 | The hystory and croniklis of Scotland |  |
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Stanzas in this text are signified by markers. The stanzas have been captured, but the markers ignored.
The excusation of the prentar.
Ingyne
of man be inclinatioun
In sindry wyse is geuin, as we se.
Sum men ar geuin to detractioun,
Inuy, displeseir, or malancolie,
And to thair nychbouris hes no cherite.
Sum ar so nobill and full of gentilnes,
Thay luf no thing bot Ioy and merynes.
In sindry wyse is geuin, as we se.
Sum men ar geuin to detractioun,
Inuy, displeseir, or malancolie,
And to thair nychbouris hes no cherite.
Sum ar so nobill and full of gentilnes,
Thay luf no thing bot Ioy and merynes.
Sum ar at vndir, and sum maid vp of nocht.
Sum men luffis peace, and sum desiris weir.
Sum is so blyth in to his mery thocht,
He curis nocht, so he may perseueir
In grace and fauour of his lady deir.
Sum boldin at othir in maist cruell feid
With lance and dagar rynnis to the deid.
Sum men luffis peace, and sum desiris weir.
Sum is so blyth in to his mery thocht,
He curis nocht, so he may perseueir
In grace and fauour of his lady deir.
Sum boldin at othir in maist cruell feid
With lance and dagar rynnis to the deid.
Ane hes that mycht ane hundreth weil sustene,
And leiffis in wo and pennance at his table.
And of gud fallots comptis nocht ane bene.
His wrechit mynd is so insaciable.
As heuin and hell wer no thing bot ane fable
He birnis ay but sycht to gud or euil.
And tynnis with all his baggis to the deuil.
And leiffis in wo and pennance at his table.
And of gud fallots comptis nocht ane bene.
His wrechit mynd is so insaciable.
As heuin and hell wer no thing bot ane fable
He birnis ay but sycht to gud or euil.
And tynnis with all his baggis to the deuil.
And I the prentar that dois considir weil
Thir sindry myndis of men in thair leuing,
Desiris nocht bot on my laubour leil
That I mycht leif, and of my Iust wynnyng
Mycht first pleis god, and syne our noble kyng.
And that ze reders bousum and attent
Wer of my laubour and besynes content.
Thir sindry myndis of men in thair leuing,
Desiris nocht bot on my laubour leil
That I mycht leif, and of my Iust wynnyng
Mycht first pleis god, and syne our noble kyng.
And that ze reders bousum and attent
Wer of my laubour and besynes content.
And in this wark that I haue heir assailzeit
To bring to lycht, maist humely I exhort
Zow nobill reders, quhare that I haue failzeit
In letter, sillabe, poyntis lang, or schort.
That ze will of zour gentrice it support.
And tak the sentence the best wyse ze may,
I sall do better (will god) ane othir day.
To bring to lycht, maist humely I exhort
Zow nobill reders, quhare that I haue failzeit
In letter, sillabe, poyntis lang, or schort.
That ze will of zour gentrice it support.
And tak the sentence the best wyse ze may,
I sall do better (will god) ane othir day.
Finis.
The proheme of the cosmographe.
Quhen
siluir Diane ful of bemis brycht
fra dirk eclips wes past yis othir nycht
And in ye crab hir ppir mansion gane,
Artophilax contending at his mycht
In the gret eist to set his visage rycht.
I mene the ledar of the charle wane
Aboue our heid wes the vrsis twane.
Quhen flerris small obscuris in our sycht,
And Lucifer left twinkland hym allane.
fra dirk eclips wes past yis othir nycht
And in ye crab hir ppir mansion gane,
Artophilax contending at his mycht
In the gret eist to set his visage rycht.
I mene the ledar of the charle wane
Aboue our heid wes the vrsis twane.
Quhen flerris small obscuris in our sycht,
And Lucifer left twinkland hym allane.
The frosty nycht with hir prolixit houris
Hir mantill quhit spred on the tender flouris.
Quhen ardent lauboure hes addresset me
Translait the story of our progenitouris.
Thair gret manheid hie wisdome and honouris.
