•)t. poetry. 2i(> 



GLEANINGS OF ANCIEN^ POETRY. 



From the prologue to the fjielfth hook of V'lrg:!, 

 By GAVIN DOUGLASS bijbop cf Dur.kdd. 



' WELCOME TO THE SUN. 



We lcum the lord of licht, and lampt of liij ! 

 Welcum fosterare of tender herbis grene, 

 Wtlcum quitkynnar of tiurist flouris schene I 

 Welcum support of every rute and vane, 

 Welcum confort of all Icinde frute and grant ! 

 Welcum the birdis beild upon the brere, 

 Welcum miister and revilare of the yere ! 

 Welcum welefare of husbandi-; at the plewis, 

 Welcum reparare of woddis, treis, and bewis, 

 Welcum depaynter of the blomyt modes, 

 Welcum the lyffe of every thing that spredis^ 

 Welcum restorare of al Icynd bestial j 

 Welcum be thy bricht bemej gladand al ! 

 Welcum celestiall myr: ur and espye, 

 Atteiching al that hantis sluggardly ! 



And with this wourd, in chaumer qyhare I lay. 

 The nynth niorow of frelhe temperit May, 

 On fute I sprent into my bare sark, 

 Wilru for to complete my langsum wark, 

 Tuiching the latter buke of Dan Virg'il, 

 Quhilk me had tarry't al so lang ane quhyle. 

 And to. behiuld the cummyng of this king, 

 Thit was a welcum to al warldly thing, 

 With sic triumphe and pompous courage glald. 

 Than of his soverane cliymmes, as is said, 

 Newly-arising in his estate ryall ; 

 That by his hew, but orliger or dyal, 

 I knew it wa'-, past four houres of day, 

 And thocht I wald na langare ly in May, ' 

 Lest Phxbus suld me losingere attaynt; 

 For Progre had or than sung hir complaynt, 

 • And eik her dredful sister PhUomrrie 

 Hir lay is endit, and in woddis grene, 

 Kid hir selvln, cschamit of hir chaunce, 

 And Esacus completit his pennancc. 

 In ryveres, fludis, and on every l.iik. 

 And Perlitera biddi5 luffaris awalic. 

 To serf my lady Vii:u5 here with i.ie ; 

 Lcrne thus to mike your observance, quod Mhc 

 Into my hartis ladis sv/ete presence 

 Heholdis how I bring, and does revcrcnc 

 Hir neck uho wrinklia, tra:,ing mony fol.i 

 Wi;h I'Umis gli'.tcj^nd i*ui« upnij gold, 



