunc subito Diabolus ex mamillis illius vaccæ lạc
recipit, et ad locum ubi malefica residet et quasi de illo instrumento
fluat reponit.”—' Mall. Malefic.,' page 354. (Lugd., 1669.)
464. Sall bliss-shall curse. The word bliss is used ironically, as
might be expected.
472. That cammosed cocatrice. Cammosed, i.q., camnosed, flat-nosed
(Fr. camus); cocatrice, from Low Lat. cocatricem, acc. of cocatrix,
a crocodile, basilisk, or cocatrice. The form cocatrix is a corruption
of Low Lat. cocodrillus, a crocodile. (Skeat, s.v. Cockatrice.) The
cockatrice, a fabulous animal of monstrous generation-said to be
hatched by a serpent or toad from a cock's egg, and to inflict death
by its breath and by its look—seems to have filled our superstitious
forefathers with terrors unbounded. The words of the old legend—
"Lo! the bloody cockatrice;
Feeds on his corp at the gallow-lee
""
were enough to make one's blood run cold. The word occurs no less
than four times in the authorised version of the Old Testament-a cir-
cumstance which probably contributed not a little to the popular
belief in the terrific character of the monster.
Compare Dunbar :—
"Dewlbeiris moder, cassin in by the se,
The wariet apill of the forbiddin tre,
That Adame eit, quhen he tynt Paradyce,
Scho eit invennomit lyk a cokkatryce,
Syne merreit with the Diuill for dignite.”
The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie,' ll. 292-296.
and
((
Conspiratour, cursit cokatrice, hell caa.
""
-Ibid., 1. 521.
1
NOTES TO THE FLYTING (473-488).
321
One of the
473. Kait of Criefe. The following account of the trial and burn-
ing of a witch, by name Kate M'Niven, in 1715, which I extract from
a volume entitled 'Crieff: Its Traditions and Characters' (Edin. : D.
Macara, 1881), shows that that locality continued long after Mont-
gomerie's time to maintain its reputation as a witch-infested spot.
M'Niven suffered on the Knock, a picturesque hill overlooking the
town of Crieff:-"Monzie is best known in connection with the
burning of a witch. In 1715, Kate M'Niven lived a little down the
river Shaggie from the Manse, and was reputed a witch.
principal things against her appears to have been in connection with
Inchbrakie, where she had been a nurse. The laird one day rode
over to Dunning, and, according to the usage of the times, carried his
knife and fork with him. While at dinner he was annoyed by a bee
buzzing about his ears, and he laid down the knife and fork to put
off the annoyer, which flew out by the window. On looking for the
knife and fork, he found that they were amissing, and could not be
found. On his return to Inchbrakie the nurse produced the missing
articles. Some time thereafter she was lodged in 'durance vile,' tried
and condemned for witchcraft, and burnt in the spring of 1715. Mr
Bowie was the minister of Monzie and officiated on the occasion, and
was, it seems, most bitter against her, as were also some of the other
neighbouring gentlemen present; and she predicted that, so long as
the Shaggie Burn ran west, there should not be a lineal descendant to
the house of Monzie, nor the minister of the parish ever prosper, both
of which prophecies have been realised in an astonishing manner.
The laird who was a means of condemning her was the only one who
interposed in her behalf at the eleventh hour, and Kate in gratitude
spat a bead out of her mouth, and declared that so long as that charm
was preserved by the family, the house of Inchbrakie would never
want a direct heir, which has been duly verified to the present time."
-Pp. 201, 202.
Acharn, Balloch, and Pittentian, all in the immediate vicinity of
Crieff, had each its witch, and can each contribute its marvellous tale
of sorcery to the weird literature of that deplorable superstition.
488. In the barke of ane bourtree whylome they bed it. Burns re-
presents the devil as
rustlin', thro' the boortries comin',
Wi' heavy groan.”
-'Address to the Deil,' ll. 35, 36.
The boortree or elder, however, was in many localities believed to
have wonderful influence against evil. "Wherever it grew, witches
were powerless. In this country gardens were protected by having
elder-trees planted at the entrance, and sometimes hedges of this
plant were trained round the garden. There are very few old gardens
X
322
NOTES TO THE FLYTING (511-598).
in country places in which are not still seen remains of the protecting
elder-tree."-Napier's 'Folk Lore,' pp. 125, 126.
511. Bot ay rammeist redwood, &c.-i.e., they ran about capering
madly and confusedly in their dances.
523. Caribald=monster. Early and correct form of modern canni-
bal. A caribal is a Carib or native of the Caribbean Islands. These
islanders were brave in a high degree, and they were man-eaters to
boot. The word caribal being ill understood, or rather, not under-
stood at all, it was thought that the spelling was changed to canibal
to give sense, from the notion, presumably, that cannibals ate like
dogs, and that the second n was afterwards introduced to shorten
the first vowel. See Skeat, s.v. Cannibal. It seems now that this is
a mistake, and that both cannibal and caliban are real dialectical
variants, and not corruptions, of caribal. See in 'The Academy' of
April 2, 1887, pp. 242, 243, Report of a Paper on English Ety÷
mologies,” read by Professor Skeat before the Philological Society.
Compare Dunbar :—
and
""
Quhen kissis me that carybald, than kyndillis all my sorow."
((
The Tua Mariit Wemen and the Wedo,' 1. 94:
Ay quhen that caribald carll wald clym on my wambe,
Than am I dangerus, et dane, and dour of my will."
-Ibid., ll. 131, 132.
"Ffowl carrybald, cry mercy on thy kneis."
The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie,' 1. 184.
mids of the moone. So in
read, out of toone in the pre-
528. Out of toone=out of tune.
529. That rymes red-wood, at ilk
Laing's edition. If runs of ed. 1688 be
ceding line must be rendered "out of sorts." In either case the
meaning is obvious. It was a common belief that lunatics became
more and more frenzied as the moon increased to its full.
1
551. Athort his nitty now. There is a proverb to the effect that
"he had need to have a heal pow wha ca's his neebour 'nitty know.'
558. The Tron-i.e., the pillory.
567. His nose weill lit in Bacchus blood about. Indicating by its
redness his sottish proclivities.
571. Tarladders-i.e., tar-leathers-strong slips of hide salted and
hung, used for joining the staves of flails. The skin of the lower
parts of the legs of calves and oxen was generally used for this
purpose.
579. Returning directly againe to Argyle. See 1. 184.
582. Discending of deuils. See l. 176.
587. And waried a wight. Cf. Rolland :-
"Bad hir belive pas to 3one waryit wicht
Hecht Desperance."
-'The Court of Venus,' Bk. i. ll. 789, 790.
598. Hee vsed both carts and dyce. To give a person this character
NOTES TO THE FLYTING (603-658).
323
was, within the memory of men living, to brand his reputation with an
indelible stain. Cards and dice were looked upon as the devil's prayer-
book and beads; and the poor wight who indulged in either for an
hour's amusement was set down as given over to a reprobate mind,
and consequently was regarded with due pharisaical abhorrence, and
shunned.
603. The seuen sinnes. Pryd, yre, invy, auaryce, sueirness, lichery,
gluttony. See Dunbar's "Dance of the Sevin Deidly Synnis," pp. 117-
120, and compare Chaucer :-
"Now it is a bihovely thing to telle whiche ben dedly synnes, that
is to sayn, chiveteyns of synnes; for as moche as alle thay renne in
oon loos, but in divers maners. Now ben thay cleped chiveteyns, for
als moche as thay ben chief and springers of all othere synnes. The
roote of these seven synnes thanne is pride, the general synne and
roote of alle harmes. For of this roote springen general braunches;
as ire, envye, accidie or sleuthe, avarice or coveitise (to commune
understondynge), glotonye, and leccherie: and everich of these synnes
hath his braunches and his twigges, as schal be declarid in here
chapitres folwinge."-" The Persones Tale," vol. iv. p. 39.
614. An warloch=a wizard (A.S. war, the truth; and loga, a liar);
one who lies against the truth, and is supposed to be in compact with
Satan; cf. Icel. vardlokr, a magical song used for calling up evil
'spirits.
620. Arcandams astrologie. This “Booke to find the fatall Destiny,
Constellation, Complexion and naturall Inclination of every Man and
Childe by his Birth. With an Addition of Phisiognomy, tourned out
of French into our vulgar Tongue by William Warde,” was published
in London in 1578. It has been several times reprinted.
658. Wraiths. The wraith was the spectral appearance of a person
about to die. It was wont to appear to relatives and persons at a
distance and forewarn them of the dread event. If any one were to
catch a glimpse of the apparition of a friend or acquaintance passing
the door or window, and on making search were to find no such person
there, it was considered a conclusive sign of the approaching death
of the person seen. The following account of the appearance of the
wraith of Dundee, related by Mr C. K. Sharpe, illustrates the popular
creed regarding such manifestations:—
"After the battle of Killiecrankie, where fell the last hope of James
in the Viscount of Dundee, the ghost of that hero is said to have
appeared about daybreak to his confidential friend, Lord Balcarres,
then confined in Edinburgh Castle. The spectre, drawing aside the
curtain of the bed, looked very steadfastly upon the earl, after which
it moved towards the mantelpiece, remained there for some time in
a leaning posture, and then walked out of the chamber without utter-
ing one word. Lord Balcarres, in great surprise, though not suspect-
ing that which he saw to be an apparition, called out repeatedly to
his friend to stop, but received no answer, and subsequently learned
324
NOTES TO THE FLYTING (661).
that at the very moment this shadow stood before him, Dundee had
breathed his last near the field of Killiecrankie."
The belief in wraiths was at one time prevalent all over Scotland;
and indeed seems to have existed as a constituent article of faith in
the early history of almost every nation. An instance of this super-
stitious belief among the early Christians is recorded in the Acts of the
Apostles (chap. xii. 15). See Napier's 'Folk Lore,' pp. 57-59.
661. Leaue boggles, brownies, gyr-carlings and gaists. The bogle or
goblin was a mischievous, freakish spirit who took delight in frighten-
ing and perplexing rather than in helping or seriously injuring man-
kind. In the exercise of his mischievous vocation he would, by his
doleful cry of distress, solicit the aid of the country folks, or by simu-
lating the wailing of a strayed child, lure the midnight wanderer from
his way, only to burst forth into an uproarious horse-laugh at the
success of his roguish frolic.
The brownie, on the other hand, was a kindly spirit sincerely
attached to the household; delighting to stretch his limbs before a
blazing fire, and offering and rendering menial services, such as'
churning the cream, threshing and winnowing the corn for those to
whom he attached himself. The farmhouse was his favourite abode,
and he laboured in the interest of its tenant without recompense or
reward, beyond, perhaps, a bowlful of cream or a "cogfu' o' brose."
Indeed, so delicate was his attachment that the offer of a fee in the
form of money or clothes infallibly severed the bond, and entailed his
disappearance for ever. William Nicholson, the Galloway poet, in his
powerful ballad of "The Brownie of Blednoch," makes the "unyerthly
wicht” thus detail his duties and the terms of his paction
"
(
(
I'll shiel a' your sheep i̇' the mornin' sune,
I'll berry your corn by the licht o' the mune,
An' ba the bairns wi' an unkenned tune,
If ye'll keep puir Aiken-drum.
'I'll loup the linn when ye canna wade,
I'll kirn the kirn an' I'll turn the bread,
An' the wildest filly that ever ran rede,
I'se tam't,' quoth Aiken-drum.
'To wear the tod frae the flock on the fell,
To gather the dew frae the heather bell,
An' to look at my face in your clear crystal well,
Micht gi'e pleasure to Aiken-drum.
I'se seek nae guids, gear, bond nor mark;
I use nae beddin', shoon, nor sark;
But a cogfu' o' brose 'tween the light and dark
Is the wage o' Aiken-drum.
1
1
While in the following stanzas he describes the brownie's helpful
services and the result of the breach of the contract by "a new-made
wife" in an evil moment :—
1
1
1
NOTES TO THE FLYTING (699).
325
"Roun' a' that side what wark was dune
By the streamer's gleam or the glance o' the mune;
A word or a wish an' the brownie cam' sune,
Sae helpfu' was Aiken-drum.
On Blednoch banks, and on crystal Cree,
For mony a day a toiled wicht was he;
While the bairns played harmless roun' his knee,
Sae social was Aiken-drum.
But a new-made wife fu' o' frippish freaks,
Fond o' a' things feat for the first five weeks,
Laid a mouldy pair o' her ain man's breeks
By the brose o' Aiken-drum.
Let the learned decide when they convene,
What spell was him an' the breeks between;
For frae that day forth he was nae mair seen,
An' sair missed was Aiken-drum.
He was heard by a herd gaun by the Thrieve
Crying: 'Lang, lang noo may I greet an' grieve,
For, alas! I hae gotten baith fee an' leave-
Oh! luckless Aiken-drum !'”
Milton, too, has graphically sketched the brownie's character and
unctions:-
•
•
how the drudging goblin swet
To earn the cream-bowl duly set,
When in one night ere glimpse of morn
His shadowy flail had threshed the corn
That ten day-labourers could not end;
Then lies him down the lubbar-fiend,
And, stretched out all the chimney's length,
Basks at the fire his hairy strength,
And crop-ful out of doors he flings,
Ere the first cock his matin rings."
L'Allegro," ll. 105-114.
699. Semples dytements. Semple, mentioned in this line and line
711, is probably the poet Robert Semple, mentioned in Sonnet xxv. 1.
12. From the tenor of 11. 709-712, Sibbald concluded that Robert,
Lord Semple, who was closely related to the Hazelhead family, was
meant. But all the evidence we possess points in the other direction.
The statement in line 711, "but speciallie with some of Semples
things,” is evidently an insinuation that Montgomerie had been in the
habit of appropriating the verses of Semple. Now we know that the
poet, Robert Semple, was a crony of Montgomerie's, and held a not
undistinguished place among the Scottish poets of the time. It is of
him, doubtless, that Dempster writes:-
"Semple, claro nomine poeta, cui patrius sermo tantum debet, ut
nulli plus debere eruditi fateantur; felix in eo calor, temperatum
326
NOTES TO THE FLYTING (708-795).
1
judicium, rara inventio, dictio pura ac candida quibus dotibus Regi
Jacobo charissimus fuit. Scripsit carmina amatoria ut Propertii
sanguinem, Tibulli lac, Ovidii mel, Callimachi sudorem æquasse
plerisque doctis videatur. Obiit anno 1595."
Here, in the first place, we may note that Lord Semple, though, like
many young men, he may have written elegant verses, is, as a poet,
unknown to fame. Secondly, and what is of quite as much conse-
quence, Dempster, had he been writing of Lord Semple, would un-
doubtedly have described him as something far greater and grander
than simply claro nomine poeta. This chronicler of his country's
worthies, who designated Montgomerie Eques Montanus
nobilissimo sanguine, &c., would hardly have lost a chance like that
afforded by Lord Semple of displaying his fellow-countryman in the
fairest possible light. For that learned and brilliant but unveracious
writer always made the most of his opportunities: ennobling Scotch-
men, extolling their virtues, and adding to the roll of their illustrious
deeds. Too little weight, moreover, can hardly be assigned to
Dempster's dates—the date of Montgomerie's death as given by him
is a case in point—but it is none the less noteworthy that both Douglas
and Crawfurd, in their works on the Scottish Peerage, agree that
Robert, Lord Semple, died in 1611. See notes to Sonnets XXV. 12,
and lxviii. 14.
-
708. Thou's succeed thou'lt succeed. The use of the form of the
3d person sing. of the present tense of the verb to be with the pronouns
I and thou for both present and future, is still common in the south
and west of Scotland—e.g., I's gang hame wi' ye=I shall go, &c.
I's gaun hame=I am going, &c. The form Ise is also common.
744. Wood wyld, ilk moneth anes. Compare Dunbar:
"Mismaid monstour, ilk mone owt of thy mynd."
Ze
(
The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie,' 1. 53.
769, 771. 3e raue ay vnrocked... ze's be knoked. "You rave un-
rockit: I wish your head was knockit” (Prov.) Spoken of those who
speak unreasonable things as if they raved (Kelly).
776. Bang the bicker. Compare Allan Ramsay :—
"Thus we tuke in the high browin liquor,
And banged about the nectar biquor.
""
-'The Vision,' ll. 267, 268.
784. Iock Blunt. The designation of a clownish, awkward fellow.
Compare Dunbar :-
"For all the buddis of Iohne Blunt, quhen he abone clymis,
Me think the baid deir aboucht sa bawch ar his werkis."
'The Tua Mariit Wemen and the Wedo,' 11. 142, 143.
795. Lansprezed to the lownes=acting as petty officer to thy rascally
followers. (Jamieson.)
NOTES TO THE SONNETS.
THE Sonnets are all printed from the Drummond MS. The first in
the list has generally been printed along with "The Cherrie and the
Slae”; the 12th, addressed to James VI., was prefixed to his Majesty's
Essayes of a Prentise in the Divine Art of Poesie,' imprinted at
Edinburgh by Thomas Vautroullier, 1584: a few others appeared in
Sibbald's 'Chronicle of Scottish Poetry,' Edinburgh, 1802. The
Sonnets were first published in a complete form by Dr Laing in his
edition of 'Montgomerie's Poems,' Edinburgh, 1821. The order of
the Sonnets in the Drummond MS., from which Dr Laing departed
in one or two instances, has been preserved in this edition.
I.
Dempster has left two versions of this sonnet, one in elegiac, the
other in hexameter verse. The former is as follows :—
"Sacra Monas, Triados suprema Essentia, simplex
Ens: sine principio fineque semper idem.
Æternum, quo victa cadit victoria, VERBUM
In cruce vim perimens mortis et arma Stygis.
Omnia contemplans oculus, Sapientia, Lumen ;
Alpha, O, idem; ortus, terminus; arrha, lucrum :
Nulli par solus, solus pare nemine gaudens:
Immotus, propriis astra movendo globis.
Usia una; triplex in hypostase forma creatrix :
Sola Creatoris nescia, sola sciens.
Perpes Amor; stabilis Pietas; Laus justa; quieto
Dirige sollicitum calle, salutis iter.
Constabili, succende, crema mihi spemque fidemque
Cœlitus, ut maneas tu mihi solus Amor."
8. Rounds. The MS. has round by an error of the scribe.
13. Strenthen is the MS. reading; Laing, with the printed copies,
reads kendill, which, it will be observed, is followed by Dempster.
II.
7. Tropiks. The MS. has topics, an obvious error.
10. Creaturs here, as elsewhere in the case of similar words from
the French, is a trisyllable.
328
NOTES TO THE SONNETS.
III.
5. Dou can. See "The Cherrie and the Slae," 1. 546, note.
6. Symonie. "The buying or selling of spirituall functions or prefer
ments,” Cotgr.; generally, any unlawful traffic in holy things. S
called from Simon Magus, who wanted to purchase "the gift of th
Holy Ghost with money," that he might have the power of workin
miracles. See Acts viii. 18, 19.
12. Able=possible. See St Matthew xxiv. 24.
IV.
Regarding David Drummond, to whom this sonnet and the one im
mediately following are addressed, nothing whatever is known. H
seems, like Montgomerie, to have devoted himself to poetry (1. 14), and
like him also, to have stood in need of an appreciative and generou
patron (Sonnet v. 1. 14). Compare with this sonnet Virg. Æneid,
753-756, and II. 1 sqq.
3. Lybia. Libya, a district in the north of Africa, to which Dido
daughter of Belus, King of Tyre, after the murder of her husban
Sichæus by Pygmalion, sailed with a company of Tyrians. Havin
acquired a portion of land, she built Byrsa, which afterwards becam
the citadel of Carthage. The episode of Æneas and Dido, here re
ferred to, though it rests on an absurd anachronism, is nevertheless on
of the most charming creations of classical antiquity.
7. Troy. The chief city of the district called Troas; besieged fo
ten years by the united forces of Greece, to reclaim Helen, wife o
Menelaus, King of Sparta. According to the common legend, it wa
taken by the stratagem of the wooden horse, and burnt to the ground
about 1184 B.C.
V.
The goddess Occasio i
5. 3e knau Occasio hes no hair behind.
always represented with long hair in front, to escape recognition; bu
with a bald head behind, lest mortals should be able to seize her a
she passes. In the following passages from Roman writers, her ap
pearance and character are portrayed :—
"Sum Dea, quæ rara, et paucis Occasio nota.
Quid rotulæ insistis? Stare loco nequeo.
Quid talaria habes? Volucris sum. Mercurius quæ
Fortunare solet, tardo ego, cum volui.
Crine tegis faciem.
Occipiti calvo es.
Cognosci nolo. Sed heus tu
Ne tenear fugiens."
-Auson., Epigr.' xii. ll. 3-8.
"Rem, tibi quam noris aptam, dimittere noli :
Fronte capillata, post est Occasio calva."
-Caton., 'Distich.' ii. no. 26.
In the next passage Occasio is depicted as a male divinity, like the
Greek Καιρός :
NOTES TO THE SONNETS.
329
1
"Cursu volucri, pendens in novacula,
Calvus, comosa fronte, nudo corpore,
Quem, si occuparis, teneas; elapsum semel
Non ipse possit Jupiter reprehendere,
Occasionem rerum significat brevem."
-Phaedr., 'Fab.' Bk. V. viii. 1-5.
Compare 'Miscellaneous Poems,' I. ll. 3, 4 :—
"Sho hes no hold, to hold hir by, bot ane ;
A toppe befor, bot beld behind hir bak.'
""
10. The pratling pyet matchis with the Musis. The allusion here
is to the contest in singing betweeen the Pierides, daughters of Pierus,
King of Emathia, and the Muses, daughters of Jupiter and Mnemo-
syne, in which the former were vanquished and changed into magpies.
The result of the contest is thus told by Ovid :—
"At nymphæ vicisse deas Helicona colentes
Concordi dixere sono. Convicia victæ
Cum jacerent, 'Quoniam' dixit 'certamine vobis
Supplicium meruisse parum est, maledictaque culpæ
Additis, et non est patientia libera nobis :
Ibimus in pœnas, et qua vocat ira, sequemur.'
Rident Emathides, spernuntque minacia verba :
Conatæque loqui et magno clamore protervas
Intentare manus, pennas exire per ungues
Aspexere suos, operiri bracchia plumis :
Alteraque alterius rigido concrescere rostro
Ora videt, volucresque novas accedere silvis.
Dumque volunt plangi, per bracchia mota levatæ
Aëre pendebant, nemorum convicia, picæ.
Nunc quoque in alitibus facundia prisca remansit,
Raucaque garrulitas studiumque immane loquendi."
-'Met.' Bk. v. ll. 663-678.
11. Pan with Apollo playis. When Pan engaged in a musical
contest with Apollo, Midas (1. 14), being chosen umpire, gave his ver-
dict in favour of Pan, whereupon Apollo punished him by giving him
the ears of an ass. Cf. "The Cherrie and the Slae," 11. 864-868, and
notes thereto; and for the myth in detail, see Ovid, 'Met.' Bk. xi.
11. 153-179.
12. The attircops Minervas office vsis. Arachne, a woman of Colo-
phon, was so skilful in weaving, that she ventured to challenge Min-
erva to a competition. Arachne wove a piece of cloth on which she
delineated the loves of the gods. The work was perfect, and although
the goddess could find no fault with it, she tore it up in a rage, where-
upon Arachne attempted to hang herself. Minerva loosened the rope
and saved her life; but changed her into a spider, the creature most
odious to her. See Ovid, 'Met.' vi. ll. 1-145.
Attircops is from A.S. attercoppa, a spider. It signifies literally a
"poison cup," from attor, átor, poison, and cuppa or cuppe, a cup.
330
NOTES TO THE SONNETS.
14. Mydas, not Mecenas. While Midas, without the soul to ap
preciate genius, gave his decision in favour of the inferior combatant,
Mæcenas, the prime minister of Augustus, was famous for his patron-
age of men of merit. The most celebrated poets of the Augustan
age were befriended and honoured by him.
VI.
1. Sound, Gallovay, &c. "Patrick Galloway, one of the ministers
of the King's household, probably at the time when this sonnet was
written. He had previously been settled as minister of Perth. When
invited to one of the churches of Edinburgh in 1587, he refused, but
accepted his appointment as minister of the King's house in June
1589. In June 1607 he was removed to Edinburgh, and lived to an
advanced age. His 'Apology' for himself when he was forced to fly
to England in 1584, with some other works by him, still exist in MS.
-(Laing.)
VII.
1, 2. Shir, clenge your cuntrie of thir cruell crymis,
,
Adultries, witchcraftis, incests, sakeles bluid.
Whatever may be said of his action with regard to the other crimes
here enumerated, it must be admitted that James did his best to cleanse
his country from witchcraft. He had already indulged "the more
harmless freak of becoming a prentice in the art of poetry, by which
words and numbers were the only sufferers;" but on coming to dis-
charge the duties of a sovereign he made numerous official investiga-
tions into alleged cases of witchcraft, and derived a signal pleasure
from questioning old women regarding their dealings with the arch-
enemy. His subsequent work on Demonology, published in 1597,
proves that he cherished the most absurd and gross of the popular
errors on the subject. The rigour with which the monarch, backed
by the clergy of the time, prosecuted the inoffensive creatures whom
an excited and distorted imagination or occasional foolish word
brought within the scope of the statute, surely required no stimulus
from the poet. These prosecutions, or rather persecutions, with all
their concomitant atrocities, form one of the most deplorable chapter's
in human history.
VIII.
In this sonnet and in the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th, we see Mont-
gomerie in the most servile and unmanly phase of his character. In
the fawning adulation to which he descends, combined, however, with
no small degree of tact and poetic grace, the poet reminds us of the
times of pagan Rome, when men of genius could stoop to characterise
the Emperor as divine, and burn incense morning and evening on his
altars.
3. The futsteppe of the fleing fole. Pegasus, the winged horse that
sprang from the blood of the Gorgon Medusa, as he rose from Mount
NOTES TO THE SONNETS.
331
Helicon to the sky, struck the ground with his hoof, which caused the
fountain Hippocrene to gush forth. Regarded as the steed of the
Muses, Pegasus has had a much greater reputation in modern, than
he ever had in ancient, times.
4. Parnassus, a double-peaked mountain in Phocis, sacred to Apollo
and the Muses, at the foot of which were the city of Delphi and the
Castalian spring. Montgomerie seems to confuse this spring with
Hippocrene on Helicon. See "The Cherrie and the Slae," 1. 98, note.
8. His brand all Brytan to obey sall bring. In the 25th stanza of
'A New 3eir Gift to Queen Mary when she came first Hame 1562,”
Alexander Scott alludes to the prophecy of the succession of the son
of Mary to the throne of England, and his holding the whole of Brit-
ain under his sway :—
""
"Gif saws be suthe to schaw thy celsitude,
Quhat bairn sould bruke all Britain be the sie,
The prophecie expressly dois conclude,
The French wyfe of the BRUCEIS bluid sould be;
Thou art the lyne frae him the nynth degree,
And was King Francis partie, maik, and peir.
Sae by descent the same sould spring of thee,
By grace of GOD agane this gude new 3eir.”
IX.
Sir John Maitland of Thirlestane, to whom this sonnet is addressed,
was the second son of Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington, a gentle-
man of great parts and learning, and, as a collector of poems by his
predecessors and contemporaries, deserving of the lasting gratitude
of his countrymen. Sir John was one of the senators of the College of
Justice, and held successively the offices of Secretary of State, Vice-
Chancellor, and Lord High Chancellor of Scotland. The last of these
appointments was ratified by Parliament, 29th July 1587. ('Act. Parl.
Scot.,' vol. iii. p. 489.) King James, as a special mark of royal favour
to Sir John Maitland and his family, raised him to the peerage with
the title of Lord Maitland of Thirlestane, the dignity to descend to
hèirs-male of his body, 18th May 1590. He died 3d Oct. 1595. See
Crawfurd's 'Peerage,' pp. 252, 253.
8. A cunning king a cunning chanceller chuisis. From this line
we may fix the date of this sonnet as 1587.
X.
The King's "Vranie,” translated from the French of Du Bartas, is
included in the 'Essayes of a Prentise in the Divine Art of Poesie.'
Guillaume de Saluste du Bartas, a Gascon poet, was born at Mont-
fort, Armagnac, in 1544. During his lifetime he enjoyed a great repu-
tation, which speedily waned, and may now be said to be almost ex-
tinct. His most celebrated poem, entitled "The Creation," dealing
with that momentous event and the early history of the world, is stated
332
NOTES TO THE SONNETS.
to have passed through thirty editions in six years. Milton is said to
have been influenced by it in writing his "Paradise Lost." The
"Vranie," a poem in praise of poesy, the translation of which by King
James is so absurdly lauded by Montgomerie, was one of his earlier
efforts. Du Bartas was also a soldier and diplomatist, and filled for a
time the post of Ambassador to Scotland from the Court of France.
He died in 1590 from wounds received at the battle of Ivry. Joshua
Sylvester (born 1563), who divided his time between the incongruous
pursuits of merchandise and poetry, translated his works, and thereby
achieved a transient popularity. In the "Furies" he introduces some
complimentary lines to King James :-
"But, yer we farther pass, our slender bark
Must heer strike topsails to a princely ark
Which keeps these straights," &c.-
and adds in a marginal note, "The translator heer humbly vaileth
bonnet to the King's Majesty, who, many yeers since (for his princely
exercise) translated these Furies, the Vrania, and some other pieces of
Du Bartas." Sylvester's original works have passed from human
memory, while his translation of the works of Du Bartas is now
known only to the literary historian and the antiquarian.
1. Bellonas sone. Bellona is the goddess of war; sister and
charioteer of Mars. The wife of Mars was Neria or Neriene. Mont-
gomerie evidently means Bellona to be the wife of the war-god here.
8. Eternizing thy name. Compare Spenser :—
"Sith, then, each where thou hast dispredd thy fame,
Love him that hath eternized your name.
XI.
"Sonnet to Sir John Norris," ll. 13, 14.
1. Of Titans harp. Titan, Apollo in his character of god of music.
11. Quha hazard at so high a mark, &c. At once a compliment to
King James, and a testimony to the high esteem in which Du Bartas
was held as a poet.
XII.
In this sonnet, prefixed to the 'Essayes of a Prentise,' line 13 runs :
"So (worthy Prince) thy works sall mak the knawin.”
XIII.
1
9. Or as the phœnix, with her fedrum fair. The phoenix is rep-
resented by Herodotus as a male bird, in outline and size like an
eagle; the plumage of its wings partly golden-coloured, partly red,—
that is to say, if it resembled its picture, for he had never seen the bird
itself, as it seldom made its appearance among men-only once in five
hundred years, according to his informants, the Heliopolitans. "They
say," he adds, "that it comes on the death of its sire."-Herod., ii.
chap. 73.
NOTES TO THE SONNETS.
333
Compare with the description by Herodotus the beautiful lines of
Ovid :-
Fedrum
=
"Una est, quæ reparet seque ipsa reseminet, ales:
Assyrii phoenica vocant. Non fruge neque herbis,
Sed turis lacrimis et suco vivit amomi.
Hæc ubi quinque suæ complevit sæcula vitæ
Ilicet in ramis tremulæque cacumine palmæ
Unguibus et puro nidum sibi construit ore.
Quo simul ac casias et nardi lenis aristas
Quassaque cum fulva substravit cinnama murra,
Se super imponit finitque in adoribus ævum.
Inde ferunt totidem qui vivere debeat annos,
Corpore de patrio parvum phoenica renasci.
Cum dedit huic ætas vires, onerique ferendo est,
Ponderibus nidi ramos levat arboris altæ,
Fertque pius cunasque suas patriumque sepulchrum,
Perque leves auras Hyperionis urbe potitus,
Ante fores sacras Hyperionis æde reponit."
-'Met.,' xv. ll. 392-407.
feathers, seems to be the old dative plural form of A.S.
féðer, feðrum.
12. As onlie but companione or compair. Cf. Chaucer :—
"Trewely she was to myn eye
The soleyne fenix of Arabie."
-'The Boke of the Duchesse,' vol. vi. p. 167.
XIV.
This is the first of a series of sonnets, in which the poet grievously
bewails the loss or withholding of a pension of five hundred marks
which had been granted to him by the King, and was chargeable on
certain rents of the archbishopric of Glasgow. The history of this
pension is involved in great obscurity. Montgomerie had undoubt-
edly fallen into disfavour at Court, but had received the pension for
past services. The date of the grant is nowhere recorded; but we
learn from the 'Register of Presentations to Benefices,' vol. ii. f. 91,
that the grant itself was confirmed in 1583. The payment, however,
was to be computed from the preceding year. In 1586 Montgomerie
obtained from the King a licence (1. 11) to absent himself from the
kingdom for five years, and during that period to visit several foreign
countries. On his tour he was, for some reason or other, immured
and detained for a time in a foreign prison—a circumstance attested
alike by an authentic document and passages in his poems. (See
Sonnet xv. 2, and Miscellaneous Poems, v.) The payment of his pen-
sion, moreover, was iniquitously withheld, "to his great hurt, hinder,
and prejudice; whereas his good services merited rather augmenta-
tion than diminishing of said pension." The former grant was ac-
cordingly renewed and confirmed by a Writ of Privy Seal, dated at
Holyroodhouse on the 21st of March 1588. (See 'Register of Privy

334
NOTES TO THE SONNETS.
·
Seal,' vol. lix. f. 88, and Biographical Notice by Dr Irving, prefixed
to Dr Laing's edition of 'Montgomerie's Poems,' p. xi.)
XV.
=
9. With August, Virgill wauntit his reuard. Wauntit needed.
Montgomerie is not fortunate in selecting Virgil as one of the luck-
less poets; for never was one of the band more successful in the race
of life. It is indeed true that, at the age of twenty-nine, Virgil, on the
confiscation of the Mantuan territory, was among the sufferers; but
on his making his case known to Octavian, his farm was at once
restored to him. What with the imperial liberality, Octavia's splen-
did gift to him on his reading to her his panegyric on Marcellus, and
the munificence of Mæcenas and perhaps other friends, Virgil was
enabled to live in the very lap of luxury, and to die at a little over
fifty years of age, leaving to the value of upwards of £100,000 of our
money, besides other property, and a mansion on the Esquiline Hill
near the gardens of Mæcenas.
10. And Ovids lote als lukles as the lave. Ovid (Publius Ovidius
Naso) was born at Sulmo, in the country of the Peligni, on 20th
March, B.C. 43. From the time when he completed his education
till he reached the age of fifty-two, his life was spent in Rome, in the
society of the polished, the brilliant, and the gay; in a magic circle
in which culture and mirth met and lived in amity,—in a word, in the
coterie in which moved and breathed the imperial family and the
élite of Roman society. For some mistake or other involving the
disgrace of the imperial household, he was banished by Augustus to
Tomi, on the shore of the Euxine. After a long series of piteous and
humiliating epistles written to his friends in Rome—of which we are
sometimes reminded by Montgomerie's own complaints-this gifted
poet died in exile, A.D. 17.
11, 12. Quhill Homer livd, his hap wes wery hard, &c. Of the
circumstances of Homer, to whose genius all nations still pay willing
tribute, nothing can be said with certainty, inasmuch as none of the
biographies of him by ancient writers can be regarded as authentic.
The seven cities that claimed to be his place of birth are enumerated
in the line-
Smyrna, Rhodos, Colophon, Salamis, Chios, Argos, Athenæ."
Compare Buchanan :-
"Bella gerunt urbes septem de patria Homeri :
Nulla domus vivo, patria nulla fuit.
XVI.
-' Eleg.,' i.
9. Wes Bishop Betoun bot restord agane. James Betoun, son of
John Betoun or Bethune of Balquharg, was Abbot of Arbroath in
NOTES TO THE SONNETS.
335
1546; succeeded to the archbishopric of Glasgow on the death of
Gawin, son of Sir John Dunbar of Mochram, in 1547; was consecrated
archbishop in 1552, and held the see till 1560, when he went to
France. In 1588 James VI. restored him to his former dignity,
which he enjoyed till his death in 1603. See Walcott's 'Scoti-Mon-
asticon,' p. 191, and Keith's 'Catalogue,' pp. 154, 155.
XVII.
2. Adeu, suete Duke, vhose father held me deir. Ludovick, Duke of
Lennox, eldest son of Esmé, Duke of Lennox, who was appointed Lord
High Chamberlain of Scotland in 1580, and died at Paris, 26th May
1583.
Ludovick held the offices of Lord High Chamberlain and Admiral
of Scotland when James VI. sent him as ambassador to France in
1601. On the King's accession to the throne of England, Ludovick
was created a peer of that realm by the style of Earl of Newcastle,
and thereafter raised to the honour of Duke of Richmond. He was
likewise made Master of the Household, first gentleman of the bed-
chamber, and Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. His
first wife was Sophia Ruthven, third daughter of William, first Earl
of Gowrie. To her Montgomerie addressed the 32nd Sonnet.
Ludovick died 11th February 1623. See Crawfurd's 'Peerage,' pp.
262, 263.
3. Adeu, companiones, Constable and Keir. “Of his companions,
mentioned in this sonnet, Sir James Melville of Halhill speaks of a
Mr Henry Keir as one of the chief counsellors to the Duke of Len-
nox ('Memoirs,' p. 128, ed. 1683, folio). See also an old paper which
Dr M'Crie refers to in his 'Life of Melville,' vol. i. p. 473.”—(Laing.)
9. His Grace. King James.
10. 3our vmquhyle Maister, to, and myne. The Regent Morton.
13, 14. Sen wryt, nor wax, &c. since neither writing, nor seal, nor
work of honour can be relied on, I must needs go about my business
"He is gone to seek his father's sword,' is a proverb,” says Kelly,
spoken of idle vagrants who go a-travelling without any good or
worthy design."
XVIII.
Sonnets 18-24 inclusive have reference to the poet's tedious law-
suit in the Court of Session to recover his pension.
11. Hald evin the weyis hold the balance even; dispense even-
handed justice. So also in xx. 10.
XIX.
The poet urges that Betoun must be either alive or dead, in either
of which events he ought to succeed in his suit.
XX.
3. Thair is a Lord above, &c. Compare the lines of Catullus :—
336
NOTES TO THE SONNETS.
"Si tu oblitus es, at dii meminerunt, meminit Fides
Quæ te ut pæniteat postmodo facti faciet tui."
-Carm. xxX. II, 12.
in which, however, there is a touch of natural piety quite alien to the
bitter lines of Montgomerie.
13, 14. Deserv not, &c. The threat contained in the last two lines
of this sonnet has been a common one with poets in all ages. Catul-
lus menaced his personal enemies with an eternity of infamy; Burns
frightened wild country lads by threatening "to string them up in
rhyme"; and Heine gave the King of Prussia a warning not to be mis-
understood in the concluding lines of his "Deutschland":—
"Kennst du die Hölle des Dante nicht,
Die schrecklichen Terzetten?
Wen da der Dichter hineingesperrt,
Den kaum kein Gott mehr retten.
Kein Gott, kein Heiland erlöst ihn je
Aus diesen singenden Flammen;
Nimm dich in Acht dass wir dich nicht
Zu solcher Hölle verdammen.'
Thus rendered by E. A. Bowring-
"}
"Is Dante's hell to thee unknown,
With its terrible trinary verses;
The man whom the poet there has shut up
Will never escape from his curses.
He ne'er will be freed from those musical flames
By any god or Saviour;
So for fear we condemn thee to such a sad hell,
Thou hadst better mind thy behaviour!"
XXI.
12. At Plotcok at the bar of Satan.
=
Plotcock is the old Scotch
form of the Roman Pluto, by which Satan is meant."-Brewer's
'Dictionary of Phrase and Fable,' s.v. Plotcock.
The following passage from Lindsay of Pitscottie's 'Chronicles 'of
Scotland' bears on the subject, and is in itself interesting: "In the
mean time, when they were taking forth their artillery, and the King
[James IV.] being in the Abbay at the time, there was a cry heard at
the Market Cross of Edinburgh at the hour of midnight; proclaiming
as it had been a summons, which was named and called by the pro-
claimer thereof, 'The Summons of Plotcock,' which desired all men
to compear, both earl and lord, baron and gentleman, and all honest
gentlemen within the town (every man specified by his own name),
to compear within the space of forty days before his Master, where it
should happen him to appoint, and be for the time, under the pain of
disobedience." This proclamation is said to have been made shortly
before the fatal battle of Flodden.
NOTES TO THE SONNETS.
337
Compare also Ramsay's Poems, vol. ii. p. 66 (Gardner: Paisley,
1877)-
"Till Plotcock comes with lump of Lapland clay."
Jamieson, s.v. Plotcock, has the following note on this line:—
“This has been supposed to be a corruption of Pluto, the name of
the heathen deity who was believed to reign in the infernal regions.
It does not appear that this name was commonly given to the devil.
It may be observed, however, that the use of it in Scotland may have
originated from some northern fable; as our forefathers seem to have
been well acquainted with the magical operations of Sweden and
Lapland; and according to the last passage, Plotcock brings Lapland
clay, which, doubtless, would have some peculiar virtue. B may
have been changed into P, for, according to Rudbeck, the Swedish.
name of Pluto was Blutmader, Atalant., i. 724. In Icelandic he is de-
nominated Blotgod-i.e., the god of sacrifices." The word is also
explained as Blotkok, "the swallower of sacrifices,” from blot, sacri-
ficing, and koka, Lat. deglutire.
14. I am responsible for the bracketed words at the end of the line.
XXII.
1. Prestone. Preston was made one of the Lords of Session, March
12, 1594.
He was raised to the Presidency of the Court, June 6, 1609,
and died in 1616. See Lord Hailes's 'Catalogue of the Lords of
Session.'
| 6. Craig. Thomas Craig, Scotch advocate, was born at Edinburgh
about 1548; educated at St Andrews and Paris, and filled several
posts of distinction. He was a favourite of James VI., who offered
him the honour of knighthood, which he declined. He is well known
as a writer on feudal law, homage, and the right of succession. Craig
died at Edinburgh, 26th February 1608. See Tytler's 'Life of Craig,'
Edinb. 1823.
XXIII.
In this and the next sonnet we have the poet's estimate of his own
lawyer.
!
XXIV.
9. A brybour baird=a scurvy rhymer or railer. Compare Dunbar:—
Irsche brybour baird, wyle beggar with thy brattis."
""
-'The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie,' 1. 49.
XXV.
"Robert Hudsone, to whom this and the four following sonnets
are addressed, was one of the musicians of the Chapel Royal. In
the establishment of the king's household, in March 1567, we find
'Violaris' :-
MEKILL THOMAS HUDSONE.
ROBERT HUDSONE.
JAMES HUDSONE.
WILLIAM HUDSONE. And
WILLIAM FULLERTOUN, their
servand.
Y
338
NOTES TO THE SONNETS.
(Chalmers's 'Q. Mary,' vol. i. p. 176). This situation they con-
tinued to hold for several years, as appears from the original docu-
ments preserved in the Register House. In the 'Estait of the [king's]
hous, in the year 1584,' 'Thomas, Robert, William, and James
Hudsones Violers appointed to serue the haill 3eir, [paid] be the
comptroller ijcxli. And for thair levery claithis be the thesaurair
ijcli.' Their names also occur in a similar list for the year 1590.
The only verses by Robert Hudsone which seem to have been pre-
served, are a sonnet, prefixed to King James's poems, 1584; another
to the 'Triumphes of Petrarke,' by William Fowler (MS. Univ. Lib.
A. C. d. 13), and an epitaph on Sir Richard Maitland, included in the
Maitland MS., and printed by Pinkerton. It may be observed that
Thomas Hudsone was appointed 'maister of his hienes chappell
royall, 5th Junij 1568' ('Register of Presentations,' vol. ii.) This ap-
pointment was ratified in the Parliaments 1587 and 1592 (‘Acta Parl.
Scot.,' vol. iii. p. 489, and p. 563). He was the writer of similar son-
nets with Robert Hudsone, but is most generally known as the trans-
lator of the 'History of Judith,' from the French of Du Bartas, which
he undertook at the special request of King James. This version,
first 'imprinted at Edinburgh, be Thomas Vautroullier, 1584,' 8vo, is
found to accompany Sylvester's translation of the 'Weeks and Days,
and the other works of the same French poet.”—(Laing.)
3. This is no lyfe that I live vpaland-i.e., in the country. Compare
Dunbar :
"Now vpaland thou leivis on rubbeit quheit,
Oft for ane causs thy burdclaith neidis no spredding,
Ffor thow hes nowthir for to drink nor eit,
Bot lyk ane berdles baird, that had no bedding."
'The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie,' 11. 205-208.
6. My auld diseis-i.e., gravel. See Sonnet xxx. 1. 14; and "The
Flyting," 1. 716.
12. Old Scot. Alexander Scott, called by Pinkerton from his love
pieces the "Anacreon of Scottish poetry," must be placed somewhat
before Montgomerie in point of time; but his precise period cannot be
determined with certainty. That he was in the full vigour of his
powers in 1562, is attested by the fact that one of his longest poems
was written in that year (see note to Sonnet viii. 8). He favoured the
Protestant cause, and is ranked by Dr Irving among the rational
friends of the Reformation.
12. Robert Semple. Robert Semple or Sempill was probably of
the family of the Semples of Beltrees, in Renfrewshire. He is sup-
posed to have written a drama, played before the Lord Regent, Jan.
1568, and is the reputed author of a ballad known as The Tressoun
of Dunbartane," printed by Lapraik in 1570; a poem concerning the
siege of Edinburgh Castle when held for Queen Mary by Kirkaldy
of Grange, 1573; "The Regents Tragedie," and "The Poysonit
Į
NOTES TO THE SONNETS.
339
Schot." The two last are included in the Roxburghe collection.
This Robert Semple must not be confounded with Robert, Lord
Semple, of Castle Semple, mentioned in Sonnets lxviii. 14 and Ixix. 7,
whose return from France is celebrated in the 43d of the Miscellan-
eous Poems.
14. Christan Lindesay. Of Lindsay, beyond the bare mention of
his name by Montgomerie in this sonnet, nothing whatever is
known.
XXVI.
3. Quhais craig 3oiks fastest. Compare the proverb-"Your neck
is youking"=you are doing or saying something that will bring you to
the gallows.
7, 8. Quhair Muses, &c. The poet's dream of immortality is pro-
verbial. See, among countless instances, Horace, Ode ii. 20; iii. 30;
Ovid, 'Metamorphoses,' xv. 871 to the end; Propertius, IV. i. 35-38;
ii. 23, 24, &c.
XXVII.

