CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
Cornell University Library 
 PR 8649.HS2 
 
 The poems of Robert Henryson.A revised t 
 3 1924 013 511 138 
 
The original of this book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924013511138 
 
POEMS OF ROBERT HENRYSON 
 
THE POEMS OF 
 ROBERT HENRYSON,, 
 
 A REVISED TEXT 
 
 VARIOUS READINGS, NOTES, INTRODUCTION 
 AND GLOSSARY 
 
 EDITED BY 
 
 W. M. METCALFE, D.D. 
 
 PAISLEY: ALEXANDER GARDNER 
 
 ?nb!t«h<t bj| Jtppointmtnt to thr Hit ujnitn flirtotU 
 1917 
 
LOWDOK 
 9IMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT & CO., Ull). 
 
 PRINTED BY ALEXANDER GARDNER, PAISLEY. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 In the month of May I was forcibly reminded 
 that whatever was required for the completion of 
 this volume would have to be done by another 
 hand than mine. Fortunately much had already 
 been done ; and still more fortunately my friend 
 Mr. T. D. Robb, who had read the proofs so far 
 and given me a number of valuable suggestions, 
 kindly undertook to do what failing health was 
 preventing me from doing, — a task for which he was 
 admirably qualified by his sound scholarship and 
 intimate acquaintance with the Scottish language 
 and literature. 
 
 The text was formed and the introduction written 
 and most of my notes were compiled before the 
 publication of the first volume of Professor Gregory 
 Smith's exhaustive work. Being laid aside, however, 
 by a long and serious illness, I had an opportunity 
 which I used of reconsidering what I had written, in 
 the light of Professor Smith's conclusions. Mr. 
 Robb has revised the Introduction, corrected and 
 amplified the notes, and completed the glossary. 
 
 W. M. M. 
 
 The South Manse, 
 
 Paisley, July, 1916. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Introduction, ix. 
 
 The Moral Fables of M%op in Scottish Metre — 
 
 Prologue, - - 3 
 
 The Cock and the Jewel, 7 
 
 The Twa Myss, - 12 
 
 The Cock and the Fox, 24 
 
 The Fox and the Wolf, 34 
 
 The Trial of the Fox, 42 
 
 The Sheep and the Dog, 58 
 
 The Lion and the Mouse, 66 
 
 The Swallow and Other Birdis, 79 
 
 The Fox, the Wolf, and the Cadger, 93 
 The Fox, the Wolf, and the Husbandman, 106 
 
 The Wolf and the Wether, 1 1 7 
 
 The Wolf and the Lamb, 124 
 
 The Mouss and the Paddock, 132 
 
 The Testament of Cresseid, 143 
 
 Orpheus and Eurydice, 171 
 
 Miscellaneous Poems — 
 
 Robene and Makyne, - 199 
 
 The Bludy Serk, 204 
 
 The Garmont of Gude Ladeis, 209 
 
 The Praise of Aige, 211 
 
VIM. CONTENTS. 
 
 Miscellaneous Poems — PAGE 
 The Ressoning Betwixt Aige and Youth, 213 
 
 The Abbay Walk, - 217 
 
 The Ressoning Betwix Deth and Man, 220 
 
 Aganis Haisty Credence of Titlaris, 223 
 
 The Annunciation, 226 
 
 Sum Practysis of Medecyne, 229 
 
 The Thre Deid Pollis, - 233 
 
 Ane Prayer for the Pest, 236 
 
 The Want of Wyse Men, 240 
 
 Notes, - 247 
 
 Glossary, 303 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 "Few poets," Professor Saintsbury has very justly 
 remarked, " whose personality is certain, and whose 
 work is both eminent in merit and not inconsider- 
 able in bulk, have a more shadowy record than 
 Master Robert Henryson, schoolmaster in Dunferm- 
 line." Very little is known of him, and of that 
 little, most of it is not certain. His parentage 
 and the date of his birth are both unknown. 
 Dr. Laing's well-meant attempt to connect him 
 with the Hendersons or Henrysons of Fordell, 
 though remarkably learned, fails for the want 
 of adequate evidence. He is supposed to have 
 flourished during the reign of James IV. (1488- 
 1518), and his birth is usually put down at about 
 1425, while the reference to him in Dunbar's 
 Lament for the Makaris, 1 printed in 1508, but 
 written in 1506, has suggested the year 1500 as 
 about the probable year of his death. 
 
 Had Henryson been born in Fife and attended 
 the school at Dunfermline, then already of consider- 
 able antiquity, after passing through its classes he 
 would naturally have proceeded to the University of 
 
 1 " In Dumfermelyne he [Death] has tane Brown 
 With Maister Robert Henrisoun," 
 
X. INTRODUCTION. 
 
 St. Andrews, then, and until 1451, when Glasgow 
 was founded, the only university in Scotland; but 
 in any list of students attending there during the 
 period his name does not appear. It is not impos- 
 sible, though not likely, that the first schools he 
 attended were at Rome, or that he received the 
 early part of his education there. Scotsmen in 
 those days wandered widely and settled in the most 
 unlikely places. The Scottish students of the time 
 were also great wanderers, going hither and thither, 
 visiting whichever of the universities took their 
 fancy, and often animated as much by the quest of 
 adventure as by the desire for learning. But the 
 lines in the Edinburgh text — 
 
 " I am of gen till blude, 
 My natall land is Rome withouttin nay ; 
 And in that town first to the sculis I yude, 
 In Civil Law studyit for mony a day," 
 
 must not be pushed too far, nor be made to say 
 what they do not say and what they were never 
 intended to say. Still, they may contain one or 
 two points referring to Henryson which are worth 
 attending to. They occur in the second Prologue 
 to the Moral Fables, and in their setting can 
 apparently have no reference to him. They are 
 put into the mouth of iEsop — or, rather, into the 
 mouth of an imaginary JSsop whom the author is 
 engaged in describing — and refer primarily to him. 
 To the real iEsop they have no relation whatever, 
 except that they dissipate the idea so common in 
 
INTRODUCTION. XI. 
 
 the Middle Ages that he was a perfect monster of 
 ugliness and deformity. But what Henryson was 
 then writing is an allegory, and the allegorical way 
 of writing allows almost unlimited play to the 
 imagination and inventiveness and daring of a writer, 
 sufficient at any rate to enable him to describe 
 himself or incidents in his own life under the 
 shadow of another whose experience may have been 
 entirely different. And it may be that Henryson 
 took advantage of this, and while pretending to 
 describe ^Esop, was actually describing himself, not 
 hesitating to perpetrate the gross anachronism of 
 making the ancient Greek fabulist a native of Rome, 
 attending its schools and studying civil law, or even 
 of dressing him up as a fully qualified doctor 
 thereof in the fifteenth century of the Christian 
 era, as he does in another part of the same Prologue. 
 None of the particulars contained in the lines 
 quoted above apply, as I have said, nor, as I may 
 now say, can they apply to the real Msop, nor can 
 they to Phasdrus, whose fables Henryson probably 
 had before him, nor yet to any other of the older 
 fabulists. There can be nothing extravagant or 
 fanciful, therefore, in assuming that here, and pro- 
 bably in other parts of the Prologue, Henryson was 
 really speaking of himself. That he was a student 
 of civil law seems to be fairly certain. That he 
 was of " gentill blude " is not so certain, but there 
 is no reason for supposing that he was not. His 
 statement about Rome being his " natall land " may 
 be simply one of those strokes of art by which he 
 
Xll. INTRODUCTION. 
 
 aimed at keeping up his allegory and diverting 
 attention from himself — a supposition which is borne 
 out by the emphatic way in which he makes the 
 assertion — "My natall land is Home, withouttin 
 nay" — and all that he may have meant by his 
 native land being Rome, and his attendance at its 
 schools, may be that he was born in Christendom as 
 opposed to heathendom, and obtained his education 
 not in a pagan seminary, but in the schools of the 
 Church, which he certainly did ; or it may be that 
 his meaning is that he was born on lands belonging 
 to the Church and attended the schools attached to 
 them, and if so, it would require no very great 
 stretch of imagination for him to use the language 
 he does. But this whole question is speculative, 
 and probably, like all such questions, can render 
 nothing sure. 
 
 For the study of the civil law, Henryson would 
 require to attend one of the universities which, 
 during the past three centuries, had been rapidly 
 springing up in all parts of western Europe. What 
 university he attended there is nothing to show. 
 That it was not the University of St. Andrews we 
 have seen ; Glasgow University was not founded till 
 1451, when he would be about twenty-five years of 
 age. The probability is, therefore, that he attended 
 one of the universities on. the Continent, but which 
 — Louvain, founded in the accepted year of his 
 birth, Paris or Bologna, or what other — is not 
 known; but whichever it was, either there or at 
 another he obtained, over and above his legal lore, 
 
INTRODUCTION. xiii. 
 
 that knowledge of medicine to which he more than 
 once alludes. 
 
 The first, and apparently the only reliable, date 
 we have in connection with Henryson's life, comes 
 to us from the records of the University of Glasgow. 
 There, on September 10, 1462, "the Venerable 
 Master Robert Henryson, Licentiate in Arts and 
 Bachelor in Decrees, was incorporated," or admitted 
 a member of the newly founded university. 1 Had 
 this entry told us a little more about this Robert 
 Henryson, it would have been much more valuable 
 than it is. But as it is, it tells us that he was a 
 graduate of some university, but not which ; that he 
 was licensed to teach in the faculty of Arts ; that 
 though not a Doctor of Civil Law he was on the 
 way to the doctorate, being a Bachelor of Decrees 
 and licensed to teach in any university on the 
 subject ; and lastly, that on the day named he was 
 received among the masters of the University of 
 Glasgow as one entitled to teach in the subjects for 
 which he was licensed. 2 All this seems to show that 
 Henryson, who was then about thirty-seven years 
 of age, had already risen to be a man of some 
 
 1,1 Anno Domini etc. [m.ccccJ lxij die decimo mensis Sep- 
 tembris Incorporatus fuit venerabilis vir Magister Robertas 
 Henrisone in Artibus Licentiatus et in Decretis Bachalarius, 
 Munimenta Alme Universitatis Glasguensis, ii. 69." Coutts, 
 History of the University of Glasgow, 47-48. 
 
 2 Hastings Rashdall, Universities of Europe in the Middle 
 Ages, vol. i., chapters iv. and v. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 distinction and that he was well and favourably 
 known in the world of learning. 1 
 
 In 1508, Chepman and Myllar, Scotland's first 
 printers, issued the first specimen of their craft in 
 the shape of a quarto volume containing a mis- 
 cellaneous collection of poems by several hands. 
 Among them are Dunbar's Goldyn Targe and 
 Lament for the Makaris. Among them also are 
 Henryson's Orpheus and Eurydice and The Want 
 of Wise Men. The " traitie of Orpheus King and 
 how he yeid to hewin and to hel," etc., is No. viii., 
 and is incomplete. 2 But by this time Henryson 
 had been dead for at least two years. Whether he 
 had any hand in sending the pieces to the press is 
 unknown. 
 
 The next we hear about him is in 1570, some 
 seventy years after his death. In that year Charteris, 
 the Edinburgh printer, caused to be printed by 
 Robert Lekpreuik, at Edinburgh, a small quarto 
 volume, in black letter, of fifty-two pages, having 
 on its title-page the following — 
 
 " The Morall Fabillis | of Esope the Phrygi- j 
 an, Compylit in Eloquent, and Ornate Scottis | 
 Meter, by Maister Robert Henrisone | Schole- 
 maister of Dun- | fermeling. j " T Dulcius Arrident 
 Seria Picta Iocis j *~ Vt Naufragij leuamen est Portus, 
 
 1 Prof. Gregory Smith does not agree with this identification 
 —originally Laing's — of the poet with the incorporated 
 Robertas Henrisone of Glasgow University. He thinks the 
 evidence too slight. 
 
 2 Annals of Scottish Printing, Dickson & Edmond, p. 63. 
 
INTRODUCTION. XV. 
 
 Ita Tranquillitas | aninii, seu Jucunditas, est quasi 
 Vitae Portus. | 1 
 
 " IT Newlie Imprentit | at Edinburgh, be Robert 
 Lekpreuik, at the Ex- | pensis of Henrie Charteris : 
 and ar to be | sauld in his Buith, on the North 
 syde | of the gait, abone the Throne. | Anno. Do. 
 M.D.LXX." 
 
 The colophon contains the date, " the xvi. day of 
 December : the yeir of God ane thousand fyue 
 hundreth, thre scoir, Nyne yeiris." 
 
 The designation Schoolmaster has caused some to 
 doubt whether Robert Henryson of Dunfermline 
 can be identified as the Robert Henryson of the 
 Muniraenta Alme Universitatis Glasguensis. There 
 is no apparent reason why he should not be. In 
 that age schoolmasters were often men who after- 
 wards distinguished themselves in various ways, 
 and who, while still acting as schoolmasters, were 
 frequently employed on public business. Ninian 
 Winzet, schoolmaster of Linlithgow, rose to be 
 Abbot of the Scottish monastery of S. James, at 
 Ratisbon, and made a name for himself as one of 
 the defenders of the Roman Catholic Faith. The 
 master or rector of a school was sometimes an 
 officer of high dignity, and in old records referring 
 to schools he is often associated with the highest 
 in the land. Among others, schoolmasters are 
 associated with the three sons of Malcolm Canmore, 
 with dignified churchmen and with great lords. The 
 
 1 Annals of Scottish Printing, Dickson & Edmond, p. -2W. 
 
XVI. INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ancient records show also that the schoolmaster 
 was not only an officer held in honour, but that he 
 was frequently employed in settling disputes and 
 acting as a judge in causes. In 1212, for instance, 
 Pope Innocent III. addressed a bull to the Arch- 
 deacons of Dunkeld and Dumblane and to the 
 master of the schools of Perth — magister scholarum 
 de Pert — appointing them judges for settling a 
 dispute between William Clark of Sanquhar and the 
 monks of Paisley. 1 Twenty-five years later, the 
 Abbot of Paisley obtained from the Pope a com- 
 mission to three persons to settle a dispute he was 
 engaged in respecting certain lands in Dumbai-ton- 
 shire. One of the three commissioners was the 
 schoolmaster of Ayr — magister scolarum de Are. 
 The others were the Archdeacons of Cuningham 
 and Carrick. 2 And again, the schoolmaster of 
 South Berwick was appointed, along with the 
 sub-prior of Coldingham, to determine a question 
 which had arisen between the abbot and convent 
 of Kelso and Walter, vicar of Roberton, respecting 
 the teind sheaves of his parish. 3 Schoolmasters, 
 again, were often appointed to offices of the Crown. 
 In 1859 the master of the schools in Cupar, Fife, 
 was one of the customars of Cupar, 1 and about the 
 same time William of Travernent, rector of the 
 schools of Haddington, was clerk of the docket of 
 Haddington and of North Berwick. 6 Again, in the 
 
 1 Reg. de Passelet, 229. » Ibid., 164. 
 
 • 1 Liber S. Marie de Calchou. .i. 
 
 * Exchequer Rolls, 35. • ibid. 98. 
 
IKTKODUCTION. xvii. 
 
 General Assembly of the University of Glasgow, 
 held in 1521, the master of the Grammar School of 
 Glasgow was appointed one of the deputies for 
 electing the Rector, 1 and several of his successors 
 are found nominated among the non-regentes to 
 examine the graduates. Most of the schoolmasters 
 of the time, indeed, were young ecclesiastics who 
 had adopted the profession of teaching as a means 
 to their further advancement. On this ground, 
 therefore — on the ground that the poet was a 
 schoolmaster — there is no reason for doubting his 
 identity with the Robertus Henrisone who was 
 incorporated in 1462 in the University of Glasgow. 
 The facts given in the Munimenta seem to indicate 
 that he was a very likely person to become a school- 
 master. 
 
 . The school of which Henryson was the master was 
 within the walls of the Abbey, and in all proba- 
 bility was not a cathedral school, like the celebrated 
 school of Paris, but a purely monastic institution, 
 where the boys of the monastery and others from 
 outside were taught. Dunfermline had other schools 
 at the time besides those of the town and abbey, as, 
 for instance, the schools of Pei-th and Stirling, 2 but 
 in what relation Henryson stood to these, if any, is 
 not known. 
 
 He is said to have " settled " in Dunfermline as a 
 •' notary." Probably among his other duties he 
 
 'Munimenta, ii., 138-9. 
 
 2 Reg. de Dunfermline, 56-58, 63, 66, 81, 418. 
 
 B 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 discharged those of a notary public, but there is 
 no evidence that he did. 1 
 
 Henryson's principal work as a poet is the Moral 
 Fables of Msop, in which kind of writing, while the 
 first to attempt it among Scottish writers, he is 
 easily the best. Next comes the Testament of 
 Cresseid, in which he carries on Chaucer's story 
 of Troilus by narrating the dreadful fate which 
 overtook Cresseid after her desertion by Diomede. 
 Following upon this in point of interest, we have 
 the poem of Orpheus and Eurydice, along with a 
 number of miscellaneous pieces, among which are 
 the delightful pastoral Robene and Makyne, The 
 Abbay Walk, and a number of others, all of which 
 will be enumerated immediately. There is no date 
 to any of them, and, with perhaps one exception — 
 Ane Prayer for the Pest — no reference to historical 
 incidents by which their dates can be fixed. 
 
 Professor Diebler, however, taking the emotions 
 and sentiments to which they give expression as his 
 guides, has arranged them in what he believes to be 
 the chronological order in which they were composed. 
 Dividing the years of Henryson's poetical activity 
 into three periods — the first from about 1450 to 
 1462, the date of his supposed incorporation in the 
 University of Glasgow ; the second from c. 1462 to 
 c. 1488 ; and the third from c. 1488 to the poet's 
 death — he arranges them as follows : — 
 
 1 Coutts, Hist, of Glasgow University. 1-7 ; Chalmers, Hist, 
 of Dunfermline, i., 312. 
 
INTRODUCTION. XIX. 
 
 I. (c. 1450 to c. 1462)— 1, The Garmont of Gude 
 
 Ladies ; 2, The Bludy Serk ; 3, Robene and 
 Makyne ; 4, Sum Practysis of Medecyne ; 
 5, Ane Prayer for the Pest ; and 6, Orpheus 
 and Eurydice. 
 
 II. (c. 1462 to c. 1488)— 7, The Testament of 
 
 Cresseid; 8, The Morall Fabills of Esope; 
 9, The Want of Wyse Men; 10, Aganis 
 Haisty Creddance of Titlaris ; 11, The Thre 
 Deid Povvis ; 11, Maister Henrison's Dreme, 
 mentioned in The Complaynt of Scotland, 
 but now lost. 
 
 III. (c. 1488 to the poet's death)— 14, The Saluta- 
 tion of the Virgin ; 15, Some smaller religious 
 pieces in the Makculloch MS. ; 16, The Prais 
 of Aige ; 17, The Ressoning betwix Aige and 
 Youth ; and 18, The Ressoning betwix Deth 
 and Man. 1 
 
 This arrangement may here and there hit the 
 mark, but the principle on which it is made is not 
 reliable. There is no apparent reason why Robene 
 and Makyne should not have been written during 
 the second period, nor why the Moral Fables should 
 not have been in the third, nor yet why The 
 Ressoning betwix Aige and Youth should not have 
 been written during the second or even the first 
 period. The ebb and flow of a poet's inspiration 
 
 1 Anglia, IX. b., Sh.,p. 337. 
 
XX. INTRODUCTION. 
 
 are not regulated by the flight of time, nor are his 
 moods and tempers in the custody of the hours; 
 they are dependent rather upon his mental and 
 spiritual condition and upon the character of his 
 experience and environment, physical, intellectual, 
 moral and social. 
 
 Henryson's literary activity falls within the second 
 half of the fifteenth century, just when the Scots 
 language was passing from what is known as 
 Early Scots to what is known as Middle Scots. We 
 naturally expect, therefore, that his language will 
 be marked to a greater or less extent by the 
 peculiarities which distinguish the language of the 
 one period from that of the other. And this is 
 actually the case, though in the texts which have been 
 preserved to us the characteristics of Middle Scots 
 are more numerous and more consistently adhered 
 to than are those of the earlier period : e.g., the 
 use of am of Middle Scots for a of the earlier period, 
 the substitution of the diphthong of Middle Scots 
 for the simple vowel of Early Scots, and the sub- 
 stitution of the southern o or ou for the northern a. 
 
 The texts printed on the following pages are 
 based upon the various texts transcribed and printed 
 by Professor Gregory Smith in vols. 9, and 3 of his 
 Poems of Robert Henryson (1906-1908) for the 
 Scottish Text Society ; upon the Bannatyne Manu- 
 script, compiled by George Bannatyne, 1568, and 
 printed for the Hunterian Club, 1896 ; and upon 
 the transcripts of Lord Hailes, Pinkerton, and 
 others. 
 
INTRODUCTION. xxi. 
 
 The earliest texts of the Moral Fables are : — 
 
 1. The volume printed at Edinburgh by Robert 
 
 Lekpreuik, at the expense of Henry Charteris, 
 and already referred to, known in this edition 
 as Edinburgh, and represented by the letter 
 E. It is a small quarto volume, printed in 
 black letter. The only known copy of it 
 was purchased by Mr. W. H. Miller of 
 Craigentinny, near Edinburgh, and is now 
 preserved in the library at Britwell Court, 
 Bucks. "V^<H^r^vv^rijJti! 1 'C1'VUi,4«juw. 
 
 2. The Harleian MS., 3865, British Museum, 
 
 known in this edition as Harleian, and 
 represented by the letter H. 
 
 3. The Makculloch MS., in the library of the 
 
 University of Edinburgh, known in this 
 edition as Makculloch, and represented by 
 Mk. It was acquired by Dr. Laing in 1854, 
 and bequeathed by him to the Edinburgh 
 University. The manuscript proper consists 
 of Latin notes on Logic by Magnus Mak- 
 culloch (or Iohannis de Tayn), a Scottish 
 student at Louvain in 1477. It appeal's to 
 have been in the hands of I. Purdie, who 
 may have been the scribe of the pieces in the 
 vernacular on its blank pages. 1 
 
 1 A description of this MS. is given by Prof. G. Gregory 
 Smith in his Specimens of Middle Scots, pp. lxvi.-lxix. 
 
XX11. INTRODUCTION. 
 
 4. The Bannatyne MS. (1568), in the Advocates' 
 
 Library, Edinburgh, known in this edition as 
 Bannatyne, and represented by the letter B. 
 
 5. A transcript from the early sixteenth century 
 
 Asloan MS., made in 1810, for George 
 Chalmers, by William Gibb, known in this 
 edition as Asloan, and represented by the 
 letter A. 
 
 In none of these texts have we the Fables exactly 
 as they were written or as they left the hands of 
 Henryson. All of them have been more or less 
 corrupted or altered, either unintentionally or 
 deliberately, by copyist or printer. 
 
 They seem to fall into two groups — E and H, 
 and A, B, Mk. The members of the first group are 
 very similar, though E is older than H. There are 
 passages in it which appear to carry us far back and 
 very near to the original, and suggest the question — 
 Who tampered with the text, copyist or printer? 
 Those who have read Dr. Schipper's remarks on 
 the way in which the texts of the Dunbar pieces, 
 which appeared alongside Henry son's Orpheus and 
 Eurydice in the 1508 volume of Chepman & 
 Myllar, were tampered with and changed, will not 
 have implicit faith in the accuracy of the early 
 Scottish printers. Their attitude towards it will 
 probably be one not unmixed with suspicion. The 
 Harleian text belongs to a later period, and is 
 frankly Middle Scots. The editor of it was pro- 
 bably not altogether dependent on the Charteris 
 
INTRODUCTION. XX111. 
 
 print. The members of the other group are older 
 than E or H. The Makculloch text is very old ; so 
 was the one from which the Bannatyne was taken; 
 but in all probability the Asloan is the oldest. The 
 Bannatyne transcripts were made in 1568, but from 
 what sources they were made is not known. They 
 were different, however, from those of E and H, and 
 more akin to A and Mk. In several cases B shows 
 the influence which the use of the English version of 
 the Bible was beginning to have and how English 
 usages were creeping in. 
 
 None of the sources named, with the exception of 
 the Edinburgh print and the Harleian MS., contains 
 the whole of the Moral Fables. Probably, as Pro- 
 fessor Gregory Smith has suggested, the Charteris 
 print and the Harleian MS. give the order in which 
 the Fables were written. It can scarcely be said, 
 however, that either of them gives Henryson's exact 
 text. The probability, if not the certainty, is that 
 both texts contain things he did not write, though 
 in all likelihood they are never very far from the 
 original holograph, and give a fairly accurate, but 
 not an absolutely correct, representation of it. But 
 be that as it may, E and H alone of the original 
 sources now extant give the whole of the Moral 
 Fables. A never contained more than seven of 
 them, and now, because of the ill usage the MS. 
 has met with, it contains only one. B does not 
 seem to have aimed at a complete transcript. It 
 contains copies of only ten, and in an order which 
 does not agree with that of E and H. The Mak- 
 
XXIV. INTRODUCTION. 
 
 culloch MS. is only a fragment, and contains only 
 two of the Fables and the first Prologue. 
 
 After the edition of 1570, the Fables were printed 
 
 (1) at London, by Richard Smith, in 1577, the last 
 copy of which edition disappeared some time ago 
 from the library at Sion College ; (2) at London in 
 1598; (3) at Edinburgh between 1599 and 1602; 
 (i) at Edinburgh again in 1621, by Andrew Hart, 
 (5) a reprint of which edition was made in the 
 same place in 1832 and presented to the Maitland 
 Club by Mr. Duncan Stewart ; (6) at Edinburgh in 
 1865 in Dr. Laing's edition of Henryson's Poems 
 and Fables ; (7) in 1886 from the Harleian MS. in 
 the Anglia by Dr. Diebler ; and (8) in 1906 by 
 Professor Gregory Smith. 
 
 Selections from the Fables were printed (1) by 
 Allan Ramsay in The Ever Green, vol. i., 1724 ; 
 
 (2) by Lord Hailes in his Ancient Scottish Poems, 
 1770 ; (3) by J. Sibbald in his Chronicles of Scottish 
 Poetry, vol. i., 1802; (4) by G. F. Nott in an 
 appendix to his edition of the Poems of Sir Thomas 
 Wyatt, 1816 ; (5) by G. Eyre Todd in Mediaeval 
 Scottish Poetry, 1892; (6) by Professor Gregory 
 Smith in his Specimens of Middle Scots, 1902 ; and 
 (7) by the present writer in Specimens of Scottish 
 Literature, 1913. 
 
 For The Testament of Cresseid the earliest existing 
 source is William Thynne's version, which was 
 printed by Thomas Godfrey in 1532 in a collected 
 edition of Chaucer's works. It was this edition 
 
INTRODUCTION. XXV. 
 
 which Shakespeare probably read. 1 The earliest 
 extant separate issue of the Testament is the 
 volume printed and published in 1593 by Henry 
 Charteris, with the title-page — "The Testament 
 of Cresseid | compylit be M. Robert | Henrysone 
 Sculemai- | ster in Dunfer- | meling. | Imprentit at 
 Edin- | burgh be Henrie Charteris | M.D.XCIII." 
 The only copy of this volume is in the British 
 Museum. It was transcribed by Asloan in 1515, 
 but the portion of his MS. in which it was written 
 is now lost. The copy used by Thynne seems to 
 have been different from that used by Charteris, 
 as it sometimes contains a better reading than 
 Charteris's volume. The Testament may have been 
 printed by Chepman & Myllar along with other 
 popular works, but there is now no proof that it was. 
 Chalmers reprinted the Charteris text page for page, 
 and presented it to the Bannatyne Club, 1825. 
 
 Other editions mentioned are Robert Smyth's, 
 Edinburgh, 1599: one issued at Edinburgh in 1605; 
 and one at the same place in 1611. There is a later 
 edition, apparently printed at Glasgow by Andrew 
 
 1 That he had read the poem may probably be gathered from 
 the following : — 
 
 Clown. I would play Lord Fandarus of Phrygia, sir, to bring 
 
 a Cressida to this Troilus. 
 Viola. I understand you, sir, 'tis well begged. 
 Clown. The matter, I hope, is not so great, sir, begging but 
 
 a beggar : Cressida was a beggar. 
 
 Twelfth Night, iii., s. 1, 11. 49-54. 
 
XXVI. INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Anderson in the year 1663. During the reign of 
 Charles I. it was translated by Sir Francis Kinaston 
 into Latin rhyme, and printed at Oxford in 1635. 
 Professor Skeat printed the Testament in his 
 Chaucerian Pieces, at Oxford, in 1897. It is 
 collated with Thynne's version and carefully edited. 
 Thynne's text is reprinted by Professor Gregory 
 Smith in vol. ii. 
 
 Of the Orpheus and Eurydice there is an imperfect 
 transcript in the Asloan MS., and what appears to 
 be a complete transcript, with the Moralitas, in B. 
 It was printed by Chepman & Myllar in the volume 
 of 1508 already referred to. The text is also given 
 by Professor Gregory Smith. 
 
 Robene and Makyne, The Bludy Serk, The Gar- 
 mont of Gud Ladeis, The Ressoning betwix Deth 
 and Man, Sum Practysis of Medecyne, and Ane 
 Prayer for the Pest, are found among the earliest 
 extant sources only in B. The last-named piece 
 was printed in Chepman & Myllar 's volume of 1508 
 referred to above. 
 
 The sources for the remaining pieces are as 
 follows : — 
 
 The Prais of Aige— Mk, B, Chepman & Myllar. 
 
 The Ressoning betwix Aige & Youth — Mk, B, 
 Maitland Folio. 
 
 The Abbay Walk— B and Maitland Folio. 
 
 Aganis Haisty Credence of Titlaris — B and Mait- 
 land Folio. 
 
 The Annunciation — the Gray MS., preserved in 
 the Advocates' Library. 
 
INTRODUCTION. XXVli. 
 
 The Thre Deid Pollis— B and Maitland Folio. 
 The Want of Wyse Men— B and Chepman & 
 Myllar. 
 
 In preparing the text for the present edition, I 
 have first, whei'e a choice was possible, selected what 
 seemed to me bhe oldest and best of the texts as the 
 foundation. This I have carefully collated with 
 the other texts, then made what seemed to me the 
 needful alteration, and placed the other readings 
 at the foot of the page. I have taken one or two 
 liberties. 1, Where there was a superfluous f, as in 
 off, I have invariably dropped it. % Here and there 
 I have dropped a superfluous final e. 3, The inter- 
 changeable letters, u, v, w, where possible without 
 interfering with the rhyme, I have brought down to 
 modern usage, but doun always remains down, and 
 is not changed into down ; thow (thou) is also 
 unchanged. 4, Where I and i = J and j, I have 
 ventured to print J and j. I have not felt myself 
 at liberty to drop the c in such words as scho, the 
 spelling being too characteristically Scots ; neither 
 have I changed final -ie into -y. Where the English 
 or Southern o or ou occurs for the Northern a, I have 
 frequently substituted the Northern letter. In the 
 footnotes the exact spelling of the original has 
 been given. 
 
 The time has gone when anything is needed 
 to be said in defence of Henryson or to call atten- 
 tion to his claims as a poet. Modern writers on 
 Scottish literature are now agreed that he is one 
 
XXVI11. INTRODUCTION. 
 
 of the best poets that Scotland has produced, and 
 that among these he is entitled to a high place. 
 This is not the place to write a eulogium on 
 his works or an elaborate criticism of them, and 
 I will confine myself to making two or three brief 
 remarks about him. Though he is wanting in 
 the brilliancy and what I shall venture to call 
 the Celtic fire of Dunbar — though the phrase 
 may seem heretical — Henryson has nevertheless 
 virtues and charms of his own which entitle him to 
 take a place not far behind but fairly close to the 
 author of the Goldyn Targe. In some respects he 
 deserves to stand higher. Secondly, Henryson's 
 poems, to use the words of Lord Hailes, "have a 
 moral turn and are free from that licentiousness 
 which debases the compositions of some of his 
 contemporaries." There is nothing offensive in 
 them, but much genial humour and much that is 
 highly instructive told in a most charming way. 
 As the author of the Moral Fables, The Testament 
 of Cresseid, and Robene and Makyne, Henryson will 
 always be read, ad the more he is read the more 
 will he be admired, not only for his easy versifica- 
 tion and vivid descriptive passages, but also for the 
 sympathetic kindliness, the broad toleration, and 
 the rich and noble humanity by which his writings 
 are pervaded. "The Twa Myss" is probably one 
 of the most perfect pieces of literary workmanship 
 Scotland has produced. 
 
CORRIGENDA. 
 
 Page 46, line 108, omit comma after "hard-bak." 
 „ „ 119, for "burdane" read "lurdane." 
 200, ,, 39, omit comma after "the" and insert after 
 
 "daill." 
 231, „ 64, for "son" read "fon." 
 210, ,, 6, for "wynkis" read "wrinkis." 
 
 241, „ 23, for "in" read "is." 
 
 242, „ 54, for "we" read "me." 
 250, heading of fable, for "Traill" read " Taill." 
 
POEMS 
 
THE MORAL FABLES OF .ESOP 
 IN SCOTTISH METRE. 
 
PROLOGUE. 
 
 PROLOGUE. 
 
 Thocht feyneit fables of auld poetry 
 
 Be nocht al groundit upon treuth, yit than 
 
 Thar poleist termis of sweit rethory 
 Richt plesand ar unto the eir of man ; 
 And als the caus quhy thai ferst begane, 5 
 
 Was to repreif the haill misleving 
 
 Of man, be figure of ane uther thing. 
 
 In lyke manner as throw the busteous erd, 
 So it be laborit with grit diligens, 
 
 Springis the flowris and the corne on brerd, 10 
 
 Hailsum and gud to mannis sustenens, 
 So spryngis thar a moral sweit sentens 
 
 Out of the sutell dyt of poetry, 
 
 To gud purpose, quha cowth it weil apply. 
 
 Text— Mk (Makculloch MS.) collated with B (Bannatyne 
 MS.), E (Charteris print, Edinburgh, 1570), and H (Harleian . 
 MS.). Only the principal differences are given. — 6. Mk, J>e of 
 pi myslewyng; B, J>e vyce of raysdoing ; E, H, the haill 
 misleuing. 7. E, H, figure; Mk, figowr; B, fegour. 8. Mk, B, 
 a busteous erd ; E, H, the busteous eird. 9. E, H, laubourit ; 
 B, lawborit. 10. Mk, spryngifl ; E, H, B, springis : E, H, 
 abreird ; Mk, on brerd ; B, cornis brerd. 13. E, Sa dois 
 spring ane morale ; H, Swa dois, etc. ; B, So springis thair 
 a morall. 13. B, scitell dyt of poetre. 14. E, H, B, quha 
 culd : B, rycht aply. 
 
4 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 The nuttis schell, thocht it be hard and teuch, 15 
 Haldis the kirnell sweit and delectabill. 
 
 So lyis thar a doctrine wise aneuch 
 
 And full of fruyte, within a feyneit fabill. 
 And clerkis sayis, it is rycht profitabill 
 
 Amang ernyst to ming a mery sport, 20 
 
 To blyth the spreit, and gar the tyme be schort. 
 
 For, as we se, a bow that ay is bent 
 
 Worthis unsmert and dullis on the stryng, 
 
 So dois the mynd that ay is diligent 
 
 In ernystful thochtis and in studying : 25 
 
 With sad materis sum meryness to myng 
 
 Accordis weil, this Esope said, I wyss, 
 
 Dulcius arrident seria pida jocyss. 
 
 Of this author, my masteris, with your leif, 
 
 Submitting me to your correctione, 30 
 
 In moder toung of Latyne, I wald preif 
 To mak a maner of translatioun ; 
 Nocht of my self, for vayne presumptioun, 
 
 Bot be request and precept of ane Lord, 
 
 Of quhome the name it nedis nocht heir record. 85 
 
 IS. Mk, thewch ; E, H, teuch ; B, tuich. 16. E, H, kirnell 
 and is delectabill ; B, cirnall sueit and delectable. 18. E, H, 
 frute vnderane; B. fruet vndir a. 20. E, ane merie; H, mery; 
 B, mirry. 81. E, H, to licht ; Mk, B, to blyth. 22. E, H, 
 Forther mair ane Bow that is ay bent ; B, For as we se ]>e 
 bow that ay, 24. E, Sa gais the man that is ; H, Sa dois the 
 mynd that ay : B, So dois ]>e mynd. 25. E, ernest full 
 thochtis ; H, eirnist full thoctis ; B, ernyst thocht and in 
 studdeing. 26. B, mirrinefl. 27. E, thus Esope ; H, thus 
 esope ; B, thus Isop I wif. 29. E, H, maisteris ; B, Mk, 
 masteris. 30. B, I me differ to ; E, H, in 30ur. 31. E, H, 
 mother ; B. moder. 32. E, ane mater ; H, ane maner ; B, a 
 maner. 3t. B, and prayeris of a. 
 
PROLOGUE. 5 
 
 In namely langage and in termis ruyd 
 Me nedis wryt ; for-quhy of eloquence 
 
 Nor rethory I nevir understuyd : 
 
 Tharfoir meikly I pray your reverence, 
 
 Gyf ye find owcht that throw my negligence 40 
 
 Be dymynut or yit superfluous, 
 
 Correct it at your willis gracious. 
 
 My auctour in this fabill tellis quhow 
 That brutall bestis spak, and understud, 
 
 And to gud purpose dispute and argow, 45 
 
 A sylogysme propone, and eik conclud, 
 Puttyng exempill and similitud ; 
 
 Quhow mony men in operatioun 
 
 Are lik to bestis in conditioun. 
 
 No mervell is, a man be like a best, 50 
 
 Quhilk leiffis ay in carnal foul delyt, 
 
 That schayme can nocht him derenye nor arrest, 
 Bot takis al the lust and appetyt, 
 Quhilk, throw custum and the dayly ryt, 
 
 36. E, H, In hamelie language; B, In hamely langage ; Mk, 
 In hamly. 37. H, Me neidis not. 38. E, Nor Rethorike; 
 H, B, Nor rethorik. 39. E, H, Thairfor meiklie ; B, Thairfoir 
 meikly. 40. E, H, Gif that $e find; B, Gif & find; Mk, fend. 
 41. E, H, Be deminute ; B, Or diminut. 43. E, tellis 30W. 
 44. H. brut beistis. 45. E, H, Into guid ; B, And till : E, H, 
 and maid argow. 46. E, In Philosophie propone ; H, Ane 
 sillogisme : B, and eik exclud. 47. E, H, Putin; B, putting: 
 E, H, and in similitude. 49. B, J>air conditioun. 51. E, Quhilk 
 lufis ay carnall and ; H, luifis ay carnall and ; Mk, leiffis ay 
 carnal foul delyt ; B, leivis ay in carnall fowll delyte. 52. E, 
 H, not him ren3e nor ; B, nor arreist. 53. B, al fair. 54. 
 E, H, And that throw ; B, whilk throw. 
 
6 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 Syne in the mynd sa fast is radicat 55 
 
 That he in brutal best is transformat. 
 
 This nobil clerk Esope, as I haf told, 
 In gay meteyr and in facund purpurat 
 
 Be figure wryt his buk, for he nocht wald 
 
 Tak the disdane of he or law estat. 60 
 
 And to begyne, fyrst of a Cok he wrat, 
 
 Seikand his meit, quhilk fand a joly stone, 
 
 Of quhom the fabil ye sal heir anone. 
 
 55. E, H, in thair myndis sa fast is; B, Mk, in Jie mynd is sa 
 fast. 56. E, H, That thay in bruttal beistis are; Mk, B, That 
 he. 58. E, In gray vestiment and facound purpurate ; H, as 
 poete lawriate ; B, metir facound and purperat. 59. E, H, 
 wrait his ; B, wret his : Mk, no wald ; B, nocht wold ; E, H, 
 nocht wald. 60. E, Lak the wisedome; H, Lack the disdane; 
 B, Tak the disdane. 61. E, H, of ane Cok. 
 
THE COCK AND THE JEWEL. 
 
 THE COCK AND THE JEWEL. 
 
 A cok, sumtyme, with feddrame fresche and gay, 
 Rycht cant and crouse, albeit he wes bot pure, 
 
 Flew furth aponc a dounghill son be day ; 
 To get his dyner set wes al his cure : 
 Scrapand amang the ass, be adventure 5 
 
 He fand a joly jasp, rycht precius, 
 
 Wes cassyn out in swoping of the hous. 
 
 As damycellis wantone and insolent, 
 
 That fayne wald play, and on the streit be sene, 
 To swoping of the house thay tak na tent 10 
 
 Quhat thairin be swa that the flure be clene ; 
 
 Jowellis ar tynt, as oftimes hes bene sene, 
 Apone the fluyr, and swoppit furth anone — 
 Peraventure, so wes this sammyne stone. 
 
 1. E, H, Ane cok ; Mk, B, A cok : Mk, fetherem frech ; 
 B, fethreme fresch; E, feddrame; H, feddram. 2. B, suppoii 1 
 he was bot. 3. E, ane dounghill : E, H, sone be. 5. E, H, 
 Scraipand ; B, Screpand : E, B, auenture ; H, euenture ; 
 Mk, aduenture. 7. E. Wes castin furth in sweping ; B, Was 
 castin furth in suopyne. 8. B, As madynis ; Mk, J;ai fayne 
 wald. 10. E, H, thay tak. 11. E, H, Thay cair na thing; 
 B, Quhat be J>airin. 12. Mk, as bene ; E, H, B, hes. 13. B, 
 And in J>e swowpyne is castin furth annone. 14. E, H, Per- 
 adventure. 
 
8 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 So marvelland apone the stone, quod he, 15 
 
 " O gentill jasp ! O rich and nobill thing ! 
 
 Thocht I the find, thow ganis nocht for me ; 
 Thow art a jowell for a lord or king. 
 It were pete thow suld in this midding 
 
 Be beriit thus, amang this muk and mold, 20 
 
 And thow so fair, and worth so mekill gold. 
 
 " It is pete I suld the find, for-quhy 
 Thi grit vertu, nor yit thi colour cleyr, 
 
 I may nather extoll nor magnify, 
 
 And thow to me may mak but litil cheir. 25 
 
 Til grit lordis thocht thow be haldyne deir, 
 
 I luf far better thing of less avalle, 
 
 As draff, or corne, to fill my toum intrall.* 
 
 " I had lever go scraip here with my nailles 
 
 Amang this moll, and luk my liffis fud, 30 
 
 As corne or draff, small wormis or snaillis, 
 Or ony meit wald do my stomok gud, 
 Than of jaspis a mekill multitud : 
 
 And thow agane, apone the samyne wyse, 
 
 May me as now for thyn avail dispice. 35 
 
 16. B, o gentill gem. 18. B, Thow art a Jowall for ony 
 warldy king. 19. E, Pietie it wer thow suld ly. 20. E, And 
 bury it be thus on this muk on mold; H, Be bury it thus amang 
 this muk on mold ; B, Be bvrit thus among )>is mok and mwd. 
 21. B, And thow so deir and worth so mekle gude. 34. E, H, 
 It may be nouther extol] ; Mk, It may nather; B, I may now]>ir 
 extoll. 26. E, H, B, To : E, H, B, be leif and deir. 28. B, as 
 cafe or corne. 33. B, nor of Iespis. 35. E, for thyne availl 
 may me as now despyis ; H, For les availe may me as now 
 dispyis ; B, Mk, May me as now for fin availl dispice. 
 
THE COCK AND THE JEWEL. 9 
 
 " Thow hes na come, and I thar-of have neid ; 
 
 Thi colour doys bot confort to the sycht 
 And that is nocht aneuch my wame to feid ; 
 
 For wyffis sayis, that lukand werk is lycht ; 
 
 I wald sum meit haf, get it gif I mycht, 40 
 
 For hungry men ma nocht weil leif on lukis : 
 Had I dry breid, I count nocht of na cukis. 
 
 " Quhar suld thow mak thyn habitatioun ? 
 
 Quhar suld thow dwel, bot in a ryal towr ? 
 Quhar suld thow set bot in a kyngis crown, 45 
 
 Exaltit in wyrschip and in grit honour ? 
 
 Rys, gentill jasp, of al stanis the flowr. 
 Out of this fene, and pass quhar thow suld be, 
 Thow ganys nocht for me, na I for thee." 
 
 Leiffand this jowell law apone the ground, 50 
 
 To seik his meit this Cok his wayis went ; 
 
 Bot quhen, or quhow, or quhome be it wes found, 
 As now I set to hald na argument ; 
 Bot of the inwart sentens and intent 
 
 Of this fabill, as myne autor dois wryt, 55 
 
 I sal rehers in rud and hamelie dyt. 
 
 36. E, Thow is na ; H, Thow hes na ; Mk, Thow hafl na ; 
 B, Thow hes no : Mk, & thar of I had neid ; B, and I thairof 
 had neid ; E, thairof haif I neid ; H, thairof I haif need. 
 
 39. B, wyse men sayis : E, H, ar licht ; B, wark was lycht. 
 
 40. B. omits. 42. E, H, I compt not for na cukis ; B, I keipit 
 nocht no kokis. 43. B, J>i tribulatioun. 46. E, H, exaltit ; 
 Mk. exault ; B, exalt. 48. E, H, out of this midding ; B, out 
 of this afl. 52. B, quhen or quhair : Mk. by. 54. B, I sit. 
 55. E, H, Of this as : B, dois wit. 56. B, hamely dyt ; Mk. 
 hamele. 
 
10 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 MORALITAS. 
 
 This joly jasp hes properteys sevyne : 
 
 The fyrst, of colour it is mervalus, 
 Pairt lik the fyir, and pairt lik the hevyne : 
 
 It makis a man stark and victoryus ; 60 
 
 Preservis als fra casis perellus ; 
 Quha has this stane sal haf gud hoip to speid ; 
 Of fyr, and noi hyme neidis nocht to dreid. 
 
 This gen till jasp, rycht deferent of hewe, 
 
 Betakinis perfyt prudens and cunnyng, 65 
 
 Ornat with mony deidis of vertu, 
 
 More excelland than ony erdly thing, 
 Quhilk makis man in honour ay to ryng, 
 
 Happy and stark to hef the victory 
 
 Of al vicis and spirituall innemy. 70 
 
 Quha ma be hardy, rych and gracious ? 
 
 Quha can eschew perell and aventure ? 
 Quha can gouverne ane realme, cite or hous 
 
 Without Sciens ? Na man, I yow assure. 
 
 It is ryches that evir sail enduir. 75 
 
 Quhilk moith, na moist, na othir rowst can freit : 
 To manis saul it is eternall meit. 
 
 57. Mk, Iowell iasp. 58. E, H, it wes. 59. E, H, Part ; 
 B, Pairt: E, H, and part like to heuin; B, Mk, is lik. 60. Mk. 
 And makis ; E, H, It makis. 62. H, B, gud hap. 63. Mk, 
 sal hyme ; E, H, Or fire nor watter him neidis ; B, Off fyre 
 nor fallis him. 64. Mk, betaknyfl. 67. E, H, excellent ; Mk. 
 exelland ; B, excelland. 68. E, H, for to ring ; Mk, B, ay to 
 ryng. 69. E, H, to win. 71. B, rycht hardy and gratious. 
 72. Mk. adventure. 73. E, in ane Realme or hous ; B, gowern 
 citie and burchgus ; 75. E, oner all thing I 30W assure ; H, na 
 man I 30W assure ; B, non I 30W assure ; Mk, no thing. 76. 
 E, H, malth; B, rwst nor ket; E, can freit; Mk, o]>ir rowst fret. 
 
THE COCK AND THE JEWEL. 11 
 
 This Cok desyrand mare the sempill come 
 Than ony jasp, may till a fuyll be peir, 
 
 Quhilk at sciens makis bot ane mok and scorne, 80 
 And na gud can, and als litill will leir ; 
 His hart wamillis wyse argumentis to heir 
 
 As dois a sow, to quhome men for the nons 
 
 In hir draff-trouch wald saw the precius stons. 
 
 Quha is innemy to sciens and cunnyng 85 
 
 Bot ignorantis that understandis nocht ? 
 
 Quhilk is sa nobill, precius, and sa dyng, 
 That it may with na erdly gud be bocht ? 
 Weill war that man our al othir, that mocht 
 
 Al his lif dayis in perfyt study wayr 90 
 
 To get sciens ; for hyme nedis na mare. 
 
 Bot now, allace, this Jasp is tynt and hyd : 
 We seik it nocht, nor press it for to fynd. 
 
 Haif we ryches ? Na bettir lyfe we byd 
 
 Of Sciens, thocht the saul be bair and blynd. 95 
 Of this mater to speik it wair bot wynd ; 
 
 Tharfoir I cese, and wil na forthir say : 
 
 Ga seik the Jasp quha wil, for thar it lay. 
 
 79. B, onto J>e fule is peir. 80. B, Makand at science bot a 
 knak; Mk, amok; H, ane mok; E, anemoik. 81. B, Quhilk 
 can no gud. 82. E, H, argument. 83. E, H, ane sow ; E, H, 
 the nanis ; B, nons ; Mk, nonyfl. 84. E, H, saw precious ; 
 Mk, J>e precious ; B, J> pretiovs. 86. E, Ignorance. 87. E, H, 
 sa nobill, sa precious, and sa ding. E, H, may not with eirdlie 
 thing. 89. B, study war. 91. Mk, B, neidit. 92. E, science 
 is tint. 93. Mk, We seik nocht no prefl it nocht to fyud ; B, 
 nor preisfl it to. 96. B, mater I do bot waistis wind. 98. B, 
 quha list. 
 
12 MORAL FABLES OF ESOFE. 
 
 THE TWA MYSS. 
 
 HEIR BEGYNNES THE TALE OF THE UPLANDIS MOUSE 
 AND THE BOROWSTOUN MOUSE. 
 
 Esope, myn auctor, makis mencioun 
 Of twa myss, and thai war sisteris deir, 
 
 Of quhome the eldar in a borrowstoun, 
 The youngar wonnyt uponland, wele neir, 
 Richt solitar, quhile under buske and breir, 5 
 
 Quhile in the corne, at uthir mennis scaith, 
 
 As outlawis dois, and levit on thair waith. 
 
 This rurall mouss into the wynter tyde 
 
 Had hunger, cauld, and tholit gret distress. 
 
 The tothir mouss into the burgh couth byde, 10 
 Gild brother was and maid ane fre burgess ; 
 Tol fre also, but custome mar or less, 
 
 And fredome had to gang quhar-evir scho list, 
 
 Amang the cheiss and meile in ark and kist. 
 
 Text — A (Asloan-Chalmers) collated with E, H, B. 1. A, 
 B, Isope; E, H, Esope. 4. E, H, wynnit Uponland; B, wend 
 vp on land ; A, apon land : E, H, B, weill neir. 5. E, H, 
 Solites; B, Rycht solitar; quhyle vnder brier. 6. E, Quhylis; 
 H, Quhilis ; B, quhyle : A, an ujrir ; B, in vl>ir ; E, H, and 
 vther. 7. A, hir waith. 10. B, in )>e burgh can ; E, H, that 
 in the burgh can. 11. E, H, Was Gild brother. 13. A, licence 
 had : E, H, B, to ga. 14. E, H, amang the cheis in Ark and 
 meill in kist. 
 
THE TWA MYSS. 13 
 
 A tyme quhen scho was ful and unfutsair, 15 
 
 Scho tuke in mynd her sister uponland, 
 
 And langit for to heir of hir welfair, 
 To se what lyf scho led Undir the wand : 
 Bairfut, allone, with pykestaf in hir hand, 
 
 As pur pilgryme scho passit out of towne, 20 
 
 To seike hir sister baith our daile and downe. 
 
 Throw mony wilsome wayis couth scho walk, 
 Throw mure and moss, throw banke, busk, and 
 breir, 
 Cryand, fra fur to fur, fra balk to balk, 
 
 "Cum furth to me, myne awne sweit sister deir; 25 
 Cry 'Pepe 1 anys !" With that the mouss couth 
 heir, 
 And knewe hir voce, as kynnismen will do, 
 Be verray kind ; and furth scho come hir to. 
 
 The hartlie cheir, Lord God ! gif ye had sene, 
 
 Was kythit quhen thir sisteris twa war met ; 30 
 
 The welcummyng was schawin thaim betwene, 
 
 For quhilis thai leuch, and quhilis for joy thai grete, 
 Quhilis kissit sweit, and quhilis in armis plete ; 
 
 And thus thai fure, quhill soberit was thair mude, 
 
 Syne fut for fut unto thair chalmer yude. 35 
 
 IS. E, H, Ane tyme. 17. A, langit sair to. 18. E, H, scho 
 had. 22. E,H, Furth mony; B, Throwe many. 23. E, throw 
 mosse end muir. 24.. E, Scho ranne with many ane hiddeous 
 quaik; H, Scho ran cryand quhill scho came to ane balk. 
 29. E, H, hartlie ioy. 30. B, Was kyid ; E, H, Beis kith : 
 E, H, thir sisteris met. 31. E, H, And greit kyndenes wes 
 schawn ; A, The welcummyng ; B, Quhilk )>at oft sayifl was. 
 34. E, thair mind ; B, thair meid. 
 
14 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 As I hard say, it was a semple wane, 
 
 Of fog and fame full misterlyk was maid, 
 
 Ane sely scheld undir ane erdfast stane, 
 
 Of quhilk the entre was nocht hie nor braide ; 
 And in thai went samyn but mair abaid, 40 
 
 Withoutin fyre or candill birnand bricht, 
 
 For commonly sic pykaris lufis nocht licht. 
 
 Quhen thai war lugit thus, thir sely myse, 
 The yungast sister unto the buttry hyid, 
 
 Brocht forth nuttis and peiss insteid of spyse ; 45 
 Gife thar was weile-far, I dud on thaim besyde. 
 This burgess mouss permingit full of pryde, 
 
 And said, " Sister, is this your daly fude ? " 
 
 " Quhy nocht, 1 quod sche, " Think ye this meit nocht 
 gud?" 
 
 " Nay, be my saull, I think it bot a scorne." 50 
 
 "Madame,'" quod sche, "ye be the more to blame ; 
 
 My moder said, eftir that we war borne^ 
 That ye and I lay baith in till a wame ; 
 I kepe the ryte and custome of my dame 
 
 And of my syre, liffand in poverte, 55 
 
 For landis haf we nane in properte. 1 ' 
 
 36. E, H, sober wane. 37. E, H, full febille; B, maisterlig; 
 
 A, misterlyk war. 38. E, H, steidfast stane. 40. E, H, B, 
 And in the samin they went. 41. E, H, Without fyre. 42. E, 
 not licht ; H, B, nocht ; A, no. 43. A, )>e sely. 44. E, hir 
 butterie jeid ; H, butterie glide ; B, vntill her burtrie hyid. 
 45. E, H, And brocht furth nuttis an candill ; B, Brocht furth 
 nuttis and peifl. 46. E, H, Gif this wes gude fair I do it on ; 
 
 B, Gife thair was weilfair doit on tham besyd. 47. B, prwmgit 
 (very indistinct) ; E, H, prompit fwith in. 49. E, H, is not 
 this meit rycht gude; B, think se this meif> nocht gude. 
 SO. E, H, I think ; B, me think. 52. E, H, Sister quhen we. 
 S3. E, H, Iandse; within ane wame. 54. E, the rate; H, the 
 rait. 55. E, H, And of my leuing in to. 
 
THE TWA MYSS. 15 
 
 " My faire sister,' 7 quod scho, " hald me excusit, 
 This rude diet and I can nocht accord ; 
 
 Till tender meit my stomok ay is usit, 
 
 For-quhy I fair als wele as ony lord ; 60 
 
 Thir rude nuttis and pese, or they be bord, 
 
 Will brek my teith, and mak my wame full sklender, 
 
 Quhilk usit wer befor to meitis tender." 
 
 " Weile, weile, sister," quod the rurale mouss, 
 
 " Gif it yow pleise, sic thing as ye se heir, 65 
 
 Baith meit and drink, herbery and house, 
 Ye sail it have, will ye remane all yeir ; 
 With richt gud will, baith blyth and hartlie 
 cheir, 
 
 And that suld mak the meisis that ar rude, 
 
 Amang frendis, baith tendir, sweit and gude. 70 
 
 " Quhat plesans is in festis delicate, 
 
 The quhilk are gevin with a glowmand browe ? 
 A gentill hart is better recreate 
 
 With blyth visage than set till him a cow ; 
 
 A modicum is fer mair till allowe, 75 
 
 Sa at gud will be carvour at the dess 
 Than thrawin vult with mony spycit meise." 
 
 57. E, H, B, haif me. 59. E, H, to tender; is ay. 60. E, H, 
 For quhilis. 61. E, H, Thir widderit peis and nuttis. 63. E, H, 
 wes befoir vsit to ; A, usit is befor with ; B, vsit wer befoir to. 
 65. E, H, Gif it pleis sow. 67. E, H, Salbe 30ur awin. 69. A, 
 macis ; E, H. maisses ; B, meisl'. 70. E, H, richt tender and 
 wonder gude. 71. E, H, the feistis. 74. E, blyith curage ; 
 H, blith courage ; B, visage : E, than seik ; H, than seith ; 
 B, than sethe. 75. E, H, is mair for; B, is moir for. 
 76. E, H, B, Swa that. 77. E, thrawin will: H, vult; B, vilt. 
 
16 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 For all this mery exhortacioun, 
 
 The burgess mouss had litill will to sing, 
 
 Bot hevely scho kest hir browis doun, 80 
 
 For all the dantes scho couth till hir bring. 
 Yit at the last scho said, half in hething, 
 
 " Sister, this vittale and this riall feste 
 
 May weile suffyse for sic a rurale best. 
 
 " Lat be this hole, and cum unto my place ; 85 
 
 I sail yow schawe, be trewe experiens, 
 
 My Gudfryday is better na your Pase ; 
 
 My dische-likingis is worth your hale expense. 
 Housis ynewe I have a gret defence ; 
 
 Of cat, na trape, na fall, I haf na dreid. 11 90 
 
 " I grant," quod scho, and on togidder yeid. 
 
 In stowthry ay, throw rankest gerss and come, 
 Under covert prevely couth thay crepe, 
 
 The eldest mouss was gyde and yeid beforne, 
 
 The youngar till hir wayis tuk gud kepe. 95 
 
 On nycht thai ran, and on the day can slepe ; 
 
 Till in the mornyng or the laverock sang, 
 
 Thai fand the towne, and gladly in can gang. 
 
 78. E, H, all hir ; B, all this. 79. E, H, This burges. 
 81. A, dantes that scho. 83. B, sourryell; E, H, sour royall. 
 84. E, H, vnto ane rural!. 86. E, H, to you ; be experience. 
 87. E, H, B, better nor. 88. E, dische weschingis. 89. B, E, 
 H, I haif housis: A, a gret; B, of gret; E, ofgriet; H, to grit 
 90. E, H, Of cat nor fall trap. 91. E, H, thay 5 eid. 92. E, H, 
 In stubbill array; B, In skugry ay: E, throw gerse; H, throw 
 gres. 93. E, H, And vnder buskis ; B, And wondir sly ; 
 A, Wnder cowert full prevely couth : E, H, B, they creep. 
 94. E, H, eldest was gyde. 96. A, \>a.\ slepe ; B, E, H, can 
 sleip. 97. E, H, Quhill in. 98. E, H, B, in blythlie couth 
 gang. 
 
THE TWA MYSS. 17 
 
 Nocht fer fra this unto a worthy wane, 
 
 The burgess brocht thaim syne quhar thai suld 
 be; 100 
 
 Without God spied thair herbery was tane, 
 In till a spens with vittale gret plente. 
 Cheise and butter apone skelfis he, 
 
 Flesche and fische yneuch, bath fresche and salt, 
 
 And sekis full of grotis, meile and malt. 105 
 
 Eftir, quhen thai disposit wer to dyne, 
 
 Withouttin grace thai wesche and went to meit, 
 
 All kynd of courssis that cukis couth devyne, 
 Mutone and beif strikin in talyeis grete ; 
 A lordis fair thus can thai counterfeit, 110 
 
 Except a thing, thai drank the wattir cleir 
 
 Insteid of wyne, bot yit thai maid gud cheir. 
 
 With blyth upcast and mery countenance, 
 
 The eldest sister sperit at hir gest 
 Gif that scho thocht be ressoun differens 115 
 
 Betuix her chalmer and hir sary nest. 
 
 " Ye, dame," quod scho, " how lang now will this 
 last?" 
 " For evirmor, I wait, and langer to." 
 " Gif it be sa, ye ar at eise," quod scho. 
 
 99. E, fra thyne. 100. E, sone quhar. 101. E, Without 
 God speid than; A, In till ane innes. 103. E, H, Baith cheis; 
 thair skeins. 104. E, H, And fleshe. 105, E, H, of meill and 
 eik of malt ; A, grotis, meill and malt ; B, baith meill and 
 malt. 108. E, H, with all coursis ; E, culd deuyne ; H, culd 
 defyne; B, Can dewyne. 111. E, H, ane thing. 115. E, H, 
 scho be ressone fand. 116. E, H, that chalmer. 117. B, 3it; 
 A, now last. 118. E, H, For euermair ; B, For evirmoir ; 
 A. Evirmor. 119. B, betrew. 
 
18 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 Till eik the cheir the subcharge furth scho 
 
 brocht, 120 
 
 A plait of groitis and a dische of meill ; 
 Threfe caikis, I trow, scho sparit nocht 
 Habundantly about hir for to deill ; 
 Furmage full fyne scho brocht, insteid of 
 geill ; 
 A quhyt candill out of a coffer stall, 125 
 
 Insteid of spyce to cresch thair teith withall. 
 
 Thus maid thai mery quhile thai micht na mair. 
 
 And, "Haile Yule, haile!" thai cryit upon 
 he. 
 Bot eftir joye oft tymes cummis cair, 
 
 And truble eftir gret prosperite. 130 
 
 Thus as thai sat in all thair jolyte, 
 The spensar come with keyis in his hand, 
 Opinnit the dure, and thaim at dyner fand. 
 
 Thai taryit nocht to wesche, as I suppose, 
 
 Bot on to go quha that micht formast win. 135 
 
 The burgess had a hole, and in scho goes ; 
 Hir sister had no hole to hyde her in : 
 To se this sily mouss it was gret syn, 
 
 So desolate and will of a gud reid ; 
 
 For verray dreid scho fell in swoun ner deid. 140 
 
 Lines 120-126 fail in A, but are found in all other copies. 
 120. B, t>e cheir ; E, H, thair : B, surcharge. 121. E, H, full 
 of meill. 122. E, H, Thraf caikkis. 123. E, H, Aboundantlie. 
 126. B, teithis ; E, H, to gust thair mouth withall. 129. A, 
 Eftir ioye ; B, Bot eftir Ioy. 132. E, The spenser come ; 
 E, H, B, in his hand ; A, in till hand. 
 
THE TWA MYSS. 19 
 
 Bot as God wald, it fell a happy case ; 
 
 The spensar had na laser for to byd, 
 To serche, to seike, to sker, nor yit to chase, 
 
 Bot on he went, and left the dure up wyde. 
 
 The bald burgess his passage wele has spyd ; 145 
 Out of hir hoile scho come and cryit on he, 
 "How fair ye, sister? cry 'pepe' quhar-ever ye 
 be." 
 
 This rurale mouss lay flatlingis on the ground, 
 And for the deid was scho full sair dreidand, 
 
 For till hir hart straike mony wilsome stound, 150 
 As in a fever trymblit fut and hand ; 
 And quhen hir sister in sic plyte hir fand, 
 
 For verray pete scho began to grete, 
 
 Syne comfort hir with wordis hony sweit. 
 
 " Quhy ly ye sa ? Ryse up, my sister deir ; 155 
 
 Cum to your meit, this perrell is ourpast." 
 
 The tothir answerd with a hevy cheir, 
 " I may nocht eit, I am sa sair agast ; 
 I had lever thir fourty dayis fast, 
 
 With watter caile, and gnawe benis and peise, 160 
 
 Than all your fest in this dreid and diseise." 
 
 143. E, H, Nouther to seik nor to serche to sker nor 
 chace. 147. A, B, How fair sister ; E, H, How fair ye sister ; 
 148. E, H, flatting. 149. B, A, full sore scho was dreidand. 
 151. E, H, trimbillit. 152. A, Quhen sche hir sister in to sic 
 plyte hir fand. 154. E, wordis humbill &. 155. E, H, B, 
 je thus. 157. E, H, The vthir answerit hir with hevie. 
 159. A, haf fast. 161. TS., H, A, This fest. 
 
20 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 With fair trety yit scho gart hir ryse, 
 
 To the burde thay went and togidder sat ; 
 
 Scantlie had they drunkin anys or twyse, 
 
 Quhen in come Gib Hun tar, our joly cat, 165 
 And bad God speid : the burgess up with that, 
 
 And till hir hole scho fled as fyre off flynt : 
 
 Balderonis the tothir be the bak has hynt. 
 
 Fra fute to fate he kest her to and fra, 
 
 Quhyle up, quhyle doun, als cant as ony kid ; 170 
 Quhylis wald he lat hir ryn under the stra, 
 
 Quhylis wald he wynke, and play with hir 
 bukhid. 
 
 Thus to the sely mouss gret pane he did, 
 Till at the last, throw fair fortoun and hap, 
 Betwene the dressour and the wall scho crap. 175 
 
 Syne up in haist behynd the perrelling 
 
 So hie she clam, that Gilbert mycht nocht get hir, 
 
 And be the clukis richt craftely can hyng, 
 Till he was gone, hir cher was all the bettir. 
 Syne doune scho come quhen thair was nane to 
 let hir, 180 
 
 Apone the burgess mouss loud couth scho cry : 
 
 " Fair wele, sister, thi feist heir I defy ! 
 
 163. E, H, A, And unto burd togiddir baith sat. 167. A, In 
 at hir. 168. E,H,B, Bawdronis. 169. A, scho kest. 170. E,H, 
 als cant ; A, B, tait. 171. A, scho lat. 174. E, H, throw 
 fortune and gude hap. 175. B, A, ]>e dosor; E, H, ane burde. 
 176. E, H, And vp. 177. E, H, Scho clam so hie. 178. E, H, 
 Syne be the cluke thair. 180. E, H, B, scho lap. 181. E, H, 
 And to the ; B, Than on )>e. 
 
THE TWA MYSS. 21 
 
 " Thy mangery is mengit all with cair, 
 Thy guse is gud, thi ganesall sour as gall ; 
 
 The subcharge of thi service is hot sair, 185 
 
 Sa sail thow fynd hereeftirwart may fall. 
 I thank yone courting and yone parpell wall 
 
 Of my defence now fra yone cruell best, 
 
 Allmychti God, kepe me fra sic ane fest ! 
 
 " War I ayns in the kith that I come fra, 190 
 
 For weile and wa I suld nevir cum again." 
 With that scho tuke hir leif and furth can ga, 
 Quhylis throw the corne, and quhilis throw the 
 
 plane ; 
 Quhen scho was furth and fre, scho was full 
 fane, 
 And mirrely merkit unto the mur : 195 
 
 I can nocht tell how eftirwart scho fure. 
 
 Bot I herd say scho passit till hir den, 
 
 Als warm in woll, suppose it was nocht grete, 
 
 Full benely stuffit, baith but and ben, 
 
 Of nutis and pese, benis, ry, and quheit ; 200 
 
 Quhen-evir scho list, scho had yneuch till eit, 
 
 In quyet and eise, withoutin ony dreid : 
 
 Bot till her sisteris fest na mair scho yeid. 
 
 185. A, suchardis of thi ; E, H, subcharge. 188. E, Ane 
 crewell. 190. E, H, Wer I into the kith; B, the place. 
 195. B ; A, scho merkit. 196. E, H, how weill thairefter scho. 
 199. A, AlJf benely. 200. A, nutis pese. 202. E, H, with- 
 outin ony ; A, B, omit ony. 
 
MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 MOEALITAS. 
 
 Frendis, heir may ye fynd, will ye tak hed, 
 
 In this fabill ane gud moralite ; 205 
 
 As fitchis mengit ar with noble seid, 
 
 Sa intermellit is adversite 
 
 With erdlie joyis ; so that no stat is fre, 
 Without truble or sum vexacioun : 
 
 And namlie thai quhilk clymmis up most hie, 210 
 And nocht content of small possessioun. 
 
 Blissit be sympil lyf withoutin dreid ; 
 
 Blessit be sobir feist and quiete ; 
 Quha has yneugh, of na mair has he neid, 
 
 Thocht it be litill in to quantite. 215 
 
 Gret haboundans and blynd prosperite 
 Oft tymes makis ane evill conclusioun ; 
 
 Tharfor best thing in erd, I say, for me, 
 Is mery hart with small possessioun. 
 
 O wantoun man, quhilk usis for to feid 220 
 
 Thy wame, and makis it a God to be, 
 
 Luk to thi self; I warne the wele on deid, 
 The cat cummis, and to the mouss has E : 
 
 204. A, quhill &. 208. A, ioyis. 208-211. E— 
 And als troubill and sum vexatioun 
 With eirthlie ioy, swa that na estait is fre 
 That ar not content of small possessioun. 
 And namelie thay quhilk climmis up maist hie. 
 
 211. A, And nocht. 214. A, Quho; no mor. 220-227. Want- 
 ing in E ; occurs in B, A. 222. A, B ; H, weill but dreid. 
 223. A, unto the moutf as E. 
 
THE TWA MYSS. 23 
 
 Quhat than availis thi feist in rialte, 
 With dreidful hart and tribulacioun ? 225 
 
 Tharfor best thing in erd, I saye, for me, 
 Is sikerness, with small possessioun. 
 
 Thy awne fyre, Frende, thocht it be bot a gleid, 
 
 It warmis weile, and is worth gold to the ; 
 As Salamon sayis, and that thow will it reid, 230 
 
 " Under the hevin I can nocht better be, 
 
 Than ay be blyth and lif in quiete." 
 Quharfor I may conclude be this ressoun : 
 
 Of erdly joy it beris mast degre, 
 Blythness in hert, with small possessioun. 235 
 
 225. A, What is avale; B, Quhat dois awaill; H, Quhat 
 vaillis than. 227. H, blyithnes in hart with ; B, mirry hairt 
 with. 231. E, H, B, better be; A, se. 232. A, quiete; 
 B, E, H, honeste. 
 
MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 THE COCK AND THE FOX. 
 
 Thocht brutal bestis be irrational, 
 
 That is to say, lakking discretioun, 
 Yit ilk ane in thair kyndis natural 
 
 Hes mony diverss inclinatioun, 
 
 The bair bustouss, the wolf, the wyld lyoun, 5 
 The fox fenzeit, craftye, and cautelouse, 
 The dog to berk in nycht and keip the house. 
 
 Sa different thay ar in propirteis, 
 
 Unknawin unto man, and infynite 
 In kynd, haifand sa fele diversiteis, 10 
 
 My connying it excedis for to dyte ; 
 
 Forthy as now my purpois is to wryte 
 A case I fand, quhilk fell this hinder yere, 
 Betwix a Fox and gentill Chanteclere. 
 
 A Wedow dwelt intill a drope thai dais, 15 
 
 Quhilk wan hir fude with spynning on hir rok ; 
 
 And na mair guidis had, as the fable sais, 
 Except of hennis scho had a lytill flok ; 
 And thame to kepe she had a joly Cok, 
 
 Rycht curageouss, unto this Wedow ay 20 
 
 Devidand nycht, crawand befoir the day. 
 
 Text— B, collated with E and H. 2. E, H, wantand. 
 3. E, H, kynde. 6. E, The Foxe semis craftie. 8. B, thay 
 bene. 11. E, H, cunning is excludit. 13. E, H, atherjeir. 
 
 17. E, H, na mair had forsuth as; B, no moir guidis as 
 
 18. E,H, lytill flok; B.ioly flok. moir gurais as. 
 
THE COCK AND THE FOX. 25 
 
 A lytill fra that foirsaid Wedois house, 
 A thorny schaw thair was of grit defence, 
 
 Quhairin a Fox, craftye and cautelouse, 
 
 Made his repair and daylie residence : 25 
 
 Quhilk to this Wedow did grete violence, 
 
 In piking of hir pultry day and nycht, 
 
 And be no mene revengit on hym scho mycht. 
 
 This wily Tod, quhen that the lark coud sing 
 
 Full sare hungrye unto the town him drest, 30 
 
 Quhair chanteclere into the gray dawing, 
 Wery of nycht, was flowin fra his nest. 
 Lourence this saw, and in his mynd he kest 
 
 The jupertie, the wayis, and the wile, 
 
 Be quhat menis he mycht this Cok begile. 35 
 
 Dissimuland in countenance and chere, 
 On knees fell, and smyland thus he said : 
 
 " Gude morne, my Maister, gentill Chanteclere ! n 
 With that the Cok stert backward in a braid : 
 " Schir, be my saull, ye need nocht be affraid, 40 
 
 Nor yit for me to drede, nor flee abak ; 
 
 I come bot here yow service for to mak. 
 
 " Wald I nocht serve you, Schir, I wer to blame, 
 As I have done to youre progenitouris ; 
 
 Your fader oft fulfillit hes my wame, 45 
 
 And send me mete fra middingis to the muris ; 
 
 28. E, H, And na way be ; B, And be no mene. 32. E, H, 
 Werie for nieht. 34. E, H, The Ieperdie. 37. E, H, sirauland 
 this. 40. E, be effrayit. 42. E, H, service to 30W to mak. 
 43. E, H, bot blame. 44. B, done 30ur. 
 
SSO MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 At his ending I did my besy curis 
 To hald his hede and gife him drinkis warme ; 
 Syne at the last, that swete swelt in my arme." 
 
 "Knew thow my fader?" quod the Cok, and leuch. 50 
 " Ya, my fair sone, forsuth I held his hede, 
 
 Quhen that he swelt under a birkyn beuch ; 
 Syne said his dirige, quhen he was dede. 
 Betwix us twa how suld thair be a fede ? 
 
 Quhom suld ye trest bot me, your servitour, 55 
 
 Quhilk to your fader did sa grite honour ? 
 
 " Quhen I behald your fetheris fair and gent, 
 Your breste, your beke, your hekill, and your 
 came, 
 
 Schir, be my saule and the Blissit Sacrament, 
 
 My hert warmys ; me think, I am at hame, 60 
 Yow for to serve I wald crepe on my wame, 
 
 In frost and snaw, in wederis wan and wete, 
 
 And lay my lyart lokkis under your fete." 
 
 This feynit Fox, false and dissimulate, 
 
 Maid to the Cok a cavillatioun : 65 
 
 " Me think yow changit and degenerate 
 
 Fra your fader and his conditioun ; 
 
 Of crafty era wing he mycht bere the crown, 
 For he wald on his tais stand and craw ; 
 This is no lee ; I stude besyde and saw." 70 
 
 51. E, H, he deit. 56. E, That to. 60. E, H, is warm. 
 61. E, H, To mak 30W blyith I. 65. E, this cok. 66. E, H, 
 ;e are me think. 
 
THE COK AND THE FOX. 27 
 
 With that the Cok, upoun his tais he, 
 
 Kist up his beke, and sang with all his mycht. 
 Quod Lourence thane, "Now, Schir, sa mot I 
 thee, 
 Ye ar your faderis sone and air uprycht, 
 Bot of his cunnyng yit ye want a slight." 75 
 
 " Quhat ? " quod the Cok — " He wald, and haif na 
 
 dout, 
 Bayth wink and craw and turne him thryis about." 
 
 Thus inflate with the wind of fals vaine gloir, 
 Quhilk monye puttis unto confusioun, 
 
 Trestand to win a grit worschip thairfore, 80 
 
 Unwarlye winkand, walkit up and doun, 
 And syne to chant and craw he made him boun. 
 
 And suddanlie, or he had sung ane note, 
 
 The Fox was war and hynt him be the throte. 
 
 Syne to the schaw, but tarye, with him hyit, 85 
 
 Of countermaund haifand bot lytill dout. 
 
 With that Sprowtok, Partok, and Coppok cryit : 
 The Wedow hard, and with a cry cum out. 
 Seand the caise, scho sichit and gaif a schout : 
 
 " How, Murthour, Reylock!" with a hideous beir, 90 
 
 " Alace ! have I now lost guid Chanteclere ! " 
 
 73. E, H, Quod Schir Lourence. 75. E, H, Bot of his cun- 
 ning 3it 3e want. 76. E, H, For quod the Tod. 78. E, H, 
 The Cok infect with wind. 79. E, H, That mony puttis; 
 B, puttis monye. 80. E, H, Traisting. 81. E, H, wawland. 
 83. E, H, be he had crawin a note. 85. E, thewoid; H, wode. 
 86. E, H, Of that cryme haifand. 87. E, H, Toppok cryit. 
 89. B, scho said. 
 
28 MORAL FABLES OF F.SOPE. 
 
 As scho war wod, with mony yell and cry, 
 Ryvand hir hair, upon hir breist can bete, 
 
 Syne paill of hew, half in an extasye, 
 
 Fel doun for cair, in swoning and in swete. 95 
 With that the sillye hennis left thair mete, 
 
 And quhill this wyfe was lyand thus in swoun, 
 
 Fell of that caise in disputatioun. 
 
 " Alace ! " quod Partok, makand sair murning, 
 With teiris grete attour hir chekis fell, 100 
 
 " Yone was our drourye, and our dayis darling, 
 Our nychtingale, and als our horlage bell, 
 Our walkryif weche, us for to warne and tell 
 
 Quhen that Aurora, with hir curchis gray, 
 
 Put up hir hede betwix the nycht and day. 105 
 
 " Quha sail oure lemmane be ? quha sail us leid ? 
 
 Quhen we are sad, quha sail unto us sing ? 
 With his sweit bill he wald brek us the breid : 
 
 In all this warld was thar na kyndar thing ; 
 
 In paramouris he wald do us plesing 110 
 
 At his power, as nature list him gyffe ; 
 Now eftir him, alace ! how sail we lyve ? " 
 
 Than Sprowtok spak: "Seiss, sister, of your sorrow, 
 Ye be to mad for him ; sic murning mais ; 
 
 We sail fair weill; I find, Sanct John to borrow, 115 
 The proverb sayis, 'As guid luif cumis as gais:' 
 
 99. B Partlot; E, H, Pertok. 101. B, our day. 102. B, and 
 ouv ; E, H, and als our. 113. E, H, Quod Sprutok than. 
 
THE COCK AND THE FOX. 29 
 
 I will put on my hellye-dayis clais, 
 And mak me fresche aganis this jolye May, 
 Syne chant this sang, ' Was nevir wedow so gay ! ' 
 
 " He was angrye and held us in grete aw, 120 
 
 And woundit with the speir of jelosye ; 
 
 Of chaumer glew, Partok, how weill ye knaw, 
 Wastit he was, of nature cald and drye, 
 Sen he is gone, thairfore, sister, say I, 
 
 Be blyith in bale, for that is best remeid : 125 
 
 Lat quik to quik, and deid go to the deid." 
 
 Than Partok spak with feynit fayth befoir, 
 " In lust but luif he sette all his delyte, 
 
 Syster, ye wait of sic as him a scoir 
 
 May nocht suffise to slak our appetyte. 130 
 
 I hecht yow be my hand, sen he is quyte, 
 
 Within a wolk, for schame, and I durst speik, 
 
 To gett a berne could better claw our breke." 
 
 Than Coppok lyk a curate spak full crouse. 
 
 " Yone was ane verrye veangeance fra the 
 
 hevin ; 135 
 
 He was sa loveous and sa licherouse ; 
 
 He had," quod scho, "of sissocks mo than sevin ; 
 
 Bot rychteous God haldand the ballandis evin, 
 Smytis richt sair, thocht He be patient, 
 Adulteraris that list thame nocht repent. 140 
 
 127. B, Sprowtok that fenyeit. 128. B, that settle all hir. 
 130. B, your appetyte; E, H, our. 131. B, sen year. 133. B 
 your beke. 134. B, Sprowtok. 136. E, H, sa lous; B, sa 
 loweouP. 137. B, Seif* coud he nocht with sissokkis mo. 
 139. B, full soir ; E, He richt sair. 
 
30 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 " Prydefull lie was, and joyit of his syn, 
 
 And comptit nocht of Goddis favour nor feid, 
 
 Bot traistit ay to rax and sa furth rin, 
 Till at the last his synnis could him leid 
 To schamefull end, and to yone suddane 
 
 deid ; I* 5 
 
 Thairfore I wait it was the hand of God 
 
 That causit him be worrit with the tod." 
 
 Quhen this was said, the Wedow fra hir swoun 
 Stert up in haste, and on hir kennattis cryid, 
 
 " How ! Birkye, Burrye, Bell, Balsye, Brown, 150 
 Rypeschaw, Ryn-weill, Courtess, Cutt, and 
 
 Clyid, 
 Togidder all but grunching furth ye glyid; 
 
 Reskew my nobill Cok or he be slane, 
 
 Or ellis to me se ye cum nevir agane." 
 
 With that, but bade, thay breddit our the 
 
 bent ; 155 
 
 As fyre off flynt thay our the feildis flaw, 
 Wichtly, I wis, throw woddis and watteris went, 
 
 And seissit nocht Sir Lawrence till they saw. 
 
 Bot when he saw the raches cum on raw, 
 Unto the Cok he said in mynd, " God sen 160 
 
 That I and thow were liftit in my den." 
 
 142. B, falvour nou]>ir of goddis. 143. E, H, sa ta rin. 
 149. E, H, Stert vp on fute. 1ST. E, Full wichtiie thay throw. 
 159. E, H, kennetis cum. 160. E, H, god sen ; B, god then. 
 161. B, Sen I ; E, H, That I. 
 
THE COCK AND THE FOX. 31 
 
 Than spak the Cok, with sum guid spreit inspyrit, 
 
 " Do my counsale, and I sail warrand the ; 
 Hungrie thow art, and for grit travell tyrit, 
 Rycht fant of force and may nocht forder 
 
 flee : 165 
 
 Swyith turne agane, and say, that I and ye 
 Friendis ar maid, and fallowis for a yeir ; 
 Than will thai stynt, I stand for it, and nocht 
 steir." 
 
 The Fox, thocht he was fals and frivelous, 
 
 And had fraudis his quarrellis to defend, 1 70 
 
 Dissavit was be menis richt marvellous ; 
 For falsheid failyeis at the latter end. 
 He turnit about and cryit as he was kend ; 
 
 With that the Cok brade up unto a buche. 
 
 Now reid ye sail quhair at Sir Lowrence luche. 175 
 
 Begylit thus, the Tod under a tree 
 
 On knees fell, and said : " Gude Chanteclere, 
 
 Cum doun agane, and I, but mete or fee, 
 Sal be your man and servand for ane yeir.'" 
 "Nay, murther theif and rivere, stand on 
 
 reir ; 180 
 
 My bludy hekkil and my nek so bla 
 
 Hes partit love for evir between us twa. 
 
 171. B, throw mynis marvellous. 173. E, H, He start. 
 174. E, H, he braid out of the ; B, brade vnto. 175. E, H, 
 Now luge 3e all. 180. E, H, Na fals ; stand not me neir. 
 
32 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPK. 
 
 " I was unwyis that winkit at thy will, 
 
 Quhairthrow allmaist I lossit had my heid." 
 
 "I was mair fule," quod he, "coud nocht be still, 185 
 But spak to put ray prayer unto pleid." 
 "Fair on, fals theif, God keip me fra thy 
 feid!" 
 
 With that the Cok our feildis tuke the flicht ; 
 
 In at the Wedowis lewar coud he licht. 
 
 MOKALITAS. 
 
 Now, worthy folk, suppois this be a fable, 190 
 
 And ourhelit with typis figurall, 
 Yit may ye find a sentence rycht greabill, 
 
 Under the fenyeit termys textuall. 
 
 Till oure purpois this Cok weill may we call 
 A nyce, proud man, void and vaneglorious 195 
 
 Of kyn or gude, quhilk is presumptuous. 
 
 Fy ! pompous pryde, thow art rycht poysonable, 
 Quha favouris the of force may have a fall. 
 
 Thy strenth is nocht, thy stule standis unstable, 
 Tak witness of the feindis infernall, 200 
 
 Quhilk huntit doun war fro the hevinly hall 
 
 To hellis hole, and to that hideous house, 
 
 Because of pryde thai war presumptuous. 
 
 185. B, moir full ; E, H, to be sa still. 186. E, H, Quhair- 
 throw to put ray play in to pleid. 195. E, H, Nyse proud 
 men. Lines 197-203 are wanting in H. 197. E, puft vp 
 pryde ; thow is full. 201. E, houndit. 202. B, hidous. 
 
THE COCK AND THE FOX. 33 
 
 This feynit Fox may wele be figurate 
 
 To flatteraris with pleasand wirdis quhite, 205 
 With fals menyng and mouth mellifluate, 
 
 To loif and lee quhilk settis thair haill delyte. 
 
 All worthy folk at sic suld hafe dispyte ; 
 For quhair is moir perilous pestilence 
 Than gif to liaris haistely credence. 210 
 
 This wikkit wind of adulatioun, 
 
 Of swete socour hafand similitude, 
 Bittir as gall, and full of fell poysoun 
 
 To taist it is, quha clerely understude. 
 
 Forthy, as now schortly to conclude, 215 
 
 Thir twa synnis, flattery and vain glore, 
 Ar venemous : gude folk, fle thame thairfore. 
 
 206. E, H, and mynd maist toxicate. 207. B, thair delyte. 
 213. B, of gall. 214. E, H; B, Quha tastis it and. 
 
34 
 
 MORAL FABLES OF ESOl'E. 
 
 THE FOX AND THE WOLF. 
 
 Leve we this Wedow gled, I yow assure, 
 Of Chanteclere mair blyith than I can tell, 
 
 And speke we of the fatal aventure 
 And desteny that to this Fox befell, 
 That durst na mair with miching intermele, 5 
 
 As lang as leme and lycht was of the day, 
 
 But, bydand nycht, full still lurkand he lay ; 
 
 Quhile that Thetes, the goddess of the flude, 
 
 Phebus had callit to the herbery, 
 And Esperus put on his cloudy hude, 10 
 
 Schawand his lusty visage in the sky. 
 
 Then Lourance lukit up, quhare he coud lye, 
 And kest his hand upoun his Ee on hicht, 
 Mery and gled that cummyn was the nycht. 
 
 Out of the wod unto ane hill he went, 15 
 
 Quhare he mycht se the twynkling sternis clere, 
 
 And all the planetis of the firmament, 
 
 Thair coursis and thair moving in thair sphere, 
 Sum retrograde, and sum war stationere ; 
 
 And in the zodyak in quhat degree 20 
 
 Thai were ilkane, as Lowrance lerit me. 
 
 Text — B, collated with E and H. 2. B, more ; E, H, mair. 
 3. E, H, subtell auenture. 5. B, no more : E, H, with waiting. 
 8. E, H, om. Thetes. 10. E, cluddie heid. 13. B, him hand. 
 18. E, H, Thair cours and eik thair mouing in the Spheir. 
 20. B, quhit. 
 
THE FOX AND THE WOLF. 35 
 
 Than Saturne aide was enterit in Capricorne, 
 And Jupiter movit in Sigittarye, 
 
 And Mars up in the Rammy's hede was borne, 
 And Phebus in the Lyoun furth wud carye ; 25 
 Venus in the Crab, the Mone was in Aquarye ; 
 
 Mercurius, the god of eloquence, 
 
 Into the Virgine maid his residence. 
 
 Bot astrolab, quadrant, or almanak, 
 
 Techit of nature be instructioun, 30 
 
 The moving of the hevin this Tod can tak, 
 Quhat influence and constillatioun 
 Was lyk to fall upon this erd heir down ; 
 
 And to himself he said, withouttin niair, 
 
 " Weill worth the, fadir, that sent me first to 
 lair. 35 
 
 " My destany and eik my werd I wait ; 
 
 Myn aventure is cleirly to be kend ; 
 With mischeif myngit is my mortall fait, 
 
 My mysleving the soner bot I mend ; 
 
 Deid is reward of syn and schamefull end. 40 
 
 Thairfoir I will ga seik sum confessour, 
 And schryfe me clene of all synnis to this hour. 
 
 " Allace ! " quod he, " rycht waryit ar we thevis ; 
 
 Our lyfe is sett ilk nycht in aventure ; 
 Our cursit craft full mony ane mischevis ; 45 
 
 For evir we steill, and evir alyk ar pure : 
 
 37. B, Evintour. 38. E, mortall Ene ; H, mortale men. 
 43. E, H, of my sinnis. 43. B omits rycht waryit. 44. B, 
 avinture. 45. E, H, mony man. 
 
