Gavin Douglas: The Palice of Honour

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9	1	Qvhen paill Aurora with face lamentabill
	2	Hir Russat Mantill, borderit all with Sabill,
	3	Lappit about the heuinly Circumstance,
	4	The tender bed and Arres honorabill
	5	Of Flora, Quene till floures amiabill,
	6	In May I rais to do my obseruance,
	7	And enterit in a Gardyne of plesance,
	8	With Sol depaint as Paradice amiabill
	9	And blisfull bewis with blomed varyance.
	10	Sa craftely Dame Flora had ouirfret
	11	Hir heuinly bed, powderit with mony a set
	12	Of Ruby, Topas, Perle and Emerant;
	13	With Balmy dew bathit and kyndlie wet,
	14	Quhill vapours hote, richt fresche and weill ybet,
	15	Dulce of odour, of fluour maist fragrant,
	16	The siluer droppis on Daseis distillant;
	17	Quhilk verdour branches ouir the alars #et
	18	With smoky sence the mystis reflectant.
	19	The fragrant flouris blomand in thair seis
	20	Ourispred the leuis of natures Tapestreis;
	21	Abone the quhilk with heuinly Harmoneis
	22	The birdis sat on twystis and on greis,
	23	Melodiously makand thair kyndlie gleis,
	24	Quhais schill noitis fordinned all the skyis.
	25	Of repercust air the Echo cryis
	26	Amang the branches of the blomed treis,
	27	And on the Laurers siluer droppis lyis.
	28	Quhill that I rowmed in that Paradice,
	29	Replenischit and full of all delice,
	30	Out of the sey Eous alift his heid -
	31	I mene the hors quhilk drawis at deuice
	32	The assiltrie and goldin Chair of price
11	33	Of Tytan, quhilk at morrow semis reid.
	34	The new collour that all the nicht lay deid
	35	Is restorit, baith foulis, flouris and Rice
	36	Recomfort was throw Phebus’ gudlyheid.
	37	The Dasy and the Maryguld vnlappit,
	38	Quhilks all the nicht lay with thair leuis happit
	39	Thame to reserue fra rewmes pungitiue.
	40	The vmbrate treis that Tytan about wappit
	41	War portrait and on the eirth yschappit
	42	Be goldin bemis viuificatiue,
	43	Quhais amene heit is maist restoratiue.
	44	The Gres hoppers amangis the vergers gnappit,
	45	And Beis wrocht materiall for thair Hyue.
	46	Richt hailsome was the sessoun of the #eir.
	47	Phebus furth #et depured bemis cleir,
	48	Maist nutritiue till all thingis vegetant.
	49	God Eolus of wind list nocht appeir,
	50	Nor auld Saturne, with his mortall speir
	51	And bad aspect contrair till euerie plant.
	52	Neptunus nold within that Palice hant.
	53	The beriall stremis rynning men micht heir
	54	By bonkis grene with glancis variant.0
	55	For till behald that heuinly place compleit,
	56	The purgit Air with new engendrit heit,
	57	The Sol enbroude with colour, vre and stone,
	58	The tender grene, the balmy droppis sweit,
	59	Sa reioycit and comfort was my Spreit
	60	I not was it a vision or fantone.
	61	Amyd the buskis rowming myne alone
	62	Within that garth of all plesance repleit,
	63	A voice I hard preclair as Phebus schone,
13	64	Singand: “O May, thow Mirrour of soles,
	65	Maternall Moneth, Lady and Maistres,
	66	Till euerie thing adoun respirature,
	67	Thyne heuinlie work and worthie craftines
	68	The small herbis constranis till incres.
	69	O verray ground till working of nature,
	70	Quhais hie curage and assucurit cure
	71	Causis the eirth his frutes til expres,
	72	Diffundant grace on euerie creature.
	73	Thy godly lore, cunning Incomparabill,
	74	Dantis the sauage beistis maist vnstabill
	75	And expellis all that nature infestis.
	76	The knoppit syonis with leuis aggreabill
	77	For till reuert and burgione ar maid abill.
	78	Thy mirth refreschis byrdis in thair nestis,
	79	Quhilks the to prise and nature neuer restis,
	80	Confessand #ow maist potent and louabill
	81	Amang the brownis of the Oliue twystis.
	82	In the is rute and augment of curage,
	83	In the enforces Martis vassalage,
	84	In the is amorous lufe and Harmonie
	85	With Incrementis fresche in lustie age.
	86	Quha that constranit ar in luifis rage,
	87	Addressand thame with obseruance airlie,
	88	Weill auchtis the till gloir and Magnifie.”
	89	And with that word I raisit my visage,
	90	Soir affrayit, half in ane frenesie.
	91	“O Nature, Quene, and O #e lustie May,”
	92	Quod I tho, “how lang sall I thus foruay,
	93	Quhilk #ow and Venus in this garth deseruis?
	94	Recounsell me out of this greit affray,
	95	That I may sing #ow laudis day be day.
	96	#e that all mundane creatures preseruis
	97	Comfort #our man that in this fanton steruis,
	98	With spreit arraisit and euerie wit away,
	99	Quaiking for feir, baith pulsis, vane and neruis.”
15	100	My fatal weird, my febill wit I wary,
	101	My desie heid quhome laik of brane gart vary
	102	And not sustene so amiabill a soun;
	103	With ery curage, febill strenthis sary,
	104	Bownand me hame and list na langer tary.
	105	Out of the air come ane impressioun,
	106	Throw quhais licht in extasie or swoun
	107	Amyd the virgultis all in till a fary
	108	As feminine so feblit fell I doun.
	109	And with that gleme sa desyit was my micht
	110	Quhill thair remanit nouther voice nor sicht,
	111	Breith, motion, nor heiring naturall.
	112	Saw neuer man so faynt a leuand wicht.
	113	And na ferly, for ouir excelland licht
	114	Corruptis the wit and garris the blude awaill
	115	Vntill the hart that it na danger aill.
	116	Quhen it is smorit, memberis wirkis not richt.
	117	The dreidfull terrour swa did me assaill.
	118	#it at the last – I not how lang a space - 
	119	A lytle heit appeirit in my face,
	120	Quhilk had tofoir bene paill and voyde of blude.
	121	Tho in my sweuen I met a ferly cace,
	122	I thocht me set within a desert place
	123	Amyd a Forest by a hyddeous flude
	124	With grysly fische, and schortly till conclude,
	125	I sall discryue – as God will giue me grace - 
	126	Myne Visioun in rurall termis rude.
19	127	Thow barrant wit, ouirset with fantasyis,
	128	Schaw now the craft, that in thy memor lyis.
	129	Schaw now thy schame, schaw now thy bad nystie,
	130	Schaw thy endite, reprufe of Rethoryis,
	131	Schaw now thy beggit termis mair than thryis,
	132	Schaw now thy rymis and thine harlotrie,
	133	Schaw now thy dull, exhaust Inanitie,
	134	Schaw furth thy cure and write thir frenesyis,
	135	Quhilks of thy sempill cunning nakit the.
	136	My rauist spreit in that desert terribill
	137	Approchit neir that vglie flude horribill,
	138	Like till Cichyte the riuer Infernall,
	139	With vile water quhilk maid a hiddious trubil,
	140	Rinnand ouirheid, blude reid, and Impossibill
	141	That it had bene a riuer naturall;
	142	With brayis bair, raif Rochis like to fall,
	143	Quhairon na gers nor herbis wer visibill
	144	Bot swappis brint with blastis boriall.
	145	This laithlie flude rumland as thonder routit,
	146	In qhome the fisch #elland as eluis schoutit.
	147	Thair #elpis wilde my heiring all fordeifit.
	148	Thay grym monstures my spreits abhorrit and doutit.
	149	Not throw the soyl bot muskane treis sproutit, 
	150	Combust, barrant, vnblomit and vnleifit,
	151	Auld, rottin runtis quhairen na sap was leifit,
	152	Moch, all waist, widderit, with granis moutit -
	153	A ganand den quhair murtherars men reifit.
	154	Quhairfoir my seluin was richt sair agast.
	155	This wildernes abhominabill and waist,
	156	In quhome nathing was nature comfortand,
	157	Was dark as Rock the quhilk the sey vpcast.
21	158	The quhissilling wind blew mony bitter blast,
	159	Runtis rattillit and vneith micht I stand.
	160	Out throw the wod I crap on fute and hand.
	161	The Riuer stank, the treis clatterit fast,
	162	The soyl was nocht bot Marres, slike and sand.
	163	And not but caus my spreitis wer abaisit,
	164	All solitair in that desert arraisit.
	165	“Allace”, I said, “is nane vther remeid?
	166	Cruell Fortoun, quhy hes thow me betraisit?
	167	Quhy hes thow thus my fatall end compassit?
	168	Allace, allace, sall I thus sone be deid
	169	In this desert, and wait nane vther reid,
	170	Bot be deuoirit with sum beist Rauenous.
	171	I weip, I waill, I plene, I cry, I pleid.
	172	Inconstant warld and quheill contrarious!
	173	Thy transitorie plesance quhat auaillis?
	174	Now thair, now heir, now hie and now deuaillis,
	175	Now to, now fra, now law, now Magnifyis,
	176	Now hait, now cald, now lauchis, now beuaillis,
	177	Now seik, now haill, now werie, now not aillis,
	178	Now gude, now euill, now weitis and now dryis,
	179	Now thow promittis and richt now thow denyis,
	180	Now wo, now weill, now firme, now friuolous,
	181	Now game, now gram, now lowis, now defyis,
	182	Inconstant warld and quheill contrarious!
	183	Ha, quha suld haue affyance in thy blis?
	184	Ha, quha suld haue firme esperance in this,
	185	Quhilk is allce sa freuch and variant?
	186	Certes, nane. Sum hes! No wicht? Surelie, #is.
	187	Than hes my self bene gyltie? #e, I-wis.
	188	Thairfoir, allace, sall danger thus me dant?
	189	Quhidder is becum sa sone this duillie hant?
	190	And Ver translait in winter furious?
	191	Thus I beuaill my faitis repugnant.
	192	Inconstant warld and quheill contrarious!
23	193	Bydand the deid thus in my extasie,
	194	Ane dyn I hard approching fast me by,
	195	Quhilk mouit fra the plague Septentrionall,
	196	As heird of beistis stamping with loud cry.
	197	Bot than God wait how affrayit was I,
	198	Traistand to be stranglit with bestiall.
	199	Amid a stock richt priuelie I stall,
	200	Quhair luikand out anone I did espy
	201	Ane lustie rout of beistis rationall -
	202	Of Ladyis fair and gudlie men arrayit
	203	In constant weid that weill my spreitis payit,
	204	With degest mind, quhairin all wit aboundit.
	205	Full soberlie thair Haiknayis thay assayit
	206	Efter the faitis auld and not forwayit;
	207	Thair hie prudence schew furth and nathing roundit,
	208	With gude effeir quhairat the wod resoundit.
	209	In steidfast ordour, to vesie vnaffrayit,
	210	Thay ryding furth with stabilnes ygroundit.
	211	Amiddis quhome borne in ane goldin Chair,
	212	Ouirfret with perle and stanis maist preclair,
	213	That drawin was by Haiknayis all milk quhite
	214	Was set a Quene, as lyllie sweit of swair,
	215	In Purpour Rob hemmit with gold Ilk gair,
	216	Quhilk Gemmit claspis closit all perfite;
	217	A Diademe maist plesandlie polite
	218	Set on the tressis of hir giltin hair,
	219	And in hir hand a Scepter of delite.
	220	Sine, nixt hir raid in granit violate
	221	Twelf damisellis, Ilk ane in thair estait,
	222	Quhilks semit of hir counsell maist secre.
	223	And nixt thame was a lustie rout, God wait,
	224	Lords, Ladyis and mony fair Prelait,
	225	Baith borne of hie estait and law degre.
	226	Furth with thair Quene thay all by passit me;
	227	Ane esie pais thay ryding furth the gait,
	228	And I abaid alone within the tre.
25	229	And as the rout was passit, one and one,
	230	And I remanand in the tre alone,
	231	Out throw the wod come rydand Catiues twane,
	232	Ane on ane Asse, a widdie about his mone.
	233	The vther raid ane hiddeous hors vpone.
	234	I passit furth and fast at thame did frane,
	235	Quhat men thay wer. Thay answerit me agane:
	236	“Our Namis bene Achitophel and Sinone,
	237	That by our subtell menis feill hes slane.”
	238	“Wait #e,” quod I, “quhat signifeis #one rout?”
	239	Synon said “#ee”, and gaue ane hiddeous schout.
	240	“We wrechtis bene abiect thair fra I-wis.
	241	#one is the Quene of Sapience, but dout,
	242	Lady Minerue, and #one twelf hir about
	243	Ar the prudent Sibillais full of blis,
	244	Cassandra, eik Delbora and Circes,
	245	The fatall sisters twynand our weirdis out,
	246	Iudith, Iael, and mony a Prophetis,
	247	Quhilks groundit ar in firme Intelligence;
	248	And thair is als into #one Court gone hence
	249	Clerkis diuine with problewmis curius,
	250	As Salomon, the well of Sapience,
	251	And Aristoll, fulfillit of prudence,
	252	Salust, Senek and Titus Liuius,
	253	Pithagoras, Porphyre, Permenydus,
	254	Melysses with his sawis but defence,
	255	Sidrach, Secundus and Solenyus.
	256	Ptholomeus, Ipocras, Socrates,
	257	Empedocles, Neptenabus, Hermes,
	258	Galien, Auerroes and Plato,
	259	Enoch, Lameth, Iob and Diogenes,
	260	The eloquent and prudent Vlisses,
	261	Wise Iosephus and facund Cicero,
	262	Melchisedech with vther mony mo.
	263	Thair veyage lyis throw out this wildernes.
	264	To the Palice of Honour all thay go,
27	265	Is situat from hence liggis ten hunder.
	266	Our horsis oft, or we be thair, will founder.
	267	Adew, we may na langer heir remane.”
	268	“Or that #e pas,” quod i, “tell me this wonder,
	269	How that #e wretchit Catiues thus at vnder
	270	Ar sociat with this Court Souerane.”
	271	Achitophell maid this answer agane:
	272	“Knawis thow not? Haill, eirdquaik and thunder
	273	Ar oft in May, with mony schour of rane.
	274	Richt sa we bene into this companie.
	275	Our wit aboundit and vsit was lewdlie.
	276	My wisdome ay fulfillit my desire,
	277	As thow may in the Bybill weill espy,
	278	How Dauids prayer put my counsell by.
	279	I gart his Sone aganis him conspire,
	280	The quhilk was slane; quhairfoir vp be the swire
	281	My self I hangit, frustrat sa foulelie.
	282	This Synon was a Greik that raisit fire
	283	First into Troy, as Vurgill dois report;
	284	Sa tratourlike maid him be draw ouirthort,
	285	Quhill in he brocht the hors with men of Armis,
	286	Quhairthrow the toun destroyit was at schort.”
	287	Quod I: “ Is this #our destanie and sort?
	288	Cursit be he that sorrowis for #our harmis,
	289	For #e haue bene schrewis baith, be goddis armis.
	290	#e will obtene na entres at #one port
	291	Bot gif it be throw Sorcerie or Charmis.”
	292	“Ingres to haue,” quod thay,” we not presume.
