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Home , Blind Harry, Lament for the Makaris, Liz Lochhead, Poetry of Scotland, Richard Holland, Roderick Morison

THE OF

Gaelic, Scots and English 1380-1980

Edited and Introduced by Roderick Watson

EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY PRESS Contents

Table of Contents by Theme xvm Introduction xxxi

JOHN BARBOUR (1320M395) from The Bruce Book I a Preface 3 Book VII the King and the Gud wif 6 Book Xll the second day at Bannockburn 8 Book XIII the camp followers tip the balance 10

KING JAMES I (1394-1437) from The Kingis Quair 13

GIOLLA CRfOST BRUILINGEACH (c 1450) The asks an Irish Patron for a Harp 20

SIR (14"-1482>) from The Buke of the Howlat 24

ANONYMOUS (1480') from The Taill of Rauf Coilyear 28

BLIND HARRY (1450-1493) from The Actes and Deidis of the Illustre and Vallyeant Campioun Schir Book I the teenage Wallace goes fishing 35 Book XII the capture of Wallace 37

ROBERTHENRYSON (1425M505') The Two Mice 41 The Cock and the Fox 47 The Paddock and the Mouse 52 The Testament of Cresseid 57

AITHBHREACINGHEAN CORCADAIL (c 1460) A phaidrfh do dhuisg mo dh£ar/O rosary that recalled my tear 74 vi Contents

WILLIAM DUNBAR (1460M520') Quhat is this Lyfe? 78 Ane Ballat of Our Lady 78 Surrexit Dominus de sepulchro 80 In Prays of Wemen 81 In Secreit Place 82 Schir ye have mony servitouns (To the King) 84 The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie 86 To the Merchantis of Edinburgh 90 Ane Dance in the Quenis Chalmer 92 The Dance of the Sevin Deidly Synnis 93 ThisWarldUnstabille 96 In Winter (In to thir dirk and drubhe dayis) 97 98 Onsoun 101 ANONYMOUS (c 1513) Ar Shocht Gaodhal/To the Earl of Argyll 102 (1475M522) The Proloug of the First Buke of 108 The Proloug of the Sevynt Buke 109 The Proloug of the Xll Buke 113 from Eneados Book IV Canto xn Queen Dido s death 120 Book VI Canto vu Dido in Hades 123 The Asloan, Bannatyne and Maitland Collections ANONYMOUS Christ s Kirk on the Green 126 WALTER BROWN (fl 15th century) Lettresofgold 132 ANONYMOUS This warld is all bot fenyeit fair The Wyf of Auchtermuchty The Gyre Carling The Sowtar Inveyand aganis the Telyeor Ane uther Anser A Complaint How the first heilandman of God was maid of ane horss turd in Argylle as is said My Hairt is Heich Aboif Quhen Phebus fair SIR DAVID LINDSAY (1490-1555) from The Dreme of Schir David Lyndesay from The Histone of Squyer Meldrum Contents vii

RICHARD MAITLAND OF LETHINGTOUN (1496-1586) Sum tyme to court I did repair 156

The Gude and Godhe Ballatis ANONYMOUS My lufe murnis for me 158 Downe Be Yone River I Ran 159 WithHuntisUp 160 Psalm 23 161

MRS MACGREGOR OF GLENSTRAE (c 1570) Cumha Ghriogair MhicGhriogair Ghlinn Sreith/Lament for MacGregor ofGlenstrae 164

ALEXANDER SCOTT (1525M5847) To Luve Unluvit 170 Luve preysis but comparesone 171 A Rondel of Luve 172

ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE (1545M610') The Night is Neir Gone 173 from The Cherrie and the Slae 174 The Perversitie of his Inclinationes throu Love 177 To Robert Hudsone 177 High architectur wondrous vautit rounds 179

HUGH BARCLAY (1560M597) To Alexander Montgomene 180

MARK ALEXANDER BOYD (1563-1601) Sonet 181

The Tradition ANONYMOUS Sir Patrick Spence 182 The Cruel Brother 184 The Bonny Earl of Murray 186 187 The Dowy Houms o Yarrow 189 190 The Twa Corbies 192 192 193 Tarn. Lin 195 The Wife of Ushers Well 200 The Great Silkie of Sule Skerry 201 Mil Contents

ANONYMOUS (c 1650') Thig trl nithean gun larraidh/Three things come without seeking 204

ROBERT SEMP1LL OF BELTREES (1590M660?) The Life and Death of Habbie Simson the Piper of Kilbarchan 208

DONNCHADH MACRAOIRIDH/DUNCAN MACRYRIE (c 1630) Fada ata mise an deidh chaich/Too long I live after these 212