36 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 In dreid and schame our dayis we indure ; 
 And Widdy-nek and Crakraip callit als, 
 And tili owre hyre ar hangit be the hals. 1 ' 
 
 Accusand thus his cankerit conscience, 50 
 
 Unto a craig he kest about his E ; 
 So saw he cumand, a lytill than from thence, 
 
 A worthy Doctour of Divinite, 
 
 Freir Wolf Waitskaith, in science wondrous sle, 
 To preche and pray was new cum of clostir, 55 
 
 With beidis on hand, sayand his Paternoster. 
 
 Seand the Wolf, this wyly tratour Tod 
 On kneis fell, with hud in to his nek : 
 
 " Welcome, my gaistly fadir undir God ! " 
 
 Quod he, with mony binge and mony bek. 60 
 
 Than quod the Wolf, " Schir Fox, to quhat effek 
 
 Mak ye sic feir ? Rise up ; put on your hude." 
 
 " Fadir, 1 ' quod he, " I haif grit cause to dude. 
 
 " Ye ar the lanterne and the sicker way, 
 
 Suld gyd sic sympill folk as me to grace ; 65 
 
 Your bair feet, and your russet cowl of gray, 
 Your lene cheikis, your paill and piteous face, 
 Schawis full weill your perfyt halynace ; 
 
 For weill war him that anis in his lyfe 
 
 Had hap to yow his synnis for to schryfe. 1 '' 70 
 
 46. E, ar lyke ; H, ar like. 49. B, Syne till ; E, H, hyre 
 hangit. 64. E, H, je ar mirrour lanterne and sicker way. 
 Lines 67 and 68 are transposed in MS. 67. E, H, Iein cheke : 
 B, petous ; E, pieteous ; H.pietious.. 68. E, H, Schawis to me 
 30ur. 70. B, synnis anis; E, H, synnis for. 
 
THE FOX AND THE WOLF. 37 
 
 " A, silly Lowrance," quod the Wolf, and leuch : 
 
 " It plesis me that ye are penitent.' 1 
 " Of reif and stowth, Schir, I can tell ennewch, 
 
 That causis me full sair for till repent ; 
 
 Bot, Fadir, byd still heir upon this bent, 75 
 
 I yow beseik, and heir me now declair 
 My conscience that prikis me sa sair." 
 
 "Weill,'" quod the Wolf, "sit down upon thy 
 kne." 
 And so he did, bairheid, full hummily, 
 
 And syn began with Benedicite. 80 
 
 Quhen I thus saw, I drew a littill by, 
 For it effeiris nowdir to heir nor spy, 
 
 Nor to reveill thing said undir that sele : 
 
 Bot to the Tod thus-gait the Wolf couth mele. 
 
 " Art thow contreit and sory in thy spreit 85 
 
 For thy trespas ? " " Nay, Schir, I can nocht 
 dude: 
 Methink that hennis are sua hony sweit ; 
 And lambis flesch that new ar lattin blud ; 
 For to repent my mynd can nocht conclude, 
 Bot of this thing, that I haif slane so few." 90 
 
 "Weill," quod the Wolf, "in suth thou art a 
 schrew. 
 
 71. E, H, Na. 77. B, so sair. 79. E, H, And he doun 
 bair heid sat full humillie; B, humly. 84. E, couth tell; 
 H, couth kneil. 90. B, Bot this ; E, H, Bot of. 91. B, 
 south. 
 
38 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 " Sen thow can nocht forthink thy wicketnais, 
 Will thow forbeir in tyme to cum and mend ? " 
 
 " And I forbeir, how sail I leif, allais ! 
 
 Haifand na uthir craft me to defend ? 95 
 
 Neid causis me to steill quhair-evir I wend, 
 
 I schame to beg. I can nocht wirk, ye wait, 
 
 Yit wald I fane pretend a gentill start." 
 
 "Weill," quod the Wolf, "thow wantis pointis twa, 
 Belangand to perfyt confessioun. 100 
 
 To the thrid pairte of pennance lat us ga. 
 Will thow tak pane for thy transgressioun ? " 
 " A, Schir, consedir my complexioun, 
 
 Seikly and waik and of my natur tendir, 
 
 So, will ye se, I am baith lene and sklendir. 105 
 
 " Yit nevir-the-les I wald, sa it wer lycht, 
 And schort, nocht grevand to my tendirness, 
 
 Tak pairte of pain, fulfill it gife I micht, 
 To sett my silly saule in way of grace." 
 "Thow sail forbeir,' 1 quod he, "flesche hyne 
 to Paiss, 110 
 
 To tame thy cors, that cursit carioun ; 
 
 And heir I reik the full remissioun." 
 
 " I grant thairto, sa ye will gife me leif 
 To eit puddingis, or laip a littill blude, 
 
 Or heid and feit, or penchis lat me preif, 115 
 
 In caise I fant of flesche in to my fude." 
 
 93. B, tyme cumming; E, H, to cum. 97. E, H, I eschame 
 to thig. 101. B, Now to. 104. B, And seikly. 
 
THE FOX AND THE WOLF. 39 
 
 " For grit mister, I gife the leif to dude 
 Twyse in the owlk, for neid may haif no law." 
 " God yield yow, Schir, for that text weill I knaw." 
 
 Quhen this was said, the Wolf his wayis went 120 
 The Fox on fute he fare unto the flude. 
 
 To fang sum fische was haillye his intent ; 
 Bot quhen he saw thir walterand wavis wode, 
 All stoneist still into a stair he stude, 
 
 And said, "Bettir that I had biddin at hame, 125 
 
 Than be a fischar in the devillis name. 
 
 " Now mon I skraip my meit out of the sand, 
 For I haif nowdir net, nor bottis, nor bate." 
 
 As he wes thus for fait of meit murnand, 
 
 Lukand about his leving for to late, 130 
 
 Undir a tre he saw a trip of gait ; 
 
 Than wes he fane, and in a huche him hid, 
 
 And fra the gait he stall a littill kid. 
 
 Syne our the huche unto the se he hyis, 
 
 And tuk the kid rycht be the homis twane, 135 
 
 And in the wattir outhir twyse or thryse 
 
 He doukit him, and thus-gait cowth he sane : 
 "Ga down Schir Kid, cum up Schir salmound 
 agane! " 
 
 Quhill he wes deid ; syne to the land him dreuch, 
 
 And of that new made salmond eit enneuch. 140 
 
 119. B, full weill ye knaw. 122. B, hellely; E, H, haillelie, 
 123. E, H, saw the watter and wallis wod. 124. E, H, Astonist 
 all still. 128. E, nouther boittis nor jit Net; nather boittis 
 nor net bait. 134. B, him hyis. 137. E, H, sayne. 
 
40 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 Thus fynally fillit with young tendir meit, 
 
 Unto a den for dreid he hes him drest, 
 Undir a busk, quhair that the sone cowth 
 beit, 
 To beke his breist and bellye he thocht 
 
 best; 
 And raklesly he said, quhair he coud rest, 145 
 Strakand his wambe agane the sonnis hete, 
 " Upoun this belly ware sett a bolt full mete." 
 
 Quhen this was said, the kepare of the gayte, 
 Carefull in hert his kid was stollin away, 
 
 On every side full warly culd he wayte, 150 
 
 Till at the last he saw quhair Lowrance lay ; 
 His bow he bent, a flane with fedderis gray 
 
 He hailit to the heid ; or evir he sterd, 
 
 The Fox he prikkit fast unto the erd. 
 
 " Now," quod the Fox, " alace and welloway ! 155 
 Gorrit I am and may no forther gane ; 
 
 Methink na man may speke a word in play, 
 Bot now on dayis in ernist it is tane." 
 The hynd him hynt, and out he drew his 
 flane ; 
 
 And for his kid and uther violence, 160 
 
 He tuke his skyn, and maid a recompence. 
 
 HI. E, H, fynelie fillit with young tender meit. 142. E, H, 
 Unto ane derne. 146. B, this sonnis ; E, H, the. 154. B, the 
 fox fast he prikkit to ; E, H, the Foxe he prikkit fast unto. 
 156. E, forther gang ; H, ferther gang. 159. E, H, He harlit 
 him and out he drew his flane ; B, a flane. 
 
THE FOX AND THE WOLF. 41 
 
 MORALITAS. 
 
 This suddane deid and unprovisit end 
 Of this fals Tod, without contritioun, 
 
 Exemple is exhortand folk to mend, 
 
 For dreid of sic a lyke conclusioun ; 165 
 
 For mony gois now to confessioun 
 
 Can nocht repent, nor for thair synnis greit, 
 
 Becaus thai think thair lusty lyfe so sweit. 
 
 Sum bene also, throw consuetude and ryte, 
 
 Vincust with carnall sensuality ; 170 
 
 Suppose thai be as for the tyme contryte, 
 Can nane forbere, nor fra thair synnis flee : 
 Use drawis nature so in propertie 
 
 Of beist and man that nedlingis thai mon do, 
 
 As thai of lang tyme have hantit thame to. 175 
 
 Beware, guid folk, and dreid this suddane schote, 
 Quhilk smytis sair withouttin resistence ; 
 
 Attent wyisly, and in your hartis note, 
 Aganis deid may no man mak defence ; 
 Ceis of your syn, remord your conscience, 180 
 
 Do wilfull pennance here, and ye sail wend, 
 
 Eftir your deid, to joy withouttin end. 
 
 163. E, H, without provisioun. 164. B, mend. 165. E, H, 
 ane like confusioun. 166. E, H, now his gude professioun. 
 167. E, H, 3it not repentis. 169. E, H ; B, and vyce. 174. B, 
 that nedis. 175. E, H, As thay lang tyme hes bene hantit to. 
 181. E, H, Obey vnto 30ur God and 3c 
 
MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 THE TRIAL OF THE FOX. 
 
 This foirsaid Fox, thus deid for his misdede, 
 Had nocht a sone was gottin richteously, 
 
 That to his airschip mycht of law succede, 
 Except ane sone, the quhilk in lemanry 
 He gottin had in purchase prively. 5 
 
 And to his name was clepit Fader Were, 
 
 That luffit wele with pultry to tig and tere. 
 
 It followis wele be reasoun natural, 
 
 And gree be gree of rycht comparisoun, 
 
 Of ill cummys war, of war cummys warst of all, 10 
 Of wrangus get cummys wrang successioun. 
 This Fox, bastard of generatioun, 
 
 Of verry kynd behufit to be fals ; 
 
 So was his grantschir and his fader als. 
 
 As nature will, sekand his fude be sent, 15 
 
 Of case he fand his faderis caryon, 
 
 Naikit, new slane ; and till him as he went, 
 Tuke up his hede, syne on his kneis fell doun, 
 Thankand grete God of that conclusioun ; 
 
 And said, " Now sail I brouk, sen I am aire, 20 
 
 The boundis quhare thow wes wont for to repaire." 
 
 Text— B, collated with E and H. 2. E, H, ane barne. 
 3. E, H, Till airschip be Law that micht. 4. E, H, quhilk in 
 Adulterie. 11. E, fals possessioun. SI. E, H, quhair thow 
 wes wont for ; B, quhare he wont was to. 
 
THE TRIAL OF THE FOX. 43 
 
 Fy ! covetous, unkynd and venemous, 
 
 The sone was fayn he fand his fader dede, 
 
 Be sudane schote for dedis odious, 
 
 That he micht rax and regne intill his stede, 25 
 Dredand nothing that samin lyife to lede, 
 
 In stouth and reif, as he had done before ; 
 
 Bot to the end, entent he tuke no more. 
 
 Yit, nevirtheless, for naturall pitee, 
 
 The caryon upoun his bak he tais : 30 
 
 " Now find I wele this proverb trew," quod he, 
 " ' Ay rynnis the fox as lang as he fut hais.' " 
 Syne with his corse unto a petpot gais 
 
 Of watere full, and kest him in the depe, 
 
 And to the devill gave his banis to kepe. 35 
 
 O fuliche man ! ploungit in warldlynes, 
 
 To conquest wrangwiss gudis, gold, or rent, 
 
 To put thy saule in payne and hevynes, 
 
 To riche thyne air, quhilk eftir thow be went, 
 Have he thy gude, he takis bot small entent 40 
 
 To sing or say for thy salvatioun : 
 
 Fra thow be dede, done is thy devotioun. 
 
 This Tod, to rest him, passit to a crag, 
 
 And herd a bustous bugill brymly blaw 
 Quhilk, as him thocht, maid all the warld to wag. 45 
 
 25. E, regne and rax intill ; H, rung and rax in to. 29. B, 
 faderlye. 35. B, his banes gave ; E, H, he gaif. 37. E, 
 waldlie. 40. B omits bot. 41-42. E, H, To execute to do to 
 satisfie, Thy letter will thy debt and legacie. 43. B, to rest he 
 carrit to a crag; E, H, to rest him he passit to ane craig. 
 44. B, And thair he harde one buisteous Bugill blaw. 
 
44 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 Than stert I up, and cumand nere I saw 
 Ane unicorne cum lansand our a law, 
 
 With home in hand, ane bill in brest he bure, 
 
 A pursevant semelie, I yow assure. 
 
 Unto a bank, quhair he mycht se about 50 
 
 On every syde, in haste he coud him hye, 
 
 Put furth his voce full loud, and gave a schout, 
 And " Oyas ! Oyas ! " twise or thrise coud cry. 
 With that the bestis in the fieldis nere by, 
 
 All mervailand quhat sic a cry suld mene, 55 
 
 Gowand agast, gadderit on a grene. 
 
 Out of his breist a bill sone coude he braide, 
 And red the text withouttyn tarrying ; 
 
 Commaundand silence, sadly thus he said : 
 
 " We, noble Lyoun, of all beistis King, 60 
 
 Greting to God ay-lasting, but ending, 
 
 To brutall bestis and irrational, 
 
 I send, as to my subjectis grete and small. 
 
 " My Celsitude and Hie Magnificence, 
 
 Lattis yow to witt furthwith, incontinent 65 
 
 Thinkis to morne, with riall diligence 
 
 Upoun this hill to hald a parliament ; 
 
 Straitly thairfore, I geve commandiment 
 For to compeir before my tribunal!, 
 Under all pane and parrell that may fall." 70 
 
 46-17. E, H, Ane Unicorne come lansand ouer ane Law, Than 
 start he vp quhen he this hard and saw. 48. B, and buste on 
 breist. 52. E, H, Schot out his voce full schill. S3. E, H, And 
 on this wyis twyse. 56. E, H, Greitlie a-gast. 57. B. his 
 buste. 60. E, H, beistis the King. 61. E, H, God helth 
 euerlesting. 65. B, 30W witt ; E, H, that euin incontent. 
 67. E, H, the morne. 
 
THE TRIAL OF THE FOX. 45 
 
 The morrow come, and Phebus with his bemys 
 Consumit had the mysty cloudis gray ; 
 
 The ground was grene, and as the gold it glemys, 
 With gresis growand gudely, grete, and gay ; 
 The spice than spred to spring on every 
 
 spray ; 75 
 
 The lark, the mavis, and the merle so hee, 
 
 Swetly can sing, trippand fra tree to tree. 
 
 Thre leopardis come ; a crown of massy gold 
 Berand thai brocht unto that hillis hicht, 
 
 With jaspis junyt and riall rubies rold, 80 
 
 And mony divers dyamantis wele dicht ; 
 With pollis proud a palyoun down thai picht ; 
 
 And in that trone thair sat a wild lyoun, 
 
 In rob riale, with ceptur, swerd, and crown. 
 
 Eftir the tennour of the cry before, 85 
 
 That gais on all four-futtit bestis on erd 
 
 Jtycht as thai ware commandit without more, 
 Before thair Lord, the Lyon, thai comperd ; 
 And quhat thai were, as Tod Laurence me lerd, 
 
 I sal reherse a pairt of every kynd, 90 
 
 Als far as now occurris to my mynd. 
 
 The Minotaur, a monster mervelous, 
 
 Bellerophant, that beist of bastarde, 
 The Warwolf, and the Pegase perillous, 
 
 Transformit be assent of sorcere, 95 
 
 71. B, The morowing. 86. H ; B, gais on fut all beistis in 
 ]je erd. 
 
46 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 The lynx, the tiger full of tyrrane, 
 The oliphant, and eik the dromedare, 
 The camell with his cran craig furth ould care. 
 
 The leopard, as I haif tauld beforne, 
 
 The antelop, the sparth furth culd hir speid, 100 
 The payntit panther, and the unicorne ; 
 
 The rayndeir ran through rever, ron, and reid, 
 
 The joly jonet, and the gentill steid, 
 The aiss, the mull, the horse of every kynd ; 
 The de, the re, the hornit hairt, the hynd. 105 
 
 The bull, the beir, the bugill, and the bair, 
 The wodwyse, wild cat, and the wild wolfyne, 
 
 The hard-bak, hurtchoun, and the hyrplland hair, 
 Baith ottour, aip, and pennyt porcupyne, 
 The guckit gait, the sillye scheip, the swyne, 110 
 
 The baver bakon, and the batterand brok, 
 
 The fumard, with the fyber furth culd flok. 
 
 The gray gruhund, the sleuth hund furth can slyd, 
 With doggis all dyverss and deferent ; 
 
 The rattoun ran, the globert furth culd glyde, 115 
 
 The quherland quhithrat with the wasyll went, 
 The fythow that hes furrit mony fent, 
 
 The martryk, with the cunyng and the con, 
 
 The burdane lane, and eik the lerion. 
 
 98. B, H, B, with his ; E, H, cran nek. 103. E, H, Iolie Gillet. 
 107. E, H, The tame cat wild cat and the wild wod swyne. 108. 
 B,hyrppiland; E, hirpland. 109. B, porcapyne. 111. E,H, the 
 wyld Once the Buk the Uelterand Brok. 117. E, H; B, mony 
 ane fent. 119. E, The Bouranbane ; H, The bowranbane. 
 
THE TRIAL OF THE FOX. 47 
 
 The mermissat the modewart could leid, 120 
 
 Becaus that nature denyit had her sycht. 
 
 Thus dressit thai all furth for dreid of deid, 
 The musk, the litill mous, with all her mycht 
 In haist haykit unto that hillis hycht ; 
 
 And mony kynd of beist I couth nocht knaw, 125 
 
 Befoir their Lord, the Lyoun, thai lowtit law. 
 
 Seand thir beistis all at his bidding bown, 
 He gave a oraide, and blenkit all about ; 
 
 Than flatlingis to his feit thai fell all down, 
 
 For dreid of deid thay drowpit all in dout. 130 
 The Lyoun lukit quhen he saw thame lout, 
 
 And bad them, with ane countenance full sweit, 
 
 " Be nocht afferit, bot stand upoun your feit. 
 
 " I lat you wit my mycht is merceabill, 
 
 And steris none that ar to me prostrat, 135 
 
 Angry, austern, and als unameabill, 
 
 To all that standis aganis myne estait. 
 
 I rug, I ryve all beistis that makis debate 
 Aganis the mycht of my magnificence : 
 Se none pretend to pryde in my presence. 140 
 
 " My Celsitude and my Hie Majesty 
 
 With mycht and mercy myngit sal be ay ; 
 
 The lawest heir I may rycht sone up hie, 
 And mak him maister ouer yow all I may. 
 
 124. E, H, that hill of hicht. 125. B, And mony ane kynd 
 of beist }>at I nocht knaw. 127. B, thir beistis at his. 128. E, 
 lukit him about. 131. E, He lukit (H, luikit) quhen. 137. 
 E, H, standfrae ar to myne. 143. E, lawest hart I can full ; 
 H, lawest heir I can full. 
 
48 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 The dromadair, gif he will mak deray, 145 
 
 Or the greit cameil, thocht thai be nevir sa crouse, 
 I can thame law as littil as ane mouse. 
 
 " Se neir be twenty mylis quhair I am, 
 The kid ga saiflie be the woolfis syde ; 
 
 The Tod Lowry hike nocht upoun the lam, 150 
 
 Na revand beistis nowther ryn nor ryde." 
 Thay cucheit all ; and, eftir this wes cryd, 
 
 The Justice bad anone the court to fenss, 
 
 The sutis call, and foirfalt all absenss. 
 
 The panther, with his payntit coit of armour, 155 
 Fensit the court, as of the law efferit ; 
 
 Tod Laurence lukit up quhair he could lour, 
 And stert on fut, all stoneist, and all sterit ; 
 Ryvand his hair, he'rarit with a reird, 
 
 Quakand for dreid, and sichand could he say. 160 
 
 " Allace this hour, allace this wofull day ! 
 
 " I wait this suddan semblay that I se, 
 Havand the poyntss of a Parliament, 
 
 Is maid to mar sic misdoaris as me ; 
 
 Thairfoir, and I me schaw, I wil be schent ; 165 
 I will be socht gif I be red absent ; 
 
 To byde or fle it makis no remeid ; 
 
 All is alyke, thair followis nocht bot deid." 
 
 149. E, H, gaittis syde. ISO. E, H, The Tod Lowrie ; 
 B, Se Tod. 153. E, H, bad the Court for to gar fence. 155. B, 
 coit of armour. 157. E, H, lukit quhair he. 159. E, H, he 
 cryit with. 161. E, H, dulefull day. 
 
THE TRIAL OF THE FOX. 49 
 
 Perplexit thus in his mynd can he mene 
 
 With falsheid quhow he mycht himself de- 
 fend ; 170 
 His hude he drew far down attour his ene, 
 And, wynkand with the ane E, furth did wend ; 
 Clyncheand he come, that he suld nocht be 
 kend, 
 And for dreddour that he suld thole areist, 
 He playit bukhud anone, fra beist to beist. 175 
 
 O fylit spreit, and cankerit conscience ! 
 Befoir ane roy renyeit with richteousnes, 
 
 Blakinnit cheikis and schamefull countenance ! 
 Fairweill thy fame, now gone is all thy grace, 
 The phisnomie, the favour of thy face, 180 
 
 For thy defence is foull and disfigurate, 
 
 Brocht to the licht, baisit, blunt, and blait. 
 
 Be thow atteichit with thift or with tressone 
 For thy misdeid wrangous and wickit fay, 
 Thy cheir chaingis, Lowrence ; thow man luik 
 
 doun ; 185 
 
 Thy worschip of this warld is went away. 
 Luk to this Tod, how he wes in effray, 
 And fle the filth of falset, I the reid, 
 Quhairthrow thair followis sin and schamefull 
 deid. 
 
 169. E, H, his hart. 170. B, H, Throw falset how. 174. 
 E, H, he suld bene arreist. Lines 176-189 not in B, but in 
 E and H. 179. E, defylit for ay is. 185. H, thow may luik. 
 
50 MORAL FABLES OF ES0PE. 
 
 Comperand thus thai come befoir the King, 190 
 
 In ordour sett as to thair stait efferit, 
 
 Of every kynd he gart ane pairt furth bring, 
 And awfulye he spak, and at thaim speirit 
 G-if thair wes ony beist into this erd 
 
 Absent, and thair-to gart thaim deiply sweir, 195 
 
 And thai said, " Nay, except ane gray stude Meir." 
 
 " Ga, mak ane message sone unto that stude." 
 The court than cryit, " My Lord, quha sail 
 that be?" 
 
 " Cum heir, Lowry, lurkand undir thy hude." 
 
 " A, Lord ! mercy ! Lo, I have bot ane E ; 200 
 Hurt in the hanch, and crukit ye may se ; 
 
 The Wolf is bettir in ambassadry, 
 
 And mair cunning in clergy fer than I." 
 
 Braiding he said, "Ga furth, ye brybouris bayth !" 
 
 And thai to ga withoutin tareying. 205 
 
 Our ron and ryce thai ran togidder rayth, 
 And fand the Meir at meit in the morning. 
 " How," quod the Tod, " Madame cum to the 
 King, 
 The court is callit, and ye ar contumax." 
 "Lat be, Laurence," quod scho, "your courtlie 
 
 knax." 210 
 
 190. E, H ; B, Compering thus befoir thair Lord and King. 
 194. E, H, ony kynd of beistis on eird. 195. E, H; B, fair 
 gart t>aim all. 199. E, H ; B, ane hude. 300. E, H, Aa schir 
 mercie. 201. E, the heid ; H, the hoche. 203. E, H, fer 
 then; B, clergye fan I. 204. E, H, Rampand he. 206. 
 E, H, and rute. 208. E, H ; B, go to. 210. E, H, quod 
 scho, etc. ; B, 30m- carping and jour knax. 
 
THE TRIAL OF THE FOX. 51 
 
 " Maistres," quod the Tod, " to the court ye 
 mon ; 
 The Lyoun hes commandit yow in-deid." 
 
 " Laurence, tak yow the flirdom, and the fon, 
 I have a respit heir, and ye will rede." 
 " I can nocht spell a word, sa God me speid ! 215 
 
 Heir is the Wolf, a nobill clerk at all, 
 
 And of this message he is principall. 
 
 " He is autentik, and a man of aige, 
 
 And hes greit practik of the chancellary, 
 
 Lat him ga luke and reid your privilege, 220 
 
 And I sail stand, and beir yow witness by." 
 " Quhair is your respit ? " quod the Wolf in 
 
 " Sir, it is heir, undir my hoife weill hid." 
 
 " Hald up your hele," quod he ; and sa scho did. 
 
 Thocht he wes blynd throuch pryde, yit he pre- 
 
 sumis 225 
 
 To luke doun law, quhair that thir lettres lay. 
 With that the Mere, scho gird him on the gumys, 
 And strake the hattrell of his hede away. 
 Half out of lyfe, lenand doun he lay : 230 
 
 " Alace," quod Lowrence, "Lupus, thow art lost!" 
 " His connyng," quod the Mere, " was worth sum 
 cost. 
 
 214. E, H, respite ane jeir. 217. E, H, is maid principall. 
 225. E, H, wes blindit with ; B, brynt throuch. 230. E, H ; 
 B, lupus that thow art lost. 
 
52 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 " Lourans, will thou nocht luke upoun my letter, 
 Sen that the Wolf thairof can nothing win ? " 
 " Nay, be Sanct Bryde, 1 ' quod he, " mc think far 
 better 
 To slepe in hele and in ane unhurt skyn. 235 
 
 A scroll I fand, and thus writtin thairin, 
 — ' For five schillingis I wald nocht anis forfault 
 
 him'— 
 Felix quern facivmt aliena pericvla cautum." 
 
 With brokin skalp and bludy chekis rede, 
 This wretchit Wolf wepand on his wayis 
 
 went, 240 
 
 Of this maynye mefkand to get remede ; 
 To tell the King the caise was his entent, 
 "Schir," quod the Tod, "bid still upoun the 
 bent, 
 And fra your browis wesch away the blude, 
 And tak a drink, for it will do yow gude.'" 245 
 
 To fech water this fraudfull Fox furth fure, 
 Sidlingis a bank he socht unto a sike ; 
 
 Of caise he metis cumand fra the mure, 
 A trip of lambis dansand on a dike. 
 This traytor Tod, this tyran, and this tike, 250 
 
 The fattest of the flok he fellit has, 
 
 And ete his fill ; syne to the Wolf he gais. 
 
 235. E, To sleipe in haill nor in ane hurt skyn ; H, in haill 
 than in hurt skin. 236. E, H, Ane skrow I fand and this wes 
 writtin in. 237. E, H ; B, for v 1* I wald nocht anys faltum. 
 
 239. E, brokin skap ; H, bludie skap and cheikis bla and reid. 
 
 240. B, This wolf. 
 
THE TEIAL OF THE FOX. 58 
 
 Thay drank but tary, and thare journay takis ; 
 
 Befoir the King syne knelit on thair knee. 
 "Quhare is the Mere, Schir Tod, was contu- 
 
 max?" 255 
 
 Than Lourance said: "My Lord, spere nocht 
 
 at me! 
 This new maid Doctour of Divinitee, 
 With his rede cap, can tell you wele yneuch." 
 With that the Lyon and the lave thai leuch. 
 
 " Tell on the caise, Schir Lourence ; lat us here." 260 
 
 " This witty Wolf, this noble clerk of aige, 
 On your behalf he bad the Mere compere, 
 And scho allegit till a previlege — 
 'Cum nere and se, and ye sail have your 
 wage.' 
 Because he red hir respit plane and wele, 265 
 Yone red bannete scho raucht him with hir 
 hele." 
 
 The Lyoun said, " Be yon rede cap I ken 
 This tale is trew, quha tent unto it takis ; 
 
 The grettest clerkis ar nocht the wysest men ; 
 
 A mannis hurt ane other happy makis." 270 
 
 As thai ware carpand thusgatis in knakis, 
 
 And all the court in garray and in gam, 
 
 Sa come the Yow, the moder of the Lam. 
 
 253. E, Thay drank togidder and syne thair. 257. E, H, 
 Speir at 3our new. 260. E, H, the cais Now Lowrence. 
 261. E, H, wolf quod he this Clerk of aige. 270. E, H, The 
 hurt of ane happie the vther makis. 
 
54 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 Before the Justice doun on hir kneis fell, 
 
 Put furth hir playnt on this wise wofully : 275 
 
 " This harlot here, this hurson hund of hell, 
 He werryit hes my Lam full doggitly, 
 Within a myle, in contrare of your cry. 
 
 For Goddis lufe, my Lord, gif me the law 
 
 Of this lymmar." With that Lourence let 
 draw. 
 
 " Bide," quod the Lyon, " lemmar, lat us se 
 
 Giff this be suyth the sely Yow has said." 
 "A, Soverane Lord! sauf your mercy," quod 
 he, 
 "My purpois was with him bot to have 
 
 plaid ; 
 Causeles he fled, as he had bene airraid ; 285 
 For drede of dede he duschit our a dike, 
 And brak his nek." "Thou leis," quod scho, 
 " fals tike ! 
 
 " His dede be practik may be previt eth ; 
 Thy gorry gomys and thy bludy snout, 
 
 The woll, the flesche yit stikkis in thy teth, 290 
 And this is evidence enuch, but dout." 
 The Justice bad go cheis ane assyia about ; 
 
 And so thai did, and fand that he was fals, 
 
 Of murthour, thift, and party tresoun als. 
 
 27*. E, H, on hir kneis ; B, on knees. 376. E, H, This 
 harlet huresone and this hound of hell. 277. E, H, Deuorit 
 hes. 280. E, H, Of this lurker. 291. E, H, And that is ; 
 B, euident ; E, H, euidence. 292. B, a seft 
 
THE TRIAL OF THE FOX. 55 
 
 Thai band him fast, the Justice bad belyve 295 
 
 To geve the dome, and tak of all his clais ; 
 
 The Wolf, that new maid Doctour, coud him shryve; 
 Syne furth with him unto the gallowis gais, 
 And at the ledder fute his leve he tais ; 
 
 The Ape was basare, and bad him sone ascend, 300 
 
 And hangit him ; and thus he maid ane end. 
 
 MORALITAS. 
 
 Rycht as the mynour in his mynorall 
 
 Fair gold with fyr ma fra the lede wele wyn, 
 
 Rycht sa under a fable figurall 
 
 Sad sentence men may seke, and efter fyne, 305 
 As daylie dois thir doctouris of dyvyne, 
 
 Apertly be oure leving can apply, 
 
 And preve thare preching be a poesy. 
 
 The Lyon is this warld be liklynace, 
 
 To quhom lowtis bayth Empriour and King, 310 
 And thinkis of this warld to get mare grace, 
 
 Gapand daylie for to get mare lifing ; 
 
 Sum for to reule, and sum to rax and ring, 
 Sum gadderis gere, sum gold, sum uthir gude ; 
 To wyn this warld, sum wirkis as thai wer wode. 315 
 
 296. E, B, his claithis ; H, all his clais. 398. E, H, Syne 
 furth him led and to the. 300. E, H, The Aip wes Boucher. 
 301. E, H, his end. 305. E, H. ; B, A sad sentence may seke 
 and. 307. E, H, That to our leuing full weill can. 308. E, H, 
 And paynt thair mater furth be Poetry. 311. E, H, get incres. 
 
 312. E, H, Thinkand daylie to get ; B, And gapis for to get, 
 
 313, B, rax and regne ; H, rax and ring. 
 
56 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 This Mere is men of contemplatioun, 
 Of pennance walkand in the wildernace, 
 
 As monkis and othir men of religioun, 
 That presis God to pleise in every place : 
 Abstrackit fra this warldis wretchidnes, 
 
 In wilfull povertie, fra pomp and pryde, 
 
 And fra this warld in mynd ar mortifyde. 
 
 Hir hufe I likkin to the thocht of dede. 
 
 Will thow remember, man, that thow may 
 dee? 
 Thow may brek sensualiteis hede, 825 
 
 And fleschly lust away fra the sail flee ; 
 Wise Salomon sais, will thow nocht see, 
 " For as thow may thy sely saull now wyn, 
 Think on thine end, thow sail nocht gladly 
 syn." 
 
 The Wolf I likkin unto sensualitie, 330 
 
 As quhen, like brutall bestis, we accord 
 
 Our mynd all to this warldis vanitie, 
 Liking to tak and love him as our lord : 
 Flee fast thairfra, gif thow will rycht remord ; 
 
 Than sail reasoun rise, rax, and ring 335 
 
 And for thy saull thair is no better thing. 
 
 316. E,H, men of gude conditioun. 317. E,H, As Pilgrymes 
 walkand. 318. E, H, Approuand that for richt Religioun. 
 319. E, H, Thair God onlie to plese. 321. E, H, Fechtand 
 with lust presumptioun and pryde ; B, all pryde. 323. B, Hir 
 lufe. 327. E, H, Fra thow begin thy mynd to mortifie. 
 328. E, H, Salomonis saying thow may persaif heirin. 335. B, 
 and regne ; E, H, and ring. 
 
THE TRIAL OF THE FOX. 57 
 
 This Tod I likin to temptatioun, 
 
 Berand to mynd mony thochtis vane, 
 
 That dayly segis men of religioun, 
 
 Cryand to thame, "Cum to the warld agane!" 340 
 Bot quhen thai see sensualitie neir slane, 
 
 And sudane dede with ithand panis sore, 
 
 Thay go abak, and temptis thame no more. 
 
 O Lord, Medeator for us mast meke, 
 
 Sitt doun before Thy Fader Celestiall, 345 
 
 For us synnaris His Celsitude beseke, 
 
 Us to defend fra payne and perallis all ; 
 
 And help us up unto that hevinly hall, 
 In glore, quhair we may see the sycht of God. — 
 And thus endis the talking of the Tod. 
 
 339. E, H, Assaultand men with sweitpersuasionis; B, sagis. 
 340. E, H, Ay reddie for to trap thame in ane trayne. 341. 
 E, H, jit gif thay se. 352. E, H, deith draw neir with panis 
 sore. 343. B, He gois abak and temptis him no more. 
 344. E, H, O mediatour mercifull and meik ; B, O lord 
 eternall medeator. 345. E, H, Thow Souerane Lord and King 
 Celestiall. 346. E, H, Thy Celsitude maist humillie we beseik. 
 349. E, H, the face of God. 
 
58 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 THE SHEEP AND THE DOG. 
 
 Esope a taill puttis in memorie, 
 
 How that a Dog, because that he wes pure, 
 Callit a Scheip unto the Consistory, 
 
 A certane breid of him for to recure. 
 
 A fraudfull Wolf was juge that tyme, and bure 5 
 Auctoritie and jurisdictioun, 
 And on the Scheip send furth a strait summoun. 
 
 For by the use and course of commoun style 
 
 On this maner maid his citatioun : 
 " I, Maister Wolf, pairtles of fraud or gyle, 10 
 
 Under the panis of hie suspensioun, 
 
 And gret cursing and interdictioun, 
 Schir Scheip, I chairge the straitly to compeir 
 And answeir till a Dog befoir me heir." 
 
 Schir Corby Ravin was maid Apparitour, 15 
 
 Quhilk pyket had full mony schepis E ; 
 
 His chairge hes tane, and on the letter bure ; 
 Summond the Scheip befoir the Wolf, that he 
 Peremptourly, within the dayis thre, 
 
 Compeir undir the panis in this bill, 20 
 
 And heir what Burry Dog wald say him till. 
 
 Text— B, collated with E and H. 1. B, Isope. 11. B, of 
 suspensioun. 13, E, H, charge the for to. 16. E, H. ; B, 
 pyket hes. 18. E, H, Summonit. 19. E, H, within twa dayis 
 or thre. 91. E, H, To heir what Perrie Doig will say the till. 
 
THE SHEEP AND THE DOG. 59 
 
 This sommond, maid befoir witness ennew, 
 The Ravin, as till his office weill effeird, 
 
 Endorsit hes the writ, and on he flew ; 
 
 The silly Scheip durst lay no mouth to erd 25 
 Till he befoir the awfull juge apperd 
 
 Be hour of cause, quhilk that court usit thane, 
 
 Quhen Esperus to schaw his face began. 
 
 The Fox was clerk and notar in the cause, 
 
 The Gled, the Grip up at the bar couth stand; 30 
 
 As advocatis expert in to the lawis, 
 The Doigis ply togiddir tuk on hand, 
 Quhilk wer confident stret in to ane band, 
 
 Agane the Scheip to procure the sentence 
 
 Thocht it were fals, thay had no conscience. 85 
 
 The Clerk callit the Scheip, and he wes thair ; 
 The advocattis on this wyse can propone ; 
 
 "A certane breid, worth fyve schillingis and mair, 
 Thow aw this Dog, of quhilk the term is gone." 
 Of his awin heid, but advocat, allone, 40 
 
 The Scheip awysitly gaif answer in the cace : 
 
 " Heir I declyne the juge, the time, the place. 
 
 " This is my cause in motive and effect ; 
 
 The law sayis, it is rycht perillous 
 Till enter in pley befoir a juge suspect ; 45 
 
 23. E,H, as to his office; B, has to his office. 24. B, this 
 writ. 33. E, H, straitlie in ane. 37. E, H, couth propone. 
 41. B omits The Scheip. 45. B. Till interply. 
 
60 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 And thow, Schir Wolf, hes ay been odius 
 To me, for thow with tuskis ravenous 
 
 Hes slane full mony kynnismen of myne ; 
 
 Thairfoir, as juge suspect, I the declyne. 
 
 "And schortly, of this court the memberis all, 50 
 Bayth assessouris, clerk, and advocat, 
 
 To me and myne ar ennemeis mortal, 
 
 And ay hes bene, as mony scheiphird watt ; 
 This place, as for the tyme, is feriat, 
 
 In quhilk no juge suld sit in consistory 55 
 
 So lait at evin, I yow accuse forthy." 
 
 Quhen that the juge on this wyse wes accusit, 
 He bad the parteis cheis, with one assent, 
 
 Twa arbitouris, as in the law is usit, 
 
 For to dissyd and gife abitrement, 60 
 
 Quhiddir the Sheip suld answer in jugement 
 
 Befoir the Wolf ; and swa thay did but weir, 
 
 Of quhome the names eftir ye sail heir. 
 
 The Beir, the Brok, this mater tuk on hand, 
 
 For to dissyd gife this exceptioun 65 
 
 Wes of na strenth or lawchfully mycht stand, 
 And thairupoun as jugeis thay sat doun, 
 And held a lang quhyle disputatioun, 
 
 Seikand full mony decretalis of the law, 
 
 And glosis als, the verity to knaw. 
 
 47. E, H, for with sour ; B, with thyne. 52. B, immortall. 
 S3. E, bene thocht I mycht not it lat. 54. B ; E, H, The 
 place is fer the tyme is feriat. 61. B, suld byd. 
 
THE SHEEP AND THE DOS. 61 
 
 Of Civil volumis full mony thay revolve, 
 
 The codys and degestis new and aid ; 
 Prowe and contra, strait argument thay resolve, 
 
 Sum a doctryne, and sum another hald ; 
 
 For pryse, or prayer, trow ye that thay wald 
 fald? 75 
 
 Bot held the text and gloise of the decreis, 
 As trew jugeis ; I thame beschrew that leis. 
 
 Schortly to mak ane end of this debait 
 The arbitouris summar and plane 
 
 The sentens gaif, and process fulminat : 80 
 
 The Scheip suld pass befoir the Wolf agane 
 And end his pleid : than was he no, thing 
 fane, 
 
 For fra thair sentens he mycht no wayis appeil. 
 
 On clerkis doid, gife this sentence be leill. 
 
 The Scheip agane befoir the Wolf derenyeit, 85 
 
 But advocat, abaisitly can stand, 
 
 Upraise the Dog, and on the Scheip thus plenyeit : 
 " To the a sowme I payit befoir hand 
 For certane breid ; " thereto a borch he fand, 
 
 That wrangusly the Scheip held fra the breid ; 90 
 
 And he denyit : and so began the pleid. 
 
 71. B.sewall mony ; E, Civile Law. 74. E, H, Sum object- 
 ing and sum can hald. 75. E, H, For prayer or price; 
 For pryfl nor prayer. 77. B, I schrew; E, H, I beschrew. 
 79. E, The arbiteris than did sweir full plane; H, The Arbiteris 
 than sweirand plane. 84. E, H, Clerkis I do it gif. 88. E, H, 
 Ane soume I payit haif befoir the hand. 
 
62 MORAL FABLES OV ESOPE. 
 
 Thus quhen the Scheip this stryfe had coxi- 
 tes tat, 
 The jugeis into the cause furth couth proceid ; 
 
 Lawrence the actis and the proces wrait, 
 
 And sone the ply unto the end thay speid. 95 
 This cursit court, corruptit all for meid, 
 
 Agane gud fayth, gud law and conscience, 
 
 For this fals Dog pronuncit the sentence, 
 
 And it to put in executioun. 
 
 The Wolf chairgeit the Scheip, without 100 
 delay, 
 Undir the pane of interdictioun, 
 
 The soum of silver, or the breid, to pay. 
 
 Of this sentens, allais ! what sail we say, 
 Quilk dampnit hes the silly innocent, 
 And institut to wrangus jugement ? 105 
 
 The Scheip, dredand moir persecutioun, 
 
 Obeyit the sentence, and couth tak 
 His way untill a merchand in the town, 
 
 And said the fleise that he bur on his bak ; 
 
 Syne bocht the breid, and to the Dog can 
 
 mak 110 
 
 Reddy payment, as he foirjugeit was ; 
 Nakit and bair syne to the field couth pass. 
 
 93. E, H, The Iustice. 105. E, H, And Iustifyit the. 106. 
 E.mair execution; H, mair the execution. 107. E.H.Obeyand 
 to the sentence he couth tak. 109. E, H, And sold the woll ; 
 B, And said his fleef. 
 
THE SHEEP AND THE DOG. 63 
 
 M0RALITA8. 
 
 This silly Scheip may present the figure 
 Of pure commounis, that daylie ar opprest 
 
 Be tirrane men, that settis all thair cure 115 
 
 With fals menys to mak a wrang conqueist, 
 In howp this present lyfe sail evir lest ; 
 
 Bot all begyld thay will in schort tyme end, 
 
 And eftir deid to crewall panis wend. 
 
 This Wolf I likin unto a Shiref stout, 120 
 
 Quhilk byis a forfalt at the Kingis hand, 
 
 And hes with him a cursit assyis about, 
 And dytis all the pure men uponland, 
 And fra the crownar lay on thame his wand, 
 
 Suppoiss he be als trew as was Sanct Johne, . 125 
 
 Slane sail thay be, or with the juge compone. 
 
 This Revin I likin till a fals crownar, 
 
 Quhilk hes a porteouss of the endytment, 
 
 And passis furth befoir the justice air, 
 
 All misdoaris to bring till jugement ; 180 
 
 Bot luke gife he be of a true intent, 
 
 To scraip out Johne, and write in Will or 
 Wat, 
 
 And so a bud at bayth the pairteis skat. 
 
 124. E, H, Fra the Crownar haif laid on him his wand. 
 125. E, H, Thocht he wer trew as euer wes ; E, H, Sanct 
 Iohne; B, Sanct Iohine. 128. E, H, aneportioun. 131. E, H, 
 gif he wes. 132. B, Iohine. 133. E, tak ; H, tat. 
 
64 MOEAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 Of this fals Tod, because I spak befoir, 
 
 And of this Gled, what thay mycht signify 135 
 Of thair natur as now I speik no moir ; 
 
 Bot of the Scheip - and of his cairfull cry 
 
 I sail reherse ; for as I passit by 
 Quhair that he lay, on caise I lukit doun, 
 And hard him mak this lamentatioun : 140 
 
 '"Allace," quod he, "this cursit consistory, 
 
 In middis of the winter now is maid, 
 Quhen Boreas, with blastis bittirly, 
 
 With frawart frostis, the flowris down can 
 faid; 
 
 On bankis bair now may I mak no baid." 145 
 And with that word in till a coif he crap, 
 Fra sair weddir and frostis him to hap. 
 
 Quakand for cauld, and murnand sair amang, 
 
 Kest up his ene unto the hevinis hicht, 
 And said : " O Lord, quhy slypis Thow so 
 
 lang ? 150 
 
 Walk, and discerne my cause, groundit in 
 
 richt : 
 Luk how I am, be fraud, maistry, and slycht 
 Pelit full bair : " and so is mony one 
 Now in this warld, rycht wondir, wo begone ! 
 
 134. E, H, of quhilk I spak. 139. B, he lukit. 1*0. E. H, 
 sair lamentatioun. 142. E, H ; B, middis now of winter it 
 is maid. 144. E, H, And hard frostis. 148. B, murnyngis 
 soir. 
 
THE SHEEP AND THE DOG. 65 
 
 " Se how the cursit syn of cuvatyse, 155 
 
 Exylit hes bayth lufe, lawty, and law. 
 
 Now few or nane will execute justice, 
 
 In fait of quhom the pure man is ourthraw. 
 The verity, albeid the judge it knaw, 
 
 He is so blindit with affectioun, 160 
 
 But dreid, for meid, he thoillis the rycht go doun. 
 
 " Seis Thow nocht, Lord, this warld ourturnit is, 
 As quha wald chenge gud gold in leid or tyn ; 
 
 The pure is pelit ; the lord may do no miss ; 
 
 Now symony is haldin for no syn ; 165 
 
 Now is he blyth quha okir maist may wyn ; 
 
 Gentreis is slane and pety is ago ; 
 
 Allace ! Lord God, quhy tholis Thow it so ? 
 
 " Thow tholis this, bot for our grit offens 
 
 Thow sendis us truble and plaigis soir, 170 
 
 As hungir, derth, wer, and pestilens ; 
 
 Bot few amendis thair lyfe now thairfoir. 
 We pure peple, as now may do no moir 
 
 Bot pray to The, sen we ar thus opprest 
 
 In to this erd, grant us in hevin gud rest." 175 
 
 155. E, H, cursit sone. 156. E, H, Loist hes baith Iawtie 
 and eik Law. 159. B, the iuge knaw. 161. E, H, For micht. 
 162. B, se Thow. 166. B, with okir can most ; E, with okker 
 maist may : the line is wanting in H. 172. B, thair lyfe now ; 
 E, H, now thair lyfe. 
 
66 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 THE LION AND THE MOUSE. 
 
 PEOLOGUE. 
 
 In myddis of June, that joly sweit sessoun, 
 Quhen that fair Phebus with his bemis brycht 
 
 Had dryit up the dew fra daill and doun, 
 And all the land maid with his lemys lycht ; 
 In a mornyng, betwix midday and nycht, 5 
 
 I raiss and put all sleuth and sleip on syd ; 
 
 Ontill a wod I went allone but gyd. 
 
 Sweit wes the smell of flowris quhyt and reid, 
 
 The noyis of birdis rycht delicius, 
 The be wis bred blumyt abone my heid, 10 
 
 The grund growand with gress gratius ; 
 
 Of all plesans that place wes plenteus, 
 With sweit odour and birdis harmony, 
 The mornyng myld : my mirth wes mair for- thy. 
 
 The roisis reid arreyit rone and ryse, 15 
 
 The prymrose and the purpour viola ; 
 
 To heir it was a poynt of Paradyse, 
 
 Sic myrth the mavis and the merle couth ma. 
 The blosummis blyth brak up on bank and bra; 
 
 The smell of herbis and of fowlis cry 20 
 
 Contending quha suld haif the victory. 
 
 Text— B, collated with E and H. 8. E, H, And to ane 
 wod. 13. B, odour ; E, H, odouris. 15. B, The roisfl. 16. 
 B, prumrose; E, prymeros. 
 
THE LION AND THE MOUSE. 67 
 
 Me to conserve than fra the sonis heit, 
 
 Undir the schadow of ane hawthorne grene, 
 
 I lenyt down amangis the flowris sweit, 
 
 Syne maid a corse, and closit baith myne ene, 25 
 On sleip I fell amang the bewis bene, 
 
 And in my dreme me thocht come throw the schaw 
 
 The fairest man that evir befoir I saw. 
 
 His gown wes of a claith as quhyt as mylk ; 
 
 His chemeis wes of chamelet purpour broun ; 30 
 His hood of scarlet, bordowrit with silk, 
 
 In hekle wyse, untill his girdll doun ; 
 
 His bonat round wes of the auld fassoun ; 
 His heid was quhyt ; his ene wes greit and gray, 
 With lokar hair, quhilk our his schulderis lay. 35 
 
 A roll of paper in his hand he bair ; 
 A swannis pen stickand undir his eir ; 
 
 Ane ynkhorne, with a pretty gilt pennair, 
 A bag of silk, all at his belt he weir : 
 Thus wes he gudly grathit in his geir. 40 
 
 Of stature large, and with a feirfull face : 
 
 Evin quhair I lay he come a sturdy pace, 
 
 And said : " God speid, my sone " ; and I wes fane 
 
 Of that cowth word, and of his cumpany. 
 With reverence I salust him agane, 45 
 
 22. B, conserf ; E, H, conserue. 25. E, H, Syne cled my 
 heid. 28. B, man befoir that evir. 30. E, H, His chemeis 
 was of chambelote ; B, chymmeris wer of chamelet. 34. E, H j 
 B, grene and gray. 39. E, H, can beir. 45. B, H ; E, salusit. 
 
68 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 " Welcum Fadir ; " and he sat doun me by. 
 
 " Displeise yow nocht, my Good Maistir, thocht I 
 Demand your birth, your faculty and name, 
 Quhy ye come heir, or quhair ye dwell at hame." 
 
 " My sone, 1 ' said he, " I am of gentill blude ; 50 
 
 My natall land is Rome withouttin nay ; 
 
 And in that town first to the sculis I yude, 
 And science studeit full mony a day ; 
 And now my winnyng is in hevin for ay : 
 
 Esope I hecht ; my wrytin and my werk 55 
 
 Is cowth and kend to mony cunnand clerk. 1 '' 
 
 " O Maistir Esope, Poet Laureat, 
 
 God wait, ye ar full deir welcum to me , 
 
 Ar ye nocht he that all thir fabillis wrate, 
 
 Quhilk in effect, suppois thay fenyeit be, 60 
 
 Ar full of prudence and moralite ? " 
 
 " Fair sone,'' said he, " I am that samyne man.'" 
 
 God wait, gif that my hairt wes mirry than. 
 
 I said, " Esope, my Maistir Venerable, 
 
 I you beseik hairtly for cherite, 65 
 
 Ye wald dene to tell a pretty fable 
 Concludand with a gud moralite." 
 Schakand his heid, he said, " My sone, lat be 
 
 For quhat is worth to tell a fenyeit taill, 
 
 Quhen hailie preching may nothing now availl ? 70 
 
 51. E, H, natinc land. 52. E, H, sculis I yude; B, scoulis 
 yude. 53. E, H, In ciuile Law studylt full; B, om. full. 
 66. B, wald dedene ; E, wald not disdayne ; H. wald not dls- 
 dane. 70. B, haill ; E, H, halie. 
 
THE LION AND THE MOUSE. 69 
 
 " Now in this warld, me think, rycht few or nane 
 
 Till Godis word that hes devotioun ; 
 The eir is deiff, the hairt is hard as stane, 
 
 Now oppin syn without correctioun, 
 
 The E inclynand to the erd ay doun ; 75 
 
 Swa rowstit is the warld with canker blak, 
 That my taillis may littill succour mak." 
 
 " Yit, Gentill Schir," said I, " for my requeist, 
 Nocht till displeise your fadirheid, I pray, 
 
 Undir the figure of sum brutall beist, 80 
 
 A moral fable ye wald denye to say : 
 Quha wate nor I may leir and beir away 
 
 Sum thing thairby heireftir may availl ? " 
 
 " I grant," quod he, and thus begouth a taill. 
 
 A Lyone At His pray very for-ron 85 
 
 To recreat his lymis and to rest, 
 Bekand his breist and belly at the son, 
 
 Undir a tre, lay in the fair forrest ; 
 
 Sua come a trip of myse out of thair nest, 
 Rycht tait and trig, all dansand in a gyse, 90 
 
 And our the Lyon lansit twyse or thryse. 
 
 He lay so still, the myse wes nocht afferd, 
 Bot to and fra attour him tuke thair traise ; 
 
 Sum tirlyt at the campis of his berd, 
 
 Sum sparit nocht to claw him on the face ; 95 
 
 75. E, The eir Inclynand; H, The hart inclynand. 81. E, 
 H, den3e to say; B, dedene to say. 91. E, H, dansit twyis 
 or. 93. E, H, out our him. 95. B, faise. 
 
70 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 Myrry and glaid thus dansit thay a space, 
 Quhill at the last the noble Lyoun wouk, 
 And with his pow the maister mouss he tuke. 
 
 Scho gaif a cry, and all the laif agast 
 
 Thair dansing left, and hid thame heir and 
 
 thair; 100 
 
 Scho that wes tane cryit and weipit fast, 
 And said, " Allais ! for now and evirmair, 
 Now am I tane a wofull presonair, 
 
 And for my gilt trestis incontinent 
 
 Of lyfe and deth to thoill the jugement." 105 
 
 Thane spak the Lyone to that cairfull mouss : 
 "Thow catyve wreche, and vyle unworthy 
 thing, 
 Our malapart and our presumpteuus 
 
 Thow was, to mak out our me thy tripping. 
 Knew thow nocht weill I wes baith Lord and 
 
 King 110 
 
 Of all the beistis?" "Yis," quod the Mouss, 
 
 " I knaw ; 
 Bot I misknew, because you lay so law. 
 
 " Lord ! I beseik thy kingly ryalte, 
 Heir quhat I say, and tak in patience ; 
 
 Considdir first my semple poverte, 115 
 
 And syne thy michty he magnificens ; 
 
 96. B, spaise. 102. E, H, allace oftyraes that scho come 
 thair. 109. B, mak our ; thyne. 
 
THE LION AND THE MOUSE. 71 
 
 Se als how thingis done by negligence, 
 Nocht of malyse nor of promissioun, 
 Ever suld haif grace and remissioun. 
 
 " We wer repleit and had grit haboundance 120 
 
 Of alkyn fude, sic as till us effeird ; 
 The sweit sessoun provokit us to dans, 
 
 And mak sic mirth as nature to us leird. 
 
 Ye lay so still and law upon the erd 
 That, be my saul, we wend ye had bene deid, 125 
 Ellis wald we nocht have dansit our your heid." 
 
 " Thy false excuse," the Lyoun said agane, 
 " Sail nocht availl a myt, I undirta ; 
 
 I put the caise, I had bene deid or slane, 
 
 And syne my skin bene stoppit full of stra, 130 
 Thocht thow had fund my figuor lyand swa, 
 
 Becaus it bair the prent of my persoun, 
 
 Thow suld for dreid on kneis haif fallin doun. 
 
 " For thy trespas thow can mak na defens, 
 
 My noble persoun thus to vilipend ; 135 
 
 Of thy feiris, nor thyne awin negligens, 
 For till excuse, thow can na cause pretend ; 
 Thairfoir thow suffer sail a schamefull end, 
 
 And deid, sic as to tressoun is decreit, 
 
 On to the gallowis hangit be the feit." 140 
 
 117. B, fowthingis. 118. E, H, Nouther of malice. 119. 
 E, H, The rather suld. 139. B, decryit. 
 
72 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 " A mercy ! Lord, at thy gentrice I ase 
 
 As thow art king of beistis coronat, 
 Sobir thy wreth and lat thi yre ourpass, 
 
 And mak thy mynd to mercy inclinate. 
 
 I grant offens is done to thyne estait, 145 
 
 Thairfoir I worthy am to suffer deid 
 Bot gife thy kingly mercy reik remeid. 
 
 " In every juge mercy and rewth suld be 
 
 As assessouris and collaterall ; 
 Without mercy justice is crewelte, 150 
 
 As said is in the lawis spirituall : 
 
 Quhen rigour sittis in the tribunal]., 
 The equity of law quha may sustene ? 
 Rycht few or nane, bot mercy gang betwene. 
 
 " Also ye knaw the honor triumphall 155 
 
 Of all victor upon the strenth dependis 
 
 Of his compeir, quhilk manly in battell 
 Throw juperdy of armis lang defendis. 
 Quhat price or lowing, quhen the battell endis, 
 
 Is said of him that ourcumis a man, 160 
 
 Him to defend that noudir may nor can ? 
 
 " A thousaud myss to kill and eik devoir, 
 Is littill manheid untill a strong lyoun ; 
 
 Full littill wirschep haif ye won thairfoir, 
 
 To quhais strenth is na comparisoun : 165 
 
 151. E, H, Lawis speciall. 154. E, H, gang; B, go. 158. 
 E, H, Throw Ieopardie of weir. 
 
THE LION AND THE MOUSE. 73 
 
 It will degraid sum pairt of your renoun 
 Till slay a mouss, quhilk may male na defens, 
 Bot askand mercy at your excellence. 
 
 " Also it semys nocht to your Celsitud, 
 
 Quhilk usis daylie meitis delicius, 170 
 
 To fyle your teith or lippis with my blude, 
 
 Quhilk to your stomok is contagius : 
 
 Unhelsum meit is of a sary mouss, 
 And namely till a noble Strang Lyoun, 
 Wont to be fed with gentill venysoun. 175 
 
 " My lyfe is littill worth, my deith is less, 
 Yit and I leif, I may, peraventour, 
 
 Supple your Hienes, beand in distress ; 
 For oft is sene a man of small stature 
 Reskewit hes a lord of he honour, 180 
 
 Keipit that was in poynt to be ourthrawin 
 
 Throw misfortoun : sic caise may be your awin." 
 
 Quhen this wes said, the Lyon his langege 
 Pasit, and thocht according till ressoun, 
 
 And gart mercy his ere well yre assuege, 185 
 
 And to the mouss grantit remissioun ; 
 Oppynit his pow, and scho on kneis fell doun, 
 
 And baith hir handis unto the hevin upheld, 
 
 Cryand, " Almychty God mot yow foryeld ! " 
 
 176. E, H; B, littill and my deid far. 178. B, leand. 179. 
 E, H; B, a small man of. 180. B, of his honour. 184. E, H, 
 paisit ; B, thocht accordit ; E, H, according till. 
 
74 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 Quhen scho wes gone, the Lyon yeid to hunt, 190 
 For he had nocht, bot levit on his pray, 
 
 And slew baith tame and wyld, as he wes wunt, 
 And in the cuntre maid a grit dirray ; 
 Till at the last the peple fand the way 
 
 This crewall lyon how that thay micht tak. 195 
 
 Of hempin coirdis Strang nettis couth thay mak, 
 
 And in a rod, quhair he wes wont to rin, 
 With rapis rude fra tre to tre it band ; 
 
 Syne kest a raing on raw the wod within, 
 
 With hornis blast, and cannettis fast calland. 200 
 The Lyon fled, and throw the rone rynnand, 
 
 Fell in the net, and hankit fut and heid ; 
 
 For all his strenth he couth mak na remeid. 
 
 Volvand about with hiddeous rumissing, 
 
 Quhyle to, quhyle fro, gif he nycht succour 
 
 get; 205 
 
 Bot all in vane, that velyeit him na thing ; 
 The mair he flang, the faster wes the net ; 
 The rapis rude was so about him plet, 
 
 On every syd, that succour saw he nane 
 
 Bot still lyand thus murnand maid his mane. 210 
 
 " O lamit Lyoun liggand heir sa law, 
 Quhair is the mycht of thy Magnificens, 
 
 Of quhom all brutall beist in erd stud aw, 
 And dred to luke unto thy excellens ? 
 
 190. E, H, the lyoun held to hunt. 195. B, micht him tak. 
 200. B, H, Kennettis. 204. B, H, Welterand about. 208. 
 E, him knet. 214. B, thy grit excellense. 
 
THE HON AND THE MOUSE. 75 
 
 But howp or help, but succour or defens, 215 
 
 In bandis Strang heir man I byd, allace ! 
 Till I be slane, I se nane uthir grace. 
 
 " Thair is na wy that will my harrais wraik 
 Nor creatur do comfort to my crown. 
 
 Quhasall mebute? Quha sail thir bandis brek ? 220 
 Quha sail me put fra pane of this presoun ? " 
 Be he had maid this lamentatioun, 
 
 Throw aventure the littill mouss come neir, 
 
 And of the Lyone hard the pietuous beir. 
 
 And suddanly it come in till hir mynd 225 
 
 That it suld be the Lyone did hir grace, 
 
 And said, " Now wer I fals and rycht unkynd, 
 Bot gife I quit sum pairt thy gentilnes 
 Thow did to me : " and on with that scho gais 
 
 Till hir fellowis, and on thame fast can cry, 230 
 
 " Cum help, cum help ! " and thay come on in hy. 
 
 " Lo ! " quod the Mouss, " this is the same Lyone 
 Quhilk grantit grace to me'quhen I wes tane ; 
 
 And now is fast heir bundin in presone, 
 
 Brekand his hart with sair murnyng and mane ; 235 
 Bot we him help, of succour wait he nane ; 
 
 Cum help to quyte a gud turn for ane uthir, 
 
 Go, lowse him sone." And thay said, " Ye, 
 gud bruthir." 
 
 216. E, H, man I ly. 218. B, no ioy ; E, H, wy. 229. 
 E, H, on this way scho. 233. B, Quhilk gave grace to me. 
 235. B, Wrekand; E, H, Brekand. 236. B, supple. 237. 
 B, a nothir ; E, H, ane vther. 
 
76 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 Thay tuke na knyfe, thair teith wes scherp 
 ennuch. 
 To se that sicht, forsuth it wes grit wondir, 240 
 
 How that thay ran amangis the raipis tuche, 
 Befoir, behind, sum yeid abone, sum undir, 
 And schure the raipis of the mastis in schundir; 
 
 Syne bad him ryse ; and he stert up anone, 
 
 And thankit thame ; syne on his way is gone. 245 
 
 Now is the Lyone fre of all danger, 
 
 Lowse and deliverit till his libertie, 
 Be littill beistis of ane small power, 
 
 As ye haif hard, because he had pete. 
 
 Quod I, " Maister, is thair a moralite 250 
 
 In this fable ? " " Ya, sone," said he, " rycht 
 
 gud,"- 
 " I pray yow, Schir," quod I, " ye wald conclud." 
 
 MORALITAS. 
 
 As I suppose, this mychty gay Lyoun 
 
 May signify a prince or empriour, 
 A potestat, or yit a king with crown, 255 
 
 Quhilk suld be walkryfe gyd and govirnour 
 
 Of his peple, that takis na labour 
 To reull and steir the land, and justice keip, 
 Bot lyis still in lustis, sleuth, and sleip. 
 
 243. E, masts; H, net; B, mastis. 245. B, and syne. 
 248. B, om. ane. 258. B, nor steir the land nor Justice. 
 
THE LION AND THE MOUSE. 77 
 
 The fair forrest with levis loun and le, 260 
 
 With fowlis sang, and flowris ferly sweit, 
 
 Is bot the warld and his prosperite, 
 
 As fals plesance myngit with cair repleit. 
 Rycht as the rose with frost and wintir weit 
 
 Faidis, so dois the warld, and thame dissavis 265 
 
 Quhilk in thair lustis maist confidens havis. 
 
 Thir littill myss ar bot the commonte, 
 Wantone, unwyse, without correctioun ; 
 
 Thir lordis and princis quhen that thay se 
 
 Of justice mak non executioun, 270 
 
 And disobey ; for-quhy thay stand nane aw ; 
 
 That garris thame thair soverains to misknaw. 
 
 Be this fable, ye Lordis of Prudens 
 
 May considder the vertew of pete ; 275 
 
 And to remyt sum tyme a grit offens, 
 And mitigate with mercy crueltie : 
 Oft tyme is sene a man of small degre 
 
 Hes quyt a commoun, baith for gude and ill, 
 
 As lordis has done rigour or grace him till. 280 
 
 Quha wait how sone a lord of greit renown, 
 
 Rolland in warldly lust and vane plesance, 
 May be ourthrawin, distroyit or put down 
 
 263. B, plesandis ; B, H, plesance. 266. thair lust con- 
 fidence ; B, H, thair lustis maist confidence. 269. E, H, Thair 
 Lordis. 270. B, makis. 272. B, That gavis ; E, H, That 
 garris. 277. E, H ; B, mitigate mercy with crewelty. 279. 
 E, quit ane turn baith for; H, quit ane kinbute baith of. 
 282. vane plesandis. 
 
78 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 Throw fals fortoun, quhilk of all varians 
 Is haill maistres, and leder of the dans 285 
 
 Till unjust men, and bindis thaim so soir 
 That thay no perrell can provyd befoir. 
 
 Thir crewall men, that stentit hes the nett, 
 In quhilk the Lyone suddanely wes tane, 
 
 Waitit alway amendis for till get, 290 
 
 For hurte men wrytis in the marble stane. 
 Moir till expone as now I latt allane, 
 
 Bot King and lord may weill wit quhat I mene ; 
 
 Figure heirof oftymes hes bene sene. 
 
 Quhen this was said, quod Esope: "My fair 
 
 chyld, 295 
 
 Persuaid the Kirkmen ythandly to pray 
 That tressone of this cuntre be exyld, 
 
 And justice ring, and lordis keip thair fey 
 Unto thair Soverane Lord baith nycht and 
 day." 
 And with that word he vaneist, and I woke ; 300 
 Syne throw the schaw my j urney hamewart tuke. 
 
 286. E, iniust; H, vniust ; B, lusty men. 
 
THE SWALLOW AND OTHER BIRDIS. 79 
 
 THE SWALLOW AND OTHER BIRDIS. 
 
 The he prudence and wirking marvellus, 
 The profound wit of God Omnipotent 
 
 Is so perfyt and so ingenious, 
 
 Excelland fer all manis argument ; 
 
 For-quhy till Him all thing is ay present, 5 
 
 Rycht as it is, or ony tyme sal be, 
 
 Befoir the sicht of His Divinite. 
 
 Thairfore our saule with sensualitie 
 
 So fetterit is in presoun corporale, 
 We may nocht cleirly undirstand nor see 10 
 
 God as He is, nor thingis celestial ; 
 
 Oure mirk and deidly corse material 
 Bindis the spirituale operatioun, 
 Lyke as a man war bundin in presoun. 
 
 In metaphisik Aristotle sayis, 15 
 
 That manis saule is lyk ane bakkis ee, 
 
 Quhilk lurkis still as lang as lycht of day is, 
 And in the gloming cumis furth to flee ; 
 Hir ene ar waik, the sun scho may nocht see : 
 
 So is our saule with phantesye opprest, 20 
 
 To knaw the thingis in nature manifest. 
 
 Text— B, collated with E and H. 3. B, ingeing. i. E, H, 
 Excellent far all. 6. B, is present. 10. B, a thing celestiale. 
 13. B ; E, H, Blindis. 14. B, as man war. 
 
80 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 For God is in His power infinyte, 
 
 And mannis saule is febill and owir small, 
 
 Of undirstanding waik and unperfyte, 
 
 To comprehend Him that contenis all. 25 
 
 Nane suld presume, be reasoun natural, 
 
 To serche the secretis of the Trinety, 
 
 Bot trow fermly, and lat dirk ressounis be. 
 
 Yit nevirtheles we may have knawlegeing 
 
 Of God Almychty be His creatouris, 30 
 
 That He is guid, fair, wyise, and bening ; 
 Exemple takis be thir joly flowris, 
 Rycht sweit of smell and plesand of colouris, 
 
 Sum grene, sum blew, sum purpure, quhyte and 
 reid, 
 
 Thus distribute be gift of His Godheid. 35 
 
 The firmament paintit with starris cleir 
 Fra eist to west rolland in circill round, 
 
 And every planet in his propir sphere, 
 In moving makand harmony and sound ; 
 The fyre, the air, the watter, and the ground — 40 
 
 Till undirstand it is anuch, I wiss, 
 
 That God in all His warkis wittie is. 
 
 Luik we the fische that sowmis in the se ; 
 
 Luik we in erd all kynd of bestiall ; 
 The fowlis fair, sa forcelye thay flee, 45 
 
 Scheddand the air with pennis grite and small ; 
 
 26. B, Non ; E, Nor; H, Nane. 27. E, H, the secreitties. 
 38. E, H, lat all ressoun be. 32. E, H, tak. 35. B, J>e of his. 
 
THE SWALLOW AND OTHER BIRDIS. 81 
 
 Syne luik to man, quhilk God maid last of 
 all, 
 Lyk till His ymage and His similitude : 
 Be thir we knaw that God is fair and guid. 
 
 All creatouris He maid for the behufe 50 
 
 Of man, and till his supportatioun 
 Into this erd, baith under and abufe, 
 
 In nowmer, wecht, and dew proportioun ; 
 
 The differens of tyme, and ilk seasoun, 
 Concordand to oure oportunitie, 55 
 
 As daylie be experience we do see. 
 
 The somer with his joly man till grene, 
 With flowris fair furrit on every fent, 
 
 Quhilk Flora Goddes, of the flowris Quene, 
 
 Hes to that lord as for his seasoun lent, 60 
 
 And Phebus with his gowdin bemis gent 
 
 Hes purfillit and paintit pleasandlie, 
 
 With heat and mosture stilland fra the skye. 
 
 Syne hervest hait, quhen Ceres, that goddes, 
 
 Hir barnis benit hes with abundance ; 65 
 
 And Bachchus, god of wyne, renewit hes 
 The tume pypeis in Italie and France, 
 With wynis wicht, and liccour of plesance ; 
 
 And copia temporis to fill hir home, 
 
 That nevir wes full of quheit nor uthir corn. 70 
 
 SO. E, All creature. 64. B, E, H, hait ; B, seres. 67. B, 
 Hir louid pypes ; E, tume pyipis. 68. B, The. 70. B, quhite. 
 
82 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 Syne winter wan, quhen austerne Eolus, 
 
 God of the wind, with blastis boriall, 
 The grene garmont of symmer glorious 
 
 Hes all to-rent and revin in pecis small ; 
 
 Than flowris fair faidit with frost man fall, 75 
 And birdis blyith changeis thair notis sweit — 
 Intill murning, neir slane with snaw and sleit. 
 
 Thir dailis deip with dubbis drownit is, 
 Baith hill and holt heilit with frostis hair ; 
 
 And bewis bene ar bethit bair of bliss, 80 
 
 Be wikkit windis of the wintare wair. 
 All wyild beistis than fra the bentis bair 
 
 Drawis for dreid unto thair dennis deip, 
 
 Couchand for cauld in covis thame to keip. 
 
 Syne cumis ver, quhen wintare is away, 85 
 
 The secretare of somer with his seill, 
 Quhen columbie up kikis throw the clay, 
 
 Quhilk fleit was before with frostis feill. 
 
 The mavis and the merle beginnis to mell ; 
 The lark on loft, with uthir birdis smale, 90 
 
 Than drawis furth fra darne our doun and daile. 
 
 That samin seasoun, into a soft morning, 
 Rycht blyith thai bitter blastis wer ago, 
 
 Unto the wod, to see the flowris spring, 
 
 And heir the mavis sing and birdis mo, 95 
 
 75. B, moist. 77. E, H, In still murning. 80. E, bene 
 baissit bair; H, bene laifit bair. 84. E, H, in coifis. 
 
THE SWALLOW AND OTHER BIRDIS. 83 
 
 I passit furth, syne luikit to and fro, 
 To se the soill that was richt seasonable, 
 Sappie, and to ressave all seidis hable. 
 
 Movand thus-gait, grit mirth I tuik in mynde, 
 Of lawboraris to see the besynace, 100 
 
 Sum makand dike, and sum the pleuch can 
 wynd, 
 Sum sawand sedis fast fra place to place ; 
 The harrowis hoppand in the sawaris trace : 
 
 It was grite joy to him that lufit corn, 
 
 To se thame laboure sa at evin and morne. 105 
 
 And as I baid under a bank full bene, 
 In hert gritlie rejosit of that sicht, 
 
 Unto a hege, under a hawthorne grene, 
 Of small birdis thair come a ferly flicht, 
 And doun belyve can on the levis lycht, 110 
 
 On every syde about me quhair I stude, 
 
 Rycht mervelous, a mekle multitude. 
 
 Amang the quhilk a swalow loud coud cry, 
 On that hawthorne heich in the crof sittand, 
 
 " O ye birdis on bewis here me by, 115 
 
 Ye sail wele knaw, and wyisly undirstand, 
 Quhair danger is and perrell appeirand ; 
 
 It is grite wisdom to provyde before, 
 
 It to devoid, for drede it hurt yow more." 
 
 97. B, suyll. 119. B, or drede. 
 
84 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 " Schir Swallow,'''' quod the Lark again, and 
 
 leuch, 120 
 
 "Quhat have ye sene that causis yow to 
 drede?" 
 "See ye yone churll," quod scho, "beyond 
 yone pleuch, 
 Fast sawand hemp — lo, se! — and lynget 
 
 sede ? 
 Yone lynt will grow in lytill tyrae indede, 
 And thairof will yone churll his nettis mak, 125 
 Under the quhilk he thinkis us to tak. 
 
 " Thairfore I rede pas we quhen he is gone, 
 At evin, and with our nailis scharp and 
 small, 
 
 Out of the erd schraip we yone seid anone, 
 
 And ete it up ; for, gif it growis, we sail 130 
 
 Have cause to weip hereftir ane and all : 
 
 Se we remede thairfore forthwith, instante, 
 
 ' Nam levius ledit quicquid promAirrvus ante! 1 
 
 " For clerkis sayis it is nocht sufficient 
 
 To considder that is befoir thine ee ; 135 
 
 Bot prudence is ane inward argument 
 
 That garris a man provyde befoir and see 
 Quhat guid, quhat evill is likly for to be 
 
 Of every thingis at the final end, 
 
 And sa fra perrell ethar him defend." 140 
 
 124. B, of dede. 127. E, H, we pas. 134. B, om. nocht. 
 137. H, prouide and forese ; E, prouyde and foirse. 140. E, 
 H, swa; B, se; E, H, the better him defend. 
 
THE SWALLOW AND OTHER BIKDIS. 85 
 
 The Lark lauchand, the Swallow thus coud scorne, 
 And said, " Scho fischit lang befoir the nett ; 
 
 The barne is eith to busk that is unborn ; 
 All growis nocht that in the ground is sett ; 
 The nek to stoup, quhen it the strake sail 
 
 get, 145 
 
 Is sone eneuch ; dede on the fey est fall." — 
 
 Thus scornit thay the Swallow ane and all. 
 
 Despising thus hir hailsum document, 
 The fowlis ferlie tuke thair flicht anone ; 
 
 Sum with a bir thai braidit our the bent, 150 
 
 And sum agane ar to the grene wod gone. 
 Upon the land, quhair I wes left allone, 
 
 I tuke my club, and ham e wart coud I carye, 
 
 So ferlyand as I had sene a farye. 
 
 Thus passit furth quhill June, that joly tyde, 155 
 
 And sedis that war sawin of beforne 
 War growin heich, that hairis mycht thame hyde, 
 
 And als the qualye crakand in the come ; 
 
 I movit furth betwene midday and morne, 
 Unto the hege, under the hawthorne grene, 160 
 
 Quhair I befoir the said birdis had sene. 
 
 And as I stude, be aventure and cais, 
 The samin birdis as I haif said yow air, 
 
 I hoip because it was thair hanting place, 
 
 Mair of succour or yit mair solitare, 165 
 
 148. E, H, helthsum document. 149. ferfllye tuke ; E, H, 
 ferlie to tuke. 155, B, We furth. 157. E, hie. 
 
86 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 Thay lychtit doun ; and, quhen thai lychtit ware, 
 The Swallow swyft put furth a piteous pyme, 
 Said, " Wo is him can nocht be war in tyme ! 
 
 " O blind birdis ! and full of negligence, 
 
 Unmyndfull of your awin prosperitie, 170 
 
 Cast up your sycht and tak guid advertence, 
 Luik to the lynt that growis on yone le ; 
 Yone is the thing I bad forsuith that we, 
 
 Quhill it was seid, suld rate furth of the erd ; 
 
 Now it is lynt, now is it heych on breird. 175 
 
 " Go yit, quhill it is tender, young and small 
 And pull it up ; lett it na mair increse ; 
 
 My flesch growis, my bodye quakis all, 
 
 Thinkand on it, I may nocht sleip in pese. 1 ' 
 Thai cryit all, and baid the Swallow ceise, 180 
 
 And said, " Yone lint heireftir will do guid, 
 
 For lingett is to lytill birdis fuid. 
 
 " We think, quhen that yone lint bollis ar rype, 
 To mak us feyst, and fill us of the seid, 
 
 Mawgre yone churll, and on it sing and pype." 185 
 " Weill," quod the Swallow, " freindis hardlie 
 
 beid; 
 Do as ye will, bot certane sair I dreid, 
 
 Heireftir ye sail find als soure as sweit, 
 
 Quhen ye ar speldit on yone carlis speit. 
 
 170. B, sour prosperitie; E, H, awin prosperitie. 172. E, 
 H ; B, 3 ond lye. 173. B, bad forthwith ; E, H, bad forsuith. 
 174. E, H, suld rute; B, had tane it. 176. E, H, it is tender 
 and small. 
 
THE SWALLOW AND OTHER BIRDIS. 87 
 
 " The awnare of yone lint ane fowlare is, 190 
 
 Richt cautelous and full of subtelty ; 
 His pray full seindill tymis will he miss, 
 
 Bot giff we birdis all the warrare be ; 
 
 Full mony of our kin he hes gart de, 
 And thocht it but ane sport till spill thair 
 
 blude: 195 
 
 God keip me fra him, and the Halie Rude." 
 
 Thir small birdis haifand bot litill thocht 
 Of perrell that mycht fall be aventure, 
 
 The counsale of the Swallow sett at nocht, 
 
 Bot tuik thair flicht and on togidder fure ; 200 
 Sum to the wod, sum markit to the mure. 
 
 I tuik my stalf, quhen this was said and done, 
 
 And walkit hame, quhill it drew neir hand none. 
 
 The lint rypit, the carll pullit the lyne, 
 
 Ripplit the bowis and in beitis sett, 205 
 
 It steipit in the burn and dryit syne, 
 And with a bitill knokit it and bett, 
 Syne scutchit it weill, and heclit it in the 
 flett; 
 
 His wyffe it span, and twynit it into threid, 
 
 Of quhilk the fowlar nettis war maid indeid. 210 
 
 The wintare cam, the wickit wind can blaw, 
 The woddis grene war wallowit with weit, 
 Bayth firth and fell with frostis war maid faw, 
 
 203. E, H, for it drew neir the none. 208. E, H, Syne 
 swingillit it weill. 209. B, in to Freid. 210. B, war maid. 
 212. b, E, H, with the weit. 
 
88 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 Slonkis and slak maid slidderie with the sleit ; 
 
 The fowlis fair for fait thai fell off feit ; 215 
 
 On bewis bair it was na bute to byde 
 Bot hyit on in housis thame to hyde. 
 
 Sum in the berne, sum in the stak of corne 
 Thair ludgeing tuke and maid thair residence. 
 
 The fowlare saw, and grit athis hes he sworne 220 
 Thai suld be tane trewlie for thair expence. 
 His nettis he hes sett with diligence, 
 
 And in the snaw he schulit hes a plane, 
 
 And heilit it all ower with calf agane. 
 
 Thir small birdis seand the calf was gled ; 225 
 
 Trowand it had bene corne, thay lychtit doun ; 
 
 Bot of the nettis na presume thay had, 
 Nor of the fowlaris false intentioun ; 
 To scraip and seik thair meit thay maid thame 
 boun. 
 
 The Swallow on ane lytill branche neir by, 230 
 
 Dreidand for gyle, thus loud on thame coud cry: 
 
 " Into that caffe scraip quhill your nailis bleid, 
 Thair is na corn, ye laubour all in vaine ; 
 
 Trow ye yone churll for pietie will yow feid ? 
 
 Na, na, he hes it layit heir for a traine ; 235 
 
 Remove, I reide, or ellis ye wil be slaine ; 
 
 His nettis he hes sett full privelie, 
 
 Reddie to draw ; in tyme be war for-thy." 
 
 216. B, Quhen bewis. 219. B. The ludgeing. 230. B, into 
 a branche litill by ; E, on ane lytill branche neir by. 232. B, 
 In to this. 235. B, lyit. 236. B, I ride 30W. 
 
THE SWALLOW AND OTHER BIRDIS. 89 
 
 Grite fule is he that puttis in danger 
 
 His lyfe, his honour for a thing of nocht ; 240 
 Grite fule is he that will nocht glaidlie heir 
 
 Counsale in tyme, quhile it availl him mocht ; 
 
 Grite fule is he that na thing hes in thocht 
 Bot thing present, and eftir quhat may fall, 
 Nor of the end hes na memoriall. 245 
 
 Thir small birdis, for hungar famist neir, 
 Full bissie scraipand for to seik thair fude, 
 
 The counsale of the Swallow wald nocht heir, 
 Suppois thair laubour did thame litill gude. 
 Quhen scho thair fulisch hertis understude, 250 
 
 So indurate, up in a tree scho flew ; 
 
 With that the churll owir thame his nettis drew. 
 
 Allace ! it was rycht grite hertis-sair to see 
 That bludye bouchure beit thai birdis doun, 
 
 And for to heir, quhen thay wist weill to dee, 255 
 Thair cairfull sang and lamentatioun : 
 Sum with ane staff he straik to erd in swoun, 
 
 Sum off the heid, of sum he brak the craig, 
 
 Sum half on lywe he stappit in his bag. 
 
 And quhen the Swallow saw that thay war deid, 260 
 " Lo," quod scho, "thus it happinnis oftin syis 
 
 Of thame that will nocht counsale tak nor reid 
 Of prudent men or clerkis that ar wyiss ; 
 
 258. E, H, Of sum the heid he straik of sum he brak the 
 crag. 
 
90 MORAL FABLES OP ESOPE. 
 
 This grit perrell I tauld thame mair than 
 thryiss ; 
 Now ar thay deid, and wo is me thairfoir ! ,1 265 
 
 Scho tuik hir flycht, bot hir I saw no moir. 
 
 MOEALITAS. 
 
 Lo, worthie folk, Esope, that nobill clerk, 
 Ane poete wirthie to be laureate, 
 
 Quhen he vaikit fra mair autentik work, 
 
 With uther ma, this foirsaid faibill wrate, 270 
 Quhilk at this tyme may weill be applicate 
 
 To guid morale edificatioun, 
 
 Havand ane sentence cordand to reasoun. 
 
 This carl and bond, of gentrice spoliate, 
 
 Sawand this caff, thir small birdis to slay, 275 
 
 It is the feind, quhilk fra the angellis state 
 Exylit is, as fals apostata : 
 Quhilk day and nycht nevir weryis to ga 
 
 Sawand poysoun and monye wickit thocht 
 
 In mannis saul, quhilk Christ full deir hes 
 
 bocht. 280 
 
 And quhen the saull, as seid dois in the erd, 
 
 Giffis consent unto delectatioun, 
 The wickit thocht than begynnis to breird 
 
 276. E, H, angelike stait. 278. B, nevir werye to. 279. E, 
 H, in mony wickit. 281. E, H, as seid in to the. 282. B, 
 consent in. 
 
THE SWALLOW AND OTHER BIRDIS. 91 
 
 In deidlye syn, quhilk is damnatioun ; 
 
 Reasoun is blindit with affectioun, 285 
 
 And carnall lust growis full grene and gay, 
 Throw consuetude hantit fra day to day. 
 
 Proceding furth be use and consuetude, 
 Syn rypis, and schame is sett on syde ; 
 
 The feind plettis his nettis stark and rude, 290 
 
 And under pleasaunce privelye dois hyde ; 
 Syne on the field he sawis caff full wyde, 
 
 Quhilk is bot tume and verrye vanitie 
 
 Of fleschlye lust and vaine prosperitie. 
 
 Thir hungry birdis, wretchis we may call, 295 
 
 Ay scraipand in this warldis vaine plesaunce, 
 
 Gredye to gadder guidis temporall, 
 
 Quhilk as the caff ar tume without substaunce, 
 Litill of vaill, and full of variance, 
 
 Lyke to the mow befoir the face of wind 300 
 
 Wiskis away and makis wretchis blind. 
 
 This Swallow, quhilk escapit thus the snair, 
 The halye precheour weill may signifie, 
 
 Exhortand men to walk and ay be war 
 
 Fra nettis of our wickit enemye, 305 
 
 Quhilk slepis nocht, bot evir is reddye, 
 
 Quhen wretchis in this warldis wrak do scraip 
 
 To draw his nett, that thay may nocht eschaip. 
 
 290. B, H, scharp and rude. 296. E, H, As scraipand. 
 301. E, H, Quhiskis away. 
 
92 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 Alace ! quhat cair, quhat weping is and wo, 
 
 Quhen saull and bodye pairtit ar in twane ; 310 
 
 The body to the wormis kitching go, 
 The saull to fyre and evirlasting paine : 
 Quhat helpis than this caff and guidis vaine, 
 
 Quhen thow art put in Luciferis bag, 
 
 And brocht to hell, and hangit be the crag ? 315 
 
 Thir hid nettis for to persave and see, 
 This sorye caff wyislye to understand, 
 
 Best is be war in maist prosperitie, 
 
 For in this warld thair is na thing lestand ; 
 Is na man waitt quhow lang his stait will 
 
 stand, 320 
 
 His lyfe will lest, nor how that he sail end 
 
 Eftir his deid, nor quhidder he sail wend. 
 
 Pray we thairfore, quhill we ar in this lyffe, 
 For foure thingis : the first, Fra syn remove ; 
 
 The second is to seiss all weir and stryfe ; 325 
 
 The thrid is perfyte cherity and love ; 
 The ferd thing is, and maist for our behove, 
 
 That is in bliss with angellis to be fallow. 
 
 And thus endis the preching of the Swallow. 
 
 325. E, H, is fra all weir. 
 
THE FOX, THE WOLF, AND THE CADGEB. 93 
 
 THE FOX, THE WOLF, AND THE 
 CADGER. 
 
 Quhylum thair wynnit in ane wildernes, 
 As myne author expreslie can declair, 
 
 Ane revand Wolf that levit upon cais 
 On bestiall, and maid him weill to fair ; 
 Was nane sa big about him he wald spair, 5 
 
 And he war hungrie, outher for favour or feid, 
 
 Bot in his wraith he weryit thame to deid. 
 
 Swa happinnit him in watching, as he went, 
 To meit ane Foxe in middis of the way ; 
 
 He him fbirsaw, and fenyeit to be schent, 10 
 
 And with ane bek he bad the Wolf gude day. 
 " Welcum to me," quod he, "thow russell gray; 11 
 
 Syne loutit doun and tuke him be the hand. 
 
 " Ryse up, Lowrence, I leif the for to stand. 
 
 "Quhair hes thow bene this sesoun fra my sicht? 15 
 Thow sail beir office, and my stewart be, 
 
 For thow can knap doun caponis on the nicht, 
 And lourand law, thow can gar hennis de. 11 
 " Schir, 11 said the Foxe, " that ganis nocht for 
 me : 
 
 And I am raid, gif thay me se on far, 20 
 
 That at my figure beist and bird will skar." 
 
 Text — E, collated with H. 3. H, vpoun purches. 7. E, 
 his breith. 20. H, am rad. 
 