Quhen we may cleir (as in ane mirroure) se
The furius end sum tyme of tirannye.
Sum tyme the glore of prudent gouernouris
Ilk stait apprisit in thair faculte.
Hir mantill quhit spred on the tender flouris.
Quhen ardent lauboure hes addresset me
Translait the story of our progenitouris.
Thair gret manheid hie wisdome and honouris.
Quhen we may cleir (as in ane mirroure) se
The furius end sum tyme of tirannye.
Sum tyme the glore of prudent gouernouris
Ilk stait apprisit in thair faculte.
My wery spreit desyring to repres
My imp[illeg.]ue pen of fruiles besynes
Awalkit furth to tak the recent ayre.
Quhen Priapus with stormy weid oppres
Raqueistit me in his maist tendernes
to rest ane quhile amyd his gardingis bare.
Bot I no maner couth my mynd prepare
To set asyde vnplesand heuynes,
On this and that comtemplyng solitare.
My imp[illeg.]ue pen of fruiles besynes
Awalkit furth to tak the recent ayre.
Quhen Priapus with stormy weid oppres
Raqueistit me in his maist tendernes
to rest ane quhile amyd his gardingis bare.
Bot I no maner couth my mynd prepare
To set asyde vnplesand heuynes,
On this and that comtemplyng solitare.
And fyrst occurtit to my remembring
How that I wes in seruice with the kyng
Put to his grace in zeris tenderest,
Clerk of his comptis, youcht I wes inding
With hart and hand and euery othir thing
That mycht hym pleis in ony maner best.
Quhill hie inuy me from his seruice kest,
Be thaym that had the court in gouerning
As bird but plumes heryit of the nest.
How that I wes in seruice with the kyng
Put to his grace in zeris tenderest,
Clerk of his comptis, youcht I wes inding
With hart and hand and euery othir thing
That mycht hym pleis in ony maner best.
Quhill hie inuy me from his seruice kest,
Be thaym that had the court in gouerning
As bird but plumes heryit of the nest.
Our lyfe, our giding, and our auenturis
Dependis from thir heuinlie creaturis
Apperandlie be sum necessite.
For poucht ane man wald set his besy curis
So far as laboure and his wisdome furis
To fle hard chance of infortunite.
Youcht he eschew it with difficulte,
The cursit weird zit Ithandlie enduris
Geuin to hym first in his natiuite.
Dependis from thir heuinlie creaturis
Apperandlie be sum necessite.
For poucht ane man wald set his besy curis
So far as laboure and his wisdome furis
To fle hard chance of infortunite.
Youcht he eschew it with difficulte,
The cursit weird zit Ithandlie enduris
Geuin to hym first in his natiuite.
Of erdlie stait beualing thus the chance
Of fortoun gud I had na esperance.
So lang I swomit in hir seis deip
That sad auising with hir thochtfull lance
Couth fynd na port to ankir hir firmance,
Quhill Morpheus the dery god of sleip
For very reuth did on my cutis weip.
And set his sleuth, and deidly contenance
With snorand vanis throw my body creip.
Of fortoun gud I had na esperance.
So lang I swomit in hir seis deip
That sad auising with hir thochtfull lance
Couth fynd na port to ankir hir firmance,
Quhill Morpheus the dery god of sleip
For very reuth did on my cutis weip.
And set his sleuth, and deidly contenance
With snorand vanis throw my body creip.
Me thocht I wes in to ane plesand meid
Quhare flora maid the tender blewmys spreid
Throw kyndlie dew and humouris nutratiue.
Quhen goldin Titan with his flāmis reid
Aboue the seis rasit vp his heid,
Diffounding doun his heit restoratiue
To euery frute that nature maid on liue.
Quhilk wes afore in to the wynter deid
For stormys cald and frostis penitriue.
Quhare flora maid the tender blewmys spreid
Throw kyndlie dew and humouris nutratiue.
Quhen goldin Titan with his flāmis reid
Aboue the seis rasit vp his heid,
Diffounding doun his heit restoratiue
To euery frute that nature maid on liue.
Quhilk wes afore in to the wynter deid
For stormys cald and frostis penitriue.
