Poems of Alexander Montgomerie And Other Pieces from Laing MS. No. 447: Supplementary Volume: Edited with Introduction, Appendices, Notes, and Glossary by George Stevenson |
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 | Poems of Alexander Montgomerie |  |
71
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE
(WREITTOUN TEXT)
72
1
About a Bank with balmie bewes,where nightingals their nots renews,
With gallant Goldspinks gay,
The Mavise, Mirle, and Progne proud,
The Lintwhite, Lark, and Laverock loud,
Saluted mirthful May.
When Philomel had sweetly sung,
To Progne she deplored,
How Tereus cut out her tongue,
And falsely her deflorde;
Which storie, so sorie,
To shew ashamd she seemde,
To heare her so neare her,
I doubted if I dream'd.
2
The Cushat crouds, the Corbie cries,The Cuckow couks, the pratling Pyes
To geck her they begin.
The Iargoun of the iangling Iayes,
The craiking Crawes, the keckling Kayes,
They deav'd me with their din.
The painted Pawne, with Argoes eyes,
Can on his Mayock cal;
The Turtle wailes on withered trees,
And Echo answered all,
Repeiting, with greiting,
How faire Narcissus fell,
By lying, and spying,
His shadow in the Well.
73
3
I saw the Hurcheon and the HareIn hidlings hirpling heere and there,
To make their morning mange;
The Con, the Conny, and the Cat,
Whese dainty dounes with dew were wat,
With stiffe mustaches strang;
The Hart, the Hynd, the Dae, the Rae,
The Fulmart, and false Foxe:
The bearded Buck clamb up the brae,
With birsie Baires and Brocks.
Some feeding, some dreading,
The Hunters subtile snares,
With skipping and tripping,
They plaid them all in paires.
4
The aire was sober, soft and sweet,But mistie vapours, wind, and weet,
But quyet, calme and cleare,
To foster Floras fragrant flowres,
Whereon Apollos paramours
Had trinckled many a teare;
The which like silver shakers shynde,
Imbrodering beauties bed,
Wherewith their heavy heads declinde,
In Mayes colours clad:
Some knopping, some dropping
Of balmie liquor sweet,
Excelling in smelling,
Through Phœbus wholsome heat.
74
5
Mee thought an heavenly heartsome thing,Where dew like Diamonds did hing,
Ou'r twinckling all the trees,
To study on the flourishde twists,
Admiring natures alcumists,
Laborious busie Bees,
Whereof some sweetest hony sought
To stay their lives to sterve;
And some the waxie vessels wrought,
Their purchase to preserve:
So heaping for keeping,
It in their hyves they hide;
Precisely, and wisely,
For winter they provide.
6
To pen the pleasures of that Parke,How every blossome, branch, & bark,
Against the Sun did shine,
I passe to Poets to compile
In high heroick stately stile,
Whose Muse surmatches mine.
But, as I looked mine alone,
I saw a river rinne
Out ou'r a steepie rock of stone,
Syne lighted in a linne,
With tumbling, and rumbling,
Amongst the Roches round,
Devalling, and falling,
Into a pit profound.
75
7
Through routing of the river rangThe Roches, sounding like a sang,
Where Descant did abound,
With Treble, Tenor, Counter, Meene;
An echo blew a Basse between,
In Diapason sound,
Set with the C-sol-fa-uth cleife,
With long and large at list,
With Quaver, Crotchet, Semi-briefe,
And not a Minim mist:
Compleetly, and sweetly
She firdound flat and sharp,
Than Muses, which uses
To pin Apollos harpe.
8
Who would have tyr'd to heare that tone?Which birds corroborate ay abone,
With layes of lovesome Larks;
Which climb so high in Christal skyes,
While Cupid wakned with the cryes
Of natures chappel Clarks;
Who, leaving al the heavens above,
Alighted on the eard.
Lo! how that litle Lord of love
Before me there appeard!
So mild-like, and child-like,
With bow three quarters skant;
Syne moylie, and coylie,
Hee looked like a Sant.
76
9
A cleanly crispe hang over his eyes;His Quaver by his naked thyes
Hang in a silver lace:
Of gold betweene his shoulders grew
Two pretty wings wherewith he flew,
On his left arme a brace.
This god soone off his geare he shook
Vpon the grassie ground:
I ran as lightly for to looke
Where ferlies might be found:
Amazed, I gazed
To see his geare so gay;
Perceiving mine having,
He counted mee his prey.
10
His youth and stature made mee stout;Of doublenesse I had no doubt,
But bourded with my Boy.
Quoth I, “how call they thee, my child?”
“Cupido, sir,” quoth he, and smilde;
“Please you mee to imploy?
For I can serve you in your sute,
If you please to impire,
With wings to flee, and shafts to shute,
Or flames to set on fire.
Make choice then of those then,
Or of a thousand things;
But crave them, and have them:”
With that I woo'd his wings.
77
11
“What would thou give, my heart,” quoth he,“To have these wanton wings to flee,
To sport thy sprite a while?
Or what if love should send thee heere
Bow, quaver, shafts, and shooting geare,
Somebody to beguile?”
“This geare,” quoth I, “cannot be bought,
Yet I would have it faine.”
“What if,” quoth he, “it cost thee nought
But rendring all againe?”
His wings then he brings then,
And band them on my back:
“Goe flye now,” quoth he now,
And so my leave I take.
12
I sprang up with Cupido's wings,Whose shots and shooting geare resignes,
To lend me for a day:
As Icarus with borrowed flight,
I mounted higher than I might,
Ou'r perilous a play.
First foorth I drew the double dart
Which sometimes shot his mother,
Wherewith I hurt my wanton heart,
In hope to hurt another.
It hurt me, or burnt mee,
While either end I handle:
Come see now, in mee now,
The Butterflee and candle.
78
13
As she delites into the low,So was I browden of my bow,
As ignorant as she:
And as she flyes while she is fir'de,
So with the dart that I desirde,
Mine hands hath hurt mee to.
As foolish Phaeton by sute,
His father's chaire obtainde,
I longed in loves bow to shoote,
Not marking what it mean'de:
More wilful, than skilful,
To flee I was so fond,
Desiring, impyring,
And so was seene upond.
14
Too late I knew, who hewes too high,The spaile shal fall into his eye:
Too late I went to schooles:
Too late I heard the swallow preach,
Too late Experience doth teach—
The Schoole-master of fooles.
Too late I find the nest I seek,
When all the birds are flowne;
Too late the stable door I steeke,
When as the steede is stowne.
Too late ay, their state ay,
As foolish folk espy;
Behind so, they finde so
Remead, and so doe I.
79
15
If I had ripely beene advisde,I had not rashly enterprisde
To soare with borrowed pens;
Nor yet had sayde the Archer-craft,
To shoot myselfe with such a shaft
As Reason quite miskens.
Fra Wilfulnes gave me my wound,
I had no force to flee;
Then came I groning to the ground:
“Friend, welcome home!” quoth he.
“Where flew you? whom slew yee?
Or who brings home the booting?
I see now,” quoth he now,
“Ye have beene at the shooting!”
16
As scorne comes commonly with skaith,So I behovde to bide them baith:
So staggering was my state,
That under cure I got such check,
Which I might not remove nor neck,
But either staile or mait.
Mine agony was so extreame,
I swelt and swound for feare;
But, ere I wakned off my dreame,
He spoild me of my geare.
With flight then, on hight then,
Sprang Cupid in the skyes,
Forgetting, and setting
At nought my carefull cries.
80
17
So long with sight I followed him,While both my dazeled eyes grew dimme
Through staring of the starnes;
Which flew so thick before mine eyne,
Some red, some yellow, blew, and greene,
Which troubled all mine harnes,
That every thing appeared two
To my barbuilied braine;
But long might I lye looking so
Ere Cupid came againe;
Whose thundring, with wondring,
I heard up through the Aire;
Through clouds so, he thuddes so,
And flew I wist not where.
18
Then when I saw that god was gone,And I in langour left alone,
And sore tormented too,
Sometime I sigh'd while I was sad,
Sometime I musde, and most gone mad,
I doubted what to doe;
Sometime I rav'd halfe in a rage,
As one into despare:
To be opprest with such a page
Lord! if my heart was saire!
Like Dido, Cupido
I widdle and I wary,
Who reft mee, and left mee,
in such a feirie farie.
81
19
Then felt I Courage and DesireInflame mine heart with uncouth fire,
To me before unknowne;
But then no blood in me remaines,
Vnburnt or boyld within my vaines,
By loves bellowes blowne.
To drowne it, ere I was devourde,
With sighs I went about;
But ay the more I shoope to smoor'de,
The bolder it brake out,
Ay preasing, but ceasing,
While it might break the bounds:
Mine hew so, foorth shew so,
The dolour of my wounds.
20
With deadly visage, pale and wan,More like Anatomic than man,
I withered cleane away:
As waxe before the fire, I felt
Mine heart within my bosome melt,
And piece and piece decay,
My veines by brangling like to break—
My punses lap with pith—
So fervency did mee infect,
That I was vext therewith.
Mine heart ay, it start ay,
The firie flames to flee:
Ay howping, through lowping,
To leape at libertie.
82
21
But O! alas! it was abusde,My carefull corps kept it inclusde
In prison of my breast,
With sighs so sopped and ou'rset,
Like to a fish fast in a net,
In deadthraw undeceast;
Which, though in vaine it strives by strength
For to pul out her head,
Which profites nothing at the length,
But hastning to her dead;
With thristing and wristing
The faster still is sho;
There I so, did lye so,
My death advancing to.
22
The more I wrestled with the wind,The faster still my selfe I finde:
No mirth my minde could mease.
More noy than I had never none,
I was so altered and ou'rgone,
Through drouth of my disease:
Yet weakly, as I might, I raise,
My sight grew dimme and dark;
I staggered at the windling strayes,
No token I was stark.
Both sightles, and mightles,
I grew almost at once;
In anguish I languish,
With many grievous groanes.
83
23
With sober pace yet I approachHard to the River and the Roch,
Whereof I spake before;
The river such a murmure made,
As to the sea it softly slade:
The Craige was stay and shore.
Then Pleasure did me so provoke
There partly to repaire,
Betwixt the River and the Rocke,
Where Hope grew with Despare.
A tree then, I see then,
Of Cherries on the Braes;
Below, too, I saw, too,
A bush of bitter Slaes.
24
The Cherries hang aboue mine head,Like trickling Rubies round and red,
So high up in the Heugh;
Whose shadowes in the river shew,
As graithly [glancing], as they grew
On trembling twists and teugh,
Whiles bow'd through burden of their birth,
Declining downe their tops:
Reflexe of Phœbus off the firth
Now coloured all their knoppes,
With dancing, and glancing,
In tirle as Dornick champe,
Which streamed, and leamed,
Through lightnes of that lampe.
84
25
With earnest eye, while I espyThat fruite betwixt me and the skye,
Halfe gate almost to Heaven;
The Craige so cumbersome to climb,
The tree so tall of growth, and trim
As ony arrow even;
I calde to minde how Daphne did
Within the Lawrel shrinke,
When from Apollo she her hid:
A thousand times I thinke
That tree there to mee there,
As hee his Lawrel thought;
Aspyring, but tyring,
To get that fruite I sought.
26
To climb that Craige it was no buite,Let bee to prease to pul the fruite
In top of all the tree:
I know no way whereby to come,
By any craft, to get it clum,
Appearandly to mee:
The Craige was ugly, stay and dreigh,
The tree long, sound and small;
I was affraide to climb so high,
For feare to fetch a fall.
Affrayed, I stayed,
And looked up aloft,
Whiles minting, whiles stinting,
My purpose changed oft.
85
27
Then Dread, with Danger, and Despare,Forbade me minting any mare,
To raxe above my reach.
“What? tush!” quoth Courage, “man, go to,
He is but daft that hath to doe,
And spares for everie speach;
For I have oft heard sooth men say,
And we may see't ourselves,
That Fortune helps the hardie ay,
And pultrons ay repels.
Then care not, an[d] feare not,
Dread, Danger nor Despare:
To fazards, hard hazards
Is death, or they come there.
28
“Who speeds, but such as high aspyres?Who triumphs not, but such as tyres
To win a noble name?
Of shrinking what but shame succeeds?
Then doe as thou would have thy deeds
In register of fame.
I put the case, thou not prevailde,
So thou with honour die,
Thy life, but not thy courage failde,
Shal Poets pen of thee.
Thy name then, from Fame then,
Can never be cut off;
Thy grave ay shal have ay
That honest Epitaph.
86
29
“What canst thou losse, when honour lives?Renowne thy vertue ay revives,
If valiantly thou end.”
Quoth Danger: “huly, friend, take head;
Vntimous spurring spilles the stead:
Take tent what yee pretend.
Thogh Courage counsel thee to climb,
Beware thou kep no skaith:
Have thou no helpe, but Hope and him,
They may beguile thee baith.
Thysell now can tell now
The counsel of these Clarkes;
Wherethrow yet, I trow yet,
Thy breast doth beare the marks.
30
“Burnt bairne with fire the danger dreads;So I believe thy bosome bleeds,
Since last that fire thou felt:
Besides that seindle times thou sees
That ever Courage keeps the keyes
Of knowledge at his belt:
Though he bid fordward with the Gunnes,
Smal powder he provides:
Be not a Novice of that Nunnes
Who saw not both the sides.
Fooles haste ay, almaist ay,
Ou'rsyles the sight of some,
Who luikes not, or huikes not,
What afterward may come.
87
31
“Yet Wisedome wisheth thee to weyThis figure in Philosophy—
A lesson worth to leare—
Which is, in time for to take tent,
And not, when time is past, repent,
And buy repentance deare.
Is there no honour after life
Except thou slay thy sel?
Wherefore hath Atropus that knife?
I trow thou canst not tell,
Who but it, would cut it,
Which Clotho scarce hath spun,
Destroying the ioying,
Before it be begun.
32
“All ou'rs are repute to be vice—Ou'r high, ou'r low, ou'r rash, ou'r nice,
Ou're hote, or yet ou'r cold:
Thou seemes unconstant by thy signes;
Thy thought is on a thousand things;
Thou wats not what thou would.
Let Fame her pitty on thee powre,
When all thy bones are broken:
Yon Slae, suppose thou think it sowre,
Would satisfie to sloken
Thy drouth now, of youth now,
Which dries thee with desire:
Asswage then, thy rage then,
Foule water quencheth fire.
88
33
“What foole art thou to die a thirst,And now may quench it, if thou list,
So easily, but paine?
More honour is to vanquish ane,
Than fight with tensome and be tane,
And either hurt or slay[ne]:
The practick is to bring to passe,
And not to enterprise;
And as good drinking out of glasse
As gold in any wise.
I lever have ever
A fowle in hand, or tway,
Then seeing ten flying
About me all the day.
34
“Looke where thou lights before thou loupe,And slip no certainty for Hope,
Who guides thee but be gesse.”
Quoth Courage, “cowards take no cure
To sit with shame, so they be sure:
I like them all the lesse.
What pleasure purchast is but paine,
Or honour won with ease?
He wil not lye where he is slaine,
Who doubts before he dies.
For feare then, I heare then,
But onely one remead,
Which latt is, and that is,
For to cut off the head.
89
35
“What is the way to heale thine hurt?What way is there to stay thy sturt?
What meanes to make thee merrie?
What is the comfort that thou craves?
Suppose these Sophists thee deceaves,
Thou knowes it is the Cherrie.
Since for it onely thou but thirsts,
The Slae can bee no buite:
In it also thine health consists,
And in none other fruite.
Why quakes thou, and shakes thou,
Or studies at our strife?
Advise thee, it lyes thee,
On no lesse than thy life.
36
“If any patient would be pansde,Why should he loupe when he is lansde,
Or shrinke when he is shorne?
For I have heard Chirurgians say,
Oft-times deferring of a day
Might not be mend the morne.
Take time in time, ere time be tint,
For time will not remaine:
What forceth fire out of the flint,
But as hard match againe?
Delay not, nor fray not,
And thou shall see it sa:
Such gets ay, as sets ay,
Stout stomackes to the brae.
90
37
“Though all beginning be most hard,The end is pleasant afterward;
Then shrinke not for no showre:
When once that thou thy greening get,
Thy paine and travel is forget:
The sweete exceeds the sowre.
Goe to then quickly, feare no thir,
For Hope good hap hath height.”
Quoth Danger, “be not sudden, Sir,
The matter is of weight.
First spy both, then try both,
Advisement doth none ill:
Thou may then, I say then,
Be wilful when thou will.
38
“But yet to minde the proverbe call,‘Who uses perils perish shal’;
Short while their life them lasts.”
“And I have heard,” quoth Hope, “that he
Should never shape to saile the sea,
That for all perils casts.
How many through Despare are dead
That never perils priev'd!
How many also, if thou read,
Of lives have we releiv'd!
Who being even dying,
But Danger, but desparde;
A hunder, I wonder,
But thou hast heard declarde.
91
39
“If we two hold not up thine heart,Which is the chiefe and noblest part,
Thy works would not goe well;
Considering the companions can
Disswade a silly, simple man
To hazard for his heale.
Suppose they have deceived some,
Ere we and they might meete,
They get no credance where we come,
In any man of sprite;
By reason, their treason
By us is plainely spyde;
Revealing their dealing,
Which dow not be denyde.
40
“With sleekie Sophismes seeming sweete,As all their doing were discreet,
They wish thee to be wise;
Postponing time from houre to houre
But, faith, in underneath the flowre,
The lurking serpent lyes;
Suppose thou seest her not a stime,
While that she sting thy foote:
Perceives thou not what precious time
Thy sleuth doth overshoote?
Alas, man, thy case, man,
In lingring I lament:
Goe to now, and doe now,
That Courage be content.
92
41
“What if Melancholy come in,And get a grip ere thou begin?
Then is thy labour lost;
For he will hold thee hard and fast,
Til time and place and fruite be past,
And thou give up the ghost:
Then shal be graven upon that place,
Which on thy tombe is laid,
‘Sometime there liv'd such one’—alas,
But how shal it bee said?
‘Heere lyes now, but prise now,
Into dishonours bed,
A cowart, (as thou art),
Who from his fortune fled.’
42
“Imagine, man, if thou were laidIn grave, and syne might heare this said,
Would thou not sweat for shame?
Yes, faith, I doubt not but thou would;
Therefore, if thou have eyes, behold
How they would smore thy fame!
Goe to, and make no more excuse,
Ere life and honour losse,
And either them or us refuse:
There is no other chose.
Consider, togidder,
That we doe never dwell:
At length ay, but strength ay,
The pultrons we expell.”
93
43
Quoth Danger, “since I understandThat counsall can be no command,
I have no more to say;
Except, if that you thinke it good,
Take counsel yet, ere ye conclude,
Of wiser men then they:
They are but rackles, young and rash,
Suppose they thinke us fleit:
If of our fellowship ye fash,
Goe with them hardly beit.
God speed you, they lead you,
Who have not meekle wit;
Expel us, yeeil tell us,
Heereafter comes not yet.”
44
While Danger and Despare retir'de,Experience came in, and spear'de
What all the matter meande;
With him came Reason, Wit, and Skill.
Then they began to aske at Will,
“Where make you to, my friend?”
“To pluck yon lustie Cherrie, loe!”
Quoth he, “and quyte the slae.”
Quoth they, “is there no more adoe,
Ere yee win up the brae,
But doe it, and to it,
Perforce your fruite to pluck?
Well, brother, some other
Were better to conduct.
94
45
“We grant yee may be good enough,But yet the hazard of yon heugh
Requyres a graver guide.
As wise as yee ar may goe wrang;
Therefore take counsell, ere ye gang,
Of some that stands beside.
But who were yon three yee forbade
Your company right now?”
Quoth Wil, “three preachers to perswade
The poysonde Slae to pull.
They tratled and pratled,
A long halfe hour and mare;
Foul fal them! they call them
Dread, Danger, and Despare.
46
“They are more fashions than of feck:Yon fazards durst not, for their neck,
Climb up the Craige with us.
Fra we determined to die,
Or then to climbe the Cherrie tree,
They bode about the bush.
They are conditionde like the Cat—
They would not weete their feete;
But yet if any fish we gate,
They would be apt to eate:
Though they now, I say now,
To hazard have no heart;
Yet luck we, or pluck wee
The fruite, they would not part.
95
47
“But when we get our voyage wun,They shal not then a Cherrie cun,
Who would not enterprise.”
“Well,” quoth Experience, “ye boast;
But he that reckon'd but his hoast,
Oftimes he counteth twise.
Ye sell the Baires skin on his back,
But bide while ye it get;
When ye have done, its time to crack:
Ye fish before the net.
What haste, sir, ye taste, sir,
The Cherrie, ere yee pow it:
Beware, sir, ye are, sir,
More talkative nor trowit.”
48
“Call Danger back againe,” quoth Skil,“To see what he can say to Wil,
We see him shoad so straite:
We may not trow what each one tels.”
Quoth Courage, “we concluded els,
He serves not for our mate;
For I can tel you al perquiere
His counsel ere he come.”
Quoth Hope, “whereto should he come here?
He cannot hold him dum:
He speaks ay, and seeks ay
Delayes oft times and drifts,
To grieve us, and dieve us,
With Sophistrie and shifts.”
96
49
Quoth Reason, “why was he debarde?The tale is ill cannot be heard;
Yet let us heare him anes.”
Then Danger to declare began,
How Hope and Courage tooke the man,
To leade them all their lanes;
How they would have him up the hill,
But either stoppe or stay;
And who was welcomer than Will?
He would be foremost ay:
He could doe, and should doe,
Who ever would or nought.
Such speeding proceeding
Vnlikely was, I thought.
50
“Therefore I wisht him to beware,And rashly not to run ou'r far,
Without such guides as yee.”
Quoth Courage, “friend, I heare you faile,
Take better tent unto your tale,
Ye said it could not bee:
Besides that ye would not consent
That ever we should clim.”
Quoth Wil, “for my part I repent,
We saw them more than him;
For they are the stayare
Of us, as well as hee:
I thinke now they shrinke now:
Goe forward, let them bee.
97
51
“Goe, goe, we doe nothing but guckes:They say the voyage never luckes,
Where each one hath a vote.”
Quoth Wisedome gravely, “Sir, I grant,
We were no worse your vote to want,
Some sentence now I note:
Suppose you speake it but be gesse,
Some fruite therein I finde;
Ye would be foremost I confesse,
But comes oft-times behind.
It may be that they bee
Deceiv'd that never doubted:
Indeed, sir, that head, sir,
Hath meekle wit about it.”
52
Then wilful Will began to rage,And swore he saw nothing in age,
But anger, yre, and grudge:
“And for myselfe,” quoth he, “I sweare
To quyte all my companions heere,
If they admit you iudge.
Experience is growne so old,
That he begins to rave:
The rest, but Courage are so cold,
No hazarding they have;
For Danger, farre stranger,
Hath made them than they were;
Goe fra them, we pray them,
Who neither dow nor dare.
98
53
“Why may not wee three leade this one?I led an hundreth mine alone,
But counsel of them all.”
“I grant,” quoth Wisedome, “ye have led;
But I would speere, how many sped,
Or furthered but a fall?
But either few or none, I trow,
Experience can tell.
He sayes that man may wite but you,
The first time that hee fell.
He kens then, whose pens then,
Thou borrowed him to flee.
His wounds yet, which stounds yet,
He got them then through thee.”
54
“That,” quoth Experience, “is true:Will flattered him, when first he flew,
Wil set him in a low.
Will was his counsell and convoy;
Will borrowed from the blinded Boy
Both Quaver, wings, and bow;
Wherewith before he say'd to shoote,
He neither yeeld to youth,
Nor yet had need of any fruite,
To quench his deadly drouth;
Which pines him, and dwines him,
To death, I wot not how:
If Will then, did ill then,
Himselfe remembers now.
99
55
“For I, Experience, was there,Like as I use to bee all where,
What time hee wited Will
To be the ground of all his griefe,
As I my selfe can bee a priefe
And witnes thereuntill.
There are no bounds but I have beene,
Nor hidlings from mee hid,
Nor secret things but I have seene,
That he or any did;
Therefore now, no more now,
Let him thinke to concealde;
For why now, even I now
Am debtbound to reveald.”
56
“My custome is for to declareThe truth, and neither eke nor paire
For any man a ioate:
If wilful Will delytes in lyes,
Example in thy selfe thou sees,
How he can turne his coate,
And with his language would allure
Thee yet to breake thy bones:
Thou knowes thyself if he be sure:
Thou usde his counsell ones;
Who would yet behold yet
To wreak thee, were not wee.
Thinke on you on yon now,”
Quoth Wisedome then to mee.
100
57
“Wel,” quoth Experience, “if heeSubmits himselfe to you and mee,
I wote what I should say:
Our good advise he shall not want,
Providing alwayes that hee grant
To put yon Will away,
And banish both him and Despare,
That all good purpose spils;
So he will mell with them no mare,
Let them two flyte their fils:
Such cossing, but lossing,
All honest men may use.”
“That change now were strange now,”
Quoth Reason, “to refuse.”
58
Quoth Will, “fy on him, when he flew,That powde not Cherries then anew
For to have staide his hurt.”
Quoth Reason, “though he beare the blame,
He never saw nor needed them,
While he himselfe had hurt.
First when he mistred not, he might,
He needs, and may not now:
Thy folly, when he had his flight,
Empashed him to pow.
Both hee now, and we now,
Perceives thy purpose plaine,
To turne him, and burne him,
And blow on him againe.”
101
59
Quoth Skil, “what would wee longer strive?Far better late than never thrive;
Come let us helpe him yet:
Tint time we may not get againe,
We waste but present time in vaine:”
“Beware with that,” quoth Wit:
“Speak on, Experience, let see;
We think you hold you dumb.”
“Of bygones I have heard,” quoth he;
“I know not things to come.”
Quoth Reason, “the season,
With slouthing slydes, away;
First take him, and make him
A man, if that you may.”
60
Quoth Will, “if he be not a man,I pray you, sirs, what is he than?
He lookes like one at least.”
Quoth Reason, “if he follow thee,
And minde not to remaine with mee,
Nought but a bruital beast.
A man in shape doth nought consist,
For all your tanting tales;
Therefore, sir Will, I would yee wist
Your Metaphysick failes.
Goe leare yet, a yeare yet,
Your Logick at the schooles,
Some day then, yee may then
Passe Master with the Mules.”
102
61
Quoth Will, “I marvel what you meane;Should I not trow mine own two eyne,
For all your Logick schooles?
If I did not, I were not wise.”
Quoth Reason, “I have told you thrise,
None ferlies more than fooles;
There be more senses than the sight,
Which ye ov'rhaile for haste,
To wit, if ye remember right,
Smel, hearing, touch, and taste.
All quick things have such things,
I meane both man and beast,
By kinde ay, we finde ay,
Few lackes them at the least.
62
“So, by that consequence of thine,Or Syllogisme said like a swine,
A Kow may learne thee laire.
Thou uses onely but the eyes:
She touches, tastes, smels, heares, and sees;
Which matches thee, and maire.
But since no triumph yee intend,
As presently appeares,
Sir, for your Clergie to be kend,
Take yee two asses eares.
No Miter perfyter
Got Midas for his meed;
That hood, sir, is good, sir,
To hap your braine-sick-head.
103
63
“Ye have no feele for to defyne,Though yee have cunning to decline
A man to bee a moole:
With little work yet, yee may vowde
To grow a gallant horse and good,
To ride thereon at Yoole.
But to our ground where wee began,
For all your gustlesse iests,
I must be master of the man,
But thou to bruital beasts;
So wee two must bee two,
To cause both kinds be knowne;
Keep mine then from thine then,
And each one use their owne.”
64
Then Will, as angry as an ape,Ran ramping, swearing, rude and rape,
Saw he none other shift;
He would not want an inch his wil,
Even whether't did him good or ill,
For thirty of his thrift:
He would be formest in the field,
And master, if he might;
Yea, hee should rather die than yeeld,
Though Reason had the right.
“Shal he now, make mee now
His subiect or his slave?
No, rather my father
Shal quick goe to the grave.
104
65
“I height him, while mine heart is haile,To perish first, ere he prevaile,
Come after what so may.”
Quoth Reason, “doubt yee not, indeed,
Yet hitte the naile vpon the head:
It shall bee as yee say.
Suppose yee spur for to aspire,
Your bridle wants a bit;
That marke may leave you in the myre,
As sicker as yee sit.
Your sentence repentance
Shall leave you, I believe,
And anger you langer,
When yee that practick prieve.
66
“As yee have dyted your decreet,Your prophecy to bee compleat,
Perhaps, and to your paines;
It hath beene said, and may be so,
‘A wilful man wants never woe’
Though he get little gaines.
But since ye thinkt an easie thing
To mount above the Moone,
Of your owne fiddle take a spring,
And dance when yee have done.
If than, sir, the man, sir,
Like of your mirth, hee may;
And speare first, and heare first,
What he himselfe will say.”
105
67
Then altogether they beganAnd said, “Come on, thou martyrde man,
What is thy will, advise.”
Abasde, a bony while I stood,
And musde, ere I mine answere made;
I turnd me once or twise,
Beholding everyone about,
Whose motions mov'd me maist.
Some seem'd assured, some dread for doubt,
Will ran red-wood for haist,
With wringing and flinging,
For madnes like to mang;
Despare too, for care too,
Would needs himselfe goe hang;
68
Which when Experience perceiv'd,Quoth he, “remember if I rav'de,
As Will allegde of late,
When as he swore, nothing he saw
In age, but anger, slack and slaw,
And cankred in conceite:
Ye could not lucke, as he alledgde,
Who all opinions spearde.