3. I am a lizard, fainest of his face.
xxxix. 7, 8.
See Miscellaneous Poems,
The affection of the lizard for man is frequently mentioned by old
writers. Compare the following:-
"The friendly society between a fox and a serpent is almost in-
credible: how loving the lizard is to a man we may read, though we
cannot see.
Yet some affirm that our newt is not only like to the
lizard in shape, but also in condition. From the which affection to-
wards a man a spaniel doth not much differ, whereof I could cite
incredible stories.”—Reginald Scott's 'Discovery of Witchcraft,' p.
213. Edit. 1634.
Į
And
"The lizard is a kind of loving creature,
Especially to man he is a friend;
This property is given him by nature;
From dangerous beasts poore man he doth defend,
For, being sleepy, he all sense forsaketh:
The lizard bites him till the man awaketh.
""
-Chester, 'Love's Martyr.'
14. Hou I chaist Polwart from the chimney [nook]. See "The
Flyting," ll. 115 and 666.
XXVIII.
An elegant adaptation of the Æsopian fable :—
"Blandiri domino Asellus ut vidit suo
Canem, et de mensa saturari quotidie,
Et frusta largiter jactari a familia ;
Sic est locutus: Si canem immundissimum
In tantum dominus et familia diligit,
Quid me futurum, si par illi fecero

340
NOTES TO THE SONNETS.
Officium, multo qui sum melior hoc cane,
Rebusque pluribus utilis et laudabilis?
Alor qui sanctæ fontibus puris aquæ,
Ciboque nunquam soleo pasci sordido.
Sum sane catulo dignior vita frui
Beatiore, honorem et summum consequi.
Asellus hæc dum secum, stabulum conspicit
Intrare dominum: quare accurrens ocyus
Rudensque prosilit, et humeris ambos pedes
Imponit, osque lingua cœpit lingere,
Vestemque fœdis scindens ungulis, gravi
Herum fatigat, stulte blandus, pondere.
Clamore domini concitatur familia;
Fustesque et saxa passim arripiens obvia,
Rudentem mulcat; et mox membris debilem
Fractisque coxis, domini lapsum a corpore,
Semianimum tandem dejicit ad præsepia.
Fabella, ineptus ne se invitis ingerat,
Melioris aut affectet officium, docet."
3. I have completed this line.
XXIX.
4, 5. See Sonnet viii. ll. 3, 4, and notes thereto.
6. I have unhesitatingly substituted Venus for MS. Delos, which is
an obvious error of the scribe.
7. He of Delphos. Apollo.
8. Pennevs dochter. Daphne. See Miscel. Poems, xvii., in which
the story of Apollo and Daphne is told.
9. Petrarks high invent. Francesco Petrarca, the first and greatest
of Italian lyric poets, was born at Arezzo, in Tuscany, 20th July 1304.
He was a brilliant scholar, and his Latin works were the first in
modern times in which that language was written with classical
elegance and taste. He has not left behind him one single line of
Italian prose; but his lyrics have done as much to refine the Italian
language as has the 'Divina Commedia' of Dante, which takes rank
among the greatest poems in the literature of the world. His 'Rime'
or 'Canzoniere,' written in honour of Laura—the beautiful, golden-
haired Frenchwoman who won his worship-preserve his reputation
undiminished; and so long as poetry shall continue to charm the
minds of men, their fame is secure. He was found dead in his library,
18th July 1374-meet ending for a lifelong dream of scholarship and
literature.
12. Memorie. Mnemosyne, the mother of the Muses.
XXX.
"This sonnet," says Dr Laing, "appears to have been written by
Montgomerie to Hudson in Christian Lindesay's name." It is ex-
tremely probable that Montgomerie, finding his beggarly cringing
and fulsome adulation alike ineffectual with his ci-devant friend
NOTES TO THE SONNETS.
341
1
Hudson, who in all likelihood rather balked than advanced his
interests at Court, had recourse to this expedient to warn him that
he thoroughly understood his tactics, and could rate his friendship at
its proper value.
XXXI.
Regarding the phoenix, from which the metaphor in this sonnet is
taken, see note on Sonnet xiii. 9 supra.
XXXII.
Lady Sophia Ruthven, third daughter of William, first Earl of
Gowrie, was married to Ludovick, second Duke of Lennox, who is
mentioned in the 17th Sonnet. See note thereto.
XXXIII.
Sonnets xxxiii.-xxxviii. inclusive relate to the fall of a lady who had
occupied a high social position. She is styled Countess in Sonnet
xxxiii. 1. 11. The language which the poet puts into the mouth of the
unhappy woman breathes the deepest penitence and sorrow. These
sonnets throughout bear a strong resemblance, both in sentiment and
expression, to the devotional and penitential poems of Montgomerie
in his later years.
6. Wodershins. See "The Flyting," line 398, note.
14. Lady Lucrece in a Cressede changed. Lucretia, the young and
beautiful wife of Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus, whose rape by Sextus
Tarquinius brought about the dethronement of Tarquinius Superbus
and the establishment of the Roman Republic (B.C. 509). See Shake-
speare's “Rape of Lucrece," in which her sad story is told in detail
with great poetic beauty and grace. The legend of Cressida is as
follows:-
Cressida, the daughter of Calchas, the Grecian seer, was greatly
beloved by Troilus, one of the sons of Priam. The pair vowed eternal
fidelity to each other, and in token of troth Troilus gave the maiden a
sleeve, while she gave him a glove in return. Hardly had the vow
Been made when there was an exchange of prisoners. Cressida fell to
the lot of Diomede, and although she had sworn to remain constant
till Troilus should accomplish her rescue, she at once gave her heart
to Diomede, and even asked him to wear the sleeve which Troilus had
given to her in token of his affection. Compare Shakespeare:-
"
As false
As air, as water, wind or sandy earth,
As fox to lamb, as wolf to heifer's calf,
Pard to the hind, or stepdame to her son:
'Yea,' let them say, to stick the heart of falsehood,
'As false as Cressid.'"
-'Troilus and Cressida,' Act iii. sc. 2.
Lucrece and Cressede are here put as representatives of fidelity and
faithlessness respectively.
342
NOTES TO THE SONNETS.
XXXIV.
The lacunæ in this sonnet are supplied from the text in Sibbald's
'Chronicle of Scottish Poetry.'
1. Melpomene, my mirthles murning Muse! Melpomene is the
Muse of tragedy. Compare Ausonius :-
"
'Melpomene tragico proclamat mæsta boatu.”
8. Welauay, A.S. wá la wá = woe lo woe!
-'Idyll.,' xx. 2.
12. The vgly oull. No bird, perhaps, has been so much maligned
as this poor creature. Spenser calls it—
"The ill-faste owle, deaths dreadful messengere."
-'The Faerie Queene,' Bk. II. xii. 36. ;
XXXV.
5. [Art measde], art mitigated or softened.
These words are the
likeliest I could conjecture to complete the line. Compare Rolland :—
"And fra malice 30ur minde with mercie meis."
-'The Court of Venus,' Bk. iv. 1. 196.
14. Peccavi Pater. These words form part of the refrain in the
poet's "Godly Prayer." See Devotional Poems, iv.
XXXVI.
4. Vrne-burn. Lat. uro; cf. English urn.
8. Zit hope hes heght me hyre. Compare Miscel. Poems, xiii. II.
XXXVII.
7. My kinsh is not to cast=my lot is not to try; opportunity is no
longer mine.
XXXVIII.
7. [So enwrap.] Some such expression is required. Cf. Sonnet
xlvii. 5-
And lviii. II—
"Bot I, alace! in wrechednes me wrap."
'Hou long sall wo in wrechitnes me wrap?"
XXXIX.
5. I am not quite satisfied with this line as I have completed it.
Some reader may be able to conjecture something better.
XL.
1
10. Myn ee most lyk a flood of teirs do run. The verb is attracted
into the plural form by the word immediately before it.
XLI.
4. Spirits, an error of the scribe for spirit or spreit. See line 8.
1
NOTES TO THE SONNETS.
343
XLII.
This sonnet and the one following furnish an example of one of the
fanciful forms of versification in which Montgomerie occasionally in-
dulged. The ending of each line, it will be observed, forms the be-
ginning of the next.
11. Delay in love is dangerous indeed. Compare Shakespeare:-
"Defer no time, delays have dangerous ends."
-"First Part of King Henry the Sixth,' Act iii. sc. 2.
XLIII.
7. Hymen. The god of marriage; charmingly invoked by Catullus
in the Epithalamium of Junia and Manlius :—
"Collis O Heliconii
Cultor, Uraniæ genus,
Qui rapis teneram ad virum
Virginem, O Hymenæe, Hymen,
O Hymen, Hymenæe !"
XLIV.
-11. 1-5.
8. Endymion enamord with the Mone. Ancient authorities rather
represent the Moon as enamoured of Endymion. The everlasting
youth and eternal sleep of the fair shepherd kissed by Selene in the
cool caves of Latmos, "the mount of oblivion," is one of the loveliest
of poetical fictions, and has been a favourite theme with bards in all
ages. Compare Ovid :—
"
Aspice quot somnos juveni donarit amato
Luna.
And Shakespeare:-
(C
-'Amor.,' I. xiii. 43, 44.
'Peace, ho! the moon sleeps with Endymion,
And would not be awaked."
-The Merchant of Venice,' Act v. sc. I.
For the legend in detail see Keats's "Endymion," where the subject
s treated with exquisite loveliness in "the stretched metre of an
antique song."
9. Mercure.
Horace :-
Mercury was the god of eloquence. Compare
"
Mercuri, facunde nepos Atlantis.”
-'Odes,' i. 1O. I.
10. Pindar pennis. Pindar, the greatest lyric poet of Greece, waś
porn about 522 B.C. near Thebes in Boeotia, and is believed to have
died about 442 B.C. He was held in honour by Theron of Agrigentum,
and Hiero of Syracuse, at whose Court he is said to have resided dur-
ing the closing years of his life. His fame rests on his odes, which
are sufficient to vindicate his claim to be ranked among the foremost
344
NOTES TO THE SONNETS.
of lyric poets. Horace bears generous testimony to his transcenden
merits :-
"Pindarum quisquis studet æmulari,
Iule, ceratis ope Dædalea
Nititur pennis, vitreo daturus
Nomina Ponto.
Monte decurrens velut amnis, imbres
Quem super notas aluere ripas,
Fervet immensusque ruit profundo
Pindarus ore," &c.
-'Odes,' Bk. iv. 1-8 sq.
11. Petrarks pith.
See note on Sonnet xxix. 9 supra.
12. Apelles. This most celebrated painter of antiquity was a nativ
of Colophon (or Cos), and flourished 352-308 B.C. His "Venu
Anadyomene," the crowning effort of his genius and the admiration
of the ancient world, is thus referred to by Propertius :—
"In Veneris tabula summam sibi ponit Apelles."
Ovid :-
-'Eleg.,' Book iv. 9. 11.
"Si Venerem Cöus nusquam posuisset Apelles
Musa sub æquoreis illa lateret aquis."
'Ars Amat.,' Bk. iii. 401, 402.
"Ut Venus artificis labor est et gloria Coi,
Æquoreo madidas quæ premit imbre comas.
-'Epist. ex Ponto,' Bk. iv. 1. 29, 39
And Pliny:
"Venerem exeuntem e mari divus Augustus dicavit in delubro patri
Cæsaris quæ Anadyomene vocatur, versibus Græcis, tali opere dur
laudatur, victo, sed illustrato. Hujus inferiorem partem corruptar
qui reficeret, non potuit reperiri. Verum ipsa injuria cessit in gloriar
artificis. Consenuit hæc tabula carie: aliamque pro ea Nero prin
cipatu substituit suo, Dorothei manu. Apelles inchoaverat aliar
Venerem Cois, superaturus etiam suam illam priorem. Invidit mor
peracta parte: nec qui succederet operi ad scripta lineamenta inventu
est.❞—' Nat. Hist.,' Bk. xxxv. sec. 36.
XLV.
"In ou
6. Gromes. Men, warriors, lovers. A.S. guma, a man.
word bridegroom the r is well known to be an insertion, and the sam
may be the case when the word is used alone. . . . A remarkabl
example showing the probability of this insertion occurs in 'P. Plow
man.' In the A-text vii. 205 the text has gomes; but three MSS
have gromes. In the B-text vi. 219 at least seven MSS. have gome
In the C-text ix. 227 the MSS. have gromes.”—Skeat, s.v. groom.
=
XLVI.
7,8. Wedfie, sb. wager (reward or recompense in Devotiona
Poems, iii. 7); wed, v. to wager, to stake.
=
NOTES TO THE SONNETS.
345
Wad, wed, wadset, wedfie, are all used in the sense of a pledge or
wager. A.S. wed, Icel. væd, a pledge. Wedde occurs in Chaucer :—
"Let him be war, his nekke lith to wedde.'
""
-"The Knightes Tale," vol. i. p. 128.
The substantive wadset occurs in an old song in Cromek's 'Remains
of Nithsdale and Galloway Song,' entitled "Our guid-wife's ay in the
right" :-
"Wad ance that winsome Carle, Death,
But rowe her in his black mort-claith,
I'd make a wadset o' an aith
To feast the parishen, Jo!"
!
Dunbar has the verb:
Thou drank thy thrift, sald and wedsett thy clais.
""
-The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie,' 1. 443.
XLVII.
The term Messane is by some said to come from Messina in Sicily,
whence a species of pet-dog was originally brought to this country;
others derive the word from Fr. maison, a house; as if it meant "a
house-dog."
XLVIII.
Margaret Douglas, eldest daughter of Sir William Douglas of
Drumlanrig, was married to Robert Montgomery of Skelmorlie, who
was created a baronet 18th January 1626.
1. Sweet Philomene, &c. We speak of the sweet-voiced nightingale
pouring forth "the well-tuned warble of her nightly sorrow," though
the male bird only is the warbler. The reason of this doubtless lies
in the myth that tells of the transformation of Philomela into a night-
Ingale. See "The Cherrie and the Slae," 1. 5, note.
3. Thy virginitie thou wants=thy lost virginity.
7. The peircing pyks groues at thy gorge thou grants. Shakespeare
has noticed the odd belief that the nightingale's tender and mournful
notes are caused by the bird's leaning against a thorn :—
"And whiles against a thorn thou bear'st thy part,
To keep thy sharp woes waking."
In the "Passionate Pilgrim" we have the lines :-
Fletcher speaks of
"Every thing did banish moan
Save the nightingale alone:
She, poor bird, as all forlorn,
Leaned her breast up-till a thorn,
And then sang the dolefull'st ditty
That to hear it was great pity."
"The bird forlorn
That singeth with her breast against a thorn;
>>
346
NOTES TO THE SONNETS.
and Pomfret, writing towards the close of the seventeenth century,
says:-
"The first music of the grove we owe
To mourning Philomel's harmonious woe;
And, while her grief's in charming notes expressed,
A thorny bramble pricks her tender breast."
Various explanations of this poetic fancy have been offered. Some
say that the bird leans against a thorn when she gives forth her mourn-
ful notes, others for fear that she should be overtaken by sleep. See
Harting's 'Ornithology of Shakespeare,' p. 124 sq. (Lond., 1871.)
B
12. Vnweirdit. The scribe, apparently in doubt whether the first
letter was a or v, and consequently whether he had to write one word
or two, has written a over v. Either reading is satisfactory.
14. My ladyis bagie beirs my bluidy hart. Bagie or baugie, any
ornament, such as a ring or bracelet, Fr. bague.
The lady's name is Margaret Douglas, the crest of whose family
is a "bloody heart." From the time of the Good Sir James, the
Douglases have carried on their shields a bloody heart surmounted
by a crown, in memory of the expedition of that trusty knight to the
Holy Land with the heart of King Robert Bruce. He was commis-
sioned by the king, as being the friend on whom he could most rely,
to carry thither his heart, embalmed and enclosed in a silver casket,
and to deposit it in the Holy Sepulchre. On his way, however, he
turned aside to aid Alphonso of Castile against Osmyn the Moor, and
was slain. The sacred relic was brought back by Sir Simon Lockhart
of Lee, and interred in the Abbey of Melrose.
XLIX.
14. I culd not wish in world [ought] that I want. The word ought
does not occur in the MS., but was inserted by Laing in his edition,
probably to make the sense clearer, or to fill up a line which he con-
sidered incomplete. On the latter ground it was quite uncalled for, as
world is scanned elsewhere as a dissyllable (Sonnet lvi. 3).
L.
1
Lady Margaret Montgomerie, eldest daughter of Hugh, third Earl
of Eglinton, and ultimately heiress to the titles and estates of that
house, was married to "Robert, Maister of Seyton," son of George,
5th Lord Seton, by Isobel, daughter of Sir William Hamilton of Sorne•
He stood high in the esteem of James VI., and by his Majesty's special
favour was raised to the dignity of Earl of Wintoun, by royal letters
patent, 5th November 1600. He died in the spring of 1603 ('Privy
Seal Records,' vol. xlix. fol. 89, and Crawfurd's 'Peerage,' p. 501).
12. O happy babe in belly sho sall breid. Compare Shakespeare:—
From fairest creatures we desire increase,
That thereby beauty's rose might never die."
"Son." i., ll. 1, 2.
NOTES TO THE SONNETS.
347
1
Suete Nichtingale, &c.
this sonnet and the 48th.
LI.
There is a remarkable resemblance between
See notes thereto.
LII.
6. As Icarus, &c. See "The Cherrie and the Slae," 1. 158, note.
LIII.
13. My Soveran, the lady to whom this and the two preceding
$onnets are addressed.
LIV.
6. Fanphar, Eng. fanfare, a flourish of trumpets (cf. Miscellan-
eous Poems, xliii. 40), from Fr. fanfare, “a sounding of trumpets,”
Cotgr.; Span. fanfarria, blustering. The word is onomatopoetic, like
murmur, &c.
LV.
12. Bot rigour ryvis the hairt out by the root. From this line I
have been enabled to supply, I think successfully, the 18th line of the
46th of the Miscellaneous Poems.
4. By Stix inclosd.
LVI.
The Styx was believed to flow nine times
round the lower world. See Virgil:-
"Fas obstat: tristique palus inamabilis unda
Alligat, et novies Styx interfusa coercet.”
LVII.
'Æneid,' vi. 438, 439.
3. Of vhom he freizis and inflams the hairt. Cupid's arrows are of
different kinds: some are golden, and kindle love in the heart they
wound; others are leaden, and produce coldness and aversion. See
Miscellaneous Poems, xvii. 33-40, and note thereto.
LVIII.
12. Melancholie. In this word the accent is always on the ante-
penultimate syllable in Montgomerie. See Miscellaneous Poems,
v. 1. 7, and xxviii. ll. 1 and 22.
LIX.
11, 12. Thoght they persaivd, &c.=though they saw that execu-
tioner-viz., the beauty-threatening death with her eyes; or perhaps,
though they saw Death, the destroyer, staring threateningly from her
eyes.
LX.
9. Medusas eyi[s]. Medusa, daughter of Phorcys, was an exceed-
ingly beautiful maiden, who, by the vengeance of Minerva, was
changed into such a hideous creature that every one who looked her
in the face was turned into stone (line 12). Perseus cut off her head,
348
NOTES TO THE SONNETS.
and Minerva placed it in her ægis. The legend of Medusa is told
by Ovid in the 4th Book of his 'Metamorphoses.'
LXI.
14. This line is so completely shorn away in the MS. that it is im-
possible to form the faintest conjecture as to what it may have been.
4. Alecto, one of the Furies.
LXII.
8. Quhom Bautie byts. Bautie is a common designation for a dog.
Compare the proverb—
"Bourd not with Bautie lest he bite you."
12. Lyk bryrie, equivalent to any of the vulgar phrases, "like daft,”
"like mad," "like blazes," &c.
LXIII.
9. [I ken.] Laing suggests [indeid], but ken is required for the
metre.
12. Be [it]. Laing thinks the line complete with be; but it is cer-
tainly required. A better form still is beid, as in "The Cherrie and
the Slae," line 598.
LXIV.
t
Between the two families of Montgomerie and Cunningham there
had been a feud of long standing. Hugh, fourth Earl of Eglinton,
was barbarously murdered by the lairds of Robertland and Aiket, and
others of the name of Cunningham, on the score of a private quarrel
with John Cunningham of Colnbeith, 12th July 1586.
LXV.
This sonnet, written in London, was probably composed during the
term of five years for which Montgomerie had obtained a royal
licence to absent himself from the kingdom.
LXVI.
"The author of this sonnet and the second one which follows it
appears to have been Hugh Barkley or Barclay of Ladyland, in the
parish of Kilbirnie and county of Ayr. Spottiswood relates the fate
of the laird of Ladyland in the year 1597, when detected in the insidi-
ous designs then agitated by the Spanish Court. On being surprised
at the rock of Ailsay, he rushed into the sea and drowned himself
('History of the Church of Scotland,' p. 447). On 24th April 1593,
probably in contemplation of going abroad, Hugh Barclay of Lady-
land conveyed all his lands to his brother-german, David Barclay,
and his heirs male, and on their failure, to the nearest heir male of en-
tail of the said Hugh, to be held of himself, with the reservation of a
liferent out of them to his mother, Margaret Craufurd, relict of the
late David Barclay of Ladyland, and to Isobell Stewart, his own

NOTES TO THE SONNETS.
349
spouse. This disposition was confirmed 7th May 1593 ('Reg. Magn.
Sig.) There is an Act of Parliament, A.D. 1597, 'in fauors of Mr
Andro Knox, minister at Paisley, approuing the Act of Secreit Coun-
sal, 8th Junij last, as to the proceedings agt umqle Hew Barclay of
Ladyland' ('Acta Parl.,' vol. iv. p. 148). David Barclay of Ladyland
was served heir of David Barclay, his father, March 27, 1606.”
(Laing.)
11-14. Birlis at the wyne, &c. Compare “The Flyting,” line 567.
LXVII.
From the tenor of this sonnet, and the reply to it by Ladyland, we
infer that Ezechiel was a brother or near relative of the poet, and that
the sonnet under consideration was written-at least Ladyland be-
lieved so-by Alexander in Ezechiel's name.
LXVIII.
1. Sir Icarus. Compare "The Cherrie and the Slae," 1. 158, and
note thereto.
2. Nocht ignorant vhose bolt that bag came fro. This is the reading
of the MS., but probably we should read whose bag that bolt came fro;
unless the line is meant to bear the interpretation, whose bolt came
from that bag (of yours).
14. My Lord. Lord Semple of Castle Semple. The family of
Semple had long been connected by marriage with that of Mont-
gomerie of Hazelhead. Before 1548, William, Lord Semple, had
married, as his third wife, Marian, daughter of Hugh Montgomerie
of Hazelhead. This Lord Semple was succeeded by Robert, his son
by his first wife Margaret, daughter of Hugh, Earl of Eglintoun, a
man of great courage and magnanimity, who distinguished himself by
signal bravery at the battle of Pinkie, but had the misfortune to be
taken prisoner and sent to England, where he was detained till the
conclusion of peace between the two kingdoms. Upon the breaking
out of the civil war in the reign of Queen Mary, this lord, though a
zealous Roman Catholic, and very devoted to the Queen, evinced the
liveliest interest and zeal in the preservation and establishment of the
young prince. He also brought to the battle of Langside, to the aid of
the Earl of Murray, the regent, a number of retainers greater and
better appointed than did any other lord on the King's side, so great
was his interest and the reputation of his family throughout the
country. In consideration of these services, he was rewarded by the
regent with the Abbey of Paisley, then in the Crown by the forfaulture
of Lord Claud Hamilton, who held the benefice in commendam. By
his first wife Isobel he had, among other children, a daughter, Janet,
who was married to Hugh Montgomerie of Hazelhead, and by his
second wife, Elizabeth Cairlyle, an English lady, a daughter, Dorothy,
who was married to Robert Montgomerie of Skelmurly. This Lord
350
NOTES TO THE SONNETS.
Semple died in 1571, his estate and honours devolving on Robert, his
grandson, only son of Robert, Master of Semple, by Barbara, daughter
of Archibald Preston of Valleyfield. While he was still young, the
Earl of Morton took him under his immediate care. Though he was,
like his grandfather, a devoted Catholic, during all the cabals of the
time, and amid the formidable combination of the nobles with the
King of Spain to overthrow the reformed religion, he kept aloof, and
thereby secured the love and gratitude of the King, who was led to
esteem him as a man of sterling honour and loyalty. In 1596 he was
sent by the King as ambassador extraordinary to Spain, and in the
negotiations with which he was intrusted he behaved, by universal
testimony, with great prudence and sagacity. Notwithstanding the
King's favourable disposition towards him, he could never, on account
of his creed, which Lord Semple never for a moment dissembled,
employ him in any of the civil offices of the State, although, consider-
ing his commanding abilities, few men could have discharged the
duties of an important office with greater efficiency. His first wife
was Agnes, daughter of Hugh, Earl of Eglintoun, sister of the Lady
Margaret Montgomerie (who became the wife of Robert, Master of
Seaton, afterwards Earl of Wintoun), in whose praise so many of
Montgomerie's poems were written. Lord Semple died 25th March
1611. (Crawfurd's 'Peerage,' pp. 440-442.) See Miscellaneous
Poems, xliii.
LXIX.
1. The Lesbian Lad, that weirs the wodbind w[reath.] Bacchus.
The wines of Lesbos were famous in ancient times. Cf. Parnell:
"As Bacchus ranging at his leisure
(Jolly Bacchus, king of pleasure !)
Charmed the wide world with drink and dances,
And all his thousand airy fancies,
Alas! he quite forgot the while
His fav'rite vines in Lesbos isle.
-'Bacchus,' 11. 1-6.
The ivy was sacred to Bacchus. Compare Ovid :—
""
Bacche, racemiferos hedera redimite capillos."
-'Fasti,' Bk. vi. 1. 483.
Wodbind, ivy, A.S. wudebinde, used to translate hedera nigra in
Wright's Vocab., 1. 32, col. 1, because it binds or winds round trees.
See Skeat, s.v. wood. It is the same as bindwood. Both terms are
still used in Scotland for ivy, and also for the convolvulus, which is
generally known by the name of bindweed, or binweed.
2. Ceres and Cylenus. Ceres was the goddess of agriculture, corn,
&c. Ceres and Bacchus are frequently put for “bread and wine,” as
in Terence :-
NOTES TO THE SONNETS.
351
""
Sine Cerere et Libero friget Venus.
""
-'Eunuch.,' Act iv. sc. 5, 1. 6.
Cylenus-i.e., Silenus—the foster-father and preceptor of Bacchus;
unless it is put for Cyllenius, a name of the god Mercury, derived
from Mount Cyllene, in Arcadia, where he was born.
3. Kilburnie and Be[ath] are both in Ayrshire.
4. Lochwinnoch is in Renfrewshire.
7. Suete Semple. Lord Semple. See note to Sonnet lxviii. supra,
and Miscellaneous Poems, xliii.
12. Pancrage. Panurge? This seems to be a nickname of some
crony.
13. Scol frie. This is not an error of the scribe for scot frie, as
Laing supposed, but an expression used in drinking healths. Verb
scoll or scold, to drink as a toast; sb. skul, skull, or skoll, a goblet;
Icel. skal, Su. G. skol, a drinking-cup. The phrase scol frie seems to
mean "healths round." Skol is used by Longfellow-who in a note
apologises for his spelling of the word-in the concluding stanza
of "The Skeleton in Armour" :-
""
'Thus, seamed with many scars,
Bursting these prison bars,
Up to its native stars
My soul ascended!
There, from the flowing bowl,
Deep drinks the warrior's soul,
Skoal! to the Northland! skoal!
-Thus the tale ended."
Al out, Ger. all aus=all out, a carouse fully drunk up. The ex-
pression occurs in Beaumont and Fletcher :-
"Why, give's some wine then, this will fit us all;
Here's to you, still my captain's friend! all out!"
Skeat, s.v. carouse.
(
Beggar's Bush,' Act. ii. sc. 3.
14. [Sum], inserted by Laing. The latter half of this line is to me
unintelligible.
LXX.
8. Makrels procuresses, bawds, Fr. maquerelle, Lat. lena.
NOTES
ΤΟ
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
See note to Sonnet v. 1. 5.
I.
II.
1. Wallis, suit, agree, amalgamate, from verb wall=to weld.
15, 16. With Mercuris mouth, &c.=with flattery, attention, and un-
wearied exertion.
Argus, surnamed Panoptes (the "all-seeing"), on account of his
hundred eyes, of which only two slept in succession. When Juno
was jealous of Jupiter she set him to watch Io; but Mercury lulled
him to sleep with his lute and cut off his head. Juno transferred his
eyes to the tail of her favourite bird, the peacock.
Briarius. Briareus, so called by the gods, according to Homer
(II., i. 403 sq.), but by men named Egaon, had, like his brother
Uranids, Gyges and Cottus, fifty heads and a hundred hands. When
the Olympian gods tried to put Zeus in chains, Briareus, by his multi-
farious resources and well-exerted strength, compelled them to relin-
quish the strife. Ovid (Met., ii. 10) regards him as a marine god;
Virgil (Æn., x. 565) reckons him among the giants who stormed
Olympus.
23. Bot mett thame moonshyn ay for meill=always deal out to them
the shadow for the substance.
III.
1. Clio is the Muse of History; Calliope, of Epic Poetry.
2. Megera. Megæra, one of the Furies, appropriately invoked as
the inspirer of spite and ill-will.
21. But ryme or reson. In the Bannatyne MS., vol. i. fol. 134, the
adage occurs- Mony man makis ryme and lukis to no ressoun."
But the phrase occurs as early as 1530 in a quotation by Tyndale.
It is used by Spenser in some lines on his promised pension :—
NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
353
I was promised on a time
To have reason for my rhyme;
From that time unto this season
I received nor rhyme nor reason; ".
and occurs in Shakespeare's 'As You Like It,' act iii. sc. 2; 'Merry
Wives of Windsor,' act v. sc. 5 ; and 'Comedy of Errors,' act ii. sc. 2.
25. That witch, that warlok. Witch (A.S. wicca, fem. wicce), though
generally applied to a female, is used also of a male. Compare Shake-
speare:-
And-
"Out, fool! I forgive thee for a witch."
-'Antony and Cleopatra,' Act i. sc. 2, 1. 40.
"I see these witches are afraid of swords."
-'Comedy of Errors,' Act iv. sc. 4, 1. 160.
Warlok (A.S. war, truth, and loga, a liar), said of a female, is very
unusual; but such liberty is surely allowable, since
Spirits, when they please,
Can either sex assume or both; so soft
And uncompounded is their essence pure;
Not tied or manacled with joint or limb,
Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones
Like cumbrous flesh; but, in what shape they choose,
Dilated or condensed, bright or obscure,
Can execute their aëry purposes,
And works of love or enmity fulfil.'
-Milton, Paradise Lost,' Bk. i. ll. 423-431.
32. Neu cleikit from the creill=raised from carrying the basket.
36. Sho stottis at strais, syn stumbillis not at stanis. There is a
proverb, “He stumbled at a strae and leaped over a bink” (bench).
Ķelly says: “This is spoken of those who are scrupulously doubtful
about a small thing, and yet have large consciences in things of a
higher nature; who will not say 'faith' or 'truth,' and yet will not
stand to defraud the king of his revenue; of which," adds the collector
of proverbs with charming naïveté, "I know many; like the Pharisees
who strain at a gnat and swallow a camel."
41. Bocas. Boccaccio, the son of a Florentine merchant, and the
creator of Italian prose, was born in 1313. By his Decamerone, which
has been translated into almost every European tongue, he has gained
an imperishable reputation.
43-45. That bloodie bitch, that buskit belly blind, &c. Compare
Horace :-
"Valet ima summis
Mutare et insignem attenuat Deus
Obscura promens. Hinc apicem rapax
Fortuna cum stridore acuto
Sustulit, hic posuisse gaudet."
Z
-'Odes,' Bk. I. xxxiv. 12-16.
354
NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
Belly-blind, the person blindfolded in the game of "Blind Harie
(blindman's-buff).
53. Sho causles culzies=she flatters without cause.
57. To be war to beware.
>>
67-72. Had Cæsar sene the cedul that wes sent, &c.-i.e., the letter
that was handed to him to warn him of the conspiracy against him.
The circumstance is thus related by Suetonius: "Ob hæc simul et
ob infirmam valetudinem diu cunctatus, an se contineret et quæ apud
senatum proposuerat agere differret, tandem Decimo Bruto adhor-
tante, ne frequentis ac jam dudum opperientis destitueret, quinta
fere hora progressus est, libellumque insidiarum indicem, ab obvio
quodam porrectum, libellis ceteris, quos sinistra manu tenebat, quasi
mox lecturus, commiscuit."-Div. Jul., cap. 81.
Cedul or sedull, a note or letter; Lat. schedula, a small leaf of paper
---from scheda or scida, a strip of papyrus-bark. Dunbar has it in the
line-
"For Kennedy to the this cedull sendis."
-'The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie,' 1. 48.;
IV.
With this poem compare Chaucer :-
"Alas the while now that I was borne !
Or that I ever saugh the brighte sonne!
For now I se that ful longe aforne,
Or I was borne, my destany was sponne
By Parcas sustren, to sle me if they conne,
For they my dethe shopen or my sherte,
Oonly for trouthe, I may hit not asterte.'
11
—‘Complaynte of a Loveres Lyfe,' vol. viii. p. 21.
5. Quhy wald not Mercure with his wrethin wand.
Chaucer (of Mercury):—
Compare
ļ
And Horace :-
"
His slepy yerd in hond he bar upright."
'The Knightes Tale,' vol. i. p. 133.
"Non vanæ redeat sanguis imagini,
Quam virga simul horrida,
Non lenis precibus fata recludere,
Nigro compulerit Mercurius gregi."
-'Odes,' Bk. I. xxiv. 15-18.
The Caduceus or wand of Mercury was of olive, and wreathed with
snakes. Whether the epithet wrethin means wreathed or wrathful or
ghost-compelling (wreth or wraith) in this line, I have not been able
to determine. It seems with pregnant felicity to express the triple
meaning.
15-21. Quhy wes my mother blyth vhen I wes borne? &c. In this
stanza, in which the poet refers to his birthday, one cannot help
admiring the delicious mixture of pagan and Christian sentiment.
NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
355
23. Nobles nyne—i.e., the Muses.
34. With his grene laurell cap. The laurel was sacred to Apollo ;
and he who was laurea donandus Apollinari, was secure of immor-
tality. Compare Spenser :-
"The Laurell, meed of mightie Conquerours
And Poets sage.'
""
-The Faerie Queene,' Bk. I. canto i. st. 9.
36. Maia and Minerva,—the former, the loveliest of the Pleiades, and
mother of Mercury, the God of Eloquence; the latter, the Goddess of
Wisdom,-were especially fitted to inspire the poet.
41. From this line we are justified in inferring that this poem was
written shortly after his falling out of favour at Court.
45. Quhy soght I aye warme water vnder yce? "To seek warm
water under ice" is a favourite phrase with Montgomerie (see
Miscell. Poems, x. II, 12), and seems to have been with the poets of
the sixteenth century a common expression whereby to denote the
impossible. Compare the ballad of "Johnie Armstrang":-
"To seik het water beneith cauld ice,
Surely it is a greit follie."—11. 85, 86.
48. Then tak me with the foxis taill a flap-set me down as a fool.
The fox's tail was one of the badges of the jester or clown, and to
give one a flap with it was to treat him like a fool. Compare Long-
fellow :-
And lo! among the menials, in mock state,
Upon a piebald steed, with shambling gait,
His cloak of fox-tails flapping in the wind,
The solemn ape demurely perched behind,
King Robert rode, making huge merriment
In all the country towns through which they went.'
V.
-'King Robert of Sicily,' 11. 143-148.
30. Pansing. Laing prints pausing, which is ruinous to the sense.
42. All is not gold that gleitis. See "The Cherrie and the Slae,"
11. 1287, 1288, note.
45. Fristed goods ar not forgivin. A common proverb, meaning
"forbearance is no acquittance."
46. Quhen cuppe is full, &c. When you have attained the height
of your ambition take care; for "pride goeth before a fall.”
¡
47. At unsetstevin=at a time not appointed; by chance. The pro-
verb is an old one: "We'll meet ere hills meet."
VI.
20. But ather rest or rove=unceasingly. Rove, roif, ruve, repose, is
from Ger. Ruhe, Icel. roi.
39. I cund it soon perqueir=I soon learned it thoroughly.
356
NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
41. Hir jelous glove. It was customary to pledge a glove as a token
of irrefragable faith. Cressida gives Troilus a glove as a pledge of
constancy :-
"Troilus. Wear this sleeve.
Cressida. And you this glove."
-Troilus and Cressida,' Act iv. sc. 4.
VII.
1. Drie furth the inch as thou hes done the span. Compare Virgil :-
"Tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito."
—' Æn.,' Bk. vi. 1. 95.
13. Thair is no draught, &c.=no move can enable you to continue
the strife; no artifice can avail you.
20. The mair, &c. Cf. "The Cherrie and the Slae," 1. 285 sq.
35. Rome wes not biggit all upon ane day. This proverb, to the
effect that achievements of great moment are not accomplished with-
out time, labour, and patience, must have had currency at a very early
period. It was in use in France in the beginning of the seventeenth
century: Rome n'a pas été faite en un jour.
38. Cresseids clan. See note to Sonnet xxxiii. 1. 14.
VIII.
The story of Narcissus and Echo is told in Ovid's 'Metamorphoses,'
Bk. iii. 345 sq. The first stanza of this poem is quoted by King James
in his 'Reulis and Cautelis,' and is given as an example of what he
calls Troilus verse, "to be used for tragicall materis, complaintìs,
and testamentis." From the version of the stanza given by him, the,
which has been adopted in the text in 1. 3, is taken; the other variants
are desert in 1. 2, and shooter in l. 6.
In the concluding stanza of this otherwise fine elegiac poem, we
have a specimen of a fantastic species of verse that has been at-
tempted both in ancient and modern times with anything but success.
It consists in making a line end with a syllable or syllables, the echo
of which will give a suitable reply to the question or statement set
forth in the line. As an intellectual exercise it may be classed with
acrostics, anagrams, conundrums, and riddles. Such being its nature,
it has never seriously occupied the attention of great poets; and were
it not for one or two respectable names that have been associated with
it, one would hardly deem it worthy of consideration. Indeed, in
viewing the samples of "echoing verses" which have survived, one
would be at a loss to say whether the inventor or the imitator of such
laborious trifles was the bigger blockhead. Something of the kind is
to be found in the 'Thesmophoriazusæ' of Aristophanes (1. 1069 sq.),
but there the dramatist is employing a legitimate artifice. Echo is
the deus ex machina in the scene, and laughter is the object in view.
Besides, one looks for all sorts of odd things in comedy. A single
NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
357
epigram by an obscure versifier, named Gauradus—his sole extant
effort in verse-is to be found in the Greek Anthology (Bk. viii., epig.
154). The golden age of Roman literature does not furnish the
faintest trace of it. It was when Roman literature was in its decline,
and when Roman poetry had become little better than an echo, that
echoing verses became the fashion in Rome. The trick was revived
by Politian in the fifteenth century; became popular for a time in Italy,
and gradually found its way into other countries; but it is now either
numbered with the lost arts or deservedly ignored.
38. First he is dead, syne changed in a rose.
And
Compare Ovid :—
Nusquam corpus erat, croceum pro corpore florem
Inveniunt, foliis medium cingentibus albis.”
-'Met.,' Bk. iii. 508, 509.
“Tu quoque nomen habes cultos, Narcisse, per hortos."
-'Fast.,' Bk. v. 225.
IX.
1. Blind Love, Compare Theocritus :—
Not Plutus only-heedless Love is blind."
And Chaucer :—
-'Idyll.,' x. 20.
"Biforn hir stood hir sone Cupido,
Upon his schuldres were wynges two ;
And blynd he was, as it is often seene;
A bowe he bar and arwes fair and kene."
-The Knightes Tale,' vol. i. p. 151.
10. Lichtleit-slighted. Compare Lauder :—
"And now the dochter and the sone,
Lichtlyis the mother that thame bure."
-'The Lamentation of the Pure,' Il. 73, 74.
The word is still in use. It occurs in Reid's 'Moorland Rhymes'
(Dumfries, 1874):
"Thir sangs o' mine bauldly may shaw them,
Though learned folk lichtly them sair;
What care I though critics misca' them?
I ettlit nae mair."
-' Dedication,' ll. 69-72.
X.
7. So of necessitie mon succeid=so must follow of necessity.
10. But advyse without deliberation.
12. That seeks, &c. See Miscellaneous Poems, iv. l. 45, note, supra.
15. Buy on repentance of that pryce. This is the reading of the
If it is correct it must be taken ironically. Laing altered on
MS.
to no.
22. As as if. So also in line 38, infra.
:
358
NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
3, 4.
Compare Chaucer :
XI.
That blindit boy, the god of love,
All creatur espyis.
"And in his hande me thought I saugh him holde
Twoo firy dartes, as the gledes rede,
And aungelyke hys wynges saugh I sprede,
And, al be that men seyn that blynd ys he,
Algate me thoghte that he myghte se ;
For sternely on me he gan byhold,
So that his loking dooth myn herte colde."
- Prologue to the Legende of Goode Women,' vol. viii. pp. 51, 52.
Shakespeare:-
"Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind;
And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind."
-‘Midsummer Night's Dream, Act i. sc. i.
And Coleridge :-
"I've heard of reasons manifold
Why love must needs be blind,
But this the best of all I hold,
His eyes are in his mind."
-'To a Lady offended by a Sportive Observation.'
35. Lyk burning gold, &c. Compare Dunbar :—
"Thair brycht hairis hang gletering on the strandis
In tressis clere, wyppit wyth goldyn thredis."
'The Goldyn Targe,' ll. 61, 62.
41, 42. Hir deasie colour, rid and vhyte, &c. Compare Proper-
tius :-
Chaucer :-
"Nec me tam facies, quamvis sit candida, cepit,
(Lilia non domina sint magis alba mea ;
Ut Mæotica nix minio si certet Hibero,
Utque rosæ puro lacte natant folia)."
"Her visage is of lovely rede and white."
'Eleg.,' Bk. II. iii. 9-12.
-'The Court of Love,' vol. iv. p. 159.
"With angel visage, lusty red and white."—Ibid., p. 161.
Shakespeare:-
"
'Tis beauty truly blent, whose red and white
Nature's own sweet and cunning hand laid on.
And Richard Allison :-
""
-Twelfth Night,' Act i. sc. 5.
"There is a garden in her face
Where roses and white lilies grow."
-'An Howres Recreation in Musike.'
NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
359
48. And middle small as wand. Compare Dunbar :-
"With pappis quhite and mydlis small as wandis.'
5-8.
XII.
'The Goldyn Targe,' 1. 63.
And if to drink they haif desyre,
This water, then, thou turne
Into the element of fyre,
With baill thair breist to burne.
These lines should be punctuated as above.
XIII.
Compare with this poem, passim, the lines of Coleridge :—
"All thoughts, all passions, all delights,
Whatever stirs this mortal frame,
All are but ministers of Love,
And feed his sacred flame."
XIV.
—'Love,' ll. 1-4
7. Fundring, stumbling, miscarrying. Dr Laing has flundring;
but fundring is the MS. reading.
13 sq. But libertie, &c. These lines recall the words of Virgil :—
"Fatebor enim, dum me Galatea tenebat,
Nec spes libertatis erat, nec cura peculi."
46. Korpit coffined, shut up.
XV.
-'Eclog.,' I. ll. 31, 32.
This beautiful lyric has been printed in nearly all the editions of
The Cherrie and the Slae." The variants in the Bannatyne MS.
are given under the text: those that occur in the printed copies are
slight and unimportant. In a volume entitled, 'Cantus, Songs and
Fancies,' printed at Aberdeen in 1662, 4to, the air is given along with
the words. The flower which inspired the muse of Montgomerie has
furnished Moore with a beautiful simile in one of his "Irish
Melodies":-
"Oh! the heart that has truly loved never forgets,
But as truly loves on to the close,
•
As the sun-flower turns on he god, when he sets,
The same look which she turned when he rose.'
">
9. Phaeton-i.e., "the shining one"-in the writings of Homer and
Hesiod, is a frequent title of the Sun-god, and was subsequently em-
ployed as his name. It is also the name of the son of Helios, so
famous for his presumptuous and disastrous attempt to drive the
chariot of his sire. See "The Cherrie and the Slae," line 175, note.
17. List not to lour. List is the reading of the Bannatyne MS. and
360
NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
of all the early printed copies. The Drummond MS. has cist. The
meaning in both cases is the same-viz., ceases not to lure or look
enticingly. Later editors seem to have misunderstood the line, taking
list=like or desire; and lour=lower, droop, or look sad. Thus
Urie's edition has likes not to low'r. List is from verb liss, to cease.
Cf. the Border phrase, it never lisses=it never ceases.
58. Chair car, chariot (Fr. char).
=
69. Primum mobile, "in the Ptolemaic system of astronomy, was
the tenth (not ninth) sphere, supposed to revolve from east to west in
twenty-four hours, carrying with it all the other spheres. The eleven
spheres are: (1) Diana or the Moon, (2) Mercury, (3) Venus, (4)
Apollo or the Sun, (5) Mars, (6) Jupiter, (7) Saturn, (8) the starry
sphere or that of the fixed stars, (9) the crystalline, (10) the primum
mobile, and (11) the empyrean. Ptolemy himself acknowledged only
the first nine; the two latter were devised by his disciples. The
motion of the crystalline, according to this system, causes the preces-
sion of the equinoxes, its axis being that of the ecliptic. The motion
of the primum mobile produces the alternation of day and night; its
axis is that of the equator, and its extremities the poles of the heavens."
-Brewer's 'Dictionary of Phrase and Fable,' s.v. Primum mobile.
Compare Milton :—
"They pass the planets seven, and pass the 'fixed,'
And that 'crystalline' sphere whose balance weighs
The trepidation talked, and that 'first moved.'
-'Paradise Lost,' Bk. iii. ll. 481-483.
XVI.
29. Barrat=trouble. Cf. "The Flyting," l. 435, note.
33. Into my cude-in infancy. The cude or chrisome properly sig-
nifies "the white cloth laid by the minister at baptism on the head of
the child newly anointed with chrism (i.e., a composition of oil and
balm) to signifiy its innocence." In the "Form of Private Baptism"
is this direction: "Then the minister shall put the white vesture,
called the chrisome, upon the child." The child thus baptised was
called a
chrisom" or "chrisom child." If it died within a month,
or before the mother was churched, it was shrouded in the vesture;
hence, in the bills of mortality, even so late as the year 1726, infants
that died within the month were, by a common abuse of the word,
called "chrisomes."
XVII.
This poem is taken from Ovid's 'Metamorphoses,' i. ll. 452-567.
1. Quhen first Apollo Python sleu. The encounter of Apollo with
Python, the huge serpent which was supposed to have sprung from
the mud and stagnant waters after the Deluge, is related by Ovid,
'Met.,' i. ll. 438-451.
}
1

NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
361
15. Daphne, daughter of the river-god Peneus, by the goddess
Terra.
33-40. His hurt wes with the goldin heid, &c. Cf. Ovid:-
""
Eque sagittifera prompsit duo tela pharetra
Diversorum operum; fugat hoc, facit illud amorem.
Quod facit, auratum est et cuspide fulget acuta :
Quod fugat obtusum est et habet sub arundine plumbum.
Hoc deus in nympha Peneïde fixit. At illo
Læsit Apollineas trajecta per ossa medullas."
Sir Philip Sidney:-
~'Met.,' i. ll. 468-473.
"Has arrows two, and tipt with gold or lead.'
And Shakespeare:-
-' Arcadia,' Bk. ii.
"By his best arrow with the golden head.'
-Midsummer Night's Dream,' Act i. sc. I.
41. Pyralide. This fabulous creature is thus described by Pliny:
"In Cypri ærariis fornacibus, et medio igni, majoris muscæ magni-
tudinis volat pennatum quadrupes: appellatur pyralis, a quibusdam
pyrausta. Quamdiu est in igne, vivit : cum evasit longiore paulo volatu,
emoritur" (Nat. Hist.,' Bk. xi. sec. 36). In some parts of Scotland
it was, and I believe still is, a common belief that, if a furnace is not
extinguished within a certain period, a pyralide or salamander is gen-
erated therein.
52. My author-i.e., Ovid. The works of Ovid were better known
in Montgomerie's time than those of any other ancient writer; indeed,
Ovid is the only one of the poets of antiquity whose works can be said
to have exercised a supreme influence on the verse-writers of medi-
eval times.
89 sq. Penelope, the wife of Ulysses, is represented, according to the
Homeric tradition, as the pattern of fidelity and chastity. During the
long absence of her husband she was besieged by many importunate
suitors, whom she put off from day to day by declaring that she must
finish a piece of work she had in the loom, before she made choice of
a husband. Determined to remain true to Ulysses, she unwove by
night what she wove by day, and by this means kept herself free till
his return. The allusions to her fidelity in the older Greek and
Roman poets are numerous and beautiful; and the worker of "the
slow web, unwove by nightly guile," has obtained imperishable re-
nown in their song. Later writers, on the other hand, maintain that
Penelope had no title to such a character, but that she gave way to
incontinence and gross sensuality, and was in consequence divorced
by Ulysses.
94. And I sall stoppe Vlysses eir-i.e., “I shall be captivated by the
charms of no other woman." When Ulysses, in his wanderings, ap-
proached the island, on the beach of which the Sirens were sitting,

