ALEXANDER SCOT.

This author," the Anacreon of old Scotish poetry," says Mr Pinkerton, "began to write about 1550. His pieces 66 are very correct and elegant for the age; and almost "all amatory. From p. 192 to 211 of Lord Hailes's "collection are seven of this poet's pieces; and in the "Bannatyne MS. are seventeen more unpublished. He "stands at the head of the ancient minor poets of Scot"land."

Lament when his Wife left him.

To love unlov'd it is a pain;

For she that is my sovereign,

Some wanton man so high has set her,

That I can get no love again,

But break my heart, and nought the better.

When that I went with that sweet may

To dance, to sing, to sport, and play,
And oft-times in my armis plet1 her—

I do now mourn both night and day,

And break my heart, and nought the better.

I Folded.

2

Where I was wont to see her go,

Right timely passand to and fro,

With comely smiles when that I met herAnd now I live in pain and wo,

And break my heart, and nought the better.

Whatane ane glaikit1 fool am I
To slay myself with melancholy,

Sen weill I ken I may not get her?

Or what should be the cause, and why,

To break my heart, and nought the better?

My heart, sen thou may not her please,
Adieu! as good love comes as gais ;

2

Go choose another, and forget her!

God give him dolour and disease,

That breaks [his] heart, and nought the better.

Of Womankind.

I MUSE and marvel in my mind,
What way to write or put in verse
The quaint counsèls of womankind,
Or half their havings to rehearse :

I What a silly fool.

• Goes.

For why? no leid unleill they leid,"
Untruth expressly they expel;

Yet they are plenish'd and replete

Of falsehood and deceit thairsell: 3
So find I their affection

Contrair their own complexion.

They favour no ways foolish men,
And very few of them are wise;
All greedy persons they mis-ken,
And they are full of covetise:

So find I their affection

Contrair their own complexion.

They would have all men bound and thrall
To them, and they for to be free:
They covet ilk man at their call,

And they to live at liberty:

So find I their affection

Contrair their own complexion.

They take delight in martial deeds,

And are of nature tremebund;

I Whole.

2 Suffer no unloyal person.

3 Themselves.

They would men nourish'd all their needs, Syne, comfortless lets them confound: So find I their affection

Contrair their own complexion.

The virtue of this writ, and vigour,
Made in comparison it is,
That feminine are of this figure,
Which clepit is Antiphrasis :
For why their haill affection
Is contrair their complexion.

I wot, good women will not wyt1 me,
Nor of this schedule be ashamit;

For, be they courteous, they will 'quit me;

And gif they crab, here I quyt-clame * it: Confessand their affection

Conform to their complexion.

CLAPPERTON.

A Scotish poet, whose history is unknown, but who appears to have flourished about 1550. The following specimen is taken from Pinkerton's Anc. Scot. Poems, 1786.

Wo worth Marriage!

IN Bowdoun,' on black monunday,*
When all was gatherit to the play,
Both men and women 'semblit there,
I heard a sweet one sigh, and say
"Wo worth marriage for evermair!

"Maidens, ye may have great pleasance
"For to do Venus observance,

"Though I inclosit be with care,
"That I dare neither sing nor dance.
"Wo worth marriage for evermair!

"When that I was a maiden ying,3
"Lightly would I dance and sing,

'A village on the Tweed, near old Melrose.
3 Young.

2 Monday.