Preliminary Observations concerning Alexander Hume

When that I had employed my youth and pain, Four years in France, and was returned again, I longed to learn, and curious was to knaw, The consuetudes, the custom, and the law, Whereby our native soil was guide aright, And justice done to every kind of wight: To that effect three years, or near that space, I haunted most our highest pleading place, And senate, where great causes reasoned were; My breast was bruised with leaning on the bar; My buttons burst, I partly spitted blood; My gown was trailed and tramped where I stood: My ears were deafed with macers' cries and din Which procutors and parties called in: I daily learned, but could not pleased be, I saw such things as pity was to see.—— To lead that kind of life, I wearied fast; In better hope I left it at the last; And to the court I shortly me addrest, Believing well to chuse it for the best; But from the rocks of Cyclades, from hand, I struck into Charybdis' sinking sand—— But such as should it mend, let them lament; I haunted court too long; now I repent.—— These cursed times, this worse than iron age, Where virtue lurks, where vice doth reign and rage; Where faith and love, where friendship is neglected, Contagiously, with time, have me infected. As others are, of force so mon I be; How can I do, but as men do to me? A true man ta'en with pirates on the sea, Is forced to take a part in piracy.—— True Damon's part to play, I would me bind; But Pythia as kind yet can I never find.—— My heart is stone within and iron without; With triple brass my breast is set about.—— The line of love I have almost forget it, For why, think I, to none I am addebted.

As he whom, in the court, few did regard, And got no gain thereby, nor no reward.

——I love the king, Whose highness laughed some time for to look How I chased Polwart from the chimney nook.

Not lawful love, but lechery I lack; Not women wife, but witless, I disdain: Not constant truth, but trompery I detract; Not innocence, but insolence profane: Not blessed bands, but secret workings vain; As Pyramus and Thisbe took on hand; As Jason and Medea made their train; As Demophon and foolish Phillis fand; As Hercules at Iöle's command, Which like a wife, for love, sat down to spin: And finally, all folly I gainstand, That may allure the heart to shame or sin: Bcware with vice, be not the cause of ill; Syne speak, and sport, look, laugh, and love your fill.

Exclude the scriptures, and bid them read the story Of Robinhood and Guy, which was both tall and stout, And Bevis of Southampton, to seek the matter out.

Suffer all slander against God and his truth, And praise the old fashion in King Arthur's days, Of abbays and monasteries how it is great ruth To have them plucked down, and so the eldest says; And how it was merry when Robinhood's plays Was in every town, the morrice, and the fool, The maypole and the drum, to bring the calf from school,

With Midge, Madge, and Marion, about the pole to dance, And Stephen, that tall stripling, to lead Volans dale, With roguing Gangweeke, a goodly remembrance, With banners all aflaunt, with cakes, cheese and ale, With beads in every hand, our prayers stood by tale: This was a merry world, talk among our meany, And then of good eggs ye might have twenty for a penny.

In different ages, different countries view, And through its various periods time pursue; In every age which generous spirits bore, The muse was cherished, and had strength to soar; Disturbed by civil tumult she withdrew From cities far, and lay concealed from view: So the bright passion flower, in sunshine days, Its varied colours to the light displays; But when the blackening sky pours down a storm, Close folds its leaves, and hides its radiant form; Nor can the careful florist then behold Its purple lustre, and its beams of gold.