362
NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
and striving by their song to allure him and his companions, he, by
the advice of Circe, stopped the ears of his fellow-voyagers with wax,
and lashed himself to the mast of his vessel until he was so far away
that he could no longer listen to their strains.-See Hom. 'Odyss.,'
xii. 39 sqq.
XVIII.
1. Natur passis Nuriture. Compare Horace:-
"Naturam expellas furca, tamen usque recurret.
"
3, 4.
So evrie leving creature
Ay covets comounly thair kynd.
Compare the beautiful lines of Chaucer :-
'Epist.,' Bk. I. x. 24.
"By loves bond is knit al thing, ywis,
Beast unto beast, the earth to water wan,
Bird unto bird, and woman unto man.
'The Court of Love,' vol. iv. p. 152.
25. A gentle girking. The girking or jerkin belongs to the class
of long-winged hawks which are reckoned "of note and worth." The
following extract from Izaak Walton's 'Compleat Angler' will serve
to illustrate more than one passage in this poem: "And now to re-
turn to my hawks, from whom I have made too long a digression;
you are to note, that they are usually distinguished into two kinds;
namely, the long-winged and the short-winged hawk: of the first kind
there be chiefly in use amongst us in this nation, the gerfalcon and
jerkin; the falcon and tassel-gentel; the laner and lanaret; the
bockerel and bockeret; the saker and sacaret; the merlin and jack
merlin; the hobby and Jack: There is the stelletto of Spain; the
blood-red rook from Turkey; the waskite from Virginia: And there
is of short-winged hawks the eagle and iron; the goshawk and tarcel;
the sparhawk and musket; the French pye, of two sorts. These are
reckoned hawks of note and worth; but we have also hawks of an
inferior rank, the stanyel; the ringtail; the raven; the buzzard; the
forked kite; the bald buzzard; the hen-driver; and others that I for-
bear to name" (chap. i.)
38. The formels. Formel (from the Anglo-Norman) is the female,
as tercel is the male, of any kind of hawk.
44. Kyt (A.S. cýta). This bird is probably so called from its rapid
flight, the root of the word being Teutonic skut, from which we have
English shoot, scout (to ridicule), &c. Though the kite is considered
a bird "of inferior rank," Gascoigne, in his 'Councell to Duglasse
Dive,' urges the following plea in its favour :-
"The kight can weede the worme from corne and costly seedes;
The kight can kill the mowldiwarpe in pleasant meads that breedes;
Out of the stately streets the kight can clense the filth,
As men can clense the worthlesse weedes from fruitful fallowed tilth;
NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
363
And onely set aside the hennes poor progenie,
I cannot see who can accuse the kight for felonie :
The falcon she must feede on partridge and on quayle,
On pigeon, plover, duck and drake, hearne, lapwing, teale and raile."
60. Bissat=buzzard. The form basert occurs in 'The Court of
Venus' :-
"[As a blasert to fecht with ane falcoun."
-'The Prologue,' 1. 206.
71. Tersel (O.F. tiercelet), "the tassell or male of any kind of hawk,
so termed because he is, commonly, a third part less than the female.”
-Cotgr. Burguy says it has its name "because, in popular opinion,
every third bird hatched was a male." See Skeat, s.v. Tercel.
=
XIX.
14. Sall quyt, &c. shall requite you with a better turn-viz., to
close, &c. Cf. "The Bankis of Helicon :
:"
"Alace! let not trew amitie
Be quyite with so greit crueltie."
—ll. 141, 142.
XX.
This song, with the air, is printed in the Aberdeen 'Cantus.'
=
17, 18. Nou thair is no nek, &c. - there is no move nor shift to enable
you to hold out. Cf. Miscellaneous Poems, vii. l. 13, note.
24. I duyn and dou not die. The Aberdeen 'Cantus' has :—
26, 27.
"I love, I dwyn, I dwie."
The wicked Weirds hes wroght
My state.
The decree of the Fates was irreversible :-
"What the Fates do once decree,
Not all the gods can chaunge nor Jove himself can free.
""
-Spenser, 'The Faerie Queene,' Bk. iv. c. ii. 51.
35, 36. The innocent, with ill, &c. the innocent person receives a
like reward with the guilty.
41. Suld sey to caus me smart. The 'Cantus' has :-
"Sould stay to cure my smart."
XXI.
17. This lokman Love-i.e., this executioner. The word lokman
seems to come naturally from A.S. loca, a lock, and to mean pri-
marily "one who keeps a person in confinement;" then "an execu-
tioner;" but tradition and popular belief point to a totally different
origin of the term. The following quotations will illustrate the
general acceptation of the word :-
"Lockman, an executioner; so called because one of his dues was
364
NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
a lock (or ladleful) of meal from every caskful exposed for sale in
the market. In the Isle of Man the under-sheriff is so called."
-Brewer's 'Dictionary of Phrase and Fable,' s.v. Lockman.
"Of old the hangman of Edinburgh used to be called more deli-
cately the dempster, on account of his being employed to pronounce
sentence in court upon condemned criminals: he was also called the
locksman, in consideration of a privilege he enjoyed of taking a lock
or handful of meal from every sack brought into the city market."
-'The Book of Scottish Anecdote' by A. Hislop, pp. 59, 60. See
also Sir W. Scott's 'The Fair Maid of Perth,' chap. xxii. p. 281,
Centenary ed., note.
The meaning of dempster or demster-i.e., one who pronounces doom
A.S. dóm: verb déman, to judge)—is at once apparent; but the deri-
vation of lokman, lockman, or locksman, according to the popular
view, is contrary to all laws of enlightened philology. Lockman was
in all probability formed in the same way as turnkey and suchlike
words, though doubtless the headsman or hangman had in virtue
of his office some small perquisite of meal, which, in the minds of the
people, obscured the original meaning and supplied an erroneous
derivation of the term.
42, 43.
I sie, the man wha will not vhen he may,
The tym sall come, he sall not vhen he wald.
Compare Percy's 'Reliques of Ancient English Poetry':-
"He that wold not when he might,
He shall not when he wold-a."
'The Baffled Knight,' ll. 55, 56.
XXII.
20. I brint agane als soon in yce. Compare Milton :—
37, 38.
"The parching air
Burns frore, and cold performs the effect of fire."
-'Paradise Lost,' Bk. ii. Il. 594, 595.
Micht I my Ariadne move
To lend hir Theseus a threed.
The heroic legend of Theseus and Ariadne was a favourite theme
with the ancient poets; but by no one has it been sung with such
striking effect and marvellous power as by Catullus in his epyllion
"The Nuptials of Peleus and Thetis." Chaucer, following Ovid, as
is his wont, gives it a place in his "Legende of Goode Women,” and
tells the story of their love, and how that
"Theseus is ladde unto hys dethe;
And forthe unto this Mynotaure he gethe,
And by the techynge of thys Adriane,
He overcome thys beste and was hys bane,
And oute he cometh by the clewe agayne,
Ful prively."
-'Adriane de Athenes,' vol. viii. p. 109.

NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
365
XXIII.
10. Laing says the 10th line may read, Then suld I guerdon have.
The fragment of the upper portion of the line left in the MS. shows
this conjecture to be impossible. I believe the true reading to be,
Sum kyndnes suld I crave. Cf. Miscellaneous Poems, xxxvi. 35.
XXIV.
1 sq. Lyk as Aglauros, &c. Aglauros, daughter of Cecrops, King
of Athens, was, along with her sisters Pandrosos and Herse, intrusted
by Minerva with a close basket containing the infant Erichthonius,
with strict injunctions not to open it. Aglauros laughed at the
timidity of her sisters, and animated by that curiosity which is said
to be characteristic of her sex, opened the basket, peeped in, and saw
the child with a serpent stretched beside him. The goddess, en-
raged because Aglauros had pried into her secrets, sent Envy to
torment her. Eventually Mercury turned her into stone. See Ovid,
'Met.,' ii. 11. 552-833; but compare with the whole stanza the follow-
ing lines, which bear upon the passage in question :—
"Nam tempore quodam
Pallas Erichthonium, prolem sine matre creatam,
Clauserat Actæo texta de vimine cista :
Virginibusque tribus gemino de Cecrope natis
Et legem dederat, sua ne secreta viderent.
Abdita fronde levi densa speculabor ab ulmo,
Quid facerent. Commissa duæ sine fraude tuentur,
Pandrosos atque Herse. Timidas vocat una sorores
Aglauros, nodosque manu diducit; et intus
Infantemque vident, apporrectumque draconem.
""
—Bk. ii. ll. 552-561.
"Saxum jam colla tenebat,
Oraque duruerant, signumque exsangue sedebat.
Nec lapis albus erat: sua mens infecerat illam.
""
—Ibid., 11. 831-833.
8. Or lyk as Psyche,] by her Mother movd. Pysitches in the MS.
is an obvious error for Psyche. Mother should be sisters; but as this
is probably Montgomerie's mistake, I have left it in the text. The
story of Psyche is as follows: She was beloved by Cupid, who visited
her every night and left her before dawn. The god enjoined her not
to inquire who he was; but, tortured by her envious sisters, who
sought to make her believe that she was visited by a monster, she
lighted a lamp one night to see for herself. A drop of hot oil falling on
his shoulder awoke Cupid, whereupon he fled, leaving her in despair.
16, 17. For wondring, &c. for looking with admiration on a
*****
deity divine-the ideal of perfection on this earth.
20. Actæons pairt. The hunter Acteon, who surprised Diana
when bathing, was changed by her into a stag and torn to pieces by
366
NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
Y
his own hounds. The myth is related by Ovid in the third book of
the 'Metamorphoses.' Chaucer alludes to it in "The Complaynte of a
Loveres Lyfe":
"Nor lyke the welle of pure chastite,
Which as Dyane with her nymphes kept,
Whan she naked into the water lepte,
That slowe Acteon with his houndes felle,
Oonly for he cam so nygh the welle."
Vol. viii. p. 9.
25-35. Allusion has been made in Poem xvii. ll. 33-40, to the golden
and the leaden shafts of Cupid. See note thereto.
44. [Eremite]. Adopting Laing's suggestion I inserted eremite, for
MS. hermit, in the text. I am now inclined to think that the de-
ficiency in the line is to be accounted for by the omission of all, and
that we should read :-
"I leive most lyk ane hermit [all] allone."
66. O wareit orange! So in the MS. Laing has O wareit range.
which is fatal alike to the meaning and the measure. Orange denotes
forsaken, and is most appropriate here: O accursed orange which
I, forsaken, am destined henceforward to wear."
XXV.
29. My happy harte thair highest sall I hing. Laing has sing. In
the MS. sing was first written by the scribe and then corrected to
hing.
XXVI.
7. [Sense transcends] is Laing's conjecture.
24.
Bot vho is he can counterfutt the ape,
Or paint a passion palpable?
Compare Tibullus :-
"Hei mihi! difficile est imitari gaudia falsa :
Difficile est tristi fingere mente jocum."
Eleg.' Bk. III. vi. ll. 33, 34.
34. Bot vho is he can limit love. Compare Virgil:-
"Me tamen urit amor : quis enim modus adsit amori ?"
-'Eclog.' ii. 1. 68.
40. Quhat force is this, that careis sik a fame? Laing prints care i
for careis, which destroys the sense. The meaning is, "What force is
this which bears such a reputation?"
XXVII.
4. Till tym the prik of jelousie it sleu. Laing punctuates with a
comma after both tym and jelousie, as if tym were the subject of the
verb. Till tym until; the prik of jelousie is the subject of sleu.
NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
367
:
8. Sen death mon vs depart. Depart=part (Fr. départir). This is
the constant use of the verb in old writers.
=
XXVIII.
20. Brasht attacked; made a breach in.
24. Brash = assault.
39. Busteous boisterous (from Welsh bystus). Compare with this
whole passage a quartette entitled "A Comparisone betwix heich and
law Estaitis," by Sir William Alexander of Menstry, appended to
almost all the early editions of "The Cherrie and the Slae" :-
"The bramble growis althocht it be obscure,
{
63, 64.
Quhillis michty Cederis feilis the busteous windis,
And myld plebeyan spreitis may leif secure,
Quhylis michty tempestis toss imperiall myndis."
Quhais angels ees micht ay, I think,
Revive me with a wink.
Compare Propertius in his poem on
"
The Lover" :—
'Jam licet et Stygia sedeat sub arundine remex,
Cernat et infernæ tristia vela ratis:
Si modo damnatum revocaverit aura puellæ,
Concessum nulla lege redibit iter."
""
-'Eleg.,' Bk. III. xix. 13-16.
Though now he ply the oar, afloat
On Styx's reedy river,
And see above the infernal boat
The gloomy canvas quiver;
Let but his darling sigh—the clay
Will life, sweet life recover,
And back the unpermitted way
Will speed the joyful lover."
XXIX.
19. The lustiest on lyve the loveliest alive; on lyve in life, alive.
The expression occurs again in Poem xxxix. 1. 4. Compare Chaucer :-
"Feirest of feire and godliest on live."
-'The Dreme,' vol. vi. p. 124.
38. Fremmd. So the MS. Laing has friend, which destroys the
antithesis.
XXX.
17. Be sake because. Cf. be resoun, "The Cherrie and the Slae,"
1. 543.
25. Womanheid. Heid, denoting quality or condition,.is found only
in composition.
XXXI.
1. Sugred gall. Compare Catullus :——
Multa satis lusi: non est dea nescia nostri,
Quæ dulcem curis miscet amaritiem."
-'Carm.,' lxviii. ll. 17, 18.
368
NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
And Virgil:-
"
'Quisquis amores
"
Aut metuet dulcis aut experietur amaros.
(
Eclog.,' iii. ll. 109, 110.
"All who prove
The bitter sweets, and pleasing pains, of love."
-Dryden, in loc. cit.
13. In plesand path I tred upon the snaik. See "The Cherrie and
the Slae," 11. 551, 552; and compare Virgil:—
"
Qui legitis flores et humi nascentia fraga,
Frigidus, O pueri, fugite hinc, latet anguis in herba.'
""
XXXII.
-'Eclog.,' iii. Il. 92, 93.
12. Force is to suffer=must of necessity be endured.
38. Far foullis hes ay fair fethers-i.e., “distance lends enchant-
ment to the view."
49. On breid abroad. Cf. on lyve, in Poem xxix. 19.
53. In 3our credit crap insinuated themselves into your good graces;
gained your good opinion.
}
64. Then barlacheis or barlachois advyse. Regarding this line
Sibbald in his Glossary says: “Montgomerie in one of his unpub-
lished poems says to his mistress :—
Then barlacheis or barlachois advyse'
1
-that is, as it would seem from the context: Then consider whether
you will keep me chasing after you or at once declare me the object
of your choice. This tends in some degree to confirm Ruddiman's
conjecture, but it is not satisfactory.” (Ruddiman derives the words
barlacheis and barlachois from barla=parley.) I have no doubt that
Sibbald is correct in his interpretation. I remember, as a boy,
hearing in Lanarkshire the words used in the game of "tig." The
one pursued would call out, "I choose a barley," when the pursuer
would desist. When a sufficient breathing-time had been taken, the
pursued would call out, “Barley, chase," and run off, when the game
was renewed. The line seems to mean neither more nor less than
what is so tersely expressed in "The Cherrie and the Slae" (1. 966),
by the words, "Mak outher aff or on."
65. "Nevie nevie nak." This used to be a favourite game with which
to amuse the little ones at the “farmer's ingle” on a winter evening.
It is played thus: One puts a trifle, such as a button or small coin
in one hand—of course unseen by the party with whom he is going
to play—and then closes said hand. The other hand is also closed.
The hands are then whirled round one another several times before
the person who is going to guess which hand contains the prize.
While this manoeuvring is going on, the following lines are repeated
by the operator
NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
369
འོ་་
!
1}
"Nevie nevie nick nack,
What ane will ye tak?
The right or the wrang,
Guess or it be lang;
Plot awa and plan,
I'll cheat ye gif I can."
This is the form in Galloway; in Ayrshire and Lanarkshire it runs
thus:-
"Nevie nevie nick nack,
Whilk hand will ye tak?
Tak the richt or tak the wrang,
I'll beguile ye gif I can."
Sir Walter Scott alludes to the game in 'St Ronan's Well,' chapter
'He's a queer auld cull; he disna frequent wi' other folk, but
He gave me half-a-crown yince, and
XXX.
lives up by at the Cleikum.
forbade me to play it awa' at pitch-and-toss.'
"And you disobeyed him, of course?'
“Na, I didna dis-obeyed him—I played it awa' at neevie-neevie-
nick-nack.""
87. Quhom ze will keep, or vhom ze will decairt. Laing prints
desairt for MS. decairt, to the serious injury of the line. A lady does
not desert the suitor who offers her his hand; she discards him.
XXXIII.
1. Phaeton. See Miscellaneous Poems, xv. 9, note.
2. Phlagon-i.e., "the burning "—one of the horses of the Sun.
7. Morpheus, the God of Dreams, was the son of Somnus, the God
of Sleep. His name signifies "the fashioner,” from his moulding the
dreams of men.
28. Bondman, MS. Laing has bondsman.
.
33. Saiv, MS.; sair, Laing.
XXXIV.
38. Knyf of Atropus. Cf. “The Cherrie and the Slae,” 1. 429; and
Spenser:-
"Sad Clotho held the rocke, the whiles the thrid
By griesly Lachesis was spun with paine,
That cruell Atropos eftsoones undid,
With cursed knife cutting the twist in twaine."
=
-'The Faerie Queene,' Bk. IV. c. ii. 48.
46. May lat a man to love may prevent a man from loving.
pare the legal phrase, “without let or hindrance.”
XXXV.
Compare with this poem, passim, "The Bankis of Helicon."
2. On sleep asleep.
Com-
37, 38. Compare Miscellaneous Poems, xi. 41, 42, and notes thereto.
2 A
370
NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
51, 52.
Compare :-
Tua tuins of clene virginitie,
Lyk boullis of alabast.
"Two mounts fair marble white, down-soft and dainty."
-Lodge's 'Rosalind.'
62. Hir middill gent and small. Gent="neat," "elegantly formed."
The term is frequently applied to persons in the sense of "hand-
some,” as in "Sir Eglamour
""
"There he kyssyd the lady gente."-1. 649.
XXXVI.
19. Is this 3our lau? 3e gods of love! Laing punctuates with a
comma after both lau and gods, and a mark of interrogation after love,
thereby making love dependent on lau; but the phrase gods of love
occurs elsewhere. See Miscellaneous Poems, xi. II. 19, 53.
53. To ryd nar-i.e., to be up and doing; to go sharply to work.
XXXVII.
5. The first stanza of this poem is printed as it stands in the MS;
but the fifth line has evidently been omitted by the scribe.
15. Out throu my cost, consuming bain and lyre-i.e., through all
my frame, consuming bone and flesh. Cost, Lat. costa, the side; bain,
A.S. bán, bone; lyre, A.S. lire, the fleshy parts of the body.
20. Gar the bealing brek=bring matters to a crisis. Compare
Dunbar :-
7, 8.
"Now sall the byle all out brist, that beild has [bein] so lang."
-'The Tua Mariit Wemen and the Wedo,' 1. 164.
XXXVIII.
Then did they send the wysest Grekis
To Delphos, vhare Apollo stode.
The shrine of Apollo at Delphi, in Phocis, was the most renowned
in antiquity; and its oracles were deemed infallible. Cf. Horace :--
"Certus enim promisit Apollo," &c.
XXXIX.
—‘Od.,' Bk. I. vii. 28.
This poem has a particular interest as being the only one of the
minor pieces, with the exception of "The Bankis of Helicon," in the
measure of "The Cherrie and the Slae.'
""
1. Adeu, O desie of delyt. The pearl (marguerite) among gems and
the daisy (marguerite) among flowers have always been in high favour
with poets. With Montgomerie as with Chaucer, the honours ac-
corded to the daisy warrant more than a general application. See
Poem xi. 41; and compare Chaucer :-
NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
371
and
"With many a thousand daisies, rede as rose,
And white also."
The Court of Love,' vol. iv. p. 133.
"Daisye of light, very ground of comfort.”
-'A Goodly Ballade of Chaucer,' vol. viii. p. 138.
7,8. Lyk as the lyssard, &c. See Sonnet xxvii. 1. 3, note.
47. As doth the turtle for her maik. The turtle-dove was cele-
brated for the constancy of its affection. Indeed the “billing and coo-
ing" of the pigeon has passed into a proverb. Compare Catullus :—
"Nec tantum niveo gavisa est ulla columbo
Compar."
Propertius :-
"
And Martial :-
-'Carm,' lxviii. 125, 126.
Exemplo junctæ tibi sint in amore columbæ,
Masculus et totum femina conjugium.
Errat qui finem vesani quærit amoris :
Verus amor nullum novit habere modum.'
-' Eleg.,' III. vii. 27-30.
11
"Basia me capiunt blandas imitata columbas."
!
(C
-'Epigr.,' Bk. XI. civ. 9.
Amplexa collum basioque tam longo
Blandita, quam sunt nuptiæ columbarum.
XL.
-Ibid., Bk. XII. lxv. 7.
8. Weill ward-richly dost thou deserve.
9. Ouersyld blinded, beguiled, fascinated. Cf. the phrase to
cast glamour over one."
15. Affectioun tuk the feeld. Cf. Sonnet, xxxviii. 1. 6.
21. Bravelie blind=completely blind. Bravelie is used intensively,
like "fairly" and other such words in English.
50-52. The highest hillis mair thretnit ar with thunder, &c. Com-
pare Horace :—
"Sævius ventis agitatur ingens
Pinus et celsæ graviore casu
Decidunt turres: feriuntque summos
Fulgura montes.'
—‘Od.," II. x. 9-12.
57. Let furious Faits be fearce. Be is omitted in Laing's edition.
XLI.
This lovely poem is one of the happiest efforts of Montgomerie's
muse, and shows his lyric genius at its best. It is perhaps the oldest
set of words extant, to the air "Hey tuttie, taittie"-the war-note
sounded for the Bruce on the field of Bannockburn and familiarised
to every one by Burns's "Scots wha hae." From allusions to the
372
NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
tune by Dunbar and other poets prior to Montgomerie, we conclude
that it enjoyed a rare popularity. Gavin Douglas bears testimony
to the favour in which it was held by the "menstralis" of his day
in the following lines of "The Proloug of the Threttene Buik of
Eneados" :-
"The dewy grene, pulderit with daseis gay,
Schew on the sward a cullour dapill gray;
The mysty vapouris springand vp full sweit,
Maist confortabill to glaid all mannis spreit;
Tharto, thir byrdis singis in the schawis,
As menstralis playng, The joly day now dawis."
-11. 177-182.
In 'Ane Compendious Buik of godly and spirituall Sangis changeit
out of prophaine languis in godly sangis for avoiding of sin and
harlotry,' compiled by the Wedderburns, this song is one of those
chosen for adaptation. A single stanza will be sufficient to show
the nature of the "gude and godlie" change effected thereon :—
Hay now the day dallis,
Now Christ on vs callis,
Now welth on our wallis
Appeiris anone:
Now the word of God rings,
Whilk is King of all Kings;
Now Christis flock sings:
The night is neere gone."
13. The turtill that treu is. See Miscellaneous Poems, xxxix. 1. 47,
and note thereto.
36. To feght with thair fone. Fone-foes. This form is also found
as singular. See Rolland's "Court of Venus" :—
"Fra that they knew that he was Venus fone."
XLII.
-Bk. ii. l. 331.
11. For haif, 3e heir, is haldin half a fill-i.e., possession makes
one's appetite less sharp and craving than it would be under a sense
or apprehension of want.
22, 24.
For, folou love, they say, and it will flie.
Flie vhylome love, and it will folou thee.
"I do not understand this proverb," naïvely remarks Kelly, "unless
it answers to the flatterer in Terence :
"Novi ingenium mulierum:
Nolunt ubi velis: ubi nolis, cupiunt ultro.'
XLIII.
-'Eunuch,' Act iv. sc. vii. 42, 43.
See Sonnet lxviii. 1. 14, note.
1. Aualk, A.S. áwacan, to awake. Whether the 7 in this word be
NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
373
que to the fact "that scribes wrote kk in such a manner that it looks
like lk," as Professor Skeat remarks (see Glossary of Barbour's
'Bruce,' s.v. valk), or not, it is certain that the orthography in the
text is very common.
Cf. Rolland :—
Awalk, awalk, awalk, thou wofull wicht,
This is Venus that sa oft on the cryis.”
-'The Court of Venus,' Bk. i. 11. 672, 673.
See "The Kingis Quair" (S.T.S.), st. 173 and note thereto.
13. Thou wan the flour thou didst gain distinction.
=
17. Thy leiving no man laks thy manner of life no man re-
proaches;" "thy life is without reproach."
XLIV.
13. Bane and [lyre]. These three words are bracketed in Laing's
edition; but the last only is cut away in the MS.
31. Lope=leap; pr. t. of v. loup or lope, pt. t. lap, A.S. hleápan.
XLV.
11. Thy sterving straik=thy killing stroke. Sterving-death-deal-
ing, from A.S. sterfan, to kill; trans. verb formed from steorfan, to
die. Straik is from A.S. strác, pt. t. of strican, to strike. Cf. Germ.
streich, a stroke.
22. [Vhair we maist treuly love.] So in Laing's edition; but the
conjecture is far from satisfactory.
XLVI.
18. [Out by the rute.] Laing suggests [Fra this warla out]. The
reading I propose is based on the 12th line of the 55th Sonnet, q.v.
61, 62.
For, from Carybdis vhill I flie,
I slyde in Sylla, ze may sie.
Compare Shakespeare :—
“Thus when I shun Scylla, your father, I fall into Charybdis, your mother."
-The Merchant of Venice,' Act iii., sc. 5.
Charybdis, a whirlpool at the entrance of the Strait of Messina, on
the Sicilian side, and Scylla, a dangerous rock on the Italian side,
were the great bugbears of ancient mariners. It was hardly possible
to steer clear of the one source of peril without falling into the other;
hence the proverb, rendered famous by the lines of Philippe Gaultier
(circa thirteenth century):—
"Incidis in Scyllam cupiens vitare Charybdim.”
·‘Alexandreis,' Bk. v. 1. 301.
which has its counterpart in our homely adage-
"Out of the frying-pan into the fire."
374
NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
XLVII.
10. Quhilk freats and fryis. Cf. Miscellaneous Poems, xvi. 1. 2.
63. Goes to goes down, sets.
67. Well of womanheid. From the occurrence elsewhere in Mont-
gomerie's poems of the expressions chose of womanheid (Miscel.
Poems, xlv. 1. 28), waill and wit of womanheid (Miscel. Poems, 1.
1. 45), and weill of womanheid (Bankis of Helicon, 1. 50), I thought
at first that well in this line might be a mistranscription for weill or
waill; but the word well (fountain or source) is at once so charming
and so appropriate from a lover's point of view, that even if it were
here by an error of the scribe it would be almost inexcusable to
change it.
XLVIII.
THE NAVIGATIOVN.
"This pageant was probably composed to grace the King's 'first
and magnificent entry' into Edinburgh in the year 1579, when he
assumed the government. This may be inferred from the lines in the
middle of the poem itself:-
""
'We shaip to saill neir the Septentrion,
Touards the North, and helthsome regione
Nou callit Scotland-
Quhair presently beginneth for to ring
So sapient a 3ing and godly King,' &c.
"On this occasion, the magistrates of Edinburgh, the 2d October
1579, ordained that order should be taken ‘for vpsetting of dailles and
vyer-tymmer in the Neyerbow and vyer places neidfull, for decoring
of the tovne agane the triūphe to be made to the Kingis entre'
(Council Records,' vol. v. fol. 165a). And on the 7th October, in
an Act respecting the dress of ‘euery one of the thretty-twa honest
nytboris of this burgh, appoynted for bering of the kingis Maiesties.
paill' (vol. v. fol. 166). Of the circumstances which attended the
king's reception, a curious and interesting account may be found in
Malcolm Laing's edition of the 'Historie of James the Sext,' pp. 276-
279, 8vo, or in Crawfurd of Drumsoy's 'Memoirs,' compiled from the
same history."-Laing.
7. He=high, A.S. heáh, héh. Cf. Eng. hill.
21-26. As for my self, I am ane German borne, &c. All this, of
course, is pure fiction.
25, 26.
Thrugh all Europe, Afrik, and Asia,
And throu the neu fund out America.
Compare Chaucer :—
"For certeyn who so koude knowe
Myght ther alle the armes seen,
Of famouse folke that han ybeen
NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
375
In Auffrike, Europe, and Asye,
Syth first began the chevalrie.
'The House of Fame,' vol. vi. p. 238.
35, &c. Constantinopil, sometym of Christendome, &c. The 11th of
May 330, A.D., is marked as the birthday of this city, which occupies
the site of the ancient Byzantium. It was the seat of the Roman
emperors till the partition of the empire between Valens and Valen-
tinian, 28th March 364, after which it continued to be the capital of
the Eastern or Byzantine empire till it was taken by the Turks in
$453.
37. Constantyn. Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus, surnamed
Magnus, or "The Great"—the founder of Constantinople—was born
at Naissus (Nissa), in Mœsia Superior, in February 272 A.D. His
reign extended from 306 to 337 A.D. One of the first serious acts of
his reign was to make Christianity the religion of the empire. Under
his rule the adoration of the old divinities was degraded, while the
worship of the one ever-living God and of Christ the Saviour of men
was set up and established. In the year 325 Constantine presided at
the famous gathering at Nicæa (Nice)—the first Ecumenical Council
held by the Christian Church. In character Constantine was strong,
practical, generous, and just. Long before he declared himself a
Christian, he had weighed the influences that governed the human
race, and with clear eye discerned in the future the greatness of
Christianity in its life-giving power and saintly purity, and the potency
which lay in the immortal hopes with which it inspired humanity.
46 sq. Thair zong men slayn, thair virgins war deflorde, &c. A de-
tailed account of the siege, assault, and final conquest of Constan-
tinople by the Turks under Mahomet II., with the multitude of
horrors attendant thereon, will be found in Gibbon's 'Decline and
Fall of the Roman Empire,' chap. lxviii.
57. The auld Pontus sea.
Euxinus.
The Black Sea, anciently called Pontus
158. The land of Natalie. Anatolia (Gr. AvaToλn, the east-i.e., from
Constantinople) is the modern name of Asia Minor; Turkish,
Anadoli.
65. Quhilk to which, whither.
==
71. The star Antart[ic]. The South Pole is not marked by the
near neighbourhood of any bright star—the only star deserving the
name of the South Pole star being of the sixth or least visible mag-
nitude.
72. The Vrses and Pole Arti[c]. The Greater Bear" and the
"Lesser Bear," called also Arktos and Cynosura respectively. The
star a in the extremity of the tail of the Little Bear, at present the
pole-star, though only of the third magnitude, is the brightest in the
constellation.
73. Septentrion. See "The Flyting," l. 418, note.
376
NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
93. Huins-hounds, the projecting parts of the head of a ship.
98. Bonnets. “The bonnet is an addition to a sail, or an additional
part laced to the foot of a sail, in small vessels and in moderate winds."'
-Buchanan's 'Technological Dictionary.'
98. Missens. "The mizzen is the foremost of the fixed sails of a ship,
extended sometimes by a gaff, and sometimes by a yard, which crosses
the mast obliquely. The mizzen-mast supports the after-sails, and
stands nearest to the stern."—Ibid.
104. To prik the carte to trace the ship's course on the chart.
111. At Cestus, and at Abydon. Sestos in Thrace, opposite to Aby
dos in Asia Minor. They were the keys of the Hellespont.
119. Troy. See Sonnet iv. 1. 7, note.
122. Leander died, suimming to Hero. This legend has been
sung by Musæus, Virgil, Ovid, Statius, Schiller, and others, but by
far the loveliest version of the tale is that begun by Marlowe and
completed by Chapman. The feat of swimming from Sestos to Aby:
dos was in modern times performed by Lord Byron, on 3d May
1810-
"This morning I swam from Sestos to Abydos. The immediate
distance is not above a mile, but the current renders it hazardous→
so much so that I doubt whether Leander's conjugal affection must
not have been a little chilled in his passage to Paradise. I attempted
it a week ago, and failed,—owing to the north wind and the wonderful
rapidity of the tide,—though I have been from my childhood a strong
swimmer. But this morning being calmer, I succeeded, and crossed
the 'broad Hellespont' in an hour and ten minutes."-Letter from
Byron to Mr Henry Drury.
127. Vnto the Rhods, &c. Rhodes, an island off the coast of Caria
in Asia Minor, was famous long before the Christian era. Its Colos
sus a gigantic statue of Apollo-made about B.C. 300, was one of the
wonders of the ancient world. In A.D. 1310, Foulques de Villaret,
Grand Master of the Knights of St John, took possession of it, and
from that time till 1522 it continued to be the place of residence of
the order. In December of the latter year its gallant inhabitants,
after holding out till they were nearly buried in the ruins of their
city, capitulated, and evacuated Rhodes on honourable terms. It has
ever since remained a province of the Turkish empire.
130. Malmesie. The Malmsey of earlier times was not the produce
of Madeira, but of the islands of Tenedos, Lesbos, Chios, and Crete.
The word is derived from Malvasia, in the Morea.
131. Malt and Cicill. Malta and Sicily.
144. Sicill with his headis thrie. The three promontories or head-
lands of Sicily are Cape Boeo on the west, Cape Passaro on the
south-east, and Cape Faro on the north-east.
148, 149. Charybdis
xlvi. ll. 61, 62, note.
Sylla. See Miscellaneous Poems,

NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
377
165. The Tyrrhenum sea=the Tuscan sea.
170. The sea Liguscum=the Gulf of Genoa.
180. Aragon, a province in the north-east of Spain, but here used
In a much wider sense.
181. Be we had saillit, &c.=by the time that we had sailed, as
soon as, &c.
187. Eolus-i.e., Eolus, the God of the Winds.
203-205.
"Wes it not heir vhair Pharaos dochter landit,
First of the Scots, as we do understand it?"
The Turk alledgit Gathelus wes a Greke.
In illustration of these lines, compare the following extracts :—
"Qui Scotorum res literis prodiderunt, honestiorem, ut ipsis visum,
originem ediderunt: sed nihilo Brittonum nobilitate minus fabulo-
sam. Non enim e Trojanorum profugis reliquiis: sed e Graiis illis
heroibus, quorum posteri Troiam everterunt, majores nobis adop-
arunt. Nam cum Græcorum priscis illis temporibus duo maxime
genera celebrarentur, Dores et Iones, ac Dorici generis principes
essent Argivi, Ionici vero Athenienses, Scoti principem suæ gentis
conditorem Gathelum quendam faciunt: quem Argi an Cecropis esse
filium mallent, incertum reliquerunt. Ac ne Romanorum in hac parte
cederent claritati, validam ei latronum adjecerunt manum, cum qua
profectus in Ægyptum præclaras res gessisse dicitur, copiisque Regiis
post Mosis discessum fuisse præfectus. Deinde cum uxore Scota
Regis Ægyptii filia totum Europæ litus ad mare internum pertinens
circumnavigasse : ac præteritis tot regionibus illa ætate desertis, aut
certe raris in locis, et a paucis habitatis Græcia, Italia, Gallia, totoque
Africæ litore (ut omittam interim tot maris interni insulas) alii eum
ad Iberi amnis ostium exponunt, eoque agro, quem tenere non poterat
relicto in Galæciam regionem multo steriliorem traducunt. Alii
Oceanum primum, ut arbitror, mortalium classe ingredi ausum ad
Durii fluminis ostium exponunt," &c.-Buchanani Rer. Scot., lib. ii.
cap. xi.
The 3eir quhen the Scottis cam in the Iles of Albion first, quhilkes
we cal Hebrides now, was the hundir and auchtint 3eir eftir the Im-
pire of Simone. Bot eftir thay war entired in the main Land, the
partes of west Albion, cheiflie the North thay first occupied: And
than the first prouince thay named Argathil, now Argyl, frome Gathel
the father of the natione."-Leslie's 'Historie of Scotland' (S.T.S.),
pp. 80, 81.
227. What if the Quene war de[id?]. Elizabeth. See Sonnet viii.
8, note.
252. The Basse. This remarkable island-rock, near the mouth of
the Firth of Forth, is about a mile in circumference and 420 feet in
height. It is nearly round, and inaccessible on all sides except the
south-west; and even there the landing is at all times difficult, and
extremely perilous if there is a swell. In 1581 the Bass was visited

378
NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
by James VI., who was exceedingly anxious to secure it for State
purposes; but “Lauder of the Bass" declined to part with it on any
conditions. It is a singular fact that this was the last spot in Britain
which held out for the Stuart line. Here twenty-four Jacobites re-
mained from June 1691 till April 1694, gallantly holding their barren
island-fortress against all assailants. At last, through sheer dread of
starvation, the brave little band surrendered on honourable terms
and in 1701 the fortifications were demolished by order of King
William III.
XLIX.
30. Cast crosse or pyle-i.e., toss, heads or tails. "The French
say pile ou face. The 'face' or cross was the obverse of the coin,
the 'pile' was the reverse; but at a later period the cross was trans-
ferred to the reverse, as in our florins, and the obverse bore a 'head
or 'poll.'
Marriage is worse than cross I win, pile you lose.'
-Shadwell, Epsom Wells.'
---Brewer's 'Dictionary of Phrase and Fable,' s.v. Cross and Pile.
"Hilaire le Gai tells us that some of the ancient French coins had
a cross and others a column on the reverse; the column was called
a pile, from which comes our word 'pillar' and the phrase ‘pile-
driving.' Scaliger says that some of the old French coins had a ship
on the reverse, the arms of Paris, and that pile means 'a ship,' whence
our word 'pilot.'”—Ibid.
"Pile, in the heraldic sense, is an imitation of a sharp stake. In
the old phrase cross and pile, equivalent to the modern head and tail
the allusion is to the stamping of money. One side bore a cross; the
other side was the under side in the stamping, and took its name
from the pile or short pillar (Lat. pīla) on which the coin rested.'
-Skeat, s.v. Pile.
L.
4. Flour of feminine=flower of women.
In lii. 1. 25, we have, The
facultie of famenene. Chaucer, speaking of the Amazons, employs the
term Femynye to denote their kingdom :-
"He conquered al the regne of Femynye."
-The Knightes Tale,' vol. i. p. 115.
11. Sua meik, and full of mansuetud. Cf. Dunbar:
"Sobir, benyng, and full of mansuetude."
'The Thistle and the Rose,' 1. 17.
25. Pigmaleon. The story of Pygmalion, who became enamoured
of an ivory statue he had made, and to which Venus, at his earnes
petition, gave life, is told in Ovid's 'Metamorphoses,' Bk. x. ll. 243
289. Compare with this whole stanza "The Bankis of Helicon,
11. 29-42.
NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
379
26. Be painting craft. Pygmalion was a statuary, not a painter.
31. Patrone (Fr. patron, a model), Middle English, and quite correct
form. Mod. Eng. pattern. See Skeat, s.v. Pattern.
33-40. Or had this nymphe, &c. Cf. "The Bankis of Helicon," 11.
43-56.
45. As waill, and wit of womanheid. See Miscellaneous Poems,
xlvii. 1. 67, note.
49. Hemene. Hymen or Hymenæus, the God of Marriage.
9. May=maid, A.S. mág.
LI.
27. Fra thay persavit dame Phabes lost hir licht. So the MS.
Laing, following Pinkerton, prints—“ Fra thay persavit Dame Phœbe
los hir licht."
33-42. Gif she had bene into the dayis auld, &c. Compare
Chaucer :-
"For if that Jove had but this lady sein,
Tho Calixto ne yet Alcmenia,
They never hadden in his armes lein;
Ne he had loved the faire Europa;
Yea, ne yet Dané ne Antiopa!
For al their beaute stood in Rosial;
She seemed lich a thing celestial," &c.
-'The Court of Love,' vol. iv. p. 161.
35. Befoir Europe, &c. The legend of Europa is told in the ‘Meta-
morphoses' of Ovid, Bk. ii. 836 sq.
37, 38. Sum greater mayck, I wait, &c. "He must needs, I trow,
have assumed some nobler form, to have won her by his crafty
wiles."
41. Clemene. The poet has mistaken Clymene for Danae (for the
legend, see Ovid, ‘Met.,' iv. 610`sq.), and in line 43 he has taken the
singular liberty of converting Hymen into a goddess.
LII.
1. Irkit I am with langsum luvis lair. For langsum Laing prints
langid; while the Transcript of the Bannatyne MS. made for the
Hunterian Club has langum. In both cases the transcriber misread
the contraction. In the index to the MS., the first line is entered,
singularly enough, twice over; and in both instances langsum is
written in full.
21. Thairfor to me. Laing reads, Thairfor to ane.
46. Hy haste. M.E. sb. hie or hye; A.S. higian, to hie or hasten.
51, 52. But bustously, &c. “But I am always rudely cast aside."
LIII.
This short poem, which occurs in the Bannatyne MS., fol. 163a and
1636, was first printed by Leyden in his Introduction to "The Com-
playnt of Scotland."

