It was no need I wis, To bid us other kiss; There might no hearts more joy receive, KING BERDOCK. DR LAING says:-"This singular fragment, preserved in George Bannatyne's well-known manuscript, has been overlooked by the different editors of early Scottish poetry, except John Leyden, who alludes to it in his interesting and learned introduction to the Complaynt of Scotland. "Although it may now be impossible to ascertain the individual work, the ludicrous nature of this fairy tale plainly intimates that it was intended as a burlesque of some 'geste' or romantic story, which may have been popular at the time of its composition." It displays a nimble playfulness of fancy not often associated with the poetry of our sober latitudes; and contains some words and phrases for which we have been unable to find explanations. Kings used not to wear clothes in they And ran again, Mayok for to get. days, But yeid' naked, as mine author says: He was ane stalwart man of heart and He wowit 3 the golk seven year, of Mary- Mayiola, and she was but years three, To reveiss Mayok, the golk of Maryland. Syne happened him, to come among the nolt ;6 And as this Berdock about him could espy, And in ane creill7 upon his back her kest; nest The king of Fairy her father then blew And fought Berdock all the land about, There was the kings of Pechtis and Por- The king of Naipillis, and Navern all hail, With bows and brands, with sieges they umbeset him; Some bade tak some slay, some bade bide They stealèd guns to the Killogy laith, But soon the gracious god Mercurius They trowed it was ane ghost, and they Thir fell kings, thus, Berdock would have slain Full of skait birds,9 and then this Berdock All this for love, loveris sufferis pain. grett to Boece said, of poets hat was flower PATRICK JOHNSTOUN. II. For suth it is, that every man mortall This fair exampill to se quotidiane,3 THE name is almost all that is known | Als fresche, als fair, als lusty to behald; of this poet. He is one of those whom Quhan thou lukis on this suth exemplair, Dunbar mentions in his "Lament for the Off thy self, man, thou may be richt unbald. Deth of the Makers," and he is also referred to in "The Treasurer's Accounts, 1488-1492." "The Thre Deid Powis" is the only poem ascribed to him, and even it is claimed by Dr Laing and the Maitland MS. for Henryson. The Bannatyne MS., however, assigns it to Johnstoun, and is followed by Lord Hailes, Sibbald, and Dr Irving. No opinion on the point is here indicated by placing it under his name. Lord Hailes observes that "the fancy of introducing three deaths-heads is odd; and the more so because they all speak at once. The sentiments are such as the contemplation of mortality produces. If likeness inferred imitation, Shakespeare, in the scene of the grave-diggers, might be supposed to have copied from Patrick Johnstoun-an obscure versifier of whom he never heard." III. Owantone yowth! als fresche as lusty May, Full cairfully conclud sall dulefull deid, 66 MERSAR, whose Christian name is un- | Bannatyne MS., subscribed Quod known, has his fame thus preserved in Dunbar's famous "Lament one of half-a-dozen poets, who levand." Mersar." Dr Irvine says of it, that it is ing of the MS. is here retained, for the "Thoucht thay be deid, thair libellis bene poems is very much alike, and it will be observed that, apart from the language, the structure of the composition is almost as direct and regular as poetry of the present day. It may be inferred that their authors were temporaries. His only known poem, "Perell of Paramours," which may he reckoned a song, has been preserved in the 1 Reflect. 2 Fault. 3 Without. 4 Ashes. 5 Countenance. 6 Learning. con |