William Dunbar: Selected PoemsHugh MacDiarmid hailed William Dunbar (1461?-1520?) as 'in many ways the most modern, as he is the most varied, of Scottish poets'. His verve, wit, metrical skill, malice and elegiac power made him one of the great poets of the fifteenth century, and a defining Scottish poet of all time. Although he was a priest for most of his adult life, Dunbar saw himself as a professional writer and took an outspoken pride in his craft, never failing to remind the king, his employer, of the unwisdom of neglecting to reward poets. Close to the European traditions of François Villon and troubadour lyrics, and inheriting the vigorous rhythms of Piers Plowman, Dunbar revitalised the conventions of medieval poetry, excelling in his mastery of the short satirical and lyrical poem. He can be bawdy, savage and romantic. Above all, more than any other poet of his time, Dunbar speaks directly in a voice that is vivid and challenging. This fully annotated edition makes the richness of Dunbar's language accessible to the modern reader. |
Contents
Dunbar at Oxinfurde | 1 |
The Thrissil and the Rois | 2 |
4 | 9 |
How Dumbar Was Desyrd to be Ane Freir | 10 |
Complaint to the King Aganis Mure | 12 |
Ane his Awin Ennemy | 13 |
The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie | 14 |
Meditatioun in Wyntir | 23 |
Of James Dog Kepair of the Quenis Wardrep 21 | 50 |
Of the Said James quhen he had plesett | 51 |
The Fenzeit Freir of Tungland | 52 |
The Testament of Mr Andro Kennedy | 56 |
The Dregy of Dunbar 25 | 60 |
To the Merchantis of Edinburgh | 64 |
The Twa Cummeris 27 | 67 |
The Tretis of the Tua Mariit Wemen and the Wedo | 68 |
Of Discretioun in Asking 12 13 14 25 10 | 25 |
Of Discretioun in Geving | 27 |
Of Discretioun in Taking 12 | 29 |
Remonstrance to the King | 31 |
To the King That he war Johne Thomsounis | 34 |
To the Lordis of the Kingis Chalker 15 | 35 |
To the King 16 | 36 |
In This Warld May None Assure | 39 |
The Petition of the Gray Horse Auld Dunbar | 42 |
A Brash of Wowing | 45 |
Of a Dance in the Quenis Chalmer 20 | 48 |
Sweit rois of vertew | 84 |
Inconstancy of Luve | 85 |
Fasternis Evin in Hell | 86 |
Quhat is this lyfe 2 4 5 185858 34 35 36 39 50 | 87 |
56 | 89 |
32 | 96 |
34 | 102 |
64 | 109 |
68 | 120 |
The Dance of the Sevin Deidly Synnis The Sowtar and Tailzouris War 3888 86 | 131 |