Virgil's Aeneid translated into Scottish verse by Gavin Douglas Coldwell |
 | II, III, IV. |
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
| 8. |
| 9. |
| 10. |
| 11. |
| 12. |
| 13. |
Ane exclamatioun aganyst detractouris and oncurtass
redaris that beyn our studyus, but occasioun, to note
and spy owt faltis or offencis in this volum, or ony other thryfty warkys etc. |
 | Virgil's Aeneid translated into Scottish verse |  |
192
Ane exclamatioun aganyst detractouris and oncurtass redaris that beyn our studyus, but occasioun, to note and spy owt faltis or offencis in this volum, or ony other thryfty warkys etc.
Now throw the deip fast to the port I mark,
For heir is endyt the lang disparyt wark,
And Virgyll hess hys volum to me lent:
In sovir raid now ankyrrit is our bark;
We dowt na storm, our cabillys ar sa stark;
We have eschapyt full mony perrellus went:
Now God belovyt hass syk grace tyl ws sent!
Sen Virgyll beys (wyd quhar in Latyn song)
Thus be my laubour red in owr wlgar tong.
For heir is endyt the lang disparyt wark,
And Virgyll hess hys volum to me lent:
In sovir raid now ankyrrit is our bark;
We dowt na storm, our cabillys ar sa stark;
We have eschapyt full mony perrellus went:
Now God belovyt hass syk grace tyl ws sent!
Sen Virgyll beys (wyd quhar in Latyn song)
Thus be my laubour red in owr wlgar tong.
Bot quhat danger is ocht to compyle, allace,
Herand thir detractouris intil euery place,
Or evir thai reid the wark, byddis byrn the buke:
Sum beyn sa frawart in malyce and wangrace,
Quhat is weill said thai love not worth ane ace,
Bot castys thame euer to spy owt falt and cruyk;
All that thai fynd in hydlys, hyrn or nuyk,
Thai blaw owt, sayand in euery manis face,
“Lo, heir he failȝeis, se thar he leys, luyk!”
Herand thir detractouris intil euery place,
Or evir thai reid the wark, byddis byrn the buke:
Sum beyn sa frawart in malyce and wangrace,
Quhat is weill said thai love not worth ane ace,
Bot castys thame euer to spy owt falt and cruyk;
All that thai fynd in hydlys, hyrn or nuyk,
Thai blaw owt, sayand in euery manis face,
“Lo, heir he failȝeis, se thar he leys, luyk!”
Bot, gyf I le, lat Virgyll be owr iuge,
Hys wark is patent, I may have na refuge;
Tharby go note my faltis on by on:
No wondir is, the volum was so huge,
Quha mycht perfytely all hys hie termys luge
In barbar langage, or thame dewly expon?
Bot weill I wait, of hys sentens wantis non.
Quha can do bettir, lat se quhar I forvayt;
Begyn of new; al thing is gud onassayt.
Hys wark is patent, I may have na refuge;
Tharby go note my faltis on by on:
No wondir is, the volum was so huge,
Quha mycht perfytely all hys hie termys luge
In barbar langage, or thame dewly expon?
Bot weill I wait, of hys sentens wantis non.
Quha can do bettir, lat se quhar I forvayt;
Begyn of new; al thing is gud onassayt.
193
Far eithar is, quha lyst syt doun to moyt,
Ane otheris sayaris faltis to spy and noyt,
Than but offens or falt thame self to wryte:
Bot forto chyde sum beyn so brym and hoyt,
Hald thai thar peax, the word wald scald thar throte,
And hass sik custum to iangill and to bakbyte,
That, but thai schent sum, thai suld bryst for syte.
I say na mair, quhen all thar rerd is rong,
That wight mon speke that can nocht hald hys tong.
Ane otheris sayaris faltis to spy and noyt,
Than but offens or falt thame self to wryte:
Bot forto chyde sum beyn so brym and hoyt,
Hald thai thar peax, the word wald scald thar throte,
And hass sik custum to iangill and to bakbyte,
That, but thai schent sum, thai suld bryst for syte.
I say na mair, quhen all thar rerd is rong,
That wight mon speke that can nocht hald hys tong.
Go, wlgar Virgill, to euery churlych wight
Say, I avow thou art translatit rycht,
Beseyk all nobillys the corect and amend,
Beys not afferyt tocum in prysaris sycht;
The nedis nocht to aschame of the lycht,
For I haue brocht thy purposs to gud end:
Now salt thou with euery gentill Scot be kend,
And to onletterit folk be red on hight,
That erst was bot with clerkis comprehend. etc.
Say, I avow thou art translatit rycht,
Beseyk all nobillys the corect and amend,
Beys not afferyt tocum in prysaris sycht;
The nedis nocht to aschame of the lycht,
For I haue brocht thy purposs to gud end:
Now salt thou with euery gentill Scot be kend,
And to onletterit folk be red on hight,
That erst was bot with clerkis comprehend. etc.
Quod Douglas etc.
| Virgil's Aeneid translated into Scottish verse | |