X'JC)X. LITER AR7 INTELLIGENCER. 1^5 



As to the language, it may have uixJergonechanjpesj 

 from tranfcrrbers and publiftiers bringing it hearer fhe 

 orthography and diclion of their <iwn times. This, in- 

 deed, does not apply to the rhyming words ; there, the 

 found at leaft cannot be eafily changed. Thus, away 

 occurs four times, always rhytning day, which ftx€s 

 its found. I confefs I fhould have fuppofed cu»a,- near- 

 er the dialeft of the i6th century. Perhaps it may 

 help to account for this, to fuppofe that in the fouth- 

 ern parts of Scotland, where this poem may have been 

 compofed, from their intercourfe with England, there 

 might he more of the Englifti dialect amongft them, 

 than in other parts of Scotland. 



Thefe hints are offered with diffidence. It is not 

 pretended that they give an anfwer to your correfpon- 

 dent's obfervations — this was not intended, as I wifh 

 not to make your ufeful mifcellany the vehicle of con- 

 troverfy. All that is aimed at, is to Ihew the poffibi- 

 lity of this poem being compofed foon after the battle 

 of Flodden. 



I agree with your correfpondent, that in the prefent 

 cafe it is a matter of little confe<juence when it was 

 compofed. The poem poiTelTes intrinfic merit, and will 

 be admired on that account, though its author and the 

 time of its compofition fhould remain unknown. 



Upon perufing it, fome obfei-^^ations occurred to -me, 

 which, if you fhould think them worthy a place in your 

 mifcellany, are at your fervice. They were made, you 

 will fee, under the idea of its being compofed foon after 

 the ba^ttle, which idea the author has not yet feen rea- 

 fon entirely to abandon. But even on th^ fuppofition 

 of its modern compofition, they may flill be applicable j 

 hecaufe the author evidently perfonates one living at 

 that time. And in this view, there is this additional 

 to be confidered ; the art of the poet in removing hira- 

 felf from his own times ; entering fo much into ancient 



Vol. I. + A a 



