XVI.

Juftice exerce, with mercy and confcience,
And let no small beaft fuffer fkaith or fcorns
Of greater beasts, that been of more puissance;
Do law alike to Apes and Unicorns,

And let no Bugle with his boufteous horns
Opprefs the meek plough Ox, for all his pride,
But in the yoke go quietly him befide.

XVII.

When this was faid, with noise and found of joy,
All kind of Quadrupeds in their degree,

At once cry'd LAUD, and then VIVE LE ROY;
Then at his feet fell with humility;

To him they all paid homage and fealty ;
And he did them receive with princely laits,
Whose noble ire his greatness mitigates.
XVIII.

Then crowned fhe the Eagle King of fowls ;
And sharp as darts of steel she made his pens,
And bade him be as just to Whawps and Owls,
As unto Peacocks, Papingoes, or Cranes,
And make one law for Wicht Fowls and forWrens,
And let no fowl of rapine do affray,

Nor birds devour, but his own proper prey.
XIX.

Then called fhe all flow'rs grew in the field,
Defcribing all their fashions and effeirs,

Upon the awful THISTLE fhe beheld,

And faw him guarded with a bufh of spears,
Confidering him fo able for the wars,
A radiant crown of rubies fhe him gave,
And said, in field go forth, and fend the laif.
XX.

And fince thou art a King, be thou difcreet,
Herb without value hold not of fuch price,
As herb of virtue and of odour sweet;
And let no nettle vile, and full of vice,
Her fellow with the goodly Flow'r-de-lyce;
Nor let no wild weed, full of churlishness,
Compare her to the Lilly's nobleness.
XXI.

Nor hold none other flow'r in fuch dainty
As the fresh ROSE, of colour red and white;
For if thou doft, hurt is thine honesty,
Confidering that no flow'r is fo perfyte,
So full of pleafaunce, virtue, and delight;
So full of blissful angelic beauty,
Imperial birth, honour, and dignity.
XXII.

Then to the ROSE fhe did her vifage turn,
And faid, O lufty daughter moft benign,

Above the Lilly thou art illuftrious born,
From royal lineage rifing fresh and young,
But any spot, or macul doing fprung;

Come bloom of joy, with richest gems be crown'd,
For o'er the laif thy beauty is renown'd.

want of care or judgment in their respective editors. they are all forgotten, or neglected. From these the miscellany known by the name of Mr Pope perhaps ought to be excepted; tho' that, indeed, cannot properly be ftyl'd a collection of poems by different hands, which is fuch a one as we are speaking of at prefent; the greater part confifting of pieces by Mr Pope only. The best miscellany at this day extant in our language, and the first complete one of the kind which we have seen, is that lately publish'd at London by R. DodЛley, which boasts the greateft names of the prefent age among its contributors.

As to the poetical collection here exhibited to the public, we apprehend it challenges no fmall degree of regard, as it was made under the immediate infpection and conduct. of several very ingenious gentlemen, whose names it would do us the highest honour to mention; and as it contains a variety not to be found even in the admirable collection last spoken of; I mean the Intermixture of poems both Scotch and English. Nor is this variety lefs agreeable than ufeful; as from it, we have an opportunity of forming a comparison and estimate of the tafte and genius of the two different nations, in their poetical compofitions.

It will be neceffary to take notice, that our chief care has been to furnish out the following miscellany with those pieces (regard being first had to real merit)

hich have laid unknown and unobserv'd from their ANNER of publication; feveral of them having been rinted by themselves, and fo perished as it were for rant of bulk, and others loft amid the rubbish of ollections injudiciously made, and perhaps not eafily o be met with. Nor will it be improper to mention, hat in order to render our volume ftill more complete, we have had the favour of fome original poems, written by a late member of the university of Aberdeen, whofe modefty would not permit us to print his name: and from these ingenious effays, the public may be enabled to form fome judgment beforehand of a poem of a nobler and more important nature, which he is now preparing. Nor must we forget to return our public thanks to this gentleman, for the fervice he has been to us, not only in making this collection more excellent by his own contributions, but in felecting fuch pieces of others as were fuitable to our defign.

It is hoped that the ancient Scottish poems (amongst which THE THISTLE AND THE ROSE, and HARDYKNUTE are more particularly distinguished) will make no disagreeable figure among those of modern date; and that they will produce the fame effect here, as Mr Pope obferves a moderate use of old words may have in a poem ; which (adds he) is like working old abbey-ftones into a modern building, and which I have fometimes feen practifed with good fuccefs.

XXII.

A costly crown with ftones clarified bright,
This comely Queen did on her head inclose,
While all the land illumined of light;
Wherefore methought, the flow'rs did all rejoyce,
Crying at once, Hail to the fragrant ROSE!
Hail Empress of the herbs! fresh Queen of flow'rs!
To thee be glore and honour at all hours.

XXIV.

Then all the birds they fang with voice on height,
Whofe mirthful found was marvellous to hear :
The Mavys fang, Hail ROSE most rich and right,
That does upflourish under Phebus' sphere,
Hail plant of youth, hail prince's daughter dear,
Hail bloffom breaking out of blood royal,
Whofe precious virtue is imperial.

XXV.

The Merle the fang, Hail ROSE of moft delight,
Hail of all flow'rs the sweet and fov'raign Queen :
The Lark fhe fang, hail ROSE both red and white,
Most pleasant flow'r of mighty colours * twain:
Nightingals fang, hail Nature's fuffragan,
In beauty, nurture, and each noblenefs,
In rich array, renown, and gentleness.

* Alluding to the Houfes of YORK and LANCASTER, which were diflinguished by the WHITE and RED ROSE, and united in the perfon of Queen MARGARET.