Ane siluer fontane sprang of watter cleir
In to that place, quhare I approchit neir,
Quhare I did sone espy ane fellown reird,
Of courtly gallandis in thair best maneir,
Reiosyng thaym in season of the zeir
As it had bene of Mayis day the feird.
Thair gudlie hauing is maid me nocht affeird.
With thaym I saw ane crownit kyng appeir
With tendir downis rising on his beird.
In to that place, quhare I approchit neir,
Quhare I did sone espy ane fellown reird,
Of courtly gallandis in thair best maneir,
Reiosyng thaym in season of the zeir
As it had bene of Mayis day the feird.
Thair gudlie hauing is maid me nocht affeird.
With thaym I saw ane crownit kyng appeir
With tendir downis rising on his beird.
Thir courtlie gallandis settand thair intentis
To sing, and play, on diuers instrumentis
According to this princis appetit.
Two plesand ladyis come pransand ouir the bentis.
Thair costlie clethin schew thair mychty rentis.
Quhat hart mycht wis thay wantit nocht ane myt.
The rubeis schone apone thair fingaris quhit.
And finalie I knew be thair consentis
This ane virtew, that othir hecht delite.
To sing, and play, on diuers instrumentis
According to this princis appetit.
Two plesand ladyis come pransand ouir the bentis.
Thair costlie clethin schew thair mychty rentis.
Quhat hart mycht wis thay wantit nocht ane myt.
The rubeis schone apone thair fingaris quhit.
And finalie I knew be thair consentis
This ane virtew, that othir hecht delite.
Thir goddesses arrayit in this wyse
As reuerence, and honoure list deuise
Afore this prince fell doun apon thair kneis.
Syne dressit thaym in to thair best auyse
(So far as wisdome in thair power lyis)
To do the thyng that mycht hym best appleis,
Quhare he reiosit in his heuinly gleis,
And hym desyrit for his hie empryis
Ane of thaym two vnto his lady cheis,
As reuerence, and honoure list deuise
Afore this prince fell doun apon thair kneis.
Syne dressit thaym in to thair best auyse
(So far as wisdome in thair power lyis)
To do the thyng that mycht hym best appleis,
Quhare he reiosit in his heuinly gleis,
And hym desyrit for his hie empryis
Ane of thaym two vnto his lady cheis,
And first Delite vnto this prince said thus,
Maist vailzeant knycht in dedis amorus.
And lustiest that euir nature wrocht.
Quhilk in the floure of zouth mellifluus
With noris sweit and sang melodius
A walkis heir amang the flouris soft.
Thow hes no game bot in thy mery thocht.
My heuinlye blis is so delicius
All welth in erd but it aualis nocht.
Maist vailzeant knycht in dedis amorus.
And lustiest that euir nature wrocht.
Quhilk in the floure of zouth mellifluus
With noris sweit and sang melodius
A walkis heir amang the flouris soft.
Thow hes no game bot in thy mery thocht.
My heuinlye blis is so delicius
All welth in erd but it aualis nocht.
Youcht thow had France and Italie also
Spaine, Ingland, Pole with othir realmes mo.
Youcht thow mycht regne in stait maist glorius.
Thy pissant kyngdome is nocht worth ane stro
Gyf it vnto thy pleseir be ane so,
Or truble thy mynd with curis dolorus.
Thair is na thing may be so odius
To men, as leif in miserie and wo
Defraudand god of nature genius.
Spaine, Ingland, Pole with othir realmes mo.
Youcht thow mycht regne in stait maist glorius.
Thy pissant kyngdome is nocht worth ane stro
Gyf it vnto thy pleseir be ane so,
Or truble thy mynd with curis dolorus.
Thair is na thing may be so odius
To men, as leif in miserie and wo
Defraudand god of nature genius.
Dres the thairfore with all thy besy cure,
That thow in Ioy and pleseir may indure
Be sycht of thir four bodyis elementar
Two heuy and grosse, and two ar lycht and pure.
Thir elementis be wirkyng of nature
Douth change in othir. And youcht be rycht far
Fra othir seuerit with qualiteis contrar.
