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5. [Luve preysis but comparesone.]
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5. [Luve preysis but comparesone.]

Luve preysis, but comparesone,
Both gentill, sempill, generall;
And of fre will gevis waresone,
As fortoun chansis to befall:
For luve makis nobill ladeis thrall,
To bassir men of birth and blud;
So luve garris sobir wemen small,
Get maistrice our grit men of gud.
Ferme luve, for fauour, feir, or feid,
Of riche nor pur to speik suld spair;
For luve to hienes hes no heid,
Nor lychtleis lawlines ane air;
But puttis all personis in compair,
This prowerb planely for till preue,
That men and wemen, less and mair,
Ar cumd of Adame and of Eue.
So thocht my lyking wer a leddy,
And I no lord, ȝit nocht þe less
Scho suld my serwyce find als reddy
As duke to duches docht him dress;
For as prowd princely luve express
Is to haif souerenitie;
So serwice cumis of sympilness,
And leilest lufe of law degre.

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So luvaris lair no leid suld lak;
A lord to lufe a silly lass,
A leddy als for luf to tak
Ane proper page hir tyme to pass:
For quhy as bricht bene birneist brass
As siluer wrocht at all dewyss;
And als gud drinking out of glass
As gold, thocht gold gif grittar pryss.
Suld I presome þis sedull schaw,
Or lat me langouris be lamentit?
Na! I effrey for feir and aw,
Hir comlie heid be miscontenttit.
I dar nocht preiss hir to present it;
For be scho wreth I will nocht wow it,
But pleiss hir prowdens to imprent it,
Scho may persaue sum inglis throw it.