WILLIAM DUNBAR.

1465-1520.

THE little that is known of Dunbar has been gleaned from the complaints in his own poetry, and from the abuse of his contemporary Kennedy, which is chiefly directed against his poverty. From the colophon of one of his poems, dated at Oxford, it has been suggested, as a conjecture, that he studied at that university. By his own account he travelled through France and England as a noviciate of the Franciscan order; and, in that capacity, confesses that he was guilty of sins, probably professional frauds, from the stain of which the holy water could not cleanse him. On his return to Scotland he commemorated the nuptials of James IV. with Margaret Tudor, in his poem of the Thistle and Rose, but we find that James turned a deaf ear to his remonstrances for a benefice, and that the queen exerted her influence in his behalf ineffectually. Yet, from the verses on his dancing in the queen's chamber, it appears that he was received at court on familiar terms.

THE DAUNCE OF THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS
THROUGH HELL.

I.

Or Februar the fiftene nycht',`
Richt lang befoir the dayis licht,

I lay intill3 a trance;

And then I saw baith Hevin and Hell;
Methocht amang the fiendis fell,
Mahoun gart cry ane dance".

Of shrewis that were never shrevin7,
Against the feast of Fasternis evin3,

To mak their observànce9;

11

He bad gallands ga graith a gyis 10,
And cast up gamountis in the skies 11,
The last came out of France.

II.

Let's see, quoth he, now quha begins',
With that the fowll sevin deidly sins,

I. The fifteenth night.-2 Before the day light.-3 I lay in a trance. And then I saw both heaven and hell.-5 Methought among the fell fiends.—6 The devil made proclaim a dance.— 7 of sinners that were never shriven.-8 Against the feast of Fastern's even. To make their observance.—10 He bade (his) gallants go prepare a masque.—11 And cast up dances in the skies.

II. Let's see, quoth he, now who begins. With that the foul seven deadly sins.

Begowth to leip at anis3.

And first of all in dance was Pryd,
With hair wyl'd bak, bonet on side*,
Like to mak vaistie wainis";

And round about him, as a quheill,
Hang all in rumpilis to the heill,
His kethat for the nanisR.

Mony proud trompour with him trippit9,
Throw skaldan fyre ay as they skippit 10,
They girnd with hyddous granis 11.

III.

Heillie harlottis in hawtane wyis1,
Come in with mony sindrie gyis 2,

Bot yet leuch never Mahòun3,

Quhill priestis cum with bair schevin nekks+,
Then all the feynds lewche and made gekks",
Black-Belly and Bawsy-Brown".

IV.

Then Ire cam in with sturt and strife1,
His hand was ay upon his knyfe,

3 Began to leap at once.-4 With hair combed back (and) bonnet to one side.-5 Likely to make wasteful wants.-6 Like a wheel.7 Hung all in rumples to the heel.-8 His cassock for the nonce.9 Many a proud impostor with him tripped.—10 Through scalding fire as they skipt. They grinned with hideous groans.

11

III. Holy harlots in haughty guise. Came in with many sundry masks.-3 But yet Satan never laughed.-4 While priests came with their bare shaven necks.—5 Then all the fiends laughed and made signs of derision.-6 Names of fiends.

IV.

Then Ire came with trouble and strife,

He brandeist lyk a beir;

Bostaris, braggaris, and burganeris,
After him passit into pairis3,

All bodin in feir of weir4.

In jakkis stryppis and bonnettis of steil3,
Thair leggis were chenyiet to the heill,
Frawart was thair affeir".

Sum upon uder with brands beft,

Some jaggit uthers to the heft9

With knyves that scherp coud scheir 10.

V.

Next in the dance followit Invy1,
Fild full of feid and fellony",

Hid malice and dispyte,

For privy haterit that tratour trymlet';
Him followit mony freik dissymlit*,
With fenyiet wordis quhyte'.
And flattereris into menis faces",
And backbyteris of sundry races

2 Boasters, braggarts, and bullies.—3 After him passed in pairs.— • All arrayed in feature of war.-5 In coats of armour and bonnets of steel.-6 Their legs were chained to the heel.-(Probably it means covered with iron net-work.).—7 Froward was their aspect.— 8 Some struck upon others with brands.-9 Some stuck others to the hilt.-10 With knives that sharply could mangle.

V. Followed Envy.-2 Filled full of quarrel and felony.—3 For privy hatred that traitor trembled.-4 Him followed many a dissembling renegado.-5 With feigned words fair or white-6 And flatterers to men's faces.-7 And backbiters of sundry races.

To ley that had delytes,

With rownaris of false lesingis";
Allace, that courtis of noble kingis 10
Of thame can nevir be quyte11.

VI.

Next him in dance cam Cuvatyce',
Rute of all evill and grund of vyce,
That nevir cowd be content,
Catyvis, wrechis, and ockeraris3,
Hud-pykis, hurdars, and gadderaris*,
All with that warlo went 5.

Out of thair throttis they shot on udder"
Het moltin gold, methocht, a fudder",
As fyre flaucht maist fervènt;
Ay as they tumit thame of schot,
Feynds fild them well up to the thrott
With gold of all kind prent 1o.

VII.

Syne Sweirness at the second bidding1
Com lyk a sow out of a midding2,

8 To lie that had delight.-9 With spreaders of false lies.-10 Alas that courts of noble kings.— -" Of them can never be rid.

VI. 1 Covetousness.-2 Root of all evil and ground of vice.3 Catives, wretches, and usurers.-4 Misers, hoarders, and gatherers.-5 All with that worldling went.-6 Out of their throats they shot on (each) other.-7 Hot molten gold, methought, a vast quantity. Like fire flakes most fervid.-9 Ay as they emptied them-10 With gold of all kind of coin. VII. Then Sloth at a second bidding. Came like a sow from a dunghill.

selves of shot.