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The Poems of Alexander Montgomerie

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

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SONNETS.
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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.
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DEVOTIONAL POEMS.
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THE MINDES MELODIE.
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POEMS ATTRIBUTED TO ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE.

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I. A DESCRIPTION OF TYME.

Tak tyme in tym, or tym will not be tane;
Thairfor tak tent hou thou this tyme suld tak:
Sho hes no hold, to hold hir by, bot ane;
A toppe befor, bot beld behind hir bak.
Let thou hir slippe, or slipperly grou slak,
Thou gettis no grippe agane fra sho be gane.
If thou wald speid, remember vhat I spak;
Tak tyme in tyme, or tym will not be tane.
For I haif hard in adagies of auld,
That tyme dois waist and weir all things auay;
Then trou the taill that treu men oft hes tauld—
A turne in tyme is ay worth other tuay.
Siklyk, I haif hard oft-tymis suith men say,
That negligence ȝit nevir furtherit nane;
Als, seindle tymis luck foloues long delayis.
Tak tyme in tyme, or tyme will not be tane.
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