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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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X. A DESCRIPTIONE OF VANE LOVERS.

Nane lovis bot fools vnolvd agane,
Quha tyns thair tyme and comis no speid.
Mak this a maxime to remane,
That Love beirs nane bot fools at feid;
141

And they get ay a good goosheid
In recompense of all thair pane.
So of necessitie mon succeid,
Nane lovis bot fools, vnlovd agane.
Ȝe wot a wyse man will be war,
And will not ventur but advyse.
Greit fuills, for me, I think they ar,
That seeks warme water vnder yce.
Ȝit some mair wilfull ar nor wyse,
That for thair lovis saik wold be slane.
Buy on repentance of that pryce:
Nane lovis bot fools, vnlovd agane.
Thoght some we sie, in evry age,
Lyk glaikit fools, gang gooked gaits,
Quhair reson gets no place for rage,
They love best them vhilk thame bot haits,
Syne of thair folies wyts the Faits,
As Destinie did thame disdane;
Quhilks are bot cappit vane conceats:
Nane loves bot fools, vnlovd agane.
Some by ane proverbe fane wald prove,
Quha skantly nevir sau the scuills,
That love with resone is no love,
Nor constance, vhare occasion cools.
Thair they confes, lyk frantick fools,
That wilfully thay will be vane.
But resone what ar men bot mulis?
Nane lovis bot fools, vnlovd agane.
They speik not leirnd-lyk, at the leist,
That rage, in steid of reson, ruisis:
Vhat better ar they nor a beist,
Fra tym that reson thame refuisis?
142

Some beistlily thamselfis abusis,
As constancie did them constrane;
Quhilks ar bot ignorant excusis:
Nane lovis bot fools, vnlovd agane.
For ding a dog, and he will byte,
And fan on him vha givis him fude;
And can as caus requyrs acquyt,
As ill with ill, and good with good.
Than love nane bot vhare thou art lude,
And vhar thou finds tham faynd refrane;
Tak this my counsell: I conclude,
Nane lovis bot fools, vnlovd agane.
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