Hee was so frack and firie edg'd,
He thought us foure but feard.
‘Who panses what chanses,’
Quoth hee, ‘no worship wins.
To some best shal come best,
Who hap wel, rack well rins.’
106
69
“Yet,” quoth Experience, “behold,For all the tales that ye have told,
How hee himselfe behaves.
Because Despare could come no speed,
Loe! heere he hings, all but the head,
And in a widdy waves.
If you be sure once, thou may see,
To men that with them mels;
If they had hurt or helped thee,
Consider by themsels.
Then chuse thee, to use thee
By us, or such as yon:
Syne soone now, have done now;
Make either off or on.”
70
“Perceiv'st thou not wherefra proceedsThe frantick fantasie that feeds
Thy furious flamming fire?
Which doth thy bailfull brest combur,
That none, indeed,” quoth they, “can cure,
Nor helpe thine hearts desire.
The piercing passions of the spirit,
Which wastes thy vitall breath,
Doth hold thine heavy heart with heate:
Desire drawes on thy death.
Thy punces pronunces
All kinde of quyet rest;
That fever hath ever
Thy person so opprest.
107
71
“Couldst thou come once acquaint with Skil,Hee knowes what humours doth thee ill,
And how thy cares contracts;
Hee knowes the ground of all thy griefe,
And recipies of thy reliefe:
All medicines hee makes.”
Quoth Skil, “come on, content am I
To put mine helping hand:
Providing alwayes hee apply
To counsel and command.
While wee then,” quoth he then,
“Are minded to remaine,
Give place now, in cace now
Thou get us not againe.
72
“Assure thy selfe, if that we shed,Thou shalt not get thy purpose sped;
Take heede, wee have thee told.
Have done, and drive not off the day:
The man that will not when he may,
He shal not when hee would.
What wilt thou doe? I would we wist:
Accept, or give us ou'r.”
Quoth I, “I think me more than blest
To finde such famous foure
Beside mee, to guide mee,
Now when I have to doe;
Considering what swidering
Ye found me first into.
108
73
“When Courage crav'd a stomack stout,And Danger drave mee into doubt,
With his companion Dread:
Whiles Wil would up above the aire;
Whiles I am drownde in deepe Despare;
Whiles Hope held up mine head.
Such pithie reasons and replies,
On every side they shew,
That I, who was not very wise,
Thought all their tales were true.
So mony and bony,
Old problemes they proponit,
But quickly and likely,
I marvell meekle on it.
74
“Yet Hope and Courage wan the field,Though Dread and Danger never yeeld,
But fled to finde refuge:
Yet, when ye foure came, they were faine,
Because ye gart us come againe:
The[y] griende to get you iudge.
Where they were fugitive before,
Yee made them frank and free
To speak and stand in aw no more.”
Quoth Reason, “so should bee:
Oft-times now, but crymes now,
But even perforce, it fals,
The strong ay with wrong ay
Puts weaker to the wals;
109
75
“Which is a fault, ye must confesse:Strength was not ordained to oppresse
With rigour by the right;
But, by the contrare, to sustaine
The loaden which ov'rburthend beene,
As meckle as they might.”
“So Hope and Courage did,” quoth I,
“Experimented like,
Show skilde and pithy reasons why
That Danger lap the dyke.”
Quoth Dreid, “sir, take heed, sir;
Long spoken part must spill;
Insist not, we wist not
We went against our will.
76
“With Courage ye were so content,Ye never sought our smal consent;
Of us ye stood not aw.
Then Logick lessons ye allowit,
And was determined to trow it:
Alleageance past for Law.
For all the proverbs wee perusde,
Yee thought them skantly skild;
Our reasons had beene as well rusde,
Had ye beene as well wil'de
To our side as your side,
So truely I may tearme it;
I see now in thee now
Affection doth affirm't.”
110
77
Experience then smirking smilde:“We are no bairnes to be beguild,”
Quoth he, and shooke his head;
“For Authors who alledges us,
They stil would win about the bus
To foster deadly feede:
For wee are equal for you all;
No persons wee respect;
We have been so, are yet, and shall
Be found so in effect.
If we were as ye were,
We had comde unrequyrde;
But wee now, ye see now,
Doe nothing undesirde.
78
“There is a sentence said by some,‘Let none uncald to counsell come,
That welcome weines to bee’;
Yea, I have heard another yet,
‘Who came uncald, unserv'd shuld sit’;
Perhaps, sir, so may yee.”
“Good-man, grande mercie for your gecke,”
Quoth Hope, and lowly lowts:
“If yee were sent for, we suspect,
Because the Doctours doubts.
Your yeares now appeares now
With wisedome to be vext,
Reioycing in gloysing,
Till you have tint your text.
111
79
“Where yee were sent for, let us seeWho would be welcomer than wee?
Prove that, and we are payde.”
“Wel,” quoth Experience, “beware;
You know not in what case you are;
Your tongue hath you betrayde.
The man may able tine a stot
Who cannot count his kinch;
In your owne bow you are ov'rshot,
By more then halfe an inch.
Who wats, sir, if that, sir,
Is sowre, which seemeth sweet?
I feare now ye heare now
A dangerous decreete.
80
“Sir, by that sentence yee have said,I pledge, ere all the play bee plaid,
That some shall lose a laike.
Since yee but put me for to prove
Such heads as help for my behove,
Your warrand is but waike.
Speare at the man your selfe, and see,
Suppose you strive for state,
If hee regrated not how hee
Had learnd my lesson late,
And granted hee wanted
Both Reason, Wit, and Skill;
Compleaning, and meaning,
Our absence did him ill.
112
81
“Confront him further face for face,If yet hee rewes his rackles race,
Perhaps and ye shall heare;
For ay since Adam and since Eve,
Who first thy leasings did believe,
I sold thy doctrine deare.
What hath beene done, even to this day,
I keep in minde almaist:
Ye promise further than ye pay,
Sir Hope, for all your haste;
Promitting, unwitting,
Your heghts yee never hooked;
I show you, I know you;
Your bygones I have booked.
82
“I would, incace a count were crav'd,Shew thousand, thousands thou deceivde,
Where thou was true to one;
And, by the contrare, I may vant,
Which thou must, though it grieve thee, grant,
I trumped never a man,
But truely told the naked trueth
To men that meld with mee,
For neither rigour nor for rueth,
But onely loath to lie.
To some yet to come yet
Thy succour shall be slight;
Which I then must try then,
And register it right.”
113
83
“Ha, ha!” quoth Hope, and lowdly leugh,“Ye'r but a prentise at the pleugh,
Experience, yee prieve.
Suppose all bygones as yee spacke,
Ye are no Prophet worth a plack,
Nor I bound to believe.
Yee should not say, sir, till yee see;
But, when yee see it, say.”
“Yet,” quoth Experience, “at thee
Make many mints I may,
By signes now, and things now,
Which ay before mee beares,
Expressing, by gessing,
The perill that appeares.”
84
Then Hope replyde, and that with pith,And wisely weigh'd his words therewith
Sententiously and short;
Quoth hee, “I am the Anchor grip
That saves the Sailers and their ship
From perill, to their port.”
Quoth hee, “oft times that Anchor drives,
As wee have found before,
And loses many thousand lives
By shipwrack on the shore.
Your grips oft but slips oft,
When men have most to doe,
Syne leaves them, and reaves them
Of my companion too.
114
85
“Thou leaves them not thy selfe alone,But to their griefe when thou art gone
Gars Courage quite them als.”
Quoth Hope, “I would ye understood,
I grip fast if the ground be good,
And fleets where it is false.
There should no fault with mee be found,
Nor I accusde at all.
Wyte such as should have sound the ground
Before the Anchor fall.
Their leede ay, at neede ay,
Might warne them, if they would;
If they there would stay there,
Or have good anchor-hold.
86
“If yee read right, it was not I,But onely Ignorance, whereby
Their Carvels all were cloven.
I am not for a trumper tane.”
“All,” quoth Experience, “is ane;
I have my processe proven,
To wit, that we were cald, each one,
To come before wee came;
That now obiection ye have none,
Your selfe may say the same.
Ye are now, too farre now,
Come forward, for to flee;
Perceive then, ye have then
The worst end of the tree.”
115
87
When Hope was gald into the quick,Quoth Courage, kicking at the prick,
“Wee let you well to wit;
Make hee you welcomer than wee,
Then bygones, bygones, farewell he,
Except hee seeke us yet.
Hee understands his owne estate,
Let him his chiftanes chuse;
But yet his battel will bee blate,
If hee our force refuse.
Refuse us, or chuse us,
Our counsel is, hee clim;
But stay hee, or stray hee,
We have none help for him.
88
“Except the Cherrie be his chose,Bee ye his friends, wee are his foes;
His doings we despite.
If we perceive him satled sa
To satisfie him with the Slae,
His company we quite.”
Then Dread and Danger grew so glad,
And wont that they had wun;
They thought all seald that they had said,
Sen they had first begun.
They thought then, they mought then
Without a partie plead;
But yet there, with Wit there,
They were dung downe indeed.
116
89
“Sirs, Dread and Danger,” then quoth Wit,“Ye did yourselves to mee submit;
Experience can prove.”
“That,” quoth Experience, “I past:
Their owne confession made them fast;
They may no more remove.
For, if I right remember mee,
This maxime then they made,
To wit: the man with Wit should wey
What Philosophs had said.
Which sentence, repentance
Forbade him deare to buy;
They knew then how true then,
And preasde not to reply.”
90
Though hee dang Dread and Danger down,Yet Courage could not [be] overcome,
Hope heght him such an hyre:
He thought himselfe, so soone he saw
His enemies were laid so law,
It was no time to tyre.
Hee hit the yron while it was hait,
Incace it might grow cold;
For he esteemde his foes defaite,
When once he found them folde.
“Though we now,” quoth hee now,
“Have beene so free and franke,
Vnsought yet, ye mought yet
For kindnesse cund us thanke.
117
91
“Suppose it so as thou hast said,That unrequyrde wee offered aide,
At least it came of love.
Experience, yee start too soone,
Yee dow nothing while all be done;
And then perhaps yee prove
More plaine than pleasant, too, perchance:
Some tell that have you tryit;
As fast as you your selfe advance,
Ye dow not wel deny it.
Abide then your tide then,
And waite upon the wind;
Ye know, sir, ye ow, sir,
To hold you ay behinde.
92
“When yee have done some doughty deeds,Syne ye should see how all succeeds,
To write them as they were.”
“Friend, huly, haste not halfe so fast,
Lest,” quoth Experience, “at last
Ye buy my doctrine deare.
Hope puts that haste into your head,
Which boyles your barmie braine;
Howbeit, Fooles haste comes hulie speede;
Faire heights make fooles be faine.
Such smyling, beguiling,
Bids feare not for no freets;
Yet I now deny now
That al is gold that gleets.
118
93
“Suppose not silver all that shines:Oft times a tentlesse Merchant tines,
For buying geare be gesse;
For all the vantage and the winning
Good buyers gets at the beginning.”
Quoth Courage, “not the lesse,
Whiles as good Merchant tines as wins,
If old mens tales bee true.
Suppose the pack come to [the] pins,
Who can his chance eshew?
Then, good sir, conclude, sir,
Good buyers have done baith;
Advance then, take chance then,
As sundry good ships hath.
94
“Who wist what would bee cheape or deareShould neede to traffique but a yeare,
If things to come were kend.
Suppose all bygone things be plaine,
Your Prophecy is but prophane;
Ye're best behold the end.
Yee would accuse mee of a crime
Almost before wee met;
Torment you not before the time,
Since dolour payes no debt.
What by past, that I past,
Ye wot if it was well:
To come yet, by doome yet,
Confesse ye have no feele.”
119
95
“Yet,” quoth Experience, “what than?Who may be meetest for the man,
Let us his answere have.”
When they submitted them to mee,
To Reason I was faine to flee,
His counsell for to crave.
Quoth he, “since you yourselves submit
To doe as I decreet,
I shal advise with Skil and Wit,
What they thinke may bee meete.”
They cryde then, “we byde then
At Reason for refuge;
Allow him, and trow him,
As governour and iudge.”
96
So said they all, with one consent,“What he concluds, we are content
His bidding to obey.
Hee hath authority to use;
Then take his chose whom he would chuse,
And longer not delay.”
Then Reason rose and was reioysde:
Quoth he, “mine hearts, come hither;
I hope this play may bee composde,
That we may goe together.
To all now I shall now
His proper place assigne;
That they heere shal say heere,
They thinke none other thing.”
120
97
“Come on,” quoth he, “companion, Skill,Ye understand both good and ill,
In Physick yee are fine;
Be medciner unto this man,
And shaw such cunning as yee can,
To put him out of paine.
First gard the ground of all his griefe,
What sicknes ye suspect;
Syne looke what hee lackes for reliefe,
Ere further he infect.
Comfort him, exhort him,
Give him your good advice;
And panse not, nor skanse not,
The perill nor the price.
98
“Though it be cumbersome, what recke?Finde out the cause by the effect
And working of his veines.
Yet while we grip it to the ground,
See first what fashion may bee found
To pacifie his paines.
Doe what ye dow to have him haile,
And for that purpose prease:
Cut off the cause, the effect must faile,
So all his sorrowes cease.
His fever shall never
From thencefoorth have no force;
Then urge him to purge him,
He will not waxe the worse.”
121
99
Quoth Skil: “his senses are so sicke,I know no liquor worth a leeke
To quench his deadly drouth;
Except the Cherrie help his heat,
Whose sappy sloking, sharp and sweet,
Might melt into his mouth,
And his melancholy remove,
To mitigate his minde.
None wholesomer for your behove,
Nor more cooling of kinde;
No Nectar directar
Could all the gods him give,
Nor send him, to mend him,
None like it, I believe.
100
“For drowth decayes as it digests.”“Why, then,” quoth Reason, “nothing rests
But how it may bee had?”
“Most true,” quoth Skil, “that is the scope,
Yet we must have some helpe of Hope.”
Quoth Danger, “I am rad
His hastines breeds us mishap,
When he is highly horst:
I would wee looked ere wee lap.”
Quoth Wit, “that were not worst.
I meane now, conveene now
The counsell one and all;
Begin then, cal on then:”
Quoth Reason, “so I shall.”
122
101
Then Reason rose with gesture grave,Belyve conveening all the lave,
To see what they would say;
With silver scepter in his hand,
As Chiftane chosen to command,
And they bent to obey.
He pansed long before he spake,
And in a study stood;
Syne hee began and silence brake:
“Come on,” quoth he, “conclude
What way now we may now
Yon Cherrie come to catch;
Speak out, sirs, about, sirs;
Have done—let us dispatch.”
102
Quoth Courage, “scourge him first that skars;Much musing memory but marres;
I tell you mine intent.”
Quoth Wit, “who will not partly panse
In perils, perishes perchance,
Ov'r rackles may repent.”
“Then,” quoth Experience, and spake,
“Sir, I have seene them baith,
In bairnlines and lye aback,
Escape and come to skaith.
But what now of that now?
Sturt followes all extreames;
Retaine then the meane then,
The surest way it seemes.
123
103
“Where some hes further'd, some has faild;Where part hes perisht, part prevaild:
Alike all cannot lucke.
Then either venture, with the one,
Or, with the other, let alone
The Cherrie for to plucke.”
Quoth Hope, “for feare folke must not fash.”
Quoth Danger, “let not light.”
Quoth Wit, “bee neither rude nor rash.”
Quoth Reason, “yee have right.”
The rest then, though[t] best then,
When Reason said it so,
That, roundly and soundly,
They should together goe
104
To get the Cherrie in all haste,As for my safety serving maist.
Though Dread and Danger feard
The peril of that irksome way,
Lest that thereby I should decay,
Who then so weake appearde,
Yet Hope and Courage hard beside,
Who with them wont contend,
Did take in hand us for to guide
Vnto our iourneyes end;
Impleadging, and waidging,
Both two their lives for mine,
Providing the guiding
To them were granted syne.
124
105
Then Dread and Danger did appeale,Alledging it could not be well,
Nor yet would they agree;
But said they should sound their retreate,
Because they thought them no wise meete
Conductores unto mee,
Nor to no man in mine estate,
With sicknes sore opprest;
For they tooke ay the nearest gate,
Omitting oft the best.
Their nearest perquearest
Is alwayes to them both,
Where they, sir, may say, sir,
“What recks them of your skaith?”
106
“But as for us two, now we sweareBy him, before whom we appeare,
Our ful intent is now
To have you whole, and alway was,
That purpose for to bring to passe;
So is not theirs, I trow.”
Then Hope and Courage did attest
The gods of both these parts,
If they wrought not all for the best
Of mee, with upright hearts.
Our Chiftane than liftane
His scepter, did enioyne
“No more there uproare there!”
And so their strife was done—
125
107
Rebuiking Dread and Danger sore,Suppose they meant well evermore
To me, as they had sworne;
Because their neighbours they abusde,
In so farre as they had accusde
Them, as ye heard beforne.
“Did ye not else,” quoth he, “consent
The Cherry for to pow?”
Quoth Danger, “we are well content;
But yet, the maner how?
We shal now, even all now,
Get this man with us there;
It rest is, and best is,
Your counsel shall declare.”
108
“Wel said,” quoth Hope and Courage, “nowWe thereto will accord with you,
And shall abide by them;
Like as before we did submit,
So wee repeate the samine yet;
We minde not to reclaime.
Whom they shal chuse to guide the way,
Wee shal him follow straight;
And further this man, what we may,
Because wee have so height;
Promitting, but flitting,
To doe the thing we can
To please both, and ease both,
This silly sickly man.”
126
109
When Reason heard this, “then,” quoth hee,“I see your chiefest stay to bee,
That we have nam'd no guide;
The worthy counsel hath, therefore,
Thought good that Wit should goe before,
For perils to provide.”
Quoth Wit, “there is but one of three
Which I shall to you show,
Whereof the first two cannot bee,
For any thing I know.
The way heere so stay heere
Is, that wee cannot clim
Even ov'r now, we foure now:
That will bee hard for him.
110
“The next, if we goe downe aboutWhile that this bend of Craiges run out,
The streame is there so starke,
And also passeth wading deepe,
And broader farre than we dow leape,
It should be idle work.
It growes ay broader nere the sea,
Sen over the lin it came;
The running dead doth signifie
The deepnes of the same.
I leave now to deave now,
How that it swiftly slides,
As sleeping and creeping;
But nature so provides.
127
111
“Our way then lyes about the Lin,Whereby, a warrand, we shal win,
It is so straight and plaine;
The water also is so shald,
We shal it passe, even as we wald,
With pleasure and but paine;
For as we see the mischief grow
Oft of a feckles thing,
So likewise doth this river flow
Foorth of a pretty spring;
Whose throat, sir, I wot, sir,
You may stop with your neive;
As you, sir, I trow, sir,
Experience, can prieve.”
112
“That,” quoth Experience, “I can;All that yee said sen yee began,
I know to be of truth.”
Quoth Skill, “the samine I approve.”
Quoth Reason, “then let us remove,
And sleepe no more in sleuth.
Wit and Experience,” quoth he,
“Shall come before apace;
The man shall come, with Skill and mee,
Into the second place.
Attour now, you foure now
Shall come into a band;
Proceeding, and leading,
Each other by the hand.”
128
113
As Reason ordeinde, all obeyde;None was ov'r rash, nor none affraide,
Our counsel was so wise:
As of our iourney Wit did note,
We found it true in every iote:
God bles'd our interprise.
For even as wee came to the tree,
Which, as yee heard mee tell,
Could not be clum, there suddenly
The fruite for ripnes fell.
Which hasting and tasting,
I found myselfe relievde
Of cares all and sares all
Which minde and body grievde.
114
Praise be to God, my Lord, therefore,Who did mine health to mee restore,
Being so long time pinde;
Yea, blessed bee his holy Name,
Who did from death to life recleame
Mee, who was so unkinde.
All Nations also magnifie
This everliving Lord;
Let me with you, and you with mee,
To laude him ay accord;
Whose love ay wee prove ay
To us above all things;
And kisse him and blesse him
Whose Glore eternall rings.
129
THE FLYTING BETWEEN MONTGOMERIE AND POLWART
(TULLIBARDINE TEXT)
130
Invectiues. CAPITANE ALLEXANDER MONTGOMEREE & POLLVART & CETERA
TO HIS MAIESTIE.
All reddie as al reddie I have bene,All reddie shall I be quhill lyf may lest;
All reddie evir sorrow to sustene,
On land and sey, at large or fetterit fast;
In trubleous tyme, in boist of fortounes blast,
In heich estate, or ȝit in law degree,
In wea[l]the or woe, in healthe or secknes cast,
As I have bene al reddie shall I bee.
Then if my dewtie may deserve sick fee,
Forget not me quhois hart is whoillie ȝouris,
Quhois lyf and deathe sayis bot, forget not mee,
Submitting all into your princelie poueris.
And since alreddie (Sir) I am your thrall,
Forget not me amangis your servantis all.
Tullibardine.
132
THE FIRST FLYTTING, IN FORME OF REPLY TO ALEXr. MONTGOMEREIS FIRST FLYTTING, BE POLLART.
Dispitfull speidder! puir of spreit!
Begune with baibling me to blame?
gok, wyt not me to gar the greit;
thy tratling, trewcour, I sall tame.
quhair þow beleivit to win a name,
thow sall be blasit of ane beild,
and sall resaue baith skaith and schame,
and syne be forcit to flie the feild.
Begune with baibling me to blame?
gok, wyt not me to gar the greit;
thy tratling, trewcour, I sall tame.
quhair þow beleivit to win a name,
thow sall be blasit of ane beild,
and sall resaue baith skaith and schame,
and syne be forcit to flie the feild.
Thy raggit roundaillis, reifand royt,
sum schort, sum lang, and [out] of lyne,
with skabrous collouris, fowsome floyt,
proceiding from ane pynt of wyne,
quhilk haultis for fault of feit lyk myne—
ȝit, fuuill, þow thocht na schame to wreit þame,
at menis command that laik ingyne,
quhilkis doytit dyvouris gart the dyt þame.
sum schort, sum lang, and [out] of lyne,
with skabrous collouris, fowsome floyt,
proceiding from ane pynt of wyne,
quhilk haultis for fault of feit lyk myne—
ȝit, fuuill, þow thocht na schame to wreit þame,
at menis command that laik ingyne,
quhilkis doytit dyvouris gart the dyt þame.
Bot, gokit guiss, I am rycht glaid
thow art begun in wreit to flyt.
sen, loun, thy language I have laid,
and put þe [to] thy pen to wryt,
Bot, dog, I sall þe so dispyt,
with priking put [þe] to sik speid,
and caus þe, cur, that worklum quyt,
syne seik ane hoill to hyd thy heid.
thow art begun in wreit to flyt.
sen, loun, thy language I have laid,
and put þe [to] thy pen to wryt,
Bot, dog, I sall þe so dispyt,
with priking put [þe] to sik speid,
and caus þe, cur, that worklum quyt,
syne seik ane hoill to hyd thy heid.
134
ȝit, knave, acknawledge thyne offence,
or I grow crabit, for to clair the.
ask merce, mak obedience
In tyme, for feir that [I] forfair the.
Evill sprit, I will no langer spair the.
Blaid, blek þe, to bring in ane gwyse;
And to mak pennance sone prepair the;
Syne pas furth as I sall devyse.
or I grow crabit, for to clair the.
ask merce, mak obedience
In tyme, for feir that [I] forfair the.
Evill sprit, I will no langer spair the.
Blaid, blek þe, to bring in ane gwyse;
And to mak pennance sone prepair the;
Syne pas furth as I sall devyse.
first fair, threid bair, with fundrit feit,
recanting thy vnseamelie sawis,
In pilgramage to allareit;
suin be content to quyt the caus,
and in thy teith bring in the tawis,
with bekis my bidding to abyd,
quhidder thow will let belt thy bawis,
or kiss all cloffis that standis besyde.
recanting thy vnseamelie sawis,
In pilgramage to allareit;
suin be content to quyt the caus,
and in thy teith bring in the tawis,
with bekis my bidding to abyd,
quhidder thow will let belt thy bawis,
or kiss all cloffis that standis besyde.
And of thir tua tak thou thy choiss,
for thy awin profeit I procure the,
or, with ane prik in to thy noiss,
To stand content, I sall coniure the;
Bot at this tyme think I forbuir the,
becaus I can not trait þe fairer.
sit þow this charge, I will assure the
the secund salbe sumthing sairer.
for thy awin profeit I procure the,
or, with ane prik in to thy noiss,
To stand content, I sall coniure the;
Bot at this tyme think I forbuir the,
becaus I can not trait þe fairer.
sit þow this charge, I will assure the
the secund salbe sumthing sairer.
136
ANE FLYTTING OR INVECTIVE BE CAPITANE ALEXANDER MONTGOMERIE AGANIS THE LAIRD OF POLLART.
Fals feckles fowlmart, Loe heir a defyance!
Go, sey thy science: do, droche, quhat þow dow.
Gang trot in ane tow, mandrak but myance:
We will heir tyance, peild pellet, on that pow.
For mony ȝeld ȝow thow cald fra ane know,
And hid þame in ane how, stark theif, quhen þow staw þame,
Mensweirand thow saw thame, and maid bot a mow;
Syne fyld by the row, quhen they come that aw þame.
Go, sey thy science: do, droche, quhat þow dow.
Gang trot in ane tow, mandrak but myance:
We will heir tyance, peild pellet, on that pow.
For mony ȝeld ȝow thow cald fra ane know,
And hid þame in ane how, stark theif, quhen þow staw þame,
Mensweirand thow saw thame, and maid bot a mow;
Syne fyld by the row, quhen they come that aw þame.
Thy dittay wes deid; þow docht not deny it:
Thy trumperie wes tryd; thy falset they fand:
Burrio the band: “cor mundum,” þow cryd,
Condempnit to be dryd, and hung vp fra hand.
Quhill þow payit ane pand, in that stour þow did stand;
With ane willing wand þow wes weill scurgit;
Syne finallie furgit quhy thow left þe land.
Now, Sir, I demand how this poyd may be purgit?
Thy trumperie wes tryd; thy falset they fand:
Burrio the band: “cor mundum,” þow cryd,
Condempnit to be dryd, and hung vp fra hand.
Quhill þow payit ane pand, in that stour þow did stand;
With ane willing wand þow wes weill scurgit;
Syne finallie furgit quhy thow left þe land.
Now, Sir, I demand how this poyd may be purgit?
Schort mischappin schit, that schuip sick ane swnȝie,
Als proud as ȝe prunȝie, ȝour pen salbe plukkit.
Cum kiss quhair I cuckit, and change me þat cwnȝie.
Ȝour gruntill lyk grunȝie is gracles and gukkit;
Ȝour mowthe wald be mwkkit, till ȝe wer instructit.
Ȝour flirdome wanfuckit, ȝe tersell of ane taid,
Ȝour meitter mismaid hes louslie lukkit:
thow cwmelie conductit thy termes on ane slaid.
Als proud as ȝe prunȝie, ȝour pen salbe plukkit.
Cum kiss quhair I cuckit, and change me þat cwnȝie.
Ȝour gruntill lyk grunȝie is gracles and gukkit;
Ȝour mowthe wald be mwkkit, till ȝe wer instructit.
Ȝour flirdome wanfuckit, ȝe tersell of ane taid,
Ȝour meitter mismaid hes louslie lukkit:
thow cwmelie conductit thy termes on ane slaid.
Arpit angrie Ettercoip, and auld vnsell aip,
Thow grenis to gaip vpon the grey meir.
Ga pley with thy peir, I sall pay the lyk a paip;
Thow will rax in ane raip or þe end of the ȝeir.
I promeis the heir to thy chaftis ill cheir,
Till þow gang and leir to lik at þe lowderis;
With pottingeris poulderis except þow ovrsmeir,
that scab that ȝe beir will scall the to þe schoulderis.
Thow grenis to gaip vpon the grey meir.
Ga pley with thy peir, I sall pay the lyk a paip;
Thow will rax in ane raip or þe end of the ȝeir.
138
Till þow gang and leir to lik at þe lowderis;
With pottingeris poulderis except þow ovrsmeir,
that scab that ȝe beir will scall the to þe schoulderis.
Tusche, twyscheillit trumpour, with tratling þow trowis,
Makand vane vowis to mache þe with me:
With þe poynt of ane kie weill brunt on thy browis,
Now god seu kowis quhairfra come ȝe.
I tell þe, bumbie, ane doggis deid þow will die,
Quhen I sall syne sie the hung be þe heillis,
for stuff þat þow steillis; into þe cuntrie
Na man may save the, for þow art past the seillis.
Makand vane vowis to mache þe with me:
With þe poynt of ane kie weill brunt on thy browis,
Now god seu kowis quhairfra come ȝe.
I tell þe, bumbie, ane doggis deid þow will die,
Quhen I sall syne sie the hung be þe heillis,
for stuff þat þow steillis; into þe cuntrie
Na man may save the, for þow art past the seillis.
Proud, poysonit pykthank, perverss and puir,
I dow not induir to be dobbit with ane duik;
I'se fell the lyk ane fluik, flat on þe fluir.
thy scrowis obscuir ar borrow[it] fra sum buik;
fra lyndsay þow tuik, þow art bot chawceris cuik;
Ay lyand lyk ane ruik, if na man wald scar the.
