Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/113

 ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE

The season excellis

Through sweetness that smellis;

Now Cupid compel! is

Our hairtis echone On Venus wha waikis, To muse on our maikis, Syne sing for their saikis —

'The nicht is neir gone' All courageous knichtis Aganis the day dichtis The breist-plate that bright is

To fight with their fone. The stoned steed stampis Through courage, and crampis, Syne on the land lampis.

The nicht is neir gone. The freikis on fcildis That wight wapms weildis With shyning bright shieldis

At Titan in trone; Stiff spciris in reistis Ouer corseris crestis Are broke on their breistis:

The nicht is neir gone. So hard are their hittis, Some sweyis, some sittis, And some perforce flittis

On ground quhile they grone.

maikis] mates. fone] foes. stoned steed] stallion,

crampis] prances, lampis] gallops, freikis] men, warriors, wight wapms] stout weapons. at Titan] over against Titan (the sun), or read 'as*. flittis] are cast.