[1396] is ignorant of, refuses to acknowledge.
[1397] From the time when.
[1398] groaning.
[1399] booty.
[1400] hurt.
[1401] staggering state.
[1402] under (beyond) cure I got such check.
[1403] prevent (receiving check).
[1404] either be stale or checkmated.
[1405] fainted and swooned.
[1406] ere I wakened from.
[1407] spoiled.
[1408] staring at the stars.
[1409] brains.
[1410] disordered.
[1411] sighed till.
[1412] by such a boy.
[1413] shake fist at and curse.
[1414] disorder, consternation.
[1415] strange.
[1416] Unburnt and unboiled.
[1417] By love’s bellows blown.
[1418] to smother it.
[1419] endeavouring without ceasing.
[1420] skeleton.
[1421] withered.
[1422] throbbing.
[1423] My pulses leaped.
[1424] get.
[1425] it behoved to abide.
[1426] enclosed.
[1427] overcome and upset.
[1428] In death-agony still living.
[1429] though.
[1430] death.
[1431] straining and thrusting.
[1432] more troubled.
[1433] ease.
[1434] annoyance.
[1435] oppressed.
[1436] drought.
[1437] dry grass stalks.
[1438] No token.
[1439] at once.
[1440] groans.
[1441] sheer.
[1442] A bush of sloes.
[1443] crag.
[1444] perfectly.
[1445] tough twigs.
[1446] through burden of their produce.
[1447] sheltered place.
[1448] knobs.
[1449] In ripples like diaper figuring.
[1450] Half-way.
[1451] Ovid, _Metamorphoses_, i. 452, and on.
[1452] without tiring.
[1453] use.
[1454] endeavour.
[1455] steep and wearisome.
[1456] far up, tall, and slender.
[1457] to essay it.
[1458] At times trying, at times stopping.
[1459] To stretch above my reach.
[1460] but foolish that has aught to do.
[1461] To dastards hard hazards.
[1462] Is death ere.
[1463] Softly.
[1464] Take care.
[1465] thou catch no hurt.
[1466] few times thou seest.
[1467] Foolish haste.
[1468] Beguiles.
[1469] considers not.
[1470] learn.
[1471] Atropos, eldest of the Fates, presiding over death.
[1472] youngest of the Fates, presiding over birth.
[1473] “Extremes are vicious.” The poet here advocates Horace’s “golden
mean,” the counsel of the Greek proverb Μηδὲν ἄγαν, said to have been
one of the inscriptions on the tripod of the oracle at Delphi.
[1474] signs.
[1475] knowest.
[1476] although.
[1477] slake.
[1478] drought.
[1479] Than fight with ten at once.
[1480] practice.
[1481] liefer, rather.
THE NIGHT IS NEIR GONE.[1482]
Hay! nou the day dauis[1483];
The jolie Cok crauis;
Nou shroudis the shauis[1484]
Throu Natur anone.
The thissell-cok[1485] cryis
On louers vha lyis:
Nou skaillis[1486] the skyis:
The nicht is neir gone.
The feildis ouerflouis
With gouans[1487] that grouis,
Quhair lilies lyk lou[1488] is,
Als rid as the rone[1489].
The turtill that treu is
With nots that reneuis
Hir pairtie[1490] perseuis;
The night is neir gone.
Nou hairtis with hyndis
Conforme to thair kyndis
Hie tursis thair tyndis[1491]
On grund vhair they grone.
Nou hurchonis[1492] with hairis
Ay passis in pairis;
Quhilk deuly declairis
The night is neir gone.
The sesone excellis
Thrugh sueetnes that smellis;
Nou Cupid compellis
Our hairtis echone[1493]
On Venus vha vaikis[1494],
To muse on our maikis[1495],
Syn sing for thair saikis--
The night is neir gone.
All curageous knichtis
Aganis the day dichtis[1496]
The breist-plate that bright is
To feght with thair fone[1497].
The stoned steed[1498] stampis
Throu curage, and crampis[1499],
Syn on the land lampis[1500].
The night is neir gone.
The freikis[1501] on feildis,
That wight wapins[1502] weildis,
With shyning bright sheildis,
[As] Titan in trone[1503];
Stiff speiris in reistis
Ouer cursoris cristis
Ar brok on thair breistis:
The night is neir gone.
So hard ar thair hittis,
Some sueyis, some sittis,
And some perforce flittis[1504]
On grund vhill they grone.
Syn groomis[1505] that gay is
On blonkis that brayis[1506]
With suordis assayis:
The night is neir gone.
[1482] “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 familiarized to everyone by Burns’ ‘Scots wha hae.’
