Dyrk beyn my muse with dolorus armony. 
Melpomene, on the wald clerkis call 
Fortill compyle this dedly tragedy 
Twiching of Troy the subuersioun and fall; 
Bot sen I follow the poete principall, 
Quhat nedis purches fenȝeit termys new? 
God grant me grace hym dyngly to ensew! 
The drery fait with terys lamentabill 
Of Troys sege wydequhar our all is song, 
Bot followand Virgil, gif my wit war abill, 
Ane othir wyss now salt that bell berong 
Than euer was tofor hard in our tong. 
Saturn, thou auld fader of malancoly, 
Thyne is the cuyr my wofull pen to gy. 
Harkis, ladeis, ȝour bewte was the cawss; 
Harkis, knychtis, the wod fury of Mart; 
Wyss men, attendis mony sorofull clawss; 
And, ȝe dyssavouris, reid heir ȝour proper art; 
And fynaly, to specify euery part, 
Heir verifeit is that proverbe teching so, 
"All erdly glaidness fynysith with wo."
