The Poems of William Dunbar

James Kinsley was formerly Professor of English Studies at the University of Nottingham

An excellent selection of some fifty of Dunbar’s poems, with introduction, notes, glossary... An admirable volume that deserves to be widely used.

• IntroductionBiographical and Textual NoteAppreciationsDivine Poems1. Rorate celi desuper2. Amang thir freiris within ane cloister3. Done is a battell on the dragon blak4. Hale sterne superne, hale in eterneCelebrations5. Quhen Merche wes with variand windis past ('The Thistle and the Rose')6. Blyth Aberdeane, thow beriall of all tounis7. Renownit, ryall, right reverend and serene8. Lang heff I maed of ladyes quhyttPoems of Love9. Sweit rois of vertew and of gentilnes10. Sen that I am a presoneir ('Bewty and the Presoneir')11. Ryght as the stern of day begouth to schyne ('The Goldyn Targe')12. Apon the Midsummer evin, mirriest of nichtis ('The Tretis of the tua mariit Wemen and the Wedo')13. In secreit place this hyndir nychtVisions and Nightmares14. This nycht before the dawing cleir ('How Dumbar was desyrd to be ane Freir')15. As yung Awrora with cristall haile ('The fenyeit freir of Tungland')16. Lucina schynnyng in silence of the nicht17. Off Februar the fyiftene nycht ('The Dance of the sevin deidly Synnis')18. Nixt that a turnament wes tryid19. Betuix twell hours and ellevinMoralities20. He that hes gold and grit riches21. I seik about this warld unstabille22. My heid did yak yester nicht23. I that in heill wes and gladnes ('Lament for the Makaris')24. In to thir dirk and drubile dayis25. Full oft I mus and hes in thocht26. Quhat is this lyfe bot ane straucht way to deid27. Salviour, suppois my sensualitie28. Now culit is dame Venus brand29. To speik of science, craft, or sapience30. Doverrit with dreme, devysing in my slummer31. Ane murlandis man of uplandis mak32. Quhy will ye marchantis of renoun33. Airlie on As WodnisdayLife at Court34. Schir Johine the Ros, ane thing thair is compild ('The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie')35. Sir Jhon Sinclair begowthe to dance ('Of a Dance in the Quenis Chalmer')36. Now lythis off ane gentill knycht37. The wardraipper of Venus boure38. O gracious princes, guid and fair39. Schir, ye have mony servitouris40. Schir, for your grace bayth nicht and day41. Schir, yit remembir as of befoir42. Schir. lett it nevir in toun be tald43. I, Maister Andro Kennedy44. We that ar heir in hevins glory ('Dirige to the King')Poems of Uncertain Authorship45. My gudame wes a gay wif, bot scho wes ryght gend ('The Ballad of Kynd Kittok')46. Harry, harry, hobbillschoweNotesGlossary