Henryson, ROBERT

Henryson, ROBERT, Scottish poet, was born about 1425, and was most likely educated abroad. He is usually designated schoolmaster of Dunfermline, and he seems besides to have practised there the profession of a notary. His death may safely be put about the end of the 15th century. Of his poems the most important is his Testament of Cressid, in the form of a kind of supplement to Chaucer's poem on the same subject. Another, Robene and Makyne, is especially interesting as the earliest extant specimen in the Scottish dialect of pastoral poetry. Other works are a metrical version of thirteen of the Fables of Æsop, with morals suited to the questions of the time, and the somewhat feeble Orpheus and Eurydice. All previous editions of Henryson's poems were superseded by that of Dr David Laing (Edinburgh, 1865).