50. When Flora had O’erfret the Firth

QUHEN Flora had o’erfret the firth
In May of every moneth queen;
Quhen merle and mavis singis with mirth
Sweet melling in the shawis sheen;
Quhen all luvaris rejoicit bene	5
And most desirous of their prey,
I heard a lusty luvar mene
—’I luve, but I dare nocht assay!’

‘Strong are the pains I daily prove,
But yet with patience I sustene,	10
I am so fetterit with the luve
Only of my lady sheen,
Quhilk for her beauty micht be queen,
Nature so craftily alway
Has done depaint that sweet serene:	15
—Quhom I luve I dare nocht assay.

‘She is so bricht of hyd and hue,
I luve but her alone, I ween;
Is none her luve that may eschew,
That blinkis of that dulce amene;	20
So comely cleir are her twa een
That she mae luvaris dois affray
Than ever of Greece did fair Helene:
—Quhom I luve I dare nocht assay!’

GLOSS: o’erfret] adorned. shawis] woods. sheen] beautiful. mene] mourn. hyd] skin. blinkis] gets a glimpse. dulce amene] gentle and pleasant one. mae] more.

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