Of thaym ar maid all leuand creature,
And finalie in thaym resoluit ar.
That thow in Ioy and pleseir may indure
Be sycht of thir four bodyis elementar
Two heuy and grosse, and two ar lycht and pure.
Thir elementis be wirkyng of nature
Douth change in othir. And youcht be rycht far
Fra othir seuerit with qualiteis contrar.
Of thaym ar maid all leuand creature,
And finalie in thaym resoluit ar.
The fyre in aire, the aire in watter cleir.
In erd the watter turnis without weir.
The erd in watter turnis ouir agane,
So furth in ordour, na thing consumis heir.
Ane man new borne beginnis to appeir
In othir figure than afore wes tane.
Quhen he is deid, the mateir dois remane.
Youcht it resolue in to sum new maneir,
No thing is new, nocht bot the forme is gane.
In erd the watter turnis without weir.
The erd in watter turnis ouir agane,
So furth in ordour, na thing consumis heir.
Ane man new borne beginnis to appeir
In othir figure than afore wes tane.
Quhen he is deid, the mateir dois remane.
Youcht it resolue in to sum new maneir,
No thing is new, nocht bot the forme is gane.
Thus is no thing in erd bot fugitiue
Passand and cumand be spreiding successiue.
And as ane beist, so is ane man consaue
Of seid infuse in membris genitiue.
And furth his tyme in pleseir dois ouir driue
(As chance hym ledis) quhill he be laid in graue.
Thairfore thy heuyn and pleseir now ressaue
Quhill thow art heir in to this present liue.
For eftir deith thow sall na plesier haue.
Passand and cumand be spreiding successiue.
And as ane beist, so is ane man consaue
Of seid infuse in membris genitiue.
And furth his tyme in pleseir dois ouir driue
(As chance hym ledis) quhill he be laid in graue.
Thairfore thy heuyn and pleseir now ressaue
Quhill thow art heir in to this present liue.
For eftir deith thow sall na plesier haue.
The rose, the lyllyis and the violet
Unpullit, sone ar the wynd ouirset,
And fallis doun but ony frut I wis
Thairfore I say, sen that no thing may let
Bot thy brycht hew mon be with zeris fret,
(For euery thing bot for ane season is)
Thow may nocht haue ane more excellent blis,
Than ly all nycht in to myn armys plet
To hals and brais with mony lusty kys.
Unpullit, sone ar the wynd ouirset,
And fallis doun but ony frut I wis
Thairfore I say, sen that no thing may let
Bot thy brycht hew mon be with zeris fret,
(For euery thing bot for ane season is)
Thow may nocht haue ane more excellent blis,
Than ly all nycht in to myn armys plet
To hals and brais with mony lusty kys.
And haue my tender body be thy side
So propir, fet, quhilk nature hes prouide
With euery pleseir that thow may deuyne
Ay quhill my tender zeris be ouir slide.
Than gif it pleis, that I thy brydill gyde
Thow mon all way fra agit men declyne.
Syne dres thy hart, thy curage, and ingyne
To suffir nane in to thy hous abide
Bot gyf thay will vnto thy lust inclyne.
So propir, fet, quhilk nature hes prouide
With euery pleseir that thow may deuyne
Ay quhill my tender zeris be ouir slide.
Than gif it pleis, that I thy brydill gyde
Thow mon all way fra agit men declyne.
Syne dres thy hart, thy curage, and ingyne
To suffir nane in to thy hous abide
Bot gyf thay will vnto thy lust inclyne.
Gyf thow desyris in the seis fleit
Of heuinlie blys, than me thy lady treit
For it is said be clerkis of renoun
Thair is na pleseir in this eird so gret
As quhen ane luffar dois his lady meit
To quikin his lyfe of mony deidly swon.
As hiest pleseir but comparison
I sall the gyf in to thy zeris swete
Ane lusty halk with mony plumys broun.
Of heuinlie blys, than me thy lady treit
For it is said be clerkis of renoun
Thair is na pleseir in this eird so gret
As quhen ane luffar dois his lady meit
To quikin his lyfe of mony deidly swon.