MURCHADH MACCOINNICH/MURDO MACKENZIE (c 1650) Diomhanas nan Diomhanas/Vanity of Vanities 216

IAIN LOM/JOHN MACDONALD (1620M707') Cumha Aonghais Mhic Raghnaill Oig na Ceapaich/Lament for Angus son of Young Ranald of Keppoch 218 La Inbhir Lochaidh/The Battle of Inverlochy 220 Oran an Aghaidh an Aonaidh/Song Against the Union 224

MAIRINIGHEAN ALASDAIR RUAIDH/MARY MACLEOD (1615M706') Tuireadh/Lamentation 230 An T Eudach/Jealousy 232

RODERICK MORISON (1656M7147) Oran do Mhacle6id Dhun Bheagain/Song to Macleod of Dunvegan 236

SlLEAS NA CEAPAICH/CICELY MACDONALD (1660M729') Alasdair a Gleanna Garadh/Alasdair of Glengarry 244

ALLAN RAMSAY (1685-1758) To the Phiz an Ode 250 from Epistle to Mr H S at London November 1738 252 Lucky Spence s Last Advice 253

JAMES THOMSON (1700-1748) from Winter a Poem 257

ALASDAIR MACMHAIGHSTIR ALASDAIR/ALEXANDER MACDONALD V (1695M770') Oran an t Samhraidh/Song of Summer 262 from Birhnn Chlann Raghnaill/Clanranald s Galley 266

IAIN MH1CFHEARCHAIR/JOHN MACCODRUM (1693M779) Oran Mu n Eideadh Ghaidhealach/Song to the Highland Dress 278 Oran do na Fogarraich/Song to the Fugitives 284 Contents ix

ROB DONN MACAOIDH/ROBERT MACKAY (1714-1778) Is Trom Learn an Aingh/The Shieling Song 292 Briogais MhicRuandh/MacRory s Trousers 294 Na Casagan Dubha/The Black Coats 296

DONNCHADH BAN MAC AN T SAOIR/DUNCAN BAN MACINTYRE (1724-1812) Oran do n Taillear/Song to the Tailor 306 from Moladh Bemn D6bhram/Praise of Ben Dorain 314 Oran nam Balgairean/Song to the Foxes 330

JAMES MACPHERSON (1736-1796) from Fingal Book I 334

ROBERT FERGUSSON (1750-1774) from Auld Reikie a Poem < 337 Braid Claith 341 Hallow Fair 342 Caller Oysters 345 To the Principal and Professors of the University of St Andrews 347

UILLEAM ROS/ (1762-1790) Oran air Cupid/Song to Cupid 352 Achmhasan an Deideidh/Toothache Reprimanded 354 Oran Gaoil/Feasgar Luain / Love Song/Monday Evening 358 Oran Eile air an Aobhar Cheudna/Another Song on the Same Theme 362

ROBERT BURNS (1759-1796) The Twa Dogs a Tale 366 To a Mouse 372 To a Louse 374 Holy Willies Prayer 375 Address to the Unco Guid or the Rigidly Righteous 378 Second Epistle to Davie 380 Address to the Deil 381 To a Haggis 385 Tarn o Shanter a Tale 386 Love and Liberty - A Cantata v 392 For a that and a that 401 Such a parcel of rogues in a nation 402 It was a forournghtfu king 403 Does haughty Gaul invasion threat7 403 The De ll s awa wi the Exciseman 404 Now Westhn Winds 405 Mary Morison 406 X Contents

A red red Rose 406 Ae fond kiss 407 Oh wert thou in the cauld blast 408 Scots Songs in the 18th and 19th Centuries ANONYMOUS Waly Waly 409 Jenny Nettles 410 ADAM SKIRVING (1719-1803) Johnnie Cope 411 JOHN SKINNER (1721-1807) Tullochgorum 412 JEAN ELLIOT (1727-1805) The Flowers of the Forest 414 LADY ANNE LINDSAY (1750-1826) Auld Robin Gray 415 JOHN HAMILTON (1761-1814) Up in the Mornin Early 417 CAROLINA OLIPHANT LADY NAIRNE (1766-1845) The Laird o Cockpen 418 The Land o the Leal 419 ANONYMOUS Canadian Boat Song 420 ALLAN CUNNINGHAM (1784-1842) The Wee Wee German Lairdie 420

JAMES HOGG (1770-1835) Donald MacDonald Kilmeny from The Flying Tailor Doctor Monro The Lament of Flora Macdonald

SIR (1771-1832) Jock of Hazeldean from The Lady of the Lake Canto n Canto v Young Men will love thee Proud Maisie

