Ere Phoebus was in purple cape revest,
Up raise the lark, the heaven's minstrel fine
In May, in till a morrow mirthfullest.

"Full angel-like thir birdis sang their hours
Within their curtains green, in to their hours
Apparelled white and red with bloomes sweet;
Enamelled was the field with all colours,
The pearly droppis shook in silver shours;
While all in balm did branch and leavis fleet.
To part fra Phoebus did Aurora greet,
Her crystal tears I saw hing on the flours,
Whilk he for love all drank up with his heat.

"For mirth of May, with skippis and with hops,
The birdis sang upon the tender crops,
With curious notes, as Venus' chapel clerks;
The roses young, new spreading of their knops,
Were powderit bricht with heavenly beriall drops,
Through beams red, burning as ruby sparks;
The skies rang for shouting of the larks,
The purple heaven once scal't in silver slops,
Oure gilt the trees, branches, leaves, and barks."

The finest of Dunbar's poems in this style is "The Thistle and the Rose."
It was written in celebration of the marriage of James with the Princess
Margaret of England, and the royal pair are happily represented as the
national emblems. It, of course, opens with a description of a spring
morning. Dame Nature resolves that every bird, beast, and flower should
compeer before her highness; the roe is commanded to summon the animals,
the restless swallow the birds, and the "conjured" yarrow the herbs and
flowers. In the twinkling of an eye they stand before the queen. The
lion and the eagle are crowned, and are instructed to be humble and just,
and to exercise their powers mercifully:--

"Then callit she all flouris that grew in field,
Discerning all their seasons and effeirs,
Upon the awful thistle she beheld
And saw him keepit with a bush of spears:
Consid'ring him so able for the weirs,
A radius crown of rubies she him gave,
And said, 'In field, go forth and fend the lave.'"

The rose, also, is crowned, and the poet gives utterance to the universal
joy on occasion of the marriage--type of peace between two kingdoms.
Listen to the rich music of according voices:--

"Then all the birds sang with voice on hicht,
Whose mirthful soun' was marvellous to hear;
The mavis sang, Hail Rose, most rich and richt,
That does up flourish under Phoebus' sphere,
Hail, plant of youth, hail Princess, dochter dear;
Hail blosom