The song was one of those chosen for adaptation by the Wedderburns in
their ‘Compendious Buik of godly and spirituall Sangis.’”--(Cranstoun,
_Notes_, p. 371.)
[1483] dawns.
[1484] the coverts attire themselves.
[1485] throstle-cock.
[1486] scatter.
[1487] daisies.
[1488] flame.
[1489] As red as the rowan, mountain ash.
[1490] partner.
[1491] Toss high their tines, antlers.
[1492] hedgehogs.
[1493] each one.
[1494] attends.
[1495] mates.
[1496] prepare.
[1497] foes.
[1498] _i.e._ The stallion.
[1499] rears (?)
[1500] gallops.
[1501] men, stout fellows.
[1502] strong weapons.
[1503] throne.
[1504] change quarters.
[1505] Then gallants.
[1506] On white steeds that neigh.
AN ADMONITIOUN TO YOUNG LASSIS.
A bony “No,” with smyling looks agane,
I wald ye leirnd, sen they so comely ar.
As touching “Yes,” if ye suld speik so plane,
I might reprove you to haif said so far.
Noght that your grant in ony wayis micht gar[1507]
Me loth the fruit that curage ocht to chuse;
Bot I wald only haif you seme to skar[1508],
And let me tak it, fenzeing[1509] to refuse;
And warsill[1510], as it war against your will,
Appeiring angrie, thoght ye haif no yre:
For haif[1511], ye heir, is haldin half a fill.
I speik not this as trouing for to tyre;
Bot as the forger[1512], vhen he feeds his fyre,
With sparks of water maks it burne more bald[1513];
So sueet denyall doubillis bot desyr,
And quickins curage fra becomming cald.
Wald ye be made of, ye man[1514] mak it nyce;
For dainties heir ar delicat and deir,
Bot plentie[1515] things ar prysde to litill pryce.
Then, thoght ye hearken, let no wit ye heir,
Bot look auay, and len thame ay your eir.
For, folou love, they say, and it will flie.
Wald ye be lovd, this lessone mon ye leir[1516];
Flie vhylome[1517] love, and it will folou thee.
[1507] cause.
[1508] scare.
[1509] feigning.
[1510] wrestle.
[1511] have; _i.e._ possession already half satisfies.
[1512] smith.
[1513] boldly.
[1514] must.
[1515] plentiful.
[1516] learn.
[1517] for a time.
TO HIS MAISTRES.
Bright amorous ee vhare Love in ambush [lyes]--
Cleir cristall tear distilde at our depairt[1518]
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 you, the causers of my smarte,
As homiceids and murtherers of my harte,
In Resone’s court to suffer ane assyse.
Bot oh! I fear, yea rather wot I weill,
To be repledgt ye plainly will appeill
To Love, whom Resone never culd comm[and].
Bot, since I can not better myn estate,
Yit, vhill I live, at leist I sall regrate
Ane ee, a teir, a sigh, a voce, a hand.
[1518] parting.
TO HIS MAISTRES.
So suete a kis yistrene fra thee I reft
In bouing doun thy body on the bed,
That evin my lyfe within thy lippis I left.
Sensyne[1519] from thee my spirit wald neuer shed[1520].
To folou thee it from my body fled,
And left my corps als cold as ony kie[1521].
Bot vhen the danger of my death I dred[1522],
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.
[1519] Since then.
[1520] separate.
[1521] key.
[1522] feared.
TO THÉ FOR ME.
Suete Nichtingale in holene[1523] grene that han[ts]
To sport thy-self, and speciall in the spring,
Thy chivring chirlis[1524], vhilks changinglie thou [chants,]
Maks all the roches round about thé ring;
Vhilk slaiks my sorou, so to heir thé sing,
And lights my louing langour at the leist;
Yit, thoght[1525] thou sees not, sillie, saikles[1526] thing!
The piercing pykis brods[1527] at thy bony breist[1528].
Euin so am I, by plesur lykuyis preist[1529],
In gritest danger vhair I most delyte.
Bot since thy song for shoring[1530] hes not ceist
Suld feble I for feir my conqueis quyt[1531]?
Na, na,--I love thé, freshest Phœnix fair!
In beuty, birth, in bounty but compair[1532].
[1523] holly.
[1524] quivering trills.
[1525] though.
[1526] frail, innocent.
[1527] thorns prick.
[1528] bonnie breast.
[1529] likewise tried.
[1530] threatening.
[1531] my conquest (or object of conquest) quit.
[1532] without peer.
_William Hodge & Co., Printers, Glasgow_
ABBOTSFORD SERIES OF THE SCOTTISH POETS.
EDITED BY GEORGE EYRE-TODD.