As hiest pleseir but comparison
I sall the gyf in to thy zeris swete
Ane lusty halk with mony plumys broun.
Quhilk salbe found so Ioyus and plesant
Gyf thow vnto hir mery flychtis hant,
Of euery blys that may in erd appeir
As hart wyll think thow sall no plente want.
Quhill zeris swift with quhelis properant
Consume thy strenth, and all thy bewte cleir.
And quhen Delyte had said on this maneir
As rage of zoutheid thocht maist releuant.
Than Uirtew said as ze sall eftir heir.
Gyf thow vnto hir mery flychtis hant,
Of euery blys that may in erd appeir
As hart wyll think thow sall no plente want.
Quhill zeris swift with quhelis properant
Consume thy strenth, and all thy bewte cleir.
And quhen Delyte had said on this maneir
As rage of zoutheid thocht maist releuant.
Than Uirtew said as ze sall eftir heir.
My landis braid with mony plentuus schyre
Sall gif thy hienes (gyf thow list desyre)
Triumphant glore, hie honoure, fame deuyne.
With sic pissance that thaym na furius Ire
Nor werand age, nor flame of birnand fyre,
Nor bitter deith may bring vnto rewyne.
Bot thow mon first insuffer mekill pyne,
Abone thy self that thow may haue empyre.
Than sall thy fame, and honoure haue na fyne.
Sall gif thy hienes (gyf thow list desyre)
Triumphant glore, hie honoure, fame deuyne.
With sic pissance that thaym na furius Ire
Nor werand age, nor flame of birnand fyre,
Nor bitter deith may bring vnto rewyne.
Bot thow mon first insuffer mekill pyne,
Abone thy self that thow may haue empyre.
Than sall thy fame, and honoure haue na fyne.
My realme is set amang my fois all
Quhilkis hes with me ane weir continewall,
And euir still dois on my bordour ly.
And youcht, thay may no wayis me ouir thrall
Thay ly in wait, gif ony chance may fall
Of me sum tyme to get the victory.
Thus is my lyfe ane Ithand cheualry.
Laubour me haldis strang as ony wall,
And no thing brekis me bot slogardy.
Quhilkis hes with me ane weir continewall,
And euir still dois on my bordour ly.
And youcht, thay may no wayis me ouir thrall
Thay ly in wait, gif ony chance may fall
Of me sum tyme to get the victory.
Thus is my lyfe ane Ithand cheualry.
Laubour me haldis strang as ony wall,
And no thing brekis me bot slogardy.
Na fortoun may aganis me auaill.
Youcht scho with cludy stormis me assaill,
I brek the streme of scharp aduersite.
In weddir louin and maist tempestius haill
But ony dreid I beir ane equall saill.
My schip so strang that I may neuir de.
Wit, reason, manheid gouernis me so hie,
No influence nor sterris may preuaill
To regne on me with infortunite.
Youcht scho with cludy stormis me assaill,
I brek the streme of scharp aduersite.
In weddir louin and maist tempestius haill
But ony dreid I beir ane equall saill.
My schip so strang that I may neuir de.
Wit, reason, manheid gouernis me so hie,
No influence nor sterris may preuaill
To regne on me with infortunite.
The rage of zoutheid may nocht dantit be
But gret distres and scharp aduersite
As be this reason is experience.
The finest gold, or siluer that we se
May nocht be wrocht to our vtilite
But flāmis kene and bitter violence.
The more distres, the more intelligence.
Quhay salis lang in hie prosperite
Ar sone ouirset be stormy violence.
But gret distres and scharp aduersite
As be this reason is experience.
The finest gold, or siluer that we se
May nocht be wrocht to our vtilite
But flāmis kene and bitter violence.
The more distres, the more intelligence.
Quhay salis lang in hie prosperite
Ar sone ouirset be stormy violence.
This fragill lyfe (as moment induring)
But dout sall the and euery peple bring
To sickir blis, or than eternall wo.
