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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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XIII. THE COMMENDATIONE OF LOVE.

I rather far be fast nor frie,
Albeit I micht my mynd remove;
My maistres hes a man of me,
That lothis of euery thing bot love.
Quhat can a man desyre,
Quhat can a man requyre,
Bot tym sall caus him tyre,
And let it be,
Except that fervent fyre
Of burning love impyre?
Hope heghts me sik a hyre,
I rather far be fast nor frie.
But love—vhat wer bot sturt or stryfe?
But love—vhat kyndnes culd indure?
But love—hou lothsum war our lyfe!
But love—vhairof suld we be sure?
But love—vhar wer delyt?
But love—vhat bot despyt?
But love—vhat wer perfyt?
Sure suld we sie.
146

But love—vhat war to wryt?
But love—vha culd indyt?
No—nothing worth a myte:
I rather far be fast nor frie.
Love maks men glaȝard in thair geir;
Love maks a man a martial mynd;
Love maks a man no fortun feir;
Love changes natur contrare kynd.
Love maks a couard kene;
Love maks the clubbit clene;
Love maks the niggard bene;
That—vho bot he?
Love maks a man, I mene,
Mair semely to be sene;
Love keeps ay curage grene:
I rather far be fast nor frie.
Love can not be, bot from above,
Quhilk halds the hairt so quik in heit.
Fy on that freik that can not love!
He hes not worth a sponk of spreit.
Remember ony man,
In chronikle, ȝe can,
That ever worship wan,
But love, let sie,
And once that rink he ran.
Sen this is treu—vhy than,
I end as I began:
I rather far be fast nor frie.
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