	293	It suffices vs to se the Palice blume,
	294	And stand on rowme quhair better folk bene charrit.
	295	For to remane, adew, we haue na tume.
	296	This Ilk way cummis the Courtis, be our dume,
	297	Of Diane and Venus, that feill hes marrit.”
	298	With that thay raid away, as thay war skarrit,
	299	And I agane, maist like ane Elriche grume,
	300	Crap in the muskane Aikin stok misharrit.
29	301	Thus wrethcitlie I maid my residence,
	302	Imagining feill syse for sum defence
	303	In contrair sauage beistis maist cruell,
	304	For na remeid bot deid be violence
	305	Sum time asswagis febill Indigence.
	306	Thus in a part I recomfort my sell,
	307	Bot that sa litle was I dar not tell.
	308	The stichling of a Mous out of presence
	309	Had bene to me mair vgsum than the Hell.
	310	#it glaid I was that I with them had spokin.
	311	Had not bene that, certes my hart had brokin
	312	For megirnes and pussillamitie.
	313	Remanand thus within the tre all lokkin,
	314	Desirand fast sum signes or sum tokin
	315	Of Lady Venus or hir companie,
	316	Ane Hart transformit ran fast by the tree,
	317	With houndis rent, on quhome Diane was wrokin.
	318	Thairby I vnderstude that scho was nie.
	319	Thay had befoir declairit hir cumming
	320	Mair perfitelie, for thy I knew the signe
	321	Was Acteon, quhilk Diane nakit waitit,
	322	Bathing in a well and eik hir Madynnis #ing.
	323	The Goddes was commouit at this thing,
	324	And him in forme hes of ane Hart translatit.
	325	I saw, allace, his houndis at him slatit.
	326	Bakwert he blent to giue thame knawledgeing.
	327	Thay raif thair Lord, misknew him at them batit.
	328	Sine Ladyis come with lustie giltin tressis,
	329	In habit widle maist lke till fostaressis,
	330	Amiddis quhome heich on ane Eliphant,
	331	In signe that scho in chaistitie Incressis,
	332	Raid Diane, that Ladyis hartis dressis
	333	Till be stabill and na way Inconstant.
	334	God wait that nane of thame is variant.
	335	All chaist and trew virginitie professis
	336	I note, bot few I saw with Diane hant.
31	337	Intill that Court I saw anone present
	338	Iephteis douchter, a lustie Lady gent,
	339	Offerit to God in hir virginitie.
	340	Polixena, I-wis, was not absent,
	341	Peanthesile with mannis hardyment,
	342	Effyoin and Virgenius’ douchter fre,
	343	With vther flouris of feminitie,
	344	Baith of the new and the auld Testament.
	345	All on thay raid and left me in the tre.
	346	In that desert dispers in sonder skatterit
	347	Wer bewis bair quhome rane and wind on batterit.
	348	The water stank, the feild was odious,
	349	Quhair dragouns, lessertis, askis, edders swatterit,
	350	With mouthis gapand, forkit taillis tatterit,
	351	With mony a stang and spoutis vennemous
	352	Corrupting Air be rewme contagious.
	353	Maist gros and vile enpoysonit cludis clatterit,
	354	Reikand like hellis smoke sulfurious.
	355	My daisit heid fordullit disselie
	356	I raisit vp, half in ane litargie,
	357	As dois ane Catiue ydrunkin in sleip,
	358	And sa appeirit to my fantasie
	359	A schynand licht out of the North eist sky,
	360	The quhilk with cure to heir I did tak keip.
	361	Proportion sounding dulcest hard I peip,
	362	In Musick number full of Harmonie
	363	Distant on far was caryit be the deip.
	364	Farther by water folk may soundis heir
	365	Than be the eirth, the quhilk with poris seir
	366	Vp drinkis Air that mouit is be sound,
	367	Quhilk in compact water of ane Riueir
	368	May nocht enter bot rinnis thair and heir,
	369	Quhill it at last be caryit on the ground;
	370	And thocht throw din be experience is found
	371	The fische ar causit within the Riuer steir,
	372	Inwith the water the noyis dois not abound.
33	373	Violent din the Air brekis and deiris,
	374	Sine greit motioun of Air the water steiris;
	375	The water steirit, fisches for feirdnes fleis,
	376	Bot out of dout na fische in water heiris,
	377	For as we se richt few of thame hes eiris;
	378	And eik forsuith, bot gif wise Clerkis leis,
	379	Thair is na Air Inwith waters nor seis,
	380	But quhilk na thing may heir (as wise men leiris)
	381	Like as but licht thair is na thing that seis.
	382	Aneuch of this – I not quhat it may mene.
	383	I will returne till declair all bedene
	384	My dreidfull dreame with grislie fantasyis.
	385	I schew befoir quhat I had hard or sene,
	386	Particularlie sum of my panefull tene.
	387	Bot now, God wait, quhat feirdnes on me lyis.
	388	Langer, I said – and now this this time is twyis - 
	389	Ane sound I hard, of Angellis as it had bene,
	390	With Harmonie, fordinnand all the skyis.
	391	Sa dulce, sa sweit, and sa Melodious,
	392	That euerie wicht thair with micht be Ioyous,
	393	Bot I and Catiues dullit in dispair.
	394	For quhen a man is wraith or furious,
	395	Melancholik for wo or tedious,
	396	Than is all plesance till him maist contrair.
	397	And semblalie than sa did with me fair.
	398	This Melodie Intonit heuinlie thus
	399	For profound wo constranit me mak cair.
	400	And murnand thus as ane maist wofull wicht,
	401	If the maist plesand Court I had a sicht
	402	In warld adoun sen Adam was creat.
	403	Quhat sang! Quhat Ioy! Quhat harmonie! Quhat licht!
	404	Quhat mirthfull solace, plesance all at richt!
	405	Quhat fresche bewtie! Quhat excelland estait!
	406	Quhat sweit vocis! Quhat wordis suggurait!
	407	Quhat fair debaitis! Quhat luifsum Ladyis bricht!
	408	Quhat lustie gallandis did on thair seruice wait!
35	409	Quhat gudlie pastance and quhat menstralie!
	410	Quhat game thay maid! In faith, not tell can I,
	411	Thocht I had profund wit Angelicall.
	412	The heuinlie soundis of thair Harmonie
	413	Hes dynnit sa my drerie fantasie,
	414	Baith wit and ressoun half is loist of all.
	415	#it as I knaw als lichtlie say I sall.
	416	That Angellike and godlie companie
	417	Till se me thocht a thing Celestiall.
	418	Proceidand furth was draw ane Chariote
	419	Be Cursouris twelf, trappit in grene veluote.
	420	Of fine gold wer Iunctures and harnasingis.
	421	The Lymnaris wer of birneist gold, God wote,
	422	Baith aixtre and quheillis of gold, I hote.
	423	Of goldin cord wer lyamis and the stringis,
	424	Festinnit coniunct in massie goldin Ringis,
	425	Euyr Hamis conuenient for sic note,
	426	And raw silk brechamis ouir thair halsis hingis.
	427	The bodie of the Cairt of Euir bone
	428	With Crisolitis and mony precious stone
	429	Was all ouirfret in dew proportioun,
	430	Like sternis in the Firmament quhilks schone.
	431	Reparrellit was that godlike plesand wone,
	432	Tyldit abone and to the eirth adoun,
	433	In richest claith of gold of Purpure broun,
	434	But fas nor vther fren#eis had it none
	435	Saif claith of gold anamallit all fassioun,
	436	Quhairfra dependant hang thir megir bellis,
	437	Sum round, sum thaw, in sound the quhilks excellis.
	438	All wer of gold of Araby maist fine,
	439	Quhilks with the wind concordandlie sa knellis,
	440	That to be glaid thair sound all wicht compellis.
	441	The Harmonie was sa Melodious fine,
	442	In mannis voice and Instrument diuine,
	443	Quhair sa thay went it semit nathing ellis
	444	Bot Ierarchyes of Angellis ordours nine.
37	445	Amid the Chair fulfillit of plesance
	446	Ane Lady sat, at quhais obeysance
	447	Was all that rout, and wonder is to heir
	448	Of hir excelland lustie countenance.
	449	Hir hie bewtie, quhilkmaist is to auance,
	450	Precellis all; thair may be na compeir.
	451	For like Phebus in hiest of his Spheir
	452	Hir bewtie schane, castand sa greit ane glance.
	453	All fairheid it opprest baith far and neir.
	454	Scho was peirles of schap and portrature.
	455	In hir had nature finischit hir cure.
	456	As for gude hauingis thair was nane bot scho,
	457	And hir array was sa fine and sa pure
	458	That quhairof was hir Rob I am not sure,
	459	For nocht bot Perle and stanis micht I se;
	460	Of quhome the brichtnes of hir hie bewtie
	461	For to behald my sicht micht not Indure,
	462	Mair nor the bricht Sone may the Bakkis Ee.
	463	Hir hair as gold or Topasis was hewit.
	464	Quha hir beheld, hir bewtie ay renewit.
	465	On heid scho had a Crest of dyamantis.
	466	Thair was na wicht that gat a sicht, eschewit;
	467	War he neuer sa constant or weill thewit,
	468	Na he was woundit and him hir seruant grantis.
	469	That heuinlie wicht, hir Cristall Ene sa dantis,
	470	For blenkis sweit nane passit vnpersewit,
	471	Bot gif he wer preseruit as thir Sanctis.
	472	I wonder sair and fast in mind did  stair,
	473	Quhat creature that micht be was sa fair,
	474	Of sa peirles excellent womanheid.
	475	And farlyand thus, I saw within the Chair
	476	Quhair that a man was set with lymmis sqair,
	477	His bodie weill entail#eit euerie steid.
	478	He bair a bow with dartis haw as leid.
	479	His cleithing was als grene as ane Huntair,
	480	Bot he forsuith had na Eine in his heid.
39	481	I vnderstude be dignes persauabill
	482	That was Cupyd, the God maist dissauabill,
	483	The Lady, Venus his Mother, a Goddes.
	484	I knew that was the Court sa variabill
	485	Of eirdly lufe quhilk sendill standis stabill.
	486	Bot #it thair mirth and solace neuertheles,
	487	In Musick tone and menstralie expres,
	488	Sa craftelie with curage aggreabill - 
	489	Hard neuer wicht sic Melodie, I ges. 
	490	Accompanyit lustie #onkeirs with all.
	491	Fresche Ladyis sang in voice virgineall
	492	Concordis sweit, diuers entoned reportis.
	493	Proportionis fine with sound Celestiall,
	494	Duplat, triplat, diatesseriall,
	495	Seque altera and deculpa resortis,
	496	Diapason of mony sindrie sortis
	497	War soung and playit be seir cunning Menstrall
	498	On lufe Ballatis with mony fair disportis.
	499	In modulatioun hard I play and sing
	500	Faburdoun, priksang, discant, countering,
	501	Cant Organe, figuratioun, and gemmell
	502	On croud, Lute, Harp, with mony gudlie spring.
	503	Schalmes, Clariounis, portatiues hard I ring,
	504	Monycord, Organe, Tympane, and Cymbell,
	505	Sytholl, Psalttrie, and voices sweit as bell,
	506	Soft releschingis in dulce deliuering,
	507	Fractionis diuide at rest or clois compell.
	508	Not Pan of Archaid sa plesandlie playis,
	509	Nor King Dauid quhais playing, as men sayis,
	510	Coniurit the Spreit, the quhilk Saul confoundit;
	511	Nor Amphion with mony subtell layis,
	512	Quhilk Thebes wallit with harping in his dayis;
	513	Nor he that first the subtell craftis foundit
	514	Was not in Musick half sa weill Igroundit,
	515	Nor knew thair measure tent daill be na wayis.
	516	At thair 5resort baith heuin and eird resoundit.
41	517	Na mair I vnderstude thir numbers fine,
	518	Be God, than dois a greik or a swine,
	519	Saif that me think sweit soundis gude to heir.
	520	Na mair heiron my laubour will I tine.
	521	Na mair I will thir verbillis sweit define,
	522	How that thair Musick tones war mair cleir
	523	And dulcer than the mouing of the Spheir
	524	Or Orpheus’ Harp of Thrace with sound diuine.
	525	Glaskeriane maid na noyis compeir.
	526	Thay condiscend sa weill in ane accord
	527	That by na Ioint thair soundis bene discord.
	528	In euerie key thay werren sa expert.
	529	Of thair array gif I suld mak record -
	530	Lustie springalis and mony gudlie Lord,
	531	Tender #ouglingis with pietous virgin hart,
	532	Elder Ladyis, knew mair of Lustis art,
	533	Diuers vthers quhilks me not list remord,
	534	Quhais lakkest weid was silkis ouirbrouderit.
	535	In vestures quent of mony sindrie gyse
	536	I saw all claith of gold men micht deuise,
	537	Purpour colour, punik and skarlote hewis,
	538	Veluot Robbis maid with the grand assyse,
	539	Dames, Satyne, begaryit mony wise,
	540	Cramessie satine, veluot enbroude in diuers rewis,
	541	Satine figures, champit with flouris and bewis,
	542	Damesflure, tere pyle, quhairon thair lyis
	543	Peirle Orphany, quhilk euerie stait renewis.
	544	Thair riche entire maist peirles to behald
	545	My wit can not discriue, howneit I wald.
	546	Mony entrappit steid with silkis seir,
	547	Mony pattrell neruit with gold I tald,
	548	Full mony new gilt harnasing not ald,
	549	On mony Palfray luifsum Ladyis cleir.
	550	And nixt the Chair I saw formest appeir
	551	Vpon a bardit Curser, stout and bald,
	552	Mars, God of strife, enarmit in birneist geir.
43	553	Euerie Inuasibill wapon on him he bair.