Gyf thow be honest lauboure dois ane thing,
Thy panefull laubour sall vanes but tarying
Howbeit thy honest werkis do nocht so,
Gyf thow be lust dois ony thing also,
The schamefull deid without disseuering
Remanis ay, quhen pleseir is ago.
But dout sall the and euery peple bring
To sickir blis, or than eternall wo.
Gyf thow be honest lauboure dois ane thing,
Thy panefull laubour sall vanes but tarying
Howbeit thy honest werkis do nocht so,
Gyf thow be lust dois ony thing also,
The schamefull deid without disseuering
Remanis ay, quhen pleseir is ago.
As Caruell tycht fast tending throw the see
Leuys na prent amang the wallis hie.
As birdis swift with mony besy plume
Peirsis the aire, and wait nocht quhare thay fle.
Siclik our lyfe without actiuite
Gyffis na frut, howbeit ane schado blume.
Quhay dois thair lyfe in to this erd consume
Without virtew, thair fame and memorie
Sall vanis soner, than the reky fume.
Leuys na prent amang the wallis hie.
As birdis swift with mony besy plume
Peirsis the aire, and wait nocht quhare thay fle.
Siclik our lyfe without actiuite
Gyffis na frut, howbeit ane schado blume.
Quhay dois thair lyfe in to this erd consume
Without virtew, thair fame and memorie
Sall vanis soner, than the reky fume.
As watter purgis, and makis bodyis fair.
As fire be nature ascendis in the aire,
And purifyis with heitis vehement.
As floure dois smell. As frute is nurisare,
As precius balme reuertis thingis sare
And makis thaym of rot impacient.
As spice maist swete, as ros maist redolent,
As stern of day be mouing circulare
Chasis the nycht with bemis resplendent.
As fire be nature ascendis in the aire,
And purifyis with heitis vehement.
As floure dois smell. As frute is nurisare,
As precius balme reuertis thingis sare
And makis thaym of rot impacient.
As spice maist swete, as ros maist redolent,
As stern of day be mouing circulare
Chasis the nycht with bemis resplendent.
Siclik my werk perfitis euery wycht
In feruent luf of maist excellent lycht,
And makis man in to this erd but peir.
And dois the saule fra all corruptioun dycht
With odoure dulce, and makis it more brycht
Than Diane full, or zit Appollo cleir.
Syne rasis it vnto the hiest speir,
Immortaly to schyne in goddis sycht
As chosin spous, and creature most deir.
In feruent luf of maist excellent lycht,
And makis man in to this erd but peir.
And dois the saule fra all corruptioun dycht
With odoure dulce, and makis it more brycht
Than Diane full, or zit Appollo cleir.
Syne rasis it vnto the hiest speir,
Immortaly to schyne in goddis sycht
As chosin spous, and creature most deir.
This othir wenche, that clepit is delite
Inuoluis man be sensuall appetite
In euery kynd of vice, and miserie.
Becaus na wit, nor reason is perfite
Quhare scho is gyde, Bot skaithis infinite
With doloure, schame, and vrgent powerte.
For scho wes get of frothis of the see.
Quhilk signifies, hir pleseir vennomit
Is mydlit ay with scharp aduersite.
Inuoluis man be sensuall appetite
In euery kynd of vice, and miserie.
Becaus na wit, nor reason is perfite
Quhare scho is gyde, Bot skaithis infinite
With doloure, schame, and vrgent powerte.
For scho wes get of frothis of the see.
Quhilk signifies, hir pleseir vennomit
Is mydlit ay with scharp aduersite.
Duke Hanniball (as mony authouris wrait)
Throw Spanze come be mony passage strait
To Italy in furour bellicall.
Brak doun the wallis, and the montanis slait,
And to his army maid ane oppin gait,
And victoryis had on the Romanis all.
At Capua be pleseir sensuall
This duk wes maid so soft, and deligait.
That with his fois he wes sone ouir thrall.
Throw Spanze come be mony passage strait
To Italy in furour bellicall.
Brak doun the wallis, and the montanis slait,
And to his army maid ane oppin gait,
And victoryis had on the Romanis all.
At Capua be pleseir sensuall
This duk wes maid so soft, and deligait.
