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The poems (1902)

Scott, Alexander (1525?-1584?)

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The Wryttar to the Reidaris.
 1. 
1. Ane new ȝeir gift, to the quene Mary, Quhen scho come first hame.
 2. 
2. The iusting and debait vp at the Drum, Betuix Wa Adamsone, and Iohnie Sym.
 3. 
3. Of May.
 4. 
4. [O Lusty May, with Flora Quene.]
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Poems on the Pains and Pleasures of Love.
 5. 
5. [Luve preysis but comparesone.]
 6. 
6. [Haif hairt in hairt, ȝe hairt of hairtis, haill.]
 7. 
7. The anschir to the ballat of hairtis.
 8. 
8. [Hence, hairt, with hir þat most departe.]
 9. 
9. [Quha is perfyte to put in wryt.]
 10. 
10. [I wil be plane and lufe affane.]
 11. 
11. [Only to ȝow in erd that I lufe best.]
 12. 
12. [Rycht as þe glass bene thirlit thrucht with bemis.]
 13. 
13. [“Up, helsum hairt! thy rutis rais, & lowp.”
 14. 
14. [How suld my febill body fure.]
 15. 
15. [Marvilling in mynd, quhat ailis fortoun at me.]
 16. 
16. [Departe, departe, departe.]
 17. 
17. [That evir I luvit allace þairfoir.]
 18. 
18. [Oppressit hairt, indure.]
 19. 
19. [Leif luve & lat me leif allone.]
 20. 
20. [Thocht I in grit distress.]
 21. 
21. [Langour to leive, allace.]
 22. 
22. [Favour is fair in luvis lair.]
 23. 
23. [Returne thee, hairt, hamewart agane.]
 24. 
24. [In June the jem of joy and geme.]
 25. 
25. [Thair is nocht ane winche þat I se.]
 26. 
26. Quod Scott quhen his wyfe left him.
 27. 
27. [Quha lykis to luve.]
 28. 
28. [Lo! quhat it is to luve.]
 29. 
29. [Quhome sould I wyt of my mischance.]
 30. 
30. It cumis ȝow luvaris to be laill.
 31. 
31. [Fra raige of ȝowth the rynk hes rune.]
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Satires.
 32. 
32. The slicht remeid of luve.
 33. 
33. Ane ballat maid to þe derisioun and scorne of wantoun wemen.
 34. 
34. [I mvse and mervillis in my mind.]
 35. 
35. [Ladies, be war þat plesand ar.]
 36. 
36. [Ȝe blindit luvaris luke.]
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Paraphrases of the Psalms.
 37. 
37. The first psalme.
 38. 
38. The fyifty psalme.
  
The Wryttar to the Redare.

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58

34. [I mvse and mervillis in my mind.]

I mvse and mervellis in my mind,
Quhat way to wryt, or put in verss,
The quent consaitis of wemen-kynd,
Or half thair havingis to reherss:
I fynd thair haill affectioun
So contrair thair complexioun.
For quhy no leid vnleill they leit,
Vntrewth expresly thay expell;
Ȝit thay ar planeist and repleit,
Of falset and dissait thair sell:
So find I thair affectioun
Contrair thair complexioun.
Thay favour no wayis fuliche men,
And verry few of thame ar wyiss,
All gredy personis thay misken,
And thay ar full of covettyiss:
So find [I thair affectioun]
Contrair [thair awin complexioun].
I can thame call bot kittie vnsellis,
That takkis sic maneris at thair motheris,
To bid men keip thair secreit counsailis,
Syne schaw the same agane till vþiris:
So find I thair affectioun
Contrair thair awin complexioun.
Thay lawch with thame that they dispyt,
And with thair lykingis thay lament;
Of thair wanhap thay ley the wyt
On thair leill luvaris innocent:
So fynd [I thair affectioun]
Contrair [thair awin complexioun].
59

Thay wald be rewit, and hes no rewth,
Thay wald be menit, and no man menis,
Thay wald be trowit, and hes no trewth,
Thay wiss thair will, that skant weill wenys:
So fynd [I thair affectioun]
Contrair [thair awin complexioun].
Thay forge the freindschip of the fremmit,
And fleis the favour of ther freindis;
Thay wald with nobill men be nemmit,
Syne laittandly to lawar leindis:
So find I thair affectioun
Contrair thair complexioun.
Thay lichtly sone, and covettis quickly;
They blame ilk body, and thay blekit,
Thay eindill fast, and dois ill lickly;
Thay sklander saikles, & thay suspectit:
So find [I thair affectioun]
Contrair [thair awin complexioun].
Thay wald haif all men bund & thrall
To thame, and thay for to be fre;
Thay covet ilk man at thair call,
And thay to leif at libirtie:
So fynd [I thair affectioun]
Contrar [thair awin complexioun].
Thay tak delyt in merciall deidis,
And ar of nature tremebund;
Thay wald men nvreist all their neidis,
Syne confortles lattis thame confound:
So [find I thair affectioun]
Contrar [thair awin complexioun].
Thay wald haif wating on alway,
But gwerdoun, genȝeild, or rewaird,
Thay wald haif reddy scherwandis ay,
But recompans, thank, or rewaird:
So find I thair affectioun
Contrair [thair awin complexioun].
60

The vertew of this writ and vigour,
Maid in comparisone it is,
That famenene ar of this figour,
Quhilk clippit is Antiphratis:
For quhy thair haill affectioun
Is contrair thair complexioun.
I wat, gud wemen will nocht wyt me,
Nor of this sedull be eschamit;
For be thay courtas, thay will quyt me;
And gif thay crab, heir I quytclame it:
Confessand thair affectioun,
Conforme to þair complexioun.
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