94 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 " Na," quod the Wolf, " thow can in covert creip 
 Upon thy wame, and hint thame be the heid ; 
 
 And mak ane suddand schow upon ane scheip, 
 Syne with thy wappinnis wirrie him to deid. TI 25 
 " Schir," said the Foxe, " ye knaw my rob is 
 reid, 
 
 And thairfoir thair will na beist abyde me, 
 
 Thocht I wald be sa fals as for to hyde me, 1 ' 
 
 "Yis," quod the Wolf, "throw buskis and 
 throw brayis 
 Law can thow lour to cum to thine intent.'" 30 
 " Schir," said the Foxe, " ye wait weill how it 
 gais; 
 Ane lang space fra thame thay will feill my sent, 
 Then will thay eschaip, suppois I suld be schent; 
 And I am schamefull for to cum behind thame 
 In to the feild, thocht I suld sleipand find thame." 35 
 
 " Na," quod the Wolf, " thow can cum on the 
 wind, 
 For everie wrink, forsuith, thow hes ane wyle." 
 "Schir," said the Foxe, "that beist ye micht 
 call blind, 
 That, micht not eschaip than fra me ane myle. 
 How micht I ane of thame that wyis begyle ? 40 
 My tippit twa eiris, and my twa gray ene, 
 Garris me be kend, quhair I wes never sene." 
 
 26. E, my roib. 30. E, thy. 
 
THE FOX, THE WOLF, AND THE CADGER. 95 
 
 Than said the Wolf, " Lowrence, I heir the le, 
 And cash's for perrellis thy ginnes to defend ; 
 
 Bot all thy sonyeis sail not availl the, 45 
 
 About the busk with wayis thocht thow wend ; 
 Falset will failye ay at the latter end ; 
 
 To bow at bidding, and byde not quhill thow 
 brest, 
 
 Thairfoir I gif the counsall for the best." 
 
 " Schir," said the Foxe, " it is Lenterne ye se ; 50 
 I can nouther fische with huke nor net, 
 
 To tak ane bane stikill ; thocht we baith suld de, 
 I haif na uther craft to win my meit ; 
 Bot wer it Pasche, that men suld pultrie eit, 
 
 As kiddis, lambis, or caponis in to ply, 55 
 
 To beir your office than wald I not set by." 
 
 " Than," said the Wolf, in wraith, " wenis thow 
 with wylis, 
 And with thy mony mowis me to mat ? 
 It is ane auld dog, doutles, that thow begylis : 
 Thow wenis to draw the stra befoir the 
 
 catt ! " 60 
 
 " Schir," said the Foxe," " God wait, I mene 
 not that ; 
 For and I did, it wer weill worth that ye 
 In ane reid raip suld ty me till ane tre. 
 
 51. H, can not fische for weitting of my feit. 53. E, I had 
 ane vther. 63. E, H, had tyit. 
 
96 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 " Bot now I se he is ane fiile perfay 
 
 That with his maister fallis in ressoning ; 65 
 
 I did bot till assay quhat ye wald say ; 
 
 God wait, my mynd wes on ane uther thing ; 
 
 I sail fulfill in all thing your bidding, 
 Quhatever ye charge, on nichtis or on dayis." 
 " Weill," quod the Wolf, " I heir weill quhat 
 
 thow sayis. 70 
 
 " Bot yit I will thow mak to me ane aith, 
 For to be leill attour all levand leid." 
 
 " Schir," said the Foxe, " that ane word makis 
 me wraith, 
 For now I se ye haif me at ane dreid ; 
 Yit sail I sweir, suppois it be not neid, 75 
 
 Be Juppiter, and on pane of my heid, 
 
 I sail be trew to yow, quhill I be deid." 
 
 With that ane Cadgear, with capill and with 
 creillis, 
 Come carpand furth ; than drew this boucheour 
 
 by- 
 
 The Foxe the never of the fresche hering feillis, 80 
 And to the Wolf he rowndis privelie : 
 "Schir, yone ar hering the Cadgear caryis 
 by; 
 Thairfoir I reid that we se for sum wayis 
 To get sum fische aganis thir fasting dayis. 
 
 70. H, I wait weill. 79. H, than lowrence culd him spy. 
 
THE FOX, THE WOLF, AND THE CADSER. 97 
 
 " Sen I am stewart, I wald we had sum stuf, 85 
 
 And ye ar silver seik, I wait richt weill ; 
 
 Thocht we wald thig yone verray churlische chuf, 
 He will not gif us ane hering of his creill, 
 Befoir yone churle on kneis thocht we wald 
 kneill ; 
 
 Bot yit I trow alsone that ye sail se, 90 
 
 Gif I can haist to bleir yone carllis ee. 
 
 " Schir, ane thing is, and we get of yone pelf, 
 Ye man tak travell and mak us sum supple ; 
 
 For he that will not laubour and help himself, 
 Into thir dayis, he is not worth ane fle ; 95 
 
 I think to wirk as besie as ane be ; 
 
 And ye sail follow ane lytill efterwart, 
 
 And gadder hering, for that sail be your part. 11 
 
 With that he kest ane compas far about, 
 And straucht him down in middis of the 
 
 way ; 100 
 
 As he war deid he fenyeit him, but dout, 
 And than upon ane lang unlikly bray 
 The quhyte he turnit up of his ene tway ; 
 
 His toung out hang ane handbreid of his heid, 
 
 And still he lay, als straucht as he wer deid. 105 
 
 The Cadgear fand the Foxe, and he wes fane, 
 
 And till himself this softlie can he say : 
 " At the nixt bait, in faith, ye sail be flane, 
 
 91. H, I can craft to. 102. H, vpoun lenth vnliklie lay. 
 103. E, the quhite of his Ene he turnit vp in tway. 
 
 7 
 
98 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 And of your skyn I sail mak mittennis twa." 
 
 He lap full lichtlie about him quhair he lay, 110 
 
 And all the trace he trippit on his tais ; 
 
 As he had hard ane pyper play, he gais. 
 
 " Heir lyis the devill," quod he, " deid in a dyke, 
 Sic ane selcouth saw I not this sevin yeir ; 
 
 I trow ye haif bene tussillit with sum tyke, 115 
 
 That garris yow ly sa still withoutin steir : 
 Schir Foxe, in faith, ye ar deir welcum heir ; 
 
 It is sum wyfis malisone, I trow, 
 
 For pultrie pyking, that lychtit hes on yow. 
 
 "Thair sail na pedder for purs, nor yit for 
 
 glufis, 120 
 
 Nor yit for poyntis pyke your pellet fra me ; 
 I sail of it mak mittennis to my lufis, 
 
 Till hald my handis hait quhairever I be ; 
 
 Till Flanderis sail it never saill the se.'" 
 With that in hy, he hint him be the heillis, 125 
 And with ane swak he swang him on the creillis. 
 
 Syne be the heid the hors in hy hes hint ; 
 
 The fraudfull Foxe thairto gude tent hes tane, 
 
 And with his teith the stoppell, or he stint, 
 
 Pullit out, and syne the hering ane and ane 130 
 Out of the creillis he swakkit down gude 
 wane. 
 
 The Wolf wes war, and gadderit spedilie ; 
 
 The Cadgear sang, " Huntis up, up," upoun hie. 
 
THE FOX, THE WOLF, AND THE CADGER. 99 
 
 Yit at ane burne the Cadgear luikit about ; 
 With that the Foxe lap quyte the creillis 
 
 frae ; 135 
 
 The Cadgear wald haif raucht the Foxe ane rout ; 
 Bot all for nocht, he wan his hoill that day. 
 Than with ane schout thus can the Cadgear 
 say: 
 " Abyde, and thow ane nekhering sail haif, 
 Is worth my capill, creillis, and all the laif." 140 
 
 " Now," quod the Foxe, " I schrew me and we 
 meit ; 
 I hard quhat thow hecht to do with my skyn. 
 Thy hands sail never in thay mittennis tak heit, 
 And thow war hangit, Carll, and all thy kyn ! 
 Do furth thy mercat ; at me thow sail nocht 
 wyn; 
 And sell thy hering thow hes thair till hie price, 
 Ellis thow sail wyn nocht on thy merchandice.'" 
 
 145 
 
 The Cadgear trimillit for teyne quhair that he 
 stude ; 
 " It is weill worthie," quod he, " I want yone 
 tyke, 
 That had not in my hand sa mekill gude 150 
 
 As staf, or sting, yone truker for to stryke.'" 
 With that lichtlie he lap out ouer ane dyke, 
 And snakkit down ane staf, for he wes tene, 
 That hevie wes and of the holyne grene. 
 
 153. H, And hakkit doun. 
 
100 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 With that the Foxe unto the Wolf couth wend, 155 
 And fand him be the hering, quhair he lyis ; 
 
 " Schir," said he than, " maid I not fair defend ? 
 Ane wicht man wantit never, and he wer wyis ; 
 Ane hardie hart is hard for to suppryis." 
 
 Than said the Wolf: "Thou art ane berne full 
 
 bald, 160 
 
 And wyse at will, in gude tyme be it tald. 
 
 " Bot quhat wes yone the Carll cryit on hie, 
 And schuke his heid, quhen that he saw thow 
 fell?" 
 "Schir," said the Foxe, "that I can tell trewlie; 
 He said the nekhering wes in till the creill." 165 
 " Kennis thow that hering ? " " Ye, Schir, 
 I ken it weill, 
 And at the creill mouth I had it thryis but 
 
 dout; 
 The wecht thair-of neir tit my tuskis out. 
 
 "Now, suithlie, Schir, micht we that hering fang: 
 It wald be fische to us thir fourtie dayis." 170 
 
 Than said the Wolf: "Now God nor that I hang, 
 Bot to be thair I wald gif all my clais, 
 To se gif that my wappinnis mycht it rais." 
 
 " Schir," said the Foxe : " God wait, I wischit 
 yow oft, 
 
 Quhen that my teith micht not beir it on loft. 175 
 
 163. H, his hand quod he hes thow na feill. 169. H, Now 
 surelie. 175. E, my pith. 
 
THE FOX, THE WOLF, AND THE CADGER. 101 
 
 " It is ane syde of salmond, as it wer, 
 And callour, pypand like ane pertrik ee ; 
 
 It is worth all the hering ye haif thair, 
 
 Ye, and we had it swa, it is worth sic thre." 
 "Than," said the Wolf, "quhat counsell gevis 
 
 thow me ? " 180 
 
 " Schir, 1 ' said the Foxe, " wirk efter my devyis, 
 
 And ye sail haif it, and tak yow na suppryis. 
 
 " First ye man cast ane cumpas far about, 
 Syne straucht yow doun in middis of the 
 way; 
 Baith heid, and feit, and taill ye man streik 
 
 out, 185 
 
 Hing furth your toung, and clois weill your 
 
 ene tway ; 
 Syne se your heid on ane hard place ye lay ; 
 And dout not for na perrell may appeir, 
 Bot hald yow clois quhen that the Carll cummis 
 neir. 
 
 " And thocht ye se ane staf, haif ye na doubt, 190 
 
 Bot hald yow wonder still into that steid ; 
 And luke your ene be clois, as thay wer out, 
 And se that ye schrink nouther fute nor 
 
 heid; 
 Than will the Cadgear Carll trow ye be 
 deid, 
 And in till haist will hint yow be the heillis, 195 
 As he did me, and swak yow on his creillis ! " 
 
102 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 "Now," quod the Wolf, "I sweir the be my 
 thrift, 
 I trow yone Cadgear Carll dow not me heir." 
 "Schir," said the Foxe, "on loft he will yow 
 lift 
 Upoun his creillis, and do him lytill deir, 200 
 Bot ane thing dar I suithlie to yow sweir, 
 Get ye that hering sicker in sum place, 
 Ye sail not fair in fisching mair quhill Pasche. 
 
 " I sail say In principio upoun yow, 
 
 And croce your corpis from the top to ta ; 205 
 
 Wend quhen ye will, I dar be warrand now 
 That ye sail de na suddan deith this day." 
 With that the Wolf gird up sone and to ga, 
 
 And caist ane cumpas about the Cadgear far ; 
 
 Syne straucht him in the gait or he come nar. 210 
 
 He laid his halfheid sicker hard and sad, 
 
 Syne straucht his four feit fra him, and his 
 heid, 
 And hang his toung furth as the Foxe him 
 bad; 
 Als still he lay, as he wer verray deid, 
 Rakkand na thing of the Carllis favour nor 
 
 feid, 215 
 
 Bot ever upon the nekhering he thinkis, 
 And quyte forgetis the Foxe and all his wrinkis. 
 
 198. H, Carle he will me beir. 205. E, corps. 
 
THE FOX, THE WOLF, AND THE CADGER. 103 
 
 With that the Cadgear, als wraith as ony wind, 
 Come rydand on the laid, for it wes licht, 
 
 Thinkand ay on the Foxe that wes behind, 220 
 
 Upon quhat wyse revenge him best he micht ; 
 And at the last of the Wolf gat ane sicht, 
 
 Quhair he in lenth lay streikit in the gait ; 
 
 Bot gif he lichtit doun, or nocht, God wait ! 
 
 " Softly," he said, " I wes begylit anis ; 225 
 
 Be I begylit twyis, I schrew us baith, 
 
 That evill bot it sail licht upon my banis, 
 
 He suld haif had that hes done me the skaith." 
 On hicht he hovit the stalf, for he wes wraith, 
 
 And hit him with sic will upon the heid, 230 
 
 Quhill neir he swonit and swelt into that steid. 
 
 Thre battis he buir or he his feit mycht find, 
 Bot yit the Wolf wes wicht, and wan away. 
 
 He micht not se, he wes sa verray blind, 
 
 Nor wit reddilie quhether it wes nicht or day. 235 
 The Foxe beheld that service quhair he lay, 
 
 And leuch on loft, quhen he the Wolf sa seis, 
 
 Baith deif and dosinnit, fall swonand on his kneis. 
 
 He that of ressoun can not be content, 
 
 Bot covetis all, is abill all to tyne. 240 
 
 The Foxe, quhen that he saw the Wolf wes 
 schent, 
 
 Said to himself : " Thir hering sail be myne ; '" 
 
 218. H, cadger wauering as the wind. 221. H, quhat wyse 
 reuengit on him he micht. 
 
104 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 I le, or ellis he wes efterwart fyne 
 That fand sic wayis his maister for to grief ; 
 With all the fische thus Lowrence tuk his leif. 245 
 
 The Wolf wes neir weill dunging to the deid, 
 That uneis with his lyfe away he wan, 
 
 For with the bastoun weill brokin wes hes heid. 
 The Foxe in to his den sone drew him than, 
 That had betraisit his maister and the man : 250 
 
 The ane wantit the hering of his creillis, 
 
 The utheris blude wes rynnand ouer his heillis. 
 
 MORALITAS. 
 
 This taill is myngit with moralitie, 
 
 As I sail schaw sumquhat or that I ceis : 
 The Foxe unto the warld may likkinnit be, 255 
 
 The revand Wolf unto ane man but leis, 
 The Cadgear Deith, quhome under all man 
 preis ; 
 That ever tuke lyfe throw cours of kynd man 
 
 dee 
 As man, and beist, and fische in to the see. 
 
 The warld, ye wait, is stewart to the man, 260 
 
 Quhilk may mak man to haif na mynd of deid, 
 
 Bot settis for winning all the craftis thay can ; 
 The hering I likkin unto the gold sa reid, 
 Quhilk gart the Wolf in perrell put his heid : 
 
 Richt swa the gold ganis landis and cieteis, 265 
 
 With weir be waistit, daylie as men seis. 
 
 261. H, Quhik makis man. 265. E, land certeis. 
 
THE FOX, THE WOLF, AND THE CADGER. 105 
 
 And as the Foxe with dissimulance and gyle 
 
 Gart the Wolf wene to haif worschip for ever, 
 Richt swa this warld with vane glore for ane 
 quhyle 
 Flattens with folk, as they suld failye never, 270 
 Yit suddandlie men seis it oft dissever ; 
 With thame that trowis oft to fill the sek, 
 Deith cumrais behind and nippis thame be the 
 nek. 
 
 The micht of gold makis mony men sa blind, 
 
 That settis on avarice thair felicitie, 275 
 
 That they forget the Cadgear cummis behind 
 To strike thame, of quhat stait sa ever they be. 
 Quhat is mair dirk than blind prosperitie ? 
 
 Quhairfoir I counsell mychtie men to haif mynd 
 
 Of the Nekhering, interpreit in this kynd. 280 
 
106 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 THE FOX, THE WOLF, AND THE 
 HUSBANDMAN. 
 
 In elderis dayis, as Esope can declair, 
 
 Thair wes ane husband, quhilk had ane pleuch 
 to steir. 
 
 His use wes ay in morning to ryse air ; 
 
 Sa happinnit him in streiking tyme of yeir, 
 Airlie in the morning to follow furth his feir 5 
 
 Unto the pleuch, bathe his gadman and he ; 
 
 His stottis he straucht with Benedicite. 
 
 The caller cryit : " How, haik upon hicht ; 
 
 Hald draucht, my dowis, 1 ' syne broddit thame 
 full sair. 
 The oxin wes unusit, young, and licht, 10 
 
 And for fersnes thay couth the fur forfair. 
 
 The husband than woxe angry as ane hair, 
 Syne cryit, and caist his patill and greit stanis : 
 " The Wolf," quod he, " mot haif you all at anis." 
 
 Bot yit the Wolf wes neirar nor he wend, 15 
 
 For in ane busk he lay, and Lowrence baith, 
 In ane rouch rone, wes at the furris end, 
 
 And hard the hecht ; than Lowrence leuch 
 
 full raith : 
 "To tak yone bud," quod he, "it wer na 
 skaith." 
 
 Text— E collated with H.— 6. E, H, bot his. 
 
THE FOX, THE WOLF, AND THE HUSBANDMAN. 107 
 
 " Weill," quod the Wolf, " I hecht the be my 
 
 hand, 20 
 
 Yone Carllis word, as he wer king, sail stand." 
 
 The oxin eirit mair reully at the last. 
 
 Syne efter thay lousit, fra that it worthit weill 
 lait, 
 The husband hameward with his cattell past. 
 Than sone the Wolf came hirpilland in his 
 
 gait, 25 
 
 Befoir the oxin, and schupe to mak debait. 
 The husband saw him, and worthit sume deile 
 
 agast, 
 And bakwart with his beistis wald haif past, 
 
 The Wolf said: "Quhither dryvis thow this, 
 pray ? 
 I challenge it, for nane of thame ar thyne." 30 
 
 The man thairof wes in ane felloun fray, 
 And soberlie to the Wolf answerit syne : 
 " Schir, be my saull, thir oxin ar all myne ; 
 
 Thairfoir I studie quhy ye suld stop me, 
 
 Sen that I faltit never to yow trewlie." 35 
 
 The Wolf said : " Carle, gaif thow not me this 
 drift 
 Airlie, quhen thow wes eirand on yone bank ? 
 And is thair oucht, sayis thow, frear than gift ? 
 
 22. H, oxin waxit. 29. E, H, quether. 
 
108 MORAL FABLES OF ESOFE. 
 
 This tarying will tyne the all thy thank ; 
 
 Far better is frelie for to gif ane plank 40 
 
 Nor be compellit on force to gif ane mart. 
 Fy on the fredome that cummis not with hart ! " 
 
 " Schir," quod the husband, "ane man may say 
 in grief, 
 
 And syne ganesay, fra he avise and se : 
 I hecht to steill, am I thairfoir ane theif ? 45 
 
 God forbid, Schir ; all hechtis, suld haldin be ! 
 
 Gaif I my hand or oblissing ? " quod he, 
 " Or haif ye writ or witness for to schaw ? 
 Schir, reif me not, bot go and seik the law.'" 
 
 " Carll," quod the Wolf, " ane lord, and he be 
 
 leill, 50 
 
 That schrinkis for schame, or doutis to be 
 reprufit, 
 His saw is ay als sickker as his seill. 
 
 Fy on the leid that is not leill and lufit ! 
 Thy argument is fals, and eik contrufit, 
 For it is said in Proverb : ' But lawte 55 
 
 All uther vertewis ar nocht worth ane fle.' " 
 
 "Schir," said the husband, "remember of this 
 thing : 
 Ane leill man is not tane at half ane taill. 
 I may say, and ganesay, I am na King : 
 
 41. E, mark. 
 
THE FOX, THE WOLF, AND THE HUSBANDMAN. 109 
 
 Quhair is your witness that hard I hecht 
 
 thame haill ? " 60 
 
 Than said the Wolf: "Thairfoir it sail nocht 
 faill ; 
 Lowrence," quod he, " cum hidder of that schaw, 
 And say na thing bot as thow hard and saw." 
 
 Lowrence came lourand, for he lufit never licht, 
 
 And sone appeirit befoir thame in that place : 65 
 The man leuch na thing, quhen he saw that sicht, 
 " Lowrence," quod the Wolf, " thow man declair 
 
 this cace, 
 Quhairof the suith we sail schaw in schort 
 space ; 
 I callit on the leill witness for to beir : 
 Quhat hard thow that this man hecht me lang 
 
 eir ? " 70 
 
 " Schir," said the Tod, " I cannot hastilie 
 
 Swa sone as now gif sentence finall ; 
 Bot wald ye baith submit yow heir to me, 
 
 To stand at my decreit perpetuall, 
 
 To pleis baith I suld preif gif it may fall." 75 
 " Weill," quod the Wolf, " I am content for me ; " 
 The man said, " Swa am I, however it be." 
 
 Than schew thay furth thair allegeance but 
 fabill, 
 
 And baith proponit thair pley to him compleit. 
 Quod Lowrence : " Now I am ane juge amycabill : 80 
 
 Ye sail be sworne to stand at my decreit, 
 
110 MORAL FABLES OP ESOPE. 
 
 Quhether heirefter ye think it soure or sweit." 
 The Wolf braid furth his fute, the man his hand, 
 And on the Toddis tail sworne thay ar to stand. 
 
 Than tuke the Tod the man furth till ane syde, 85 
 And said him : " Freind, thow art in blunder 
 broeht ; 
 
 The Wolf will not forgif the ane oxe hyde, 
 Yit wald myself fane help the, and I mocht. 
 Bot I am laith to hurt my conscience ocht, 
 
 Tyne not thy querell in thy awin defence : 90 
 
 This will not throw but greit coist and expence. 
 
 " Seis thow not buddis beiris bernis throw, 
 
 And giftis garris crukit materis hald full evin ? 
 Sumtymis ane hen haldis ane man in ane kow. 
 All ar not halie that heifis thair handis to 
 
 hevin." 
 "Schir," said the man, "ye sail haif sex or 
 sevin, 95 
 
 Richt of the fattest hennis of all the flok : 
 I count not all the laif, leif me the Cok." 
 
 " I am ane juge," quod Lowrence than, and leuch ; 
 
 " Thair is na buddis suld beir me by the rycht ; 
 I may tak hennis and caponis weill aneuch, 100 
 
 For God is gane to sleip ; as for this nycht, 
 
 93. E, anenedill. 
 
THE FOX, THE WOLF, AND THE HUSBANDMAN. Ill 
 
 Sic small thingis ar not sene into His sycht ; 
 Thir hennis," quod he, " sail mak thy querrell 
 
 sure, 
 With emptie hand na man suld halkis lure." 
 
 Concord in this, than Lowrence tuke his leif, 105 
 And to the Wolf he went in to ane ling ; 
 
 Syne privelie he pluckkit him be the sleif : 
 " Is this in ernist," quod he, " ye ask sic thing ? 
 Na, be my saull, I trow it be in hething." 
 
 Than said the Wolf: "Lowrence, quhy sayis 
 
 thow sa? 110 
 
 Thow hard the hecht thyself that he couth ma." 
 
 "The hecht," quod he, "yone man maid at 
 the pleuch, 
 Is that the cause quhy ye the cattell craif ?" 
 Half into heithing, said Lowrence than, and 
 leuch ; 
 " Schir, be the Rude, unrokkit now ye raif ; 115 
 The devill ane stirk taill thairfoir sail ye haif ; 
 Wald I tak it upon my conscience 
 To do sa pure ane man as yone offence ? 
 
 " Yit haif I communit with the carll," quod he ; 
 
 "We are concordit upon this cunnand : 120 
 
 Quyte of all clamis, swa ye will mak him fre, 
 
 Ye sail ane cabok haif in to your hand, 
 
 105. H, Concordit thus. 
 
112 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 That sic ane sail not be in all this land ; 
 For it is somer cheis. baith fresche and fair ; 
 He sayis it weyis ane stane and sumdeil mair." 125 
 
 " Is that thy counsell," quod the Wolf, " I do, 
 That yone carll for ane cabok suld be fre ? " 
 
 " Ye, be my saull, and I wer sworne yow to, 
 Ye suld nane uther counsell haif for me ; 
 For gang ye to the maist extremitie, 130 
 
 It will not wyn yow worth one widderit neip ; 
 
 Schir, trow ye nocht, I haif ane saull to keip ! " 
 
 " Weill," quod the Wolf, " it is aganis my will 
 That yone carll for ane cabok suld ga quyte." 
 " Schir," quod the Tod, " ye tak it in nane evill, 135 
 For, be my saull, your self had all the wyte. 11 
 "Than," said the Wolf, "I bid na mair to 
 flyte, 
 Bot I wald se yone cabok of sic pryis." 
 " Schir," said the Tod, " he tauld me quhar it 
 lyis." 
 
 Than hand in hand thay held unto ane hill ; 140 
 The husband till his hors hes tane the way, 
 
 For he wes fane ; he schaipit from thair ill, 
 And on his feit woke the dure quhill day. 
 Now will we turne unto the uther tway. 
 
 Throw woddis waist thir freikis on fate can fair, 145 
 
 Fra busk to busk, quhill neir midnycht and 
 mair. 
 
 143. E, thair cuill. 
 
THE FOX, THE WOLF, AND THE HUSBANDMAN. 113 
 
 Lowrence wes ever remembring upon wrinkis 
 And subtelteis the Wolf for to begyle ; 
 
 That he had hecht ane cabok he forthinkis, 
 
 Yit at the last he findis furth ane wyle, 150 
 
 Than at him self softlie couth he smyle. 
 
 The Wolf sayis : " Lowrence, thow playis bellie 
 blind, 
 
 We seik all nycht, bot na thing can we find.'" 
 
 " Schir, 11 said the Tod, " we ar at it almaist ; 
 
 Soft yow ane lytill, and ye sail se sone." 155 
 
 Than to ane manure place thay hyit in haist : 
 The nycht wes lycht, and penny-full the mone, 
 Than till ane draw wel thir Senyeouris past 
 but hone, 
 
 Quhar that twa bukkettis severall suithlie hang ; 
 
 As ane come up ane uther doun wald gang. 160 
 
 The schadow of the mone schone in the well. 
 " Schir," said Lowrence, " anis ye sail find me 
 leill ; 
 Now se ye not the cabok weill your sell 
 
 Quhyte as ane neip, and round als as ane 
 
 seill? 
 He hang it yonder, that na man suld it steill : 165 
 Schir, traist ye weill, yone cabok ye se hing 
 Micht be ane present to ony lord or king." 
 
 164. E, ane schell. 167. E, our Lord the King. 
 
 8 
 
114 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 " Na," quod the Wolf, " mycht I yone cabok 
 haif 
 
 On the dry land, as I it yonder se, 
 I wald quitclame the carll of all the laif ; 170 
 
 His dart oxin I compt thame not ane fle ; 
 
 Yone wer mair meit for sic ane man as me. 
 Lowrence," quod he, " leip in the bukket sone, 
 And I sail hald the ane, quhill thow haif done." 
 
 Lowrence yeid doun baith sone and subtellie ; 175 
 The uther baid abufe, and held the flaill. 
 
 " It is sa mekill," quod Lowrence, " if maisteris 
 me, 
 On all my tais, it hes not left ane nail ; 
 Ye man mak help upwart, and it haill ; 
 
 Leip in the uther bukket haistelie, 180 
 
 And come sone doun, and mak me sum supplie." 
 
 Than lychtlie in the bukket lap the loun ; 
 
 His wecht but weir the uther end gart ryis ; 
 The Tod come hailland up, the Wolf yeid 
 doun ; 
 Than angerlie the Wolf upon him cryis : 185 
 
 "I cummand thus dounwart, quhy thow 
 upwart hyis ? " 
 " Schir/' quod the Tod, " thus fairis it of for- 
 
 toun : 
 As ane cum mis up, scho quheillis ane uther 
 doun r 
 
 175. E, H, gird. 
 
THE FOX, THE WOLF, AND THE HUSBANDMAN. 115 
 
 Than to the ground sone yeid the Wolf in 
 haist ; 
 
 The Tod lap on land as blyith as ony bell, 190 
 And left the Wolf in watter to the waist. 
 
 Quha haillit him out, I wait not, of the well. 
 
 Heir endis the Text ; thair is na mair to tell. 
 Yit men may find agane moralitie 
 In this sentence, thocht it ane fabill be. 195 
 
 MOEALITAS. 
 
 This Wolf I likkin to ane wickit man, 
 
 Quhilk dois the pure oppres in everie place, 
 
 And pykis at thame all querrellis that he can 
 Be rigour, reif, and uther wickitnes. 
 The Foxe the Feynd I call in to this cais, 200 
 
 Actand ilk man to ryn unrychteous rinkis, 
 
 Thinkand thairthrow to lok him in his linkis. 
 
 The husband may be callit ane godlie man, 
 With quhome the Feynd fait findis, as clerkis 
 reidis, 
 Besie to tempt him with all wayis that he can. 205 
 The hennis ar warkis that fra ferme faith 
 
 proceidis : 
 Quhair sic sproutis the evill spreit thair not 
 speidis, 
 Bot wendis unto the wickit man agane ; 
 That he hes tint his travell is full unfane. 
 
 194. H, find ane gude. 
 
116 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 The woddis waist, quhairin wes the Wolf wyld, 210 
 Ar wickit riches, quhilk all men gaipis to get ; 
 
 Quha traistis in sick trusterie ar oft begyld : 
 For Mammon may be callit the devillis net, 
 Quhilk Sathanas for all sinfull hes set. 
 
 With proud plesour quha settis his traist 
 
 thairin, 215 
 
 Bot speciall grace,, lychtlie can not outwin. 
 
 The cabok may be callit covetyce, 
 
 Quihilk blomis braid in mony mannis ee ; 
 
 Wa worth the well of that wickit vyce ! 
 
 For it is all bot fraud and fantasie, 220 
 
 Dryvand ilk man to leip in the buttrie 
 
 That dounwart drawis unto the pane of hell. — 
 
 Christ keip all Christianis frome that wickit 
 well! 
 
THE WOLF AND THE WETHER. 117 
 
 THE WOLF AND THE WETHER. 
 
 Quhylum thair wes, as Esope can report, 
 Ane scheiphird dwelland be ane forrest neir, 
 
 Quhilk had ane hound that did him greit comfort ; 
 Full war he wes to walk his fauld but weir, 
 That nouther wolf nor wild cat durst appeir, 5 
 
 Nor foxe on feild, nor yit na uther beist, 
 
 Bot he thame slew, or chaissit at the leist. 
 
 Sa happinnit it, as everie beist man de, 
 This hound of suddand seiknes to be deid ; 
 
 Bot than, God wait, the keipar of the fe 10 
 
 For verray wo woxe wanner nor the weid : 
 " Allace ! " quod he, " now se I na remeid 
 
 To saif the selie beistis that I keip, 
 
 For with the Wolf werryit beis all my scheip." 
 
 It wald haif maid ane mannis hart sair to se 15 
 
 The selie scheiphirdis lamentatioun : 
 
 " Now is my darling deid, allace ! " quod he ; 
 " For now to beg my breid I may be boun, 
 With pyikstaf and with scrip to fair of toun ; 
 
 For all the beistis befoir bandonit bene 20 
 
 Will schute upon my beistis with ire and tene." 
 
 Text— E, collated with H. 14. E, H, For wit the. 
 
118 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 With that ane Wedder wrechitlie wan on fute : 
 " Maister," quod he, " mak mery and be blyith ; 
 
 To brek your hart for baill it is na bute ; 
 
 For ane deid doig ye na cair on yow kyith. 25 
 Ga fetche him hidder and fla his skyn off swyth ; 
 
 Syne sew it on me ; and luke that it be meit, 
 
 Baith heid, and crag, body, taill and feit. 
 
 " Than will the Wolf trow that I am he ; 
 
 For I sail follow him fast quhair ever he fair. 30 
 All haill, the cure I tak it upon me, 
 
 Your scheip to keip at midday, lait and air. 
 
 And he persew, be God, I sail not spair 
 To follow him als fast as did your doig, 
 Swa that, I warrand, ye sail not want ane hoig." 35 
 
 Than said the Scheiphird : " This cume of ane 
 gude wit ; 
 Thy counsall is baith sikker, leill and trew ; 
 
 Quha sayis ane scheip is daft, thay leit of it." 
 With that in hy the doggis skyn off he flew, 
 And on the scheip rycht softlie couth it sew. 40_ 
 
 Than worth the Wedder wantoun of his weid. 
 
 " Now of the Wolf," quod he, " I haif na dreid." 
 
 In all thingis he counterfait the dog ; 
 
 For all the nicht he stude and tuke na sleip, 
 Swa that weill lang thair wantit not ane hog. 45 
 
 28. H, Bodie and heid baith taill, crag and feit. 
 
THE WOLF AND THE WETHEK. 119 
 
 Swa war he wes and walkryfe thame to keip, 
 That Lowrence durst not luke upon ane scheip ; 
 
 For and he did, he followit him sa fast, 
 
 That of his lyfe he maid him all agast. 
 
 Was nouther Wolf, Wild Cat, nor yit Tod 50 
 
 Durst cum within thay boundis all about, 
 
 Bot he wald chace thame baith throw rouch and 
 snod. 
 Thay bailfull beistis had of thair lyvis sic dout, 
 For he wes mekill and semit to be stout, 
 
 That everilk beist thay dred him as the deid, 55 
 
 Within that wod, that nane durst hald thair heid. 
 
 Yit happinnit thair ane hungrie wolf to slyde 
 Out throw his scheip, quhair thay lay on ane 
 le; 
 
 " I sail haif ane," quod he, " quhatever betyde, 
 Thocht I be werryit, for hunger or I de ; * 60 
 
 With that ane lamb in till his cluke hint he. 
 
 The laif start up, for thay wer all agast ; 
 
 Bot God wait gif the Wedder followit fast. 
 
 Went never hound mair haistelie fra the hand, 
 Quhen he wes rynnand maist raklie at the ra, 65 
 
 Nor went this Wedder baith ouer mois and strand 
 And stoppit nouther at bank, busk, nor bra ; 
 Bot followit ay sa ferslie on his fa, 
 
 With sic ane drift, quhill dust and dirt ouerdraif 
 him, 
 
 And maid ane vow to God that he suld haif him. 70 
 
120 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 With that the Wolf let out his taill on lenth, 
 For he wes hungrie, and it drew neir the ene, 
 
 And schupe him for to ryn with all his strenth, 
 Fra he the Wedder sa neir cummand had sene. 
 He dred his lyfe, and he ouertane had bene ; 75 
 
 Thairfoir he spairit nouther busk nor bog, 
 
 For weill he kennit the cunning of the dog. 
 
 To mak him lycht, he kest the lamb him fra, 
 Syne lap ouer leis, and draif throw dub and 
 myre. 
 " Na," quod the Wedder, " in faith we part not 
 
 swa : 80 
 
 It is not the lamb, bot the, that I desyre ; 
 I sail cum neir, for now I se the tyre." 
 The Wolf ran till ane rekill stude behind him, 
 Bot ay the neirar the Wedder he couth wyn him. 
 
 Sone efter that he followit him sa neir, 85 
 
 Quhill that the Wolf for fleidnes fylit the feild ; 
 
 Syne left the gait, and ran throw busk and breir, 
 And schupe him fra the schawis for to scheild. 
 He ran restles, for he wist of beild ; 
 
 The Wedder followit him baith out and in, 90 
 
 Quhill that ane breir busk raif rudely off the skyn. 
 
 72. H, E, Euin. 77. H, kenenes of. 83. H, ran still quhill 
 ane strand. 84. E, weddir to couth wyn ; H, wedder he 
 couth bind him. 
 
THE WOLF AND THE WETHER. 121 
 
 The Wolf wes war, and blenkit him behind, 
 And saw the Wedder come thrawand throw the 
 breir ; 
 Syne saw the doggis skyn hingand on his lind. 
 " Na," quod he, " is this ye that is sa neir ? 95 
 Richt now ane hound, and now quhyte as ane 
 freir : 
 I fled ouer fer, and I had kennit the cais : 
 To God I vow that ye sail rew this rais. 
 
 " Quhat wes the cause ye gaif me sic ane cache ? " 
 
 With that in hy he hint him be the home 100 
 " For all your mowis ye met anis your mache, 
 Suppois ye leuch me all this yeir to scorne. 
 For quhat enchessoun this doggis skyn haif 
 ye borne ? "" 
 " Maister,' 1 quod he, " bot to haif playit with 
 
 yow; 
 I yow requyre that ye nane uther trow." 105 
 
 " Is this your bourding in eirnist than ? " quod he, 
 For I am verray efFeirit, and on flocht ; 
 
 Cum bak agane, and I sail let yow se." 
 
 Than quhair the gait wes grymmit he him 
 
 brocht. 110 
 
 " Quhether call ye this fair play, or nocht ? 
 
 To set your maister in sa fell effray, 
 
 Quhill he for feiritnes hes fylit up the way. 
 
 92. E, wes wer. 
 
122 MORAL FABLES OF ESOFE. 
 
 " Thryis, be my saull, ye gart me schute behind ; 
 
 Upon my hoichis the senyeis may be sene ; 115 
 For feiritness full oft I fylit the wind. 
 
 Now is this ye ? Na, bot ane hound, I wene ; 
 
 Me think your teith ouer schort to be sa kene. 
 Blissit be the busk that reft yow your array, 
 Ellis, fleand, bursin had I bene this day. 11 120 
 
 " Schir," quod the Wedder, " suppois I ran in hy, 
 My mynd wes never to do your persoun evill ; 
 
 Ane flear gettis ane follower commounly, 
 In play or ernist, preif quha sa ever will. 
 Sen I bot playit, be gracious me till, 125 
 
 And I sail gar my freindis blis your banis, 
 
 Ane full gude servand will crab his maister anis." 
 
 " I haif bene oftymis set in grit eflray, 
 Bot, be the Rude, sa rad yit wes I never, 
 
 As thow hes maid me with thy prettie play. 130 
 I schot behind, quhen thow ouertuke me ever, 
 Bot sikkerlie now sail we not dissever." 
 
 Thane be cragbane smertlie he him tuke, 
 
 Or ever he ceissit, and it in schunder schuke. 
 
 MORALITAS. 
 
 Esope, that Poete, first Father of this fabill, 135 
 
 Wrait this parabole, quhilk is convenient, 
 Because the sentence wes fructuous and agreabill, 
 
THE WOLF AND THE WETHER. 123 
 
 In moralitie exemplative prudent : 
 Quhais problemis bene verray excellent ; 
 
 Throw similitude of figuris, to this day, 140 
 
 Gevis doctrine to the redaris of it ay. 
 
 Heir may thow se that riches of array 
 
 Will cause pure men presumptous for to be ; 
 
 Thay think thay hald of nane, be thay als gay, 
 Bot counterfait ane lord in all degre. 145 
 
 Out of thair cais in pryde thay clym sa hie, 
 
 That thay forbeir thair better in na steid, 
 
 Quhill sum man tit thair heillis ouer thair heid. 
 
 Richt swa in service uther sum exceidis 
 
 And thay haif withgang, welth, and cherissing, 150 
 That thay will lychtlie lordis into thair deidis, 
 
 And lukis not to thair blude, nor thair 
 ofspring : 
 
 Bot yit nane wait how lang that reull will ring ; 
 Bot he was wyse that bad his sone considder : 
 Bewar in welth, for hall benkis ar rycht slidder. 155 
 
 Thairfoir I counsell men of everilk stait 
 
 To knaw thame self, and quhome thay suld 
 forbeir, 
 
 And fall not with thair better in debait ; 
 Suppois thay be als galland in thair geir, 
 It settis na servand for to uphald weir, 160 
 
 Nor clym so hie, quhill he fall of the ledder ; 
 
 Bot think upon the Wolf and on the Wedder. 
 
124 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 THE WOLF AND THE LAMB. 
 
 A ceewall Wolf, richt ravenous and fell, 
 
 Upon a tyme past till a revere 
 Discending fra a roch out of a well, 
 
 To slaik his thrist, drank of the watter cleir. 
 
 Sa upone cais a silly Lame come neir, 5 
 
 Bot of this Wolf the Lame na thing he wist, 
 And in the streme lapit to cule his thrist. 
 
 Thus drank thay baith bot nocht of ane intent : 
 The Wolfis thocht wes all in wicketness ; 
 
 The silly Lame meik and innocent : 10 
 
 Upon the revir in ane uthir place, 
 Beneth the Wolf, he drank ane littill space, 
 
 Quhill he thocht gude, presomyng thair nane ill; 
 
 The Wolf him saw, and rampand come him till. 
 
 With girnand teith and angry austre luke, 15 
 
 Said to the Lamb : " Thow catyve wrechit 
 thing 
 
 How durst thow be so bald to fyle this bruk, 
 Quhair I suld drink, with thy foull slavering ? 
 It wer almouss the for till draw and hing, 
 
 That suld presume with thy foull lippis vyle, 20 
 
 To glar my drink, and this fair watter fyle." 
 
 Text— B, collated with E and H. 3. E, H, vnto ane well. 
 6. E, H, of his fa the wolf na. 11. E, H ; B, reuir by in ane. 
 13. B, him thocht; E, Quhill he thocht gude beleuand thair 
 nane euill. 14. B, The wolf this saw. 15. E, H, awfull angrie 
 luk. 20. B, stinkand lippis will. 21. B, To hurt; watter 
 spill. 
 
THE WOLF AND THE LAMB. 125 
 
 The silly Lamb, quakand for verry dreid, 
 
 On kneis fell, and said : " Schir, with your 
 leif, 
 
 Suppois I dar nocht say thairof ye leid ; 
 
 Bot, be my saule, I wait ye can nocht preife 25 
 That I did ony thing quhilk suld yow greif ; 
 
 Ye wait alswa your accusatioun 
 
 Felyeis fra trewth, and contrair till ressoun." 
 
 " Thocht I can nocht, nature will me defend, 
 
 And of the deid perfyt experience ; 30 
 
 All hevie thing mone of the self discend ; 
 Bot gif sum thing on forss mak resistance, 
 Thane may the streme be na wayis mak offens, 
 
 Na ryn bakwart : I drank beneth yow far ; 
 
 Ergo, for me your drink is nevir the war. 35 
 
 " Alswa my lippis, sen that I was a Lame, 
 Tuichit no thing that was contagius ; 
 
 Bot sowkit mylk fra pappis of my dame, 
 Rycht naturall, sweit, and delicious." 
 " Weill," quod the Wolf, " thy langage out- 
 
 ragius 40 
 
 Cumis of kynd ; sa your fader befoir 
 
 Held me at bait als with bost and schoir. 
 
 " He vexit me, and than I couth him warne 
 
 Within a yeir, and I brukit my heid, 
 I suld be wrokin on him, or on his barne 45 
 
 27. E, H, also. 31. B, all hevlnly ; H, of the force. 34. E, 
 H, nor. 40. E, H, language rigorous. 43. E, H, He wraithit 
 me. 
 
126 M0UAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 For his exhorbitant and thrawart pleid ; 
 
 Thow sail doutles for his deidis be deid. 1 ' 
 " Schir, it is wrang, that for the faderis gilt 
 The saikles sone suld puneist be and spilt. 
 
 "Haif ye nocht hard quhat Haly Scriptour 
 
 sais, 50 
 
 Endytit with the mouth of God Almycht ? 
 Of his awin deid ilk man sal beir the paiss, 
 As pyne for syn, reward for werkis rycht ; 
 For my trespass quhy suld my sone haif 
 plycht ? 
 Quha did the miss lat him sustene the pane." 55 
 " Ya, 1 ' quod the Wolf, " yit plyis thow agane ? 
 
 " I latt the wit, quhen the fader ofFendis, 
 I will cheris nane of his successioun ; 
 
 And of his bairnis may weill be tane amendis, 
 
 Unto the nynt degree discending doun. 60 
 
 Thy fadir thocht to mak a Strang poysoun, 
 
 And with his mouth in to my watter spew." 
 
 " Schir," quod the Lamb, " tha twa ar nowthir 
 trew. 
 
 " The law sayis, and ye will undirstand, 
 
 Thair suld no man, for wrang nor violens, 65 
 
 His adversar puneis at his awin hand, 
 
 49. B, sail pvneist. 51. B, Dytit with. 52. E, prais ; H, 
 prayis. 55. B, lat thame. 59. E, barnis I may weill tak; 
 H, bairnis I will tak. 60. E, H, twentie degre. 61. B, The 
 fadir. 
 
THE WOLF AND THE LAMB. 127 
 
 Without process of law in audiens ; 
 
 Quhilk suld haif leif to mak lawchfull defens, 
 And thairupone summond peremptourly, 
 For to propone and contra and reply. 70 
 
 " Set me a lawchfull court, I sail compeir 
 Befoir the Lyone, lord and leill Justyse, 
 
 And, be my hand, I oblise me rycht heir, 
 That I sail byd ane unsuspect assyse. 
 This is the way, this is the justest wyse ; 75 
 
 Ye suld proceid thairfoir ; a summondis mak 
 
 Agane that day, to gif ressoun and tak. 1 ' 
 
 " Ha ! " quod the Wolf, " wald thow intruse 
 ressoun 
 
 Quhair wrang and reif suld dwell in properte ? 
 That is a poynt of oppin fals tressoun, 80 
 
 For to gar rewth remane with crewelte. 
 
 Be Groddis wondis, fals tratour, thow sail de 
 For thy trespas, and for thy faderis als." 
 With that anone he hint him be the hals. 
 
 The silly Lame mycht do na thing bot blait ; 85 
 Sone wes he deid; the Wolf wald do na 
 grace, 
 Syne drank his blud, and of his flesch can eit, 
 
 67. E, H, law and euidence. 75. This is the Law, this is 
 the Instant vse ; H, instant gyis. 76. E, H, suld pretend. 
 78. E, H, Na, quod the Wolf, thow wald intruse ressoun. 
 80. E, H, poynt and part of. 86. B, wes he hedit. 
 
128 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 Till he wes fow, syne went away apace. 
 
 Of this murthour quhat sail I say, allace ? 
 Wes this no rewth ? was this nocht grit pete, 90 
 To gar this silly Lame but gilt thus de ? 
 
 MOBALITAS. 
 
 The pure peple, this Lame may signify, 
 
 As male men, merchandis, and pure lauboreris, 
 
 Of quhome the lyfe is half a purgatory, 
 
 To wyn with lawty leving as effeiris. 95 
 
 The Wolf betakynis fals extortioneris, 
 
 And oppressouris of pure men, as we se, 
 
 Be violens, be craft, or sutelte. 
 
 Thre kynd of Wolfis in the warld now ringis ; 
 
 The first ar fals pervertaris of the lawis, 100 
 
 Quhilk undir poleit termis falset myngis, 
 
 Leitand that all wer gospell that thay 
 schawis ; 
 
 Bot for a bud the trew men he ourthrawis, 
 Smorand the rycht, garrand the wrang proceid : 
 Of sic Wolfis hell-fyre sal be thair meid. 105 
 
 O man of law ! lat be thy suteltie, 
 
 With nyce gimpis and fraudis intricate, 
 And think that God of His Divinitie 
 
 91. B, To heir; E, H, To gar. 98. E, H, or craft in 
 facultie. 101. E, vnder Poet termis ; H, vnder poete termes. 
 Stanzas 3, 4, and 5, in the Moralitas, are arranged as in E, H. 
 
THE WOLF AND THE LAMB. 129 
 
 The wrang, the rycht of all thy werkis wate : 
 For prayer, pryce, for he nor law estait, 110 
 
 Of fals querrell se thow male na defens ; 
 
 Hald with the rycht, hurt nocht thy conscience. 
 
 Ane uthir kynd of Wolfis ravenous 
 
 Ar mychty men, haifand ennuch plente, 
 
 Quhilk ar sa gredie and sa covetuse, 115 
 
 Thay will nocht thoill the pure in pece to be ; 
 Suppois he and his houshald baith suld de 
 
 For fait of fude, thairof thay gif na rak, 
 
 But our his heid his maling thay will tak. 
 
 man, but mercy ! quhat is in thy thocht, 120 
 
 War than a Wolf, and thow culd undirstand ? 
 
 Thow hes ennuch ; the pure husband hes nocht 
 Bot cote and cruse upone a clout of land. 
 For Godis aw, how dar thow tak on hand, 
 
 And thow in berne and byre sa bene and big, 125 
 
 To put him fra his tak and gar him thig ? 
 
 The thrid Wolf is men of heretage, 
 
 As lordis that hes landis be Godis lane, 
 
 And settis to the maillairis a village, 
 
 For prayer, pryce, and the gersum tane ; 130 
 
 Syne vexis him, or half the terme be gane, 
 
 With pykit querrellis, for to mak him fane 
 
 To flitt, or pay the gersum new agane. 
 
 116. B, Thoill in peax ane pure man to be; E, H, Thoill the 
 pure in pece to be. 123. E, H, Bot croip and calf. 130. E, 
 H, And for ane tyme gressome payit and tane. 
 
130 MOEAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 His hors, his meir, he mone len to the laird, 
 
 To drug and draw in cairt and cariage ; 1 35 
 
 His servand or him-self may nocht be spard 
 To swynk or sweit, withouttin meit or wage. 
 Lo ! as he standis in lawbour and bondage, 
 
 That skantly may he purchess by his maill, 
 
 To leif upone dry breid and wattir kaill. 140 
 
 Hes thow no rewth to gar thy tennent sweit 
 In to thi lawbour, full faynt with hungry 
 wame, 
 And syne hes littill gude to drink or eit, 
 With his menye at evin quhen he cumis 
 
 hame ? 
 Thow suld be rad for rychteous Godis blame ; 145 
 For it cryis vengeance unto the hevinnis he 
 To gar a pure man wirk but meit or fe. 
 
 O thow grit lord, that riches hes and rent, 
 Be nocht a Wolf, thus to devoir the pure ; 
 
 Think that na thing crewall nor violent 150 
 
 May in this warld perpetualy indure : 
 This is a sentens suth I you assure, 
 
 For till oppress bhow sail haif als grit pane 
 
 As thow the pure anis with thy hand had slane. 
 
 135. E, in court or in cariage; H, in court and cariage. 
 137. E, H, To swing. 145. E, H, suld dreid. 146. B, ven- 
 geance to the hevin so he ; E, H, ane vengeance vnto the 
 neuinnis hie. 148. B, hes riches and ; E, H, riches hes and. 
 149. E, Thow art ane Uolf. 152. E, H, This sail thow trow 
 and sikkerlie assure. 
 
THE WOLF AND THE LAMB. 131 
 
 God keip the Lame, that is the innocent, 155 
 
 Fra Wolfis byt, I mene extortioneris ; 
 
 God grant that wrangus men of fals intent 
 Be manifest, and puneist as effeiris. 
 And God, as Thou all rychteous prayer heiris, 
 
 Mot saif our King, and gif him hairt and hand 160 
 
 All sic Wolfis to baneis out of the land. 
 
132 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 THE MOUSS AND THE PADDOCK. 
 
 Upon a tyme, as Esope can report, 
 
 A littill Mouss came till a rever syd ; 
 Scho mycht nocht waid, hir schankis wer so 
 schort 
 Scho culd nocht sowme, scho had na hors till 
 
 ryd: 
 Of verry forss behuvit hir to byd, 5 
 
 And to and fra besyde that rever deip 
 Scho ran, cryand with mony peteuss peip. 
 
 " Help our, help our, 1 ' the silly Mouss can cry, 
 " For Godis lufe, sum body, our this bryme." 
 With that a Paddok in the wattir by, 10 
 
 Put up hir heid, and on the bank can clyme, 
 Quhilk be natur culd dowk, and gaylie 
 swyme ; 
 With voce full rawk, scho said on this maneir : 
 " Gud morne, deme Mouss, quhat is your erand 
 heir ? " 
 
 " Seis thow," quod scho, " of corne yone joly 
 
 flat, 15 
 
 Of ryp aitis, of beir, of peiss, and quheit ? 
 I am hungry, and fane wald be thairat, 
 
 Text— B, collated with E and H. 4. E, H, swym. 6. B, 
 vpone pat rever. 12. B, gowth dowk. 16. E, H, aittis of 
 barlie pese and quheit. 
 
THE MOUSS AND THE PADDOCK. 133 
 
 Bot I am stoppit heir be this wattir greit ; 
 
 And on this syd I get na thing till eit 
 Bot hard nutis, quhilk with my teith I bore. 20 
 
 War I beyond, my feist wer fer the more. 
 
 I haif na boit ; heir is no marineir ; 
 
 And thocht thair ware, I haif na fraucht to pay." 
 
 Quod scho : " Sistir, lat be your havy cheir ; 
 
 Do my counsall, and I sail fynd the way 25 
 
 Withouttin horss, brig, boit, or yit gallay, 
 
 To bring yow our saifly — be nocht afeird ! — 
 
 And nocht to weit the campis of your beird." 
 
 " I haif mervell than," quod the silly Mouss, 
 
 " How thow can fleit without feddir or fyn. 30 
 
 The rever is sa deip and dangerouss, 
 
 Me think that thow suld drownit be thairin. 
 Tell me, thairfor, quhat faculty or gyn 
 
 Thow hes to bring me our this wattir wan." 
 
 That to declair the Paddok thus began : 35 
 
 " With my twa feit," quod scho, " lukkin and 
 braid, 
 
 Insteid of airis, I row the streme full still : 
 Suppoiss the bruk be perrellus to waid, 
 
 Baith to and fra I swyme at my awin will. 
 
 I may nocht droun, for-quhy mine oppin gill 40 
 Devoydis ay the wattir I resaif ; 
 Thairfor to droun forsuth na dreid I haif." 
 
 18. E, watter deip. 38. E, H, And thocht the brym be. 
 39. E, H, I row. 
 
134 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 The Mouss beheld onto hir fronsyt face, 
 Her runkillit cheikis, and hir lippis syd, 
 
 Hir hyngand browis, and hir voce sa hace, 45 
 
 Hir logrand leggis, and hir harsky hyd. 
 Scho ran abak, and on the Paddok cryd : 
 
 " Gife I can any skeill of phisnomy, 
 
 Thow hes sum pairte of fraud and als invy. 
 
 " For clerkis sayis the inclinatioun 50 
 
 Of manis thocht proceidis commounly 
 
 Eftir the corporall complexioun 
 
 Till gud or yll, as natur will apply : 
 A frawart will, a thrawin phisnomy. 
 
 The auld proverb is witness of this lorum : 55 
 
 ' Distortum vultwn sequitur distortio morum.'' " 
 
 " Na," quod the Taid, " that proverb is nocht 
 trew: 
 For fair thingis oft tymes ar foull fakin. 
 
 Thir bla berryis, thocht thay be blak of hew, 
 
 Ar gaddrit up quhen prymross is forsakin. 60 
 
 The face may faill to be the hairtis takin. 
 
 Thairfoir I fynd in Scriptour in a place : 
 
 ' Thou suld nocht juge a man eftir his face. 1 
 
 " Thocht I unlusty be to luk upone, 
 
 I haif no wyt quhy I suld lakkit be ; 65 
 
 War I als fare as joli Absalone 
 
 I am nocht causar of that grit bewte. 
 
 44. E, H, runclit beik. 51. B, persavis; E, H, pro- 
 ceidis. 54. E, Ane thrawert vult ane thrawert. 64, E, H, 
 I vnhailsum be. 
 
THE MOUSS AND THE PADDOCK. 135 
 
 This differens in forme and qualite 
 Almychty God hes causit dame Nature 
 To prent and set in every creature. 70 
 
 " Of sum the face may be rycht flurisand, 
 With silkin tong and cheir most amorous, 
 
 With mynd inconstant, fals, and variand, 
 Full of dissait and menis cautelous." 
 "Lat be thy preching," quod the hungry Mouss, 75 
 
 " And be quhat craft, thow gar me undirstand, 
 
 Thow wald me gyd onto yone yondir land.'" 
 
 " Thow wait," quod scho, " a body that hes neid 
 To help thame selff suld mony wayis cast ; 
 
 Thairfoir ga tak a double twynnit threid, 80 
 
 And bind thi leg to myne with knotis fast. 
 I sail the leir to swyme — be nocht agast ! " 
 
 " Is that thi counsale ? " quod the silly Mouss ; 
 
 " To preif that play it wer our perrellous. 
 
 " Suld I be bund and fast quhair I am fre, 85 
 
 In howp of help, nay than I schrew us baith, 
 
 For I mycht lois baith lyfe and libertie. 
 
 Gife it wer sa, quha mycht amend my skaith ? 
 Bot gife thow sweir to me the murthour aith, 
 
 But fraud or gyle, to bring me our this flude 90 
 
 But hurt or harme " Quod scho, " in faith I 
 
 dude." 
 
 77. B, How thow wald gyd me to >e sondir land ; E, H, 
 That thow wald gyde me to 3one 3onder land. 83. E, H, Als 
 weill as I as thow quod than the mous. 84. E, H, richt 
 perrillous. 86. E, H ; B, than eschrew ws baith. 
 
136 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 Scho golkit up, and to the hevin can cry : 
 " How, Jupiter, of natur God and King, 
 
 I mak ane aith to the trewly, that I 
 
 This little Mouss sail our the wattir bring.''' 95 
 This aith was maid ; this Mouss, but persaving 
 
 Of fals ingyne of this fals crabit taid, 
 
 Tuk threid and band hir leg, as scho hir bad. 
 
 Than fute for fute thay lap baith in the brime ; 
 
 Bot in thair myndis thay wer rycht different : 100 
 The Mouss thocht na thing bot to fleit and swyme, 
 
 The Paddok for to slay set hir intent. 
 
 Quhen thay in mydwart of the streme wer went, 
 With all hir forss the Paddok dowkit doun, 
 And thocht the Mouss without mercy to droun. 105 
 
 Persevand this, the Mouss on hir gan cry : 
 " Tratour to God, and mansworne onto me, 
 
 Thow swoir the murthour aith, saifly that I, 
 But harme or hurt, suld ferreid be and fre ; " 
 And quhen scho saw thair wass bot do or dy, 110 
 
 Scho bowtit up and foirsit hir to swyme, 
 
 And preisit on the Taidis bak to clyme. 
 
 The dreid of deid hir strenthis gave incress, 
 
 ■ And forcit hir defend with mycht and mane. 
 The Mouss up wart, the Paddok doun can press ; 115 
 
 92. E, H, Scho goikit. 93. E, H, O Juppiter. 97. E, this 
 foull trappald ; H, foull carpand pad. 101. E, H, of na thing bot 
 for to swym. 102. E, H, to droun. 104. E, H, preissit doun. 
 111. E, H, With all hir mycht scho forcit hir. 113. E, H, gart 
 incres. 114. B, And fandit hir defend with mony mane. 
 
THE MOUSS AND THE PADDOCK. 137 
 
 Quhile to, quhile fra, quhile dowk, quhile up 
 agane. 
 
 This silly Mouss, plungit into grit pane, 
 Can fecht als lang as breth wes in hir breist, 
 Till at the last scho cryit for a preist. 
 
 Fechtand thus-gait, a gled sat on a twist, 120 
 
 And to this wrechit battell tuk gud heid ; 
 
 And with a wisk, or outher of thame wist, 
 He claucht his cluke betwene thame in the 
 
 threid ; 
 Syne to the land he flew with thame gud speid, 
 
 Fane of that fang, pypand with mony pew ; 125 
 
 Syne lowsit thame, and bayth but pety slew. 
 
 Syne bowellit thame, that bowchir with his bill, 
 And bellyflaucht full fetly he thame flaid ; 
 
 Bot baith thair flesche wald skant be half a fill, 
 And gutis als, unto that gredy gled. 130 
 
 Of thair debait thus quhen I hard out red, 
 
 He tuk his flicht, and our the feildis he flaw ; 
 
 Gife this be trew, speir ye at thame that saw. 
 
 MOEALITAS. 
 
 My brother, gif thow will tak advertens 
 
 Till this fable, thow may persaif and se, 135 
 
 It passis far alkynd of pestilens, 
 
 A wickit mynd with wirdis fair and sle. 
 
 116. E, H, quhyle dowkit vp agane. 117. B, this plungit. 
 120. B, Sichand; E, H, Fechtand. 
 
138 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 Be war thairfor, quhome with thow fellowis the ; 
 
 For thow war bettir beir the stane barrow, 
 Of sweitand ding, and delffe quhill thow may 
 
 die, 140 
 
 Na be machit with a wicket marrow. 
 
 A fals intent undir a fare pretence 
 
 Hes causit mony innocentis to de, 
 Grit folly is thairfoir to gife credence 
 
 Our sone to all that speikis fair to the. 145 
 
 A silkin tong, a haift of crewelte, 
 
 Smytis mair soir than ony schot of arrow. 
 Brudir, gif thou be wyise, I rid the fle 
 
 To mache the with a frawart, fenyeit marrow. 
 
 I warne the als, it'is grit negligence 150 
 
 To bind the fast quhair thow was frank a<nd 
 fre ; 
 Fra thow be bund, thow may mak na defens 
 
 To saif thy lyfe, nor yit thy libertie. 
 This semple counsale, Bruder, tak at me, 
 
 And it to cun perquir se nocht thow tarrow ; 155 
 Bettir but stryfe to leif allone in le 
 
 Than to be machit with a wicket marrow. 
 
 This hald in mynd : yit moir I sail the tell 
 
 Quhat by thir beistis may be figurat. 
 This Paddok, usand in this flud to dwell, 160 
 
 140. E, H, For all thy dayis to delf quhill thow may dre. 
 145. B, fair to the. 
 
THE MOUSS AND THE PADDOCK. 139 
 
 Is manis body, sumand air and kit 
 
 Into this warld, with cairis implicat, 
 Now he, now law, quhyle plungit up and doun, 
 Ay in perrell, and redy for to droun. 
 
 Now dolorus, now blyth as bird on breir ; 165 
 
 Now in fredome, now wardit in distress ; 
 
 Now haill, now sound, now deid, now brocht on 
 beir; 
 Now pure as Job, now rowand in richess ; 
 Now gowins gay, now brattis to imbrass ; 
 
 Now full as fysche, now hungry as a hound ; 170 
 
 Now on the quheill, now wappit to the ground. 
 
 This littill Mouss, thus knet hard be the schin, 
 The saule of man betakin may indeid ; 
 
 Bundin, and fra the body may nocht twin, 
 Quhill crewall deid cum brek of lyfe the 
 
 threid ; 175 
 
 The quhilk to droun suld evir stand in dreid 
 
 Of carnall lust be the suggestioun, 
 
 Quhilk drawis ay the saule, and haldis doun. 
 
 The wattir is the warld, ay walterand 
 
 With mony wayis of tribulatioun, 180 
 
 In quhilk the saule and body ay waverand 
 
 Standis distinyt in thair opinioun ; 
 
 165-171. not in E. 171. H, wrappit. 178. E, H, druggis 
 doun. 179-185. not in E. 180. H, mony wall of. 181. H, 
 and bodie wer steirand. 182. H, Standand richt different in 
 thair opinioun. 
 
140 MORAL FABLES OF ESOPE. 
 
 The spreit upwart, the body preissis doun : 
 The natur of the saule wald our be borne 
 Out of this warld unto the hevinly trone. 185 
 
 The gled is deid, that cumis suddanly, 
 
 As dois the theif, and endis this battell. 
 Be vigilant thairfoir and ay reddy, 
 For manis lyfe is brukle and mortall : 
 My Friend, thairfoir, make the a Strang 
 
 castell 190 
 
 Of gud deidis ; for deid will the assay, 
 Thow wait nocht quhen, at evin, morne, or 
 midday. 
 
 Adew, my Friend ; an gife that ony speiris 
 
 Of this fable so schortly I conclude, 
 Thow say, I left the laif onto the freiris, 195 
 
 To mak a sample or similtude. 
 
 Now Chryst for us that deit on the Rud, 
 Of saule and lyfe as Thow art Salviour, 
 Grant us to pass in till a blissit hour. 
 
 183. H, The saule vpwart. 184. H, The saule richt fane 
 wald be brocht ouer I wis. 185. H, heuinnis blis. 191. E, H, 
 Of Faith in Christ. 
 
THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 
 
THE TESTAMENT OF CEESSEID. 143 
 
 THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 
 
 Ane doolie sessoun to ane cairfull dyte 
 Suld correspond, and be equivalent ; 
 
 Richt sa it wes quhen I began to wryte 
 This tragedie ; the wedder richt fervent, 
 Quhen Aries, in middis of the Lent, 5 
 
 Schowris of haill can fra the North discend, 
 
 That scantlie fra the cauld I micht defend. 
 
 Yit nevertheles within myne orature 
 
 I stude, quhen Titan had his bemis bricht 
 
 Withdrawin doun, and sylit under cure, 10 
 
 And fair Venus, the Bewtie of the Nicht, 
 Uprais, and set unto the west full richt 
 
 Hir goldin face, in oppositioun 
 
 Of God Phebus, direct discending doun. 
 
 Throwout the glas hir bemis brast sa fair 15 
 
 That I micht se on everie syde me by 
 
 The northin wind had purifyit the air, 
 And sched the mistie cloudis fra the sky ; 
 
 Text — E (Edinburgh edition, 1593 ; reprinted by Dr. Laing, 
 Edinburgh, 1865, and again by G. Gregory Smith for the 
 Scottish Text Society, Edinburgh, 1908) collated with Th. 
 (Thynne's Text, London, 1532.) Only the principal differences 
 are noted. 1. E, Ane; Th, A. 6. E, schowris; Th, showers. 
 8. E, oratur ; Th, orature. 17. Th, northern. 
 
144 THE TESTAMENT OF CEESSEID. 
 
 The froist freisit, the blastis bitterly 
 Fra Pole Artick come quhisling loud and schill, 20 
 And causit me remufe aganis my will. 
 
 For I traistit that Venus, Luifis Quene, 
 To quhome sum-tyme I hecht obedience, 
 
 My faidit hart of lufe scho wald mak grene ; 
 
 And therupon, with humbill reverence, 25 
 
 I thocht to pray hir hie magnificence ; 
 
 Bot for greit cald as than I lattit was, 
 
 And in my chalmer to the fyre can pas. 
 
 Thocht lufe be hait, yit in ane man of age 
 
 It kendillis nocht sa sone as in youthheid, 30 
 
 Of quhome the blude is flowing in ane rage, 
 And in the auld the curage douf and deid, 
 Of quhilk the fire outward is best remeid : 
 
 To help be phisike quhair that nature faillit, 
 
 I am expert, for baith I have assailit. 35 
 
 I mend the fyre, and beikit me about, 
 
 Than tuik ane drink my spreitis to comfort, 
 
 And armit me weill fra the cauld thairout ; 
 To cut the winter nicht, and mak it schort, 
 I tuik ane quair, and left all uther sport, 40 
 
 Written be worthie Chaucer glorious, 
 
 Of fair Cresseid and lustie Troylus. 
 
 20. Th, whiskyng. 30. E, youtheid ; Th, youthheed. 
 32. E, doif ; Th, dul ; douf is Prof. Skeat's suggestion. 
 37. Th, toke I drinke. 42. Th, lusty; E, worthie. 
 
THE TESTAMENT OF CEESSEID. 145 
 
 And thair I fand, efter that Diomeid 
 Ressavit had that Lady bricht of hew, 
 
 How Troylus neir out of wit abreid, 45 
 
 And weipit soir, with visage paill of hew ; 
 For quhilk wanhope his teiris can renew 
 
 Quhill esperance rejoisit him agane ; 
 
 Thus quhyle in joy he levit, quhile in pane. 
 
 Of hir behest he had greit comforting, 50 
 
 Traisting to Troy that scho suld mak retour, 
 
 Quhilk he desyrit inaist of eirdly thing, 
 For-quhy scho was his only paramour ; 
 Bot quhen he saw passit baith day and hour 
 
 Of hir ganecome, than sorrow can oppres 55 
 
 His wofull hart in cair and hevines. 
 
 Of his distres me neidis nocht reheirs, 
 For worthie Chauceir, in the samin buik, 
 
 In gudelie termis, and in joly veirs, 
 
 Compylit hes his cairis, quha will luik. 60 
 
 To brek my sleip ane uther quair I tuik, 
 
 In quhilk I fand the fatall destenie 
 
 Of fair Cresseid, that endit wretchitlie. 
 
 Quha wait gif all that Chauceir wrait was trew ? 
 
 Nor I wait nocht gif this narratioun 65 
 
 Be authoreist, or fenyeit of the new, 
 
 45. Th, of his wytte abrede ; E, abraid. 48. E, Esperus ; 
 Th, esperous : esperance (Skeat). 51. Th, she wolde. 
 
146 THE TESTAMENT OF CKESSEID. 
 
 Be sum poeit, throw his inventioun 
 
 Maid to report the lamentatioun 
 And wofull end of this lustie Cresseid 
 And quhat distres scho thoillit, and quhat deid. 70 
 
 Quhen Diomed had all his appetyte, 
 
 And mair, fulfillit of this fair Ladie, 
 Upon ane uther he set his haill delyte, 
 
 And send to hir ane lybell of repudie ; 
 
 And hir excludit fra his companie. 75 
 
 Than desolait scho walkit up and doun, 
 And, sum men sayis, into the court commoun. 
 
 O, fair Creisseid ! the flour and A per se 
 
 Of Troy and Grece, how was thow fortunait ! 
 
 To change in filth all thy feminitie, 80 
 
 And be with fleschelie lust sa maculait, 
 And go amang the Greikis air and lait, 
 
 So giglotlike, takand thy foull plesance ! 
 
 I have pietie thow suld fall sic mischance. 
 
 Yit, nevertheles, quhat-ever men deme or say 85 
 In scornefull langage of thy brukkilnes, 
 
 I sail excuse, als far furth as I may, 
 
 Thy womanheid, thy wisdome, and fairnes : 
 The quhilk Fortoun hes put to sic distres 
 
 As hir pleisit, and nathing throw the gilt 90 
 
 Of the, throw wickit langage to be spilt. 
 
 73. Th, lette was al his delyte. 74. Th, a lybel repudy. 
 77. Th, As, some men ; into the courte as commune. 84. Th, 
 I have pyte the shulde ; E, thow. 86. Th, thy brutelness. 
 
THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 147 
 
 This fair Lady, in this wyse destitute 
 Of all comfort and consolatioun, 
 
 Richt privelie, but fellowschip, on fute 
 
 Disgysit passit far out of the toun 95 
 
 Ane myle or twa, unto ane mansioun, 
 
 Beildit full gay, quhair hir father Calchas 
 
 Quhilk than amang the Greikis dwelland was. 
 
 Quhen he hir saw, the caus he can inquyre 
 
 Of hir cumming ; scho said, siching full soir, 100 
 
 " Fra Diomeid had gottin his desyi'e 
 
 He wox werie, and wald of me no moir.'" 
 Quod Calchas : " Douchter, weip thow nocht 
 thairfoir ; 
 
 Peraventure all cummis for the best : 
 
 Welcum, to me thow art full deir ane gest." 105 
 
 This auld Calchas, efter the law was tho, 
 Wes keiper of the tempill, as ane preist, 
 
 In quhilk Venus and hir sone Cupido 
 
 War honourit, and his chalmer was thame neist, 
 To quhilk Cresseid with baill aneuch in breist, 110 
 
 Usit to pas, hir prayeris for to say ; 
 
 Quhill at the last, upon ane solempne day, 
 
 As custome was, the pepill far and neir, 
 
 Befoir the none, unto the tempill went 
 With sacrifice, devoit in thair maneir; 115 
 
 94. Th, or refute. 95. E, disagysit ; Th, Dissheuelde. 
 Th, passed out. 110. Th, bale enewed in brest. 
 
148 THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 
 
 Bot still Cresseid, hevie in hir intent, 
 Into the Kirk wald not hir self present 
 
 For giving of the pepill ony deming 
 
 Of hir expuls fra Diomeid the King ; 
 
 Bot past into ane secreit orature, 120 
 
 Quhair scho micht weip hir wofull desteny. 
 
 Behind hir bak scho cloisit fast the dure, 
 And, on hir kneis bair, fell doun in hy ; 
 Upon Venus and Cupide angerly 
 
 Scho cryit out, and said on this same wyse : 125 
 
 " Allace ! that ever I maid yow sacrifice. 
 
 " Ye gave me anis ane devine responsaill 
 That I suld be the flour of luif in Troy, 
 
 Now am I maid ane unworthie outwaill, 
 
 And all in cair translatit is my joy. 130 
 
 Quha sail me gyde ? quha sail me now convoy 
 
 Sen I fra Diomeid and nobill Troylus 
 
 Am clene excludit, as abject odious ? 
 
 " O fals Cupide, is nane to wyte bot thow, 
 
 And thy Mother, of lufe the blind Goddes ! 135 
 
 Ye causit me alwayis understand and trow 
 The seid of lufe was sawin in my face, 
 And ay grew grene throw your supplie and 
 grace, 
 
 Bot now, allace ! that seid with froist is slane, 
 
 And I fra luifferis left, and all forlane." 140 
 
 117. Th, the churche. 120. E, oratur; Th, oratore. 125. 
 Th, in this wyse. 
 
THE TESTAMENT OF CItESSEID. 149 
 
 Quhen this was said, doun in ane extasie 
 
 Ravischit in spreit, intill ane dreame scho fell, 
 
 And, be apperance, hard, quhair scho did ly, 
 Cupide the King ringand ane silver bell, 
 Quhilk men micht heir fra hevin unto hell ; 145 
 
 At quhais sound befoir Cupide appeiris 
 
 The sevin Planetis discending fra thair spheiris, 
 
 Quhilk hes power of all thing generabill 
 To reull and steir be thair greit influence 
 
 Wedder and wind, and coursis variabill : 150 
 
 And first of all, Saturne gave his sentence, 
 Quhilk gave to Cupide litill reverence, 
 
 Bot, as ane busteous churle, on his maneir, 
 
 Come crabitlie, with auster luik and cheir. 
 
 His face fronsit, his lyre was lyke the leid, 155 
 
 His teith chatterit and chevei'it with the chin ; 
 
 His ene drowpit, how sonkin in his heid ; 
 Out of his nois the meldrop fast can rin ; 
 With lippis bla, and cheikis leine and thin ; 
 
 The ice-schoklis, that fra his hair doun hang, 160 
 
 Was wonder greit, and as ane speir als lang. 
 
 Atour his belt his lyart lokkis lay 
 
 Felterit unfair, ourfret with froistis hoir; 
 His garmound and his gyte full gay of gray ; 
 
 144. Th, the kinge tynkyng. ISO. Th, course. 153. Th, 
 boystous. 155. E, frosint; Th, frounsed. 157. Th, hole 
 souken. 158. Th, Out at. 159. Th, bio. 160. Th, yse 
 yckels. 162. E, Atouir; Th, Attour. 163. E, ouirfret; Th, 
 ouerfret. 164. E, hys gyis ; Th, gate ; see line 178. 
 
150 THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 
 
 His widderit weid fra him the wind out woir, 165 
 Ane busteous bow within his hand he boh" ; 
 Under his girdill ane flasche of felloun flanis, 
 Fedderit with ice, and heidit with hailstanis. 
 
 Than Juppiter richt fair and amiabill, 
 
 God of the starnis in the firmament, 170 
 
 And nureis to all thing geneYabill, 
 Fra his father Saturne far different, 
 With burelie face, and browis bricht and brent ; 
 
 Upon his heid ane garland, wonder gay, 
 
 Of flouris fair, as it had bene in May. 175 
 
 His voice was cleir ; as cristall wer his ene ; 
 
 As goldin wyre sa glitterand was his hair ; 
 His garmound and his gyte full gay of grene, 
 
 With golden listis gilt on everie gair ; 
 
 Ane burelie brand about his middill bair ; 180 
 In his right hand he had ane groundin speir, 
 Of his father the wraith fra us to weir. 
 
 Nixt efter him came Mars, the God of ire, 
 
 Of strife, debait, and all dissensioun, 
 To chide and fecht, als feirs as ony fyre ; 1 85 
 
 In hard harnes, hewmond, and habirgeoun ; 
 
 And on his hanche ane roustie fell fachioun ; 
 And in his hand he had ane roustie sword ; 
 Wrything his face with mony angrie word. 
 
 166. Th, boustous. 167. Th, a fasshe. 168. Th, holstayns. 
 177. Th, so glyttryng. 178. E, his gyis ; Th, his gyte. 186. 
 E, hewmound ; Th, hewmond, 
 
THE TESTAMENT OF CttESSEID. 151 
 
 Schaikand his sword, befoir Cupide he come 190 
 With reid visage and grislie glowrand ene ; 
 
 And at his mouth ane bullar stude of fome, 
 Lyke to ane bair quhetting his tuskis kene, 
 Richt tuilyeour-lyke, but temperance in tene ; 
 
 Ane home he blew with mony bosteous brag, 195 
 
 Quhilk all this warld with weir hes maid to wag. 
 
 Than fair Phebus, lanterne and lamp of licht 
 Of man and beist, baith frute and flourisching, 
 
 Tender nureis, and banischer of nicht, 
 
 And of the warld causing, be his moving 200 
 
 And influence, lyfe in all eirdlie thing, 
 
 Without comfort of quhome, of force to nocht 
 
 Must all ga die, that in this warld is wrocht. 
 
 As King royall he raid upon his chair, 
 
 The quhilk Phaeton gydit sum tyme unricht : 205 
 
 The brichtness of his face, quhen it was bair, 
 Nane micht behald for peirsing of his sicht : 
 This goldin cart with fyrie bemis bricht 
 
 Four yokkit steidis, full different of hew, 
 
 But bait or tyring, throw the spheiris drew. 210 
 
 The first was soyr, with mane als reid as rois, 
 
 Callit Eoye into the Orient ; 
 The secund steid to name hecht Ethios, 
 
 190. Th, Shakyng his brand. 191. Th, grisely glowyng 
 eyen. 192. Th, a blubber stode. 194. E, Tuitlyeour; Th, 
 tulsure ; Skeat, tuilyour. 204. Th, a chare. 205. E, vpricht ; 
 Th, unright. 211. Th, sorde. 
 
152 THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 
 
 Quhytlie and paill, and sum deill ascendent ; 
 
 The thrid Peros, richt hait and richt fervent ; 215 
 The feird was blak, callit Philegoney, 
 Quhilk rollis Phebus down into the sey. 
 
 Venus was thair present, that goddes gay, 
 Hir sonnis querrel for to defend, and mak 
 
 Hir awin complaint, cled in ane nyce array, 220 
 
 The ane half grene, the uther sabill-black ; 
 Quhyte hair as gold, kemmit and sched abak ; 
 
 Bot in hir face semit greit variance, 
 
 Quhyles perfyte treuth, and quhyles inconstance. 
 
 Under smyling scho was dissimulait, 225 
 
 Provocative with blenkis amorous, 
 And suddanely changit and alterait, 
 
 Angrie as ony serpent vennemous, 
 
 Richt pungitive with wordis odious : 
 Thus variant scho was, quha list tak keip, 280 
 
 With ane eye lauch, and with the uther weip ; 
 
 In taikning that all fleschelie paramour 
 Quhilk Venus hes in reull and governance, 
 
 Is sum-tyme sweit, sum-tyme bitter and sour, 
 
 Richt unstabill, and full of variance, 235 
 
 Mingit with cairfull joy and fals plesance, 
 
 Now hait, now cauld, now blyith, now full of wo, 
 
 Now grene as leif, now widderit and ago. 
 
 216. E, Philologie; Th, Philologee; Sk, Philegoney ; Gv. 
 Smith, Phlegonie. 221. E, vther half. 
 
THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 153 
 
 With buik in hand, than come Mercurius, 
 
 Richt eloquent and full of rethovie, 240 
 
 With pdlite termis and delicious, 
 
 With pen and ink to report all reddie, 
 Setting sangis and singand merilie ; 
 
 His hude was reid, heklit atour his croun, 
 
 Lyke to ane poeit of the auld fassoun. 245 
 
 Boxis he bair with fine electuairis 
 And sugerit syropis for digestioun, 
 
 Spycis belangand to the pothecairis, 
 With mony hailsum sweit confectioun, 
 Doctour in Phisick, cled in skarlot goun, 250 
 
 And furrit weill, as sic ane aucht to be, 
 
 Honest and gude, and not ane word culd le. 
 
 Nixt efter him come Lady Cynthia, 
 
 The last of all, and swiftest in hir spheir, 
 
 Of colour blak, buskit with homis twa, 255 
 
 And in the nicht scho listis best appeir ; 
 Haw as the leid, of colour nathing cleir ; 
 
 For all hir licht scho borrowis at hir brother 
 
 Titan, for of hir self scho hes nane uther. 
 
 Hir gyte was gray, and full of spottis blak ; 260 
 
 And on hir breist ane churle paintit full evin, 
 Beirand ane bunche of thornis on his bak, 
 
 243. Th, syngyn. 244. E, attouir; Th, attour. 245. Th, 
 Lyke til a poete. 250. E, in ane ; Th, in a. 256. Th, best 
 tapere. 258. Th, al the lyght she. 260. E, Her gyse ; Th, 
 Her gyte. 261. Th, a chorle. 262. Th, busshe. 
 
154 THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 
 
 Quhilk for his thift micht clim na nar the 
 
 hevin. 
 Thus quhen thay gadderit war thir Goddis 
 sevin, 
 Mercurius thay cheisit with ane assent 265 
 
 To be foirspeikar in the parliament. 
 
 Quha had bene thair, and lyking for to heir 
 His facound toung and termis exquisite, 
 
 Of rhetorick the prettick he micht leir, 
 
 In brief sermone ane pregnant sentence wryte ; 270 
 Befoir Cupide veiling his cap a lyte, • 
 
 Speiris the caus of that vocatioun. 
 
 And he anone schew his intentioun. 
 
 " Lo ! " quod Cupide, " quha will blaspheme the 
 name 
 
 Of his awin God, outher in word or deid, 275 
 
 To all Goddis he dois baith lak and schame, 
 
 And suld have bitter panis to his meid ; 
 
 I say this by yonder wretchit Cresseid, 
 The quhilk throw me was sumtyme flour of lufe, 
 Me and my mother starklie can reprufe ; 280 
 
 " Saying of hir greit infelicitie 
 
 I was the caus, and my mother Venus, 
 Ane blind Goddes hir cald, that micht not se 
 
 267. E, liken; Th, lykyng. 271. Th, valyng his cappe. 
 276. Th, bothe losse and. 278. E, yone wretchit ; Th, by 
 yonder wretche. 280, Th, she stately can reproue. 
 
THE TESTAMENT OF CEESSEID. 155 
 
 With sclander and defame injurious. 
 
 Thus hir leving unclene and lecherous 285 
 
 Scho wald returne on me and on my mother, 
 To quhome I schew my grace abone all uther. 
 
 " And sen ye ar all sevin deificait, 
 
 Participant of devyne sapience, 
 This greit injurie done to our hie estait 290 
 
 Me think with pane we suld mak recompence; 
 
 Was never to Goddes done sic violence. 
 As weill for yow, as for myself I say ; 
 Thairfoir ga help to revenge, I yow pray." 
 
 Mercurius to Cupide gave answeir 295 
 
 And said, "Schir King, my counsall is that ye 
 
 Refer yow to the hiest Planeit heir, 
 And tak to him the la west of degre, 
 The pane of Cresseid for to modifie : 
 
 As God Saturne, with him tak Cynthia. 1 ' 300 
 
 " I am content," quod he, " to tak thay twa," 
 
 Than thus proceidit Saturne and the Mone, 
 Quhen thay the mater rypelie had degest, 
 
 For the dispyte to Cupide scho had done, 
 
 And to Venus oppin and manifest, 305 
 
 In all hir lyfe with pane to be opprest, 
 
 And torment sair, with seiknes incurabill, 
 
 And to all lovers be abominabill. 
 
 286. Th, wolde retorte in me. 290. Th, This great iniure. 
 294. E. 304. Th, that she had. 
 
156 THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 
 
 This duleful sentence Satume tuik on hand, 
 
 And passit doun quhair cairfull Cresseid lay, 3] 
 
 And on hir heid he laid ane frostie wand ; 
 Than lawfullie on this wyse can he say : 
 " Thy greit fairnes, and all thy bewtie gay, 
 
 Thy wantoun blude, and eik thy goldin hair, 
 
 Heir I exclude fra the for evermair. 315 
 
 " I change thy mirth into melancholy, 
 Quhilk is the mother of all pensivenes ; 
 
 Thy moisture and thy heit in cald and dry ; 
 Thyne insolence, thy play and wantones 
 To greit diseis ; thy pomp and thy riches 320 
 
 In mortall neid ; and greit penuritie 
 
 Thow suffer sail ; and as ane beggar die." 
 
 O cruell Saturne, fra ward and angrie, 
 
 Hard is thy dome, and to malitious ! 
 On fair Cresseid quhy hes thow na mercie, 325 
 
 Quhilk was sa sweit, gentill, and amorous ? 
 
 Withdraw thy sentence, and be gracious 
 As thow was never ; so schawis thow thy deid, 
 Ane wraikfull sentence gevin on fair Cresseid. 
 
 Than Cynthia, quhen Saturne past away, 330 
 
 Out of hir sait discendit down belyve, 
 
 And red ane bill on Cresseid quhair scho lay, 
 Contening this sentence diffinityve : 
 " Fra heit of bodie I the now depryve, 
 
 And to thy seiknes sal be na recure, 335 
 
 Bot in dolour thy dayis to indure. 
 
 831. Th, Fra heale of body. 
 
THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 157 
 
 " Thy cristall ene minglit with blude I male ; 
 Thy voice sa cleir, unplesand, hoir, and hace ; 
 
 Thy lustie lyre ouirspred with spottis blak, 
 
 And lumpis haw appeirand in thy face ; 340 
 
 Quhair thow cummis, ilk man sail fle the place; 
 
 Thus sail thow go begging fra hous to hous, 
 
 With cop and clapper lyke ane lazarous." 
 
 This doolie dreame, this uglye visioun, 
 
 Brocht to ane end, Cresseid fra it awoik, 345 
 
 And all that Court and Convocatioun 
 
 Vanischit away ; than rais scho up and tuik 
 Ane poleist glas, and hir schaddow culd luik ; 
 
 And quhen scho saw hir face sa def'ormait, 
 
 Gif scho in hart was wa aneuch, God wait ! 350 
 
 Weiping full sair, "Lo! quhat it is," quod scho, 
 "With fra ward langage for to mufe and steir 
 
 Our crabbit Goddis, and sa is sene on me ! 
 My blaspheming now have I bocht full deir ; 
 All eirdlie joy and mirth I set areir. 355 
 
 Allace, this day ! allace, this wofull tyde ! 
 
 Quhen I began with my Goddis to chyde." 
 
 Be this was said, ane chyld come fra the hall, 
 To warne Cresseid the supper was reddy ; 
 
 First knokkit at the dure, and syne culd call, 360 
 " Madame, your Father biddis you cum in hy, 
 
 34.2. E, This; Th, Thus. 345. Th, til ane. 319. Th, her 
 visage. 350. Th, hert were wo, I ne wyte, god wate. 353. 
 E, craibit; Th, crabbed. 357. E, for to; Th, om. for. 360. 
 Th, and efte couth. 
 
158 THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 
 
 He hes mervell sa lang on grouf ye ly, 
 And sayis, ' Your prayers bene to lang sum deill, 
 The Goddis wait all your intent full weill.' ,1 
 
 Quod scho, " Fair chylde, ga to my Father deir, 365 
 
 And pray him cum to speik with me anone." 
 And sa he did, and said : " Douchter, quhat 
 cheir?" 
 " Allace," quod scho, " Father my mirth is 
 
 gone. 1 ' 
 " How sa?" quod he, and scho can all expone, 
 As I have tauld, the vengeance and the wrak, 870 
 For hir trespas, Cupide on hir culd tak. 
 
 He luikit on hir uglye lipper face, 
 
 The quhilk befor was quhyte as lillie flour ; 
 
 Wringand his handis, oftymes he said, Allace ! 
 That he had levit to se that wofull hour ; 875 
 For he knew weill that thair was na succour 
 
 To hir seiknes, and that dowblit his pane ; 
 
 Thus was thair cair aneuch betuix thame twane. 
 