That with his fois he wes sone ouir thrall.
Of feirs Achill the weirlie dedis sprang
In Troy, and Grece. Quhill he in virtew rang.
How lust hym slew, it is bot reuth to heir.
Siclik the Troianis with thair knychtis strang
The vailzeant Grekis fra thair roumes dang
Uictoriuslie exercit mony zeir.
That nycht, thay went to thair lust and pleseir,
The fatall hors did throw thair wallis fang.
Quhais prignant sidis wer full of men of weir.
In Troy, and Grece. Quhill he in virtew rang.
How lust hym slew, it is bot reuth to heir.
Siclik the Troianis with thair knychtis strang
The vailzeant Grekis fra thair roumes dang
Uictoriuslie exercit mony zeir.
That nycht, thay went to thair lust and pleseir,
The fatall hors did throw thair wallis fang.
Quhais prignant sidis wer full of men of weir.
Sardanapall the prince effeminat
Fra knychtlie dedis wes degenerat,
Twinand the thredis of the purpur lynt
With fingaris soft amang the ladyis sat.
And with his lust couth nocht be saciat
Quhill of his fois come the bitter dynt.
Quhat nobill men and ladyis hes bene tynt
Quhen thay with lustis wer intoxicat,
To schaw at lenth, my toung suld neuir stynt,
Fra knychtlie dedis wes degenerat,
Twinand the thredis of the purpur lynt
With fingaris soft amang the ladyis sat.
And with his lust couth nocht be saciat
Quhill of his fois come the bitter dynt.
Quhat nobill men and ladyis hes bene tynt
Quhen thay with lustis wer intoxicat,
To schaw at lenth, my toung suld neuir stynt,
Thairfore Camil the vailzeant cheualeir
(Quhen he the Gallis had dantit be his weir)
Of heritable landis wald haue na recompence.
For gyf his barnis, and his freindis deir
Wer virtewis, thay couth nocht fail ilk zeir
To haue yneuch be Romane prouidence.
Gif thay wer geuin to vice and insolence.
It wes nocht neidfull for to conques geir
To be occasioun of thair incontinence.
(Quhen he the Gallis had dantit be his weir)
Of heritable landis wald haue na recompence.
For gyf his barnis, and his freindis deir
Wer virtewis, thay couth nocht fail ilk zeir
To haue yneuch be Romane prouidence.
Gif thay wer geuin to vice and insolence.
It wes nocht neidfull for to conques geir
To be occasioun of thair incontinence.
Sum nobill men as (poetis list declare)
Wer deifeit Sum goddis of the aire,
Sum of the heuin, As Eolus, Uulcan,
Saturn, Mercury, Appollo, Iupitare,
Mars, Hercules. And othir men preclare
That glore immortall in thair lyuis wan.
Quhy wer thir peple callit goddis than?
Becaus thay had ane virtew singulare
Excellent hie abone ingyne of man.
Wer deifeit Sum goddis of the aire,
Sum of the heuin, As Eolus, Uulcan,
Saturn, Mercury, Appollo, Iupitare,
Mars, Hercules. And othir men preclare
That glore immortall in thair lyuis wan.
Quhy wer thir peple callit goddis than?
Becaus thay had ane virtew singulare
Excellent hie abone ingyne of man.
And otheris ar in reik sulphurius.
As Ixion, and wery Sisiphus,
Eumenides the furyis rycht odibill,
The proud giandis. And thristy Tantalus
With huglie drink and fude most vennomus,
Quhare flāmis bald and mirknes at sensibill.
Quhy ar thir folk in panis so terribill?
Becaus thay wer bot schrewis vicius
In to thair lyfe, with dedis most horribill.
As Ixion, and wery Sisiphus,
Eumenides the furyis rycht odibill,
The proud giandis. And thristy Tantalus
With huglie drink and fude most vennomus,
Quhare flāmis bald and mirknes at sensibill.
Quhy ar thir folk in panis so terribill?
Becaus thay wer bot schrewis vicius
In to thair lyfe, with dedis most horribill.
And youcht na frute wer eftir consequent
Of mortall lyfe. Bot for this warld present
Ilk man to haue allanerlie respect.
