For why? no leid unleill they leid," Yet they are plenish'd and replete Of falsehood and deceit thairsell: $ So find I their affection Contrair their own complexion. They favour no ways foolish men, And few of them are wise; All greedy persons they mis-ken, And they are full of covetise: So find I their affection Contrair their own complexion. They would have all men bound and thrall And they to live at liberty: So find I their affection Contrair their own complexion. They take delight in martial deeds, And are of nature tremebund; 1 Whole. 2 Suffer no unloyal person. 3 Themselves. They would men nourish'd all their needs, Syne, comfortless lets them confound: So find I their affection Contrair their own complexion. The virtue of this writ, and vigour, I wot, good women will not wyt1 me, For, be they courteous, they will 'quit me; And gif they crab, here I quyt-clame 1 it: Confessand their affection Conform to their complexion. CLAPPERTON. A Scotish poet, whose history is unknown, but who appears to have flourished about 1550. The following specimen is taken from Pinkerton's Anc. Scot. Poems, 1786. Wo worth Marriage! IN Bowdoun,' on black monunday,* "Maidens, ye may have great pleasance "Though I inclosit be with care, "When that I was a maiden ying,3 'A village on the Tweed, near old Melrose. "And sport and play, bayth late and air.* "Now dare I nought look to sic thing. "Wo worth marriage for evermair! "Thus am I bounden, out of bliss, "Unto ane churl says I am his, "That I dare nought look o'er the stair, 66 Scantly to give Sir John ane kiss! "Wo worth marriage for evermair! "No were I ane maiden as I was"To make me lady of the Bas "And though that I were ne'er so fair, "To wedding should I never pass. "Wo worth marriage for evermair! * “ All night I clatter3 upon my creed, 66 Prayand to God that I were dead; "Or else out of this world he were: "Then should I see for some remeid. "Wo worth marriage for evermair! “Ye should hear 'tell (and he were gane) "That I should be ane wanton ane. • Early. 2 3 Chatter. "In our town like me should be nane. "We worth marriage for evermair! "I should put on my russet gown, "My red kirtill, my hose of brown, "And let them see my yellow hair "Under my curchè3 hingand down. "Wo worth marriage for evermair! "Lovers bayth should hear and see, "Their hearts for me should ne'er be sair : 5 "But aye unweddit should I be. "Wo worth marriage for evermair!” 1 Learn. 4 Hanging. 2 Doctrine. 5 Sore. 3 Kerchief. VOL. II. |