Bot I sall debar the þe kingis kitching nuik;
Thow art fleyit for ane luik, bot I sall ryd nar the.
I dow not induir to be dobbit with ane duik;
I'se fell the lyk ane fluik, flat on þe fluir.
thy scrowis obscuir ar borrow[it] fra sum buik;
fra lyndsay þow tuik, þow art bot chawceris cuik;
Ay lyand lyk ane ruik, if na man wald scar the.
Bot I sall debar the þe kingis kitching nuik;
Thow art fleyit for ane luik, bot I sall ryd nar the.
Stif, stridand stikdirt, I'se gar þe stink,
To teiche þe to think with thy maister to mel.
On sick as thy sell, pert pratling prink,
Culd þow not wair ink, thy tratlingis to tel?
Hy, ȝe huirsone, to hel, amangis þe feyndis fel,
And drink of þat wel that poysonit thy pen,
Quhair devillis in þair den dois ȝammer & ȝell:
Heir I the expell from all christinit men.
To teiche þe to think with thy maister to mel.
On sick as thy sell, pert pratling prink,
Culd þow not wair ink, thy tratlingis to tel?
Hy, ȝe huirsone, to hel, amangis þe feyndis fel,
And drink of þat wel that poysonit thy pen,
Quhair devillis in þair den dois ȝammer & ȝell:
Heir I the expell from all christinit men.
Finis be Apollois poet
Of his first reply to pollart
Of his first reply to pollart
140
THE SECUND INVECTIVE AGANIS ALEXr. MONTGOMERIE, REPLYING TO HIS SECUND FLYTTING THAT BEGINIS IN ÞIR WORDIS
Blaird, baibling bystour-baird, obey:
Learne, scybald knave, to knave thy sell,
Vyld vagabound, or I Invey,
Cuistroun, with cuiffis the [to] compell.
Tryit, tratling trewcour, þe trewth to tell,
Stowp þow nocht at the secund charge,
Mischevous mischant, we sall mell,
In landward langwad[ge] we sall mell.
Learne, scybald knave, to knave thy sell,
Vyld vagabound, or I Invey,
Cuistroun, with cuiffis the [to] compell.
Tryit, tratling trewcour, þe trewth to tell,
Stowp þow nocht at the secund charge,
Mischevous mischant, we sall mell,
In landward langwad[ge] we sall mell.
Quhairfoir, loun, as þow luifis thy lyf,
I bothe command and counsall þe
for till eschew this sturtsome stryf,
and with thy manlie maister grie.
for þis effect I sumound the
Be publict proclamatioune;
Cum and compeir vpon thy knie,
And kiss my fair fundatioun.
I bothe command and counsall þe
for till eschew this sturtsome stryf,
and with thy manlie maister grie.
for þis effect I sumound the
Be publict proclamatioune;
Cum and compeir vpon thy knie,
And kiss my fair fundatioun.
Bot, lord! I lawche to sie the bleitter,
gloir in thy ragmentis, rasche and raill,
with mankit, manschocht, mankit meitter,
Trottand and twmbland top over taill.
As carlingis comptis þair fartis, doyd snaill,
Thy rowstie ratryme, maid but mater,
I culd weill follow, wald I saill,
Or pres to fische within thy watter.
gloir in thy ragmentis, rasche and raill,
with mankit, manschocht, mankit meitter,
Trottand and twmbland top over taill.
As carlingis comptis þair fartis, doyd snaill,
Thy rowstie ratryme, maid but mater,
I culd weill follow, wald I saill,
Or pres to fische within thy watter.
142
Onlie becaus, oule, þow dois vs it,
I will wreit verss off commune kynd—
And, swinȝeour, for thy saik refuis it—
To crab þe, bumlar, by thy mynd.
Pudlar, I pittie the so pynd,
To buckill him that beiris the bell;
Iak stro, Be better anes Ingynit,
Or I will flyt aganis my sell.
I will wreit verss off commune kynd—
And, swinȝeour, for thy saik refuis it—
To crab þe, bumlar, by thy mynd.
Pudlar, I pittie the so pynd,
To buckill him that beiris the bell;
Iak stro, Be better anes Ingynit,
Or I will flyt aganis my sell.
Bot breflie, beist, I ansser the,
In ssermone schort I am content,
And sayis thy similitudis vnslie
Ar nawayis verie pertinent:
Thy coyd comparisonis asklent
Ar monstrous lyk to the that maid thame;
Thy barking borrowit is vnlent,
Ȝit wer they waik let the invaid þame.
In ssermone schort I am content,
And sayis thy similitudis vnslie
Ar nawayis verie pertinent:
Thy coyd comparisonis asklent
Ar monstrous lyk to the that maid thame;
Thy barking borrowit is vnlent,
Ȝit wer they waik let the invaid þame.
Also I may be Chawceris man,
And [ȝet] thy maister not the les;
Bot, wolf, thow waistis in cop and Can,
In gluttonie, thy grace I ges.
ga, drunkin dyvour, þe addres,
or borrow þe Ambassattis brekis,
To heir me now þei prais expres,
Knaif, if þow can, vnwait thy cheikis.
And [ȝet] thy maister not the les;
Bot, wolf, thow waistis in cop and Can,
In gluttonie, thy grace I ges.
ga, drunkin dyvour, þe addres,
or borrow þe Ambassattis brekis,
To heir me now þei prais expres,
Knaif, if þow can, vnwait thy cheikis.
First, of thy iust genologie,
Tyk, I sall tell þe trewth I trow;
Thow wes begottin, sum sayis to me,
betuix þe devill and ane duin kow,
sa quhen the feynd wes a nicht fow,
In banket birland at the beir;
Thow sowkit syne ane broid blak sow,
Amangis þe middingis, mony ȝeir.
Tyk, I sall tell þe trewth I trow;
Thow wes begottin, sum sayis to me,
betuix þe devill and ane duin kow,
sa quhen the feynd wes a nicht fow,
In banket birland at the beir;
Thow sowkit syne ane broid blak sow,
Amangis þe middingis, mony ȝeir.
144
On ruittis and ruinscheochis on þe feild,
with nolt þow nurischit neir a ȝeir,
quhill that þow past both puir and peild,
Into argyle, sum guide to leir;
As, þe last nicht, did weill appeir,
quhill þow stuid fidging at the fyre,
fast fykand with [thy] hieland cheir,
my flytting forcit þe so to flyre.
with nolt þow nurischit neir a ȝeir,
quhill that þow past both puir and peild,
Into argyle, sum guide to leir;
As, þe last nicht, did weill appeir,
quhill þow stuid fidging at the fyre,
fast fykand with [thy] hieland cheir,
my flytting forcit þe so to flyre.
Into þe land quhair þow wes borne,
I reid of nocht bot it is scant,
of cattell, clothing, and of corne,
Or welth and weilfair bothe dois want.
now, taidface, tak þis for ane tant,
I heir ȝowr howsing is richt fair,
quhair howland howlattis ay do hant,
with robene reidbrest but repair.
I reid of nocht bot it is scant,
of cattell, clothing, and of corne,
Or welth and weilfair bothe dois want.
now, taidface, tak þis for ane tant,
I heir ȝowr howsing is richt fair,
quhair howland howlattis ay do hant,
with robene reidbrest but repair.
The cuntre folkis within the land,
I knaw, ar men of meikill rent
And luifing, as I vnderstand;
quhilk in ane Innes wilbe content
To live, and leave þair hous in lent.
In lent moneth, and long in summer;
Quhair tuelf knichtis kichingis hes a vent,
It will to furnes do þame cwmmer.
I knaw, ar men of meikill rent
And luifing, as I vnderstand;
quhilk in ane Innes wilbe content
To live, and leave þair hous in lent.
In lent moneth, and long in summer;
Quhair tuelf knichtis kichingis hes a vent,
It will to furnes do þame cwmmer.
In stoir of lambes and lang taillit wedders,
Þow wattis quhair money cupple gais,
In scheilling, tyit fast in tedderis,
In felloun flokis of anes and twais.
Abreid, athort ȝour bankis and brais,
Ȝe do abound in coill and calk;
and thinkis, lyk fuillis, to fly all fais,
with targettis, twilȝeis, and twm talk.
Þow wattis quhair money cupple gais,
In scheilling, tyit fast in tedderis,
In felloun flokis of anes and twais.
Abreid, athort ȝour bankis and brais,
Ȝe do abound in coill and calk;
and thinkis, lyk fuillis, to fly all fais,
with targettis, twilȝeis, and twm talk.
146
Allas! puir hudpyk, hunger bittin,
Accustomit with scurrulitie,
bydand lyk bystouris all beschittin,
In feildis without felicitie,
Bair, barrane, but fertilite,
for fault of cattell, corne, & gersss;
Ȝour bankettis of sick vilitie,
deir of þe dog brane of þe merss.
Accustomit with scurrulitie,
bydand lyk bystouris all beschittin,
In feildis without felicitie,
Bair, barrane, but fertilite,
for fault of cattell, corne, & gersss;
Ȝour bankettis of sick vilitie,
deir of þe dog brane of þe merss.
woif, witles vanter, war nor wys,
cwstroun, þow wald “cor mundum” [cry].
Over laidnit loune with lang taillit lyse,
Thy doyttit dytmentis sone deny,
Trewcour, or I thy trumperie try,
And mak a legent of thy lyf;
for, flyt I aneis, folk will cry, “fy!”
Then þow wilbe warreit with ilk wyf.
cwstroun, þow wald “cor mundum” [cry].
Over laidnit loune with lang taillit lyse,
Thy doyttit dytmentis sone deny,
Trewcour, or I thy trumperie try,
And mak a legent of thy lyf;
for, flyt I aneis, folk will cry, “fy!”
Then þow wilbe warreit with ilk wyf.
FOLLOWIS ANE INTERLUDGE AGANIS C. ALEXr. MONTGOMERY, BEFOIR POLLARTIS THRID AND LAST INVECTIVE.
Sir SWYNGEOUR, seing I want wairis
And sawis, to slaik the of thy sairis,
This present from þe pottingaris,
I think meit to amend þe.
And sawis, to slaik the of thy sairis,
This present from þe pottingaris,
I think meit to amend þe.
for feir thy fevir feidis on follie,
with fasting stomak, tak oydollie
mixt with ane mowthfull of melanchollie,
from flewme for to defend the;
with fasting stomak, tak oydollie
mixt with ane mowthfull of melanchollie,
from flewme for to defend the;
148
Syne pas ane space, and smell ane flour,
Thy Invart pairtis to purge & scour,
Tak þe thre byttis of ane ill hour,
And rubarb, baich and bitter.
Thy Invart pairtis to purge & scour,
Tak þe thre byttis of ane ill hour,
And rubarb, baich and bitter.
This dewlie done, but onie din,
Syne sup sex soipis, but sumthing thin,
of the deill scad, thy guttis with in,
To haill þe of þe skitter.
Syne sup sex soipis, but sumthing thin,
of the deill scad, thy guttis with in,
To haill þe of þe skitter.
Vnto ane bed syne mak þe boun;
Tak ane sweit serop worth ane croune,
And drink it with þe devill ga doun,
To recreat thy sprit.
Tak ane sweit serop worth ane croune,
And drink it with þe devill ga doun,
To recreat thy sprit.
And, last of all, craig to ane coird,
send for ane powder, and pay ford,
callit þe vengence of þe lord,
for thy muuge mowthe so meit.
send for ane powder, and pay ford,
callit þe vengence of þe lord,
for thy muuge mowthe so meit.
Gif this presserve ȝe nocht from pane,
Pas to the potticaris agane;
Sum recepeis dois ȝit remane
To haill bruik, byle, & blister.
Pas to the potticaris agane;
Sum recepeis dois ȝit remane
To haill bruik, byle, & blister.
As diadregma quhen ȝe dyn,
And diagducolicum wat with wyne,
With powder I drait verie fyne,
And mair ȝit quhen ȝe mister.
And diagducolicum wat with wyne,
With powder I drait verie fyne,
And mair ȝit quhen ȝe mister.
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THE SECUND INVECTIVE.
Vyld venymous vipper, wanthreivinest of thingis,
Half ane elph, half ane aip, of nature denyit,
Thow flyttis and þow freittis, þow fartis and þow flingis;
Bot this bargane, vnbeist, deir sall þow by it.
“The kuif is weill wairit þat twa home bringis,”
This proverb, peild pellet, to þe is applyit:
Sprung speidder of spyt, thow spewis furt[h] springis;
Wanschaippin wowbat, of þe weirdis Invyit,
I can schaw how, quhair, and quhat begate the;
Quhilk wes nather man nor wyf,
Nor humane creature on lyf;
Fals stinkand steirar vp of stryf,
Hurkland howlat, have at the!
Half ane elph, half ane aip, of nature denyit,
Thow flyttis and þow freittis, þow fartis and þow flingis;
Bot this bargane, vnbeist, deir sall þow by it.
“The kuif is weill wairit þat twa home bringis,”
This proverb, peild pellet, to þe is applyit:
Sprung speidder of spyt, thow spewis furt[h] springis;
Wanschaippin wowbat, of þe weirdis Invyit,
I can schaw how, quhair, and quhat begate the;
Quhilk wes nather man nor wyf,
Nor humane creature on lyf;
Fals stinkand steirar vp of stryf,
Hurkland howlat, have at the!
Into the hinderend of harvest, on ane alhallow evin,
quhen our goode nichtbouris ryddis, if I reid richt,
sum buklit on ane bwnwyd, and sum on ane bene,
ay trippand in trowpis fra the twie-licht;
sum saidlit ane scho aip all grathit into grene,
sum hobling on hempstaikis, hovand on hicht.
the king of pharie, with þe court of the elph quene,
with mony alrege incubus, ryddand that nicht.
Thair ane elph, and ane aip, ane vnsell begate,
In ane peitpot, by powmathrone;
That brachart in ane buss wes borne;
They fand ane monstour on the morne,
War facit nor ane cat.
quhen our goode nichtbouris ryddis, if I reid richt,
sum buklit on ane bwnwyd, and sum on ane bene,
ay trippand in trowpis fra the twie-licht;
sum saidlit ane scho aip all grathit into grene,
sum hobling on hempstaikis, hovand on hicht.
the king of pharie, with þe court of the elph quene,
with mony alrege incubus, ryddand that nicht.
Thair ane elph, and ane aip, ane vnsell begate,
In ane peitpot, by powmathrone;
That brachart in ane buss wes borne;
They fand ane monstour on the morne,
War facit nor ane cat.
The wird sisteris wandering, as they wer wont than,
Saw revinis ruge at þis rat be ane rone-ruite.
They musit at þis mandrak mismaid lyk ane man;
Ane beist bund with ane bunwyd in ane auld bute.
How this ghaist haid bene gottin, to ges they begane,
Swir sweillit in ane swyneskin and smeirit our with sute;
The bellie that it buir they bitterlie ban.
Of that mismaid mowdywart, mischeif they mwte.
That cankerit camscheocht, vncristnit, they curss;
And baid þat it suld nevir be but
The glengoir, gravell, & þe gut,
And all þe plaigis þat euir wes put
In pandorus poysonit purs.
Saw revinis ruge at þis rat be ane rone-ruite.
They musit at þis mandrak mismaid lyk ane man;
Ane beist bund with ane bunwyd in ane auld bute.
152
Swir sweillit in ane swyneskin and smeirit our with sute;
The bellie that it buir they bitterlie ban.
Of that mismaid mowdywart, mischeif they mwte.
That cankerit camscheocht, vncristnit, they curss;
And baid þat it suld nevir be but
The glengoir, gravell, & þe gut,
And all þe plaigis þat euir wes put
In pandorus poysonit purs.
“The coche, þe connoche, the collik, and þe cauld,
The coirdis, þe colt evill, þe claspis, and the cleikis,
The hunger, þe hart euill, þe hoist, mot þe hauld;
The boche, and þe barbillis, and þe cannogait breikis,
The ringbane, the banescheven, on thy sprung spauld,
The feirsie, þe falling evill, that fellis mony freikis,
Ourgane with angilberreis, as thow growis auld,
The choikis, the charbunkill, with þe wormis in thy cheikis,
The snuf, þe snoir, þe scheippisch, the schanker,
With the bleid[s] and bellithrow,
thy bytting battis, the baneschaw,
the mischeif on thy melt & maw,
The scabbis, and þe canker.
The coirdis, þe colt evill, þe claspis, and the cleikis,
The hunger, þe hart euill, þe hoist, mot þe hauld;
The boche, and þe barbillis, and þe cannogait breikis,
The ringbane, the banescheven, on thy sprung spauld,
The feirsie, þe falling evill, that fellis mony freikis,
Ourgane with angilberreis, as thow growis auld,
The choikis, the charbunkill, with þe wormis in thy cheikis,
The snuf, þe snoir, þe scheippisch, the schanker,
With the bleid[s] and bellithrow,
thy bytting battis, the baneschaw,
the mischeif on thy melt & maw,
The scabbis, and þe canker.
“The frenesie, the fluikis, the fykis, and þe felt,
The feveris, the totteris, with the spenȝie fleis,
The doyt, and the dysmell, indifferentlie delt,
the pelodie, the palsie, þe poikis lyk peis,
the [s]neising, the snytting, with swaming to swelt,
the wandevill, þe wildfyre, þe womeit, þe weis,
þe mair, the migram, þe mureill, þe melt,
the warbillis, þe wood-worme, that doggis of deis,
The phtiseik, þe twithȝaik, þe tittis, and þe tirrillis,
The panefull poplasie, the pest,
The rottin roup, þe auld rest,
with paines and parlasie opprest,
And nippit with þe nirrilis.
The feveris, the totteris, with the spenȝie fleis,
The doyt, and the dysmell, indifferentlie delt,
the pelodie, the palsie, þe poikis lyk peis,
the [s]neising, the snytting, with swaming to swelt,
the wandevill, þe wildfyre, þe womeit, þe weis,
þe mair, the migram, þe mureill, þe melt,
the warbillis, þe wood-worme, that doggis of deis,
The phtiseik, þe twithȝaik, þe tittis, and þe tirrillis,
154
The rottin roup, þe auld rest,
with paines and parlasie opprest,
And nippit with þe nirrilis.
“The bruik, þe byllis, with blisteris and blainis,
baith beld and bleirit, brokin bakit, staneblind,
wirriand on wind flaiffis, and windie wainis,
the hoikis in þi choikis, hakkit heillis ay behind,
Thy swyne poikis, þe poistrume, and, pisching with pane,
Hydropasie, herschaw, and hyves, sall the bind.
The skunnering cattaris and hartskaid remanis,
baith kruikit and crampit, and chitterrit to the chin,
the stayne and þe stu[r]die, the stane and þe sturdie,
Lipper lispane of the lidder ill,
of dubbis & dreggis to drink thy fill;
no wyf will wische the worss with hir will,
for þow art not wurdie.
baith beld and bleirit, brokin bakit, staneblind,
wirriand on wind flaiffis, and windie wainis,
the hoikis in þi choikis, hakkit heillis ay behind,
Thy swyne poikis, þe poistrume, and, pisching with pane,
Hydropasie, herschaw, and hyves, sall the bind.
The skunnering cattaris and hartskaid remanis,
baith kruikit and crampit, and chitterrit to the chin,
the stayne and þe stu[r]die, the stane and þe sturdie,
Lipper lispane of the lidder ill,
of dubbis & dreggis to drink thy fill;
no wyf will wische the worss with hir will,
for þow art not wurdie.
“The messillis, the mwillis, þe mallange mak þe mantane,
The fumyng, þe flewme, þe foothing, the flame,
The gelling, þe gulsocht, þe gall-hauld, þe gauntane,
The stane worme, þe ringworme, not slaiking of swame,
The wirsome, þe wraittis, not wormis be thow wantane,
The pluirasie, þe pluckeuill, ay dwynand in ane dwame,
Hoikis hoillis in thy heillis, with the fyre of St Antane,
The louslie phirasie, the tarrie vncame,
Ay ryvand of ane reif of venymeous water,
The lymphat, lunscheocht lithargie,
The aikand aixis extasie,
Desyrand daylie for to die,
Bot nevir the better.
The fumyng, þe flewme, þe foothing, the flame,
The gelling, þe gulsocht, þe gall-hauld, þe gauntane,
The stane worme, þe ringworme, not slaiking of swame,
The wirsome, þe wraittis, not wormis be thow wantane,
The pluirasie, þe pluckeuill, ay dwynand in ane dwame,
Hoikis hoillis in thy heillis, with the fyre of St Antane,
The louslie phirasie, the tarrie vncame,
Ay ryvand of ane reif of venymeous water,
The lymphat, lunscheocht lithargie,
The aikand aixis extasie,
Desyrand daylie for to die,
Bot nevir the better.
156
“Wo worth,” quod þe weirdis, “the wicht[is] that the wrocht!
Threid bair be thair thrift as thow art vanthrewin!
Als hard be thair hansell þat helpis þe [to] ocht!
The rottin rim of thy womb with ruikis salbe revin;
All boundis, quhair þow byddis, to baill salbe brocht;
Thy gall and thy gwissorne to þe glaidis salbe gevin;
Ay schort be thy sollace; with schame be [þou] socht:
In hell mot þow hawnt, and hyd the from heavin;
And ay as þow growis auld, So eik in [thy] anger,
To live with lymmeris and outlawis,
With hurcheonis, aittand hipis & hawis;
Bot quhen þow cumes quhair þe cok crawis,
Tarie no langer.
Threid bair be thair thrift as thow art vanthrewin!
Als hard be thair hansell þat helpis þe [to] ocht!
The rottin rim of thy womb with ruikis salbe revin;
All boundis, quhair þow byddis, to baill salbe brocht;
Thy gall and thy gwissorne to þe glaidis salbe gevin;
Ay schort be thy sollace; with schame be [þou] socht:
In hell mot þow hawnt, and hyd the from heavin;
And ay as þow growis auld, So eik in [thy] anger,
To live with lymmeris and outlawis,
With hurcheonis, aittand hipis & hawis;
Bot quhen þow cumes quhair þe cok crawis,
Tarie no langer.
“Botht schame and sorrow on hir snowt that sufferis the to sowk;
Or scho þat cairis for thy creidill, cauld be hir cast;
Or bringis onie bedding for thy blae bowk;
Or lowsis af thy ludȝeotis so long as they lest;
Or offerris the ony thing all the lang oulk;
Or first refreschis þe with fuide, albeit þow suld fast;
Or quhen thy duddis ar bedirtin, þat givis thame ane dowk;
A[l]s gromes, quhair thow grainis, at thy gruntill be agast;
Als freamit be thy fortoune, As foule is thy forme.
First, sewin ȝeir, be thow dum and deif;
And eftir that, a commoun theif:
Thow art markit for a meischeif,
Foule vnworthie worme!
Or scho þat cairis for thy creidill, cauld be hir cast;
Or bringis onie bedding for thy blae bowk;
Or lowsis af thy ludȝeotis so long as they lest;
Or offerris the ony thing all the lang oulk;
Or first refreschis þe with fuide, albeit þow suld fast;
Or quhen thy duddis ar bedirtin, þat givis thame ane dowk;
A[l]s gromes, quhair thow grainis, at thy gruntill be agast;
Als freamit be thy fortoune, As foule is thy forme.
First, sewin ȝeir, be thow dum and deif;
And eftir that, a commoun theif:
Thow art markit for a meischeif,
Foule vnworthie worme!
“Vntrowit be thy tounge, ȝit tratling all tymes.
Ay fals be thy fingeris, bot laith to confess.
All cuntreis quhair thow cwmes accuse þe of crymes;
Ay þe langer that thow live thy luk be the less.
Ȝit still be þow reivand, bot rude of thy rymes.
All ill be þow vsand, and ay in excess.
Ilk moone be þow mad, fra past be the pryme[s];
Syne plaigit with povertie, thy pryde to oppres.
With wolfis and wilcattis thy weird be to wander;
Draiglit throw dirtie dubbis and dykis;
Taigilt and towsilt with toun tykis.
Say, lowsie lowne, quhat evir þow lykis;
Thy tounge is no sclander.”
Ay fals be thy fingeris, bot laith to confess.
All cuntreis quhair thow cwmes accuse þe of crymes;
Ay þe langer that thow live thy luk be the less.
158
All ill be þow vsand, and ay in excess.
Ilk moone be þow mad, fra past be the pryme[s];
Syne plaigit with povertie, thy pryde to oppres.
With wolfis and wilcattis thy weird be to wander;
Draiglit throw dirtie dubbis and dykis;
Taigilt and towsilt with toun tykis.
Say, lowsie lowne, quhat evir þow lykis;
Thy tounge is no sclander.”
Fra þe weird sisteris saw the schaip of that schit,
“Littill luk be thy lot,” quod they, “quhair þow lyis.”
“Thy fowmart face,” quod þe first, “to flyt salbe fit.”
“Nikniven,” quod þe nixt, “sall nureische þe thryse;
To ryde post in Elphin none abiller nor it.”
“To dryve doggis furth to dryt,” þe third did devyse:
“All they dayis sall þow be of thy bodie bot a bit.
As suche as þow seames, als scharp be thy syse.”
Then dewlie they deimit, quhat deid it suld die.
The first said, “suirlie of a schot”;
The nixt said, “In a rynnand knot”;
The thrid, “be thrawing of þe throt,
Lyk a tyk on a trie.”
“Littill luk be thy lot,” quod they, “quhair þow lyis.”
“Thy fowmart face,” quod þe first, “to flyt salbe fit.”
“Nikniven,” quod þe nixt, “sall nureische þe thryse;
To ryde post in Elphin none abiller nor it.”
“To dryve doggis furth to dryt,” þe third did devyse:
“All they dayis sall þow be of thy bodie bot a bit.
As suche as þow seames, als scharp be thy syse.”
Then dewlie they deimit, quhat deid it suld die.
The first said, “suirlie of a schot”;
The nixt said, “In a rynnand knot”;
The thrid, “be thrawing of þe throt,
Lyk a tyk on a trie.”
The[n] wilfullie voitit the weirdis in ane voce,
The deid of þat daiblet, and then they withdrew;
To let it ly þair allone, they thocht littill lose,
In ane den be ane dyksyde, or the day dew.
Thair a cleir cumpany cum eftir close,
Nickniven with hir nymphis, in nomber anew,
With chairmes from cathnes and chanrie of Ross,
Quhais cwnning consistis in casting a clew;
Sein þat same thing they said to þameself:
“This maikles monstour is meit for ws,
And for our craft commodious;
Ane vglie aip and incubus,
And gottin of Elf.”
The deid of þat daiblet, and then they withdrew;
To let it ly þair allone, they thocht littill lose,
In ane den be ane dyksyde, or the day dew.
Thair a cleir cumpany cum eftir close,
Nickniven with hir nymphis, in nomber anew,
With chairmes from cathnes and chanrie of Ross,
Quhais cwnning consistis in casting a clew;
Sein þat same thing they said to þameself:
160
And for our craft commodious;
Ane vglie aip and incubus,
And gottin of Elf.”
Thir venerabill virginis quhome ȝe wald call wiches,
In tyme of thair triumph, they tirlt me that taid;
Sum bakward on broidswis, & sum on blak bicheis,
Sum, in steid of ane staig, over ane stark munk straid.
From the heavinis to the hellis, sum hobbillis, sum hichis;
With þair mowthis to þe moone, sick murgeonis they maid.
Sum, be force, & effect, the four windis fichis;
And, nyne tymes, wirdersones, about the thorne raid;
And glowrand to þe ground grivouslie gaipis,
By craft coniurand feyndis by force.
Furth of ane carne, bysyde ane croce,
Thir ladyis licht fra thair horss,
And band þame with raipis.
In tyme of thair triumph, they tirlt me that taid;
Sum bakward on broidswis, & sum on blak bicheis,
Sum, in steid of ane staig, over ane stark munk straid.
From the heavinis to the hellis, sum hobbillis, sum hichis;
With þair mowthis to þe moone, sick murgeonis they maid.
Sum, be force, & effect, the four windis fichis;
And, nyne tymes, wirdersones, about the thorne raid;
And glowrand to þe ground grivouslie gaipis,
By craft coniurand feyndis by force.
Furth of ane carne, bysyde ane croce,
Thir ladyis licht fra thair horss,
And band þame with raipis.
Syne bairfute and bair ledgit, to bapteiss that barne,
To ane well went thy west, by ane wood syde;
They saw the schit all beschyttin and soipit in charne.
On ane thre headit hecate in haist þair they cryit:
“As we have fund in this feild this fundlin forfarne,
First, his faith he forsaikis, in the feynd to confyde,
Be vertew of thir wordis & of this raw ȝarne,
And thryse thre and threttie knottis on ane blew threed;
And of deid menis memberis, weill schewit in ane schoe,
Quhilk we have band from top and tae,
Ewin of ane hundreth men and mae:
Now grant ws, devillis, ere ve gae
Our dewtie to doe.
To ane well went thy west, by ane wood syde;
They saw the schit all beschyttin and soipit in charne.
On ane thre headit hecate in haist þair they cryit:
“As we have fund in this feild this fundlin forfarne,
First, his faith he forsaikis, in the feynd to confyde,
Be vertew of thir wordis & of this raw ȝarne,
And thryse thre and threttie knottis on ane blew threed;
And of deid menis memberis, weill schewit in ane schoe,
Quhilk we have band from top and tae,
Ewin of ane hundreth men and mae:
Now grant ws, devillis, ere ve gae
Our dewtie to doe.