 Quhen thay togidder murnit had full lang, 
 
 Quod Cresseid, " I wald not be kend, 380 
 
 Thairfoir in secreit wyse ye let me gang 
 To yone hospitall at the tounis end ; 
 And thidder sum meit, for cheritie, me send, 
 
 To leif upon ; for all mirth in this eird 
 
 Is fra me gane ; sic is my wickit weird." 385 
 
 363. Th, beedes bethe. 370. E, the wraik. 378. Th, care 
 ynow. 382. E, Unto yone ; Th, To yone. 
 
THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 159 
 
 Than, in ane mantill and ane bevar hat, 
 With cop and clapper, wonder prively 
 
 He opnit ane secreit yet, and out thairat 
 Convoyit hir, that na man suld espy, 
 Unto ane village half ane myle thairby ; 390 
 
 Delyverit hir in at the Spittaill hous, 
 
 And daylie sent hir part of his almous. 
 
 Sum knew her weill, and sum had na knawledge 
 
 Of hir, becaus scho was sa deformait 
 With bylis blak ouirspred in hir visage, 395 
 
 And hir fair colour faidit and alterait. 
 
 Yit thay presumit, for her hie regrait, 
 And still murning, scho was of nobill kin : 
 With better will thairfoir they tuik hir in. 
 
 The day passit, and Phebus went to rest, 400 
 
 The cloudis blak ouirquhelmit all the sky ; 
 
 God wait gif Cresseid was ane sorrowfull gest, 
 Seeing that uncouth fair and herbery. 
 But meit or drink scho dressit hir to ly 
 
 In ane dark corner of the hous allone ; 405 
 
 And on this wyse, weiping, scho maid hir mone. 
 
 386. Th, Whan. 389. Conveyed her. 390. Th, There to a 
 vyllage. 395. E, ouirspred. 401. Th, ouerheled; E, ouir- 
 quhelmit. 
 
160 THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSKID. 
 
 THE COMPLAINT OF CRESSEID. 
 
 " sop of sorrow, sonken into cair ! 
 
 O cative Cresseid ! for now and ever-inair 
 
 Gane is thy joy, and all thy mirth in eird ; 
 Of all thy blyithnes now art thow blaiknit bair; 410 
 Thair is na salve may saif the of thy sair. 
 
 Fell is thy fortoun, wickit is thy weird ; 
 
 Thy blys is baneist, and thy baill on breird ; 
 Under the eirth God gif I gravin wer, 
 
 Quhair nane of Grece nor yit of Troy micht 
 
 heird. 415 
 
 " Quhair is thy chalmer wantounlie besene, 
 With burely bed and bankouris browderit bene, 
 
 Spycis and wyne to thy collatioun, 
 The cowpis all of gold and silver schene, 
 The sweit meitis, servit in plaittis clene, 420 
 
 With saipheron sals of ane gud sessoun, 
 
 Thy gay garmentis with mony gudely goun, 
 Thy plesand lawn pinnit with goldin prene ? 
 
 All is areir, thy greit royall renoun. 
 
 " Quhair is thy garding with thir greissis gay, 425 
 And fresche flowris, quhilk the Quene Floray 
 
 Had paintit plesandly in everie pane, 
 Quhair thow was wont full merilye in May 
 
 410. Th, blake and bare. 411. Th, no salue maye helpe thy 
 sare. 412. Th, thy werthe. 413. Th, bale vnberd. 414. Th, 
 Under the great god. 417. Th, burly; bankers brouded. 
 421. Th, sauery sauce. 425. Th, thy greces. 
 
THE TESTAMENT OF CEESSEID. 161 
 
 To walk, and tak the dew be it was day, 
 
 And heir the merle and mavis mony ane, 430 
 
 With ladyis fair in carrolling to gane, 
 
 And see the royall rinkis in their array, 
 
 In garmentis gay, garnischit on everie grane ? 
 
 " Thy greit triumphand fame and hie honour, 
 Quhair thou was callit of eirdlye wichtis flour — 435 
 
 All is decayit ; thy weird is welterit so, 
 Thy hie estait is turnit in darknes dour, 
 This Lipper Ludge tak for thy burelie bour, 
 
 And for thy bed tak now ane bunche of stro ; 
 
 For waillit wyne and meitis thow had tho, 440 
 Tak mowlit breid, peirrie, and ceder sour : 
 
 Bot cop and clapper, now is all ago. 
 
 " My cleir voice and my courtlie carrolling, 
 Quhair I was wont with ladyis for to sing, 
 
 Is rawk as ruik, full hiddeous, hoir and hace; 445 
 My plesand port, all utheris precelling, 
 Of lustiness I was hald maist conding ; 
 
 Deformit is the figour of my face ; 
 
 To luik on it na leid now lyking has, 
 Sowpit in syte, I say with sair siching — 450 
 
 Ludgeit amang the lipper-leid — Allace ! 
 
 Th, omits 11. 433-437. 441. Th, pirate. 443. E, om. my a . 
 444. Th, omits. 445. Th, Is ranke as roke, ful hidous heer. 
 Th, om. 11. 446, 447. 448. E, Now is deformit ; Th, Deformed 
 is. 449. Th, no pleople hath lykyng. 450. Th, Solped in 
 syght. 451. Th, Lyeng among the leper folke ; alas. 
 
162 THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEII). 
 
 " O ladyis fair of Troy and Grece attend 
 My miserie, quhilk nane may comprehend, 
 
 My frivol fortoun, my infelicitie, 
 My greit mischief, quhilk na man can amend ; 455 
 Be war in tyme, approchis neir the end, 
 
 And in your mynd ane mirrour mak of me ; 
 
 As I am now, peradventure that ye, 
 For all your micht, may cum to that same end, 
 
 Or ellis war, gif ony war may be. 460 
 
 " Nocht is your fairnes, but ane faiding flour, 
 Nocht is your famous laud and hie honour, 
 
 Bot wind inflat in uther mennis eiris ; 
 Your roising reid to rotting sail retour. 
 Exempill mak of me in your memour, 465 
 
 Quhilk of sic thingis wofull witnes beiris, 
 
 All welth in eird away as wind it weiris ; 
 Be war, thairfoir, approchis neir the hour; 
 
 Fortoun is fikkill, quhen scho beginnis and 
 stems." 
 
 Thus chydand with hir drerie destenye, 470 
 
 Weiping, scho woik the nicht fra end to end ; 
 
 Bot all in vane ; hir dule, hir cairfull cry, 
 
 Micht not remeid, nor yit hir murning mend. 
 Ane lipper lady rais, and till hir wend, 
 
 And said, " Quhy spurnis thow aganis the wall, 475 
 
 To sla thyself, and mend nathing at all ? 
 
 453. Th, omits. 454. Th, freyle fortune. 456. Th, places 
 this 1. after 460. 469. Th, omits. 
 
THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 163 
 
 " Sen thy weiping dowbillis bot thy wo, 
 I counsall the mak vertew of ane neid ; 
 
 Go leir to clap thy clapper to and fro, 
 
 And live efter the law of Lipper-Leid.' 1 480 
 
 Thair was na buit, bot furth with thame scho 
 yeid, 
 
 Fra place to place, quhill cauld and hungir sair 
 
 Compellit hir to be ane rank beggair. 
 
 That samin tyme of Troy the garnisoun, 
 
 Quhilk had to chiftane worthie Troylus, 485 
 
 Throw jeopardie of weir had strikken doun 
 Knichtis of Grece in number marvellous : 
 With greit tryumphe and laude victorious 
 
 Agane to Troy richt royallie they raid, 
 
 The way quhair Cresseid with the Upper baid. 490 
 
 Seing that companie, thai come all with ane stevin ; 
 Thay gaif ane cry, and schuik coppis gude 
 speid ; 
 Said, "Worthie Lordis, for G-oddis lufe of 
 hevin, 
 To us lipper part of your almous deid." 
 Than to thair cry nobill Troylus tuik heid, 495 
 Having pietie, neir by the place can pas 
 Quhair Cresseid sat, not witting quhat scho 
 was. 
 
 4.77. E, Sen; Th, Sithe ; E, dowbillis bot ; Th, but doubleth. 
 4.80. E, leir ; Th, leme. 485. Th, had the. 489. Th, go lerne ; 
 E, To leir. 491. Th, om. thai, 493. Th, om. Said; her crye. 
 
164 THE TESTAMENT OF CEESSEID. 
 
 Than upon him scho kest up baith hir ene 
 And with ane blenk it come into his thocht, 
 
 That he sum time hir face befoir had sene ; 500 
 
 Bot scho was in sic plye he knew hir nocht ; 
 Yit than hir luik into his mynd it brocht 
 
 The sweit visage and amorous blenking 
 
 Of fair Cresseid, sumtyme his awin darling. 
 
 Na wonder was, suppois in mynd that he 505 
 
 Tuik hir figure sa sone, and lo ! now quhy ? 
 
 The idole of ane thing in case may be 
 Sa deip imprentit in the fantasy, 
 That it deludis the wittis outwardly, 
 
 And sa appeiris in forme and lyke estait 510 
 
 Within the mynd as it was figurait. 
 
 Ane spark of lufe than till his hart coud spring, 
 And kendlit all his bodie in ane fyre, 
 
 With hait fevir ane sweit and trimbling 
 
 Him tuik, quhill he was reddie to expyre ; 515 
 To beir his scheild his breist began to tyre ; 
 
 Within ane quhyle he changit mony hew, 
 
 And, nevertheless, not ane ane-uther knew. 
 
 For knichtlie pietie and memoriall 
 
 Of fair Cresseid, ane gyrdill can he tak, 520 
 
 Ane purs of gold, and mony gay jo wall, 
 
 499. Th, in tyl. 501. E, plye; Th, plyte. 504. E, awin; 
 Th, owne. 512. E, culd; Th, couth. 513. Th, kyndeled his 
 body. 517. Th, many a hewe. 521. Th, many a gay. 
 
THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 165 
 
 And in the skirt of Cresseid doun can swak : 
 Than raid away, and not ane word he spak, 
 Pensive in hart, quhill he come to the toun, 
 And for greit cair oft syis almaist fell doun. 525 
 
 The lipper-folk to Cresseid than can draw, 
 
 To se the equall distributioun 
 Of the almous ; bot quhen the gold thay saw, 
 
 Ilk ane to uther prevelie can roun, 
 
 And said, " Yone Lord hes mair affectioun, 530 
 How-ever it be, unto yone Lazarous 
 Than to us all ; we knaw be his almous." 
 
 " Quhat Lord is yone," quod scho, " have ye na 
 feill, 
 Hes done to us so greit humanitie ? " 
 
 " Yes," quod a Upper man, " I knaw him weill ; 
 Schir Troylus it is, gentill and fre." 535 
 
 Quhen Cresseid understude that it was he, 
 
 Stiffer than steill thair stert ane bitter stound 
 
 Throwout hir hart, and fell doun to the ground. 
 
 Quhen scho, ourcom with siching sair and sad, 540 
 With mony cairfull cry and cald — " Ochane ! 
 
 Now is my breist with stormie stoundis stad, 
 Wrappit in wo, ane wretch full will of wane." 
 Than swounit scho oft or scho culd refrane. 
 
 And ever in hir swouning cryit scho thus : 545 
 
 " O, fals Cresseid ! and trew Knicht Troylus ! 
 
 522. Th, can shake. 543. Th, wretch fulwyl of one. 544. 
 Th, Than fel in swoun ful ofte or she wolde fone. 
 
166 THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 
 
 " Thy lufe, thy lawtie, and thy gentilnes, 
 I countit small in my prosperitie, 
 
 Sa elevait I was in wantones, 
 
 And clam upon the fickill quheill sa hie ; 550 
 
 All faith and lufe, I promissit to the, 
 
 Was in the self fickill and frivolous : 
 
 O, fals Cresseid ! and trew Knicht Troylus ! 
 
 " For lufe of me thow keipt gude continence, 
 
 Honest and chaist in conversatioun, 555 
 
 Of all wemen protectour and defence 
 Thow was, and helpit thair opinioun : 
 My mynd in fleschlie foull afFectioun 
 
 Was inclynit to lustis lecherous : 
 
 Fy, fals Cresseid ! O, trew Knicht Troylus ! 560 
 
 " Lovers, be war, and tak gude heid about 
 Quhome that ye lufe, for quhome ye suffer 
 paine ; 
 
 I lat you wit, thair is richt few thairout 
 
 Quhome ye may traist, to have trew lufe agane ; 
 Preif quhen ye will, your labour is in vaine ; 565 
 
 Thairfoir, I reid ye tak thame as ye find, 
 
 For thay ar sad as widdercock in wind. 
 
 " Becaus I knaw the greit unstabilnes, 
 Brukkill as glas into my self I say. 
 Traisting in uther als greit unfaithfulnes, 570 
 
 547. Th, thy lande ; and al thy. 549. Th, So effated. 552. 
 Th, thye selfe fekel and furious. 554. Th, kept countenaunce. 
 562. Th, for whan. 563. Th, fewe thrughout. 570. Th, great 
 brutelnesse. 
 
THE TESTAMENT OF CEESSEID. 167 
 
 Als unconstant, and als untrew of fay ; 
 
 Thocht sum be trew, I wait richt few are thay ; 
 Quha findis treuth, lat him his lady ruse : 
 Nane but my-self, as now, I will accuse." 
 
 Quhen this was said, with paper scho sat doun, 575 
 And on .this maneir maid hir Testament : 
 
 " Heir I beteiche my corps and carioun 
 With wormis and with taidis to be rent ; 
 My cop and clapper, and myne ornament, 
 
 And all my gold, the Lipper-folk sail have, 580 
 
 Quhen I am deid, to burie me in grave. 
 
 " This royall ring, set with this rubie reid, 
 Quhilk Troylus in drowrie to me send, 
 
 To him agane I leif it quhen I am deid, 
 
 To mak my cairfull deid unto him kend : 585 
 
 Thus I conclude schortlie, and mak ane end ; 
 
 My spreit I leif to Diane, quhair scho dwellis, 
 
 To walk with hir in waist woddis and wellis. 
 
 " O Diomeid ! thow hes baith broche and belt, 
 Quhilk Troylus gave me in takining 590 
 
 Of his trew lufe" — and with that word scho 
 swelt ; 
 And sone ane lipper man tuik of the ring, 
 Syne buryit hir withouttin tarying : 
 
 To Troylus furthwith the ring he bair, 
 
 And of Cresseid the deith he can declair. 595 
 
 590. E, takning ; Th, tokenyng. 
 
168 THE TESTAMENT OP CRESSEID, 
 
 Quhen he had hard hir greit infirmitie, 
 
 Hir legacie and lamentatioun, 
 And how scho endit in sic povertie, 
 
 He swelt for wo, and fell doun in a swoun ; 
 
 For greit sorrow his hart to brist was boun : 600 
 Siching full sadlie, said, " I can no moir ; 
 Scho was untrew, and wo is me thairfoir ! " 
 
 Sum said he maid ane tomb of merbell gray, 
 And wrait hir name and superscriptioun, 
 
 And laid it on hir grave, quhair that scho lay, 605 
 In goldin letteris, conteining this ressoun : 
 " Lo, ladyis fair, Cresseid of Troyis toun, 
 
 Sumtyme countit the flour of womanheid, 
 
 Under this stane, lait Lipper, lyis deid." 
 
 Now, worthie Wemen, in this ballet schort, 610 
 
 Made for your worschip and instructioun, 
 
 Of cheritie I monische and exhort, 
 
 Ming not your lufe with fals deceptioun ; 
 Beir in your mynd this schort conclusioun 
 
 Of fair Cresseid, as I have said befoir : 615 
 
 Sen scho is deid, I speik of hir no moir. 
 
 600. Th, For sorowe. 60S. Th, where as. 607. E, fair 
 ladyis ; Th, Troy the town. 614. Th, sore conclusyon. 
 
OKPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 
 
OKPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 171 
 
 ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 
 
 The nobilnes and gret magnificence 
 Of prince or lord quha list to magnify, 
 
 His gret ancestry and lineall discence 
 Suld first extoll, and his genology, 
 So that his harte he mycht inclyne tharby 5 
 
 The mor to vertew and to wurthyness, 
 
 Herand reherss his eldaris gentilness. 
 
 Yt is contrair the lawis of natur 
 
 A gentill man to be degenerat, 
 Nocht following of his progenitour 10 
 
 The worthy reule, and the lordly estate ; 
 
 A ryall rink for to be rusticat 
 Is bot a monstour in comparisoun, 
 Had in dispyt and foule derisioun. 
 
 I say this be the gret lordis of Grewe, 15 
 
 Quhilkis set thar hart, and all thair hale curage 
 Thar faderis steppis justlie to persewe, 
 
 Text — A (Asloan) collated with B (Bannatyne) and C 
 (Chepman and Millar). 1. B, grit; C, grete. 2. B. and lord; 
 A, C, or ; B, quhai ; A, C, quha ; A, C, magnify. 3. B. ances- 
 tre; C, ancester; B, discens; C, descense. S. C, enclyne 
 thare by; B, J>airby. 8. B, C, nature; A, natur. 9. A, B, 
 degenerat. 10. C, Noucht. 11. B, rewll, estait. 12. C; A, 
 ryall reulre; B, rynk; C, renk. 12. A, B, rusticat; C, rusti- 
 cate. 14. B, full. 16. A, for all ; B, C, and all ; A, corage. 
 
172 ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 
 
 Eking the worschipe of thair hie lynage : 
 The ancient and sad wyse men of age 
 
 War tendouris to the younge and insolent 20 
 
 To mak thaim in all vertew excellent. 
 
 Lyke as a strand of watter or a spring 
 Haldis the sapour of his fontale well, 
 
 So did in Grece ilk lord and worthy King, 
 
 Of forbearis thai tuke carage and smell 25 
 
 Amangis the quhilkis of ane I think to tell ; 
 
 But first his gentill generacioun 
 
 I sail reherss, with your correctioun. 
 
 Apon the montane of Elicounee, 
 
 The most famouss of all Arabia 30 
 
 A goddes dwelt, excellent of bewte, 
 
 Gentill of blude, callit Memoria ; 
 
 Quhilk Jupiter, that god to wyf can ta, 
 And carnaly hir knewe, quhilk eftir syne 
 Apon a day, bair him fair douchteris nyne. 35 
 
 The first in Grewe was callit Euterpe, 
 
 In our langage gud delictacioun ; 
 The secound maide namyt Melpomene 
 
 18. A, thar ; B, C, thair. 19. B, The anseane. 20. B, yung; 
 C, yong. 31. B, vertewis ; C, vertu. 22. strand or. 23. B, 
 the fontell; C, his foil tall. 25. B, tuk knawlege and smell; 
 A, C, carage and. 26. B, Among the quhilk ; C, Amang the 
 quhilk. 27. C, generation. 28. C, correction. 29. B, elecone; 
 C, Elicone. 31. C, godesse; B, in bewte. 33. A, Jubiter; 
 A and C, god ; B, goddes. 34. A and C, quhilk eftir ; B, and 
 eftir. 35. B, C, bare; B, dochteris. 36. A, grewe. 38. B, 
 clippit M ; A, named ; C, namyt. 
 
ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 173 
 
 As hony sweit in modulacioun : 
 
 Tersicor, quhilk is gud instructioun 40 
 
 Of every thing, the thrid sister, i-wiss, 
 Thus out of Grewe in Latyne translat is ; 
 
 Caliope, that madyn mervalous, 
 
 The ferd sister, of all musik maistress, 
 
 And moder to the King Schir Orpheus, 45 
 
 Quhilk throw his wyf wes efter King of Trace; 
 Cleo, the fyft, that now is a goddess, 
 
 In Latyne callit Meditacioun, 
 
 Of every thing that has creacioun. 
 
 The sext lady was callit Herato, 50 
 
 Quhilk drawis lyke to lyke in every thing ; 
 
 The sevynt lady was fair Pollyrayo, 
 
 Quhilk coude a thousand sangis swetly syng ; 
 Thelya syne, quhilk can our sawlis bring 
 
 To profound wit and gret agilite, 55 
 
 To understand and have capacite. 
 
 Uranya, the nynt and last of all, 
 
 In our langage, quha could it wele expound, 
 
 Is callit Armony Celestiall, 
 
 Rejoicing men with melody and sound. 60 
 
 Amang thir nyne Caliope was crownd, 
 
 And maid a quene be mychti god Phebus, 
 
 Of quhom he gat this prince Schir Orpheus. 
 
 39. B, modelatioun. 40. B, Thersycore is gud. 42. B, trans- 
 lait ; C, translate. 43. B, madin ; C, maidyn mervailus ; C, 
 musilk. 44. B, C, Sir. 46. B, traii'. 50. B, sext sister is. 
 52. A, was callit. 54. B, Talia. 55. B, In profound. 57. B, 
 Till. 59-175. of A and B fail in C. 58. B, greik langage. 
 
174 ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 
 
 No wounder is, thocht he was fair and wise, 
 
 Gentill and full of liberalite, 65 
 
 His fader a god, his progenitrys 
 A goddess, fyndar of all armonye : 
 Quhen he was borne, scho set him on hir kne, 
 
 And gart him sowke of hir twa palpis quhyte 
 
 The sweit licour of all musik perfyte. 70 
 
 Incressand sone to manheid up he drew, 
 Of statur large, and frely fair of face ; 
 
 His noble fame so far it sprang and grewe, 
 Till at the last the mychti Quene of Trace 
 Excelland fair, haboundand in richess, 75 
 
 Ane message send unto this prince so ying, 
 
 Requyrand him to wed hir, and be king. 
 
 Euridices that lady had to name. 
 
 Quhen that scho saw this prince so glorius, 
 
 Hir erand to propone scho thocht no schame, 80 
 With wordis sweit and blenkis amorous, 
 Said, " Welcome, lord and luf, Schir Orpheus, 
 
 In this province ye sail be king and lord ! " 
 
 Thai kissit syne, and thus war at accord. 
 
 Betwene Orpheus and fair Euridices, 85 
 
 Fra thai war weddit, on fra day to day, 
 The lowe of luf couth kendill and encres, 
 
 64.. B, wonder was. 65. B, Gentill and gud full of. 67. A, 
 Ermonye. 69. B, twa paupis. 71. B ; A, Quhen he was auld 
 sone to manheid he drewe. 73. B, Is noble. 75. B ; A, 
 Excellent. 76. B, J;at prince. 78. B ; A, Erudices, here and 
 always ; B, this ladye. 79. B, And quhene scho. 80. A, she. 
 Si. B, and thus thay can accord. 85. B, betuix. 
 
ORPHEUS AND EUK.YDICE. 175 
 
 With myrth, blythness, gret plesans, and gret 
 play 
 
 Of warldlie joy ; allace ! quhat sail we say ? 
 Lyke till a flour that pleasandly will spring, 90 
 
 Quhilk fadis sone, and endis with murnyng ! 
 
 I say this be Euridices the Quene, 
 
 Quhilk walkit furth in till a Maij mornyng, 
 
 And with a madin in a medow grene, 
 
 To tak the air, and se the flouris spring ; 95 
 
 Quhar in a schawe, ner by this lady ying, 
 
 A bustuos herd, callit Arystyus, 
 
 Kepand his beistis, lay under a buss. 
 
 And quhen he saw this lady solitar, 
 
 Barfute, with schankis quhytar than the snaw, 100 
 Prikkit with lust, he thocht withoutin mar 
 
 Hir till oppress, and till hir can he draw ; 
 
 Dredand for scaith scho fled, quhen scho him 
 saw ; 
 And as scho ran, all bairfut, in ane buss 
 Scho tram pit on a serpent vennomuss. 105 
 
 This cruell vennome was so penitryf, 
 As natur is of all mortall poisoun, 
 In pecis small this Quenis hart couth ryfe, 
 
 88. B, With mirth and blythness, solace and with play. 89. 
 A, B, wardlie joy ; A, we say ; B, I say. 93. B, in to a may. 
 95. B, A, to take the. 101. B, preckit with. 102. B, and to 
 his cave hir draw. 103. B, Dreidand for evill. 105. B, Scho 
 strampit. 107. B, of mortall. 
 
176 ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 
 
 And scho anone fell in a dedly swoun. 
 
 Seand this caiss, Proserpyne maid hir boun, 110 
 Quhilk clepit is the Goddes Infermall, 
 And till hir court this gentill Quene couth call. 
 
 And quhen scho vanyst was and unvisible, 
 Hir madin wepit with a wofull cheir, 
 
 Cryand with mony schout and voce terrible, 115 
 Till at the last Schir Orpheus couth heir, 
 And of hir cry the cause than can he speir. 
 
 Scho said, " Allace ! Euridices, your Quene, 
 
 Is with the fary tane befor myne ene." 
 
 This noble King inflammit all in ire, 120 
 
 And rampand as ane lyoun ravenus, 
 With awfull luke and eyne glowand as fire, 
 Speris the maner, and the maid said thus : 
 " Scho trampit on a serpent vennomouss, 
 And fell in swoun ; with that the Quene of 
 
 fary 125 
 
 Claucht hir up sone, and furth-with hir can 
 cary." 
 
 Quhen scho had said, the King sichit full sore, 
 
 His hert ner birst for verray dule and wo ; 
 Half out of mynd, he made na tary more, 
 
 109. B, on a deidly. 112. B, Ontill hir court. 113. A, In- 
 visible. 116. B, Quhill at the last king orpheus can heir. 
 117. B, the cause sone cowth he speir. 119. B, phary tane 
 befoir my. 121. B, rewanuf. 123. A, speiris ; B, sperid. 
 124. B, strampit. 
 
ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 177 
 
 But tuke his harp, and to the wod can go, 130 
 Wryngand his handis, walkand to and fro, 
 Quhile he mycht stand, syne sat doun on a stone 
 And to his harp thusgate he maid his mone : 
 
 " dulfull harp, with mony dolly stryng, 
 
 Turne all thy mirth and musik in murnyng, 135 
 
 And cese of all thi subtell sangis sweit ; 
 Now wepe with me, thy lord and cairfull Kyng, 
 Quhilk losit has in erd all his lyking ; 
 
 And all thi game thow change in gule, and 
 greit; 
 
 Thy goldin pynnis with thi teris weit, 140 
 
 And all my pane for to report thow press, 
 
 Cryand with me, in every steid and streit, 
 " Quhar art thow gane, my luf Euridices ? " 
 
 Him to rejoise yit playit he a spryng, 
 
 Quhill all the foulis of the wod can syng, 145 
 
 And treis dansit with thair leves grene, 
 Him to devoid of his gret womenting ; 
 Bot all in vane, that wailyeit him na thing ; 
 
 His hart was sa upon his lusty Quene ; 
 
 The bludy teres sprang out of his ene, 150 
 
 Thar was na solace mycht his sobbing cese, 
 
 Bot cryit aye, with caris cald and kene, 
 " Quhar art thow gane, my luf Euridices ? 
 
 130. B, and on to wod. 131. B, Wrinkand his handis. 134. 
 B, till his harp. 136. B, seiss. 137. A, careful. 139. B, gole. 
 140. B, with mony teiris. 145. B, the wid. 148. A, ))ai com- 
 fort him no thing. 150. A, eyne. 
 
 12 
 
178 ORPHEUS AND EURYBICE. 
 
 "Fair weill my place, fair wele plesance and play, 
 And welcome woddis wyld, and wilsome way, 155 
 
 My wikit werd in wilderness to wair ; 
 My rob ryall, and all my riche array, 
 Chaungit sail be in rude russat of gray, 
 
 My diademe in till ane hat of hair ; 
 
 My bed sail be with bever, broke, and bair, 160 
 In buskis bene with mony bustuoss bess, 
 
 Withoutin sang, saying with siching sair, 
 ' Quhar art thow gane, my luf Euridices ? ' 
 
 " I the beseike, my fair fader Phebus, 
 
 Have pete of thi awne sone Orpheus ; 165 
 
 Wait thow nocht wele I am thi barne and 
 child? 
 Now heir my plant, panefull and petuouss : 
 Direct me fra this deid sa doloruss, 
 
 Quhilk gois thus withoutin gilt begild ; 
 
 Lat nocht thy face with clowdis be oursyld ; 170 
 Len me thi licht, and lat me nocht ga less, 
 
 To fynd the fair in fame that never was fyld, 
 My lady Quene and luf, Euridices. 
 
 " O Jupiter, thow god celestiall, 
 And grantschir to my-self, on the I call 175 
 
 To mend my murnyng and my drery mone ; 
 
 155. B, wjlsum. 156. B, to ware. 158. B, Changit; A, of 
 gray; B, and gray. 161. B, busteouf. 162. B, song. 166. 
 B, sone and chyld. 167. B, pelful(?) and peteufl. 168. B, 
 Direk. 170. B, cluddis. 172. B, that fair. 173 and 183. A, 
 erudices. 
 
OEPHEUS AND EUKYDICE. 179 
 
 Thow gif me forse, that I nocht fant nor fall, 
 Quhill I hir fynd ; for seik hir suth I sail, 
 And nother stynt nor stand for stole nor 
 
 stone, 
 Throw thi godhead gyde me quhar scho is 
 
 gone, 180 
 
 Gar hir appeir, and put myne hert in pess." 
 
 Thus King Orpheus, with his harpe allone, 
 Sore wepit for his wyf Euridices. 
 
 Quhen endit wer thir sangis lamentable, 
 
 He tuke his harp, and on his brest can hyng, 185 
 
 Syne passit to the hevin, as sayis the fable, 
 To seik his wyf, bot that velyeid na thing : 
 By Wadlyng Streit he went but tarying, 
 
 Syne come doune throw the spheir of Saturn aid 
 
 Quhilk fader is of all thir sternis cald. 190 
 
 Quhen scho was soucht throw that cald regioun, 
 To Jupiter, his grantschir, can he wend, 
 
 Quhilk rewit sair his lamentacioun 
 
 And gart his spheir be soucht fra end to end ; 
 Scho was nocht there ; than doun he can 
 
 discend 195 
 
 To Mars, the god of batall and of stryf, 
 
 And socht his spheir, yit gat he nocht his wyf. 
 
 177. B, that nocht. 178. Till I ; B, forsuth seik hir I sail. 
 180. B, grant me. 181. B, my hairt. 183. Sore weipand. 
 184. A, C, Quhen endit was |>ir sangis. 187. A, avalit; C, 
 auailit; B, welyeid. 188. B, wedlingis streit .. tareing. 190. 
 B, the stormis cald. 191. A and C, soucht out throw; B, 
 socht outhrow. 192. B, grandschir ; C, grantsir. 
 
180 ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 
 
 Syne went he doun to his fader Phebus, 
 
 God of the Son, with beraes bricht and cleir ; 
 
 Bot quhen he saw his awin son Orpheus 200 
 
 In sic a plyte, it changit all his cheir. 
 He gart anone go seik throw all his spheir ; 
 
 Bot all in vane, that lady come nocht thare : 
 
 Than tuke he leif and to Venus can fare. 
 
 Quhen he hir saw, he knelit and said thus : 205 
 
 " Wait ye nocht weil I am your awne trew 
 knycht ? 
 In luf nane lelar than Schir Orpheus ; 
 
 And ye of luf goddess, and most of mycht, 
 Of my lady helpe me to get a sicht." 
 "For suth," quod scho, "ye mon seik nethir- 
 
 mair." 210 
 
 Than fra Venus he tuke his lef but mair. 
 
 To Mercury but tary is he gone, 
 Quhilk callit is the god of eloquens ; 
 
 Bot of his wyf thare knawlege gat he none. 
 
 With wofull hart he passit doune fro thens ; 215 
 Unto the Mone he maid na residens : 
 
 Thus fra the hevin he went doun to the erd, 
 
 Yit be the way sum melody he lerd. 
 
 198. B, Than went . . . till his. 200. C ; A, om. Bot ; B, 
 quhen he saw awin sone. 201. B, sic a plicht j>at. 203. B, 
 And gart . . . spheir. 204. B, he tuk his. 210. B, For sut 
 quod scho . . . nedirmair ; A, mar ; C, mare. 212. A, marcury. 
 214. B, thair gat he knawlege none. 215. A, hart >an passir 
 he dovne ; B, hairt he passit doun. 217. B, went onto. 
 
ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 181 
 
 In his passage amang the planetis all 
 
 He herd ane hevinlie melody and sound, 220 
 
 Passing all instrumentis musicall, 
 
 Causit be rolling of the spheris round ; 
 
 Quhilk armony throw all this mapamond, 
 Quhill moving cese, unite perpetuall, 
 Quhilk of this warld Pluto the saull can call. 225 
 
 Thar leirit he tonys proportionate, 
 
 As dupler, tripler and emetricus, 
 Enoleus, and eike the quadruplate, 
 
 Epodyus richt hard and curious ; 
 
 And of thir sex, swet and delicious, 230 
 
 Richt consonant five hevinly symphonys 
 Componit ar, as clerkis can devys. 
 
 First diatesseroun, full sweit, i-wiss, 
 And diapasoun, symple and duplate, 
 
 And diapente, componit with a diss : 
 This makis five of thre multiplicat : 
 This mery musik and mellifluat, 
 
 Complete and full with noumeris od and evyn, 
 
 Is causit be the moving of the hevin. 
 
 Of sic musik to wryte I do bot dote, 240 
 
 Tharfor at this mater a stra I lay, 
 For in my lyf I couth nevir syng a note ; 
 
 Bot I will tell how Orpheus tuke the way, 
 
 222. B, be rollyn. 223. B, of all this. 224. A, B, Quhilk. 
 230. B, Off all thir sex. 236. B, Thir makis fyve. 
 
182 ORPHEUS AND EtTRYDICE. 
 
 To seike his wyf attour the gravis gray, 
 Hungry and cald, our mony wilsom wane, 245 
 
 Withoutin gyde, he and his harp allane. 
 
 He passit furth the space of twenty dayis 
 Fer and full fer, and ferrer than I can tell, 
 
 And ay he fand stretis and redy wayis ; 
 
 Till at the last unto the yet of hell 250 
 
 He come, and thare he fand a portare fell, 
 
 With thre hedis, was callit Cerberus, 
 
 A hound of hell, a monstour mervalous. 
 
 Than Orpheus began to be agast, 
 
 Quhen he beheld that ugly hellis hound ; 255 
 
 He tuke his harpe, and on it playit fast, 
 Till at the last throw swetness of the sound, 
 The dog slepit and fell unto the ground ; 
 
 And Orpheus attour his wame in stall, 
 
 And neddirmair he went, as ye heir sail. 260 
 
 Than come he till a ryver wounder depe, 
 
 Our it a brig, and on it sisteris thre, 
 Quhilk had the entre of the brig to kepe, 
 
 Alecto, Megera, and Thesphonee, 
 
 Tornand a quheile was uglie for to se, 265 
 
 And on it spred a man hecht Ixioun, 
 Rollit about richt wounder wo begone. 
 
 248. A, Far and full ferther ))an. 252. B, serberus. 258. 
 B. fell doun on the. 261. B, He passit furth ontill a ryvir deip. 
 262. C. Our it a brih. 263. C. entree. 264. B. Electo mygra 
 and thesaphone; C, Thesiphonee. 265. B, turnit; C, Turnand. 
 267. C, Rowit; A, Rollit; B, Rolland. 
 
ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 183 
 
 Than Orpheus playit a joly spring, 
 
 The thre sisteris full fast thai fell on slepe, 
 
 The uglye quheile cessit of hir quhirling; 270 
 
 Thus left was nane the entre for to kepe. 
 Than Ixioun out of the quhele can crepe, 
 
 And stall away ; than Orpheus anone, 
 
 Without stopping, attour the brig is gone. 
 
 Syne come he till a wounder grysly flude, 275 
 
 Droubly and depe, that rathly doun can ryn, 
 
 Quhare Tantalus nakit full thristy stude, 
 And yit the wattir stud above his chyn ; 
 Thocht he gapit, thar wald na drop cum 
 in; 
 
 Quhen he dowkit, the wattir wald discend ; 280 
 
 Thus gat he nocht his thrist to slake nor mend. 
 
 Before his face ane apill hang also, 
 
 Fast at his mouth, apon a tolter threid ; • 
 
 Quhen he gapit, it rokkit to and fro, 
 
 And fled, as it refusit him to feid. 285 
 
 Than Orpheus had reuth of his gret neid, 
 
 Tuke owt his harpe, and fast on it can clynk : 
 
 The wattir stude, and Tantalus gat a drink. 
 
 269. B, susteris. 271. B, was none; C, non. 275. B, Nocht 
 far frome thyne he come vnto a flude. 276. B, rythly doun. 
 278. B, the wattir yeid aboif. 279. B, Quhen he. 280. B, 
 A, E, dulkit. 281. B, gat he nocht his thirst no mend. 282. B, 
 ane naple hang. 283. B, twynid [threid]. 284. B, it rolled to. 
 286. B, Quhen Orpheus thus saw him suifir neid. 287. B, he 
 tuk his harp. 
 
184 ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 
 
 Syne our a mure, with thornis thik and scharp, 
 Weping allone, a wilsome way he went ; 290 
 
 And had nocht bene throw suffrage of his harp, 
 With scharpe pykis he had bene schorn and 
 
 schent ; 
 And as he blent, besyd him on the bent 
 
 He saw speldit a wounder wofull wicht, 
 
 Nalit full fast, and Theseus he hicht. 295 
 
 And on his brest thar sat ane grysly grype, 
 Quhilk with his bill his baly throw can bore, 
 
 Baith maw, mydred, hart, lever, and tripe, 
 He ruggit out — his panys wer the more. 
 Quhen Orpheus saw him thus suffer sore, 300 
 
 Has tane his harpe and maid sweit melody — 
 
 The grype is fled, Theseus left his cry. 
 
 Beyond this mure he fand a ferefull strete, 
 Mirk as the nycht, to pass richt dangerous, 
 
 For slidderiness scant mycht he hald his feit, 305 
 In quhilk thar was ane stynk richt odious, 
 That gydit him to hidowiss hellis house, 
 
 Quhar Rodomantus and Proserpina 
 
 War King and Quene ; Orpheus in can ga. 
 
 O dolly place, and groundless depe dungeoun ! 310 
 Furness of fyre, with stynk intollerable, 
 
 Pit of dispair, without remissioun, 
 
 Thy meit vennom, thy drink is poysonable, 
 
 289. B, scherp. 292. B, fell pikis. 293. B, As he blent. 
 294. B, he saw lyand speldit. 395. B, and titius he hecht. 
 301. B, he tuke his herp. 302. B, titius left. 305. C, slydri- 
 ness. 310. O dully. 313. A, thi drink ; B and C, thy drink. 
 
OKPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 185 
 
 Thy gret panis to compt innomerable ; 
 Quhat creatur cummis to duell in the 315 
 
 Is aye deand, and nevir more may de ! 
 
 Thar fand he mony carefull kyng and quene, 
 With crowne on hed, of brass full hate birnand, 
 
 Quhilk in thar lyf richt masterfull had bene, 
 
 Conquerouris of gold, richess, and land. 320 
 
 Hector of Troye, and Pryame, thar he fand ; 
 
 And Alexander, for his wrang conqueist ; 
 
 Antiochus als, for his foule incest ; 
 
 And Julius Cesar for his cruelte, 
 
 And Herod with his brotheris wyf he saw ; 325 
 And Nero for his gret iniquite ; 
 
 And Pylat for his breking of the law ; 
 
 Syne efter that he lukit, and couth knawe 
 Cresus the King, non mychtiare on mold 
 For covatise, yet full of birnand gold. 330 
 
 Thar fand he Pharo for oppressioun 
 
 Of Godis folk, on quhilk the plagis fell ; 
 
 And Saul eke, for the gret abusioun 
 Of justice to the folk of Israeli ; 
 Thar fand he Acab and quene Iesabell, 335 
 
 Quhilk sely Nabot, that was a prophet trewe, 
 
 For his wyne-yard withoutin pete slew. 
 
 316. B, sail de. 320. B, conquerouris; A and C, conquerour 
 of. 323. C, Anthiotus thare; A, Antiochus thar; B, als. 324. 
 A, C, Thar fand he Julius. 328. B, syne vndir ; C, syne vnder; 
 A, syne efter. 330. A, covatufl; B, cuvatyse; C, couatise. 
 331. B, thair saw he pharo. 333. B.andsawllforthe. 334. B, was 
 justice to. 335. A, fand acab; B, saw he acob; C, fand he acab; 
 A, ]>e quene. 336. A and B. 337. B, withouttin mercy slew. 
 
186 ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 
 
 Thar fand he mony pope and cardinal, 
 
 In haly Kirk quhilk did abusioun, 
 And bischopis in .thar pontificall, 340 
 
 Be symony for wrang intrusioun ; 
 
 Abbotis and all men of religioun, 
 For evill disponyng of thar place and rent, 
 In flam of fyre war bittirly torment. 
 
 Syne neddirmair he went quhar Pluto was, 345 
 
 And Proserpyne, and thiddirwart he drewe, . 
 
 Aye playand on his harpe as he couth pass ; 
 Till at the last Euridices he knewe, 
 Lene and dedlyke, petouss and pale of hewe, 
 
 Richt warsche and wan, and wallowit as a weid, 350 
 
 Hir lely lyre was lyke unto the leid. 
 
 Quod he, " My lady leil, and my delyte, 
 Ful wa is me till se yow changit thus ; 
 
 Quhar is thi rude as rose with cheikis quhyte, 
 
 Thy cri stall eyne with blenkis amoruss, 355 
 
 Thy lippis red to kiss delicious ? " 
 
 Quod scho : " As now I dar nocht tell, perfay ; 
 
 Bot ye sail wit the cause ane othir day." 
 
 Quod Pluto, " Schir, thocht scho be lyke ane elf, 
 
 Scho hes na cause to plenye, and for quhy ? 360 
 Scho fairis als wele daly as dois my self, 
 
 338. B, Thair saw he. 339. B, did ; A and C, dois. 341. 
 B ; A and C, wrang ministracioun. 342. B ; A and C, men of 
 all religioun. 343. B, place and rent; A and C, thar placis 
 rent. 344. C, flambe of fyre. 348. A, erudices; B, erudices; 
 C, Erudices. 358. A, ane nothir ; B, ane vj>ir ; C, ane othir. 
 360. B, A, and C, Thare is na cause. 361. A and C, scho fare; 
 B, scho fairis. 
 
OttPI-IEUS AND EURYDICE. 187 
 
 Or King Herod for all his chevalry ; 
 
 It is langour that putis hir in sic ply ; 
 War scho at home in hir cuntre of Trace, 
 Scho wald refet full sone in fax and face." 365 
 
 Than Orpheus befor Pluto sat doune, 
 In to his handis quhyte his harp can ta, 
 
 And playit mony sweit proporcioun, 
 With base tonys in ypodorica ; 
 With gemynyng in ypolirica ; 370 
 
 Til at the last for reuth and gret pete 
 
 Thai wepit sore, that couth him heir or se. 
 
 Than Proserpyne and Pluto bad him ass 
 His warisoun ; and he wald ask richt nocht 
 
 Bot licence with his wyf away to pass 375 
 
 Till his countre, that he so fer had socht. 
 Quod Proserpyne, " Sen I hir hiddir brocht, 
 
 We sail nocht part bot with condicioun." 
 
 Quod he, " Tharto I mak promissioun." 
 
 " Euridices than be the hand thow tak, 380 
 
 And pass thi way, bot undirneth this pane : 
 
 Gif thow tornes or blenkis behynd thi bak, 
 We sail hir have for evir till hell agane." 
 Thocht this was hard, yit Orpheus was fane, 
 
 And on thai went, talkand of play and sport, 385 
 
 Quhill thai allmast come to the outwart port. 
 
 365. B, wald rewert; C, refete; A, refet. 367. A, B, C, 
 And in. 370. C, A ; B, gerailling. 374. B, wald haif rycht. 
 383. B, haif to hell for evir. 386. B, Till thay ; B, outwart ; 
 A and C, vttir port. 
 
188 ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 
 
 Thus Orpheus with inwart luf replet, 
 So blyndit was with gret affectioun, 
 
 Pensyf apon his wyf and lady sweit, 
 
 Rememberit nocht his hard condicioun. 390 
 
 Quhat will ye more ? in schort conclusioun, 
 
 He blent bakwart, and Pluto come anone, 
 
 And unto hell agane with hir is gone. 
 
 Allace ! it was rycht gret hert-sair to heir 
 
 Of Orpheus the weping and the wo, 395 
 
 Quhen that his wyf, quhilk he had bocht so 
 deir, 
 Bot for a luke so sone was hynt him fro. 
 Flatlyngis he fell, and mycht no forther go, 
 
 And lay a quhyle in swoun and extasy ; 
 
 Quhen he ourcome, thus owt on luf can cry : 400 
 
 " Quhat art thow, Luf, how sail I the diffyne ? 
 
 Bittir and sweit, cruell and merciable, 
 Plesand to sum, till uthir playnt and pyne, 
 
 Till sum constant, till uthir variable ; 
 
 Hard is thi law, thi bandis unbrekable ; 405 
 
 Quha servis the, thocht he be never so trewe, 
 Perchance sum tyme he sail have caus to rew. 
 
 " Now fynd I weile, this proverb trewe," quod he, 
 
 ' Hart on the hurd, and handis on the sore ; 
 Quhar luf gois, on forss mone torne the e ; ' 410 
 
 388. B, so blinded was with grit effectioun ; A, was in gret 
 effectioun; C, in grete affection. 389. B, Pensyfe in hart 
 apon his lady sueit. 394. B, it wes grit pety for to heir. 396. 
 B, how his lady that he had bocht. 
 
ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 189 
 
 I am expert, and wo is me therfore ; 
 
 Bot for a luke my Lady is forlore. 11 
 Thus chydand on with luf, our burn and bent, 
 A wofull wedaw hamewart is he went. 
 
 MORAI.ITAS FABULE SEftUITUR. 
 
 Lo, worthy folke, Boece, that senatur, 415 
 
 To wryte this faynit fable tuke in cure, 
 
 In his gay buke of Consolacioun, 
 
 For our doctryne and gud instructioun ; 
 
 Quhilk in the self, suppose it fenyeit be, 
 
 And hid under the oloke of poecy, 420 
 
 Yit Master Trewit, Doctor Nycholas, 
 
 Quhilk in his tyme a noble theologe was, 
 
 Applyis it to gud moralite, 
 
 Richt full of frut and seriosite. 
 
 Fair Phebus is the god of sapiens ; 425 
 
 Caliope, his wyf, is eloquens ; 
 
 Thir twa maryt gat Orpheus belyf, 
 
 Quhilk callit is the pairt intellectif 
 
 Of mannis saull, in undirstanding fre, 
 
 And separate fra sensualite. 430 
 
 Euridices is our affectioun, 
 
 Be fantasye oft movit up and doun ; 
 
 Quhilis to resoun it castis the delyte, 
 
 Quhilis to the flesche it settis the appetite. 
 
 Arystyus, this herd that couth persew 435 
 
 Eurydices, is nocht bot gud vertew, 
 
 415. B, Now, wirthy folk. 424. B, fructe. 434. B, it settis. 
 
190 ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 
 
 Quhilk besy is aye to kepe our myndis clene ; 
 
 Bot quhen we fle out throw the medow grene 
 
 Fra vertew, to this warldis vane plesans, 
 
 Mengit with cair and full of varians 440 
 
 The serpentis stang, that is the dedly syn 
 
 That poysonis the saule without and in ; 
 
 Than is it deid, and eik oppressit doun 
 
 To warldly lust all our affectioun. 
 
 Than perfyte resoun wepis wounder sair, 445 
 
 Seand thusgate our appetit misfair ; 
 
 And to the hevin passis up belyf, 
 
 Schawand till ws the lyf contemplatif, 
 
 The parfyt will and alse the fervent luf 
 
 We suld have allway to the hevin abuf ; 450 
 
 Bot seldyn thar our appetit is fund, 
 
 It is so fast in to the body bund ; 
 
 Tharfor downwart we cast our myndis e, 
 
 Blyndit with lust, and may nocht upwart fle ; 
 
 Suld our desyre be soucht up in the spheris, 455 
 
 Quhen it is tedderit on this warldis breris, 
 
 Quhile on the flesche, quhile on this warldis wrak ; 
 
 And to the hevin full small entent we tak. 
 
 Schir Orpheus, thow seikis all in vane 
 
 Thy wyf so hie ; therfor cum doune agane, 460 
 
 And pass unto yone monstour mervalus, 
 
 With thre hedis, that we call Cerberus, 
 
 437. B, That bissy is to keip. 411. A and C, The serpent 
 
 stangis ; B, The serpentis stang. 448. A, And Jian Is It deid; 
 
 B, C, And than is dede, deid. 411. A and B, wardly lust; 
 
 C, warldly. 458. B, full small. 
 
ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 191 
 
 Quhilk feynit is to haf sa mony heidis, 
 
 For to betakin thre maner of deidis. 
 
 The first is in the tendir young barnage, 465 
 
 The second deid is in the myddle age, 
 
 The thrid is in gret eld quhen men ar tane. 
 
 Thus Cerberus to swelly sparis nane, 
 
 Bot quhen that ressoun and intelligens 
 
 Playis apon the harpe of eloquens, 470 
 
 That is to saye, makis persuasioun 
 
 To draw our will and our affectioun, 
 
 In every eild, fra syn and foule delyte, 
 
 The dog na power hes our saull to byte. 
 
 The secound monstouris ar the Sisteris thre, 475 
 
 Alecto, Megera and Thesiphonee, 
 
 Ar nocht ellis, in bukis as we reid, 
 
 Bot wikit thocht, ill word, and frawerd deid. 
 
 Alecto is the bolnyng of the hart, 
 
 Megera is the wikit word outwart, 480 
 
 Thesiphonee is operacioun, 
 
 That makis fynale execucioun 
 
 Of dedly syn ; and thir thre tornes aye 
 
 The uglye quheil, is nocht ellis to say, 
 
 That warldlie men sumtyme ar cassyn hie 485 
 
 Apon the quhele, in gret prosperite, 
 
 And with a quhirll, unwarly, or thai wait, 
 
 Ar thrawin doun to pure and law estaite. 
 
 Of Ixioun that on the quhele was spred, 
 
 I sail the tell sum part, as I have red : 490 
 
 469. B, quhen our raynd is myngit with sapienc. 478. B, 
 ill ; A, ewill ; C, evill. 480. B, word inwart. 1-84. A and C, 
 ane wglye quheil ; B, the. 
 
192 ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 
 
 He was on lyf broukle and lichorus, 
 
 And in that craft hardy and coragious, 
 
 That he wald nocht luf in na lawar place 
 
 Bot Juno, Quene of natur and goddace. 
 
 And on a day he went up in the sky, 495 
 
 Sekand Juno, thinkand with hir to ly : 
 
 Scho saw him cum and knew his foull entent. 
 
 A rany clud doun fra the firmament 
 
 Scho gart discend, and kest betwene thaim two ; 
 
 And in that clud his natur yeid him fro, 500 
 
 Of quhilk was generit the Centauriss, 
 
 Half man, half horse, apon a ferly wyss. 
 
 Than for the inwart crabbing and offence 
 
 That Juno tuke for his gret violence, 
 
 Scho send him doune unto the Sisteris thre, 505 
 
 Apon thar quhele ay tomed for to be. 
 
 Bot quhen that ressoun and intelligens 
 
 Playis apon the harp of consciens, 
 
 And persuadis our fleschly appetyte 
 
 To leif the thocht of this warldly delyte, 510 
 
 Than seissis of our hert the wicket will, 
 
 Fra frawart language than the tong is still, 
 
 Our synfull deidis fallis doun on sleip, 
 
 Than Ixione out of the quheill can creip ; 
 
 That is to say, the gret solicitud, 515 
 
 Quhile up, quhile doun, to wyn this warldis gud, 
 
 Cessis furthwith, and our affectioun 
 
 Waxis quyet in contemplacioun. 
 
 496 B, and soucht Juno. 503. B, inwart craving. 507. B, 
 quhen ressoun and perfyte sapience. 509-514 are in B only. 
 516. A and C, complexioun. 
 
ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 193 
 
 This Tantalus, quhome I spak of air, 
 
 Quhill he levit, was a gay hostillar, 520 
 
 And on a nycht come travelland tharby 
 
 The god of riches, and tuke herbery 
 
 With Tantalus ; and he to the supere 
 
 Slewe his awne sone, that was him leif and deir, 
 
 Syne in a sowe, with spycis soddyn wele, 525 
 
 He gart the god eit up his flesche ilk dele. 
 
 For this dispyte, quhen he was deid anone, 
 
 Was dampnit in the flude of Acheron, 
 
 To suffer hunger, thrist, nakit and cald, 
 
 Richt wo begone, as I before have tald. 530 
 
 This hungry man and thristy, Tantalus, 
 
 Betakinnis men gredy and covatus, 
 
 The god of riches that ar ay redy 
 
 For to resaif, and call in herbery ; 
 
 And to thaim seeth thair sone in pecis small, 535 
 
 That is thair flesche and blud, with gret trawall, 
 
 To fill the bag, and nevir fynd in thair hart 
 
 Apon thaim self to spend, nor tak thair part. 
 
 Allace, in erd quhar is thair mar foly, 
 
 Than for to want, and have haboundantly, 540 
 
 To have distress on bed, and bak, and burd, 
 
 And spair till uther men of gold a hurde ? 
 
 And in the nycht slepe soundly may thai nocht, 
 
 To gadder geir sa gredy is thair thocht. 
 
 Bot quhen that ressoun and intelligens 545 
 
 Playis apon the harp of eloquens, 
 
 525. B, Syne in a sew. 533. B ; A, That is ay redy. 546. 
 B, of conscience. 
 
 13 
 
194 ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 
 
 Schawand to us quhat perrell on ilk syd 
 
 That thai incur quhay will trest or confyd 
 
 Into this warldis vane prosperitie, 
 
 Quhilk hes thir sory properteis thre — 550 
 
 That is to say, gottin with gret laubour 
 
 Kepit dreid, and tynt is with dolour. 
 
 This avarice, be grace quha understud, 
 
 I trow suld leve thair gret sollicitud, 
 
 And ythand thochtis, and thair besyness 555 
 
 To gadder gold and syne leif in distress ; 
 
 Bot he suld eit and drink quhenevir him list 
 
 Of covatus, and slake the birnand thrist. 
 
 This Prometheus lay nailit on the bent, 
 
 And with the grype his bowallis revyn and rent, 560 
 
 Quhill he levit, set his ententioun 
 
 To fynd the craft of divinatioun, 
 
 And lerit it unto the spamen all 
 
 To tell before sic thingis as wald befall, 
 
 Quhat lyf, quhat deid, quhat destany and werd, 565 
 
 Provydit war to every man in erd. 
 
 Appollo than for his abusioun, 
 
 Quhilk is the god of divinatioun, 
 
 For he usurpit in his faculte, 
 
 Put him till hell, and thar renianis he. 570 
 
 Ilk man that heiris this conclusion, 
 Suld dreid to serss be constillatioun 
 Thingis to fall undir the firmament 
 Till ye or na quhilk ar indefferent, 
 
 547-550 occur in B only. 557. A and C, suld drink yneuch 
 quhen. 559. B, titius ; A, theseus ; C, Theseus. 571-615 are 
 in B only. 
 
ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 195 
 
 Without profixit cause and certane, 575 
 
 Quhilk nane in erd may knaw bot God allane. 
 
 Quhen Orpheus upoun his harp can play, 
 
 That is our undirstanding for to say, 
 
 Cryis, O man ! recleme thi folich harte, 
 
 Will thow be God and tak on the His parte ? 580 
 
 To tell thingis to cum that nevir wil be 
 
 Quhilk God hes kepit in His prevetie ? 
 
 Thow ma no mair offend to God of micht, 
 
 Na with thi spaying reif fra Him His richt ; 
 
 This perfyte wisdome with his melody 585 
 
 Fleis the spreit of fenyeid profecy, 
 
 And drawis upwart our affectioun. * 
 
 Fra wichcraft, spaying, and sorsery, 
 
 And superstitioun of astrology, 
 
 Saif allanerly sic maner of thingis 590 
 
 Quhilk upoun trew and certane causis hingis, 
 
 The quhilk mone cum to thair caus indure, 
 
 On verry forse, and nocht throw avanture, 
 
 As is the clippis and the conjunctioun 
 
 Of sone and mone be calculatioun, 595 
 
 The quhilk ar fundin in trew astronomy, 
 
 Be moving of the spheiris in the sky ; 
 
 All thir to speik it may be tollerable, 
 
 And none udir quhilk no causis stable. 
 
 This ugly way, this myrk and dully streit, 600 
 
 Is nocht ellis bot blinding of the spreit 
 With myrk cluddis and myst of ignorance, 
 Affetterrit in this warldis vane plesance, 
 
 *A line is here probably wanting. 
 
196 ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 
 
 And bissines of temporalitie ; 
 
 To kene the self a styme it may nocht se, 605 
 
 Bot stammeris on eftir effectioun. 
 
 Fra ill to war ale thus to hele gois doun ; 
 
 That is wanhowp throw lang hanting of syn, 
 
 And foull dispair that mony fallis in. 
 
 Than Orpheus our ressoun is full wo, 610 
 
 And twichis on his harp and biddis ho 
 
 Till our desyre and fulich appetyte, 
 
 Bidis leif this warldis full delyte. 
 
 Than Pluto, god and quene of hellis fyre, 
 
 Mone grant on forse to ressoun the desyre. 615 
 
 Bot Orpheus has wone Euridices, 
 
 Quhen our desyre with resoun makis pese 
 
 And sekis up to contemplacioun, 
 
 Of syn detestand the abusioun. 
 
 Bot ilk man suld be war, and wysly se 620 
 
 That he bakwart cast nocht his myndis e, 
 
 Gevand consent, and dilectacioun, 
 
 Of warldlie lust for the affectioun ; 
 
 For thane gois bakwart to the syn agane 
 
 Our appetit, as it befor was slane 625 
 
 In warldlie lust and sensualite, 
 
 And makis resoun wedow for to be. 
 
 Now pray we God sen our affectioun 
 Is allway prompt and redy to fall doun, 
 That He wald helpe us with His haly hand 
 Of manteinans, and gif us grace to stand 
 In parfyte luf, as He is glorius. 
 
 And thus endis the Tale of Orpheus. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
ROBENE AND MAKYNE. 199 
 
 ROBENE AND MAKYNE. 
 
 Robene sat on gud grene hill, 
 
 Kepand a flok of fe : 
 Mirry Makyne said him till : 
 
 " Robene, thow rew on me ; 
 I haif the luvit lowd and still, 5 
 
 Thir yeiris two or three ; 
 My dule in dern, bot gif thow dill, 
 
 Dowtless but dreid I de." 
 
 Robene answerit : " Be the rude, 
 
 Nathing of lufe I knaw, 10 
 
 Bot keipis my scheip undir yone wude, 
 
 Lo, quhair thay raik on raw ; 
 Quhat hes marrit the in thy mude, 
 
 Makyne, to me thow schaw ; 
 Or quhat is lufe, or to be lude ? 15 
 
 Fane wald I leir that law." 
 
 " At luvis lair gife thow will leir, 
 
 Tak thair ane A, B, C : 
 Be heynd, courtass, and fair of feir, 
 
 Wyse, hardy, and fre ; 20 
 
 So that no denger do the deir, 
 
 Quhat dule in dern thow dre ; 
 Preiss the with pane at all poweir, 
 
 Be patient and previe." 
 
 Text — B. 9. anschirit. 11. wid. 
 
200 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Robene answerit hir agane : 25 
 
 " I wait nocht quhat is luve ; 
 Bot I haif mervell incertane 
 
 Quhat makis the this wanrufe : 
 The weddir is fair, and I am fane, 
 
 My scheip gois haill aboif ; 30 
 
 And we wald play us in this plane, 
 
 Thay wald us bayth reproif." 
 
 " Robene, tak tent unto my taill, 
 
 And wirk all as I reid, 
 And thow sail haif my hairt all haill, 35 
 
 Eik and my madinheid. 
 Sen God sendis bute for baill, 
 
 And for murnyng remeid, 
 I dern with the, bot gif I daill 
 
 Doutles I am bot deid." 40 
 
 " Makyne, to morne this ilka tyde, 
 
 And ye will meit me heir, 
 Peraventure my scheip ma gang besyd, 
 
 Quhill we haif liggit full neir ; 
 Bot maugre haif I and I byd, 45 
 
 Fra thay begin to steir ; 
 Quhat lyis on hairt I will nocht hyd ; 
 
 Makyne, than mak gud cheir." 
 
 " Robene, thow reivis me roif and rest ; 
 
 I luve bot the allone." 50 
 
 " Makyne, adew, the sone gois west, 
 
 The day is neirhand gone." 
 
EOBENE AND MAKYNE. 201 
 
 " Robene, in dule I am so drest, 
 
 That lufe wil be ray bone." 
 " Ga lufe, Makyne, quhairevir thow list, 55 
 
 For lemman I lue none." 
 
 " Robene I stand in sic a styll ; 
 
 I sich, and that full sair." 
 " Makyne, I haif bene heir this quhyle ; 
 
 At hame God gif I wair." 60 
 
 " My huny, Robene, talk ane quhill, 
 
 Gif thow will do na mair." 
 " Makyne, sum uthir man begyle, 
 
 For hamewart I wile fair." 
 
 Robene on his way is went, 65 
 
 Als licht as leif of tre ; 
 Mawkin murnit in hir intent, 
 
 And trowd him nevir to se. 
 Robene brayd attour the bent ; 
 
 Then Mawkyne cryit on hie, 70 
 
 " Now ma thow sing, for I am schent ! 
 
 Quhat alis lufe at me ? " 
 
 Mawkyne went hame withowttin faill, 
 
 Full wery eftir cowth weip : 
 Than Robene in a ful fair daill 75 
 
 Assemblit all his scheip. 
 Be that sum pairte of Mawkynis aill 
 
 Outthrow his hairt cowd creip ; 
 He fallowit hir fast thair till assaill, 
 
 And till hir tuke gude keip. 80 
 
 56. I lid. 58. I sichit. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 " Abyd ! abyd ! thow fair Makyne, 
 
 A word for ony thing ; 
 For all my luve it sal be thyne, 
 
 Withowttin depairting. 
 All haill, thy harte for till haif myne 85 
 
 Is all my cuvating ; 
 My scheip to morne quhill houris nyne 
 
 Will neid of no keping." 
 
 " Robene, thow hes hard soung and say, 
 
 In gestis and storeis auld, 90 
 
 The man that will nocht quhen he may 
 
 Sail haif nocht quhen he wald. 
 I pray to Jesu every day 
 
 Mot eik thair cairis cauld, 
 That first preissis with the to play, 95 
 
 Be firth, forrest, or fawld." 
 
 " Makyne, the nicht is soft and dry, 
 
 The wedder is warm and fair, 
 And the grene woid rycht neir us by 
 
 To walk attour all-quhair ; 100 
 
 Thair ma na janglour us espy, 
 
 That is to lufe contrair ; 
 Thairin, Makyne, bath ye and I 
 
 Unsene we ma repair.'" 
 
 " Robene, that warld is all away, 105 
 
 And quyt brocht till ane end, 
 And nevir agane thairto, perfay, 
 
 Sail it be as thow wend ; 
 
ROBENE AND MAKYNE. 
 
 For of my pane thow maid it play, 
 
 And all in vane I spend ; 110 
 
 As thow hes done, sa sail I say, 
 
 Murne on, I think to mend." 
 
 " Mawkyne, the howp of all my heill, 
 
 My hairt on the is sett, 
 And evirmair to the be leill, 115 
 
 Quhill I may leif but lett ; 
 Nevir to faill, as utheris feill, 
 
 Quhat grace that evir I gett." 
 " Robene, with the I will nocht deill ; 
 
 Adew, for thus we mett." 120 
 
 Malkyne went hame blyth anneuche, 
 
 Attour the holtis hair ; 
 Robene murnit, and Makyne leuche ; 
 
 Scho sang ; he sichit sair ; 
 And so left him, bayth wo and wreuche, 125 
 
 In dolour and in cair, 
 Kepand his hird under a huche, 
 
 Amangis the holtis hair. 
 
204 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 THE BLUDY SERK. 
 
 This hindir yeir I hard be tald 
 
 Thair was a worthy king ; 
 Dukis, erlis, and barronis bald 
 
 He had at his bidding. 
 The lord was anceane and aid, 5 
 
 And sexty yeiris cowth ring ; 
 He had a dochter fair to fald, 
 
 A lusty lady ying. 
 
 Of all fairheid scho bur the flour, 
 
 And eik hir faderis air, 10 
 
 Of lusty laitis and he honour, 
 
 Meik bot and debonair, 
 Scho wynnit in a bigly bour ; 
 
 On fold wes none so fair ; 
 Princis luvit hir par amour, 15 
 
 In cuntris our allquhair. 
 
 Thair dwelt a lyt besyde the king 
 
 A foull gyane of ane ; 
 Stollin he hes the lady ying, 
 
 Away with hir is gane, 20 
 
 Text— B. 1. hindir yeir; hard be tald; G.S. prints hundir; 
 hard be tald. 
 
THE BLUDY SEEK. 205 
 
 And kest hir in his dungering, 
 
 Quhair licht scho micht se nane ; 
 Hungir and cauld and grit thristing 
 
 Scho fand into hir wame. 
 
 He wes the laithliest on to luk 25 
 
 That on the ground mycht gang ; 
 His nailis wes lyk ane hellis cruk, 
 
 Thairwith fyve quarteris lang. 
 Thair wes nane that he ourtuk, 
 
 In rycht or yit in wrang, 30 
 
 Bot all in schondir he thame schuke — 
 
 The gyane wes so Strang. 
 
 He held the lady day and nycht 
 
 Within his deip dungeoun ; 
 He wald nocht gif of hir a sicht, 35 
 
 For gold nor yit ransoun, 
 Bot gife the King mycht get a knycht 
 
 To fecht with his persoun — 
 To fecht with him both day and nycht, 
 
 Quhill ane wer dungin doun. 40 
 
 The king gart seik baith fer and neir, 
 
 Beth be se and land, 
 Of ony knycht, gife he micht heir, 
 
 Wald fecht with that gyand. 
 A worthy prince that had no peir 45 
 
 Hes tane the deid on hand, 
 For the luve of the lady cleir, 
 
 And held full trew cunnand. 
 
206 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 That prince come prowdly to the toun 
 
 Of that gyane to heir, 50 
 
 And fawcht with him his awin persoun, 
 
 And tuke him presoneir ; 
 And kest him in his awin dungeoun 
 
 Allane, withouttin feir, 
 With hungir, cauld, and confusioun, 55 
 
 As full weill worthy weir. 
 
 Syne brak the hour, had hame the bricht, 
 
 Unto hir fader deir ; 
 Sa evill wondit was the knycht 
 
 That he behuvit to de. 60 
 
 Unlusum was his likame dicht, 
 
 His sark was all bludy ; 
 In all the warld was thair a wicht 
 
 So peteouss for to se ? 
 
 The lady murnyt and maid grit mone, 65 
 
 With all hir mekle micht : 
 " I luvit nevir lufe bot one, 
 
 That dulfully now is dicht. 
 God sen my lyfe were fra me tone 
 
 Or I had sene yone sicht, 70 
 
 Or ellis in begging evir to gone 
 
 Furth with yone curtase knycht." 
 
 He said, " Fair Lady, now mone I 
 De, trestly ye me trow ; 
 
 64. MS. to sy. 
 
THE BLUDY SEEK. 207 
 
 Tak ye my sark that is bludy, 75 
 
 And hing it forrow yow ; 
 First think on it, and syne on me, 
 
 Quhen men cumis yow to wow." 
 The Lady said, " Be Mary free, 
 
 Thairto I mak a vow." 80 
 
 Quhen that scho lukit to the serk, 
 
 Scho thocht on the persoun, 
 And prayit for him with all hir harte, 
 
 That lowsd hir of bandoun, 
 Quhair scho was wont to sit full merk 85 
 
 In that deip dungeoun ; 
 And evir quhill scho wes in quert 
 
 That was hir a lessoun. 
 
 Sa weill the lady luvit the knycht, 
 
 That no man wald scho tak. 90 
 
 Sa suld we do our God of Micht, 
 
 That did all for us mak ; 
 Quhilk fullely to deid wes dicht 
 
 For sinfull manis saik ; 
 Sa suld we do both day and nycht, 95 
 
 With prayaris to Him mak. 
 
 MORALITAS. 
 
 This king is lyk the Trinitie, 
 
 Baith in hevin and heir ; 
 The manis saule to the lady ; 
 
 The gyane to Lucefeir ; 100 
 
208 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 The knycht to Chryst, that deit on tre, 
 
 And coft our synnis deir ; 
 The pit to hell with panis fell ; 
 
 The syn to the woweir. 
 
 The lady was wowd, hot scho said " Nay," 105 
 
 With men that wald hir wed ; 
 Sa suld we wryth all syn away, 
 
 That in our breist is bred. 
 I pray to Jesu Chryst verrey, 
 
 For us His blud that bled, 110 
 
 To be our Help on domysday, 
 
 Quhair lawis are straitly led. 
 
 The saule is Godis dochtir deir, 
 
 And eik His handewerk, 
 That was betrasit with Lucifeir, 115 
 
 Quha sittis in hell full merk. 
 Borrowit with Chrystis angell cleir, 
 
 Hend men, will ye nocht herk ? 
 For His lufe that bocht us deir, 
 
 Think on the Bludy Serk. 120 
 
THE GA11M0NT OF GUDE LADEIS. 209 
 
 THE GARMONT OF GUDE LADEIS. 
 
 Wald my gud lady lufe me best, 
 
 And wirk eftir my will, 
 I suld ane garmond gudliest 
 
 Gar mak hir body till. 
 
 Of he honour suld be hir hud, 5 
 
 Upon hir heid to weir, 
 Garneist with governance so gud, 
 
 Na demyng suld hir deir. 
 
 Hir sark suld be hir body nixt, 
 
 Of chestetie so quhyt, 10 
 
 With schame and dreid togidder mixt, 
 
 The same suld be perfyt. 
 
 Hir kirtill suld be of clene Constance, 
 
 Lasit with lesum lufe, 
 The mailyeis of continuance 15 
 
 For nevir to remufe. 
 
 Hir gown suld be of gudliness 
 
 Weill ribband with renowne, 
 Purfillit with plesour in ilk place 
 
 Furrit with fyne fassoun. 20 
 
 14 
 
210 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Hir belt suld be of benignitie, 
 
 About hir middle meit ; 
 Hir mantill of humilitie, 
 
 To thoill bayth wind and weit. 
 
 Hir hat suld be of fair having, 25 
 
 And hir tepat of trewth ; 
 Hir patelet of gud pansing ; 
 
 Hir hals ribband of rewth. 
 
 Hir slevis suld be of esperance, 
 
 To keip hir fra dispair ; 30 
 
 Hir gluvis of gud govimance, 
 
 To gyd hir fyngearis fair. 
 
 Hir schone suld be of sickemes, 
 
 In syne that scho nocht slyd ; 
 Hir hoise of honestie, I ges, 35 
 
 I suld for hir provyd. 
 
 Wald scho put on this garmond gay, 
 
 I durst sweir by my seill, 
 That scho woir nevir grene nor gray 
 
 That set hir half so weill. 40 
 
THE PRAIS OF AIGE. 211 
 
 THE PEAIS OF AIGE. 
 
 Within ane garth, undir a reid roseir, 
 
 Ane auld man and decrepit, hard I sing ; 
 Gay was the not, sweit was the voce and cleir ; 
 
 It was grit joy to heir of sic a thing. 
 
 And as me thocht, he said in his dyting, 5 
 
 " For to be yung I wald not, for my wiss 
 
 Of all this warld to male me lord and King : 
 The moir of aige the nerrer hevynis bliss. 
 
 " Fals is this warld and full of variance, 
 
 Besocht with syn and other sytis mo ; 10 
 
 Trewth is all tynt, gyle hes the govirnance, 
 
 Wretchitness hes wrocht all weill to wo ; 
 
 Fredome is tynt, and flemyt the lordis fro, 
 And covettyce is all the cause of thiss ; 
 
 I am content that yowtheid is ago : 15 
 
 The moir of aige the nerrer hevynis bliss. 
 
 Text— B, collated with Mk and C. 1. Mk, In tyl ane garth ; 
 C, Wythin a garth. 2. Mk, decrepit herd I syng ; B, decripit 
 hard. 3. Mk, gay wes the noit. 4. Mk, C, and to my dowme 
 he said. 10. Mk, ourset with syt and other synnis mo; B, 
 vthir slichtis mo ; Text C. 11. Mk, now trewtht is tynt. 12. 
 Mk, and wrachitness his turnyt al fra weil to vo ; C, wrechit- 
 nes has wroht all wel this wele to wo. 13. Mk, fredowme is 
 flemyt al the lordis fro. 
 
212 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 " The stait of youth I repute for na gude, 
 For in that stait sic perilis now I see ; 
 
 But speciall grace, the regeing of his blude 
 
 Can nane ganestand, quhill that he aigit be ; 20 
 Syne of the thing befoir that joyit he 
 
 Nothing remanis now to be callit his ; 
 For-why it was bot verry vanitie : 
 
 The moir of aige the nerrer hevynis bliss. 
 
 "Suld no man trust this wretchit world, for-quhy 25 
 
 Of erdly joy ay sorrow is the end ; 
 The stait of it can no man certify, 
 
 This day a king, to morne na thing to spend. 
 
 Quhat haif we heir bot grace us to defend ? 
 The quhilk God grant us till amend our miss, 30 
 
 That to His gloir He ma our saulis send : 
 The moir of aige the nerrer hevynis bliss.'" 
 
 18. Mk, for in that stait grit perel; C, sik perilis; B, sic 
 parrell. 19. Mk, the ragyne of his bind. 20. Mk, na yit be 
 stabil one til he agit be. 21. Mk, than in the thing that mast 
 raiosit he. 25. Mak this wrachit warld may na man trow, for 
 quhy. 27. mak the gloyr of it can. 28. B. haif not to spend; 
 C, na gude to spend ; Mk, na thing, etc. 31. Mak til his ioy. 
 
RESSONING BETWIXT AIGE AND YOUTH. 213 
 
 THE RESSONING BETWIXT AIGE AND 
 YOUTH. 
 
 YOUTH. 
 
 Quhen fair Flora, the goddas of al flowris, 
 Baith firth and field freschly hed ourfret, 
 
 And perly dropis of the balmy schowris 
 Thir wodis grene hed with the wattir wet, 
 Musand alone in a mornyng I met 
 
 A mery man, that al of myrth cowd mene, 
 Syngand this sang that rycht swetly wess set : 
 
 " youth, be glaid in to thi flowris grene." 
 
 AIGE. 
 
 I lukit furth a litill me befor, 
 
 And saw ane catyf one a club cumand, 10 
 
 With chekis leyne and lyart lokis hoir ; 
 
 His eyne wes hoi, his voce wes hace hostand, 
 
 Walowit richt wan, waik as ane wand ; 
 A bil he bure apone his brest abone, 
 
 In letteris leill but lyis, with this legyand : 15 
 " O youth, thi flowris fadis ferly sone." 
 
 Text— 1-40 Mk, collated with B and M (Maltland, folio). 
 1. B, godes of the ; M, goddes of the. 2. B, feildis freschely 
 had; M, so fresche had. 4. B, Thir widdis grene; M, All 
 woddisgrein; B, thair water; M.thair watteris. 5. B, Movand; 
 M, Moveand; B, In mornyng myld I. 7. M, J>at suttellie. 
 10. B and M, on ane club. 11. B, cheikis clene. 13. B, 
 Wallowit richt wan ; Mk, and wane. 15. Mk, but lefl ; B, but 
 lyis. 
 
214 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 YOUTH. 
 
 This young man lap apone the land ful lycht, 
 
 And mervalit mekil of his makdome maid ; 
 " Waldyne I am," quod he, " and wondir wycht, 
 
 With brawne as bair, with brest burle and 
 
 braid ; 20 
 
 No grume on ground my gardone may degraid. 
 Nor of my pytht may pair wyrtht half a prene ; 
 
 My face is fair, my figour may nocht faid : 
 
 youth, be glaid in to thi flowris grene." 
 
 AIGE. 
 
 This senyour sang bot with a sobir stevyne ; 25 
 
 Schakand his berd, he said, " My barne, let be; 
 
 1 wes within thir sexty yeir and sevyne 
 
 A frek one fold, als fair, als frech, als fre, 
 Als glaid, als gay, als ying, als yaip as ye ; 
 
 Bot now tha dayis ourdrevin are and done ; 30 
 
 Luk thow my laythly lycome gyf I le : 
 
 O youth, thi flowris fadis ferly sone." 
 
 YOUTH. 
 
 This mirrie man of mirth yit movit mair : 
 " My cors is clene without corruptioun, 
 
 18. M, I marvalit mekle vpon. 19. M, wonder licht. 20. M, 
 Wair brane. 21. M, my guerdoun. 23. B and M, will nocht. 
 28. B, als forP and as fre ; M, bayth frak forty and fre. 30. 
 Mk, that day is ordrawyne ; M, my dayis ar all ourdrewin ; 
 B, text. 31. B, Luke thow my laikly Inking ; M, Behald my 
 lathlie lycome. 32. M, thy yeiris ; B, fellone sone. Lines 33- 
 49 are wanting in Mk and are taken from B and M. 
 
RESSONING BETWIXT AIGE AND YOUTH. 215 
 
 My self is sauf fra seiknes and fra sair, 35 
 
 My wibtis fyve in dew proportioun, 
 
 My curage is of clene complexioun, 
 My hairt is haill, my levar, and my splene : 
 
 Thairfoir to reid this roll I haif no ressoun : 
 O youth, be glaid in to thy flowris grene." 40 
 
 AIGE. 
 
 The bevar hoir said to the burlie berne : 
 
 " This breif thow sail abyd, sone be thow bald; 
 Thy strenth, thy stait, thocht it be stark and 
 sterne, 
 
 The feveris fell for eild, sal gar the fald ; 
 
 Thy cors sail cling, thy curage sail wax cald, 45 
 Thy heill sail hink, and tak ane hurt bot hone, 
 
 Thy wittis fyve sail wane, thocht thow nocht 
 wald: 
 O youth, thy yeiris faidis ferlie sone." 
 
 YOUTH. 
 
 Ane uthir verse this young man yit coud syng : 
 
 " At luffis law I think a quhil to leit, 50 
 
 In court to cramp clenly in my clething, 
 
 And luk amang thir lusty ladeis sweit ; 
 
 Of mariagis to mel with mowis meit, 
 In secretness, quhar we may nocht be sene, 
 
 And sa with birdis blythly my balis beit : 55 
 
 O youth, be glaid in to thi flowris grene." 
 
 35. B, self is sound but seiknes or but soir. 36. Mk, ar 
 dowbill in proportioun. 
 
216 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 AIGE. 
 
 This awstrene greif ansuerit angirly : 
 
 " For thi cramping thow sail baith cruke and 
 cowre ; 
 
 Thy fleschely lust thow sail also defy, 
 
 And pane the sail put fra paramour ; 60 
 
 Than will no bird be blyth of the in bouir ; 
 
 Quhen thi manheid sail wendin as the mone, 
 Thow sail assay gif that my song be sour : 
 
 O youth, thi flowris fedis fellone sone." 
 
 This galyart grutchit with sic grit greif, 65 
 
 He on his wayis wrethly went but wene ; 
 
 This lene awld man luche not, bot tuk his leif, 
 And I abaid undir the levis grene : 
 Of the sedullis the suthe quhen I had sene, 
 
 Of trewth, me thocht, thay triumphit in thair 
 
 toun : 70 
 
 " O youth, be glaid in to thi flowris grene ! 
 
 youth, thi flowris faidis fellone sone ! " 
 
THE ABBAY WALK. 217 
 
 THE ABBAY WALK. 
 
 Ai.lone as I went up and doun 
 
 In to ane abbay, fair to se, 
 Thinkand quhat consolatioun 
 
 Was best in to adversitie, 
 
 On caiss I kest on syde myne e, 5 
 
 And saw this writtin on a wall : 
 
 " Of quhat estait, man, that thow be, 
 Obey, and thank thy God of all. 
 
 " Thy kingdome and thy grit einpyre 
 
 Thy ryaltie, nor riche array, 10 
 
 Sail nocht endeur at Thy desyre, 
 
 Bot as the wind will wend away ; 
 
 Thy gold and all thy gudis gay, 
 Quhen fortoun list will fra the fall ; 
 
 Sen thow sic sampillis seis ilk day, 15 
 
 Obey, and thank thi God of all. 
 
 " Job wes maist riche, in Writ we find, 
 
 Thobe maist full of cheritie : 
 Job woux pure, and Thobe blynd, 
 
 Bath temptit with adversitie. 20 
 
 Text— B, (Bannatyne) collated with M (Maitland, folio). 
 2. in ane abbay was fair to se ; M, In to . . . for to se. 4. M, 
 in all. 6. M, And fand; B, vpoun a; M, on a. 9. M, bi god. 
 9. B, kindome; M, kingdome. 10. M, royaltie. 11. M, Indure. 
 14. M, Quhone . . . les fra be sele fall. IS. M, Sen bir but 
 dout man assay. 17. M, I wait we find. 18. M, Thobie . . . 
 chirrite. 19. M, become pure. 20. M, Boithe. 
 
218 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Sen blindness wes infirmitie 
 And poverty wes naturall, 
 
 Rycht patiently bath he and he 
 Obeyid, and thankit God of all. 
 
 " Thocht thow be blind, or haif ane halt, 25 
 
 Or in thy face deformit ill, 
 Sa it cum nocht throw thy defalt, 
 
 Na man suld the repreif by skill. 
 
 Blame nocht thy Lord, sa is His will ; 
 Spurn nocht thy fute aganis the wall ; 30 
 
 Bot with meik hairt and prayer still 
 Obey, and thank thy God of all. 
 
 " God of His justice mon correct, 
 
 And of His mercy petie haif; 
 He is ane Juge to nane suspect, 35 
 
 To puneiss synfull man and saif. 
 
 Thocht thow be lord attour the laif, 
 And eftirwart maid bund and thrall, 
 
 Ane pure begger, with skrip and staif, 
 Obey, and thank thy God of all-. 40 
 
 " This changeing and grit variance 
 
 Of erdly staitis up and doun 
 Is nocht bot casualitie and chance, 
 
 As sum men sayis without ressoun, 
 
 23. B, Thairfoir rycht ; M, Thairfoir with patience boithe. 
 24. Obeyd J>air god and thankit him of all. 25. M, For thocht 
 |;ow be hurt or halt. 27. M, Swa it be not throw ]>i. 28. M, 
 No man suld the repruif throw. 29. M, )>i god. 30. M, Spur. 
 33. M, may correct. 38. B, bound. 39. Or pure. 41. M, 
 The chyngeing. 42. M, eirthlie statis. 43. Cowmis nowdir 
 throw fortoun nor chance. 
 
THE ABB AY WALK. 219 
 
 Bot be the grit provisioun 45 
 
 Of God aboif, that rewl the sail ; 
 
 Thairfoir evir thow mak the boun 
 To obey, and thank thy God of all. 
 
 " In vvelth be meik, heich nocht thyself; 
 
 Be glaid in wilfull povertie ; 50 
 
 Thy power and thy warldly pelf 
 
 Is nocht bot verry vanitie. 
 
 Remember Him that deit on tre, 
 For thy saik taistit the bittir gall ; 
 
 Quha heis law hairtis and lawis he ; 55 
 
 Obey, and thank thy God of all." 
 
 46. M, gyd the. 47. M, quhone euir 3e till him bown. 51. 
 B, warldis ; M, warldlie. S3. M, that on ]>e tre. 54. M, saik 
 gustit bittir gall. 55. M, Quhilk rasis fe law and humilis the 
 hie. 
 
220 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 THE RESSONING BETWIX DETH AND 
 
 MAN. 
 
 " O mortall man, behald, tak tent to me, 
 
 Quhilk suld thy mirrour be baith day and nicht ; 
 
 All erdly thing that evir tuik lyfe mon de : 
 Paip, empriour, king, barroun and knycht, 
 Thocht thay be in thair royall stait and hicht, 5 
 
 May nocht ganestand, quhen I pleise schute this 
 derte ; 
 Wal townis, castellis, and towiris, nevir so wicht, 
 
 May nocht resist quhill it be at his herte." 
 
 MAN. 
 
 " Now quhat art thow that biddis me thus tak 
 tent, 
 
 And mak ane mirrour day and nicht of the ? 10 
 Or with thy dert I suld rycht sair repent ? 
 
 I trest trewly of that thow sail sone le. 
 
 Quhat freik on fold sa bald dar manis me, 
 Or with me fecht, owthir on fute or horse ? 
 
 Is non so wicht, or stark in this cuntre, 15 
 
 Bot I sail gar him bow to me on forse." 
 
 Text— B, collated with B' (Bannatyne, draft). 1. B, behold; 
 B', behald. 2. B, sowld ; B', sail. 3. B, die ; B\ de. 5. B, 
 roall stait ; B', ryell estait. 6. B\ schote this ; B, schute the. 
 7. B', towiris; B, towris. 11. B, sowld richt soir; B', suld 
 rycht sair. 12. B', le ; B, lie. 16. B\ nor I sail. 
 
THE RESSONING BETWIX DETH AND MAN. 221 
 DETH. 
 
 My name, forsuth, sen that thow speiris, 
 
 Thay call me Deid, suthly I the declair, 
 Calland all, man and woman, to thair beiris, 
 
 Quhen-evir I pleise, quhat tyme, quhat place, 
 
 or quhair ? 20 
 
 Is nane sa stout, sa fresche, nor yit sa fair, 
 Sa yung, sa aid, sa riche, nor yit sa peur, 
 
 Quhair-evir I pass, owthir lait or air, 
 Mon put thame haill on forse undir my cure. 1 " 
 
 MAN. 
 
 " Sen it is so, that Nature can so wirk, 25 
 
 That yung and auld, with riche and peur, 
 mon de, 
 In my youtheid, allace, I wes full irk, 
 
 Could not tak tent to gyd and governe me, 
 
 Ay gude to do, fra evill deidis to fle, 
 Trestand ay youtheid wald with me abyde, 30 
 
 Fulfilland evir my sensualitie 
 In deidly syn, and specialy in pryd.' 1 
 
 DETH. 
 
 " Thairfoir repent and remord thy conscience ; 
 
 Think on thir wordis I now upoun the cry : 
 O wrechit man ! O full of ignorance ! 35 
 
 All thy plesance thow sail richt deir aby ; 
 
 17. B\ at me forsuth. 22. B', so pure; B, sa peur. 23. B', 
 owjrir be it lait. 30. B, jowtheid wold. 35. B', o wofull of 
 ignorance. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Dispone thy-self and cum with me in hy, 
 Edderis, askis, and wormis meit for to be ; 
 
 Cum quhen I call, thow ma me not deny, 
 Thocht thow war Paip, Empriour and King, all 
 
 thre." 40 
 
 MAN. 
 
 " Sen it is swa fra the I may not chaip, 
 
 This wrechit warld for me heir I defy, 
 And to the deid, to lurk under thy caip, 
 
 I offer me with hairt richt humily ; 
 
 Beseiking God, the divill, myne ennemy, 45 
 
 No power haif my sawill till assay, 
 
 Jesus, on The, with peteous voce, I cry, 
 Mercy on me to haif on domis day.' 1 
 
 37. B', Dispone for ]>e . . . an try. 38. B, meit for to be. 
 39. B, not denny. 43. B', to luke vndir. 44. B', I offir . . . 
 rycht hummilly. 46. B, my sawill. 
 
AGANIS HAISTY CREDENCE OF TITLARIS. 223 
 
 AGANIS HAISTY CREDENCE OF 
 TITLARIS. 
 
 Fals titlaris now growis up full rank, 
 
 Nocht ympit in the stok of cheretie, 
 Howping at thair lord to gett grit thank ; 
 
 Thay haif no dreid on thair nychtbouris to lie ; 
 
 Than suld ane lord awyse him weill and se, 5 
 
 Quhen ony taill is brocht to his presence, 
 
 Gif it be groundit in to veretie, 
 Or he thairto gif haistily creddence. 
 
 Ane worthy lord suld wey ane taill wyslie, 
 
 The taill-tellar, and quhome of it is tald ; 10 
 
 Gif it be said for luve or for invy, 
 
 And gif the taillis-man abyd at it he wald ; 
 
 Than eftirwart the pairteis suld be cald 
 For thair excuse to mak lawfull defence : 
 
 Than suld ane lord the ballance evinly hald, 15 
 And gif not at the first haistie creddence. 
 
 Text— B, collated with M (Maitland, folio). 1. M, Tutlaris. 
 3. B, howping at thair lord ; M, At thair lord hoiping. 4. B, 
 Than haif no ; M, no dreid J;ai haue. 5. B, sowld ; M, sould ; 
 B, I se ; M, and se. 7. M, vpone verite. 9. M, ane noble lord 
 and tale aucht weill to weye. 10. M. knaw }>e tellar. 13. M, 
 Thaireftir syne >e pairtie. 15. B, Than sowld; M, Thus sould; 
 M, ballance of Iustice. 16. M, And never to gif ]>e first taill 
 sone credence. 
 
