 | Poems (1830) |  |
79
ON THE MALYCE OF POETIS.
Sum of the Poyettis, and Makaris, that ar now,Of grit despyt and malice ar sa fow,
Sua that all lesingis, that can be inventit,
Thay put in writ, and garris thame be prentit;
To gar the peopill ill opinioun taik
Of thame, quhom of that thay thair ballatis maik.
With sclanderous wordis thay do all thing thay can
For to defame mony ane honest man,
In setting furthe thair buikis, and thair rymis,
Accusand sum of improbabill crymis:
And thocht that sum thair lybellis dois allow,
Yit few that will thair awin warkis avow.
And thocht that thay bakbytaris and blasphemaris,
Now at this tyme, has mony thair manteinaris,
The tym will cum that thay forthink sall it
That thay have put sic lesingis into writ:
To steill ane manis fame is gritter sin
Nor ony geir that is this warld within:
Thairfoir repent, ye Railaris, and restoir
To thame thair fame quhom ye sklandrit befoir:
To that effect apply your wordis, and deidis,
Ill bruit to tak furthe of the peopillis heidis:
Cry toung! I leid, throw all this natioune:
Mak buikis and rymis of recantatioune.
80
May gar ane tak ane uther be the hand,
And say, Think on—ye made of me ane ballat,
For your rewarde now I sall brek your pallat.
Men sould bewar quhat thing thay said or did,
For it may cum to licht lang hes bene hid.
Thairfoire na man mak ballatis, nor indyte,
Of ill, detractioune, sklander, nor dispyte.
Put not in writ that God, or man, may greife.
All vertew love, and all vycis repreife.
Or mak sum myrrie toy, to gude purpoise,
That may the herar, or the redar baith rejoise:
Or sum fruitful and gude moralité:
Or plesand thingis, may stand with cherité.
Dispytful Poyettis sould not tholit be
In commounweillis, or godlie cumpanie:
That sorte ar redie ay to saw seditioune;
And put gude men into suspitioune.
| Poems (1830) | |