Category: Poetry
Many of the best editions of the Scottish poets, even of recent date, increase the difficulties of archaic language by such unnecessary stumbling-blocks as the use of the old straight _s_, and of Anglo-Saxon symbols for certain letters. Some even appear in the added obscurity...
Hary the Aucht, King of Ingland, That tyme at Caleis wes lyand,[345] With his triumphand ordinance[346], Makand weir[347] on the realme of France. The King of France his greit a...
10. Part 10Not yet thirty-one years of age at his death, and notwithstanding the corrupting influences to which in early youth he had been purposely exposed by the Douglases, James had sho...
2. Part 2The Kyng was bot twelf yeris of aige Quhen new rewlaris come, in thair raige, For Commonweill makand no cair, Bot for thair proffeit singulair. Imprudentlie, lyk wytles fuilis,...
12. Part 12Many of the finest flowers of Scottish poetry previous to the middle of the sixteenth century owe their preservation to the taste and patience of two curiously contrasted collec...
11. Part 11The pyper said, “Now I begin To tyre for playing to, Bot yit I have gottin naething For all my pyping to you. Thre happenis for half ane day, And that will not undo you; And gif...
13. Part 13Leif[1138], burgess men, or all be loist, On your wyfis to mak sic cost, Quhilk may gar all your bairnis bleir[1139]: Scho that may not want wyne and roist Is abill for to waist...
8. Part 8The catalogue of Bellenden’s works, though important in more than one detail, is not of great length. He is said to have written a treatise, _De Litera Pythagoræ_--the letter _u...
9. Part 9For nobilnes sum-time the loving is[686], That cumis be meritis of our eldaris gone. As Aristotill writis in his Rethorikis, Amang nobillis, quhay castin thaim repone[687] Mon[6...
3. Part 3“Ouersylit[51] ar with cloudis odious The goldin skyis of the Orient, Changeyng in sorrow our sang melodious, Quhilk we had wount to sing with gude intent, Resoundand to the hev...
15. Part 15His youth and stature made me stout; Of doubleness I had na doubt, Bot bourded[1380] with my boy. Quod I, “How call they thee, my chyld?” “Cupido, Sir,” quod he, and smyld: “Ple...
14. Part 14Thair wes rycht nocht[1277] bot haif and ga; With lawchter lowd thay lewche[1278] Quhen thay saw Sym sic curage ta[1279], And Will mak it sa twche[1280]. Sym lap on horsbak lyk...
7. Part 7Bona dies! Bona dies! Devoit Pepill, gude day I say yow. Now tarie ane lytill quhyll, I pray yow, Till I be with yow knawin. Wat ye weill how I am namit? Ane nobill man and unde...
1. Part 1Many of the best editions of the Scottish poets, even of recent date, increase the difficulties of archaic language by such unnecessary stumbling-blocks as the use of the old st...
4. Part 4“Syne, schortlie, with ane gret solempnitie, Withouttin ony dispensatioun, The Kirk he spowsit with dame Propirtie, Quhilk haistelye, be proclamatioun, To Povertie gart[176] mak...
5. Part 5In Sanct Androis on Whitsoun Monnunday Twa campionis thair manheid did assay, Past to the barres, enarmit heid and handis. Was never sene sic justing in no landis. In presence o...
16. Part 16A 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...