Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/57

 ROBERT HENRYSON

Makyne went hame blyth anneuche

Attour the holttis hair; Robin murnit, and Makyne leuche;

Scho sang, he sichit safr: And so left him baith wo and wreuch,

In dolour and in cair, Kepand his hird under a huche

Amangis the holtis hair.

WILLIAM DUNBAR

14651520? 21 To a Lady

SWEET rois of vertew and of gentilness, Delytsum lily of everie lustynes, Richest in bontic and in bcwtie clear, And everie vertew that is wenit dear, Except onhe that ye are mercyless,

Into your garth this day I did persew;

There saw I flowris that fresche were of hew;

Baith quhyte and reid most lusty were to seyne, And halesome hcrbis upon stalkis greene;

Yet leaf nor flowr find could I nane of rew.

I doubt that Merche, with his cauld blabtis keyne,

Has slain this gcntil herb, that I of mene;

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

So confortand his levis unto me bcne.

20 anneuche] enough. holttis hair] grey woodlands, leuche] laughed. wreuch] peevish. huche] cliff.

21 rois] rose. wenit] weened, esteemed. garth] garden-close. to seyne] to see. that I of mene] that I complain of, mourn for.

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