edition of 1716, to which he added of Leslie, in Fife, not far from Falkland, is more likely to have presented a scene such as, not far from the same place, centuries afterwards, inspired the poetic pencil of Wilkie.

two cantos of his own composition, first gave it an extensive popularity. Several places have been suggested as the scene of the rustic festivities from which the royal poet drew his materials It is proper to add that James' title to for this amusing sketch. A village the authorship of this poem is not undisnamed Christ's Kirk, said to have puted; yet the subject involves too many existed in the district of Garioch, Aber- | purely antiquarian considerations to deenshire, is referred to; but the village' 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 sterres 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,
That in himself the full recover wan

Of his infortune, poverty, and distress,
And in them set his very seckerness.6

VI.

And so the virtue of his youth before,
Was in his age the ground of his delights:

I Banished or condemned.

3 Called.

2 Scholar.

4 Boethius's Consolation of Philosophy.

3 For though.

4 That.

5 Paused.

6 Security.

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

XVIII.

To fortune both and to infortune hable,1
Wist thou thy pain to come and thy
travail,
For sorrow and dread well might thou The lack of wind is the difficulty,

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

weep and wail,

I mean this of myself, as in party," 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 wavès of this world to drive ; And how the case, anon I will discrive.

XVII.

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

My pen to write my torment and my joy.

CANTO II.
I.

In vere5 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

High in the east, a morrow soft and

We pulled up sail and forth our wayis That fortune should do so? Thus in my