	554	His luik was grym, his bodie large and squair,
	555	His lymmis weill entail#eit to be strang.
	556	His nek was greit, a span lenth weill or mair,
	557	His visage braid, with Crisp broun curland hair,
	558	Of stature not ouir greit nor #it ouir lang.
	559	Behaldand Venus, “O #e, my lufe,” he sang,
	560	And scho agane with dalyance sa fair
	561	Hir knicht him cleipis quhair sa he ryde or gang.
	562	Thair was Arcyte and Palemon aswa,
	563	Accompanyit with fair Aemilia,
	564	The Quene Dido with hir fals lufe Enee,
	565	Trew Troilus, vnfaithfull Cressida,
	566	The fair Paris and plesand Helena,
	567	Constant Lucrece and traist Penelope,
	568	Kinde Piramus and wobegone Thysbe,
	569	Dolorous Progne, trist Philomena.
	570	King Dauids lufe thair saw I, Barsabe.
	571	Thair was Ceix with the kind Alcyon,
	572	And Achilles wroth with Agamemnon
	573	For Brissida his Ladyfra him tane,
	574	Wofull Phillis with hir lufe Demophoon,
	575	Subtell Medea and hir Knicht Iason.
	576	Of France I saw thair Paris and Veane.
	577	Thair was Phedra, Theseus and Adriane,
	578	The secreit, wise, hardie Ipomedon,
	579	Assueir, Hester, Irrepreuabill Susane.
	580	Thair was the fals vnhappy Dalida,
	581	Cruell, wickit and curst Deianira,
	582	Waryit Biblis and the fair Absolon,
	583	Ypsyphile, abhominabill Sylla,
	584	Tristram, Yside, Helcana and Anna,
	585	Cleopatra and worthie Mark Anthone,
	586	Iole, Hercules, Alcest, Ixion,
	587	The onlie patient wife, Gressillida,
	588	Narcisus that his heid brak on ane stone.
45	589	Thair was Iacob with fair Rachel, his maik,
	590	The quhilk become till Laban for hir saik
	591	Fourtene #eir bound with hart Immutabill.
	592	Thair bene bot few sic now, I vndertaik.
	593	Thir fair Ladyis in silk and claith of Laik
	594	Thus lang sall not all foundin be sa stabill.
	595	This Venus’court, quhilk was in lufe maist abil,
	596	For discriue my cunning is to waik.
	597	Ane multitude thay war Innumerabill
	598	Of gudlie folke in euerie kinde and age.
	599	With blenkis sweit, fresche lustie grene curage,
	600	And daliance thay ryding furth in feir.
	601	Sum leuis in hope and sum in greit thirlage,
	602	Sum in dispair, sum findis his panis swage.
	603	Garlandis of flouris and rois Chaipletis seir
	604	Thay bair on heid and samin sang sa cleir,
	605	Quhill that thair mirth commouit my curage
	606	Till sing this lay quhilk followand #e may heir:
	607	“Constranit hart belappit in distres,
	608	Groundit in wo and full of heuines,
	609	Complene thy panefull cairis Infinite.
	610	Bewaill this warldis frail vnsteidfastnes,
	611	Hauand regrait sen gane is thy glaidnes,
	612	And all thy solace returnit in dispite.
	613	O Catiue thrall, Inuolupit in syte,
	614	Confes thy fatall wofull wretchitnes,
	615	Deuide in twane and furth diffound all tyte
	616	Aggreuance greit in miserabill Indyte.
	617	My cruell fact, subiectit to pennance,
	618	Predestinate sa void of all plesance,
	619	Hes euerie greif amid mine hart Ingraue.
	620	The slide, Inconstant destenie or chance
	621	Vnequallie dois hing in thair ballance
	622	My demerites and greit dolour I haue.
	623	This Purgatorie redoublis all the laue.
	624	Ilk wicht hes sum weilfair at obeysance
	625	Saif me, bysning, that may na grace ressaue.
	626	Deid, the addres, and do me to my graue.
47	627	Wo worth sic strang misfortoun anoyous,
	628	Quhilk hes opprest my spreitis maist Ioyous!
	629	Wo worth this warldis freuch felicitie!
	630	Wo worth my feruent diseis dolorous!
	631	Wo worth the wicht that is not pieteous,
	632	Quhair the trespassour penitent thay se!
	633	Wo worth this deid that daylie dois me die!
	634	Wo worth Cupyd and wo worth fals Venus!
	635	Wo worth thame baith! Ay waryit mot thay be!
	636	Wo worth thair Court and cursit destenie!”
	637	Loude as I mocht, in dolour all distren#eit,
	638	This lay I sang and not ane letter fen#eit.
	639	Tho saw I Venus on hir lip did bite,
	640	And all the Court in haist thair horsis ren#eit,
	641	Proclamand loude, “Quhair is #one Poid that plen#eit,
	642	Quhilk deith deseruis committand sic dispite?”
	643	Fra tre to tre thay seirching but respite,
	644	Quhil ane me fand, quhilk said – and greit disden#eit -
	645	“Auant, veillane, thow reclus Imperfite!”
	646	All in ane Feuir out of my muskane bowre
	647	On kneis I crap and law for feir did lowre.
	648	Than all the Court on me thair heidis schuik,
	649	Sum glowmand grim, sum girnand with visage sowre.
	650	Sum in the nek gaue me feil dyntis dowre.
	651	“Pluk at the Craw,” thay cryit, “deplome the Ruik!”
	652	Pulland my hair, with blek my face thay bruik.
	653	Skrymmorie Fery gaue me mony a clowre.
	654	For chyppynutie ful oft my chaftis quuik.
	655	With pane torment, thus in thair teneful play
	656	Till Venus bound thay led me furth the way,
	657	Quhilk than was set amid a goldin Chair;
	658	And sa confoundit into that fell affray
	659	As that I micht considder thair affray.
	660	Me thocht the feild ouirspred with Carpettis fair
	661	(Quhilk was tofoir brint, barrane, vile and bair)
	662	Wox maist plesand, bot all, the suith to say,
	663	Micht nocht ameis my greuous panefull sair.
49	664	Enthronit sat Mars, Cupid and Venus.
	665	Tho rais ane Clerk, was cleipit Varius,
	666	Me till accusen of a deidlie crime.
	667	And he begouth and red ane dittay thus:
	668	“Thow wickit Catiue, wod and furious,
	669	Presumpteouslie now at this present time
	670	My Lady heir blasphemit in thy Rime;
	671	Hir sone, hir self, and hir Court amorous
	672	For till betrais awaitit heir sen Prime.”
	673	Now God thow wait me thocht my fortune fey.
	674	With quaikand voce and hart cald as a key.
	675	On kneis O kneillit and mercie culd Imploir,
	676	Submittand me but ony langer pley
	677	Venus’mandate and plesure to obey.
	678	Grace was denyit and my trauell forloir,
	679	For scho gaue charges to proceid as befoir.
	680	Than Varius spak richt stoutlie me to fley,
	681	Inioynand silence till ask grace ony moir.
	682	He demandit my answer, quhat I said.
	683	Than as I mocht, with curage all mismaid
	684	Fra time I vnderstude na mair supplie,
	685	Sair abaisit beliue I thus out braid:
	686	“Set of thir pointis of crime now on me laid
	687	I may me quite, giltles in veritie,
	688	#it first agane the Iudge quhilk heir I se,
	689	This Inordinate Court and proces quaid,
	690	I will oniect for causis twa or thre.”
	691	Inclynand law, quod I with peteous face:
	692	“I me defend, Madame, pleis it #our grace.”
	693	“Say on”, quod scho; than said I thus but mair:
	694	“Madame, #e may not sit in to this cace,
	695	For Ladyis may be Iudges in na place.
	696	And mairatouir I am na seculair.
	697	A spirituall man – thocht I be void of lair -
	698	Cleipit I am, and aucht my liues space
	699	To be remit till my Iudge ordinair.
51	700	I #ow beseik, Madame, with bissie cure
	701	Till giue ane gratious Interlocuture
	702	On thir exceptiounis now proponit lait.”
	703	Than suddanelie Venus, I #ow assure,
	704	Deliuerit sone, and with a voice sa sture
	705	Answerit thus: “thow subtell smy, God wait!
	706	Quhat, wenis thow to degraid my hie estait,
	707	Me to decline as Iudge, curst creature?
	708	It beis not sa, the game gais vther gait.
	709	As we the find, thow sall thoill Iudgement.
	710	Not of a Clerk we se the represent
	711	Saif onlie falset and dissaitfull taillis.
	712	First quhen thow come, with hart and hail Intent
	713	Thow the submittit to my commandement.
	714	Now, now, thairof me think to sone thow faillis.
	715	I wene na thing bot folie that the aillis.
	716	#it Clerkis bene in subtell wordis quent,
	717	And in the deid als schairp as ony snaillis.
	718	#e bene the men bewrayis my commandis.
	719	#e bene the men disturbis my seruandis.
	720	#e bene the men with wickit wordis feill,
	721	Quhilk blasphemis fresche lustie #oung gallandis
	722	That in my seruice and retinew standis.
	723	#e bene the men that cleipis #ow sa leill
	724	With fals behest quhill #e #our purpois steill,
	725	Sine #e forsweir baith bodie, treuth and handis.
	726	#e bene sa fals #e can na word conceill.
	727	Haue done,” quod scho, “schir Varius alswyith
	728	Do write the sentence. Lat this Catiue kyith
	729	Gif our power may deming his misdeid.”
	730	Than God thow wait gif that my Spreit was blyith.
	731	The fewerous hew intill my face did myith
	732	All my male eis, for swa the horribill dreid
	733	Haill me ouirset; I micht not say my creid.
	734	For feir and wo wothin my skin I wryith.
	735	I micht not pray, forsuith, thocht I had neid.
53	736	#it of my deith I set not half ane fle.