_Bound in cloth, crown 8vo., 3s. 6d. each volume._
A limited number of copies printed on large antique paper,
Roxburgh binding, price 5s. nett.
This series is intended to reproduce in popular form the best Works of
the Scottish Poets, from the earliest times onwards; and it is hoped
within a moderate number of volumes to furnish a comprehensive library
of the Poetry of Scotland.
No liberties whatever are taken with the texts, which are edited from
the best editions, and furnished with necessary introductions and
glossaries.
* * * * *
The first three volumes of the series are now ready:--
~EARLY SCOTTISH POETRY~: Thomas the Rhymer, John Barbour, Androw of
Wyntoun, and Henry the Minstrel.
~MEDIÆVAL SCOTTISH POETRY~: James I. of Scotland, Robert Henryson,
William Dunbar, and Gavin Douglas.
~SCOTTISH POETRY OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY~: Sir David Lyndsay, John
Bellenden, James V., Sir Richard Maitland, Alexander Scot, and
Alexander Montgomerie.
The following volume is in preparation:--
~SCOTTISH BALLAD POETRY~: The best historical, legendary, and
imaginative ballads of Scotland.
_The particulars of succeeding volumes will be afterwards
announced._
PRESS OPINIONS.
EARLY SCOTTISH POETRY.
A good service is being done to Scottish literature by Mr. Eyre-Todd
in his “Abbotsford Series” of reprints. His introductory essays show
learning, insight, and critical ability, while the discrimination
exercised in his treatment of the text is excellent.--A valuable
acquisition to the student’s library.--_Daily Chronicle._
Should possess great interest for all lovers of poetry. The volume
fills what appears to be a gap in the ranks of our published books of
to-day.--_Graphic._
The first instalment of the Abbotsford Series is full of
promise.--_Athenæum._
What Mr. Eyre-Todd has undertaken has been carried out in a manner
deserving of the highest praise. Such a beginning promises well for
this “Abbotsford Series,” which, when the volumes already announced
have appeared, will have gone a long way towards supplying a
“comprehensive library of the Poetry of Scotland.”--_Glasgow Herald._
This first volume will be welcomed as a praiseworthy effort to open up
what is to all but scholars a new field of literary interest.--_British
Weekly._
It is a gratifying sign of the interest still taken in our early poetry
that an attempt is made in so praiseworthy a form as this to attract a
wider circle of readers to their study.... Everyone who has the best
interests of literature at heart will wish them success.--_Scotsman._
Everyone must give a hearty welcome to this new venture to bring the
best portions of Scottish Poetry within the reach of all. We hope not
a few teachers will have the courage to introduce one of the volumes
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dominant, much to the loss of our home literature.--_Aberdeen Journal._
MEDIÆVAL SCOTTISH POETRY.
We trust that Mr. Eyre-Todd may be encouraged to proceed with this
Abbotsford Series of the Scottish Poets, for the two volumes which he
has already published make it abundantly clear that he possesses the
requisite knowledge, taste, insight, and critical skill necessary to
the successful accomplishment of so difficult a task.--_The Speaker._
We can strongly recommend Mr. Eyre-Todd’s “Mediæval Scottish Poetry”
as a work creditable alike to himself and to his publisher.--_Literary
Opinion._
“Mediæval Scottish Poetry” is a meritorious and a welcome
popularisation of some of the best examples of our fifteenth century
verse.--_Scottish Leader._
This volume more than fulfils the promise of the first.--_Modern
Church._
The second volume of Mr. Eyre-Todd’s “Abbotsford Series” amply fulfils
the promise of the earlier instalment, as regards all that the editor
himself could be responsible for.--_Glasgow Herald._
The editor has done his work wonderfully well, and, considering the aim
of the series, with perfect thoroughness.--_Freeman’s Journal._
A useful little volume of selections from the Mediæval Poetry of
Scotland.--_Daily News._
This series is a most excellent one, and its production deserves
every encouragement. It promises to be a permanent addition to the
very few works we have which deal with Scottish poetical literature
as a literature; and one speciality in it worthy of all praise
is the concise and scholarly way in which the editing has been
done.--_Aberdeen Daily Free Press._
The editor’s work is well and conscientiously done.--_British Weekly._
GLASGOW: WILLIAM HODGE & CO.
Transcriber's Note
The printed book included marginal glosses and footnotes; these have
been combined into one series of footnotes. Duplicate headings have
been removed from this eBook.
The following apparent errors have been corrected:
p. viii "223" changed to "221"
p. 172 "I sall" changed to "“I sall"
p. 178 (note 1054) The text included a note anchor, but no
corresponding gloss. The latter has been added.
Glosses with missing full stops have been corrected.
Variant spelling and inconsistent punctuation have otherwise been kept
as printed.