[A composite volume : containing The ballads and songs of Ayrshire ...

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This fairer patrane to adoir,
Of maids the maikles Margareit.
Or had this nymphe bene in these dayis
Quhen Paris judgit in Helicon,
"Venus had not obtenit sic prayis.
Scho, and the goddessis ilk one,
Wald have prefert this paragon.
As marrowitj but matche, most meit
The goldin ball to bruik alone
Marveling in this Margareit.
Quhose nobill birth, and royal bluid,
Hir better nature dois exceid.
Hir native giftes, and graces gud.
Sua bonteouslie declair indeid
As waill, and wit of womanheid,
That sa with vertew dois ourfleit.
Happie is he that sail posseid
In marriage this Margareit
Help, and graunt hap, gud Hemene !
Lat not thy pairt in hir inlaik.
Nor lat not dolful destanie.
Mishap, or fortoun, work hir wraik.
Grant lyik unto hirself ane maik
That will hir honour, luif, and treit
And I sail serve him for hir saik.
Fairweill, my Maistres Margareit.
A. M.
I
This " Sang"—as the initials bear— is another of the compositions of
Alexander Montgomerie, author of The Cherrie and the Slae. The
" Lady Margaret Montgomerie," whose beauty he celebrates, was the
daughter of Hugh, third Earl of Eglintoun. She was acknowledged to
be the " fairest of the fair " of her time. Montgomerie wrote various