That in the deepest pot of hell
He smorit[148] them with smoke!
[110] Mahoun, or the devil, proclaimed a dance of sinners that had not received absolution.
[111] The evening before Lent, usually a festival at the Scottish court.
[112] go prepare a show in character.
[113] gambols.
[114] Holy harlots (hypocrites), in a haughty manner. The term harlot was applied indiscriminately to both sexes.
[115] Names of spirits, like Robin Goodfellow in England, and Brownie in Scotland.
[116] Pride, with hair artfully put back, and bonnet on side: "vaistie wanis" is now unintelligible; some interpret the phrase as meaning "wasteful wants", but this seems improbable, considering the locality or scene of the poem.
[117] His cassock for the nonce or occasion.
[118] a cheat or impostor.
[119] groans.
[120] bear.
[121] Boasters, braggarts, and bullies.
[122] Arrayed in the accoutrements of war.
[123] In coats of armour, and covered with iron network to the heel.
[124] Wild was their aspect.
[125] brands beat.
[126] many strong dissemblers.
[127] With feigned words fair or white.
[128] spreaders of false reports.
[129] usurers.
[130] Misers.
[131] a great quantity.
[132] gold of every coinage.
[133] his grunt.
[134] Many a lazy glutton.
[135] served with care.
[136] loins.
[137] quicker of apprehension.
[138] neighing like an entire horse.
[139] corpse.
[140] grease.
[141] Their reward, or their desire not diminished.
[142] No minstrels without doubt—a compliment to the poetical profession: there were no gleemen or minstrels in the infernal regions.
[143] letter of right.
[144] Pageant.
[145] By the time he had done shouting the coronach or cry of help, the Highlanders speaking Erse or Gaelic gathered about him.
[146] croaked like ravens and rooks.
[147] deafened.
[148] smothered.
SIR DAVID LYNDSAY.
(1490-1555.)
[VI.] SATIRE ON THE SYDE TAILLIS—ANE SUPPLICATIOUN
DIRECTIT TO THE KINGIS GRACE—1538.
The specimen of Lyndsay cited below—this satire on long trains—is by no means the most favourable that could be desired, but it is the only one that lent itself readily to quotation. The archaic spelling is slightly modernized.
Schir! though your Grace has put gret order
Baith in the Hieland and the Border
Yet mak I supplicatioun