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The Poems of Alexander Montgomerie

Edited by James Cranstoun
Montgomerie, Alexander (1545?-1598)

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SONNETS.
 I. 
I. [TO THE BLESSED TRINITY.]
 II. 
II. [OF THE WORKS OF GOD.]
 III. 
III. [OF THE INIQUITIE OF MAN.]
 IV. 
IV. TO M. DAUID DRUMMOND.
 V. 
V. [TO THE SAME.]
 VI. 
VI. TO M. P. GALLOWAY.
 VII. 
VII. TO HIS MAJESTIE.
 VIII. 
VIII. IN PRAISE OF HIS MAJESTIE.
 IX. 
IX. IN PRAISE OF M. J. M., CHANCELLER.
 X. 
X. IN PRAIS OF THE KINGS VRANIE.
 XI. 
XI. [OF THE SAME.]
 XII. 
XII. [OF THE SAME.]
 XIII. 
XIII. [OF THE SAME.]
 XIV. 
XIV. TO HIS MAJESTIE, FOR HIS PENSIOUN.
 XV. 
XV. [TO THE SAME.]
 XVI. 
XVI. [TO THE SAME.]
 XVII. 
XVII. [TO THE SAME.]
 XVIII. 
XVIII. TO THE LORDS OF THE SESSION.
 XIX. 
XIX. [TO THE SAME.]
 XX. 
XX. [TO THE SAME.]
 XXI. 
XXI. [TO THE SAME.]
 XXII. 
XXII. TO HIS ADUERSARS LAUYERS.
 XXIII. 
XXIII. OF M. J. SHARPE.
 XXIV. 
XXIV. [OF THE SAME.]
 XXV. 
XXV. TO R. HUDSONE.
 XXVI. 
XXVI. [TO THE SAME.]
 XXVII. 
XXVII. [TO THE SAME.]
 XXVIII. 
XXVIII. [TO THE SAME.]
 XXIX. 
XXIX. [TO THE SAME.]
 XXX. 
XXX. CHRISTEN LYNDESAY TO RO. HUDSONE.
 XXXI. 
XXXI. TO M. J. MURRAY.
 XXXII. 
XXXII. TO M. L. RUTHUEN, DUCHES OF LENNOX.
 XXXIII. 
XXXIII. A LADYIS LAMENTATIONE.
 XXXIV. 
XXXIV. [THE SAME.]
 XXXV. 
XXXV. [THE SAME.]
 XXXVI. 
XXXVI. [THE SAME.]
 XXXVII. 
XXXVII. [THE SAME.]
 XXXVIII. 
XXXVIII. [THE SAME.]
 XXXIX. 
XXXIX. [TO HIS MAISTRES.]
 XL. 
XL. [TO THE SAME.]
 XLI. 
XLI. [TO THE SAME.]
 XLII. 
XLII. JAMES LAUDER.
 XLIII. 
XLIII. ISSOBELL YONG.
 XLIV. 
XLIV. EUFAME WEMIS.
 XLV. 
XLV. JOHN JHONSONE—JANE MAXWELL.
 XLVI. 
XLVI. HIS MAISTRES NAME.
 XLVII. 
XLVII. TO HIS MAISTRES MESSANE.
 XLVIII. 
XLVIII. TO M. D.
 XLIX. 
XLIX. [TO THE SAME.]
 L. 
L. OF MY LADY SEYTON.
 LI. 
LI. TO THE FOR ME.
 LII. 
LII. [TO THE SAME.]
 LIII. 
LIII. [TO THE SAME.]
 LIV. 
LIV. [ON HIS MAISTRES.]
 LV. 
LV. [ON THE SAME.]
 LVI. 
LVI. [ON THE SAME.]
 LVII. 
LVII. [ON THE SAME.]
 LVIII. 
LVIII. [ON THE SAME.]
 LIX. 
LIX. OF THE DULEWEID.
 LX. 
LX. [OF THE SAME.]
 LXI. 
LXI. [OF THE SAME.]
 LXII. 
LXII. THE POETS APOLOGIE TO THE KIRK OF EDINBURGH.
 LXIII. 
LXIII. THAT HE WROT NOT AGANSTE THE MADINS OF EDINBURGH.
 LXIV. 
LXIV. TO HIS MAJESTIE.
 LXV. 
LXV. From London
 LXVI. 
LXVI. LADYLAND TO CAP. A. MONTEGOMERIE.
 LXVII. 
LXVII. EȜECHIEL MONTG. ANSUEIR TO LADYLAND.
 LXVIII. 
LXVIII. LADYLAND TO EȜECH. MONTG.
 LXIX. 
LXIX. THE OLD MAISTER
 LXX. 
LXX. AGAINST THE GOD OF LOVE.
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MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
 I. 
I. A DESCRIPTION OF TYME.
 II. 
II. THE OPPOSITIONE OF THE COURT TO CONSCIENCE
 III. 
III. ANE INVECTIONE AGAINST FORTUN;
 IV. 
IV. THE POETS COMPLAINT OF HIS NATIVITIE.
 V. 
V. THE POETS COMPLANTE AGAINST THE WNKYNDNES OF HIS COMPANIONS VHEN HE WES IN PRISONE.
