| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
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| William Dunbar. 1465–1520? |
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| 18. To a Lady |
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| SWEET rois of vertew and of gentilness, | |
| Delytsum lily of everie lustynes, | |
| Richest in bontie and in bewtie clear, | |
| And everie vertew that is wenit dear, | |
| Except onlie that ye are mercyless | 5 |
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| Into your garth this day I did persew; | |
| There saw I flowris that fresche were of hew; | |
| Baith quhyte and reid most lusty were to seyne, | |
| And halesome herbis upon stalkis greene; | |
| Yet leaf nor flowr find could I nane of rew. | 10 |
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| I doubt that Merche, with his cauld blastis keyne, | |
| Has slain this gentil herb, that I of mene; | |
| Quhois piteous death dois to my heart sic paine | |
| That I would make to plant his root againe,— | |
| So confortand his levis unto me bene. | 15 |
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GLOSS: rois] rose. wenit] weened, esteemed. garth] garden-close. to seyne] to see. that I of mene] that I complain of, mourn for. |
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