	737	For greit effeir me thocht na pane to die.
	738	Bot sair I dred me for sum vther Iaip,
	739	That Venus suld throw hir subtillitie
	740	In till sum bysning beist transfigurat me
	741	As in a Beir, a Bair, ane Oule, ane Aip.
	742	I traistit sa for till haue bene mischaip
	743	That oft I wald my hand behald to se
	744	Gif it alterit, and oft my visage graip.
	745	Tho I reuoluit in my mind anone
	746	How that Diane transformit Acteone,
	747	And Iuno eik as for a jow gart keip
	748	The fair Yo that lang was wobegone.
	749	Argus hir #immit that ene had mony one,
	750	Quhome at the last Mercurius gart sleip,
	751	And hir deliuerit of that danger deip.
	752	I rememberit also how in a stone
	753	The wife of Loth Ichangit sair did weip.
	754	I vmbethocht how Ioue and auld Saturne
	755	In till ane Wolf thay did Lycaon turne,
	756	And how the michtie Nabuchodonosor
	757	In beistlie forme did on the feild soiurne,
	758	And for his gilt was maid to weip and murne.
	759	Thir feirfull wonders gart me dreid full soir,
	760	For by exempilis oft I hard tofoir
	761	He suld bewar that seis his fellow spurne.
	762	Mischance of ane suld be ane vtheris loir.
	763	And rolland this in diuers fantaseis
	764	Terribill thochtis oft my hart did gryis,
	765	For all remeid was alterit in dispair.
	766	Thair was na hope of mercie till deuyis,
	767	Thair was na wicht my freind be na kin wyis.
	768	All haillelie the Court was me contrair.
	769	Than was all maist writtin the sentence sair.
	770	My febill minde seand this greit suppryis
	771	Was than of wit and euerie blis full bair.
55	772	Lo thus amid this hard perplexitie,
	773	Awaitand euer quhat moment I suld die
	774	Or than sum new transfiguratioun,
	775	He that quhilk is eternall veritie,
	776	The glorious Lord ringand in eprsounis thre,
	777	Prouydit hes for my Saluatioun
	778	Be sum gude spreitis Reuelatioun,
	779	Quhilk Intercessioun maid, I traist, for me.
	780	I for#et all Imaginatioun.
	781	All haill my dreid I tho for#et in hy
	782	And all my wo, bot #it I wist not quhy
	783	Saue that I had sume hope till be releuit.
	784	I raisit than my visage haistelie
	785	And with a blenk anone I did espy
	786	A luik sicht quhilk nocht my hart engreuit.
	787	Ane heuinlie rout out throw the word eschuit,
	788	Of quhome the bountie, gif I not deny,
	789	Vneith may be intill ane Scripture brewit.
	790	With Lawreir Crownit in Robbis side all new,
	791	Of a fassoun and all of steidfast hew,
	792	Arrayit weill ane Court I saw cum neir
	793	Of wise, degest, Eloquent Fathers trew
	794	And plesand Ladyis, quhilks fresche bewtie schew,
	795	Singand softlie full sweit on thair maneir,
	796	On Poet wise all diuers versis seir,
	797	Historyis greit in Latine toung and grew,
	798	With fresche Indite and soundis gude to heir.
57	799	And sum of thame Ad Lyram playit and sang
	800	Sa plesand verse quhill all the Roches rang,
	801	Metir Saphik and also Elygie.
	802	Thair Instruments all maist war Fidillis lang,
	803	Bot with a string quhilk neuer a wreist #eid wrang.
	804	Sum had ane Harp, and sum a fair Psaltrie
	805	On lutis sum thair accentis subtelle. [L] 
	806	Deuydit weill and held the measure lang
	807	In soundis sweit of plesand Melodie.
	808	The Ladyis sang in voices dulcorait
	809	Facund Epistillis, quhilks quhylum Ouid wrait - 
	810	As Phillis Quene send till Duke Demophoon,
	811	And of Penelope the greit regrait
	812	Send to hir Lord, scho douting his estait,
	813	That he at Troy suld loisit be or tone.
	814	How Asconius till Cydippe anone
	815	Wrait his Complaint thair hard I weill, God wait,
	816	With vther lustie missiues mony one.
	817	I had greit wonder of thay Ladyis seir,
	818	Quhilks in that airt micht haue na compeir;
	819	Of castis quent, Rethorik colouris fine,
	820	Sa Poeit like in subtell fair maneir
	821	And eloquent firme cadence Regulair.
	822	Thair veyage furth contenand richt as line
	823	With sang and play, as said is, sa deuine,
	824	Thay fast approching to the place weill neir.
	825	Quhair I was torment into my greit pine.
	826	And as that heuinlie sort new nominait
	827	Remouit furth on gudlie wise thair gait
	828	Toward the Court quhilk was tofoir expremit,
	829	My curage grew; for quhat caus I nocht wait,
	830	Saif that I held me payit of thair estait,
	831	And thay war folk of knawledge, as it semit.
	832	Als into Venus’ Court full fast thay demit,
	833	Sayand , “#one lustie Court will stop or meit
	834	To Iustifie this bysning quhilk blasphemit.
59	835	#one is, “quod thqy, “the Court Rethoricall
	836	Of Poet termis, singand Poeticall,
	837	And constant ground of amous storeis sweit.
	838	#one is the facound well Celestiall,
	839	#one is the Fontane and Originall
	840	Quhairfra the well of Helicon dois fleit.
	841	#one ar the folk that comfortis euerie spreit
	842	Be fine delite and dite Angelicall,
	843	Causand gros leid of maist gudnes gleit.
	844	#one is the Court of plesand steidfastnes,
	845	#one is the Court of constant merines,
	846	#one is the Court of Ioyous disciplinem
	847	Quhilk causis folk thair purpois to expres
	848	In ornate wise, prouokand with glaidnes
	849	All gentill hartis to thair lair Incline.
	850	Euerie famous Poeit men may deuine
	851	Is in #one rout. Lo, #onder thair Princes,
	852	Thespis, Mother of the Musis nine.
	853	And nixt hir sine hir dochter girst beget,
	854	Lady Cleo, quilk craftelie dois set
	855	Historyis auld, like as thay war present; 
	856	Euterpe eik, quhilk daylie dois hir det
	857	In dulce blastis of Pypis sweit but let;
	858	The thrid sister, Thalia diligent,
	859	In wantoun writ and Chronikill dois Imprent;
	860	The feird endytis, oft with cheikis wet,
	861	Sair tragedies, Melpomene the gent.
	862	Terpsichore the fyft, with humbill sound
	863	Makis on Psalteris modulatioun;
	864	The sext Erato, like thir louers wilde
	865	Will sing, daunce and leip baith vp and doun;
	866	Polymnia, the seuint Muse of Renoun,
	867	Dytis thir sweit Rethorick colouris midle,
	868	Quhilks ar sa plesand baith to man and Childe;
	869	Vrania, the aucht sister with Croun,
	870	Writes tje heuin and starnis all bedene.
61	871	The nynt, quhome to nane vther is compeir,
	872	Calliope, the lustie Lady cleir,
	873	Of quhome the bewtie and the worthines,
	874	Hir vertewis greit schynis baith far and neir;
	875	For scho of Nobill fatis hes the steir
	876	To write thair worschip, victorie and prowes
	877	In Kinglie stile, quhilk dois thair fame Incres,
	878	Gleipit in Latine Heroicus, but weir,
	879	Cheif of all write like as scho is maistres. 
	880	Thir Musis nine, lo, #onder may #e se,
	881	With frsche Nymphes of ater and of sey,
	882	And fair Ladyis of thir Tempillis auld,
	883	Pyerides, Dryades and Saturee,
	884	Nereides, Aones, Napee,
	885	Of quhome the bounteis neidis not be tauld.”
	886	Thus demit the Court of Venus monyfauld;
	887	Quhilk speiche refreschit my perplexitie,
	888	Reioysand weill my Spreit, befoir was cauld.
	889	The suddane sicht of that firme Court foirsaid
	890	Recomfort weill my hew, befoir was faid.
	891	Amid my spreit the Ioyous heit redoundit,
	892	Behalding how the lustie Musis raid
	893	And all thair Court, quhilk was sa blyith and glaid,
	894	Quhais merines all heuines confoundit.
	895	Thair saw I weill in Poetrie ygroundit
	896	The greit Homeir, quhilk in Greik langage said
	897	Maist eloquentlie, in quhome all wite yboundit.
	898	Thair was the greit Latine Virgilius,
	899	The famous Father Poeit, Ouidius,
	900	Dictes, Dares and eik the trew Lucane,
	901	Thair was Plautus, Poggius and Persius,
	902	Thair was Terence, Donate and Seruius,
	903	Francis Petrache, Flaccus Valeriane,
	904	Thair was Esope, Cato and Allane,
	905	Thair was Gaultier and Boetius,
	906	Thair was also the greit Quintliane.
63	907	Thair was the Satir Poet, Iuuenall,
	908	Thair was the mixt and subtell Martiall.
	909	Of Thebes Brute thair was the Poet Stace,
	910	Thair was Fautus and Laurence of the vale,
	911	Pomponius, quhais fame of lait, sans faill,
	912	Is blawin wide throw euerie Realm and place.
	913	Thair was the Morall, wise Poet, Horace,
	914	With mony vther Clerk of greit auaill,
	915	Thair was Brunell, Claudius and Bocchas.
	916	Sa greit ane preis of pepill drew vs neir,
	917	The hundreth part thair names ar not heir.
	918	#it saw I thair of Brutus’Albyon
	919	Geffray Chauceir, as A per se sans peir
	920	In his vulagre, and morall Iohne Goweir.
	921	Lydgait, the Monk, raid musing him allone.
	922	Of this Natioun I knew also anone
	923	Greit Kennedie and Dunbar #it vndeid,
	924	And Quintine with ane Huttok on his heid.
	925	Howbeit I culd declair and weill Indite,
	926	The bounteis of that Court dewlie to write
	927	War ouir prolixt, transcending mine Ingine,
	928	Tuiching the proces of my panefull site.
	929	Beliue I saw thir lustie Musis quhite
	930	With all thair rout towart Venus decline,
	931	Quhair Cupide sat with hir in Throne deuine,
	932	I standand bundin in ane sorie plite,
	933	Bydand thair grace or than my deidlie pine.
	934	Straicht to the Quene thir samin Musis raid,
	935	Maist eloquentlie thair salutatiounis maid.
	936	Venus agane #ald thame thair salusing
	937	Richt reuerentlie, and on hir feit vpbraid,
	938	Beseikand thame to licht. “Nay, nay,” thay said.
	939	“We may not heir mak na lang tarying.”
	940	Calliope, maist facound and bening,
	941	Inquirit Venus quhat wicht had hir mismaid,
	942	Or quhat was caus of hir thair soiorning.
65	943	“Sister,” said scho, “behald #one bysning schew.
	944	A subtell smy – considder weill his hew - 
	945	Standis thair bound,” and bekinnit hir to me.
	946	“#one Catiue had blasphemit me of new
	947	For to degraid and do my fame adew;
	948	A laitlie Ryme, dispitefull and subtell,
	949	Compylit hes, reheirsand loude and hie
	950	Sclander, dispite, sorrow and velanie
	951	To me, my Sone, and eik our Court for ay.
	952	He hes deseruit deith. He sall be deid!
	953	And we remaine, forsuith, into this steid
	954	To Iustifie that Rebald Rennigait.”
	955	Quod Calliope: “Sister, away all feid!
	956	Quhy suld he die? Quhy suld he lois his leid?
	957	To slay him for sa small ane cryme, God wait,
	958	Greitar degrading war to #our estait - 
	959	To sic as he to mak conter pleid.
	960	How may ane Fule #our hie honour checkmait?
	961	Quhat of his lak? Sa wide #our fame is blaw,
	962	#our excellence maist peirles is sa knaw,
	963	Na wretchis word may depair #our hie Name.
	964	Giue me his life and modifie the Law,
	965	For on my heid he standis now si aw
	966	That he sall efter deserue neuer mair blame.
	967	Nocht of his deith #e may report bot schame.
	968	In recompence of his missettand saw
	969	He sall #our hest in euerie part proclame.”
	970	Than, Lord, how glaid become my febil goist.
	971	My curage grew, the quhilk befoir was loist,
	972	Seand I had sa greit ane Aduocait,
	973	That expertlie but prayer, price or coist
	974	Obtenit had my friwoll actioun almoist,
	975	Quhilk was befoir perischit and desolait.
	976	This quhile Venus stude in ane studie strait,
	977	Bot finalie scho schew till all the Oist
	978	Scho wald do grace, and not be obstinait.
67	979	“I will,” said scho, “haue mercie and pietie,
	980	Do slaik my wraith and let all rancour be.
	981	Quhair is mair vice than to be ouir cruell,
	982	And speciallie in wemen sic as me?
	983	A Lady, fy, that vsis tyrannie
	984	Ane vennome is rather and a serpent fell,
	985	A vennemous dragoun or ane deuill of hell.
	986	Is na compair to the Iniquitie
	987	Of bald wemen, as thir wise Clerkis tell.
	988	Greit God defend I suld be one of tho
	989	Quhilk of thair feid and malice neuer ho.
	990	Out on sic gram! I will haue na repreif.
	991	Calliope, sister,” said to Venus tho
	992	“At #our requeist this wretche sall frelie go.
	993	Heir I remit his trespas, and all greif
	994	Sall be for#et, sa he will say sum breif
	995	Or schort ballat in contrair pane and wo,
	996	Tuitching my Laude and his plesand releif.
	997	And secundlie, the nixt ressonabill command
	998	Quhilk I him charge, se that he nocht ganestand.
	999	On thir conditiounis, Sister, at #our requeist
	1000	he sall gang fre.” Quod Calliope, Inclinand:
	1001	“Grant mercie, sister; I obleis be my hand
	1002	He sall obserue in all pointis #our behest.”
	1003	Than Venus bad do slaik sone my arreist.
	1004	Beliue I was releuit of euerie band,
	1005	Vprais the Court and all the Parlour ceist.
	1006	Tho sat I doun lawlie vpon my kne
	1007	At command of prudent Calliope,
	1008	#eildand Venus thankis ane thousand syith
	1009	For sa hie freindschip and mercifull pietie,
	1010	Excelland grace and greit humanitie,
	1011	The quhilk to me trespassour did scho kyith.
	1012	“I the forgiue,” quod scho; than was I blyith.
	1013	Doun on ane stock I set me suddanlie
	1014	At hir command, and wrait this lay alswyith:
69	1015	Vnwemmit wit deliuerit of dangair,
	1016	Maist happelie deliuerit fra the snair,
	1017	Releuit fre of seruice and bondage,
	1018	Expell dolour, expell diseisis sair,
	1019	Auoid displesure, womenting and cair,
	1020	Ressaue plesance and do thy sorrow swage.
	1021	Behald thy glaid, fresche, lustie, grene curage,
	1022	Reioyce amid thir louers but dispair,
	1023	Prouide ane place to plant thy tender age,
	1024	In lestand blis to remane and repair.
	1025	Quha is in welth? Quha is weill fortunait?
	1026	Quha is in pietie disseuerit fra debait?
	1027	Quha leuis in hope? Quha leuis in esperance?
	1028	Quha standis in grace? Quha standis in firme estait?
	1029	Quha is content, reioycit air or lait?
	1030	Or quha is he that Fortoun dois auance
	1031	Bot thow that is replenischit of plesance?
	1032	Thow hes comfort, all weilfair delicait,
	1033	Thow hes glaidnes, thow hes the happie chance,
	1034	Thow hes thy will, thow be nocht desolait.
	1035	Incres in mirthfull consolatioun,
	1036	In Ioyous sweit Imaginatioun,
	1037	Abound in lufe of perfite Amouris
	1038	With diligent trew deliberatioun.
	1039	Rander louingis for thy Saluatioun
	1040	Till Venus, and vnder hir guerdoun all houris
	1041	Rest at all eis, but sair or sitefull schouris.
	1042	Abide in quiet, maist constant weilfair
	1043	Be glaid and lycht now in thy lusty flouris [L]
	1044	Vnwemmit wit deliuerit of all dangeir.
	1045	This lay was red in oppin audience
	1046	Of the Musis and in Venus’presence.
	1047	“I stand content, thou art obedient,”
	1048	Quod Calliope, my comapnioun and defence.
	1049	Venus said eik it was sum recompence,
	1050	For my trespas I was sa penitent.
	1051	And with that word all suddanelie scho went,
	1052	In ane Instant scho and hir Court was hence,
	1053	#it still abaid thir Musis on the bent.
71	1054	Inclinand than I said, “Calliope,
	1055	My Protectour, my help and my supplie,
	1056	My souerane Lady, my Redemptioun,
	1057	My Mediatour quhen I was dampnit to die,
	1058	I sall beseik the godlie Maiestie
	1059	Infinite thankis, laude and benisoun
	1060	#ow till acquite, according #our Renoun.
	1061	It langis nocht my possibilitie
	1062	Till recompense ten part of this guerdoun.
	1063	Gloir, honour, laude and reuerence conding
	1064	Quha may for#eild #ow of sa hie ane thing?
	1065	And in that part #our mercie I Imploir,
	1066	Submitting me my lifetime Induring
	1067	#our pleasure and mandate till obeysing.”
	1068	“Silence!” said scho, “I haue eneuch heirfoir.