 VI. 
VI. A LATE REGRATE OF LEIRNING TO LOVE.
 VII. 
VII. A COUNSELL AGANST DISPAIR IN LOVE.
 VIII. 
VIII. ECHO.
 IX. 
IX. [ADDRESS TO LOVE.]
 X. 
X. A DESCRIPTIONE OF VANE LOVERS.
 XI. 
XI. THE WELL OF LOVE.
 XII. 
XII. OF THE SAME WELL.
 XIII. 
XIII. THE COMMENDATIONE OF LOVE.
 XIV. 
XIV. [AGAINST LOVE.]
 XV. 
XV. [THE SOLSEQUIUM.]
 XVI. 
XVI. A REGRATE OF HARD LUCK IN LOVE.
 XVII. 
XVII. [ANE EXAMPLE FOR HIS LADY.]
 XVIII. 
XVIII. NATUR PASSIS NURITURE.
 XIX. 
XIX. [ADDRESS TO THE SUN.]
 XX. 
XX. [EVEN DEAD BEHOLD I BREATH.]
 XXI. 
XXI. [LOVE, IF THOU LIST.]
 XXII. 
XXII. [IN THROU THE WINDOES OF MYN EES.]
 XXIII. 
XXIII. [IF FAITHFULNES SULD FRIENDSHIP FIND.]
 XXIV. 
XXIV. [LYK AS AGLAUROS.]
 XXV. 
XXV. THE SACRIFICE OF CUPID.
 XXVI. 
XXVI. THE SECREIT PRAIS OF LOVE.
 XXVII. 
XXVII. [THE POETS LEGACIE.]
 XXVIII. 
XXVIII. [MELANCIIOLIE, GRIT DEPUT OF DISPAIR.]
 XXIX. 
XXIX. [THAT HIS HAIRT IS WOUNDIT.]
 XXX. 
XXX. [THE POET COMPLENES ON LOVE AND FORTUN.]
 XXXI. 
XXXI. [THE PERVERSITIE OF HIS INCLINATIONES THROU LOVE.]
 XXXII. 
XXXII. [THE POET REASONS WITH HIS MAISTRES.]
 XXXIII. 
XXXIII. [THE POETS DREME.]
 XXXIV. 
XXXIV. [TO HIS MAISTRES.]
 XXXV. 
XXXV. [IN PRAIS OF HIS MAISTRES.]
 XXXVI. 
XXXVI. [SEN FORTUN IS MY FO.]
 XXXVII. 
XXXVII. [TO HIS MAISTRES.]
 XXXVIII. 
XXXVIII. [HE REJOISES, AS DID FORMERLY THE GREEKS.]
 XXXIX. 
XXXIX. [HE BIDS ADEU TO HIS MAISTRES.]
 XL. 
XL. [HE BEWAILES HIS WOFULL ESTAIT.]
 XLI. 
XLI. [THE NIGHT IS NEIR GONE.]
 XLII. 
XLII. [AN ADMONITIOUN TO ȜOUNG LASSIS.]
 XLIII. 
XLIII. [MONTGOMERIES WELCOME TO LORD SEMPLE, ON HIS RETURNE FROM FRANCE.]
 XLIV. 
XLIV. [HE PRAYIS TO HIS MAISTRES FOR PITIE.]
 XLV. 
XLV. [HE CALLIS ON DEATH TO RELIEVE HIM.]
 XLVI. 
XLVI. [DISPLEASUR, WITH HIS DEADLY DAIRT.]
 XLVII. 
XLVII. THE ELEGIE.
 XLVIII. 
XLVIII. THE NAVIGATIOVN.
 XLIX. 
XLIX. A CARTELL OF THE THRE VENTROUS KNICHTS.
 L. 
L. SANG ON THE LADY MARGARET MONTGOMERIE.
 LI. 
LI. A POEME ON THE SAME LADY.
 LII. 
LII. [A REGRATE OF HIS VNHAPPIE LUVE.]
 LIII. 
LIII. ANE ANSUER TO ANE INGLISS RAILAR PRAYSING HIS AWIN GENALOGY.
 LIV. 
LIV. ANE ANSWER TO ANE HELANDMANIS INVECTIUE.
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EPITAPHS.
 LV. 
LV. EPITAPH OF R. SCOT.
 LVI. 
LVI. EPITAPH OF THE MAISTER OF WORK, [SIR ROBERT] DRUMMOND OF CARNOK, [KNIGHT.]
 LVII. 
LVII. EPITAPH OF JOHNE AND PATRIK SHAUES.
 LVIII. 
LVIII. EPITAPH OF ROBERT, LORD BOYD.
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DEVOTIONAL POEMS.
 I. 
I. THE FIRST PSALME.
 II. 
II. THE SECONDE PSALME.
 III. 
III. THE POETS DREME.
 IV. 
IV. A GODLY PRAYER.
 V. 
V. A WALKNING FROM SIN.
 VI. 
VI. A LESONE HOU TO LEIRNE TO DIE.
 VII. 
VII. [AWAY! VANE WORLD.]
 VIII. 
VIII. [COME, MY CHILDRENE DERE, DRAU NEIR ME.]
 IX. 
IX. HIS MORNING MUSE.
 X. 
X. PSALME XXXVI.
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THE MINDES MELODIE.
  