JOANNA BAILLIE (1762-1851) Tamo the Lin Woo d and married and a Contents xi

ROBERT TANN AHILL (1774-1810) Eild 449 The Tap Room 449 Jessie the Flower o Dunblane 450 Barochan Jean 450

WILLIAM TENN ANT (1784-1848) from Anster Fair Canto iv 452 from Papistry Storm d Sang First 456

ANN CAMPBELL (c 1773) Ailem Duinn shiubhlamn leat/Brown haired Allan I would go with you 462

IAIN MACGHILLEATHAIN/JOHN MACLEAN (1787-1848) Am an Canada/The Poet in Canada 466

GEORGE GORDON (1788-1824) When I Roved a Young Highlander 474 from The Vision of Judgment 476

UILLEAM MACDHUNL&BHE/WILLIAM LIVINGSTON (1808-1870) Fios thun a Bhaird/A Message to the Bard 480

MAlRI NIC A PHEARSAIN/MARY MACPHERSON (1821-1898) Brosnachadh nan Gaidheal/Incitement of the Gaels 484 Soraidh leis an Nollaig uir/Farewell to the new Christmas 488 Nuair bha mi 6g/When I was young 494

ALEXANDER SMITH (1830-1867) 498

JAMES THOMSON (1834-1882) from Sunday at Hampstead 502

from The City of Dreadful Night t 504

ELLEN JOHNSTON ('1835-'1874) The Last Sark 508

ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON (1850-1894) The Maker to Posterity 509 Escape at Bedtime 510 Armies in the Fire 511 To Any Reader 511 xii Contents

JOHN DAVIDSON (1857-1909) Thirty Bob a Week 513 Yuletide 516 Snow 517 Fleet Street 519

Vernacular Scots Poetry ANONYMOUS THE BOTHY Drumdelgie 527 The Road to 529 J LOG1E ROBERTSON HUGH HALIBURTON (1846-1922) The Lang Whang Road 530 PITTENDRIGH MACGILLIVRAY (1856-1938) Mercy o Gode 531 VIOLET JACOB (1863-1946) The End ot 533 Craigo Woods 534 The Helpmate 534 The Water Hen 535 CHARLES MURRAY (1864-1941) A Green Yule 536 Dockens Afore his Peers 538 WALTER WINGATE (1865-1918) The Dominie s Happy Lot 540 DAVID RORIE (1867-1946) The Pawky Duke 542 (1866-1946) Ann Gilchnst 544 The Blue Jacket 544 The Fiddler 545 Alas'Poor Queen 545 (1874-1955) The Queen s Bath house Holyrood 547 The Firth 547 RACHEL ANN AND TAYLOR (1876-1900) The Princess of Scotland 548 J M CAIE (1878-1949) ThePuddock 549 SIR (1882-1968) The Three Kings 550 December Gloaming 550 WD COCKER (1882-1970) Dandie 551 MRSM C SMITH (1869-') The Boy m the Tram 552 Contents xiu

ANDREW YOUNG (1885-1971) Culbin Sands 553 HELEN B CRUICKSHANK (1886-1975) The Ponnage Pool 553

EDWIN MUIR (1887-1959) Childhood 555 Merlin 556 The Enchanted Knight 556 The Return of the Greeks ^ 557 The Wayside Station 558 Scotland 1941 558 Scotland s Winter 560 The Little General 560 The Interrogation 561 The Labyrinth 561 The Horses 563 The Cloud 564 Dream and Thing 565

HUGH MACDIARMID (1892-1978) The Watergaw 566 At My Father s Grave 566 The Eemis Stane 567 The Innumerable Christ 567 Empty Vessel 568 Servant Girls Bed 568 from A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle 568 from To Circumjack Cencrastus North of the Tweed 570 In the Children s Hospital 572 The Skeleton of the Future 572 The Seamless Garment 572 The Glass of Pure Water 575 from The World of Words (In Memonam James Joyce) 578 Crystals Like Blood 579 Milk Wort and Bog Cotton 580 from From the Scots Anthology 580

WILLIAM SOUTAR (1898-1943) The Philosophic Taed 582 King Worm 583 The Hurdy Gurdy Man 583 Song 583 The Tryst 584 Lealness 584 xiv Contents

GEORGE BRUCE (1909- ) Inheritance 585 The Curtain 586 Elizabeth Polishing an Agate 586 Why the Poet Makes Poems 587

ROBERT GARIOCH (1909-1981) During a Music Festival 588 BritherWorm 588 Ane Offering for Easter 589 Ghsk of the Great 589 Heard in the Cougate 590 Heard in the Gairdens 590 Lesson 591 The Big Music 593 At s Grave 595

