Scottish Text Society publications > Old series > Treatise callit The court of Venus

INTRODUCTION.
xxm
After much ill-treatment, he is brought into court, and an
accusation laid against him :—
“ Enthronit sat Mars, Cupyd, and Venus :
Tho’ rais ane clerk was cleipit Varius,
Me till accusen as of a deidlie crime,
And he begouth and red ane dittay thus.
Thou wickit catiue wod and furious
Presumpteouslie now at this present time,
My lady hes blasphemit in thy rime,
Hir sone, hir self, and hir court amorous,
For till betrais awaitit heir sen prime.” 1
He takes exception to the whole of the proceedings:—
“ Yit first agane the Judge quhilk heer I se,
This inordinate court, and proces quaid,
I will object for causes twa or three.” 2
But it is to no purpose, and he is in danger of being
condemned to death, when the Court of the Muses appears.
Calliope pleads his cause with effect, and he is set free on
condition of singing something in praise of Venus:—
“ Bellyue I was releuit of eurie band,
Uprais the court, and all the parlour ceist.
Tho sat I down lawlie upon my kne,
At command of prudent Calliope,
Yeildand Venus thankis ane thousand syith,
For sa hie friendship, and mercifull pietie,
Excelland grace, and greit humanitie,
The quhilk to me trespassour did scho kyith.
I the forgiue, quod scho, than was I blyth,
Doun on ane stock I sat me suddenlie
At hir command, and wrait this lay alswyth.” 3
From what Rolland says, and from the foregoing extracts,
it is plain what influence Bishop Douglas had on him.
1 ‘ The Palice of Honour, vol. i. p. 8o, Part I., st. lx.
8 Ibid. p. 8i, Part I., st. Ixii.
3 Ibid. pp. 94, 95, Part II., st. xxvi., xxvii.