edition of 1716, to which he added of Leslie, in Fife, not far from Falkland, two cantos of his own composition, is more likely to have presented a first gave it an extensive popularity. scene such as, not far from the same Several places have been suggested as place, centuries afterwards, inspired the the scene of the rustic festivities from poetic pencil of Wilkie. which the royal poet drew his materials for this amusing sketch. A village named Christ's Kirk, said to have existed in the district of Garioch, Aberdeenshire, is referred to; but the village

It is proper to add that James' title to the authorship of this poem is not undisputed; yet the subject involves too many purely antiquarian considerations to admit of its being popularly interesting.

THE KING'S QUAIR.

[Complete: the text thoroughly revised, but verbally unaltered.]

CANTO I.

I.

HIGH in the heavenis figure circular
The ruddy sterres1 twinkling as the fire:
And in Aquary Cynthia the clear,

Rinsed her tresses like the golden wire,
That late tofore, in fair and fresh attire,
Through Capricorn heavèd her hornis
bright,

Of Rome, whilom that was the worldis

flower,

And from estate by fortune a while
Foringit' was, to povert in exile.

IV.

And there to hear this worthy lord and clerk,2

His metre sweet full of morality;

North northiward approached the mid His flowered pen so fair he set a werk,

night.

II.

When as I lay in bed alone waking,

New parted out of sleep a lyte tofore,2

Fell me to mind of many diverse thing

Discryving first of his prosperity,

And out of that his infelicity;

And then how he in his poetly report,
In philosophy 'gan him to comfort.

V.

Of this and that, can I not say wherefore, For which thought3 I in purpose, at my But sleep for craft in earth might I no

more;

book,

[began, To borrow a sleep, at thilke4 time For which as though could I no better Or ever I stent,5 my best was more to look wile, Upon the writing of this noble man, But took a book to read upon a while: That in himself the full recover wan

Fortune the back him turned, and there- In tender youth how she was first my foe, fore And eft my friend, and how I got recure

He maketh joy and comfort that he quits Of my distress, and all my aventure1

To fortune both and to infortune hable,1

Wist thou thy pain to come and thy travail,

XVIII.

The rockis clepe1 I, the prolixity
Of doubtfulness that doth my wittis pall;

For sorrow and dread well might thou The lack of wind is the difficulty,

weep and wail.

XV.

Thus stant2 thy comfort in unsekerness,3
And wantis it, that should thee rule and
gye, 4

Right as the ship that saileth steerless,
Upon the rock must to harms hye,5
For lack of it that should been her supply;
So standis thou here in this worldis rage,
And wantis that should guide all thy
viage.

XVI.

I mean this of myself, as in party,6
Though nature gave me suffisance in

youth,

The ripeness of reason lacked I

To govern with my will, so lyte I couth,7 When steerless to travel I begouth,8 Among the waves of this world to drive; And how the case, anon I will discrive.

XVII.

In inditing of this little treaty small : The boat I clepe, the matter whole of all; My wit into the sail that now I wind, To seek conyng,2though I but little find.

XIX.

At my beginning first I clepe and call
To you Clio, and to you Polyme,3
With Terpsichore goddess and sisters all,
In number nine, as bookis specify;
In this process my wilsum4 wittis gye,

And, with your bright lanternis, well
convoy

My pen to write my torment and my joy.

CANTO II.

I.

In vere 5 that full of virtue is and good,
When nature first beginneth her enprise,"
That whilom was by cruel frost and flood,
And showers sharp opprest in many
wise,

With doubtful heart, among the rockis And Cynthius beginneth to arise

XV.

Worship ye that loveris been this May,
For of your bliss the kalends are begun,
And sing with us, Away winter, away!
Come summer, come, the sweet season
and sun!

Bewailing in my chamber thus alone,
Despaired of all joy and remedy,
For-tirit5 of my thought and wo-begone,
And to the window gan I walk in hy,
To see the world and folk that went forby,6
As for the time, though I of mirthis food
Might have no more, to look, it did me Awake, for shame! that have your

good.

XII.

Now was there made, fast by the toweris

wall,

A garden fair, and in the corners set Ane herbere? green, with wandis long and small,

Railed about, and so with treeis set Was all the place, and hawthorn hedges knet,

That life was none walking thereforby, That might within scarce any wight espy.

1 Adjudged, doomed. 2 The nine numbers.

3 Living person. 4 Against.

5 Wearied, or sated.
6 Past.

3 Twigs.

7 Arbour.

11 Pleased.

12 Turn, while.

13 Stopped.

14 Below,
adown.

15 Hopped.