William Dunbar
William Dunbar
William Dunbarwas a Scottish makar poet active in the late fifteenth century and the early sixteenth century. He was closely associated with the court of King James IV and produced a large body of work in Scots distinguished by its great variation in themes and literary styles. He was likely a native of East Lothian, as assumed from a satirical reference in the Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie. His surname is also spelled Dumbar...
half houses orleans stripped thrown town
I was in New Orleans during the first of those two. More than half of the town was stripped of its covering, many houses thrown down in town and country,
emotional ironic despair
Scotsmen are metaphisical and emotional, they are sceptical and mystical, they are romantic and ironic, they are cruel and tender, and full of mirth and despair.
humble tonight be-kind
To God be humble, to thy friend be kind, and with thy neighbors gladly lend and borrow; His chance tonight, it maybe thine tomorrow.
vices virtue
Neither our vices nor our virtues further the poem.
chaos fear-of-death
Timor mortis conturbat me. The fear of death disturbs me.
love lost love-is
All love is lost but upon God alone.