PSALME I.
  
PSALME IIII.
  
PSALME VI.
  
PSALME VIII.
  
PSALME XV.
  
PSALME XIX.
  
PSALME XXIII.
  
PSALME XLIII.
  
PSALME LVII.
  
PSALME XCI.
  
PSALME CI.
  
PSALME CXVII.
  
PSALME CXXI.
  
PSALME CXXV.
  
PSALME CXXVIII.
  
THE SONG OF SIMEON.
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POEMS ATTRIBUTED TO ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE.
 I. 
I. THE BANKIS OF HELICON.
 II. 
II. [MY LADYIS PULCRITUD.]
 III. 
III. [WHEN ȜE WERE PLESIT.]
 IV. 
IV. [QUHY SOWLD I LUVE.]
 V. 
V.

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XXVI. THE SECREIT PRAIS OF LOVE.

As evirie object to the outuard ee,
Dissaivis the sight, and semis as it is sene,
Quhen not bot shap and cullour ȝit we se,
For no thing els is subject to the ene;
As stains and trees appeiring gray and grene,
Quhais quantities vpon the sight depends;
Bot qualities the cunning [sense transcends.]
169

Euen sa, vha sayis they sie me as I am—
I mene—a man, suppose they sie me move,
Of ignorance they do tham selfis condam.
By syllogisme, this properly I prove:
Quha sees, by look, my loyaltie in love—
Quhat hurt in hairt, vhat hope or hap I haiv?
Quhilk ressone movis the senses to consaiv.
Imaginatione is the outuard ee,
To spy the richt anatomie of mynd;
Quhilk, by some secreit sympathie, may see
The force of love vhilk can not be defynd.
Quharthrou the hairt, according to his kynd,
Compassionat, as it appeiris plane,
Participats of plesur or of pane.
Of hevins or earth, some simlitude or shape,
By cunning craftismen, to the ees appeir;
Bot vho is he can counterfutt the ape,
Or paint a passion palpable, I speir,
Quhilk enters by the organ of the eir,
And bot vhen it is pithilie exprest?
And ȝit I grant the gritest pairt is gest.
Suppose the heuins be huge for to behold,
Contening all within thair compas wyde,
The starris be tyme, thoght tedious, may be told;
Becaus within a certan bounds they byd:
The carde the earth from waters may devyde:
Bot vho is he can limit love, I wene,
Quhom nather carde nor compas can contene?
Quhat force is this, subdeuing all and sum?
Quhat force is this that maks the tygris tame?
Quhat force is this that na man can ouircum?
Quhat force is this, that rightlie nane can name?
Quhat force is this, that careis sik a fame?
170

A vehemency that words can not reveill,
Quhilk I conclude to suffer and conceill.
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