Scottish Text Society publications > Old series > Poems of Alexander Hume (?1557-1609)

THE PROMINE.
207
7 ^it wald my Muse Inspire me with the spreit
Of Poetrie, and pairt of Eloquence
To schaw the maner, I esteme it meit,
How euerie thing maid haill obedience,
Vnto his Royale hie Magnificence, 40
Reiosit swa, with suddand semelie sicht
Of that leidsterne, and luifsum lamp of licht.
T His Princelie presence superexcellent,
As lemand Lanterne maist delectabill,
Did euerie leuing creature content,
And to thingis senceles semit amiabill;
Quhais Celsitude was sa acceptabill,
That in thair kind Ilk thing did obseruance,
His heich honour and worschip to auance.
IF I mene not onlie thingis Inferiall 50
That subject ar vnto corruptioun ;
Bot also celeste, and Superiall,
Quhais substance is but alteratioun ;
As fair Phebus, or vtherwayis the Sone,
Quhilk is composit of na Element,
That day brak vp in his bricht birneist Tent.
IT And schew his radious visage rubicound,
Quhilk all the day lay hid vnto the howr
That his grace Ischit forth vpon the ground ;
Thairefter did on eirth his presence powr, 60
Excluding than all signes of the schowr,
Sa glaid he was to se his gudlie grace,
And farleit fast the phisnome of his face.
IT Sine in the praises of that Prince preclair,
Spied furth his Purpour springis aureat
Into sic sort to purifie the Air,
Quhill all the skyis skaillit violat ;
The Hemispheir become Illuminat
Vpon the eirth, be heuinlie Influence,
Distilland dewis on vapouris sweit as sence, 70
11 The ground ouirgiltand all with goldin glemis,
Quhill throw his michtie operatiounis,
Furth of fresche fludes, bet with buriall bemis,
Rais sappie subtil exhalatiounis,
Quhais potent pithie Inspiratiounis
Makis treis, frutes, and flouris for to spreid,
Nicelie enamaling mony mirthful! meid.