renewing his early interest in literature. Having become intimately acquainted with Polydore Vergil, an Italian, who wrote a "History of England," Douglas, says Vergil, "vehemently required me, that in relation of the Scottish affairs, I should in nowise follow the president of a history of a certain countryman of his (referring to John Major), promising within few days to send me of those matters not to be contemned, which, indeed, he performed." But Douglas's interest in literature and politics came to a premature end by his death, in September 1522, in the 48th year of his | age. He died of the plague, at the house of his friend, Lord Dacre, in St Clement's parish, and was buried at his own request, in the Hospital Church of the Savoy. but the imaginative must have been constitutional. Even his political character has been highly praised by Buchanan; but all who have read his private correspondence with Henry VIII., through his agents, must admit that it is marred by serious blemishes. The times were not those of political purity, and he may be said to compare favourably with most of his contemporaries; yet this is the most that can be said in behalf of his political character. Having already indicated the leading defects of his original compositions, it is but just to summarize their general merits, their special qualities being noticed in the notes prefixed to the specimens given. Luxuriant richness of imagination, vivid and striking powers of description, with a wonderful command of language, constitute his chief poetic faculties. In his most remarkable literary work, the Eneid-where his imagination is kept within the welldefined and regular limits of the splendid symmetrical structure of a genius highly imbued with a sense of poetic perspective-these qualities, added to his extensive and varied Douglas is not one of those poets whose character may be best traced in his writings; hence the necessity of giving with some fulness an account of his political career. The chief defects of his poetry-confused indefiniteness of outline in the imaginative structure, disproportion and want of symmetry in the grouping, and of concert in the action, of the crowd of indistinct and half-learning, enabled him to make it a work developed allegorical figures, which appear and depart without leaving any impression of their reality, with a background of which the imagination fails to trace the lineaments-are to a certain extent paralleled by corresponding discordances in his political conduct. Their origin must have been due to some deflection in his moral and imaginative perceptions. The moral deflection may have been due to training and external influences, of high poetic merit, as well as of great philological interest. In this last respect his works mark an era in Scottish literature. Several excellent manuscripts of his writings are preserved, the principal being one in Trinity College, Cambridge, and two in the Edinburgh University Library. The first edition of his works was printed in London in 1553. That of Thomas Ruddiman, Edinburgh, 1710, is noted for its copious and learned vocabulary, the groundwork of the Scottish Dictionary. The last and most complete edition is that of Mr Small, Librarian to the Edinburgh || University, in 4 volumes 8vo, Edinburgh, 1874. KING HART. [THE following outline of "King Hart" is prefixed to Pinkerton's edition, in imitation ancient spelling, which need not here be followed : This poem is an allegorical representation of human life. The heart of man, being his most noble part, and the fountain of life, is here put for man in general, and holds the chief place in the poem under the title of King Hart. This mystical king is first represented in the bloom of youthhood, with his lusty attendants, the attributes or qualities of youth; next is pictured forth the Palace of Pleasure, near by the castle of King Hart, with its lovely inhabitants. Queen Pleasance, with the help of her ladies, assails King Hart's castle, and takes him and most of his servitors prisoners. Pity at last releases them, and they assail Queen Pleasance, and vanquish her and her ladies in turn. King Hart then weds Queen Pleasance, and solaces himself long in her delicious castle. So far is man's dealings with pleasure; but now, when King Hart is past mid-age, comes another scene. For Age, arriving at the castle of Queen Pleasance, insists for admittance, which he gains. So King Hart takes leave of Youthhead with much sorrow. Age