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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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147

XIV. [AGAINST LOVE.]

I rather far be frie nor fast;
I hope I may remove my mynd;
Love is so licht, it can not last;
It is smal pleasur to be pynd;
Sen I haif ees tuo,
What need I blindlings go,
Ay fundring to and fro,
Quhill clods me cast?
I am not one of tho,
To work my wilfull wo;
I shaip not to do so:
I rather far be frie nor fast.
But libertie—what micht me meis?
But libertic—all things me grieve.
But libertie—vhat might me pleis?
But libertie—I loth to leive.
But libertie—alace!
Hou cairfull wer my case!
But libertie—my grace
And joy wer past.
Suppose I, for a space,
War captive in a place,
I reu that rekles race:
I rather far be frie nor fast.
Of prisone fredome brings me furth:
My fredome maks contentment kyth:
But fredome all things war no worth:
My fredome maks me glade and blyth:
148

My fredome maks me fain:
In mirth vhair I remain,
I pas the tym but pain,
And vnagast.
Quharas I purpose plain,
From folies to refrain,
Sen love hes syndrie slain:
I rather far be frie nor fast.
Love can not be bot very ill,
That folk with fury so infects;
Abusing manheid, wit, and skill,
No ryme nor resone it respects,
Bot ramping in a rage,
Not sparing ony age
Of caȝard, king, nor page,
Bot byds thair blast.
Sen sik as suld be sage
Ar korpit in that cage,
I work not for sik wage:
I rather far be frie nor fast.
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