Scottish Text Society publications > Old series > Poems of Alexander Montgomerie

4
THE CHERRY AND ])E SLAB.
LAING]
F. is l>.
3-
The air was so attemperat,
But ony mist Immaculatt, 30
Baith purefeit and cleir :
The feildis ower all was flureischit,
As natour haid thame nurischitt,
Bayt^ delicat and deir:
And euerie blume on branche and bewch 35
So prettillie thay spred,
hingang thair heidis out ower the heuch,
In mayis culloz^r cled;
Sum knapping, Sum drapping
Of balmie liquor sweit, 40
Destelling and smelling
Throw phebus helsum heit.
4-
%
The Coukou and }>e cussatt cryid,
the turtill, on the vj^er syde,
Na plesure haid to play : 45
Sua sc[h]ill in sorow was hir sang,
That wzth hir voce the rochis rang,
for echo azzsuerit ay,
Lamenting still Narcissus’1 cais,
That steruit at the well; 50
Quha throw ]?e schadow of his face
for luif did slay him sell:
Sair weiping and creiping,
about J?at well he baid;
quhylis lying, quhylis crying, 55
Bot it na azzsuer maid.
1 MS. narrascus.