A CURRENT exhibition at the Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, sheds fresh light on Mary Queen of Scots.

Her melodramatic life has fascinated artists, composers, and poets over the centuries. Here is an extract from Marion Angus's lament for the hapless Stuart monarch.

ALAS! POOR QUEEN

She was skilled in music and the dance

And the old arts of love

At the court of the poisoned rose

And the perfumed glove,

And gave her beautiful hand

To the pale Dauphin

A triple crown to win -

And she loved little dogs

And parrots

And red-legged partridges

And the golden fishes of the Duc de Guise

And a pigeon with a blue ruff

She had from Monsieur d'Elboeuf…

Consider the way she had to go,

Think of the hungry snare,

The net she herself had woven,

Aware or unaware,

Of the dancing feet grown still,

The blinded eyes -

Queens should be cold and wise,

And she loved little things,

Parrots

And red-legged partridges

And the golden fishes of the Duc de Guise

And the pigeon with the blue ruff

She had from Monsieur d'Elboeuf.