The dew as diamondis did hing,
Upon the tender twistis, and sing,
Ouir-twinkling all the treis:
And ay quhair flowris flourischit faire,
Thair suddainly I saw repaire,
In swarmes, the sownding beis:
Sum sweitly hes the hony socht,
Quhil they war cloggit soir:
Sum willingly the waxe hes wrocht,
To heip it up in stoir:
So heiping, with keiping,
Into thair hyvis they hyde it:
Precyselie, and wyselie,
For winter they provyde it.

Alexander Montgomerie (ca. 1545-1597)

Selected by the Scottish Poetry Library