William Dunbar Poems

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150. Song—Rattlin Roarin Willie

 AS 1 I cam by Crochallan,
 I cannilie keekit ben;
Rattlin’, roarin’ Willie
 Was sittin at yon boord-en’;
Sittin at yon boord-en,
 And amang gude companie;
Rattlin’, roarin’ Willie,
 You’re welcome hame to me!


 Note 1. William Dunbar, W. S., of the Crochallan Fencibles, a convivial club. [back]...Read more of this...

To the City of London

 London, thou art of town{.e}s A per se.
Soveraign of cities, semeliest in sight,
Of high renoun, riches, and royaltie;
Of lordis, barons, and many goodly knyght;
Of most delectable lusty ladies bright;
Of famous prelatis in habitis clericall;
Of merchauntis full of substaunce and myght:
London, thou art the flour of Cities all.

Gladdith anon, thou lusty Troy Novaunt,
Citie that some tyme cleped was New Troy,
In...Read more of this...

Lament for the Makers

 I THAT in heill was and gladness 
Am trublit now with great sickness 
And feblit with infirmitie:-- 
 Timor Mortis conturbat me. 

Our plesance here is all vain glory, 
This fals world is but transitory, 
The flesh is bruckle, the Feynd is slee:-- 
 Timor Mortis conturbat me. 

The state of man does change and vary, 
Now sound, now...Read more of this...

In Honour of the City of London

 LONDON, thou art of townes A per se. 
 Soveraign of cities, seemliest in sight, 
Of high renoun, riches and royaltie; 
 Of lordis, barons, and many a goodly knyght; 
 Of most delectable lusty ladies bright; 
Of famous prelatis, in habitis clericall; 
 Of merchauntis full of substaunce and of myght: 
London, thou art the flour of Cities...Read more of this...

To a Lady

 SWEET rois of vertew and of gentilness, 
Delytsum lily of everie lustynes, 
 Richest in bontie and in bewtie clear, 
 And everie vertew that is wenit dear, 
Except onlie that ye are mercyless 

Into your garth this day I did persew; 
There saw I flowris that fresche were of hew; 
 Baith quhyte and reid most lusty were...Read more of this...

On the Nativity of Christ

 RORATE coeli desuper! 
 Hevins, distil your balmy schouris! 
For now is risen the bricht day-ster, 
 Fro the rose Mary, flour of flouris: 
 The cleir Sone, quhom no cloud devouris, 
Surmounting Phebus in the Est, 
 Is cumin of his hevinly touris: 
 Et nobis Puer natus est. 

Archangellis, angellis, and dompnationis, 
 Tronis, potestatis, and marteiris...Read more of this...