162
“Be þe moving of þe mone, mapamone, & þe kingis ell,
Be phlegitoun, the sevin starnis, and þe Chairlvane,
Be the hicht of þe heavin, and lawnes of hell,
Be all the brether of belliallis buird in ane band,
Be the pollis, þe planeittis, and singis all tuell,
Be þe michtis of þe moone—lat mirknes remane,—
Be the elementis [all] that our craft can compell,
Be the floodis Infernall, and fureis of pane,
Be all the ghaistis of our gang, that dwellis þair doun,
In signe of stikis, that stinking strand,
And pluto, that our court command,
Resave this harlot of our hand,
In name of Mahoun.
Be phlegitoun, the sevin starnis, and þe Chairlvane,
Be the hicht of þe heavin, and lawnes of hell,
Be all the brether of belliallis buird in ane band,
Be the pollis, þe planeittis, and singis all tuell,
Be þe michtis of þe moone—lat mirknes remane,—
Be the elementis [all] that our craft can compell,
Be the floodis Infernall, and fureis of pane,
Be all the ghaistis of our gang, that dwellis þair doun,
In signe of stikis, that stinking strand,
And pluto, that our court command,
Resave this harlot of our hand,
In name of Mahoun.
“That this worme, in our wark, sick wonder can wirk;
And, throw poysoun of þis poyd, our practic prevaillis
To cut of our cwmmer to cum to the kirk,
For the half of our help I hauld heir is haill.
Let nevir þis vndoche of evill doing Irk,
All boundis quhair it bydis may brocht be to baill.
Of bliss let it be als bair as þe birk,
That tittest þat taidrell may tell ane ill taill:
Let no wo in þis warld to þis wrache be wantit.”
Be they haid said, the fyre flauch flew;
Bothe thunder, weit, and windis blew;
Quhair be the cwming cummeris knew
Thair asking wes grantit.
And, throw poysoun of þis poyd, our practic prevaillis
To cut of our cwmmer to cum to the kirk,
For the half of our help I hauld heir is haill.
Let nevir þis vndoche of evill doing Irk,
All boundis quhair it bydis may brocht be to baill.
Of bliss let it be als bair as þe birk,
That tittest þat taidrell may tell ane ill taill:
Let no wo in þis warld to þis wrache be wantit.”
Be they haid said, the fyre flauch flew;
Bothe thunder, weit, and windis blew;
Quhair be the cwming cummeris knew
Thair asking wes grantit.
Quhen þe cummeris that crab with pluto contractit,
They promeist, as parentis, [syne,] for thair awin pairt,
Ane mother of mischeif, an they micht mak it,
Ane Imp of all ill most meit for þair airt.
Nikniven, as nwrische, to teich it, gart tak it,
To saill the see in a sive, bot compas or cairt;
And milk of ane harin tedder, that wyfis suld be wrakit,
And þe kow give ane choppin wes wont give a quart;
That bairnis suld bane baith bloode & banis,
Quhen they haue neither milk nor meill;
Compellit be hunger for to steill,
Then sall they give him to the deill,
Ofter nor anes.
They promeist, as parentis, [syne,] for thair awin pairt,
Ane mother of mischeif, an they micht mak it,
Ane Imp of all ill most meit for þair airt.
164
To saill the see in a sive, bot compas or cairt;
And milk of ane harin tedder, that wyfis suld be wrakit,
And þe kow give ane choppin wes wont give a quart;
That bairnis suld bane baith bloode & banis,
Quhen they haue neither milk nor meill;
Compellit be hunger for to steill,
Then sall they give him to the deill,
Ofter nor anes.
Fra the dames devoitlie haid done þair devoir,
In having that hurchoun, they haistit þame hame,
Of þat mater to mak amangis þame na moir,
saifing, nixt, þat þe Nunes þat nirlend suld name.
thay cowit ther [the] kytrell, the face of it bair,
And nippit it so done neir, that to sie it wes schame;
Syne callit it peild pollart, they peild it so sair.
“Quhair we clip” quod þe cwmmeris, “it cummeris na kame,
For we have [heght] to Mahoun for hansell his hair.”
They maid it lyk a scrapit swyne;
And ay as they pold it, they gart it quhryn,
And schuif, as we may sie syne,
The face of it bair.
In having that hurchoun, they haistit þame hame,
Of þat mater to mak amangis þame na moir,
saifing, nixt, þat þe Nunes þat nirlend suld name.
thay cowit ther [the] kytrell, the face of it bair,
And nippit it so done neir, that to sie it wes schame;
Syne callit it peild pollart, they peild it so sair.
“Quhair we clip” quod þe cwmmeris, “it cummeris na kame,
For we have [heght] to Mahoun for hansell his hair.”
They maid it lyk a scrapit swyne;
And ay as they pold it, they gart it quhryn,
And schuif, as we may sie syne,
The face of it bair.
Be ane eftir midnicht, þair office they endit;
for then it wes na tyme for trumpouris to tairie:
sum bakvard on biches and broodsowis bend[it],
that cruikit crokadeill [they] quyt with þame they carie.
vnto þe cocatrice in ane creill they send it;
quhair, sevin ȝeiris, it sowkit, sweillit, singit and sarie,
The [kin of it] be þe cry, incontinent kend it,
feching fude for to feid it, from the feild of pharie.
Ilk elph of þame all broch ane almond oisteris;
Bot wes no dayntie dische;
Ane foul phlegmatik fowsum fiche:
Insteid of sawthe, on it they piche.
Sic fude [feid] sick foisteris!
for then it wes na tyme for trumpouris to tairie:
sum bakvard on biches and broodsowis bend[it],
that cruikit crokadeill [they] quyt with þame they carie.
vnto þe cocatrice in ane creill they send it;
quhair, sevin ȝeiris, it sowkit, sweillit, singit and sarie,
The [kin of it] be þe cry, incontinent kend it,
feching fude for to feid it, from the feild of pharie.
Ilk elph of þame all broch ane almond oisteris;
166
Ane foul phlegmatik fowsum fiche:
Insteid of sawthe, on it they piche.
Sic fude [feid] sick foisteris!
And first fra þe father, syne sindrie haid fed it,
Mony mwnkis and marmaidynis come with þe moþer.
“Black boiche on þair bouk,” quod thay, “that first breid it!”
Ay offerring þat vndoche fra ane to ane vþer:
quhair that serpent [had] sowkit, sair wes to sched it.
bot belyve it began to bwkill the brother.
In þe bark of ane bowrtrie, quhyllumis they bed it.
Thair taillis with the tounge of it, they lyk and ruther;
Sum fartand, sum flyrand, thair phisnomeis þi flyp;
Sum schevilland þair chaftis, and slavere chek[is];
sum luiking lyce in þe croun of it keikis;
sum in thair oxteris it cleikis,
Lyk a bagpype.
Mony mwnkis and marmaidynis come with þe moþer.
“Black boiche on þair bouk,” quod thay, “that first breid it!”
Ay offerring þat vndoche fra ane to ane vþer:
quhair that serpent [had] sowkit, sair wes to sched it.
bot belyve it began to bwkill the brother.
In þe bark of ane bowrtrie, quhyllumis they bed it.
Thair taillis with the tounge of it, they lyk and ruther;
Sum fartand, sum flyrand, thair phisnomeis þi flyp;
Sum schevilland þair chaftis, and slavere chek[is];
sum luiking lyce in þe croun of it keikis;
sum in thair oxteris it cleikis,
Lyk a bagpype.
With mudgeounes, and murgeounis, and mowing þe bane,
They leit it, they lift it, they loif it, they lak it,
They graip it, they grip it; It greitis, they grane;
They bind it, they baw it, they bed it, they brat it.
It skitterit, it squeillit; they startit ilk ane,
quhill þe ky in the cuntrie startillit and chaisit,
quhilkis rairing ran rid wood, rowtand in a rane.
þe wild deir in thair den þe din hes displasit.
The cry wes [sa] vglie, of aipis, elfis, and owlis,
That geiss and geislingis cryis & craikis;
In dubbis dowkit duikis & draikis;
All folkis, for feir, þe feildis forsaikis;
And the toun tykis ȝowlis.
They leit it, they lift it, they loif it, they lak it,
They graip it, they grip it; It greitis, they grane;
They bind it, they baw it, they bed it, they brat it.
It skitterit, it squeillit; they startit ilk ane,
quhill þe ky in the cuntrie startillit and chaisit,
quhilkis rairing ran rid wood, rowtand in a rane.
þe wild deir in thair den þe din hes displasit.
The cry wes [sa] vglie, of aipis, elfis, and owlis,
That geiss and geislingis cryis & craikis;
In dubbis dowkit duikis & draikis;
All folkis, for feir, þe feildis forsaikis;
And the toun tykis ȝowlis.
168
Sick ane mirthles music thess menstrallis did mak,
That cattell keist capriellis behind with þair heillis;
Bot littill tent to þe toune [þair time] leit þame tak,
Bot rameist ran reid-wood, and raveld þe reill[is].
fra þe cummeris thame knew, they come with a crak,
To coniure the vndoche, with clewis and creill[is];
All þe boundis þairabout grew bleknit & blak:
for the din of that daiblet raisit þe devillis.
To coniure with a clap, fra caves they came far;
And for godbarne gift they gave,
To teich that theif to steill & rave;
Bot ay þe langer þat it live,
The warld be þe war.
That cattell keist capriellis behind with þair heillis;
Bot littill tent to þe toune [þair time] leit þame tak,
Bot rameist ran reid-wood, and raveld þe reill[is].
fra þe cummeris thame knew, they come with a crak,
To coniure the vndoche, with clewis and creill[is];
All þe boundis þairabout grew bleknit & blak:
for the din of that daiblet raisit þe devillis.
To coniure with a clap, fra caves they came far;
And for godbarne gift they gave,
To teich that theif to steill & rave;
Bot ay þe langer þat it live,
The warld be þe war.
Finis quod alexr. Montgomerie contra Pollart.
THE LAST AND THRID FLYTTING AGANIS C. ALEXr. MONTGOMRIE, AS ANE REPLY TO HIS THIRD INVECTIVE, BEGINAND IN THIR WORDIS: IN THE HENDER END.
Infernall, froward, fumus fureis fell!
Curst, crabit, cankert sclawe, comper to quell
Ȝon chairibald, ȝon cative execrabill.
provok my pen profundlie to distell
Sum dour dispyt, to daunt ȝon dewill in hell,
And dryve, with duill, to deid detestabill,
That mad, malitious, monstour miserabill;
Ane tyk tormentit, tratling out of Tun,
That rynis reid-wood, at ilk midis of þe moone.
Curst, crabit, cankert sclawe, comper to quell
Ȝon chairibald, ȝon cative execrabill.
provok my pen profundlie to distell
Sum dour dispyt, to daunt ȝon dewill in hell,
And dryve, with duill, to deid detestabill,
That mad, malitious, monstour miserabill;
Ane tyk tormentit, tratling out of Tun,
That rynis reid-wood, at ilk midis of þe moone.
170
Reveill ȝour rairing [rage] and eger Ire,
Inflamit with fairfull thundring thudis of fyre
To plaig the poisonit pykthank pestalent.
with fleing fyreflauchis burning bricht and schyre,
Devoir ȝon devillish dragone, I desyre;
And waist his wareit venym violent.
Coniure þis beistlie begger impotent:
Suppres all power of king pluttois sprit,
That byddis and barkis in him als blak as Iet.
Inflamit with fairfull thundring thudis of fyre
To plaig the poisonit pykthank pestalent.
with fleing fyreflauchis burning bricht and schyre,
Devoir ȝon devillish dragone, I desyre;
And waist his wareit venym violent.
Coniure þis beistlie begger impotent:
Suppres all power of king pluttois sprit,
That byddis and barkis in him als blak as Iet.
Bot, reikis rewkis and rewinis, ere ȝe ryve him,
desist, delay his death, quhill I discryve him;
Syne ryplie to his rude raving reply.
To doolfull dollour derflie, or ȝe dryve him,
Throw plutois power, all pleassur I depryve him;
The loun man lik his womeit, and deny
His schameles sawis, lyk sathanis slavish smy,
Quhais maneris, with his mismaid memberis heir,
Dois correspond, as planelie dois appeir.
desist, delay his death, quhill I discryve him;
Syne ryplie to his rude raving reply.
To doolfull dollour derflie, or ȝe dryve him,
Throw plutois power, all pleassur I depryve him;
The loun man lik his womeit, and deny
His schameles sawis, lyk sathanis slavish smy,
Quhais maneris, with his mismaid memberis heir,
Dois correspond, as planelie dois appeir.
His peild pallat, and vnpleasant pow,
The fowsome flokis of flaeis dois overflow,
with vamis and wondis; all bleknit full of blainis
Out our þe nek; athort his nittie now
Ilk lowsie lyce lurkand lyk ane lint bow,
His hairie hair, and bruisit, birny branis
weill baillit, þe bluid evanischit from his wanis;
with scoiris and crakis athort his froisnit front,
In runkillis run ruwth in þe stewis brunt.
The fowsome flokis of flaeis dois overflow,
with vamis and wondis; all bleknit full of blainis
Out our þe nek; athort his nittie now
Ilk lowsie lyce lurkand lyk ane lint bow,
His hairie hair, and bruisit, birny branis
weill baillit, þe bluid evanischit from his wanis;
with scoiris and crakis athort his froisnit front,
In runkillis run ruwth in þe stewis brunt.
His luggis baith lang and lasie quha can bot lak,
That to þe trone he can so mony tak?
with blastit bowellis, boldin with bristin baill,
and streichlie hairis blavin widdersins abauk.
for fundrit beistis, for fault of humour wak,
Hes not þair hairis so sned as totheris gude.
The blairit buk and bystour, to conclude,
Hes richt trim teith, sum quhat sett on ane thraw,
Ane toppit turde richt tewchlie for to taw.
That to þe trone he can so mony tak?
with blastit bowellis, boldin with bristin baill,
and streichlie hairis blavin widdersins abauk.
172
Hes not þair hairis so sned as totheris gude.
The blairit buk and bystour, to conclude,
Hes richt trim teith, sum quhat sett on ane thraw,
Ane toppit turde richt tewchlie for to taw.
With laidlie lippis, and lynning-syd turnd out;
His noiss weill lit in bacchus blude about;
his stinkand end corroptit as men knawis;
Contageous cankerss clairis his sneivilling snowt;
his schewin schoulderis schawis þe merkis, but dout,
of tarledderis tewch, tyris and vþer tawis,
and girdis of gaylayis, growand new in gawis.
Swa all his fowsome forme thair[to] effeiris,
quhair with, for filth, I will not fyll ȝour earis.
His noiss weill lit in bacchus blude about;
his stinkand end corroptit as men knawis;
Contageous cankerss clairis his sneivilling snowt;
his schewin schoulderis schawis þe merkis, but dout,
of tarledderis tewch, tyris and vþer tawis,
and girdis of gaylayis, growand new in gawis.
Swa all his fowsome forme thair[to] effeiris,
quhair with, for filth, I will not fyll ȝour earis.
Bot of his conditionis to carp for a quhyll,
and compt ȝow his qualiteis compassit with cair,
appardoun me, poettis, to alter my styil,
And wissel my werss, for fylling þe air.
Returning directlie agane to Argyle,
Quhair last þat I left him baith bairfute & bair,
Quhen richtlie I raknit thy race verie vyld,
Discendit of a dewill, as I did declair—
Bot quhilk of þe godis sall gyde me aricht,
Abhorring sa abhominabill,
Sua doolfull and detaistabill,
sua knavishe, canker[d], execrabill,
And vareit ane wicht?
and compt ȝow his qualiteis compassit with cair,
appardoun me, poettis, to alter my styil,
And wissel my werss, for fylling þe air.
Returning directlie agane to Argyle,
Quhair last þat I left him baith bairfute & bair,
Quhen richtlie I raknit thy race verie vyld,
Discendit of a dewill, as I did declair—
Bot quhilk of þe godis sall gyde me aricht,
Abhorring sa abhominabill,
Sua doolfull and detaistabill,
sua knavishe, canker[d], execrabill,
And vareit ane wicht?
174
In Argyle, with þe gate, he ȝeid amange glennis,
Ay vsing þe office þair of a beist,
Quhill blistles wes banisit for handling þe hennis;
Syne fordward to flanderis fast fleid or he ceist.
from þe poore anis þe pultrie he plukit be þe pennis,
Incressing In corpis; þe hart in his breist,
And Curage, inclynit to knaverie, men kennis,
To pestilent purpoisss planelie he preist.
Bot trewlie, to tell þe trewth vnto ȝow,
In nawayis wes he wyse;
He vsis cairtis and dyce,
And fled na kynd of vyce,
Or few, as I trow.
Ay vsing þe office þair of a beist,
Quhill blistles wes banisit for handling þe hennis;
Syne fordward to flanderis fast fleid or he ceist.
from þe poore anis þe pultrie he plukit be þe pennis,
Incressing In corpis; þe hart in his breist,
And Curage, inclynit to knaverie, men kennis,
To pestilent purpoisss planelie he preist.
Bot trewlie, to tell þe trewth vnto ȝow,
In nawayis wes he wyse;
He vsis cairtis and dyce,
And fled na kynd of vyce,
Or few, as I trow.
He was ane fals schismatik, notor[ious]lie namit;
Baith hurdome, & homeceid, vnsell he vsit;
for schismes, and Symonie, þat smachart wes schameit;
Pryde, Ire, and Invy, that vndoche abvsit.
Of caching, and coweitting, bitterlie blameit;
for baidrie, and bordaling, lukles he lufit;
[Thrist], drynes, and drinking, that devill defamit;
fals, fenȝeit, and flytting with [flaterie] infusit;
Maist sinfull and sensuall—schame to reherss!
Quhais feckles fuilichnes,
And beistlie brukilnes,
Can na man, I ges,
weill put in verss.
Baith hurdome, & homeceid, vnsell he vsit;
for schismes, and Symonie, þat smachart wes schameit;
Pryde, Ire, and Invy, that vndoche abvsit.
Of caching, and coweitting, bitterlie blameit;
for baidrie, and bordaling, lukles he lufit;
[Thrist], drynes, and drinking, that devill defamit;
fals, fenȝeit, and flytting with [flaterie] infusit;
Maist sinfull and sensuall—schame to reherss!
Quhais feckles fuilichnes,
And beistlie brukilnes,
Can na man, I ges,
weill put in verss.
Ane vairloche, ane woirwolf, ane wowbat of hair,
Ane devill, and ane dragoun, ane doyld dromodarie;
Ane counterfute cuistroun that clerkis dois not cair;
Ane claverand cohubie that crakis of þe farie;
Quhois favourles phisnome dois dewlie declair
His vyces and viceousnes. thocht I wald warie,
Arcandam astrologia, a lanterne of lair,
Affirmis his bleiritnes, to wisdome contrair,
betaikning bothe bobbing and beldnes in aig,
Greit fraud, and fals dissait,
Capping with coyd conceat;
witnesss sum verss he wreit,
Half in a rage.
Ane devill, and ane dragoun, ane doyld dromodarie;
Ane counterfute cuistroun that clerkis dois not cair;
Ane claverand cohubie that crakis of þe farie;
Quhois favourles phisnome dois dewlie declair
His vyces and viceousnes. thocht I wald warie,
176
Affirmis his bleiritnes, to wisdome contrair,
betaikning bothe bobbing and beldnes in aig,
Greit fraud, and fals dissait,
Capping with coyd conceat;
witnesss sum verss he wreit,
Half in a rage.
Ane Anagrame, also, concerning that race,
Suirlie sayis, it is a signe of a licherous lowne.
His pailnes mixt pairtlie with broun in the face,
Arcandam ascryvis to baibling ay boun,
And tratling Intemperat, tymeles but place;
Ane cowart, ȝit cholerik, and drunk in ilk toune.
And als his asss earis, an signe in schort space,
That frenatik fuil sall grow mad lyk mahoun,
Bot ȝit sall he live lang, allace, quhilk wer loss;
for sick ane traitling tratour,
And baibling blasphimatour,
wes nevir formit of natour—
Sua gukit ane guise.
Suirlie sayis, it is a signe of a licherous lowne.
His pailnes mixt pairtlie with broun in the face,
Arcandam ascryvis to baibling ay boun,
And tratling Intemperat, tymeles but place;
Ane cowart, ȝit cholerik, and drunk in ilk toune.
And als his asss earis, an signe in schort space,
That frenatik fuil sall grow mad lyk mahoun,
Bot ȝit sall he live lang, allace, quhilk wer loss;
for sick ane traitling tratour,
And baibling blasphimatour,
wes nevir formit of natour—
Sua gukit ane guise.
Quhois honorabill origine, þe note of his name,
Callit etimoligie, beiris richtlie record:
His surname, it flowis fra tua termes of defame—
from mont & gomorath, quhair dewillis, be þe lord,
His kynsmen, wes clenelie cast out, to his schame,
That is of þair clan, quhome chryst hes abhord;
and beiris of þe birth place þe horribill name,
Quhair sodomeit synneris with smwik wer smord.
Now sen all is suth is said sonȝie,
Vnto þe cappit clerk,
A prettie peice of wark,
That bitterlie dois bark,
I mak þis reply.
Callit etimoligie, beiris richtlie record:
His surname, it flowis fra tua termes of defame—
from mont & gomorath, quhair dewillis, be þe lord,
His kynsmen, wes clenelie cast out, to his schame,
That is of þair clan, quhome chryst hes abhord;
and beiris of þe birth place þe horribill name,
Quhair sodomeit synneris with smwik wer smord.
Now sen all is suth is said sonȝie,
Vnto þe cappit clerk,
A prettie peice of wark,
That bitterlie dois bark,
I mak þis reply.
178
ANE VTHER.
Vyle villane, vane, and war nor I have cald þe,
Thy widderit vane is dammischit, deid & dryit.
Beschittin bystour bodie, I forbaid þe
To mache with me, or elis þow sall deir by it.
Thy speich but purpois, sporter, is espyit,
That wreitis of wichis, warlochis, & of wratches;
Bot Invective aganis him þow defyit,
Rob stene, ȝe raif, forȝetting quhom ȝe mache.
Thy widderit vane is dammischit, deid & dryit.
Beschittin bystour bodie, I forbaid þe
To mache with me, or elis þow sall deir by it.
Thy speich but purpois, sporter, is espyit,
That wreitis of wichis, warlochis, & of wratches;
Bot Invective aganis him þow defyit,
Rob stene, ȝe raif, forȝetting quhom ȝe mache.
Leve boigillis, brouneis, gyr carlingis, & ghaistis:
dastard, þow daffis, that with sic dewillrie mellis.
Thy peild perambillis alss prolixtlie lastis;
Thy reasonis sawres of reik and nothing ellis;
Thy sentences of swit richt sweitlie smellis,
Thow [sat] neir the chymlay [nuik] þat maid þame,
Seik be þe ingle, amangis þe oister schellis,
Dreidand my danger, durst not weill debait þame.
dastard, þow daffis, that with sic dewillrie mellis.
Thy peild perambillis alss prolixtlie lastis;
Thy reasonis sawres of reik and nothing ellis;
Thy sentences of swit richt sweitlie smellis,
Thow [sat] neir the chymlay [nuik] þat maid þame,
Seik be þe ingle, amangis þe oister schellis,
Dreidand my danger, durst not weill debait þame.
Thy tratling, tinklar, wald gar ane taid spew,
And cairl cattis veip vinager with bothe þair ene.
Thow said, I borrowit blaidis, quhilk is not trew:
The clene contrarie, smachart, salbe sene.
I neuir haid of that making ȝe mene
ane verss in wreit, in print, or ȝit perquere;
quhilk I can prive, & clenge me wonder clene;
Thocht singill votes no wreiter can forbeir.
And cairl cattis veip vinager with bothe þair ene.
Thow said, I borrowit blaidis, quhilk is not trew:
The clene contrarie, smachart, salbe sene.
I neuir haid of that making ȝe mene
ane verss in wreit, in print, or ȝit perquere;
quhilk I can prive, & clenge me wonder clene;
Thocht singill votes no wreiter can forbeir.
180
To prive my speikin probabill & plane,
Thow man confess þow vsit my Inventioun:
I raknit first thy race; syne þow agane,
In þe same sort, maid of thy maister mentioun.
Thy wit is waik, with me to have dissentioune,
for to my speichis þow nevir maid reply.
at libertie to ly is thy intentioun:
I anssuer ay, quhilk þow dar not deny.
Thow man confess þow vsit my Inventioun:
I raknit first thy race; syne þow agane,
In þe same sort, maid of thy maister mentioun.
Thy wit is waik, with me to have dissentioune,
for to my speichis þow nevir maid reply.
at libertie to ly is thy intentioun:
I anssuer ay, quhilk þow dar not deny.
Thy freindis ar feyndis; of aipis þow fenȝeis myne;
with my assistance, saying quhat þow can.
I compt sik kynred better ȝit nor thyne—
Cheiflie of beastis þat ar most lyk to men.
grant, guiss, þat my Inventioun waris the than,
with out þe quhilk þow micht haue barkit waist:
and laid the ground quhairon thow, beist, begane
to big þe barge quhairon þow braggis maist.
with my assistance, saying quhat þow can.
I compt sik kynred better ȝit nor thyne—
Cheiflie of beastis þat ar most lyk to men.
grant, guiss, þat my Inventioun waris the than,
with out þe quhilk þow micht haue barkit waist:
and laid the ground quhairon thow, beist, begane
to big þe barge quhairon þow braggis maist.
The lak of Iudgment may be als persawit.
Thir tua cheif pointis of reasoun wantis in þe:
Thow attribuittis to aipis, quhair thow hes ravit,
The illis of horss! a monsterous sicht to sie!
na mervell that ill wyn ill wairit be;
for all thir illis thow staw, I am certane,
from simplis dytmentis of ane horss did die,
Or porterfeildis that dwellis into dumbartane.
Thir tua cheif pointis of reasoun wantis in þe:
Thow attribuittis to aipis, quhair thow hes ravit,
The illis of horss! a monsterous sicht to sie!
na mervell that ill wyn ill wairit be;
for all thir illis thow staw, I am certane,
from simplis dytmentis of ane horss did die,
Or porterfeildis that dwellis into dumbartane.
Amangis thess illis of aipis, quhilk thow hes tauld,
Thocht to ane horsse perteining properlie,
Thow puttis þe spaven in þe former spauld,
Quhilk vsis in þe hinder hocht to be.
fra horsmen anes thy cunning heir and sie,
I feir auld Allane haue no moir ado:
Allace! puir man! he may ly doun and die,
Syn thow succeid to weir the siluer scho.
Thocht to ane horsse perteining properlie,
Thow puttis þe spaven in þe former spauld,
Quhilk vsis in þe hinder hocht to be.
fra horsmen anes thy cunning heir and sie,
I feir auld Allane haue no moir ado:
Allace! puir man! he may ly doun and die,
Syn thow succeid to weir the siluer scho.
182
Forder þow fleis vith vther foulis vingis,
Ourcled with cleirar collouris nor thy awin,
But speciallie with sum of simpillis thingis,
Or for ane plukit guiss, thow haid bein knawin;
Or lyk ane cran, In mowt-tyme soone ourthrawin,
That man tak ay nyne steppis befoir scho flie;
So in þe gut þow micht have stand and blawin,
As long as thow lyis gravellit, lyk to die.
Ourcled with cleirar collouris nor thy awin,
But speciallie with sum of simpillis thingis,
Or for ane plukit guiss, thow haid bein knawin;
Or lyk ane cran, In mowt-tyme soone ourthrawin,
That man tak ay nyne steppis befoir scho flie;
So in þe gut þow micht have stand and blawin,
As long as thow lyis gravellit, lyk to die.
I speik not of ȝour viteous divisiounes,
Quhair thow pronuncit, bot ȝit proponit bot pairt;
Incummerit with so mony coyd infusiounes:
quhilk schawis ye rimde but rethorik or airt.
Thy memorie is schort—beschirew thyn hairt!
Speikand of ane thing, twyse or thryss at aneis,
And can not from ane proppit place depairt,
Except I wer to force the with quhin staneis.
Quhair thow pronuncit, bot ȝit proponit bot pairt;
Incummerit with so mony coyd infusiounes:
quhilk schawis ye rimde but rethorik or airt.
Thy memorie is schort—beschirew thyn hairt!
Speikand of ane thing, twyse or thryss at aneis,
And can not from ane proppit place depairt,
Except I wer to force the with quhin staneis.
for crokodeill thow
of ignorence, fy! fuill, thinkis þow no schame?
Thy pikkillit, puir paremeonis, but skill,
pykit from Irisch Italianis, ar to blame;
beggit from poetis brokingis for to blame,
for laik of language I wat weill þow dois it,
making that vertew vice to thy defame,
Quhair evrie minnym aucht to be refuisit.
of ignorence, fy! fuill, thinkis þow no schame?
Thy pikkillit, puir paremeonis, but skill,
pykit from Irisch Italianis, ar to blame;
beggit from poetis brokingis for to blame,
for laik of language I wat weill þow dois it,
making that vertew vice to thy defame,
Quhair evrie minnym aucht to be refuisit.