380
NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
2. Brutus. Brutus in the mythological History of England was
the first king of the Britons. He was the son of Æneas Silvius, king
of the Albans, consequently grandson of Ascanius, and great-grand-
son of Æneas. Having inadvertently slain his father, he took refuge
in Greece, and then in Britain. See Spenser's "Faerie Queene," Bk.
ii. canto x.
12. Quha slew his fader howping to succeid. Cf. Buchanan :
"Proxima deinde nobilitatis accessio Brutus parricida, ne videlicet
in hac parte Romulo esset inferior."-Rerum Scot., lib. ii. cap. vii.
And Leslie: "Gif quha walde knawe the name of Britannie, monie
referris it vnto Brutus, the sone of Siluius Posthumus King of the
Latines and oye of Æneas, and him to be author baith of the name
and natione of Britannie. The maist commoune speiking is this, that
XL 3eirs eftir the seige of Troy, quhill Brutus with grett sollicitude
and kair was seiking a resting place with some troiane Iwalis and
reliques, eftir sair trauell quhen mony dangeris he escaped had, at
last he landet in Albion. Thaireftir the Ile he named Britannie and
his cumpanie britanis."-The Historie of Scotland (S.T.S.), p. 2.
LIV.
It is with a feeling akin to disgust that we read this scurrilous
pasquin; and we cannot but deplore that a man of genius like Mont-
gomerie should have stooped to soil his fair fame by indulging in
such illiberal abuse. Fortunately the piece is not only obscure, but
also seems to be in great part unintelligible.
EPITAPHS.
LV.
GOOD ROBERT SCOT. "This Robert Scot, Clerk of Session,
after the decease of James Macgill, Clerk Register, was offered the
situation as the eldest Clerk of Session, to whom, at the time, it was
considered 'the place by right was due'; but he refused the same,
telling his Majesty that upon no terms would he be a lord.' In
consequence of his refusal, Alexander Hay, resigning his place of
Director of the Chancery in the year 1577, was preferred, and Robert
Scot was appointed to that situation. He was grandfather to Sir
John Scot of Scotstarvet, in whose favour he resigned the office of
Director of the Chancery in the year 1592 (Scot's 'Staggering State,'
pp. 120 and 160). Robert Scot died 20th March 1592 (Douglas's
'Baronage,' p. 222)."—Laing.
LVI.
Sir Robert Drummond of Carnock died in 1592, aged 74. The
words bracketed in the heading of the epitaph are filled up in the
MS. by Sir Robert's grandson, William Drummond of Hawthornden.
NOTES TO MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
381
C
LVII.
I have failed to trace the two brothers on whom this epitaph was
written.
LVIII.
'This epitaph on Robert, Lord Boyd, who died 3d January 1589,
aged 72, was inscribed on his tomb in the church of Kilmarnock,
from whence it was copied by George Crawfurd, and printed in his
'Peerage,' p. 244. It also may be found in Sir Robert Sibbald's
Account of the Writers, ancient and modern, who treat of the
description of Scotland,' Edinburgh, 1710, folio. He transcribed it
from Tim. Pont's MS. description of Cunningham. In all these in-
stances it occurs without the name of the author."-Laing.
NOTES
ΤΟ
DEVOTIONAL POEMS.
THE Devotional Poems contained in the Drummond MS. include,
among others, the 1st and 2d Psalms. The former is also found
in Bannatyne's MS. It was printed in "The Mindes Melodie
(Edinburgh, Robert Charteris, 1605), and has been allowed to re
main in the reprint of that work in this edition, inasmuch as it
seemed unadvisable to mar its completeness by excluding the psalm
on the ground of its appearing in its place among the other pieces
taken from the Drummond MS. Montgomerie's version of this
psalm has a peculiar interest attaching to it, from its being the
earliest rendering of it known in Scotland in the native tongue. The
version of the 2d Psalm is a singularly happy and spirited composition
Without entering on the question of the relative merits or shortcomings
of different versions of the Psalms, we may point to the fact that in the
specimens left by Montgomerie there is not only a very genuine ring,
but also a reverent and sympathetic touch which pleads powerfully in
favour of his inborn sincerity and piety. None of the other poems
seems to call for any special remark save the 4th, entitled "A Godly
Prayer." Of this piece Dr Laing says in a note: At the close of
this 'godly prayer' in Bannatyne's MS. is written 'ffinis qd. Robert
Montgomery, Poet.' From this mistake the other psalms in the same
MS. have been rashly attributed by some writers to Robert Mont-
gomery, minister in Stirling, and for a time Archbishop of Glasgow.
The nature of his acceptance of the see of Glasgow occasioned great
disputes in the Church courts in the year 1582, when he was ex-
communicated. An account of the proceedings in this affair is given
by Dr M'Crie, in his Life of Andrew Melville. The Archbishop
might have been a relation of the poet, but he certainly was not the
author of that poem, which has frequently been printed." There is
no ground whatever for doubting the genuineness of this piece, or for
considering the Christian name in the Bannatyne MS. anything else

NOTES TO DEVOTIONAL POEMS.
383
than a slip of the pen. The poem occurs in the body of the Drum-
mond MS., and that is sufficient guarantee of its authorship.
I.
Entitled in the Bannatyne MS. "The First Pshalme," and sub-
scribed "Finis q. Montgumry." Cf. the version on pp. 245, 246 in
The Mindes Melodie," which is substantially that of the Bannatyne
MS. The subjoined version is taken from an interesting work, ‘The
Psalms in History and Biography,' by the Rev. John Ker, D.D.
(Edinburgh, Andrew Elliot). Dr Ker does not give the source from
which it is taken, but merely says (p. 18), “We have changed obsolete
words and spelling, and brought the rhyme closer to our present pro-
nunciation; but the entire rhythm and general expression have been
preserved." Unless Dr Ker has had access to some version which I
have not discovered, he has used the above expressions in rather a
wide sense. He has, however, given a very fair translation in its
way, though by no means a transcript of the rendering known as
Montgomerie's :-
!
:
"That man is blest
And is possessed
Of truest rest,
Who from ungodly counsel turns his feet;
Who walks not in
The way of sin,
Nor comes within
The place where mockers take their shameful seat;
But in God's law to go
He doth delight;
And studies it to know
Both day and night.
That man shall be like to a tree
Which by the running river spreads its shade;
Which fruit does bear in time of year;
Whose root is firm, whose leaf shall never fade :
His actions all
Still prosper shall.
So doth not fall
To wicked men; whom, as the chaff and sand,
Winds day by day
Shall drive away.
Therefore I say
The wicked in the judgment shall not stand;
Neither shall sinners dare,
Whom God disdains,
To enter the assembly where
The just remains.
For God most pure keeps record sure ;
He knows the righteous' heart and converse aye;
But like the fire kindles His ire
'Gainst wicked men, till they consume away."
384
NOTES TO DEVOTIONAL POEMS.
II.
41. I have printed 3e for the MS. 3ea, which is an obvious error
the scribe.
III.
9, 10. The way is strait, the nomber small, &c. Cf. St Matth.
‘Quam angusta porta, et arcta via est quæ ducit ad vitam, et pauci
sunt qui inveniunt eam!"—Cap. vii. 14.
19. Mak a mint use thy endeavour.
21, 22. As raynie dropis, &c.
(C
Compare Ovid :—
Utque caducis
Percussu crebro saxa cavantur aquis."
Gutta cavat lapidem."
-Epist. Ex Ponto, II. vii. 39, 40.
—Ibid., VI. x. 5.
"Dura tamen molli saxa cavantur aqua."
—'Art. Amat.,' i. 476.
26-32. To lyf that leddir sall the leid, &c. "Viditque in somnis
scalam stantem super terram, et cacumen illius tangens cælum;
angelos quoque Dei ascendentes et descendentes per eam."—Genesis,
cap. xxviii. 12.
38. "I am evin that I am."
"Dixit Deus ad Moysen: EGO SUM
QUI SUM.-Exod., cap. iii. 14.
=
41. The rude the holy cross. A.S. ród, a rod or pole, a cross or
gallows; Latin rudis, a rod.
IV.
This poem, the 1st and 23d Psalms, and the Solsequium, occur in the
Bannatyne MS. after a number of poems inserted in duplicate. They
are all in George Bannatyne's handwriting, but apparently copied at
a later date than the rest of the contents. Bannatyne says that his
MS.-i.e., the portion of it that precedes these pieces-was
""
Written in tyme of pest,
When we frae labour was compeld to rest,
Into the three last monthes of this year,
From our Redeemer's birth, to knaw it heir
Ane thousand is, fyve hundreth, thre scoir, awcht."
As George Bannatyne lived till 1608, the portion of his MS. in
which these poems appear gives us no help in fixing their dates. The
title of this piece, as given by him, is, "Ane godlie Ballat maid be the
poet M[ontgomery]." Time has dealt hardly with the poet's name
here, which is barely legible. As has been noticed above, it is sub-
scribed "ffinis qd Robert Montgomery, poet."
1, 2. Peccavi pater, &c. "Dixitque ei filius: Pater, peccavi in
cælum et coram te, jam non sum dignus vocari filius tuus.”—Evang.
sec. Luc., cap. xv. 21.
NOTES TO DEVOTIONAL POEMS.
385
9. Abashd. So in the Drummond MS. The Bannatyne MS. reads
abaisd. Abash, M.E. abaschen, abaischen, abaissen, abasen, signifies
to confuse with shame, which is the meaning here. O.F. esbahir;
Mod. F. ébahir. Abaisd comes from Fr. abaiser, or abaisser, to abase
or to humble; Low Lat. abassare, to lower. "It is extremely probable
that some confusion has taken place between this word and abash;
for in Middle English we find abaist, abayst, abaysed, abaysid, &c.,
with abasen in Mätzner's 'Wörterbuch.' He regards the M.E. abasen
as equivalent to abash, not to abase.”—Skeat, s.v. Abase.
23. Hund. The use of the word hound, as applied to the devil, is a
reminiscence of Cerberus. The synonyms of Satan prevalent all over
Scotland seem rather to point to his kinship with the horned he-goat,
of the goat-footed satyr, than with the hound or the serpent. Burns
sums up his titles in the line :—
Auld Satan, Hornie, Nick, or Clootie."
-'Address to the Deil,' 1. 2.
Si ascen-
27-30. Thoght I suld flie, vhair sall I find refuge? &c.
dero in cælum, tu illic es; si descendero in infernum, ades.”—Lib.
Psalm (Vulg.) cxxxviii. 8 (Eng. version, cxxxix. 8). "Si descenderint
usque ad infernum, inde manus mea educet eos; et si ascenderint usque
in cælum, inde detraham eos."-Amos ix. 2. Cælum sedes mea;
terra autem scabellum pedum meorum."-Isa. lxvi. 1.
34, 35. In sinners death, &c. "Vivo ego, dicit Dominus Deus, nolo
mortem impii, sed ut convertatur impius a via sua et vivat.”—Ezech.
xxxiii. II. Cf. Ibid., xviii. 32.
38. Say essay, try. O.F. sayer; Mod. F. essayer.
46, 54. In both of these lines Laing reads the Lord. It is hardly
necessary to say that the is the pronoun of the second person.
51, 52. Flie doun on me in forked tongues of fyre, &c. "Et ap-
paruerunt illis dispertitæ linguæ tanquam ignis seditque supra
singulos eorum."-Act. Apost., ii. 3.
66. Vha shupe my saul to his similitude.
inem ad imaginem suam."-Genesis i. 27.
Genesis i. 27.
"Et creavit Deus hom-
"Quoniam Deus creavit
hominem inexterminabilem; et ad imaginem similitudinis suæ fecit
illum."-Lib. Sapientiæ, ii. 23.
V.
30. The goatis ar many, thoght the lambis be thin. Cf. St Matthew:
"Et congregabuntur ante eum omnes gentes, et separabit eos ab
invicem, sicut pastor segregat oves ab hædis; et statuet oves quidem
a dextris suis, hoedos autem a sinistris."—Cap. xxv. 32, 33.
41, 42. Thoght Natur, &c. "Humanum est errare sed perseverare
diabolicum.”—(Prov.)
=
VI.
9. Able perchance, peradventure; other forms are abil, abill (line
87), ablis, ablins.
2 B
386
NOTES TO DEVOTIONAL POEMS.
52. Checker compt=thy bank account, account of all thy deeds.
68. Sho mettis no inshis with the ell she gives nothing into the
bargain, she makes no allowance.
69. Had carried, conveyed. Cf. hawing, "The Cherrie and the
Slae," 1. 125, and Eng. behaviour = carriage.
71, 72.
Quhair Belzebub in burning brayis
In wter darknes vhair no day is.
Cf. Matt. x. 28 and viii. 12.
85, 86.
Zit, hear vhill Chryst knokis at thy hairt,
And open it to let him in.
"Ecce sto ad ostium, et pulso: si quis audierit vocem meam, et
aperuerit mihi januam, intrabo ad illum et cœnabo cum illo, et ipse
mecum."--Apocal. B. Joann, Apost., cap. iii. 20.
89. As the fyve folish virgins playis. See St Matt. cap. xxv.
VII.
The first three stanzas of this piece are printed, with some trifling
variations, in the Aberdeen 'Cantus.'
35-37.
VIII.
Then a ring
Did he thring
On my finger, that wes fyne.
The use of the ring as a symbol is of very ancient date. Its circular
continuity was of old accepted as a type of eternity, and consequently
as an emblem of ever-during regard. In Genesis xli. 42, we read that
Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand,
thereby admitting him to his confidence and constituting him his
representative with full powers (cf. Esther iii. 10-12). As a gift. of
love or pledge of honour the earliest instance on record is that in
Genesis xxxviii. 18, when Judah met his daughter-in-law Tamar by
the wayside and gave her his signet-ring. In ancient Rome it was
a badge of knighthood. In medieval times solemn betrothal was
ratified by means of the ring, and in the works of the period we find
repeated allusion to the ring as a token of fidelity between lovers who
were to be separated for long periods. In the case of engaged persons
the ring is now worn on the second finger of the left hand; while the
marriage-ring is worn on the third finger of the same hand. The
preference given to the third finger seems to have had its origin in the
belief that a nerve or vein ran from that finger to the heart. Macrobius,
writing in the fifth century A.D., thus refers to the practice :—
“Dic,' inquit, ‘Disari (omnis enim situs corporis pertinet ad
medici notionem : tu vero doctrinam et ultra quam medicina postulat
consecutus es) dic, inquam, cur sibi communis assensus anulum in
digito, qui minimo vicinus est, quem etiam medicinalem vocant, et
NOTES TO DEVOTIONAL POEMS.
387
manu præcipue sinistra gestandum esse persuasit?' Et Disarius :
‘De hac ipsa quæstione sermo quidam ad nos ab Ægypto venerat, de
quo dubitabam fabulamne an veram rationem vocarem. Sed libris
anatomicorum postea consultis verum reperi, nervum quendam de
corde natum priorsum pergere usque ad digitum manus sinistræ
minimo proximum, et illic desinere implicatum ceteris eiusdem digiti
nervis: et ideo visum veteribus, ut ille digitus anulo tamquam corona
circumdaretur.' Et Horus, 'Adeo,' inquit, ‘Disari, verum est ita ut
dicis Ægyptios opinari, ut ego sacerdotes eorum, quos prophetas
vocant, cum in templo vidissem, circa deorum simulacra hunc in
singulis digitum confictis odoribus illinere, et ejus rei causas
requisissem : et de nervo quod jam dictum est principe eorum narrante
didicerim, et insuper de numero qui per ipsum significatur. Com-
plicatus enim senarium numerum digitus iste demonstrat, qui
omnifariam plenus, perfectus, atque divinus est. Causasque cur
plenus sit hic numerus ille multis asseruit. Ego nunc ut præsentibus
fabulis minus aptas relinquo. Hæc sunt quæ in Ægypto divinarum
omnium disciplinarum compote cur anulus huic digito magis inseratur
agnovi.' Inter hæc Cæcina Albinus, ‘Si volentibus vobis erit,' inquit,
'in medium profero quæ de hac eadem causa apud Ateium Capitonem
pontificii juris inter primos peritum legisse memini: qui, cum nefas
esse sanciret deorum formas insculpi anulis eo usque processit, ut et
cur in hoc digito vel in hac manu gestaretur anulus non taceret.'
'Veteres,' inquit, 'non ornatus, sed signandi causa anulum secum
circumferebant. Unde nec plus habere quam unum licebat nec
cuiquam nisi libero: quos solos fides deceret, quæ signaculo con-
tinetur." &c.-Saturnal., lib. vii. cap. xiii.
IX.
6. To deep remorse, Laing; of deep remorse, U.
i
NOTES
ΤΟ
THE MINDES MELODIE.
DR LAING, in a note prefixed to this collection, says: "The original
of 'The Mindes Melodie,'-a small octavo volume of sixteen leaves,—
is anonymous; but, it is presumed, no doubt whatever can exist as to
the propriety of assigning Montgomery as the author.. If Mont-
gomery translated any other Psalms besides these, with the Second
and Thirty-sixth, as given among the 'Devotional Poems,' his versions
are probably no longer preserved." This portion of Montgomerie's
work stands in no need of annotation. It is remarkable, however,
that these translations, although they were printed so early as 1605
-probably in Montgomerie's lifetime-should differ so greatly in
orthography, not only from the other poems, but from the versions
of the first and second psalms in the Drummond MS., and the first
and twenty-third in the Bannatyne MS. The principal variants in
the two psalms in the latter MS., albeit they are of no great impor-
tance, are given below:
PSALM 1.
1. Weill; 2. 3e, blissit; 3. Be; 4. evill counsale; gaitis; 5. Quha
walkis; 8. mokkaris in thair scornefull saitis; 10. Delytis arricht,
14. ane tre; That planttit by the rynnyng revar growis; 16. fruct;
18. Quhais leivis sall nevir faid nor rute vnlowis; 21. So sall; 22.
To wicket; calf and sand; 24. Wind dryvis; 27. Synnaris cum;
32. Quha beiris; 33. conversationis; 36. Sall quickly perreiss and but
dowt decay. Finis [quod] Montgumry.
PSALM XXIII.
The xxiij Sphalme translait be Montgumry. 1. he; knaw; 3.
hird; 4. lang haif stress; neid; 5. He makis my lair; 6. feildis most
fair; 7. Quhair I but cair; 8. Reposing at my pleasure saifly feid;
10. plesand springis; 13. bringis my mind; Fit to sik kynd; 15.
That forss or feir of foe cannot me greif; He dois me leid; 18. leif;
19. Thocht I sowld stray; 20. ilk day; 22, zit will I not dispair, nor
feir non ill; 26. Shiphirdis cruk comfortis; 27. fois; 29. ioo (error
of scribe?); 32. Marcy and pace; 34. And me convoy; 35. To endles
joy; 36. In hevin quhair I sall be with the alwayis.
NOTES
ΤΟ
ATTRIBUTED POEMS.
FOR remarks on the poems attributed to Montgomerie, see Intro-
duction.
I.
THE BANKIS OF HELIcon.
The accompanying musical notes, referred to in the Introduction,
are taken from Dr Laing's edition.

-
DE-CLAIR ye bankis of He li con, Par - nas sus hills, and daills ilk
ます
​-
-

on, And fontaine Ca - bel- lein, Gif o - ny of your Mu- ses all,

Or nym-phis, may be pe
·
Un to my
re - gall
la
·
dy schein?

Or if the ladyis that
ـط
did lave Thair bodyis by your brim,

So seim - lie war or [yit] so suave, So bew - ti ful
-
or
trim?

Con
-
tem
-
pill ex
-
em
-
- pill Tak be hir
pro- per port,

Gif
-
nye sa
bo
-
nye, Amang you did resort.
390
NOTES TO ATTRIBUTED POEMS.
3. Fontaine Cabellein. Hippocrene. Cf. Persius :-
"Nec fonte labra prolui Caballino."
- Prolog.,' l. 1.
For the myth, see Ovid, 'Met.,' Bk. v. 250 sq.; and Cf.—
"At fountaine Helicon."
-'The Cherrie and the Slae,' 1. 98.
5. Peregall. Cf.-
Pruiffis hir but peir or peregall."
'Miscel. Poems,' 1. 1. 15.
16. This perfyte paragon. Cf.—
"As jem of jeuels, paragone but peir."
"
-Son. xlix. 1. 4.
Wald have preferrit this paragon.'
19. To her, as to the Aperse. Cf.-
""
'Miscel. Poems,' 1. 1. 37.
"O most excellent only A per se!”
"This A per se of all."
'Miscel. Poems,' vii. 1. 42. ¦
—Ibid., xxxv. 1. 64.
1
"But peir, the erthlie A per se.
31
-Ibid., 1. 1. 3.
"As A per se, abone all elevat."
-Ibid., li. 1. 14.
20. And peirles perle preclair. Cf.-
"And prays the pereles [perle] preclair.”
23, 24.
Cf.-
'Miscel. Poems,' 1. 1. 7.
Nature, in hir creatioun,
To forme hir tuik delyte.
"To kythe hir cunning, Natur wald
Indeu hir with sik grace.'
"}
-'Miscel. Poems,' xxxv. ll. 13, 14.
26. Jour nymphes and all thair trace. So the MS. Laing, following
Pinkerton, prints race.
29. Apelles. See Son. xliv. 1. 12, note. Compare with this stanza
(11. 29-42), Miscel. Poems, l. 11. 25-32.
32. That nane micht be compared thairtill. Cf.—
"To quhome comparit is na erthlie thing."
41. So quiklie or liklie.
Cf.—
'Baith quicklie and liklie.
""
'Miscel. Poems,' li. 1. 15.
-'The Cherrie and the Slae,' 1. 1021.
43-56. Or, had my ladye bene alyve, &c. Cf. Miscel. Poems, 1. ll. 33-
40, and li. ll. 33-40.
44. The thrie goddessis. Juno, Minerva, and Venus.
46. Fals Helene, Menelaus maik. Cf. Ovid :—
NOTES TO ATTRIBUTED POEMS.
391
"Dum Menelaus abest, Helene ne sola jaceret,
Hospitis est tepido nocte recepta sinu."
50. Aș weill of womanheid. Cf.—
57, 58.
Cf.—
-' Art. Amat.,' Bk. ii. 359, 360.
I With hir that is the chose of womanheid."
Miscel. Poems,' xlv. 1. 28.
So, lustie Lady, well of womanheid !"
"As waill, and wit of womanheid."
-Ibid., xlvii. 1. 67.
-Ibid., 1. 1. 45.
As Phœbus tress hir hair and breeis;
With angel hew and cristall eeis.
"Hir brouis ar brent: lyk golden threeds
Hir siluer shyning brees.
The bony blinks my courage feeds
Of hir tua christall ees.'
"}
-Miscel. Poems,' xxxv. ll. 25-28.
"Then I did sie 3our cumly cristall ene.'
""
-Ibid., xxxiii. 1. 26.
"Thair suld ze sie 3our hevinly angels face.”
—Ibid., xlvii. 1. 22.
'3our sueet behaviour and 3our hevinly heu."
-Ibid., xlvii. 1. 45.
—Ibid., xlvii. 1. 57.
Quhair bene these lamps of light, these crista[ll ees?]"
59. And toung most eloquent. Cf.--
"Hir mouth mellifluous.'
}}
-'Miscel. Poems,' xxxv. 1. 41.
60. Hir teithe as perle in curall set. Cf.-
61, 62.
Cf.—
63, 64.
Cf. Ovid :-
"
Hir teeth lyk pearle of orient.'
-'Miscel. Poems,' xxxv. 1. 44.
Hir lypis and cheikis pumice fret;
As rose maist redolent.
"Hir comelie cheeks of vive colour,
Of rid and vhyt ymixt,
Ar lyk the sanguene jonet flour,
Into the lillie fixt."
-'Miscel. Poems,' xxxv. ll. 37-40.
-Ibid., xxxv. 1. 43.
Hir rosie lippis most eminent.'
With yvoire nek, and pomellis round,
And comlie intervall.
"Hoc faciunt flavi crines et eburnea cervix."
-'Heroid.,' xx. 57.
392
NOTES TO ATTRIBUTED POEMS.
"Hir vestall breist of ivorie,
Quhairon ar fixit fast
Tua tuins of clene virginitie,
Lyk boullis of alabast."
65. Hir lillie lyire. Cf.-
-'Miscel. Poems,' xxxv. ll. 49-52.
"Hir deasie colour, rid and vhyte,
Lyk lilies on the laik.'
-'Miscel. Poems,' xi. ll. 41, 42.
Hir snauie skin."
-Ibid., xxxv. 1. 53.
66. And proper memberis all. Cf.—
and proper memberis all."
'Miscel. Poems,' 1. 1. 13.
69, 70.
Cf.-
Perfyter and quhyter
Then Venus, luiffes quein.
""
Venus had not obtenit sic prayis."
-'Miscel. Poems,' 1. 1. 35.
71. Hir angell voice in melodie. Cf.—
Inchanting voce, beuitcher of the wyse."
-Son. xxxix. 1. 4.
73. Sirens songe most sueit. The melody of the Sirens' song wa
irresistible, and lured mortals to their ruin. They are represented by
Homer as living in an island south-east of Ææa; but later writer
place them off Capri or in the Strait of Messina. Their name prob
ably signifies the "enchainers"—from σepý. See Hom., 'Odyss.,' xii
1. 39 sq.
76. It is a joy compleit. Cf.—
"Sa perfyte, and with joy repleit."
Miscel. Poems,' 1. 1. 14.
80. Maist douce and debonair.
Cf.—
"With blinkis dulce and debonair."
'Miscel. Poems,' xvii. 1. 57.
82. Maist seimlie and modest. Cf. Ovid :—
"Et decor et vultus sine rusticitate pudentes."
-'Heroid.,' xx. 1. 59.
"The myildest may, the mekest and modest.'
'Miscel. Poems,' li. 1. 9.
85, 86.
Cf.-
Na thing thair is in hir at all
That is not supernaturall.
"With vertew supernaturall.'
93. As goddes of all feminine. Cf.—
"}
-'Miscel. Poems,' l. 1. 12.
"And flour of feminine maist fair."
-'Miscel. Poems,' 1. 1. 4.
NOTES TO ATTRIBUTED POEMS.
393
97, 98.
As rarest and fairest
Cf.-
That euer Nature wrocht.
"The mold is lost, vharin wes maid
This A per se of all."
-'Miscel. Poems,' xxxv. 11. 63, 64.
"For now scho cummis, the fairest of all fair,
The mundane mirrour, maikles Margareit."
-Ibid., li. 11. 7, 8.
And Burns (on Chloris) :-
Declared that she could do nae mair.
1
"Ilk feature-auld Nature
99. Hir luikis, as Titan radiant. Cf.-
"
"Her smyling angels face,
Lyk Phoebus in the south."
-'Miscel. Poems,' xxxv. 11. 16, 17.
Thinking scho had bene Phoebus verelie."
104. And bodye haill combuire. Cf.—
-Ibid., li. 1. 23.
Quhilk dois thy bailfull breist combuir."
-'The Cherrie and the Slae,' 1. 970.
: 109. To langwiss in angwiss. Cf.-
"In angwische I langwische.'
""
-'The Cherrie and the Slae,' l. 307.
113. I houp sa peirles pulchritud. Cf.—
"
Quhose port, and pereles pulchritud."
1
-'Miscel. Poems,' 1. 1. 9.
O plesand plant, passing in pulchritude!
| 114. Will not be voyde of mansuetud. Cf.—
"Sua meik, and full of mansuetud."
""
-Ibid., xxxvii. 1. 1.
-'Miscel. Poems,' 1. 1. II.
119. Quhat prayis have ze to be seueir. So in the MS. Laing,
again following Pinkerton-for he appears to have made no collation
of any of the poems in the Maitland Collection—prints :-
Quhat prayïs have 3e to be sweir."
Pinkerton seems not to have understood the word seueir=severe;
consequently in his attempt at emendation he has marred the sense of
the line.
121, 122.
Cf.—
Jour wofull woundit prisoneir,
All 3ouldin in zour will.
Alace! that ever a 30ldin prisoneir
Suld feill the peirles painis that I nou prove!"
-'Miscel. Poems,' xlv. ll. 23, 24.
394
NOTES TO ATTRIBUTED POEMS.
"That 30ldin am in will.”
-'Miscel. Poems,' xxi. 1. II.
""
-Son. xxxvi. 1. 7.
"I 3oldin am, and 3it am stryving still.
123. Ay preising but ceising. Cf.—
Ay preising but ceising.'
""
125, 126.
Cf.—
-'The Cherrie and the Slae,' 1. 263.
Then pruif me, and luif me,
As deidis sall deserve.
"Then do as I deserv,
Bot causles not correct.
-'Miscel. Poems,' xxxiv. ll. 44, 45.
127. And gif 3e find dissait in me.
Cf.-
'3our ee may se, in me is no deceit."
1
'Miscel. Poems,' xxxiv. 1. 19.
II.
1-8. My ladyis pulcritud, &c.
Cf.-
"I houp sa peirles pulchritud
Will not be voyde of mansuetud."
4. Mirthles I man remaine. Cf.-
'The Bankis of Helicon,' ll. 113, 114.
11, 12.
Cf.-
"Mirthfull I may remaine.”
-'The Bankis of Helicon,' 1. 152.
I flow from houp to feir,
From feir till esperance.
"Bot nou I find my esperance
Almaist ouercome with dreid."
'Miscel. Poems,' xxxvi. ll. 14, 15.
17, 18.
As in ye wind I wie,
Ay wavering with the wechtis.
Cf.-
"Bot wavers lyk the widdircok in wind."
-'Miscel. Poems,' iii. 1. 39.
24. As houp gud hap me hechtis. Cf.—
"For Hope gud hap hes hecht."
-'The Cherrie and the Slae,' 1. 512.
Hope heghts me sik a hyre. '
Miscel. Poems,' xiii. 1. 11.
“I dreid dispair, zit hope hes heght me hyre.”
-Son. xxxvi. 1. 8.
:
NOTES TO ATTRIBUTED POEMS.
395
III.
3. An vyir wy=an other man; wy, Eng. wight; A.S. wiht, a
person or thing. Cf. whit; quite distinct from wight=strong, heroic,
which is from Icel. vigr, vigorous, serviceable for war; akin to Lat.
vigeo.
IV.
1. Quhy sowld I luve bot gif I war luvit? This line should perhaps
tead :-
"
Quhy sowld I luve bot gif I war [be]luvit?"
V.
This blasphemous piece seems to have been ascribed to Mont-
gomerie by earlier writers on Scottish Poetry. Dr Laing, however,
while admitting its resemblance to parts of "the Flyting," refused it a
place in his edition. The present editor would gladly have rejected
t, had not some pieces almost as objectionable been found entitled to
a place on good authority; while others with still feebler claims (e.g.,
the two pieces immediately preceding) have been unhesitatingly ad-
mitted into the body of the poems.
At the conclusion of the extract from "The Flyting" in Sibbald's
Chronicle,' this note occurs :—
"The following strange jeu d'esprit (from the Bannatyne MS.) has
probably some connection with this correspondence." (Here follows
a very inaccurate transcript of the poem.) "To this piece the
observations which Lord Hailes makes upon Montgomery's reply [to
Ane Helandmanis Invectiue] are no less applicable: 'It is equally
illiberal and scurrilous, and shows how poor, how very poor, genius
appears when its compositions are debased to the meanest prejudices
of the meanest vulgar.'" In this verdict every one will surely be
disposed to acquiesce.
!
I
{
GLOSSARY.
THE following are the principal abbreviations used in the Glossary :-sb.
substantive; adj. adjective; pr. and pron. pronoun; dem. pr. demonstrative
pronoun; rel. pr. relative pronoun; v. verb; v. pr. t. verb, present tense;
v. pt. t. verb, past tense; v. inf. verb, infinitive; v. imp. verb, imperative;
v. pr. p. verb, present participle; v. pp. verb, past participle; v. aux. verb,
auxiliary; adv. adverb; conj. conjunction; prep. preposition; interj. interjec-
tion. J. Jamieson's Dictionary; A.S. Anglo-Saxon; O.E. Old English;
M.E. Middle English; Fr. French; O.F. Old French; Ger. German; Icel.
Icelandic.
C. The Cherrie and the Slae; F. The Flyting; S. The Sonnets; M.P.
Miscellaneous Poems; D.P. Devotional Poems; M.M. The Mindes Melodie;
A.P. Attributed Poems.
Abasd, v. pp. astonished, bewildered, | Ado, sb. business, C. 369; adoe, 611.
C. 928.
Abashd, v. pp. amazed, ashamed,
D.P. iv. 9. See note on p. 385.
Able, adj. possible, S. iii. 12; adv.
perhaps, F. 468.
Ablens, adv. perhaps, C. 1099; abill,
D. P. vi. 87.
Aboif, prep. above, C. 918; aboive,
M.P. liii. II.
Abone, adv. and prep. above, M.P. iii.
14; abune, C. 100, 323.
Abuird, adv. on board, M. P. xlviii.
140.
Abusit, v. pt. t. abused, C. 1488;
abvsit, M.P. xviii. 51.
Acquaint, v. pp. acquainted, C. 981;
acquent, S. Iviii. 8, M.P. xvii. 30;
acquent, v. inf. to become intimate,
S. xxix. 8; acquantit, pp. M.P. xviii.
44.
Acquyt, v. inf. requite, M.P. x. 43.
Adagies, sb. proverbs; saws, M. P. i. 9.
Addresse, v. prepare, F. 169.
Ader, pron. which, M. P. liii. 13.
Adoptit, adj. as sb. adopted, M.P. iv.
39.
Aduisement, sb. deliberation, C. 516.
Aduysit, v. pp. advised, warned, C.
197.
Adversar, adj. opposing; opposite,
M.P. xxx. 13.
Advyse, sb. deliberation, M.P. x. 10.
Aff, adv. off, C. 966.
Affermd affirm it, C. 1064.
Affrayit, v. pp. frightened, afraid, C.
361. Fr. effrayer.
Afore, adv. and prep. before, M.P. vi.
22; xlviii. 263.
Aft, adv. often, C. 1173.
Aganis, prep. against, Š. xvi. 2.
Agast, adj. dismayed, terrified, M.P.
vii. 39. A.S. á and gæestan.
Ago, v. pp. gone, or adv. away, M.P.
lii. 27.
Aike, sb. oak; 'the gallows,' F. 781.
| Aill, sb. ale, S. xxv. 7.
Ainis, adv. once, C. 306; ains, D.P.
iii. 16.; anes, F. 155.
398
GLOSSARY.
Airt, sb. direction, M. P. vi. 36; arte,
M.P. xliv. 21.
=
Alabast, sb. alabaster, M. P. xxxv. 52.
Alarite, F. 55. See note, p. 307.
Ald, sb. eld, antiquity, M.P. Ivii. 1.
Allace, interj. alas! C. 557.
Allane, adj. alone; myne allane
quite by myself, C. 77.
Alledgence, sb. allegation, assertion,
declaration, C. 1056. F. alléguer.
Alledgis, v. pr. t. allege, adduce,
quote, C. 1068.
Almaist, adv. almost, C. 417;
maist, C. 1128.
all-❘
Almous, sb. as adj. F. 477. M.E.
almesse.
Als, adv. also; conj. as, sæpe.
Alsweill, conj. as well, C. 698; als-
ueil, M.P. xxxiii. 46.
Alyk, adj. like, alike, S. xxvii. 5.
Amang, prep. among, F. 180; amang-|
is, C. 16.
Ambassed, adj. superfine, such as
would be worn on state occasions,
F. 170.
And, conj. if, C. 720, sæpe.
Ands and is, C. 1497.
Ane, art. and num. adj. a, one, sæpis-
sime.
Aneuch, adv. enough, C. 617; anew,.
F. 383.
Angleberries, sb. fleshy excrescences
on the feet of sheep and cattle, F.
306.
Angwische, sb. anguish, C. 307; ang
wiss, A.P. i. 109.
Anker, sb. anchor, M.P. xlviii. 90.
Annixt, adv. nearest, next, M.P. li.
29.
A per se, sb. paragon, sæpe.
Appardon, v. imp. allow, permit, F.
577.
Appeirandly, adv. apparently, C. 356.
Ar, v. pr. t. are, C. 525.
Artalzie, sb. artillery, M.P. xxviii. 4.
O.F. artiller.
Aryvit, v. pt. t. arrived, M.P. xlviii.
244.
As = as if, M.P. x. 22; x. 38.
Assay, v. inf. attempt, essay, S. xlii.
12; M.P. xlvii. 72; assayis=en-
counter, M.P. xli. 55.
Asse, sb. ashes, S. xxxi. 14; M.M. vi.
29.
Asters, sb. stars, M. P. li. 25.
astrum.
Asuir, adj. azure, M. P. li. 3.
Aswage, v. imp. assuage, C. 447.
Atains, adv. at once, M. P. iii. 30.
Lat.
Ather, conj. either, whether, M. P
xxxii. II; xlviii. 261.
Athort, prep. across, all over, F. 551;
adv. about, M. P. xxxiii. 43; abroad,
xlviii. 76.
Atomie, sb. skeleton, C. 268. See
note on p. 293.
Attemperate, adj. temperate, C. 29.
Attercop, sb. spider, F. 93; attircops,
S. v. 12. See note on p. 329.
Attowre, adv. apart, at some distance,
C. 1565.
Attrapit, v. pp. entrapped, S. lix. 6 ';
attraptit, M.P. viii. 41.
Aualk, v. pr. t. awake, M.P. xv. 45 :
imp. xliii. 1.
Auchtie, num. eighty, M.P. lviii. 8.
Auin, adj. own, M. P. vii. 15.
Auld, adj. old; ald, F. 306; auld
rest old sprain? F. 323.
-
Avant, v. inf. boast, M.P. liii. 1.
Avant, interj. avaunt! begone! M.P.
liii. 7.
Aw, sb. awe, C. 1031, 1053; au,
M.P. xxii. 44.
Aw, v. pr. t. owe, ought, C. 1273.
Awe, v. pt. t. owned, F. 76. See
note on p. 307.
Awin, adj. own, C. 919; awne, F.
406. A.S. agen.
Axtrie, sb. axis, axle, axletree, S. ii.
3. Lat. axis.
Babert, sb. larboard, M. P. xlviii. 140;
baburd, xlviii. 155. Fr. babord,
Ger. backbord.
Babling, adj. talking nonsense, prat-
ling, F. 125; sb. 630.
Bache, adj. ill-tasted, nauseous, F.
240.
Baggis, sb. gluttony, obeseness, from
the belly being crammed or bagged
with food, S. xxiii. i.
Bagie, sb. ornament, crest, badge,
S. xlviii. 14. O.E. bagy, Fr. bague.
Baiche, sb. child, creature, term of
contempt, F. 296.
Baid, v. pt. t. stayed, C. 54, 636;
suffered, M. P. xxii. 17.
Bailfull, adj. woful, sorrowful, M.P.
xliv. 19.
Baill, sb. woe, sorrow, distress, S.
lviii. 7; bailis, S. lxvi. 9; baill=
mischief, F. 778.
Bain, sb. bone, M. P. xxxvii. 15; bainis,
C. 778; bains, M.P. xxvii. 13;
bane, M.P. xxii. 32; banes, C. 442 ;
F. 464; banis, M. P. iii. 34.
Bair, v. pt. t. bore, F. 293.
:

GLOSSARY.
399
Bair, adj. bare, F. 580; M.P. xvii.
53.
Baird, sb. bard, railer, F. 750; S.
xxiv. 9.
See note on p. 309.
Bairn, sb. child, C. 407; barnis, C.
1066; bairnis, M.P. xxxii. 35; S.
69.
Baith, conj. both, C. 34.
Baith, pron. the two, C. 212; S. xxii.
3; M.P. xxii. 36; bayth, liii. 4.
Bald, adj. bold, D.P. iv. 9; adv.
fiercely, M.P. xlii. 14; baulder, C.
262.
Band, v. pt. t. bound, C. 152; F. 79;
pp. bund, S. xxxii. 4; F. 290; M. P.
xxiv. 45.
Bang, v. imp. drink off, pass round,
F. 776.
Banket, sb. banquet, feast, F. 178.
Barbles, sb. a white excrescence
which, like the pip in chickens,
grows under the tongue of calves
and hinders them from sucking, F.
303.
Barbuilziet, adj. troubled, disordered,
C. 232. Fr. barbouillé.
Barked, v. pp. clamoured, F. 690.
Barkit, adj. clotted, dirty, scabbed,
S. xxiv. 2.
Barlacheis, barlachois, M. P. xxxii. 64.
See note on p. 368.
Barmy, adj. giddy, volatile, restless,
C. 1282. A.S. beorma.
Barrat, sb. trouble, vexation, M.P.
xvi. 29; barret, strife, contention,
F. 435.
Basse, adj. base, low, S. lvii. II.
Bates, sb. bots, F. 310.
Battound, v. pt. t. beat, S. xxviii. 12.
Bautie, sb. a dog's name, S. Ixii. 8.
Baw, v. pr. t. hush, lull, F. 498.
Bawes, sb. buttocks, F. 59.
testes.
=
Lat.
Be, prep. by, C. 175, et sæpe; bee,
F. 381; with, A.P. i. 130.
Be=by the time that, M.P. xlviii. 181.
Bealing, so. suppurating tumour, boil,
M.P. xxxvii. 20.
Beanshaw, sb. horny tumour growing
out of a horse's heels, F. 304, 310.
Bearne, sb. child, M. P. xxix. 14.
A. S. bearn.
Beckes, sb. bowings, obeisances, F.
58.
Becum, v. pp. gone, S. xviii. 1.
Bedeazit, v. pt. t. stupefied, paralysed,
froze, M. P. xvii. 24.
Bedirten, v. pp. befouled, soiled, F.
345.
Been, sb. bean, F. 276.
Bees, sb. fancy, imagination, S. xxv.
8; Sing. lxviii. 11.
Befoir, adv. before, C. 472.
Beforne, adv. before, S. 1. 7; be-
forn, C. 1490.
Begouth, v. pt. t. began, M.P. xxiv.
31; xxxiii. 13.
Behauld, v. imp. behold, C. 953.
Behove, sb. behoof, M.P. xxxvi. 23;
behuve, C. IIII.
Behuifit, v. pt. t. behoved, C. 212;
behuisset, C. 281.
Beild, sb. shelter.
Beill, v. inf. suppurate, M.P. vi. 10.
Beir, v. bear, C. 406; beires, F. 641;
beiris, 646; beirs=rise, stand out,
C. 1160.
Beir, sb. as adj. bear, C. 651.
Beir, sb. song, cry, C. 8. A. S. bere.
Beis, sb. bees, C. 62.
Beis, v. 3 sing. pr. t. is, C. 568.
Beistis, sb. beasts, C. 20.
Belaw, adv. below, C. 321.
Beld, adj. bald, F. 795; M.P. i. 4.
Bellie-thraw, sb. colic, F. 309.
Bellies, sb. bellows, C. 258. A.S. bælig.
Belly-blind, sb. the person blindfolded
in the game of Blind-man's-buff, S.
lxx. 10; M.P. iii. 43.
Belt, v. whip, lash, F. 59, 761.
Belt, sb. waist, girdle, M.P. xvii. 53.
Belyve, adv. immediately, C. 1402; F.
487; S. lx. 5.
Bemes, sb. beams, S. lii. 14.
Bended, v. pt. t. bounded, sprung,
F. 471.
Bene, v. are, have, have been, M.P.
xxxv. I; xlvii. 57; bein, C. 1041.
Bene, adj. liberal, open-handed, M.P.
xiii. 31.
Bening, adj. benign, M. P. xxxiv. 2;
1. 23.
Beshitten, v. pp. befouled with excre-
ment, F. 215, 406.
Bestiall, sb. beast, M. P. xlviii. 241.
Lat. bestia.
Besydis, prep. besides, C. 410.
Betaikning, v. pr. p. betokening, F.
622.
Beughis, sb. boughs, S. v. 2; bewch,
C. 35; bewis, C. 1. A.S. bóg, bóh.
Beuryde, v. pp. betrayed, M.P. xviii.
66; beuryis, M. P. xliv. 25. M.E.
biwreyen.
Bicker, sb. goblet, cup, F. 776. Ger.
Becher.
Biddin, pp. of v. byde (q.v.) M.P.
xlvi. 14.

400
GLOSSARY.
Big, v. inf. build, F. 692; biggit, | Bluid, sẻ. blood, S. xxxvi. 9; blude
M.P. vii. 35.
Birk, sb. birch-tree, F. 436.
Birken, adj. poverty-stricken? F. 732.
See note on birk, p. 319.
Birland, v. pr. p. swilling, F. 178;
birlis carouse, S. lxvi. 11. A.S.
birlian.
Birning, sb. burning, fire, M.P. xvii.
42.
Birth, sb. produce, C. 329. A.S. beorð.
Bissat, sb. buzzard, M.P. xviii. 60;
bisset, F. 795.
Blads, sb. blains, blotches, F. 309;
large pieces; whole passages, F. 671.
Blae, adj. bluish, pallid, F. 341.
Blaide, sb. fellow, scoundrel, F. 50.
Blaidry, sb. flummery, unsubstantial
food, S. xxv. 8.
Blaise, v. inf. proclaim, extol, S.
xliv. 2.
Blait, v. inf. bleat, M.P. xxiv. 45. |
A.S. blætan; Lat. balare.
Blasphematour, sb. blasphemer, F.
637.
Blasted, v. pp. blighted, diseased, F.
559.
Blate, adj. slow, bashful, hard, C.
1213.
Blaw, v. inf. blow, C. 812; blau, S.
xii. 5; blauis, M. P. lvii. 12; blawin,
pp. C. 258. A.S. bláwan.
Blead, sb. blade, M.P. xxxii. 63.
Bleardnesse, sb. blindness, obtuseness,
F. 621.
Bleared, adj. blear-eyed, foul, F. 563.
Bleat, adj. sheepish, bashful, slow,
M. P. iii. 79. See Blate.
Bleck, sb. blackness, pollution, F.
765; spew bleck vomiter of bile
or pollution.
=
Blecke, v. imp. blacken, F. 50; blec-
kit, pp. M.P. iii. 41.
Bleid, v. bleed, S. xxvi. 9.
Bleird, adj. blear-eyed, F. 125, 750.
Bleiring, adj. causing the eyes to run,
F. 310.
Bleitand, v. pr. p. bleating, baaing
like a sheep, F. 798.
Bleittar, sb. sheep, F. 734.
Blind, sb. cheat, M. P. iii. 79.
Blink, v. glance, S. xxxv. II.
Blinkis, sb. glances, M.P. xvii. 57;
blinks, xxxv. 27.
Blislesse, adj. unhappy, F. 590.
Blissit, adj. blessed, S. vi. 2.
Block, sb. piece of timber, F. 793.
Blonkis, sb. white horses, M.P. xli.
54. A.S. blanca; Fr. blanc.
|
F. 559.
Bluiter, v. inf. blatter, blurt out, F
141.
Bluiter, sb. babbler, blundering fellow
S. xxiv. I; lxx. 10.
4
Blunt, adj. naked, shorn, stupid, F
734; sb. stupid fellow, F. 784, 789
See note on page 326.
Blyth, adj. glad, M.P. ix. 21.
Bocas, sb. Boccaccio, M.P. iii. 41
See note on p. 353.
Boch, sb. retching, F. 303.
Bocht, v. pp. bought, C. 147; pt. t
boght, M.P. xvii. 83.
Bockblood, sb. blood - vomiting, F
304.
=
Boggles, sẻ. hobgoblins, F. 661.
Bogogers, sb. bog - hogers, coarse
stockings without feet, leggings
spatterdashes, S. lxvi. 6.
Boist, v. pr. t. boast, C. 648; boste.
inf. M.P. lvii. 13.
Boistures, sb. F. 215. See note or
p. 309.
Bombill, sb. bombast, F. 105.
Bonevand, sb. hempstalk or ragwort
F. 290.
Bonnets, sb. M.P. xlviii. 98. Se
note on p. 376.
Bony, adj. beautiful, pretty, C. 1019.
M.P. xlii. 1; long, C. 928.
Bord, adj. bored, F. 793.
Bordelling, sb. frequenting brothels
debauchery, F. 606.
Bost, sh. threat, M.P. xxxvii. 11.
Bot, prep. except; conj. but; adv
only.
Botch, sb. swelling or eruptive dis
coloration of the skin; perhaps
same as boiche, plague, or pesti
lence, F. 484.
Bou, sb. bow, S. xxix. 11; bouis, S.
lv. I; M.P. xxxii. 35.
Bouand, v. pr. p. bending, M.P.
xlviii. 185.
Boud, adj. bent, curved, S. ii. 5.
Bouis, v. pr. t. bends, M.P. xxviii.
33.
Boullis, sb. globes, balls, M. P. xxxv.
52.
Bound, v. pr. t. go, am prepared.
M.P. xxxii. 30.
=
Bounds, sb. surroundings, F. 514:
boundis limits, C. 763.
Bourded, v. pt. t. jested, C. 129. Fr.
bourder.
Bourdis, sb. jokes, pleasant words,
A.P. i. 83.
GLOSSARY.
401
Bowden, v. pp. swollen, F. 559.
Bowke, sb. body, F. 341.
Bowlings, sb. bowlines, M.P. xlviii.
141.
Bowne, v. pp. bound, ready, F. 245;
given, 630; make the bowne=make
ready, get thee gone, F. 766.
Boyls, v. pr. t. causes to boil, C.
1282; M.P. xvi. 36.
Boystour, F. 655.
See note on p.
309.
Brace, sb. covering for the arm, C.
118. O.F. bracel.
Brace, v. pr. t. lace tightly, F. 498.
Brae, sb. hill-side, river-bank, C. 23.
Bragis, v. pr. t. boastest, F. 692.
Braid, adj. broad, M. P. xi. 47; xxxv.
61.
Braid, sb. rush, M.P. xxii. 11.
Braidieness, sb. recklessness, C. 1423.
Brak, v. pt. t. broke, C. 262, 1409;
breik, inf. C. 264; brek, C. 273,
778; M.P. xxxvii. 20; brecking,
M.P. iii. 34; brekking, xlviii. 1.
Brald, v. pt. t. chattered, clamoured,
M. P. xviii. 60.
Brangling, sb. throbbing, palpitating,
C. 273. Fr. branler.
Brash, sb. assault, S. xxii. 5; M.P.
xxviii. 24.
Brasht, v. pp. assaulted, made a
breach in, M. P. xxviii. 20.
Bratchart, sẻ. little brat, F. 284.
Brattill, sb. rattle, charge, attack, S.
xxii. 14.
Brawne, v. pp. cooked, F. 220.
Brayis, v. pr. t. neigh, M.P. xli. 54.
Breeis, sb. eyebrows, A. P. i. 57;
brees, M. P. xxxv. 26.
Breid, sb. breadth; on breid = in
breadth, abroad, M. P. xxxii. 49.
Breid, v. breed, S. 1. 12. A. S. brédan. |
Breikles, adj. without trousers, M.P.
liv. 3.
Breiks, sb. breeches, F. 6; breeks,
736.
Breist, sẻ. breast, S. xxxvi. 9; C.
406, 970.
=
Brek, v. rack, torture, S. xlvi. 9;
break, burst, M.P. xxxvii. 20.
Brent, adj. smooth, M.P. xxxv. 25.
Breud, v. pp. concocted, brewed, S.
xxiv. 9.
Brig, sb. bridge, F. 692.
Brint, v. pt. t. burned, M.P. xxii. 20;
xxiv. 26, &c.
Brissall, adj. brittle, M. P. xxxii. 35.
Brist, v. burst, M.P. xxiv. 77 ; S. lxix.
13; pt. t. M. P. xi. 14.
|
|
Brock, sb. badger, F. 793.
Brod, adj. brood; that has a litter, F.
179, 393.
Brods, v. pr. t. prick, goad, S. li. 8.
Brook, v. possess, enjoy, M.P. viii. 39.
Brou, sb. forehead, S. iv. 5; brouis,
M.P. xxxv. 25; brouis-eyebrows,
S. lv. I.
Broudin on, adj. fond of, eager for,
M.P. xxiv. 24; browdin in, C. 170.
Brownies, sb. F. 661. See note on
P. 324.
Broxe, sb. badgers, C. 24; pl. of
brock.
Bruik, v. possess, M.P. xvii. 72;
xxix. 36; 1. 39; bruikit, xlviii. 42.
Bruik, sb. inflamed tumour under the
arm, boil, F. 256.
Bruit, adj. brute, F. 589.
Bruklenes, sb. weakness, inconstancy,
F. 611.
Brunt, v. pp. burned, C. 407; F. 103;
S. xxxvi. 9.
Fr.
Brybour, adj. beggarly, S. xxiv. 9.
Bryrie, sb. See note on p. 348.
Buckie, v. to kiss forcibly, to hug;
perhaps, to strike, F. 487.
bouquer. Ed. 1688 has buckle.
Buckle, v. engage with, F. 154. See
note on p. 310.
Budge, v. stir, move, M.P. xxviii. 42.
Buike, sb. book, F. 112; buik, 756;
buiks, M.P. iii. 41.
Buiked, v. pp. booked, noted, C. 1134.
Buir, v. pt. t. bore, M.P. xxix. 7;
bure, S. lxi. 6.
Buists, v. pr. t. shuts up, S. xxv. 8.
| Buit, sb. boot, F. 290.
Buit, sb. profit, advantage, use, C.
351, 484; S. xxii. 10; bute, S. xlvi.
9; M.P. xi. 8. A.S. bót.
Buiting, sẻ. booty, C. 208; buitings,
M.P. xxv. 26. Icel. býti.
Buk, sb. buck, deer, M.P. xxiv. 45.
Bumbler, sb. blunderer, bungler, F.
152.
Bundman, sb. bondsman, M.P. xvii.
88.
Bunwand, sẻ. hempstalk, ragwort, F.
276.
Bur, sb. the spear-thistle, S. lxv. 9.
Burding, sb. burden, C. 329. A.S.
byrden.
Bureit, adj. as sẻ. buried, S. lxiv. 5;
v. pp. M.P. xxvii. 13.
2 C
Burgeoun, sở. bud, M.P. xlvii, I.
Fr. burgeon.
Burrio, sb. executioner, S. lxix. II;
burreaue, F. 79. Fr. bourreau.
!

