Makyne,' a pastoral ballad of very considerable merit, and of which Campbell says, somewhat too warmly, 'It is the first known pastoral,' (he means in the Scottish language of course,) and one of the best, in a dialect rich with the favours of the pastoral muse.' He wrote also a sequel to Chaucer's 'Troilus and Cresseide,' entitled 'The Testament of Cresseide,' and thirteen Fables, of which copies, in MS., are preserved in the Advocates' Library, Edinburgh. One of these, 'The Town and Country Mouse,' tells that old story with considerable spirit and humour. 'The Garment of Good Ladies' is an ingenious and beautiful strain, written in that quaint style of allegorising which continued popular as far down as the days of Cowley, and even later. DINNER GIVEN BY THE TOWN MOUSE TO THE COUNTRY MOUSE. Their harboury was ta'en Into a spence,1 where victual was plenty, Both cheese and butter on long shelves right high, After, when they disposed were to dine, With blithe upcast and merry countenance, 'Spence:' pantry.- Wuish:' washed.-Telyies grit great pieces.-'Spier'd:' asked.- 'Sairy:' sorry. 'Yea, dame,' quoth she, 'but how long will this last?' 'For evermore, I wait,1 and longer too;' If that be true, ye are at ease,' quoth she. To eke the cheer, in plenty forth they brought A threif2 of cakes, I trow she spared them nought, Furmage full fine she brought instead of jeil, Thus made they merry, till they might nae mair, They tarried not to wash, as I suppose, Then as God would it fell in happy case, 1Wait:' expect.-Threif:' a set of twenty-four.-3Staw:' stole.-Creish:' grease.- Rede:' counsel. 5 This burgess mouse his passage well has spied. The rural mouse lay flatlings on the ground, Syne1 comfort gave, with words as honey sweet. 'Why lie With water kail, and green beans and peas, With fair 'treaty, yet gart she her arise; From foot to foot he cast her to and frae, 1'Syne: then.-Lever:' rather.- Bawdrons:' the cat.-Hent:' scize - Cant lively.- 'Strae:' straw.' 'Buik-hid:' body. 6 Thus to the silly mouse great harm he did; Syne up in haste behind the panelling, So high she clamb, that Gilbert might not get her, Till he was gone, her cheer was all the better: Thy mangery is mingets all with care, So shall thou find hereafterward may fall. Were I into the place that I came frae, For weal nor woe I should ne'er come again.' I cannot tell how afterward she fure." But I heard syne she passed to her den, With peas and nuts, and beans, and rye and wheat; 1 'Crap:' crept.-Cluiks:' claws.- 'Minget:' mixed.-' Gane-full:' mouthful.-Parpane:' partition.- Fure:' went.-7 Beinly:' snugly. Whene'er she liked, she had enough of meat, [FROM THE MORAL.] Blessed be simple life, withouten dreid; Who has enough, of no more has he need, Great abundance, and blind prosperity, The sweetest life, therefore, in this country, THE GARMENT OF GOOD LADIES. Would my good lady love me best, Of high honour should be her hood, Her sark should be her body next, Of chastity so white: With shame and dread together mixt, The same should be perfite.7 Her kirtle should be of clean constance, Laced with lesum8 love; ''Sickerness:' security.-2 Gar:' cause. Till:' to.- 'Deeming:' opinion. - 'Deir:' injure.- 'Sark:' shift.- 'Perfite:' perfect. 8 Lesum :' lawful. |