Thair wes nane that he ourtuk,
In rycht or yit in wrang,
Bot all in schondir he thame schuk,
The Gyand wes so strang.

He held the Lady day and nycht
Within his deep dungeoun,
He wald nocht gif of hir a sicht
For gold nor yit ransoun-
Bot gif the King mycht get a knycht,
To fecht with his persoun,

To fecht with him beth day and nycht,
Quhill ane wer dungin doun.

The King gart seik baith fer and neir,
Beth be se and land,

Off ony knycht gif he mycht heir
Wald fecht with that Gyand:
A worthy Prince, that had no peir,
Hes tane the deid on hand
For the luve of the Lady cleir,
And held full trew cunnand.

That Prince come prowdly to the toun

Of that Gyand to heir,

And fawcht with him, his awin persoun,

And tuke him presoneir,

And kest him in his awin dungeoun

Allane withouten feir,

With hungir, cauld, and confusioun,
As full weill worthy weir.

quhill] until.

himself.

dungin doun] beaten down. withouten feir] without companion.

his awin persoun]

Syne brak the bour, had hame the bricht
Unto her fadir he.

Sa evill wondit wes the Knycht
That he behuvit to de;
Unlusam was his likame dicht,
His sark was all bludy;

In all the world was thair a wicht,
So peteouss for to se?

The Lady murnyt and maid grit mane,

With all her mekill mycht—

'I luvit nevir lufe bot ane,

That dulfully now is dicht;
God sen my lyfe were fra me tane
Or I had seen yone sicht,

Or ellis in begging evir to gane
Furth with yone curtass knycht.'

He said 'Fair lady, now mone I
De trestly ye me trow,
Take ye my serk that is bludy
And hing it forrow yow,
First think on it and syne on me
Quhen men cumis yow to wow.'
The Lady said 'Be Mary fre,
Thairto I mak a vow.'

Quhen that scho lukit to the sark
Scho thocht on the persoun,

And prayit for him with all hir hart
That lowsit hir of bandoun,

the bricht] the fair one.

likame] body.

lowsit hir of

bandoun] loosed her from thraldom.

Quhair scho wes wont to sit full merk
Into that deip dungeoun;

And evir quhill scho wes in quert,

That wess hir a lessoun.

Sa weill the Lady luvit the Knycht
That no man wald scho tak:
Sa suld we do our God of micht

That did all for us mak;
Quhilk fullily to deid was dicht,
For sinfull manis sak,

Sa suld we do beth day and nycht,
With prayaris to him mak.

This King is lyk the Trinitè,
Baith in hevin and heir;
The manis saule to the Lady,

The Gyand to Lucefeir,

The Knycht to Chryst, that deit on tre

And coft our synnis deir;

The pit to Hele with panis fell,

The Syn to the woweir.

The Lady was wowd, but scho said nay

With men that wald hir wed;
Sa suld we wryth all sin away
That in our breist is bred.

I pray to Jesu Chryst verray,
For ws his blud that bled,
To be our help on domisday
Quhair lawis ar straitly led.

quert] prison.

coft] bought.

straitly led strictly carried out.

The saule is Godis dochtir deir,
And eik his handewerk,
That was betrayit with Lucefeir,
Quha sittis in hell full merk:
Borrowit with Chrystis angell deir,
Hend men, will ye nocht herk?
And for his lufe that bocht us deir
Think on the BLUDY SERK!

18.

S

WILLIAM DUNBAR

To a Lady

WEET rois of vertew and of gentilness,
Delytsum lily of everie lustynes,

Richest in bontie and in bewtie clear,

And everie vertew that is wenit dear,

Except onlie that ye are mercyless.

Into your garth this day I did persew;

1465-1520?

There saw I fowris that fresche were of hew;
Baith quhyte and reid most lusty were to seyne,
And halesome herbis upon stalkis greene;

Yet leaf nor flowr find could I nane of rew.

I doubt that Merche, with his cauld blastis keyne,
Has slain this gentil herb, that I of mene;

Quhois piteous death dois to my heart sic paine
That I would make to plant his root againe,-

So confortand his levis unto me bene.

18. rois] rose.
to seyne] to see.

17. hend] gentle.

garth] garden-close.

that I complain of, mourn for.

wenit] weened, esteemed. that I of mene]

19.

L

In Honour of the City of London

ONDON, thou art of townes A per se.

Soveraign of cities, seemliest in sight,

Of high renoun, riches and royaltie;

Of lordis, barons, and many a goodly knyght;
Of most delectable lusty ladies bright;
Of famous prelatis, in habitis clericall;

Of merchauntis full of substaunce and of myght:
London, thou art the flour of Cities all.

Gladdith anon, thou lusty Troy novaunt,
Citie that some tyme cleped was New Troy;
In all the erth, imperiall as thou stant,

Pryncesse of townes, of pleasure and of joy,
A richer restith under no Christen roy;
For manly power, with craftis naturall,
Fourmeth none fairer sith the flode of Noy:
London, thou art the flour of Cities all.
Gemme of all joy, jaspre of jocunditie,
Most myghty carbuncle of vertue and valour;
Strong Troy in vigour and in strenuytie;
Of royall cities rose and geraflour;
Empress of townes, exalt in honour;
In beawtie beryng the crone imperiall;
Swete paradise precelling in pleasure;
London, thou art the flour of Cities all.

Above all ryvers thy Ryver hath renowne,
Whose beryall stremys, pleasaunt and preclare,

Under thy lusty wallys renneth down,

Where many a swan doth swymme with wyngis fair;

gladdith] rejoice. fourmeth] appeareth.

Troy novaunt] Troja nova or Trinovantum, geraflour] gillyflower.