402
GLOSSARY.
Burt, v. pt. t. burned, C. 165; M.P.
XXXV. 77. Lat. uro, originally
Cf. Lat. bustum, and Gr.
buro.
πῦρ.
Bus, sb. bush, C. 7, 1069; buss, C.
attired, M.P.
322; busse, F. 284.
Buskit, adj. dressed,
iii. 43; S. lxx. 10.
Busteous, adj. boisterous, M.P. xxviii.
39; bustously, adv. rudely, lii. 51.
But, prep. without; but mo= alone.
Buttrie bag, sb. flatterer, F. 790.
By, prep. beyond, past, F. 152; M.P.
xvii. 64.
By, v. buy, M.P. xl. 55; byis, S. lxii.
8. A.S. bycgan.
Byde, v. endure, C. 212; S. xxii. 14; |
bydis, M. P. xxviii. 24; byds=with-
stands, M.P. xxviii. 39; byding=
constant, firm, S. xiv. 8.
Byding, sb. dwelling, S. xxxi. 10.
Byganes, sb. past actions (always used
in a bad sense), C. 821, 1134,
I 209.
Byll, sb. boil, M.P. vi. 10.
[Bysin], sb. monster, harlot, wretch,
S. xxxiv. 14.
Bystour, F. 125. See note on page
309.
Byt, v. bite, M.P. xlvii. 7; byts, S.
lxii. 8; M.P. xxii. 32.
Bytter, sb. eater, F. 733.
Cabellein, adj. caused by the hoof of
the horse (Pegasus), A.P. i. 3.
See note on p. 390.
Cace, sb. case, C. 49, 557.
Cadger, sb. carrier, M.P. iii. 32.
Cair, v. regard, value, M.P. xxii. 9;
cair by, S. lxix. 6.
Cairfull, adj. sorrowful, C. 224; M.P.
vi. 33; xiv. 18, &c.
Cairle, sb. man, fellow, A.P. v. 9.
Cairne, sb. heap of stones, F. 401.
Cais, sb. case, C. 26.
Cald, v. pp. driven, F. 73.
Cald, sb. cold, F. 300.
Calk, sb. chalk, M.P. xlviii. 223;
calke, F. 210. Lat. calx.
Cammosed, adj. flat-nosed, F. 472.
Fr. camus.
Campillmuts, sb. compliments (?), S.
lxviii. 6.
Campstarie, adj. quarrelsome, roister-
ing, obstinate, S. lxviii. 9.
Camschoche, adj. bent, crooked, de-
formed, F. 295.
Can, v. aux. began, F. 370.
Canker, sb. festering sore, F. 312.
|
|
Cankerit, adj. eaten up with canket,
ill-conditioned, cross, C. 944.
Cannigate, F. 6, 303. See note on
P. 306.
Capitan, sb. captain, M.P. xxxiii. 6.
O.F. capitain.
Cappit, adj. peevish, saucy, F. 649;
769; M.P. x. 23; pp. crowned?
F. 624.
Caprels, sb. capers, F. 509.
Carde, sb. chart, map, M.P. xxvi. 33.
Caribald, sb. F. 523. See note on
P. 322.
Carioun, sb. dead lump, M.P. xxvii.
34.
Carle cats, sb. tom-cats, F. 670.
Carlings, sb. old women, witches, F.
145.
Carp, v. speak, discourse, F. 575;
carpe, S. xviii. 10.
Cart, sb. car, chariot, C. 176.
Cart, sb. chart, F. 461; carte, M.P.
xliv. 21; xlviii. 104.
Cartis, sb. pl. cards, S. xx. 2; carts,
F. 598.
Carvells, sb. ships, C. 1193. See
note on p. 302.
Cassin, v. pp. cast? or crushed? S.
xxxiv. 3.
Casit, v. pt. t. cast, M.P. li. 21.
Cast, v. throw, cause to fall, M.P.
xiv. 8.
Cast, sb. lot, fate, F. 340.
Castell, sb. castle, F. 100.
Casting of, v. pr. p. unwinding, F.
385.
Castis, v. pr. t. throws, is always on
the outlook for, C. 524.
Cates, sb. cats, F. 360.
Cative, adj. base, false, S. xxxiv. 6;
lx. 6; sb. M.P. iii. 8.
Cativilie, adv. meanly, wretchedly,
M.P. liv. 2.
Cauld, adj. cold, C. 437, 723, 1254;
M.P. xxi. 41. O. Northumbrian
cald; A. S. ceald.
Causles, adj. without cause, M.P. iii.
53; xxxiv. 45.
Cazard, sb. kaiser, emperor, M.P. xiv.
43; pl. iii. 40.
Cedul, sb. schedule, letter, document,
M.P. iii. 67.
Ceis, v. pr. t. cease, end, M. P. vii. 5;
ceise, C. 1368; ceist, pp. S. li. II;
pt. t. M.P. xxiv. 3.
Chafts, sb. pl. chops, cheeks, F. 97.
Chair, sb. chariot, M. P. iv. 20; xv.
58. Fr. char.
Chaist, v. pt. t. chased, S. xxvii. 14.
GLOSSARY.
403
Champ, sb. figure raised on diaper or
silk, C. 334. Fr. champ.
Chanch, sb. chance, fortune, lot, S.
xxxiv. 3.
Changers, sb. deceivers, faithless men,
S. Ixx. 5.
Chanker, sb. chancre, venereal ulcer,
F. 308.
Chapin, sb. chopin, a liquid measure
equal to about one quart, F. 463.
Charbuckle, sb. carbuncle, F. 307.
Fr. escarboucle.
Charlewaine, sb. the constellation |
Ursa Major, F. 418. See note on
P. 317.
Charmes, sb. incantations, charms, F.
384.
Charris, sb. chirpings, S. xlviii. 1.
Chaud-peece, sb. gonorrhoea, F. 308.
Fr. chaude-pisse.
Chayr, sb. chariot, S. xxxi. 6.
char.
Fr.
Cheiks, sb. cheeks, F. 307.
Cheiping, adj. peeping, chirping, S.
xlviii. I; sb. F. 774.
Cheir, sb. face, looks, air, M.P. xi.
39; xxxv. 34.
Cheir[d,]v. pt. t. blew, sounded, M.P.
xlviii. 135.
Chirlis, sb. chirrupings, S. li. 3.
Chirurgianes, sb. pl. surgeons, C. 494.
Fr. chirurgien.
Chivring, adj. quivering, shivering,
S. xlviii. 6; li. 3.
Chose, sb. choice, C. 1219. O.F.
chois.
Chuis, v. choose, D.P. viii. 18; chus,
imp. M.P. liii. 13.
Cleife, sb. key, C. 91. Fr. clef.
Cleik, v. snatch, S. xxii. 2; cleikit,
pp. raised, lifted, M.P. iii. 32.
Cleiks, sb. cramp in the legs, F. 301.
Cleine, adv. quite, entirely, C. 269.
Cleinlie, adj. pure, white, C. 113.
Cleir, adj. bright, shining, F. 382;
fair, M.P. xvii. 95.
Cleith, v. clothe, M.P. iv. 34; imp.
xxiv. 75.
Cleithing, sb. clothing, F. 191; cleth-
ing, M.P. xlviii. 31; xlix. 17.
Clene, adv. quite, M.P. xvii. 59.
Clene, adj. neat, cleanly made, M.P.
xiii. 30; pure, xxxv. 51; S. xliii. 3;
light, smart, M.P. xlviii. 109.
Clenge, v. cleanse, S. vi. 13; vii. 1;
D.P. iv. 19. A.S. clansian.
Clergie, sb. learning, C. 863. O.F.
clergie.
Clim, v. climb, C. 340; clime, C.
351; clym, 694; clims, M.P. iii.
32; clam, pt. t. M.P. xxx. 15;
clambe, S. xxviii. 8; clum, pp. C.
355, 1577; M.P. xlviii. 248.
Cloffes, sb. arses, F. 60. Icel. kloff.
Cloggit, v. pp. clogged, encumbered,
C. 64.
Clubbit, adj. club-footed, S. xxviii. 8;
clumsy, awkward, M.P. xiii. 30.
Icel. klubba.
Cluddis, sb. pl. clouds, C. 237; M.P.
li. 5; cluds, M.P. xxv. 3. A.S.
clúd.
Cocatrice, F. 472. See note on p.
320.
Coft, v. pp. bought, S. xlix. 6. Germ.
kaufen.
Chyrris, sb. chirpings, a variant of Cogh, sb. cough, F. 300.
charris, S. xlviii. 1.
Clack, sb. clatter, F. 512.
[Clacks,] v. pr. t. tattles, slanders, F.
616.
Claire, v. scold, lash, F. 46.
Claisps, sb. (1) an inflammation of the
termination of the sub-lingual gland,
which furnishes the saliva; (2) a
disease of horses, occasioned by eat-
ing bearded forage (Jam.), F. 302.
Clape, sb. clap, gonorrhoea, F. 312.
Clappit, v. pt. t. patted, fondled, S.
xxviii. 4.
1
C[lark,] sb. scholar, S. xlvi. 12; clarke
=scribe, scribbler, F. 649.
Clauering, part. adj. gossiping, fool-
ishly talking, F. 617.
Clau, v. scratch, S. xvi. 8. Icel. klá.
Cled, v. pp. clothed, clad, C. 38.
Cleeks, v. pr. t. seizes, hooks, F. 493.
Cohoobie, sb. cowboy, F. 617.
Coidzoch, sb. puny wight, F. 513.
Coissing, sb. exchanging, barter, C.
795. A.S. ceósan, to choose (Rudd).
Coist, v. cost, C. 149.
Collicke, sb. pain in the stomach or
bowels, colic, F. 300.
Combuir, v. burn up, consume, C.
970; combuire, A.P. i. 104. Lat.
comburo.
Commers, sb. gossips, F. 441.
Compair, sb. compeer, equal, S. xiii.
12; xxxiii. 11; li. 14; M.P. xxxii.
75; 1. 5.
=
Compaird, v. pp. equalled; weill com-
paird equal in all respects, M.P.
xxx. 35.
Compeir, v. appear, present one's self in
a court of justice, F. 139; compeird,
M.P. xlviii. 136. Fr. comparoir.
404
GLOSSARY.
Complene, v. complain, S. xiv. 1.
Compt, sb. account, D. P. vi. 52.
Concurre, v. join or take part in, F.
516.
Conditionate, v. pp. conditioned, dis-
posed, C. 637.
Conducted, v. pt. t. didst gather or
collect, F. 91.
Confedered, v. pp. allied, leagued, F.
792.
Conforme, adj. agreeable, resembling,
after the manner of, M.P. xli. 18.
Conjurand, v. pr. p. calling up, sum-
moning, F. 400.
Conjure, v. act upon with demoniacal
influence, F. 513, 536.
Connogh, sb. murrain, F. 300.
300. Gael.
connach.
Conqueis, sẻ. suit, conquest, S. li. 12.
Consait, sb. conceit, temper, C. 944.
Consavit, v. pp. conceived, S. 1. 7.
Consome, v. consume, A. P. i. 147.
Contempill, v. contemplate, look on,
A. P. i. II.
Contener, sb. container, S. i. 9.
Contrakis, v. pr. t. 2 sing. contractest,
C. 983.
Convert, v. be converted, turn (from
evil ways), D.P. iv. 35.
Convoy, sb. conductor, escort, C. 746.
O.F. convoier.
Convoyde, v. pp. sent, offered, M.P.
ii. 27.
Copping, adj. topping, high, S. xxvi. 2.
Cords, sb. contraction of the muscles
of the neck, F. 301.
Corpis, sb. body, C. 282; corps, S.
xvi. 6; M.P. vi. 2.
Lat. corpus.
Cost, sb. side, body, M.P. xxxvii. 15.
Lat. costa.
Costroun, sb. low-born fellow, scoun-
drel, F. 616. See note on custroun,
p. 311.
Cote, sb. coat, C. 776.
Couhorne, sb. cowhorn, S. lxii. 6.
Count, sb. reckoning, account, C.
1135.
Counterfoot, adj. hypocritical, F. 616.
Counterfutt, v. counterfeit, M. P. xxvi.
24.
Counterpane, sb. like or similar act,
S. xxviii. 7.
Coup, sb. turn, fall, A.P. ii. 28.
[Cours,] v. pr. t. cowers, S. xxxii. 3.
Courtingis, sb. curtains, M.P. li. 2.
Cout-euill, sb. the strangles, F. 301.
Cowd, v. pt. t. cropped, F. 453.
Crabe, v. incense, F. 152.
Crabit, adj. peevish, fretful, S. lxix. 10.
Crackes, v. pr. t. prates, talks, F
617; crackand, pr. p. S. lxix. 10;
M.P. xlviii. 68; cracking, M.P
xlviii. 211.
Crack[s,] sb. talk, boasting, S. Ixvii. 6.
Craig, sb. crag, C. 314; M.P. xlviii.
251; craige, C. 351.
Craig, sb. neck, F. 249, 759; S.
xxvi. 3.
Craikes, v. pr. t. clamour, screech, F.
504.
Crak, v. talk, boast, C. 653; crakis,
M.P. xliii. II.
Crampis, v. capers? rears? M.P. xli.
38.
Cran, sb. crane, F. 713.
Crap, v. pt. t. crept, S. xxxviii. 4
xlvii. 1; M.P. iv. 41; xxxii. 53.
Crau, v. crow, S. xii. 4; crauis, M. P
xli. 2; crawes, F. 337.
Credle, sb. cradle, S. 1. 3. A.S
cradol.
Creell, sb. basket, M.P. xxiv. 2;
creeles, F. 513; creill, F. 473;
M.P. iii. 32.
Creishie, adj. greasy, F. 747.
Crispe, sb. veil of cobweb lawn, C.113.
O.F. crespe.
Cristis, sb. crests, plumes, head-orna-
ments, M. P. xli. 46.
Croce, sb. cross, F. 401.
Crosse, sb. cross, M.P. xlix. 30.
note on p. 378.
See
Crouch, sb. crutch, S. lxix. 10.
Crowes, sb. witness? F. 104. See note
on p. 308.
Crowne, sb. crown, F. 246.
Croyll, sb. dwarf, F. 295.
Cruiked, adj. crooked, F. 295.
Cucker, sb. defiler, F. 735.
Cuckied, v. pt. t. of v. cackie or cuckie,
F. 87. Lat. cacare.
Cude, sb. a chrisom or face-cloth for
a child at baptism, according to the
Roman Catholic form, M.P. xvi.
33. See note on p. 360.
Cuff, sb. stroke, slap, F. 265; cuffes,
F. 128.
Cuike, sb. cook, F. 113; cuiks, M.P.
iii. 40.
Cuir, v. cure, C. 971.
Cuire, sb. care, anxiety, regard, C.
466.
Cuist, prob. cast, outcast; pp. of v. cast,
F. 13. See note on p. 306.
Culd, v. aux. could, S. xlix. 6.
Cultron, sb. meaning uncertain, F. 13;
not in Jamieson. See note on p.
306.

GLOSSARY.
405
Culzies, v. pr. t. flatters, M.P. iii. 53.
Cum, v. come, C. 420; come, pt. t.
M.P. iv. 12; cum become, M.P.
xxiii. 12; cummis, C. 211; cumd,
pp. C. 1076.
Cumber, sb. burden, F. 432. Low
Lat. cumbrus.
Cumbersume, adj. difficult, trouble-
some, burdensome, C. 340.
Cummers, sb. gossips, F. 512.
Cummersom, C. 1359. See Cumber-
i sume.
Cun, v. pr. inf. taste, C. 646.
Cunary, adj. scolding? M.P. liv. 3.
Cund, v. pp. experienced, C. 1260-
see note on p. 303; pt. t. learned,
knew, M.P. vi. 39.
Cunning, sb. rabbit, coney, C. 18.
Cuntrey, sb. country, S. xvii. 1; cun-
treyis, M.P. xliii. II; cuntrie, xliii.
31.
Cunzie, sb. coin? corner? F. 87.
Curall, sb. coral, A.P. i. 60.
Cure, sb. regard, heed, M. P. xviii. 46.
Cursoris, sb. coursers, stallions, M.P.
xli. 46.
Cuschet, sh. wood-pigeon, C. 43. A.S.
cusceote.
Custroun, sb. bastard, F. 128, 222.
Cute, sb. trifle, thing of no value, S.
xlvi. 11; M.P. xxii. 9; xlvi. 13.
II
Dablet, sb. little devil, imp. F. 379;
daiblets, F. 515.
Dae, sb. doe, C. 21.
Daffis, v. pr. t. sport, play the fool,
S. xxv. 13; daffis-art mad, F. 662.
Daft, adj. crazy, stupid, delirious, C.
369; F. 626; S. lxvi. 3.
Daggit, v. pp. soaked, crammed, S.
lxviii. II.
Daillis, sb. dales, A.P. i. 2.
Dairt, sb. dart, S. xxxix. 3; dairts,
M.P. xv. 24.
Dam, v. imp. condemn, S. liii. 14.
Damnified, v. pp. ruined, rendered
useless, F. 654.
4
Dang, v. pt. t. struck, beat, smote, C.
936, 1247; dung, pp. 1232. Icel.
dengja.
Dantond, v. pt. t. daunted, subdued, |
S. lvii. 2. O.F. danter.
Dar, v. dare, M. P. xlix. 25.
Daskand, v. pt. t. pondered, surmised, |
M.P. xlviii. 227.
Das kane, sb. singing in parts (E), C.
87.
Dauis, v. pr. t. dawns, xli. 1.
Dawing, sb. dawning, M.P. xv. 40.
Deare, F. 220. See note on p. 311.
Dearfly, adv. by force, forcibly, F.
542. A.S. deorfan.
Deasie, adj. of the daisy, M.P. xi. 41.
Debait, v. defend, D.P. vi. 64; M.P.
vii. 13; debate, F. 668;= =defend
thyself, 745.
Decairt, v. discard, reject, M. P. xxxii.
87.
Decoir, v. adorn, decorate, M.P. 1. 26;
decoird, M.P. xliii. 32; de[coirs,]
xlix. 8; decore, xxxv. 21.
Decreit, sb. decree, sentence, C. 911;
M. P. xxxii. 10; xliii. 7.
Decreit, v. decree, adjudge, C. 1324;
S. xliii. 6.
Dee, v. die, S. lix. 5; dees, M.P. xxii.
4.
Deed, sb. death, M.P. xxii. 41.
Deemde, v. pt. t. considered, F. 373.
Deës, sb. goddess, A.P. i. 89. Fr.
déesse.
Defame, sb. infamy, disgrace, S. lxiv. 6.
| Defate, v. pp. undone, defeated, C.
1255; F. 745. Fr. défaire.
Defendit, v. pp. forbidden, M.P. xxiv.
Fr. défendre.
|
|
3.
Defet, v. pp. overpowered, undone,
M.P. xlvii. 56.
Deid, sb. death, C. 290, 378, 754;
dead, M.P. xlviii. 152. A.S. death.
Deid, adj. dead, C. 525, &c.
| Deidis, sb. actions, A.P. i. 126.
Deidlie, adj. deathlike, C. 267; deidly
= deadly, mortal, C. 752; M.P.
xlvii. 56.
Deidly, adv. utterly, fatally, S. xxxviii.
14.
Deid-thraw, sb. death-struggle, C. 286.
A.S. death and threá.
Deif, adj. deaf, S. xv. 5; lxvi. 3.
Deill, v. deal, M.P. ii. II.
Deillar, sb. dealer, S. xxiv. 6.
Deir, adj. valuable, costly, S. xlix, 1.
Deir, adv. dearly, C. 426.
Deit, v. pp. died, S. xli. 14.
Deith, sb. death, C. 1587.
Deiv, v. deafen, M.P. xxxiii. 47;
deive, C. 1537.
Deleit, v. delete, strike out, M.P. 1. 6.
Denyit, v. pp. denied, C. 546; F. 262.
Depaint, v. paint, depict, portray,
M.P. li. 3I.
Depairt, sb. parting, S. xxxix, 2; M.P.
xlvii. I; departure, M.P. li. 24.
Depairt, v. part, separate, M.P. xxxix.
12; depart, xxvii. 8. Fr. départir.
Deput, sb. deputy, delegate, M.P.
xxviii. I.
406
GLOSSARY.
Desauit, v. pp. deceived, C. 539; de- | Distell, v. distil, F. 524.
saivt, pt. t. 1136.
Descriue, v. describe, F. 540.
Desie, sb. daisy, M.P. xxxix. I.
Deskant, sb. musical composition in
several parts, C. 87.
Despyte, sb. hatred, displeasure, S.
xxvii. 7;=venom, M.P. iii. 3; de-
spyt=hate, xiii. 18.
Despytes, v. pr. t. detests, scorns,
M.M. xv. 18; despytis vex, M.P.
xlvi. 25.
=
Det, sb. debt, S. xv. 5; as propper det
=as their due, M.P. lii. 32.
Detbound, v. pp. bound in honour,
duty-bound, C. 770.
Determe, v. resolve, determine, M.P.
xxxii. 13.
Deu, sb. dew, M. P. xlviii. 2.
Deues, v. pr. t. deafens, C. 671.
Deuty, sb. service, fee for service, M.P.
vi. 40.
Deuyse, v. advise, tell, say, C. 927;
F. 52, 370.
Devoir, v. imp. devour, F. 534; M.P.
xxi. 2.
Devore, sb. duty, service, F. 443. Fr.
devoir.
Dew, v. pt. t. of daw, dawned, F. 381.
Dewalling, v. pr. p. descending, C. 83.
Fr. dévaler.
Dichtis, v. pr. t. clean, scour, M.P.
xli. 34.
Diffame, sb. bad report, infamy, F.
642.
Digest, v. bear with patience, S. iii. 5.
Digest, adj. orderly, sober, M.P. 1. 21.
Dight, v. pp. dressed, F. 783.
Dimmit, part. adj. bedinimed, M.P.
xi. 25.
Ding, v. imp. strike, M.P. x. 41;
dings casts, throws violently, iii.
44.
=
Directar, adj. more suitable, more to
the purpose, C. 1383.
Diseis, sb. disease, S. xxv. 6.
Dismail, sb. melancholy, F. 315.
Dispair, sb. despair, M.P. xxviii. 1.
Dispair, v. harm, grieve, distract, M.P.
xxvii. 28; dispaird = desperate, in
despair, viii. 10.
Dispone, v. dispose, decree, M. P.
xxxiv. 36.
Dispyte, v. scorn, detest, enrage,
enrage,
annoy, F. 41; show hatred, vex,
M.P. xl. 59; C. 1221.
Dissait, sb. deceit, S. xxiv. 6; A.P. i.
127; dissaitis, M.P. xl. 7.
Dissauit, v. pp. deceived, C. 712.
|
Ditche, sb. pit, M.M. lvii. 35.
Dittay, sb. indictment, doom, F. 77.
Docht, v. pt. t. could, S. lxiv. 14;
M.P. xlviii. 132.
Dock, sb. fundament, F. 793.
Doeand, v. pr. p. acting, discharging,

F. 17.
Dois, v. pr. t. does, C. 187, sæpe.
Doit, sẻ. idiocy, F. 315.
Dolor, sb. grief, C. 1312.
Lat. dolor.
Dome, sb. doom, M.P. xxi. 52; D.P.
vi. 14;=judgment, M.P. xliv. 14.
A.S. dóm.
Doole, sb, sorrow, grief, F. 526, 781.
Doolefull, adj. doleful, F. 585.
Dornik, adj. of diaper or Tournay
cloth, C. 334. See note on p. 294.
Dortie, adj. sulky, unwilling, S. lxv.
II.
Dou, sb. dove, S. xlix. 10.
Dou, v. can, S. iii. 5. See Dow.
Douce, adj. gentle, sweet, A.P. i. 80.
Fr. doux, douce.
Douks, v. pr. t. duck, F. 505.
Doun, adv. down, C. 1527.
Dour, adj. obstinate, S. lxviii. 8.
Dout, sb. fear, apprehension, M.P.
xxii. 41.
Dow, v. pr. t. can, C. 1365; dowe,
C. 546. See note on p. 298.
Dowbill, adj. double, A.P. i. 130.
Dowk, sb. ducking, washing, F. 345.
Doyld, adj. stupid, F. 145, 743.
Doytit, adj. stupid, crazy, F. 224;
doytted, F. 36.
Draff, sb. dregs, lees, A.P. v. 6.
Draiglit, v. pp. bedraggled, S. lxvi. 7;
F. 361.
Drait, v. pt. t. of dryte, exonerare ven-
trem, cacare, F. 259. Icel. dryta,
Draught, sb. craft, artifice, shift, M.P.
vii. 13; xx. 18.
Draught raiker, sb. schemer, swindler,
F. 758.
Dred, v. pt. t. were afraid, C. 933;
pp. S. xxxviii. 14. A.S. ádrædan.
Dreich, adj. tedious, wearisome, C.
357.
Dreid, sb. dread, C. 365.
Dreidis, v. pr. t. dreads, C. 407.
Dreigh, adj. tedious, slow, sluggish,
M.P. xxxii. 33.
Drest, v. pp. drubbed, chastised, F.
748.
Drest, v. pp. prepared, M.M. lvii.
35.
Dridland, v. pr. p. acting under the
influence of a diarrhoea, F. 17.
GLOSSARY.
407
I
22.
Drie, v. endure, suffer, M.P. vii. 1; | Effairs, sb. affairs, concerns, M.P. ii.
A.P. i. 148; dry, M.P. xvi. 5.
Driftis, sb. off-puttings, procrastina-
tion, C. 670.
Dring, sb. slave, niggard, F. 796.
Drit, F. 370. See Dryt.
Droigh, sb. pigmy, dwarf, F. 70.
Drouth, sb. drought, thirst, C. 1375;
F. 420; drowth, C. 300, 445.
A.S. drugače.
Dryde, v. pp. dried, F. 80.
Dryt, v. cacare, F. 754.
Dryves, v. pr. t. is dragged, drags,
С. 1169.
Dubes, sb. pl. pools, F. 361; dubs,
1 505.
Duchtie, adj. doughty, valiant, C.
1275; duchtiest, M.P. iii. 44. A.S.
・ dyhtig.
Duddes, sb. clothes, rags, F. 345.
Duik, sb. duck, F. 110, duiks, 505;
M.P. iii. 44.
Duilfull, adj. doleful, sad, S. xxxi. 9;
M.P. xxiv. 68.
Duill, sb. grief, sorrow, M.P. xvi. 5;
xlvii. 34.
Dulce, adj. sweet, M.P. xvii. 57.
Duleweid, sb. sorrow's mantle, mourn-
ing, S. 59, title.
1
Dum, adj. dumb, mute, C. 820.
Dume, sb. doom, destiny, C. 1315;
M. P. xxiv. 68.
Dunt, v. thump, beat, F. 789.
Dur, sb. door, S. lxv. II; duris, D.P.
vi. 2.
Dure, adj. harsh, obstinate, severe,
F. 525.
Duyn, v. waste away, S. xlvii. 12;
M.P. xv. 31; duyne, S. lviii. 2;
dwynis, C. 753; M.P. duyns, xxii.
! 4. A.S. dwinan.
Dyk, sb. turf wall, A.P. v. 11.
Dyte, v. compose, dictate, F. 36; C.
911. Lat. dictare.
Dytements, sb. descriptions, F. 699.
Dytings, sb. writings, compositions, F.
224.
Dyuour, sb. bankrupt, F. 169; dyvours,
F. 36. Fr. devoir.
Eare, adv. early, in the morning,
M.M. xci. 21.
Earis, sb. ears, S. xxxviii. 2.
Ebane, sb. ebony, S. lv. 1. Fr. ébène.
Echone each one, S. lvi. 5; M.P.
xli. 28.
Eclipis, sb. eclipse, M.P. li. 24.
Ee, sb. eye, S. i. 5, xxxviii. 1; ees,
M.P. xix. 15. See Ei.
|
Effeirs, v. pr. t. belongs, corresponds,
F. 573.
Effray, v. frighten, scare, M.P. xvii.
84.
Eft, adv. aft, M.P. xlviii. 100.
Efter, prep. after, C. 427; eftir, M.P.
xx. 3.
Eftirnone, sb. afternoon, M.P. xxvii.
17.
Eftirward, adv. afterwards, C. 420.
Ei, sb. eye, M.P. li. 21; eie, C. 184;
ein, 228; eyis, 579; eies, 858.
A.S. eáge.
Eik, v. augment, increase, C. 772;
eikand, F. 334. A.S. écan.
Eik, adv. likewise, ane eik-alike, or
on a par? or perhaps eik=an ad-
dition; all things combine to add
to one's misery, S. xxv. 7; M.P.
xxxiv. 16.
Eir, sb. ear, C. 86; eirs, 864; eiris,
Ś. vii. 13.
Eird, sb. earth, C. 106; M.P. xlvi.
32; eirth, S. iii. 1.
A.S. eorde;
Ger. erde.
Eis, sb. ease, C. 470.
Eit, v. eat, C. 640; eitand, pr. p. F.
798; eitis, M. P. v. 12.
| Eit, adj. made of oatmeal, S. xxv. 7.
Eith, adj. easy, M.P. xlviii. 260.
Elevat, v. pp. elevated, M. P. li. 14.
Ell, sb. a constellation, F. 419.
See
note on p. 317.
Ellis, adv. already, C. 663.
Elrich, adj. demoniac, unearthly, F.
281; elrish, M. P. viii. 29.
Els, adv. already, C. 1491; M.P.
xlvii. 7; = else, xxvi. 4.
Embrayis, v. embrace, A. P. i. 102.
Empashed, v. pt. t. prevented, hin-
dered, C. 808. Fr. empêcher.
Enteere, adj. entire, complete, M.M.
xix. 39.
Enterprise, v. to attempt, C. 456.
Erse, sb. the buttocks, F. II, 751.
A.S. ærs.
Erthlie, adj. earthly, M.P. 1. 3.
Esheu, v. eschew, D.P. i. 4; esheud,
S. xxiv. II.
Esperance, sb. hope, S. xlii. 8; M.P.
xxxvi. 14. Fr. espérance.
Espye, v. see, M.P. xxxiv. 21.
Estait, sb. condition, M. P. xxxix. 35.
Estate, sb. case, business, condition,
position, C. 1211.
Estimat, v. pp. estimated, valued,
M.P. li. 16.
408
GLOSSARY.
Ethnik, sb. pagan, heathen, M.P.
lvii. I.
Euin, v. compare, S. lxii. 14.
Except, v. accept, C. 1002.
Exemed, v. pp. exempted, M.P. xvii.
59.
Experimented, v. pp. experienced,
tried, C. 1044.
Facund, adj. eloquent, M.P. xxxiii.
44. Lat. facundus.
Fader, sb. father, M. P. liii. 12.
Faes, sb. foes, C. 1255; F. 211.
Faid, sb. scum, taint, F. 739.
Faid, v. fade, S. xiii. 5; M. P. xxxii. 2.
Fald, v. bend, succumb. C. 1256; F.
762. A.S. fealdan.
Falling-euill, sb. epilepsy, F. 305.
Falls, v. pr. t. happens, C. 1034; fall,
F. 749.
Fals, adj. false, S. xiv. 2.
Falset, sb. falsehood, F. 78; S. iii. 2.
Famenene, sb. woman, women, M.P.
lii. 25.
Famphar, sb. flourish of trumpets,
blast, M.P. xliii. 40.
Fan, v. fawn, M.P. x. 42. Icel. fagna.
Fand, v. pt. t. found, C. 1256; F. 78;
S. viii. 3 fund, pp. C. 1363.
Fane, v. feign, dissemble, M.P. iv. 44.
Fane, adj. fond, S. xxviii. 2; glad, fain,
xlvi. 14; eager, M.P. xviii. 34.
Fane, adv. gladly, S. xxxvi. 1.
Fang, v. catch, secure, obtain, M.P.
xviii. 34. Ger. fangen.
Fanphar, sb. flourish of trumpets, S.
liv. 6.
Fantasie, sb. fancy, M.P. vi. 19.
Far, adj. far off, distant, M.P. xxxii.
38.
Farder, adj. farther, F. 709.
Fasche, v. pr. t. are weary or tired of,
C. 597. Fr. se fâcher.
Faschious, adj. troublesome, C. 631.
Faschter, adj. more troubled, or per-
plexed, C. 296.
Fash, v. trouble, be troubled, C. 1435;
care, heed, D.P. iii. 13.
Fashion, sb. way, means, C. 1363.
Fashrie, sb. trouble, S. v. 3.
Fasion, sb. style of dress, M.P. xlviii.
22.
Fattis, sb. vats, M.P. xlviii. 99.
Fauld, v. bend, fold, M.P. li. 35.
Fault, sb. lack, want, F. 218, 561.
Fr. faute.
Faun, v. fawn, S. xxviii, 3; fannis,
M.P. xxxi. 4. See Fan.
Fauourlesse, adj. ill-favoured. F. 618.
Faynd, adj. insincere, M.P. x. 46.
Fayne, v. pr. t. feign, M.P. xix. 9.
Fayne, adj. fain, eager, C. 640.
Fazarts, sb. dastards, C. 377; fai3-
ardis, 632. Icel. fasa.
Fead, sb. enmity, S. Ixiv. 13; Ixix. 6.;
feed, xxxiii. 4; feid, xix. 11; lx.
4; M.P. xx. 9.
Feaming, adj. foaming, raging, F. 521.
Fearcie, sb. leprosy, F. 314.
Feard, adj. frightened, timid, F. 788.
Feavers, sb. fevers, F. 314.
Feck, sb. value, importance, pith, C.
631.
Feckles, adj. weak, feeble, worthless,
S. xix. 4; M.P. xxiv. 37; feckless,
C. 1548; fecklesse, F. 69, 610;
fekles, S. lxiv. 13; M.P. xxxii. 15.
| Fedrit, part. adj. feathered, M.P. xviii.
53.
Fedrum, sb. feathers, plumage, S. xiii.
9. See note on p. 333..
Feght, v. fight, S. Ixviii. 3; M.P.
xxiii. 26; feghts, vii. 21.
Ger.
fechten.
Feiblit, part. adj. enfeebled, C. 226.
Feicht, v. fight, C. 453. See Feght.
Feil, sb. knowledge, sense, C. 869,
1316.
Feild, v. feel, know (with excrescent
d), M.P. xxix. 17.
Feild, sb. field, M. P. xxiii. 26; feildis,
M.P. xli. 41.
Feinzed, adj. feigned, F. 83; M.P.
iii. 6.
Feir, sb. mate, A.P. i. 56.
Feir, sb. fear, C. 360; S. xxxiv. 10.
Feir, v. fear, C. 511, 1286; feird, pt.
t., 932; feirs, pr. t. S. xxxi. 1.
Feirie-farye, sb. bustle, confusion, C.
252.
| Fell, adv. very, M.P. xxii. 10.
Fellon, adj. great, numerous, F. 208;
adv. 259; fellon fine very fine,
M.P. lii. 44.
Fels, v. lays down, kills, F. 305.
Felt, sb. the stone, F. 313.
Fenzies, v. pr. t. feigns, F. 685; fen-
3eing, M.P. xlii. 8; fen3it, F. 608.
Ferlies, v. wonders, C. 846.
Ferly, sb. wonder, D.P. vi. 45; fer-
leis, C. 122. A.S. faerlic.
Fersie, sb. leprosy, F. 305.
Feynd, sb. fiend, S. lxiii. 7; feyndis,
M.P. liii. 6.
Fidgeing, v. pr. p. fidgeting, restless,
F. 186.
Fidland, v. pr. p. trifling (figure drawn
from the violin), F. 18.
}

