NOTES DUNBAR UNBAR begins the sixteenth century: 1503 is the date marriage of James IV of Scotland with the English Princess Margaret. The Golden Targe (printed at the first Scottish Press) was written somewhat later. The two poems I print are undated: probably one or both belonging to his younger days. How could these so simply beautiful lines on the Rue have escaped the collectors? Is there much so fine through all the poetic years? Not only to show what antique spelling was, I repeat them here, verbatim et literatim, from Laing's edition of Dunbar, 1834. TO A LADYE SWEIT ROIS of vertew and of gentilness, Richest in bontie, and in bewtie cleir, And everie vertew that is held most deir Except onlie that ye ar mercyless. Into your garthe this day I did persew, Thair saw I flowris that fresche wer of hew; Baithe quhite and reid moist lusty wer to seyne, Yit leif nor flour fynd could I nane of Rew. I dout that Merche, with his cauld blastis keyne, Quhois petewous deithe dois to my heart sic pane, So comfortand his levis unto me bene. Page 1, line 4: - Pinkerton, who printed this in his Ancient Scottish Poems, 1786, has And everie vertew the to hevin is deir. Garthe is garden; I of mene — I moan for, or lament; comfortand (a termination often in old writings) comforting; been were, or have been. This use of been, as also for are and is and be, is common in early poetry: - Thy words harsh and ungracious been ― Chapman. As fresh as been the flowers Peele. P. 2 — ADVICE TO LOVERS. Leir—learn; perquier — truly, says Laing, but it is the French pourquoi, Italian perche,therefore, wherefore, reason why; is went - is gone, of the verb to wend—to go; discure discover. HEYWOOD P. 3 — A PRAISE of his Lady. Out of Tottel's Miscellany, 1557. Reprinted by Arber, 1870. Ellis in his Early English Poets has the poem wanting the seventh stanza. In the line She may be well compared, I hope I may be forgiven for adding very, to help the halting measure more likely the printer's than the poet's fault. P. WYATT 5 YEA OR NAY. Boordes, boords, or bourdes, — tricks, jests. Here is a specimen of bad punctuation, from Ellis:· : |