To the Richt Honourabill and Godly leirnit Gentilman The
Laird of Dune, Minister of Goddis Word and Superintendent of
His Kirk in Angous, Mernis &c. P.R. His Humbill Seruant S.
To quhome suld I my Rurall veirse direct,
Bot vnto him that can thame weill correct?
Befoir quhome suld this mater ga to licht,
Bot to ane faithfull, Godly, Christin Knicht?
To quhome can I this lytill throuch propyne,
Bot vnto ane of Excellent Ingyne?
Not for the termes, nor for the worthynes
Of ony thing that I do heir expres;
Bot for because I aucht, of bound dewtie,
To dedicat to him sum Noueltie.
Go, bill, than, to the Laird of Dune I send the,
Beseiking him to tak his pen and mend the.
Mend the, (alaik!) quhy suld he tak that pane?
To sicht the ones, it will bot vex his brane.
For as, in sum Schyre, thair is bot ane myre,
Quhilk is ouir all, that man and beist dois tyre;
Sa into the he sall bot ane fault find,
Quhilk is ouir all, befoir, and als behind.
Ȝit not the les I knaw him sa discreit,
Gif he mend not thy veirse and haulting feet,
Ȝit at the leist sa surely he will byde the,
That poets nane sall se the to diryde the.
Pas on, than, bauldly, and to him deploir
This present stait. Fair weill: I say no moir.