	1069	I will thow wend and vesie wonderis moir.”
	1070	Than scho me hes betaucht in keiping
	1071	Of ane sweit Nimphe, maist faithfull and decoir.
	1072	Ane hors I gat maist richelie besene,
	1073	Was harneist all with wodbind leuis grene.
	1074	Of the same sute the trappours law doun hang.
	1075	Ouir him I straid at command of the Quene,
	1076	Tho samin furth we ryding all bedene
	1077	Als swift as thocht with mony a merie sang.
	1078	My Nimphe alwayis conuoyit me of thrang
	1079	Amid the Musis to se quhat thay wald mene,
	1080	Quhilks sang and playit bot neuer a wreist #eid wrang.
	1081	Throw countreis seir, holtis and Roches hie,
	1082	Ouir vailis, planis, woddis, wallie sey,
	1083	Ouir fludis fair and mony strait Montane
	1084	We war caryit in twinkling of ane Eye.
	1085	Our horsis flaw and raid nocht, as thocht me:
	1086	Now out of France tursit in Tuskane,
	1087	Now out of Flanders heich vp in Almanie, 
	1088	Now into Egypt, now into Italie,
	1089	Now in the Realme of Trace and now in Spane.
73	1090	The hie Montames we passit of Germanie,
	1091	Ouir Appennymus deuydand Italie,
	1092	Ouir Ryne, the Pow, and Tiber fludes fair,
	1093	Ouir Alpheus, by Pyes the riche Cietie
	1094	Vnder the eirth that enteris in the see,
	1095	Ouir Rine, ouir Sane, ouir France, and eik ouir Lair,
	1096	And ouir Tagus, the goldin sandit Riuair.
	1097	In Thessalie we passit the Mont Oethe
	1098	And Hercules in Sepulture fand thair.
	1099	Thair went we ouir the Riuer Peneyus.
	1100	In Sicill eik we passit the Mont Tinolus,
	1101	Pleneist with Saiffron, Honie and with wyne,
	1102	The twa toppit Famous Pernasus,
	1103	In Trace we went out ouir the Mont Emus,
	1104	Quhair Orpheus leirit his Harmonie maist fyne;
	1105	Ouir Carmelus, quhair twa Prophetis deuyne
	1106	Remanit, Helias and Heliseus,
	1107	Fra quhome the ordour of Carmelites come syne.
	1108	And nixt vnto the land of Ama#pn
	1109	In haist we past the Flude Termodyon,
	1110	And ouir the hudge hill that hecht Mynas.
	1111	We raid the hill of Bacchus, Citheron,
	1112	And Olympus, the Mont of Macedon,
	1113	Quhilk semis heich vp in the heuin to pas.
	1114	In thaty countrie we raid the flude Melas,
	1115	Quhais water makis quhite scheip blak anone.
	1116	In Europe eik we raid the flude Thanas.
	1117	We raid the swift Riuer Sparthiades,
	1118	The flude of Surry, Achicorontes,
	1119	The hill sa full of wellis cleipit Yda,
	1120	Armenie hillis and flude Euphrates,
	1121	The flude of Nyle, the precious flude Ganges,
	1122	The hill of Sicill, ay birnand Ethna,
	1123	And ouir the Mont of Phrigie, Dindama,
	1124	Hallowit in honour of the Mother goddes.
	1125	Cauld Caucasus we past in Sythia.
75	1126	We past the fludis of Tigirs and Phison,
	1127	Of Thrace the Riuers Hebrun and Strymon,
	1128	The Mont of Modan and the flude Iordane,
	1129	The facund well and hill of Helicon,
	1130	The Mont Erix, the well of Acheron,
	1131	Baith dedicate to Venus, in certane.
	1132	We past the hill and desert of Libane,
	1133	Ouir Mont Cinthus quhair god Appollo schone,
	1134	Straicht to the Musis Caballine Fontane.
	1135	Beside that Cristall well sweit and degest
	1136	Thame to repois, thair hors refresche and rest,
	1137	Alichtit doun thir Musis cleir of hew.
	1138	The companie all haillelie, leist and best,
	1139	Thrang to the well to drink, quhilk ran southwest
	1140	Throw out ane meid quhair alkin flouris grew.
	1141	Amang the laif ful fast I did persew
	1142	To drink, bot sa the greit preis me opprest,
	1143	That of the water I micht not taist a drew.
	1144	Our horsis pasturit in ane plesand plane,
	1145	Law at the fute of ane fair grene Montane
	1146	Amid ane Meid schaddowit with Ceder treis;
	1147	Saif fra all heit thair micht we weill remane.
	1148	All kinde of herbis, flouris, frute and grane
	1149	With euerie growand tre thair men micht cheis.
	1150	The betriall stremis rinnand ouir stanerie greis
	1151	Maid sober noyis; the Schaw dinnit agane
	1152	For birdis sang and sounding of the beis.
	1153	The Ladyis fair on diuers Instrumentis
	1154	Went playand, singand, dansand ouir the bentis.
	1155	Full Angellike and heuinlie was thair soun.
	1156	Quhat creature amid his hart Imprentis
	1157	The fresche bewtie, the gudelie representis,
	1158	The merie speiche, fair hauingis, hie Renoun
	1159	Of thame, wald set a wise man half in swoun.
	1160	Thair womanlines wryithit the Elementis,
	1161	Stoneist the heuin and all the eirth adoun.
77	1162	The warld may not considder nor discriue
	1163	The heuinlie Ioy, the blis I saw beliue,
	1164	Sa Ineffabill, abone my wit sa hie.
	1165	I will na mair thairon my foirheid riue
	1166	Bot breiflie furth my febill proces driue.
	1167	Law in the Meid ane Pal#eoun picht I se,
	1168	Maist gudliest and richest that micht be.
	1169	My Gouernour ofter than times fiue
	1170	Vnto that hald to pas commandit me.
	1171	Swa finallie straicht to that Royall steid
	1172	In fellowschip with my leidar I #eid.
	1173	We enterit sone, the Portar was not thra,
	1174	Thair was na stopping, lang demand nor pleid.
	1175	I kneillit law and vnheildit my heid,
	1176	And tho I saw our Ladyis, twa and twa,
	1177	Sittand on deissis, familiars to and fra
	1178	Seruand thame fast with Ypocras and Meid,
	1179	Delicait meitis, dainteis seir alswa.
	1180	Greit was the preis, the Feist Royall to sene.
	1181	At eis thay eit with Interludis betwene;
	1182	Gaue Problewmis seir and mony fair demandis;
	1183	Inquyrand quha best in thair times had bene,
	1184	Quha traist louers in lustie #eiris grene.
	1185	Sum said this way, and sum thairto ganestandis.
	1186	Than Calliope Ouide to appeir commandis.
	1187	“My Clerk,” quod scho, “of Register bedene
	1188	Declair quha war maist worthie of thair handis.”
	1189	With Lawrere crownit at hir commandement
	1190	Vpstude this Poeit digest and eloquent
	1191	And sachew the fatus of Hercules the strang,
	1192	How he the grislie hellis hounds out rent,
	1193	Slew Lyounis, Monsturis and mony fell Serpent,
	1194	And to the deith feil michtie Gyantis dang.
	1195	Of Theseus eik he schew the weiris lang
	1196	Agane the Quene Ypolita, the sweit,
	1197	And how he slew the Minotaur in Creit. 
79	1198	Of Perseus he tauld the knichtlie deidis,
	1199	Quhilk vinquischit, as men in Ouide reidis,
	1200	Cruell tyrantis and Monstures mony one;
	1201	Of Dianis Bair in Callidon the dreidis,
	1202	How throw ane Ladyis schot his sydis bleidus,
	1203	The bretheris deith and sine the sisters mone.
	1204	He schew how King Priamus’sone, Yssacone,
	1205	Efter his deith, bodie and all his weidis
	1206	Intill ane Skarth transformit was anone.
	1207	He schew at TRoy quhat wise the Greiks lands,
	1208	How feirs Achilles stranglit with his handis
	1209	The vail#eant Cygnus, Neptumus’sone maist deir,
	1210	Quhilk at Greikis arriuall on the strandis
	1211	A thousand slew that day vpon the strandis
	1212	A thousand slew that day vpon the sandis,
	1213	Faucht with Achill, and bluntit all his speir.
	1214	Na wapin was that micht him wound or deir
	1215	Quhill Achilles brist of his Helme the bandis,
	1216	And wirryit him be force for all his feir.
	1217	He schew full mony transmutatiounis
	1218	And wonderfull new figuratiounis,
	1219	Be hundrethis mo than I haue heir expremit.
	1220	He tauld of lufis meditatiounis,
	1221	The craft of lufe and the Saluatiounis,
	1222	How that the furie lustis suld be flemit.
	1223	Of diuers vther maters als he demit,
	1224	And be his prudent, schairp Relatiounis
	1225	He was expert of all thing as it semit.
	1226	Vprais the greit Virgilius anone
	1227	And playit the sportis of Daphnis and Corydone.
	1228	Sine Terence come and playit the Comedy
	1229	Of Parmeno, Thrason and wise Gnatone.
	1230	Iuuenall like ane mowar him allone
	1231	Stude scornand euerie man as thay #eid by.
	1232	Martiall was Cuik till roist, seith, farce and fry,
	1233	And Poggius stude with mony girne and grone
	1234	On Laurence Valla spittand and cryand fy!
81	1235	With mirthis thus and meitis delicait
	1236	Thir Ladyis feistit according thair estait;
	1237	Vprais at last, commandand till tranoynt.
	1238	Retreit was blawin loude, and than, God wait,
	1239	Men micht haue sene swift horsis haldin hait,
	1240	Schynand for sweit as thay had bene anoynt.
	1241	Of all that rout was neuer a prik disioynt
	1242	For all our tary; and I furth with my maith,
	1243	Mountit on hors, raid samin in gude point.
	1244	Ouir mony gudelie plane we raid bedene,
	1245	The vaill of Hebron, the Camp Damascene,
	1246	Throw Iosaphat and throw the lustie vaill,
	1247	Ouir waters wan, throw worthie woddis grene,
	1248	And swa at last in lifting vp our Ene
	1249	We se the finall end of our trauaill,
	1250	Amid ane plane a plesand Roche to waill,
	1251	And euerie wicht, fra we that sicht had sene,
	1252	Thankand greit God thair jeidis law deuaill.
	1253	With singing, lauching, merines and play
	1254	Vnto this Roche we ryden furth the way.
	1255	Now mair to write for feir trimblis my pen.
	1256	The hart may not think nor mannis toung say,
	1257	The Eir nocht heir nor #it the Eye se may,
	1258	It may not be Imaginit with men
	1259	The heuinlie blis, the perfite Ioy to ken
	1260	Quhilk now I saw; the hundreth part all day
	1261	I micht not schaw thocht I had toungis ten.
	1262	Thocht all my members toungis war on raw
	1263	I war not abill  the thousand fauld to schaw; 
	1264	Quhairfoir I feir ocht farther mair to write,
	1265	For quhidder I this in saull or bodie saw
	1266	That wait I nocht, not he that all dois knaw,
	1267	The greit God wait, in euerie thing perfite.
	1268	Eik gif I wald this auisoiun Indite,
	1269	Ianglaris suld it bakbite and stand nane aw,
	1270	Cry, “Out on dremis quhilks ar not worth ane mite!”
83	1271	Sen this till me all veritie be kend,
	1272	I repute better thus to mak ane end
	1273	Than ocht to say that suld heiraris engreif.
	1274	On vther side thocht thay me vilipend
	1275	I considder prudent folk will commend
	1276	The veritie and sic Iangling repreif; 
	1277	With quhais correctioun, support and releif
	1278	Furth to preoceid this proces I pretend,
	1279	Traistand in God my purpois to escheif.
	1280	How beit I may not euerie circumstance
	1281	Recuce perfitelie in remembrance,
	1282	Myne Ignorance #it sum part sall deuise
	1283	Tuitching this sicht of heuinlie weit plesance.
	1284	Now, emptie pen, write furth thy lustie chance,
	1285	Schaw wonderis feill; suppois thow be not wise,
	1286	Be diligent and ripelie the auise,
	1287	Be quick and schairp, voidit of variance,
	1288	Be sweit and caus not gentill hartis grise.
85	1289	#e Musis nine, be in my adiutorie,
	1290	That maid me se this blis and perfite glorie.
	1291	Teiche me #our facund castis Eloquent,
	1292	Len me a recent, schairp, fresche memorie,
	1293	And caus me dewlie till Indite this storie.
	1294	Sum gratious sweitnes in my breist Imprent
	1295	Till mak the heirars bowsum and attent,
	1296	Reidand my writ, Illuminate with #our loir,
	1297	Infinite thankis randerand #ow thairfoir.
	1298	Now breiflie to my purpois for till gone:
	1299	About the hill lay wayis mony one,
	1300	And to the hicht bot ane passage Ingraue,
	1301	Hewin in the Roche of slid, hard Marbell stone.
	1302	Agane the Sone like to the glas it schone.
	1303	The ascence was hie and strait for till consaue,
	1304	#it than thir Musis, gudelie and suaue,
	1305	Alichtit doun, and clam the Roche in hie
	1306	With all the rout, outtane my Nimphe and I.
	1307	Still at the hillis fute we twa abaid.
	1308	Than suddanlie my keipar to me said,
	1309	“Ascend, Galland!” Than for feir I quoik.
	1310	“Be not affrayit,” scho said, “be not dismaid,”
	1311	And with that word vp the strait rod abraid.
	1312	I followit fast, scho be the hand me tuik,
	1313	#it durst I neuer for dreid behind me luik.
	1314	With mekill pane thus clam I neir the hicht,
	1315	Quhair suddanluie I saw ane grislie  sicht.
87	1316	As we approchit neir the hillis heid,
	1317	Ane terribill sewch birnand in flamis reid,
	1318	Abhominabill and how as hell to se,
	1319	All full of Brintstane, Pick and bulling Leid,
	1320	Quhair mony wretchit creature lay deid
	1321	And miserabill catiues #elland loude on hie,
	1322	I saw – quhilk den micht weill compairit be
	1323	Till Xanthus, the flude of Troy sa schill,
	1324	Birnand at Venus’hest contrair Achill.
	1325	Amid our passage lay this vglie sicht,
	1326	Nocht braid bot sa horribill to euerie wicht
	1327	That all the warld to pas it suld haue dreid.
	1328	Weill I considderit na vppermair I micht,
	1329	And to discend, sa hiddeous was the hicht,
	1330	I durst not auenture for this eird on breid.
	1331	Trimbland I stude, with teith chatterand gude speid.
	1332	My Nymphe beheld my cheir and said, “let be.
	1333	Thow sall nocht aill, and lo, the caus,” quod sche .
	1334	“To me thow art commit; I sall the keip.
