William Dunbar: Schir, lat it neuer in toune be tald

Pages	Line number	Line
219	1	Schir, lat it neuer in toune be tald
	2	That I suld be ane #owllis #ald.
	3	Suppois I war ane ald #ald auer,
	4	Schott furth our clewch to squische the cleuer,
	5	And hed the strenthis off all Strenever,
	6	I wald at #oull be housit and stald.
	7	Schir, lat it neuer in toune be tald
	8	That I suld be ane #owllis #ald.
	9	I am ane auld hors, as #e know,
	10	That euer in duill dois drug and draw.
	11	Gryt court hors puttis me fra the staw,
	12	To fang the fog be firthe and fald.
	13	Schir, lat it neuer in toune be tald
	14	That I suld be ane #owllis #ald.
	15	I heff run lang furth in the feild
	16	On pastouris that ar plane and peld.
	17	I mycht be now tein in for eild,
	18	My bekis ar sprunning he and bald.
	19	Schir, lat it neuer in toune be tald
	20	That I suld be ane #owllis #ald.
	21	My maine is turned in to quhyt,
	22	And thair off #e heff all the wyt.
	23	Quhen vthair hors hed brane to byt,
	24	I gat bot gris, grype giff I wald.
	25	Schir, lat it neuer in toune be tald
	26	That I suld be ane #owllis #ald.
220	27	I was neuer dautit in to stabell.
	28	My lyff hes bein so miserabell
	29	My hyd to offer I am abell,
	30	For evill schoud strae that I reiv wald.
	31	Schir, lat it neuer in toune be tald
	32	That I suld be ane #owllis #ald.
	33	And #ett, suppois my thrift be thyne,
	34	Gif that I die #our aucht within
	35	Lat neuir the soutteris haue my skin,
	36	With vglie gumes to be gnawid.
	37	Schir, lat it neuer in toune be tald
	38	That I suld be ane #owllis #ald.
	39	The court hes done my curage cuill
	40	And maid me ane forridin muill.
	41	#ett to weir trapperis at the #uill,
	42	I wald be spurrit at everie spald.
	43	Schir, lat it neuer in toune be tald
	44	That I suld be ane #owllis #ald.
	45	Now lufferis cummis with larges lowd.
	46	Quhy sould not palfrayis thane be prowd,
	47	Quhen gillettis wilbe schomd and schroud,
	48	That riddin ar baith with lord and lawd ?
	49	Schir, lat it neuer in toune be tald
	50	That I suld be ane #owllis #ald.
	51	Quhen I was #oung and into ply
	52	And wald cast gammaldis to the sky,
	53	I had beine bocht in realmes bym
	54	Had I consentit to be sauld.
	55	Schir, lat it neuer in toune be tald
	56	That I suld be ane #owllis #ald.
221	57	With gentill hors quhen I wald knyp,
	58	Thane is thair laid on me ane quhip.
	59	To colleveris than man I skip,
	60	That scabbit ar, hes cruik and cald.
	61	Schir, lat it neuer in toune be tald
	62	That I suld be ane #owllis #ald.
	63	Thocht in the stall I be not clappit,
	64	As cursouris that in silk beine trappit,
	65	With ane new hous I wald be happit
	66	Aganis this Crysthinmes for the cald.
	67	Schir, lat it neuer in toune be tald
	68	That I suld be ane #owllis #ald.
		Respontio regis
	69	Efter our wrettingis, thesaurer,
	70	Tak in this gray hors, auld Dumbar,
	71	Quhilk in my aucht with seruice trew
	72	In lyart changeit is his hew.
	73	Gart hows him new aganis this #uill
	74	And busk him lyk ane bischopis muill,
	75	For with my hand I haue indost
	76	To pay quhateuir his trappouris cost.

