The Poems of Alexander Montgomerie :: :: University of Virginia Library

Quhen first Apollo Python sleu,
Sa glorious that god he greu,
Till he presumit to perseu
The blindit archer boy;
Quhais Turkie bou and quaver bleu,
Quharin appeirit noks aneu,
He bad him ȝeild to him, as deu,
Quha best culd thame imploy.
Quod Cupid: “Shortly sall thou reu,
That euer thou sik cunning kneu;”
Syne to Parnassus fast he fleu,
His shaft for to convoy.
Thair he ane deidly dairt outdreu,
At proud Apollo he it threu,
Syn him a sight of Daphne sheu,
Quhose beutie wroght him noy.

Ȝit crabit Cupid, not content,
Apollois anger to augment,
Did nok agane incontinent,
[OMITTED]

153

With fethers rugh, and all too rent,
At Daphne slaulie doun he sent,
Quhais frostie head, vhair so it went,
Bedeaȝit evry vane.
That winged archer insolent
Did wound thame baith, bot different;
Apollois harte to love he bent,
Bot Daphnes to disdane.
To lait Apollo did repent
That he with Cupid wes acquent,
Quha wilfullie did ay invent
Hou to augment his pane.

His hurt wes with the goldin heid,
Quhilk inward in his hair did bleid;
No medicin micht him remeid
From Cupids angrie yre:
Hirs with the blunted bolt of leid,
Ane hevy mettall cauld and deid,
Repelling love, as yce may reid,
And quencher of desyre.
His pain wes lyk the pyralide,
A beist in birning that does breid,
And in the fyry flammis dois feid,
And fosters of the fyre.
Cupido bare him so at feid,
That in his love he come no speid:
Both his persute and Daphnes dreid,
To tell, my tongue suld tyre.

About Penneus, did repair
This noble nymph, of beuty rare;
Quhais comely clothing to declare,
My author does indyt.

154

Most from the belt vp scho wes bair;
Behind hir hang hir hevinly hair,
Vnkamed hovring in the air,
Shed from hir visage vhyt;
With blinkis dulce and debonair
Lyk beuties freshest florish, fair,
Exemed clene from Loves lair,
To work Apollo spyt.
Hir countenance did move him mair,
Quhen throu hir garments, heir and thair,
Appeirit hir lustie limis square,
As sho ran by him quyt.

Quhen as he sau that Virgin flie,
He folloude in a frenesie,
And cryde: “O Daphne! deir to me,
“Why does thou take the chace?
“Go slau, and sie vha folouis thee—
“Thy lover, and no enemie;
“Nixt michtie Jove, into degrie,
“I bruik the cheifest place;
“And I sall stay my course,” quod he,
“Leist thou resave some hurt from me:
“Thou sees, thair is no remedie,
“Bot thou must lose the race.”
Sho prayd the gods hir helpers be,
To saif hir pure virginitie;
Quha shupe hir in a laurell trie,
As he did hir embrace.

Nou, lovesome lady, let vs leir
Exemple of these ladyis heir;
Sen Daphne boght hir love so deir,
Hir fortun suld effray ȝou.

155

Bot I haif no sik caus to feir,
That obstinat ȝe perseveir;
On Lovis book, my self I sueir,
Ȝour bundman, til obey ȝou.
Then lyk Penelope appeir,
Quha wes so constant tuenty ȝeir:
Quhen ȝour Vlysses is not neir,
Tentation may assay ȝou;
Ȝit vary not, I ȝou requeir,
And I sall stoppe Vlysses eir.
Fairweill, my Love and Lady cleir;
Be permanent, I pray ȝou.

Finis.