is no sooner adImitted, than Conscience also comes to the castle and forces entrance, beginning to chide the King, whilst Wit and Reason take part in the conference. After this and other adventures, Queen Pleasance suddenly leaves the king, and Reason and Wisdom persuade him to return to his own palace :—that is, when pleasure and passions leave a man, reason and wisdom render him his own master. After this Decrepitude attacks and mortally wounds King Hart, who dies after making his testament. Mr Tytler remarks of it: "Although insipid and tedious to our modern taste, it was probably delightful, in all its intricate and endless personifications, to its feudal readers. . . . But although uninteresting and somewhat heavy as a lengthened allegory, "King Hart" abounds with much noble poetry; and we often forget, in the vivid descriptions and stirring incidents, the moral aim of the author."] IV. VI. Thir folk with all the female they might fang,' Whilk numberèd ane million, and weel mo, That were upbred as servitors of lang, And with this king would wonn in weal and woe, For favour nor for feard, would found him fro; Unto the time their date be run and past: That gold, nor good, might gar3 them fro him go, Nor grief, nor grame,4 should graith 5 them so aghast. VII. Five servitors 6 this King he had without, First were there Strength, and Rage, and That teached were aye treason to espy. Wantonness, Grein Lust, Disport Jealousy and Envy; Freshness, Newgate, 7 Waste-good, and Willfulness, Deliverness, Foolhardiness thereby : V. Thir were the inward ythand servitouris, Whilk governoris were to this noble king, And keepèd him inclined to their curis,9 So was there nought in erde 10 that ever might bring They watched aye the wallis round abo ut For enemies that of happening? aye come by. Ane for the day, whilk judged certainly, With cure to ken the colour of all hue, Ane for the night that harkened busily Out of what airt that ever the windis blew. VIII. Syne was there ane to taste all nutriment, That to this king was served at the deiss;9 Ane other was of all fovellis 10 for scent, Of liquor, or of any lusty meiss: The fift there was whilk could all ken, but leis," Ane of thir folk away from his dwelling. The heat, the cauld, the hard, and eik Thus to their term they serve for their reward: Dancing, disport, singing, revelling, the soft; Ane ganand 12 servant both for war and peace. With busyness all blithe to please the Yet has thir folk their King betrayed oft. laird." 1 Pleasure. 2 Lie, untruth. 3 Dwell. 4 Engaged, fitted. 5 Guide. 6 Eager, longing. IX. Honour pursuèd to the Kingis yett, Thir folk said all they would not let him in ; Thir other flowris green, (red), white, and blue, Whilk has nae craft to know the winter weet, Because they said their lord to feast was Suppose that summer's shine does them So strong this King him thought his castle stood, About the wall there run ane water void, rescue, That does them while ourehaill1 with snow and sleet. XIII. Dame Pleasance had ane pretty place beside, With fresh effeir, and many folk in feir;3 The whilk was paralled 4 all about with pride, With many tower and turret crowned high: So precious that it prised was but peer, 5 With bulworks broad and many bitter bier," Syne was ane bridge, that hedgèd was and strang; sea, That on the wallis wiskèd, gree by gree, And all that couth attain the castle near, It made them for to mer amiss, and mang.7 With many other maidens fair and bright, Reuth, and Good-fame, Freedom, and Gentleness; Whilk did the dayis watches to effray,1 For seildin had they seen sic folk before So merrily they muster, and they play, Constance, Patience, Raddour, and Withouten either brag, or boast, or schore, 3 Youthhead upstart, and cleikèd 5 on his cloak, Was browden all with lusty7 leavis green; "Rise, fresh Delight, let not this matter soak;8 Happened this worthy Queen, upon ane We will go see what may this muster mean; day, So weel we shall cope (with) it, us between, There shall nothing pass away unspièd. Syne shall we tell the King as we have seen, And there shall nothing truly be denied." XXI. Youthhead forth past, and raid on Innocence, Ane milk-white steed that ambled as the wind; And fresh Delight raid on Benevolence, Throughout the mead that would not bide behind. The beamis bright almost had made them blind, That frae fresh Beauty spread under the cloud; 1 So frighten. 2 Seldom. 8 Bold. 3 Threat. 5 Hooked. 6 Embroidered. 7 Fresh, beautiful. 8 Rest. |