	1335	Thir pieteous pepill amid this laithlie deip
	1336	War wretchis quhilks in lustie #eiris fair
	1337	Pretendit thame till hie honour to creip.
	1338	Bot suddanlie thay fell on sleuthfull sleip,
	1339	Followand plesance, drownit in this Lich of cair.”
	1340	And with that word scho hint me be the hair, 
	1341	Caryit me till the hillis heid anone,
	1342	As Abacuk was brocht to Babylone.
	1343	“As we bene on the hie hill situait,
	1344	Luik doun ,” quod scho, “consaue in quhat estait
	1345	Thy wretchit warld thow may considder now.”
	1346	At hir command with mekill dreid, God wait,
	1347	Out ouir the hill sa hiddeous, hie and strait
	1348	I blent adoun, and felt my bodie grow.
	1349	This brukill eird, sa litill till allow,
	1350	Me thocht I saw birne in ane fyrie rage
	1351	Of stormie sey quhilk micht na maner swage.
89	1352	That terribill tempest, hiddeous wallis huge
	1353	War maist grislie for to behald or Iudge,
	1354	Quhair nouther rest nor quiet micht appeir.
	1355	Thair was ane perrellous place folk for to Iudge.
	1356	Thair was na help, support nor #it refuge.
	1357	Innumerabill folk I saw flotterand in feir,
	1358	Quhilk pereist on the walterand wallis weir.
	1359	And secundlie I saw ane lustie Barge
	1360	Ouirset with seyis and mony stormie charge.
	1361	This gudelie Carwell, taiklit traist on raw,
	1362	With blanschite saill, milk quhite as ony snaw,
	1363	Richt souer, ticht and wonder stranglie beildit,
	1364	Was on the bairdin wallis quite ouirthraw.
	1365	Contrariouslie the busteous wind did blaw
	1366	In bubbis thik, that na schipis sail micht weild it.
	1367	Now sank scho law, now hie to heuin vpheildit.
	1368	At euerie part twa sey and windis draif
	1369	Quhill on ane sand the schip did brist and claif.
	1370	It was ane pieteous thing, alaik, alaik,
	1371	To heir the dulefull cry quhen that scho straik;
	1372	Maist lamentabill the pereist folk to se,
	1373	Sa fameist, drowkit, mait, forwrocht and waik,
	1374	Sum on ane plank of Fir tre, and sum of Aik.
	1375	Sum hang vpon a Takill, sum on ane tre,
	1376	Sum fra thair grip sone weschin with the see.
	1377	Part drownit, part to the Roche fleit or swam
	1378	On raipis or burdis, sine vp the hill thay clam.
	1379	Tho at my Nimphe breiflie I did Inquire
	1380	Quhat signifyit that feirfull wonders seir.
	1381	“#one multitude,” said scho, “of pepill drownit
	1382	Ar faithles folk, quhilks quhill thay ar heir
	1383	Misknawis God and followis thair pleseir; 
	1384	Quhairfoir thay sall in endles fire be brint.
	1385	#one lustie schip thow seis pereist and tint,
	1386	In quhome #one pepill maid ane perrellous race,
	1387	Scho hecht the Carwell of the state of grace.
91	1388	#e bene all borne the sonnis of Ire, I ges,
	1389	Since throz Baptisme gettis grace and faithfulnes.
	1390	Than in #one Carwell surelie #e remane,
	1391	Oft stormested with this warldis brukilnes,
	1392	Quhill that #e fall in sin and wretchitnes.
	1393	Than schip brokin sall #e droun in endles pane,
	1394	Except be faith #e find the plank agane
	1395	Be Christ, wirking hude warkis, I vnderstand.
	1396	Remane thairwith, tjir sall #ow bring to land.
	1397	This may suffice,” said scho, “tuitchand this part.
	1398	Returne thy heid, behald this vther art.
	1399	Considder wonders, and be vigilant
	1400	That thow may better endyten efterwart
	1401	Things quhilkis I sall the schaw or we depart.
	1402	Thow sall haue fouth of sentence and not scant.
	1403	Thair is na welth nor weilfair thou sall want.
	1404	The geit Palice of honour thow sall se.
	1405	Lift vp thy heid, behald that sicht,” quod sche.
	1406	At hir command I raisit hie on hicht
	1407	My visage till behald that heuinlie sicht,
	1408	Bot to discriue this mater, in effek,
	1409	Impossibill war till ony eirdlie wicht.
	1410	It transcendis far abone my wicht.
	1411	That I with ink may do bot paper blek.
	1412	I mon draw furth, the #ok lyis on my nek,
	1413	As of the place to say my leude auise,
	1414	Pleneist with plesance like to Paradice.
	1415	I saw ane plane of peirles pulchritude
	1416	Quhairin aboundit alkin thingis gude,
	1417	Spice, wine,corne, oyle, tre, frute, flour, herbis grene,
	1418	All foulis, beistis, birdis and alkin fude.
	1419	All maner fisches, baith of sey and flude,
	1420	War keipit in pondis of poleist siluer schene,
	1421	With purifyit water as of the Cristall clene.
	1422	To noy the small the greit beistis had na will,
	1423	Nor Rauenous foulis the lytill Volatill.
93	1424	Still in the sessoun all things remanit thair
	1425	Perpetuallie but outher noy or sair.
	1426	Ay rypit war baith herbis, frute and flouris.
	1427	Of euerie thing the names to declair
	1428	Vnto my febill wit vnpossibill wair.
	1429	Amid the Meid, repleit with sweit odouris,
	1430	A Palice stude with mony Royall Towris,
	1431	Quhair kyrnellis quent , feil turrettis men micht find,
	1432	And goldin Thanis waifand with the wind.
	1433	Pinnakillis, Fyellis, Turnpekkis mony one,
	1434	Gilt birneist torris, quhilk like to Phebus schone,
	1435	Skarsment, Reprise, Corbell and Battellingis,
	1436	Ful#ery, bordouris of mony precious stone,
	1437	Subtile muldrie wrocht mony day agone
	1438	On Buttereis, Ialme, pillaris and plesand srpingis,
	1439	Quick Imagerie with mony lustie singis,
	1440	Thair micht be sene, and mony worthie wichtis
	1441	Befoir the #et arrayit all at richtis.
	1442	Furth past my Nimphe; I followit subsequent.
	1443	Straicht throw the plane to the first waird we ent
	1444	Of the Palice, and enterit at the port.
	1445	Thair saw we mony staitlie tornament,
	1446	Lancis brokin, knichtis laid on the bent.
	1447	Plesand pastance and mony lustie sport
	1448	Thair saw we als, and sumtime battell mort.
	1449	“All thir,” quod scho, “on Venus’seruice vaikis
	1450	In deidis of armis for thair ladyis saikis.”
	1451	Vesyand I stude the principall place but peir,
	1452	That heuinlie Palice all of Cristall cleir,
	1453	Wrocht as me thocht of poleist beriall stone.
	1454	Vosiliall nor Oliab, but weir,
	1455	Quhilk Sancta Sanctorum maid maist riche and deir,
	1456	Nor he that wrocht the Tempill of Salomon,
	1457	Nor he that beildit the Royall Ylion,
	1458	Nor he that forgit Darius’Sepulture,
	1459	Culd not performe sa craftelie ane cure.
95	1460	Studiand  heiron my Nimphe vnto me spak:
