=3. The Development of the Drama.= The popularity of the romance is almost gone; the drama, more suited to the growing intelligence of the time, is rapidly taking on a new importance. The professional actor and the playwright, owing to real demand for their services, are making their appearance. The development of the drama is sketched in this chapter. =4. The Importance of the Period.= The importance of the time is belied by its apparent barrenness. In reality it is a season of healthy fallow, of germination, of rest and recuperation. The literary impulse, slowly awakening, is waiting for the right moment. When that movement comes the long period of rest gives the new movement swift and enduring force. POETRY =1. The Scottish Poets.= (_a_) =James I (1394–1437)= was captured by the English in 1405, and remained in England till 1424, when he married Joan Beaufort, the cousin of Henry V, and returned to Scotland. The chief poem associated with his name is _The Kingis Quhair_ (_quire_ or _book_). The attempts to disprove his authorship have not been successful. It seems to have been written during his captivity, and it records his first sight of the lady destined to be his wife. It follows the Chaucerian model of the dream, the garden, and the introduction of allegorical figures. The stanza is the rhyme royal, which is said to have derived its name from his use of it. The diction, which is the common artificial blend of Scottish and Chaucerian forms, is highly ornamented; but there are some passages of really brilliant description, and a few stanzas of passionate declamation quite equal to the best of Chaucer’s _Troilus and Cressida_. It is certainly among the best of the poems that appear between the periods of Chaucer and Spenser. Other poems, in particular the more plebeian _Peblis to the Play_ and _Christis Kirk on the Green_, have been ascribed to James, but his authorship is extremely doubtful. The two following stanzas are fair examples of James’s poetry. The man who wrote them was no mean poet. Of her array the form if I shall write, Towards her golden hair and rich attire, In fretwise couchit[45] with pearlis white, And great balas[46] leaming[47] as the fire, With mony ane emeraut and fair sapphire; And on her head a chaplet fresh of hue, Of Plumis parted red, and white, and blue. Full of quaking spangis bright as gold, Forged of shape like to the amorets, So new, so fresh, so pleasant to behold, The plumis eke like to the flower jonets,[48] And other of shape, like to the flower jonets; And above all this, there was, well I wot, Beauty enough to make a world to dote. _The Kingis Quhair_ (_b_) =Sir David Lyndsay (1490–1555)= was born in Fifeshire about the year 1490. He entered the royal service, and rose to fill the important position of Lyon King-of-Arms.