224 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 It is no wirschep for ane nobill lord, 
 
 For fals taillis to put ane trew man doun, 
 And, gevand creddance to the first record, 
 
 He will not heir his excusatioun ; 20 
 
 The tittillaris so in his eir can roun, 
 The innocent may get no audience ; 
 
 Ryme as it may, thair is na ressoun 
 To gif till taillis haistily creddence. 
 
 Thir taill-tellaris oft tymes dois grit skaith, 25 
 
 And raissis mortall feid and discrepance, 
 And makis lordis with thair servandis wraith, 
 
 And baneist be withoutin cryme perchance. 
 
 It is the grund of stryf and all distance, 
 Moir perrellus than ony pestillence, 30 
 
 Ane lord in flatterreris to haif plesance, 
 Or to gif lyaris hestely creddence. 
 
 O thow wyse lord, quhen cumis a flatterrer 
 
 The for to pleise, and hurt the innocent, 
 Will tell a taill of thy familiar, 35 
 
 Thow suld the pairteis call incontinent, 
 
 And sitt doun sadly in to jugement, 
 And serche the cause weill or thow gif sentence, 
 
 Or ellis heireftir, perchance thow may repent, 
 That thow to taillis gaif so grit creddence. 40 
 
 17. M, It is dishonour to ane mychtie. 18. B, For the fals. 
 19. B, first recoird. 20. M, And not to hear na excusatioun. 
 25. Thir teltellaris. 26. M, Resand feid mortale. 27. B. 
 wreith. 28. M, And troublit. 32. M, To gifFto talis. 
 33-34. M, O thow wyse lord, quhone |>at ane flatterar 
 
 The for to pleis, and hurt J>e Innocent. 
 35. B, ane taill. 
 
AGANIS HAISTY CREDENCE OF TITLARK. 9&5 
 
 O wicket tung, sawand dissentioun, 
 
 Of fals taillis to tell that will not tyre, 
 Moir perrellus than ony fell poysoun, 
 
 The pane of hell thow sail haif to thi hyre. 
 
 Richt swa thay sail that hes joy or desyre 45 
 
 To gife his eir to heir with patience ; 
 
 For of discord it kendillis mony fyre 
 To gif to talis ovir haistie creddence. 
 
 Bakbyttaris to heir it is no bourd, 
 
 For thay ar excommunicat in all place ; 50 
 
 Thre personis severall he slayis with ane wourd — 
 
 Him-self, the heirar, and the man saiklace. 
 
 Within ane hude he hes ane doubill face, 
 Ane bludy tung, undir a fair pretence. 
 
 I say no moir ; bot God grant lordis grace, 55 
 To gife to taillis nocht hestely creddence. 
 
 48. B, Throwcht geving talis hestely. 49. M, To heir bak- 
 byttaris traist weill, SO. M, ar planlie curst in everie. 54. B, 
 pretence ; M, presance. 55. M, god gif. 56. M, That ]>ai to 
 sic gif no haiste credence. 
 
 IS 
 
226 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 THE ANNUNCIATION. 
 
 Foucy as deith is likand lufe 
 
 Throuch quhom al bittir swet is ; 
 No thing is hard, as Writ can pruf, 
 
 Till him in lufe that letis ; 
 
 Luf us fra barret betis ; 5 
 
 Quhen fra the hevinly sete abufe 
 In message Gabriell couth muf, 
 
 And with mild Mary metis, 
 
 And said, " God wele the gretis ; 
 In the He will tak rest and rufe, 10 
 
 But hurt of syne, or yit reprufe : 
 
 In Him sett thi decretis." 
 
 This message mervale gert that'Myld, 
 
 And silence held but soundis, 
 As weill aferit, a maid infild, 15 
 
 The angell it expoundis, 
 
 How that hir wame but woundis * 
 Consave it suld, fra syne exild. 
 And quhen this carpin wes compild 
 
 Brichtnes fra bufe aboundis ; 20 
 
 Thane fell that gay to groundis, 
 Of Goddis grace na thing begild, 
 Wox in hir chaumer chaist with child, 
 
 With Christ our King that crownd is. 
 
 Text— G (Gray). 19. compilit. 
 
THE ANNUNCIATION. 227 
 
 Thir tithingis tauld, the Messinger 25 
 
 Till hevin agane he glidis : 
 That princes pure, withoutyn peir, 
 
 Full plesandly applidis, 
 
 And blith with barne abidis. 
 O worthy wirschip singuler, 30 
 
 To De moder and madyn meir, 
 
 As Cristin faith confidis ; 
 
 That borne was of hir sidis, 
 Our Maker, Goddis Sone, so deir, 
 Quhilk erd, wattir, and hevinnis cler, 35 
 
 Throw grace and virtu gidis. 
 
 The miraclis ar mekle and meit, 
 
 Fra luffis ry ver rynnis ; 
 The low of luf haldand the hete 
 
 Unbrynt full blithlie birnis ; 40 
 
 Quhen Gabriell beginnis 
 With mouth that gudely May to grete, 
 The wand of Aarone, dry but wete, 
 
 To burioun nocht blynnis ; 
 
 The flesch all donk within is, 45 
 
 Upone the erd na drop couth fleit ; 
 Sa was that May maid Moder swete, 
 
 And sakeless of all synnis. 
 
 Hir mervalus haill madinhede 
 
 God in hir bosum bracis, 50 
 
 And hir divinite fra deid 
 
 Hir kepit in all casis. 
 
 The Hie God of His gracis 
 
228 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Him-self dispisit us to speid, 
 
 And dowtit nocht to dee one deid : 55 
 
 He panit for our peacis, 
 
 And with His blude us bacis ; 
 Bot quhen He ras up, as we rede, 
 The cherite of His Grodhede 
 
 Was plane in every placis. 60 
 
 O Lady lele and lusumest, 
 
 Thy face moist fair and schene is ! 
 O blosum blithe and bowsumest, 
 
 Fra carnale cry me that clene is ! 
 
 This prayer fra my splene is, 65 
 
 That all my werkis wikkitest 
 Thow put away, and mak me chaist 
 
 Fra Termigant that teyn is, 
 
 And fra his cluke that kene is ; 
 And syne till hevin my saule thow haist, 70 
 Quhair thi Makar of michtis maist 
 
 Is King, and thow thair Quene is. 
 
SUM PRACTYSIS OF MEDECYNE. 229 
 
 SUM PRACTYSIS OF MEDECYNE. 
 
 Guk, guk, gud day, Schir, gaip quhill ye get it, 
 
 Sic greting may gane vveill gud laik in your 
 hude, 
 Ye wald deir me, I trow, because I am dottit, 
 
 To ruffill me with a ryme ; na, Schir, be the 
 rude 
 Your saying I haif sene, and on syde set it, 5 
 
 As geir of all gaddering, glaikit, nocht gude ; 
 Als your medicyne by mesour I haif meit, met it, 
 
 The quhilk, I stand ford, ye nocht understude, 
 Bot wrett on as ye culd to gar folk wene ; 
 
 For feir my longis wes flaft 10 
 
 Or I wes dottit or daft, 
 
 Grife I can ocht of the craft 
 Heir be it sene. 
 
 Becaus I ken your cunnyng in to cure 
 
 Is clowtit and clampit and nocht weill cleird, 15 
 My prettik in pottingary ye trow be als pure, 
 
 And lyk to your lawitnes, I schrew thame that 
 leid; 
 Is nowdir fevir, nor fell, that our the feild fure, 
 
 Seiknes nor sairnes, in tyme gif I seid, 
 
 Text— B. 
 
230 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Bot I can lib thame and leiche thame fra lame 
 
 and lesure, 20 
 
 With sawis thame sound mak : On your saule 
 beid, 
 That ye be sicker of this sedull I send yow, 
 With the suthfast seggis 
 That glean all egeis 
 
 With dia and dreggis 25 
 
 Of malis to mend yow. 
 
 DIA CULCAKIT. 
 
 Cape cukmaid and crop the colleraige, 
 
 Ane medecyne for the maw, and ye cowth 
 mak it. 
 With sweit satlingis and sowrokis, the sop of 
 the sege, 
 The crud of my culome, with your teith 
 
 crakit ; 30 
 
 Lawrean and linget seid, and the luffage, 
 
 The hair of the hurcheoun nocht half deill 
 hakkit, 
 With the snout of ane selch, ane swelling to 
 swage ; 
 This cure is callit in our craft Dia Culcakkit, 
 Put all thir in ane pan, with pepper and pik, 35 
 Syne sottin to this, 
 The count of ane sow kiss. 
 Is nocht bettir, I wis, 
 For the collik. 
 
SUM PRACTYSIS OF MEDECYNE. 231 
 
 DIA LONGUM. 
 
 Recipe, thre ruggis of the reid ruke, 40 
 
 The gant of ane gray meir, the claik of ane guse, 
 The dram of ane drekterss, the douk of an duke, 
 
 The gaw of ane grene dow, the leg of ane louse, 
 Fy ve unce of ane fle wing, the fyn of ane fluke, 
 
 With ane sleiffull of slak, that growis in the sluss ; 45 
 Ming all thir in ane mass with the mone cruke. 
 
 This untment is rycht ganand for your a win uss, 
 With reid nettill seid in Strang wesche to steip, 
 
 For to bath your ba cod, 
 
 Quhen ye wald nop and nod ; 50 
 
 Is nocht bettir, be God 
 
 To latt yow to sleip. 
 
 DIA &LACONICON. 
 
 This dia is rycht deir and denteit in daill, 
 
 Cause it is trest and trew, thairfoir that ye tak 
 Sevin sobbis of ane seiche, the quhidder of ane 
 
 quhaill, 55 
 
 The lug of ane lempet is nocht to forsaik, 
 The harnis of ane haddok, hakkit or haill, 
 
 With ane bustfull of blude of the scho-bak 
 With ane brewing caldrun full of hait caill, 
 
 For it wil be softar and sweittar of the smak ; 60 
 Thair is nocht sic ane lechcraft fra Lawdian to 
 Lundin : 
 
 It is clippit in our cannon 
 
 Dia Glecolicon, 
 
 For till fle awaye son 
 
 Quhair fulis ar fundin. 65 
 
232 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 DIA CUSTRUM. 
 
 The ferd feisik is fyne, and of ane felloun pryce, 
 
 Gud for haising and hosting, or heit at the 
 hairt ; 
 Recipe, Thre sponfull of the blak spyce, 
 
 With ane grit gowpene of the gowk fart ; 
 The lug of ane lyoun, the guse of ane gryce ; 70 
 
 Ane unce of ane oster poik at the nether parte, 
 Annoyntit with nurice doung, for it is rycht nyce, 
 
 Myngit with mysdirt and with mustart ; 
 Ye may clamp to this cure, and ye will mak cost, 
 
 Bayth the bellox of ane brok, 75 
 
 With thre crawis of the cok, 
 
 The schadow of ane yule stok, 
 Is gud for the host. 
 
 Gud nycht, guk, guk, for sa I began, 
 
 I haif na come at this tyme langer to tary, 80 
 Bot luk on this letter, and leird, gif ye can, 
 
 The prectik and poyntis of this pottingary ; 
 Schir, minister this medecyne at evin to sum man, 
 
 And or pryme be past, my powder I pary, 
 Thay sail bliss yow, or ellis bittirly yow ban ; 85 
 
 For it sail fle thame, in faith, out of the fary : 
 Bot luk quhen ye gaddir thir gressis and gerss, 
 
 Outhir sawrand or sour, 
 
 That it be in ane gud oure : 
 
 It is ane mirk mirrour, 90 
 
 Ane uthir manis erss. 
 
THE THRE DEID POLLIS. 233 
 
 THE THRE DEID POLLIS. 
 
 sinfull man ! in to this mortal se, 
 
 Quhilk is the vaill of murning and of cair, 
 
 With gaistly sicht, behold our heidis thre, 
 Our hoi kit ene, our peilit pollis bair : 
 As ye ar now, into this warld we wair, 5 
 
 Als fresche, als fair, als lusty, to behald ; 
 Quhan thow lukis on this suth examplair 
 
 Of thy self, man, thow may be richt unbald. 
 
 For suth it is, that every man mortall 
 
 Mon suffer deid, and de, that lyfe hes tane ; 10 
 Na erdly stait aganis deid ma prevaill ; 
 
 The hour of deth and place is uncertane, 
 
 Quhilk is referrit to the Hie God allane ; 
 Heirfoir haif mynd of deth, that thow mon de ; 
 
 This sair exampill to se quotidiane, 15 
 
 Suld cause all men fra wicket vycis fle. 
 
 O wanton youth ! als fresche as lusty May, 
 Farest of flowris, renewit quhyt and reid, 
 
 Behald our heidis : O lusty gallandis gay, 
 
 Full laichly thus sail ly thy lustyheid, 20 
 
 Text— B, collated with M (Maitland, folio). 2. M, well. 
 4. M, with pelit powis. 7. M, Quhone. 9. Off treuthe it is. 
 10. M; Man thole \> dethe. 11. M, Nane erthlie. 14. B, mon 
 dy. 15. B, This fair. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Holkit and how, and wallowit as the weid ; 
 Thy crampand hair, and eik thy cristall ene, 
 
 Full cairfully conclud sail dulefull deid ; 
 Thy example heir be us it may be sene. 
 
 O Ladies quhyt, in claithis corruscant, 25 
 
 Poleist with perle, and mony pretius stane ; 
 With palpis quhyt, and hals so elegant, 
 
 Circulit with gold, and sapheris mony ane ; 
 
 Your fingaris small, quhyt as quhailis bane, 
 Arrayit with ringis, and mony rubeis reid : 30 
 
 As we ly thus, so sail ye ly ilk ane, 
 With peilit pollis, and holkit thus your heid. 
 
 wofull pryd ! the rute of all distres, 
 
 With humill hairt upoun our pollis penss : 
 Man, for thy miss, ask mercy with meikness ; 35 
 
 Aganis deid na man may mak defenss. 
 
 The Empriour, for all his excellens, 
 King and Quene, and eik all erdly stait, 
 
 Peure and riche, sal be but differens, 
 Tumit in ass, and thus in erd translait. 40 
 
 This questioun, quha can absolve, lat see, 
 Quhat phisnamour, or perfyt palmester — 
 
 Quha was farest, or fowlest, of us thre ? 
 Or quhilk of us of kin was gentillar ? 
 
 22. M, lustie ene. 24. Exemple heir be ws It may sene. 
 38. M, v]>er stait. 41. B, obsolve. 
 
THE THRE DEID POLLIS. 235 
 
 Or maist excellent in science, or in lare, 45 
 
 In art, musik, or in astronomye ? 
 
 Heir suld be your study and repair, 
 And think, as thus, all your heidis mon be. 
 
 O febill aige, ay drawand neir the dait 
 
 Of dully deid, and hes. thy dayis compleit, 50 
 
 Behald our heidis with murning and regrait ; 
 
 Fall on thy kneis ; ask grace at God greit, 
 
 With orisionis, and haly psalmis sweit, 
 Beseikand Him on the to haif mercy, 
 
 Now of our saulis bydand the decreit 55 
 
 Of His Godheid, when He sail call and cry. 
 
 Als we exhort, that every man mortall, 
 For His saik that maid of nocht all thing, 
 
 For our saulis to pray in general 
 
 To Jesus Chryst, of hevin and erd the King, 60 
 That throwch His.blude we may ay leif and ring 
 
 With the Hie Fader, be eternitie, 
 
 The Sone alswa, the Haly Gaist conding, 
 
 Thre knit in Ane be perfyt Unity. 
 
 S3. B, With oritionis ; salmes. 55. M, And if. 56. M, god- 
 heid to rew and glorifie. 59. M, For mercy cry and pray. 
 61. Throw 30ur prayar that we and se may Regnne. 
 
236 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 ANE PRAYER FOR THE PEST. 
 
 O Eterne God ! of power infinyt, 
 
 To quhois hie knawlege na thing is obscure 
 
 That is, or was, or evir sal be, perfyt, 
 
 Into Thy sicht, quhill that this warld indure, 
 Haif mercy of us, indigent and peure ; 5 
 
 Thow dois na wrang to puneis our offens : 
 O Lord, that is to mankynd haill succure, 
 
 Preserve us fra this perrelus pestilens. 
 
 We The beseik, O Lord of Lordis all, 
 
 Thy eiris inclyne and heir our grit regrait ; 10 
 We ask remeid of The in general, 
 
 That is of help and confort desolait ; 
 
 Bot Thow with rewth our hairtis recreate, 
 We ar bot deid but only Thy clemens : 
 
 We The exhort, on kneis law prostrait, 15 
 
 Preserve us fra this perrellus pestilens. 
 
 We ar richt glaid Thow puneis our trespass 
 Be ony uthir tribulatioun, 
 
 Wer it Thy will, O Lord of Hevin, allaiss, 
 
 That we suld thus be haistily put doun, 20 
 
 And de as beistis, without confessioun, 
 
 Text— B, collated with B' (Bannatyne, draft). 16. B, Pre- 
 serf. 18. B, ony kynd of. 21. B, And dye. 
 
ANE PRAYER FOR THE PEST. 237 
 
 That nane dar mak with uthir residence. 
 
 O Blissit Jesu, that woir the thorny croun, 
 Preserve us from this perrelus pestilens. 
 
 Use derth, O Lord, or seiknes, and hungir soir, 25 
 
 And slaik Thy plaig that is so penetryve. 
 Thy pepill ar perreist : quha ma remeid thairfoir, 
 
 Bot Thow, O Lord, that for thame lost Thy lyve? 
 
 Suppois our syn be to The pungityve, 
 Our deid ma nathing our synnys recompens. 30 
 
 Haif mercy, Lord ! we ma not with The stry ve : 
 Preserve us from this perrellus pestilens. 
 
 Haif mercy, Lord ! haif mercy, Hevynis King ! 
 
 Haif mercy of Thy pepill penetent ; 
 Haif mercy of our petous punissing ; 35 
 
 Retreit the sentence of Thy just jugement 
 
 Aganis us synnaris, that servis to be schent 
 Without mercy ; we ma mak no defens. 
 
 Thow that, but rewth, upoun the Rude was rent, 
 Preserve us from this perrellus pestilens. 40 
 
 Remember, Lord ! how deir Thow hes us bocht, 
 
 That for us synnaris sched Thy pretius blude, 
 Now to redeme that Thow hes maid of nocht, 
 
 That is of vertew barrane and denude ; 
 
 Haif rewth, Lord, of Thyne Awin symilitude, 45 
 Puneis with pety and nocht with violens : 
 
 We knaw it is for our ingratitude, 
 That we ar puneist with this pestilens. 
 
 22. B', with vdir. 
 
238 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Thow grant us grace for till amend our miss, 
 
 And till evaid this ere wall suddane deid ; 50 
 
 We knaw our syn is all the cause of this, 
 For oppin syn thair is set no remeid : 
 The justice of God mon puneis than bot dreid ; 
 
 For by the law He will with non dispens ; 
 
 Quhair justice laikis, thair is eternall feid 55 
 
 Of G-od that suld preserf fra pestilens. 
 
 Bot wald the heiddismen, that suld keip the law, 
 Puneiss the peple for thair transgressioun, 
 
 Thair wald na deid the peple than ourthraw ; 
 
 Bot thay ar gevin so planely till oppressioun, 60 
 That God will nocht heir thair intercessioun ; 
 
 Bot all ar puneist for inobediens, 
 
 Be sword or deid, withouttin remissioun, 
 
 And hes just cause to send us pestilens. 
 
 Superne Lucerne ! guberne this pestilens, 65 
 
 Preserve and serve that we not sterve thairin ; 
 Declyne that pyne, be Thy devyne prudens ; 
 
 O Trewth, haif rewth ! lat not our slewth us 
 twin; 
 
 Oursyt, full tyt, wer we contryt, wald blin, 
 Dissiver did never, quha evir The besocht ; 70 
 
 Send grace, with space, and us imbrace fra 
 syn ; 
 Latt nocht be tynt that Thow so deir hes bocht. 
 
 S3. B', than be deid. 68. B\ For trewth. 71. B', for to 
 arrace fra sin. 
 
ANE PRAYElt FOR THE PEST. 
 
 O Prince preclair, this cair cotidiane, 
 
 We The exhort, distort it in exyle ; 
 Bot Thow remeid, this deid is bot ane trane 75 
 
 For to dissaif the laif, and thame begyle ; 
 
 Bot Thow, sa wyis, devyis to mend this byle. 
 Of this mischeif, quha ma releif us ocht ? 
 
 For wrangus win, but Thow our syn oursyll : 
 Lat nocht be tynt that Thow so deir hes bocht. 80 
 
 Sen for our vyce that justice mon correct, 
 
 O King Most Hie, now pacifie Thy feid. 
 Our syn is huge, refuge we not suspect, 
 
 As Thou art Juge, deluge us of this dreid ; 
 
 In tyme assent, or we be schent with deid, 85 
 
 We us repent and tyme mispent forthocht ; 
 
 Thairfoir, evirmoir be gloir to Thy Godheid : 
 Lat nocht be tynt that Thow sa deir hes bocht. 
 
 76. B', laif falsly-arid begyle. 77. B', devyse to win ws fra 
 that byle. 84. B', dislug ws of this steid. 86. B', For we 
 repent all tyme mispent for thocht. 87. B', bes gloir. 
 
240 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 THE WANT OF WYSE MEN. 
 
 Me ferlyis of this grete confusioun ; 
 
 I wald sum clerk of connyng walde declerde, 
 Quhat gerris this warld be turnyt upside doun. 
 
 Thair is na faithfull fastness founde in erd ; 
 
 Now is nocht thre may traistly trow the ferde ; 5 
 Welth is away, and wit is worthin wynkis ; 
 
 Now sele is sorow, this is a wofull werde, 
 Sen want of wyse men makis fulis to sit on binkis. 
 
 As bukis beiris witnes, quhen levit King Saturnus, 
 
 For gudely governance this warld was goldin 
 
 cald ; 10 
 
 For untreuth we wate nocht quhare-to it turnis. 
 
 The quhill that Octaviane, the monarchy could 
 hald, 
 
 Our-all was pes, well set as hertis wald : 
 Than regnyt reule, and resone held his rynkis ; 
 
 Now lakkis prudence ; nobilitee is thralde, 15 
 Sen want of wyse men makis fulis to sit on bynkis. 
 
 Tkxt — C and B. 1. B, Me mervellis. 2. B, cunnand clerk of 
 clergy. 3. C, vp so doun ; B, vpsyd doun. 4. B, nocht faith- 
 fulnes fundin in. 7. B, seil is sover. 8. B, The want. 9. B, 
 As bukis beiris witnes quhen; C, The tyme quhen. 11. B, 
 Nou ellis we wat forsuth quhithir it turnis. 12. B, The quhik; 
 C, The tyme ; B, The quhilk octauiane. 13. B, wes peax als 
 weill set ; raenis hairtis. 14. B, Thair rignit ; J>air rinkis. 15. 
 B, nobilite prudens. 16. B, And want. 
 
THE WANT OF WYSE MEN. 241 
 
 Aristotill for his moralitee, 
 
 Austyn, or Ambrose, for dyvine scripture, 
 Quha can placebo, and nocht half dirige, 
 
 That practik for to pike and pill the pure, 20 
 
 He sail cum in, and thay stand at the dure ; 
 For warldly wyn sik walkis, quhen wysar wynkis ; 
 
 Wit takis na worschip, sik in the aventure, 
 Sen want of wyse men makis fulis to sit on binkis. 
 
 Now, but defense, rycht lyis all desolate, 25 
 
 Rycht na resone under na rufe has rest ; 
 Youth is but raddour, and age is obstynate, 
 
 Mycht but mercy ; the pure ar all opprest. 
 
 Lerit folk suld tech the peple of the best ; 
 Thouch lare be lytil, yit ferles in tham sinkis : 30 
 
 It may noucht be this warld ay thus suld lest, 
 That want of wyse men makis fulis sit on binkis. 
 
 For now is exilde all aid noble corage, 
 
 Lautee, lufe, and liberalitee ; 
 Now is stabilitee fundin in na stage, 35 
 
 Nor degest counsele wyth maturitee ; 
 
 17. B, for all his grit. 18. B, for all thair devyne. 19. B, 
 nocht to half. 20. B, With prectik; full bair pure. 21. B, 
 quhen fat thay. 22. B, warldly wonyng. 23. B, sa is now 
 the aventure. 24. B, That want. 25. This and the following 
 stanza are transposed in B ; B, Weir but. 26. B, and ressone; 
 ony rest. 28. B, pure folkis ar all ourprest. 29. B, Lernit 
 men. 30. C, lytil ferries. 31. B, warld sail euir thus lest. 33. 
 B, Lord quhidder ar exylit all noble curagis. 34. C, Lautee 
 lufe and ; B, Lawty luve with kyndnes and. 35. B, No thing 
 is fundin now stable in no stagis. 36. B, Na degest counsale 
 availis with moralite. 
 
 16 
 
242 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 Peas is away, all in perplexitee ; 
 Prudence and policy ar banyst our al brinkis : 
 
 This warld is wer, sa may it callit be, 
 That want of wyse men makis fulis sit on bynkis. 40 
 
 Quhare is the balance of just and equitie ? 
 
 Nothir meryt is preisit, na punyst is trespas ; 
 All ledis lyvis lawles at libertee, 
 
 Noucht reulit be reson, mare than ox or ass ; 
 
 Gude faith is flemyt worthin fraellar than glas ; 45 
 Trew lufe is lorne, and lautee haldis no lynkis ; 
 
 Sik governance I call noucht worth a fasse, 
 Sen want of wise men makis fulis sitt on binkis. 
 
 Now wrang has warrane, and law is bot wilfulness ; 
 
 Quha hes the war is worthin on him all the 
 
 wyte, 50 
 
 For trewth is tressoun, and faith fals fekilness, 
 
 Gyle is now gyd, and vane lust is also delyte ; 
 
 Kirk is contempnit, thay compt nocht cursing 
 a myte ; 
 Grit God is grevit, that we rycht soir forthinkis ; 
 
 The causs of this ony man may sone vit, 55 
 
 That want of wys men garis fulis sit on binkis. 
 
 37. B, flemit in all proplexite. 38. B, prudence and wisdome 
 ar. 39. B, The wardis war may seyme weill callit to be. 40. 
 Sen want of. 41. B, thebalnce; Iustice evin equite. 42. B, 
 no mirreit is present. 43. B, leidis now levis. 44. B, Now 
 rewlis by ressone no moir nor one asfl. 45. B, frewollar than. 
 46. B, hive is lost. 47. Our gouernante nocht keipis gud rewll 
 no compasi*. 48. For want. 49. This and the following stanza 
 occur only in B. 55. B, grit gyd and als gouirnour. 
 
THE WANT OF WYSE MEN. 
 
 Luve hes tane leif, and wirschep hes no udir wane ; 
 
 With passing poverty pryd is importable ; 
 Vyce is bot vertew, wit is with will soir ourgane ; 
 
 As lairdis so laddis, daly chengeable ; 60 
 
 But iyme or ressone all is bot heble-hable ; 
 Sic sturtfull stering in to Godis neise it stinkis ; 
 
 Bot He haif rew, all is unremedable, 
 For want of wyse men makis fulis sit on binkis. 
 
 O Lord of Lordis ! God and Gouvernour, 65 
 
 Makar and Movar, bath of mare and lesse, 
 
 Quhais power, wisedome and he honoure, 
 Is infynite, sal be, and evir wes, 
 As in the principall mencioun of the Messe, 
 
 All thir sayd thingis reforme as Thow best 
 
 thinkis, 70 
 
 Quhilk ar degradit, for pure pitee redresse, 
 
 Sen want of wise men makis fulis sit in binkis. 
 
 66. B, and also less. 67. B, ne honour. 68. B, As thy 
 evangell planely dois express. 70. B, said faltis. 71. B, As 
 it is deformit. 72. B, That without fulis maywyse men sit on 
 binkis. 
 
NOTES. 
 
NOTES. 
 
 THE MORAL FABLES OF MSOP. 
 
 .ZEsop is said to have lived about b.c. 570. The date of 
 his birth is put down at B.C. 620 ; and for his death 
 b.c. 564 is given. Originally he was a slave. Among 
 his masters were two Samians, Xanthus and Iadmon, 
 from the latter of whom he received his freedom. 
 Upon this he visited Croesus, and afterwards Peisistratus 
 at Athens. While with the former, he is said to have 
 reproved Solon for his discourtesy to the King. Ac- 
 cording to Plutarch, Croesus sent him to distribute 
 among the citizens of Delphi a mina apiece, but some 
 dispute arising on the subject, he refused to give any 
 money at all, when the enraged Delphians threw him 
 from a precipice. Very little more is known about 
 him. According to Maximus Planudes, a monk of the 
 fourteenth century, who wrote a life of him and prefixed 
 it to a book of Fables purporting to be his, iEsop did 
 not at all correspond to the beautiful portrait of him 
 which Henryson has drawn in the Prologue of his 
 Fable of the Lion and the Mouse, but was a perfect 
 monster of ugliness and deformity. This idea is appar- 
 ently without foundation. In the various passages where 
 
248 THE MORAL FABLES OF .ESOP. 
 
 he is referred to by Classical writers there is nowhere 
 the slightest suggestion that he was physically deformed 
 or that his personal appearance was in any way remark- 
 able. Besides, the Athenians caused Lysippus to erect 
 a statue in his honour, which, if sculptured in conformity 
 with Planudes' description, would have been anything 
 but ornamental. Henryson calls .55sop " the Phrygian," 
 because he assumed that he was born at Cotyaeum in 
 Phrygia. Several other cities, however, claim the honour 
 of being his birth-place. Besides writing Fables, jEsop 
 is said to have written Drolleries. None of his writings 
 are extant, and it is doubtful whether he ever wrote 
 any. The probability is that the fables and drolleries 
 he composed were simply uttered or spoken, and that 
 for a long time they passed from mouth to mouth and 
 were never written down, at least by him. It is 
 probable, too, that many anecdotes and jests and wise 
 sayings said to be his were not really his, but were 
 attributed to him as the most popular of all authors of 
 the kind, and in order to give them currency. Socrates 
 spent some of his last hours in turning the Fables of 
 iEsop into verse (Phaed. 60, 6l), of which a specimen 
 has been preserved by Diogenes Laertius. Demetrius 
 Phalereus (b.c. 320) followed his example and col- 
 lected his verses into a book. Babrius did the same. 
 During the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius, Phsedrus, 
 who appears to have been born in Thrace, and, like 
 jEsop, had been a slave, published five books of 
 iEsopean Fables. Henryson professes to take his 
 Fables from the Latin ; but whether he took them 
 from Phaedrus or Planudes is doubtful. Books of 
 fables were common in his day, and he may have used 
 some other collection. 
 
NOTES. . 249 
 
 Prologue. 
 
 1. Fables. Dr. Johnson, in his life of. the poet Gay, 
 when referring to the fables written by Gay and 
 others, says : " Of this kind of fable the authors do 
 not appear to have formed any distinct or settled 
 notion. Phsedrus evidently confounds them with 
 tales, and Gay both with tales and allegorical pro- 
 sopopoeias. A fable or apologue, such as is now 
 under consideration, seems to be in its genuine 
 state, a narrative in which beings irrational and 
 sometimes inanimate — arbores loquuntur, non tantum 
 ferce — are for the purpose of moral instruction, 
 feigned to act and speak with human interests and 
 passions." According to another writer, they are 
 "analogical narratives, intended to convey some 
 moral lesson, in which irrational animals or objects 
 are introduced as speaking" (Philolog. Museum i. 
 280). For some excellent remarks on the origin 
 and character of the jEsopean Fables, see Croiset's 
 Histoiro de la Literature Grecque, t. ii. 475-6. 
 For Henryson's idea of a fable see 11. 43-19 below. 
 
 5. caus is, in length, equal to a dissyllable. 
 
 8. busteous, appears in several forms. See the Glossary. 
 
 10. on brerd, all around. O.E. on brede; Mod. E. abroad. 
 
 23. Worthis, becomes. O.E. meorthan, Icel. vertha, to 
 become. 
 
 26. sad materis, serious, weighty, grave, important 
 matters. 
 
 28. The second of twelve lines of Prefatio to the series 
 of Fables in Latin verse republished in the Collec- 
 tion of Ancient Fables by Neveletus at Frankfort in 
 1610, but originally printed at Rome in 1473, and 
 attributed to Walter the Englishman. 
 
 29. author. The preceding line seems to suggest that 
 the version of the Fables used by Henryson was 
 that of Neveletus. 
 
250 THE MORAL FABLES OF .ESOP. 
 
 34. one Lord. The omission of his name is unfortunate. 
 The mention of it might have given, among other 
 things, some idea as to the time when Henryson 
 wrote, and under what circumstances. 
 
 35. it nedis nocht heir, there is here no necessity. 
 37. Me nedis rvryt, I am obliged to write. 
 
 4i. brutall bestis, irrational, unreasoning beasts; Mod. E. 
 "brute beasts." So Alex. Scott, p. 78 (S.T.S.)— 
 " No wit salbe devest, 
 To heir, se, smell, nor test, 
 Bot as a brutall best. 
 
 He sail be so." 
 
 60. disdane, scorn, disdain. O.F. desdegner : des, from 
 L. dis, apart, here used in a negative sense ; and 
 degner, to deign, think worthy of, from L. dignari, 
 to deem worthy, from L. dignus. he or law, high 
 or low (socially). 
 
 The Cock and the Jewel. 
 
 Title. H, The Traill of the Cok and the Iasp ; B, The 
 Cock and the Jewell. 
 
 1. sumtyme, once, once upon a time. 
 
 2. cant and croiise, merry and confident. 
 
 3. son be day, early in the day. 
 
 4. set tves all his cure, fixed was all his thought. 
 
 5. be adventure, by chance. 
 
 6. jasp, O.F. jaspe, L. iaspis, jasper. 
 
 10. talc na tent, take no care, pay no attention. 
 
 17. Ihom ganis nocht for me, thou sufficest not, hast 
 
 nothing suitable for me. Cf. 1. 25 
 26. Til grit lordis, etc., Though by great lords thou be 
 
 held dear ; highly valued. 
 34. And thorn, etc., And thou, again, in the same way, 
 
 mayest now me despise on thine own account. 
 37. Thy colour gives pleasure only to the sight. 
 
NOTES. 251 
 
 43. B reads tribulation, tribute (Med. L. tributatio), not 
 " tribulation." 
 
 47. The full stop after Jlorvr should be a comma. 
 
 48. fene, mud, dirt, muck. O.E. fen. 
 
 49. Cf. 1. 17 and n. 
 
 54. inwart sentens, inward meaning. 
 
 57. properteys sevyne, seven properties. In antiquity, 
 all precious stones were supposed to possess talis- 
 manic powers or virtues. Those here enumerated 
 of the jasper are (1) its marvellous colour — "pairt 
 lik the fyir, and pairt lik the hevyne," i.e. red and 
 blue ; (2) power to make a man strong and (3) 
 victorious — " It makis a man stark and victoryus " ; 
 (4) power to protect in peril — " Preservis als fra 
 casis perellus " ; (5) gives good hope of success — 
 " Quha has this stane sal haf gud hoip to speid " ; 
 (6) to protect against fire and (7) against an)' other 
 trouble — " Of fyr, and noi hyme neidis nocht to 
 dreid." Green, yellow, black, and mottled jaspers 
 are mentioned as well as red and blue. They were 
 also supposed to have medicinal and other virtues. 
 A blood-red jasper was supposed to be useful in 
 cases of haemorrhage ; a green jasper, it was said, 
 would bring fertility to the soil ; while an amethyst 
 of a purple-wine colour was regarded as having 
 the power to prevent intoxication. 
 
 64. deferent of heme refers probably to the changing 
 hue seen in the jasper, and caused by the light 
 falling upon it from different angles. From the 
 properties or virtues of the jasper, the author now 
 proceeds to enumerate the things or virtues it 
 signifies. 
 
 70. Of all vicis, over all vices. 
 
 74. Sciens, the perfect prudence and wisdom (cunnyng) 
 of, 1. 65. 
 
 76. na othir, etc., no other rust can fret or wear away. 
 
252 THE MORAL FABLES OF .ESOP. 
 
 79- may till, etc., may to a fool be peer, equal, fellow, 
 or companion. Peir is from O.F. per, peer, later, 
 pair, "a. peer, a paragon, also a match, fellow, 
 companion " — Cotgrave ; or "as an adj., like, 
 equal " — id. 
 
 81. na gud can, no good knows. 
 
 86. ignorantis, those who are ignorant. 
 
 90. Spend all the days of his life in perfect study. 
 
 94. Haif me ryches ? Have we riches : if we have 
 we wait not, look not for, expect not the better 
 life of eternal wisdom. 
 
 98. the Jasp, i.e. the wisdom for which it stands. 
 
 The Twa Myss. 
 
 In the Asloan MS. the title is " Heir begynnes the 
 tale of the uplandis mouss and the borrowstoun 
 mouss"; E has "The Taill of the Vponlandis Mous 
 and the Burges Mous " ; H, " The Taile of the vpon- 
 landis Mous and the burges Mous"; B, "The Twa 
 Myss." 
 
 3. a borrowstoun, a burgh or borough, or lit. a burgh's 
 town as contrasted with a farm town. Town is 
 from O.E. tynan, to enclose, from which comes tun 
 (O.E. and Icel.), an enclosure, a homestead, a 
 dwelling house. In Sc. it was applied originally 
 to a single farm-house with its outbuildings, and 
 is still so applied. A " borrow " or burgh is a 
 collection of houses or dwellings with or without 
 some kind of civil organisation. The military 
 element came in much later, and in royal burghs 
 was perhaps the main feature and certainly one 
 of its distinguishing features. 
 
 4. uponland, upland, i.e., outside the burgh or town. 
 
 5. under buske and breir, under bush and brier. The 
 bush was not necessarily a brier bush, quhile . . . 
 
NOTES. 253 
 
 quhile, sometimes . . . sometimes : at one time 
 ... at another. 
 
 7. waith, hunting. 
 
 12. but custome mar or less, exempted from the great 
 customs, levied on imports and exports, and from 
 the small customs, levied on goods sent to market. 
 
 1 5. unfutsair, not sore of foot, not lame. 
 
 18. undir the wand, under the branches; in the open 
 country as contrasted with the enclosed town. 
 " Under the wand " also means under authority, 
 but here this meaning is impossible. 
 
 22. wilsome wayis, lonely, solitary ways. 
 
 28. By very nature. 
 
 36. semple wane, simple dwelling. Cf. 1. 99- For 
 wane see Cursor Mundi, 8667 : York Plays, 106-123. 
 
 " Or thou wend of this wane wenches away." 
 
 — Gol. and Gaw, 99. 
 
 37. fog and fame, moss and fern fronds, mysterlyk, 
 skilfully. O. F. mestier, " a trade, occupation, 
 mystery, handicraft" — Cot. 
 
 38. erdfast, fast in the earth. 
 
 40. And in they went together without more delay. 
 43. thir sely myse, these simple mice. 
 46. / dud on thaim besyde, I leave it to them. For 
 dud, see p. 36, 1. 63 and note. 
 
 54. ryte, style, manner. 
 
 69. meisis, messes, foods, dishes. Cf. meise, 1. 77. 
 
 74. than set till him a cow. Set is apparently a better 
 reading than seik or seith or sethe of the other 
 MSS., but the meaning of the phrase is very 
 doubtful. Cow may be short for broun-cow, i.e., a 
 barrel of beer (See Jamieson), or it may stand for 
 bush, the sign of a wine-seller. There can be 
 little doubt, however, that the sense of the passage 
 is given in Prov. xv. 7. 
 
254 THE MORAL FABLES OF .ESOP. 
 
 75. modicum. This is given as the earliest known 
 instance of the use of the word. See N.E.D. 
 
 81. dantes, dainties. 
 
 82. half in kething, half in scorn. 
 
 87. My Good Friday is better than your Easter. 
 90. na fall, nor trap-door. 
 
 92. In stowthry ay, Always thieving, or always on 
 stealing bent. 
 
 109- Mutton and beef cut off in great slices. 
 
 117. " Ye, dame," etc " Yea, dame," quoth she, " how 
 long," etc. 
 
 120. subcharge, additional course. Cf. Barbour, Brus, 
 xvi. 458. 
 
 122. Threfe. caikis, cakes of unleavened bread. See 
 N.E.D. sub v. "Tharf " and "Tharf-cake." 
 
 1 32. spensar, steward. 
 
 1 39- will of, at a loss for, uncertain. 
 
 144. lefthe dure, etc., left the door wide open. 
 
 150. mony wilsome stound, many an uncertain beat. 
 
 160. waiter caile, broth made without meat. 
 
 164. Scantlie, etc., Scarcely had they drank but once 
 or twice. 
 
 168. Balderonis (E.H.B. Bawdronis), another familiar 
 name for a cat. has hynt, has seized. 
 
 1 70. cant, lively, dexterously. 
 
 1 72. play with Mr bulchid, play with her hide-and-seek. 
 
 176. perrelling, parpalling, the partition-wall. 
 
 1 80. let hir, prevent her. . 
 
 18^. Thy goose is good, thy sauce is sour as gall. 
 ganesall, OF. ganse aillie, garlic sauce, served with 
 goose — Gregory Smith. 
 
 186. may fall, come to pass. 
 
NOTES. 255 
 
 187. I thank yon curtain and yon partition wall. For 
 parpell, see N.E.D. s. r. " Parpen." 
 
 190. kith, country. 
 
 195 And merrily made her way to the muir. 
 
 198. suppose, though. 
 
 199- but and ben, the outer and inner parts of her den. 
 
 The Cock and the Fox. 
 
 Title. E, H, The Taill of Schir Chanticleir and the 
 Foxe ; B, The Fox and the Cock. 
 
 Chaucer tells the same fable in the Nonnes Preestes 
 Tale, but with differences and at greater length. There 
 is no preamble in Chaucer ; he begins straight off with 
 the story, and gives some twenty-six lines to a descrip- 
 tion of the widow and her poverty, "and eek hir 
 doghtren two," of whom Henryson makes no mention. 
 
 4. diverss inclinatioun, divers kinds of inclinations. 
 
 The second word is plural. 
 7. keip, guard. 
 
 1 0. sa fele, so many. 
 
 1 1 . to dyte, to describe. 
 
 15. drope, dorp, thorp, farm. O.E, throp, thorp, a farm, 
 estate, village. 
 
 16, hir rok, her distaff. 
 27. In pyking, by stealing. 
 
 30. unto the town, unto the farm. 
 
 31. gray doming, gray dawn. 
 
 32. Wery of nycht, weary of night, flowin, flown. 
 
 33. Lourence, Lawrence, a familiar name for the fox. 
 It occurs also as " Lowrie," " Tod Lowrie," though 
 here " Lowrie " may simply mean the lurker, 
 skulker, croucher. 
 
256 THE MORAL FABLES OF .ESOl'. 
 
 39. in a braid, with a start. 
 
 46. middingis, middens. 
 
 47. At his ending, at his death. 
 
 49. smelt in my arme, died on my arm. 
 
 52. birkyn bench, birchen bough. 
 
 53. dirige, dirge, "a solemn service, or part of a ser- 
 vice, celebrated on behalf of a departed soul." 
 
 66. Me think, methinks. The form occurs frequently 
 in Robynson's translation of More's Utopia (1551). 
 
 73. sa mot I thee, so may I thrive. " So mote thou the " 
 — Pist. of Susan, 335. The from O.E. theon, thion, 
 to increase, prosper, flourish. 
 
 75. slight = slicht = trick or knack. 
 
 83. or he had, before he had. 
 
 87. Partok. In Chaucer, she 
 
 " Was cleped fair damoysele Pertelote. 
 Curteys she was, discreet, and debonaire, 
 And compaignable, and bar hir-self so faire, 
 Sin thilke day that she was seven night old, 
 That trewely she hath the herte in hold 
 Of Chaunteclere loken in every lith ; 
 He loved her so, that wel was him therewith." 
 
 90. beir, noise. 
 
 1 1 4. The pointing is wrong. Read : Ye be to mad, for 
 him sic murning mais. 
 
 1 1 5. Sanct John to borrow : borrow = borch = pledge, 
 security. She pledges herself by S. John, the 
 Apostle of truth. Borrow is a substantive, not a 
 verb. See the note on this common phrase in 
 Skeat, Kingis Quhair (S.T.S., N.S.), p. 65. 
 
 119.' Was nevir wedow so gay ! ' perhaps the title or 
 words of a song then in vogue. 
 
 136. loveous, uxorious. 
 
 1 37. sissocks, a dimutive of sister, said to be common in 
 the West of Scotland. In Chaucer, the hens are 
 called seven sisters. Sissocks, or sissockkis, is 
 preferable to kittokis of E and H. 
 
NOTES. 257 
 
 149. kennattis, a diminutive of chien, a small hunting- 
 dog. 
 
 150. For Balsye, Brown read Balsye Brown. 
 
 1 59. the raches, the rach-hounds, 
 
 160-1. God send that I and thou were lifted into, or 
 safely in, my den. 
 
 178. but mete or fee, without meat or wage. 
 
 189- lewar, louver. 
 
 207. To loif and lee, to praise and lie. 
 
 212. socour, sugar. 
 
 The Fox and the Wolf. 
 
 The title in E and H is The Taill how this foirsaid 
 Tod maid his confessioun to Frier Wolf Waitskaith ; 
 in B it is The Fox and the Wolf. 
 
 5. miching intermele, meddle with pilfering. "Mychyn, 
 or pryuely stelyn small thyngis " — Prompt. Par. 
 For miching, E and H substitute waiting, wayting. 
 The meaning is the same. 
 
 29. Bot astrolab, without astrolabe. 
 
 35. " that sent me first, or that first sent me, to 
 learning." 
 
 44. "Our life is put each night." 
 
 45. " Our cursed craft does injury to full many a one." 
 
 48. "And are called Widdinek and also a Crakraip." 
 A widdy is a rope made of twigs (withes) of wil- 
 low, and a widdynek is one who deserves to be 
 hung with such a rope. A crakraip, or crackrope, 
 or crack-halter, is a gallows-bird, or one who de- 
 serves the gallows. 
 
 49- til owre hyre, for our pains, reward, hire. 
 
 54. Waitskaith, one who waits or watches to do skaith 
 or harm. 
 
 17 
 
258 THE MORAL FABLES OF JESOP. 
 
 60. with mony binge and mony bek, with many a cringe 
 
 and many a bow. 
 63. to dude, to do it, i.e. to fear. See N.E.D. *. do. 
 84. couth mele, did speak. 
 
 99- The two points in which he was wanting were 
 contritio and confessio. The remaining point was 
 satisfactio. 
 1 10. "flesche hyne,'' etc., flesh from now to Easter. 
 112. "Here I grant thee full remission." 
 115. "For thy great necessity I give, thee permission 
 
 to do it twice in the week." 
 119- God yeild yow, God requite you. 
 130. to late, to seek, find, get. 
 
 " Att what leche vppon lyue might I laite hele 't " 
 
 -Destruction of Troy, 9191. 
 Icel. leita. 
 
 144. To beke, etc.,. to warm his breast, etc. 
 
 150. culd he wayte, did he search. 
 
 153. hailit to the heid, drew to the head. 
 
 174. that nedlingis, etc., that of necessity they must do. 
 
 The Trial of the Fox. 
 
 The title in E and H is The taill of the sone and 
 air of the foirsaid foxe, callit Father-wer : Alswa the 
 Parliament of the fourfuttit beistis haldin be the 
 Lyoun ; in B, it is The Fox tryd before the Lyon. 
 
 6. Fader Were, Father-worse (waur). Cf. "Father- 
 better." 
 
 7. tig and tere, cf. tig and toy, to play with. 
 13. Ofverry kynd, by very nature. 
 
 1 5. be sent, by scent. 
 
 26. Fearing not to lead the same life. 
 
 29. faderlye, the reading of B is evidently wrong. 
 
NOTES. 259 
 
 37. To acquire wealth wrongously. 
 
 39. To enrich thine heir. 
 
 48. ane bill, a document. 
 
 56. Gomand agast, staring aghast. 
 
 92. Minotaur, Minotaurus — » monster with a human 
 body and a bull's head, or, according to others, with 
 the body of an ox and a human head. It was slain 
 by Theseus. 
 
 93. Bellerophant, Bellerophon, or Bellerophontes. 
 
 94. The Warwolf, the were- wolf, or man -wolf, a man 
 supposed to have been metamorphosed into a wolf. 
 See Preface to Skeat's William of Palerne, and 
 Grimm, Teutonic Mythology, 1093, 1629- Pegase, 
 Pegasus, the fabled winged-horse. 
 
 98. cran craig, crane neck ; long, crane-like neck. 
 100. the sparth, not identified. 
 103. jonet, jennet, a small Spanish horse. 
 
 106. The bull, the bear, the buffalo, and the boar. 
 
 107. wodivyse, satyr, wild man. 
 
 108. The comma after hard-bak requires to be deleted. 
 112. fumard, polecat, fyber, beaver ; L.Jiber. 
 
 115. globert, not identified. 
 
 \\1 . fythom, fitchew or fitchet, a foumart or polecat. 
 hes jurrit, etc , has trimmed many an opening in a 
 garment. 
 
 1 i 8. martryk, martin ; cunying, rabbit ; con, squirrel. 
 
 119- The burdane lane, read The budane lane; but what 
 this is, is not known. E reads " Bouranbane," and 
 H "bowranebane." This also has not been identi- 
 fied, the lerion, the grey dormouse (F. /iron), a 
 young rabbit (F. laperon), and a small greyhound 
 (F. levrori), have been suggested, but none of them 
 is quite satisfactory as an explanation of the word. 
 
 124. haykit unto, etc., proceeded up to that hill's height, 
 i.e. to the top of the mound or hill. 
 
260 THE MOEAL FABLES OF .ESOP. 
 
 125. 1 couth, etc., I did not know. 
 
 126. thai lowtit law, they bowed low. 
 
 128. He gave a braide, he made a sudden movement. 
 
 " And gave a braid sa fers and fast 
 That all the bandes of him brast. 
 
 —Cursor Mundi, 7169. 
 
 137. To all that stand against, or oppose, my estate or 
 authority. 
 
 143. "The lowest here I may quickly exalt." 
 
 147. thame law, etc., put down and make as insignificant 
 as a mouse. 
 
 153. the court to fenss. The courts were fenced in the 
 King's name by the use of a particular form of 
 words. "This custom," observes Jamieson, "after 
 falling into disuse in the courts of law, has been 
 hitherto retained in the service of breeves before 
 the Macers in the following words — ' I fence and 
 forbid in our Sovereign Lord's name and authority 
 and of the Judges here present, etc., that none 
 presume or take upon hand to trouble or molest 
 this court, nor make speech one for another, with- 
 out leave asked and given under the pain of law.'" 
 Here the meaning is "to open the court." 
 
 1 54 foirfalt all absenss, fine all absentees. 
 
 165. and I me schaw, etc., if I show myself, I shall be 
 undone. He was in a dilemma. Because of his 
 reputation, if he were seen he would be condemned, 
 and if it was known that he was absent, he would 
 be sought for, tried, and condemned. Whichever 
 way, he was lost. 
 
 173. Clyncheand he come, he came along limping. 
 
 175. bukhud, a game like hide-and-seek. 
 
 182. baisit, abased, lowered; blunt, prob. rough, rude; 
 blait, abashed. 
 
 203. clergy, clerkly skill, learning. 
 
 204. Braiding, threatening ; lit. bursting into speech 
 209. contumax, guilty of contempt of court. 
 
NOTES. 261 
 
 210. knax, knack, trick, device. 
 
 214. "Laurence, away with your bounce and folly." 
 Jlirdom, M.E. fliren, Dan. flire, Norw. flira, to fleer, 
 sneer, giggle, tittev, laugh at nothing. See Brad- 
 ley and Skeat. 
 
 218. "He has authority,"' "is authorised." 
 
 227. She struck (kicked) him in the gums (teeth, 
 mouth). 
 
 234. be Sanct Bryde, by S. Bridget. 
 
 247. Sidlingis a bank, etc., sideways along a bank he 
 sought unto a ditch (stream). 
 
 248. Ofcaise, by chance. 
 
 266. She fetched him with her heel. 
 
 270. One man's hurt makes another happy. 
 
 273. Yow, ewe. 
 
 280. with that, etc., began to withdraw, made for off. 
 
 294. party treson, perhaps, by metathesis, for pretty, 
 
 i.e. tricksy, treason. 
 
 300. basare, executioner. 
 
 302. in his mynorall, in his work as a miner. 
 
 306. That daily assault or besiege men of religion. 
 
 The Sheep and the Dog. 
 
 In the margin of B the title is The Dog, the Scheip, 
 and the Wolff; in E and H the title is The Taill of 
 the Scheip and the Dog (E, Doig). 
 
 Of this fable and that of the Mous and the Paddock, 
 Lord Hailes says in his Ancient Scottish Poems, p. 280, 
 that he has chosen them from the rest "as being more 
 characteristical of the state of Scotland during the 
 sixteenth century." 
 
 This fable, he further says, "contains the form of 
 process before the ecclesiastical court. It is a singular 
 
262 THE MORAL FABLES OF JESOV. 
 
 performance, will be entertaining to lawyers, and may, 
 perhaps, suggest some observations not to be found in 
 books " — lb. 
 
 3. Consistory, Consistory Court. 
 
 4. To recover a piece of bread from him. 
 
 1 0. I, Maister Wolf, etc. " The summons or writ was 
 issued in the name of the Wolf, before whom the 
 case between the Dog and the Sheep was to be 
 tried'' — Hailes. Both Lord Hailes and Dr. Laing 
 here read " I, per me, Wolf, pairtles," etc. The 
 reading in the text is that of E, H, and B. 
 pairtles is neutri favens = without fraud or guile, 
 favouring neither the one nor the other. 
 
 1 ] . " Under ecclesiastical pains in case of contumacy ; 
 first, of suspension from divine offices, and then of 
 extrusion from the Church itself" — Hailes. 
 
 1 7. " Charges to pay or to perform, issued in the name 
 of the Sovereign, are still termed the King's 
 letters " — Hailes. 
 
 23. "The Raven well instructed in what concerned 
 the duty of his office. ' As efFeiris,' as becomes, 
 is a constant expression in our law-style " — Hailes. 
 
 28. Quken Esperus. The Wolf held his court while 
 the sun was down. "On every Wednesday 
 morning next after Michaelmas day, at cock's 
 crowing, there is by custom a court held by the 
 Lord of the Manor of the honour of Raleigh, 
 which is called the lawless court — because held at 
 an unlawful or lawless hour" — Blount. Customs 
 of Manowrs, p. 1 47 — Hailes. 
 
 34. To obtain sentence against the Sheep. 
 
 40. Alone, out of his own head and without an 
 advocate. 
 
 45. Till enter in pley, to plead. 
 
 53. watt = knows. Altered to rhyme with feriat and 
 advocat. 
 
NOTES. 
 
 58. He bad, etc. "The Wolf having been declined, 
 he appointed the parties to choose arbiters, who 
 might judge of the declinator. Had the Wolf 
 judged of the declinator, an appeal might have 
 lain to a higher Court, but no appeal lay from the 
 judgement of the arbiters. They were judges 
 chosen by the parties themselves, and parties 
 cannot appeal from their own deed." — Hailes. 
 
 60. to dissyd, etc., to decide and give judgment 
 whether the Sheep should be tried before the 
 Wolf. 
 
 69. decretalii, the usual form is decreitis, decisions in 
 legal cases. 
 
 72. Codices and digests new and old. 
 
 73. Pro and contra. 
 
 74. Some one doctrine, and some another held. 
 
 8<k " I leave the learned to determine whether the 
 arbiters justly repelled the declinator" — Hailes, 
 
 281. 
 
 88. I paid beforehand. 
 
 89. thereto a borch, etc. " I put in bail to prosecute, 
 for recovery of a pension or pittance of bread, 
 which I had purchased from the Sheep " — Hailes, 
 ib. borch, a bail, pledge. 
 
 96. meid, bribery. 
 
 1 05. institut to, given over to or made the victim of. 
 109. fieise, fleece.. 
 Il6. to male a wrang conqueist, to obtain wrongfully. 
 
 120. "It is remarkable," said Lord Hailes, " that the 
 whole satire of the fable is aimed at the ecclesi- 
 astical judge, whereas the application is to the 
 civil. Henryson probably stood more in awe of 
 the court spiritual than of the temporal," p. 282. 
 
 121. byis aforfalt, buys a forfeit or a fine ; at, under. 
 123. pure men, poor country folk 
 
264 THE MORAL FABLES OF .ESOP. 
 
 fc34. crownar, coroner. "The name was derived, I 
 think, from this office having cognisance of the 
 pleas of the crown — placita coronae. At one time 
 the functions of the coroner were very high, both 
 in England and Scotland, and seem to have been 
 coextensive with the Sheriffdom. . . . The office 
 went early out of use in Scotland " — C. Innes, 
 Legal Antiquities, 84. Sometimes there were 
 more than one coroner in a Sheriffdom, as e.g. in 
 Renfrewshire. 
 
 133. And so exact a bribe from both parties. 
 
 139- on caise, by chance. 
 
 145. baid, stay, resting-place. 
 
 151. Walk and discerne, awake and judge. 
 
 153. Pelit, stript, plundered and shorn. 
 
 1 64. the lord, the laird, superior. 
 
 The Lion and the Mouse. 
 
 Title. E and H, The Taill of the Lyoun and the 
 Mouss ; B, The Lyon and the Mouss. 
 
 4. his lemys lycht, his beams light. 
 6. on syd, aside. 
 17. a poynt, a sign, hint, touch. 
 
 25. corse, cross ; also found as curse in the popular 
 phrase, "the curse of Scotland," for the nine of 
 diamonds which at one time was shaped like a 
 St. Andrew's Cross. 
 
 26. bene, pleasant. 
 
 30. chemeis, shirt. Chymmeris, the reading of B, is 
 the pi .of chymmer or chimer, a loose upper gown. 
 chamelet, camlet, a fine cloth made of wool and 
 silk. 
 
 34. his ene wes, his eyes were. " Wes," it need hardly 
 be said, is quite grammatical. So in Mod. Sc. is 
 "you was." 
 
NOTES. 265 
 
 35. lobar hair, long and probably more or less curled. 
 
 37. undir his eir, behind his ear. 
 
 38. pretty gilt, may mean simply " pretty gilt," or 
 "partly" or "parcel-gilt," plated with gold. 
 
 44. cowth, better couth, kindly, like Mod. Sc. couthie. 
 
 47. "Be not displeased, good Master, though I " 
 
 48. faculty, occupation. 
 
 51. My natall land is Rome. Elsewhere he is called 
 "the Phrygian"; nor can this line apply to 
 Phaedrus, who, like £5sop, was of Greek birth. 
 See p. 248. From the description here given, 
 it has been supposed that Henryson studied at 
 Rome. 
 
 59- all thir fabillis wrate, all these fables wrote. It is 
 doubtful whether he wrote any of them. See 
 p. 248. 
 
 6l. prudence, wisdom. 
 
 63. gifthat, if that, whether. 
 
 66. Ye maid dene, you would deign, condescend. 
 
 71. "In this world, methinks, there are very few or 
 none." 
 
 85. for-ron, weary from running, over-run. 
 
 " Feill Scottis hors was drewyn in to traivaile 
 Forrown that day so irkyt can defaill." 
 
 —Wallace, Bk. x. 704. 
 
 87. Bekand, baking, warming. 
 
 94. campis, hairs. 
 
 98. pom, paw. 
 116. Mighty high magnificence. 
 123. leird, taught. 
 
 129. I put the raise, suppose, let me suppose, that. 
 136. Jeiris, companions, fellows. 
 141. I ase, I ask. It rhymes with "ourpass." 
 143. " Restrain thy wrath, and let thine ire pass away." 
 
%66 THE MORAL FABLES OF -ESOP. 
 
 147. "Unless thy kingly mercy extend remission for 
 
 grace)." 
 154. hot, etc., unless mercy go between. 
 159. "What worth (price) or praise (loving)." 
 173. "The flesh of a sorry mouse is unwholesome." 
 184. Posit, moderated. O.F. paiser = apaiser, to make 
 
 peace, calm, reconcile. Burguy, Bradley. 
 1 89. B reads 3eld ; E and H, for5eld. " May Almighty 
 
 God requite you ! " 
 191- lived on his prey. 
 197. in a rod, in a path. 
 199 a raing, a company of hunters. The meaning is 
 
 the hunters threw themselves out through the 
 
 wood in single file (or raw). For raing see Douglas 
 
 iEn., ii, 182,20, 21. 
 200. cannettis, see note 1 49, p. 257, supra. 
 218. ivy, man. ioy of B is a scribal error. 
 222. he, etc., by the time he had made, etc. 
 228. Throw aventure, by chance. 
 237. "Come help to requite." 
 241. The tough ropes. 
 271. stand nane aw, stand in no awe of. 
 279 a commoun, a commoner, or man of no degree. 
 
 The Swallow and Other Birds. 
 
 Title. E H, "The Preiching of the Swallow"; B, 
 'The Swallow and Other Birds." 
 
 8. Thairfore our saule, etc, etc. A similar thought 
 is expresed in the Merchant of Venice, Act v. Sc. 2. 
 
 12. deidly, natural, sinful. 
 
 15. Aristotle, Metaph. I., M. i. 3. 
 
 43. that sowmis in the se, that swims in the sea. 
 
NOTES. 267 
 
 64, harvest, autumn. Henryson uses the old names 
 of the seasons : Ver (Spring), Somer (Summer), 
 Hervest (Autumn), Wynter (Winter). Cf. the 
 description in Gilbert of the Haye, ii. 127 et seq. 
 S.T.S. Ed. 
 
 65. Hir barnis benit hes, her barns has blessed O.F. 
 benit, pp. of benir. — Burguy, i. 322. 
 
 67. lume pypeis, empty pipes. 
 
 71. The description here may be compared with that 
 
 of G. Douglas in his Prol. to the Seventh Bk. of 
 
 iEneid. 
 78. dubbis, pools of water. 
 
 80. bene, goodly, betkit, beaten, stripped, bliss, fruit, 
 leaves. O.E. bUd, shoot, branch ; fruit, flower. 
 O.F. blez, bles, bleis. Burguy, ii. 42. 
 
 81. wintare ivair, winter wild. 
 
 82. bentis bair, bare fields. 
 
 87.. up kilcis, up keeks, looks up. 
 
 88. Which before was withered with severe frosts. 
 
 91. fra dame, etc., from hiding in down and dale. 
 
 92. soft, pleasant, not wet as in mod. Sc. 
 
 93. rver ago, were gone. 
 
 " She syde, • Alias ! for now is clene a-go 
 My name of trowthe in love for ever-mo.' " 
 
 —Chaucer, Troilus, v. 1054. 
 
 101. can wynd, did drive, did guide. 
 
 109. ferlyjiicht, wonderful, sudden flight. 
 
 114. crof is a mistake for crop, the top or head of a 
 
 tree. 
 119. to devoid, to avoid. 
 
 140. fra perrell eihar, from peril easier. eith, the 
 positive degree of ethar, occurs in line 143. 
 
 141. coud scorn, did scorn. 
 
 1-46 4-*Sr hailsum document, wholesome doctrine — of her 
 sermon or address which is supposed to have been 
 read. 
 
268 THE MORAL FABLES OF .ESOP. 
 
 1 50. braidit, spread themselves. 
 
 1/58. qualye, quail, but here probably the corn-crake. 
 
 1 62. and cais. These words are not necessary ; they 
 are put in to fill up the line and get the rhyme. 
 
 163. The same birds 1 have told you of before. 
 
 164. I hoip, I think, suppose. 
 
 167. pyme, cry. The word does not appear to occur 
 elsewhere. 
 
 178. My Jlesch growis, my flesh "grews," shudders. 
 
 186. There should be a comma after "friendis." held, 
 
 be it. 
 193. the rvarrare be, be the more wary. 
 205. in beitis, in bundles, parcels. 
 208. Syne scutchit, then separated the flax from the 
 
 rind. 
 
 212. wallowit with iveit, decayed because of the wet or 
 rain. 
 
 213. war maid farv, discoloured to brown or yellow tints 
 by the frost. 
 
 214. slak, slack, dell, hollow. 
 
 215. The bonny birds, indeed, died for want, off feit 
 = of fact, in fact, indeed. 
 
 216. na bide, no good. 
 
 221. thair expence, their cost, i.e. to the farmer by the 
 
 wasting of his goods. 
 223. In the snow he has shovelled a clear space. 
 227. na presume, no suspicion. 
 232. caffe, in 11. 224 and 225, calf; and in ]. 275, caff 
 
 = chaff. 
 236. " Away ! I counsel you." 
 269. When he rested from more important work. 
 274. bond, bondman, peasant. of gentrice spoliate, 
 
 deprived of honourable feeling. 
 300. the mow, the mould, dust. 
 
NOTES. 269 
 
 304. to walk, to watch. 
 
 307. this marldis wrak, this world's goods, in a con- 
 temptuous sense of the word goods. 
 
 311. ivirmis (not "wormis") kitching, a grim metaphor 
 for the grave. 
 
 320. " There is no man who knows." 
 
 328. fallow, companion. 
 
 The Fox, The Wolf, and the Cadger. 
 
 Title. E and H, The Taill of the Wolf that gat the 
 Nekhering throw the wrinkis of the Foxe that begylit 
 the Cadgear. 
 
 3. upon cats, upon chance, perchance. 
 6. And he war, if he were. 
 10. He himfoirsaw, the fox caught sight of the wolf 
 
 before the wolf saw him. 
 12. russell grey, reddish grey. O.F. russel. F. 
 rousseau, reddish. 
 
 14. / leif, I give thee leave. 
 19- "That is not suitable for me." 
 24. schow, show, a shove, spring, thrust ; survives in 
 " shoggie-shoe," a swing. 
 
 32. feill my sent, feel or smell my scent. To feel a 
 smell is still a common phrase. 
 
 33. suppois, though. 
 35. thocht, though. 
 37. wrink, trick. 
 
 45. thy sonyeis, thy excuses. 
 
 46. "Though thou shouldst beat about the bush." 
 48. Obey when thou art bidden and wait not till 
 
 thou burst. 
 55. in to ply, in (good) condition. 
 
270 THE MORAL FABLES OF *ISOP. 
 
 58. thy mony mowis, etc , thy many excuses to weary 
 me. 
 
 62. For and I did, for if I did. 
 
 63. reid raip, red rope, bloody rope, hangman's rope. 
 73. that ane word, i.e. leil, leal, loyal. 
 
 75. "though there is no need." 
 
 78. with capill, etc., with horse and with creels. 
 
 80. Jlever, flavour, smell. 
 
 84. Cp. 1. 50. 
 
 86. silver seilc, greedy. 
 
 87. Thocht we rvald thig, though we should beg ; chuf, 
 clown, boor. 
 
 91. haist. E reads haist, and H craft. Neither is 
 satisfactory ; nor is haist. The meaning is " If I 
 can manage to blind yon man's eyes." 
 
 96. / think, etc., I intend to work, etc. 
 100. And stretched himself out down in the middle 
 of the road and feigned to be dead. 
 
 108. At the next stop for refreshment. 
 
 122. to my lufis, to or for my hands. 
 
 124. Till Flanderis, to Flanders. A great part of the 
 foreign trade in Henryson's time was with 
 Flanders, and among the main articles of export 
 were skins. 
 
 129. or he stint, before he stopped. 
 
 131. gude wane, a good number. Mod. Sc. gude wheen. 
 
 ■ 1 33. Huntis up, up. Dr. Laing has a note on this song 
 which is worth quoting " There were evidently," 
 he says, "various adaptations of this popular song 
 or air in Scotland as well as in England. ItJLs 
 mentioned in The Complaynt of Scotland, 15M, 
 and in Alexander Scott's poem On May (about 
 1560). It was converted into one of the "Gude 
 and Godly Ballats" at the time of the Reformation. 
 Mr. Chappell in his valuable collection of Ancient 
 
NOTES. 271 
 
 English Ballads, etc., has fully illustrated the old 
 English song of Hunts up; and he remarks that the 
 name was a general term for hunting songs. In 
 Romeo and Juliet, Act iii. Sc. v., is the line 
 " Hunting thee Jnence with Hunt's up to the 
 day." And the Shakespeare commentators have 
 not overlooked a passage in Puttenham's Arte of tv.^r^k 
 Poesie, 1589, where he speaks of the favour 
 which one Gray found " with King Henry (the 
 Eighth), and afterwards with the Duke of 
 Somerset, Protector, for making certain merry 
 ballads, whereof one chiefly was, The Huntc is 
 up, the Hunte is up." But Henryson's words, in 
 this place, show that the song was popular in 
 Scotland at a much earlier date, upoun hie, loudty. 
 
 139 nekhering,& stroke or blow on the neck or between 
 the shoulders. The word is of very rare occur- 
 rence. Henryson in Scots literature is apparently 
 the only writer who uses it. "A nekherynge 
 colaphus" occurrs in the Catholicum Anglicum 
 (1483), edited by S. J. N. Herrtageforthe E.E.T.S., 
 who also gives p. li. in the same volume. " A 
 Nekherynge, ' Colapsus, i.e. colafus, pugnus, fyst, vel 
 tarastrus.' — MS. Harl. 3376," and connects the term 
 with alapa, the blow given with the blade of a 
 sword or with the hand on the back of the neck of 
 a man when he was knighted. See Gilbert Hayis 
 MS., vol. 3, p. 43 (S.T.S. Edit.). Cf. the modern 
 term accolade. 
 
 143. tale heit, receive heat, be warmed. 
 
 145. "Go on to thy market." 
 
 1 48. The Cadger trembled with anger where he stood. 
 
 1 49, etc. " It serves me right that I have not got yon 
 rascal, because I have not in my hand so much as 
 a staff," etc. 
 
 153. for he mes tene, for he was angry, mad. 
 
 155. couth wend, did go. 
 
272 THE MORAL FABLES OF <ESOP. 
 
 16.5. The Fox is here evidently using "nekhering" in 
 a different sense — probably for the "best herring" 
 or the herring put at the top or neck of the creel, 
 in order to attract customers, just as the best 
 wheat or corn was often put in the neck of the 
 sack and the inferior below. 
 
 168. "near drew my tusks out." 
 
 170. thir fourtie dayis, Lent. 
 
 171, etc "Now, by God, I'd rather be hanged than 
 not be there," etc. 
 
 173. my wappinnis, my weapons, i.e. his teeth. 
 
 185. ye man streik out, you must stretch out. 
 
 1 96. swak yow, pitch you. 
 
 200. deir, harm, trouble, annoyance. 
 
 203, etc. " Get that herring, and you will not need to 
 go fishing between now and Easter, or during the 
 whole of this Lent." 
 
 210. the gait, the road. 
 
 219- the laid, i.e. the laid saddle, pack saddle, the saddle 
 on which the burdens of the horse were laid. In 
 this case, the creels which hung on either side 
 were half empty, and hence the laid was light. 
 
 231. he, the wolf. 
 
 232. before he could get to his feet. 
 237. And laughed aloud. 
 
 243. fyne, clever, artful, subtle. 
 
 256. but leis, without leasing, truly. 
 
 257. " Death, against whom all must contend," seems 
 to be the only feasible meaning. 
 
 The Fox, the Wolf, and the Husbandman. 
 
 Title. E and H, The Taill of the Foxe that begylit 
 the Wolf in the Schadow of the Mone. 
 
 1. In elderis dayis, in the days of our forefathers. 
 
NOTES. 273 
 
 2. ane husband, a farmer whose farm extended com- 
 monly to twenty-six acres, and consisted of such 
 land as may be tilled with a plough or mown with 
 a scythe. 
 
 4. streiking tyme of yeir, the beginning of the year, 
 springtime. Cf. the streiking o the licht, the break 
 of day ; the streiking o the plews, when farmers begin 
 to plow, or the beginning of the year, or Spring. 
 
 5. to follow farth his feir, to follow his furrow. 
 
 6. gadman, goadsman, the farm-hand who led the 
 plough-team on the field, and was so called because 
 when oxen were yoked to the plough he used the 
 goad. 
 
 7. straucht, put in line in readiness for starting. 
 
 10. licht, wild, skittish. 
 
 1 1 . they did destroy the furrow. 
 
 13. paiill, a piece of wood used for scraping the heavy 
 earth off the ploughshare. 
 
 14. " May the wolf have the whole lot of you." 
 
 1 5. nor he wend, than he imagined. 
 
 22. The oxen ploughed more quietly in the end. 
 
 23. Then after they were set free from the plough, 
 because it grew late. 
 
 25. in his gait, either "on the road" or "in his manner 
 of walking." 
 
 33. "These oxen are all mine." 
 
 36. " Didst thou not give me this drove (or team) ? " 
 
 40. plank for plack, and altered for the sake of the 
 rhyme. A plack was a small copper coin worth 
 four pennies Scots. The meaning of this and the 
 following line is " It is far better to give a small 
 thing freely than to be compelled to give an ox 
 fattened for the market." 
 
 42. " Fie on the generosity that comes not from the 
 heart." 
 
 47. " Did I give you my hand (signature) or bond ? " 
 18 
 
274 THE MORAL FABLES OF .ESOP. 
 
 50, etc. " A lord if he be honourable, that shrinks 
 from being put to shame or fears to be reproved — 
 his word is always as good as his seal (or bond)." 
 54. contriifit, contrived, i.e. falsely contrived. 
 58. at half ane taill, with half a story, i.e. by hearing 
 
 only one side of a question. 
 62. of that schaw, out of that wood. 
 75. gifit may fall, if it may be so. 
 81. at, by. 
 
 88. and I mocht, if I might. 
 91. "This will not (go) through without great cost 
 
 and expense." 
 92-3. "Seest thou not that bribes carry men through, 
 and that gifts make crooked matters straight? 
 Sometimes a hen secures a man his cow." 
 97. " I care not for the rest if you will leave me the 
 
 Cock." 
 1 04. A common proverb. Cf. Chaucer, Wife of Bath's 
 
 Prol., 1. 415. 
 106. ane ling, a patch of heather. 
 111. couth ma, did make. 
 115. unrokMt, etc., unrestrained ye rave. 
 124. somer cheis, i.e. made in summer when the milk is 
 
 richest. 
 131. "It will not bring you the value of a rotten turnip." 
 141. hors is probably an error for hous. Cf. 1. 143, where 
 it is said he, the farmer, watched the door on his 
 feet till day-break. 
 147. remembering, etc., thinking over tricks. 
 1 49. He repents that he has promised a cheese. 
 152. bellie blind, Blindman's buff or Blind Harrie. The 
 person blinded is called "Belly Blin'." See N.E.D. 
 s. v. 
 
 155. " Soft yow ane lytill," restrain yourself a little. 
 
 1 56. manure place, manor house. 
 
NOTES. 275 
 
 157. penny-full, full and round as a penny. 
 
 158. thir Senyeouris, these seignours, fine fellows: said 
 ironically. 
 
 l63. "Now see ye not the cheese clearly yourself? " 
 171. dart, the meaning is doubtful. Possibly "draught." 
 1 76. thejlaill, the well-beam by which the buckets were 
 
 raised and lowered. 
 181. "and give me some assistance." 
 
 The Wolf and the Wether. 
 
 Title. E and H, The Taill of the Wolf and the 
 Wedder. 
 
 4. to walk his fauld, to watch his fold. 
 20. bandonit, aphetic form of abandonit, controlled, 
 kept in subjection. 
 
 24. na bute, no good. 
 
 25. " For a dead dog show no sorrow." 
 
 32. lait and air, late and early. 
 
 33. " If he pursue, by God, I will not hesitate," etc. 
 35. "Ye shall not lose a hog (sheep)." 
 
 38. thay hit of it, they lied about it (i.e. a sheep). 
 
 39- hefletv, he stripped. 
 
 41. Then the Wedder became wanton in his dress. 
 
 46. walkryfe, wakeful, watchful. 
 
 64. fra hand, i e. from the leash. 
 
 83. till ane rekill stude behind him, till a heap stood 
 
 behind him. 
 87. Syne left the gait, then left the road. 
 96. "Just now a dog, and now white (in your wool) 
 
 as a Friar (Carmelite)." 
 99. cace, cache, chase. 
 123. "One who runs away usually gets a follower." 
 
276 THE MORAL FABLES OF .ESOP. 
 
 1 27. crab, provoke, irritate. 
 133. cragbane, neckbone. 
 
 1 52. ofspring, descent, origin ; not descendants. 
 155. Cp. Kelly, Scottish Proverbs. "Hall binks are 
 sliddery ; great men's favour is uncertain." 
 
 The Wolf and the Lamb. 
 
 Title. E and H, The Taill of the Wolf and the 
 Lamb ; B, The Wolff and the Lamb. 
 
 3. Discending fra rock out of a well, descending from 
 a rock out of a wood. Well is from O.E. tveald, 
 wald, a wood, a forest. With the same meaning 
 the word appears in Well Street, the name given 
 to the Roman road which ran through the ancient 
 forest called Andredesleah, which extended to 
 the northern frontier of the kingdom of the South 
 Saxons. The root appears also in Wellmeadow, 
 which means not " the well in the meadow," but 
 " the meadow in the wood," or forest. See Is. 
 Taylor, Words and Places, p. 244, Ed. 1906. Cp. 
 The Testament of Cresseid, 11. 587-8, and the 
 note. 
 
 14. rampand, jumping and raging. 
 
 1 7. to fyle this bruk, to defile this stream. 
 
 19- " It were charity to draw and hang you." 
 
 21. To glar, to dirty (with mud). 
 
 24. ye leid, you lied. 
 
 29, etc. " Nature and perfect experience of the fact 
 will defend me." 
 
 32. onforss, perforce. 
 
 34. Na ryn bahvart, nor run backward. 
 
 40. "Thy outrageous language comes naturally from 
 thee." 
 
 42. at bait, in enmity. 
 
NOTES. 277 
 
 43. " He vexed me, and then I did him warn that 
 within a year if I had the use of my head, I should 
 be revenged on him," etc. For brukit, see N.E.D. 
 s. v. "Brook v." 
 
 52. sal beir the paiss, shall bear the burden, respon- 
 sibility. 
 
 56. plyis, pleadest, arguest. 
 
 63. tha twa, those two charges. 
 
 67. in audiens, in open court. 
 
 70. "To charge, defend, reply" — the three parts of 
 a trial before the court. The prosecutor sets out 
 his case (to propone), the defendant denies or sets 
 out the contrary, and the prosecutor replies. 
 
 93. male men, tenants, men who pay mail or rent. 
 
 99- now ringis, now reign. 
 
 101. poleit, polished, falset myngis, mix falsehood. 
 
 1 04. Smothering the right. 
 
 1 05. thair meid, their reward. 
 109. of all thy works knows. 
 119- his maling, his rent. 
 
 1 20. without mercy. 
 
 121. War than, worse than. 
 123. a patch of land. 
 
 1 26. and compel him to beg. 
 
 128. be Godis lane, by God's gift. 
 
 129. And grants to the tenants a right of pasture. 
 " Sets " is still the legal term. " Willage, a leave 
 to pasture," Bann. MS. Hunt Club, i., 171. 
 Maillairis, tenants and rent-payers, rentallers, 
 cottars. 
 
 1 30. Gersum is the fine paid by a tenant to his superior 
 on entering upon or on renewing a holding. The 
 price generally equalled a year's rent. 
 
278 THE MORAL FABLES OF ,ESOP. 
 
 134, etc. His Ivors, his meir, etc. All this was called 
 service and had to be rendered so many days at 
 certain periods every year, and was always more 
 or less burdensome, and sometimes exceedingly 
 heavy. 
 
 139. by his maill, over and above his rent; perhaps, 
 because of his rent. 
 
 147. Without meat or wage. 
 
 The Mouss and the Paddock. 
 
 Title. E and H, The Taill of the Paddock and the 
 Mous ; B, The Mouss and the Paddock. 
 
 9. our this bryme, over this river. 
 
 23. na fraucht to pay, no money wherewith to pay my 
 passage. 
 
 28. the campis of your beird, the hairs of your beard. 
 
 30. can fleit, can float, swim. 
 
 37. aim, oars, full still, quietly, and so easily. 
 
 43. fronsyt face, wrinkled face. Cp. Testament of 
 Cresseid, 1. 1 55. Runkillit of the next line has the 
 same meaning as fronsyt. 
 
 46. Her loosely built legs and her rough hide. 
 
 47. ran abak, held back or kept aloof. 
 
 55. lorum, short for culorum, which again is the final 
 portion of in secnla seculorum and means conclusion. 
 "Colorum" occurs several times in the Scottish 
 Legends of the Saints, S. T. S. 
 
 57. taid, toad, paddock, frog. 
 
 58. foull fakin, treacherously deceptive. 
 
 61. hairtis takin, hearb's token, the sign of the real 
 character of the heart or disposition. 
 
NOTES. 279 
 
 75. " Stop thy preaching." 
 
 76, etc. " And cause me to understand by what art 
 thou wilt guide me to yonder land." 
 
 82. / sail the leir to swyme, I shall teach thee to swim. 
 
 84. "To try that game were over perillous.' - 
 
 89. marthour aith, murder oath. Cp. 11. 93-95 and 
 11. 108-109. 
 
 91. dude, do it. 
 
 111. Scho bowtit, she bolted up. 
 
 113. The fear of death gave increase to her strength. 
 
 1 20. While they were righting in this way, a kite sat 
 on a branch (of a tree). 
 
 122. "And with a whisk before either of them was 
 aware (knew)." 
 
 125. that fang, that capture, prize. 
 
 1 26. without pity slew. 
 
 128. belly flaucht, see Glossary. 
 
 138. quhome with, etc., with whom thou makest thyself 
 a companion. 
 
 139, etc. beir the stane barrow, wheel the barrow laden 
 with stones, or sweating (reeking) dung. 
 
 141. Than be mated with a wicked mate. 
 
 148. I rid thejle, I counsel thee flee. 
 
 154. tak at vie, take from me — a common idiom. 
 
 l6l. sumand, etc., swimming early and late. 
 
 163. Now high, now low, at times plunged up and 
 down. 
 
 171. now dashed upon the ground. 
 
 191. will thee try. 
 
 195. the laif onto the freiris, the rest unto the friars. 
 
280 THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 
 
 THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 
 
 1 . Arte, a ; altered by Thynne to a throughout. 
 doolie, sad, doleful. 
 
 4. fervent, appears to mean stormy, severe ; as it 
 obviously does not mean hot. 
 
 5. Aries, the influence of Aries, implying that the 
 sun was in that sign, which it entered (at that 
 date) about March 12. in middis of the Lent, 
 " Lent is spring ; and the Old Germanic method is 
 here followed, which divided each of the seasons 
 into three months. In this view, the spring- 
 months were March, April, May, called respect- 
 ively, foreward Lent, midward Lent, and afterward 
 Lent" ; see A Student's Pastime, p. 190. Hence 
 the phrase in middis of the Lent "does not mean 
 precisely in the middle of the spring, but refers 
 to the month of April ; indeed, the sun passed out 
 of Aries into Taurus on the Uth of the month. 
 The date indicated is, accordingly, the first week 
 in April, when the sun was still in Aries, and 
 showers of hail with a stormy north wind, were 
 quite seasonable." — Prof. Skeat, Supplement to 
 the Works of Chaucer, vol. vii. p. 521. 
 
 6. can fra the North discend, did from the north 
 descend. 
 
 10. sylit under cure, covered up (as if) under his care. 
 12. set unto, i.e. over against, since she rose in the 
 
 East. 
 32. douf dull. 
 
 35. I am expert, referring to his medical studies. 
 
 36. beikit, baked, warmed. 
 
 38. fra the cauld, against the cold. 
 
 42. lustie is the reading of Thynne and may be read 
 
 here in order to avoid the repetition of worthie in 
 
 the preceding line. 
 
NOTES. 281 
 
 43. And thair I. Chaucer's Troilus, Bk. v., where at 
 1. 92 we are told how Diomede led Criseyde away. 
 
 45. How Troylus neir out of wit abreid, with which cp. 
 " For which wel neigh out of my wit I breyde." 
 Chaucer's T. and C., Bk. v., 1. 1262. 
 
 48. Quhill, till, esperance. There can be little doubt 
 that this, as Prof. Skeat observes, is the proper 
 reading. The word occurs later on in The 
 Garment of Gude Ladyis, and though not in 
 Dunbar, occurs frequently in Gavin Douglas, 
 Lindsay, and Knox. With 11. 47-49 may be com- 
 pared Chaucer's "Betwixen hope and drede his 
 herte lay," Troil. v. 1207. 
 
 50. behest, promise. She had promised to return to 
 Troy. 
 
 53. For-quhy, because. 
 
 65. this narratioun, the narrative, i.e. which follows. 
 
 74. ane lybell oj repudie, Lat. libellum repudii, as in 
 Matt. xix. 7 ; Vulgate. 
 
 77. And, sum men sayis, etc., And as some say she 
 became a courtesan. 
 
 78. A per se, i.e. the first word of the alphabet, 
 standing alone. A letter that was also a word in 
 itself, as A or I, or O was called A-per-se, because 
 it could stand alone. Of these the A-per-se was 
 a type of excellence. — Prof. Skeat. 
 
 79. how was thorn fortunait, how wast thou led or dealt 
 with by fortune, or made the sport of fortune. 
 She was evidently unfortunate. See 1. 89, where 
 the phrase is explained. 
 
 94. but, without. 
 
 97. quhair, etc., where her father Calchas was then 
 
 living among the Greeks. 
 101. Fra Diomeid, when Diomede. 
 1 06. In the mediaeval legend Calchas is a priest not of 
 Venus but of Apollo ; see Chaucer's Troil., Bk. i., 
 
282 THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 
 
 I. 66-70, and Lydgate, Siege of Troy, Bk. ii., c. 1 7. 
 Henryson, Prof. Skeat remarks, probably changed 
 this intentionally, because it enabled him to repre- 
 sent Cresseid as reproaching her father's god ; see 
 
 II. 124-140. Chaucer's Works, vii., p. 522. was 
 tho, was then. 
 
 109- And his chamber was next to them. 
 
 110. With sorrow enough in her breast. 
 
 114. Befoir the none, before noon. 
 
 129. ouiwaill, outcast, one who is "waled" or chosen 
 out and rejected. 
 
 1 34, etc. There is none to blame but thee. 
 
 140. all forlane. Prof. Skeat suggests as the meaning 
 "all defiled." Perhaps, however, "utterly help- 
 less " gives a better or more suitable explanation. 
 In M. Scots all forlane has this meaning. Besides, 
 it is not likely that Cresseid would proclaim her 
 own unchastity. 
 
 143. And, be apperance, hard, and as it seemed, she 
 
 heard. 
 147. The sevin Planetis. According to the magnitude 
 
 of their orbits they are Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, the 
 
 Sun, Venus, Mercury, and the Moon. To the 
 
 order in which they are here given the author in 
 
 11. 151-263 carefully adheres. 
 l, r >5. fronsit face, wrinkled face, his lyre was lyke the 
 
 leid, his flesh was like lead, i.e. dull. Lead was 
 
 Saturn's colour. 
 
 162. It/art lolclds, gray locks. The meaning of "lyart" 
 is somewhat indefinite. 
 
 163. Felterit, see the Glossary. 
 
 164. gyte, mantle. This, the right reading here, has 
 been preserved by Thynne. The Edinburgh 
 printer changed it into gyis. 
 
 1.82. To ward off from us the wrath of his father 
 - (Saturn). 
 
NOTES. 283 
 
 192. He was foaming at the mouth. 
 
 194. Richt iuilyeour-lyke, right quarrelsome. 
 
 202. to nocht, to nothing. 
 
 205. Cp. " And that his fader cart amis he dryve," 
 Troil., v. 665. 
 
 211. soyr, sorrel-coloured ; reddish-brown. 
 
 212. According to Ovid, Met. ii. 153, the names of the 
 horses were Ebus, Aethon, Pyroeis, and Phlegon. 
 For the last I have adopted the form suggested 
 by Prof. Skeat. 
 
 216. Thefeird, the fourth. 
 
 231. lauch and weip are infinitives, but are here used 
 as past subjunctives. If so, the former should be 
 leuch, and weip may stand for the strong past tense. 
 weep in Chaucer. 
 
 244. hehlit, fringed, edged, like the hackle of a cock. 
 
