Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/112

 ��ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE

I54o?-i6io ?

56 The Night is Near Gone

r EY! now the day dawis; The jolly cock crawis; Now shroudis the shawis

Thro' Nature anon. The thissel-cock cry is On lovers wha lyis Now skaillis the skyis; The nicht is neir gone.

The fieldis ouerflowis With gowans that growis, Quhair lilies like low is

As red as the rone. The turtle that true is, With notes that renewis, Her pairty pursuis*

The nicht is ncir gone.

Now hairtis with hindis Conform to their kindis, Hie tursis their tyndis

On ground quhair they grone. Now hurchonis, with hairis, Aye passis in pairis; Quhilk duly declaris

The nicht is neir gone.

shroudis] dress themselves. shawis] woods. skaillis] cleais. gowans] daisies. low] flame. rone] rowan, pairty] partner, mate. tursis] thrust. tyndis] antlers, grone] utter their rutting cry. hurchonis] hedgehogs,

'urchins.'

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