GLOSSARY.
409
Fikand, v. pr. p. itching, restless, F.
187.
Filde, v. pt. t. polluted thyself, cac-
avit, F. 76.
Fill, adj. foul, dirty? or v. fill? fill
knag, perhaps fill the cup, drunkard,
F. 790.
Findling, sb. foundling, F. 408.
Flait, v. pt. t. didst scold, F. 263,
739.
Flap, sb. slap, M.P. iv. 48.
Flatlings, adv. flatly, F. III.
Fleame, sb. phlegm, F. 236.
Fleand, v. pr. p. flying, Č. 461.
Fleat, v. pt. t. scolded, M.P. iii. 81.
Flees, sb. flies, F. 314.
Fleid, v. pp. frightened, C. 596.
Fley.
See
Fleit, v. inf. flow, M.P. xxxv. 8.
Fley, v. to frighten, F. 211; fleyd, F.
781.
Flicht, sb. flight, C. 221.
Flings, v. pr. t. strikest about, strug-
glest, M.P. vii. 20.
Flirdome, sb. the buttocks, F. 90.
Flire, v. look surly, show temper;
also whimper, F. 188.
Flitt, v. leave, change one's quarters,
M.P. xxxii. 58; flittis = slip, M.P.
xli. 51.
Florish, sb. blossom, M.P. xvii. 58.
Florisht, adj. flowery, M.P. xix. 3.
Flour, sb. flower; flouris, C. 32. Lat.
flos.
Flowre, v. floor; flowre the pin=
gambler, F. 738.
Floyt, sb. flattery, ribaldry, F. 31;
flatterer, deceiver (J.)
Fluid, sb. flood, M.P. xxxvii. 4; A.P.
ii. 5.
Fluike, sb. flounder, F. III.
Fluiks, sb. barbs, M.P. xxviii. 58.
Flure, sb. floor, F. III.
Flurischit, v. pp. filled with blossom,
C. 32.
Fluxes, sb. diarrhoea, F. 313.
Flype, v. turn inside out, F. 490.
Flyring, v. pr. p. sporting, leering,
F. 490.
Flyte, v. scold, C. 794; F. 38; S.
lxiii. 7.
Flyting, sb. scolding, contention, S.
xix. 4.
Flytter, sb. scolder, F. 733.
Foir, adv. fore, M. P. xlviii. 100.
Fole, sb. foal, S. viii. 3; the fleing
fole=Pegasus.
Folish, adj. foolish, M.P. xv. 9.
Fone, sb. foes, M.P. xli. 36.
Forbears, sb. ancestors, M.P. xlviii.
213.
Forbeir, v. avoid, F. 676; forbuir=
let alone, 65.
Ford=for it, F. 250.
Forder, adj. fore, F. 703.
Fordullit, adj. stupid, dull, S. xi. 7.
Fordwart, adv. forward, C. 413.
Forfaire, v. abuse, F. 48.
Forfairne, adj. forlorn, destitute, F.
408.
Forger, sb. smith, worker in metals,
M.P. xlii. 13.
=
Forleit, v. forsake, desert, M.P. 1. 30;
forleitit forsaken, A. P. i. III.
Formaist, adj. foremost, C. 682; for-
mest, S. xxxviii. 6.
Formels, sb. females of birds of prey,
M.P. xviii. 38.
Fornent, prep. opposite to, M.P. xlviii.
58.
Forss, sb. force, vehemence, C. 1370.
Forsuith, adv. certainly, S. xxiv. 14;
A. P. i. 15.
Forthink, v. grieve over, repent of,
M.P. xl. 43.
For thy, conj. therefore, M.P. lii.
28.
Fortun, adv. perchance, haply, M.P.
v. 56.
Forzet, v. forget, S. lxv. 7; pt. t. M.P.
xxiv. 12; imp. xxxix. 13; pp. C.
509; forzetting, C. 223.
Foster, sb. fosterling, foster child, F.
481.
Foule, sb. fowl, C. 460; foullis, M.P.
xxxii. 38; fowles, F. 709.
Foull, sb. evil, C. 629; foull fall=ill
betide.
Foull, adj. muddy, dirty, C. 448.
Foulmart, sb. polecat, F. 69; fow-
mart, C. 22; F. 367.
Foulsome, adj. nauseous, filthy, F.
479.
Fousome, adj. obscene, offensive, F.
573.
Foure, num. four, C. 1004.
Fow, adj. tipsy, drunk, F. 177, 743.
Foxis taill, M.P. iv. 48. See note on
P. 335.
Fra, prep. from; fra hand = imme-
diately, F. 80; S. iv. 4; fra tym,
xxii. 12.
Fra, adv and conj. as soon as, when,
F. 456, 482; M.P. i. 6; S. lxii. 7.
Frak, adj. ready, fractious, smart, C.
947.
Fraughtit, v. pt. t. freighted, M.P.
xlviii. 90.
410
GLOSSARY.
Frawart, adj. contradictory, perverse,
F. 521.
Fray, v. frighten, M.P. xxviii. 18;
frayis, D.P. vi. 47. Fr. effrayer.
Fray, sb. fear, D.P. iv. 70.
Fre, adj. free, C. 1030; frie, M.P.
xiii. I.
Freet, sb. superstition, omen, M.P.
xxiv. 37; S. xxviii. 6; freits, C.
1286.
Freik, sb. man, M.P. xiii. 39; freikis,
M.P. xli. 41; freikes, F. 305.
Fremmd, adj. strange, foreign, distant,
M.P. xxix. 38; fremmit, S. lxv. 14.
Ger. fremd.
Fremmitnes, sb. estrangement, deser-
tion, M.P. v. 13.
Frencie, sb. madness, insanity, F. 313.
Frenesie, sb. frenzy, love - madness,
M.P. xvii. 66.
Frig, v. rub, F. 724. Lat. fricare.
Fristed, v. pp. trusted, got on credit,
M.P. v. 45.
Fro, prep. from, S. lxviii. 2.
Frunt, sb. face, F. 784.
Fuf, sb. wind-bag, M.P. liv. I.
Fuid, sb. food, S. xlvii. 11.
Fuil-haist, sb. foolish haste, C. 417.
Fule, sb. fool, C. 449; M.P. lii. 37;
fulis, C. 846, 1283; fuillis, C. 188.
Fr. fou, fol.
Fulische, adj. foolish, C. 194.
Full, adv. very, M.P. xxxvi. 4.
Fulsom, adj. offensive, obscene, F.
31.
Fundred, adj. lame, benumbed, F. 53.
Fundring, v. pr. p. staggering, M.P.
xiv. 7.
Furder, adv. further, C. 1121.
Furderit, v. pt. t. furthered, advanced,
succeeded, C. 734; furdered, pp.
1429. A.S. fyrðian, fyrðran.
Fure, pt. t. of v. fare, went, flew,
M.P. xviii. 38.
Furthsheu, v. pt. t. showed forth, M.P.
xxvii. 5.
Fut, sb. foot, S. xxix. 4; M.P. iii. 60;
futt, M.P. lvi. 1; fute, C. 554.
Fyerie edgit, adj. fiery-edged, C. 947.
Fykand, v. pr. p. itching, restless, F.
18.
Fyke, sb. itch, scab, F. 313.
Fyle, v. contaminate, sully, defile, F.
574; fyling, F. 578; fyld con-
victed, F. 753.
Fyr, sb. fire, S. xl. 13. A.S. fyr.
Fyre, v. burn, S. xxxi. 1; fyrit, C. 172.
Fyreflaughtes, sb. lightnings, F. 420;
fyreflaughts, 533.
Ga, v. go, M.P. xl. 18; gae, F. 415
gaes, 206; gaed, 588.
Gade, sb. old horse, jade, F. 739.
Gaipe, v. gape, look big, F. 94;=
gape, 399.
Gaird, v. watch, ascertain, C. 1351.
Gaislings, sh. goslings, F. 504.
Gaist, sb. ghost, F. 291; gaists, 661.
Gaite, sb. way, C. 339; gait, M.P
xlviii. 164; gaites, F. 588.
Gaituard, adv. in the direction or way
of, M.P. xxiv. 58.
Galzard, adj. lively, sprightly, spruce
M.P. xiii. 25.
Gane, sb. reward, gain; in M.P. xviii
39, a gane is better taken as on
word, agane again.
Gang, v. go, C. 535; M.P. xxi. 30
xlvii. 8; D.P. vi. 32; gangand, A.P
V. I.
Gangrell, sb. wanderer, vagabond, F
772.
Ganting, sb. yawning, gaping, F. 346
A.S. gánian.
Gar, v. make, force, S. lxvii. 16; garis
S. iv. 7; garris, S. v. 13; gart, F. 36
Gat, v. pt. t. got, C. 214, 639.
Gawd, v. pp. galled, vexed, C. 1205
O.F. galler.
Gawes, sb. scars, F. 572.
Geat, sb. way, quarter, M.P. xxxiv. 21
See Gaite.
Geck, sb. gibe, taunt, C. 1085.
Gees, sb. fits of obstinacy, sulkiness
S. xxv. 9.
Geilzie, adj. pleasant, agreeable? M.P
liv. 2.
Geir, sb. dress, attire, M.P. xiii. 25
=goods, C. 1291;=money, price
S. xlix. 5.
Geise, sb. geese, F. 504.
Gent, adj. neat, elegant, M.P. xxxv
62.
Gerse, sb. grass, F. 218.
Ges, v. guess, S. xxiii. 2; gesse, F
291.
Gesse, sb. guess, C. 465; M.P. iii. 16.
Gettible, adj. procurable, S. xlix. 5.
Gif, conj. if, C. 144, 149, &c.
Gimmer, sb. a two-year old ewe, F
780.
Ging, sh. journey, S. Ixix. 2.
Gingling, sb. jingling, p. 57, 1. 6.
Girds, sb. hoops, belts, F. 572.
Girking, sb. jerkin, kind of hawk
M.P. xviii. 25. See note on p. 362
Glaide, adj. glad, F. 37; glade, M.P
vii. 39; glaid, viii. 26.
Glaids, sb. kites, gledes, F. 331.
GLOSSARY.
4II
Glaiker, sb. wanton or giddy person,
F. 751.
Glaikit, sb. giddy, M.P. x. 18.
Gled, v. gladden, S. lxix. 2.
Gled, sb. kite, M. P. xviii. 50.
Gleits, v. pr. t. glitters, C. 1288;
gleitis, M.P. v. 42. Icel. glita.
Glengore, sb. gonorrhoea, F. 297.
Gleyar, sb. squinter, F. 788.
Gleyd, adj. squint-eyed, F. 751, 772.
Glor, v. glory, F. 142; gloirs, M.P.
xlix. 6.
Glore, sb. glory, C. 1596.
Glorifluikims, sb. demonstrations of
flattery, praises, M.P. ii. 26.
Glowring, v. pr. p. staring, F. 399.
Gob, sb. mouth, F. 754.
God-bairne, sb. god-child, F. 517;
godbarne gift gift given by a spon-
sor, M.P. iv. 24.
=
Gok, sb. fool, S. lxx. 9.
Goked, adj. stupid, foolish, M.P.
xviii. 50; gooked, F. 37, 788;
gouked, 771; gowked, F. 88.
Goosheid, sb. stupid head, M.P. x. 5.
Gotten, v. pp. got, F. 390.
Gouans, sb. wild daisies, M.P. xli.
IO.
Gowke, sb. fool, F. 23, 139.
Gowly, sb. large knife, A.P. v. 12;
gowlly, v. 13; guly, v. 18.
Gradzan, sb. burnt corn, M.P. liv. 5.
Graif, sb. grave, C. 391, 896. A.S.
grafan.
Graip, v. pr. t. grope, catch, F. 497.
Graithed, v. pp. dressed, arrayed, F.
278.
Graithlie, adv. finely, perfectly, C.
327.
Gramercy, thanks, C. 1085. Fr.
grand merci.
Grane, sb. groan, S. xxxvii. 4;
grainis, C. 308; grains, M.P. xxx.
20.
Grauelled, v. pp. suffering from gravel,
F. 716.
Gredynes, sb. greed, S. iii. 3.
Greet, v. cry, weep, M.P. xxvii. 19;
greets, F. 497; greits, F. 346;
greitand, 798.
Grein, adj. green, C. 229; grene, S.
li. I;=fresh, M.P. xliv. 23.
Grein, v. long for, S. xxv. 2; greine,
F. 94; grene, M.P. xxxii. 5; xlviii.
164. A.S. gyrnan; Eng. yearn.
Grening, sb. yearning, longing, object
of desire, Č. 508.
Grie, sẻ. prize, victory, pre-eminence,
A. P. i. 18.
Grins, sb. traps, gins, M.M. Ivii. 32.
Grip, sb. hold, C. 562; grippe, M.P.
i. 6; grippis=pangs, M.P. xlvii. 8.
Grip, v. seize, F. 497.
Grit, adj. great, S. xi. 14; griter, S.
xii. 6; gritter, xii. 2; greit, M. P. x. II.
Gromes, sb. men, S. xlv. 6; groomes,
F. 346; groomis, warriors, M.P.
xli. 53.
Grone, v. groan, M.P. xli. 20, 52.
Grote, sb. silver piece, value 4d., first
issued in the time of Edward III.,
S. xxi. 2.
Grou, v. grow, M.P. i. 5; greu, pt. t.
xv. 54; grouis, xxviii. 38; groune,
pp. xlviii. 269; groues, S. xlviii. 7.
Grou, v. shiver, shudder, S. iv. 7.
Grund, sb. ground, C. 1362; M.P.
xli. 21.
Grunzie, sb. snout, mouth, F. 88, 794.
Gryses, sb. pig's, F. 88.
Guckis, sb. pl. fools; also pr. t. of v.
guck, to trifle, C. 701.
Gudeman, sb. master, C. 1085.
Gueit (meaning unknown), M.P. xlviii.
99.
Guid, adj. good, C. 457; gud, 512;
M.P. 1. 43, 49; gude, C. 617.
Guids, sb. goods, S. xv. I.
Guisserne, sb. gizzard, F. 331.
Gume, adj. ill-natured, F. 739.
Gustless, adj. insipid, distasteful, C.
876. Lat. gustare.
Gut, sb. gout, F. 297.
Guts, sb. stomach, bowels, F. 243;
guttis, M.P. v. II.
Gydis, sb. guides, C. 689.
Gydis, v. pr. t. guides, C. 465.
Gylt, sb. guilt, S. xxxv. 13.
Gyr-carlings, sẻ. witches, hell-hounds,
F. 661.
Gyse, sb. disguise, mask, F. 50;
guyse = fashion, custom, M.P.
xxxviii. II.
Haffats, sb. temples, sides of the head,
M.P. xxxv. 20. A.S. healfheafod.
Haif, sb. possession, having, M.P.
xlii. II.
Haif, v. have, C. 148; M.P. iv. 37.
Hail, sb. whole; al hail=entirely,
M.P. xlviii. 45; haill, adv. F. 433.
Haillis, v. pr. t. hauls, M.P. xlviii.
100; haill, xlviii. 138.
Hailly, adv. wholly, M.P. xxxviii. 18.
Hailsum, adj. wholesome, C. 42;
hailsomer, 1381.
Hair, sb. hare, C. 15; hairis, M.P.
xli. 21.
412
GLOSSARY.
Hairne, adj. made of hair, F. 462.
Hairtlie, adv. heartily, M.P. xxxiii. 41.
Hairts, sb. hearts, S. xx. 4; harte, S.
lix. 4.
Hald, v. hold, C. 533.
Hald, sb. hold, C. 1190.
Hale, adj. whole, vigorous, C. 1474.
Half, sb. part, F. 433.
Halk, sb. hawk, M.P. xviii. 69.
Halland shaker, sb. sturdy beggar, F.
758.
Hals, sb. neck, M.P. xxvii. 15; halse,
Xxxv. 45.
Haly, adj. holy, C. 1586.
Hame, sb. home, C. 206; M.P. xliii.
8;=back, A.P. i. 131. A.S. hám.
Handling, sʊ. meddling, stealing, F.
590.
Handlit, v. pp. treated, S. xvii. 7.
Handsell, sh. first use, first gift, luck,
F. 328.
Handsenzie, sb. standard, mark, S.
lix. 8.
Handstaff, sb. Orion's sword, F. 419.
See note on p. 317.
Hangrell, sb. an implement in the
stable on which bridles were hung;
66
a gallows," F. 772.
Hank and buick (meaning unknown),
M.P. xlviii. 158.
Hantit, v. pt. t. frequented, gambolled,
C. 28; han[ts,] S. li. 1; hant, v.
inf. M.P. xlviii. 59.
Hap, sb. luck, chance, C. 512; M.P.
xxi. 29; happe, xxii. 26.
Hap, v. hop, C. 952; happing, C. 17.
A.S. hoppian.
Hap, v. cover, C. 868. Icel. hiupr.
Hapning, adj. sparse, rare, here and
there, F. 560.
Har, adj. cold, keen, bitter, M.P. iii.
61.
Hard, v. pp. heard, C. 532.
Hardint, part. adj. hardened, D.P.
iv. 59.
Hardlie, adv. boldly, C. 598.
Harmes, sb. wounds, sufferings, S.
xxxvi. IO.
Harnis, sb. brains, C. 230; harns, F.
553. Ger. hirn.
Harrand, sb. snarling, M.P. iii. 61.
Hart-ill, sb. heart-ache, heart-disease,
F. 302.
Hast, sb. haste, C. 1281, 1283.
Hast, v. imp. hasten, C. 1278.
Hat, v. pt. t. hit, M.P. xxxiii. 17.
Hatches (hotches), v. pr. t. moves
jerkingly, F. 395.
Hawing, sb. behaviour, C. 125.
Hawes, sb. berries of the hawthorn, F.
633. See note on p. 314.
He, adv. high, M.P. xlviii. 7.
Heal, adj. sound, whole, C. 897.
Heall, sb. health, S. Iviii. 14; heill
=weal, C. 538.
Hearts, sb. dear friends, C. 1338.
Hecht, v. pp. promised, C. 512, pt. t.
897. A.S. hátan.
Hechts, sb. promises, C. 1132, 1284.
Hedes, sb. heads, S. xi. 7.
Heep, v. lay up, store, S. xxxiv. 5.
Heep, sb. pile, S. liii. 4.
Heft, sb. haft, handle, M.P. xxxii. 63.
Heght, v. pt. t. promised, S. xiv. 7;
pp. S. xxxvi. 8; pr. t. make advances
to, M.P. xlvii. 88.
Heich, adj. high, C. 358, adv. 379;
heiche, adv. A.P. v. 2; hich, adj.
C. 341.
Heid, sb. head, C. 288, 476; heide,
F. 44; heeds, M.P. vi. 16; heidis,
C. 37. A.S. heafod.
Heill, v. heal, C. 477.
Heilles, sb. heels, F. 106.
Heir, v. hear, C. 576; F. 72; M.P.
xlii. II.
Heir, adv. here, S. xxi. 10; M.P.
xlviii. 271; xvii. 62.
Heit, adj. hot, C. 437; het, C. 1253.
Heit, sʊ. heat, C. 1376.
Heive, v. heave, M.P. iv. 22.
Helth, sb. health, C. 1584. A.S.
hæld.
Helthsum, adj. healthful, cheery, S.
lxi. II.
Hemp, sb. hemp, a halter, "the gal-
lows," S. lxv. 7.
Herryit, v. pp. harried, plundered, S.
xxi. IO. A.S. hergian.
Hes, v. pr. t. has, passim.
Heud, adj. favoured, S. xxiv. 2.
Hevynes, sb. heaviness, S. xxxiv. 5.
Hew, sb. hue, C. 265; heuis, S. xiii.
10; heu, M.P. xxvii. 5.
Hewch, sb. crag, C. 37. Teut. hauha.
Hewis, v. pr. t. hews, C. 183. A.S.
heáwan.
Hich, adj. high, C. 359; hichar, 159.
Hicht, sb. height, C. 221; on hicht
=on high.
Hidder, adv. hither, C. 1338.
Hidlingis, sb. lurking - places, secret
places, C. 764.
Hie, adv. high, C. 183; M.P. 1. 1.
Hie, adj. high, M.P. xxvii. 10.
Hing, v. hang, C. 57; hings, S. ii. 9.
Hink, sb. cause of suspense or hesita-
tion, obstacle, M.P. xl. 47.
GLOSSARY.
413
Hips, sb. fruit of the dog-rose, F.
| 336.
Hir, pr. her, passim.
Hittis, sb. strokes, M.P. xli. 49.
Ho, sb. ceasing, M.P. xxxiv. 13.
Hobland, v. pr. p. hobbling, F. 279;
hobles, 395.
Hogh, sb. hough, the joint in the hind
leg of a quadruped between the
knee and the fetlock; the lower
part of the thigh, F. 704 (Johnson).
Hoild, v. pp. holed, pierced, M.P. vi.
16.
Hoill, sb. hole, S. xxii. 11; hoillis,
M.P. liii. 9.
Hoist, sb. cough, F. 302.
Holene, sb. holly, S. li. I.
Holit, v. pp. pierced, burnt into holes,
C. 975. A.S. holian.
Iood-piks, sb. misers, penurious
wretches, F. 213; hoodpyk, 737.
Hornes, sb. a constellation, F. 419.
See note on p. 317.
Horse, sb. coll. horses, F. 402.
Horst, v. pp. mounted on horseback;
highlie horst on his high horse,
elevated, C. 1394.
Hotching, v. pr. p. jerking, moving
up
and down, S. lxvi. 6. The ref-
The ref-
erence is to the motion of the body
in digging.
Houp, sb. hope, C. 464.
Houp, v. hope, M.P. li. 43; houp-
ing, C. 279.
Hoveand, v. pr. p. rising, ascending,
F. 279. A.S. hebban, pt. t. hóf.
How, sb. hollow, F. 74, 395; houis,
M.P. xxxii. 33. AS. hol.
Howbeit, conj. although, however
much, F. 344.
Howlets, sb. owls, F. 195; howlat,
273, 428.
Howlring, adj. howling, F. 195.
Hownesse, so. hollowness, F. 417.
Howre, sb. harlot, F. 239.
Hoy, interj. away! off! F. 121.
Hoyde, v. pp. driven, chased, D.P.
vi. 70.
Hude, sb. hood, C. 867.
Huikis, sʊ. hooks, M.P. xxviii. 57;
huiks, xl. 6; xlviii. 87.
Huikis, v. pr. t. consider, regard, C.
419; huiks, M. P. iii. 37; huiked,
C. 1132. A.S. hogan. See note
on p. 302.
Huikit, adj. hooked, curved, M.P.
vi. 16.
Huill, sb. covering, skin, M.P. xxviii.
18.
|
Hulie, interj. gently! slowly! C. 396;
huly, 1278.
Huly, adj. tardy, slow, C. 1283.
Huins, sb. hounds (naut.), M.P. xlviii.
93. See note on p. 376.
Huirsone, sb. bastard, S. xxiv. 2.
Hundreth, num. hundred, S. xxi. 10;
F. 414.
Hunger, sb. starvation, famine, F.
302.
Hurcheon, sb. hedgehog, C. 15; F.
336, 444; hurchonis, M.P. xli. 21.
Hurson, sb. bastard, F. 121; hursone,
M.P. liii. I.
Hush padle, sb. lump-fish, F. 746.
Hy, sb. haste, M.P. lii. 46.
Hyde, sb. skin, S. xxiv. 2.
Hyde, v. pt. t. hied, hurried, M.P.
xviii. 69.
Hyds, v. pr. t. hidest, S. xlviii. 2.
Hyre, sb. wage, reward, C. 1249; S.
xxxvi. 8; M.P. xiii. II; xlvii. 15.
Hyuis, sb. hives, C. 68.
Iacstro, sb. Jack Straw (?), Iacstio,
ed. 1688, Jack-pudding (J.), F. 155.
Ilk, pron. every, each, C. 882; ilke,
3; ilk=same, M.P. xxxv. 60.
Ilkane, indef. pron. each one; ilkon,
A.P. i. 2; ilk one, M.P. 1. 36.
Impesh, v. hinder, prevent, M.P. vi.
II, xv. 46. See Empashed.
Implaidging, v. pr. p. pledging, C.
1453.
Impyre, v. hold sway, soar, C. 134;
S. xxxi. 5; M.P. xiii. 10. See
note on p. 291.
Incluissit, v. pp. enclosed, C. 282.
Incontinent, adv. at once, immediate-
い
​ly, F. 475; M. P. xi. 26; xlviii. 136.
Ind, v. pp. led into the barn-yard,
M.P. xlviii. 240.
Ineugh, adv. enough, M.P. xxii. 52.
Ingendrit, v. pp. engendered, S. x. 4.
Inginde, v. pp. minded, disposed, F.
155.
Ingyne, sb. ingenuity, genius, C. 76;
S. xi. 10; F. 35, &c. Lat. inge-
nium.
Inlaik, v. inf. fall short, M.P. 1. 50.
Inlaik, sb. deficiency, M.P. liv. 6.
Innes, sb. tavern, hostelry, F. 200.
Instinction, sb. instinct, D.P. iii. 45.
Interpryse, v. attempt, undertake, S.
xiii. 7.
Invent, sb. creative faculty, S. xxix. 9.
Invey, v. come, F. 127.
Invironing, v. pr. p. encircling, in-
vesting, S. xxxi. 2.
414
GLOSSARY.
Invy, sb. envy, M.P. xvi. 7.
Invyit, v. pp. envied, F. 268; invyde,
S. ix. II.
Irkit, adj. wearied, tired, M.P. lii. 1.
Iuittour, sb. tippler, drunkard, F. 767.
Jaks, sb. coats of mail, D.P. vi. 63.
O.F. jaque.
Javellour, sb. jailer, S. lv. 14. Low
Lat. gabiola; O.F. gaiole.
Jeit, sb. jet, F. 538.
Jem, sb. gem, S. xlix. 4.
Jo, sb. sweetheart, M.P. xxxvi. 43.
Jonet, adj. yellow, M.P. xxxv. 39.
Fr. jaune.
Jote, sb. tittle, S. xxi. 7.
Joyes, sb. darlings, friends, M.P. iii.
73.
Jugs, sb. the pillory, an iron ring or
collar fastened by a short chain to a
wall or post, F. 763. Lat. jugum ;
Fr. joug; Eng. yoke.
Jumpe, v. sport, S. vii. 11.
Kailly, adj. with green kale attaching,
F. 777.
Kame, sb. comb (met. from a cock's
comb), S. xvi. 8; comb (for the
hair), F. 450.
Keeks, v. pr. t. looks, searches, F.
491.
Keill, v. pr. t. kill, M.P. lii. 29.
Kend, v. pp. known, C. 1305; S.
xxvi. 6, &c.
Kene, adj. daring, bold, M.P. xiii.
29.
Kep, v. catch, take, C. 400.
Kest, v. pt. t. cast, F. 509.
Kiddes, sb. fleas or lice on sheep, F.
492.
Kie, sb. key, S. xli. 6; kees, M.P. |
xlviii. 115; keyis, C. 411.
Kinkhost, sb. hooping-cough, F. 307.
Kinsch, sb. cows, kine, C. 1100. See
note on p. 301.
Kinsh, sb. knot, loop, S. xxxvii. 7.
=
See note on p. 342.
Kittle, adj. ticklish, easily excited, S.
xvi. 8; kitlest subtlest, most dan-
gerous, M.P. xlvii. 87.
Knag, sb. cup (?), F. 790. Gael. and
Ir. cnag. Cf. Eng. "noggin.
Knaw, v. know, C. 183; knau, S. iv.
6; knawes, F. 206; knawn, C. 880;
knaune, S. xxx. 8.
Knoked, v. pp. beaten, F. 771. A.S.
cnucian.
Knopping, v. pr. p. budding, C. 39.
A.S. cnæp.
Knoppis, sb. buds, heads of flowers,
C. 332.
Know, sb. knoll, hillock, F. 73. A.$.
cnol.
Korpit, v. pp. boxed, coffined, M.P.
xiv. 46.
Kowd, v. pt. t. cropped, F. 447.
Kummers, sb. gossips, F. 456.
Ky, sb. cattle, F. 500.
Kyndlie, adj. kindred, natural to,
M.P. xl. 46.
Kyt, sb. stomach, belly, F. 754.
Kyt, sb. kite, M.P. xviii. 44.
Kyth, v. inf. show, S. xlvi. 12;
M.P. ix. 20; kythe, M.P. xxxv. 13;
kythes, xxxv. 54;=appear, xiv. 26.
Kytrall, sb. heretic (Sibbald's Gloss.
F. 447.
Lace, sb. cord, strap, C. 115. O.F.
las.
Lacke, v. want, F. 557.
Lacke, sb. want, F. 737.
Laich, adj. low, short of stature, M.P.
xxxii. 83.
Laidlie, adj. foul, impure, F. 132;
laidly, 566; laidley, 798.
Laif, sb. the rest, C. 723; M.P. li.
45. A.S. láf.
Laike, sb. stake at play, C. 1109.
Icel. leik. See note on p. 302.
Laike, sb. want, lack, F. 33.
Laiks, v. pr. t. lacks, is wanting, C.
1353; S. iii. 13.
Lair, sb. learning, F. 184; M.P. xvii.
59.
Laith, adj. loath, reluctant, C. 1144;
M.P. xxiii. 33; xl. 16. A.S. láð. :
Laks, v. pr. t. blames, reproaches,
M.P. xliii. 17.
Lampis, v. pr. t. gallops, M.P. xli.
39.
Land leiper, sb. vagabond, outlaw, F.
779; land lowper, 757.
Lane, v. pr. inf. conceal, lie, M.P.
viii. 27.
Lang, adv. long, C. 233.
Langsum, adj. tedious, wearisome,
M.P. lii. I.
Langt, v. pt. t. C. 177. A.S. langian.
Lanis, sb. selves, C. 678; all my lane
all alone, C. 730.
Lansprezed, v. pp. acting as petty
officer to, 795. See note on p.
326.
Lap, v. pt. t. leaped, C. 274, 1046,
1395, &c.
Lat, v. hinder, M.P. xxxiv. 46. A.S.
lettan.
GLOSSARY.
415
Lat, v. let, M.P. xvi. 39; lat be=let | Lift, sb. sky, M.P. xlviii. 182. A.S.
alone; never to speak of, C. 352.
A.S. l'ætan.
Latt, v. pp. left, C. 475.
Lauis, sb. laws, S. xviii. 14; xxi. I.
Lave, sb. rest, remainder, C. 1402;
S. i. 14; iii. 9; laiv, M.P. xlviii.
61.
Law, adj. low, C. 436; lau, M.P. iii.
14; lauer, adv. M.P. xlviii. 143.
Lawly, adv. lowly, C. 1086.
Leape, v. imp. escape, F. 763.
Leasings, sb. falsehoods, wiles, M.P.
xxxiii. 36.
Leddir, sb. ladder, D.P. iii. 26.
Leid, sb. lead, plummet, C. 1187.
Leid, sb. lead (metal), M.P. xvii. 37.
Leid, v. lead, D.P. iii. 26.
Leidars, sb. leaders, S. xxi. 1.
Leif, sb. leave, C. 154.
Leif, v. leave, C. 74; M.P. 1. 1.
Leik, sb. leek, C. 1374.
Leill, adv. loyally, S. xlv. 3; adj.
leal, lxx. 2. Norm. F. leal; O.F.
leial.
Leir, v. learn, C. 423, 837; F. 184;
M.P. xvii. 81.
Leis, sb. lies, C. 774.
Leisings, sb. falsehoods, C. 1125.
Leisome, adj. lawful, S. lxx. 2. A.S.
leáf.
Leist, conj. lest, C. 1279; M.P. xvii.
174.
Leiv, v. live, M.P. xxi. I; leive, xiv.
16; leivis, ii. 3.
[Leives], v. pr. t. leaves, S. lvii. 5.
Leiving, sb. living, manner of life,
M.P. xliii. 17.
Leivis, sb. leaves, S. viii. 10.
Lek, v. leak, run out, M.P. xxxvii. 21.
Len, v. lend, S. xviii. 13; xliv. 9.
Let, v. allow; lets let us, C. 819;
let not licht-be cautious, C. 1436.
Leuch, v. pt. t. laughed, C. 1149;
leugh, M.P. iv. 20; xxi. 28; xlviii.
256. A.S. hlehhan.
Leuir, adv. rather, C. 459.
Levir (meaning unknown), M.P. xlix.
II.
Leyis, sb. tales, fables, S. lx. 10.
Leynit, v. pt. t. leaned, C. 7.
Licht, v. alight, C. 463; lichtit, C.
80; lighted, F. 402.
Licht, sb. light, M.P. v. 26.
Lichtleit, v. pp. slighted, M.P. ix. 10.
Licience, sb. licence, liberty, M.P.
xxxvi. 48.
Licorous, adj. yearning, eager, M.P.
xxxi. 5.
lyft.
Liftan, v. pr. p. lifting, C. 1481.
Lights, v. pr. t. lightens, S. li. 6.
Liklie, adj. comely, agreeable, A.P.
i. 41.
Limis, sb. limbs, M.P. xvii. 63.
Limmers, sb. scoundrels, thieves, F.
335, sing. 780.
Limschoch, sb. armpit, M.P. liv. 6.
Lin, sb. cataract, pool beneath a cata-
ract, C. 80.
Lingals, so.
Lingals, sb. bandages, F. 342.
Linkand, v. pr. p. clustering, in clus-
ters, F. 552.
Lint bow, sb. globule containing the
seed of flax, F. 552.
Lipper, adj. foul, leprous, S. xxxiv.
6.
List, v. wilt, please,
=desire, xlvi. 24;
XV. 17.
M.P. xxi. 1;
chooses, xi. 6,
List, v. ceases, M.P. xv. 17. See
note on p. 359.
Loft, sb. air, C. 362; on loft=aloft,
in the air.
Loif, v. praise, extol, M.P. 1. 1 ; D.P.
iv. 46. Ger. loben.
Loipis, v. leapest, M.P. vii. 19.
Lokman, sb. executioner, M.P. xxi.
17. See note on p. 363.
Lope, v. pr. t. leap, M.P. xliv. 31.
See Loup.
Lose, sb. loss, S. xv. I.
Losse, v. lose, C. 393.
Lote, sb. lot, S. xv. 10; xxxvi. 6.
Loth, v. loathe, S. xxvii. 10; lothis,
M.P. xiii. 4; xiv. 16, &c.
Lou, sb. flame, S. xii. 6; M.P. xxxiii.
12; xli. II; low, C. 169, 745.
Icel. log.
Louks, v. pr. t. shuts, locks, M.P.
xv. 8.
Louns, sb. fellows, men, M.P. xxxiii.
36.
Loup, v. leap, C. 463, 492; louping,
C. 279. A.S. hleápan, pt. t. hlebp.
Lour, v. lure, M.P. xv. 17. See note
on p. 359.
Lous, adj. free, loose, M.P. xxi. 27.
Louse, v. loosen, F. 496; louses, 342 ;
lousing, M.P. xv. 17.
Louts, v. pr. t. stoops, makes obeis-
ance, C. 1086; S. xxxii. 3; lout,
M.P. xv. 52; D.P. iv. 59.
Lowder, sb. lever or handspoke for
lifting millstones, F. 98.
Lowne, adj. and adv. calm, low, F.
39.
416
GLOSSARY.
Lowne, sb. rascal, F. 133, 223, 544;
lownes, 795.
Lowsie, sb. lousy, F. 763.
Luck, v. succeed, C. 643; luck we=
should we succeed.
Lude, v. pp. loved, M.P. x. 45 ; pt. t.
lvi. 8.
Ludging, sb. lodging, M.P. xlviii.
264.
Lufe, sb. love, C. 52.
[Luggis,] sb. pl. ears, S. lxvi. 14;
lugs, F. 557, 763.
Luif, v. luff, turn, M.P. xlviii. 140,
143.
Luif, v. imp. love, A.P. i. 125.
Luiffaris, sb. lovers, M.P. 1. 1.
Luiffis, sb. gen. case, Love's, Cupid's,
C. 177; luiffes, A.P. i. 70.
Luik, v. look, C. 121, 463; luikis,
419; luikit, 362; luiking, 233;
lukes, 829; luiks, M.P. xv. 14;
luikand, F. 491; luke, C. 1353.
Luk, sb. success, M. P. xii. II.
Lustie, adj. graceful, handsome, M.P.
xvii. 63; lustiest, xxix. 19.
Luve, sb. love, C. 1263; luvis, M.P.
lii. I.
Lye aback, sb. shyness, timidity, C.
1423.
Lyes, v. pr. t. concerns, C. 489.
Lyf, sb. life, M.P. ii. 4; lyfis, xxxix.
48.
Lyire, sb. skin, A.P. i. 65; lyre
flesh, M.P. xxxvii. 15.
Lyk, adv. like, M.P. xxxix. 7; v.
xxxvi. 6.
Lyks, v. pr. t. lyks me=suit me, I
like, M.P. vi. 31.
Lykuyis, adv. likewise, S. li. 9.
Lyme, sb. bird-lime, M.P. xxi. 34.
Lyne, v. pp. lain, M.P. xxiv. 22.
Lyning side, sb. inside, F. 566.
Lytill, adj. small, S. xxxiii. 13; lyttil,
M.P. xlviii. 135.
Lyuis, v. pr. t. lives, C. 393.
Lyve, sb. life, on lyve alive, M.P.
xxix. 19, xxxix. 4.
Made of, adj. praised, caressed, M.P.
xlii. 17.
Mae, adj. more, C. 847; F. 414.
Mahowne, sh. Mahomet, the devil,
F. 429.
See note on p. 317.
Maich, sb. marrow, equal, S. lxvii.
IO.
Maik, sb. partner, mate, M.P. 1. 53; |
maikis, xli. 30.
Maikles, adj. matchless, S. ix. 3;
M. P. 1. 8.
Mair, sb. nightmare, F. 319.
Mair, adj. more, C. 298.
Maire, adv. more, C. 631; mare, sl.
S. xlix. 3.
Maist, adj. most, greatest, C. 760;
adv. F. 459; almost, C. 243.
Maistres, sb. mistress, S. liv. 13, &c.
Mait, adj. played out, M.P. xx. 20.
Makdome, sb. form, shape, M.P. 1.
13.
Makrels, sb. bawds, S. lxx. 8.
Mandrage, sb. mandrake, F. 71. See
note on p. 314.
Mang, v. go distracted, M. P. xlvii. 9;
mangd; pp. xxiv. 42.
Mangrell, sb. dotard, F. 772.
Manked, adj. defective, F. 143. Fr.
manquer.
Manlie, adj. dauntless, F. 136.
Mansuetud, sb. gentleness, M.P. 1. 11.
Mantenance, sb. support, M.P. xxv.
14.
Manter, sb. stammerer, F. 775.
Marbre, sb. marble, A.P. i. 68.
Marmasits, sb. marmosets, F. 483;
marmissed, 795.
Marrowit, v. pp. fitted, equal, M.P.
1. 38.
Mater, sb. matter, C. 514; M.P. iii.
19.
Maueis, sb. thrush, C. 4.
Maun, v. aux. must, C. 1139, 1367.
Maw, sb. stomach, F. 311.
May, sb. maid, M.P. li. 9.
Mayck, sb. match, shape, form, M.P.
li. 37. See note on p. 379.
Mease, v. calm, mitigate, ease, Cl.
297; [measde], S. xxxv. 5.
Meathes, sb. worms, maggots, F. 319.
Mediciner, sb. physician, C. 1348.
Meid, sb. reward, C. 866.
Meikill, adj. much, C. 600; F. 198.
Meill, sb. meal, F. 465; M.P. ii. 23.
Mein, sb. moderation, mean, C. 1427.
Mein, adj. mean; mein tym=mean-
while, M.P. xlvii. 72.
Mein, v. intend, mean, C. 1397;
meins, M.P. vii. 9; menes, S. lxvii.
10; meind, pt. t. C. 605.
Meining, v. pr. p. lamenting, C. 1119.
See Mene.
Meinis, sb. means, C. 479; meins,
M.P. xlvii. 73.
See
Meir, sb. mare, C. 905; F. 94. A.S.
mere. See note on p. 308.
Meis, v. soothe, M.P.` xiv. 13.
Mease.
Meit, adj. meet, fit, F. 252; S. xxviii'.
9.
GLOSSARY.
417
Meit, adv. fitly, M.P. xxxv. 68.
Meit, v. meet, C. 540, &c.
Meit, sh. meat, food, M.P. xviii. 57.
Mekle, adj. much, S. xlix. 5.
Mekle, adv. much, M. P. iii. 10.
Mell, v. speak, meddle, fight, S. lxvii.
13; F. 13, 131, 656; S. xxvi. 1 ;
mels, F. 662; mellis, C. 960; melle,
793; melld, 1142.
Melt, sb. milt, spleen, F. 311, 319.
Melt, v. knock down, properly, by a
stroke in the side where the melt
lies (J.), F. 762.
Mend, v. help, M.P. xlvi. 48; pp.
remedied, C. 496.
Mends, sb. alteration for the better,
atonement, S. xxxv. I; or as one
word, amends.
Mene, v. think, know, guess, S. lvi.
10; =ween, M.P. xiii. 33.
Mene, v. moan, M.P. xlvi. 48; menis,
M.P. lii. 27.
Menstralls, sb. minstrels, F. 508.
Menswering, v. pr. p. perjuring, F. 75.
Merle, sb. blackbird, C. 4.
Mervels, sb. marvels, S. ii. 13; mer-
vell, S. xi. 7. Fr. merveille.
Messan, sb. little dog, S. xxviii. 9.
Metar, adj. fitter, A.P. i. 55; meter,
C. 616; meitest, 1318.
Mett, v. measure, M.P. ii. 23, v. 53;
mettis, D.P. vi. 68.
Michtie, adj. great, mighty, M.P.
xxxii. 83; mightie=bombastic, F.
143. See note on p. 309.
Michtles, adj. powerless, weak,
305.
C.
Middings, sb. dunghills, F. 180.
Mids, sb. middle, F. 529; mids of the
moone full moon.
Migrame, sb. severe pains in the side
of the head, F. 319.
=
Minch, v. cut in small pieces, F. 747 ;
minch moutter meal-filcher.
Mint, sb. aim, endeavour, S. lxvii. 9;
=hints, threats, C. 1158.
Mints, v. 2 sing. pr. t. aimest, S. liv.
9; M.P. ix. 16; minted threat-
ened, M.P. xi. 7; minting = at-
tempting, C. 363. A.S. gemintan.
Miratour, conj. moreover, M.P. xlix.
14.
Mirknes, sb. darkness, F. 422.
=
Mirrour, sh. pattern, S. ix. 3; M.P. 1.
24.
Misch[eivis], v. prt. p. hurt, S. lvii. 8;
M.P. v. 7.
Mishant, sb. wretch, worthless creature,
F. 131.
|
Misly, adj. leprous, measly, F. 754.
Mismade, adj. misshapen, deformed,
F. 9.
Missens, sb. the after-sails supported
by the mizzen-mast, M. P. xlviii. 98.
Missheif, sb. mischief, injury, M.P.
iii. 54; mishief, M.P. xlvi. 36.
O.F. meschief.
Missis, sb. misdeeds, S. xxxv. I.
Mister, v. need, F. 260; mistert, C.
805.
Mo, adj. more, C. 20; M.P. vii. 46;
myn but mo=
but momine alone. See
note on p. 287.
Modest, adj. with force of superlative,
quasi moyèst, most modest, M.P.
li. 9.
Modeuarts, sb. moles, M.P. xviii.
57.
Moght, v. aux. might, M.P. xx. 31.
Moir, adv. more, C. 767.
Moll, adj. flat, low, M.P. iii. 14.
Lat. mollis.
Mon, v. aux. must, F. 766; M.P. ii.
13, &c.
Mone, sb. moan, S. xlviii. 5; M.P.
xxiv. 47.
Mone, sb. moon, S. xliv. 8.
Moneths, sb. months, S. ii. 6.
Monke, sb. monkey, F. 394; monkes,
483.
Mony, adj. many, C. 20, 308, &c.
Moots, v. speak, complain, M.P. ix.
12. Lat. mutire.
Morne, sb. morn, morrow
morn, morrow; the morne
=to-morrow, C. 496.
Mot, v. aux. may, M. P. xlviii. 2.
Moues, sb. joke, jest, M.P. vii. 4;
mouis, xxii. 34, xliii. 25.
Mow, v. speak, jest, F. 747.
Mow, sb. grimace, mouth, F. 75;
mouth, 755.
Mowdewart, sb. mole, F. 294. M.E.
moldwerp; Icel. moldvarpa.
Moyan, sb. means, M.P. xxxii. 76.
Mucked, v. pp. cleaned out, F. 89.
Mudzons, sb. motions, F. 495.
Mug, adj. dirty, foul, F. 252. Icel.
myke. Cf. Eng. muck.
Mugs, sb. dishes, F. 763.
Muist, sb. musk, F. 15. Fr. musque.
Muit, v. mutter, speak, F. 294. See
Moots.
Mulis, sb. mules, C. 840.
Mune, sb. moon, C. 918.
M[ure], sb. moor, S. lxvi. 10.
Murgeons, sb. mutterings, distorted
gestures, F. 396, 495. See note on
P. 315.
2 D
418
GLOSSARY.
Murne, v. mourn, S. iv. II; murn-
ing, xxxiv. I.
Murning, sb. mourning, S. xlviii. 9.
Mussit, v. pt. t. mused, C. 77; musit,
243.
Myance, sb. means, F. 71.
Myce, sb. mice, M.P. xviii. 57.
Mylis, sb. miles, M.P. xlviii. 249.
Myter, sb. mitre, hood, C. 865.
mitra.
Lat.
Mytting, sb. diminutive creature, F. 9.
Na, adj. no; adv. no, sæpissime; nae,
adj. C. 865.
Naikit, adj. naked, C. 1141.
Nane, adj. none, C. 298.
Nar, adv. near, M.P. xxxvi. 53.
Nare, prep. near, F. 116; ner, S. xlvi.
6.
Nather, conj. neither, S. lxiii. 13.
Nathing, sb. nothing, C. 289; naith-
ing, C. 1265.
Neits, v. pr. t. arranges, M.P. xlviii.
ΙΟΙ.
Neiv, sb. fist, M.P. xxxii. 68; neive,
C. 1552. Icel. hnefi.
Nek, sb. check, move to prevent re-
ceiving check, M.P. xx. 17.
Nek, v. prevent receiving check, C.
215.
Nevie nevie nak, M.P. xxxii. 65.
See note on p. 287.
Nibours, sb. neighbours, C. 1488;
nichtbours, S. xxiii. 5.
Nicneuen, sb. Hecate, the mother
witch, F. 368, 383.
Nimlie, C. 13. See note on p. 287.
Nipd, v. pp. bitten, stung, F. 325.
Nirles, sb. species of measles or pox,
F. 325.
Nitty, adj. knotty (?), covered with the
eggs of lice (?), F. 551.
Nocht, sb. nothing, C. 149; M.P.
viii. 13; adv. not, sæpe.
Nok, v. notch, fit the arrow to the
string, M.P. xvii. 19; nokt, xxxiii.
II.
Noks, sb. notches, M.P. xvii. 6.
Nolt, sb. cattle, F. 182.
Non, adj. none, M. P. lii. 41.
Nor, conj. (after comparatives), than,
passim.
Nots, sb. notes, S. xlviii. 6; notis, C. 2.
Noy, sb. annoyance, C. 298, sæpe.
Noysome, adj. grievous, M.P. xv. 44.
Now, sb. head, F. 551.
Nowther, conj. neither, C. 803, 1143.
Nuike, sb. corner, F. 115; nuk, A.P.
v. 18.
Nurish, sb. nurse, F. 460; M.P
xlviii. 47.
M.E. nurice; O.F
nurrice.
Nuriture, sb. nurture, training, M.P.
xviii. I.
Nute, sb. nut, S. xlvi. 8.
Occasio, S. v. 5. See note on p. 328.
Ocht, v. ought, M.P. xlii. 6.
Od, adj. rare, exceptional, M.P. lv
3.
Of, prep. off, C. 331; adv. M.P. xxiv.
75, &c.
Ofte, adv. with force of comparative
oftener, F. 468.
Oght, sb. aught, anything, M.P. xx.
29, xxxiv. 22.
Oist, sb. host, C. 649.
Old-oly, sb. olive-oil, F. 234; edit.
1688 reads oyld-oly. W. oyl-dolyį;
Fr. huile d'olive.
Once, adv. some day (like Lat. olim),
M.P. xxxii. 45.
Ond on it, C. 1022.
Onely, adv. only, F. 149.
Ony, adj. any, C. 342, M.P. xlviii.
188.
Or, adv. ere, before, C. 259, sæpis-
sime.
Orange, sb. the colour orange, em-
blematic of desertion in love, M.P.
xxiv. 66.
Ore, adv. too, C. 436, &c.
Oreburdenit, v. pp. overburdened, C.
1041.
Orisones, sb. orations, speeches, S. ix.
6. Fr. oraison.
Orster, sb. oyster, F. 667; oster, F.
477.
Ouer, adv. and prep. over.
Ouerbald, adj. too bold, F. 762.
Ouer buird, adv. overboard, M.P.
xlviii. 192.
Ouerdryve, v. pass or spend (inten-
sive), M.P. xxxix. 26.
Ouerfleit, v. overflow, M.P. 1. 46.
Ouergane, v. pp. covered with, F. 306.
Ouersylis, v. pr. t. blinds, beguiles,
M.P. lvii. 5; ouirsylis, C. 418.
Ouglie, adj. ugly, horrible, F. 503.
Ouir, adv. and prep. over.
Ouirgane, v. pp. overcome, C. 299.
Ouirs, sb. extremes, C. 435.
Ouirschute, v. overpass, allow to pass
quickly or unemployed, lose, C.
556.
Ouirset, v. pp. upset, C. 284; M.P.
vii. 18; oursett, M.P. lii. 2.
Oune, indef. pr. own, S. xlvii. 8.

GLOSSARY.
419
Out flitten, v. pp. worsted in the war
of words, F. 760.
Outhir, conj. either, C. 454; outher,
583; owther, 1432.
Out of, prep. beyond, without, M.P.
xxxiv. 50.
Out paintis, v. pr. t. portray, S. liii. 3.
Outrowde, v. pp. outrolled, F. 352.
Out-waills, sb. refuse, scum, M.P. iii.
23.
Owke, sb. week, F. 343. M.E.
wouke, woke; Ger. Woche.
Owre-hale, v. overlook, C. 848. See
note on p. 300; or, perhaps, miss
-from A.S. ofer and holian. M.E.
halen.
Owtgatt, v. pt. t. fell out, sprung out,
A. P. v. 12.
Oxster, sb. arm-pit, F. 493.
Pacient, sb. patient, C. 491.
Paddock, sb. frog, F. 734.
Paipe, sb. F. 95. See note on p. 308.
Pair, sb. pack, S. xx. 2.
Pairtie, sʊ. mate, M.P. xli. 15; pair-
=
ties opponents in a suit, S. lv. 14.
Paks, sb. substance, M.P. xliii. 47.
Palks, sb. tricks, arts, pranks, M.P.
xviii. 68.
Pallat, sb. head, crown, F. 548.
Palzard, adj. false, M.P. xviii. 70.
Pance, v. heed, think, C. 1357.
note on page 303.
See
Pancit, v. pp. cured, healed, C. 491.
Fr. panser.
Pand, sb. pledge, F. 81. Ger. Pfand.
Pane, sẻ. pain, S. lviii. 5; M.P. xvii.
32.
Pansing, sb. thinking, M.P. v. 30,
xxviii. 2, xxix. 5.
Pansis, v. pr. t. thinks, meditates,
C. 948;, pansed = reflected, C. 1407.
Fr. penser.
Pape, sb. pap, teat, S. 1. 5. O.Swed.
papp.
Paramour, sb. love, M.P. 1. 27.
Parles, sb. palsy, F. 324.
Past, prep. more than, beyond, M.P.
xviii. 19; past aneu more than
enough, numerous.
Patrone, sb. pattern, M.P. 31.
Paylion, sb. pavilion, tent, M.M. xix.
18.
Pearkit, v. pt. t. perched, M.P. xviii.
41.
Pece, sb. piece, C. 272.
Pedler, sb. trifler, F. 153.
Peild, adj. destitute, F. 72, 183;
shaven, 449; peilled=bare, 548.
|
Peiler, sb. thief, F. 785.
Peip, v. chirp, F. 1.
Peir, sb. peer, equal, F. 95.
Peirlis, sb. pearls, S. xlix. 1.
Peirter, adj. more forward, M.P.
xl. 25.
Peirtly, adv. freely, openly, S. xlv. 2.
Pelt, sb. lump, rag, F. 266.
Peltrie, adj. paltry, S. xxiv. 4.
Pene, sb. labour, suffering, M.P.
xxxix. 49.
Pennis, sb. plumes, feathers, C. 199,
739; S. xxii. 8; pennes, F. 86.
Peregall, sb. equal, M.P. 1. 15.
Perfyter, adj. more fitting, C. 865.
Perfytlie, adv. perfectly, S. xv. 14;
perfytly, viii. 10.
Perjure, adj. perjured, M.P. xviii.
70.
Perqueir, adv. by heart, exactly, C.
665; F. 674; M.P. vi. 39; per-
quierest, adj. fittest, C. 1467. Fr.
par cœur.
Persaifis, v. pr. t. perceives, M.P.
xxiv. 46; persawis, C. 555; per-
sawing, 125.
Pers, v. pierce, A.P. i. 100; persit,
pp. M.P. lii. 7; persing, C. 973.
Pertening, v. pr. p. pertaining, be-
longing, M.P. xlviii. 36.
Pest, sb. plague, F. 322.
Peyes, v. pr. t. pays, M.P. vii. 23;
peyde, xlviii. 169.
Phelomene, sb. the nightingale. See
note on p. 287.
Phisnomie, sb. face, F. 618; phys-
nome, F. 490.
Phrais, sb. phrase, S. xliv. 6.
Pickle, v. eat, pick, F. 727.
Pikthanke, sb. flatterer, parasite, F.
109.
Pilling, sb. pillaging, robbing, S. vi.
9. Fr. piller.
Pind, v. pp. punished, F. 778; pinde,
153.
Pingle, v. outvie, vie with, S. xv. 14;
pingill, xliv. 12.
Pinke, sb. noodle, elf, F. 119.
Pish, v. piss, F. 480. Fr. pisser.
Plagude, v. pp. plagued, F. 359.
Plane, adv. clearly, S. liii. 9.
Playmear, sb. playfellow, plaything,
S. lxx. 12.
Pleins, v. pr. t. bewailest, M.P. viii.
15.
Pleis, v. please, S. xxvi. 14; M.P.
ii. 25; plesit, A.P. iii. 1.
Plet, v. pp. plaited, S. viii. 10; plets,
pr. t. M.P. xix. 5.
420
GLOSSARY.
Pleuch, sh. plough, C. 1150. Icel.
plógr.
Pleuman, sb. ploughman, S. lxvi. 11,
lxvii. 7.
Pley, sb. quarrel, debate, C. 1339;
plie, S. xix. 2.
Plight, v. pp. pledged, M.M. xix. 18.
Plotcok, sb. the devil, S. xxi. 12. See
note on p. 336.
Pockes, sh. pustules, F. 316. Eng.
pox.
Pod, sẻ. husk, shell; belly—a term of
contempt, meaning uncertain: per-
haps a variant of pade = toad, or an
abbreviation of poddock. F. 84, 431.
Poddoks, sb. frogs, M.P. xviii. 54.
Poik-braik, sb. marks of small-pox,
M.P. liv. 2.
Poleist, v. pp. polished, A.P. i. 68.
Polis, sb. poles, S. ii. 3.
Pomathorne, sb. a place in the parish
of Lasswade, 10 miles S. of Edin-
burgh.
Pomellis, sb. globes, balls, A.P. i.
63.
Poplesie, sb. apoplexy, F. 322.
Preif, sb. proof, C. 761; witness, F.
749. Fr. preuve.
Preis, v. be eager, strive, M.P. ii. 13,
S. x. II; preissis, M.P. xxxiii. 44;
preising, C. 263.
Preiuit, v. pt. t. proved, tested, ex-
perienced, C. 526.
Prentise, sb. apprentice, C. 1150.
Low Lat. apprenticius.
Presoun, sb. prison, C. 283; presone,
M.P. lii. 3.
Pretermits, v. pr. t. neglectest, D.P.
vi. 80.
Pretie, adj. small, insignificant, M.P.
xlviii. 218; prettie, C. 1550.
Prieve, v. prove, try, taste, M.P.
xxxiii. 44.
Prik, v. trace the ship's course, M.P.
xlviii. 104.
Prike, sb. skewer, F. 63.
Prise, sb. praise, renown, reward, C.
57I.
Prodigue, sb. prodigal, D.P. iv. 4.
Progne, sʊ. the swallow. See note on
p. 287.
Proife, v. prove, C. 1235.
Portratour, sb. image, figure, M.P. 1. | Promitting, v. pr. p. promising, C.
25.
Posseid, v. possess, M.P. 1. 47.
Pothecares, sb. apothecaries, F. 231;
pothingars, 254; potingars, 99.
Pout, sb. poultry, M.P. xviii. 58.
Pow, v. pull, pluck, C. 626, 656; |
poud, 800; pouing, S. Ixvi. 14.
Powlings, sb. meaning uncertain; but
evidently some disease causing crea-
tures to pule or whine; explained
sometimes as swellings in the legs,
F. 316.
Powre, v. pour, C. 441.
Poynt, sb. point; at point on the
point of, ready, S. lii. 12.
Poysand, adj. poisoned, poisonous, C.
626.
Poysonde, v. pt. t. poisoned, F. 122.
Prattick, sb. practice, C. 455; pratick
experience, exploit, 910.
Fr.
practique.
Prayis, sb. praise, M.P. 1. 35; A.P.
i. 119; praysis, S. x. II.
Preasse, v. attempt, F. 148; preast,
pt. t. inclined, turned, F. 595.
Prechours, sb. preachers, C. 625. Fr.
prêcher.
Preclair, adj. famous, illustrious, M.P.
1. 7; A.P. i. 20.
Precordiall, adj. very comforting, M.P.
xxxiv. 37.
Preiche, v. preach, C. 186.
|
1131.
Prophane, adj. irreverent, unwar-
ranted, C. 1307.
Propone, v. lay down, S. xlv. 2;
popond, pt. t. C. 1020.
Propyne, v. pr. t. offer, give, S. lv.
IO.
Pruif, sb. proof, M.P. xxii. 33.
Pruiffis, v. pr. t. proves, M.P. 1. 15.
Prunzie, v. pr. t. deck, dress, F. 86.
Prysde, v. pp. prized, valued, M.P.
xlii. 19.
Puir, adj. poor, S. iii. 4.
Pulchritud, sb. fairness, beauty, M.P.
1. 9.
Pultrones, sb. cowards, C. 374. Fr.
poltron.
Punsis, sb. pulses, C. 274, 977; puncis,
M.P. xliv. 31.
Purches, v. purchase, M.P. xxiii. 2.
Pure, adj. poor, S. vi. 9; xx. 9; lxvi.
I2.
Pursevants, sb. heralds, M.P. iii. 50.
Pussance, sb. power, majesty, M.P.
xxv. 15. Fr. puissance.
Put, v. pr. t. make, M.P. xxxvi. 28.
Pyet, sb. magpie, S. v. 10; M.P.
xviii. 67. Fr. pie.
Pykit, adj. having a sharp pike at the
end, A.P. v. 5.
Pyks, sb. prickles, S. xlviii. 7; M.P.
xl. 46; pykis, S. li. 8.

