And forward fast his ways he did advance, With scrip on hip, and pike-staff in his hand, Quoth I, "Gude man, I wald fain understand, 66 66 'Sir Commonweal, who has you so disguisit?" 66 Alas," quoth he, "thou sees how it does stand Of all my grace, and maun pass of3 Scotland, For there is few to me that takès tent ;6- "My tender friends are all put to the flicht; "Into the south, alas, I was near slain; 1 Knowledge, apprehension (feeling). 4 Cherished. 8 Lost. 5 Perished. 9 Open wrong. 2 Suppressed. 6 Heed. 3 Out of. 7 Makes. 10 Cannon, artillery. 11 In. 12 The Merse is a district in Berwickshire, on the north of the Tweed; Lochmaben is a burgh in Dumfriesshire. The Scotland, where it borders England." meaning is "all along the south of And vicious works, it wald infect the air, "Into the Hieland3 I could find no remeid; They sweir swingeours, they took of me none heed, Als, in the Outè Isles, and in Argyle, 6 Unthrift, Sweirness, Falset, Poortie, and Strife, 66 In the Lawland,9 I come to seek refuge, And purposed there to mak my residence: And said to me, "Swithe, harlot ;12 hie thee hence, .14 "And now I may mak no langer debate ; "Pride hath chased far from them Humility; Sensual Pleasure hath banished Chastity; "Our gentlemen are all degenerate; And Knightly-Courage turned in 22 brag and boast. 1 Tedious, longsome. 4 Those lazy rascals. 7 Poverty (Poortith in Burns). 10 Individual gain, care of self. 13 Offices. 16 That fellow, had me shut out. 14 Address myself. 19 Money: denier, an old Anglo-French coin (name from the 20 Fidelity. 21 Crowned with laurel. 15 Company. 18 Lay Lords. Latin denarius). 22 Into. There is nocht else but ilk1 man for himself ;- "Therefore, adieu; I may no langer tarry." "That questioun, it sall be soon decidit," 1 Each. By wisdom of ane gude auld prudent king; And on strang traitors mak punitioún.R "Als yet, to thee I say ane other thing: I see richt weell that proverb is full true, Woe to the realm that has ower young ane king!"10 With that, Remembrance took me by the hand. 2 "Farewell, and with Saint John for security" (?)—a curious old proverbial expression, or phrase of leave-taking, found in Chaucer, in the King's Quhair of James I., in Henryson, and in other poets, English and Scottish. 9 Yet also. He had Know ye well. 4 Wondrous sorry. 5 Steeped. 6 Decided, answered. 7 To execute justice. 8 To punish strong traitors. 10 In 1528, when this was written, James V. was sixteen years of age. come to the throne as an infant by his father's death at Flodden in 1513. The same proverb (Væ terræ ubi puer rex est!) had been quoted and applied by Langland in the 1377 Text, or Edition, of his Piers Plowman Vision, with reference to Richard II., then just come to the English throne at the age of eleven. FROM THE HISTORY AND TESTAMENT OF A DYING SQUIRE'S COMMANDS CONCERNING HIS FUNERAL. Dool weeds 2 I think hypocrisy and scorn, With hoodès heckled3 doun owerthort1 their een. About my bier sall ride ane multitude, Again that day, fail not to warn and call After the Evangel and the Offertour, 1 This poem was written about 1550. The subject is the life and adventures, together with the last will and testament, of a certain William Meldrum, laird of Cleish and Binns, near Loch Leven in Fifeshire. Meldrum was born about 1493; served in the Scottish wars with Ireland and France; obtained a great reputation for his bravery, gallantry, and misfortunes; and died about 1534. Sir David Lyndsay and the Fifeshire squire were neighbours and friends; and in this poem Lyndsay partly commemorates, partly idealises him. 3 Fastened. 4 Athwart. 5 Each. 8 Cause. 2 Mourning garments. 6 Emblem. 7 Yielded. 9 Solemnly. 10 Story. N When he has read my book frae end till end, Of service true, and all brocht to ane end, And close it up into my sepulture, And syne hing up above my sepulture This beand done, I pray you take the pain 6 During his time whilk wan sic laud and prize SQUIRE MELDRUM'S FAREWELL TO THE LADIES OF SCOTLAND. Fareweel, ye leaming lamps of lustiness! 1 The squire has already desired that his body should be embalmed before burial. 2 Make. 3 War. 4 Helmet. 5 Armour for the temples (?) 6 Pains. 7 In this manner. 8 Reputation. 9 A slave. 10 Star of Stratherne. 11 Lady Gleneagles. The poem of Squire Meldrum relates the adventurous and unhappy love of the squire and this lady. |