	1461	“Thus in a stair quhy standis thow stupifak,
	1462	Gouand all day, and nathing hes vesite.
	1463	Thow art prolixt, in haist returne thy bak.
	1464	Ga efter me and gude attendance tak .
	1465	Quhat now thow seis, luik efterwart  thow write.
	1466	Thow sall behald all Venus’blis perfite.”
	1467	Thairwith scho till ane garth did me conuoy,
	1468	Quhair that I saw aneuch of perfite Ioy.
	1469	Amid ane Throne with stanis riche ouirfret
	1470	And claith of gold Lady Venus was set.
	1471	By hir hir Sone, Cupide, quhilk nathing seis.
	1472	Quhair Mars enterit na knawledge micht I get,
	1473	Bot straicht befoir Venus’visage, but let,
	1474	Stude emeraut  stages, twelf grene precious greis
	1475	Quhairon thair grew thre curious goldin treis,
	1476	Vpstandand weill the Goddes’face beforne,
	1477	Ane fair Mirrour be thame quentlie vpborne.
	1478	Quhairof it makit was I haue na feill -
	1479	Of beriall, Cristall, glas or birneist steill,
	1480	Of Diamant or of the Carbunkill Gem.
	1481	Quhat thing it was define may I not weill,
	1482	Bot all the bordour, circulair euerie deill,
	1483	Was plait of gold, cais, stok and vtter hem,
	1484	With verteous stanis picht that blude wald stem;
	1485	For quha that woundit was in the Tornament
	1486	Wox haill fra he vpon the Mirrour blent.
	1487	This royall Relick, sa riche and radious,
	1488	Sa poleist, plesand, purifyit and precious,
	1489	Quhais bounteis half to write I not presume,
	1490	Thairon to se was sa delitious,
	1491	And sa excelland schaddowis gracious,
	1492	Surmounting far in brichtnes, to my dome,
	1493	The coistlie subtell spectakill of Rome
	1494	Or #it the Mirrour send the Canace,
	1495	Quhairin men micht mony wonders se.
97	1496	In that mirrour I micht se at ane sicht
	1497	The deidis and fatis of euerie eirdlie wicht:
	1498	All thingis gone like as thay war present,
	1499	All the creatiounis of the Angellis bricht,
	1500	Of Lucifer the fall for all his micht,
	1501	Adam first maid and in the eirth y sent,
	1502	And Noyes flude thair saw I subsequent,
	1503	Babylon beild that Towre of sic Renoun,
	1504	Of Sodomes the feill subuersioun.
	1505	Abraham, Isaac, Iacob, Ioseph I saw,
	1506	Hornit Moyses with his auld Hebrew Law
	1507	Ten Plaiges in Egypt send for thair trespas,
	1508	In the reid sey with all his Court on raw
	1509	King Pharao dorwnit, that God wald neuer knaw.
	1510	I saw quhat wise the sey deuydit was
	1511	And all the Hebrewis dry fute ouir it pas,
	1512	Sine in desert I saw tham fourtie #eiris.
	1513	Of Iosue I saw the worthie weiris.
	1514	Of Iudicum the battelis strang anone
	1515	I saw of Iephte and of Gedeone,
	1516	Of Amalech the cruell Homicide,
	1517	The wonderfull workis of douchtie Duke Samsone,
	1518	Quhilk slew a thousand with ane Asses bone,
	1519	Rent Tempillis doun and #ettis in his pride,
	1520	Of quhais strenth merwellis this warld sa wide.
	1521	I saw Duke Sangor thair with mony a knok
	1522	Sex hundreth men slew with ane Pleuchis sok.
	1523	The prophet Samuel saw I in that glas,
	1524	Anoyntit King Saull, quhais sone Ionathas
	1525	I saw vincus ane greit Oist him allane,
	1526	#oung Dauid sla the grislie Golyas
	1527	Quhais speir heid wecht thre hundreth vnces was.
	1528	Iesbedonab, the Gyant mekill of mane,
	1529	Lay be the handis of michtie Dauid slane,
	1530	With fingers sex on ather hand but weir.
	1531	Dauid I saw sla baith Lyoun and Beir.
99	1532	This Dauid eik at ane onset a-stound
	1533	Aucht hundreth men I saw him bring to ground.
	1534	With him I saw Banayas the strang,
	1535	Quhilk twa Lyounis of Moab did confound
	1536	And gaue the stalwart Ethiop deidis wound
	1537	With his awin speir that of his hand he thrang.
	1538	Vnabasitlie this Campioun saw I gang
	1539	In a deip cisterne, and thair a Lyoun sleuch
	1540	Quhilk in ane storme of snaw did harme aneuch.
	1541	Of Salomon the wisdome and estait
	1542	Thair saw I, and his riche Tempill, God wait,
	1543	His sone Roboam quhilk throw his helie pride
	1544	Tint all his liegis hartis be his fait.
	1545	He was to thame sa outrageous In grait,
	1546	Of twelf Tribes ten did fra him deuide.
	1547	I saw the Angell sla be nichtis tide
	1548	Four scoir thousandis of Sennacheribs Oist,
	1549	Quhilk come to weir on Iowrie with greit boist.
	1550	I saw the life of the King E#echy
	1551	Prolongit xv. #eir, and the Prophet Hely
	1552	Amid a fyrie Chair to Paradice went.
	1553	The storyis of Esras and of Neemy,
	1554	And Daniell in the Lyounis Caue saw I,
	1555	For he the Dragoun slew, Bel brak and schent;
	1556	The Children thre amid the Fornace sent.
	1557	I saw the transmigratioun in Babylon,
	1558	And baith the buikis of Paralipomenon.
	1559	I saw the halie Archangell, Raphaell,
	1560	Marie Sara, the douchter of Raguell,
	1561	On Thobias for his Iust Fathers saik,
	1562	And bind the cruell Deuill that was sa fell,
	1563	Quhilk slew hir seuin first husbands as thay tell;
	1564	And how Iudith Holiphernes’heid of straik
	1565	Be nichtis tyde, and fred hir toun fra wraik.
	1566	Ionas in the Quhaillis wombe dayis thre,
	1567	And schot furth sine I saw at Niniue.
101	1568	Of Iob I saw the patience maist degest,
	1569	Of Alexander I saw the greit conquest,
	1570	Quhilk in twelf #eiris wan neir this warld on breid,
	1571	And of Anthiocus the greit vnrest,
	1572	How tyranlie he Iowrie all opprest;
	1573	Of Machabeus full mony ane Knichtlie deid,
	1574	That gart all Grece and Egypt stand in dreid,
	1575	In quiet brocht his Realme throw prowes.
	1576	I saw his brether, Symon and Ionathas,
	1577	Quhilks war maist worthie quhil thair dayis rang.
	1578	Of Thebes eik I saw the weiris lang,
	1579	Quhair Tydeus allone slew fifitie Knichtis;
	1580	How finallie of Grece the Campiounis strang,
	1581	All haill the flour of Knichtheid in that thrang,
	1582	Destroyit was, quhill Theseus with his michtis
	1583	The toun and Creon wan for all his slichtis.
	1584	Thair saw I how, as Statius dois tell,
	1585	Amphiorax the Bischop sank to hell.
	1586	The faithful Ladyis of Grece I mich considder
	1587	In claithis blak all bairfute pas togidder
	1588	Till Thebes sege, fra thair Lordis war slane.
	1589	Behald, #e men that callis Ladyis lidder
	1590	And licht of laitis, quhat kindnes brocht them hidder,
	1591	Quhat treuth and lufe did in thair breists remane.
	1592	I traist #e sall reid in na writ agane
	1593	In ane Realme sa mony of sic constance.
	1594	Persaue thairby wemen ar till auance.
	1595	Of Duke Pirichous the spousage in that tide,
	1596	Quhair the Centauris reft away the bride,
	1597	Thair saw I, and thair battell hudge to se;
	1598	And Hercules, quhais Renoun walkis wide,
	1599	For Ixiona law by Troyis side
	1600	Fraucht and ouircome a Monstour in the sey,
	1601	For quhilk (quhen his rewaird denyit was) he
	1602	Maid the first seige and the destructioun
	1603	Of michtie Troy, quhylum that Royall toun.
103	1604	To win the fleis of gold tho saw I sent
	1605	Of Grece the Nobillis, with Iason consequent,
	1606	Haill thair conqueist, and all Medeas slichtis,
	1607	How for Iason Ypsiphile was schent,
	1608	And how at Troy as thay to Colchos went
	1609	Greikis tholit of King Laomedon greit vnrichtis,
	1610	Quhairfoir Troy destroyit was be thair michtis,
	1611	Ixiona reuist and Laomedon slane,
	1612	Bot Priamus restorit the toun agane.
	1613	The Iudgement of Paris saw I sine
	1614	That gaue the Apill, as Poetis can define,
	1615	Till venis, as goddes maist gudlie,
	1616	And how in Grece he reuischit Quene Helene;
	1617	Quhairfoir the Greikis with thair greit Nauie
	1618	-Full mony thousand Knichtis haistelie - 
	1619	Thame till reuenge saillit towart Troy in hy.
	1620	I saw how be Vlixes with greit Ioy
	1621	Quhat wise Achill was found and brocht to Troy.
	1622	The cruell battellis and the dintis strang,
	1623	The greit debait and eik the weiris lang
	1624	At Troyis seige, the Mirrour to me schew,
	1625	Sustenit ten #eiris Greikis Troianis amang,
	1626	And ather partie set full oft in thrang,
	1627	Quhair that hector did douchtie deidis anew
	1628	Quhill feirce Achil baith him and Troylus slew.
	1629	The greit hors maid I saw, and Troy sine tint,
	1630	And fair Ylion all in flambis brint.
	1631	Sine out of Troy I saw the Fugitiues,
	1632	How that Eneas, as Virgill weill discriues,
	1633	In countreis seir was be the seyis rage
	1634	Bewauit oft, and how that he arriues
	1635	With all his Flote, but danger of thair liues,
	1636	And how thay war resset, baith man and page,
	1637	Be Quene Dido, remanand in Carthage,
	1638	And how Eneas sine, as that thay tell,
	1639	Went for to seik his Father doun in hell.
105	1640	Ouir Stix the Flude I saw Eneas fair,
	1641	Quhair Charon was the busteous Ferriar.
	1642	The Fludes four of hell thair micht I se,
	1643	The folk in pane, the wayis circulair,
	1644	The welterand stone wirk Sisipho mich cair,
	1645	And all the plesance of the Camp Elise,
	1646	Quhair auld Anchises did commoun with Enee
	1647	And schew be line all his successioun.
	1648	This Ilk Eneas, maist famous of Renoun,
	1649	I saw to Goddes mak the Sacrifice,
	1650	Quhairof the ordour and maner to deuise
	1651	War ouir prolixt, and how Eneas syne
	1652	Went to the schi[p, and eik I saw quhat wise
	1653	All his Nauie greit hounger did supprise,
	1654	How he in Italie finallie with greit pyne
	1655	Arryuit at the strandis of Lauyne,
	1656	And how he faucht weill baith on landis and seyis
	1657	And Turnus slew, the King of Rutileis.
	1658	Ro;e saw I beildit first be Romulus,
	1659	And eik how lang, as writes Liuius,
	1660	The Romane Kingis abone the pepill rang;
	1661	And how the wickit, proud Tarquinnius
	1662	With wife and barnis be Brutus Iunius
	1663	War exylit Rome for thair Insufferabill wrang.
	1664	Bot all the proces for to schaw war lang
	1665	How chaist Lucrece, the gudliest and best,
	1666	Be Sextus Tarquine was cruellie opprest.
	1667	The Punik battellis in that Mirrour cleir
	1668	Betwene Carthage and Romanis mony #eir
	1669	I saw, becaus Eneas pieteous
	1670	Fled fra Dido be admonitiounis seir.
	1671	Betwene thir pepill rais ane langsum weir.
	1672	I saw how worthie Marcus Regulus,
	1673	Maist vail#eand, prudent and victorious,
	1674	Howbeit he micht at libertie gone fre,
	1675	For commoun profite cheist for to die.
107	1676	Tullus Seruilius, douchtie in his daw,
	1677	And Marcus Curtius eik in the Mirrour I saw,
	1678	Quhilk throw his stoutnes in the fyrie gap
	1679	For commoun profite of Rome him self did thraw;
	1680	Richt vnabaisitlie hauand na dreid nor aw,
	1681	Mountit on hors, vnarmit thairin lap.
	1682	And Hanniball I saw be fatall hap
	1683	Win contrair Romanis mony fair victorie,
	1684	Quhill Scipio eclipsit all his glorie.
	1685	This worthie Scipio, cleipt Aphricane,
	1686	I saw vincus this Hanniball in plane
	1687	And Carthage bring vnto finall ruine,
	1688	And sine to Rome conquerit the Realme of Spane.
	1689	How King Iugurtha hes his brether slane
	1690	Thair saw I eik, and of his weir the fine.
	1691	Richt weill I saw the battellis, Intestine
	1692	Of Catilina and of Lentulus,
	1693	And betwene Pompey and Cesar Iulius.
	1694	And breiflie euerie famous douchtie deid
	1695	That men in storie may se or Chronikill reid
	1696	I micht behald in that Mirrour expres,
	1697	The miserie, the crueltie, the dreid,
	1698	Pane, sorrow, wo, baith wretchitnes and neid,
	1699	The greit Imuy, couetous dowbilnes,
	1700	Tuitchand warldlie vnfaithfull brukilnes.
	1701	I saw the Feind fast folkis to vices tyst,
	1702	And all the cumming of the Antechrist.
	1703	Plesand debaitmentis, quha sa richt reportis,
	1704	Thair micht be sene, and all maner disportis,
	1705	The Falcounis for the Riuer at thair gait,
	1706	Newand the foullis in periculo mortis,
	1707	Layand thame in be companeis and sortis.
	1708	And at the plunge part saw I handillit hait,
	1709	The werie Hunter besie air and lait
	1710	With questing Houndis seirching to and fra
	1711	To hunt the Hart, the Bair, the Da, the Ra.
109	1712	I saw Raf Coil#ear with his thrawin brow,
	1713	Craibit Iohne the Reif and auld Cowkewyis sow,
	1714	And how the Wran come out of Ailssay,
	1715	And Peirs plewman that maid his workmen fow,
	1716	Greit Gowmakmorne and Fyn Makcoull, and how
	1717	Thay suld be Goddis in Ireland, as thay say.
	1718	Thair saw I maitland vpon auld beird gray,
	1719	Robene Hude and Gilbert with the quhite hand,
	1720	How Hay of Nauchtoun flew in Madin land.
	1721	The Nigromansie thair saw I eik anone
	1722	Of Benytas, Bongo and Freir Bacone,
	1723	With mony subtill point of Iuglary;
	1724	Of Flanders peis maid mony precious stone,
	1725	Ane greit laid sadill of a siching bone,
	1726	Of ane Nutemug thay maid a Monk in hy,
	1727	Ane Paroche Kirk of ane penny py.
	1728	And Benytas of ane Mussill maid ane Aip,
	1729	With mony vther subtill mow and Iaip.
	1730	And schortlie to declair the veritie,
	1731	All plesand pastance and gammis that micht be
	1732	In that Mirrour war present to my sicht,
	1733	And as I wonderit on that greit farlie
	1734	Venus at last in turning of hir Eye
	1735	Knew weill my face, and said, “Be Goddis micht,
	1736	#e bene welcum, my presonar, to this hicht.
	1737	How passit thow,” quod scho, “this hiddeous deip?”
	1738	“Madame,” quod I, “I not mair than ane scheip.”
	1739	“Na force thairof,” said scho, “sen thow art heir.
	1740	How plesis the our pastance and effeir?”
	1741	“Glaidlie,” quod I, “Madame, be God of heuin.”
	1742	“Rememberis thow,” said scho, withouttin weir
	1743	“On thy promit, quhen of thy greit dangeir
	1744	I the deliuerit? – as now is not to neuin.”
	1745	Than answerit I agane with sober steuin:
	1746	“Madame, #our precept, quhat sa be #our will,
	1747	Heir I remane all reddy to fulfill.”
111	1748	“Weill, weill,” said scho, “thy will is sufficient.
	1749	Of thy bowsum answer I stand content.”
	1750	Than suddanelie in hand ane buik scho hint,
	1751	The quhilk to me betuacht scho or I went,
	1752	Commandand me to be obedient
	1753	And put in Ryme that proces than quite tint.
	1754	I promisit hir, forsuith, or scho wald stint,
	1755	The buik ressauand, thairon my cure to preif.
	1756	Inclinand sine, lawlie I tuik my leif.
	1757	Tuitchand this buik perauenture #e sall heir
	1758	Sum time efter, quhen I haue mair laseir.
	1759	My Nimphe in haist scho hint me be the hand,
	1760	And as we samyn walkit furth in feir,
	1761	“I the declair,” quod scho, “#one Mirrour cleir,
	1762	The quhilk thow saw befoir Dame Venus stand,
	1763	Signifyis na thing ellis to vnderstand
	1764	Bot the greit bewtie of thir Ladyis facis,
	1765	Quhairin louers thinks thay behald all graces.”
	1766	Scho me conuoyit, finallie to tell,
	1767	With greit plesance straicht to the riche Castell,
	1768	Quhair mony saw I preis to get Ingres.
	1769	Thair saw I Sinon and Achitophell
	1770	Preissand to clim the wallis, and how thay fell.
	1771	Lucius Catiline saw I thair expres
	1772	In at ane windo preis till haue entres,
	1773	Bot suddanelie Tullius come with ane buik
	1774	And straik him doun quhill all his chaftis quoik.
	1775	Fast climmand vp thay lustie wallis of stone
	1776	I saw Iugurtha and tressonabill Tryphone,
	1777	Bot thay na grippis thair micht hald for slidder.
	1778	Preissand to clim stude thousandis mony one
	1779	And to the ground thay fallin euerie one.
	1780	Than on the wall ane Garitour I considder,
	1781	Proclamand loud  that did thair hartis swidder:
	1782	“Out on falsheid, the Mother of euerie vice!
	1783	Away, Invy and birnand couetice!”
113	1784	That Garitour tho my Nimphe vnto me tald,
	1785	Was cleipit Lawtie, keipar of that Hald
	1786	Of hie Honour; and thay pepill outschet,
	1787	Saw preissand thame to clim, quhylum war bald;
	1788	Richt verteous, #oung, bot fra time thai wox ald,
	1789	Fra Honour haill on vice thair minde is set.
	1790	“Now sall thow go,” quod scho, “straicht to the #et
	1791	Of this Palice and enter but offence,
	1792	For the Portar is cleipit Patience.
	1793	The michtie Prince, the greitest Empreour
	1794	Of #one Palice,” quod scho, “hecht hie Honour,
	1795	Quhome to dois serue mony traist Officair,
	1796	For Cheritie, of gudlines the flour,
	1797	Is Maister houshald in #one Cristall Towr.
	1798	Firme Constance is the Kingis Secretair
	1799	And liberalitie hecht his Thesaurair.
	1800	Innocence and Deuotioun, as effeiris,
	1801	Bene Clerkis of Closet and Cubicularis.
	1802	His Comptrollar is cleipit Discretioun.
	1803	Humanitie and trew Relatioun
	1804	Bene Ischaris of his Chalmer morne and ewin.
	1805	Peice, quiet, rest oft walkis vp and doun
	1806	Intill his Hall, as Marschellis of Renoun.
	1807	Temperance is Cuik his meit to taist and preif,
	1808	Humilitie Carwer, that na wicht list to greif,
	1809	His Maister Sewar hecht Verteous discipline.
	1810	Mercie is Copper and mixis weill his wine.
	1811	His Chancelair is cleipit Conscience,
	1812	Quhilk for na meid will pronounce fals sentence.
	1813	With him ar Assessouris four of ane assent,
	1814	Science, Prudence , Iustice, Sapience,
	1815	Quhilks to na wicht listin commit offence.
	1816	The Chekker Rollis and the Kingis rent,
	1817	As Auditouris, thay ouirse quhat is spent.
	1818	Lauborous diligence, Gude warkis, Clene leuing
	1819	Bene Outstewartis and Catouris to #one King.
115	1820	Gude hope remanis euer amang #one sort,
	1821	Ane fine Menstraill with mony mow and sport,
	1822	And Pietie is the Kingis Almoseir.
	1823	Sine Fortitude, the richt quha list report,
	1824	Is Lieutenand all wretchis to comfort.
	1825	The Kingis Min#eoun roundand in his Eir
	1826	Hecht Verite, did neuer leill man deir; 
	1827	And schortlie euerie vertew and plesance
	1828	Is subiect to #one Kingis obeysance.
	1829	Cum on,” said scho, “this ordinance to vesite.”
	1830	Than past we to that Cristall Palite quhite,
	1831	Quhair I abaid the entire to behold.
	1832	I bad na mair of plesance nor deilte,
	1833	Of lustie sicht, of Ioy and bluis perfite,
	1834	Nor mair weilfair to haue abone the mold
	1835	Than for to se that #et of birneist gold,
	1836	Quhairon thair was maist curiouslie Ingraue
	1837	All naturall thingis men may in eird consaue.
	1838	Thair was the eirth enuironit with the sey,
	1839	Quhairon the schippis sailland micht I se,
	1840	The Air, the Fire, all the four Elementis,
	1841	The Spheiris seuin and Primum mobile,
	1842	The Signes twelf, perfitelie euerie gre,
	1843	The Zodiak haill as buikis representis,
	1844	The Pole Antartick and eik the Vrsis twane,
	1845	The seuin Starnis, Phaton and the Charlewane.
	1846	Thair was Ingraue how that Ganamedes
	1847	Was reft till heuin, as men in Ouide reidis,
	1848	And vnto Iuppiter maid his cheif Butlair;
	1849	The douchteris fair into thair lustie weidis
	1850	of Driada, amid the sey bud dreidis
	1851	Swymmand, and part war figurit thair
	1852	Vpon ane Craig dryand thair #allow hair,
	1853	With facis not vnlike, for quha thame seing
	1854	Micht weill considder that thay sisters being.
117	1855	Of Planeitis all the coniunctiounis,
	1856	Thair Epistellis and oppositiounis
	1857	War portrait thair, and how thair couris swagis.
	1858	Thair maturall and daylie motiounis,
	1859	Eclipsis, aspectis and digressiounis
	1860	Thair saw I, and mony gudlie personages
	1861	Quhilks semit all lustie quick Images,
	1862	The warmanschip exceding mony fold
	1863	The precious mater, thocht it was fynest gold.
	1864	Wonderand heiron, agane my will but let
	1865	My Nimphe in greif schot me in at the #et.
	1866	“Quhat deuill,” said scho, “hes thow nocht ellis ado
	1867	Bot all thy wit and fantasie to set
	1868	On sic doting?” And tho for seir I swet
	1869	Of hir langage. Bot than anone said scho,
	1870	“List thow se farleis, behald thame #onder, lo!
	1871	#it studie nocht ouir mekill, a dreid thow varie,
	1872	For I persaue the halflingis in ane Farie.”
	1873	Within that Palice sone I gat ane sicht,
	1874	Quhair walkand went full mony worthie wicht
	1875	Amid the clois, with all mirthis to waill.
	1876	For like Phebus with fyrie bemis bricht
	1877	The wallis schane, castand sa greit ane licht
	1878	It semit like the heuin Imperiall,
	1879	And as the Ceder surmountis the Rammall
	1880	In perfite hicht, sa of that Court a glance
	1881	Exceidis far al eirdlie vane plesance.
	1882	For lois of sicht considder micht I nocht
	1883	How perfitelie the riche wallis war wrocht.
	1884	Swa the reflex of Christall stanis schone,
	1885	For brichtnes scarslie blenk thairon I mocht.
	1886	The purifyit siluer surelie, as me thocht,
	1887	In steid of Symont was ouir all that wone,
	1888	#it round full mony ane Beriall stone,
	1889	And thame coniunctlie Ionit fast and quemit.
	1890	The Clois was pachit with siluer as it semit.
119	1891	The durris and the windois all war breddit
	1892	With massie gold, quhairof the funes scheddit.
	1893	With birneist Euir baith Palace and Towris
	1894	War theikit weill, maist craftelie that cled it,
	1895	For sa the quhitlie blanschit bone ouir spred it,
	1896	Midlit with gold anamalit all colouris,
	1897	Importurait of birdis and sweit flouris,
	1898	Curious knottis and mony hie deuise,
	1899	Quhilks to behald war perfite Paradise.
	1900	And to proceid, my Nimphe and I furth went
	1901	Straicht to the Hall throwout the Palice gent,
	1902	And ten stages of Topas did ascend.
	1903	Schute was the dure; in at a boir I blent,
	1904	Quahir I beheld the glaidest represent
	1905	That euer in eirth I, wretchit Catiue, kend.
	1906	Breiflie this proces to conclude and end,
	1907	Methocht the flure was all of Amatist,
	1908	Bot quhairof war the wallis I not wist.
	1909	The mutitude of precious stanis seir
	1910	Thairon sa schane my febill sicht but weir
	1911	Micht not behald thair verteous gudlines.
	1912	For all the Ruif, as did to me appeir,
	1913	Hang full of plesand lowpit Sapheiris cleir,
	1914	Of Dyamontis and Rubeis, as I ges.
	1915	War all the buirdis maid of maist riches,
	1916	Of Sardanis, of Iasp and Smaragdane.
	1917	Traistis, formis and benkis war poleist plane.
	1918	Baith to and fro amid the Hall thay went,
	1919	Royall Princes in plait and Armouris quent,
	1920	Of birneist gold couchit with precious stanis.
	1921	Enthronit sat ane God Omnipotent,
	1922	On quhais glorious visage as I blent,
	1923	In extasie be his brichtnes atanis
	1924	He smote me doun and brissit all my banis.
	1925	Thair lay I still in swoun with colour blaucht,
	1926	Quhill at the last my Nimphe vp hes me caucht.
121	1927	Sine with greit pane, with womenting and cair
	1928	In hir armis scho bair me doun the stair,
	1929	And in the Clois full softlie laid me doun;
	1930	Vpheld my heid to tak the hailsum air,
	1931	For of my life scho stude in greit despair.
	1932	Me till awalk ay was that Lady boun,
	1933	Quhill finallie out of that deidlie swoun
	1934	I swyith ouircome and vp mine Ene did cast.
	1935	“Be merie, man,” quod scho, “the worst is past.