GLOSSARY.
421
Pykthank, sb. sycophant, parasite, F. | Quhyt, adj. white, S. xxxix. 5;
532, 764.
Pyle, sb. point, javelin, S. xl. 5.
Pyle, M.P. xlix. 30. See note on p.
378.
Pyn, v. pain, distress, M.P. xv. 32;
pyne die, F. 772.
=
Pyne, sb. pain, C. 1350; longing,
M.P. xxxvii. 6; = torment, xlv.
13.
Pynis, v. pr. t. torments, consumes,
C. 753; pynd, S. lxi. 7; M.P. xiv.
4; pynit, M.P. v. 5.
Pynsell, sb. pencil, S. xliv. 12.
Pyralide, sb. M.P. xvii. 41. See
note on p. 361.
Quat, v. quit, C. 1179; pt. t. M.P.
xviii. 45.
Quated, v. pt. t. requited, M.P. xlv.
27.
Quatrack=what matters it? A.P. v.
IO.
Quauer, sb. quiver, C. 114; quaver,
M.P. xvii. 5.
Quent, adj. familiar, habitual, con-
stant, M.P. xxxiv. 31.
Quent, adj. crafty, sly, M.P. li. 38; |
A. P. i. 128. O.F. cointe.
Quha, rel. pr. who, C. 16; quha-of= |
of whom, M.P. xliii. 11.
Quhair, adv. where, C. I; all quhair
= everywhere, 758; quhairby
whereby, 354; quhairthrow
through which, 405; quairto
wherefore, 667.
=
=
Quhais, rel. pr. whose, sæpe.
Quharas, adv. where, whereat, M.P.
xxx. 16.
Quhat, rel. pr. what, C. 787.
Quheet, sb. whit, S. xii. II.
wiht.
A.S.
Quheill, sb. wheel, M.P. iii. 28.
Quhen, adv. when, C. 190, sæpe.
Quhil, conj. until, C. 64; while,
337; quhill, M.P. xiv. 8. See
note on p. 301.
Quhiles, adv. sometimes, C. 363;
quhylis, C. 53, 1012.
Quhilk, rel. pr. who, which, C. 6.
Quhillis, adv. whilst, M.P. iii. 57.
Quhirlis, v. pr. t. whirls, M.P. iii.
28.
|
Quhisk, sẻ. whisk, M.P. iii. 28.
Quhither, conj. whether, C. 887.
Quhome, rel. pr. whom; quhome-to= |
to whom, M.P. xxxvi. 33.
Quhyle, sb. while, C. 143; quhile,
521.
quhyter, A.P. i. 69; quhytest, S.
xii. 7.
Quick, adj. alive, M.P. xxvii. 2;
living, D.P. vi. 38; quik, S. xix. 6,
M.P. xiii. 38. A.S. cwic.
Quiklie, adj. life-like, A.P. i. 41.
Quintessenst, sb. quintessence, S. xiii.
13.
Quyet, adj. quiet, innocent, M.P. xviii.
65.
Quyt, z. requite, M.P. xix. I4; A.P.
i. 135; quyite, pp. i. 142.
Quyt, adu. quite, S. lii. ro ; M.P.
xvii. 64.
Quyt, z. quit, leave, S. li. I2; M.P.
xxxix. 56; quyte, C. 719, 1224;
quite, F. 43.
Quy[te], adj. quit, free, S. lxiv. 7.
Rad, adj. afraid, S. xlv. 2; D.P. vi.
25. Dan. raed, red.
Rae, sb. roe, C. 21.
Rag, v. jest, gibe, F. 790.
Ragments, sẻ. rhapsodies, F. 142.
Raid, v. pt. t. rode, F. 398; M.P.
xlviii. 222.
Raiker, sb. ranger, F. 751.
Raipe, sb. rope, F. 96; raipes, 403.
Rais, v. pt. t. rose, arose, M.P. xl.
19; raise, C. 1337.
Rak, v. reach, attain, C. 952.
Rakles, adj. reckless, C. 595. A.S.
récan.
Rammeist, v. pt. t. ran wild, ran
frenzied, F. 51II.
Rampe, v. storm, bluster, D. P. ii. 1 ;
ramping, pr. p. stamping, storming,
C. 884; M.P. xiv. 41, xxviii. 41.
Randring, v. pr. p. restoring, C. 150.
Rane, v. inf. pour, rain, M.P. viii.
48.
Rankels, sb. festering ruts, blotches
or scars, F. 556.
Rape, adv. hastily; rude and rape=
rudely and rapidly, C. 884.
Rasch, adj. rash, C. 436.
Rash, v. imp. rush, F. 142.
Ratlit, v. pt. t. talked loosely, C. 627.
Ratrimes, sb. rote-rhymes, rhymes by
rote, doggerel, F. 146, 356.
Ratton, sb. rat, F. 288.
Rau, adj. raw, S. xxv. 4.
Rave, v. pt. t. rove, tore, burst, M.P.
xlviii. 189; raueand, F. 29.
Raveld, v. pt. t. got confused or en-
tangled, F. 511.
Raxe, v. reach, stretch, C. 367.
Rayis, v. pt. t. arose, C. 301.
I
422
GLOSSARY.
Reane, sb. frequent repetition of the
same word or cry; in a reane-in
one continuous roar, F. 501.
Reaued, v. pp. stolen, pilfered, F.
695.
Reaving, v. pr. p. tearing, raving,
M.P. xxiv. 32.
Reboots, v. pr. t. repulse, M.P. ix.
II.
Rebuit, sb. repulse, M.P. xxxii. 29;
rebute, xlvi. 14.
Recept, sb. recipe, prescription, C.
985.
Reck, sb. heed; quhat reck=what |
matter? C. 1359.
Recklest, v. pp. deviated from the
proper line of conduct, acted reck-
lessly, M.P. xxiii. 31.
Red, adj. afraid, C. 1392.
See Rad.
Redshank, sb. nickname for a High-
lander, from his bare legs (J.), F.
764.
Redwood, adj. stark mad, F. 511.
Reduce, v. revoke, M.P. xxxii. 10.
Redy, adj. quick, speedy, near, M.P.
xlviii. 127.
Reeke, sb. smoke, F. 664.
Reeles, sb. dances, reels, F. 511.
Refrane, v. forbear, M.P. xxxvii. 10.
Refuisis, v. pr. t. deserts, M.P. x. 36.
Reheirce, v. rehearse, M.P. xl. 61.
Reiche, sb. reach, C. 367.
ræcan.
Reid, adj. red, C. 229.
Reid, sb. fire, M.P. xvii. 39.
A.S.
Reid, v. pr. t. read, interpret, C.
1191.
Reid-wood, adj. furious with rage, dis-
tracted, C. 934.
Reif, sb. robbery, S. xiv. 14.
Reik, sb. smoke, S. xxv. 4.
Reikie, adj. smoky, black, F. 539,
A.S. récan.
Reill, sb. reel, bobbin, M.P. iii. 29.
Reird, v. roar, S. xii. 3.
rárian.
A.S.
Reistis, sb. rests, M.P. xli. 45.
Reistit, v. pp. dried, S. xxv. 4.
Reiv, v. take away, M.P. xxiii. 9;=
rob, xxvii. 12; reiue, F. 518; reivs
bereaves, C. 1175.
Rejose, v. rejoice, S. xliii. 13.
Rek, sb. See Reck.
Reks, v. pr. t. regards, matters, M.P.
xxviii. 44.
Remeid, sb. remedy, C. 196.
Rem[eid], v. cure, S. lx. 8.
| Rendirs, v. pr. t. returns, M.P. viii
30.
Rendring, adj. yielding, bending
M.P. xxviii. 33.
Renuncis, v. pr. t. renounce, C. 977.
Repaire, sb. concourse, company, F
196.
Repercust, v. pt. t. reverberated,
89.
Repuit, v. pp. reputed, C. 435.
[Ressave], v. inf. receive, S. lvi. 14.
Resingis, v. pr. t. resigns, C. 156.
Restrantis, v. pr. t. restrain, S. lvi. g
Rest, sb. sprain? F. 323.
Rests, v. pr. t. remain, S. xxxv. 8.
Reteir, v. inf. retire, draw back, M.P
xxxii. 21; reteirs, S. ii. 7; M.F
xi. 52.
Retreit, v. recall, revoke, M.P. xxxi
13.
Retyrit, v. pt. t. retired, C. 603.
Reu, v. repent, M.P. vi. 25, xi. 63
rews, C. 1122.
Reull, v. rule, M.P. 1. 18.
Reuth, sb. pity, C. 1143; S. xlv. 14
ruth, lvi. 14. A.S. hréow, hrygð.
Reuyuis, v. pr. t. revives, C. 394.
Reversiones, sb. power or right
redeeming, S. xxxv. 8.
Revert, v. revive, redeem, S. lviii. 1
Revest, v. re-clothe, S. lviii. 13.
Reivin, v. pp. riven, torn, F. 329
revin, M.P. xlvi. 17.
Richt, sb. right, C. 892; S. xiv. 14.
Richt, adv. directly; richt now=ju
now, C. 624.
Rigging, sb. ridge, top, M.P. xxvii
4I.
Rin, v. pr. t. run, C. 1528; M.F
xl. 57; rinnis, C. 952.
Ring, v. reign, M.P. xlviii. 77, 268
rings, C. 1596.
Rink, sb. course, M.P. xiii. 45.
Roches, sb. rocks, C. 47; rok, 79
rochis, 82; roche, 310.
Ron, sb. briar, thorn bush, F. 288.
Rone, sb. mountain-ash, rowan-berry
M.P. xli. 12.
Rooke, sb. rook, F. 329.
Rot, sb. gangrene, F. 323.
Round, sb. circle, vault, S. xxxi. 7.
Roup, sb. croup, hoarseness, F. 323.
Roustie, adj. rusty, rough, unpolished
F. 146.
Rout, sb. route, M. P. xlviii. 131.
Routed, v. pt. t. roared, bellowed, I
501.
Remoife, v. remove, C. 1238; remuif, Rove, sb. repose, M.P. vi. 20; b
C. 215.
rest or rove unceasingly.
GLOSSARY.
423
Rownn, sb. space, A.P. v. 14.
Rowper, sb. crier, croaker, F. 757.
Royt, sb. babbler, babbling, F. 29.
Rude, sb. cross, D.P. iii. 41.
Rugand, v. pr. p. tearing, tugging, F.
288.
Ruike, sb. rook, F. 114; ruick, F.
756.
Ruit, sb. root, F. 288; rute, M.P.
xlvi. 18; ruites, F. 181.
Ruittour, roarer or belcher? F. 767.
Lat. ructor, or, perhaps, lecher,
from Fr. ruit; Eng. rut.
Ruiting, sb. rooting, M.P. xlviii. 7.
Runches, sb. wild mustard, F. 181.
Runis, v. pr. t. runs, M.P. xlix. 28.
Runt, sb. stump of a tree, or stalk of
a plant, as a kail runt; a term of
contempt, as an auld runt, com-
monly said of a female, F. 789.
Ruve, v. inf. repose, M.P. lii. 14.
Ryders, sb. coursers, M. P. xlviii. 184.
Ryn, v. inf. run, C. 688.
Rypelie, adv. seasonably, duly, C. 197;
rypely, F. 541.
Rypis, v. pr. t. ripens, S. xxx. 12.
Rypit, v. pp. searched, M.P. xlviii.
II2.
Ryue, v. tear, F. 539; ryvis, S. lv.
12.
Sa, sae, adv. and conj. so, passim.
Sadle, sb. saddle, F. 746.
Sadleand, v. pr. p. saddling, astride
of, F. 278.
Saftie, sb. safety, C. 1444.
Saied, v. pt. t. tried, C. 200. See
Say.
Saif, v. save, M.P. xvii. 78; saifs, C.
1167; saifd, M.P. xlviii. 161.
Saikles, adj. innocent, S. li. 7; M.P.
viii. 31.
Sair, adj. painful, severe, S. xxxiii. 8.
Sair, adv. sorely, C. 241; M.P. xxv.
5.
Sairie, adj. sorry, pitiable, F. 386,
474.
Saiv, adj. safe, M.P. xlix. 22.
Sakeles, adj. innocent, blameless, S.
vii. 2.
Sal, v. aux. shall, S. liv. 2; sall, C.
520.
Sald, v. pt. t. sold, C. 1126.
Sam, adj. same, D.P. iii. 33.
Samyn, adj. same, C. 1503.
Sanguene, adj. blood - red,
M.P. xxxv. 39.
ruddy,
Saphir, adj. sapphire, blue, M.P.
XXXV. 55.
Sarks, sb. shirts, S. vii. 13.
Sauld, v. pp. sold, S. vi. 9.
Saull, sb. soul, S. xxxv. 7.
Saulles, adj. soulless, mindless, S.
xxiv. 3.
Sau, v. sow, M.P. xxxi. 17.
Sawes, sb. sayings, discourse, F. 54,
545.
Saxt, num. sixth, S. viii. 5.
Saxtie, num. sixty, M.P. Ïviii. 6.
Say, v. endeavour, try, C. 361; D.P.
iv. 38.
Sayes, v. pr. t. tell, F. 175.
Scabrous, adj. blotched, F. 31.
Scartes, sb. scratches, F. 555.
Schaddowis, sb. shadows, C. 326.
A.S. scæd.
Schaip, v. try, manage, C. 523;
schape endeavoured, C. 261;
shaip do you mean? are you
going to? S. xx. 2; shape, S. xlii.
12; shup, F. 85; shupe=changed,
metamorphosed, M.P. xvii. 79.
Schaw, v.
Schaw, v. show, C. 1045, I 1133,
I349.
Sched, v. separate, part, C. 995;
shed, F. 486.
Schein, adj. beautiful, A.P. i. 6.
Scheith, sb. sheath, A.P. v. 12.
Schew, v. pt. t. showed, C. 265;=
appeared, 326.
Schift, sb. choice, alternative, A.P. i.
105.
Schiftis, sb. shifts, C. 672.
Schil, adj. shrill, C. 46. Ger. schallen.
Scho, pron. she, C. 169. A.S. seó.
Schoir, adj. steep, frowning, craggy,
C. 314.
Schoure, sb. shower, C. 507; schours,
M.P. li. 4I.
Schuik, v. pt. t. shook, C. 1067.
Schuit, v. shoot, C. 749.
Schulis, sb. schools, C. 838, 843;
scuillis, C. 185; scuills, M.P. x.
26.
Schyne, sb. sheen, brightness, M.P.
li. 22.
Scol, S. lxix. 13. See note on page
35I.
Scores, sb. scars, F. 555.
Scrows, sb. scrolls, writings, F. 112.
Se, v. see, C. 1093; seand, pr. p. C.
461.
Seasde, v. pt. t. seized, S. xxxv. 7.
Secluid, v. remove, S. vii. 4.
Secreit, adv. secretly, alone, M.P.
xxxiv. 28.
Seiffe, sb. sieve, F. 461. A.S. sife.
Seik, v. seek, S. xvii. 14.
424
GLOSSARY.
Seik, adj. sick, S. xxv. 5.
Seill, v. seal, ratify, M.P. ii. 17;
seild, C. 1227; seiled, F. 100;
sealed, 101; seald, M.P. v. 43.
Seindell, adj. few, C. 410; seindle,
M.P. i. 15; D.P. v. 1.
Seis, v. pr. t. seest, C. 553;=sees, S.
xx. 4; sene, pp. C. 4, 765; sie,
imp. M.P. xvii. 69.
Sell, sb. self, C. 403; sellis, 372.
Sen, conj. since, C. 483, 1556.
Sensyne, adv. since then, S. xvii. 12;
M.P. v. 35.
Seruand, sb. servant, M.P. xxv. 13.
Sett, v. plant, M.P. xxxi. 17.
Seueir, adj. severe, harsh, A.P. i. 119.
Sey, v. try, F. 70; S. vii. 6; M.P.
v. 38; seyit, C. 749.
Sey, sb. assaying, M.P. xxxii. 23.
Sey, sb. sea, C. 313; seyis, S. lxi. 10.
Shaird, sb. sherd, D.P. ii. 33.
Shame, v. to be ashamed, M.P. xxxii.
50; D.P. iv. 63. Ger. sich schämen.
Shap, sb. figure, shape, M.P. xxxii.
50; shappe, xxii. 26.
Sharps, v. pr. t. plays the sharper,
tricks, S. iii. II.
Shau, sb. show, S. xii. 2.
Shauis, sb. coverts, forests, woods,
M.P. xli. 3.
Shauis, v. pr. t. showest, M. P. xii.
16; shaune, pp. xxxiv. 6; shawes,
F. 570.
Shearne, sb. excrement (gen. of cattle),
F. 406.
Sheirand, v. pr. p. cutting, piercing,
M. P. xxxiii. 18.
Shene, adj. beautiful, shining, M.P.
xxix. 26.
Shent, v. pp. brought to nought, M.P.
iii. 47, xliv. 37; schent, A.P. i.
118.
Sheu, v. pt. t. showed, M.P. vii. 3,
xvii. 15, &c.
Shift, sb. plan, artifice, M.P. xxii. 31.
Shir, sb. sir, S. vii. 1.
Shit, sb. excrement, term of contempt,
F. 85, 365, 733.
Sho, pron. she, S. xxii. 14; shoe, F.
340; adj. F. 278.
Shoe cloutter, sb. shoe-mender, F. 747.
Shoirs, sb. shores, M.P. xlix. 9.
Shoot, v. come into blossom, M.P.
xxxii. 25.
Shoot, v. shut, M.P. xxxv. 73; shute,
pp. D.P. iii. 16.
Shores, v. pr. t. threatens, M.P. xv.
65; shorde, xl. 39.
Shoring, sb. threatening, S. li. II.
Short, v. imp. shorten, S. iii. 14
shortnit shortened, beguiled, M.P
xlviii. 216.
Shotfrie, adj. safe from shot, M.P.
xl. 19.
Shuff, v. shove, M.P. xxi. 19.
Shute, v. push, urge, S. lxix. 8.
Shyt, v. cacare, F. 746.
Sibbe, adj. related, M.P. xlviii.
230.
Sic, pron. such, C. 312; sik, 214,
569; sike, F. 85.
Siches, sb. sighs, C. 260; sichis, 284.
A.S. sícan.
Siching, sb. sighing, M.P. lii. 2.
Sicht, sb. sight, C. 302.
Sichtles, adj. blind, C. 305.
Sicker, adv. securely, surely, M. P.
v. 55; sikker smartly, xxii. 18;
sikerly, A.P. iii. 2.
Siclyk, adj. and adv. such like, even
so, S. lvii. 4; M.P. i. 13; siklyk, S.
xliii. 2.
Sighis, sb. sighs, S. liii. 4.
Signe, v. show, signify, F. 633.
Sillie, adj. poor, timid, C. 537; S. li.
7; silly weak, frail, S. xxxv. 7.
Singed (singit), adj. shrivelled, wiz-
ened, F. 474.
=
Sings, sb. signs, C. 438.
Sit, v. sit out, hence disregard, dis-
obey, F. 67.
Sith, conj. since, S. xi. 1.
Skade, sb. wizened creature, F. 739,
762.
Skaillis, v. dismisses, clears out, S.
xiii. 3; M.P. xli. 7.
Skairse, adv. scarcely, C. 432.
Skaith, sb. harm, C. 211, 400; S.
xlviii. 8. A.S. sceaðan.
Skance, v. reflect, C. 1357. See note
on p. 303.
Skant, adj. scarce, F. 190.
Skantly, adv. scarcely, poorly, C.
1058; S. xlviii. 8; skantlie, S.
xxxiii. 3.
Skar, v. frighten, scare, F. 114;
skarred, pt. t. 500; skars, C. 1415;
skarris, S. xlviii. 8.
Skarted, v. pt. t. scratched, F. 499.
Skimmer, to cause to fall in a shower;
mejere (?), F. 780.
Skirled, v. pt. t. screamed shrilly, F.
499; skirlis, M.P. viii. 29.
Skitter, sb. looseness, diarrhoea, F.
244.
Skittered, v. pt. t. liquidum excre-
mentum ejecit, F. 499.
Sklander, sb. slander, S. lxii. 13.
GLOSSARY.
425
Sklent, sb. slant; a sklent
F. 161.
-
aslant,
Skorne, sb. scorn, C. 211.
Skowper, sb. jumper, unsettled crea-
ture, F. 757.
Skowping, v. pr. p. skipping, C.
23.
Skuill-maister, sb. schoolmaster, C.
188.
Skurge, v. scourge, punish, C. 1415.
Skurvie, adj. mean, S. xxiv. II.
Skybalde, adj. mean, low, F. 126.
Skybell, sb. worthless fellow, S. xxiv.
II.
Skyre, adv. clear, F. 533.
Slae, sb. sloe; slaes, pl., passim.
Slaid, v. pt. t. slid, flowed gently, C.
313. A.S. slidan, pret. slád.
Slaide, sb. den, F. 92.
Slaif, sb. slave, C. 894.
Slaiker, sb. licker, F. 751. Ger.
schlecken.
Icel. slaed.
Slaiks, v. pr. t. soothes, alleviates, S.
li. 5.
Slake, v. relieve, cure, F. 230; slaik |
=slacken, cease, M. P. xx. 4.
Slau, adv. slowly, M.P. xvii. 69;
slaulie, xvii. 22.
Slaverand, v. pr. p. slavering, F. 770.
Slaw, adj. slow, C. 943.
Sleikit, adj. smooth, sly, crafty, C.
547. Icel. slikr.
Sleip, v. sleep, C. 1560; sleipand,
S. vi. II.
Sleuth, sb. sloth, C. 1560; D.P. iv.
41, iii. 5.
Slewthing, sb. lingering, delay, C. 556.
Slicht, sʊ. wile, lure, cheat, S. lix. 6;
slichtis, M.P. li. 38.
Slicht, adj. slight, M.P. v. 32.
Slight, sb. craft, handling, M.P. xxxii.
23.
Slo, v. slay, M.P. xxxiv. 13.
Slokkin, v. slake, quench, C. 444.
Slokning, sb. power of slaking or
quenching, C. 1377.
Slowthing, sʊ. lingering, C. 824.
Slychts, sb. lures, snares, D.P. vii.
II. See Slicht.
Slyds, v. pr. t. glides, slips, C. 824.
Smatched, sb. small chit, F. 486,
603.
Smeik, v. smoke, S. xxv. 2.
Smeikie, adj. smoky, S. xxx. 13.
Smeithis, sb. smiths, S. xxx. 13.
Smerit, v. pp. smeared, F. 292.
Smert, v. pt. t. smarted, suffered,
M.P. 1. 28.
Smiddy, sʊ. smithy, S. xxv. 2.
Smoir, v. extinguish, C. 580; smore,
pr. t. suffocate, choke, M.P. xlvi.
55; smorit=smore it, smother it,
C. 261; smored, F. 647. A.S.
smorian.
Smy, sb. minion, F. 545, 648, 742.
Smyrkling, v. pr. p. laughing in a
suppressed manner, simpering, C.
1065.
Snafling, part. adj. snuffling, F. 569.
Snau, sb. snow, S. xii. 7.
Snod, adj. neat, clean, F. 562.
Snoire, sb. snore, F. 308.
Snuff, sb. snivel, F. 308.
Socht, v. pt. t. sought, C. 350.
Soddane, adj. hasty, C. 513.
Soght, v. sought, M.P. xlix. 20.
Soir, adv. sorely, heavily, C. 64.
Soir, v. soar, C. 199.
Sojouris, sb. soldiers, M.P. xxxiii. 6.
Solisters, sẻ. solicitors, agents, S. lv.
9.
Soliter, adj. solitary, lonely, M.P.
xxiv. 41.
Sone, adv. soon, M.P. iii. II; soner,
S. xlii. 12.
Sooth, adj. wise, M.P. xxxii. 7.
Soun, v. moan (?), S. xxxiv. 4; sound,
pr. t. utter, send forth, S. lvi. 7.
Sounding, v. pr. p. swooning, F. 317.
Soundt, v. pt. t. swooned, C. 218.
A.S. swógan.
Soup, v. sup, A.P. ii. 32; soupit, pt.
t. supped, took our meals, M.P.
xlviii. 67.
Soutter, sẻ. cobbler, F. 747.
Sowd, v. pp. sewed, F. 412.
Sow, sb. pig-headed creature, F.
Sowke, v. suck, F. 339; sowked, F.
179, 486.
743.
Sowld, v. aux. should, A.P. iv. I.
Sowpit, p. and adj. faint, weary, over-
come, C. 284.
Spail, so. splinter, chip, C. 184.
A.S. speld.
Spairis, v. pr. t. spares, withholds,
keeps back, C. 370.
Spald, sb. shoulder, F. 304; spauld,
F. 703.
Spauen, sb. spavin, a swelling near
the joints, generally producing
lameness, F. 703. O.F. espavain.
Sped, sb. spade, S. lxvi. 6.
Speiche, sb. speech, C. 370.
Speid, v. succeed, progress, S. xlii.
8.
Speill, v. climb, M.P. iii. 31.
Speik, v. speak, M.P. xlii. 3.
Speinzie, adj. Spanish, F. 314.

426
GLOSSARY.
Speir, v. ask, inquire, C. 607, 923;
S. xxxvi. 1; speirit, C. 604; sperit,
946.
Speven, sb. spavin, F. 304.
Spew bleck, sb. vomiter of bile or
pollution, F. 765.
Spil, v. destroy, C. 1048; spill, M.P.
xxxiv. 33; spillis, C. 397.
Sponk, sh. spark, M. P. xiii. 40.
Spousing, adj. bridal, D.P. iii. 2.
Spreit, sb. spirit, C. 542; courage, S.
viii. 13.
Spring, sb. tune, C. 919.
Spulzie, v. spoil, ruin, S. lx. 14;
spulzied = robbed, C. 219. Lat.
spoliare.
Spurgald, adj. spur-galled, hurt with
the spur, M.P. iii. 31.
Spuris, v. pr. t. spurs, S. lii. 9.
Spyt, sb. spite, M.P. xvi. 9.
Square, adj. fair, well-made, M.P.
xvii. 63.
Stagring, adj. unstable, M.P. iii. 75;
stakkering, C. 213.
Staig, sb. horse, F. 394.
Stail, v. stale, term in chess, C. 216.
Stakkerit, v. pt. t. staggered, stum-
bled, C. 303.
Stand, v. pt. t. stood, C. 1053; pp.
remained, F. 715.
Stane, sẻ. stone, C. 79, 567; sta[nis],
S. lx. 12; stains, M.P. xxvi. 5.
Stap, v. stop, C. 1552.
Stark, adj. strong, C. 304, 1529;
starke arrant, barefaced, F. 74;
starke strong, F. 394. A.S. stearc.
Starnis, sb. stars, C. 227.
Start, v. pt. t. started, M.P. xxxiii.
21.
Staruit, v. pt. t. C. 50. See note on
p. 288.
Staw, v. pt. t. didst steal, F. 74, 698.
Stay, adj. steep, erect, C. 357; S.
xxxii. 2; M.P. xxvii. 36; stey,
C. 1523.
Stayer, sb. hinderer, C. 697.
Steid, sb. stead; on steid = instead,
steid=instead,
F. 394.
Steik, v. shut, C. 191.
Steinzie, v. pr. t. stain, S. xii. 14.
Steirbuird, sb. starboard, M.P. xlviii.
156.
Steirer, sb. inciter, F. 272.
Stenzies, v. pr. t. stings, M.P. ii. 5.
Sterrie, adj. starry, M.P. li. 26.
Sterue, v. die, M. M. vi. 7; sterv,
M.P. xxxiv. 42; sterving=death-
dealing, killing, M.P.
xlv. II.
Ger. sterben.
Stickar, sb. stabber, slayer, F. 787.
Stickdirt, sb. term of contempt, F.
117.
Stik, v. remain fixed, M.P. xxvii.
3.
Sting, sb. pole; dryd sting-dried
stick, F. 796; lance, spear, M.P.
xlix. 29.
Stint, v. stop, pause, D.P. iii. 18;
stinting holding back, restraining,
C. 363.
=
Stirk, sb. bullock or heifer between
one and two years old; a coarse
ignorant fellow, S. lxx. 13.
Stode, v. pt. t. stood, stayed, abode,
M.P. xxxviii. 8.
Stoir, sb. store, C. 66.
Stomackis, sb. courage, hearts, C.
504; stomok, S. xvi. 3; stomock,
D.P. iv. 57; = breast, M.P. xxvii. 3 ;
stomoch, S. xxxviii. 9.
Stot, sb. bound, M.P. xxiv. 23.
Stot, sb. ox, C. 1099. Swed. stut.
Stottis, v. pr. t. stumbles, M.P. iii.
36; rebounds, M.P. xxviii. 28.
Stou[nd], v. smart, ache, M.P. xl. 31;
stounds, C. 741.
=
Stoup, v. yield, stoop, F. 130, D.P.
iv. 57; stoupis, M.P. ix. 18, xxviii.
34.
Stowe, sb. place, stove, pillory (?), F.
81. A.S. stów.
Stowin, v. pp. stolen, C. 192.
Straide, v. pt. t. strode, sat astride
of, F. 394.
Straikit, v. pt. t. stroked, S. xxxiii.
6.
Strais, sb. straws, M.P. iii. 36.
Straiv, v. pt. t. strove, M.P. lvi. 10.
Strake, sb. stroke, blow, M.P. xxx.
18; straik, xxxiii. 22.
Strands, sb. rivers, gutters, F. 426.
Streight, adj. straight, S. xxxii. 2.
Streik, v. extend; streik a sting=
extend a lance, engage with the
lance, M.P. xlix. 29.
Stridland, v. pr. p. straddling, F. 19.
Struik, v. pt. t. struck, stopped, M.P.
xlviii. III.
Strydand, v. pr. p. striding, F. 19,
I17.
Stryk, v. strike, S. vii. 7.
Strynd, sb. strain, bent, inclination,
M.P. xviii. 2.
Studdie, adv. steady, M.P. xlviii. 151.
Stude, v. pt. t. stood, C. 1408; D.P.
iii. 27.
Studie, sb. anvil, M.P. xxviii. 28.
Studie, sb. absorbed attention, C. 1408.
GLOSSARY.
427
Studie, v. become anxious or absent-
minded, M.P. xxiv. 31.
Stupefact, adj. stupefied, S. xlv. 7;
M.P. xxiv. 31.
Sturt, sb. trouble, vexation, C. 478,
801.
Sturtsome, adj. troublesome, vexa-
tious, F. 135.
Styell, v. style, M.P. 1. 2.
Styme, sb. particle, C. 553.
Sua, adv. and conj. so, sæpe.
Suaits, sh. thin ale or beer, S. lxvii.
14.
Suanis, sb. swans, S. xii. 7.
Subtilis, sb. fluids, liquids, S. Ivi. 9.
Succeid, v. follow, M.P. x. 7.
Suddentie, sb. suddenness, M.P. xlv.
9.
Suedling, v. pr. p. swaddling, S. 1. 6.
A.S. swedel.
Suete, adj. sweet, S. ii. 4, xvii. 2;
sueit, S. lxiii. 2.
Sueyis, v. pr. t. sway aside, M.P.
xli. 50.
uims, v. pr. t. swims, S. lxvii. 14.
uinger, sb. scoundrel, S. xxiv. 3.
Suir, adj. safe, C. 779; suire, C. 467.
Suit, sb. soot, F. 292, 665.
Suith, adj. sure, true, S. xxxiii. 8;
F. 648; wise, trustworthy, M.P. i.
13.
Suld, v. aux. should, C. 570.
Sum, adj. some, C. 11, sæpe; all and
sum all and sundry, M.P. xxvi.
36; sum tyme- erewhile, once, S.
iv. 9; sumtyme, C. 162; sum tyme-
sum tyme at one time-at another
time, C. 242, 243; M.P. liii. 1, 3.
Summond, v. summon (with excres-
cent d), M.P. xxxiii. 7.
Sunzie, sb. excuse, F. 85, 796-see
note on p. 308; but a sunzie=
without a doubt, for certain, F.
796.
Suppleit, v. pp. supplied, S. xli. 13.
Suppone, v. suppose, S. xxiii. 7, lvi.
I, lxiv. I, &c.
Suppryis, v. surprise, M.P. xliv. 26.
Suspect, v. pp. suspected, M.P. xxxvii.
19.
Sute, sb. suit, entreaty, C. 175.
Suyn, sb. swine, S. iii. 6.
Swa, adv. so, C. 1026, 1489; swae,
502.
Sweir, adj. unwilling, obstinate; sweir
sow-pig-headed creature, F. 743.
Sweit, v. sweat, C. 577.
Sweit, adj. fresh, F. 179.
Sweiting, sb. perspiration, F 317.
Swelt, v. pt. t. became faint or breath-
less, choked, gasped, C. 218; M.P.
v. 14; suelt died, iv. II. Cf. Eng.
swelter.
Swelt, sb. suffocation, death, F. 317.
Swerfe, sb. swooning, fainting, F. 317.
Swidering, sb. doubt, hesitation, C.
1007.
Swingeour, sb. scoundrel, F. 151, 229,
752.
Swyld, v. pp. swaddled, F. 292.
Syndrie, adj. sundry, several, many,
M.P. xiv. 35, xv. 25.
Syne, adv. afterwards, then, C. 515;
syn, M.P. xlviii. 38; soon or syne
=soon or late, S. xx. 8.
Syse, sb. judgment, doom, F. 372;
court, assize, M.P. xliv. 29.
Syte, sb. grief, suffering, M.P. v.
14, xvi. 25. Icel. sýta.
Tacke, sb. journey, F. 558.
Tade, sb. toad, F. 5; taide, 392;
taidis, 669. A.S. tádie.
Taidrell, sb. puny creature, perhaps
little toad, F. 437. See note on
p. 319.
Taikling, sb. tackle, M.P. xlviii. 137.
Taill, sb. story, C. 691; fable, S.
xxviii. 1; M.P. i. 11.
Taill3eweis, sb. reelings, pitches,
M.P. xlviii. 157.
=
Tait, adj. foul; from sb. tath or taith,
Icel. tada dung, F. 755.
Edit.
1688 here reads tuit projecting.
Cf. tute mowitt = with projecting
nether jaw (Dunbar).
Tak, v. take, M.P. i. I.
=
Tak, v. tack, M.P. xlviii. 140.
Takill, sb. tackle, M.P. xlviii. 192.
Takin, sb. token, C. 304. A.S. tácen.
Tald, v. pp. told, C. 997; pt. t. 1141;
tauld, pp. 954.
Tane, v. pp. taken, M.P. i. I.
Tanny, adj. tawny, F. 736.
Targets, sb. ornaments in the cap,
tassels, F. 212.
Tarie, v. tarry, F. 338.
Tarladders, sb. thongs, F. 571. See
note on p. 322.
Tary, adj. tar-smeared, dirty, F. 745.
Tauntit, v. pp. tightened, taut, M.P.
xlviii. 93.
Taverand, v. pr. p. drinking in taverns,
F. 770.
Taw, v. chew, suck greedily, F. 565.
Tawes, sb. lash, belt, the schoolmas-
ter's implement of punishment, F.
57, 571.
428
GLOSSARY.
Tearie, adj. tearful, M.P. xxxvii. 4.
Teasicke, sb. phthisis, consumption,
F. 321.
Tedder, sb. tether, halter, F. 462;
tedders, 207.
Teiche, v. teach, C. 187; teich, S. i.
12.
Teirs, sb. tears, S. iv. 5.
Tensum, num. ten at once, C. 453.
Tent, sb. heed, C. 398, 424.
Tentles, adj. heedless, careless, M.P.
xxxii. 67.
Tersel, sb. male of the goshawk, M.P.
xviii. 71; tersell = puny creature,
See note on p. 363.
F. 90.
Teughly, adv. toughly, F. 565.
Tewch, adj. tough, C. 328.
tóh.
A.S.
Thae, dem. pron. those, C. 85; thay,
540.
Thair, adv. there, C. 1079.
Thair, pron. their, C. 2, &c.
Thairintil, adv. thereunto, C. 762.
Thairtill, adv. thereto, A.P. i. 32.
Thame, pr. them, S. xv. 14; M.P.
1. 2.
Than, adv. then, sæpe.
The, pr. thee, sæpe; thou, C. 410.
Theam, sb. theme, S. lxiv. II.
Theefe, sb. thief, F. 74.
These, sb. thesis, subject, S. Ixiv. 11.
Thidder, adv. thither, M.P. xi. 28.
Thir, pr. those, C. 14, 481.
Thirlit, v. pp. pierced, M.P. vi. 17,
xi. 59; thirlis, xv. 26. A.S. pir-
lian. Cf. Eng. thrill, drill.
Thirsting (thristing), sb. thrusting, C.
291.
Thissell-cok, sb. the male thrush, M.P.
xli. 5.
Tho, dem. pr. those, M.P. xiv. 9.
Thoch, conj. though, C. 1257; thocht,
C. 287, &c.; thoght, M.P. v. 1;
thought, v. 36.
Thocht, v. pt. t. thought, C. 348.
Thole, v. suffer, S. xiv. 6; tholde, S.
vi. II; thoild, M.P. iv. 8. A.S.
polian.
Thrald, v. pp. enslaved, M. P. xxiv. 76.
Thrauard, adj. cross-grained, perverse,
unlucky, S. xxxiii. 2; M.P. xx. 25.
Thraw, sb. twist; in a thraw=irregu-|
larly, F. 564.
Thrawin, adj. ill-natured, F. 784.
Threed, sb. thread, F. 411; M.P.
xxii. 38.
Threttie, num. thirty, F. 4II.
Thrift, sb. means, position, C. 888.
Thriftlesse, sb. unthriven or unpro
able creature, F. 387.
Thring, v. thrust, D.P. viii. 36.
Thringing, sẻ. thrusting, pressing,
935. See note on p. 300.
Thrist, sb. thirst, M.P. xi. 16.
Thrist, sỏ. thrust, oppression, M
xxiv. 76.
Thristis, v. pr. t. thirsts, C. 483.
Throt, sb. vent, C. 1551.
Throw, prep. through, C. 10; thru
M.P. xlv. 6.
Throwing, sb. wringing, twisting,
376.
Thuddes, sb. dull heavy stroke
thundring thuddes of fyre=thund
claps, F. 531.
Thuddis, v. pr. t. strikes dull hea
blows, C. 237.
237. A.S. póden.
Thyis, sb. thighs, C. 114.
Thyn, adv. then, thence, M.P. x
16, xlviii. 237.
Tichter, adj. more trim or elegan
A.P. i. 67.
Til, prep. to, M.P. xvii. 88; till, iii.
8.
Tinsall, sb. loss, M.P. xxxii. 67.
Tint, v. pp. lost, C. 816, &c. S
Tyne.
Tirles, sb. ripples, C. 334. See no
on p. 294.
Tirles, sb. St Vitus' dance (?), F. 321
Tirrd, v. pt. t. uncovered, showed,
392.
Tittes, sb. a disease in the dugs
cows, F. 321.
Tittest, adv. soonest, most quickly, I
437; M.P. iii. 26.
To, adv. too, sæpe.
Togidder, adv. together, C. 585.
Tolbuith, sb. jail, S. xxiv. 13. Ice
tollbúið.
Toome, adj. empty, F. 212; v. 759
763.
Toone, sb. tune, F. 510, 528-see not
on p. 322; tone, M.P. iii. 13; toons
vi. 31.
Toppe, sb. forelock, M.P. i. 4.
Tord, sb. excrement, A. P. v. 4; turd
F. 753.
Tost, v. pr. t. toss, are vexed, S. xlv
9.
Tounis, sb. towns, M.P. xlviii. 39.
Tousled, v. pp. roughly handled
tussled, F. 362.
Tow, sb. halter, F. 71. Icel. tóg.
Thrie, num. three, C. 625; thre, 729; | Toy, sb. fancy, whim, hobby, M.P
num. adv. thrise; thryse = thrice.
111. 20.