Zit virtew suld fra vice be different.
As quik fra deid. As riche fra indigent.
That ane to glore and honour ay direct.
This othir saule and body to neclect.
That ane of reason most intelligent.
This othir of beistis following the affect.
Of mortall lyfe. Bot for this warld present
Ilk man to haue allanerlie respect.
Zit virtew suld fra vice be different.
As quik fra deid. As riche fra indigent.
That ane to glore and honour ay direct.
This othir saule and body to neclect.
That ane of reason most intelligent.
This othir of beistis following the affect.
For he that nold aganis his lustis striue,
Bot leiffis as beist of knawlege sensitiue,
Eildis richt fast, and deith hym sone ouir halis.
Thairfore the mule is of ane langar liue
Than stonit hors. Also the barant wiue
Apperis zoung, quhen that the brudie falis.
We se also, quhen nature nocht preualis.
The pane and dolour ar sa pungitiue,
No medicine the pacient aualis.
Bot leiffis as beist of knawlege sensitiue,
Eildis richt fast, and deith hym sone ouir halis.
Thairfore the mule is of ane langar liue
Than stonit hors. Also the barant wiue
Apperis zoung, quhen that the brudie falis.
We se also, quhen nature nocht preualis.
The pane and dolour ar sa pungitiue,
No medicine the pacient aualis.
Sen thow hes hard baith our intentis thus,
Theis of ws two the maist delitius.
First to sustene ane scharp aduersite
Danting the rage of zoutheid furius.
An syne posseid triumphe innumerus
With lang empire, and hie felicite.
Or haif ane moment sensualite
Of fuliche zouth in lyfe voluptuous,
And all thy dayis full of miserie.
Theis of ws two the maist delitius.
First to sustene ane scharp aduersite
Danting the rage of zoutheid furius.
An syne posseid triumphe innumerus
With lang empire, and hie felicite.
Or haif ane moment sensualite
Of fuliche zouth in lyfe voluptuous,
And all thy dayis full of miserie.
Be than Phebus his firy cart dyd wry
Fra south to west declinand besaly
To dip his steidis in the occeane.
Quhen he began ouirsile his visage dry
With vapouris thik, and cloudis full of sky.
And notus brym the wynd meridiane
With wyngis donk and pennis full of rane
Awalkenit me, that I mycht nocht aspy
Quhilk of thaym two was to his lady tane.
Fra south to west declinand besaly
To dip his steidis in the occeane.
Quhen he began ouirsile his visage dry
With vapouris thik, and cloudis full of sky.
And notus brym the wynd meridiane
With wyngis donk and pennis full of rane
Awalkenit me, that I mycht nocht aspy
Quhilk of thaym two was to his lady tane.
Bot sone I knew thay war the goddesses
That come in sleip to vailzeant Hercules.
Quhen he was zoung and fre of euery lore,
To lust or honour, pouerte or riches.
Quhen he contempnit lust and ydilnes,
That he in virtew micht his life decore
And werkis did of maist excellent glore.
The more incressit his panefull besines,
His hie triumphe and louyng was the more.
That come in sleip to vailzeant Hercules.
Quhen he was zoung and fre of euery lore,
To lust or honour, pouerte or riches.
Quhen he contempnit lust and ydilnes,
That he in virtew micht his life decore
And werkis did of maist excellent glore.
The more incressit his panefull besines,
His hie triumphe and louyng was the more.
Than throw this morall eruditioun
Quhilk come (as said is) in my visioun.
I tuke purpos or I forthir went
To wryte the story of this regioun,
With dedis of mony illuster campioun.
And youcht the pane apperis vehement.
To make the story to the redaris more patent,
I wyll begyn at the discriptioun
Of Albion in maner subsequent.
Quhilk come (as said is) in my visioun.
I tuke purpos or I forthir went
To wryte the story of this regioun,
With dedis of mony illuster campioun.
And youcht the pane apperis vehement.
To make the story to the redaris more patent,
I wyll begyn at the discriptioun
Of Albion in maner subsequent.
Finis.
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