The poem takes the form of a dream vision in which Margaret is represented by a rose and James is represented variously by a lion, an eagle and a thistle.[1] The episodes of the poem present in allegory King James' view of himself and of his kingdom. Princess Margaret receives lavish praise for her beauty, virtue and high birth.[2]
The text of the poem is found only in the Bannatyne Manuscript.[1] It is also known as The Thistle and the Rose.
The marriage of James IV, King of Scots, and Margaret Tudor, the eldest daughter of Henry VII of England had been agreed in the Treaty of Perpetual Peace of 1502.[3] This treaty was intended to effect a reconciliation between the kingdoms of Scotland and England which had been at war intermittently since 1296.[3] The treaty would not be successful in establishing peace.[4] Ten years after the marriage of James and Margaret Scotland and England aligned themselves with opposing alliances in the War of the League of Cambrai. The subsequent campaign ended with James' death in the Scots' defeat at Flodden.[4][5]
The author, William Dunbar, was a prolific poet who had been employed at the Scots royal court since at least 1500.[6] His work often recorded state events.
The thistle had first appeared in Scottish iconography on the coins of King James III. His son and successor James IV continued its use as a symbol of the Scottish monarchy.
A rose, coloured red and white, had been adopted as a dynastic symbol by Henry VII who had seized the throne of England in 1485. It represented a union of the Lancastrian and Yorkist factions of the Plantagenet dynasty which had fought a series of civil wars for the control of the English throne before being succeeded by Henry. A red rose was a badge of the Lancastrians; A white rose was a badge of the Yorkists.
The Poem
Princess Margaret of England sketched by an unknown artist. "Recueil d'Arras", sixteenth century.
Dame Nature then crowns the Eagle as King of the birds and sharpens his feathers 'like steel darts'. He is commanded to let 'no ravening bird cause trouble'.
The Eagle appears to symbolise the King's determination to keep the peace within Scotland and, perhaps, to keep the peace with England.
The Thistle
Dame Nature then inspects the plants and judges the spiked thistle to be 'able for war'. The thistle is crowned King of the plants with a 'radiant crown of rubys'.
Upone the awfull Thrissill scho beheld
And saw him kepit with a busche of speiris.
Concedring him so able for the weiris,
A radius croun of rubeis scho him gaif.
The thistle is commanded to 'go into the field and defend the others.'
And said, In feild go furth and fend the laif.
The thistle seems to represent the King's determination to defend his Kingdom.
Dame Nature then advises the Thistle to show discretion when judging other plants.
Haill hairbis empryce, haill freschest quene of flouris!
To thee be glory and honour at all houris!
The birds join the acclamation of the new Queen who is compared to a pearl. The name 'Margaret' is derived from the Latin term for a pearl, 'margarita'.
The birds' song merges with the dawn chorus which then wakes Dunbar. He looks around for the garden he saw in his dream but finds it gone. While 'half-frightened', he starts to write the poem.
Than all the birdis song with sic a schout,
That I annone awoilk quhair that I lay,
And with a braid I turnyt me about,
To se this court, bot all wer went away.
Than up I lenyt, halflingis in affrey,
And thus I wret, as ye haif hard to forrow,
Of lusty May upone the nynt morrow.
It is the ninth of May.
References
1 2 3 W. Mackay Mackenzie, The Poems of William Dunbar. The Mercat Press, 1990, pp. 107-112
