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Railed about and so with treeìs set

Was all the place, and hawthorn hedges knet, That life was none (a) walking there forby That might within scarce any wight espy.

XIV.

And on the smallè greenè twistis sat
The little sweetè nightingale, and sung,
So loud and clear the hymnis consecrate
Of lovis use, now soft, now loud among ',
That all the gardens and the wallis rung
Right of their song; and on the couple next
Of their sweet harmony, and lo the text.

XV.

Worshippe, O ye that lovers bene, this may!
For of your bliss the calends are begun;
And sing with us, " away! winter away!

Come summer come, the sweet season and sun;
Awake for shame that have your heavens won;
And amorously lift up your headès all
Thank love that list you to his mercy call,"

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And therewith cast I down mine eye again,
Whereas I saw walking under the tower,
Full secretly new comyn to her pleyne 9,
The fairest and the frest youngè flower
That ever I saw (methought) before that hour:

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For which sudden abate1anon astert 2
The blood of all my body to my heart.

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Of her array the form gif3 I shall write,
Toward her golden hair, and rich attire,
In fret wise couched with pearlis white,
And greatè balas * lemyng 5 as the fire;
With many an emerant and faire sapphire,
And on her head a chaplet fresh of hue,
Of plumys parted red and white and blue.

XXIX.

About her neck, white as the fyr amaille",
A goodly chain of small orfevyrie 7,
Whereby there hang a ruby without fail
Like to a heart yshapen verily,

That as a spark of lowe so wantonly
Seemed burnyng upon her whitè throat;
Now gif there was good parly God it wote.

XXX.

And for to walk that freshè mayè's morrow,
An hook she had upon her tissue white,
That goodlier had not been seen toforrow 9,

1An unexpected accident. 2 Started back. 3 If. 4 Rubies. 5 Burning. 6 Mr. Ellis conjectures that this is an error, for fair email, i. e. enamel. 7 Goldsmith's work. 8 Fire. 9 Hereto

fore.

As I suppose, and girt she was a lyte1
Thus halfling loose for haste; to such delight
It was to see her youth in goodlihead,
That for rudeness to speak thereof I dread.

XXXI.

In her was youth, beauty with humble port,
Bounty, richess, and womanly feature:
(God better wote than my pen can report)
Wisdom largèss, estate and cunning sure,
In word in deed, in shape and countenance,
That nature might no more her childe avance.

ROBERT HENRYSON.

1425-1495.

NOTHING is known of the life of Henryson, but that he was a schoolmaster at Dumferling. Lord Hailes supposes his office to have been preceptor of youth in the Benedictine convent of that place. Besides a continuation of Chaucer's Troilus and Cresseide, he wrote a number of fables, of which MS. copies are preserved in the Scotch Advocates Library.

1 A little. 2 Half.

ROBENE AND MAKYNE,

A BALLAD.

I.

ROBENE sat on gud grene hill',
Keipand a flok of fie 2:

Mirry Makyne said him till",
Robene thou rew on me*:

I haif thè luvit, lowd and still 5,

This yieris two or thrè;

My dule in dern bot gif thou dill 7,

Doubtless bot dreid I die 8.

II.

He. Robene answerit, be the rude1,

Nathing of lufe I knaw2;

Bot keipis my scheip undir yone wud3,
Lo quhair they raik on raw".

I. Robene sat on a good green hill.- - Keeping a flock of cattle. Merry Makyne said to him.-4 Rotene, take pity on me.-5 I have loved thee openly and secretly.-6 These years two or three. My sorrow, in secret, unless thou share.-8 Undoubtedly I shall die.

II. Robene answered, by the rood.-2 Nothing of love I know. But keep my sheep under yon wood.-4 Lo where they range in a row.

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Quhat has marrit thè in thy mude",
Makyne to me thow schaw"?

Or what is luve, or to be lu'ed",
Fain wald I leir that law 8.

III.

She. At luvis leir gif thow will leir 1,
Take thair an A, B, C2,

Be kind, courtas, and fair of feir3,
Wyse, hardy, and frè1.

Sè that no danger do thè deir3,
Quhat dule in dern thow drie 6,
Preiss the with pane at all poweir",
Be patient, and previeR.

IV.

He. Robene answerit her agane1,
I wait not quhat is luve 2,
But I haif marvell, in certaine3,
Quhat makis thè this wanrufe1.

5 What has marred thee in thy mood.-6 Makyne, show thou to me.-7 Or what is love or to be loved.--8 Fain would I learn that law (of love).

III. At the lore of love if thou wilt learn.-2 Take there an A, B, C.-3 Be kind, courteous, and fair of aspect or feature.→→ 4Wise, hardy, and free.-5 See that no danger daunt thee.-6Whatever sorrow in secret thou sufferest.-7 Exert thyself with pains to thy utmost power.-8 Be patient and privy.

IV.1 Robene answered her again.I wot not what is love.— 3 But I (have) wonder, certainly.—4 What makes thee thus melancholy.

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