	1936	Get vp,” scho said, “for schame be na Cowart.
	1937	My heid in wed, thow hes ane wyifes hart,
	1938	That for a plesand sicht was sa mismaid.”
	1939	Than all in anger vpon my feit I start,
	1940	And for hir wordis war sa apirsmart
	1941	Vnto the Nimphe I maid a busteous braid.
	1942	“Carling,” quod I, “quhat was #one that thow said?”
	1943	“Soft #ow,” said scho, “thay ar not wise that stryifis,
	1944	For kirkmen war ay gentill to thair wyifis.
	1945	I am richt glaid thow art worthin sa wicht.
	1946	Lang eir me thocht you had nouther force nor micht,
	1947	Curage nor will for till haue greuit ane Fla.
	1948	Quhat aillit the to fall?” Quod I: “the sicht
	1949	Of #one Goddes grim fyrie visage bricht
	1950	Ouirset my wit and all my spreitis swa,
	1951	I micht not stand.” “Bot was that suith?” “#a, #a!”
	1952	Than said the Nimphe richt merilie and leuch,
	1953	“Now I considder thy mad hart weill aneuch.
	1954	I will na mair,” quod scho, “the thus assay
	1955	With sic plesance quhilk may thy spreit affray.
	1956	#it sall thow se surelie sen thow art heir
	1957	My Ladyis Court in thair gudlie array.
	1958	For to behald thair mirth cum on thy way.”
	1959	Than hand in hand swyith went we furth in feir
	1960	At a Posterne towart the fair Herbeir.
	1961	In that passage full fast at hir I franit,
	1962	Quhat folk thay war within that Hall remanit.
123	1963	“Yone war,” said scho, “quha sa the richt discriues,
	1964	Maist vail#eand folk and verteous in thair liues.
	1965	Now int he Court of Honour thay remane
	1966	Verteouslie, and in all plesance thriues.
	1967	For thay with speir, with swords and with kniues
	1968	In Iust battell war fundin maist of mane.
	1969	In thair promittis thay stude euer firme and plane.
	1970	In thame aboundit worschip and lawtie,
	1971	Illuminat with liberalitie.
	1972	Honour,” quod scho, “to this heuinlie King
	1973	Differis richt far fra warldie gouerning,
	1974	Quhilk is bot Pompe of eirdlie dignitie,
	1975	Geuin for estait of blude, micht or sic thing.
	1976	And in this countrie Prince, Prelate or King
	1977	Allanerlie sall for vertew honourit be.
	1978	For eirdlie gloir is nocht bot vanitie
	1979	That as we se sa suddanelie will wend,
	1980	Bot verteous Honour neuer mair sall end.
	1981	Behald,” said scho,” and se this warldis glorie,
	1982	Maist Inconstant, maist slid and transitorie.
	1983	Prosperitie in eird is bot a dreme,
	1984	Or like as man war steppand ouir ane scoir.
	1985	Now is he law that was sa hie befoir,
	1986	And he quhylum was borne pure of his deme,
	1987	Now his estait schynis like the Sone beme.
	1988	Baith vp and doun, baith to and fra, we se,
	1989	This warld walteris as dois the wallie sey.
	1990	To Papis, Bischoppis, Prelatis and Primaitis,
	1991	Empreouris, Kingis, Princes, Potestatis,
	1992	Deith settis the terme and end of all thair hicht.
	1993	Fra thay be gane, let se quha on thame waitis.
	1994	Nathing remanis bot fame of thair Estaitis,
	1995	And nocht ellis bot verteous warkis richt
	1996	Sall with thame wend, nouther thair Pompe nor micht.
	1997	Ay vertew ringis in lestand Honour cleir.
	1998	Remember than that vertew hes na peir.
125	1999	For vertew is a thing sa precious,
	2000	Quhairof the end is sa delicious,
	2001	The warld can not considder quhat it is.
	2002	It makis folk perfite and glorious,
	2003	It makis Sanctis of peill vitious,
	2004	It causis folk ay liue in lestand blis,
	2005	It is the way to hie Honour, I-wis.
	2006	It dantis deith and euerie vice throw micht.
	2007	Without vertew, fy on all eirdlie wicht.
	2008	Vertew is eik the eprfite sicker way,
	2009	And nocht ellis, till lestand honour ay.
	2010	For mony hes sene vitious pepill vphieit,
	2011	And efter sone thair glore vanische away,
	2012	Quhairof exampillis we se this euerie day.
	2013	His eirdlie pompe is gone quhen that he deit.
	2014	Than is he with na eirdlie freind suppleit
	2015	Saifand vertew; weill is him hes sic a feir.
	2016	Now wil I schaw,” quod scho,” quhat folk bene heir.
	2017	The strangest Sampsoun is into #one hald,
	2018	The forcie puissant Hercules sa bald,
	2019	The feirs Achill and all the Nobillis nyne,
	2020	Scipio Affricane, Pompeius the ald,
	2021	Other mony quhais Namis befoir ar tald,
	2022	With thousandis ma than I may heir defyne,
	2023	And lustie Ladyis amid thay Lordis syne - 
	2024	Semiramis, Thamar, Hippolita,
	2025	Penthessilea, medea, Zenobia.
	2026	Of thy Regioun #onder bene honourit part,
	2027	The Kingis Gregour, Kenneth and King Robart,
	2028	With vther ma that beis not heir reheirsit.
	2029	Waryit,” quod scho,” ay be thy megir hart!
	2030	Thow suld haue sene, had thow biddin in #one art,
	2031	Quhat wise #one heuinlie companie conuersit.
	2032	Wa worth thy febill brane, sa sone was persit.
	2033	Thow micht haue sene remanand quhair thow was
	2034	Ane hudge pepill puneist for thair trespas; 
127	2035	Quhilks be wilfull manisfest Arrogance,
	2036	Inuyous pride, pretendit Ignorance,
	2037	Foull dowbilnes and dissait vnamendit,
	2038	Enforcis thame thair selfis to auance
	2039	Be sle falsheid, but lawtie or constance,
	2040	With subtelnes and slichtis now commendit,
	2041	Betraisand folk that neuer to thame offendit,
	2042	And vpheis thame self throw fraudefull lipps,
	2043	Thocht God caus oft thair eirdlie gloir eclipps.
	2044	And Nobillis cummin of honorabill Ancestry
	2045	Thair verteous Nobilitie settis nocht by,
	2046	For dishonest vnlefull warldie wayis,
	2047	And throw corruptit couetous Inuy.
	2048	Bot he that can be dowbill, nane is set by.
	2049	Dissait is Wisdome; Lawtie, Honour away is.
	2050	Richt few or nane takis tent thairto thir dayis,
	2051	And thair greit wrangis to reforme but let
	2052	In Iudgement #one God was #onder set.
	2053	Remanand #onder thow micht haue hard beliue
	2054	Pronouncit the greit sentence diffinitiue,
	2055	Tuitchand this Actioun, and the dreidfull pane
	2056	Execute on trespassouris #it on liue,
	2057	Swa that thair malice sall na mair prescriue.”
	2058	“Madame,” quod I, “for Giddis saik, turne agane.
	2059	My spreit desyris to se thair torment fane.”
	2060	Quod scho: “Richt now thair sall thow be reioisit,
	2061	Quhen thow hes tane the Air and better appoisit.
	2062	Bot first thow sall considder commoditeis
	2063	Of our garding, lo, full of lustie treis!
	2064	All hie Cypres, of flewer maist fragrant.
	2065	Our Ladyis #onder, bissie as the beis,
	2066	The sweit flureist flouris of Rethoreis
	2067	Gadderis full fast, mony grene tender plant;
	2068	And with all plesance pleneist is #one hant,
	2069	Quhair precious stanis on treis dois abound
	2070	In steid of frute chargeit with peirlis round.”
129	2071	Vnto that gudelie garth thus we proceid,
	2072	Quhilk with a large Fowsie far on breid
	2073	Inueronit was, quhair Fisches war anew.
	2074	All water Foullis war swemand thair gude speid.
	2075	Als out of growand treis thair saw I breid
	2076	Foullis that hingand be thair nebbis grew.
	2077	Out ouir the stank, of mony diuers hew,
	2078	Was laid ane tre, ouir quhilk behouit vs pas,
	2079	Bot I can not declair quhairof it was.
	2080	My Nimphe went ouir, chargeand me follow fast.
	2081	Hir till obey my spreitis wox agast,
	2082	Sa perrelous was the passage till espy.
	2083	Away scho went, and fra time scho was past
	2084	Vpon the Brig I enterit at the last,
	2085	Bot sa my harnis trimblit besily
	2086	Quhill I fell ouir and baith my feit slaid by,
	2087	Out ouir the heid into the stank adoun,
	2088	Quhair as me thocht I was in point to droun.
	2089	Quhat throw the birdis sang and this affray
	2090	Out of my swoun I walknit quhair I lay
	2091	In the Garding quhair I first doun fell.
	2092	About I blent, for richt cleir was the day,
	2093	Bot all this lustie plesance was away.
	2094	Me thocht that fair Herbrie maist like to Hell
	2095	In till compair of this #e hard me tell.
	2096	Allace, allace, I thocht me than in pane,
	2097	And langit sair for to haue swemit agane.
	2098	The birdis sang nor #it the merie flouris
	2099	Micht not ameis my greuous greit dolouris.
	2100	All eirdlie thing me thocht barrane and vile.
	2101	Thus I remanit into the Garth twa houris,
	2102	Cursand the feildis with all the fair coluris,
	2103	That I awolk oft wariand the quhile.
	2104	Alwayis my minde was on the lustie Ile.
	2105	I purpoisit euer till haue dwelt in that art,
	2106	Of Rethorik cullouris till haue found sum part.
131	2107	And maist of all my curage was aggreuit,
	2108	Becaus sa sone I of my dreme escheuit,
	2109	Not seand how thay wrethcis war torment,
	2110	That Honour mankit and honestie mischeuit.
	2111	Glaidlie I wald amid this writ haue breuit,
	2112	Had I it sene, how thay war slane or schent.
	2113	Bot fra I saw all this weilfair was went,
	2114	Till mak ane end, sittand vnder a tre,
	2115	In laude of Honour I wrait thir versis thre:
	2116	O hie Honour, sweit heuinlie flour degest,
	2117	Gem verteous, maist precious, gudliest,
	2118	For hie Honour thow art guerdoun conding,
	2119	Of worschip kend the glorious end and rest,
	2120	But quhome, in richt, na worthie wicht may lest.
	2121	Thy greit puissance may maist auance all thing
	2122	And pouerall to mekill auaill sone bring.
	2123	I the require, sen thow but peir art best,
	2124	That efter this in thy hie blis we ring.
	2125	Of grace thy face in euerie place sa schynis,
	2126	That sweit all spreit baith heid and feit Inclynis
	2127	Thy gloir afoir, for till imploir remeid.
	2128	He docht richt nocht, quhilk out of thocht the tynis.
	2129	Thy name, but blame; and royal fame diuine is.
	2130	Thow port, at schort, of our comfort and reid,
	2131	Till bring all thing till glaiding efter deid.
	2132	All wicht but sicht of thy greit micht ay crynis.
	2133	O Schene, I mene, nane may sustene thy feid.
	2134	Hail rois, maist chois til clois thy fois greit micht!
	2135	Haill stone, quhilk schone vpon the throne of licht!
	2136	Vertew, quhais trew, sweit dew ouirthrew al vice,
	2137	Was ay, ilk day, gar say, the way of licht.
	2138	Amend offend, and send our end ay richt.
	2139	Thow stant ordant, as sanct, of grant maist wise,
	2140	Till be supplie and the hie gre of price.
	2141	Delite the tite, me quite of site to dicht,
	2142	For I apply, schortlie, to thy deuise.
	2143	Trivmphovs laud with palme of victorie,
	2144	The Lawrer Crowne of Infinite glorie,
	2145	Maist gracious Pirnce, our souerane Iames the Feird,
	2146	Thy Maiestie most haue Eternallie - 
	2147	Supreme Honour, Renoun of Cheualrie,
	2148	Felicitie perdurand in this erid
	2149	With Eterne blis in heuin by fatall weird.
	2150	Ressaue this Roustie rurall Rebaldrie,
	2151	Laikand Cunning, fra thy pure leige vnleird;
	2152	Quhilk in the sicht of thy Magnificence,
	2153	Confidand in sa greit beneuolence
	2154	Proponis thus my vulgair Ignorance,
	2155	Maist humbillie with dew obedience
	2156	beseikand oft thy michtie Excellence
	2157	Be grace to pardoun all sic variance
	2158	With sum bening respect of firme constance,
	2159	Remittand my pretendit negligence,
	2160	Thow quhais micht may humbill thing auance.
	2161	Breif buriall quair, of Eloquence all quite,
	2162	With russet weid and sentence Imperfite
	2163	Till cum in plane se that thow not pretend the.
	2164	Thy barrant termis and thy vile Indite
	2165	Sall not be mine. I will not haue the wite!
	2166	For as for me, I quitclame that I kend the.
	2167	Thou art bot stouth – thift louis licht but lite -
	2168	Not worth ane mite, pray Ilk man til amend the.
	2169	Fair on with site, and on this wise I end the!