NORMAN MACCAIG (1910- ) Summer Farm Still Life Interruption to a Journey Assisi Aunt Julia Return to Scalpay Two Thieves Ringed Plover by a Waters Edge Toad Angus s Dog In that Other World Notations of Ten Summer Minutes Small Boy My Last Word on Frogs Recipe

SOMHAIRLE MACGILL EAIN/ (1911- ) Coin is Madaidhean Allaidh/Dogs and Wolves Traighean/Shores Fuaran/A Spring Calbharaigh/Calvary Ban Ghaidheal/A Highland Woman Ard Mhusaeum na h Eireann/The National Museum of Ireland Curaidhean/Heroes Glac a Bhais/Death Valley Hallaig/Hallaig

SYDNEY GOODS1R SMITH (1915-1975) October 1941 Contents xv

ATinkinReekie 625 from Under the Eildon Tree xn Orpheus 625 Winter Blues 629

DEORSA MAC IAIN DEORSA/ (1915-1984) Na Baidealan/The Towering Clouds ( 630 Bisearta/Bizerta 630 Meftah babkum es sabar/Meftah babkum es sabar 632 Tilleadh Uillseis/The Return of Ulysses 636

WILLIAM SYDNEY GRAHAM (1918-1986) Listen Put on Morning 640 The Beast in the Space 641 from What is the Language Using Us for7 Second Poem 642 Loch Thom 643 To Alexander Graham 645

HAMISH HENDERSON (1919- ) from Elegies for the Dead in Cyrenaica First Elegy End of a Campaign 646 Second Elegy Halfaya 647 Third Elegy Leaving the City 648

EDWIN MORGAN (1920- ) The Unspoken 650 From the Domain of Arnheim 651 To Joan Eardley 652 Glasgow Green 653 One Cigarette 655 Absence 655 Glasgow 5 March 1971 656 Ellingham Suffolk January 1972 656 The First Men on Mercury 657 from London in The Post Office Tower 658 The Planets 659 Theory of the Earth 660 Dear man my love goes out in waves 660 from From the Video Box 6 66f 17 662

RUARAIDH MACTHOMAIS/ (1921- ) Pabail/Bayble n 664 xvi Contents

Troimh Uinneig a Chithe/When This Fine Snow is Falling 664 Anns a Bhalbh Mhadainn/Sheep 666 Cisteachan Laighe/Comns 666 from An Rathad Cian/from The Far Road 14 Is chunnaic mi thu na do bheatrt/And I saw you as a loom 668 35 An Glaschu/In Glasgow 670 36 Bheil cuimhn agad 7 / Do you remember 7 670 39 Is chunna mi thu na do bhata/And I saw you as a boat 670 A Bhan phrionnsa Diana/Princess Diana 672 Tilleadh Bhon a Bhas/Return from Death 672

GEORGE MACKAY BROWN (1921- ) Ikey on the People of Hellya 674 A Winter Bride 675 Haddock Fishermen 675 Love Letter 676 Sea Widow 677 Tea Poems 1 Chinaman 679 2 Smugglers 679 3 Afternoon Tea 680

ALASTAIRMACK1E(1925- ) from For My Father 681 from At the Heich Kirkyaird 1 Passm Beinn Dorain 682 7 683 12 684

IAN HAMILTON FINLAY (1925- ) from Glasgow Beasts Fox Minnow Giraffe The Dancers Inherit the Party OHMS Twice Mansie Considers the Sea in the Manner of Hugh MacDiarmid John Sharkey is Pleased to be in Sourin at Evening from One Word Poems } The Cloud s Anchor The Boat s Blueprint One (Orange) Arm of the World s Oldest Windmill Green Waters Mystic Contents xvii

IAIN CRICHTON SMITH/IAIN MAC A GHOBHAINN (1928- ) Old Woman 690 By Ferry to the Island 691 Two Girls Singing 691 Tha Thu air Aigeann m Inntmn/You are at the Bottom of my Mind 692 On a Summer s Day 693 The Earth Eats Everything 694 Chinese Poem 694 Pupils Holiday Job 696 Speech for Prospero 696 Australia 697

DOUGLAS DUNN (1942- ) StKildas Parliament 1879-1979 699 Washing the Coins 701

TOM LEONARD (1944- ) from Unrelated Incidents 3 703 from Ghostie Men right inuff 704 Dripping with Nostalgia 704 hangup 705

LIZ LOCHHEAD (1948- ) Box Room 706 The Grim Sisters 707 s Lady 708 Mirrors Song 710

Acknowledgements 712