 246. Cp. Chaucer, Prol. A., 425-6, 439, Skeat's edition. 
 
 254. The last of all (in order) and swiftest in her 
 orbit. 
 
 257. Haw as the leid, dull in colour as lead. 
 
 26l. ane churle paintit, the man in the moon. 
 
 263. na nar, no nearer. 
 
 273. schew, showed. The grammar is at fault. Schew 
 is present tense. Can schew is scarcely admissible. 
 
 297. hiest Planeit, i.e. Saturn. See 1. 302. 
 
 298. lowest ofdegre, lowest in degree, i.e. Cynthia. 
 299' modifie, determine. "•. 
 
 312. lawfullie = lauchfullie, according to law. 
 
 318. Moisture and heat characterised the sanguine 
 temperament, coldness and dryness the melan- 
 choly temperament. See Skeat, Chaucer, vol. v., 
 p. 33, and P. Plowman, B text, p. xix. 
 
284 THE TESTAMENT OF CRESSEID. 
 
 343. With cup and clapper like a leper. Lepers were 
 compelled to carry these — the first for receiving 
 alms, and the second for giving warning of their 
 presence. Both the cup and the clapper are 
 frequently referred to in the Records of the 
 Scottish Town Councils. 
 
 350. Whether she in heart was wofull enough, God 
 knows. 
 
 358. Be this, etc., when this was said. 
 
 362. on grouf ye ly, ye lie grovelling. Cf. Chaucer's 
 Knight's Tale, 91, "They fillen gruf " = They fell 
 prostrate. 
 
 386. ane bevar hat, a beaver hat. The reading bawar 
 in E gives no sense. 
 
 391. Spittaill hous, hospital. A hospital or spittal or 
 lazarhouse was at one time as necessary in a royal 
 burgh in Scotland as was a royal castle. The 
 spittal usually stood at the end of the burgh. 
 Whether there was one in Dunfermline is doubtful. 
 
 410. now art thow blaiknit bair, now art thou made 
 cheerless and bare or barren. blaiknit is not 
 derived from M. E. blak, black ; but from M. E. 
 blak, bleik, pallid, cheerless. 
 
 413. thy baill on breird, thy bale is in the growth. 
 
 415. micht heird, might hear it. 
 
 421. saipheron sals, saffron sauce. 
 
 433. on everie grane, at every point. Mr. G. Smith 
 says, "in every colour." 
 
 438. burelie bour, a bower suitable for a lady = " Take 
 this lazar house for thy stately bower." 
 
 442. Save cup and clapper all is now away. 
 
 450. Sowpit in syte, soaked or drenched in sorrow. 
 
 478. The idea of bearing a burden cheerfully was pro- 
 verbial with the Romans. Cf. Ovid, Amor, i., 2, 
 10— 
 
 ". . . leve fit, quod bene fertur, opus. " 
 
NOTES. 285 
 
 But Henryson's saying may have been suggested 
 by Chaucer — 
 
 " Thanne is it wysdom, as it thynketh me 
 To maken vertu of necessitee." 
 
 So Shakespeare, in Ric. II., i. 3 — 
 
 " There is no virtue like necessity." 
 
 Cp. also The Two Gentlemen of Verona, iv., i. 62 — 
 " To make a virtue of necessity." 
 
 480. "Live" is Skeat's emendation for "leir" in the 
 text. 
 
 483. rank, actual, real. The word is still used in this 
 sense. 
 
 492. schuik coppis, shook their cups, waved them aloft 
 to attract attention. They would also use their 
 clappers. 
 
 543. mill of wane, at a loss what to ween, or think ; 
 then, simply, at a loss. 
 
 550. thejickill quheill, the fickle wheel (of Fortune). 
 
 567. sad, constant. 
 
 573. ruse, praise, extol. 
 
 577. beteiche, deliver. 
 
 588. wellis, forests. See The Fable of the Wolf and 
 the Lamb, 1. 3, etc. This is not the same word as 
 Chaucer uses in The Book of the Duchess, 1. 160. 
 Diane and Cresseid were not to walk in waste 
 wells, but in waste forests and woods. A forest 
 in Scotland was not necessarily crowded with 
 trees. Its waste or untitled land was probably 
 but sparsely covered with timber There might 
 also be woods or clusters of trees in it. 
 
 589- broche and belt. See Chaucer's Troilus, v. 1661, 
 1669, 1688, where the brooch is mentioned. The 
 belt is Henryson's addition. 
 
286 OEPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 
 
 ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 
 
 Orpheus is mentioned among the poets who lived 
 before Homer, and laid the foundations of civilisation 
 and art. There are few early traditions about him, 
 but so many were invented in connection with him 
 subsequently that some have doubted whether he ever 
 existed or was ever more than a name. According to 
 these later traditions he was the son of Oeagrus and 
 Calliope, and lived in Thrace at the period of the 
 Argonauts, whom he accompanied in their expedition. 
 He received the lyre from Apollo, and was instructed 
 in its use by the Muses. By his music he enchanted 
 not only the wild beasts, but also the trees and rocks 
 on Mount Olympus, so that they moved from their 
 places to follow the sound of his harp It was the 
 power of his music that caused the Argonauts to seek 
 his help, and the success of their expedition was largely 
 due to it. At the sound of his lyre the Argo glided 
 down in to the sea ; the Argonauts tore themselves 
 away from the pleasures of Lemnos ; the Symplegadae, 
 or moving rocks which threatened to crush the ship 
 between them were fixed in their places ; and the 
 dragon which guarded the golden fleece, was lulled to 
 sleep ; other legends also are told about him in the 
 Argonautica that bears his name. After his return from 
 the Argonautic expedition he lived in Thrace, and 
 employed himself in an attempt to civilise its wild 
 inhabitants. He is said to have visited Egypt. 
 Different legends are given of the recovery and loss of 
 his wife and of his own death. His wife Eurydice was 
 also called Agriope, and is said to have been a nymph. 
 The older traditions make no reference to his death. 
 The introduction of Aristseus into the story, however, 
 cannot be traced earlier than Virgil. The story of 
 Orpheus' quest for his wife is well told in Virgil, 
 Georg. iv. 454-527 ; and in Ovid, Met. x. 1-85 ; also 
 by Boethius, Consol. Philos. iii. Metre xii. It is the 
 
NOTES. 287 
 
 version of Bcethius that Henryson has followed. See 
 further on 1. 415. The grief of Orpheus at the second 
 loss of his wife is said to have led him to treat with 
 contempt the Thracian women, who in revenge tore 
 him to pieces under the excitement of their Bacchan- 
 alian orgies. For a longer and excellent account see 
 Smith's Diet, of Gr. and Roman Bio. and Mythol,, 
 from which the above is taken. 
 
 25. carage and smell, courage and sagacity. 
 
 29. the montane of Elicounee. Mount Helicon is in 
 Bceotia, not "Arabia," and lies between Lake 
 Copias and the Gulf of Corinth. It is celebrated 
 as the favourite haunt of the Muses, to whom the 
 epithet of Heliconian is frequently applied. Its 
 poetical celebrity is owing to the fact of its having 
 been the seat of the earliest school of poetry in 
 Greece Proper. At its foot was situated Ascra, 
 the residence of Hesiod. 
 
 30. Arabia, see preceding note. 
 
 32. Memoria, Mnemosyne. The genealogy of the 
 Muses is not the same in all writers. Henryson 
 here follows the most common tradition. 
 
 33. god, for goddess. 
 
 36. Euterpe, the Muse of lyric poetry. 
 
 38. Melpomene, the Muse of tragedy 
 
 40. Tersicor, Terpsichore, the Muse of choral dance 
 and song. 
 
 , 43. Caliope, Calliope, the Muse of Epic poetry. 
 
 46. Cleo, Clio, the Muse of history. 
 
 50. Herato, Erato, the Muse of erotic poetry and 
 mimic imitation. 
 
 52. Pollmyo, Polymnia or Polyhymnia, the Muse of 
 the sublime hymn. 
 
288 ORPHEUS AND EUKYDICE. 
 
 54. Thelya, Thalia, the Muse of comedy and of merry 
 or idyllic poetry. 
 
 57. Uranya, Urania, the Muse of astronomy. 
 
 72. frely fair, etc., exceedingly fair of face. 
 
 87. The lowe ofluf, the flame of love. 
 
 97. Arystyus, Aristaeus. 
 
 139. And all thy myrth change into lamentation, and 
 weep. 
 
 144. a spryng, a quick and lively measure (in music), a 
 dance tune. O. Fr. espringaller, to leap, spring. 
 
 147. rvomenting, lamentation. O. Fr. guementer. 
 
 188. Wadlyng Streit, Watling Street, the name given 
 to^ne of the Roman roads in England, and applied 
 to the Milky Way, as is shown by the following — 
 
 " Now, quod he tho, cast up thyn ye ; 
 Se yonder, lo, the Galaxye, 
 Which men clepeth the Milky Wey, 
 For hit is whyt ; and somrae, parfey, 
 Callen hit Watlinge Strete." 
 
 —Chaucer, House of Fame, ii. 427-431. 
 
 210. ye mon seik nethirmair, you must seek lower. 
 
 252. Cerberus, the three -headed dog; Cp. Virgil, 
 Georg. iv. 483 ; Aen. vi. 417 ; Ovid, Met. iv. 449. 
 
 264. Alecto, Megero, and The.iphonee, Alecto, Megaera, 
 and Tisiphone, the three Furies. 
 
 266. Ixioun, Ixion, chained to the ever-revolving wheel 
 for his sins. See Georg. iv. 484 ; Hi. 38 ; Ovid, 
 Met. iv. 460. 
 
 283. a toiler threid, an unsteady thread. 
 
 293. And as he blent, and as he looked. 
 
 " The King bhnkit up hastily, 
 And saw his man slepand him by." 
 
 — Barbour, Bruce, vii. 203. 
 Du. and Ger. blinken, A.-S. blican, to shine. 
 
NOTES. 289 
 
 294. speldit, spread out. 
 
 29.). Theseus, a mistake for Tityus who, because of 
 his assault on Leto or Artemis, when she passed 
 through Panopaeus to Pytho, was killed by the 
 arrows of Artemis or Apollo ; according to others, 
 Zeus killed him with a flash of lightning. He was 
 then cast into Tartarus, and there lay outstretched 
 on the ground, covering nine acres, and two vul- 
 tures or snakes devoured his liver. See Virgil, 
 Mn. vi. 595-600 ; Ovid, Met. iv. 456. 
 
 296. one grysly grype, a dreadful vulture. 
 
 345. Syne neddirmair, then lower still. 
 
 369. ypodorica, hypo- Dorian, a mode of music. 
 
 370. gemynyng, B reads gemilling : both words are of 
 uncertain meaning ; see Oxford Diet, ypolirica, 
 hypolirian, a mode of music. 
 
 415. Boece, Boethius, or to give him his full name, 
 Anicius Manlius Torquatus Severinus Boethius, 
 the most learned philosopher of his time, was born 
 at Rome about a.d. 480, and was put to death 
 a.d. 524. His extant works show that he was 
 well acquainted with geometry, mechanics, music, 
 and astronomy, as well as with logic and theology. 
 The chief part of his political life was passed in 
 the service of Theodoric the Goth who, after the 
 death of Odoacer in 493, made himself undisputed 
 master of Italy, and fixed the seat of his govern- 
 ment at Ravenna. He married Rusticiana, daughter 
 of the Patrician Symmachus, and had the singular 
 felicity of seeing his two sons, Boethius and Sym- 
 machus, raised to the consular dignity on the same 
 day, in 522. After many years of public useful- 
 ness he fell under the suspicion of Theodoric, and 
 notwithstanding an indignant denial of his alleged 
 crimes, he was imprisoned in the tower of Pavia, 
 where he wrote, expecting every moment to be 
 brought face to face with his executioners, the 
 
 19 
 
290 ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. 
 
 Consolation of Philosophy, "a golden volume," 
 Gibbon calls it, "not unworthy of the leisure of 
 Plato or Tully." The work was translated by 
 Alfred the Great, and again by Chaucer. 
 
 421. Master Tretvit, Doctor Nicholas, an Englishman, 
 Nicholas Trivetus, a learned monk of the Domini- 
 can order, who designated himself Frater Nicolaus 
 Trevet de ordine Fratrum Predicatorum, and 
 flourished between the years 1258 and 1328. He 
 is chiefly known as the author of Annales sex 
 regum Angliae, 1135-1307, printed at Paris in 
 1668, and again at the same place in 1723 ; also 
 at Oxford in 1719> edited by Anthony Hall. Later 
 the Annales were edited by Thomas Hog, and 
 printed for the English Hist. Soc, London, in 1845. 
 See Gross, Sources and Literature of English His- 
 tory, No. 1 849, p- 305. Among Trivet's other 
 works were commentaries on the Tragedies of 
 Seneca, on the Metamorphoses of Ovid, and on» 
 Boethius : In Librum Boethii de Consolatione 
 Philosophise. According to Dr. Laing, this last 
 seems never to have been printed, but MS. copies 
 were numerous. One appears in an inventory of 
 books drawn up in 1 442 belonging to the Univer- 
 sity of Glasgow — Chartulary of Glasgow, ii. 336. 
 
 487. or thai maite, before they know or are aware. 
 
 519. spak of air, spoke of before. 
 
 526. ilk dele, every bit. 
 
 559. Prometheus. See note to 1. 295. 
 
NOTES. 291 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 ROBENE AND MaKYNE. 
 
 This is one of the earliest, if not the earliest, of all 
 Scots pastorals, and has been admired by all writers 
 upon Scottish literature. 
 
 2. a flok of fe, a flock of sheep. Fee is also used in 
 a wider sense for live stock, cattle, goods, etc. 
 
 5. lowd and still, under all circumstances. The phrase 
 occurs frequently in old romances, also in Barbour, 
 
 " And has him trewly wndertane 
 That thai and thairis, loud and still, 
 Suld be in all things at his will." 
 
 — iii. 745. 
 
 7-8. My grief is hidden, unless thou share it, 
 Doubtless without fear I die. Dill, dail, deil, are 
 different forms of the same word, altered for the 
 sake of the rhyme, and meaning to share. 
 
 11. wude, the MS. reads wid, but the rhyme requires 
 the broader vowel. 
 
 12. raik on raw. "Roam or extend themselves in a 
 row ; as the manner of sheep is while pasturing. 
 A sheep-raW and a sAeep-walk are synonymous." — 
 Lord Hailes. 
 
 1 9- fair offeir, of good appearance. 
 
 21. do the deir, do thee harm. 
 
 22. Whatever grief in secret thou endurest. 
 69. Robene stepped over the grass. 
 
 The Bludy Serk. 
 
 "This poem," Pinkerton says, "has little merit, 
 except its easy versification, and ballad stanza, rarely 
 found in productions of that period." The story is 
 
292 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 evidently borrowed from the Gesta Romanorum, No. 
 lxi. The incidents are somewhat different. 
 
 13. She dwelt in a pleasant bower. Wynnit, from 
 A.-S. wunian, to dwell ; bigly, from Icel. byggiligr, 
 habitable, pleasant, strong, big, great ; bour, A.-S. 
 bur, a chamber. 
 
 15. Princes loved her passionately. Paramour = par 
 amour, for love, longingly, passionately. 
 
 17. a lyt, a little. Sometimes written in the earlier 
 MS. as one word. Lyt, from A.-S. lyt. 
 
 57. the bricht, the lady. 
 
 71. to gone, to go. 
 
 84. of bandoun, from thraldom. 
 102. And bought our sins at a great price. 
 
 The Garmont of Gude Ladeis. 
 
 This poem is a sort of paraphrase of 2 Tim. ii. 9-11; 
 but the comparison between female ornaments and 
 female virtues is extended throughout so many lines, 
 and with so much of a tire-woman's detail, that it 
 becomes somewhat ridiculous. — Hailes. 
 
 1 5. The mailyeis. The word mail signifies a link in the 
 net-work of which an haubergeon is composed. 
 Hence we still say, a coat of mail. The word is 
 here used for an oylet-hole, through which a long 
 lace is passed.— Hailes. O. Fr. maille, "maile or 
 a link of maile, whereof coats of maile be made. . 
 any little ring of metall . . . also a mash [mesh] of 
 a net." — Cot. 
 
 The Prais of Aige. 
 
 10. Beset with sin and other miseries more. 
 15. is ago, is gone. 
 
 1 9. But speciall grace, without special grace. 
 30. our miss, the error of our ways. 
 
NOTES. 293 
 
 The Ressoning Betwixt Aige and Youth. 
 
 The arrangement of the stanzas differs in the MSS. 
 That followed here is that of Dr. Laing. 
 
 6. that al of myrth, etc., wholly intent upon jollity. — 
 Hailes. 
 
 30. tha dayis, those days : tha is the old demonstrative. 
 
 41. The bevar koir, the hoary or gray old man. For 
 bevar, see the Ox. Diet, sub bevar 
 
 55. birdis, young ladies. See Jamieson, sub voce, my 
 balls beit, inflame my passions. Hailes puts it the 
 other way ; but beit means to stir up, increase, as 
 when it is used in the phrase to beit the Jire. Cf. 
 Burns' Cot. Sat. Night, "beets the heavenward 
 flame " 
 
 60. paramour is here used in the ordinary sense, not as 
 
 in The Bludy Serk, 1. 5. 
 
 61. no bird, no lady ; cp. I. 55. 
 
 The Abbay Walk. 
 
 In a volume printed at Aberdeen this poem is en- 
 titled " Obey and thank thy God of all." Hailes was 
 the first to give it the title it now bears. The Abbey 
 referred to may have been that of Dunfermline. 
 
 5. On caiss, by chance. 
 
 8. "Thank of," Fr. idiom for Eng. "thank for." 
 
 18. Thobe, Tobit. 
 
 20. Bath temptit, both were tempted. 
 
 35. He is a judge none can suspect. 
 
 49. heich nocht, etc., puff not thyself up, or boast not of 
 
 thyself. 
 
 50. wilfull povertie, lonely poverty. 
 
 55. Who exalts the humble hearts and brings down the 
 lofty. 
 
294) miscellaneous poems. 
 
 The Rkssoning betwix Deth and Man. 
 
 13. dar mania me, dare menace me. 
 
 33. remord thy conscience, fill thy conscience with 
 
 remorse. Cp. Chaucer, Troilus, v. 1386. 
 43. to lurk under thy caip, to hide under thy cope. 
 
 Aganis Haisty Credence of Titlaris. 
 
 2. Nocht ympit, not engrafted. 
 
 12. And if the tale-bearer will abide by what he has 
 
 told. 
 
 13. mid be cold, should be called. 
 25. all distance, all estrangement. 
 
 The Annunciation. 
 
 This poem is taken from the Gray MS., a very small 
 volume, written by Mr. James Gray, a notary public 
 and priest in the diocese of Dunblane, during the 
 latter part of the fifteenth century. The MS. is now 
 in the Advocate's Library, Edinburgh. It contains 
 four religious poems, but this is the only one of them 
 by Henryson. 
 
 5. Love keeps us from contention. 
 
 1 1 . Without hurt of sin or yet reproof. 
 
 12. In him. 
 
 18. fra syne exild, from sin preserved {lit. exiled). 
 
 19- For compilit, we must read compild for the sake of 
 
 the rhyme. So Dr. Laing reads. 
 31. madyn meir, maiden pure. 
 39- low of luf, flame of love. 
 
 54. Himself dispisit, etc., despised himself to speed us. 
 57. ns bacis. Bacis, perhaps from F. baiser, to kiss ; 
 
 perhaps from base (foundation). In the first case 
 -us bacis — persuades us; in the second =is our sure 
 
 foundation. 
 
NOTES. • 295 
 
 6'5. splene, spleen, supposed at one time to be the seat 
 of melancholy, anger, vexation ; from Lat. splen. 
 
 68. Termigant, the name of a fabled deity of the 
 Mohammedans mentioned by old writers and 
 introduced into the moralities or other shows as a 
 most violent and turbulent personage; a turbulent, 
 brawling individual of either sex. O. Fr. Tervagant. 
 
 Sum Practysis of Medecyne. 
 
 The Bannatyne MS. supplies the only text. The 
 poem is Henryson's single deviation into coarseness, 
 and it is clear that the author is out of his element. 
 With all his hilaritas he had not the gift for " stringin 
 blethers up in rhyme." Philologists may be interested 
 in the language and prosodians in the display of metrical 
 skill, but the reader who expects either wit or humour 
 will be disappointed. 
 
 1 . Guk-guk, an expression of contempt, such as Fool ! 
 Lit. = cuckoo, which Bottom designated " a foolish 
 bird." Cf. Milton, Sonnet to a Nightingale, "the 
 shallow cuckoo's bill." In Reformation times, Gu/c- 
 
 fik was an expression used in mockery of the 
 opish service. 
 
 8. stand ford. I stand for it, I warrant. Cf. Sir David 
 Lindsay — 
 
 Gude, haiie peopill, I stand ford 
 Quha ever beis hangit with this cord, 
 Neids nevir to be dround. 
 
 —The Thrie Estaitis : Interlude of the 
 Puir Man and the Pardoner. 
 
 1-t. cunnyng in to cure, skill in curing. 
 
 24. That glean all egeis. Of the various attempts to 
 explain this line the most plausible is that which 
 runs the last two words into one (allegeis) and 
 takes glean as gleim (illness) : " that allay distemper 
 or illness." 
 
296 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 2.5. dia, by metonymy, came to mean a prescription. 
 Originally meant simply "made up of" in such a 
 phrase as "medicament made up of three peppers" 
 \rb dta rpiav Teirepfav <pdpiw.Kov). By the Latin physicians 
 such phrases were treated as words : cf. diaglaucion 
 (of glaucium), diacodion, diapente, diacotholicon, 
 etc. See N.E.D. 
 
 32. The hair, etc. Doubtful. If the text is right, it 
 may perhaps mean " the rough coat." If the were 
 a, ib might mean "a small portion." See Jamie- 
 son, sub " hair." 
 
 46. ivith the mone crake. Prof. Gregory Smith interprets 
 " at full moon." But literally mone cruke = moon's 
 hook, which is more suggestive of a crescent or a 
 waning moon, and is in picturesque keeping with 
 enchantment. One is reminded of Kubla Khan — 
 
 A savage place as holy and enchanted 
 
 As e'er beneath a waning moon was haunted 
 
 By woman wailing for her demon lover. 
 
 So, too, Shakespeare in Macbeth, in. 5, stages the 
 witches under a horned moon : 
 
 Upon the corner of the moon 
 
 There hangs a vaporous drop profound. 
 
 The medical art of the Middle Ages was closely 
 connected with the practice of what Chaucer calls 
 " magik naturel," a thing of hoary antiquity. From 
 the Latin poets one sees how large a part was 
 assigned to the moon, the reason being that the 
 dews that were thought to distil from it were 
 supposed to be subservient to the purposes of 
 magic. Those who smile at the olden times will 
 do well to remember that horses and cows in most 
 of the farms of England were, till far on in the 
 nineteenth century, dosed according to the astro- 
 logical directions in Zadkiel's Almanack. 
 
NOTES. 297 
 
 53. denteit in daill, dainty in part (Gregory Smith). 
 This seems much better than " dealt out in small 
 portions/' the interpretation of the Hunterian 
 Club Glossary. 
 
 64. son is a misprint for fon (pi. of foe). The line 
 means, to frighten foes away. 
 
 70. guse, a word which the Eng. Dialect Diet, gives up. 
 Jamieson's Dictionary gives " the long gut or 
 rectum." 
 
 86. out of the fary. Dunbar speaking of the world as a 
 
 place of unceasing change calls it a "frawful fary," 
 a deceitful illusion. Fary originally meant enchant- 
 ment, then the land of enchantment, and so of 
 illusion. As such the poet regards the world. 
 
 87. gerss. Usually means grass, but here is probably 
 
 a corruption of grease, and so may mean unguents. 
 
 The Thre Deid Pollis. 
 
 Authorship uncertain. There are two MS. texts, the 
 Bannatyne and the Maitland. The first assigns the 
 authorship to Patrik Johnistoun, who is in all prob- 
 ability the Patrik Johnestoun mentioned by Dunbar in 
 the Lament for the Makaris ; the second makes it 
 Henryson's. It certainly sounds like Henryson's, but 
 theme and style are those of conventional rhetorical 
 exercise, and there is little that is very distinctive. 
 
 1. this mortal se. If se = sea, vaill in the next line 
 makes a mixed metaphor. The Maitland MS. 
 therefore changes vaill to well, which Mr. Gregory 
 Smith considers being too fastidious. But se can 
 also mean see (sedes), residence, and this is not 
 only good sense but is natural in a poet of ecclesi- 
 astical environment. 
 
 3. With gaistly sicht, with look aghast. 
 
 25-26. An excellent example of the aureate style, 
 familiar in these rhetorical exercises. 
 
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS. 
 
 11. Let us see who can answer this question. 
 
 49-.50. ay drawand . . . and hes . . ., ever drawing nigh 
 . . . and who hast, etc., a French rather than an 
 English construction. 
 
 62. be eiernitie, throughout eternity. 
 
 Ane Prayer for the Pest. 
 
 Assigned to Henryson on the strength of a " quod 
 Henrysone " at the end of the final text in the Banna- 
 tyne MS. Besides this and the draft there is no other 
 MS. source. 
 
 2-4. If the text is correct, the expression of the 
 meaning is confused and obscure through anacolu- 
 thon and excessive ellipsis. The meaning is clear 
 down to sal be. After that perhaps na thing is 
 should be repeated and Thy read as = quhois: "in 
 whose sight nothing is perfect (nor shall be) as 
 long as the world shall endure." 
 
 8. this perrelus pestilens. There were several plagues 
 in the poet's life-time, and there is nothing to help 
 us to identify the one referred to. But the greater 
 the affliction the more likely it was to have pro- 
 duced the poet's bitter cry. If so, the reference 
 may be to the Great Plague which began in 1499 
 and continued for several years. 
 
 37. that servis, who deserve. 
 
 71. and us imbrace fra syn, take us in Thine arms away 
 from all sinfulness. 
 
 84. deluge us of, dislodge us from, set us free from. 
 
 65-88. The reader will agree that the extremely tricky 
 cleverness of the last three stanzas is out of keeping 
 with the theme. What seems in the beginning a 
 sincere and anxious prayer has degenerated into a 
 display of verbal and metrical dexterity. 
 
NOTES. 299 
 
 The Want of Wyse Men. 
 
 In the text by Chepman & Millar, neither title nor 
 author's name is given. It is simply printed after the 
 Orpheus and Eurydice as ane othir ballad and has been 
 accepted by inference as Henryson's. 
 
 2. walde declerde, would declare it, would make it clear. 
 
 3. upside should be up so. B makes it upsyd. 
 
 6. wynkis, misprint for wrynkis, full of guile. 
 
 8. In various forms this is a common proverb. 
 
 ] 4. If rynkis means course, his = its and refers to reason. 
 If it means men, people, his refers to Octavian. 
 
 17-21. The construction is confused by anacoluthon. 
 The sense seems to be : "They who make a practice 
 of robbing the poor, may, if they know how to 
 flatter and avoid unpleasantness, come in (prosper) 
 while good and wise men, such as Aristotle, etc., 
 stand at the door (remain out in the cold), can 
 placebo = flatter. See Glossary. 
 
 1 7. moralitee, ethical philosophy. 
 
 18. dyvine scripture, writings upon theological questions. 
 
 22. For such people keep their eyes open (walkis) while 
 wiser men nod. 
 
 23. in should be is. 
 
 30. Though the people's learning is slight, yet marvels 
 impress them. 
 
 39. mer, worse, grown degenerate. 
 
 50. All the blame falls on (is become to, happens to) 
 him who is worsted. 
 
 54. we should be me. That right sorely grieves me. 
 
 59. will, strong desire, lust. 
 
 66. Movar, He who keeps in motion the planets and 
 the spheres. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 The contractions used are : a. adjective ; art. article ; s. substantive ; 
 pro. pronoun ; rel. relative ; inter, interrogative ; interj. interjection ; 
 adv. adverb ; v. verb infinitive ; pres. t. present tense ; pt. past tense ; 
 pres. p. present participle ; pp. past participle ; sub), subjunctive ; imperat. 
 imperative ; prep, preposition ; eonj. conjunction ; sing, singular, pi. plural 
 number ; impers. impersonal verb. 
 
 The first of two figures indicates the page ; the second the line. 
 
 Where the noun-endings ioun, sioun, tioun, respectively standiffor the 
 modern ion, sion, Hon, it has generally been thought unneeessaryito give 
 the word if it is otherwise an English word of to-day. So al so if the singular 
 and plural of a word both appear, the plural is not given if it Js simply 
 formed by the addition of is. And if the infinitive of a verb is given, the 
 3rd singular present tense in is is not given, nor the past tense in d, or it. 
 These, if they appear in the text, are given in the Glossary only when the 
 infinitive does not occur. Again, where words are so obvious as pacifie for 
 pacify, perplexitee for perplexity, it has not been thought worth while to 
 give them. 
 
 A. 
 
 a, a. one, 63, 270; the same, 14, 
 53; a tyme, one time, once, 
 13, 15; a, art. a. 31, 167. 
 
 a, interj. Ah, 37, 71. 
 
 abaid, s. delay, ado, 14, 40; 
 v. ft. remained, 216, 68. 
 
 abaisitly, adv. humbly, 61, 86. 
 
 abak, adv. back, 57, 343; back- 
 ward, 25, 41. 
 
 abbay, s. abbey, 217, 2. 
 
 abject, pp. as s. cast off, a thing 
 cast off, 149, 133. 
 
 aboif, adv. above, on the hill, 
 200, 30. 
 
 abominabill, a. abominable, 155, 
 308. 
 
 abone, prep, above, 66, 10. 
 
 aboundis, v. overflows, radiates, 
 226, 20. 
 
 abreid, abraid, pt. went, 145, 
 45. 
 
 absenss (=absentis), s. 
 tees, 48, 154. 
 
 absolve, obsolve, r. solve (a 
 
 problem), 234, 41. 
 abstrackit, pp. abstracted, 
 
 withdrawn, retired, 56, 320. 
 abuf, abufe, trnfe, prep, above, 
 
 81, 52; adv. 114, 176. 
 abusioun, s. abuse, 185, 333. 
 abyd, abyde, v. abide, 94, 27; 
 
 a. at it, abide by it, 223, 12. 
 accord, s. agreement; at 
 
 accord, agreed, 174, 84; r. 
 
 to agree, 15, 58; to yield, 
 
 give, 56, 331. 
 Acab, Ahab, 185, 335. 
 accusand, pres. p. accusing, 36, 
 
 50. 
 accusit, pp. accused, challenged, 
 
 60, 57. 
 actand, pres.p. urging, 115,201. 
 adew, adieu, 140, 193. 
 adulteraris, s. pi. adulterers, 29, 
 
 140. 
 adventure, s. accident, change, 
 
 7,5. 
 
304 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 adversar, s. adversary, 126, 66. 
 adversite, s. adversity, 22, 207. 
 advertence, advertens, s. notice, 
 
 heed, 86, 171. 
 advocatis, s. pi. advocates, 59, 
 
 31. 
 afeird, a. afraid, 133, 27. 
 aferit (see effeir), pt. was be- 
 coming: as weill a., as was 
 
 most becoming, 226, 15. 
 affection, s. affection, lust, 
 
 greed, 65, 160. 
 afferd, a. afraid, 69, 92. 
 afferit, pp. frightened, 47, 133. 
 affetterrit, pp. fettered, 195, 
 
 603. 
 againis, agane, aganis, prep. 
 
 and adv. against, 8, 34; 39, 
 
 138; 41, 179. 
 agast, a. frightened, 19, 158; 
 
 aghast, 44, 56. 
 agilite, s. quickness of wit, 173, 
 
 55. 
 ago, pp. gone, departed, 65, 
 
 167. 
 aige, age, s. old age, 235, 49; 
 
 aigit, pp. aged, 212,' 20. 
 aill, s. ailment, trouble, 201, 77. 
 aip, s. ape, 46, 109. 
 air, aire, s. heir, 42, 20. 
 
 s. eyre: justice a. (legal), 
 
 jestice eyre, 63, 129. 
 
 adv. before, 85, 163 ; early, 
 
 146, 82. 
 
 airis, s.pl. oars, 133, 37. 
 
 airlie, adv. early, 106, 5. 
 
 airschip, s. heritage, 42, 3i 
 
 aiss, s. ass, 46, 104. 
 
 aitis, s. oats, 132, 16. 
 
 al, a. all, 3, 2. 
 
 albeid, albeit, con), though, al- 
 though, 65, 159. 
 
 aid, aide, a. old, 61, 72. 
 
 Alecto, Megera (for Megara), 
 Thesiphonee (for Tisiphone), 
 the three Furies, 191, 476. 
 
 alkynd, a. all kinds of, 71, 121. 
 
 all, a. every, 72, 155. 
 
 allace, allaiss, interj. alas, 11, 
 
 92. 
 allane, a. and adv. alone, 182, 
 
 246. 
 allanerly, adv. only, 195, 590. 
 allegit, pt. alleged, claimed, 53, 
 
 263. 
 almaist, allmaist, allmast, adv. 
 
 almost, 165, 525. 
 almanak, s. almanac, 35, 29. 
 allone, adv. alone, 13, 19. 
 allowe, v. to allow, give, 15, 75. 
 almous, almouss, s. alms, 165, 
 
 532. 
 almycht, a. almighty, 126, 51. 
 allquhair, adv. everywhere, 204, 
 
 16. 
 als, adv. as, 149, 161; also, too, 
 
 36, 48. 
 alsone, adv. very soon, immedi- 
 ately, 97, 90. 
 alswa, adv. also, 125, 27. 
 alterait, a. and pp. altered, 159, 
 
 396. 
 alyk, adv. alike, 35, 46. 
 amang, adv. alternately. 64, 
 
 148. 
 amangis, prep, among, 83, 
 
 113. 
 ambassadry, s. .• in a., as an am- 
 bassador, 50, 202. 
 amendis, s. pi. amends, 126, 59; 
 
 v. pres. t. amend, 65, 172. 
 amycabill, a. amicable, 109, 80. 
 anceane, a. ancient, 204, 5. 
 and, conj. if, 23, 230. 
 ane, indef. art. a or an, 3, 7; a. 
 
 one, 49, 172; ane and ane, 
 
 one by one, 98, 130. 
 aue-uther, another ; not ane 
 
 ane-uther, not one the other, 
 
 164, 518. 
 aneuch, anuch, adv. enough, 4, 
 
 17; a. enough, 80, 41. 
 angellis, s. pi. poss. angels', 90, 
 
 276. 
 angerly, adv. angrily, 148, 124. 
 angrye, a. angry, 29, 120. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 305 
 
 anis, anys, adv. for once, 113, 
 
 162; once, 148, 127; a. as 
 
 pro. ones, 130, 154. 
 annoyntit, pp. anointed, 232, 
 
 72. 
 anone, adv., at once, immedi- 
 ately, forthwith, now, 6, 63. 
 answeir, v. to answer (to the 
 
 charge), 58, 14. 
 anuch, see aneuch. 
 anys, adv. once, 20, 164. 
 A per se, Latin phrase, for the 
 
 height of excellence, 146, 78. 
 
 See note 78, p. 281. 
 apertly, adv. openly, 55, 307. 
 apill, s. apple, 183, 282. 
 apone, prep, upon, 7, 3. 
 apostata, s. apostate, 90, 277. 
 apparitour, s. apparitor, an offi- 
 cer of the Consistory Court, 
 
 58, 15. 
 appeil, v. to appeal, 61, 83. 
 appeir, v. to appear, 101, 188. 
 appeirand, pres. p. appearing, 
 
 83, 117. 
 apperd, pt. appeared, 59, 26. 
 appetit, appetyt, appetyte, s. 
 
 appetite, 190, 446; lust, 146, 
 
 71. 
 applicate, pp. used, applied, 90, 
 
 271. 
 applidis = applied is, i.e., has 
 
 applied, has given ear, 
 
 listens, 227, 28. 
 applyis, pres. t. applies, 189, 
 
 423. 
 Aquarye, Aquarius, the eleventh 
 
 sign of the zodiac, 35, 26. 
 ar, pres. t. are, 63, 114. 
 arbitouris, s. pi. arbiters, 60, 
 
 59. 
 arbitrement, s. decision, 60, 60. 
 areir, a. away, gone, 160, 424. 
 areist, s. arrest, 49, 174. 
 argow, v. argue, 5, 45. 
 Aries, the constellation of the 
 
 Earn, the first sign of the 
 
 zodiac, 143, 5. 
 
 Aristotill, s. Aristotle, 241, 17. 
 ark, s. a large chest for holding 
 
 meal, 12, 14. 
 arme, s. arm, 26, 49. 
 armit, pt. armed, 144, 38. 
 armony, s. harmony, music, 181, 
 
 223. 
 array, covering, 122, 119. 
 arrayit, arreyit, pp. adorned, 
 
 234, 30. 
 arrest, v. to stop, 5, 52. 
 Artick, a. Arctic, 144, 20. 
 Arystyus, s. Aristaeus, 175, 97. 
 as, adv. as if, 55, 315. 
 ascendent, a. ascending, moving 
 
 higher, 162, 214. 
 ase, pres. t. ask, 72, 141. 
 askand, pres. p. asking, 73, 168. 
 askis, s. pi. newts, 222, 38. 
 ass, s. ashes, dust, 7, 5. 
 
 v. to ask, 187, 373. 
 
 assailit, pp. assailed, 144, 35. 
 assay, v. to try, test, 140, 191. 
 assent, s. aid, 45, 95. 
 assessouris, s. pi. assessors, 60, 
 
 51. 
 assuege, v. to assuage, 73, 186. 
 assyis, assyse, «. assize, 63, 122. 
 astrolab, s. astrolabe, 35, 29. 
 at, conj. that, 15, 76; prep. 
 
 from, 138, 154; of, 17, 114. 
 atour, attour, prep, about, 
 
 above, over, 69, 93. 
 athis, s. pi. oaths, 88, 220. 
 atteichit, pp. attached, arrest- 
 ted: a. with, arrested for, 
 
 49, 184. 
 attent, imperat. attend, 41, 178. 
 aucht, pres. t. ought, 153, 251. 
 auctor, auctour, autor, s. 
 
 author, 12, 1. 
 auctoritie, s. authority, 58, 6. 
 audience, s. hearing, in a., in 
 
 public court, 127, 67. 
 auld, a. old, 3, 1. 
 auster, austern, austerne, 
 
 austre, austrene, *. austere, 
 
 stern, grave, 47, 136. 
 
306 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Austyn, s. S. Augustine, 241, 
 
 , 18. 
 
 autentik, a. important, serious, 
 not fabulous, 51, 218. 
 
 authoreist, a. authorised, 
 genuine, 145, 66. 
 
 autor, see auctor. 
 
 availl, v. to avail, 68, 70; pres. 
 t. availis, 23, 224. 
 
 avail, avalle, s. profit, 8, 35. 
 
 aventure, *. hap, chance, acci- 
 dent, 10, 72. 
 
 avise, pres. t. advises, reflects, 
 108, 44. 
 
 aw, s. awe, fear, 29, 120. 
 
 aw, pres. t. 2 per. owest, 59, 
 39. 
 
 awaye, adv. away, 231, 64. 
 
 awfulye, adv. awfully, sternly, 
 50, 193. 
 
 awin, awne, a. own, 59, 40. 
 
 awoik, pt. awoke, 157, 345. 
 
 awyse, v. (for avise, Fr. aviser) 
 counsel: a. him weill, de- 
 liberate, think carefully, 
 223, 5. 
 
 awysitly, adv. advisedly, 59, 41. 
 
 ay, adv. aye, always, 30, 143. 
 
 aylasting, a. everlasting, 44, 61. 
 
 ayns, adv. once, 21, 190. 
 
 B. 
 bacis, 228, 57. See note 57, p. 
 
 294. 
 ba cod, the scrotum, 231, 49. 
 bad, baid, pt. bade, ordered, 
 
 54, 292; urged, 86, 173; 
 
 wished, 93, 11. 
 baid, s. stay, 64, 145; v. pt. 
 
 stayed, abided, 83, 106; 
 
 waited, 163, 490. 
 baill, bale, s. bale, woe, sorrow, 
 
 pain, torment, 160, 413. 
 bailfull, a. harmful, dangerous, 
 
 119, 53. 
 bair, s. boar, 46, 106. 
 
 a. bare, 11, 95. 
 
 pt. bore, 172, 35. 
 
 baiTfut, a. and adv. barefoot, 
 
 13, 19. 
 
 bairheid, adv. bare-headed, 37, 
 
 79. 
 bairns, see berne. 
 baisit, pp. abased, degraded, 
 
 debased, 49, 182. 
 bait, s. food, refreshment, 151, 
 
 210; stopping-place for food 
 
 or rest or both, 97, 108. 
 
 s. debate, strife: held me 
 
 at b., looked upon me with 
 hostility, 125, 42. 
 
 baith, bath, bayth, beth, a., 
 pron., conj,, and adv. both, 
 
 14, 53, et passim. 
 bak, s. back, 20, 168. 
 bakbyttaris, s. back-biters, 225, 
 
 49. 
 bakkis, s. poss. bat's, 79, 16. 
 bakon, meaning not known, 46, 
 
 111. 
 bakwart, adv. backward, 107, 
 
 28. 
 balandis, s. balance, 29, 138. 
 bald, a. bold, 19, 145. 
 Balderonis, s. the cat, 20, 168. 
 bale, s. sorrow, woe, 29, 125. 
 balis, s. pi. pains, perhaps 
 
 " amorous fires " in 215, 55. 
 balk, *. ridge, 13, 24. 
 ballet, s. ballad, 168, 610. 
 baly, s. belly, 184, 297. 
 band, s. bond, partnership, 59, 
 
 33. 
 
 pt. bound, 55, 295. 
 
 bandonit, pp. subdued, con- 
 trolled, 117, 20. 
 
 bandoun, s. bondage, control, 
 
 207, 84. 
 bane, s. bone, 234, 29; pi. 
 
 banis, 43, 35. 
 baneist, banyst, pp. banished, 
 
 160, 413. 
 banes, v. to banish, 131, 161. 
 bane-stikill, *. stickleback, 95, 
 
 52. 
 banischer, *. banisher, 151, 199. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 307 
 
 bank, banke, s. bank, 13, 23. 
 bankouris, s. pi. tapestry, 
 
 coverings (of chairs or 
 
 benches), 160, 417. 
 bannete, bonat, s. bonnet, cap, 
 
 head-dress, 53, 266. 
 barfute, a. barefoot, 175, 100. 
 barnage, s. childhood, 191, 465. 
 barne, s. child, 85, 143. 
 barnis, *. pi. barns, 81, 65. 
 barrane, a. barren, 237, 44. 
 barrat, s. trouble, 226, 5. 
 barrow, s. hand-barrow, 138, 
 
 14. 
 basare, s. executioner, hang- 
 man, 55, 300. 
 base, a. bass (musical), 187, 
 
 369. 
 bastarde, s. bastardy, 45, 94. 
 bastoun, s. staff, 104, 248. 
 batall, battell, s. battle, 179, 
 
 196. 
 bate, s. bait. 39, 128. 
 bath, 243, 66, see baith. 
 
 v. to bathe, 231, 49. 
 
 batterand, a. battering, 46, 111. 
 battis, s. pi. strokes, blows, 103, 
 
 232. 
 baver, s. beaver, 46, 111. 
 bayth, 50, 204, see baith. 
 be, s. bee, 97, 96. 
 v. is, 5, 50; are, 14, 51; 
 
 art, 43, 42. 
 
 prep, by, passim; with, 23, 
 
 233; before, 161, 429; in, by 
 means of, 234, 24. 
 
 adv. by the time, 75, 222; 
 
 throughout, 235, 62. 
 
 beand, pres. p. being, 73, 178. 
 
 befoir, prep, and adv. before, 
 24, 21. 
 
 beforne, adv. before, 16, 94. 
 
 begane, pt. began, 3, 5. 
 
 beggair, s. beggar, 163, 483. 
 
 begouth, pt. began, 69, 84. 
 
 begild, begyld, begylit, pp. mis- 
 led, led into sin, 226, 22. 
 
 begyle, v. to beguile, trick, 
 
 snare, 94, 40; begylis, 2«4. 
 
 sing, beguilest, 95, 59. 
 begyne, v. to begin, 6, 61 ; 
 
 begynnis, beginnis, begins, 
 
 90, 283. 
 behald, v. to behold, 151, 207. 
 behest, s. promise, 145, 50. 
 behove, behufe, s. behoof, 92, 
 
 327. 
 behufit, pt. behoved, 42, 13. 
 behynd, adv. behind, 187, 382. 
 beid, be it, 230, 21; cf. ford, 
 
 for it, seid, see it, in same 
 
 poem, 
 beidis, s. pi. beads, 36, 66. 
 beif, s. beef, 17, 109. 
 beikit, pt. baked, warmed, 144, 
 
 36. 
 beild, s. refuge, place of safety, 
 
 120, 89. 
 beildit, pp. built, 147, 97. 
 beir, s. bear, 46, 106. 
 
 s. roar, noise, clamour, 27, 
 
 90. 
 
 s. bier (funeral), 139, 167; 
 
 pi. beiris, 221, 19. 
 
 v. to bear, 51, 221; to 
 
 wheel, 138, 139. 
 
 beir, s. barley, 132, 16. 
 
 beird, s. beard, 133, 28. 
 beis, v. are, 117, 14. 
 beist, s. beast, 41, 174. 
 
 beit, v. to beat, 89, 254; shine, 
 40, 143; in 215, 55, perhaps 
 " to add fuel to." 
 
 beitis, s. pi. bundles, little 
 sheaves, 87, 205. 
 
 bek, s. beck, bow, 36, 60. 
 
 bekand, pres. p. baking, warm- 
 ing, 69, 87. 
 
 beke, v. to bake, warm, 40, 144. 
 
 s. beak, 26, 58. 
 
 belangand, pres. p. belonging, 
 38, 100. 
 
 Bellerophaut, s. Bellerophon, 
 45, 93. 
 
 bell, in 115, 190, perhaps simply 
 a bell; but perhaps for Bell, 
 
308 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 a familial name for a female 
 
 servant, 
 bellie blind, s. blind-man's buff, 
 
 113, 152. 
 bellox, s. testicles, 232, 75. 
 bellyflaucht, adv. (skinned) by 
 
 drawing the skin whole over 
 
 the head, 137, 128. 
 bellye, s. belly, 40, 144. 
 belyve, adv. straightway, 
 
 quickly, 55, 295. 
 bemes, bemis, bemys, s. pi. 
 
 beams, 45, 71. 
 ben, s. the inner room, 21, 199. 
 bene, pres. t. are, 123, 139; pp. 
 
 been, 117, 20. 
 <t. fair, beautiful, 82, 80; 
 
 goodly, pleasant, 67, 26; 
 
 well off, 129, 126; adv. 
 
 fairly, beautifully, 160, 417. 
 benely, a. finely, handsomely, 
 
 well, 21, 199. 
 bening, a. benign, 80, 31. 
 benis, s. pi. beans, 19, 160. 
 benit, pp. blessed, 81, 65. 
 benkis, binks, s. pi. benches, 
 
 high places, 123, 155. 
 bent, s. grass, ground, field, 52, 
 
 243. 
 berand, pres. p. bearing, carry- 
 ing, 45, 79. 
 berd, s. beard, 214, 26. 
 bere, v. to bear, carry away. 
 
 26, 68. 
 beriit, pp. buried, 8, 20. 
 beris, pres. t. carries, affords, 
 
 23, 234. 
 berk, v. to bark, 24, 7. 
 berne, s. barn, 88, 217. 
 s. bairn, child, lad, 100, 
 
 160; cock, 29, 133; pi. 
 
 bairns; in 110, 92, men. 
 beschrew, pres. t. curse, 61, 77. 
 beseik, pres. t. beseech, 68, 65 ; 
 
 pres. p. beseikand, 235, 54; 
 
 beseiking, 222, 45; beseke, 
 
 imperat. 57, 346. 
 
 besene, pp. adorned, arrayed, 
 
 160, 416. 
 besie, besy, bissie, a. busy, 115, 
 
 205, 
 besocht, pp. sought after, 238, 
 
 70: b. with syn, a prey to 
 
 sin, 211, 10. 
 bess, best, «. beast, 178, 161. 
 bestial, bestiall, s. animals, 
 
 animal life, 80, 44. 
 besy, see besie. 
 besyd, besyde, adv. and prep. 
 
 beside, 14, 46. 
 besynace, besyness, bissines, s. 
 
 business, work, 83, 100. 
 betakinis, betakynis, pres. t. 
 
 betokens, signifies, 10, 65. 
 bete, v. to beat, 28, 93. 
 beteiche, pres. t. deliver, 167, 
 
 577. 
 beth, see baith. 
 bethit, pp. beaten, stripped: b. 
 
 bair, stripped bare, 82, 80. 
 betis, v. relieves, 226, 5. 
 betraisit, pp. betrayed, 104, 
 
 250. 
 bettir, a. comp. better, 11, 94. 
 betwene, prep, between, 13, 31. 
 betuix, prep, between, betwixt, 
 
 17, 116. 
 beuch, buche, s. bough, 26, 52. 
 bevar, bever, u. beaver, 159, 
 
 386. 
 bevar, 215, 41. See note, p. 
 
 293. 
 bewar, v. beware, 123, 155. 
 bewis, *. pi. boughs, 66, 10. 
 bewte, bewtie, s. beauty, 143, 
 
 11. 
 bid, v. abide, remain, 52, 243. 
 biddin, pp. stayed, remained, 
 
 39, 125. 
 biddis, bidis, pres. t. bids, 157, 
 
 361. 
 big, a. great. In 129, 125, well 
 
 supplied, 
 bigly, a. pleasant, 204, 13. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 309 
 
 bil, «. bill, document, writings, 
 213, 14; proclamation, 44, 
 57; accusation, summons, 58, 
 20. 
 
 bill, s. beak, 28, 108. 
 
 binge, s. cringe, bow, 36, 60. 
 
 binks, see benkis. 
 
 bir, s. birr (the sound of whirr- 
 ing wings), 85, 150. 
 
 birdis, s. pi. birds, 66, 9 ; ladies, 
 215, 55. 
 
 birkyn, a. birch, 26, 52. 
 
 birnand, pres. p. burning, 14, 
 41. 
 
 birnis, pres. t. burns, 227, 40. 
 
 birst, v. to burst, 176, 128. 
 
 bissie, see besie. 
 
 bissines, see besynace. 
 
 bitill, s. beetle, a sort of wooden 
 hammer or mell for beating 
 flax, 87, 207. 
 
 bittir, a. bitter, 33, 213. 
 
 bittirly, adv. bitterly, 64, 143. 
 
 blae, a. blae, blackish blue, 
 livid, 31, 181. 
 
 blae-berryis, s. blaeberries, bil- 
 berries, 134, 59. 
 
 blaiknit, blakinnit, pp. bleach- 
 ed, pale, 49, 178. (A. S. 
 bide, pale. When it means 
 blackened, dark, it comes 
 from blaee, black.) 
 
 Wait, v. to bleat, 127, 85. 
 
 a. abashed, 49, 182. 
 
 blak, a. black, 69, 76. 
 
 blakinnit, see blaiknit. 
 
 blastis, pres.t. blows, 64, 143; 
 s. pi. blasts, 82, 72. 
 
 blaw, v. to blow, sound, 43, 44. 
 
 bled, pt. shed, 208, 110. 
 
 bleid, pres. t. bleed, 88, 232. 
 
 bleir, v. dim, blind, hoodwink, 
 97, 91. 
 
 blenk, s. glance, 164, 499. 
 
 blenking, s. glancing, look, 164, 
 503. 
 
 blenkit. pt. looked, glanced, 47, 
 128.' 
 
 blent, pt. (for blenkit) looked, 
 
 188, 392. 
 blew, a. blue, 80, 34. 
 blin, v. to cease, 238, 69; 
 
 blynnis, pres. t., 227, 44. 
 blindit, pp. blinded, 65, 160. 
 blis, bliss, v. to bless, 122, 126. 
 bliss, s. glory, beauty, 82, 80. 
 blith, blyith, blythe, a. blithe, 
 
 joyful, 227, 29. 
 blithlie, adv. joyfully, 227, 40. 
 blomis, pres. t. blooms, 116, 
 
 118. 
 blosum, s. blossom, flower, 228, 
 
 63; pi. blosummis, 66, 19. 
 blud, blude, s. blood, birth, 37, 
 
 88. 
 bludy, bludye, a. bloody, 31, 
 
 181. 
 blumyt, pt. bloomed, 66, 10. 
 blunt, 49, 182, perhaps = blint, 
 
 i.e., blinded, and hence 
 dazed, 
 blyith, see blith. 
 blynd, a. blind, 11, 95. 
 blyndit, pp. blinded, 188, 388. 
 blynnis, see blin. 
 blys, s. bliss, 160, 413. 
 blyth, v. to gladden, 4, 21 ; u. 
 
 see blith. 
 blythness, s. gladness, 23, 235. 
 bocht, pp. bought, 11, 88. 
 bodye, s. body, 86, 178. 
 Boece, s. Boethius, 189, 415. 
 boir, pt. bore, carried, 150, 166. 
 boit, s. boat, 133, 22. 
 bollis, s. pi. pods, 86, 183. 
 bolnyng, s. swelling, 191, 479. 
 bolt full, a. chock-full, 40, 147. 
 bonat, 67, 33, see bannete. 
 bond, s. husbandman, farmer, 
 
 peasant, 90, 274. 
 bone, s. bane, woe, 201, 54. 
 borch, s. surety, pledge, 61, 89. 
 bord, pp. bored, pierced, 
 
 broken, 15, 61. 
 bordowrit, pp. bordered, 67, 31. 
 
310 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Boreas, s. the North Wind, 64, 
 143; hence borial, a. north- 
 ern, 82, 72. 
 
 borne, pp. carried, 35, 24; 
 born, 14, 52. 
 
 borrowit, pp. ransomed, 208, 
 117. 
 
 borrowstoun, *. burgh, borough, 
 12, 3. 
 
 bost, s. boast, threat, 125, 42. 
 
 bosum, s. womb, 229, 50. 
 
 bot, prep, without, 35, 29; ex- 
 cept, 148, 134; adv. only, 
 but, 50, 200; conj. but, 35, 
 39; unless, 75, 236. 
 
 bot gyfe, unless, 75, 228. 
 
 bottis, s. pi. boats, 39, 128. 
 
 boucheour, bouchure, bowchir, 
 s. butcher, executioner, 
 thief, rascal, 96, 79. 
 
 boun, bown, a. ready, 27, 82. 
 
 boundis, s. pi. bounds, places, 
 district, 42, 21. 
 
 bour, s. bower, 161, 438. 
 
 bourd, s. jest, 225, 49. 
 
 bourding, s. jesting, 121, 106. 
 
 bow, v. to obey, yield, 95, 48. 
 
 i. pod (of flax plant), 87, 
 
 205. 
 
 bowallis, s. pi. bowells, 194, 
 560. 
 
 bowchir, see boucheour. 
 
 bowellit, pt. disembowelled, 
 137, 127. 
 
 bown, see boun. 
 
 bowsumest, u. superl. buxomost, 
 gayest, most delightful, 228, 
 63. 
 
 bowtit, pt. bolted, bobbed, 136, 
 111. 
 
 bra, bray, s. hill side, 66, 19. 
 
 bracis, pres. t. contains, 227, 50. 
 
 brade, braid, braide, pt. sprang, 
 flew, darted, 31, 174: b. 
 f urth, stretched out, 110, 83 ; 
 v. to open out, unfold, 44, 
 57. 
 
 braid, braide, a, broad, 14, 39. 
 
 braid, s. a sudden motion, start, 
 
 jerk, 25, 39. 
 braiding, pres. p. starting up, 
 
 making a quick movement, 
 
 50, 204. 
 brak, pt. broke, 54, 287. 
 brand, s. sword, 150, 180. 
 brast, pt. burst, shone, 143, 15. 
 brattis, s. pi. brats, children, 
 
 139, 169. 
 brawne, s. brawn, 214, 20. 
 bray, s. see bra. 
 brayd, pt. hurried off, 201, 68. 
 bred, same as braid, a. broad, 
 
 wide, 66, 10. 
 breddit, pt. scattered, 30, 155. 
 breid, s. bread, 9, 42: a cer- 
 
 tane b., a piece of bread, 
 
 58, 4. 
 breir, brier, s. briar, 13, 23; pi. 
 
 breris, 190, 456. 
 breird, v. sprout, spring up, 90. 
 
 283. 
 , brerd, s. the first shoots 
 
 of grass, corn or other 
 
 crops; on b., sprouting, ap- 
 pearing above the ground, 
 
 160, 413. 
 breist, brest, breste, s. breast, 
 
 28, 93. 
 brek, v. to break, 15, 62; pres: 
 
 p. brekand, 75, 235; verbal 
 
 noun, breking, 185, 327. 
 breke, s. the buttocks, 29, 133. 
 brent, s. high, smooth, 150, 173. 
 breris, s. pi. briars, 190, 456. 
 brest, breste, s. see breist. 
 
 v. to burst, break, 95, 
 
 48. 
 
 breth, s. breath, 137, 118. 
 bricht, brycht a. bright, 143, 
 
 9; bricht, adv. brightly, 14, 
 
 41. 
 
 s. lady, 206, 67. 
 
 brichtnes, s. brightness, glory, 
 
 226, 20. 
 brier, see breir. 
 brig, s. bridge, 182, 202. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 311 
 
 brime, bryme, s. water, flood, 
 
 stream, 136, 99. 
 brinlris, s. pi. limits, borders, 
 
 242, 38. 
 brocht, pt. brought, 14, 45: pp. 
 
 110, 86. 
 broddit, pt. goaded, 106, 9. 
 brok, broke, s. badger, 46, 111. 
 brokin, pp. broken, 104, 248. 
 brouk, v. to enjoy, 42, 20; pp. 
 
 brukit, 126, 44. 
 broukle, a. frail (morally), 192, 
 
 491. 
 broun, a. brown, 67, 30. 
 browderit, pp. embroidered, 
 
 160, 417. 
 browe, s. brow, 15, 72; pi. 
 
 browis, 16, 80. 
 bruk, s. brook, stream, 124, 17. 
 brukkill, a. brittle, 166, 569. 
 brukkilness, s. frailty, 146, 86. 
 brukit, pt. enjoyed, possessed, 
 
 125, 44. See brouk. 
 brutall, a. brutal, unreasoning, 
 
 5, 44. 
 bruthir, s. brother, 75, 238. 
 brybouris, s. pi. beggarly 
 
 creatures, wretches, 50, 204. 
 brycht, a., see bricht. 
 bryme, see brime. 
 brymly, adv. shrilly, loudly, 43, 
 
 44. 
 buche, see beuch. 
 bud, s. bribe, 128, 103. 
 bufe, abufe, prep, above, 226, 
 
 20. 
 bugill, 8. buffalo, wild ox, 46, 
 
 106; bugle, 43, 44. 
 buik, buk, s. book, 6, 59; pi. 
 
 bukis, 240, 9. 
 buir, pt. bore, 103, 232. 
 buit, bute, s. help, profit, good, 
 
 163, 481. 
 bulthid, bukhud, s. a game, pro- 
 bably like hide and seek, bo- 
 peep, or blind-man's bluff, 
 
 20, 172. 
 
 bukket, s. bucket, 114, 173; pi. 
 bukkettis, 113, 159. 
 
 bullar, *. bubble, 151, 192. 
 
 bunche, s. bunch, bundle, 153, 
 261. 
 
 bund, bundin, pp. bound, in 
 bondage, 138, 152. 
 
 bur, bure, pt. bore, 44, 48. 
 
 burd, s. board, 193, 541. 
 
 burdane, in 46, 119, a misprint 
 for lurdane, evidently the 
 name of some animal, but 
 quite unknown: 1. lane, the 
 lone lurdane. Other texts 
 read fouraribane and bourau- 
 bane, equally obscure. 
 
 burde, s. board, table, 20, 163. 
 
 bure, see bur. 
 
 burelie, a. goodly, handsome, 
 150, 173. 
 
 burgess, a. town, 16, 69. 
 
 burie, v. to bury, 167, 58. 
 
 burioun, v. to bourgeon, to bud, 
 227, 44. 
 
 burle, burlie, a. burly, stout, 
 214, 20. 
 
 burn, burne, s. brook, 87, 206. 
 
 Burry, Burrye, s. a pet name 
 for a dog, meaning Shaggy, 
 30, 150. B. Dog, 58, 21. 
 
 bursin, pp. burst, 122, 120. 
 
 buryit, pt. buried, 167, 593. 
 
 busk, buske, buss, *. bush, 13, 
 23. 
 
 v. to dress, adorn, 85, 143. 
 
 bust, v. to burst, 168, 600. 
 busteous, bustous, bustouss, 
 
 bustuous, a. vigorous, fruit- 
 ful, 3, 8 ; fierce, 24, 5 ; rude, 
 rough, 149, 153. 
 
 bustfull, s. boxful, 231, 58. 
 
 but, prep, without, 14, 40: b. 
 advocat, without an advo- 
 cate, without the aid of 
 counsel, 59, 40; b. gilt, in- 
 nocent, 128, 91. 
 
 s. the outer room, 21, 199. 
 
312 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 bute, s. see buit. 
 
 *. to help, 75, 220. 
 
 buttrie, buttry, u. buttery, 14. 
 44. 
 
 by, adv. by, off, 37, 81. 
 
 byd, byde, pres. t. wait for, ex- 
 pect, 11, 94; remain, 37, 75; 
 dwell, 12, 10. 
 
 bydand, pres. p. waiting for, 34, 
 7. 
 
 byis, pres. t. bays, 63, 121. 
 
 byle, s. plague (probably so 
 called because of the "boils" 
 of the disease), 239, 77. 
 
 bylis, *. pi. boils, 159, 395. 
 
 byre, s. cowhouse, 129, 325. 
 
 byt, s. bite, 131, 156. 
 
 byte, v. to bite, 191, 474. 
 
 C. 
 cabok, s. cheese, 111, 122. 
 cace, s. case, cause (legal), 59, 
 
 41. 
 cache, s. chase, 121, 99. 
 cadgear, s. hawker, 96, 78. 
 caff, caffe, calf, s. chaff, 90, 275. 
 caikis, *. pi. cakes, 18, 122. 
 caile, caill, s. kale, the broth 
 
 made with kale as a chief 
 
 ingredient, 231, 59. 
 cair, s. care, 18, 129. 
 cairfull, a. anxious, 70, 106; 
 
 sorrowful, 167, 585. 
 cairfully, adv. carefully, with 
 
 sorrowful effect, 234, 23. 
 cairt, s. cart, 130, 135. 
 cais, caise, s. case, chance, 27, 
 
 89: on c, by chance, 64, 
 
 139: upone c, by chance, 
 
 124, 5. 
 caist, pt. cast, 102, 209. 
 Calchas, a soothsayer, and high 
 
 priest of the Greeks in the 
 
 Trojan war, 147, 97. 
 cald, a. cold, 29, 123. 
 
 pt. called, 154, 282. 
 
 caldrun, s. caldron, 231, 59. 
 
 calf, see caff. 
 
 Caliope, s. Calliope, muse of 
 
 eloquence and heroic poetry, 
 
 173, 43. 
 calland, pres. p. calling, 74, 
 
 200. 
 callit, pt. and pp. called, 
 
 named, 36, 48; summoned, 
 
 50, 209. 
 callour, s. fresh, 101, 177. 
 cam, pt. came, 87, 211. 
 came, s. comb, 26, 58: a cock's 
 
 comb, 
 cameil, s. camel, 48, 146. 
 campis, s. pi. hairs, 69, 94. 
 can, pres. t. knows, 11, 81. 
 
 can, 41, 172; 2nd sing., 
 
 canst, 71, 134. 
 
 pt. did, 16, 96 ; pres. t. do, 
 
 41, 167. 
 
 candill, s. candle, 14, 41. 
 canker, s. canker, 69, 76. 
 cankerit, a. cankered, 36, 50. 
 cannettis, s. pi. dogs, hounds, 
 
 74, 200. 
 cannon, s. canon. In 231, 62, 
 
 of pharmacy, 
 cant, a. merry, lusty, 7, 2; adv. 
 
 briskly, eagerly, 20, 170. 
 fiape, v. imperat. Take (first 
 
 word of a prescription, 
 
 usually recipe. Latin), 230, 
 
 27. 
 capill, s. horse, 96, 78. 
 caponis, s.pl. capons, 93, 17. 
 Capricorne, Capricorn, a sign of 
 
 the zodiac, 36, 22. 
 carage, s. courage, 172, 25. 
 care, v. to carry, 46, 98. 
 carefull, a. troubled, 40, 149. 
 carioun, caryon, s. carrion, 
 
 flesh, corpse, 38, 111. 
 caris, s. pi. woes, lamentations, 
 
 177, 152. 
 carlis, s. poss. carl's, churl's, 
 
 man's, 86, 189. 
 carnale, carnall, a. carnal, 41, 
 
 170. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 313 
 
 carpand, pres. p. talking, gos- 
 siping, singing, 53, 271. 
 
 carpin, s. talking, explanation, 
 narrative, 226, 19. 
 
 cart, s. chariot (of the sun), 
 161, 208. 
 
 carvour, s. carver, 15, 76. 
 
 cary, carye, v. to carry, 176, 
 126; to direct one's steps, 85, 
 153. 
 
 caryon, see carioun. 
 
 case, s. chance, 19, 141 ; pi. 
 casis, casis, cases, chances, 
 accidents, 10, 61; circum- 
 stances, 227, 52. 
 
 cassyn, pp. cast, 7, 7. 
 
 castis, v. seek in all directions, 
 95, 44. 
 
 catt, s. cat, 59, 60. 
 
 cattell, s. cattle, oxen, 107, 24. 
 
 catyve, a. caitiff, 70, 107; s. 
 wretched wight, 213, 10. 
 
 cauld, s. cold, 12, 9. 
 
 caus, causs, s. cause, 3, 5. 
 
 causar, s. the cause, author, 184, 
 67. 
 
 causeles, adv. causelessly, with- 
 out cause, 54, 285. 
 
 causit, pt. caused, 30, 147. 
 
 cautelous, cautelouss, a. sly, 
 cunning, 25, 24. 
 
 causs, see caus. 
 
 cavillatioun, s. a false or un- 
 just charge, 26, 65. 
 
 ceder, s. cider, 161, 441. 
 
 ceis, cese, ceise, v. to cease, 
 86, 180; ceissit, pt. 122. 
 134. 
 
 celsitude, s. highness, 44, 64. 
 
 centauriss, s. pi. centaurs, 192, 
 501. 
 
 ceptur, s. sceptre, 45, 84. 
 
 certane, s. certain, 58, 4. 
 
 chaingis, pres. t. changes, 
 alters, 49, 185. 
 
 chairge, s. charge, 58, 17. 
 
 v. to order, 58, 13. 
 
 chaissit, pt. chased, 117, 7. 
 
 chaist, a. chaste, 166, 555. 
 
 chalmer, s. chamber, nest, 13, 
 35. 
 
 chamelet, s. fine cloth, 67, 30. 
 See note. 
 
 changit, chaungit, pt. changed, 
 164, 517; a., 26, 66. 
 
 chanteclere, s. chanticleer, cock, 
 24, 14. 
 
 chatterit, pt. chattered, 149, 
 156. 
 
 Chauceir, Chaucer, 144, 41. 
 
 chaumer, s. chamber, 226, 22; 
 a., 29, 122. 
 
 chaungit, see changit. 
 
 cheikis, chekis, s. pi. cheeks, 36, 
 67. 
 
 cheir, s. face, countenance, 49, 
 185; gladness; 13, 29; meal, 
 18, 120; profit, satisfaction, 
 8, 25; mood, 133, 24; cheer, 
 158, 367; welcome, 15, 68. 
 
 cheis, cheise, cheiss, .s. cheese, 
 112, 124. 
 
 v. to choose, 54, 292. 
 
 chemeis, s. shirt, robe, loose 
 gown, 67, 30. 
 
 chcris, i}. to cherish, 126, 58. 
 
 chenge, v. to change, 65, 168. 
 
 cher, chere, see cheir. 
 
 cherissing, s. cherishing, enter- 
 tainment, cheer, 123, 150. 
 
 cherite, cheritie, cherity, s. 
 charity, 68, 65. 
 
 chestetie, s. chastity, 209, 10. 
 
 chevalry, s. chivalry, 187, 362. 
 
 cheverit, pt. shivered, 149, 156. 
 
 Chryst, Christ, 140, 197. 
 
 Chrystis, Christ's, 208, 117. 
 
 chuf, s. clown, boor, greedy 
 fellow, 97, 87. 
 
 churle, churll, s. man, 149, 153; 
 farm labourer, 84, 122. 
 
 chydand, pres. p. chiding, com- 
 plaining, 162, 470. 
 
 chyde, v. to chide, 157, 357. 
 
 chyld, n. child, 78, 295. 
 
 chyn, s. chin, 183, 278. 
 
314 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 cieteis, s.pl. cities, 104, 265. 
 oircill, *. circle, 80, 37. 
 circulit, pp. encircled, 234, 28. 
 cite, s. city, 10, 73. 
 civil, pertaining to civil law, 
 
 61, 71. 
 claik, s. clack, 231, 41. 
 clais, claithis, s. pi. clothes, 29, 
 
 117. 
 claith, s. cloth, 67, 29. 
 claithis, see clais. 
 clam, pt. climbed, 20, 177. 
 clamp, v. to patch, add, 232, 
 
 74. 
 clampit, a. patchy, clumsy, 229, 
 
 15. 
 claucht, pt. clutched, caught, 
 
 176, 126; closed, 137, 123. 
 cled, pp.. clad-, 152, 220. 
 cleir, cler, cleyr, a. clear, pure, 
 
 17, 111. 
 cleird, pp. ascertained, sure, 
 
 229, 15. 
 clemens, «. clemency, 236, 14. 
 clene, a. clean, 7, 11; pure, 228, 
 
 64. 
 
 adv. completely, 35, 42. 
 
 clepit, clippit, pp. called, 42, 6. 
 clerely, adv. clearly, 33, 214. 
 clergy, s. learning, 50, 203. 
 clerk, s. scholar, author, 90, 
 
 267. 
 cleyr, see cleir. 
 clim, clyrn, clyme, v. to climb, 
 
 154, 263. 
 clippis, s. eclipse, 195, 594. 
 clippit, see clepit. 
 clois, v. to close, shut, 101, 186; 
 
 adv. close, 101, 189. 
 clostir, s. cloister, 36, 53. 
 cloudis, s. pi. clouds, 45, 72. 
 clout, s. a piece, 129, 123. 
 clowtit, a. patchy, scrappy, 229, 
 
 15. 
 clud, s. cloud, 192, 498. 
 cluik, cluke, s. claw, talon, grip, 
 
 clutch, 119, 61. 
 clym, clyme, see clim. 
 
 clymmis, :pres. t. pi. climb, 22, 
 
 210. 
 clyncheand, pres.p. " hirpling," 
 
 limping, 49, 173. 
 clynk, v. to twang (relating to 
 
 the strings of a harp), 183, 
 
 287. 
 cod, see ba cod. 
 codys, s. pi. codes (legal), 61, 
 
 72. 
 coft, pt. bought, 208, 102. 
 coif, s. cove, hollow, 64, 147; 
 
 pi. covis, 82, 84. 
 coirdis, s. pi. cords, 74, 196. 
 coist, s. coast, 110, 91. 
 coit, *. coat, 48, 155. 
 cok, s. cock, 6, 61. 
 colleraige, s. the water-pepper 
 
 plant, 230, 27. 
 collik, s. colic, 230, 39. 
 columbie, s. columbine (flower), 
 
 82, 87. 
 come, pt. came, 18, 132. 
 commandiment, s. command, in- 
 structions, 44, 68. 
 commaundand, pres. p. com- 
 manding, 44, 59. 
 commonly, commounly, adv. 
 
 usually, 14, 42. 
 commonti, s. commons, 77, 267. 
 commoun, u. 146, 77. See note. 
 ■ s. commoner, a. man of no 
 
 rank, 77, 279. 
 communit, pp. convened, 
 
 talked, 111, 119. 
 compeir, v. to appear, 44, 69. 
 compeir, *. equal, compeer in 
 
 fight, 72, 157. 
 compellit, pp. compelled, 108, 
 
 41. 
 comperand, pres. p. appearing, 
 
 putting in an appearance, 
 
 50, 190. 
 comperd, pt. appeared, 45, 87. 
 compere, v. to appear, 53, 262. 
 compild, pp. completed, 226, 19. 
 compleit, a. complete, 109, 79; 
 
 pp. fully numbered, 235, 50. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 315 
 
 cornplexioim, s. (astrol.) tem- 
 perament, "nature," appear- 
 ance, 38, 103. 
 
 eompone, v. to compound, 63, 
 126. 
 
 compt, pres. t. count, reckon, 
 114, 171. < 
 
 compylit, pt. compiled, nar- 
 rated, 145, 60. 
 
 con, s. squirrel, 46, 118. 
 
 conclud, v. conclude, infer, 
 draw the conclusion, 5, 46; 
 make an end of, 234, 23. 
 
 concord, a. agreed, 111, 105. 
 
 concordand, pres. p. according, 
 81, 55. 
 
 concordit, pp. agreed, 111, 120. 
 
 conding, a. excellent, worthy, 
 161, 447. 
 
 confessour, s. confessor, 35, 41. 
 
 confident, a. confederate, 59, 
 33. 
 
 confidis, pres. t. trusts, believes, 
 227, 32. 
 
 contort, v. to cheer, please, 9, 
 37; s. comfort, good cheer, 
 236, 12. 
 
 conqueist, conquest, s. conquest, 
 
 185, 322; gain, 63, 116. 
 
 consave, v. conceive, 226, 18. 
 
 consedir, considder, v. to con- 
 sider, 38, 103. 
 
 conserve, v. to protect, 67, 22. 
 
 consistory, s. Consistory Court, 
 58, 3. 
 
 Consolacioun, s. Consolation: 
 De Consolatione Philoso- 
 phiae, 189, 417. 
 
 Constance, s. constancy, 209, 13. 
 
 constellatioun, s. constellation, 
 35, 32. 
 
 consuetude, s. custom, habit, 41, 
 169. 
 
 consumit, pt. consumed, dis- 
 persed, 45, 72. 
 
 contagius, a. contagious, in- 
 fectious, 73, 172. 
 
 conteining, pres. p. containing, 
 
 168, 606. 
 contempnit, pp. contemned, 
 
 despised, 242, 53. 
 oontenis, pres. t. contains, 80, 
 
 25. 
 contestat, pp. contested, 62, 92. 
 contra, prep. Lat. against, 61, 
 
 73. 
 contrair, a. contrary, 125, 28. 
 contrare, s. contradiction: in c. 
 
 of, contrary to, 54, 278. 
 contreit, contryt, contryte, a. 
 
 contrite, 37, 85. 
 contrufit, a. contrived, devised, 
 
 made up, 108, 54. 
 contryt, contryte, see contreit. 
 contumax, a. contumacious, 
 
 guilty of contempt of court, 
 
 50, 209. 
 convoy, v. to escort, 148, 131. 
 cop, s. cup, 157, 343; pi. cop- 
 pis, 163, 492; cowpis, 160, 
 
 419. 
 corage, s. courage, spirit, 241, 
 
 33. 
 coragious, a. courageous, 192, 
 
 492. 
 corby, s. raven, crow: as a. in 
 
 58, 15. 
 cordand, pres. p. according, 90, 
 
 273. 
 corn, corne, s. cereals in gener- 
 al, 3, 10. 
 coronat, pp. crowned, 72, 142. 
 corruscant, «. bright, sheeny, 
 
 234, 25. 
 cors, corse, .?. body, corpse, 43, 
 
 33. 
 corse, s. cross, sign of the cross, 
 
 67, 25. 
 cote, s. cot, cottage, 129, 123. 
 cotidiane, a. daily, 239, 73. 
 
 Same as quotidiane. 
 couchand, pres. p. couching, 82, 
 
 84. 
 coud, could, ~couth, pt. did, 25, 
 
 29; could, 32, 185. 
 
316 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 counsale, counsall, counsele, «. 
 
 counsel, 81, 163. 
 count, s. pudendum muliebre 
 
 230, 37. 
 
 v. to count, reckon, 9, 42. 
 
 counterfait, counterfeit, v. to 
 
 counterfeit, 17, 110; pt. imi- 
 tated, 118, 43. 
 countermaund, s. countermand, 
 
 27, 86. 
 cours, s. course, 104, 258; 
 
 usage, manner, 58, 8 ; pi. 
 
 courssis, 17, 108. 
 courting, s. curtain, 21, 187. 
 courtlie, a. courtly, 50, 210. 
 covatise, covatyse, covettyce, 
 
 covetyce, s. covetousness, 
 
 greed, 65, 155. 
 covatus, covetuse, a. covetous, 
 
 193, 532. 
 covis, see coif, 
 cow, s. In 15, 74, doubtful. 
 
 See note, 253, 74. 
 cowpis, see cop. 
 cowth, same as couth. In 3, 
 
 14, and 230, 28, =pres. subj. 
 
 were able, 
 cowth, pp. known, 68, 56; a. 
 
 familiar, 67, 44. 
 crab, one of the signs of the 
 
 zodiac, viz., Cancer, 35, 26. 
 
 v. to vex, make angry, 122, 
 
 127. 
 
 crabbit, crabit, a. morose, 157, 
 353 ; ill-favoured, forbidd- 
 ing, 136, 97. 
 
 crabitlie, adv. in an ill temper, 
 149, 154. 
 
 craft, s. guild, company, 35, 45; 
 art, skill, means, 38, 95. 
 
 crafty, craftye, a. skilful, artis- 
 tic, 26, 68; cunning, 24, 6. 
 
 cragbane, s. neck-bone, neck, 
 20, 178. 
 
 craftely, adv. craftily, cleverly, 
 122, 133. 
 
 craif, pres. t. crave, 111, 113. 
 
 craig, s. neck, 46, 98. 
 
 s. crag, 36, 51. 
 
 crakit, v. pp. broken up, 
 
 chewed, 230, 30. 
 crakraip, s. crack-rope or crack- 
 halter, a gallow's bird, 36, 
 
 48. 
 cramp, v. to swagger, 215, 61. 
 crampand, a. curling, 234, 22. 
 cran, a. long, 46, 98. 
 crap, pt. crept, 20, 175. 
 craw, v. to crow, 26, 69. 
 crawand, pres. p. crowing, 24, 
 
 21. 
 crawing, s. crowing, 26, 68. 
 crawis, s. pi. crows, 
 creatour, s. creature, 81, 50. 
 creddence, credence, s. belief, 
 
 faith, 33, 210. 
 creill, s. creel, 97, 88. 
 creip, crepe, v. to creep, 94, 
 
 22. 
 cresch, v. to grease, 18, 126. 
 Cresseid, s. Cressida, 144, 42. 
 Cresus, s. Crossus, 185, 329l 
 crewall, crewell, a. cruel, 63, 
 
 119. 
 crewelte, s. cruelty, 72, 150. 
 cristall, s. crystal, 150, 176; a. 
 
 clear as crystal, 234, 22. 
 Cristin, a. Christian, 227, 32. 
 croce, v. to make the sign of 
 
 the Cross, 102, 205. 
 crop, v. to gather, pluck, 230, 
 
 27. 
 crop, s. head or top of a tree, 
 
 83, 114. 
 croun, s: crown, 237, 23. 
 crouse, a. self - satisfied, 
 
 "cocky," bold, 7, 2; adv. 
 
 briskly, with cheery self- 
 confidence, 29, 134. 
 crown, s. crown, prize, 26, 68. 
 crownar, s. coroner, 63, 124. 
 
 See note, p. 264. 
 crud, s. excrement, 230, 30. 
 cruik, s. crook, curve, 205, 27; 
 
 with the mone c, beneath 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 317 
 
 a waning moon, 231, 46. See 
 
 note, p. 296. 
 crukit, a. crooked, 50, 201. 
 cry, s. cry, shout, 44, 55; pro- 
 clamation, 54, 278. 
 cryand, pres. p. crying, 13, 24. 
 cryd, cryid, cryit, pt. cried, 
 
 called, 30, 149. 
 cryme, s. crime, 224, 28. 
 cucheit, pt. couched down, 48, 
 
 152. 
 cukis, s. pi. cooks, 9, 42. 
 cukmaid, s. excrement ? 230, 
 
 27. 
 culcakit, see Dia culcakit. 
 culd, same as couth, 
 cule, v. to cool, 124, 7. 
 culome, s. the buttocks, 230, 30. 
 cum, imperat. come, 13, 25; pt. 
 
 came, 27, 88; pp. 36, 55; 
 
 inf. 44, 47. 
 cumand, pres. p. coming, 44, 46. 
 cumis, cummis, cummys, pres. t. 
 
 comes, 28, 116. 
 cummand, pres. p. coming, ap- 
 proaching, 120, 74. 
 cumming, s. coming, 147, 100. 
 cummis, see cumis. 
 ctimmyn, pp. come, 34, 14. 
 cummys, see cumis. 
 cumpany, s. company, 67, 44. 
 cumpas, s. compass, 102, 209. 
 cun, v. to con, learn, 138, 155. 
 cunnand, s. plan, 111, 120. 
 
 a. learned, 68, 56. 
 
 cunning, a. skilled, 50, 203. 
 cunnyng, s. cunning, wisdom, 
 
 understanding, 10, 65. 
 cunyng, s. rabbit, 46, 118. 
 Cupid, Cupide, Cupido, s. 
 
 Cupid, 149, 144. 
 curage, s. courage, 171, 16. 
 curageouss, a. courageous, 24, 
 
 20. 
 curchis, s. pi. coverings for the 
 
 head, kerchiefs, 28, 104. 
 cure, s. cover: under c, under 
 
 cover, 143, 10. 
 
 s. care, thought: settis all 
 
 thair c, give all their mind, 
 63, 115; pi. curis, efforts, 26, 
 47; the curing of disease, 
 229, 14. 
 
 cursing, s. excommunication, 
 242, 53. 
 
 cursit, a. cursed, 35, 45. 
 
 curtase, a. courteous, 206, 72. 
 
 custome, s. custom, sum paid 
 for exhibiting goods for sale 
 at the burgh markets, 12, 12. 
 
 custrum, see dia. 
 
 custum, s. custom, 5, 54. 
 
 cuvating, s. coveting, desire, 
 202, 86. 
 
 D. 
 
 dail, daile, daill, deill, dele, s. 
 
 deal, portion, piece: sum d., 
 
 somewhat, 152, 214; dale, 
 
 valley, 13, 21. 
 
 v. to deal, 200, 39. 
 
 daily, daly, daylie, dayly, a. 
 
 daily, 14, 48; adv. 186, 361. 
 dais, dayis, s. pi. days, 24, 15. 
 dait, s. date, time, 235, 49. 
 daft, a. crazy, 229, 11. 
 daly, see daily, 
 dame, s. dam, mother, 14, 54. 
 dampnit, pp. condemned, 62, 
 
 104; sent to perdition, 193, 
 
 528. 
 damycellis, s. pi. damsels, 7, 8. 
 dans, s. dance, 78, 285; v. to 
 
 dance, 71, 122. 
 dansand, pres. p. dancing, 52, 
 
 249. 
 dantes, s. pi. dainties, 16, 81. 
 dar, v. dare, 102, 201. 
 darne, dern, s. secret, hiding, 
 
 concealment, darkness, 82, 
 
 91: I dern = in d., secretly, 
 
 200, 39. 
 dart, see note, p. 275. 
 dawing, s. dawning, 25, 31. 
 dayis, s.pl. days, 19, 159; s. 
 
 poss. day's, 28, 101. 
 
318 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 daylie, dayly, see daily. 
 
 de, s. doe, 46, 105. 
 
 ■ dee, dy, c. to die, 87, 194; 
 
 do or dy, 136, 110. 
 deand, pres. p. dying, 185, 316. 
 debait, s. debate, 61, 78. 
 declair, v. to declare, 37, 76. 
 declerde = declare it, make it 
 
 clear, 240, 2. 
 declyne, pres. t. decline, object 
 
 to, challenge, 59, 42; cause 
 
 to decline, 236, 67. 
 decreis, s.pl. decrees, 61, 76. 
 decreit, s. sentence, decision, 
 
 109, 74; pp. decreed, 71. 
 
 139. 
 decretis, s. pi. decrees, pur- 
 poses: In Him sett thi d., 
 
 surrender thy will to Him, 
 
 226, 12. 
 decretalis, s. pi. decrees, 60, 69. 
 dede, deid, deith, s. death, 54, 
 
 286. 
 a. dead, 26, 53; pp. 
 
 put to death, 126, 47. 
 dedis, deidis, s. pi. deeds, 43, 
 
 24. 
 dedly, a. deadly, 176, 109. 
 dedlyke, a. like death, 186, 349. 
 defame, s. disgrace, 155, 284. 
 dee, see de. 
 defend, s. defence, 100, 157; 
 
 v. make defence, 143, 7. 
 defens, defenss, s. defence, 71, 
 
 134. 
 deferent, defferent, a. different, 
 
 10, 64. 
 deformait, pp. deformed, 157, 
 
 349. 
 degenerat, a. degenerate, 171, 
 
 9. 
 degest, pp. digested, considered, 
 
 155, 303; settled, 241, 36. 
 dege8tis, s.pl. digests (legal), 
 
 61, 72. 
 degraid, v. to degrade, 73, 166; 
 
 to diminish, 214, 21. 
 
 degre, degree, *. degree, meas- 
 ure: mast d., highest meas- 
 ure, greatest measure, 23, 
 234; generation, 126, 60. 
 
 deid, s. deed, 125, 30: almous 
 d., charity, 163, 494; one 
 deid, indeed, 228, 55. 
 
 a. see dede. 
 
 deidly, deidlye, a. mortal, 79, 
 12. 
 
 deif, deiff, a. deaf, 103, 238. 
 
 deiflcait, pp. deified, 155, 288. 
 
 deil, v. to distribute, hand 
 round, 18, 123. 
 
 deill, dele, see dail. 
 
 deip, depe, a. deep, 82, 78; s. 
 43, 34; adv. deeply, 164, 
 608. 
 
 deiply, adv. deeply, solemnly, 
 
 • 50, 195. 
 
 deir, a. dear, valuable, 8, 26; 
 adv. dearly: full d., at a 
 great price, 90, 280: d. wel- 
 cum, right welcome, 98, 117. 
 
 v. to hurt, 209, 8 ; s. harm, 
 
 102, 200. 
 
 deit, pt. died, 219, 53. 
 
 deith, *. death, 102, 207. 
 
 dele, see dail. 
 
 delectabill, a. delightful, pleas- 
 ant, 4, 16. 
 
 delectatioun, delictatioun, s. 
 pleasure, delight, 90, 282. 
 
 delfle, v. to dig, 138, 140. 
 
 delicius, a. delicious, 66, 9. 
 
 deludis, pres. t. deludes, 164, 
 509. 
 
 deluge, v. dislodge, remove, 
 239, 84. 
 
 delyt, s. delight, 5, 51. 
 
 delyverit, pt. delivered, 159, 
 391. 
 
 deme, s. dame, 132, 14. 
 
 pres. t. think, 146, 85. 
 
 deming, s. knowledge, 148, 118; 
 
 report, suspicion, 209, 8. 
 dec, s. den, house, nest, 21 , 
 197; pi. dennis, 82, 83. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 319 
 
 dene, denye, c. to deigu, con- 
 descend. 68, 66. 
 
 clenger, *. danger, 119, 21. 
 
 denteit, a. dainty, 231, 53. 
 
 denude, a, naked, 237, 44. 
 
 denye, see dene. 
 
 denyit, pt. denied, 47, 121. 
 
 depairting, s. division: with- 
 owttin d., wholly, 202, 84. 
 
 depe, see deip. 
 
 dependis, pres. t. depends, 72, 
 156. 
 
 depryve, pres. t. deprive, 166, 
 334. 
 
 deray, s. trouble, disturbance, 
 48, 145. 
 
 derenye, v. accuse, 5, 52. 
 
 dern, see darne. 
 
 derte, s. dart, 220, 6. 
 
 derth, s. dearth, famine, 65, 
 171. 
 
 desolait, a. desolate, 146, 76. 
 
 dess, s. dish, 15, 76. 
 
 destany, destenie, desteny, des- 
 tenye, s. destiny, 35, 36. 
 
 destroyit, pp. destroyed, 77, 
 283. 
 
 desyrand, pres. p. desiring, 11, 
 78. 
 
 desyre, s. desire, 147, 101. 
 
 detestand, pres. p. detesting, 
 196, 619. 
 
 deth, *. death, 70, 105. 
 
 devidand, pres. p. dividing, 24, 
 21. 
 
 devine, devyne, a. divine, 17, 
 108. 
 
 devoid, v. to avoid, 83, 119; 
 to relieve, 177, 147; dis- 
 charge, empty, 133, 41. 
 
 devoir, v. to devour, 72, 162. 
 
 devoit, a. devout, 147, 115. 
 
 devyis f v. decree, order, 239, 
 77. 
 
 s. device, plan, 101, 180. 
 
 devys, v. to devise, invent, 181, 
 232. 
 
 dew, a. due, 81, 53. 
 
 dia, s. a medical prescription. 
 Properly only a prefix much 
 used in naming prescrip- 
 tions, meaning "made of," 
 230, 25. 
 
 dia culcakit {see dia), *. a pre- 
 scription for the colic, 230, 
 heading and 34. 
 
 diademe, s. diadem, 178, 159. 
 
