Hornyt Lady, pail Cynthia, not brycht, 
Quhilk from thi broder borrowis al thi lycht, 
Rewlare of passage and ways mony one, 
Maistres of stremys, and glaidar of the nycht, 
Schipmen and pilgrymys hallowis thi mycht, 
Lemman to Pan, douchtir of Hyperion, 
That slepand kyssit the hyrd Endymyon, 
Thy strange wentis to write God grant me slycht, 
Twiching the thryd buke of Eneadon. 
The feirful stremys and costis wondyrfull 
Now most I write, althocht my wyt be dull, 
Wild aventuris, monstreis and quent effrays--- 
Of onkowth dangeris this nixt buke hail is full; 
Nyce Laborynth, quhar Mynotawr the bull 
Was kepte, had nevir sa feil cahuttis and ways. 
I dreid men clepe thame fablis now on days; 
Tharfor wald God I had thar erys to pull 
Mysknawis the creid, and threpis otheris forvayis. 
Incayss thai bark, I compt it nevir a myte; 
Quha kan not hald thar peice ar fre to flyte; 
Chide quhil thar hedis ryfe and hals worth hayss--- 
Weyn thai to murdryss me with thar dispyte? 
Or is it Virgill quham thame list bakbyte? 
His armour wald thai perss? Quhar is the place? 
He dowtis na dynt of polax, swerd nor mace. 
Quhat wenys thou, frend, the craw be worthyn quhite, 
Supposs the holkis be all ourgrowyn thi face? 
Deym as ȝhe lest that kan not demyng weill; 
And gentill curtass redaris of gude ȝeill, 
I ȝow beseik to gevin aduertenss; 
This text is full of storys euery deill, 
Realmys and landis, quharof I haue na feill 
Bot as I follow Virgill in sentens; 
Few knawis all thir costis sa far hens; 
To pike thame vp perchance ȝour eyn suld reill--- 
Thus aucht thar nane blame me for smal offens. 
By strange channellis, fronteris and forlandis, 
Onkouth costis and mony wilsum strandis 
Now goith our barge, for nowder howk nor craik 
May heir bruke sail, for schald bankis and sandis. 
From Harpyes fell and blynd Cyclopes handis 
Be my laid star, virgyne moder but maik; 
Thocht storm of temptatioun my schip oft schaik, 
Fra swelth of Sylla and dyrk Caribdis bandis, 
I meyn from hell, salue al go not to wraik.