The thingis I said, gif þow wald now deny,
Weining to wry þe veritie with wylis;
Lik quhair I laid, and pikill of that py:
Thy knaverie knawin, credence from þe expellis;
The feckles folie all þe air defylis;
I find so mony faultis, ilk ane our vther,
first, I man tell the all thy staitlie styllis,
Henc[e] I beteich þe to thy birkin brother.
Weining to wry þe veritie with wylis;
Lik quhair I laid, and pikill of that py:
Thy knaverie knawin, credence from þe expellis;
The feckles folie all þe air defylis;
I find so mony faultis, ilk ane our vther,
first, I man tell the all thy staitlie styllis,
Henc[e] I beteich þe to thy birkin brother.
184
POLLART GUID NICHT.
Fonnd flytter, scheitt schytter, baccoun bytter, befyld!
blunt bleitter, padok speitter, pudding eitter, perverss!
hen pluker, closet muker, hous cukker, vere vyld!
Tanny cheikis, [I] think þow speikis with thy breikis, foul erss!
Woodelyk hudepyk, ay lyk to live in lak!
flour þe pin, scabbit skin! eit it in þat þow spak.
blunt bleitter, padok speitter, pudding eitter, perverss!
hen pluker, closet muker, hous cukker, vere vyld!
Tanny cheikis, [I] think þow speikis with thy breikis, foul erss!
Woodelyk hudepyk, ay lyk to live in lak!
flour þe pin, scabbit skin! eit it in þat þow spak.
Gum gait, gallit and scald, foul fawit, quhy flait þow?
Steill ȝow, fill tow, þow dow not defend þe.
Rum royt, found floyt, doyld doyt, sillie fuuill!
Quhat if I wald out cry, fy! fy! folk wald fell the.
Sweir sow, ay fow, doyld kow, foul fall thy banis!
Richt styld, defyld, wood wyld, ilk mone aneis.
Steill ȝow, fill tow, þow dow not defend þe.
Rum royt, found floyt, doyld doyt, sillie fuuill!
Quhat if I wald out cry, fy! fy! folk wald fell the.
Sweir sow, ay fow, doyld kow, foul fall thy banis!
Richt styld, defyld, wood wyld, ilk mone aneis.
Tairie taid, mismaid, Invaid me if þow dow;
Lik laidill, husche paidill, schyt þe saidill, þowis be drest.
Kreschie sowtter, scho cluitter, mensche mowter, dar þow mow?
Swamp sandie, come fra candie, with grandie opprest,
Led preif, lo theif, mischeif on thy lippis!
blaird baird, thy revaird is prepaird for thy hippis!
Lik laidill, husche paidill, schyt þe saidill, þowis be drest.
Kreschie sowtter, scho cluitter, mensche mowter, dar þow mow?
Swamp sandie, come fra candie, with grandie opprest,
Led preif, lo theif, mischeif on thy lippis!
blaird baird, thy revaird is prepaird for thy hippis!
Bumbill baitie, Ise defait the: now debait the, if þow dar.
Tarmigant, and þow vant, Ise dant þewith dinging.
Taid bak, swith pak, and thow crak, cum not nar.
Sillie snark, lene raik, rak ane aik with þe hinging.
vnhallat, peillit pallat, ryp wallat, quhen þow spotches;
mischanchit, ill pancit, thryse lancit of þe boches!
Tarmigant, and þow vant, Ise dant þewith dinging.
Taid bak, swith pak, and thow crak, cum not nar.
Sillie snark, lene raik, rak ane aik with þe hinging.
vnhallat, peillit pallat, ryp wallat, quhen þow spotches;
mischanchit, ill pancit, thryse lancit of þe boches!
Saitling slaiker, glaid glaiker, rum raiker for releif,
Lounatik, frenatik, schismatik swinȝeour, sob!
Tuirdfacit, ay chaisit, almaist fyld for ane theif!
Meslie kyt, and þow flyt, deill dryt in thy gob.
Cruik mow, widdiesow, soone bow, or I wand the,
Hellis ruik, with thy buik, leif þe nuik, I command þe.
Lounatik, frenatik, schismatik swinȝeour, sob!
Tuirdfacit, ay chaisit, almaist fyld for ane theif!
Meslie kyt, and þow flyt, deill dryt in thy gob.
Cruik mow, widdiesow, soone bow, or I wand the,
Hellis ruik, with thy buik, leif þe nuik, I command þe.
186
Land lowper, licht scoipper, raggit rowpper, lyk a revin,
Halland schaiker, drawcht raiker, bannok baiker beschittin.
Craig in perrell, twm barrell, quyt þe querrell, or be schevin.
[OMITTED]
Hellis spark, skald clark, & þow bark, I sall belt þe.
Scaid scald, our bald, soone fauld, or I melt the.
Halland schaiker, drawcht raiker, bannok baiker beschittin.
Craig in perrell, twm barrell, quyt þe querrell, or be schevin.
[OMITTED]
Hellis spark, skald clark, & þow bark, I sall belt þe.
Scaid scald, our bald, soone fauld, or I melt the.
Laisie luggis, leap Iuggis! twm mwggis on þe midding;
Tanny flank, reidschank, pyk thank, I man pay the.
Spew blek, brek nek, cum and bek at my bidding.
Fals loun, mak þe boun, mahoun man have þe;
Rank ruittour, scurliquitour, and Iuittour, nane fower,
Decrest, opprest, possest with plutois power.
Tanny flank, reidschank, pyk thank, I man pay the.
Spew blek, brek nek, cum and bek at my bidding.
Fals loun, mak þe boun, mahoun man have þe;
Rank ruittour, scurliquitour, and Iuittour, nane fower,
Decrest, opprest, possest with plutois power.
Cappit knaif, proud slaif, ȝe raif vnrokkit;
Quhillis slaiverand, quhillis claverand, and vaiferand with vyne.
greidie gukkit, puir vnplukkit, ill Instructit, ȝeis be knokit.
Gleyit gangrell, auld mangrell, to þe hangrell vith pyne.
Callumniatour, blasphimatour, fals tratour most vntrew,
Thy cheiping and peiping, with weiping þow sall rew.
Quhillis slaiverand, quhillis claverand, and vaiferand with vyne.
greidie gukkit, puir vnplukkit, ill Instructit, ȝeis be knokit.
Gleyit gangrell, auld mangrell, to þe hangrell vith pyne.
Callumniatour, blasphimatour, fals tratour most vntrew,
Thy cheiping and peiping, with weiping þow sall rew.
Mad manter, vane vanter, & hanter of sclavrie,
Keillie lippis, kis my hippis, in grippis þowss behint.
Pudding prikker, bang þe bicker, nane quiker in knaverie.
Baill brewer, poysone spewer, mony trewer hes bene tint.
Swyne keiper, dirt dreiper, throt steiper fra þe drowth!
Lieand lymmer, mony trimmer, I man skymmer in thy mowthe.
Keillie lippis, kis my hippis, in grippis þowss behint.
Pudding prikker, bang þe bicker, nane quiker in knaverie.
Baill brewer, poysone spewer, mony trewer hes bene tint.
Swyne keiper, dirt dreiper, throt steiper fra þe drowth!
Lieand lymmer, mony trimmer, I man skymmer in thy mowthe.
Fleyit fwill, mad mule, die in duil on ane aik.
knave kend, christ send euill end on þat mow!
Pudding wricht, out of sicht thowse be dicht lyk a draik.
Iok blunt, thrawin frunt, kis þe cunt of ane kow.
Purspeiller, hen steiller, cat keiller, now I knaw þe.
Rubiatour, fornicatour by natour, foul fa the!
knave kend, christ send euill end on þat mow!
Pudding wricht, out of sicht thowse be dicht lyk a draik.
Iok blunt, thrawin frunt, kis þe cunt of ane kow.
Purspeiller, hen steiller, cat keiller, now I knaw þe.
Rubiatour, fornicatour by natour, foul fa the!
188
Tyk stikker, spewd viccer, pot likker, I man pay þe.
feird fleir, loud leir, & gleir in þe gallowis!
with a cunt, deid runt, I sall dunt quhill I flie the.
Buttrie bag, fill the knag, þow will wag with the morrowis.
Coyd clatterer, skin batterer, and flatterer of freindis,
Vyld, widderit, mathie midderit, & confedderit with feyndis!
feird fleir, loud leir, & gleir in þe gallowis!
with a cunt, deid runt, I sall dunt quhill I flie the.
Buttrie bag, fill the knag, þow will wag with the morrowis.
Coyd clatterer, skin batterer, and flatterer of freindis,
Vyld, widderit, mathie midderit, & confedderit with feyndis!
Blind brok, kiss dok, boird bloik, banischit townes!
Allace! theifis face, na grace for that grunȝie!
Beld bissat, marmissat, lancepissat to the lownes!
Deid dring, dryd sting, þow will hing but a sunȝie.
Lik butter, throt cutter, fisch gutter, fyl þe fetter!
Cum bleitand, and greitand, and eitand thy letter.
Allace! theifis face, na grace for that grunȝie!
Beld bissat, marmissat, lancepissat to the lownes!
Deid dring, dryd sting, þow will hing but a sunȝie.
Lik butter, throt cutter, fisch gutter, fyl þe fetter!
Cum bleitand, and greitand, and eitand thy letter.
Finis
191
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS
(FROM THE LAING MANUSCRIPT)
192
I. [LUIF STILL IN HOPE WITH PACIENCE.]
Luif still in hope with pacience,
My gentill hairt, for all thy woo.
Quhy ar[t] thow euer so [in] suspence?
Quhy threat ȝe in ȝour body so?
Quhy is all plesure past ȝe fro?
Quhy art thow so dismaid but sence?
Quhy art thow to thy self sic fo?
Luif still in hope with pacience.
My gentill hairt, for all thy woo.
Quhy ar[t] thow euer so [in] suspence?
Quhy threat ȝe in ȝour body so?
Quhy is all plesure past ȝe fro?
Quhy art thow so dismaid but sence?
Quhy art thow to thy self sic fo?
Luif still in hope with pacience.
Althocht I leive in mirthles mone,
Half mingled with melancolie,
Wald god þe day sall come anone,
That þow thy awin desyre sall sie;
Althocht it cum nocht instantlie,
As ȝe wald wiss with diligence,
Ȝit on na wayis ȝe weirie be,
Bot luif in hope with pacience.
Half mingled with melancolie,
Wald god þe day sall come anone,
That þow thy awin desyre sall sie;
Althocht it cum nocht instantlie,
As ȝe wald wiss with diligence,
Ȝit on na wayis ȝe weirie be,
Bot luif in hope with pacience.
In Luifis court quha listis to duell,
At euerye schoure þai may nocht schrink,
Bot oft man suffer stormes fell,
And of þe well of dolour drink;
No thing can gar þame wray nor wrink,
No thing can do to thame offence,
Bot pacientlie that thay will think,
To luif in hope with pacience.
At euerye schoure þai may nocht schrink,
Bot oft man suffer stormes fell,
And of þe well of dolour drink;
No thing can gar þame wray nor wrink,
No thing can do to thame offence,
Bot pacientlie that thay will think,
To luif in hope with pacience.
193
Hope is þe onlie meit remeid,
For þame þat lyis in memorie;
Hope causis captivis demit to deid,
In presoun strang richt blyith to be;
Hope causis men in rageing see,
To sowme thocht þai sie no defence:
Hope causss luifaris, verrilie,
To luif in hope with pacience.
For þame þat lyis in memorie;
Hope causis captivis demit to deid,
In presoun strang richt blyith to be;
Hope causis men in rageing see,
To sowme thocht þai sie no defence:
Hope causss luifaris, verrilie,
To luif in hope with pacience.
Hope causit Jacob fourtene ȝeiris
In bondage bass for to remane;
Hope causit atrides and his feiris
In Troy ten ȝeiris to fecht full fane;
Houpe causit penelopie to refrane
Lang tuentie ȝeiris in obseruance:
Hope causit luifaris to constrane,
And luif in hope with pacience.
In bondage bass for to remane;
Hope causit atrides and his feiris
In Troy ten ȝeiris to fecht full fane;
Houpe causit penelopie to refrane
Lang tuentie ȝeiris in obseruance:
Hope causit luifaris to constrane,
And luif in hope with pacience.
My Ladyis hert is nocht of Stone,
I watt sche will nocht sie me die;
I watt sche is nocht sic ane one
As, god forbid, se crueltie.
Hir gentilnes assuris me
My service sche will recompance,
Assuring hir that quhill I die,
To luif in hope with pacience.
I watt sche will nocht sie me die;
I watt sche is nocht sic ane one
As, god forbid, se crueltie.
Hir gentilnes assuris me
My service sche will recompance,
Assuring hir that quhill I die,
To luif in hope with pacience.
O peirles peirle of pulchritude!
O cheif charbucle of chaistitie!
O deaisie deir! O rubie rude!
The fairest flour of feminie.
O plicht-anker of constancie!
Eccept my seruice but offence,
Assuring ȝow þat quhill I die,
To luif in hope with pacience.
O cheif charbucle of chaistitie!
O deaisie deir! O rubie rude!
The fairest flour of feminie.
O plicht-anker of constancie!
Eccept my seruice but offence,
Assuring ȝow þat quhill I die,
To luif in hope with pacience.
Finis.
194
II. [SUEIT HAIRT, REIOS IN MYND.]
Sueit hairt, reioss in mynd,
With conforte day and nicht,
Ȝe haue ane luif as kynd
As euer luifit weicht;
Thocht I be out of sicht,
Latt nocht ȝour courage fall,
My Joyfull hert and licht,
Ȝe haif and euer sal.
With conforte day and nicht,
Ȝe haue ane luif as kynd
As euer luifit weicht;
Thocht I be out of sicht,
Latt nocht ȝour courage fall,
My Joyfull hert and licht,
Ȝe haif and euer sal.
My bony burde, be blyith,
And ȝe sall find me so
Imprent to ȝow, I kyith,
To latt ȝow nocht be woo;
Quhaireuer I ryde or go,
Ȝe sall nocht sorie be,
My leill luif, hert, and Ioo,
Nane hes my hairt bot ȝe.
And ȝe sall find me so
Imprent to ȝow, I kyith,
To latt ȝow nocht be woo;
Quhaireuer I ryde or go,
Ȝe sall nocht sorie be,
My leill luif, hert, and Ioo,
Nane hes my hairt bot ȝe.
And ȝie, my trew luif sueit,
This do ȝe nocht gang stand,
My blyithnes for to beit,
As I serve at ȝour hand;
To think me nocht constand,
My bony burd, lat be:
My constant hairt sall stand
To ȝow quhill þat I die.
This do ȝe nocht gang stand,
My blyithnes for to beit,
As I serve at ȝour hand;
To think me nocht constand,
My bony burd, lat be:
My constant hairt sall stand
To ȝow quhill þat I die.
195
I bid no mair of ȝow,
But god grant ȝow his bliss:
God be als blyith of ȝow,
As I wald be of þis,
Ȝour lillie lippis to kiss,
Thinkand þat mynd of ȝouris,
My awin trew luif sche is,
That luifis hir paramouris.
But god grant ȝow his bliss:
God be als blyith of ȝow,
As I wald be of þis,
Ȝour lillie lippis to kiss,
Thinkand þat mynd of ȝouris,
My awin trew luif sche is,
That luifis hir paramouris.
Finis quod nescio.
III. [WO WORTH THE FALL OF FORTOUNIS QUHEILL.]
Wo worth the fall of fourtounis quheill,
That was so cheangeabile vnto me!
Than, quhen I thocht me sure and weill,
Thow threw me down rycht suddanlie;
Syne causit all my pleasures be
Turnit in dolour day and nicht,
For absence of hir fair bewitie,
Quha onlie hes my hairtis licht.
That was so cheangeabile vnto me!
Than, quhen I thocht me sure and weill,
Thow threw me down rycht suddanlie;
Syne causit all my pleasures be
Turnit in dolour day and nicht,
For absence of hir fair bewitie,
Quha onlie hes my hairtis licht.
Schir Troyalus was nocht opprest
With sic lamentabill peirsit payne
For Cresceidis luif, quhome he luifit best,
Wald into troy turne nocht agane;
Bot ȝit, sueit hairt, I mak ȝow plane
Of þis oure pairting so suddanlie,
I may nocht langer þis remane,
Sen all my pleasure is gone from me.
With sic lamentabill peirsit payne
For Cresceidis luif, quhome he luifit best,
Wald into troy turne nocht agane;
Bot ȝit, sueit hairt, I mak ȝow plane
Of þis oure pairting so suddanlie,
I may nocht langer þis remane,
Sen all my pleasure is gone from me.
196
I am into dispair, allace!
Agane I will ȝow newer sie,
Remane or hant into þe place
Quhair I may beir ȝow company;
Bot ȝit, sueit hairt, I testifie,
My constant hairt sall nocht remove,
Albeit ȝe haue fra me absent be,
Quha onlie hes my hairtis love.
Agane I will ȝow newer sie,
Remane or hant into þe place
Quhair I may beir ȝow company;
Bot ȝit, sueit hairt, I testifie,
My constant hairt sall nocht remove,
Albeit ȝe haue fra me absent be,
Quha onlie hes my hairtis love.
Finis quod nescio.
IV. [PREPOTENT PALME IMPERIALL.]
Prepotent palme Imperiall,
Of perfyte pulchritude preclair!
O lusume Lamp Etheriall,
Quhais beamis bricht hes no compair!
Ȝour angell face, fragrant and fair,
Hes me bereft of my puir hairt,
Quhais perfytnes I will declair,
Gif ȝe wald tak it in gude pairt.
Of perfyte pulchritude preclair!
O lusume Lamp Etheriall,
Quhais beamis bricht hes no compair!
Ȝour angell face, fragrant and fair,
Hes me bereft of my puir hairt,
Quhais perfytnes I will declair,
Gif ȝe wald tak it in gude pairt.
My witt of knawlege is to faint,
With barrane speich and barbour brane,
My toung vnabile is to paint
That constant lufe þat dois remane
Within my hairt, with greif and payne,
For laik of knawlege to furth schawe;
Sens I can nocht þe same explane,
O wald to god ȝour grace wald knawe!
With barrane speich and barbour brane,
My toung vnabile is to paint
That constant lufe þat dois remane
Within my hairt, with greif and payne,
For laik of knawlege to furth schawe;
Sens I can nocht þe same explane,
O wald to god ȝour grace wald knawe!
197
O happie war the Rethoriciane,
That with sueit wourdis wald lament it!
Alss happie war the gude musiciane,
Wald sett and caus it to be prentit;
And in ȝour graces hand present it,
Sua that ȝe wald reid and pervs it,
To knaw so soir I am tormentit,
So that my grosnes war excusit.
That with sueit wourdis wald lament it!
Alss happie war the gude musiciane,
Wald sett and caus it to be prentit;
And in ȝour graces hand present it,
Sua that ȝe wald reid and pervs it,
To knaw so soir I am tormentit,
So that my grosnes war excusit.
The vehement wodnes of the wind,
Or rageing of þe Roring sey,
Nor cannownis with þair thundering din,
Nor ȝet in battels for to be,
Throw force of armes thocht I suld die,
War nocht so grevous to my hairt,
As to schaw furth my mynde to þe,
Or latt ȝow knaw my painfull pairt.
Or rageing of þe Roring sey,
Nor cannownis with þair thundering din,
Nor ȝet in battels for to be,
Throw force of armes thocht I suld die,
War nocht so grevous to my hairt,
As to schaw furth my mynde to þe,
Or latt ȝow knaw my painfull pairt.
For quhen I haue declairit at large
My mynde to ȝow with diligence,
And hes committit all þe charge
To ȝour wisdome and excellence,
Or ȝit to ȝow suld do offence,
That I so bauldlie durst proceid,
Than suld I tak in patience,
Ilk day to die ane sindrie deid.
My mynde to ȝow with diligence,
And hes committit all þe charge
To ȝour wisdome and excellence,
Or ȝit to ȝow suld do offence,
That I so bauldlie durst proceid,
Than suld I tak in patience,
Ilk day to die ane sindrie deid.
Quhairfore I humele pray ȝour grace,
Latt my complaint cum peirss ȝour eareis,
Gif pitie in ȝour hairt hes place,
As be ȝour pulchritude appeiris;
Than suld I nocht, with fludis of teiris,
Bevaill the day, nor weip þe nicht,
Nor ȝit be faischet with deidis feiris,
Throw absence of ȝour bewte bricht.
Latt my complaint cum peirss ȝour eareis,
Gif pitie in ȝour hairt hes place,
As be ȝour pulchritude appeiris;
Than suld I nocht, with fludis of teiris,
Bevaill the day, nor weip þe nicht,
Nor ȝit be faischet with deidis feiris,
Throw absence of ȝour bewte bricht.
198
Lyke as it is the liȝairtis kynd,
Of mannis face to pray hir fude,
So nature still steris vp my mynd
To wew ȝour peirles pulchritude;
Quhairfore schortlie to conclude,
Lat clemencie in ȝow be schawin,
And nocht of mercie so denude,
As rigorouslie to slay ȝour awin.
Of mannis face to pray hir fude,
So nature still steris vp my mynd
To wew ȝour peirles pulchritude;
Quhairfore schortlie to conclude,
Lat clemencie in ȝow be schawin,
And nocht of mercie so denude,
As rigorouslie to slay ȝour awin.
Quhat vantage hes ane armit knycht,
His ȝeild in presoun for to kill?
Or be quhat equitie or richt,
May he on him his rage fulfill?
Lykewyse, sens I am in ȝour will,
And for ȝour pitie dois imploir,
Lat ȝour sueit confort cum vntill
Ȝour bundman now and euir moir.
His ȝeild in presoun for to kill?
Or be quhat equitie or richt,
May he on him his rage fulfill?
Lykewyse, sens I am in ȝour will,
And for ȝour pitie dois imploir,
Lat ȝour sueit confort cum vntill
Ȝour bundman now and euir moir.
Finis quod ane luiffar.
V. [KING CUPAID, GRACLES GOD OF GLAIKES.]
King cupaid, gracles god of glaikes,
Sen þou takis pastym for to pyne
Thay sarwandis þat sick plessur takis
To leif lyk sempell slaives of thayne,
Thow sell nocht hurtt þis hairtt of myne;
I sell lett all þai flanis fle bay:
Schott on, thow sall bott trawill tyne:
Deirtt In þai nok, I þe defay.
Sen þou takis pastym for to pyne
Thay sarwandis þat sick plessur takis
To leif lyk sempell slaives of thayne,
Thow sell nocht hurtt þis hairtt of myne;
I sell lett all þai flanis fle bay:
Schott on, thow sall bott trawill tyne:
Deirtt In þai nok, I þe defay.
199
I call þe king bott in to s[c]ourne,
Thay moþer, gwklett goddes quene;
For sene þe our þat I was borne,
Thay baneist rebell I hawe bene.
Thay curtt I hawe contemitt clene,
And ever sell do quhill I die:
In spaitt of þe, itt selbe sene,
Fra leuff I sell leif ever fre.
Thay moþer, gwklett goddes quene;
For sene þe our þat I was borne,
Thay baneist rebell I hawe bene.
Thay curtt I hawe contemitt clene,
And ever sell do quhill I die:
In spaitt of þe, itt selbe sene,
Fra leuff I sell leif ever fre.
Blind best, I bid þe bend þai bowe,
Schairp w[e]ill þai schaft, bind on þai braice;
Than, drocht, do att þat þow dow,
For luf I sell nocht say, ‘aless!’
Nocht throw gud gaiding, bott be grace,
I hawe eschewitt þai deidlie dairttis:
My freddome þow dar nocht defaice,
For all þai bowttis of bludie hairttis.
Schairp w[e]ill þai schaft, bind on þai braice;
Than, drocht, do att þat þow dow,
For luf I sell nocht say, ‘aless!’
Nocht throw gud gaiding, bott be grace,
I hawe eschewitt þai deidlie dairttis:
My freddome þow dar nocht defaice,
For all þai bowttis of bludie hairttis.
In nathing ȝeitt I hawe bene wyss,
except I newer folowitt þe;
For all þe wyllis þow can dewayss,
þai sleichtis sell neu[i]r subgek me.
na presens, nor perswationis slie,
sell newer mouf my mynd ane Inch;
nor bewtie sell nocht blind my eie,
For I hawe leirnid to countt my kinch.
except I newer folowitt þe;
For all þe wyllis þow can dewayss,
þai sleichtis sell neu[i]r subgek me.
na presens, nor perswationis slie,
sell newer mouf my mynd ane Inch;
nor bewtie sell nocht blind my eie,
For I hawe leirnid to countt my kinch.
Thay painfull plessuris & annoyis,
Thay hukis þat hundrethe hes orthraune,
Thay schortt delytt in constantt loyis,
Thy creweltie is ever schawin
Bott contra sik as is [thayne] awin;
Sa, Fas tratour, vngraitt & periurd,
By art & prouff, þai craff Is knayne
To me, quha newir þis kyndnes curd.
Thay hukis þat hundrethe hes orthraune,
Thay schortt delytt in constantt loyis,
Thy creweltie is ever schawin
Bott contra sik as is [thayne] awin;
Sa, Fas tratour, vngraitt & periurd,
By art & prouff, þai craff Is knayne
To me, quha newir þis kyndnes curd.
200
Now of þai outtlawes I am ane,
Sell newer ser the for reward,
Be trane or tressone be I tene,
For panis will be for me prepairitt;
I sell nocht houp for to be speritt,
Þat hes þai dedlie wraithe deserwitt;
Bott I sell stand vpoun my gaird,
Ay bodin as I wald be serwitt.
Sell newer ser the for reward,
Be trane or tressone be I tene,
For panis will be for me prepairitt;
I sell nocht houp for to be speritt,
Þat hes þai dedlie wraithe deserwitt;
Bott I sell stand vpoun my gaird,
Ay bodin as I wald be serwitt.
Ȝitt sair, alas, I pittie some,
Thatt hes bene men of knawlege kend,
And ȝitt with the hes bene owircum,
Quhais witt I can na wayis commend;
As for mysellff, I sel defend,
And cairis nocht by þai feid ane ble,
Dischairging frindschip; and so I end:
Fair will þat day I dyne with the!
Thatt hes bene men of knawlege kend,
And ȝitt with the hes bene owircum,
Quhais witt I can na wayis commend;
As for mysellff, I sel defend,
And cairis nocht by þai feid ane ble,
Dischairging frindschip; and so I end:
Fair will þat day I dyne with the!
Finis. Amen.
VI. [NAN LUFFIS BOTT FULLIS VNLUD AGANE.]
Nan luffis bott fullis vnlud agane,
Quha spendis þair tyme and cumis na speid;
Mak þis ane mexeme to remene,
Thatt luifis beiris nan bott fullis at feid;
And þai gett ay ane gud geis heid
In recompence of all þair pane:
So of nacessetie man succeid,
Nan luifis bott fullis vnlude agane.
Quha spendis þair tyme and cumis na speid;
Mak þis ane mexeme to remene,
Thatt luifis beiris nan bott fullis at feid;
And þai gett ay ane gud geis heid
In recompence of all þair pane:
So of nacessetie man succeid,
Nan luifis bott fullis vnlude agane.
201
Ȝitt will ane wyss man weill be war,
And will nott wenter butt adwyss:
Gritt foullis, for me, I think þai ar,
That seikis hett watter wnder yse.
Ȝitt sum mair welfull ar nor wyss,
Thatt for þair lufis saik wald be slene
Bayand repentance on þatt pryce:
Nan luffis bott fulis vnnlud agane.
And will nott wenter butt adwyss:
Gritt foullis, for me, I think þai ar,
That seikis hett watter wnder yse.
Ȝitt sum mair welfull ar nor wyss,
Thatt for þair lufis saik wald be slene
Bayand repentance on þatt pryce:
Nan luffis bott fulis vnnlud agane.
Thocht sume we sie In evere age,
Lyk as gukitt fulis gangis gukitt gaittis,
Quhair ressone gettis na place for [r]age,
Thay luf þame best þat þame bott cancentis
Same of þair folleis wyttis þe fattes,
As desteneis did þame disdane
[Quhilks are bot cappit vane conceats]:
Nan lufis bott fullis onlud agane.
Lyk as gukitt fulis gangis gukitt gaittis,
Quhair ressone gettis na place for [r]age,
Thay luf þame best þat þame bott cancentis
Same of þair folleis wyttis þe fattes,
As desteneis did þame disdane
[Quhilks are bot cappit vane conceats]:
Nan lufis bott fullis onlud agane.
Finis.
VII. [FRESCHE FLUREIS FAIR, AND LUSUM LADIE QUHYTE.]
Fresche flureis fair, and lusum ladie quhyte,
Off natouris work in erthe the maist perfyte,
Gewe eir vnto my wofull hewines:
This sedell schorte my sorrowis sall resyite,
And bitter greife, that dois my bowellis byte,
That toung, nor tyme, nocht trewlie can expres;
Bot being drewin throw dolour to distres,
Pane doithe me preis this paper to present,
In my absence, my langour to lament.
Off natouris work in erthe the maist perfyte,
Gewe eir vnto my wofull hewines:
This sedell schorte my sorrowis sall resyite,
And bitter greife, that dois my bowellis byte,
202
Bot being drewin throw dolour to distres,
Pane doithe me preis this paper to present,
In my absence, my langour to lament.
