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Martin Mc Carthy's avatar

Thank you, Mike, for your modern English translation of William Dunbar's exquisite Scottish masterpiece, 'Sweet Rose of Virtue'. I particularly like love poems, and the bittersweet nature of this song of unrequited really appeals to me. I think the first verse sets the mood and tone for the poem very well:

Sweet rose of virtue and of gentleness,

delightful lily of wanton loveliness,

richest in bounty and in beauty clear

and in every virtue men hold most dear,

except only that you are merciless.

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Geraldine A. V. Hughes's avatar

The beauty of a dewy red rose

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