He brandished like a bear: Boasters, braggers, and bargainérs, After him passed in in pairs, All clad in garb of weir;10 In jacks, and mail, and bonnets of steel, They were in armour to the heel, Full froward was their air; Some upon other with brands beft,11 THE LAMENT FOR THE MAKERS1 WHEN HE WAS SICK I that in health was and gladnéss, Timor Mortis conturbat me. Our pleasunce here is all vain glory, The state of man does change and vary, Timor Mortis conturbat me. No state on earth stands fast, I find; Down unto death go all estates, Death strikes the knichts up on the field, Timor Mortis conturbat me. Misers, hoarders, gatherers, That strong, unmerciful tyránd 15 20 20 25 17 Breve of Recto, a writ which in feudal Scotland established a right to succession. 18 In Dunbar's time and for long after, the Highlanders were regarded with a feeling of mingled dread and contempt by the more settled and prosperous people of the South. Cf. the attitude of Baillie Nichol Jarvie in Scott's Rob Roy. 19 An opponent of Wallace, the Scotch patriot. After swearing allegiance to Edward Ist, Makfadyane fled to a cave, where he was surprised and killed. Hence the assertion that he was fetched from a "nook" in the "northwest." 85 He taks the champion in the stour,? Timor Mortis conturbat me. He spares no lord for his puissance, Masters of magic and astrology, In medecine the best practiciáns, 8 I see that Makers, amang the lave,9 Timor Mortis conturbat me. 30 35 40 45 He hath ta'en out of this countree; 55 He has ta'en Roull of Aberdeen, And gentle Roull of Corstorphine; Two better fellows did not man see; Timor Mortis conturbat me. In Dumferline he has doun roun14 Gude Maister Robert Henrysoun; Sir John the Ross embraced has he; Timor Mortis conturbat me. And he has now ta'en, last of a', Gude Maister Walter Kennedy Since he has all my brethren ta'en, He will not let me live alane; Perforce I must his next prey be; Timor Mortis conturbat me. Since then for death remeid 15 is none, Best is that we for death dispone, 16 After our death that live may we; Timor Mortis conturbat me. Timor Mortis conturbat me. He hath restrained (that scorpion dark) Maister James Afflek and John Clerk Frae ballad-making and tragedy; Timor Mortis conturbat me. Holland and Barbour he has bereft; Sir Mungo Lockhart of the Lea! Clerk of Tranent eke he has ta'en, Timor Mortis conturbat me. He has blind Harry and Sandy Traill He has reft Merseir his endite, So short, so quick, of sentence hie;13 10 Among the twenty-four poets celebrated by Dunbar, Chaucer alone remains a living power in literature. Barbour, Gower, Lydgate and Henryson hold a secure and honorable place; while a few others, as Blind Harry and Walter Kennedy, although less known, are still nominally remembered. Some of the remainder are more or less securely established on the right side of oblivion, while others, in Sir T. Browne's phrase, "Subsist under naked nominations, without deserts and noble acts, which are the balsam of our memories.' Gawain Douglas c. 1474-1522 WELCOME TO THE SUMMER SUN (From the Prologue to the Eneid,1 Bk. XII) Welcome, the lord of licht, and lamp of day, Welcome, fost'rer of tender herbés green, Welcome, quick'ner of blooming blossoms sheen, Welcome, support of every root and vein, 575 Writ not in Caldie language, nor in Grew; The Monarchy, or Ane Dialog betwix Experience and ane Courteour, Lyndsay's last poem, is a lengthy survey of the history of the world, with a prophecy of the millenium, when all things shall be made new. LEAVE ME NOT Ah! my Lord, leave me not, With ane burden on my back With sins I am laden sair,1 And hear thou my moan. With Thy hands Thou hast me wrought, Leave me not, leave me not, With Thy hands Thou hast me wrought, I was sold and Thou me bought, To Thee, Lord, alone. I cry and call to Thee, To leave me not, to leave me not, I cry and call to Thee, To leave me not alone: 10 Genius. 1 Sore. 680 |