For as the seik in dainger oft is sene,
lang tyme he hoipis for help of medecein,
his sair to cuir, and dollour to remeid;
Sua haif I fund aganis my predestene,
The lang dissimulance of my cairis kene,
To my grit greife and sorrow to succeid;
Quhairthrow at lenthe, taisting the stoundis of deid,
Forceit I am ȝour mercie to Imploir,
To be my leiche, or dollour me dewoir.
lang tyme he hoipis for help of medecein,
his sair to cuir, and dollour to remeid;
Sua haif I fund aganis my predestene,
The lang dissimulance of my cairis kene,
To my grit greife and sorrow to succeid;
Quhairthrow at lenthe, taisting the stoundis of deid,
Forceit I am ȝour mercie to Imploir,
To be my leiche, or dollour me dewoir.
Oft in deserte I wander myne alone,
From day to nicht in mynd makand my mone,
Calling to count þe caussis of my cair.
Sum tyme guid hoip ȝour luiff trowis to obtane,
Sum tyme dispair byddis me lat it alane:
Ȝour hie estait to myne is na compair.
Sum tyme I think, quhairfoir sould I dispair,
Sen luiffe is blind, & fleis but Iudgement?
Quhair luiffe doith licht sould nane be miscontent.
From day to nicht in mynd makand my mone,
Calling to count þe caussis of my cair.
Sum tyme guid hoip ȝour luiff trowis to obtane,
Sum tyme dispair byddis me lat it alane:
Ȝour hie estait to myne is na compair.
Sum tyme I think, quhairfoir sould I dispair,
Sen luiffe is blind, & fleis but Iudgement?
Quhair luiffe doith licht sould nane be miscontent.
Sua esperance my fyrie flameis doith feid,
Prowoiking will in purpois to proceid,
Dryweand of tyme in rampart of the laife;
And I agre, thocht I sould suffer deid,
Tyme to prowyde, quhill tyme prowyde remeid,
For tyme of tymeis to luiffaris is releife;
Quhilk tyme, I dout nocht, gewe ȝe haid to preife,
And my trew pairt and Faythfull constantnes,
Bot sumtyme ȝe wald pitie my distres.
Prowoiking will in purpois to proceid,
Dryweand of tyme in rampart of the laife;
And I agre, thocht I sould suffer deid,
Tyme to prowyde, quhill tyme prowyde remeid,
For tyme of tymeis to luiffaris is releife;
Quhilk tyme, I dout nocht, gewe ȝe haid to preife,
And my trew pairt and Faythfull constantnes,
Bot sumtyme ȝe wald pitie my distres.
203
Christ, gewe my Breist war of the cristell cleir,
That my trew hairt in presence micht appeir,
With Iudgeing eis beffore ȝow to be sene,
Thair sould ȝe se ȝour portratour but peir,
Ȝour face so sueit to me that is sa deir,
Ȝour cheik, ȝour chin, ȝour lywelie cristell ene;
Thair sould ȝe se þe dairtis and arrowis kene,
quihilk in ȝour handis my bludie hert doith pers,
mair crewalie nor I can heir reherse.
That my trew hairt in presence micht appeir,
With Iudgeing eis beffore ȝow to be sene,
Thair sould ȝe se ȝour portratour but peir,
Ȝour face so sueit to me that is sa deir,
Ȝour cheik, ȝour chin, ȝour lywelie cristell ene;
Thair sould ȝe se þe dairtis and arrowis kene,
quihilk in ȝour handis my bludie hert doith pers,
mair crewalie nor I can heir reherse.
With perceing eis, fra that I did persaife
the guidlie gift þat natour to ȝow gaife,
Ȝour bewtie Bricht, ȝour bountie but compair,
the wantoune ȝouthe, quhilk libertie doith craiffe,
Fredome forsuik & vald na fredome haiff,
bynding myself to be ȝour pressoner;
my mynd also opprest with crewell cair,
Into ȝour will dois ȝeld without ane straik,
refuseand lyfe and Fredome For ȝour saik.
the guidlie gift þat natour to ȝow gaife,
Ȝour bewtie Bricht, ȝour bountie but compair,
the wantoune ȝouthe, quhilk libertie doith craiffe,
Fredome forsuik & vald na fredome haiff,
bynding myself to be ȝour pressoner;
my mynd also opprest with crewell cair,
Into ȝour will dois ȝeld without ane straik,
refuseand lyfe and Fredome For ȝour saik.
O sueit, contreit, my spreit talk in ȝour hauld,
With hert Inwart, conwert my cairis cauld;
lang thocht hes socht, and brocht me to this place;
persaife ȝour slaiff, ȝe hawe me as ȝe wald,
heir to fulfill ȝour will, my ffeit I fawld;
Sen I apply, deny me nocht ȝour grace,
In neid, vith speid, remeid my crewall caiss;
It war to Far to mar me but offence,
Sen stay ȝe may alway my wiolence.
With hert Inwart, conwert my cairis cauld;
lang thocht hes socht, and brocht me to this place;
persaife ȝour slaiff, ȝe hawe me as ȝe wald,
heir to fulfill ȝour will, my ffeit I fawld;
Sen I apply, deny me nocht ȝour grace,
In neid, vith speid, remeid my crewall caiss;
It war to Far to mar me but offence,
Sen stay ȝe may alway my wiolence.
Sueit thing, conding, benyng of memorie,
my Paneis to lane war wane but remedie;
But sen ȝe ken quhairin the mater standis,
my sair dispair prepair to pacifie.
hawe reuthe, with trewth, let nocht ȝour schiruand[is]
For stownd of wond ar found amang ȝour handis;
Bot sen ȝe ken that men ar in ȝour bandis,
Crowall at all ȝe wilbe callit awayis,
to sla þe man that ȝeldis at ȝour deuyse.
my Paneis to lane war wane but remedie;
But sen ȝe ken quhairin the mater standis,
my sair dispair prepair to pacifie.
hawe reuthe, with trewth, let nocht ȝour schiruand[is]
204
Bot sen ȝe ken that men ar in ȝour bandis,
Crowall at all ȝe wilbe callit awayis,
to sla þe man that ȝeldis at ȝour deuyse.
Finis. Amen. quod I Nisbit.
VIII. [AS EIS AR MESSAGE TO ÞE HAIRT.]
As eis ar message to þe hairt,
The hairt consultis with þe thocht,
So thocht and mynd consultis Inwart
To will, and quhen that thay haue wrocht,
Directis þe handis, and handis hes brocht
This bill vnto ȝour guidlie heidis;
Ȝour guidlie heidis this send hes socht,
And socht is mercy and remeid.
The hairt consultis with þe thocht,
So thocht and mynd consultis Inwart
To will, and quhen that thay haue wrocht,
Directis þe handis, and handis hes brocht
This bill vnto ȝour guidlie heidis;
Ȝour guidlie heidis this send hes socht,
And socht is mercy and remeid.
Remeid man mend my mellodie,
Than mellodie is my desyre,
Desyre is medicene for me,
And medicene þat I requyre,
And I requyre luif to inspyre,
Ȝour hert to myne, as myne is ȝouris,
That ȝouris ower myne may haif impyre,
And myne to serve ȝow at all houris.
Than mellodie is my desyre,
Desyre is medicene for me,
And medicene þat I requyre,
And I requyre luif to inspyre,
Ȝour hert to myne, as myne is ȝouris,
That ȝouris ower myne may haif impyre,
And myne to serve ȝow at all houris.
As at all hour I salbe readie,
quhen ȝe ar readie to ressaue it,
Ressaue it, ȝe [quha] ar my Ladie,
for ȝe ar Ladie quha suld haif it,
Sen ȝe suld haif it quha can craif it,
Craif it can none bot ȝow allone,
To ȝow allone now heir I laif it,
Now laif ȝe it, my hairt is gone.
quhen ȝe ar readie to ressaue it,
Ressaue it, ȝe [quha] ar my Ladie,
for ȝe ar Ladie quha suld haif it,
Sen ȝe suld haif it quha can craif it,
Craif it can none bot ȝow allone,
To ȝow allone now heir I laif it,
Now laif ȝe it, my hairt is gone.
205
IX. [OCH, LUIF, IN LANGOUR HEIR I LY.]
“Och, Luif, in langour heir I ly
With wofull cheir;
In luifis rage opprest am I,
As ȝe sall heir,
That I am cassin clene in cair,
And confortles,
And woundit in ȝour bewtie fair
With sic distres.
Och love, haue pitie on my payne
And constancie,
And caus my wofull cair refrane:
Sueithairt haue reuth on me.”
With wofull cheir;
In luifis rage opprest am I,
As ȝe sall heir,
That I am cassin clene in cair,
And confortles,
And woundit in ȝour bewtie fair
With sic distres.
Och love, haue pitie on my payne
And constancie,
And caus my wofull cair refrane:
Sueithairt haue reuth on me.”
“Ȝour lust & languore I lament
With hairt richt soir;
Ȝour Ramping rage, and ȝour intent,
Dois evill dischore;
That ȝe ar cassin clene in cair,
And confortles,
And woundit in my bewtie fair
With sic distres—
Ȝe may gang seik sum medicene,
Bot nocht at mee,
Sum vþer may that may ȝow deine
Ȝour lust to satisfie.”
With hairt richt soir;
Ȝour Ramping rage, and ȝour intent,
Dois evill dischore;
That ȝe ar cassin clene in cair,
And confortles,
And woundit in my bewtie fair
With sic distres—
Ȝe may gang seik sum medicene,
Bot nocht at mee,
Sum vþer may that may ȝow deine
Ȝour lust to satisfie.”
206
“My burd so bricht, bayth day and nicht,
With wofull cheir,
Quhen þat ȝe ar out of my sicht,
And luif but weir,
It dois me peirss so vehement
In at my braynis;
Sueit hairt, ȝe suld be weill content
To eiss my paynis.
It is ȝour luif þat I do choiss
& crawe trewlie,
Al vþir vemen to refuis:
Sueit hert haif Reuthe on me.”
With wofull cheir,
Quhen þat ȝe ar out of my sicht,
And luif but weir,
It dois me peirss so vehement
In at my braynis;
Sueit hairt, ȝe suld be weill content
To eiss my paynis.
It is ȝour luif þat I do choiss
& crawe trewlie,
Al vþir vemen to refuis:
Sueit hert haif Reuthe on me.”
“Quhy call ȝe me ȝour burde so bricht,
Be day or nicht?
My freindis will cheis sum vþer weicht
For me, I say,
That of great kin and clan is cummit,
To be my maik;
Thairfoir I pray ȝow hald ȝour tung,
Ȝour paynis to slaik,
And nocht perturbe ȝour mynd no moir
in vanitie;
Latt wit and wisdome ȝou restoir,
And seik no louf of mee.”
Be day or nicht?
My freindis will cheis sum vþer weicht
For me, I say,
That of great kin and clan is cummit,
To be my maik;
Thairfoir I pray ȝow hald ȝour tung,
Ȝour paynis to slaik,
And nocht perturbe ȝour mynd no moir
in vanitie;
Latt wit and wisdome ȝou restoir,
And seik no louf of mee.”
“O fragrant flouris of eloquenc[e],
of femini[e],
Sen euer in ȝow is my pretens,
Quhill þat I die,
And sen I schaw þe suith full sueit
To ȝow but weir,
Ane temperat tree will bear gud frute
Ainis in þe ȝeir,
Althocht þe branches dois nocht glance
In wemenis eie;
Ȝit for ȝour humble obseruance,
Sueit hert haif reuth on mee.”
of femini[e],
Sen euer in ȝow is my pretens,
Quhill þat I die,
207
To ȝow but weir,
Ane temperat tree will bear gud frute
Ainis in þe ȝeir,
Althocht þe branches dois nocht glance
In wemenis eie;
Ȝit for ȝour humble obseruance,
Sueit hert haif reuth on mee.”
“As fragrant flouris of eloquence
I neuer knew,
Now as I sie, ȝe man go hence,
And nocht persew,
Nor braik ȝour brane for me in vane
In ony wayis,
For sindrie tymes I schew [ȝe] plane
Thair was na mayis.
Go, plant ȝour treis quhair euer ȝe pleis,
And latt me bee;
Ressaue ȝour frute with mekill eis,
And seik na luif of mee.”
I neuer knew,
Now as I sie, ȝe man go hence,
And nocht persew,
Nor braik ȝour brane for me in vane
In ony wayis,
For sindrie tymes I schew [ȝe] plane
Thair was na mayis.
Go, plant ȝour treis quhair euer ȝe pleis,
And latt me bee;
Ressaue ȝour frute with mekill eis,
And seik na luif of mee.”
“Now, I possessour of all cair,
Sueit ladie fair,
Till oppin my pak and sell no wair,
I say no mair,
For gif my life lay in ȝour luif,
Than war I lost;
Quhen I offend, ȝe may repruif
Me with gryte bost
Heir as I meane ȝe may obstene
From feminie,
Les nor ȝour grace, do as ȝe meane:
Sueit hairt haif reuth on me.”
Sueit ladie fair,
Till oppin my pak and sell no wair,
I say no mair,
For gif my life lay in ȝour luif,
Than war I lost;
Quhen I offend, ȝe may repruif
Me with gryte bost
Heir as I meane ȝe may obstene
From feminie,
Les nor ȝour grace, do as ȝe meane:
Sueit hairt haif reuth on me.”
208
“O lustie lufe of luferis all,”
This lady sayis,
“Ȝour wordis with weping makis me fall,
This all my dayis,
To pas with ȝow in ony place,
Quhair euer ȝe pleiss,”
Into hir armes sche did him brace,
And to him sayis:
“O trew luif myne, quhilk is myne awin,
And ay salbe,
Desyring ȝow þat it war knawin,
That ȝe wad marie me.”
This lady sayis,
“Ȝour wordis with weping makis me fall,
This all my dayis,
To pas with ȝow in ony place,
Quhair euer ȝe pleiss,”
Into hir armes sche did him brace,
And to him sayis:
“O trew luif myne, quhilk is myne awin,
And ay salbe,
Desyring ȝow þat it war knawin,
That ȝe wad marie me.”
“To marie the! ” he sayis agane,
“How micht þat be?
For sindrie tymes ȝe schew me plane
My law degree,
And said thy frendis wald nocht consent,
Nor gif ȝe leive,
And bad me seik sum medicene,
Quhilk did me greive;
Most rissolut expell[t] my suite
In termis hie:
Ȝe and ȝour freindis thay may go hence,
And seik no luif of me.”
“How micht þat be?
For sindrie tymes ȝe schew me plane
My law degree,
And said thy frendis wald nocht consent,
Nor gif ȝe leive,
And bad me seik sum medicene,
Quhilk did me greive;
Most rissolut expell[t] my suite
In termis hie:
Ȝe and ȝour freindis thay may go hence,
And seik no luif of me.”
Finis quod nescio.
X. [REDOLENT ROIS, MY ONLIE SCHOIS.]
Redolent roiss, my onlie schois,
I man disclois my siching sair;
my frendle fois, throcht passing wois,
for to reioss I may no mair.
quhat cruell cair, quhat deip dispair,
maybe compairt into my pairt?
quha may repair my siching sair,
or sall prepair to mand my smairt?
I man disclois my siching sair;
my frendle fois, throcht passing wois,
for to reioss I may no mair.
209
maybe compairt into my pairt?
quha may repair my siching sair,
or sall prepair to mand my smairt?
Except my sueit, with hairt contreit,
I do repeit with fervencie,
quhilk to retreit, luif causis fleit,
for sorrow, heit of ardencie.
Sen destinie, my libertie,
Alluterlie is reft away,
assuring me that I sall die,
Except ȝe be þe onle stay.
I do repeit with fervencie,
quhilk to retreit, luif causis fleit,
for sorrow, heit of ardencie.
Sen destinie, my libertie,
Alluterlie is reft away,
assuring me that I sall die,
Except ȝe be þe onle stay.
Sen þat I now on force mun bow
to ȝow, in deid, to seik remeid,
houping thairthro ȝe will allow,
to quha I bow I sall proced,
seiking but dreid, favour, or steid,
Till atropis threid my lyve devoir:
To seik my deid, ȝour name will spreid,
as homicede for euermore.
to ȝow, in deid, to seik remeid,
houping thairthro ȝe will allow,
to quha I bow I sall proced,
seiking but dreid, favour, or steid,
Till atropis threid my lyve devoir:
To seik my deid, ȝour name will spreid,
as homicede for euermore.
my hairt, convert þis dairt fra me,
my luif, remow þis ruif of cair,
my deir, apeir, þat feir my fle,
my dow, be now my conforter;
my bird, ȝour word, as suord, is sair;
my breist, is persit with uyolence:
me saif, I craif, to haif na mair
bot hert for hert in recompence.
my luif, remow þis ruif of cair,
my deir, apeir, þat feir my fle,
my dow, be now my conforter;
my bird, ȝour word, as suord, is sair;
my breist, is persit with uyolence:
me saif, I craif, to haif na mair
bot hert for hert in recompence.
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quhilk hert, as rube in this ring,
I do coniwr into ȝour cuir,
Hoiping it sall get conforting,
sseruand ȝour plesand portratour;
quhilk, gif ȝe do ressaue, be suir,
nocht cowntting þis my crwell cair,
my lyfe my na langer Indwre,
quhill meitting [OMITTED]
I do coniwr into ȝour cuir,
Hoiping it sall get conforting,
sseruand ȝour plesand portratour;
quhilk, gif ȝe do ressaue, be suir,
nocht cowntting þis my crwell cair,
my lyfe my na langer Indwre,
quhill meitting [OMITTED]
XI. [MY FREIND, IF ÞOW WILL CREDEITT ME IN OUCHT.]
My freind, if þow will credeitt me in oucht,
To quhome þe treuthe in trayall weill appeiris,
Nott worthe is witt quhill it be derlie bocht:
Thair is na wisdome bott in hoirie hairis.
Ȝitt, gif I can of wisdome aucht defyne,
As weill as wþairis hawe of happynes,
Than to may wordis, my freind, þi eris inclyne:
The thingis þat mak þe wyse ar thes I ges:
To quhome þe treuthe in trayall weill appeiris,
Nott worthe is witt quhill it be derlie bocht:
Thair is na wisdome bott in hoirie hairis.
Ȝitt, gif I can of wisdome aucht defyne,
As weill as wþairis hawe of happynes,
Than to may wordis, my freind, þi eris inclyne:
The thingis þat mak þe wyse ar thes I ges:
Feir god, and knaw þi self in eiche degrie;
Be freind to all, familiar bot to few;
to licht of credeit se þow newer be,
for trayall oft in trust dois tresone schawe;
To wthairis faultis cast not to muche þai eir;
Accuse na man of guild, amend þai awin;
of medling muche dois mischeif of[t] aryis,
And oft debaitt by tiekill toung is sawin.
Be freind to all, familiar bot to few;
to licht of credeit se þow newer be,
for trayall oft in trust dois tresone schawe;
To wthairis faultis cast not to muche þai eir;
Accuse na man of guild, amend þai awin;
of medling muche dois mischeif of[t] aryis,
And oft debaitt by tiekill toung is sawin.
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Quhat thing þow willtt hawe hid, to nane declair,
in word or deid bewer of had I wist;
So spend þai gud þat sum þow ever spair,
For freindis lyk halkis dois soir frome emptie fist.
Cutt outt þai cott according to þai claithe;
Suspectit persounes se þow alwayis flie;
Beleue not him þat anes hes broken his treuth,
Nor ȝitt of gilt without desert be fre.
in word or deid bewer of had I wist;
So spend þai gud þat sum þow ever spair,
For freindis lyk halkis dois soir frome emptie fist.
Cutt outt þai cott according to þai claithe;
Suspectit persounes se þow alwayis flie;
Beleue not him þat anes hes broken his treuth,
Nor ȝitt of gilt without desert be fre.
Tyme quicklie slippis, bewar how thow it spend;
of wantoun ȝouth repentis ane panefull aige;
Begin na thing butt ane eye to þe end,
nor bow þai eir frome counsell of þe saige.
gif thow to far lett out þi fansie sleip,
and wittles will frome reasonnes rewle outstartt,
thy folie sell at lenthe be maid þi quhipp,
And soir þe stryippis of schame sell caus þe smartt.
of wantoun ȝouth repentis ane panefull aige;
Begin na thing butt ane eye to þe end,
nor bow þai eir frome counsell of þe saige.
gif thow to far lett out þi fansie sleip,
and wittles will frome reasonnes rewle outstartt,
thy folie sell at lenthe be maid þi quhipp,
And soir þe stryippis of schame sell caus þe smartt.
To do to muche ffor auld men is bott lost;
Of freindschip had to wemen comes lyik gane;
Bestow not þow on childrene to much cost,
For quhat þow dois for thais is all [in] waine.
The auld man, or he can requyt, he deis;
Vnconstand is þe womanis wauering mynd;
Full sone þe boy thy freindschip will despyis,
And him for luif þow sell ingratfull find.
Of freindschip had to wemen comes lyik gane;
Bestow not þow on childrene to much cost,
For quhat þow dois for thais is all [in] waine.
The auld man, or he can requyt, he deis;
Vnconstand is þe womanis wauering mynd;
Full sone þe boy thy freindschip will despyis,
And him for luif þow sell ingratfull find.
The agit man is lyik þe barrane ground;
The woman lyik þe reid þat waggis with wind;
Thair my na trust in tender age be fund;
And of þe thre the boy is most vnkynd.
Iff þow haif fund ane faithfull freind indeed,
Bewer þow lose not loufe of suche a one;
He sell sumtyme stand þe In better steid,
Than treasure greitt of gould or pretious stone.
The woman lyik þe reid þat waggis with wind;
Thair my na trust in tender age be fund;
And of þe thre the boy is most vnkynd.
Iff þow haif fund ane faithfull freind indeed,
Bewer þow lose not loufe of suche a one;
He sell sumtyme stand þe In better steid,
Than treasure greitt of gould or pretious stone.
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XII. [O FRAGRANT FLOUR, FAIR AND FORMOIS.]
O fragrant flour, fair and formoiss,
And nychtingall in to the nycht,
Quhat suld I say? thow art the choiss,
Ane Lantern and ane Lamp of Lycht.
I wait thair is na warldlie wycht,
That for ȝour favour mair remanis;
Quhan I think on ȝour bewteis brycht,
My spreit is pacefiit from panis.
And nychtingall in to the nycht,
Quhat suld I say? thow art the choiss,
Ane Lantern and ane Lamp of Lycht.
I wait thair is na warldlie wycht,
That for ȝour favour mair remanis;
Quhan I think on ȝour bewteis brycht,
My spreit is pacefiit from panis.
I suffer tormenttis for ȝour saik,
So þat my eyes with tereis dois weir.
Ane cumlie mak, ȝe haif na maik,
Nor ȝit in persoun hes na peir.
Bot wnto fantus I effeir,
Becaus I am tormentit so;
Quhan he thocht on his darling deir,
his hairt was woundit ay with wo.
So þat my eyes with tereis dois weir.
Ane cumlie mak, ȝe haif na maik,
Nor ȝit in persoun hes na peir.
Bot wnto fantus I effeir,
Becaus I am tormentit so;
Quhan he thocht on his darling deir,
his hairt was woundit ay with wo.
To teirris he did himself apply,
The dairttis of luif so did him lance;
Into the lyk estait am I,
Vpoun ȝour persoun quhen I panss.
Quhan of ȝowr face I gett ane glanss,
Ȝour bewtie dois my body bind;
My panis wald pacefie, perchance,
In caiss I culd ȝour favour find.
The dairttis of luif so did him lance;
Into the lyk estait am I,
Vpoun ȝour persoun quhen I panss.
Quhan of ȝowr face I gett ane glanss,
Ȝour bewtie dois my body bind;
My panis wald pacefie, perchance,
In caiss I culd ȝour favour find.
Suppoiss ȝour self I do nocht sie,
Ȝit I ly trappit In ȝour tranis,
And thocht my body absent be,
My constant hairt with ȝow remanis.
Ȝour cumlie corpis so me constranis,
That I for favour man procuir.
Be memorantive of my panis,
Quhilk for ȝour saik I do Induir.
Ȝit I ly trappit In ȝour tranis,
And thocht my body absent be,
My constant hairt with ȝow remanis.
213
That I for favour man procuir.
Be memorantive of my panis,
Quhilk for ȝour saik I do Induir.
With dolour damone did dekay
for mentas luif, a[nd] so he deis,
quha had hir pictour present ay,
hung in ane brod befoir his eyes.
ȝit pancing on hir properteis,
maist madlie þair he did amaiss:
my luif surmunttes in ma degreis,
howbeid that dayth distroyit his dayis.
for mentas luif, a[nd] so he deis,
quha had hir pictour present ay,
hung in ane brod befoir his eyes.
ȝit pancing on hir properteis,
maist madlie þair he did amaiss:
my luif surmunttes in ma degreis,
howbeid that dayth distroyit his dayis.
Now sen my lyf lyis in ȝour handis,
remeid þe dolour quhilk I dree;
I am sa būnd into ȝour bandis,
that frome ȝour luif I can nocht flie,
beseiking ȝow sa guid to be
me of my tormenttis to relax,
that onlie adamand ar ȝe,
Quhairto my luife adheranttis takis.
remeid þe dolour quhilk I dree;
I am sa būnd into ȝour bandis,
that frome ȝour luif I can nocht flie,
beseiking ȝow sa guid to be
me of my tormenttis to relax,
that onlie adamand ar ȝe,
Quhairto my luife adheranttis takis.
XIII. [GRUND THE ON PATIENCE, BLIND NOT THY CONSCIENCE.]
Grund the on patience, blind not thy conscience,Do to God reuerance, thankand him ay;
Preis the with dilligence to put away negligence;
Content the with sufficience; this worlde will away.
214
XIV. [THE LUIF I BEARE IS FIXTT ON ONE.]
The luif I beare is fixtt on one;
I can nocht declair þe lufe I bear;
Itt dois me drav to leif alone:
The lufe I beir is fixtt on one.
I can nocht declair þe lufe I bear;
Itt dois me drav to leif alone:
The lufe I beir is fixtt on one.
Absence I meane garris me lament,
And wourkis me tene;
Absence I meane,
It garris me grene for my intent:
Absence I meane garris me lament.
And wourkis me tene;
Absence I meane,
It garris me grene for my intent:
Absence I meane garris me lament.
Euen for hir saik, I tak þis cair;
My hairt will braik, euen for hir saik;
No grace dois laik, þis flour so fair;
Euen for hir saik, I tak þis cair.
My hairt will braik, euen for hir saik;
No grace dois laik, þis flour so fair;
Euen for hir saik, I tak þis cair.
XV.
Followis the ravisching of Beggis donaldsoun, future spous to Thomas louthian, Mercheand.
Johnne Nesbit.
Suppois I be of simple clan,
Of small degrie and michtie name,
My father is ane welthe man,
Howbeit he be of littill fame.
To tell the treuth I think nocht schame:
For sen I was compellit to flie,
I durst nocht duell with freindis at hame,
For feir that folkis suld raveis me.
Of small degrie and michtie name,
My father is ane welthe man,
Howbeit he be of littill fame.
To tell the treuth I think nocht schame:
For sen I was compellit to flie,
I durst nocht duell with freindis at hame,
For feir that folkis suld raveis me.
215
Quhat fairlie thocht I tuke þe flicht?
I was persewit with lad and loun:
Rycht quyetlie into þe nicht,
From the falkirk I maid me boun.
My parentis may spair mony croun,
Of gold and geir thay ar richt ryfe;
Thairfor thay brocht me to þis toun,
Heir for to be ane burges wyfe.
I was persewit with lad and loun:
Rycht quyetlie into þe nicht,
From the falkirk I maid me boun.
My parentis may spair mony croun,
Of gold and geir thay ar richt ryfe;
Thairfor thay brocht me to þis toun,
Heir for to be ane burges wyfe.
It is nocht lang sen he begane,
My fatheris hous for to frequent:
Thay bad me tak ane mercheant man,
Quhome with I was richt weill content.
Fra tyme to him I gif consent,
My freindis in haist gart feche me heir;
That mariage he may sair repent,
As his schaft-bleid can witnes beir.
My fatheris hous for to frequent:
Thay bad me tak ane mercheant man,
Quhome with I was richt weill content.
Fra tyme to him I gif consent,
My freindis in haist gart feche me heir;
That mariage he may sair repent,
As his schaft-bleid can witnes beir.
XVI. [IN SOMER QUHEN ÞE FEILDIS AR FAIR.]
In somer quhen þe feildis ar fair,With fragrant flouris ouer spred,
The grund depaintit euerie quhair,
With cullouris costlie cled;
Quhen þat priapus out foirth fair,
That god of garding gay,
And beuche and branche and all was fair
Of all kynde frute I say.
216
XVII. [I WIS I WAIR TRANSFIGURAT IN ANE RING.]
I wiss I wair transfigurat in ane ring,To link about my maistris finger fyne;
Or ellis into hir snaw quhyte hals to hing,
To be inclosit into hir bosome fyne.
Gif it war day, I culd my myne inclyne,
To wring hir handis and vew hir bewtie fair;
Gif it war nicht, think þe that I suld tyne
That precious tyme þat war presentit þan?
No, surelie, no, no, no, my maistris than
Suld find ane ring transformit in ane man.
XVIII. [GLADE AM I, GLADE AM I.]
Glade am I, glade am I,my mother is gone to henislie,
steiche þe dur & cache me,
lay me doun & streche me,
ding me, & dang me,
ȝe, gif I cry hang me—
ȝe, gif I die of þe same,
Bury me, burie, in goddis name.
