ROBENE AND MAKYNE,

A BALLAD.

ROBENE sat on gud grene hill',
Keipand a flok of fie 2:
Mirry Makyne said him till”,
Robene thou rew on met:
I haif thè luvit, lowd and still 5,
This yieris two or thrèo;
My dule in dern bot gif thou dill?,
Doubtless bot dreid I die 8.

He. Robene answerit, be the rude ',

Nathing of lufe I knaw?;
Bot keipis my scheip undir yone wud,
Lo quhair they raik on raw 4.

I, 1 Robene sat on a good green hill. Keeping a flock of cattle. Merry Makyne said to him. Rotene, take pity ou me.—5 I have loved thee openly and secretly.-—6 These years two or three.—7 My sorrow, in secret, unless thou share.—8 Undoubtedly I shall die.

II. 1 Robene answered, by the rood. Nothing of love I know.—3 But keep my sheep under yon wood. Lo where they range in a row.

Quhat has marrit thè in thy mude',
Makyne to me thow schaw 6?
Or what is luve, or to be lu’ed?,
Fain wald I leir that law 8.

III.
She. At luvis leir. gif thow will leir,

Take thair an A, B, C,
Be kind, courtas, and fair of feir,
Wyse, hardy, and frè4.
Sè that no danger do thè deir",
Quhat dule in dern thow drie ,
Preiss thè with pane at all poweir?,
Be patient, and previe 8.

IV.
He. Robene answerit her agane',

I wait not quhat is luve ?,
But I haif marvell, in certaines,
Quhat makis thè this wanrufe4.

5 What has marred thee in thy mood.—6 Makyne, show thou to me.—7 Or what is love or to be loved.--8 Fain would I learn that law (of love).

III. 1 At the lore of love if thou wilt learn.—2 Take there an A, B, C.-3 Be kind, courteous, and fair of aspect or feature.4Wise, hardy, and free.-5 See that no danger daunt thee.—6Whatever sorrow in secret thou sufferest.—7 Exert thyself with pains to thy utmost power.-8 Be patient and privy.

IV. 1 Robene answered her again.--2I wot not what is love.3 But I (have) wonder, certainly.-4 What makes thee thus melancholy.

The weddir is fair, and I am fane",
My scheip gois haill aboif,
An we wald play us in this plane?
They wald us baith reproife.

v.
She, Robene take tent unto my tale',

And wirk all as I reid?,
And thow sall haif my hairt all haile 3
Eik and my maidenheid.
Sen God sendis bute for baillo,
And for murning remeid 5,
I dern with thè, but gif I daille,
Doubtless I am bot deid.

VI.

He. Makyne, to morne this ilka tydel,

And ye will meit me heir %;
Peradventure my scheip may gang besydes,
Quhill we haif liggit full neir4,

5 The weather is fair, and I am glad. My sheep go healthful above (or in the uplands).—7 If we should play in this plain. & They would reprove us both.

V. 1 Robene, take heed unto my tale.? And do all as I advise.--3 And thou shalt have my heart entirely.—4 Since God sends good for evil.–5 And for mourning consolation. I am now in secret with thee, but if I separate.—7 Doubtless I shall die (broken hearted).

VI. 1 Makyne, to-morrow this very time.--If ye will meet me here.—3 Perhaps my sheep may go aside. --4 Until we have lain

Bot maugre haif I, an I byde,
Fra they begin to steir,
Quhat lyis on háirt I will nocht hyd,
Makyne then mak gud cheir.

VII.
She. Robene thou reivis me roif* and rest',

I luve but thè allone?,
He. Makyne adew! the sone gois wests,

The day is neirhand gonet.
She. Robene, in dule I am so drests,

That luve will be my bone 6.
He. Ga luve, Makyne, quhair evir thou list?,

For leman I lue none 8.

VIII.
She. Robene, I stand in sic a style', ..

I sicht, and that full sair 2. He. Makyne, I haif bene heir this quhiles, ; At hame God gif I wair4.

She. My hinny Robene, talk ane quhyles;

Gif thou wilt do na mairo.
He. Makyne, sum uther man begyle?;
For hamewart I will fair8.

IX.
Robene on his wayis went',
As licht as leif of trèo:
Makyne murnit in her intent,
And trow'd him nevir to sè*.
Robene brayd attour the bent',
Than Makyne cryit on hie 6,
Now ma thow sing, for I am schent?,
Quhat alis lufe with me.

X.

Makyne went hame withouttin faill",
Full werry aftir couth weip?,
Than Robene in a full fair daill, *
Assemblit all his scheip.

5 My sweet Robene, talk a while. _6 If thou wilt do no more.7 Makyne, some other man beguile.—8 For homeward I will fare.

IX. · Robene on his way went.--* As light as leaf of tree.3 Makyne mourned in her thoughts. 4 And thought hin never to see.—5 Robene went over the hill.–6 Then Makyne cryed on high. –7 Now you may sing, I am destroyed.—8 What ails, love, with me?

X. 1 Makyne went home without fail. Fullt after she would weep.

* The lines “ Than Robene in a full fair daill,” may either mean that he assembled his sheep in a fair full number, or in a fair piece of low ground; the former is the most probable meaning.

+ The word werry I am unable to explain. VOL. I.