GLOSSARY.
429
Trane, sb. snare, artifice, S. xxxviii.
5; M.P. viii. 41; traine, M.M.
xliii. 5.
Tratling, sb. idle talk, F. 24, 101; adj.
129.
Tratlit, v. pt. t. tattled, C. 627.
Travell, sh. trouble, hardship, M.P.
xxxix. 51.
Tre, sb. lance, M.P. xlix. 24.
Tred, v. tread, M.P. xviii. 55.
Treit, v. use kindly, M.P. 1. 54; treitit,
A.P. i. III.
Trensh-man, sb. interpreter, spokes-
man, toastmaster, S. lxix. II.
Tressoun, sb. treason, C. 543.
Trest, sb. trust, pledge, M.P. xxx.
23.
Treu, adj. true, S. xliv. I; trew, C.
1018.
Treuis, sb. truce, M.P. xxviii. 31.
Trewis, sb. trousers, M.P. liv. 3.
Trie, sb. tree, C. 341.
Trimbling, adj. trembling, M.P. xi.
21.
Trimlie, adv. well, fitly, C. 13; S. ix.
IO.
Trinkling, v. pr. p. trickling, S. lv.
10.
Tron, sb. pillory, F. 558.
Trone, sb. throne, M.P. xli. 44.
Trouker, sb. cheat, F. 225.
Trow, v. trust, C. 842; troude, S.
xxviii. II; M.P. xviii. 71; trowit,
C. 658; trouing, M.P. xlii. 12.
A.S. treózian.
Trublit, v. pt. t. troubled, C. 230;
pp. M.P. v. 27.
Truiker, sb. loose fellow, trickster, F.
24, 129.
Trumper, sb. deceiver, C. 1194, F.
IOI; trumpers, F. 470.
Trumperie, sb. deceit, F. 78, 225.
Trumpit, v. pt. t. deceived, C. 1140;
pp. trumped, S. xlviii. II.
tromper.
Fr.
Tryde, v. pp. experienced, found by
trial, S. v. 6, ix. 10; F. 78, &c.
Tua, num. two, M.P. iii. 13; tuay,
C. 460; M.P. i. 12; twa, C. 533.
Tuggled, v. pp. pulled about, F. 362.
Icel. töggla.
Tuik, v. pt. t. took, C. 677; M.P.
xxiv. 25.
Tuin, v. separate, part, S. xvii. 4;
D.P. v. 22; tuins, S. xlvi. 4.
Tuinis, sb. companions, nymphs (?),
S. viii. 9; tuins=twins, M.P. xxxv.
51.
Tuins, sb. tunes, M.P. xlviii. 94.
|
|
|
Tulzies, sb. quarrels, F. 212.
Tung, sb. tongue, S. lxiii. I.
Tursis, v. pr. t. tosses, M.P. xli. 19.
Tusche, interj. tush! expression of
impatience, C. 368.
Tuyis, num. twice, S. lxii. 5; twyse,
C. 650; F. 368; twise, 101.
Tuyn, z. twine, S. viii. 9.
Twaes, sb. pairs, F. 208.
Twell, num. twelve, F. 421.
Twistis, sb. twigs, C. 58, 328.
Tydance, sb. tidings, F. 72.
Tyde, sb. time, hour, C. 1271; tyd,
F. 470. A.S. tid.
Tyins, v. pr. t. losest, D.P. vi. 83.
Tyke, sb. dog, loose fellow, F. 71;
tykes, 362. Icel. tik.
Tyme, sb. time; till tyme=till, C.
554; S. xlii. 6.
Tyndis, sb. horns, antlers, M.P. xli.
19.
Tyne, v. inf. lose; tyn, S. xix. 10.
Tyres, sb. tires, F. 571.
Tyre, v. tire, S. lii. 3; tyrit, C. 99.
Tystit, v. pt. t. enticed, S. lii. 3; M.P.
xviii. 55.
Tytillis, sb. titles, M.P. 1. 6.
Vaik, v. be free from, S. lxv. 4.
Lat. vacare.
Vaikis, v. pr. t. watches, does duty,
M.P. xli. 29.
Vain, sẻ. natural bent, talent, genius,
S. ix. 2. Lat. vena.
Vane, adj. vain, M.P. xviii. 37.
Vant, v. boast, M.P. xxxii. 80.
Vautit, v. pp. vaulted, S. ii. 1; vauted,
lvi. 2. O.F. vaute; Mod. F. voûte.
Vderis, pron. others, M.P. liii. II.
Vertew, sb. virtue, M.P. 1. 12.
Vees, sb. some disease, perhaps the
"blues"
or delirium tremens, F.
318. Teut. vaese=delirium.
Vha, rel. pron. who, S. lvii. 1.
Vhair, adv. where, S. lvi. 13.
Vhairin, adv. wherein, S. xxvii. 2.
Vhais, rel. pron. whose, S. 1. 2.
Vheet, sb. whit, M.P. xl. 43.
Vheill, sb. wheel, M.P. xx. 42; vhele,
xlviii. 185.
Vher, adv. where, S. xxix. 7, xlviii. 2.
Vhich, rel. pron. which, S. lvi. 10;
vhilk, S. ix. 4; vhilks, xlix. 13.
Vhill, conj. until, S. xix. 14; M.P. v.
IO.
Vhirlis, v. pr. t. whirls, M.P. xlviii.
148.
Vhissell, sb. whistle, M.P. xlviii. 135.
Vhois, rel. pron. whose, D.P. iv. 19.
}

430
GLOSSARY.
Vhom, rel. pron. whom, S. lvii. 2.
Vhyle, sb. time, M.P. xxi. 25.
Vhylome, adv. sometimes, at times,
M.P. xlii. 24.
Vhyt, adj. fair, M.P. xvii. 56, xlvii.
4; white, xix. 4, xxxv. 38.
Vive, adj. fresh, clear, M.P. xxxv. 37.
Vmquhyle, adj. former, late, S. xvii.
IO.
Vnadwysment, sb. want of judgment,
D.P. v. 2.
Vnagast, adj. without fear, M. P. xiv. 32.
Vnassayit, v. pp. unchallenged, un-
tried, M.P. xxxiii. 16.
Vnbeast, sb. monster, F. 264.
Vnbrunt, v. pp. unburnt, C. 257.
Vnconqueist, part. adj. unconquered,
S. viii. 5.
Vncourtessie, sb. discourtesy, S. lxv. 8.
Vndeceist, v. pp. still living, C. 286.
Vndought, sb. puny creature, good-
for-nothing, F. 434; vndoght, 485.
Vnhap, sb. ill-luck, M.P. xxxvi. 31.
Vnkamed, adj. uncombed, flowing,
M.P. xvii. 55.
Vnknawin, v. pp. unknown, C. 255.
Vnlikelie, adj. unbecoming, unseemly,
C. 686.
Vnsell, adj. wretched, worthless, F.
93, 282, 602.
Vnsetstevin, sb. time not appointed,
M.P. v. 47.
Vnslie, adj. unskilful, F. 159.
Vntymous, adj. ill-timed, unseason-
able, C. 397.
Vnweirdit, adj. ill-fated, S. xlviii. 12.
Voce, sb. voice, S. xxxix. 4. Lat.
VOX.
Voced, v. pp. called, named, M.P.
xxxvii. 10.
Voubet, sb. caterpillar, dwarf, F.
614.
Vowd vow it, or vow with excrescent
-
d, for the sake of the rhyme, C. 872.
Vox, v. pt. t. waxed, grew, M.P.
xlviii. 188.
Vpaland, adj. in the country, S. xxv.
3.
Vploips, v. pr. t. leaps up, M.P. iii.
33.
Vpond upon it, C. 182.
=
Vrne, v. pr. t. burn, be tortured, S.
xxxvi. 4; torture, M.P. xl. 58.
See note on p. 342.
Vsis, v. pr. t. frequent, resort to, C.
97, 520; vsed = practised, F. 602;
vsit, M.P. xviii. 49; vsd enjoyed,
xviii. 61; vsand=experiencing, F.
357.
Vter, adj. further, final, M.P. xxxij.
86.
Vther, pr. other, C. 44.
Vther, conj. either, C. 735.
Vyces, sb. vices, S. iii. 7.
Vyir, ind. pron. other, A.P. iii. 3.
Vyld, adj. vile, S. iii. 7; F. 735, 792.
Wachts, v. pr. t. drink, S. lxix. 14.
Wae, sb. woe, C. 915.
Wageour, sb. wager, pledge, S. Iv. 6.
Waik, adj. weak, feeble, C. 1112, S.
xii. 5; waiker, C. 1036. A.S. wát.
Waill, sb. choice, M.P. 1. 45.
Waill, v. choose, select, S. liii. 2
M.P. iii. 7, xl. 34. Ger. wählen.
Wald, v. aux. would, C. 99.
Wallis, v. blend, agree, incorporate,
M.P. ii. I; walis, ii. 6; wals, ii.
12.
Wair, v. spend, M.P. xxiv. 48;
waired, F. 265, 697.
Waird, sẻ. ward, keeping, M.P. xvii.
9.
Waist, adv. in vain, to no purpose,
F. 690.
Waist, v. waste, M.P. i. 10, xxxii. 77.
Wait, v. pr. t. know, C. 787; M.F.
li. 37; A.P. ii. 34.
Wame, sb. belly, F. 654.
Wams, sb. blisters, spots, F. 550.
Ger. Wamme.
Wan, v. pt. t. didst gain, M.P. xliii.
13.
Wand, v. lash, thrash, F. 755.
Wanfucked, adj. venere exhaustus, F.
90.
Wanshapen, adj. deformed, F. 85,
268.
Want, v. have not, S. xlix. 14; wants
=hast lost, S. xlviii. 3.
Wanthreivin, v. pp. unthriven, F. 327.
Wanthrift, sb. unthriven creature, F.
438.
Wanthriftiest, adj. most prodigal,
most worthless, F. 261.
Wapins, sb. weapons, M.P. xli. 42.
War, adj. wary, on their guard, C.
687; M.P. iii. 57; =aware, xxiv.
6.
War, v. beat, overcome, excel, F.
164, 689; M.P. xviii. 10; ward, F.
105.
Warand, sb. warrant, D. P. iii. 40;
warrand, S. xiv. II.
Ward, v. pp. weill ward well dost
=
thou deserve, M.P. xl. 8.
Warbles, sb. worms between the outer
and inner skins of beasts, F. 320.
GLOSSARY.
431
[Ware], v. spend, S. xlix. 7. See
See | Wey, v. weigh, C. 421; weyd, 1164,
Wair.
Warie, v. curse, S. xxxiii. 1; M.P.
wareis, xl. I; waried, F. 587; |
warye, C. 250; waryit, M.P. xxi.
25; wary, lii. 15.
Wark, sb. work, C. 535; warks, S. ii.
14.
Warkloome, sb. instrument, pen, F. 43.
Warloch, sb. wizard, F. 614; war-
lok, M.P. iii. 25. See note on p.
1323.
Warsill, v. wrestle, M.P. xlii. 9.
Warst, adj. worst, C. 1204.
Warwolfe, sb. man-wolf, F. 614; war-
:
wolfes, 360. See note on p. 315.
Wast, v. pr. t. waste, C. 817; M.P.
xlix. 15. O.F. wast.
Wat, v. pt. t. wet; wat ane anchor
=cast anchor, M.P. xlviii. 168.
Wattis, v. pr. t. knowest, C. 440, 754.
Wauntit, v. pt. t. needed, S. xv. 9.
Waverand, v. pr. p. wandering, de-
lirious, F. 770.
We, sb. little while, M. P. lvi. 2.
Weam-eill, sb. belly-ache, F. 318.
Weard, sb. fate, destiny, S. xxxiii. I.
Wecht, sb. weight, C. 514.
Wed, v. wager, S. xlvi. 8.
Wedders, sb. wethers, F. 205.
Wedfie, sb. wager, stake, S. xlvi. 7;
D.P. iii. 7. See note on p. 344.
[Weet], sb. moisture, wetness, S. xii. 8.
Weet, v. wet, M.P. xxvii. 18; weitis,
M.P. v. 44; weit, C. 638.
Weghtie, adj. weighty, S. x. 12.
Weil, adv. well, C. 1314; weill=
very, M.P. xxiv. 70.
Weill, sb. choice, A.P. i. 50.
Weill, adj. blessed, happy, D.P. i. 1.
Wein, v. pr. t. think, M.P. iii. 62;
weins hopes, expects, C. 1081.
Weindis, v. pr. t. insinuate, try, M.P.
xxxix. 39.
=
Weir, v. wear, S. xlix. 8; M.P. i. 10,
xxiv. 66. A.S. werian.
Weir, sb. war, A.P. ii. 14.
Weird, sb. doom, destiny, M.P. xlvi.
31. A.S. wyrd.
Weirds, sb. the Fates, S. 268; M.P.
xl. I.
Weist, v. pt. t. knew, C. 178; wist,
ΙΟΟΙ.
Weit, adj. wet, M.P. li. 6.
Welauay, interj. S. xxxiv. 8.
note on p. 342.
See
Werks, sb. works, M.P. lv. 4.
Wes, v. pt. t. was, M.P. xxxiii. 25,
&c.
M.P. iii. 7; weyde, xlviii. 90;
weyis, iii. 16.
Weyis, sb. balance, S. xviii. II.
Whilke, rel. pron. which, F. 635.
Whittour, sb. talker, chatterer, perhaps
drunkard in F. 767. Cf. Eng.
whetter.
Whryne, v. writhe, wriggle, F. 453.
Wicht, sb. wight, person, S. lix. 2;
M.P. lii. 5.
Widderit, v. pt. t. withered, C. 269;
widdered, F. 792.
Widdershins, adv. back, on end, M.P.
xlviii. 160.
Widdie neck, sb. gallows-bird, F. 765.
Widdircok, sb. weathercock, M.P. iii.
39; widdercok, xxxii. 56.
Wie, v. pr. t. sway, rock, A.P. ii.
17.
Wight, adj. strong, M.P. xli. 42.
Wild-fire, sb. erysipelas, F. 318.
Willie, sb. willow, F. 82.
Win, v. get, C. 280; M.P. xxvii. 32.
Win, sb. wind, S. lxvi. 5.
Win, v. pp. dried, M. P. xlviii. 242.
Windilstrayis, sb. smooth - crested
grasses, trifles, C.
C. 303. A.S.
windel-streaw.
Wink, sb. glance, twinkling; with a
wink=in a twinkling, S. xiii. 4.
Wirk, v. work, F. 430; A.P. v. 22.
Wiss, v. pr. t. wish, C. 1395;=wis-
sed=desired, A.P. i. 95.
Wissle, v. change, F. 578. Belg.
wisselen; Ger. wechseln.
Wit, sb. intelligence; to let wit=to
make known, M.P. xlii. 20.
Withershins,
adv. contrariwise,
against the course of the sun, F.
398.
Withie, sb. a willow, rope of willow-
twigs, halter, gallows, C. 958.
A.S. withig.
Withrit, v. pp. withered, S. v. 4.
Wod, adj. mad, M.P. xl. 57.
I.
Wod, sb. wood, M.P. xxxviii. 10;
wods=woods, M.P. viii. 2.
Wodbind, adj. woodbine, ivy, S. Ixix.
See note on p. 350.
Wodershins, adv. contrariwise, S.
xxxiii. 6. See Withershins, supra.
Wois, sb. woes, M.P. iii. 9.
Womanheid, sb. womanhood, M.P.
XXX. 25.
Womplit, v. pp. wrapped, enveloped,
M.P. v. 2.
Wonder, adv. wondrously, F. 675;
adj. strange, M.P. xl. 54.
432
GLOSSARY.
Wondring, v. pr. p. gazing with ad-
miration, M.P. xxiv. 16.
Wont, C. 1226. See note on p. 302.
Wood-ran=ran wildly or madly, F.
501.
Woodtyk, sb. mad dog, F. 737.
Wood wyld, adj. stark mad, F. 744.
Worbleth, v. warbleth (?), S. xlvii. 10.
[Worlin], sb. puny creature, child or
beast unthriven, F. 446.
Wormes, sb. ugly little things like
worms in the face, F. 307.
Worthines, sb. honour, position, S.
ix. II.
Woubet, sb. hairy-worm, F. 268.
Wouchsaiv, v. vouchsafe, S. xxxiv. 2.
Wowd, v. pt. t. wooed, sued, C. 140.
A.S. wógian.
Wox, v. pt. t. grew, M.P. xxxiii. 14.
Wraik, sb. destruction, ruin, A.P. i.
47.
Wraiths, sb. ghosts, apparitions, F.
658. See note on p. 323.
Wrak, v. torment, C. 782;=am un-
done, M.P. xlvi. 56; ruins, D. P.
v. 2; wrakt, S. iv. 2; wraks, M.P.
iii. 22.
Wrasling, sb. wrestling, M.P. xxiv.
53.
Wrassill, v. pr. t. wrestle, M.P. xvi. 4.
Wratches, sb. wretches, evil spirits, F.
658.
Wreak, sb. destruction, M. M. vi. 44.
Wrechit, adj. wretched, S. xxxiv. 2.
Wreist, v. pr. t. strain, wrestle, M.P.
xvi. 3.
Wreit, v. pt. t. wrote, F. 625.
Wrethin, M.P. iv. 5. See note on
P. 354.
Wristing, sb. straining, wrestling, C.
291.
Wroght, v. pt. t. wrought, made, F.
326; M.P. xvii. 16.
Wry, v. twist, turn, M.P. xvi. 3;
=equivocate, conceal, F. 726.
Wryt, sb. writing, S. xvii. 13, lxiv. 8.
Wun, v. pp. ended, finished, C. 645.
Wunder, v. pr. t. doubt; I wunder
bot I doubt not, C. 531.
Wy, sb. person, A.P. iii. 3.
Wyd, adj. great, far, M.P. xliii. 35.
Wyis, adj. wise, C. 1017.
Wyld, v. pt. t. didst wile, M.P. xl. 13.
Wyn, v. pp. won, C. 470. A.S. win-
nan.
Wyse, sb. way; on na wyse in no
wise, M.P. xlvii. 54.
Wyt, sb. blame, M.P. xviii. 47, lii
4I.
Wyte, v. blame, C. 737; wyt, S.
İxiv. 5; wytit, C. 759.
Yat, rel. pr. that, M.P. liii. 6.
Ydill, adj. idle, S. xxiv. 10.
Ydilnes, sb. idleness, M.P. xlix. 1.
Ye, art. the, M.P. iv. 32.
Vis, dem. pron. this, A. P. ii. 21.
Ylis, sb. isles, M.P. xlviii. 166.
Ymixt, v. pp. mixed, mingled, M.P.
XXXV. 38.
Yre, sb. anger, wrath, C. 717, S. xxxvi,
4.
Yron, sb. iron, C. 1253.
Yschewis, sb. issues, C. 506.
Yvoire, adj. ivory, A.P. i. 63.
3ammer, v. whine, fret, F. 123.
3e, adv. yea, S. 1. 5, liii. 5; 3ea, C.
1082. A.S. geá.
:
73-
Zeald, adj. barren, not in milk, F.
Zeid, v. pt. t. went, D.P. iii. 29.
Zeild, . yield, S. xix. 12; 3eild=
yielded, C. 750, 1024; 3eildt, M.P.
xviii. 48.
Zeir, sb. year, F. 96; 3eers, S. ii. 6;
3eirs, C. 1089. A.S. gear, gér.
3ell, v. yell, F. 14.
3ellow, adj. yellow, C. 229.
3ett, sb. gate, M.P. xlviii. 271. A.S,
geat, M.E. 3ate.
3ing, adj. young, C. 58; M.P. xxxiv. 2.
3istrene, adv. yesternight, xli. I.
3it, conj. yet, C. 148. A.S. gyt.
3oiks, v. pr. t. itches, S. xxvi. 3.
3ok, v. engage, S. xix. 12.
3ok, sb. yoke, xliii. 9.
3oldin, v. pp. yielded, surrendered, S.
1
xxxvi. 7; M.P. xxi. 11; A.P. i. 122.
30n, adj. yon, yonder, C. 618; 30ne,
C. 609.
3ong, adj. young, S. 69; M.P. xxxii.
I.
3ongnes, sb. youth, M.P. xxiii. 38.
3onkiers, sb. youngsters, M.P. xxxiii.
43.
3outh, sb. youth, C. 127.
30w, pr. you, C. 737.
30w, sb. ewe, F. 73, 740.
30wles, v. howl, whine, F. 507.
3ule, sb. Yule, Christmas, C. 874.
PRINTED BY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS.
POEMS OF ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE.
DIRECTIONS TO BINDER.
The Title, Prefatory Note, and Contents attached to Parts
I. and II. are to be withdrawn, and the Titles, Contents, and
Introduction issued with Part III., and applying to the whole
book, to be substituted.
THE POEMS
OF
ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE
EDITED BY
JAMES CRANSTOUN, LL.D.
Dignum laude virum Musa vetat mori
PART I.
Printed for the Society by
WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS
EDINBURGH AND LONDON
MDCCCLXXXVI
All Rights reserved
PREFATORY NOTE.
[The substance of this Note will be incorporated in the Introduction
to be given on the completion of the work.]
>
IN preparing this edition of the poems of Alexander Montgomerie, I
have had recourse to several sources which I may briefly specify.
>>
No manuscript of "The Cherrie and the Slae," or of "The Flyting
betwixt Montgomerie and Polwart," is known to exist. The earliest
impression of the former poem is that issued by Robert Walde-grave,
Edinburgh, 1597, which was followed in the same year by a second
edition, “Prented according to a Copie corrected be the Author him-
selfe." In the present edition the text of "The Cherrie and the Slae
is based on that of Walde-grave's second impression, a copy of which
is preserved in the Advocates' Library, Edinburgh. Both of Walde-
grave's editions contain only a portion of the poem. Lines 127-140,
799-924, and 1071 to the end, were added at a later period, and
appeared for the first time, so far as is known, in the impression by
Andro Hart in 1615, the text of which bears to have been "newly
altered, perfyted, and divided into 114 quatorzeims, not long before
the Author's death." Again and again has this impression been vainly
sought for by antiquarians and collectors. It has probably ceased to
exist. Fortunately it was utilised by Allan Ramsay in his version
given in the ‘Evergreen,' published in 1724, from which source the
gaps in the original poem have been filled up in the present impression.
Several of the opening stanzas (lines 1-70 and 85-98) underwent so
much change in the text as given in the 'Evergreen,' that it has been
deemed expedient to give the later version of them in extenso in the
Notes.
To have given all the merely orthographical variations occurring in
the different editions which I have collated would have considerably
increased the bulk of the work, without adding much to its interest or
value. The more important differences, however, occurring in the
first edition are given in the footnotes, and marked by the letter A;
while any material variations in the 'Evergreen,' and in the editions.
of Foulis, Glasgow, 1751, and Urie, Glasgow, 1754, are noted and
distinguished by the letters E, F, and U, respectively.
'The Flyting betwixt Montgomerie and Polwart" has been repro-
}
iv
PREFATORY NOTE.
duced, with but little change, from the edition of Montgomerie's
poems, issued by Dr Laing in 1821. Dr Laing produced his text
from a copy of "The Flyting" in his own possession, which seems
to have been almost, if not altogether, unique, inasmuch as it realised
at the sale of the library of that famous collector and antiquarian the
sum of 50 guineas. Mr Quaritch of London was the fortunate pur-
chaser of this rare copy. An earlier edition than that held by Dr
Laing was preserved in the Harleian Library till its dispersion. It
is thus described in the catalogue, in Vol. III. No. 6031, and again in
Vol. V. No. 4746: "The Flyting betwixt Montgomerie and Polwart':
Edinb.: printed by Andro Hart, 1621," in 4to. This copy seems now
to be irretrievably lost. Another edition, entitled, "The Flytting
betwixt Montgomerie and Polwart. Newlie corrected and enlarged.
Edinburgh. Printed by the heirs of Thomas Finlason for Iohn Wood,
and are to be sold in his Shop in the South side of the high Street, a
little above the Croce. 1629," 14 leaves in 4to, is said by Dr Laing to
contain no material variations.
J
With Dr Laing's edition I have carefully collated that of 1688÷a
much inferior text, issued without publisher's name or place—and
given the chief variations at the foot of the pages. The text in Wat-
son's Collection, Edinb. 1711, 8vo, seems to have been taken from
this copy, but it is still more debased by inaccuracies and misprints.
In the footnotes to "The Flyting," the readings without letter are those
of the edition of 1688; L. denotes Laing's edition, 1821; W. Watson's
Collection, 1711.
The "Sonnets" and "Miscellaneous Poems" included in this part
have been faithfully transcribed from the Drummond MS. in the
Library of the University of Edinburgh.
It is matter for deep regret that this beautifully written copy of
Montgomerie's Sonnets and Poems has in the binding been ruthlessly
cut on the outer margin, and shorn of not a few of the lines at the foot
of the pages. Whenever it has seemed possible to supply the lacunæ,
this has been attempted. The proposed readings by Dr Laing and
myself will be discussed at length in the Notes. Meanwhile I have
only to add that wherever there has been a departure from the text of
the edition of "The Cherrie and the Slae," 1597, and from that of "The
Flyting," 1629, I have placed the suggested reading within brackets.
In the case of the "Sonnets" and "Poems," in a very few instances
where there has been an obvious omission, by the transcriber, of a
letter or letters, I have ventured to print such letter or letters in italics.
In other words, the Roman type always represents the MS.
I hope to have the remainder of the Poems ready by an early date,
when the various manuscripts and editions will be more fully con-
sidered, and my obligations to previous editors and personal friends
duly acknowledged.
J. C.
CONTENTS.
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE, .
POLWART AND MONTGOMERIES FLYTING,
SONNETS-
1. To the Blessed Trinity, .
•
2. Of the Works of God,
3. Of the Iniquitie of Man,
4. To M. Dauid Drummond,
5. To the Same,
6. To M. P. Galloway,
7. To His Majestie,
8. In Praise of His Majestie,
9. In Praise of M. J. M., Chanceller,
IO. In Prais of the Kings Vranie,
II. Of the Same,
12. Of the Same,
13. Of the Same,
14. To His Majestie, for his Pensioun,
15. To the Same,
16. To the Same,
17. To the Same,
18. To the Lords of the Session,
19. To the Same,
20. To the Same,
21. To the Same,
22. To his Aduersars Lauyers,
23. Of M. J. Sharpe,
24. Of the Same,
25. To R. Hudsone,
26. To the Same,
27. To the Same,
28. To the Same,
29. To the Same,
•
30. Christen Lyndesay to Ro. Hudsone,
PAGE
I
55
89
89
90
•
90
91
91
92
92
93
•
93
94
94
95
95
•
96
·
96
97
97
98
•
98
99
99
100
•
100
ΙΟΙ
•
ΙΟΙ
102
I02
•
103
103
vi
CONTENTS.
31. To M. J. Murray,
32. To M. L. Ruthuen, Duches of Lennox,
33. A Ladyis Lamentatione,
34. The Same,
35. The Same,
36. The Same,
37. The Same,
38. The Same,
39. To his Maistres,
40. To the Same,
41. To the Same,
42. James Lauder,
43. Issobell Yong,
44. Eufame Wemis,
45. John Jhonsone-Jane Maxwell,
46. His Maistres Name,
47. To his Maistres Messane,
48. To M. D.,
49. To the Same,
50. Of my Lady Seyton,
51. To The for Me,
•
52. To the Same,
53. To the Same,
54. On his Maistres,
•
55. On the Same,
56. On the Same,
57. On the Same,
58. On the Same,
59. Of the Duleweid,
60. Of the Same,
104
104
105
105
106
106
107
107
108
108
109
109
IIO
IIO
III
•
III
112
II2
113
•
113
114
114
115
115
116
•
116
117
117
118
118
119
•
119
I20
I 20
121
121
122
123
123
124
61. Of the Same,
62. The Poets Apologie to the Kirk of Edinburgh,
63. That he Wrot not aganste the Madins of Edinburgh,
64. To His Majestie,
65. To W. Murray,
•
66. Ladyland to Cap. A. Montegomerie,
67. Ezechiel Montg. Ansueir to Ladyland,
68. Ladyland to Ezech. Montg.,
69. The Old Maister,
70. Against the God of Love,
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS-
1. A Description of Tyme,
2. The Oppositione of the Court to Conscience,
3. Ane Invectione against Fortun; conteining ane Admonitione
to his Friends at Court,
4. The Poets Complaint of his Nativitie,
•
5. The Poets Complante against the Wnkyndnes of his Com-
panions vhen he wes in Prisone,
127
128
•
129
131
133
CONTENTS.
vii
6. A late Regrate of Leirning to Love,
7. A Counsell aganst Dispair in Love,
8. Echo,
9. Address to Love,
10. A Descriptione of Vane Lovers,
II. The Well of Love,
12. Of the same Well,
13. The Commendatione of Love,
14. Against Love,
15. The Solsequium,
·
16. A Regrate of Hard Luck in Love,
17. Ane Example for his Lady,
18. Natur passis Nuriture,
19. Address to the Sun,
•
20. Even Dead behold I Breath,
21. Love, if thou List,
22. In throu the Windoes of Myn Ees,
23. If Faithfulnes suld Friendship find,
24. Lyk as Aglauros,
25. The Sacrifice of Cupid,.
26. The Secreit Prais of Love,
27. The Poets Legacie,
28. Melancholie, grit Deput of Dispair,
29. That his Hairt is Woundit,
30. The Poet complenes on Love and Fortun,
31. The Perversitie of his Inclinationes throu Love,
32. The Poet reasons with his Maistres,
135
136
138
140
140
142
•
144
145
147
148
•
151
I
152
155
157
158
160
161
163
164
167
168
170
171
173
174
176
176
THE POEMS
OF
ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE
EDITED BY
JAMES CRANSTOUN, LL.D.
Dignum laude virum Musa vetat mori
PART II.
Printed for the Society by
WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS
EDINBURGH AND LONDON
MDCCCLXXXVII
All Rights reserved
PREFATORY NOTE.
[The substance of this Note will be incorporated in the Introduction
to be given on the completion of the work.]
As the third part of Montgomerie's Poems, containing the remaining
portion of the Notes, the Glossary, and the Introduction, is almost
ready for press, and will be in the hands of members on an early date,
it is unnecessary here to do more than very briefly indicate the sources
from which the poems in this part are taken.
The "Miscellaneous Poems" are all printed from the Drummond
MS., with the exception of the pieces numbered L. and LI., which are
taken from the Maitland MS. in the Pepysian Library, Magdalen
College, Cambridge; and LII., LIII., and LIV., which are taken from the
Bannatyne MS. in the Library of the Faculty of Advocates, Edinburgh.
The "Devotional Poems" are printed from the Drummond MS.,
with the exception of those numbered IX. and x., which are found in
no MS., but are contained in all the ordinary editions of "The Cherrie
and the Slae."
"The Mindes Melodie" is reprinted, almost literatim, from Dr
Laing's edition. The editio princeps of this work was published
anonymously by Robert Charteris in 1605, but its authenticity has
never been called in question. Indeed, the fact of the first and twenty-
third Psalms occurring in the Bannatyne MS., with no material alter-
ation, and with Montgomerie's name appended to them, is ample
guarantee of the authorship of all these translations, which evince a
strong family likeness throughout.
Of the "Poems attributed to Montgomerie," the first and second are
printed from the Maitland MS., the third, fourth, and fifth from the
Bannatyne MS. The question of the authorship of these pieces is
considered in the Introduction.
J. C.
CONTENTS.
IISCELLANEOUS POEMS-
33. The Poets Dreme,
34. To his Maistres,
35. In Prais of his Maistres,
36. Sen Fortun is my Fo,
37. To his Maistres,
38. He Rejoises, as did formerly the Greeks,
39. He bids Adeu to his Maistres,
PAGE
179
181
•
183
185
187
188
189
40. He bewailes his Wofull Estait,
·
41. The Night is neir Gone,
42. An Admonitioun to 30ung Lassis,
191
193
195
France,
43. Montgomeries Welcome to Lord Semple, on his Returne from
44. He prayis to his Maistres for Pitie,
196
•
197
45. He callis on Death to Relieve him,
199
51. A Poeme on the Same Lady,
46. Displeasur, with his Deadly Dairt,
47. The Elegie,
48. The Navigatiovn,
49. A Cartell of the Thre Ventrous Knichts,
50. Sang on the Lady Margaret Montgomerie,
52. A Regrate of his Vnhappie Luve,
200
202
205
213
214
216
·
217
53. Ane Ansuer to ane Ingliss Railar Praysing his awin Genalogy,
54. Ane Answer to ane Helandmanis Invectiue,
219
220
PITAPHS-
55. Epitaph of R. Scot,
221
56. Epitaph of the Maister of Work, [Sir Robert] Drummond of
Carnok [Knight],
221
57. Epitaph of Johne and Patrik Shaues,
222
58. Epitaph of Robert, Lord Boyd,
222
iv
CONTENTS.
DEVOTIONAL POEMS--
1. The First Psalme,
2. The Seconde Psalme,
3. The Poets Dreme,
4. A Godly Prayer,
5. A Walkning from Sin,
6. A Lesone hou to Leirne to Die,
7. Away! Vane World,
•
•
8. Come, my Childrene dere, drau neir me,
9. His Morning Muse,
10. Psalme XXXVI.,
THE MINDES MELODIE-
Psalme I.,
Psalme IIII.,
Psalme VI.,
Psalme VIII.,
Psalme XV.,
Psalme XIX.,
Psalme XXIII.,
Psalme XLIII.,
Psalme LVII.,
Psalme XCI.,
•
•
•
Psalme CI.,
Psalme CXVII.,
Psalme CXXI.,.
Psalme CXXV.,
Psalme CXXVIII.,
The Song of Simeon,
Gloria Patri,
225
226
228
229
232
234
237
238
240
241
245
246
•
248
•
•
249
251
252
•
255
4
256
257
259
261
263
264
265
266
•
268
269
POEMS ATTRIBUTED TO ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE-
1. The Bankis of Helicon,.
2. My Ladyis Pulcritud,
3. When 3e were Plesit,
4. Quhy sowld I Luve,
5. How the first Helandman, of God was maid of ane horss turd,
in Argylle, as is said,
273
278
279
280
280
NOTES-
Notes to "The Cherrie and the Slae,
""
285
Notes to "Polwart and Montgomeries Flyting,
Notes to the Sonnets,
306
·
327
1
D
Scottish Tert Society
THE POEMS
OF
ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE
EDITED BY
JAMES CRANSTOUN, LL.D.
PART I.
1885-86
Printed for the Society by
WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS
EDINBURGH AND LONDON
}
}
*
$
The Scottish Tert Society.
TH
1
HE SCOTTISH TEXT SOCIETY is established fort
editing and publishing the more important texts
in Early Scottish Literature down to the time when
the written language began to lose its distinctive
characteristics. The aims of the Society will embrace
the re-editing and reprinting of those works which,,
from their rarity and price, are beyond the reach of
ordinary buyers, as well as the publication of hitherto
unprinted MSS.
The efforts of the Society are being directed in the
first place to the works of-
JAMES I.
DUNBAR.
BARBOUR'S 'LIVES OF THE
SAINTS,' hitherto unpublished.
POPULAR POETRY OF SCOTLAND.
ANCIENT SCOTTISH PROPHECIES.
ANCIENT METRICAL ROMANCES.
FOLK-LORE.
Barbour.
GAVIN DOUglas.
LINDSAY.
HENRYSON.
DRUMMOND.
CHRONICLES.
MURE OF ROWALLAN.
EARLY CATECHISMS.
&c.
&c.
&c.
I
}
J
Miscellanies of CHARTERS, ACTS OF PARLIAMENT,
PROCLAMATIONS, and PUBLIC DOCUMENTS, will, from
time to time, be published.
The subscription is £1, Is. per annum, payable in
advance. The publications of the Society are issued
in a uniform series, handsomely printed on good
paper.
[For List of Office-Bearers, see page 3 of cover.
THE SCOTTISH TEXT SOCIETY.
Patrons.
THE DUKE OF ARGYLL, K.T.
THE MARQUIS OF LOTHIAN, K.T.,
THE MARQUIS OF BUTE, K.T.
THE EARL OF ABERDEEN.
THE EARL OF ROSEBERY.
LORD BALFOUR OF BURLEIGH.
THE RIGHT HON. JOHN INGLIS of Glencorse.
President.
THE RIGHT HON. JOHN INGLIS of Glencorse.
Vice-Presidents.
THE MARQUIS OF LOTHIAN, K.T.
THE MARQUIS OF BUTE, K.T.
THE EARL OF ROSEBERY.
PROFESSOR MASSON, Edinburgh University.
LIEUT.-COLONEL A. FERGUSSON.
Council.
R. W. COCHRAN-PATRICK, Esq.
ENEAS J. G. MACKAY, Esq., LL.D., Advocate.
{
ARTHUR MITCHELL, Esq., M.D., LL.D.
A. F. MITCHELL, D.D., Professor of Ecclesiastical History, St Andrews.
WILLIAM MINTO, Esq., M.A., Professor of English Literature and
Logic, Aberdeen.
THOMAS MARTIN LINDSAY, D.D., Professor of Divinity and Church
History, Glasgow.
JOHN SKELTON, Esq., LL.D., Advocate.
JAMES T. CLARK, Esq., Librarian, Advocates' Library.
THOMAS G. LAW, Esq., Librarian, Signet Library.
THOMAS DICKSON, Esq., Register House.
JAMES A. H. MURRAY, Esq., LL.D., Editor of 'A New English
Dictionary on Historical Principles,' Sunnyside, Banbury Road, Oxford.
JAMES CRANSTOUN, Esq., LL.D.
WILLIAM T. DICKSON, Esq., W.S.
Honorary Secretary.
REV. WALTER GREGOR, M.A., LL.D., Pitsligo, Fraserburgh,
+
Aberdeenshire, N.B.
Honorary Treasurer.
WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, Esq.; 45 George Street, Edinburgh.
1
Scottish Tert Society.
}
Volumes issued for the year 1883-84-
I.
THE KINGIS QUAIR, TOGETHER WITH A BALLAD OF GOOD COUNSEL: by
KING JAMES I. of Scotland. Edited by the Rev. WALTER W. SKEAT, M.A.,
Elrington and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon, Fellow of Christ's College,
Cambridge.
II.
THE POEMS OF WILLIAM DUNBAR. Edited by JOHN SMALL, M.A.,
F.S.A. Scot. Part I.
III.
ANE TREATISE Callit The COURT OF VENUS, Deuidit into Four Buikis.
Newlie Compylit be IOHNE ROLLAND in Dalkeith, 1575. Edited by the
Rev. WALTER GREGOR, M.A,
Volumes issued for the year 1884-85:—
I.
THE POEMS OF WILLIAM DUNBAR,
F.S.A. Scot. Part II.
Edited by JOHN SMALL, M.A.,
II.
THE HISTORIE OF SCOTLAND, Wrytten first in Latin by the Most Reverend
and Worthy JOHN LESLIE, Bishop of Ross; and Translated in Scottish by
Father JAMES DALRYMPLE, Religious in the Scottis Cloister of Regensburg,
the Year of God 1596. Edited from the Fort-Augustus MS. by the Rev.
Father E. G. Cody, O.S.B.
Part I.
BLIND HARRY'S WALLACE.
Grammar School, Aberdeen.
III.
Edited by JAMES MOIR, M.A., Rector,
Part I.
Volumes for 1885-86-
I.
BLIND HARRY'S WALLACE. Edited by JAMES MOIR, M.A., Rector,
Grammar School, Aberdeen. Part II.
II.
SIR TRISTREM. With INTRODUCTION, NOTES, and GLOSSARY. By G. P.
MCNEILL, Advocate.
ག
III.
THE POEMS OF ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE. Edited by JAMES
CRANSTOUN, Esq., LL.D. Part I.
In preparation.
BLIND HARRY'S WALLACE. INTRODUCTION, NOTES, and GLOSSARY.
By JAMES MOIR, M. A., Rector, Grammar School, Aberdeen. Part III,
THE HISTORIE OF SCOTLAND. Edited by the Rev. Father E. G. Cody,
O.S.B. Part II.
GLOSSARY,
THE POEMS OF WILLIAM DUNBAR. PREFACE, NOTES, and Glossary,
By E. J. G. MACKAY, Esq., LL.D., and Rev. W. GREGOR, LL.D. Part III.
THE POEMS OF ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE, BY JAMES Cranstoun,
Esq., LL.D. Part II.
།
Scottish Tert Society
THE POEMS
OF
ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE
EDITED BY
JAMES CRANSTOUN, LL.D.
PART II.
1886-87
ན
Printed for the Society by
WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS
ÉDINBURGH AND LONDON
The Scottish Tert Society.
HE SCOTTISH TEXT SOCIETY is established for
THE
editing and publishing the more important texts
in Early Scottish Literature down to the time wher
the written language began to lose its distinctive
characteristics. The aims of the Society will embrace
the re-editing and reprinting of those works which
from their rarity and price, are beyond the reach of
ordinary buyers, as well as the publication of hitherto
unprinted MSS.
The efforts of the Society are being directed in the
first place to the works of-
James I.
DUNBAR.
BARBOUR.
GAVIN DOUGLAS.
LINDSAY.
HENRYSON.
DRUMMOND.
BARBOUR'S LIVES OF THE
SAINTS,' hitherto unpublished
POPULAR POETRY OF SCOTLAND,
ANCIENT SCOTTISH PROPHECIES.
ANCIENT METRICAL ROMANCES.
FOLK-LORE.
CHRONICLES.
MURE OF ROWALLAN.
EARLY CATECHISMS.
&c.
&c.
&c.
Miscellanies of CHARTERS, ACTS OF PARLIAMENT,
PROCLAMATIONS, and PUBLIC DOCUMENTS, will, from
time to time, be published.
The subscription is £1, Is. per annum, payable in
advance. The publications of the Society are issued
in a uniform series, handsomely printed on good
paper.
[For List of Office-Bearers, see page 3 of cover.
THE SCOTTISH TEXT SOCIETY.
Patrons.
THE DUKE OF ARGYLL, K.T.
THE MARQUIS OF LOTHIAN, K.T.
THE MARQUIS OF BUTE, K.T.
THE EARL OF ABERDEEN.
THE EARL OF ROSEBERY.
LORD BALFOUR OF BURLEIGH.
THE RIGHT HON. JOHN INGLIS of Glencorse.
President.
THE RIGHT HON. JOHN INGLIS of Glencorse.
Vice-Presidents.
THE MARQUIS OF LOTHIAN, K.T.
THE MARQUIS OF BUTE, K.T.
THE EARL OF ROSEBERY.
PROFESSOR MASSON, Edinburgh University.
LIEUT.-COLONEL A. FERGUSSON.
Council.
JAMES T. CLARK, Esq., Librarian, Advocates' Library.
R. W. COCHRAN-PATRICK, Esq.
JAMES CRANSTOUN, Esq., LL.D.
THOMAS DICKSON, Esq., Register House.
WILLIAM T. DICKSON, Esq., W.S.
J. R. FINDLAY, Esq.
A. FORBES IRVINE, Esq. of Drum.
THOMAS G. LAW, Esq., Librarian, Signet Library.
THOMAS MARTIN LINDSAY, D.D., Professor of Divinity and Church
History, Glasgow.
ÆNEAS J. G. MACKAY, Esq., LL.D., Advocate.
WILLIAM MINTO, Esq., M.A., Professor of English Literature and
Logic, Aberdeen.
ARTHUR MITCHELL, Esq., M.D., LL.D.
A. F. MITCHELL, D.D., Professor of Ecclesiastical History, St Andrews.
JAMES A. H. MURRAY, Esq., LL.D., Editor of 'A New English
Dictionary on Historical Principles,' Sunnyside, Banbury Road, Oxford.
JOHN SKELTON, Esq., LL.D., Advocate.
Secretary.
REV. WALTER GREGOR, M.A., LL.D., Pitsligo, Fraserburgh,
Aberdeenshire, N.B.
Treasurer.
WILLIAM BLACK WOOD, Esq., 45 George Street, Edinburgh.
Auditor.
WILLIAM TRAQUAIR DICKSON, Esq., W.S.
Scottish Tert Society.
Volumes issued for the year 1883-84
I. THE KINGIS QUAIR, TOGETHER WITH A Ballad of GOOD COUNSEL: by KING
JAMES I. of Scotland. Edited by the Rev. WALTER W. SKEAT, M.A., Elrington
and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon, Fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge.
II. THE POEMS OF WILLIAM DUNBAR. Edited by JOHN SMALL, M.A.,
F.S.A. Scot. Part I.
III. ANE TREATISE CALLIT THE COURT OF VENUS, Deuidit into Four Buikis.
Newlie Compylit be IOHNE ROLLAND in Dalkeith, 1575. Edited by the Rev.
WALTER Gregor, M. A.
Volumes issued for the year 1884-85 -
I. THE POEMS OF WILLIAM DUNBAR. Edited by JOHN SMALL, M.A.,
F.S.A. Scot. Part II.
II. THE HISTORIE OF SCOTLAND, Wrytten first in Latin by the Most Reverend
and Worthy JOHN LESLIE, Bishop of Ross; and Translated in Scottish by Father
JAMES DALRYMPLE, Religious in the Scottis Cloister of Regensburg, the Year of
God 1596. Edited from the Fort-Augustus MS. by the Rev. Father E. G. CODY,
O.S.B. Part I.
III. BLIND HARRY'S WALLACE. Edited by JAMES MOIR, M.A., Rector, Grammar
School, Aberdeen. Part I.
Volumes for 1885-86:
I. BLIND HARRY'S WALLACE. Edited by JAMES MOIR, M.A., Rector, Grammar
School, Aberdeen. Part II.
II. SIR TRISTREM. With INTRODUCTION, NOTES, and GLOSSARY. By G. P.
MCNEILL, Advocate.
III. THE POEMS OF ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE.
Edited by JAMES
CRANSTOUN, Esq., LL.D. Part I.
Volumes for 1886-87:-
I. THE POEMS OF ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE. By JAMES Cranstoun,
Esq., LL.D. Part II.
II. GAU'S THE RICHT VAY TO THE KINGDOME OF HEUINE. By the
Rev. Professor MITCHELL, D.D., St Andrews.
[In the press.
In preparation.
BLIND HARRY'S WALLACE.
INTRODUCTION, NOTES, and GLOSSARY.
By
JAMES MOIR, M.A., Rector, Grammar School, Aberdeen. Part III.
THE HISTORIE OF SCOTLAND. Edited by the Rev. Father E. G. CODY, O.S.B.
Part II.
THE POEMS OF WILLIAM DUNBAR. PREFACE, NOTES, and GLOSSARY. By
Æ. J. G. MACKAY, Esq., LL.D., and Rev. W. GREGOR, LL.D. Part III.
THE POEMS OF ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE. By JAMES CRANSTOUN, Esq.,
LL.D. Part III.
BARBOUR'S LIVES OF THE SAINTS. By the Rev. W. M. METCALFE, Paisley.
WINZET'S WORKS. By the Rev. J. KING HEWISON, Rothesay.
GOLOGRAS AND GAWEN. By F. J. AMOURS, Glasgow.
Scottish Tert Society
THE POEMS
OF
ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE
A
EDITED BY
JAMES CRANSTOUN, LL.D.
PART III.
1886-87
Printed for the Society by
WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS
EDINBURGH AND LONDON
મ
''
The Scottish Tert Society.
THE
HE SCOTTISH TEXT SOCIETY is established for
editing and publishing the more important texts
in Early Scottish Literature down to the time when
the written language began to lose its distinctive
characteristics. The aims of the Society will embrace
the re-editing and reprinting of those works which,
from their rarity and price, are beyond the reach of
ordinary buyers, as well as the publication of hitherto
unprinted MSS.
The efforts of the Society are being directed in the
first place to the works of-
JAMES I.
DUNBAR.
"
BARBOUR.
GAVIN DOUGLAS.
LINDSAY.
HENRYSON.
BARBOUR'S LIVES OF THE
SAINTS,' hitherto unpublished.
POPULAR POETRY OF SCOTLAND.
ANCIENT SCOTTISH PROPHECIES.
ANCIENT METRICAL ROMANCES.
FOLK-LORE.
DRUMMOND.
CHRONICLES.
MURE OF ROWALLAN.
EARLY CATECHISMS.
&c.
&c.
&c.
Miscellanies of CHARTERS, ACTS OF PARLIAMENT,
PROCLAMATIONS, and PUBLIC DOCUMENTS, will, from
time to time, be published.
The subscription is 1, Is. per annum, payable in
advance. The publications of the Society are issued
in a uniform series, handsomely printed on good
paper.
[For List of Office-Bearers, see page 3 of cover.
THE SCOTTISH TEXT SOCIETY.
1
Patrons.
THE DUKE OF ARGYLL, K.T.
THE MARQUIS OF LOTHIAN, K.T.
THE MARQUIS OF BUTE, K.T.
THE EARL OF ABERDEEN.
THE EARL OF ROSEBERY.
LORD BALFOUR OF BURLEIGH.
THE RIGHT HON. JOHN INGLIS of Glencorse.
President.
THE RIGHT HON. JOHN INGLIS of Glencorse.
Vice-Presidents.
THE MARQUIS OF LOTHIAN, K.T.
THE MARQUIS OF BUTE, K.T.
THE EARL OF ROSEBERY.
PROFESSOR MASSON, Edinburgh University.
LIEUT.-COLONEL A. FERGUSSON.
Council.
JAMES T. CLARK, Esq., Librarian, Advocates' Library.
R. W. COCHRAN-PATRICK, Esq.
JAMES CRANSTOUN, Esq., LL.D.
THOMAS DICKSON, Esq., Register House.
WILLIAM T. DICKSON, Esq., W.S.
J. R. FINDLAY, Esq.
A. FORBES IRVINE, Esq. of Drum.
THOMAS G. LAW, Esq., Librarian, Signet Library.
THOMAS MARTIN LINDSAY, D.D., Professor of Divinity and Church
History, Glasgow.
ÆNEAS J. G. MACKAY, Esq., LL.D., Advocate.
WILLIAM MINTO, Esq., M.A., Professor of English Literature and
Logic, Aberdeen.
ARTHUR MITCHELL, Esq., M.D., LL.D.
A. F. MITCHELL, D.D., Professor of Ecclesiastical History, St Andrews.
JAMES A. H. MURRAY, Esq., LL.D., Editor of 'A New English
Dictionary on Historical Principles,' Sunnyside, Banbury Road, Oxford.
JOHN SKELTON, Esq., LL.D., Advocate.
Secretary.
REV. WALTER GREGOR, M.A., LL.D., Pitsligo, Fraserburgh.
Aberdeenshire, N.B.
Treasurer.
WILLIAM BLACK WOOD, Esq., 45 George Street, Edinburgh.
Auditor.
WILLIAM TRAQUAIR DICKSON, Esq., W.S.
1
Scottish Tert Society.
Volumes issued for the year 1883-84:
I. THE KINGIS QUAIR, TOGETHER WITH A BALLAD OF GOOD COUNSEL: by KING
JAMES I. of Scotland. Edited by the Rev. WALTER W. SKEAT, M.A., Elrington
and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon, Fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge.
II. THE POEMS OF WILLIAM DUNBAR. Edited by JOHN SMALL, M.A.,
F.S.A. Scot. Part I.
III. ANE TREATISE CALLIT THE COURT OF VENUS, Deuidit into Four Buikis.
Newlie Compylit be IOHNE ROLLAND in Dalkeith, 1575. Edited by the Rev.
WALTER GREGOR, M. A.
Volumes issued for the year 1884-85:-
I. THE POEMS OF WILLIAM DUNBAR.
F.S.A. Scot. Part II.
Edited by JOHN SMALL, M.A.,
II. THE HISTORIE OF SCOTLAND, Wrytten first in Latin by the Most Reverend
and Worthy JOHN LESLIE, Bishop of Ross; and Translated in Scottish by Father
JAMES DALRYMPLE, Religious in the Scottis Cloister of Regensburg, the Year of
God 1596. Edited from the Fort-Augustus MS. by the Rev. Father E. G. CODY,
O.S.B. Part I.
III. BLIND HARRY'S WALLACE. Edited by JAMES MOIR, M.A., Rector, Grammar
School, Aberdeen. Part I.
Volumes for 1885-86-
I. BLIND HARRY'S WALLACE. Edited by JAMES MOIR, M.A., Rector, Grammar
School, Aberdeen. Part II.
II. SIR TRISTREM. With INTRODUCTION, NOTES, and GLOSSARY. By G. P.
MCNEILL, Advocate.
III. THE POEMS OF ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE.
Edited by JAMES
CRANSTOUN, Esq., LL.D. Part I.
Volumes for 1886-87:-
I. THE POEMS OF ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE. BY JAMES Cranstoun,
Esq., LL.D. Part II.
II. THE POEMS OF ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE. BY JAMES CRanstoun,
Esq., LL.D. Part III.
III. GAU'S THE RICHT VAY TO THE KINGDOME OF HEUINE. By the
Rev. Professor MITCHELL, D.D., St Andrews.
[In the press.
In preparation.
By
BARBOUR'S LIVES OF THE SAINTS. By the Rev. W. M. METCALFE, Paisley.
BLIND HARRY'S WALLACE. INTRODUCTION, NOTES, and GLOSSARY.
JAMES MOIR, M.A., Rector, Grammar School, Aberdeen. Part III.
THE HISTORIE OF SCOTLAND. Edited by the Rev. Father E. G. CODY, O.S.B.
Part II.
THE POEMS OF WILLIAM DUNBAR. PREFACE, NOTES, and GLOSSARY. By
Æ. J. G. MACKAY, Esq., LL.D., and Rev. W. GREGOR, LL.D. Part III.
WINZET'S WORKS. By the Rev. J. KING HEWISON, Rothesay.
GOLOGRAS AND GAWEN. By F. J. AMOURS, Glasgow.

THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
GRADUATE LIBRARY
DEC 1 9 1970
AUG 18 1975
NOV 1 5 1973
DOT 4 1913
SIP 23
SEP 1 0 1977
1079
JAN 21 1979
DATE DUE

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
3 9015 02726 6702
BOUND
DEC 23 1942
UNIV. OF MICH.
LIBRARY
DO NOT REMOVE
OR
MUTILATE CARD