217
XIX. [I HOIPE TO SERVE, SANE SYNE TO DESERUE.]
I hoipe to sserve, sane syne to deserue,Syne never for to suerue from hir þat I luif best;
Quhair for, minerve, Imply my pen to sserve,
for to deserue sum favour that may lest.
XX. [MY BREIST IS MAID THE VERRAY GRAIF OF WOO.]
My breist is maid the verray graif of woo;
My sichis ar windis and tempestis of my cair;
My hairt, allace, quhilk peirsit is in two,
Owerquhelmit lyis with cluddis of cauld dispair.
O thow, my sueit, my deirrest, and my fair,
quhois cristell eis my passioun hes increst,
drop doun sum grace quhilk may my paynis impair,
And pitie him quhois mynd is woyd of rest.
This for ȝour saik and luif I am molest;
This for ȝour saik thir sorrowis I sustene;
This for ȝour saik I am so sore opprest,
That euermore in sadnes I remane;
And euer sall quhill that ȝour hevinlie face
Pronunce my dume, or ellis grant me sum grace.
My sichis ar windis and tempestis of my cair;
My hairt, allace, quhilk peirsit is in two,
Owerquhelmit lyis with cluddis of cauld dispair.
O thow, my sueit, my deirrest, and my fair,
quhois cristell eis my passioun hes increst,
drop doun sum grace quhilk may my paynis impair,
And pitie him quhois mynd is woyd of rest.
This for ȝour saik and luif I am molest;
This for ȝour saik thir sorrowis I sustene;
This for ȝour saik I am so sore opprest,
That euermore in sadnes I remane;
And euer sall quhill that ȝour hevinlie face
Pronunce my dume, or ellis grant me sum grace.
Giffand with all dew reuerence,
Peirsit with luif be violence,
To ȝow my hairt in governence,
My ladie deir,
Quhois neue sueit wordis of eloquence,
Excell now heir.
Peirsit with luif be violence,
To ȝow my hairt in governence,
My ladie deir,
Quhois neue sueit wordis of eloquence,
Excell now heir.
Finis quod Constancie.
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XXI. ANE DREAME.
I dreamit ane dreame, o that my dreame wer trew!Me thocht my maistris to my chalmer came,
And with hir harmeles handis the cowrteingis drew,
And sueitlie callit on me be my name:
“Art ȝe on sleip,” quod sche, “o fy for schame!
haue ȝe nocht tauld that luifaris takis no rest?”
Me thocht I ansuerit, “trew it is, my dame,
I sleip nocht, so ȝour luif dois me molest.”
With that me thocht hir nicht-gowne of sche cuist,
Liftit þe claiss and lichtit in my armis;
Hir Rosie lippis me thocht on me sche thirst,
And said, “may this nocht stanche ȝow of ȝour harmes!”
“Mercy, madame,” me thocht I menit to say,
Bot quhen I walkennit, alace, sche was away.
XXII. [YOUR OUTUARD GESTURE, FORME, AND FASSOINS FAIR.]
Your outuard gesture, forme, and fassoins fair,decleris þe invard secrettis of ingyne,
quheir is contenit sic verteuis hed and cair,
þat al þe warld dois se in ȝow to schyne,
resembling weil þe verteuis raice & lyne
quhairof ȝe com; quhois name to last for ay
is eternissid be ȝow, and mede devyne
in register þat never sal decay.
quhairby I hoip, mestres, hap quhat so mey,
for sic revard, as Justly I expect
to cum fra hir, quhair vertew beiris þe sway,
quhilk alvayis suld produice þe awin effect.
Sens as be nature, so ȝe ar inclynde,
plece constancie into þis verteuis mynde.
219
XXIII. [I SERVE ANE DAME MOIR QUHEITER THAN THE SNAW.]
I serve ane dame moir quheiter than the snaw,Quhois straichtnes dois þe Ceder treis exceid,
Quhois teith surpasss þe oriant peirle in hew,
Quhois collourit lippis surmountis þe skarlet threid.
The hinging lokkis that cummis from hir heid,
Dois staingȝe the grace and glorie of þe gold;
The braith quhilk dois out of hir mouth proceid,
Dois moir than flouris a sweitar smell vnfauld.
Ȝit sche, allace, within hir breist dois hauld
Moir feirsnes than the lyoun feirs and vyld;
Sche hes ane hairt for seasoun hard and cauld,
That from my mynd all pleassur hes exyld.
Loo, this my dame dois work my lesting soir;
Ȝit will I serve, althocht I die thairfore.
I. Arnot.
XXIV. [THE ROYALL PALICE OF ÞE HEICHEST HEWIN.]
The royall palice of þe heichest hewin,the staitlie fornace of þe sterrie round,
the loftie wolt of wandring planettis sewin,
þe air, þe fyre, þe wattir, & þe ground—
220
surppassing far our gros & sillie sens,
The pregnant spreittis ȝit of þe leirnit hes fund,
by age, by tyme, & lang experience,
Thair pitche, thair powir, and Inflwence,
the cowrs of natwre & hir mowingis all;
Sa þat we neid nocht now be in suspence
off erthelie thingis, nor ȝit celestiall;
Bot onlie of þis monstwre luif we dout,
quhais craftie cowrs no cwning can find out.
XXV. [THE TENDER SNOW, OF GRANIS SOFT & QUHYT.]
The tender snow, of granis soft & quhyt,Is nocht so sone conswmit vith phebus heit,
As is my breist, beholding my delyte,
Pyneit vith þe presence of my lady sueit.
The surgeing seyis, with stormie streameis repleit,
Tormoylit nocht þe wandring shipis sa sair,
As absence dois torment my werie spreit,
fleitting a flocht betuixt hoip & dispair.
My cative corps consumis with cursed cair;
Mistrust & dreid hes baneist esperance,
That I am forceit to perische quhae sould mair,
& trast þe wyte vpon rememberance;
Than absence, presence, remembrance, all thre,
Torment me for hir saik eternallie.
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XXVI. ANE SCOTTIS SONNETT.
[First serve, syne sute, quhiles seme to lichlie luif]
First serve, syne sute, quhiles seme to lichlie luif,gif thow intend to win thy ladyis grace;
Serve hir, and sche thy constancie sall pruif,
gif in hir mynd that modestie haue place;
Persewing hir may rander the relaise,
Or ellis thow can nocht conqueis hairtis desyre.
appeirantlie sumtyme to forgett, I gaise,
Hes na les force to kendill cupydis fyre.
hes thow nocht hard of mony leirant schyre
Thus sayit, ‘flie luif and it will fallow the’?
Quhilk na wayis commandis the to espyire,
Bot wald þow suld nocht perrell libertie.
Be trew, craue tyme, assoyt nocht gif thow can:
Find sche þe deschit, thow art ane marterit man.
XXVII. SONET.
[Thocht Polibus, pisander, and vith them]
Thocht Polibus, pisander, and vith them,Antinous, vith monie wowaris, than
Did preis for to suppryse, & bring to schame,
Penellope, in absence of hir man,
Ȝit sche remanit chast as sche began,
To tyme vlisses happinit to cum hame;
That nane of thais as ȝit, do quhat þai can,
lang saxtene ȝeiris dowcht to defyle hir fame.
Ewin so, most sueit, discreit, and mansueit muse,
Remember on ȝour ȝoldin ssiruiture:
Thoill nane ȝour blaseme bewtie to abuse,
Thocht thai vith leing lippis vald ȝow allure;
Bot sen my lyffe dois on ȝour luife depend,
In trew luiff with Penellope contend.
Finis.
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XXVIII. SONNETT.
[Nevere, madame, of ȝour mercie me infold]
Nevere, madame, of ȝour mercie me infold,That I may remerciat, throuch ȝour mercie so,
To crave ȝour mercie, gif I durst be so bold:
Without ȝour mercie, my lyfe can haif no ho.
Craifing ȝour mercie, as hes done mony mo,
Ȝour merciles peirles persoun, most preclair,
Imprent with mercie intill all tyme ago.
[OMITTED]
That, but ȝour mercie, is trappit in ȝour snair.
Abyding ȝour mercie, and can no wayis eschew,
Sen bountie and bewetie, but mercie, ar but rair,
Haue mercie on me þat is ȝour lufair trew,
For except þat ȝe mak mercie of remeid,
My awin tua handis, but mercie, salbe my deid.
Finis. Amen.
XXIX. [SOME MEN FOR SUDDANE JOY DO WEIP.]
Some men for suddane Joy do weip,
And some for sorrow sing,
Quhen þat þai ly in danger deip,
To putt away mur[n]ing.
And some for sorrow sing,
Quhen þat þai ly in danger deip,
To putt away mur[n]ing.
Retenen þame tua, þis I begin,
being in Joy and pan,
In siching to lament my sin,
bott ȝitt reioce agane.
being in Joy and pan,
In siching to lament my sin,
bott ȝitt reioce agane.
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My sinfull lyf dois still incress,
My sorrow is þe mor;
Frome wiketnes I can nocht ceiss,
Wo is my hairtt þairfor.
My sorrow is þe mor;
Frome wiketnes I can nocht ceiss,
Wo is my hairtt þairfor.
Som tyme quhen I think to do wiell
And serue god nicht and day,
My wiecket natur dois rebell,
And leidis me astray.
And serue god nicht and day,
My wiecket natur dois rebell,
And leidis me astray.
As bonnd and capteue wnto sin,
Quhilk grewis me full soire,
This miserie I do liue In;
Wo is my hairtt þairfor.
Quhilk grewis me full soire,
This miserie I do liue In;
Wo is my hairtt þairfor.
In deid sumtyme I do repent,
And pardon dois obtene;
bott ȝitt, alace, Incontenentt,
I fall to sin agane.
And pardon dois obtene;
bott ȝitt, alace, Incontenentt,
I fall to sin agane.
My corrup nature is so ill,
Offending mor and more,
That I offend my lord god still;
Wo is my hairtt þairfor.
Offending mor and more,
That I offend my lord god still;
Wo is my hairtt þairfor.
Wo is my hairt, wo is my mynd,
Wo is my saull and spritt,
That to my lord I am vnkynd,
In quhome I suld delytt.
Wo is my saull and spritt,
That to my lord I am vnkynd,
In quhome I suld delytt.
Hes lowe alwayis I suld regerd,
Quhilk towarttis me was so peure;
bott I with sin do him reward,
Most vnkynd creature,
Quhilk towarttis me was so peure;
bott I with sin do him reward,
Most vnkynd creature,
224
The best, þe bird, þe fiche, þe fowll,
Thair maker do obeay;
Bott I, þatt am ane leiffing saull,
Am far much worss þan þai.
Thair maker do obeay;
Bott I, þatt am ane leiffing saull,
Am far much worss þan þai.
For þai, according to þair kynd,
To serue him do nocht ceass;
Bott I, with sinffull hairtt and mynd,
Do daylie him displeiss.
To serue him do nocht ceass;
Bott I, with sinffull hairtt and mynd,
Do daylie him displeiss.
Thes do I sore complene of sine,
And withe king david weip,
For I do ffeill my hairt within,
The wairthe of god full deip.
And withe king david weip,
For I do ffeill my hairt within,
The wairthe of god full deip.
To hevene my eyis I dar nocht lift,
Aganest it I hawe trespast;
Nor In þe eirthe I find no scheift,
Nor succoure þat can lest.
Aganest it I hawe trespast;
Nor In þe eirthe I find no scheift,
Nor succoure þat can lest.
Quhat sell I do? sell I dispair,
And frome my saweoure slyd?
Nay, god forbid, þair is na feir,
Sen chrest for me hes deid.
And frome my saweoure slyd?
Nay, god forbid, þair is na feir,
Sen chrest for me hes deid.
God became man and for ws men,
He died and rais again;
Hes merci greitt, we may se þan,
For ever dois remane.
He died and rais again;
Hes merci greitt, we may se þan,
For ever dois remane.
Thairfoir my sinns will I confess,
To god and mur[n]ing mak,
Quha will forgeif þe same dowttles,
For his sonne Chrystis saik.
To god and mur[n]ing mak,
Quha will forgeif þe same dowttles,
For his sonne Chrystis saik.
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If sin In me god suld respect,
Than do I knaw full will,
hes Justice wald me sone rewers
To þe deip pitt of hell.
Than do I knaw full will,
hes Justice wald me sone rewers
To þe deip pitt of hell.
His glorius eyis can nocht abayd
the full and fillthe smuk,
quhairwith I am, on everie said,
Coweritt as with ane Clok.
the full and fillthe smuk,
quhairwith I am, on everie said,
Coweritt as with ane Clok.
Bott he in Chryst dois me behald,
In quhome he dois delytt;
And myn offences manifold,
throw him releiffitt quytt.
In quhome he dois delytt;
And myn offences manifold,
throw him releiffitt quytt.
Reputting me amang the Just,
Forgeifing all my sun,
Thairfor my faithe, my houp, my trest,
Sell ever be In hem.
Forgeifing all my sun,
Thairfor my faithe, my houp, my trest,
Sell ever be In hem.
O Lord, Incress trew faithe In me,
Thy guid spritt to me geif,
Thatt I my grow in lowe to the,
And evir seik to leiff
Thy guid spritt to me geif,
Thatt I my grow in lowe to the,
And evir seik to leiff
In trew obedience of þai will,
And thankfullnes of hairtt;
And with þai graice so gaid me still,
Thatt [I] my newir depairtt
And thankfullnes of hairtt;
And with þai graice so gaid me still,
Thatt [I] my newir depairtt
Frome thy trew[th], lord, and testement,
all þe dayis of my lyff;
nor frome þai Churche most Innocentt,
thy awin trew spous & wyf.
all þe dayis of my lyff;
nor frome þai Churche most Innocentt,
thy awin trew spous & wyf.
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Bott frome þatt fillthie hour of rome,
Lord keip me ever more,
as gratiouslie as þow hes done,
thankis be to þe þairfor.
Lord keip me ever more,
as gratiouslie as þow hes done,
thankis be to þe þairfor.
And sen thow hes of gudnes,
Forgevine all my sine,
Strenthe me þai trewthe for to confess,
And boldlie die þairin.
Forgevine all my sine,
Strenthe me þai trewthe for to confess,
And boldlie die þairin.
Thatt as I hawe confessitt þe,
Befor þe wickitt sortt,
Thow may in þai guid tyme knaw me,
to my Joy & confortt.
Befor þe wickitt sortt,
Thow may in þai guid tyme knaw me,
to my Joy & confortt.
My Saull, returne vnto þai rest,
Thow artt will satisfeitt;
The lord hes grantit þai requist,
And nothing þe denayitt.
Thow artt will satisfeitt;
The lord hes grantit þai requist,
And nothing þe denayitt.
Prais be to god, þe Faþer of micht,
praiss be to þe, o Cryst,
praiss be to þe, Helie gost,
Thre in on most heist.
praiss be to þe, o Cryst,
praiss be to þe, Helie gost,
Thre in on most heist.
Finis.
XXX. [PECCAUI PATER, MESERERE MEI.]
Peccaui pater, meserere mei,
I am nocht worthie to be callit thy chyld,
quha stubburnelie hes went so lang astray,
nocht lyk the sone, but lyk the prodigall wyld.
my sillie saull with synnis is sa defylit,
That sathan seikis to cache it as a prey.
god grant me grace that he may be begylit:
Peccaui, pater, meserere mei.
I am nocht worthie to be callit thy chyld,
quha stubburnelie hes went so lang astray,
nocht lyk the sone, but lyk the prodigall wyld.
my sillie saull with synnis is sa defylit,
That sathan seikis to cache it as a prey.
god grant me grace that he may be begylit:
Peccaui, pater, meserere mei.
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I am abaysed how I dar be sa bauld,
Befoir thy godlie presens till appeir;
Or haȝaret anis the heavinis for to behauld,
Quha am nocht wourdie that þe earth suld beir.
Ȝit damne me nocht, quhome thow hes bocht so deir;
Sed saluum me fac, dulcis fili dei,
For out of luke þis leasing now I leir,
Peccaui, pater, miserere mei.
Befoir thy godlie presens till appeir;
Or haȝaret anis the heavinis for to behauld,
Quha am nocht wourdie that þe earth suld beir.
Ȝit damne me nocht, quhome thow hes bocht so deir;
Sed saluum me fac, dulcis fili dei,
For out of luke þis leasing now I leir,
Peccaui, pater, miserere mei.
Gif thow, o lord, with rigour wald reuenge,
quhat flesche befoir þe fatles suld be fund?
Or quho is he quhais conscience culd him clenge,
Bot by his brother is to sathan bund?
Ȝit, of thy grace, thow tuke away þat ground,
And send thy sone our penulties to pay,
To saif ws from þe hideous, hellische hund:
Peccaui, pater, miserere mei.
quhat flesche befoir þe fatles suld be fund?
Or quho is he quhais conscience culd him clenge,
Bot by his brother is to sathan bund?
Ȝit, of thy grace, thow tuke away þat ground,
And send thy sone our penulties to pay,
To saif ws from þe hideous, hellische hund:
Peccaui, pater, miserere mei.
I houpe for mercie, thocht my sinnis be hudge:
I grant my guilt, and gronis to þe for grace.
Thocht I wald flie, quhair suld I find refuge?
Till heavin? o lord, þair is thy duelling place:
The earth, thy futestule, ȝea, in hels palace,
doun with þe deid; bot all most þe obey.
Thairfoir I cry, quhill I haif tyme and space,
Peccaui, pater, miserere mei.
I grant my guilt, and gronis to þe for grace.
Thocht I wald flie, quhair suld I find refuge?
Till heavin? o lord, þair is thy duelling place:
The earth, thy futestule, ȝea, in hels palace,
doun with þe deid; bot all most þe obey.
Thairfoir I cry, quhill I haif tyme and space,
Peccaui, pater, miserere mei.
O gracious god, my guiltines forgeve,
In sinneris deith sen thow dois nocht delyte,
Bot rather þat þai suld convert and leive
as witnes for thy sacret holy wryte.
I pray the, thanne, thy promeis to perfyte
With me, and I sall with þe psalmes say,
To pen thy prais, and wondrous workis Indyte,
Peccaui, pater, miserere mei.
In sinneris deith sen thow dois nocht delyte,
Bot rather þat þai suld convert and leive
as witnes for thy sacret holy wryte.
I pray the, thanne, thy promeis to perfyte
With me, and I sall with þe psalmes say,
To pen thy prais, and wondrous workis Indyte,
Peccaui, pater, miserere mei.
228
Suppois I sled, lat me nocht sleip in sleuth,
In stinkand sty with sathanis sinfull suyne;
Bot mak my tung þe trumpett of thy treuth,
And len my verse sic vingis as ar devyne.
Sen þow hes grantit me so gude ingyne
To luif þe, Lord, in galland style and gay,
Lat me no moir so trim ane talent tyne:
Peccaui, pater, miserere mei.
In stinkand sty with sathanis sinfull suyne;
Bot mak my tung þe trumpett of thy treuth,
And len my verse sic vingis as ar devyne.
Sen þow hes grantit me so gude ingyne
To luif þe, Lord, in galland style and gay,
Lat me no moir so trim ane talent tyne:
Peccaui, pater, miserere mei.
Thy spreit, my spreit to speik, with speid, inspyr.
Holp, holie ghost! and be mongomries muse;
flie doun on me in forkit tungis of fyre,
as þow did on thyne awin apostles vse;
And with thy fyre me ferventlie infuse
To luif þe, lord, and langer nocht delay.
My former folische fictionis I refuis:
Peccaui, pater, miserere mei.
Holp, holie ghost! and be mongomries muse;
flie doun on me in forkit tungis of fyre,
as þow did on thyne awin apostles vse;
And with thy fyre me ferventlie infuse
To luif þe, lord, and langer nocht delay.
My former folische fictionis I refuis:
Peccaui, pater, miserere mei.
Stoup, stubborne stomak, þat hes bene so stout;
Stoup, filthy flesche, careoun̄ of clay;
Stoup, hardned hairt, before þe lord, and lout;
Stoup, stoup in tyme, defer nocht day by day.
Thow watt not [weill] quhen thou man pas away;
[The tempter, als, is bissie to betrey.]
Confess thy synnis, and schame nocht for to say,
Peccaui, pater, miserere mei.
Stoup, filthy flesche, careoun̄ of clay;
Stoup, hardned hairt, before þe lord, and lout;
Stoup, stoup in tyme, defer nocht day by day.
Thow watt not [weill] quhen thou man pas away;
[The tempter, als, is bissie to betrey.]
Confess thy synnis, and schame nocht for to say,
Peccaui, pater, miserere mei.
To gryte Iehova salt all glore be givn,
Quha schwpe my saull to his similitude;
And to his sone, quhome he send doun from heavin,
quhen I was lost, to by me with his blude;
And to þe holy ghost, my gyder gude,
Quho mot confirm my fayth to tak na fray,
In me cor mundum crea—I conclude:
Peccaui, pater, miserere mei.
Quha schwpe my saull to his similitude;
And to his sone, quhome he send doun from heavin,
quhen I was lost, to by me with his blude;
And to þe holy ghost, my gyder gude,
Quho mot confirm my fayth to tak na fray,
In me cor mundum crea—I conclude:
Peccaui, pater, miserere mei.
229
XXXI. [O LORD, MY GOD, TO ÞE I CRAY, HEIR MY COMPLENT.]
O Lord, my god, to þe I cray, heir my complent,
With sinnis so sair opprest am I that I wax fantt;
My hairt is wexit Inwartlie with pane & greif,
That I am forst to cum to þe to seik releif,
Confessing all my sinfullnes in thy presence,
beseiking þe to grant me grace for my offence.
my sinnis hes so provokit thyne Ire, þat I, allace!
Deserwitt hes þe hellis fyr for my trespass.
With sinnis so sair opprest am I that I wax fantt;
My hairt is wexit Inwartlie with pane & greif,
That I am forst to cum to þe to seik releif,
Confessing all my sinfullnes in thy presence,
beseiking þe to grant me grace for my offence.
my sinnis hes so provokit thyne Ire, þat I, allace!
Deserwitt hes þe hellis fyr for my trespass.
Ȝitt, Lord, to the I call and cray with hairtt Intreit:
Thy word dois say nocht anis at all thow hes delytt
In sinneris deithe, bott wald þat þai suld turne;
quhilk promiss, lord, keip wnto me þat sair dois murne.
If þat þow, lord, did call to mynd our sinis ilkane,
than Iustifeit of adame kynd þair sell be nane.
Except þow of [thy] fre merce saf ws frome deid,
We ar all damnett eternalie withoutt remeid.
Thy word dois say nocht anis at all thow hes delytt
In sinneris deithe, bott wald þat þai suld turne;
quhilk promiss, lord, keip wnto me þat sair dois murne.
If þat þow, lord, did call to mynd our sinis ilkane,
than Iustifeit of adame kynd þair sell be nane.
Except þow of [thy] fre merce saf ws frome deid,
We ar all damnett eternalie withoutt remeid.
Sen nan can throu his awin desertis be maid perfyt,
we þe beseik into our hairt, grant ws þai spreitt;
For nan can come to þe excep þat þow him draw,
As chryst vnto his awin electt dois planlie schaw;
Bott latt thy spritt with ws remane we þe exhort,
In all our anguishe, greif, & pane;
and for þai names saik defend þai flok ilk ane,
dispersit to þe warldis end, & bring thame hame
we þe beseik into our hairt, grant ws þai spreitt;
For nan can come to þe excep þat þow him draw,
As chryst vnto his awin electt dois planlie schaw;
Bott latt thy spritt with ws remane we þe exhort,
In all our anguishe, greif, & pane;
and for þai names saik defend þai flok ilk ane,
dispersit to þe warldis end, & bring thame hame
230
Into thay fald, þat now is wyd scatteritt abrod:
be þow þair protectour, and gaid, þair lord, þair god.
thow artt our heid, and over þai scheip, & ever sell
thay faithfull folk defend, & peik frome pittis all;
evin as þow keipit þai serwand noy þe ark within,
quhen þow did all þe warld distroy for adame sine;
and sauitt lott, quhen, In thayne air, þow did reproue
Sodom, with furius flames of fyre frome hevine abou[e.]
be þow þair protectour, and gaid, þair lord, þair god.
thow artt our heid, and over þai scheip, & ever sell
thay faithfull folk defend, & peik frome pittis all;
evin as þow keipit þai serwand noy þe ark within,
quhen þow did all þe warld distroy for adame sine;
and sauitt lott, quhen, In thayne air, þow did reproue
Sodom, with furius flames of fyre frome hevine abou[e.]
Thow brocht Iserall throw þe reid sie, baith saif & sund;
and pharaoh, with his gritt armie, þairin þow drownde;
and Ionas, in þe quhellis bellie, þow safit thre dayis,
syne send him into neniwe to preiche þai wayis.
Thow did also preseru & keip þai serwandis thrie,
sidrach, misache, abendnago, quhen, cruelie
be nebagodneser king, þai wer all tene,
syne to his presoun causit bring þir thrie ilkane.
and pharaoh, with his gritt armie, þairin þow drownde;
and Ionas, in þe quhellis bellie, þow safit thre dayis,
syne send him into neniwe to preiche þai wayis.
Thow did also preseru & keip þai serwandis thrie,
sidrach, misache, abendnago, quhen, cruelie
be nebagodneser king, þai wer all tene,
syne to his presoun causit bring þir thrie ilkane.
And furiouslie, into his yre, thir cheldrene thre
he cast into ane flame of fyre, þair bruntt to be;
bott thy angell withe þame abod þe fyre to suaige,
þat hurtt was no hair of þair heid for all his raig.
þow did, o lord, defend and keip Susana
frome Iudges fals, quhilk did pretend to wirk hir schame;
And daniell in þe lyouns dene þow did preserue:
Sic is þai fawore to all þame þat do þe sserue.
he cast into ane flame of fyre, þair bruntt to be;
bott thy angell withe þame abod þe fyre to suaige,
þat hurtt was no hair of þair heid for all his raig.
þow did, o lord, defend and keip Susana
frome Iudges fals, quhilk did pretend to wirk hir schame;
And daniell in þe lyouns dene þow did preserue:
Sic is þai fawore to all þame þat do þe sserue.
Amangis þir exemplis all, we may imbring,
How thow preserwit Dauid frome saull, and maid him king;
And efter þat, of presone strang þow did relewe
paull þe sulderis frome amang, þat none him greif.
quhatt mister I to multiplie exampellis awld?
thair restis an wark of þai merci ȝitt to behald,
of Iames the sext, our nobill king, quhome chryst mocht keip
With Dauid, thow did him for to bring of dangeris deip.
How thow preserwit Dauid frome saull, and maid him king;
And efter þat, of presone strang þow did relewe
paull þe sulderis frome amang, þat none him greif.
quhatt mister I to multiplie exampellis awld?
thair restis an wark of þai merci ȝitt to behald,
of Iames the sext, our nobill king, quhome chryst mocht keip
With Dauid, thow did him for to bring of dangeris deip.
231
Quhen þat hes fois begud to fane and him persew,
Achitophell and absalon thow þan overthrew;
And þow did dullfulie doun ding þame, did þhame deir:
Chryst, grantt him lang over ws to ring in þai trew feir.
Nott onlie dois þow [þame] defend frome perelis gritt,
bott als oft [als] þai do offend, þow dois remeitt
thair sinnis ilk ane, and dois nocht lay þame to þair chairg,
As in þe scriptur fund we may the same at large.
Achitophell and absalon thow þan overthrew;
And þow did dullfulie doun ding þame, did þhame deir:
Chryst, grantt him lang over ws to ring in þai trew feir.
Nott onlie dois þow [þame] defend frome perelis gritt,
bott als oft [als] þai do offend, þow dois remeitt
thair sinnis ilk ane, and dois nocht lay þame to þair chairg,
As in þe scriptur fund we may the same at large.
Now sen þat þow hes heirtofor þai sseruantis sawitt,
and sufferitt nane to be forlone, þat mercy crawitt,
with petie than behald my greif, my pane, & smartt,
and for þai names saik releif my troublitt hairtt.
The sowme of all þat I wald haue is þai merci,
The quhilk for chrystis saik I craue of þe onlie,
Forgeif me, quhen I haue offenditt, & finalie
bring me, quhen þat my lyf is enditt, to glore with þe.
and sufferitt nane to be forlone, þat mercy crawitt,
with petie than behald my greif, my pane, & smartt,
and for þai names saik releif my troublitt hairtt.
The sowme of all þat I wald haue is þai merci,
The quhilk for chrystis saik I craue of þe onlie,
Forgeif me, quhen I haue offenditt, & finalie
bring me, quhen þat my lyf is enditt, to glore with þe.
Finis.
XXXII. [O LORD, MY GOD, SEN I AM BROCHT TO GREITT DISTRES.]
O LORD, my god, sen I am brocht to greitt distres,
and In my bodie þair is nocht bott hewenes,
mak haist In tyme to succur me, o richteous Iudge,
sene I haue nane In eirth bott þe for my refuge.
My onlie hoip and confidence In þe is sett,
assuring me þatt myne offence sell be forȝitt,
And all my tormenttis sell tak end with suddan speid,
quhen þow sick confortt sell me send as I haue neid.
and In my bodie þair is nocht bott hewenes,
mak haist In tyme to succur me, o richteous Iudge,
sene I haue nane In eirth bott þe for my refuge.
My onlie hoip and confidence In þe is sett,
assuring me þatt myne offence sell be forȝitt,
And all my tormenttis sell tak end with suddan speid,
quhen þow sick confortt sell me send as I haue neid.