 Diane, Diana, 167, 587. 
 
 diapasoun, s. (musical term) 
 the interval of an octave, 
 181, 234. 
 
 diapente, s. (musical term) the 
 interval oi a fifth, 181, 235. 
 
 diatessaroun, s. (musical term) 
 the interval of a fourth, 181, 
 233. 
 
 dicht, pres. t. adorned, arrayed, 
 45, 81. 
 
 differens, s. difference, 17, 115. 
 
 diffinityve, a. definite, defini- 
 tive, 156, 334. 
 
 diffyne, v. to define, 188, 401. 
 
 dike, dyke, s. low wall, mound, 
 ditch, 52, 249. 
 
 dilectatioun, see delectatioun . 
 
 diligence, diligens, *. diligence, 
 dispatch, 44, 66. 
 
 dill, v. to deal, 199, 8. 
 
 ding, s. dung, 138, 140. 
 
 Diomeid, Diomede, 145, 43. 
 
 dirige, <<. dirge: " a solemn ser- 
 vice, or part of a service, 
 celebrated on behalf of a de- 
 parted soul " — Catholic Diet: 
 26, 53; also Matins, as it is 
 the first word in Matins in 
 the office for the dead, 241, 
 19. 
 
 dirk, a. dark, 80, 28. 
 
 dirray, s. disturbance, 74, 193. 
 
 discence, s. descent, 171, 3. 
 
 discerne, imperat. discern, 
 judge, 66, 151. 
 
 dische, s. dish, 18, 121. 
 
 dische-likings, s. pi. dish-lick- 
 ings, 16, 88. 
 
320 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 discrepance, s.' disagreement, 
 
 strife, 224, 26. 
 disdane, s. disdain, 6, 60. 
 diseis, diseise, s. discomfort, 
 
 disease, 156, 318. 
 disfigurate, pp. disfigured, 49, 
 
 181. 
 disgysit, pp. disguised, !47, £5. 
 dispair, s. despair, 184, 312. 
 dispens, s. dispensation, 238, 54. 
 dispice, v. despise, 8, 35. 
 dispisit, pi. despised, humbled, 
 
 228, 54. 
 displeise, pres. subj. displease, 
 
 68, 47. 
 disponyng, pres. p. disponing, 
 
 sale, 186, 343. 
 disposit, pp. disposed, 17, 106. 
 dispyt, dispyte, *. despite, 171, 
 
 14. 
 diss, dys, s. (a musical term) 
 
 perhaps = Gk . Sis, as in Sis 
 
 Sili, iraauiv, " Disdiapason " 
 
 (Gregory Smith), 181, 235. 
 dissaif, v. to deceive, 239, 76. 
 dissait, s. deceit, 135, 74. 
 dissave, v. to deceive, 77, 265. 
 dissever, v. to separate, part, 
 
 122, 132; cast away: d. did 
 
 never, didst never cast away, 
 
 238, 70. 
 
 dissimulait, dissimulate, a. de- 
 ceitful, 152, 225. 
 
 dissimulance, s. dissimulation, 
 105, 267. 
 
 dissimuland, pres. p. dissimula- 
 ting, feigning, 25, 36. 
 
 dissimulate, see dissimulait. 
 
 dissyd, v. to decide, 60, 60. 
 
 distance, s. discord, 224, 29. 
 
 distinyt, pp. destined, 139, 182. 
 
 distort, v. tr. to turn aside, 
 
 239, 74. 
 
 distres, s. distress, 234, 33. 
 distribute, pp. distributed, 80, 
 
 35. 
 diveisiteis, s. pi. diversities, 24, 
 
 10. 
 
 diverss, a. diverse, 24, 4. 
 divill, s. devil, 222, 45. 
 divinite, divinitee, s. divinity, 
 
 63, 257. 
 doctour, s. doctor, 53, 257. 
 doctryne, s. doctrine, opinion, 
 
 61, 74; learning, 189, 418. 
 doggis, s. pi. dogs, 46, 114; s. 
 
 poss. dog's, 121, 94. 
 doggitly, adv. cruelly, malici- 
 ously, 54, 277. 
 doid, doi.t, dude =do it, 61, 84. 
 doigis, s. poss. dog's, 59, 32. 
 dois, doys, v. does, 4, 24; 2nd 
 
 sing., dost, 236, 6; pi. do, 
 
 224, 25. 
 dolly, doolie, a. sad, doleful, 
 
 177, 134. 
 dolorus, a. sad, 139, 165. 
 dome, s. doom, sentence, 55, 
 
 296. 
 domysday, s. doomsday, judg- 
 ment day, 208, 111. 
 donk, a. dank, moist, 227, 45. 
 doolie, see dolly, 
 dosinnit, a. dazed, 103, 238. 
 dottit, a. doited, feeble-minded, 
 
 229, 3. 
 doubill, a. double, 225, 53. 
 douchter, s. daughter, 147, 103. 
 douf, a. dull, sluggish, 144, 32. 
 douk, s. act of ducking, dive, 
 
 231, 42. 
 doukit, see dowk. 
 doun, s. down, hill, hillock, 66, 
 
 3. 
 adv. down, 16, 80: put d., 
 
 destroyed, 236, 20. 
 doung, s. dung, 232, 72. 
 dounghill, s. dunghill, 7, 3. 
 dounwart, downwart, adv. 
 
 downward, 114, 186. 
 dour, a. stubborn, heavy, thick, 
 
 161, 437. 
 dout, s. fear, 27, 76; doubt: 
 
 but d., without doubt, 97, 
 
 101. 
 doutis, pres. t. doubts, 108, 51. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 321 
 
 dow, s. dove, 231, 43; pi. dowis, 
 beauties (a term of endear- 
 ment), 106, 9. 
 
 v. to have power, be able, 
 
 102, 198 (A.S. dugaa.= Ja,t. 
 valere) . 
 
 dowbillis, pres. t. doubles, 163, 
 476. 
 
 dowblit, pt. doubled, 158, 377. 
 
 dowk, v. dive, duck, 132, 12; 
 dowkit, 136, 104. 
 
 downe, see doun. 
 
 down wart, see doun wart. 
 
 dowtit, pt. feared, 228, 56. 
 
 dowtless, adv. doubtless, 199, 8. 
 
 doys, see dois. 
 
 draff, s. draff, worts, 8, 28. 
 
 draff - trouoh, s. draff - trough, 
 feeding trough, 11, 84. 
 
 draif, pt. drove, 120, 79. 
 
 draw, v. to withdraw: let d., 
 made to withdraw, 54, 280. 
 
 drawand, pp. drawing, 235, 49. 
 
 drawis, pres. t. draws, 41, 173. 
 
 dre, v. to endure, suffer, 138, 
 140. 
 
 dred, pt. feared, 74, 214: d. his 
 life, feared for his life, 120, 
 75. 
 
 dredand, pres. p. fearing, 
 dreading, 43, 26. 
 
 dreddour, s. dread, 49, 174. 
 
 drede, dreid, s. fear, dread, 54, 
 286: for d., for fear, 83, 119: 
 but d., without fear, 65, 161: 
 at ane d., in doubt, 96, 74; 
 woe, 239, 84; v. to dread, 
 25, 41. 
 
 dreggis, s. pills, 230, 25. 
 
 dreid, see drede. 
 
 dreidand, pres. p. dreading, 19, 
 149. 
 
 dreidful, a. anxious, 23, ?.25. 
 
 dreme, s. dream, 67, 27. 
 
 drerie, a. dreary, sorrowful, 
 162, 470. 
 
 dressit, pt. went, 47, 122; pre- 
 pared, 159, 404. 
 
 21 
 
 dressour, s. dresser, a, 
 
 fitted up next the wall, 20, 
 175. 
 
 drest, pp. dressed, fixed, ar- 
 rayed, 201, 53; betaken: he 
 has him d., he has betaken 
 himself, 40, 142. 
 
 drewe, pt. approached, 186, 
 346. 
 
 drift, s. drove, team, 107, 36; 
 rush, impetus, whirl, 119, 69. 
 
 drinkis, s. pi. drinks, 26, 48. 
 
 dromadair, s. dromedary, 48, 
 145. 
 
 drope, s. village, 24, 15 (c/. 
 dorp and thorp). 
 
 di'oubly, a. turbid, 183, 276. 
 
 droun, drown, v. to drown, 133, 
 39. 
 
 drourye, drowrie, s. love, 28, 
 101 ; love-token, courtship. 
 167, 583. (O. F. Aruerie, 
 love, love-service; drut, a 
 lover; c/. Irish druth, a 
 harlot.) 
 
 drowpit, pt. sunk, drooped: 
 d. in doubt, stood in awe, 
 47, 130. 
 
 drug, v. to drag, pull, draw, 
 130, 135. 
 
 drye, a. dry, 29, 123. 
 
 dryit, pp. dried, 66, 3. 
 
 dryvand, pres. p. driving, 1J6, 
 221. 
 
 dryvis, v. drives, 107, 29. 
 
 dub, s. pool, puddle, 120, 79; 
 pi. dubbis, 82, 78. 
 
 dud, dude, pres. t. do it, 14, 
 46. 
 
 duke, s. duck, 231, 42. 
 
 dule, s. sorrow, 176, 128. 
 
 duleful, a. doleful, sorrowful, 
 156, 309. 
 
 dullis, v, acts weakly, 4, 23. 
 
 dully, see dolly. 
 
 dungeoun, dungering, s. dun- 
 geon, 205, 34. 
 
322 
 
 GLOSSAEY. 
 
 dungin, dunging, pp. beaten, 
 
 205, 40. 
 duplate, a. (musical term) 
 
 double, 181, 234. 
 dupler, a. (musical) lit. double 
 
 tone, 181, 227. 
 dure, *. door, 18, 133. 
 duschit, pt. dashed, 54, 286. 
 dwel, v. to dwel, 9, 43. 
 dwelland, pres. p. dwelling, 117, 
 
 2. 
 dy, see de. 
 dyamantis, s. pi. diamonds, 45, 
 
 81. 
 dymynut, pp. diminished, want- 
 ing, 5, 41. 
 dyne, v. to dine, 17, 106. 
 dyner, *. dinner, 7, 4. 
 dyng, a. worthy, 11, 87. 
 dyt, s. language, 3, 13. 
 dyte, v. to describe, 24, 11. 
 
 *. writing, poem, 143, 1. 
 
 dyting, s. phrasing, singing, 
 
 211, 5. 
 dytis, pres. t. indicts, charges 
 
 (legal), 63, 123. 
 dyvers, a. diverse, 46, 114. 
 dyvine, a. divine, 241, 18. 
 dyvyne, s. divinity, 55, 306. 
 
 e, ee, s. eye, 22, 223. 
 edderis, s. poss. pi. adders', 222, 
 
 38. 
 effeird, effeirit, cfferit, v. 
 
 pt. belonged, appertained, 
 
 suited, 59, 23. 
 effeiris, pres. t. is becoming, 37, 
 
 82. 
 effek, s. effect, purpose, 36, 61. 
 effray, *. fear, 49, 187. 
 efter, eftir, adv. and prep. 
 
 after, 145, 43; according to, 
 
 101, 181. 
 eftirwart, adv. afterwards, 21, 
 
 196. 
 egeis, 230, 24. See note, p. 295. 
 
 eik, adv. also, 5, 46. 
 
 v. to increase, 18, 120. 
 
 eild, eld, *. age, 191, 473. 
 eir, s. ear, 3. 4. 
 
 adv. ere, before, 109, 70. 
 
 eiiand, pres. p. ploughing, 107, 
 
 37. 
 eird, eirth, erd, s. earth, soil, 
 
 world, 227, 35. 
 eii'dlie, eirdlv, erdlie, eidly, 
 
 151, 201. 
 eirit, pt. ploughed, 107, 22. 
 eirnist, ernist, s. earnest. 121, 
 
 106. 
 eiith, see eird. 
 eise, s. ease, 17, 119. 
 eist, s. east, 80, 37. 
 eit, ete, v. to eat, 19, 158; pt. 
 
 ate, 39, 140; ete, pp. eaten, 
 
 52, 252. 
 eith, adv. easily, 85, 143. 
 eking, pres. p. adding to, in- 
 creasing, 172, 18. See eik. 
 eld, see eild. 
 eldar, a. older, 12, 3. 
 eldaris, s. poss. pi. ancestors', 
 
 171, 7; elderis, 106, 1. 
 electuairis, n. pi. electuaries, 
 
 153, 246. 
 Elicounee, s. Helicon, 172, 29. 
 ellis, adv. else, 30, 154. 
 eloquens, s. eloquence, 189, 
 
 426. 
 emetricus (musical term), 181, 
 
 227. 
 empriour, s. emperor, 76, 254. 
 enchessoun, s. cause, 121, 123. 
 encres, v. to increase, 174, 87. 
 ending, s. last illness, 26, 47. 
 endorsit, pp. endorsed, 59, 24. 
 enduir, v. to endure, 10, 75. 
 endytit, 'pp. indited, declared, 
 
 126, 61. 
 endytment, s. indictment, 63, 
 
 128. 
 ene, s. pi. eyes, 49, 171. 
 
 s. evening, 120, 72. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 323 
 
 enneuch, ennew, ennewch, a. 
 enough, 39, 140. 
 
 enoleus, musical term, 181, 228. 
 
 entent, s. trouble, intent, 
 thought, purpose, 43, 28. 
 
 ententioun, *. intention, 194, 
 561. 
 
 enterit, pp. entered, 35, 22. 
 
 entre, *. entrance, 14, 39. 
 
 Eolus, s. jEolus, 82, 71. 
 
 Eoye (=Eous), one of the 
 steeds of the sun, 151, 212. 
 
 epodyus, musical term, 181. 
 229. 
 
 erand, s. errand, business, 132, 
 14. 
 
 erd, see eirth. 
 
 erdfast, a. earthfast, 14, 38. 
 
 erdlie, erdly, see eirdlie. 
 
 ermonye, s. harmony, 174, 67. 
 
 ernist, ernyst, s. earnest, 40, 
 158. 
 
 ernystful, a. earnest, 4, 25. 
 
 erss, s. the buttocks, 232, 91. 
 
 eschaip, v. to escape, 91, 308. 
 
 Esope, iEsop, 58, 1. 
 
 esperance, s. hope, 145, 48. 
 
 Esperus, Hesperus, 34, 10. 
 
 estait, estat, s. condition, de- 
 gree, power, authority, 47, 
 137. 
 
 ete, see eit. 
 
 eterne, a. eternal, 236, 1. 
 
 eth, adv. easily, 54, 288; ethar, 
 comp. 84, 140. 
 
 Ethios ( = Aethon), one of the 
 steeds of the sun, 151, 213. 
 
 Euridices, Eurydice, 174, 78. 
 
 Euterpe, one of the Muses, re- 
 garded as the inventress of 
 the flute and all wind in- 
 struments, 172, 36. 
 
 evade, v. to escape, 238, 50. 
 
 everilk, a. every, 123, 156. 
 
 evermair, evirmair, evirmor, 
 adv. ever more, 156, 315. 
 
 evin, adv. even, 29, 138l 
 
 evin, s. evening: so lait at e., so 
 
 late in the evening, 60, 54. 
 evir, adv. ever, always, 31, 182. 
 exampill, exemple, exempill, s. 
 
 example, 233, 15. 
 excedis, pres. t. pi. exceed, 123, 
 
 149. 
 excelland, pres. p. excelling, ex- 
 ceeding, 10, 67. 
 excusatioun, s. defence (legal), 
 
 224, 20. 
 exernplative, adv. exemplary, 
 
 123, 138. 
 exemplair, s.. example, copy, 
 
 233, 7. 
 exhortand, pres. p. exhorting, 
 
 41, 164. 
 exild, exilde, exyld, exylit, pp. 
 
 exiled, exempted, free, 226, 
 expert, a. experienced, 189, 412. 
 expone, v. to explain, 78, 292. 
 expuls, s. expulsion, rejection, 
 
 148, 119. 
 expyre, v. to expire, 164, 615. 
 extasye, extasie, s. excited state 
 
 of feeling, trance, 28, 94. 
 exyle, s. exile, 239, 74. 
 eyne, s. pi. eyes, 176, 122. 
 
 E. 
 
 fa, s. foe, 119, 68. 
 
 fabil, fabill, faibill, s. fable, 4, 
 18. 
 
 fachioun, s. falchion, 150, 188. 
 
 facht, pt. fought, 206, 51. 
 
 facound, a. fluent, eloquent, 
 154, 268. 
 
 faculty, s. profession, occupa- 
 tion, 68, 48. 
 
 facund, s. fluency, eloquence, 6, 
 58. 
 
 fader, fadir, s. father, 25, 45; 
 faderis, poss. sing. 27, 74; 
 poss. pi. 171, 17. 
 
 Eader Were, Father Worse, 42, 
 6. 
 
 fadirheid, s. fatherhood, rever- 
 ence, 69, 79. 
 
324 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 fadis, pres. t. fades, 175, 91. 
 faibill, see fabil. 
 faid, v. to fade, wither, 64, 144. 
 faill, failye, feill, v. to fail, 109, 
 
 61. 
 fair, a. beautiful, gentle, kindly, 
 
 good, 20, 162. 
 
 s. fare, meal, 17, 110; 
 
 pres. t. fare, feed, 15, 60. 
 
 v. fare, succeed, go, 112, 
 
 145: f. on, go on, 32, 187. 
 
 fairnes, s. beauty, 146, 88. 
 
 fairweill, fairwell, inter), fare- 
 well, 178, 154. 
 
 fait, s. fate, 35, 38. 
 
 fakin, a. deceitful, 134, 58. 
 
 fald, v. to embrace, 204, 8. 
 
 v. turn aside (from the 
 
 truth), 61, 75. 
 
 fall, v. to come to, fall into, 
 146, 84. 
 
 s. untoward accident, 16, 
 
 90. 
 
 fallin, pp. fallen, 71, 133. 
 fallis, pres. t. falls, attempts: 
 
 f. in ressoning, begins to 
 
 reason, 86, 65. 
 fallow, s. fellow, friend, com- 
 panion, 92, 328. 
 fallowit, pt. followed, 201, 78. 
 fals, a. false, 27, 78. 
 falset, falsheid, s. falsehood, 49, 
 
 188. 
 fait, s. fault, blame, lack, want, 
 
 default, 39, 129: in f., 
 
 through want, 65, 158. 
 faltit, pt. did wrong, behaved 
 
 amiss, 107, 35. 
 famist, a. famished, 89, 246. 
 fand, pt. found, 6, 62. 
 fane, fayn, fayne, a. happy, 
 
 glad, fain, 112, 142; adv. 
 
 gladly, 58, 98. 
 fang, v. to catch, 39, 122. 
 fant, v. to faint, 179, 177; a. 
 
 faint, 31, 165. 
 fantasy, s. fancy, imagination, 
 
 164, 508. 
 
 fare, a. fair, 138, 142. 
 
 farest, a. sup. fairest, 233, 18. 
 
 fame, s. fern, 14, 37. 
 
 fary, farye, s. fairy, wonder, 
 dream, " a thing of fairy- 
 land," 85, 154; illusion, 232, 
 86, see note. 
 
 fasse, s. a hair, a thing of no 
 value (origin doubtful), 242, 
 47. 
 
 fassoun, s. fashion, 67, 33. 
 
 fastness, s. constancy, 240, 4. 
 
 fauld, s. fold, sheepfold, 117, 
 4. 
 
 favouris, pres. t. favours, 32, 
 198. 
 
 faw, a. streaked, variegated, 
 turned to brown or yellow or 
 both (of leaves), 87, 213. 
 
 fawld, a. fold, an enclosed piece 
 of ground, generally at- 
 tached to a farm, 202, 96. 
 
 fax, s. hair of the head. 187, 
 365. 
 
 fay, fey, s. faith, 49, 184. 
 
 fayn, fayne, see fane. 
 
 faynt, a. faint, 130, 142. 
 
 faynit, fenyeit, a. feigned, 189, 
 416. 
 
 fayth, s. faith, 29, 127. 
 
 fe, fee, s. cattle, sheep, herd, 
 flock, 117, 10; wages, re- 
 ward, 31, 178. 
 
 febill, a. feeble, 80, 23. 
 
 fech, v. to fetch, 52, 246. 
 
 fecht, v. to fight, 38 ... 
 
 fechtand, pres. p. fighting, 137, 
 120. 
 
 fedderis, fetheris, s. pi. fea- 
 thers, 40, 152. 
 
 fedderit, pp. feathered, 150, 
 168. 
 
 feddir, s. feather, 133, 30. 
 
 feddrame, s. feathers, 7, 1. 
 
 fede, feid, s. feud, anger, 26, 
 54. 
 
 fedis, pres. t. fades, 216, 64. 
 
 fee, see fe. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 325 
 
 feid, v. to feed, 9, 38. 
 
 see fede. 
 
 feild, s. field, 94, 35. 
 feill, a. cruel, 82, 88. 
 
 v. to feel, smell, perceive. 
 
 94, 32. 
 
 s. knowledge, idea, 1G5, 
 
 533. 
 — — see faill. 
 
 feind, s. fiend, devil, 90, 276. 
 feir, s. a piece of land marked 
 
 oft in a field for ploughing, 
 
 106, 5. See note. 
 
 s. fear, 36, 62: for f., lest, 
 
 229, 10. 
 
 s. companion, fellow, 206, 
 
 54. 
 
 s. demeanour, 199, 19. 
 
 feird, ferd, ferde, a. fourth, 
 
 152, 216. 
 feirfull, a. inspiring, or full of 
 
 awe or reverence, 67, 41. 
 feiritnes, s. terror dread, 121, 
 
 113. 
 feirs, a. fierce, 150, 185. 
 feisik, s. physic, 232, 66. 
 feist, fest, feste, s. feast, fare, 
 
 food, 20, 182. 
 feit, fete, s. pi. feet, 38, 115. 
 fekilness, s. fickleness, 242, 51. 
 fel, pt. fell, 28, 95. 
 fele, a. many, 24, 10. 
 fell, pt. befell, chanced, 24, 13. 
 
 a. deadly, cruel, 33, 213; 
 
 great, 121, 112 ; a. for s. fell 
 disease, 229, 18. 
 
 s. high land, only fit for 
 
 pasture, 87, 213. 
 
 100, 163, meaning very un- 
 certain. Perhaps 2nd sing., 
 ft. didst fall, disappear. 
 
 fellit, pp. felled, 52, 251. 
 felloun, a. deadly, desperate, 
 great: f. fray, deadly fear, 
 
 107, 31. 
 
 fellowis, pres. 2nd sing, associ- 
 atest: f. the, associatest thy- 
 self, 138, 138. • 
 
 fellowschip, s. company: but f., 
 alone, 147, 94. 
 
 felterit, pp. matted (of hair), 
 149, 163. 
 
 felyeis, pres. t. fails, 125, 28. 
 
 fene, s. mud, dirt, 9, 48. 
 
 fensit, ft. fenced, 48, 156. See 
 note to fenss, v. to fence, 
 48, 153; Note 153, p. 260. 
 
 fent, s. opening (in a garment), 
 46, 117. 
 
 fenyeid, fenyeit, feyneit, fey^ 
 nit, ft. feigned, pretended, 
 93, 10; s. feigned, deceitful, 
 false. 
 
 fer, adv. far: f. and full f., 
 far and very far, 182, 248 ; 
 comfar. ferrer, farther, 182, 
 248. 
 
 ferd, ferde, see feird. 
 
 ferefull, u. fearful, 184, 303. 
 
 feriat, a. in vacation (legal), 
 60, 54. 
 
 ferles, s. pi. wonders, 241, 30. 
 
 ferlie, ferly, a. worderful, 83, 
 109; adv. wonderfully, 77. 
 261; quite, utterly, 85, 149. 
 
 ferlyand, fres. p. wondering, 
 85, 154. 
 
 ferlyis, v. 3rd sing. pres. t. used 
 impersonally, there is won- 
 der: Me f., There is wonder 
 to me, I wonder, 240, 1 . 
 
 ferme, a. firm, strong, 115, 206. 
 
 fermly, adv. firmly, without 
 wavering or doubting, 80, 28. 
 
 ferreid, pt. ferried, 136, 109. 
 
 ferrer, see fer. 
 
 fersnes, s. fierceness, 106, 11. 
 
 ferst, adv. first, 3, 5. 
 
 fervent, a. hot, spirited, 152, 
 215; severe, intense (of win- 
 try weather), 143, 4. 
 
 fest, feste, see feist. 
 
 fete, see feit. 
 
 fetheris, see fedderis. 
 
 fetly, adv. cleverly, skilfully, 
 137, 128. 
 
326 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 fetterit, pp. fettered, 79, 9. 
 fevir, s. fever, 164, 514. 
 fey, see fay. 
 fey est, a. superl. most fated to 
 
 die, 86, 146. 
 feyneit, feynit, see fenyeit. 
 feyst, v. to feast, 86, 184. 
 fickill, fikkill, a. fickle, 166, 550. 
 figuor, figure, s. figure, likeness, 
 
 similitude, 71, 131; fable, 
 
 6, 59. 
 figurait, figurate, pp. figured, 
 
 164, 511 ; likened, 33, 204. 
 figurall, a. figured, by figure, 
 
 55, 304. 
 fikkill, see fickill. 
 fill, *. bellyful, 137, 129. 
 fillit, pp. filled, 40, 141. 
 fingaris, s. pi. fingers, 234, 29. 
 firth, *. coppice, wooded coun- 
 try, 87, 213. 
 fischar, *. fisher, 39, 126. 
 fische, s. fish, 17, 104; v. to 
 
 fish, 95, 51. 
 fischit, pt. fished, 85, 142. 
 fitchis, s. pi. vetches, tares, 22, 
 
 206. 
 fla, v. to flay, strip off, 118, 26; 
 
 pt. flaid, 137, 128; flew, 118, 
 
 39; pp. flane, 97, 108. 
 flaft, v. pp. puffed, wheezy, 229, 
 
 10. 
 flaid, see fla. 
 
 flaill, s. well-beam, 114, 176. 
 flam, *. flame, 186, 344. 
 flane, see fla. 
 
 flang, pt. flung about, 74, 207. 
 flane, s. arrow, 40, 152; pi. 
 
 flanis, 150, 167. 
 flasche, s. sheaf (of arrows), 
 
 150, 167. 
 flat, s. plain, field, 132, 15. 
 flatlingis, flatlyngis, adv. at full 
 
 length, prostrate, 19, 148. 
 flatteraris, flatterreris, s. pi. 
 
 flatterers, 33, 205. 
 flaw, pt. flew, 30, 156. 
 
 fle, s. fly, 97, 95 ; poss. case, 
 
 231, 44. 
 flee, i'. to flee, shun, avoid, 
 
 138, H9: to fly, 79, 18; to 
 
 put to flight, 231, 61. 
 fleand, pres. p. fleeing, 122, 120. 
 flear, s. a fugitive, 122, 123. 
 fleidnes, s. fright, fear, 120, 86. 
 fleise, *. fleece, 62, 109. 
 fleit, v. to float, to swim, 136, 
 
 101; to flow, 227, 46. 
 pp. withered, 82, 88. 
 
 (Doubtful whether from fla 
 
 or from fle.) 
 flemyt, pp. driven away, 211, 
 
 13. 
 flesch, flesche, s. flesh, flesh- 
 meat, 17, 104; the pith or 
 
 soft substance in the stem of 
 
 a plant, 227, 45. 
 fleschlie, fleschelie, fleschlye, a. 
 
 fleshly, 166, 558. 
 flett, *. inner part of a house: 
 
 in the f., indoors, 87, 208. 
 flever, s. flavour, smell, 96, 80. 
 flew, see fla. 
 flirdom, s. bounce, nonsense, 
 
 humbug, 51, 213. 
 flicht, flycht, s. flight, 32, 188. 
 flitt, v. to flit, 129, 133. 
 flocht, s. state of excitement: 
 
 on f., terrified, 121, 107. 
 flok, s. flock, 24, 18: f. of fe, 
 
 flock of sheep, 199, 2; v. to 
 
 flock, 46, 112. 
 Flora. Floray, the goddess 
 
 Flora, 213, 1. 
 flour, flowr, s. flower, 146, 78; 
 
 the most precious, 9, 47. 
 flourisching, s. blossom, 151, 
 
 198. 
 flowin, pp. flown, 25, 32. 
 flowr, flowris, see flour, 
 flude, s. flood, stream, 34, 8. 
 fluke, s. flounder, 231, 44. 
 flure, fluyr, s. floor, 7, 11. 
 flurisand, a. flourishing, 135, 71. 
 fluyr, see flure. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 flycht, see flicht. 
 
 flynt, .1. flint, 20, 167. 
 
 flyte, p. to argue, 112, 137. 
 
 fog, s. moss, 14, 37. 
 
 foirfalt, v. to fine, punish, 48, 
 134. 
 
 foirjngeit, pp. fore-judged, 62, 
 111. 
 
 foirsaid, a. foresaid, foregoing, 
 25, 23. 
 
 foirsaw, pt. saw before, saw 
 first, 93, 10. 
 
 foirspeikar, s. " speaker," 
 spokesman, first or chief 
 speaker, 154, 266. 
 
 foirsit, pt. forced, 136, 111. 
 
 fold, s. earth, 204, 14. 
 
 Mich, a. foolish, 195, 579. 
 
 followis, pres. t. follows, 42, 8. 
 
 foly, s. folly, 193, 539. 
 
 fome, s. foam, 151, 192. 
 
 fon, s. folly, 51, 213. 
 
 fon, s. pi. foes. In 231, 64, mis- 
 printed son. 
 
 fontale, a. original, 172, 23. 
 
 for, prep, notwithstanding, 234, 
 37; because of, 240, 11. 
 
 forbearis, s. pi. ancestors, 172, 
 25. 
 
 forbeir, forbere, v. to forbear, 
 cease, desist, 38, 93; refrain 
 from molesting, 123, 147. 
 
 force, forse, forss, s. strength, 
 force, 31, 165: of f., 151, 
 202, and on f., 108, 41 = 
 of necessity. 
 
 forcelye, adv. strongly, vigor- 
 ously, 80, 45. 
 
 forcy, a. powerful, 226, 1. 
 
 ford, for it. See stand, 229, 8. 
 
 forder, forthir, adv. further, 
 farther, 31, 165. 
 
 forfair, v. to spoil (the furrow 
 in ploughing), 106, 11. 
 
 forfalt, forfault, s. forfeit 
 (legal), fine, 63, 121. 
 
 forgif, v. forgive, 110, 87. 
 
 forlaue, forlore, a. forlorn, 148, 
 
 140. 
 formast, a. superl. foremost, 18, 
 
 135. 
 for-qiihy, eonj. because, since, 
 
 5, 37. 
 forrest, s. forest, 117, 2. 
 for - ron, pp. over-run, ex- 
 hausted, 69, 85. 
 forrow, prep, before, 207, 76. 
 forsaik, v. to neglect: is nocht 
 
 to f., is not to be neglected, 
 
 231, 56. 
 forse, forss, see force, 
 forsuth, interj. forsooth, in 
 
 truth, 26, 51. 
 forthink, v. to repent, 38, 92; 
 
 trans, forthinkis, 242, 54, 
 
 grieves. We in this line is a 
 
 misprint for me. 
 forthir, see forder. 
 forthocht, v. pp. badly thought 
 
 out, wrongly planned, mis- 
 used, 239, 86. 
 forthy, eonj. therefore, 24, 13. 
 for till, in order to, 238, 49. 
 fortoun, s. fortune, 20, 174. 
 Fortoun, the goddess Fortune, 
 
 146, 89. 
 fortunait, pp. made a victim of 
 
 fortune, 146, 79. 
 foryeld, o. to requite, 73, 189. 
 foule, foull, a. foul, 171, 14. 
 foulis, fowlis. s. pi. fowls, birds, 
 
 177, 145. 
 foure, a. four, 92, 324. 
 four-futtit, a. four footed, 45, 
 
 86. 
 fouxtie, fonrty, a. forty: f. 
 
 dayis, forty days, Lent, 100, 
 
 170. 
 fow, a. full, 128, 88. 
 fowlare, s. fowler, 87, 190; fow- 
 
 lar, poss. fowler's, 87, 210. 
 fowlest, a. superl. ugliest, 234, 
 
 43. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 fra, prep, from, 20, 169; fio, 
 
 20, 169; from the time, 107, 
 
 23; against, 91, 305. 
 fraellar, a. comp. more fragile, 
 
 242, 45. 
 frank, a. free, not under bond- 
 age, 138, 151. 
 fraucht, s. freight, passage 
 
 money, 133, 23. 
 fraudful, fraudfull, a. deceitful, 
 
 treacherous, 52, 246. 
 fraudis, s. pi. deceptions, tricks, 
 
 31, 169. 
 fraward, frawart, frawerd, a. 
 
 froward, 134, 54; perverse, 
 
 64, 144. 
 fray, «. fear, 107, 31. 
 fre, a. free, 12, 11. 
 fredome, s. freedom, generosity, 
 
 108, 42. 
 f reikis, see frek. 
 freind, s. friend, 110, 86. 
 freir, frier, s. friar, brother, 
 
 36, 54. 
 freisit, pt. froze, 144, 19. 
 freit, v. to eat, devour, cor- 
 rode, 10, 76 (intensive form 
 
 of eat), 
 frek, s. man, creature, 214, 28; 
 
 pi. freikis, 112, 145. 
 frely, adv. handsomely, 174, 72. 
 frendis, s. pi. friends, 22, 204. 
 fresche, a. fresh, 7, 1 ; smart, 
 
 29, 118. 
 frivelous, frivol, a. frivolous, 31. 
 
 169. 
 fro = fra, prep, from, 32, 201. 
 froist, s. frost, 144, 19; froistis, 
 
 poss. frost's, 149, 163. 
 fronsit, fronsyt, a. wrinkled, 
 
 134, 43. 
 frostie, a. frosty, 156, 311. 
 frut, frute, fruyte, s. fruit, 189, 
 
 424. 
 fud, fude, fuid, s. food, 8, 30; 
 
 daily bread, living, 24, 16. 
 ful, a. full, 13, 15. 
 
 fule, s. fool, 32, 185; pi. fulis, 
 240, 8. 
 
 fulfil, fulfill, v. to do, to per- 
 form, 38, 108. 
 
 fulfillit, pp. filled, 25, 45; sated, 
 146, 72. 
 
 fulich, fuliche, fulische, a. fool- 
 ish, 196, 612. 
 
 full, adv. very, 147, 100. 
 
 fulminat, pt. issued (of a legal 
 decision), 61, 80. 
 
 fuid, see fud. 
 
 fumard, s. polecat, 46, 112. 
 
 fund, fundin, pp. found, 71, 
 131. 
 
 fur, s. furrow, 13, 24. 
 
 fure, pt. fared, went on, con- 
 ducted themselves, 13, 34. 
 
 furmage, s. cheese, 18, 124. 
 
 furnees, s. furnace, 184, 311. 
 
 furris, s., poss. of fur, a fur- 
 row: f . end, end of a furrow, 
 106, 17. 
 
 furrit, pp. furred, trimmed with 
 fur, 209, 20; decorated, 81, 
 58. 
 
 furth, adv. forth, 7, 3: was f., 
 was gone forth, 21, 194. 
 
 fut, fute, s. foot, 13, 35. 
 
 fuyll, s. fool, 11, 79. 
 
 fy, inter}, fie, 108, 42. 
 
 fyber, s. beaver, 46, 112. 
 
 fyft, a. fifth, 173, 47. 
 
 fyir, fyr, fyre, s. fire, 10, 59. 
 
 fyle, v. to defile, make foul, 
 124, 17. 
 
 fyn, s. fin, 133, 30. 
 
 fynale, a. final, 191, 482. 
 
 fynally, adv. finally, 40, 141. 
 
 fynd, fyne, v. to find, 11, 93. 
 
 fyndar, *. finder, inventor, 174, 
 67. 
 
 fyne, a. fine, 18, 124; artful, 
 subtle, 104, 243; excellent, 
 232, 66. 
 
 fyngearis, s. pi. fingers, 210, 32. 
 
 fyr, fyre, see fyir. 
 
 fyrie, u. fiery, 151, 208. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 329 
 
 fyrst, a. first, 6, 61. 
 fythow, s. fitchew, fitchet, fou- 
 mart or polecat, 46, 117. 
 fyve, a. five, 215, 36. 
 
 G. 
 ga, v. to go, 21, 192: to g., 
 
 went, 50, 205. 
 gadder, gaddir, v. to gather, 91, 
 
 297. 
 gaddering, s. gathering: geir of 
 
 all g., trash collected from 
 
 all sides, 229, 6. 
 gadderis, v. pi. gather, 55, 314. 
 gaddir, see gadder, 
 gadman, s. goadsman, 106, 6. 
 
 See note 6, p. 273. 
 gaif, pt. gave, 59, 41. 
 gaip, v.imperat. gape, 229, 1. 
 gair, s. gore, 150, 179. 
 Ghaist, s. Ghost, 235, 63. 
 ghaistly, a. ghostly, spiritual, 
 
 36, 59; ghastly, terror- 
 stricken, 233, 3. 
 gait, s. goat, 46, 110; goats, 39, 
 
 131. 
 
 s. road, way, 102, 210. 
 
 galland, a. gallant, fine, 123, 
 
 159. 
 gallandis, s. pi. gallants, 233, 
 
 19. 
 gallay, *. galley, 133, 26. 
 gallowis, s. gallows, 55, 298. 
 galyart, a. brisk, merry, used 
 
 as s. a gallant, 216, 65. 
 gam, s. amusement, sport, 53, 
 
 272. 
 gan, pt. began to, 136, 106. 
 ganand, a. sufficing, suitable, 
 
 231, 47. 
 gane, v. suit, suffice, 229, 2. 
 
 ». to go, 40, 156; pp. gone, 
 
 158, 386. 
 
 ganecome, s. return, 145, 55. 
 ganesall, s. garlic sauce, 21, 184. 
 
 See note, p. 254. 
 ganesay, v. gainsay, 108, 59. 
 
 ganestand, v. to withstand, 212, 
 20. 
 
 gang, v. to go, 12, 13. 
 
 ganis, ganys, pres. t. suits, 93, 
 19; 2nd sing, art profitable. 
 8, 17. 
 
 gant, s. yawn, 231, 41. 
 
 gapand, pres. p. gaping, yearn- 
 ing, 55, 312. 
 
 gapit, pt. gaped, 183, 275. 
 
 gar, v. to cause, make, 4, 21. 
 
 garding, s. garden, 160, 425. 
 
 gardone, s. guerdon, 214, 21. 
 
 garmond, garmont, garmound, 
 s. garment, 82, 73. 
 
 garneist, garnischit, pp. gar- 
 nished, adorned, 209, 7. 
 
 garnisoun, s. garrison, 163, 484. 
 
 garrand, pres. p of gar, causing, 
 128, 104. 
 
 garray, s. noise, hubbub, 53, 
 272. 
 
 garris, pres. t. of gar, causes. 
 77, 272. 
 
 gart, pt. of gar, caused, 20, 
 162; made, 50, 195. 
 
 garth, s. garden, 211, 1. 
 
 gat, pt. got, 103, 222. 
 
 gaw, s. perhaps gall-bladder, 
 231, 43. 
 
 gay, u,. gay, bright, 7, 1; as s., 
 a sweet maid, 226, 21. 
 
 gayte, s. goats, 40, 148. 
 
 geill, s. jelly, 18, 124. 
 
 geir, gere, s. goods, attire, 67. 
 40; trash, 229, 6. 
 
 gemynyng, 187, 370. See note, 
 p. 289. 
 
 generabill, a. generated, that 
 can be created, 149, 148. 
 
 generacioun, generatioun, s. ori- 
 gin, 172, 27; birth, beget- 
 ting, 42, 12. 
 
 generit, pp. generated, 192, 501. 
 
 genology, s. genealogy, 171, 4. 
 
 gent, a. beautiful, fair, grace- 
 ful, 81, 61. 
 
380 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 gentill, a. (comp. gentillar) 
 gentle, well-born, 8, 16; 
 genteel, 39, 98; noble, 8, 16. 
 
 gentreis, gentrice, s. honourable 
 feeling, generosity, kindness, 
 65, 167. 
 
 gere, see geir. 
 
 gerris, 3rd sing. pres. t. of gar, 
 240, 3. 
 
 gerss, s. grass, 16, 92; 232, 87, 
 see note. 
 
 gersum, s. a tenant's fine, 129, 
 130. See note. 
 
 gert, pt. of gar, 226, 13. 
 
 ges, v. to guess, 210, 35. 
 
 gest, s. guest, 17, 114. 
 
 get, s. begetting, 42, 11. 
 
 gevand, prea. p. giving, 196, 
 622. 
 
 geve, v. to give, 55, 296. 
 
 gevin, pp. given, 15, 72; ad- 
 dicted, 238, 60. 
 
 gevis, pres. t. 2nd sing, givest, 
 101, 180; 3rd pen. 123, 141. 
 
 Gib Huntar, name for a tom- 
 cat, as Polly for a parrot. 
 Gib= Gilbert, 20, 165. 
 
 gidis, pres. t. guides, rales, con- 
 trols, 227, 36. 
 
 gif, gife, giff, gyf, conj. if, 
 whether, 13, 29. 
 
 gyffe, v. to give, 33. 
 
 210. 
 
 giffis, pres. t. gives, 90, 282. 
 
 giftis, s.pl. gifts, 110, 93. 
 
 giglotlike, adv. wantonly, like 
 a strumpit, 146, 83. 
 
 Gilbert, see Gib Huntar. 
 
 gild, s. as a. gild, guild, 12, 
 11: g. brother, member of a 
 gild. 
 
 gilt, s. guilt, 70, 104. 
 
 gimpis, impis, s. pi. quirks, 
 subtleties, 128, 107. 
 
 ginnes, s. pi. devices, ingen- 
 uities, 95, 44. 
 
 gird, pt. struck, 51, 226. 
 
 gird, pt. moved smartly, be- 
 stirred himself, 102, 208. 
 girdill, s. girdle, 67, 32. 
 girnand, pres. p. grinning (with 
 
 the teeth), showing the teeth 
 
 in anger, 124, 15. 
 Glaconicon, see dia. 
 glaid, gled, a. glad, 70, 96. 
 
 *. 137, 130. See gled, s. 
 
 glaidlie, adv. gladly, 89, 241. 
 glaikit, a. silly, foolish, 226, 6. 
 glar, v. to make dirty with 
 
 mud, 124, 21. 
 glas, s. glass, window-pane, 143, 
 
 15: poleist g., a mirror, 157, 
 
 348. 
 glean, 230, 24. See note. 
 Glecolicon, see dia. 
 gled, a. glad, 34, 1. 
 glaid, s. kite (bird), 59, 
 
 30. 
 gleid, s. a small fire, 23, 228. 
 glemys, pres. t. gleams, glistens, 
 
 45, 73. 
 glew, s. sport, 29, 123. 
 glidis, see glyde. 
 glir, s. property, dress, 123, 159. 
 glitterand, a. glittering, 150, 
 
 177. 
 gloir, glore, s. glory, 27, 78. 
 gloise, s. gloss, 61, 76. 
 gloming, s. gloaming, twilight, 
 
 79, 18. 
 glore, see gloir. 
 glosis, s. pi. glosses, 60, 70. 
 glowand, pres. p. glowing, 176, 
 
 122. 
 glowmand, pres. p. frowning, 
 
 15, 72. 
 glowrand, pres. p. staring, 151, 
 
 191. 
 glufts, gluvis, s. pi. gloves, 98, 
 
 120. 
 glyde, glyid, v. to glide, run, 
 
 haste, 46, 115; glidis, goes 
 
 gently forth, 227, 26. 
 gnawe, pres. t. gnaw, 19, 160. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 331 
 
 goddace, goddes, s. goddess, 148, 
 
 135. 
 godheid, s. godhead, 80, 35. 
 Goddis, s. poss. God's 226, 22. 
 gois, pres. t. pi, go, 41, 166. 
 goldin, a. golden, 156, 314. 
 golkit, pt. stared foolishly, 136, 
 
 92. 
 gomys, a. pi. gums, mouth, 54, 
 
 289. 
 gone, v. to go, 206, 71. 
 gorrit, pp. gored, pierced, 40, 
 
 156. 
 gorry, a. bloody, 54, 289. 
 gottin, pp. got, gotten, born, 
 
 42, 2. 
 goun, s. gown, 160, 422. 
 gouverne, v. to govern, 10, 73. 
 Gouvernour, s. Governor, 243, 
 
 65. 
 governance, s. control, demean- 
 our, 209. 7; government, 240, 
 
 10. 
 gowand (govand), pres. p. gaz- 
 ing, staring, 44, 56. 
 gowdin, a. golden, 81, 61. 
 gowins, s. pi. gowns, dresses, 
 
 139, 169. 
 gowk, s. cuckoo, 232, 69. 
 gowpene, s. as much as can be 
 
 lifted by the hands extended 
 
 and united, 232, 69. 
 gracis, s. pi. for sing, grace, 
 
 227, 53. 
 grane, s. colour, 161, 433. 
 grant, pres. t. assent, agree, 38, 
 
 113. 
 grantschir, s. grandfather, 178, 
 
 175. 
 grathit, pp. dressed, equipped, 
 
 fitted out, 67, 40. 
 gratius, u. gracious, pleasant, 
 
 pleasing, 66, 11. 
 gravin pp. buried, 160, 414. 
 gravis, s. pi. graves, 182, 242. 
 greabill, a. agreeable, 32, 192. 
 Grece, s. Greece, 146, 79. 
 
 gredie, gredye, a. greodv, anxi- 
 ous, 91, 297. 
 
 gree, s. step: g. by g., step by 
 step, 42, 9. 
 
 greif, v. to grieve, 125, 26. 
 
 Greikis, Greeks, 146, 82. 
 
 greissis, gresis, gressis, s. pi. 
 grasses, 160, 425; herbs, 
 232, 87. See gerss. 
 
 greit, grit, grite, a. great, 
 broad, large, 67, 34. 
 
 s. lamentation, 177, 139; v. 
 
 to weep, 41, 167. 
 
 grene, a. green, 45, 72. 
 
 s. green, piece of sward, 
 
 44, 56. 
 
 gress, s. grass, 66, 11. See 
 greissis. 
 
 gret, grete, a. great, 12, 9: g. 
 cursing, greater excommuni- 
 cation, 58, 12. See greit. 
 
 grete, v. to cry, weep, 19, 154. 
 
 v. to greet, 227, 42. 
 
 greting, s. greeting, 44, 61. 
 grettest, a. superl. greatest, 53, 
 
 269. 
 
 grevand, pres. p. grieving, try- 
 ing, 38, 107. 
 
 grevit, pp. grieved, 242, 54. 
 
 grewe, pt. grew, 174, 73. 
 
 Grewe, s. Greece, 171, 15 ; a. 
 Greek (speech), 172, 36. 
 
 grip, grype, s. vulture, 59, 30. 
 
 grislie, grysly, a. grisly, fright- 
 ful, hideous, 151, 191 (from 
 A.S. gryre, horror). 
 
 grit, grite, see greit. 
 
 gritlie, adv. greatly, 83, 107. 
 
 grotis, s. pi. groats, the grain of 
 oats, 17, 105. 
 
 grouf, adv. flat on the ground. 
 Ice. grufa: on g., grovelling, 
 158, 362. 
 
 groundin, a. sharpened, sharp, 
 150, 181. 
 
 groundis, s. pi. earth, the 
 ground, 226, 21. 
 
GLOSSAB.Y. 
 
 groundit, pp. grounded, found- 
 ed, 3, 2. 
 
 groundless, a. bottomless, 184, 
 310. 
 
 growand, pres. p. growing, 45, 
 74. 
 
 growin, pp. grown, 85, 157. 
 
 growis, pres. t. plu. grow, 223, 
 1; sing. 231, 45. 
 
 pres. t. grues, shudders, 
 
 86, 178. 
 
 gruhund, s. greyhound, 46, 113. 
 
 grume, s. man, 214, 21. 
 
 grunching, s. grudging, 30, 152. 
 
 grund, s. ground, 66, 11. _ 
 
 grutchit, pt. murmured, grud- 
 ged, grumbled, was grieved, 
 216, 65. 
 
 gryce, s. a sucking pig, 232, 70. 
 
 grymmit, pp. begrimed, be- 
 fouled, 121, 110. 
 
 grype, see grip. 
 
 grysly, see grislie. 
 
 guberne, v. govern, control, 238, 
 65. 
 
 guckit, a. stupid, foolish, 46, 
 110. 
 
 gud, gude, guid, a. good, wise, 
 3, 11. 
 
 gude, s. goods, estate, property, 
 32, 196. 
 
 gudely, a. goodly, 45, 74. 
 
 Gudfryday, s. Good Friday, 16, 
 87. 
 
 gudis, s. pi. goods, property, 43, 
 37. 
 
 gudly, adv. handsomely, 67, 40. 
 
 guid, see gud. 
 
 s. good, 86, 181. 
 
 guidis, s. pi. goods, property, 
 24, 17. 
 
 Guk, guk, 229, 1. See note. 
 
 gule, s. howling, bitter cry, 177; 
 139. 
 
 gumys, a. pi. gums, mouth, 51, 
 227. 
 
 guse, s. goose, 21, 184; meaning 
 in 232, 70, very doubtful. 
 See note. 
 
 gutis, s. intestines, 137, 130. 
 
 gyane, s. giant, 204, 18. 
 
 gyd, gyde, s. guide, 16, 94. 
 
 gydit, pt. guided, 151, 205. 
 
 gyf, see gif . 
 
 eonj. if, 5, 40. 
 
 gyffe, see gif. 
 
 gyle, .?. guile, 58, 10. 
 
 gyn, s. contrivance, gin, faculty, 
 
 133, 33 (Lat. ingenium, 
 
 talent) . 
 gyrdill, s. girdle, 164, 520. 
 gyse. *. guise, way, method, 69, 
 
 90. 
 gyte, s. dress, 149, 164 (O.F. 
 
 quite) . 
 
 H. 
 hable, a. able, fit, 83, 98. 
 haboundance, haboundans, s. a- 
 
 bundance, 22, 216. 
 haboundand, pres. p. abounding, 
 
 174, 75. 
 habnndantly, adv. abundantly, 
 
 18, 123. 
 hace, a. hoarse, harsh, 134, 45. 
 had, pt. 2nd pers. sing, hadst, 
 
 71, 131. 
 haddok, s. haddock, 231, 57. 
 haf, hafe, haif, v. to have, 9, 
 
 40. 
 hafand, haifand, pres. p. hav- 
 ing, 24, 10. 
 haik, hayk, v. proceed, go on: 
 
 h. upon hicht, Gee up ! 106, 
 
 8. 
 haill, v. to draw, 114, 179. 
 
 hale, a. whole, sole, hale, 
 
 all, 3, 6; immaculate, 231, 
 57. 
 
 haillye, adv. wholly, 39, 
 
 122. 
 
 hailie, halie, haly, halye. a. holy, 
 68, 70; H. Eude, the holy 
 cross, 87, 196. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 338 
 
 hailit, pt. drew (of a bow and 
 
 arrow), 40, 153. 
 hailland, pres. p. drawing, 114, 
 
 184. 
 haillye, see haill, adv., 39, 122. 
 hailstanis, s. pi. hailstones, 150, 
 
 168. 
 hailsum, a. wholesome, wise, 85, 
 
 148. 
 hair, s. hare, 46, 108. 
 — - hair, 230, 32. See note. 
 
 a. hoar, 82, 79; bleak, 203, 
 
 122. 
 
 hairt, s. hart, 46, 105. 
 
 hart, hert, s. heart, 15, 73: 
 
 heat at the h., heart-burn, 
 232, 67: with h., from the 
 heart, 108, 42. 
 
 hairtly, adv. heartily, 68, 65. 
 hais, pres. t. has, 43, 32. 
 haising, s. hoarseness, 232, 67. 
 haist, s. haste, 47, 123; v. to 
 
 hasten, 97, 91 ; to make 
 
 hasten, 228, 70. 
 haistely, adv. hastily, 33, 210. 
 hait, hate, a. hot, warm, 81, 64. 
 hakkit, pp. hewn, sliced, 230, 
 
 32 
 hald, v. to hold, 26, 48: h. 
 
 draucht, keep drawing, 106, 
 
 9: h. his feet, keep his feet, 
 
 184, 304. 
 haldand, pres. p. holding, 29, 
 
 138. 
 haldin, haldyne, pp. held, 8, 26. 
 hale, a. see haill. 
 halfheid, s. " haffet," the side 
 
 of the head, temple, 102, 
 
 211. 
 halie, see hailie. 
 halkis, s. pi. hawks, 111, 104. 
 hals, s. neck, 36, 49. 
 haly, halye, see hailie. 
 halynace, s. holiness, 36, 08. 
 hame, s. home, 26, 60. 
 hamelie, hamely, a. homely, 
 
 simple, 9, 56. 
 
 hamewart, adv. homeward, 78, 
 
 301. 
 hanch, s. haunch, thigh, 50, 201. 
 handbreid, s. handbreadth, 97, 
 
 104. 
 hang, pt. hung: out h., hung 
 
 out, 97, 104. 
 hangit, pp. hanged, 36, 49. 
 hankit, pt. entangled, 74, 202. 
 hanting, s. haunting, following, 
 
 practising, "196, 608: h. 
 
 place, meeting place, 85, 
 
 164. 
 hantit, pp. accustomed, 41, 175. 
 hap, s. chance, 20, 174; good 
 
 fortune, 36, 70. 
 v. to cover up, protect, 64, 
 
 147. 
 happinnis, pres. t. happens, 89, 
 
 261. 
 happinnit, pt. happened, chan- 
 ced, 93, 8. 
 hard, pt. heard, 14, 36. 
 hard-bak, u. coarse and pricklv, 
 
 46, 108. 
 bardie, hardy, a. brave, 10, 71 
 
 (O.F. hardi, brave), 
 hardlie (=hardelie), certainly, 
 
 by all means, 86, 186. 
 harmis, s. pi. woes, misfortunes, 
 
 75, 218. 
 harnes, s. harness, armour, 150, 
 
 186. 
 harnis, s. brains, 231, 57. 
 harsky, a. rough, 134, 46. 
 hart, see hairt. 
 hartlie, a. hearty, 13, 29. 
 hastilie, adv. hastily, immedi- 
 ately, 109, 71. 
 hate, see hait. 
 hattrell, s. top (of the head), 
 
 51, 229. 
 havand, pres. p. having, 48, 163. 
 have, pres. subj. have, if he 
 
 have, 43, 40. 
 having, s. demeanour, deport- 
 ment, 210, 25. 
 havis, pres. t. pi. have, 77, 266. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 havy, a. heavy, 133, 24. 
 
 haw, a. dull-coloured, wan, 
 
 livid, 153, 257. 
 haykit, see haik. 
 he, hee, a. high, proud, 6, 60; 
 
 s. on h., upon h., loudly, 
 
 18, 127. 
 heble-hable, s. confusion, 243, 
 
 61. 
 hecht, pres. t. promise, 29, 131; 
 
 pt. promised, 144, 23; s. a 
 
 promise, vow, 106, 18. 
 hecht, pres. t. am called, 68, 
 
 65; pp. named, 151, 213. 
 heclit, pt. heckled, combed and 
 
 straightened (fibre of flax), 
 
 87, 208. 
 hed, heid, s. heed, 22, 204: tuk 
 
 gud h., paid great attention, 
 
 137, 121. 
 hede, heid, s. head, 26, 48. 
 hef, v. to have, gain, 10, 69. 
 hee, see he. 
 hege, *. hedge, 83, 108. 
 heich, v. to exalt, 219, 49. 
 heid, see hede. 
 heid, see hed. 
 
 heiddismen, s. rulers, 238, 57. 
 heifis, pres. t. pi. lift, 110, 95. 
 heill, s. salvation, 203, 113. 
 heilit, pp. covered, 82, 79. 
 heillis, s. pi. heels, 98, 125. 
 heir, adv. here, 15, 65. 
 
 v. to hear, listen, 6, 63. 
 
 heirar, s. hearer, listener, 225, 
 
 52. 
 heird = hear it, 160, 415. 
 heireftir, adv. hereafter, 69, 83. 
 heirfoir, adv. wherefore, 233, 
 
 14. 
 heiris, pres. t. 2nd pers. near- 
 est, 131, 159. 
 heirof, hereof, of which, 78, 294. 
 heis, pres. t. exalts, 219, 55. 
 heit, hete, s. heat, 67, 22: tak 
 
 h., be warmed, 99, 143. 
 
 hekill, hekkil, hekle, *. the 
 
 feathers on the neck of a 
 
 cock, 26, 58. 
 hekli,t, pp. edged, fringed, 153, 
 
 2l5. 
 hele, s. hell, 196, 607; poss. 
 
 helUs, 32, 202. 
 
 *. heel, 51, 224. 
 
 J. health, 52, 235. 
 
 hellye-dayis, s. holidays. 29, 
 
 117. 
 helpit, pt. helped, 166, 557. 
 hempin, a. hempen, 74, 196. 
 hend, a. good: h. men, good 
 
 folk, 208, 118. 
 herand, pres. p. hearing, 171, 7. 
 Herato, *. Erato, the muse of 
 
 tender and amorous poetry, 
 
 173, 50. 
 herbery, s. shelter, lodging, 15, 
 
 66. 
 herbis, s. pi. herbs, 66, 20. 
 herd, pt. heard, 21, 197. 
 heretage, s. heritage, landed 
 
 property, 129, 127. 
 herk, v. to hearken, 208, 118. 
 hering, s. herring, 96, 80. 
 hert, see hairt. 
 
 hertis-sair, s. heart-sore, sore- 
 ness of heart, 89, 253. 
 hervest, a. harvest, 81, 64. 
 hes, pres. t. has, 7, 12; pi. have, 
 
 60, 54; 2nd sing, hast, 9, 
 
 36. 
 hestely, adv. hastily, 224, 32. 
 hete, see heit. 
 hething, s. scorn, 16, 82. 
 hevely, adv. heavily, 16, 80. 
 hevie, hevy, a. heavy, 99, 154; 
 
 strong, 148, 116. 
 hevin, *. heaven, 29, 135. 
 hevines, hevynes, s. heaviness, 
 
 anxiety, 145, 56. 
 hevinis, hevynis, s. poss. hea- 
 ven's, 64, 149. 
 hevinly, a. heavenly, 32, 201. 
 hevinnis, s. heavens: h. he, high 
 
 heavens, 130, 146. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 335 
 
 hevy, see hevie. 
 
 hevyne, *. heavens, 10, 59. 
 
 hevynes, see hevines. 
 
 hew, hewe, s. hue, colour, 28, 
 
 94. 
 hewmond, s. helmet, 150, 186. 
 heych, a. high, 86, 175. 
 heynd, a. gentle, 199, 19. 
 hicht, pt. was called, 184, 295. 
 
 See hecht. 
 s. height, 64, 149: on h., 
 
 on high, 103, 229: upon h., 
 
 loudly, 106, 9. 
 hiddeous, hideous, hidowiss, a. 
 
 hideous, 74, 204. 
 hidder, adv. hither, 109, 62. 
 hie, v. to raise (in rank), 47, 
 
 143. See heis. 
 a. high, 14, 39: till h. 
 
 price, at a great price, 99, 
 
 146; deep, 159, 397; adv. 
 
 high, 20, 177. 
 Hienes, s. Highness, 73, 178.. 
 hiest, a. swperl. highest, 155, 
 
 297. 
 hillis, s. poss. hill's, 45, 79. 
 hinder, a. hinder, last, 24, 13: 
 
 this h. year, recently, 204, 
 
 1. 
 hing, hyng, v. to hang, 101, 186. 
 hingand, pres. p. hanging, 121, 
 
 94. 
 hink, v. to falter, break, (of 
 
 health), 215, 46. 
 hint, hynt, v. to seize, 94, 23 ; 
 
 pt. 98, 125; pp. 20, 168. 
 hir, pron. her, 11, 84. 
 hirpilland, hyrplland, pres. p. 
 
 and a. limping, 107, 25. 
 ho, s. stop, cessation, 196, 611. 
 hog, hoig, s. lamb; a young 
 
 sheep till it is shorn, 118, 
 
 45. 
 hoichis, s. pi. hind legs, 122, 
 
 115. 
 hoife, *. hoof, 51, 223. 
 hoig, see hog. 
 hoill, s. hole, den, 99, 137. 
 
 hoip, howp, s. hope, 10, 62. 
 
 pres. t. think, 85, 164. 
 
 hoir, a. hoarse, 157, 338. 
 
 a. hoar, 149, 163. 
 
 hoise, s. pi. hosen, 210, 35. 
 hoi, a. hollow, deep-set, 213, 12. 
 holkit, a. hollow (howkit in 
 
 mod. dialect =dug out), 233. 
 
 4. 
 holt, s. wood, 82, 79. 
 holyne, s. holly: h. greue, green 
 
 holly, 99, 154. 
 hone, s. delay, 113, 158. 
 honourit, pp. honoured, 147, 
 
 109. 
 hony, s. honey, 173, 39; adv. 
 
 19, 154. 
 hoppand, pres. p. hopping, 83, 
 
 103. 
 horlage, a. telling the hours, 28, 
 
 102. 
 home, s. horn, 44, 48. 
 hornit, a. horned, 46, 105. 
 hors, s. horse, 98, 127. 
 host, s. cough, 232, 78. 
 hostand, hosting, pres p. 
 
 coughing, 213, 12. 
 hostillar, s. innkeeper, 193, f.20. 
 hous, s. house, 7, 7. 
 houshald, s. household, 129, 117. 
 hovit, pt. lifted, raised, 103. 
 
 229. 
 how, interj. ho! 50, 208. 
 adv. deep, 149, 157; a. 
 
 hollow, 234, 21. 
 
 adv. why, 26, 54. 
 
 howp, see hoip. 
 
 howping, pres. p. hoping, 223, 
 
 3. 
 huche, s. glen, ravine, 39, 132, 
 
 134. 
 hud, hude, s. hood, cowl, bon- 
 net, 36, 58. 
 hufe, s. hoof, 56, 323. 
 huke, s. hook (fish), 95, 51. 
 huniill, a. humble, 234, 34. 
 hummily, adv. humbly, 37, 79. 
 hund, s. hound, dog, 54, 276. 
 
336 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 hangar, hungir, s. hunger, 89, 
 
 246. 
 hungrie, hungrye, a. hungry, 25, 
 
 30. 
 huntit, pp. hunted, 32, 201. 
 hurd, hurde, s. hoard, treasure, 
 
 188, 409. 
 hurcheon, hurtcheon, hurt- 
 
 choun, s. hedgehog, 46, 108 
 
 (O.F. heriehon, L. ericius). 
 hurson, a. whoreson, bastard, 
 
 54, 276. 
 husband, s. husbandman, 106, 
 
 2. 
 hy, s. haste: in h., in haste, 
 
 51, 222. 
 hyd, hyde, s. hide, 134, 46. 
 hyde, v. to hide, 18, 137; hyd, 
 
 pp. hidden, 11, 92. 
 hye, v. to hasten, 44, 51. 
 hyis, v. hastenest, 114, 186; 
 
 hastens, 39, 134. 
 hyit, hyid, pt. hastened, 27, 85. 
 hynd, s. hind, farm servant, 40, 
 
 159. 
 hyne, adv. henceforth, from 
 
 now, 38, 110. 
 hyng, see hing. 
 hyngand, a. overhanging, 134, 
 
 45. 
 hynt, see hint, 
 hyre, &. hire, wages, reward, 36. 
 
 49. 
 hyrplland, see hirpilland. 
 
 I, J. 
 
 janglour, s. tell-tale, gossip, 
 202, 101. 
 
 jasp, s. jasper, 7, 6. 
 
 iceschoklis, *. pi. icicles, 149, 
 160. 
 
 i dern, 200, 39, in dern, se- 
 cretly. 
 
 idole, s. idol, image, 164, 507. 
 
 jelosye, s. jealousy, 29, 121. 
 
 Iesabell, Jezabel, 185, 335. 
 
 ignorantis, s. pi. ignorant 
 people, 11, 86. 
 
 ilk, a. each, every, 24, 3. 
 ilkane, pron. each one, 34, 21. 
 imbrace, imbrass, v. embrace: 
 
 i. fra syn, see note, p. 298. 
 indure, v. pres. subj. for mod. 
 
 indie, endures, 236, 4. 
 imbrass, see imbrace. 
 implicat, pp. entangled, 139, 
 
 162. 
 importable, a. unbearable, 243, 
 
 58. 
 imprentit, pp. imprinted, 164, 
 
 508. 
 improvisit, a. unexpected, 41, 
 
 162. 
 in, prep, at, during, into, 24, 
 
 7: i. message, on an errand, 
 
 226, 7. 
 inclynand, pres. p. inclining, 
 
 69, 75. 
 inclinate, inclynit, pp. in- 
 clined, 72, 144. 
 inclinatioun, s. inclination, 
 
 character, 24, 4. 
 inclyne, v. to incline, 171, 5. 
 inclynit, see inclinate. 
 incontinent, adv. forthwith, 44, 
 
 65. 
 incressand, pres. p. increasing, 
 
 growing up, 174, 71. 
 increse, v. to increase, 86, 177. 
 incurabill, a. incurable, 155, 
 
 307. 
 indefferent, a. indifferent, 194, 
 
 574. 
 indurate, a. hardened, 89, 251. 
 indure, v. to endure, 130, 151. 
 infild, a. undefiled, 226, 15. 
 inflammit, a. inflamed, 176, 120. 
 inflate, pp. inflated, 27, 78. 
 infynite, u. infinite, 24, 9. 
 ingyne, s. design, 136, 97. 
 innemy, s. enemy, 10, 70. 
 innomerable, a. innumerable, 
 
 185, 315. 
 inobediens, s. disobedience, 238, 
 
 62. 
 inquyre, v. to enquire, 147, 99. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 inspyrit, pt. inspired, 31, 162. 
 insteid, adv. instead, 14, 45. 
 institut to, pp. given over to, 
 
 62, 105. 
 intellectif, a. intellectual, 189, 
 
 428. 
 interdictioun, s. interdiction, 58, 
 
 12. See note, 
 intermele, v. to meddle, 34, 5. 
 intermellit, pp. intermixed, 
 
 mixed, 22, 207. 
 interpreit, pp. interpreted, 105, 
 
 280. 
 intill, prep, in, 24, 15 ; into, 
 
 149, 142. 
 into, in to, prep, in, 50, 194. 
 intrall, s. entrails, belly, stom- 
 ach, 8, 28. 
 intruse, v. intrude, urge, 127, 
 
 78. 
 invy, s. envy, malignity, 184, 
 
 49. 
 inwart, a. inward, inner, 9, 54. 
 joly, a. pretty, dainty, gay, 46, 
 
 103. 
 jolyte, s. jollity, 18, 131. 
 jonet, 8. jennet, a small Spanish 
 
 horse, 46, 103. 
 journay, s. journey, 53, 253. 
 jowall, jowell, s. jewel, jewels, 
 
 164, 521; pi. jowellis, 7, 12. 
 joyit, pt. delighted: j. of, en- 
 joyed, 30, 141. 
 is, pres. t. are, 16, 88; 2nd sing. 
 
 art, 228, 72. 
 ithand, a. frequent, 57, 342. 
 juge, s. judge, 58, 5. 
 junyt, pp. joined, 45, 80. 
 juperdy, jupertie, s. chance, 
 
 25, 34. O.F. jeu parti, a 
 
 divided or drawn game: 
 
 hence the idea of chance, 
 
 risk, skill, 
 just, a. for s. justice, 212, 41. 
 justice, s. judge, 48, 153. 
 justlie, adv. justly, 171, 17. 
 i-wyss, adv. certainly, 4, 27 
 
 (A.S. gewis, certain). 
 
 22 
 
 Ixioun, Ixion, a king of 
 Thessaly, 182, 266. See 
 classical Dictionary. 
 
 K. 
 
 kaill, s. broth: watter k., broth 
 
 made without meat, 130, 140. 
 keip, kepe, v. to keep, guard, 
 
 save, 24, 7. 
 s. tak k., take heed, 152, 
 
 130. 
 keipar, keiper, kepare, s. 
 
 keeper, 117, 10. 
 kemmit, pp. combed, 152, 222. 
 ken, kene, pres. t. know, 53, 
 
 267. 
 kendill, v. to kindle, 174, 87; 
 
 pt. kendlit, 164, 513. 
 kene, a, keen, sharp, 122, 118; 
 
 bitter, 177, 152. 
 kennattis, s. pi. hounds, 30, 149. 
 kennis, pres. t. 2nd sing, know- 
 
 est, 100, 166. 
 kennit, pt. knew, 120, 77. 
 kepand, pres. p. keeping, 
 watching, tending, 175, 98. 
 kepare, see keipar. 
 kepe, see keip. 
 kest, pt. cast, threw, 20, 169. 
 keyis, s. pi. keys, 18, 132. 
 kiddis, s. pi. kids, 95, 55. 
 kikie, pres. t. peeps, 82, 87. 
 kin, kyn, s. birth, family, kin, 
 
 32, 196. 
 kind, kynd, s. nature, sort, 
 
 breed, 13, 27; manner, 105, 
 
 280. 
 kirnell, s. kernel, 4, 16. 
 kirtill, s. kirtle, 209, 13. 
 kissit, pt. kissed, 13, 33. 
 kist, s. chest, 12, 14. 
 
 pt. cast, 27, 72. 
 
 kitching, s. kitchen, food, eat- 
 ing, 192, 311. 
 kith, s. known place, 21, 190. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 knakis, knax, s. pi. jibes, jests, 
 
 63, 271. 
 knap, v. to knock, 93, 17. 
 knaw, v. to know, 29, 122. 
 knawlege, s. knowledge, 236, 2. 
 knawlegeing, s. knowledge, 80, 
 
 29. 
 knax, see knakis. 
 kne, *. knee, 174, 68. 
 knelit, pt. kneeled, 53, 254. 
 kniehtlie, a. knightly, 164, 519. 
 knit, pp. tied, joined, 139, 172. 
 knockit, knokkit, pt. knocked, 
 
 hammered, beat, 87, 207. 
 knotis, s. pi. knots, 135, 81. 
 kyith, pres. t. show, 118, 25. 
 kyn, see kin. 
 kynd, see kind, 
 kyndar, a. comp. kinder, 28, 
 
 109. 
 kyngis, s. post, king's, 9, 45. 
 kynnismen, s. pi. kinsmen, 60, 
 
 48. 
 
 L. 
 laborit, pp. tilled, cultivated, 3, 
 
 9. 
 laddis, s. lads, in sense of ser- 
 vants, 243, 60. 
 laichly, adv. lowly, 233, 20. 
 laid, s. load, cart, 103, 219. 
 laif, lave, s. rest, remainder, 70, 
 
 99; those left alive, 239, 76. 
 laik, s. lack, deficiency, 229, 2. 
 laikis, lakkis, v. is wanting, 238, 
 
 55. 
 laip, v. to lap, 38, 114. 
 lair, lare, s. learning, 199, 17; 
 
 v. to learn, 36, 35. 
 lairdis, s. pi. lairds, landowners, 
 
 masters, 243, 60. 
 lait, a. and adv. late, 60, 56. 
 laith, a. loth, 110, 89. 
 laithliest, a. most loathsome, 
 
 205, 25. 
 laitis, s. pi. manners, mien, 201, 
 
 11. 
 
 lak, s. blame, reproach, 154, 
 
 276. 
 lakking, pres. p. lacking, want- 
 ing, 24, 2. 
 lakkit, pp. blamed, 134, 65. 
 lam, s. lamb, 48, 150; pi. 
 
 lambis, 52, 249 ; poss. lambis, 
 
 37, 88. 
 lame, s. lameness, 230, 20. 
 lamit, pp. lamed, 74, 211. 
 landis, s. pi. lands, 14, 56. 
 lane, s. loan, 129, 128. 
 lang, a. long, 60, 68; adv. long, 
 
 17,117. 
 langage, langege, s. language, 
 
 5, 36. 
 langer, adv. comp. longer, 17, 
 langit, pt. longed, yearned, 13, 
 
 17. 
 Ian sand, pres. p. bounding, 44, 
 
 47. 
 lansit, pt. ran, 69, 91. 
 lanterne, s. lantern, 36, 64. 
 lap, pt. leapt, 98, 110. 
 lapit, pt. lapped, 124, 7. 
 lare, see lair. 
 
 laser, s. leisure, time, 19, 142. 
 lasit, pp. laced, 209, 14. 
 lat, latt, i'. to let, 234, 41: 
 
 1. be, abandon, 16, 85. 
 late, v. to lay hold of, 39, 130. 
 lattis, pres. t. permit, cause, 
 
 give, 44, 65. 
 lattin, pp. let, 37, 88. 
 lattit, pp. prevented, 144, 27. 
 Latyne, s. Latin, 4, 31. 
 lauboreris, lawboraris, s. pi. 
 
 ploughmen, peasants, 128, 
 
 93. 
 laueh, v. would laugh, 152, 231. 
 lauchand, pres. p. laughing, 85, 
 
 141. 
 laud, *. praise, 162, 462. 
 lautee, lawte, lawtie, lawty, s. 
 
 loyalty, 241, 34. 
 lave, see laif. 
 laverock, s. lark, 16, 97. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 339 
 
 law, a. and adv. low, 6, 60; 
 lowly, humble, 219, 55; v. 
 to lower, put down, make 
 low, 48, 147. 
 
 s. hill, 44, 47. 
 
 lawar, a. comp. lower, 192, 493. 
 lawboraris, see lauboreris. 
 lawchfull, a. lawful, legal, 127, 
 
 68, 71. 
 lawchfully, adv. lawfully, 
 
 legally, 60, 66. 
 Lawdian, s. Lothian, 231, 61. 
 lawest, a. superl. lowest, 47, 
 
 143. 
 lawis, pres. t. brings down, 
 
 humbles, 219, 55. See law. 
 lawis, s. pi. laws, 59, 31. 
 lawitness, s. lewdness, in its old 
 
 sense of ignorance, 229, 17. 
 lawrean, s. laurel, 230, 31. 
 lawte, lawtie, lawty, see lautee. 
 layit, pp. laid, 88, 235. 
 laythly, a. loathsome, 214, 31. 
 lazarous, s. leper, 157, 343. 
 le, s. field, 119, 58; pi. leis, 
 
 104, 256. 
 
 s. security, 138, 156. 
 
 — — lee, v. to lie, tell lies, 33, 
 207. 
 
 a. sheltered, 77, 260. 
 
 lechcraft, s. leechcraft, 231, 61. 
 ledder, s. ladder, 55, 299. 
 lede, s. lead, 55, 303. 
 
 leid, «. to lead, 43, 26; 
 
 ledis, pres. t. pi. lead, 242, 
 
 43. 
 leder, *. leader, 78, 285. 
 lee, s. lie, falsehood, 26, 70. 
 lef, s. leave, 180, 211. 
 left, pt. ceased, stopped, 70, 
 
 100. 
 legacie, s. legacy, 168, 597. 
 legyand, s. legend, inscription, 
 
 213, 15. 
 leiche, v. to cure, 230, 20. 
 leid, pt. lied, 229, 17. 
 
 t>. see lede. 
 
 s. lead (metal), 149, 155. 
 
 leid, s. man, 108, 53: na 1., no 
 one, 161, 449: folk, Lipper 
 1., 163, 480. 
 
 leif, s. leaf, 152, 238. 
 
 s. leave, permission, 125, 
 
 23: taen 1., departed, 243, 
 57; v. give permission, 93, 
 14; to leave, 192, 510. 
 
 v. to live, 139, 140. 
 
 pp. loved, 193, 524. 
 
 leiffand, pres. p. leaving, 9, 50. 
 leiffis, v. lives, 5, 51. 
 
 leil, leill, lele, a. leal, loyal, 
 
 true, 96, 72. 
 leine, a. lean, 149, 159. 
 leip, v. leap, 114, 173. 
 leir, v. to learn, 11, 81 (A. S. 
 
 leornian, to learn). 
 
 v. to teach, 135, 82 (A. S. 
 
 leeran, to teach). 
 
 leird= leir it, i.e., learn it, 232, 
 81. 
 
 pt. taught, 71, 123. 
 
 leirit, pt. learned, 181, 226. 
 leis, s.pl. fields, 120, 79. 
 
 pres. t. 2nd pers. liest, 54, 
 
 287; 3rd pi. lie, 61, 77. 
 
 leist, adv. least: at the 1., at 
 
 least, 117, 7. 
 leit, pt. lied, 118, 38. 
 leitand, pres. p. pretending, 
 
 making as though, 128, 102. 
 lelar, comp. of lele, 180, 207. 
 lele, see leil. 
 leme, s. ray, gleam, 34, 6; pi. 
 
 lemys, 66, 4. 
 lemanry, s. concubinage,, 42, 4. 
 lemmane, s. sweetheart, 28, 106. 
 lemmar, s. rascal, rogue, 54, 
 
 281. 
 lempet, s. limpet, 281, 56. 
 lemys, see leme. 
 len, v. to lend, 130, 134. 
 lenand, pres. p. leaning, 51, 
 
 230. 
 lene, leyne, a. lean, 36, 67. 
 Lent, 140, 5. See middis and 
 
 note, p. 280. 
 
340 
 
 GLOSS AEY. 
 
 Lenterne, Lent, 95, 50. 
 lenth, s. length, 103, 223. 
 lenyt, pt. leaned, lay, 67, 24. 
 leopardis, s. pi. leopards, 45, 78. 
 lerd, pt. taught, 45, 89. 
 lerion, s. grey dormouse, 46, 
 
 119 (F. liron). 
 lerit, a. learned, 241, 29. 
 lerit, pt. taught, 34, 21 (see 
 
 leir) . 
 less, a. smaller, lower, referr- 
 ing to amount of custom 
 
 dues, 12, 12. 
 lest, v. to last, endure, continue, 
 
 63, 117. 
 lestand, a. lasting, enduring, 92, 
 
 319. 
 lesum, a. lawful, 209, 14. 
 lesure, s. lesion, injury, wound, 
 
 230, 20. 
 let, v. to hinder, 20, 180. 
 pt. of lat, made: 1. draw, 
 
 made to withdraw, 54, 280. 
 letter, s. letter, order of a 
 
 court, 58, 17. 
 letteris, s. letters (of the alpha- 
 bet), 168, 606. 
 lettres, s. (legal) decree of 
 
 exemption, 51, 226. See 
 
 letter, 
 leuch, luche, pt. laughed, 26, 
 
 50. 
 levand, s. living, 96, 72. 
 levar, lever, s. liver, 215, 38. 
 leve, v. to leave, 194, 534; s. 
 
 leave, farewell, 55, 299. 
 lever, adv. rather, 8, 29. 
 
 see levar. 
 
 leves, s. pi. leaves, 177, 146. 
 leving, s. living, food, 39, 130; 
 
 mode of life, 55, 307. 
 levis, *. pi. leaves, 77, 260. 
 levit, pt. lived, 12, 7. 
 lewar, *. louvre, window, 32, 
 
 189 (Fr. louvert for I'ouvert, 
 
 the open space), 
 leyne, see lene. 
 liaris, s. pi. liars, 33, 210. 
 
 lib, v. to cut, 230, 20. 
 liccour, s. liquour, 81, 69. 
 licherouse, lichorous, a. lecher- 
 ous, 29, 136. 
 licht, lycht, v. to alight, to fall, 
 
 103, 227. 
 a. light, 103, 219; 
 
 skittish, 106, 10. 
 
 s. light, 14, 42. 
 
 licour, s. liquor, 174, 70. 
 
 lif, s. as a. life: : al his 1. dayis, 
 
 all the days of his life, 11, 
 
 90. 
 liffand, pres. p. living, 14, 55. 
 liffis, *. poss. life's, 8, 30. 
 lifing, s. living, wealth, 55, 312. 
 lif tit, pp. lifted, safe, 30, 161. 
 liggand, pres. p. lying, 74, 211. 
 liggit, pp. lain, 200, 44. 
 lik, lyk, lyke, a. and adv. like, 
 
 5, 48: 1. till, like to, 81, 
 
 48. 
 likame, s. body, 206, 61. 
 likand, a. pleasing, 226, 1. 
 likin, likkin. pres. t. liken, 63, 
 
 120. 
 likkinnit, pp. likened, 104, 255. 
 likly, adv. likely, 84, 138. 
 liklynace, s. likeness, 55, 309. 
 lillie-flour, s. lily, 158, 373. 
 lind, s. loin, buttock, 121, 94. 
 ling, s. heather, patch of 
 
 heather, 111, 106. 
 linget, lint, lynget, lynt, s. 
 
 lint, flax, 86, 182 ; lingetseid, 
 
 linseed, 230, 31. 
 iinkis, s. pi. links, chains, 115, 
 
 202. 
 Upper, a. leprous, 158, 372. 
 Upper, *. lepers, 163, 490: 1.- 
 
 folk, 165, 526. 
 lipper-leid, s. leper-folk, lepers, 
 
 161, 451. See leid. 
 lippis, s.pl. lips, 73, 171. 
 list, pres. t. desires, likes, 
 
 chooses, 171, 2; impers., it 
 
 pleases, 194, 557; pt. 12, 13. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 341 
 
 listis, s. pi. borders, selvages, 
 150, 179. 
 
 Mil, littill, lytil, lytill, a. little, 
 8, 25. 
 
 loft, «. sky, upper air: on 1., 
 aloud, 103, 237; aloft, 82, 
 90. 
 
 logrand, a. loosely-hanging, 
 loosely built, 134, 46. 
 
 loif, v. to praise, flatter, 33, 
 207. 
 
 lois, v. to lose, 135, 87. 
 
 lok, v. to lock, 115, 201. 
 
 lokar, a. curled, 76, 35. 
 
 lokis, lokkis, s. pi. locks (hair), 
 26, 63. 
 
 longis, s. pi. lungs, 229, 10. 
 
 lordis, s. poss. lord's, 17, 110. 
 s. pi. lords, 236, 9. 
 
 lorne, pp. lost, 242, 46. 
 
 lorum, s. short for culorum, the 
 final portion of in secula 
 seculorum, meaning " con- 
 clusion." 
 
 lossit, pp. lost, 32, 184. 
 
 loun, s. fellow, 114, 182. 
 
 a. quiet, unruffled, 77, 260. 
 
 lour, v. to crouch, creep, skulk, 
 48, 157. 
 
 Lourance, Lowrence, Lowry, 
 names for a fox, as Gilbert 
 or Gib for a. cat, 34, 12. 
 
 lourand pres. p. skulking, 
 crouching, 93, 18. 
 
 lousit, lowsd, lowsit, pt. un- 
 yoked, 23. 
 
 lout, v. to bow down, do obeis- 
 ance, 47, 131. 
 
 loveouse, a. uxorious, 29, 136. 
 
 low, lowe, s. flame, 174, 87. 
 
 lowd, adv. openly, 199, 5. 
 
 lowing, s. praise, 72, 159. 
 
 Lowrence, Lowry, see Lourance. 
 
 lowsd, see lousit. 
 
 lowse, imperat. unfasten, re- 
 lease, 75, 238. 
 
 lowsit, see lousit. 
 
 lowt, v. to bow, bend, 47, 126. 
 
 luche, see leuch. 
 
 lucerne, s. lamp, 238, 65. 
 
 Lucifeir, Lucifer, 208, 115. 
 
 lude, pp. loved, 199, 15. 
 
 ludge, ludgeing, s. lodging 
 house, dwelling, 161, 438. 
 
 ludgeit, pp. lodged, 161, 451. 
 
 lue, v. to love, 201, 56. 
 
 luf, v. to love, 8, 27. 
 
 luffage, s. lovage, a genus of 
 plants of the natural order 
 Umbelliferae, 230, 31. 
 
 lufe, luif, *. love, 64, 279. 
 
 luffis, *. poss. love's, 227, 38. 
 
 lufis, s. pi. palms of the hands, 
 hands, 98, 122. 
 
 lug, s. ear, 231, 56. 
 
 lugit, pp. lodged, 14, 43. 
 
 luif, see lufe. 
 
 luifferis, s. pi. lovers, 148, 140. 
 
 Luifis Quene, Queen of Love, 
 144, 22. 
 
 lukand, pres. p. looking, 39, 
 130. 
 
 luik, luk, luke, v. to look, look 
 at, 49, 185; s. 164, 502. 
 
 luke, «. look, countenance, 124, 
 15. 
 
 lukkin, a. webbed, 133, 36. 
 
 lukkit, pt. looked, 207, 81. 
 
 lumpis, s. pi. lumps, 157, 340. 
 
 Lundin, s. Lundin in Fifeshire, 
 231, 61. 
 
 lurkand, pres. p. lurking, hid- 
 ing, 34, 7. 
 
 lustie, a. handsome, 157, 339; 
 healthy and comely, 233, 6; 
 bright-hued, 34, 11 ; carnal, 
 41, 168. 
 
 lustis, s. pi. lusts, 76, 259. 
 
 lusty heid, s. strength and 
 beauty, 233, 20. 
 
 lusumest, a. superl. most lov- 
 able, 228, 61. 
 
 luvit, pt. loved, 199, 5. 
 
 ly, lye, v. lie, 19, 155. 
 
 lyaris, s. liars, 224, 32. 
 
342 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 lybell, s. document, paper: 1. 
 
 of repudie, bill of divorce- 
 ment, 146, 74. 
 lyand, pres. p. lying, 28, 97. 
 lyart, a. gray, 26, 63. 
 lycht, see licht. 
 lychtlie, v. to make light of, 
 
 disparage, 123, 151. 
 lycome, s. body, 214, 31. 
 lye, see ly. 
 lyf, lyfe, lyffe, lyife, lyve, s. 
 
 life, 22, 212: on 1., in life, 
 
 192, 491. 
 lyie, s. pi. lies, 213, 15. 
 lyk, lyke, see lik. 
 lyking, pres. p. caring, 154, 267. 
 lymis, s. pi. limbs, 69, 86. 
 lymmar, s. rascal, rogue, 54, 
 
 280. 
 lynage, s. lineage, 172, 18. 
 lyne, s. stalk (of flax), 87, 204. 
 lynget, lynt, see linget. 
 lynkis, s. links (of a chain), 
 
 242, 46. 
 lyoun, s. lion, 24, 5. 
 lyre, s. flesh, 157, 339. 
 lyt, lyte, *. a little, 204, 17. 
 lytil, lytill, see litil. 
 lyve, v. to live, 28, 112. 
 lyvis, s. pi. lives, 242, 43. 
 lywe, «. life: half on 1., half 
 
 alive, half dead, 89, 259. 
 
 M. 
 
 ma (=mag = may), v. can, 
 may, 9, 41. 
 
 (=mak), ii, to make, 66, 
 
 18. 
 
 (eomp. of mony), a. more; 
 
 additional, e.g., uther ma, 
 others besides, 90, 370. 
 
 mache, s. match, equal, 121, 
 101. 
 
 v. to make, 138, 149. 
 
 maculait, pp. spotted, stained, 
 
 146, 81. 
 
 madin, madyn, s. maiden, 175, 
 94. 
 
 madinhede, s. virginity, 229, 49. 
 
 maid, ft. and pp. made, 12, 11. 
 
 maide, s. maid,- 172, 38. 
 
