I find their haill' affection
So contrair their complexion.

For why ? no leid unleill they leid, 2

Untruth expressly they expel ;
Yet they are plenish'd and replete

Of falsehood and deceit thairsell : 3
So find I their affection
Contrair their own complexion.

They favour no ways foolish men,

And very few of them are wise ;
All greedy persons they mis-ken,

And they are full of covetise :
So find I their affection
Contrair their own complexion.

They would have all men bound and thrall

To them, and they for to be free: They covet ilk man at their call,

And they to live at liberty: So find I their affection Contrair their own complexion.

They take delight in martial deeds,

And are of nature tremebund;

Suffer no unloyal person.

They would men nourish'd all their needs,

Syne, comfortless lets them confound :
So find I their affection
Contrair their own complexion.

The virtue of this writ, and vigour,

Made in comparison it is, That feminine are of this figure,

Which clepit is Antiphrasis : For why i their haill affection Is contrair their complexion.

I wot, good women will not wyt' me,

Nor of this schedule be ashamit; For, be they courteous, they will ’quit me;

And gif they crab, here I quyt-clame? it: Confessand their affection Conform to their complexion.

CLAPPERTON.

A Scotish poet, whose history is unknown, but who appears

to have flourished about 1550. The following specimen is taken from Pinkerton's Anc. Scot. Poems, 1786.

Wo worth marriage!

In Bowdoun,' on black monunday, 2
When all was gatherit to the play,

Both men and women 'semblit there,
I heard a sweet one sigh, and say

“Wo worth marriage for evermair!

“ Maidens, ye may have great pleasance
“ For to do Venus observance,

“ Though I inclosit be with care,
“ That I dare neither sing nor dance.

“ Wo worth marriage for evermair!

“ When that I was a maiden ying, 3

Lightly would I dance and sing,
'A village on the Tweed, near old Melrose.
• Monday.

“ And sport and play, bayth late and air.' “ Now dare I nought look to sic thing.

“ Wo worth marriage for evermair !

“ Thus am I bounden, out of bliss, “ Unto ane churl

says

I am his, “ That I dare nought look o'er the stair, “ Scantly? to give Sir John ane kiss !

“ Wo worth marriage for evermair !

16 Now were I ane maiden as I was“ To make me lady of the Bas

“ And though that I were ne'er so fair, “ To wedding should I never pass.

“ Wo worth marriage for evermair!

“ All night I clatter 3 upon my creed, “ Prayand to God that I were dead;

6. Or else out of this world he were : 66 Then should I see for some remeid.

« Wo worth marriage for evermair!

66 Ye should hear tell (and he were gane) 66 That I should be ane wanton ane.

Early.

• Scarcely.

: Chatter.

« To leir ' the law of lovis layr 2
« In our town like me should be nane.

“Wo worth marriage for evermair!

“ I should put on my russet gown,
“ My red kirtill, my hose of brown,

“ And let them see my yellow hair
“ Under my curché 3 hingand 4 down.

“ Wo worth marriage for evermair !

“ Lovers bayth should hear and see,
" I should love them that would love me;

“ Their hearts for me should ne'er be sair :5 “ But aye unweddit should I be.

“Wo worth marriage for evermair !"

3 Kerchief.

Learn.
Hanging.

» Doctrine.
Sore.

VOL. II.

K