232
Lord, strenthen me with patience to suffer ay
quhatt pleasis best þai excellence on me to lay,
and lett me nocht declyne att all In tyme of neid,
bott ever more on þe to call for my remeid.
help me to beir my burden, lord, for I am weik,
and lett þai strenthe and cair accord, for þai name saik.
assist me with þai holie spreitt, þat I may still,
with constantt hairtt and houp repleitt, abaid þai will.
quhatt pleasis best þai excellence on me to lay,
and lett me nocht declyne att all In tyme of neid,
bott ever more on þe to call for my remeid.
help me to beir my burden, lord, for I am weik,
and lett þai strenthe and cair accord, for þai name saik.
assist me with þai holie spreitt, þat I may still,
with constantt hairtt and houp repleitt, abaid þai will.
At leist sum pairtt, I þe beseik, to suaige my pane;
as thow artt loving, kynd, & meik, þai wrathe refrane;
Into thy iustice and iudgment deall nocht withe me,
bott, sen þat I am panitent, grantt me mercie.
Quhen strenthe and senses ar all gone, & wordis faill,
my hairtt and mynd in þe alone sell be all heill.
þai promess, nor tender love, na tyme, nor tyd,
butt of my hairtt will I remoue, nor ȝitt lett slyd.
as thow artt loving, kynd, & meik, þai wrathe refrane;
Into thy iustice and iudgment deall nocht withe me,
bott, sen þat I am panitent, grantt me mercie.
Quhen strenthe and senses ar all gone, & wordis faill,
my hairtt and mynd in þe alone sell be all heill.
þai promess, nor tender love, na tyme, nor tyd,
butt of my hairtt will I remoue, nor ȝitt lett slyd.
If þat þai pleasur be, þat I sell now depairtt,
I recommend my saull to þe with thankfull hairtt;
quhen it sell hawe ane duelling plaice with angellis hie,
to ring in hevenlie Ioy and peice perpetualie.
If þatt þai pleasure be my lyf to spair,
releif me of my miserie and presentt cair,
remeid me þat am lyk to mange, and sor opprest,
And [I] will sing þai praiss as lang as I my lest.
I recommend my saull to þe with thankfull hairtt;
quhen it sell hawe ane duelling plaice with angellis hie,
to ring in hevenlie Ioy and peice perpetualie.
If þatt þai pleasure be my lyf to spair,
releif me of my miserie and presentt cair,
remeid me þat am lyk to mange, and sor opprest,
And [I] will sing þai praiss as lang as I my lest.
Finis.
XXXIII. [QUHA SO DOIS PUT ÞAIR CONFIDENCE.]
Quha so dois put þair confidence,
and treistis in me with trew accord,
to thame I sell be ane defence,
In tyme of neid (thus sayis þe lord)
If þai stand stiflie be my word,
Frome dangeris gritt þai selbe frei;
thocht weickit perische be þe suord,
to myne ane bukler will I be.
and treistis in me with trew accord,
to thame I sell be ane defence,
In tyme of neid (thus sayis þe lord)
233
Frome dangeris gritt þai selbe frei;
thocht weickit perische be þe suord,
to myne ane bukler will I be.
Thocht Pharoth with his gritt armie,
Israell to kill he did Intend,
I led þame saiflie throw þe sea,
And from his bost did þame defend,
quhair he maid ane mischeifus end,
baith he and all hes compannay;
Thairfor to all I mak itt kend,
to myne ane bukler will I be.
Israell to kill he did Intend,
I led þame saiflie throw þe sea,
And from his bost did þame defend,
quhair he maid ane mischeifus end,
baith he and all hes compannay;
Thairfor to all I mak itt kend,
to myne ane bukler will I be.
Thocht I did all þe warld distroy,
becaus þe wickit wald nocht mend,
Ȝitt sawitt I my sarwantt Noy,
And frome þe flud did him defend;
quhair Sodem maid ane weickit end,
I sawitt lot, as ȝe may sie:
To weickitt thocht greitt plaigis I send,
to myne ane bukler will I be.
becaus þe wickit wald nocht mend,
Ȝitt sawitt I my sarwantt Noy,
And frome þe flud did him defend;
quhair Sodem maid ane weickit end,
I sawitt lot, as ȝe may sie:
To weickitt thocht greitt plaigis I send,
to myne ane bukler will I be.
Thocht wickit saull, and absalon,
Dauid his kingdom wald haue rentt,
Ȝitt causit I him to ring abone,
And did þame plege with punischement.
For Saull by his awin suord wes schent,
And absalom was hangitt hie;
Be þis is richt euident,
to myn ane bukler will I be.
Dauid his kingdom wald haue rentt,
Ȝitt causit I him to ring abone,
And did þame plege with punischement.
For Saull by his awin suord wes schent,
And absalom was hangitt hie;
Be þis is richt euident,
to myn ane bukler will I be.
Becaus wickitt Iesabill, þe quene,
Eleas blod scho snair to spill,
On hir gritt sorrow þir was sene;
Ȝitt him I sawitt frome her Ill.
For hors ran over hir at þair will,
Doggis knew hir baneis assuretlie:
Thocht wickitt wald my sarwandis kill,
To myne ane bukler will I be.
Eleas blod scho snair to spill,
On hir gritt sorrow þir was sene;
Ȝitt him I sawitt frome her Ill.
234
Doggis knew hir baneis assuretlie:
Thocht wickitt wald my sarwandis kill,
To myne ane bukler will I be.
Thocht wickitt haman gartt vp sett
Ane pair of gallows, lairg and lang,
Belewene surelie for to gett
Mordecai thairon to hang;
Ȝitt I red him out of þat thrang;
Haman þairon was hangit hie:
quhair ever myne dois ryd or gang,
to myne ane bukler will I be.
Ane pair of gallows, lairg and lang,
Belewene surelie for to gett
Mordecai thairon to hang;
Ȝitt I red him out of þat thrang;
Haman þairon was hangit hie:
quhair ever myne dois ryd or gang,
to myne ane bukler will I be.
Quhen Dan[i]ell wes overthrawin,
in presoun deip with lyonnes strang,
To him they did no thing bot fane,
And lickit him with tungis sa lang;
Bot quhen his fais come þame amang,
they did þame ryis dispytfulie:
Thocht myne sumtyme dois suffer wrang,
to þame a bukler will I be.
in presoun deip with lyonnes strang,
To him they did no thing bot fane,
And lickit him with tungis sa lang;
Bot quhen his fais come þame amang,
they did þame ryis dispytfulie:
Thocht myne sumtyme dois suffer wrang,
to þame a bukler will I be.
Quhen susanna was In point of deid,
to me scho did boithe cray & call,
and me bethocht to mak remeid,
and I did heir hir by and by.
That þatt accusitt hir wranguslie,
ane schamefull deid I gartt þame die:
Thocht my sarwandis In danger lay,
To þame ane bukleir will I be.
to me scho did boithe cray & call,
and me bethocht to mak remeid,
and I did heir hir by and by.
That þatt accusitt hir wranguslie,
ane schamefull deid I gartt þame die:
Thocht my sarwandis In danger lay,
To þame ane bukleir will I be.
235
Now ȝe þat ar myne cheldrene deir,
and be with me enteritt in band,
Ȝe knaw full oft ȝe stuid in feir
of tensall baith of lyf and land;
For quhen grett king did ȝow gainstand,
and als ȝour preistis þat ar so hie,
As þen I sawitt ȝow fra þair hand,
Sa will I ȝitt ȝour bukler be.
and be with me enteritt in band,
Ȝe knaw full oft ȝe stuid in feir
of tensall baith of lyf and land;
For quhen grett king did ȝow gainstand,
and als ȝour preistis þat ar so hie,
As þen I sawitt ȝow fra þair hand,
Sa will I ȝitt ȝour bukler be.
Ȝe knaw they thocht ȝow to distroy,
quhairfor þai sett þai men of weir,
thinken þairwith ȝow to annoy,
and daylie to ȝow do grett deir;
Bott ȝitt to feicht I did ȝow leir,
and I gaue ȝow þe wictorie;
As þan I did ȝour baner beir,
Sa will I ȝitt ȝour bukleir be.
quhairfor þai sett þai men of weir,
thinken þairwith ȝow to annoy,
and daylie to ȝow do grett deir;
Bott ȝitt to feicht I did ȝow leir,
and I gaue ȝow þe wictorie;
As þan I did ȝour baner beir,
Sa will I ȝitt ȝour bukleir be.
Sen I frome boundage maid ȝow frie,
And outt of egypt did ȝow call,
Thair wickitt lawes se ȝe latt be—
to þame attend na thing at all.
And be not lyk þe doge þatt sell
His womett lik maist schamfulie,
Do ȝow so, plaiges sall on ȝow fall,
And I sall nott ȝour buckler be.
And outt of egypt did ȝow call,
Thair wickitt lawes se ȝe latt be—
to þame attend na thing at all.
And be not lyk þe doge þatt sell
His womett lik maist schamfulie,
Do ȝow so, plaiges sall on ȝow fall,
And I sall nott ȝour buckler be.
And thocht I hawe begone to serue,
according to þe law ȝe sett,
Fra ȝe begin and for to sweirue,
ȝour richteuousnes sell be forȝett.
Than I in haist, bott ony latt,
Sall plaige ȝow for Inequitie,
Besyd þe plaig, þat ȝe sell gett,
I sall no mor ȝour buckleir be.
according to þe law ȝe sett,
Fra ȝe begin and for to sweirue,
ȝour richteuousnes sell be forȝett.
236
Sall plaige ȝow for Inequitie,
Besyd þe plaig, þat ȝe sell gett,
I sall no mor ȝour buckleir be.
Howbeit the wickitt did mak lawis
for to suppress my word of licht,
Compelling myne be greitt ouerthrawis,
the sam obey be þair gritt mycht.
Now sa far as they ar not rycht,
bot saweris of Idolatrie,
Do þame ganstand, both day and nicht,
And ay ȝour buckler will I be.
for to suppress my word of licht,
Compelling myne be greitt ouerthrawis,
the sam obey be þair gritt mycht.
Now sa far as they ar not rycht,
bot saweris of Idolatrie,
Do þame ganstand, both day and nicht,
And ay ȝour buckler will I be.
Thocht nabucadonosor king
cast sidrach and abendnago,
And mesach als, into þe fyre,
becaus on na wayis þai wald go
Worschip the Imag he maid tho,
bott prayitt to me richt ardentlie;
And I did saife þame frome þair fo:
Lyk wayis ȝour bukler will I be.
cast sidrach and abendnago,
And mesach als, into þe fyre,
becaus on na wayis þai wald go
Worschip the Imag he maid tho,
bott prayitt to me richt ardentlie;
And I did saife þame frome þair fo:
Lyk wayis ȝour bukler will I be.
Thocht I the wickit tholl ȝow kill,
and violent deith do ȝow deuoir,
This promess sure I mak ȝow till,
Ane better lyf I sell restoir
To ȝow, quhair þat ȝe sell In glore
Ay ring withe me continulie;
quhair ȝe sell dwell for evermore;
quhair I sell ay ȝour bukleir be.
and violent deith do ȝow deuoir,
This promess sure I mak ȝow till,
Ane better lyf I sell restoir
To ȝow, quhair þat ȝe sell In glore
Ay ring withe me continulie;
quhair ȝe sell dwell for evermore;
quhair I sell ay ȝour bukleir be.
Finis.
237
XXXIV. [HARKEN, HERKENE, ME THINK ANE TROMPETT DOIS STUND.]
Harken, herkene, me think ane trompett dois stund,
blawing ane dreidfull blast;
aryss, ȝe deid, outt of þe grund,
cum to ȝour Judgmenntt Last.
blawing ane dreidfull blast;
aryss, ȝe deid, outt of þe grund,
cum to ȝour Judgmenntt Last.
The king of kingis, and god most hie,
sall mak þis blast to blaw;
for he sell cum In maistir[ie],
to Judge boithe hie and law.
sall mak þis blast to blaw;
for he sell cum In maistir[ie],
to Judge boithe hie and law.
Ten hundreth thousand angellis bricht,
appostellis, and prophettis,
His marteris all in oppin sicht,
Sell sit In Judgment sett,
appostellis, and prophettis,
His marteris all in oppin sicht,
Sell sit In Judgment sett,
For to beir witness, schairp and schor,
aganis þe wickit trane,
quhome cryst sell dame for ever more
wnto eternall pane.
aganis þe wickit trane,
quhome cryst sell dame for ever more
wnto eternall pane.
For god, dowtles, most neidis be Just,
and thocht it seames lang,
ane compt of all men tak he must,
of all þair evell and wrang.
and thocht it seames lang,
ane compt of all men tak he must,
of all þair evell and wrang.
Quhat evere man befor hes done,
In secreitt or In sicht,
In presence of þat feirfull throne,
It selbe brocht to licht.
In secreitt or In sicht,
In presence of þat feirfull throne,
It selbe brocht to licht.
238
Bott sowme will say, I wein,
and lauche goddis word to scorn:
“the warld is now as it hes bene,
sene mankynd first was borne.
and lauche goddis word to scorn:
“the warld is now as it hes bene,
sene mankynd first was borne.
“Thairfoir it is vncredabill,
thatt chryst sould come sa sone;
It is also wnpossibille,
this warld suld be vndone.
thatt chryst sould come sa sone;
It is also wnpossibille,
this warld suld be vndone.
“Thir thingis ar feynit of subtill men,
as thingis to mak ws feir:
Come, lett ws tak oure pleseure than,
as lang as we be heir.”
as thingis to mak ws feir:
Come, lett ws tak oure pleseure than,
as lang as we be heir.”
To this sanct peter ansuoris,
contrary þair desyre,
that bothe þe heven, and eik þe arthe,
ar keip in stor for fyre,
contrary þair desyre,
that bothe þe heven, and eik þe arthe,
ar keip in stor for fyre,
Unto þe day of last iudgment,
and of perditioune,
quhair with þe vngodlie selbe brunt,
with greitt distructioun.
and of perditioune,
quhair with þe vngodlie selbe brunt,
with greitt distructioun.
Our god, quhilk promisit to come,
his promess will nocht beir;
quhairfor he will not tary lang,
his coming is not far.
his promess will nocht beir;
quhairfor he will not tary lang,
his coming is not far.
Ane day is had as muche with him,
as we ane thowsand ȝeiris;
Agane ane thousand ȝeiris with him,
bott as ane day appeiris.
as we ane thowsand ȝeiris;
Agane ane thousand ȝeiris with him,
bott as ane day appeiris.
239
Not onlie peter wryttis so,
that this day is at hand;
bot we haue ressonis money mo,
as ȝe sell vndirstand.
that this day is at hand;
bot we haue ressonis money mo,
as ȝe sell vndirstand.
Our maister, Cryst, himsellff dois say,
Sa dois þe apposellis all,
that þis same last & dreidfull day,
Lyk to ane theif cum sell.
Sa dois þe apposellis all,
that þis same last & dreidfull day,
Lyk to ane theif cum sell.
Quhen þai sell wein þat all is will,
In peice and quyit rest,
euen than sell fall distrouctioun fell,
quhen þai think on it less.
In peice and quyit rest,
euen than sell fall distrouctioun fell,
quhen þai think on it less.
Thai bocht and sauld befor þe fluid,
thy drank and spairit na coist,
thy tuik þair lust, as þai wor wod,
and suddenlie wer lost.
thy drank and spairit na coist,
thy tuik þair lust, as þai wor wod,
and suddenlie wer lost.
Sa sell þai do befor the dome,
as chryst dois plainlie say;
we sie the lyk to pas is come,
quhy doutt we of þis day?
as chryst dois plainlie say;
we sie the lyk to pas is come,
quhy doutt we of þis day?
Sanct Iames did beir the Iewis in hand,
now money ȝeiris befor,
that Chryst, þe Iudge, did present stand,
and knokit at þe dure.
now money ȝeiris befor,
that Chryst, þe Iudge, did present stand,
and knokit at þe dure.
In his appocalipss, sant Ihone,
dois planlie testifie,
that chryst sayis [in] his awin persone,
“behald, I come schortlie.”
dois planlie testifie,
that chryst sayis [in] his awin persone,
“behald, I come schortlie.”
240
Sant peter wrett ane vþair quhair,
and I beleif it trew:
The finell end of all is neir,
and schortlie will Insew.
and I beleif it trew:
The finell end of all is neir,
and schortlie will Insew.
If they did think þe end at hand,
sa mony ȝeiris ago,
muche moir aucht we to vnderstand,
thair be not money mo.
sa mony ȝeiris ago,
muche moir aucht we to vnderstand,
thair be not money mo.
This by þe scripturis evident,
it planlie dois appeir:
now proue we sell by argument,
þat this same day drawis neir.
it planlie dois appeir:
now proue we sell by argument,
þat this same day drawis neir.
All thingis þatt be vnder þe sonne,
manis saull exceptit plane,
Lykwyse as they [did] anis begune,
sa sell thay end againe.
manis saull exceptit plane,
Lykwyse as they [did] anis begune,
sa sell thay end againe.
The fyre with heitt, and rege ferwent,
Dois sor consume and burne,
As sur and sertene argument,
That all to it sell turne.
Dois sor consume and burne,
As sur and sertene argument,
That all to it sell turne.
Quhat so dois waist in evere pairt,
the haill most neidis decay:
the warld dois waist in evere airthe,
quhairfor it most away.
the haill most neidis decay:
the warld dois waist in evere airthe,
quhairfor it most away.
The sune, þe mone, þe starnis so fair
and all þat hevenlie host,
the wateris, and þe mowing air,
Sum of þair strenthe heve lost.
and all þat hevenlie host,
the wateris, and þe mowing air,
Sum of þair strenthe heve lost.
241
The erthe of auld gaue heir encress,
without tillage or pane;
bott now hir strenthe is les and les,
and les þe workmanis gane.
without tillage or pane;
bott now hir strenthe is les and les,
and les þe workmanis gane.
Now herbes haue lost thair auncient strenthe,
that they did hawe beforn;
Thais do laik thair breid and lenthe,
and smaller is þe corn.
that they did hawe beforn;
Thais do laik thair breid and lenthe,
and smaller is þe corn.
The bodie[s] of all beistis grow les
then they hawe bene before;
thairby may ȝe planlie ges,
thair kynd is feblit soir.
then they hawe bene before;
thairby may ȝe planlie ges,
thair kynd is feblit soir.
We hawe hard tell of gyanttis fell,
that wer in elder tyme;
bot now we be lyk emmettis small,
if we compair to þame.
that wer in elder tyme;
bot now we be lyk emmettis small,
if we compair to þame.
Euerie thing quhen it is new,
then it is fresche and fair;
bott ȝeitt we find this resoun trew,
it waxis auld and bair.
then it is fresche and fair;
bott ȝeitt we find this resoun trew,
it waxis auld and bair.
Religioun trew was anis ferwent,
bott now we see it cauld;
that is ane certene argument,
this warld is faint and auld.
bott now we see it cauld;
that is ane certene argument,
this warld is faint and auld.
Bott quhat so ever waxis auld,
it wenischis away;
thairfor by resone manifald,
this warld must neidis decay.
it wenischis away;
thairfor by resone manifald,
this warld must neidis decay.
242
Quhen nott on dall, nor ȝitt on hill,
ȝe sie þe sune do stand,
na langer dowtt, I think, ȝe will,
that nicht is neir at hand.
ȝe sie þe sune do stand,
na langer dowtt, I think, ȝe will,
that nicht is neir at hand.
So quhen no wertew wsit is,
in greitt, nor ȝett in small,
than may we trewlie trust to this,
the warld sell hawe ane fall.
in greitt, nor ȝett in small,
than may we trewlie trust to this,
the warld sell hawe ane fall.
Quhen naturall hert dois man forsaik,
and wynature dois abound,
It cawsis him with fefeir quaik,
and dois his lyf confound.
and wynature dois abound,
It cawsis him with fefeir quaik,
and dois his lyf confound.
[So] quhen þe lowe to god is small,
and self lowe dois exceid,
then certenlie some plaige mortall,
sone efter lett ws dreid.
and self lowe dois exceid,
then certenlie some plaige mortall,
sone efter lett ws dreid.
Now luf to god is out of land,
and sellff luf waxis strange;
quhairfor þe warld most ceass to stand,
I think, or it be lang.
and sellff luf waxis strange;
quhairfor þe warld most ceass to stand,
I think, or it be lang.
Quhen daithe drawis nereist man vnto,
thy raig in þair mad moid;
thy hawe no skyll to say or do,
bott feir as þai war wode.
thy raig in þair mad moid;
thy hawe no skyll to say or do,
bott feir as þai war wode.
Before þe end of all lykwayss,
salbe in quyet rest;
Now Antechryst dois stile deuyss
the godle to molest.
salbe in quyet rest;
Now Antechryst dois stile deuyss
the godle to molest.
243
Bott let þat beist still rage and roir,
and kill by sea and land,
feir not, ȝe folk of Chryst, thairfor,
for ȝour iudge is at hand.
and kill by sea and land,
feir not, ȝe folk of Chryst, thairfor,
for ȝour iudge is at hand.
He will ȝow tak to heven full hie,
and raiss ȝow frome þe ground:
Prepair ȝow then to heir, schortlie,
this ioyfull trompit sound.
and raiss ȝow frome þe ground:
Prepair ȝow then to heir, schortlie,
this ioyfull trompit sound.
Our King is Iames, þe we pray,
Lord, saif him with þai grace;
Keip all his subiectis in gud stay,
and all his foes defece.
Lord, saif him with þai grace;
Keip all his subiectis in gud stay,
and all his foes defece.
Come, Lord, come quicklie, we þe pray,
and tak ws wp on hie,
that we may sing [in bliss] for ay
eternall praiss to the.
and tak ws wp on hie,
that we may sing [in bliss] for ay
eternall praiss to the.
Finis.
XXXV. [THE WEICHT OF SIN IS WONDIR GREITT.]
The weicht of sin is wondir greitt,
quha may þat grevus burden beir.
my god, maist huumle I submeitt
my sellf befoir þai heichnes heir.
och, reuthfuly Inclyne þai eir
wnto my peitifull complentt:
Thy punysmentis & plaigis reteir
frome me, pure pyning pennitent.
quha may þat grevus burden beir.
my god, maist huumle I submeitt
my sellf befoir þai heichnes heir.
och, reuthfuly Inclyne þai eir
wnto my peitifull complentt:
Thy punysmentis & plaigis reteir
frome me, pure pyning pennitent.
244
quhen darknes hes [t]he hevenes rewest,
But ather mone or starrie licht;
quhen man and beist is at ther rest,
throw secreitt silence of þe nicht;
I, waltering lyk ane wofull wicht,
Still walking in my bed I lay:
My sinis presentis thame in my sicht,
Och, harkin! lord, for help I cray.
But ather mone or starrie licht;
quhen man and beist is at ther rest,
throw secreitt silence of þe nicht;
I, waltering lyk ane wofull wicht,
Still walking in my bed I lay:
My sinis presentis thame in my sicht,
Och, harkin! lord, for help I cray.
My pansing dois ogment my pane,
becauss I can nocht be excusitt;
I am sa oft relapis agane
Into þe sin quhilk I refussit.
Thaj clemenci I haue abussitt,
be leiding of ane wickit lyff;
My spreit, within þis flesch Infusitt,
is lyk to pereish in the stryff.
becauss I can nocht be excusitt;
I am sa oft relapis agane
Into þe sin quhilk I refussit.
Thaj clemenci I haue abussitt,
be leiding of ane wickit lyff;
My spreit, within þis flesch Infusitt,
is lyk to pereish in the stryff.
Och, to my fais than sell I ȝeild,
and all þai merceis quyt dispair?
och, sell I now gif over þe feild,
and newer luik for mercy mair?
quhilk hes so oft, baith leitt and air,
Sung praiss to þe with joyfull hairt?
no, lord, preserwe me frome þat snair,
and leit þis cup frome me depairtt.
and all þai merceis quyt dispair?
och, sell I now gif over þe feild,
and newer luik for mercy mair?
quhilk hes so oft, baith leitt and air,
Sung praiss to þe with joyfull hairt?
no, lord, preserwe me frome þat snair,
and leit þis cup frome me depairtt.
I hawe assurance of þai spreitt,
that þow þe laidneitt will releif,
quhilk cumis to þe with hairtt contreitt,
and in þi bontie dois beleif.
my feibill faith, o lord, revieue,
for thocht my sinis be lyk þe sand,
Ȝit þow art habill to forgif,
and raiss me with þai helping hand.
that þow þe laidneitt will releif,
quhilk cumis to þe with hairtt contreitt,
and in þi bontie dois beleif.
my feibill faith, o lord, revieue,
for thocht my sinis be lyk þe sand,
Ȝit þow art habill to forgif,
and raiss me with þai helping hand.
245
Quha can onfenȝeitlie repentt?
quha can frome wickeitnes abstene
vnles þai grace be to þame lentt,
to sich & sob with weiping ene?
þe prayer profeittis nocht ane prene,
except þe same from faith proceid:
Latt faithe and graice In me grow grene,
that I may turne to þe In neid.
quha can frome wickeitnes abstene
vnles þai grace be to þame lentt,
to sich & sob with weiping ene?
þe prayer profeittis nocht ane prene,
except þe same from faith proceid:
Latt faithe and graice In me grow grene,
that I may turne to þe In neid.
Lord, with my sellff I am disspleisitt,
and weirreis of þis burdene fasst;
thay wreyth, þairfor, let be appeisitt:
forȝett my full offen[c]is past.
I feir, I faint, I am agast,
quhen I prepend my awin estait;
bot þis releif I find at last,
my penitence is no to leitt.
and weirreis of þis burdene fasst;
thay wreyth, þairfor, let be appeisitt:
forȝett my full offen[c]is past.
I feir, I faint, I am agast,
quhen I prepend my awin estait;
bot þis releif I find at last,
my penitence is no to leitt.
Albeitt þow be ane vp richt Iudge,
thow art my faþer nocht þe les,
My bukler, & my sur refuge,
My only confort I confess.
Hawe peitie on my greitt distres,
cast nocht me catewe clene away:
thow knawis þe Inwartt hevenes,
for sin to suffer everie day.
thow art my faþer nocht þe les,
My bukler, & my sur refuge,
My only confort I confess.
Hawe peitie on my greitt distres,
cast nocht me catewe clene away:
thow knawis þe Inwartt hevenes,
for sin to suffer everie day.
This þan, my god, of graice I craif,
With humell hewe hairtt of þe,
my sinis ar lyk me to dissayff,
bot let me nocht desaiffit be.
tak nocht þai helping hand frome me,
for I am fraell and Imperfytt;
gif me nocht over to drone & dei,
Into my flechely hairtis delytt.
With humell hewe hairtt of þe,
my sinis ar lyk me to dissayff,
bot let me nocht desaiffit be.
tak nocht þai helping hand frome me,
for I am fraell and Imperfytt;
gif me nocht over to drone & dei,
Into my flechely hairtis delytt.
246
Thy werking spreitt, let me assist,
Into þis feirce & fechting feill,
that I may wailȝeandle resist
the fleche, þe warld, þe dewell, & hell.
My secreitt sinis frome me expell;
My natur hes currupit þow knawis:
Mak me to precteis, & furth tell,
Thy preceptis, prayeris, & holy lawis.
Into þis feirce & fechting feill,
that I may wailȝeandle resist
the fleche, þe warld, þe dewell, & hell.
My secreitt sinis frome me expell;
My natur hes currupit þow knawis:
Mak me to precteis, & furth tell,
Thy preceptis, prayeris, & holy lawis.
Thir giftis, I grant, I meritt nocht,
For I in sin was borne & bred;
bot Iesus Chryst he hes me bocht
Frome deith, evene with his blud he sched;
hes merittis hes me frelie fred,
mak me þairfor perticipentt:
Let me be with his Iustice cleid,
and conteit þai redemitt santt.
For I in sin was borne & bred;
bot Iesus Chryst he hes me bocht
Frome deith, evene with his blud he sched;
hes merittis hes me frelie fred,
mak me þairfor perticipentt:
Let me be with his Iustice cleid,
and conteit þai redemitt santt.
Nocht he, bot I, hes deith deserwitt,
Nocht I, bot he, dois merit graice;
For me, nocht for him sellff, he sterwitt,
With the to purches me a plaice.
throw him I am in happie caiss,
evin with þai godheid reconseild;
to the, throw him, quhome I Imbraice,
Be praiss, quha hes þir Ioyis reweild.
Nocht I, bot he, dois merit graice;
For me, nocht for him sellff, he sterwitt,
With the to purches me a plaice.
throw him I am in happie caiss,
evin with þai godheid reconseild;
to the, throw him, quhome I Imbraice,
Be praiss, quha hes þir Ioyis reweild.
Finis.
247
XXXVI. [CONSIDER, MAN, HOW TYME DO PAS.]
Consider, man, how tyme do pas,And lykvayis how all fleche is gairss;
As tyme consumes þe strongest ark,
So daithe at last sell straik þe stark.
Thocht luistie ȝouthe dois bewtie beire,
Ȝitt ȝouthe, be aige, In tyme dois weir;
And aige at last a deithe doithe bringe
to riche & poure, emprioure & king.
Thairfoir liue as thow suldest die,
thay saull to saiv frome Iepardie;
And as þow waldest be done vnto,
So to þai nichtbouris alwayis do.
The hevinlie Ioyis at lenthe to sie
Lat faithe In chryst þi authour be.
Finnis quod.
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