 Maij, May, 175, 93. 
 
 maill, *. rent, 130, 139. 
 
 maillairis, s. pi. renters, 129, 
 129. 
 
 mailyeis, «. eyelet holes in a 
 laced garment, 209, 15. 
 
 mair, mar, mare, a. and adv. 
 more, 14, 40: m. and lesse, 
 great and small, 243, 66: 
 withoutin m., without more 
 ado, 175, 110. 
 
 mais, pres. t. astonishes, stupi- 
 fies, 28, 114 (M.E. mdsen, to 
 make or become dizzy). 
 
 maist, mast, a. superl. and adv. 
 most, greatest, 112, 130. 
 
 maister, s. master, 47, 144. 
 
 maisteris, pres. t. masters, 114, 
 177. 
 
 maistres, maistress, s. mistress, 
 51, 211. 
 
 maistry, *. wrongful force. 64, 
 152. 
 
 mak, v. make, 4, 32. 
 
 Makar, s. Maker, Creator, 228, 
 71. 
 
 makdome, s. make, form, come- 
 liness, 214, 18. 
 
 makis, makkis, pres. t. makes, 
 10, 60. 
 
 Makyne, diminutive of Matilda 
 or Maud, 199, 3. 
 
 malapart, a. malapert, 70, 108. 
 
 male men, prayers of rent, 128, 
 93. 
 
 maling, s. rent, 129, 119. 
 
 malis, s. discomfort (Fr. 
 malaise), 230, 26. 
 
 malison, s. curse, 98, 118. 
 
 malitious, a. malicious, malig- 
 nant, 156, 324. 
 
 malyse, s. malice, 71, 118. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 man, mon, mone, v. must, 49, 
 
 185. 
 mane, s. main, strength: mycht 
 
 and m., might and main, 
 
 136, 114. 
 
 s. moan, 74, 210. 
 
 maneir, maner, s. manner, kind, 
 
 sort, 4, 32. 
 mangery, «. food, eating, 21, 
 
 183. 
 manheid, s. manhood, 72, 163. 
 manis, v. to menace, 220, 13. 
 mankynd, s. mankind, 236, 7. 
 manis, mannis, s. poss. man's, 
 
 3, 11. 
 mansioun, s. mansion, dwelling, 
 
 147, 96. 
 manteinans, s. maintenance, 
 
 196, 631. 
 mantill, s. mantle, 81, 57. 
 manure place, s. manor house, 
 
 113, 156. 
 mapamond, s. world, 181, 223. 
 mar, mare, see mair. 
 marineir, s. mariner, ferryman, 
 
 133, 22. 
 markit to, went in the direction 
 
 of, 87, 201. 
 raarrit, pp. marred, troubled, 
 
 199, 13. 
 marrow, s. mate, 138, 141. 
 mart, s. an ox fattened for the 
 
 market, 108, 41. 
 martryk, s. marten, 46, 118. 
 marvelous, mervalous, merva- 
 
 lus, a. marvellous, 45, 92; 
 
 miraculous, 227, 49. 
 marvelland, pres. p. marvelling, 
 
 wondering, 8, 15. 
 maryt, pp. married, 189, 427. 
 mass, s. either (1) mass or (2) 
 
 mess, dish of food, 231, 46. 
 mast, see maist. 
 mastis, s. pi. masts, poles, 76, 
 
 243. 
 mat, v. to baffle, 95, 58. 
 mater, s. matter, 11, 96; pi. 
 
 problems, subjects, 4, 26. 
 
 maugre, mawgre, prep, in spite 
 
 of, 200, 45. 
 maw, s. stomach, 184, 298. 
 may, v. can, 224, 22. See ma. 
 may, s. maid, 227, 42. 
 maynye, s. maim, hurt, 62, 241. 
 medow, *. meadow, 175, 94. 
 Megera, Megara, one of the 
 
 Furies, 182, 264. 
 meid, s. meed, reward, bribe, 
 
 62, 96. 
 meik, meke, a. meek, 124, 10. 
 meil, meile, s. meal, 12, 14. 
 meir, mere, s. mare, 130, 134. 
 
 a. pure, 227, 31. 
 
 meise, s. dish, mess, food, 15. 
 
 77; pi. meisis, 15, 69. 
 meit, mete, s. meat, food, meal, 
 
 19, 156. 
 — — met, v. to mete, measure, 
 
 229, 7. 
 v. to meet, 93, 9. 
 
 a. meet, appropriate, be- 
 coming, 227, 37. 
 
 mekil, mekill, mekle, a. and 
 adv. much, great, 214, 18. 
 
 mele, v. to speak, tell, 37, 84. 
 
 mell, v. to mingle, to mate, 82, 
 89. 
 
 mellifluat, mellifluate, a. melli- 
 fluous, 32, 206. 
 
 memoriall, s. thought, 89, 245. 
 
 memorie, inemour, s. memory: 
 puttis in m., relates, 58, 1. 
 
 mencioun, *. mention, 12, 1. 
 
 mene, ». means, 25, 28. 
 
 v. to mean, 44, 55; to pon- 
 der, 49, 169. 
 
 mengit, see ming. 
 menis, menys, «. means, 25, 35. 
 mennis, s. pi. men's, 12, 6. 
 menye, s. servants, folk, people, 
 
 130, 144. 
 menyng, s. meaning, 33, 206. 
 menys, see menis. 
 merbell, *. marble, 168, 603. 
 mercat, s. market: do furth thy 
 
 m., go thy ways, 99, 145. 
 
344 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 merceabill, a. merciful, tender, 
 
 47, 134. 
 merchand, s. merchant, 62, 108. 
 meldrop, s. drop of mucus from 
 
 the nose, 149, 158. 
 mere, see meir. 
 merk, mirk, myrk, a. dark: sit 
 
 full m., sit in great dark- 
 ness, 207, 85. 
 merkand, pres. p. resolving, 52, 
 
 241. 
 merkit, pt. marked, marched, 
 
 went, 21, 195. 
 mermissat, s. marmoset, 47, 120. 
 mervailand, pres. p. marvelling, 
 
 44, 55. 
 mervale, v. to marvel: m. gert 
 
 that myld, maid the gentle 
 
 maid marvel, 226, 13; pt. 
 
 mervalit. 
 mervalous, mervalus, mervelous, 
 
 see marvelous, 
 mervell, s. marvel, wonder, 5, 
 
 50. 
 mery, mirry, myrry, a. merry, 
 
 4, 20. 
 meryness, s. merriment, 4, 26. 
 meryt, s. merit, 242, 42. 
 mesour, *. measure: by m., with 
 
 a measure, or perhaps duly, 
 
 properly, 229, 7. 
 messe, s. mass (in church ser- 
 vice), 243, 69. 
 mete, see meit. 
 
 meteyr, s. metre, verse, 6, 58. 
 me think, methinks, 26, 60. 
 metis, pres.t. meets, 52, 248; 
 
 encounters, 226, 8. 
 miching, s. pilfering, 34, 5. 
 micht, mocht, pt. might, 43, 25. 
 micht, s. might, 206, 66; 
 
 michtis, in 228, 71, pi. for 
 
 sing. 
 middill, s. middle, loins, 150, 
 
 180. 
 midding, s. midden, 8, 19. 
 middis, myddis s. midst: in m. 
 
 in the middle of, 64, 142. 
 
 ming, myng, v. to mingle, 4, 
 
 20; mingit, mengit, pt. 
 minglit, pp. mingled, stained, 
 
 157, 337. 
 minister, v. serve, administer, 
 
 232, 83. 
 miracles, s. wonders, miracles, 
 
 227, 37. 
 mirk, see merk. 
 mirrely, adv. merrily, 21, 195. 
 mirry, see mery. 
 miss, s. wrong, sin, 65, 164. 
 mischevis, pres. t. injures, 
 misdede, misdeid, s. misdeed, 
 
 sin, 42, 1. 
 misdoaris, s. pi. evildoers, 48, 
 
 164. 
 misfair, v. to go wrong, 190, 
 
 446. 
 misknaw, v. to misunderstand, 
 
 77, 272. 
 misleving, s. evil - living, 
 
 wickedness, 3, 6. 
 mister, s. need, necessity, 39, 
 
 117. 
 misterlyk, adv. skilfully, 14, 37 
 
 (O. F. mester, from Lat. 
 
 ministerium, an office, a 
 
 trade or craft), 
 mistie, a. misty, 143, 18. 
 mittennis, s. pi. mittens, finger- 
 less gloves, 98, 109. 
 mo, a. ( = ma) more: and birdis 
 
 mo, and other birds, 82, 95. 
 mocht, see micht. 
 moder, a. mother, 4, 31. 
 modewart, s. mole, 47, 120. 
 modicum, s. a little, 15, 75. 
 
 See note, p. 254. 
 moir, a. and adv. more, 33, 209. 
 mois, s. moss, bog, 119, 66. 
 moist, adv. most, 228, 62. 
 
 s. moisture, 10, 76. 
 
 moith, s. moth, 10, 76. 
 
 mok, s. mock, 11, 80. 
 
 mold, moll, mow, s. dust, earth: 
 
 on m., on earth, 185, 329. 
 mon, mone, see man. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 345 
 
 mone, s. moan: maid his m., 
 complained, 177, 133. 
 
 s. moon; in 231, 46, poss. 
 
 case. 
 
 monische, pres. t. admonish, 
 168, 612. 
 
 monstour, s. monster, 171, 13. 
 
 montane, s. mountain, 172, 29. 
 
 mony, monye, a. many, 5, 48; 
 many a, 234, 26: m. ane, 
 many a one, 35, 45. 
 
 mor, adv. more, 171, 6. 
 
 raoralite, moralitee, s. moral, 
 moral lesson, 22, 205. 
 
 more, without m., without de- 
 lay, 45, 87. 
 
 morne, s. morrow,: to m., to- 
 morrow, 212, 28. 
 
 mornyng, s. morning, 16, 97. 
 
 mortifyde, a. mortified, 56, 322. 
 
 moss, s. moss, bog, 13, 23. 
 
 mot, v. may, passim. 
 
 mous, mouss, s. mouse, 47, 123. 
 
 movand, pres. p. moving, 83, 99. 
 
 Movar, s. Mover (i.e., God), 
 243, 66. 
 
 moving, s. movement, 181, 221. 
 
 mow, see mold. 
 
 mowis, s. pi. jests, 121, 101. 
 
 mowlit, u. mouldy, 161, 441. 
 
 mude, s. mood, 13, 34. 
 
 muf, mufe, v. stir: m. in mes- 
 sage, come on errand, come 
 as messenger, 226, 7. 
 
 muk, s. muck, 8, 20. 
 
 mull, s. mule, 46, 104. 
 
 multiplicat, pp. multiplied, 
 181, 236. 
 
 mur, mure, s. moor, 13, 23. 
 
 murnand, murning, pres. p. 
 mourning, complaining, 39, 
 129. 
 
 murnit, pt. mourned, 158, 379. 
 
 murther, a. murderous, 31, 180. 
 
 murthour, s. murder, 54, 294: 
 m. aith, murder oath, 135, 
 89. 
 
 musand, pres. p. musing, 213, 5. 
 
 mustart, s. mustard, 232, 73. 
 mutone, s. mutton, 17, 109. 
 mycht, subj. might, 9, 40. 
 
 s. might, 27, 72. 
 
 mychti, a. mighty, 174, 74; 
 
 comp. mychtiare, 185, 329. 
 myddis, see middis. 
 mydred, s. diaphragm, midriff, 
 
 184, 297. 
 mydwart, s. the middle, 136, 
 
 103. 
 myld, a. mild, 66, 14; as s., 
 
 gentle maid, 226, 13. 
 myle, «. mile, 54, 278; pi. mylis, 
 
 48, 148. 
 mylk, s. milk, 67, 29. 
 myn, myne, pron. my, mine, 12, 
 
 1. 
 mynd, s. .mind: scho tuke in m., 
 
 she remembered, 13, 16: haif 
 
 m. of, remember, 233, 14. 
 myng, myngis, etc., see ming. 
 mynorall, s. mineral, 55, 302. 
 mynour, s. miner, 55, 302. 
 myre, s. mire, soft ground, 120, 
 
 79. 
 myrk, see merk. 
 myrry, a. merry, 70, 96. 
 mysdirt, s. mice-dirt, excrement 
 
 of mice, 232, 73. 
 myse, myss, s. pi. mice, 14, 43. 
 mysleving, s. wrong doing, 
 
 wrong living, 35, 39. 
 myst, s. mist, 195, 602. 
 mysty, u,. misty, 45, 72. 
 myt, s. mite, 71, 128. 
 
 ST. 
 
 na, a. no, 7, 10; adv. not, 232, 
 
 80; no, nay, 94, 22; oonj. 
 
 nor, 16, 90; than, 138, 141; 
 
 s. Nay, 194, 574. 
 Nabot, Naboth, 185, 336. 
 naikit, nakit, a. naked, 42, 17. 
 
 In 193, 529, perhaps s. 
 
 nakedness, 
 nailit, pp. nailed, 194, 599. 
 
346 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 uailles, s. pi. nails, claws, 8, 29. 
 
 nakit, see naikit. 
 
 namely, namlie, adv. especially, 
 
 73, 174. 
 namyt, a. named, 172, 38. 
 nane, a. and pron. none, 14, 56. 
 nar, adv. near, 102, 210; comp. 
 
 in 154, 263. 
 natall, a. native, 68, 51. 
 nather, nothir, nouder, nouther, 
 
 nowdir, nowthir, nowther, 
 
 conj. neither, 8, 24. 
 nathing, s. nothing, 153, 257; 
 
 adv. 237, 30. 
 near, adv. nearly, 89, 246. 
 neb, s. beak, 31, 181. 
 neddirmair, adv. lower still, 
 
 182, 260. 
 nedis, neidis, v. impers. need: 
 
 it n. nocht heir record, need 
 
 not here be recorded, 4, 35: 
 
 me n., I must, 5, 37. 
 nedlingis, adv. necessarily, 41, 
 
 174. 
 negligens, s. negligence, 71, 136. 
 neid, s. need, 22, 214; a. 
 
 necessary, 96, 75. 
 neidis, see nedis. 
 neip, s. turnip, 112, 131. 
 neir, ner, nere, adv. near, 
 
 nearly, 57, 341; a. 147, 113; 
 
 prep. 235, 49. 
 neirar, adv. comp. nearer, 106, 
 
 15. 
 neise, nois, s. nose, 243, 62. 
 neisl, a. next, 147, 109. 
 nek, s. neck, 36, 58. 
 nekhering, s. neckherring, a 
 
 stiff blow on the back of the 
 
 neck or cuff on the ear, 99, 
 
 139. See note, 
 ner, nere, see neir. 
 nett, s. net (fishing), 85, 142. 
 nettil, s. nettle, 231, 48. 
 new, adv. newly, recentlv, 36, 
 
 55. 
 nicht, nycht, s. night, 103, 235. 
 nippis, pres. t. nips, 105, 273. 
 
 nixt, ». next, 97, 108. 
 nobil, nobill, a. noble, 6, 57. 
 nocht, noucht, s. and adv. 
 
 nothing, nought, not. G8, 59. 
 nod, v. to sleep, 231, 50. 
 noi, s. hurt, injury, 10, 63. 
 nois, see neise. 
 non, a. indef. no, 238, 54. 
 none, s. noon, 87, 203. 
 nons, for the, adv. phrase, for 
 
 the occasion, on an occasion 
 
 (older form, for then ones, 
 
 where then is dat. of the 
 
 article, and ones — once — is 
 
 used as noun), 11, 83. 
 nop, v. to take a nap, 231, 50. 
 nor, conj. than, 108, 41; but 
 
 that, 69, 82. 
 northin, a. north, 143, 17. 
 not, s. note, 211, 3. 
 notar, s. notary public, 59, 29. 
 
 See note, 
 notis, s. pi. notes, tunes, 82, 76. 
 nothir, nouder, nouther, nowdir, 
 
 nowthir, nowther, see nather. 
 nowmer, s. number, 81, 53. 
 noyis, s. noise, 66, 9. 
 nureis, nurice, s. nurse, 150, 
 
 171. 
 nutis, nuttis, s. pi. nuts, 14, 45; 
 
 pass. sing, nut's, 4, 15. 
 nyce, u. nice, 32, 195; hasty, 
 
 232, 72. 
 nycht, see nicht. 
 nychtbouris, s. pi. neighbours, 
 
 223, 4. 
 nychtingale, *. nightingale, 28, 
 
 102. 
 nyne, a. nine, 172, 35. 
 nynt, a. ninth, 126, 60. 
 
 O. 
 
 oblise, v. oblige, bind, 127, 73. 
 oblissing, s. bond, 108, 47. 
 obstynate, a. obstinate, 241, 27. 
 occurris, pres. t. occurs, 45, 91. 
 ocht, oucht, owcht, s. aught, in 
 any way, 110, 89. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 347 
 
 Octaviane, Augustus Ca?sar 
 Octavianus, 240, 12. 
 
 odius, a. odious, 60, 46. 
 
 of, prep, from, out of, in re- 
 spect of, off, with, by, 
 passim; joyit of, enjoyed, 30, 
 141; of case, by chance, 42, 
 16. 
 
 offens, s. offence, sin, 65, 169. 
 
 oftin, a. many, 89, 261. 
 
 okir, s. usury, 65, 166. 
 
 oliphant, s. elephant, 46, 97. 
 
 on, prep, in, at, during, by, 
 passim; against, 223, 4. 
 
 — — far, adv. phr. afar off, 93, 
 20. 
 
 • syde, adv. phr. aside, 229, 
 
 5. 
 
 one (=on), prep, in: one deed, 
 indeed, 228, 55. 
 
 ontill, prep, unto, 66, 7. 
 
 onto, prep, unto, 135, 77. 
 
 ony, a. any, 10, 67. 
 
 operatioun, s. operation, con- 
 duct, 5, 48. 
 
 opinit, opinnit, oppynit, pt. 
 opened, 159, 388. 
 
 oppin, a. open, 69, 74. 
 
 oppressouris, s. pi. oppressors, 
 128, 97. 
 
 oppynit, see opinit. 
 
 or, adv. conj. ,ere, before, 15, 
 61. ' 
 
 orature, s. oratory, 143, 8. 
 
 ordour, s. order, 50, 191. 
 
 orisionis, s. pi. orisons, prayers, 
 235, 53. 
 
 ornat, pp. adorned, 10, 66. 
 
 oster, perhaps oyster, 232, 71. 
 
 othir, a. other, 10, 76. 
 
 ottour, s. otter, 46, 109. 
 
 oucht, see ocht. 
 
 ouer, adv. over, 47, 144. 
 
 ouerdraif, pt. drove over, 119, 
 69. 
 
 ouirspread, a. overspread, 157, 
 339. 
 
 ouirquhelmit, pt. overwhelmed, 
 
 159, 401. 
 our, ower, owir, adv. over, too, 
 
 44, 47; prep, over, passim. 
 our-all, adv. everywhere, 240, 
 
 13. 
 ourcum, v. overcome, 165, 540. 
 ourdrevin, pp. overdriven, 
 
 passed, 214, 30. 
 oure, owre, poss. pron. our, 79, 
 
 12. 
 
 s. hour, 232, 89. 
 
 ourfret, a. fretted, decorated, 
 
 variegated, 149, 163. 
 ourgane, pp. oppressed, 243, 59. 
 ourhelit, pp. covered over, 32, 
 
 191. 
 ourpass, t. overpass, pass, pass 
 
 away, 72, 143. 
 oursyll, v. hide, cover, 239, 79; 
 
 pp. oursyld, 178, 170. 
 oursyt=our syt, 238, 69. See 
 
 syt. 
 ourthraw, v. to overthrow, de- 
 stroy, 238, 59; pp. our- 
 thraw, ourthrawin. 
 ourturnit, pp. overturned, 65, 
 
 162. 
 outher, outhir, conj. either, 93, 
 
 6; pro. 137, 122. 
 outragius, a. outrageous, 125, 
 
 40. 
 outwaill, s. outcast, 148, 129. 
 outwart, a. outward, 187, 386. 
 overtuke, pt. 2nd sing, over- 
 
 tookest, 122, 131. 
 owcht, see ocht. 
 owir, see our. 
 owlk, s. week, 29, 132. 
 owre, see oure. 
 owt, adv. out, 183, 287. 
 
 paddok, s. paddock, frog, 132, 
 
 10. 
 paill, a. pale, 28, 94. 
 
348 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 pain, s. pain, punishment, 38, 
 
 108: tak pairte of p., take 
 
 part of the punishment, 
 paint, pt. suffered, 228, 56. 
 pair, i: to impair, 214, 22. 
 pairt, pairte, parte, s. part, 10, 
 
 59; example, 50, 192. 
 pairteis, parteis, s. parties (in 
 
 a law court), 223, 13. 
 pairtit, pp. parted, separated, 
 
 92, 310. 
 pairtles, a. having no part in, 
 
 58, 10. 
 paiss. s. weight, penalty, 126, 
 
 52. 
 Paiss, Pase, Pasche, s. Easter, 
 
 38, 110. 
 palmester, s. palmist, 234, 42. 
 palpis, pappis, s. pi. paps, 174, 
 
 69. 
 palyoun, s. pavillion, 45, 82. 
 pane, payne, s. pain, 20, 173; 
 
 penalty, 38, 102. 
 s. bed (flower bed), 160, 
 
 427. 
 pansing, s. thinking, 210, £7. 
 panys, s. pi. pains, 184, 299. 
 pappis, see palpis. 
 paramour, s. love, loved one, 
 
 145, 53. 
 parfyt, a. perfect, 190, 149. 
 parpell-wall, s. division wall, 
 
 21, 187. 
 parrell, *. peril, penalty, 44, 70. 
 part, v. imperat. give, divide, 
 
 163, 494. 
 parte, see pairt. 
 parteis, see pairteis. 
 partit, pp. separated, parted, 
 
 31, 182. 
 party tresoun, 54, 294. See- 
 note, p. 261. 
 pary, o. to wager, 232, 84. 
 pas, v. to pass, 84, 128. 
 Pasche, Pase, see Paiss. 
 pasit, paisit, pt. moderated, 
 
 softened, restrained, 73, 184. 
 
 passage, s. passing, going out. 
 
 19, 145. 
 patelet, s. a woman's ruff, 210, 
 
 27. 
 Paternoster, s. Lord's Prayer ( 
 
 36, 56. 
 patill, *. plough-staff, 106, 13. 
 payne, see pane, 
 payntit, u. painted, 46, 101. 
 peacis, *. pi. for sing, peace, 
 
 salvation, 228, 56. 
 pece, s. peace, 129, 116. 
 pecis, s. pi. pieces, 82, 74. 
 pedder, s. pedlar, 98, 120. 
 Pegase, «. Pegasus, 45, 94. 
 peilit, pelit, pp. peeled, 
 
 plundered, skinned, 233, 4. 
 peip, s. cheep, squeak (of a 
 
 mouse), 132, 7. 
 peir, a. and s. peer, equal, 11, 
 
 207. 
 peirsing. pres. p. piercing, 151, 
 peirrie, s. perry, 161, 441. 
 
 79. 
 peise, peiss, pese, s. peas, pease, 
 
 19, 160. 
 pelit, see peilit. 
 pellet, s. skin, 98, 121. 
 penchis, s. pi. paunches, 38, 
 
 116. 
 penetent, a. penitent, 237, 34. 
 penetryve. penitryf, a. search- 
 ing, cruel, 237, 26. 
 pennair, s. " penner," case for 
 
 pens or writing materials, 
 
 67, 38. 
 pennance, s. penance, 38, 101. 
 pennis, s. pi. wings, 80, 46. 
 penss, v. think, meditate, 234, 
 
 34. 
 pennyfull, a. full and round (as 
 
 the moon), 113, 157. 
 pennyt, a. penned, bristling 
 
 with pens (the porcupine"), 
 
 46, 109. 
 pensyf, a. pensive, 188, 389. 
 pepill, peple, s. people, 147, 
 
 113. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 349 
 
 perallis, s. pi. perils, 57, S47. 
 
 peraventure, adv. peradventure, 
 perhaps, 7, 14. 
 
 perell, s. peril, 10, 72. 
 
 perellus, a. perilous, dangerous, 
 10, 61. 
 
 peremptourly, adv. peremptor- 
 ily, 68, 19. 
 
 perfyt, perfyte, a. perfect, 36, 
 68. 
 
 perle, s. pearl, 234, 26. 
 
 perly, a. pearly, 213, 3. 
 
 permingit, pt. pissed, 14, 47. 
 
 Peros, s. Pyroeis, one of the 
 steeds of the Sun, 152, 215. 
 
 perquir, adv. by heart, thor- 
 oughly, 138, 155 (Fr. par 
 coeur). 
 
 perreill, perrel, perrell, s. peril, 
 danger, 19, 156. 
 
 perreist, pp. perished, destroy- 
 ed, 237, 27. 
 
 perrelling, s. pannelling, the 
 wooden lining of a wall, 20, 
 176. 
 
 perrelus, perrellus, a. perilous, 
 236, 8. 
 
 persaif, persave, r. to perceive, 
 137, 135. 
 
 persaving, gerund, perceiving, 
 136, 96. 
 
 persevand, pres. p. seeing, per- 
 ceiving, 136, 106. 
 
 persew, persewe, pres. t. sub]. 
 pursues, 118, 33. 
 
 persoun, s. person, 71, 132. 
 
 persuaid, imperat. persuade, 78, 
 296. 
 
 pertrik, s. partridge's, 101, 177. 
 
 pervertaris, s. pi. perverters, 
 128, 100. 
 
 pese, see peise. 
 
 pes, peas, pess, s. peace, 196, 
 617. 
 
 pestilens, s. pestilence, C5, 171. 
 
 pete, petie, pety, pietie, pitee, 
 s. pity, 19, 153. 
 
 peteuss, pitous, petouss, pietu- 
 ous, a. piteous, 32, 7. 
 
 petpot, s. peat-pot, peat-hole, 
 43, 33. 
 
 peure, pure, a. poor, 229, 16. 
 
 pew, s. cry of a bird (kite), 
 137, 125. 
 
 Phaeton, s. Phaethon, 151, 205. 
 
 phantesye, s. fantasy, 79, 20. 
 
 Pharo, Pharaoh, 185, 331. 
 
 Phebus, Phcebus, 143, 14. 
 
 Philegoney, Phlegon, one of the 
 steeds of the Sun, 152, 216. 
 
 phisike, s. physic, 144, 34. 
 
 phisnamour, s. physiognomist, 
 234, 42. 
 
 phisnomie, phisnomy, s. phy- 
 siognomy, 49, 180; the art 
 of interpreting character 
 from external appearance, 
 134, 48. 
 
 picht, pt. pitched, 45, 82. 
 
 pitie, see pete. 
 
 pietuous, see peteuss. 
 
 pik, s. pitch, resin, 230, 35. 
 
 pike, v. to plunder, 241, 20. 
 
 piking, gerund, stealing, 25, 27. 
 
 pilgryme, s. pilgrim, 13, 20. 
 
 pill, v. to rob, 241, 20. 
 
 pinnit, pp. pinned, 160, 423. 
 
 pitee, see pete. 
 
 placebo, the first word of ves- 
 pers in the Office for the 
 dead; hence vespers, 241, 19: 
 can placebo = flatter, Greg- 
 ory Smith. 
 
 placis, s. places: in every p., 
 everywhere, 228, 60. 
 
 plagis, plaigis, s. pi. plagues, 
 185, 332. 
 
 plaid, pp. played, 54, 284. 
 
 plaig, s. plague, 237, 26. 
 
 plait, s. plate, dish, 18, 121 ; 
 pi. plaittis, 160, 420. 
 
 plane, s. clear ground, 21, 194; 
 a flat space, 82, 223; a plain, 
 200, 31. 
 
350 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 plane, a. manifest, 228, 60 ; adv. 
 
 clearly, plainly, fully, 53, 
 
 265. 
 planetis, s. pi. planets, 34, 17. 
 plank, = plack, s. a small coin, 
 
 gift, 108, 40. See note, 
 plant, playnt, s. plaint, com- 
 plaint, 178, 167. 
 playand, pres. p. playing, 186, 
 
 347. 
 playis, pres. t. 2nd sing., play- 
 
 est, 113, 152. 
 playnt, see plant, 
 pleasandlie, adv. pleasantly, 
 
 beautifully, 81, 62. 
 pleasance, pleasans, pleasaunce, 
 
 plesaunce, s. enjoyment, 
 
 pleasure, 91, 291. 
 pleid, s. argument, talk, dis- 
 cussion, pleading (legal), 32, 
 
 186. 
 pleis, pleise, v. to please, 56, 
 
 319. 
 plente, *. plenty, wealth, 17, 
 
 102. 
 plenteus, a. plenteous, full, 66, 
 
 12. 
 plenye, r. to complain, 186, 360. 
 plesance, plesans, see pleas- 
 aunce. 
 plesand, a. pleasing, pleasant, 
 
 33, 205. 
 plesaunce, see pleasance. 
 plesing, *. pleasing, pleasure, 
 
 28, 110. 
 plesis, pres. t. pleases, 37, 72. 
 plesour, s. pleasure, 116, 215. 
 plet, plete, v. to pleat, fold, 
 
 embrace, 13, 33. 
 pleuch, s. plough, 83, 101. 
 pley, ply, s. plea, case, (legal), 
 
 59, 45. 
 ploungit, plungit, pp. plunged, 
 
 43, 36. 
 pluckkit, pt. plucked, pulled, 
 
 111, 107. 
 
 ply, see pley. 
 
 plye, plycht, plyte, s. 
 
 state, peril, blame, 126, 54: 
 in to ply, in good condition, 
 95, 55. 
 
 plyis, v. pleadest, 126, 56. 
 poecy, poesy, s. poetry, 189, 
 
 420; poem, 55, 308. 
 poeit, s. poet, 153, 245. 
 poik, perhaps pock or scab, 232, 
 
 71. 
 pointis, s. pi. points, 38, 99. 
 poisoun, poysoun, «. poison, 176, 
 
 106. 
 poleist, poleit, a. polished, 3, 3. 
 pollis, s. pi. poles, 45, 82. 
 
 s. pi. skulls: deid p., 
 
 death's-heads, 233, heading. 
 
 Pollymyo, *. Polyhymnia, the 
 
 muse of singing and rhetoric, 
 
 173, 52. 
 porcupvne, s. porcupine, 46, 
 
 109. 
 port, s. carriage, bearing, 161, 
 
 446. 
 
 s. gate, 187, 386. 
 
 portare, s. porter, 182, 251. 
 porteouss, s. book, roll, 63, 128. 
 potestat, s. potentate, 76, 255. 
 pothecairis, s. pi. apothecaries, 
 
 154, 248. 
 pottingary, s. the art of an 
 
 apothecary, 229, 16. 
 poverte, povertie, s. poverty, 14, 
 
 55. 
 pow, s. paw, 70, 98. 
 poweir, s. power, 199, 23. 
 poynt, s. point, 73, 181: in p., 
 
 on the point of, 73, 181; 
 
 hint, 66, 17; pi. details, 232, 
 
 82. 
 poysonable, u. poisonous, 32, 
 
 197. 
 poysonis, pres. t. poisons, 190, 
 
 442. 
 poysoun, see poisoun. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 351 
 
 practik, prectik, prettick, s. 
 
 practice, 51, 219; evidence, 
 
 54, 288. 
 practysis, s. pi. prescriptions, 
 
 229, heading, 
 pray, s. prey, 69, 85. 
 precelling, pres. p. excelling, 
 
 161, 446. 
 precept, s. instruction, com- 
 mand, 4, 34. 
 preehe, v. to preach, 36, 55. 
 precheour, *. preacher, 91, 304. 
 preching, s. preaching, 55, 308. 
 preeius, a. precious, 7, 6. 
 preclair, a. most famous, 239, 
 
 73. 
 prectik, see practik. 
 preif, preve, s. proof, 109, 75. 
 preif e, v. to prove, try, 
 
 taste, 4, 31. 
 preis, v. to resist, strive, en- 
 deavour, 104, 237. 
 preisit, pp. either praised or 
 
 prized, 242, 42. 
 preist, s. priest, 147, 107. 
 prene, s. pin, 160, 423. 
 prent, v. to print, 135, 70; s. 
 
 print, image, 71, 132. 
 present, v. to represent, 63, 113. 
 preserf, v. to preserve, 238, 56. 
 preservis. pres. t. preserves, 10, 
 
 61. 
 presis (see preis), pres. t. plu. 
 
 press, endeavour, 56, 319. 
 presomyng, pres. t. suspecting, 
 
 124, 13. 
 presonair, s. prisoner, 70, 103. 
 presoun, s. prison, captivity, 75, 
 
 221. 
 presume, s. suspicion, 88, 227. 
 presumis, pres. t. condescends, 
 
 51, 225. 
 presumit, pt. assumed, took for 
 
 granted, 159, 397. 
 pretend, v. to show, venture on, 
 pretius, a. precious, 234, 26. 
 prettick, prettik, see practick. 
 preve, see preif. 
 
 prevely, privelie, adv. privily, 
 secretly, stealthily, 16, 93. 
 
 prevetie, s. privity, secrecy, 
 195, 582. 
 
 previlege, s. privilege, 63, 263. 
 
 price, s. honour, 72, 159. 
 
 prik, v. to prick, urge, 37, 77. 
 
 princes, s. princess, 227, 27. 
 
 principio,: in p., in the beginn- 
 ing, Lat. phrase; first words 
 in Genesis and in S. John's 
 gospel; monkish jargon, 102, 
 204. 
 
 privelie, privelye, see prevely. 
 
 privie, a. private, secret, con- 
 fiding, 119, 24. 
 
 proceid, i>. to proceed, 62, 93. 
 
 profecy, s. prophecy, 195, 586. 
 
 profitabill, a. profitable, in- 
 structive, 4, 19. 
 
 profixit, pp. prefixed, 195, 575. 
 
 progenitour, s. progenitor, 171, 
 10. 
 
 progenitrys, s. progenitrix, 174, 
 67. 
 
 promissioun, s. promise, 71, 118. 
 
 pronnncit, pt. pronounced, de- 
 livered, 62, 88. 
 
 properte, propertie, s. property, 
 possession, 14, 56; quality, 
 nature, 41, 173; pi. pro- 
 perteys, 10, 57. 
 
 propir, a. proper, right, 80, 38. 
 
 propone, v. to propose, to state 
 a case, 59, 37. 
 
 proporcioun, s. (musical term) 
 piece, 187, 368. 
 
 Proserpina, Proserpyne, s. Pro- 
 serpine, 184, 310. 
 
 prosperite, s. prosperity, 18, 
 130. 
 
 prostrait, prostrat, a. prostrate, 
 submissive, 47, 135. 
 
 provyde, v. to see, foresee, 83, 
 118; provydit, foreordained, 
 194, 566. 
 
 prowdly, adv. proudly, 206, 49. 
 
352 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 prowe, prep. = pro. for, 61, 73: 
 p. et contra, for and against, 
 61, 73. 
 
 prudens, s. prudence, 10, 65; 
 providence, 238, 67. 
 
 pruf, v. prove, 226, 3. 
 
 Pryame, Priam, 185, 321. 
 
 pryce, pryis, pryse, s. price, 
 value, 232, 66; bribe, 61, 75. 
 
 pryd, pryde, s. pride, 14, 47. 
 
 prydefull, a. full of pride, 
 proud, 30, 141. 
 
 pryis, see pryce. 
 
 pryme, s. Prime, the first religi- 
 ous service of the day, held 
 during the first hour after 
 sunrise, 232, 84. 
 
 prymrose, prymross, s. prim- 
 rose, 66, 16. 
 
 pryse, see pryce. 
 
 puddingis, s. pi. puddings, 38, 
 114. 
 
 pultrie, pultry, s. poultry, 95, 
 54. 
 
 puneist, punyst, pp. punished, 
 126, 49. 
 
 pungitive, a. stinging, 152, 229; 
 distressing, 237, 29. 
 
 punissing, s. punishment, 237, 
 35. 
 
 pur, pure, a. poor, 13, 20. 
 
 purchase, «. concubinage, 42, 5. 
 
 purchess, v. to gain, succeed, 
 130, 139. 
 
 pure, see pur. 
 
 a. utter, mere, 243, 71. 
 
 purfillit, pp. bordered, em- 
 broidered, 81, 62. 
 
 purifyit, pt. purified, 143, 17. 
 
 purpois, s. purpose, 24, 12. 
 
 purpour, purpure, a. purple, 66. 
 16. 
 
 purpurat, a. purple, ornate, 6, 
 58. 
 
 pursevant, s. pursuivant, 44, 49. 
 
 purs, s. purse, 164, 521; pi. 98, 
 120. 
 
 puttis, pres. t. puts, 27, 79. 
 
 puttyng, pres. p. putting, 
 
 giving, 5, 47. 
 pyikstaf, pykestaf, s. pikestaff, 
 
 117, 19. 
 pykaris, s. pi. thieves, 14, 42. 
 pyke, v. to steal, 98, 121; to 
 
 pick, 115, 198. 
 pyket, pp. picked out, 58, 16. 
 pykis, s. pi. pikes, 184, 292. 
 Pylat, Pilate, 185, 327. 
 pyme, s. cry, 86, 167. 
 pyne, s. mourning, suffering. 
 
 188, 403. 
 pypand, pres. p., piping, 137, 
 
 125. 
 a. clear, glistening. 101, 
 
 177. 
 pype, v. to pipe, 86, 185. 
 pypeis, pypes, s. pipes, casks, 
 
 81, 67. 
 pyper, s. piper, 98, 112. 
 pytht, s. pith, strength, 214, 22. 
 
 Q. 
 
 quadruplat, quadruplate (musi- 
 cal term), quadruple tone, 
 181, 228. 
 
 quair, s. book, 144, 40. 
 
 quairthrow, adv. wherethrough, 
 through u-hich, 49, 189. 
 
 quakand, pres. p. quaking, 48, 
 160. 
 
 quakis, pres. t. quakes, 86, 178. 
 
 qualye, s. quail, 85, 158. 
 
 quantite, a. quantity, 22, 215. 
 
 quarrellis, s. pi. quarrels, dis- 
 putes, cases, 31, 170. 
 
 Quene, .5. Queen, 228, 72. 
 
 querell, querrel, s. quarrel, 
 110, 90. 
 
 quert, s. health, 207, 87. 
 
 quha, inter, and rel. pron. who, 
 171, 2. 
 
 quhaill, s. whale, 231, 55; 
 quhailes, pass., 234, 29. 
 
 quhair, quhar, quhare, adv. 
 where, 163, 490; wherein, 33, 
 209. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 353 
 
 quhairever, quhairevir, adv. 
 
 wherever, 98, 123. 
 quhairin, adv. wherein, 25, 24. 
 quhairthrow, adv. where- 
 through, on account of 
 
 which, 32, 184. 
 quhais, quhois, rel. pron. whose, 
 
 72, 165. 
 quhar, quhare, see quhair. 
 quhar - ever, quharevir, adv. 
 
 wherever, 19, 147. 
 quharfor, conj. wherefore, 23, 
 
 233. 
 quhat, interog. and rel. pron., 
 
 what, 158, 367. 
 quhay, rel. pron., who, 194, 548. 
 quheil, quheile, quheill, s. 
 
 wheel, 182, 265. 
 quheillis, pres. t. wheels, 114. 
 
 188. 
 quheit, s. wheat, 21, 200. 
 quhen, adv. when, 9, 52. 
 quhenevir, adv. whenever, 194, 
 
 557. 
 quherland, a. whirling, quick, 
 
 agile, 46, 116. 
 quhether, eonj. whether, 103, 
 
 235. 
 quhetting, pres. p. whetting, 
 
 151, 193. 
 quhidder, adv. whether, 60, 61. 
 quhidder, s. a whizzing sound; 
 
 in 231, 55, the blowing of a 
 
 whale, 
 quhan, quhen, adv. when, 233, 
 
 7. 
 quhile, quhill, quhyle, adv. 
 
 whileB, at one time: quhile 
 
 under buske . . . quhile in 
 
 the come, now under a bush 
 
 . . . now in the corn, 12, 5, 
 
 6: q. that, as long as, 236, 4. 
 quhilis, adv. now, at times, 13, 
 
 32. 
 quhilk, inter, and rel. pro. who, 
 
 which, 5, 54; pi. quhilkis, 
 
 171, 16. 
 
 23 
 
 quhill, s. while, time: the q. 
 that, while, 240, 12. 
 
 conj. till, 229, 1. 
 
 quhirll, s. whirl, 191, 487. 
 quhirling, s. whirling, 183, 270. 
 quhisling, pres p. whistling, 144, 
 
 20. 
 quhytar, a. whiter, 175, 100. 
 quhite, quhyt, quhyte, a. white, 
 
 33, 205. 
 quhither, adv. whither, 107, 29. 
 quhithrat, s. stoat, 46, 116. 
 quhois, see quhais. 
 quhom, quhome, rel. pron., 
 
 whom, 173, 63: q. of, of 
 
 whom, 223, 10. 
 quhow, adv. how, 5, 43. 
 quhy, interog. adv. why, 3, 5. 
 quhyle, s. while, time, 105, 269; 
 
 a short space of time, within 
 
 one q., within a few 
 
 moments, quickly, 164, 517. 
 
 adv. see quhile. 
 
 quhylis, adv. now, 20, 171: 
 
 q. . . q., at one time . . . 
 
 at anoher time, 
 quhylum, adv. once, of yore, 
 
 117, 1. 
 quhyt, quhyte, see quhite. 
 quhytlie, u. whitish, white, 152, 
 
 214. 
 quik, «.. quick, living, 29, 126. 
 quit, quyte, pres. t. requite, 75, 
 
 228. 
 quitclame, v. to release, dis- 
 charge, 114, 170. 
 quod, pt.. said, 8, 15. 
 quotidiane, a. daily; as adv., 
 
 233, 15. 
 quyet, s. quiet, 21, 202. 
 quyte, v. see quit, 
 quyte, pp. quit, gone, 29, 131. 
 quyte, adv. quite, 102, 217. 
 
354 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 R. 
 ra, re, s. roe (deer), 119, 65. 
 raches, s. pi. dogs that discover. 
 
 and pursue their prey, 30, 
 
 159. 
 rad, raid, a. afraid, terrified* 
 
 93, 20. 
 raddour, s. fear. In 241, 27, 
 
 Gregory Smith gives it as 
 
 " fickleness " from the idea 
 
 of "timid uncertainty." 
 radicat, pp. rooted, 6, 55. 
 raid, pt. rode, 151, 204. 
 raif, pres. t. rave, 111, 115; pt. 
 
 tore, 120, 91. 
 raik, v. to wander, go, 199, 12. 
 raing, s. a band of huntsmen, 
 
 74, 199. 
 raip, s. rope, 95, 63. 
 rais, raiss, ras, pt. rose, 66, 6. 
 raissis, pres. t. plu. raise, 224, 
 
 26. 
 raith, rayth, adv. soon: full r., 
 
 quickly, thereupon, 106, 18. 
 rak, s. reckoning, consideration:. 
 
 gif na r., make no account 
 
 of, 129. 118. 
 rakkand, pres. p. recking, 
 
 thinking, caring, 102, 215. 
 raklesly, raklie, adv. reck- 
 lessly, 40, 145. 
 Rammy's, s. Ram's, the con- 
 stellation Aries, 35, 24. 
 rampand, pres. p. raging, 124, 
 
 14. 
 rank, a. strong, genuine, 163, 
 
 483. 
 rany, a. rainy, 192, 498. 
 rapis, s. pi. ropes, 74, 198. 
 rarit, pt. roared, 48, 158. 
 ras, see rais. 
 rathly, adv. quickly, rapidly 
 
 (see raith), 183, 276. 
 rattoun, s. rat, 46, 115. 
 ravenus, a. ravenous, 176, 121. 
 raucht, pi. reached (a blow). 
 
 wrought, 53, 266. 
 
 ravischit, pp. ravished, 149, 
 
 142. 
 raw, s. line: on r., in a line, 
 
 199, 12. 
 rawk, a. raucous, hoarse, 132, 
 
 13. 
 rax, v. to prevail, have one's 
 
 way, 55, 313. 
 
 v. reach, extend, increase, 
 
 30, 143. 
 
 rayndeir, *. reindeer, 46, 102. 
 
 rayth, see raith. 
 
 re, see ra. 
 
 reasoun, reson, resone, resoun, 
 
 ressoun, s. reason, 42, 8. 
 recipe, v. imperat. (Latin), 
 
 take (hence used as a noun 
 
 for a prescription), 231, 40. 
 recleme, v. to reclaim, 195, 579. 
 recompens, v. make recompence 
 
 for, 239, 30. 
 record, s. testimony, 224, 19. 
 recreat, recreate, v. to refresh. 
 
 recruit, 69, 86. 
 recreate, pp. recreated, glad- 
 dened, 15, 73. 
 recure, v. to recover, 58, 4; s. 
 
 recovery, 156, 335. 
 red, pt. read, 53, 265: pp. 48, 
 
 166. 
 redaris, s. pi. readers, 123, 141. 
 reddie, reddy, reddye, redy, a. 
 
 ready, 88, 238; immediate, 
 
 62, 111. 
 reddilie, adv. readily, easily, 
 
 103, 235. 
 rede, reid, a. red, 53, 267. 
 
 pres. t. counsel, 84, 
 
 127; to read, 51, 214; per- 
 ceive, 31, 175; s. advice, 89, 
 262. 
 
 redeme, v. to redeem, 237, 43. 
 referrit, v. pp. referred: r. to 
 
 God allane, God alone has to 
 
 do with it, 233, 13. 
 refet, «. to revive, recuperate, 
 
 187, 365. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 355 
 
 refrane, *'. to refrain, cease, 
 165, 544. 
 
 reft, pt. tore, 122, 119. 
 
 refuge, s. escape, 239, 83. 
 
 regeing, s. raging, 212, 19. 
 
 regne, v. reign, 43, 25. 
 
 regnyt, v. pt. reigned, 240, 14. 
 
 regrait, n. regret, sorrow, 159, 
 397; repentance, 236, 10. 
 
 reheirs, rehers, reherse, reherss, 
 v. to rehearse, relate, 145, 
 57. 
 
 reid, a. red, 153, 244. See rede. 
 
 reide, v. gee rede. 
 
 s. reed, 46, 102. 
 
 reif, *. theft, 37, 73; v. rob, 
 108, 49. 
 
 reik, pres. t. extend, grant, 38, 
 112. 
 
 reir, s. rear: stand on *., stand 
 back, 31, 180. 
 
 reird, s. a loud noise, 48, 159. 
 
 reivis, pres. t. bereavest, 200, 
 49. 
 
 rejoise, t\ to gladden, 177, 144. 
 
 rejosit, pt. rejoiced, 83, 107. 
 
 rekill, s. a heap of stones, 120, 
 83. 
 
 releif, v. to relieve, 239, 78. 
 
 remane, v. to remain, 15, 67. 
 
 remede, reriieid, s. remedy, re- 
 compense, 52, 241 ; remis- 
 sion, 72, 147; !'. to remedy, 
 84, 132. 
 
 remembring, pres. p. thinking, 
 113, 147. 
 
 remord, v. to repent, 56, 334; 
 examine, unburden, 41, 180. 
 
 remufe, v. to remove, 144, 21. 
 
 remyt, v. to remit, pardon, 77, 
 276. 
 
 renewit, pp. renewed, freshen- 
 ed, refilled, 81, 66. 
 
 renoun, s. renown, 73, 166. 
 
 rent,' pp. crucified, 237, 39. 
 
 renyeit, pt. reigned, 49, 177. 
 
 repair, s. retreat, 25, 25; re- 
 sort, 235, 47. 
 
 repaire, v. to repair, haunt, 42, 
 
 21. 
 repleit, replet, a. replete, full, 
 
 overflowing, 77, 263. 
 repreif, reproif, reprufe, v. re- 
 prove, 3, 6. 
 reprufe, s. guilt, shame, 226, 
 
 11. 
 reprufit, pp. reproved, 108, 51. 
 repudie, *.' repudiation, fort 
 
 saking: lybell of r., a bill 
 
 of divorce, 146, 74. See 
 
 note, p. 281. 
 requeist, s. request, 69, 78. 
 requyrand, pres. p. requiring, 
 
 174, 77. 
 requyre, pres. t. require, 121, 
 
 105. 
 resaif, v. to receive, 193, 534. 
 residens, s. residence, stay, 180, 
 
 216. 
 reskew, v. to rescue, 30, 153. 
 resolve, pres. t. resolve (argu- 
 ment), 61, 73. 
 reson, resone, resoun, see 
 
 reasoun . 
 respit, s. respite, exemption, 53, 
 
 265. 
 responsaill, s. response, 148, 
 
 127. 
 ressave, v. to receive, 83, 98. 
 ressoun, see reasoun. 
 rethorie, rethory, s. rhetoric, 3, 
 
 3. 
 retour, v. to return, 162, 464 ; 
 
 s. return: suld mak r., would 
 
 return, 145, 51. 
 retreit, v. retract, withdraw, 
 
 237, 36. 
 returne, v. to throw back, 165, 
 
 286. 
 reule, reull, v. to rule, 55, 313. 
 reull, s. rule, good order, 152, 
 
 233. 
 reully, adv. regularly, 107, 22. 
 reuth, rewth, s. pity, 183, 286. 
 revand, a. ravening, 104, 256. 
 reveill, v. to reveal, 37, fc3. 
 
356 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 rever, revere, revir, ryver, s. 
 
 river, 46, 102. 
 revin, revyn, pp. riven, 82, 74. 
 
 s. raven, 63, 127. 
 
 revolve, pres. t. turn over, con- 
 sult (of books), 61, 71. 
 
 rew, rewth, s. ruth, compassion, 
 
 243, 63; mercy, 237, 39; v. 
 
 to rue, 188, 407 ; have pity. 
 
 199, 4. 
 rewl, v. to rule, 219, 46. 
 rewth, see rew. 
 rial, riale, riall, ryal, ryll, a. 
 
 royal, 44, 66. 
 rialte, ryalte, s. royalty, 23, 
 
 224. 
 ribband, pp. trimmed, adorned 
 
 with ribbands, 209, 18. 
 riche, v. to enrich, make rich, 
 
 43, 39; a. for s. rich, 234, 
 
 39. 
 richt, s. right: in r., on right, 
 
 64, 151. 
 
 adv. right, exactly, veiy, 
 
 3, 4: r. now, just now, 121, 
 96: r. sa, just so, 123, 149. 
 
 richteously, adv. lawfully, 42, 2. 
 richteousnes, s. righteousness, 
 
 49, 177. 
 rid, pres. t. counsel, 135, 148. 
 
 See rede, reid. 
 rin, ryn, v. to run, 30, 143. 
 ring, ryng, v. to reign, 55, 313. 
 ringand, pres. p. ringing, 149, 
 
 144. 
 ringis, s. pi. rings, 234, 30. 
 rink, s. man, 171, 12. 
 rinkis, s. pi. courses, 115, 201. 
 ripplit, pt. removed the seed 
 
 from, 87, 205. 
 rivere, s. riever, robber, 31, 180. 
 rob, s. robe, 45, 84. 
 Eobene, Robin, 199, 1. 
 roch, s. rock, 124, 3. 
 rod, s. path, 74, 197. 
 Hodomantus, Rhadamthus, 184, 
 
 308." 
 roif, rufe, 6. peace, 200, 49. 
 
 rois, s. rose, 151, 211. 
 roising, a. rosy, rose-like, 162, 
 
 464. 
 rok, *. distaff, 24, 16. 
 rokkit, pt. rocked, 183, 284. 
 rold, a. placed in rows, 45, 80. 
 rolland, pres. p. rolling, 77, 282. 
 rollis, pres. t. rolls, 152, 217. 
 ron, rone, s. thicket, brushwood, 
 
 46, 102. 
 roseir, s. rose tree, 211, 1. 
 rouch, a. rough, 106, 17; as s., 
 
 rough ground, 119, 52. 
 roun, v. to whisper, 165, 529. 
 roustie, a. red, 150, 188. 
 rout, *. blow, stroke, 99, 136. 
 roundis, pres. t. whispers, 96, 
 
 81. See roun. 
 rowst, s. and v. rust, 10, 76. 
 rowstit, pp. rusted, 69, 76. 
 roy, s. king, 49, 177. 
 royallie, adv. royally, 163, 489. 
 rubie, s. ruby, 167, 582; pi. 
 
 rubeis, 234, 30. 
 rud, rude, s. rood, the cross of 
 
 Christ, 229, 4. 
 ruyd, a. rude, coarse, 
 
 strong, 15, 58. 
 rude, a. red, 186, 354. 
 rufe, s. roof, 241, 26. 
 
 s. quiet, 226, 10. See roif. 
 
 ruffill, v. to bamboozle, 229, 4. 
 rug, v. to tear, rend, 47, 138. 
 ruggis, s. pi. rough pulls, 231, 
 
 40. 
 ruikis, s. pi. rooks, 161, 432. 
 ruke, s. rook, 231, 40. 
 rule, s. good order, 240, 14. 
 rumissing. s. roaring, bellowing, 
 
 74, 204. 
 runkillit, a. wrinkled, 134, 44. 
 rurale, rurall, a. rural, coun- 
 try, 12, 8. 
 ruse, v. to extol, commend, 167, 
 
 573. 
 russat, u. and s. grey, 178, 158. 
 russell, a. reddish; or gray, 93, 
 
 12. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 357 
 
 rustical, a. rustic, 171, 12. 
 rute, s. and v. root, 234, 33: 
 
 r. furth, root out, 86, 174. 
 ruyd, see rud. 
 ry, s. rye, 21, 200. 
 ryal, see rial, 
 ryalte, see rialte. 
 ryce, ryse, s. twigs, brushwood, 
 
 50, 206. 
 rych, a. rich, 10, 71. 
 ryches, s. pi. riches, 10, 75. 
 rycht, s. the right, 128, 104. 
 
 a. just, good, 126, 52. 
 
 adv. right, very, 123, 155; 
 
 exactly, 143, 3. 
 
 rychteous, a. righteous, 29, 138. 
 ryd, ryde, v. ride: till r., to 
 
 ride, 132, 4. 
 rydand, pres. p. riding, 103, 
 
 219. 
 ryfe, v. to tear asunder, 175, 
 
 108. 
 ryis, rys. ryse, ■!>. to rise. 114, 
 
 183. 
 ryll, see rial. 
 
 ryme, v. to sound, 224, 23. 
 s. rhyme, rigmarole, 229, 
 
 4. 
 ryn, see rin. 
 ryng, see ring, 
 rynkis, s.pl. (1) courses; (2) 
 
 men. In 240, 14, either 
 
 meaning gives good sense. 
 
 See rink, 
 rynnand, pres. p. running, 74, 
 
 201. 
 rynnis, pres. t. runs, 227, 38. 
 ryp, rype, a. ripe, 132, 16. 
 rypelie, adv. ripely, carefully, 
 
 155, 303. 
 rypis, pres. t. ripens, 91, 289. 
 rys, ryse, see ryis. 
 ryse, see ryee. 
 ryt, ryte, s. use, habit, way, 14, 
 
 53: ryte and custome, use 
 
 and wont, 
 ryvand, pres. p. riving, tearing 
 
 at, 28, 93. 
 
 ryve, pres. t. rive, 
 
 asunder, 47, 138. 
 ryver, see rever. 
 
 tear 
 
 sa, swa adv. so, 17, 119. 
 
 sad, a. serious, grave, steadfast, 
 
 reliable, 4, 26. 
 sadlie, sadly, adv. gravely, 
 
 heavily, 44, 59. 
 Sagittarye, Sagittarius, one of 
 
 the signs of the zodiac, 35, 
 
 23. 
 said, pp. told, 85, 163. 
 saif, v. to save, 117, 13. 
 
 prep, save, 195, 590. 
 
 saiflie, saifly, adv. safely, 48, 
 
 149. 
 saik, s. sake, 219, 54. 
 saikles, saiklace, sakeless, a. 
 
 guiltless, 126, 49. 
 saill, v. to sail, 98, 124. 
 saipheron, u. saffron, 160, 421. 
 sair, sare, soir, a. sore, 237, 25; 
 
 sad, 233, 15; severe (of 
 
 weather), 64, 147; adv. 
 
 soTely, 29, 139. 
 sairness, s. soreness, pain, 229, 
 
 19. 
 sais, pres. t. says, 24, 17. 
 sait, s. seat, 156, 331. 
 sal, sail, v. aux. shall, 6, 63; 
 
 2nd sing, shalt, 225, 446. 
 said, pt. sold, 62, 109. 
 salmond, salmound, s. salmon, 
 
 39, 138. 
 Salomon, Solomon, 56, 327. 
 sals, s. sauce, 160, 421. 
 salust, salusit, pt. saluted, 67, 
 
 45. 
 Salviour, Saviour, 140, 198. 
 samin, sammyne, samyn, 
 
 samyne, a. same, 43, 26. 
 sanct, s. saint, 52, 234. 
 sane, v. to say, 39, 137. 
 sang, s. song, 29, 119. 
 sapheris, s. pi. sapphires, 234, 
 
 28. 
 
358 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 sapiens, s. wisdom, 189, 425. 
 sapour, s. flavour, quality, 172, 
 
 22. 
 sappie, a. moist, 83, 98. 
 saie, see sair. 
 sark, s. shirt, 206, 62. 
 sary, a. sorry, poor, 17, 116. 
 Sathanas, Satan, 116, 214. 
 satlingis, s. sediment, grounds, 
 
 230, 29. 
 Saturne, Saturnus, s. Saturn, 
 
 149, 151. 
 sauf, imperat. save, 54, 283. 
 
 a. safe, 215, 35. 
 
 saul, saule, saull, e. soul, 10, 
 
 77. 
 saw, v. to sow, scatter, 11, 84. 
 
 s. saying, word, 108, 52. 
 
 sawand, pres. p. sowing, 83, 
 
 102. 
 sawaris, «. poss. sower's, 83, 103. 
 sawin, pp. sown, 85, 156. 
 sawis, s. pi. salves, 230, 21. 
 sawlis, *. pi. souls, 173, 54. 
 sawrand, a. savoury, tasty, 232, 
 
 88. 
 sayand, pres. p. saying, 36, 56. 
 sayd, a. said, aforesaid, 243, 70. 
 sayis, pres. t. pi. say, 4, 19; 
 
 sing, says, 59, 44; 2nd sing. 
 
 sayest, 96, 70. 
 scaith, s. injury, hurt, 12, 6. 
 scant, adv. hardly, 184, 305. 
 scantlie, adv. scarcely, 20, 164. 
 schadow, schaddow, s. shadow, 
 
 reflection (in the mirror), 
 
 157, 348. 
 schaikand, schakand, pres. p. 
 
 shaking, 151, 190. 
 schaipit, pp. escaped, 112, 142. 
 schame, schayme, s. shame, 36, 
 
 47: v. 1 sch., I am ashamed, 
 
 38, 97. 
 schamefull, a. shameful, 30, 
 
 145. 
 schankis, ■?. pi. limbB, legs, 175, 
 
 100. 
 
 scharpe, a. sharp, 184, 292. 
 schaw, schawe, s. wood, grove, 
 
 25, 23. 
 
 v. to show, 59, 28. 
 
 schawand, pres. p. showing, 34, 
 
 11. 
 schawin, pp. shown, 13, 31. 
 schawis, pres. t. pi. show, 36, 
 
 68. 
 schayme, see schame. 
 sche, scho, pron. she, 14, 50. 
 sched, pt. shed, scattered, 143, 
 
 18; 2nd sing, didst shed, 
 
 237, 42; pp. divided, parted, 
 
 152, 222. 
 scheddand, pres. p. dividing, 
 
 cutting, 80, 46. 
 scheild, s. shield, 164, 516; u. 
 
 to protect, hide, 120, 88. 
 scheip, s. sheep, 46, 110. 
 scheiphird, s. shepherd, shep- 
 herds, 60, 63. 
 scheld, s. shield, protection, 14, 
 
 38. 
 schell, s. shell, 4, 15. 
 schene, a. bright and beautiful, 
 
 228, 62: *. glitter, splendour, 
 
 160, 419. 
 schent, pp. destroyed, 237, 37; 
 
 undone, 239, 85; tired, 93. 
 
 10. 
 scherp, a. sharp, 76, 239. 
 schew, pt. showed, declared, 
 
 lfo, 273. 
 schill, a. shrill, 144, 20. 
 schillingis, s. pi. shillings, 52, 
 
 237. 
 schin, *. shin, 139, 172. 
 schir, s. sir, 26, 59. 
 scho, see sche. 
 
 scho-bak, s. she bat, 231, 58. 
 schoir, *. menace, threat, 125, 
 schondir, schunder, schundir, v. 
 
 and s. sunder: in s., asunder, 
 
 205, 30. 
 schone, s. pi. shoes, 210, 33. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 359 
 
 schone, pt. shone, 113, 161 . 
 sohorn, pp. cut, 184, 292. 
 schort, a. short, 4, 21. 
 schortly, adv. shortly, briefly, 
 
 in short, 60, 50. 
 schote, s. shot, 41, 176. 
 schout, s. shout, 44, 52. 
 Bohow, «. spring, shove, thrust, 
 
 94, 24. 
 sehowris, s. pi. showers, 143, 6. 
 schraip, v. to scrape, 84, 129. 
 sehrew, pres. t. curse (in a mild 
 
 sense): I s. them, Out upon 
 
 them! 229, 17. 
 s. shrew, contrary person, 
 
 37, 91. 
 schrink, v. shrink, draw in, 101, 
 
 193. 
 schryfe, v. to confess, 35, 42. 
 schuik, schuike, pt. shook, 163, 
 
 492. 
 schulderis, s. pi. shoulders, 67, 
 
 35. 
 schulit, pp. shovelled, 88, 223. 
 schunder, schundir, see schon- 
 
 dir. 
 scnupe, pt. shaped, prepared, 
 
 107, 26: s. him, set himself, 
 
 120, 73. 
 schure, pt. cut, 76, 243. 
 schute, v. to shoot, 117, 21: s. 
 
 behind, to void excrement, 
 
 122, 114. 
 sciens, science, s. learning, wis- 
 dom, 10, 74. 
 sclander, s. slander, 155, 284. 
 scoir, s. score, twenty, 29, 129. 
 scorne, s. scorn, derision, a 
 
 thing to be laughed at, 14, 
 
 50. 
 scraip, v. to scrape, 63, 132. 
 scraipand, scrapand, pres. p. 
 
 scraping, 89, 247. 
 sculis, s. pi. schools, 68, 52. 
 scutchit, pt. separated the wood 
 
 from fibre (lint), 87, 208. 
 
 sc, see, sey, s. sea, 39, 134.; in 
 233, 1, perhaps see, resi- 
 dence. 
 
 se, v. to see, witness, 13, 18; 
 look out, cast about, find 1 , 
 96, 83. 
 
 seand, pres. p. seeing, 27, 89. 
 
 seasonable, a. fit, ready, suit- 
 able, 83, 97. 
 
 seasoun, s. season, 81, 60. 
 
 secound, a. second, 172, 38. 
 
 secreit, a. secret, 158, 381. 
 
 secretare, s. secretary: ». of 
 somer, Spring, 82, 85. 
 
 secretis, s. pi. secrets, 80, 27. 
 
 sedis, s. pi. seeds, 85, 156. 
 
 sedall, sedull, s. writing, pre- 
 scription, 230, 22. 
 
 see, see se. 
 
 seeth, v. to boil, cook, 193, 535. 
 
 sege s. sage (a genus of plants). 
 Common or garden sage is 
 used in making a medical 
 tonic and astringent, 230, 
 29. 
 
 seggis, s. pi. messengers, 230, 
 23. 
 
 segis, pres. t. pi. assail, 57, 339. 
 
 seid, s. seed, 22, 206. 
 
 seid = see it, 229, 19. 
 
 seik, seike, seke, v. to seek, 35, 
 41; to find, 89, 247. 
 
 seikand, sekand, pres. p. seek- 
 ing, 6, 62. 
 
 seikly, a. sickly, 38, 104. 
 
 seiknes, s. sickness, 117, 9. 
 
 seill, s. seal, 108, 52; seal of 
 office, 82, 86. 
 
 — — s. happiness (perhaps in 
 the sense of eternal bliss or 
 soul's welfare), 210, 38; in 
 ordinary sense, sele, q. v. 
 
 seindill, adv. seldom, 87, 192. 
 
 seis, pres. t. 2nd sing, seest, 
 132, 15; 3rd sing, sees, 103, 
 237. 
 
 seiss, 0. to cease, 92, 325. 
 
 sek, s. sack, 105, 272. 
 
360 
 
 GI-OSSARY. 
 
 seke, see seik. 
 
 sekand, see seikaud. 
 
 selch, seiche, s. seal (the 
 
 marine animal), 230, 33. 
 selcouth, s. wonder, 98, 114. 
 seldyn, adv. seldom, 190, 451. 
 sele, s. seal (of confession), 37, 
 
 83. 
 sele, s. happiness, 240, 7. 
 selie, sely, a. silly, weak, poor, 
 
 14, 43. 
 semblay, s. assembly, 48, 162. 
 semelie, a. seemly, 44, 49. 
 semit, ft. seemed, 119, 54. 
 sempill, semple, a. simple, 
 
 plain, 11, 78. 
 semys, fres. t. seems, beseems, 
 
 befits, 73, 169. 
 sen, pres. t. send, 30, 160. 
 
 eonj. since, 29, 124. 
 
 senatur, s. senator, 189, 415. 
 send, ft. sent: s. furth, issued, 
 
 58, 7. 
 sendis, fres. t. 2nd fers. sing. 
 
 sendest, 65, 170. 
 sene, pp. seen, 7, 9. 
 sensualiteis, s. foss. sensuality's, 
 
 66, 325. 
 sent, s. scent, 42, 15. 
 sentens, s. meaning, 9, 54; 
 
 lesson, 32, 192; decision, sen- 
 tence, 61, 80. 
 senyeis, s. pi. marks, signs, 
 
 tokens, 122, 115. 
 senyeouris, s. fl. seigniors, 113, 
 
 158. 
 senyour, s. old man, 214, 25. 
 serene, serss, v. to search, seek 
 
 out, 19, 143. 
 seriosite, s. seriousness, 189i. 
 
 424. 
 serk, s. shirt, 207, 81. 
 sermone, s. discourse, 154, 270. 
 serss, see serche. 
 servand, s. servant, 31, 179. 
 serve, v. to serve, minister, sus- 
 tain, 238, 66. 
 
 service, s. dealing, operation. 
 
 incident, 103, 236. 
 servis, fres. t. pi. deserve, 237, 
 
 37. 
 servitour, s. servant, 26, 55. 
 sessoun, s. season, 66, 1. 
 s. seasoning (of sauce), 
 
 160, 421. 
 set, v. to sit, 9, 45. 
 set, sett, sette, v. to place, 15, 
 
 74; suits, befits, 123, 160; 
 
 let (houses), 129, 129; 
 
 attempt, 9, 53: s. by, set 
 
 aside, refuse, 95, 56; pp. 
 
 planted, 85, 144; established, 
 
 240, 13. 
 sete, s. seat, 226, 6. 
 severall, adv. separately, 113. 
 
 159. 
 sevin, sevyne, a. seven, 10, 57. 
 sevynt, a. seventh, 173, 52. 
 sex, a. six, 181, 230. 
 sext, a. sixth, 173, 50. 
 sey, see se. 
 
 shepis, s. poss. sheep's, 58, 16. 
 shiref, s. sheriff, 63, 120. 
 shryve, v. to shrive, 55, 297. 
 sic, a. such, 14, 42. 
 sichand, siching, pres. p. sigh- 
 ing, 48, 160. 
 sichit, ft. sighed, 176, 127. 
 sicht, s. sight, 76, 240; gaze, 
 
 233, 3: at that sight, 83, 107. 
 sicker, sickker, a. sure, 36, 64; 
 
 adv. securely, 102, 202 ; very, 
 
 102, 211. 
 sidlingis, adv. sideways, 52, 247. 
 sidis, s. pi. womb, 227, 33. 
 sik, a. such. In 241, 22, as s. 
 
 such people, 
 sike, s. ditch, streamlet, spring, 
 
 52, 247. 
 sikerness, s. security, assur- 
 ance, safety, 23, 227. 
 sikkerlie, adv. surely, 122, 132. 
 silkin, a. silken, 135, 72. 
 silly, sillye, sily, a. poor, weak, 
 
 foolish, 38, 109. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 361 
 
 silver-seik, a. greedy, 97, 86. 
 similitud, s. similitude, 5, 47. 
 singand, pres. p. singing, 163, 
 
 243. 
 sinkis, v. 3rd pi. sink, 241, 30. 
 sissocks, s. pi., dim. of sisters, 
 
 29, 137. 
 sisteris, s. poss. sister's, 21, 203; 
 
 pi. sisters, 12, 2. 
 sitt, imperat. sit: s. down,) 
 
 kneel, 57, 345. 
 skaith, s. injury, harm, 103, 228. 
 skantly, adv. scarcely, 135, 139. 
 skar, v. to be scared, take 
 
 alarm, 93, 21. 
 skarlot, a. scarlet, 154, 250. 
 skat, pres. t. exact, 63, 133. 
 skeill, s. skiU, 134, 48. 
 skelfis, s. pi. shelves, 17, 103. 
 sker, v. to scare, 19, 143. 
 sklender, sklendir, u. slender. 
 
 15, 62. 
 siraip, v. to scrape, 39, 127. 
 skye, s. sky, 81, 63. 
 skyn, s. skin, 40, 161. 
 slaik, slak, v. to slake, 124, 4; 
 
 satisfy, 29, 130; assuage, 237, 
 
 26. 
 slaine, slane, pp. slain, 88, 236. 
 slak, see slaik. 
 
 s. " slack," dell, hollow, 
 
 88, 214. 
 
 s. a kind of edible sea- 
 weed (Ulva), 231, 45. 
 
 slane, see slain. 
 
 sle, a. clever, skilled, 36, 54; 
 
 cunning, deceitful, 137, 137. 
 sleif, s. sleeve, 111, 107. 
 sleifful, s. sleeveful, 231, 45. 
 sleip, slepe, s. sleep, 118, 44: 
 
 on s., asleep, 67, 26. 
 ■ slype, v. to sleep, 86, 
 
 179. 
 sleipand, pres. p. sleeping, 94. 
 
 35. 
 sleit, s. sleet, 82, 77. 
 slepe, see sleip. 
 sleuth, slewth, s. sloth, 66, 6. 
 
 sleuthhund, s. sleuthhound, 46, 
 
 113. 
 slevis, s. pi. sleeves, 210, 29. 
 
 See sleif. 
 slewe, pt. slew, 193, 524. 
 slewth, see sleuth, 
 slidder, slidderie, a. slippery, 
 
 123, 155. 
 slight, slycht, s. sleight, trick, 
 
 27, 75; cunning, 64, 152. 
 slonkis, s. pi. hollows, depres- 
 sions in the ground, 88, 214. 
 sluss, s. either (1) slush, soft 
 
 river-mud, or (2) sluice, 229, 
 
 45. 
 slycht, see slight, 
 slyd, slyde, v. slide, creep, move 
 
 stealthily, 46, 113. 
 slypis, pres. t. 2nd per. sing. 
 
 sleepest, 64, 150. See sleip. 
 srnak, s. taste: sweittar of the 
 
 s., sweeter in flavour, 231, 
 
 60. 
 smale, a. small, little, 82, 90. 
 smell, s. trace, colour, char- 
 acter, 172, 25. 
 smertlie, adv. smartly, 122, 133. 
 smorand, pres. p. smothering, 
 
 128, 104. 
 smyland, pres. p. smiling, 25. 
 
 37. 
 smyle, v. smile, 113, 151. 
 smyling, s. smiling, smiles, 152, 
 
 225. 
 smytis, pres. t. smites, 29, 139. 
 snaillis, s.pl. snails, 8, 31. 
 snair, s. snare, 91, 302. 
 snakkit, pt. snapped, broke, 99, 
 
 153. 
 snaw, s. snow, 26, 62. 
 snod, a. even, flat, smooth 
 
 (ground), 119, 52. 
 sobbis, s. pi. sobs (sound 
 
 emitted by a seal), 231, 55. 
 soberit, pp. sobered, subdued, 
 
 13, 34. 
 soberlie, adv. solemnly, ad- 
 visedly, 107, 32. 
 
362 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 sobir, v. imperat. moderate, 72, 
 143; a. sober, temperate, 
 modest, 22, 213. 
 
 socht, soucht, pp. sought, 48, 
 165. 
 
 socour, i. sugar, 33, 212. 
 
 soddyn, pp. boiled, 193, 525. 
 
 soft, v. restrain: s. yow, re- 
 strain yourself, 113, 155. 
 
 a. mild, pleasant, 82, 92; 
 
 comp. softar, 231, 60. 
 
 softlie, adv. softly, quietly, 113, 
 
 151. 
 soir, a. sore, 65, 170; adv. 
 
 grievously, 242, 54. 
 soill, *. soil, 83, 97. 
 solempne, a. solemn, 147, 112. 
 solitaire, solitar, a. and adv. 
 
 solitary, secluded, 
 soroer, s. summer, 81, 57. 
 sommond, s. summons, 59, 22. 
 son, sone, s. sun, 40, 143: at 
 
 the b., in the sun, 69, 87; 
 
 poss. sonis, 67, 22; sonnis, 
 
 40, 146. 
 
 adv. soon, quickly: 
 
 our s., too readily, 138, .145: 
 s. be day, early in the morn- 
 ing, 7, 3 ; comp. soner, 35, 
 39. 
 
 sone, a. son, 26, 51. 
 
 sonken, sonkin, pp. sunk, 160, 
 
 407. 
 sonyeis, *. pi. excuses, 95, 45. 
 sop, s. sap, juice, 230, 29. 
 sorcere, sorsery, s. sorcery, 45, 
 
 95. 
 sory, sorye, a. sorry, poor, 
 
 mean, 194, 550. 
 sottin, v. iviperat, meaning not 
 
 certain. Perhaps cogn. to 
 
 souder, to unite, 230, 36. 
 soucht, see socht. 
 soum, s. sum (of silver), 62, 
 
 102. 
 sound, a. whole, sound, 230, 21. 
 soundis, s. cries, exclamations, 
 
 226, 14. 
 
 soung, pp. sung, 202, 89. 
 
 soure, a. sour, 110, 82. 
 
 soverains, s. pi. sovereigns, 77. 
 272. 
 
 soverane, a. sovereign, 54, 283. 
 
 sowe, s. broth, pottage, 193, 
 525. 
 
 sowke, v. to sack, 174, 69. 
 
 sowme, v. to swim, 132, 4. 
 
 i. sum (of money), 61, 88. 
 
 sowpit, pp. soaked, 161, 450. 
 
 sowrokis, s. sourocks, the com- 
 mon sorrel, 230, 29. 
 
 soyr, a. sorrel, reddish brown, 
 151, 211. 
 
 space, s. time, opportunity: 
 with =., on occasion, 238, 71. 
 
 spair, spar, v. to spare, refrain, 
 hesitate, avoid, 93, 5. 
 
 spak, pt. spoke, 5, 44. 
 
 spamen, s. fortune-tellers, pTO- 
 phets, 194, 563. 
 
 spard, sparis, sparit, see spair. 
 
 sparth, 46, 100, meaning un- 
 known. " It is probably a 
 corrupt reading for a word 
 of two syllables, required by 
 the line." — Gregory Smith. 
 
 spaying, s. fortelling, 195, 584. 
 
 spedilie, adv. speedily, 98, 132. 
 
 speid, spied, s. speed, 20, 166: 
 gude s., quickly, 163, 492; 
 godspied, good speed! 17, 
 101. 
 
 speid, v. to speed, prosper, to 
 succeed, 10, 62: us to s., to 
 be our salvation, 228, 54. 
 
 speik, speke, v. to speak. 329, 
 132. 
 
 speir, s. spear, 29, 121. 
 
 speir, spere, v. to enquire, 176, 
 117. 
 
 speit, 8. spit (used in cooking). 
 86, 189. 
 
 speke, see speik. 
 
 speldit, pp. stretched, split, 
 skewered, spread-eagle-wise, 
 184, 294. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 363 
 
 spell, v. to spell, read, 51, 215. 
 spens, s. pantry, 17, 102. 
 spensar, s. steward, 18, 132. 
 spere, see speir. 
 sperit, pt. asked, enquired, 17, 
 
 114. See speir. 
 spheir, s. sphere, 179, 188, 194. 
 spice, spyce, spyse, s. spice, 
 
 odour, fragrance, 45, 75. 
 spied, see speid. 
 spilt, pp. spoiled, harmed, 
 
 ruined, 146, 90. 
 spittaill-hous, s. hospital, 159, 
 
 391. 
 splene, s. spleen, 215, 38; a 
 
 gland regarded in the middle 
 
 ages as the seat of the 
 
 affections: fra my s., from 
 
 my heart, 228, 65. 
 spoliate, pp. deprived, 90, 274. 
 sponfull, s. spoonful, 323, 68. 
 spottis, s. pi. spots, 157, 339. 
 spray, s. branch, twig, 45, 75. 
 spred, pt. spread, 45, 75. 
 spreit, s. spirit, 4, 21. 
 springis, spryngis, pres. t. pi. 
 
 spring, 3, 10. 
 sproutis, pres. t. pi. sprout, 
 
 spring up, 115, 207. 
 spryng, s. a lively tune, 177, 
 
 144. 
 spurnis, pres. t. 2nd sing. 
 
 spurnest, 162, 475. 
 spyce, see spice, 
 spycit, a. spiced, 15, 77. 
 spyd, pp. spied, noticed, 19, 
 
 145. 
 spynning, s. spinning, 24, 16. 
 spyse, see spice, 
 stabilitee, s. stability, 241, 35. 
 stad, pp. bestead, 165, 542. 
 stage, s. rank, place, 241, 35. 
 staif, j. staff, 218, 39. 
 stair, s. stare, 39, 124. 
 stait, stat, s. estate, condition, 
 
 rank, 92, 320. 
 stak, s. stack, 88, 218. 
 stalf, s. staff, 87, 202. 
 
 stall, pt. stole, 39, 133. 
 
 stammers, pres. t. stammers, 
 staggers, stumbles, 196, 606. 
 
 stand ford, stand for it, war- 
 rant, 229, 8: s. at, abide by, 
 109, 80. 
 
 stane, s. stone, 10, 62; a. 
 138, 139. 
 
 stang, s. sting, 190, 441. 
 
 stappit, pt. thrust, 89, 259. 
 
 stark, a. strong, 10, 60. 
 
 starklie, adv. strongly, 154, 280. 
 
 starnis, sternis, stirnis, s. pi. 
 stars, 150, 170. 
 
 stat, see stait. 
 
 stationere, a. stationary, 34, 19. 
 
 stede, steid, s. place, spot, 43, 
 25. 
 
 steid, *. steed, horse, 46, 103. 
 
 steill, s. steel, 165, 537. 
 
 v. to steal, 38, 95. 
 
 steip, v. to steep, soak, 231, 
 48. 
 
 steir, s. movement, 98, 116. 
 
 , ster, v. to stir, start, 
 
 alarm, 200, 46; steer, guide, 
 106, 2; govern, 76, 268. 
 
 stentit, pp. stretched, 78, 288. 
 
 steppis, s. pi. steps, 171, 17. 
 
 ster, see steir. 
 
 stering, s. commotion, medd- 
 ling: sturtful s., mischief, 
 243, 62. 
 
 sternis, see starnis. 
 
 sterve, v. to perish, 238, 66. 
 
 stevin, stevyne, s. voice, 163, 
 491. 
 
 Stewart, s. steward, 93, 16. 
 
 stickand, pres. p. sticking, 67. 
 37. 
 
 stikill, bane-stikill, s. stickle- 
 back, 95, 52. 
 
 stikkis, pres. t. sticks, 54, 290. 
 
 still, a. quiet, secret, 159, 398. 
 
 stilland, pres. p. distilling, 81, 
 63. 
 
 sting, s. stick, piece of wood, 
 99, 151. 
 
364 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 stinkis, v. stinks, 243, 62. 
 stint, pt. stopped, desisted, 
 
 ceased, 98, 129. 
 stirk, *. bullock or heifer be- 
 tween one or two years old, 
 
 111, 116: s. taill, stirk's tail, 
 stirnis, see starnis. 
 stok, s. stock, the trunk which 
 receives a graft, 223, 2; post, 
 
 log, stock, 179, 179. 
 s. kale, cabbage. In 2?2, 
 
 77, yule s. may be either 
 
 winter (Christmas) cabbage 
 
 or Yule log. 
 stollin, pp. stolen, 40, 149. 
 stomok, s. stomach, 8, 32. 
 stoneist, a. astonished, 39, 124. 
 stons, s. pi. stones, 11, 84. 
 stoppell, s. stopper, cover, 98, 
 
 129. 
 stoppit, pp. stuffed, 71, 130. 
 stottis, s. pi. bullocks, 106, 7. 
 stound, s. pang, pain, 166, 537. 
 stouth, stowth, s. robbery, 42, 
 
 27. 
 stoup, v. to bow, 85, 145. 
 stowth, see stouth. 
 stowthry, s. stealth, secrecy, 16, 
 
 92. 
 stra, stro, s. straw, 20, 171. 
 straik, straike, pt. struck, 19, 
 
 150. 
 strait, a. strict, 58, 7. 
 straitly, adv. strictly, 44, 68; 
 
 forthwith, 58, 13. 
 strakand, pres. p. stroking, 40, 
 
 146. 
 strake, s. stroke, 85, 145. 
 strand, s. stream, rivulet, water, 
 
 119, 66. 
 Strang, *. strong, 73, 174. 
 straucht, pt. stretched, 97, 100; 
 
 straightened, put in line (to 
 
 begin to work), 106, 7; adv. 
 
 straight, straightened, 97. 
 
 105. 
 streik, v. to stretch, 101, 185. 
 
 streiking tyme of yeir, 106, 4. 
 
 See note, p. 273. 
 streit, strete, s. street, 7, 9; 
 
 pi. stretis, 182, 249. 
 streme, s. stream, 124, 7. 
 strenth, s. strength, 32, 199. 
 stret, adv. closely, 59, 33. 
 strikin, pp. sliced, cut, 17, 109. 
 strikken, pp. struck, 163, 486. 
 stro, see stra. 
 stryk, stryke, s. strife, dispute, 
 
 quarrel, 62, 92. 
 stryke, v. to strike, 99, 151. 
 stryng, s. string, bow string, 4, 
 
 23. 
 stryve, v. strive, 237, 31. 
 stud, stude, pt. stood, 26, 70. 
 
 stood in, 74, 213. 
 stude, a. and s. brood, brood 
 
 mare, 50, 196. 
 studie, pres. t. study, wonder, 
 
 107, 34. 
 studeit, pt. studied, 68, 53. 
 stuffit, pp. stuffed, filled, pro- 
 vided, 21, 199. 
 stule, s. stool, 32, 199. 
 sturdy, a. vigorous, 67, 42. 
 sturtful, a. vexatious, 243, 62. 
 styll, s. plight, 201, 57. 
 styme, .s. a little bit, a whit, 
 
 196, 605. 
 stynk, s. stink, 184, 306. 
 stynt, v. to stop, 31, 168. 
 sua, swa, adv. so, 37, 87. 
 subcharge, s. the second course 
 
 (at dinner), 18, 120. 
 subjectis, s. pi. subjects, 44, 63. 
 substaunce, s. substance, 91, 
 
 298. 
 succede, v. to succeed, 42, 3. 
 succour, succure, s. help, safety. 
 
 85, 165. 
 sudane, suddan, suddand, sud- 
 
 dane, a. sudden, 43, 24. ' 
 suddanlie, adv. suddenly, 27, 83. 
 sufere, s. suffer, 193, 523. 
 :e, s. help, 184, 291. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 365 
 
 suffise, suffyse, v. to suffice, be 
 sufficient, 29, 130. 
 
 sugerit, pp. sugared, 153, 247. 
 
 suith, suth, snyth, s. truth, 109, 
 68. 
 
 suithlie, adv. soothly, surely, 
 100, 169. 
 
 suld, v. subj. should, ought, 126, 
 65; shouldst, would, 21, 191. 
 
 sum, a. some, 4, 26; any, 232, 
 83. 
 
 sumand, pres. p. swimming, 139, 
 161. 
 
 sumraar, adv. in summary 
 fashion, briefly, 61, 79. 
 
 summond, pt. summoned, 58, 
 18; pp. for inf. pass., be 
 summoned, 127, 69. 
 
 summondis, s. summons, 127, 76. 
 
 sumquhat, some what, 104, 264. 
 
 sum-tyme, adv. sometimes, 152, 
 234; once, 7, 1. 
 
 superne, a. celestial, 238, 65. 
 
 supple, supplie, s. aid, help, 97, 
 93. 
 
 v. to supply, help, 73, 178. 
 
 suppois, suppose, conj. though, 
 32, 190. 
 
 supportatioun, s. support, sus- 
 tenance, 81, 51. 
 
 suppryis, s. suprise, disappoint- 
 ment, 101, 182; v. to sur- 
 prise, to take at a disadvan- 
 tage, 100, 159. 
 
 suspect, v. to despair of, 239, 
 83. 
 
 a. suspected, 59, 45. 
 
 sustene, v. to sustain, uphold, 
 bear, 72, 153. 
 
 sustenens, s. sustenance, 3, 11. 
 
 sutell, a. subtle, 3, 13. 
 
 suth, see suith. 
 
 adv. certainly, 179, 178. 
 
 suthfast, a. truthful, reliable, 
 230, 23. 
 
 sutis s. pi. suits, cases, 48, 154. 
 
 suyth, see suith. 
 
 swa, see sua. 
 
 swage, v. to assuage, lessen, 230, 
 
 33. 
 swak, s. throw, fling, 98, 126; 
 
 v. to throw, cause to flop 
 
 down, 165, 522; pt. swakkit, 
 
 98, 131. 
 swalow, s. swallow, 83, 113. 
 swang, pt. swung, threw, 98, 
 
 126. 
 swannis, s. poss. swan's, 67, 37. 
 sweir, v. to swear, take an oath, 
 
 50, 195. 
 sweit, swet, swete, a. sweet, 
 
 pleasant, 3, 3; comp. sweit- 
 
 tar, 231, 60. 
 s. sweat, perspiration, 164, 
 
 514. 
 sweitand, pres. p. sweating, 
 
 steaming, smoking, 138, 140. 
 sweit-meitis, s. pi. sweatmeats, 
 
 160, 420. 
 swelly, v. to swallow, 191, 468. 
 swelt, pt. fainted, swooned, 
 swerd, s. sword, 45, 84. 
 swete, a. see sweit. 
 s. sweet, dear (one), 26, 
 
 49. 
 swetly, adv. sweetly, 45, 77. 
 
 died, 103, 231. 
 swoir, pt. swore, 136, 108. 
 swon, swoun, v. to swoon. 103, 
 
 231. 
 swonand, pres. p. swooning, 103, 
 
 238. 
 swoun, s. swoon, 28, 97. 
 swoping, s. sweeping, 7, 7. 
 swoppit, pt. swept, 7, 13. 
 swyft, adv. swiftly, quickly, 86, 
 
 167. 
 swyith, swyth, adv. quickly, 
 
 swiftly, 31, 166. 
 swyme, v. swim, 132, 12. 
 swyne, s. swine, pig, 46, 110. 
 swynk, v. to labour, 130, 137. 
 swyth, see swyith. 
 sycht, s. sight, eyes, 57, 349. 
 
366 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 syd, eyde, s. side: on syde, 
 
 aside, 91, 289: till ane s., 
 
 aside, 110, 85. 
 syis, «. times: oft s., often, 165, 
 
 525. 
 sylit, pt. sealed, 143, 10. 
 sylogysme, s. syllogism, 5, 46. 
 symilitude, s. likeness, 237, 45. 
 syinmer, *. summer, 82, 73. 
 symony, s. simony, 65, 165. 
 symphonys, s. pi. symphonies, 
 
 181, 231. 
 sympil, sympill, a. simple, 22, 
 
 212. 
 syn, syne, s. sin, 18, 138; u. 
 
 56, 329; pi. synnis, 35, 42. 
 adv. then, afterwards, 
 
 thereafter, 37, 80. 
 syng, v. to sing, 181, 242. 
 synnaris, *. pi. sinners, 57, 346. 
 synnis, s. see syn. 
 syre, s. sire, father, 14, 55. 
 syropis, s. pi. syrups, 153, 247. 
 syster, s. sister, 29, 129. 
 syt, syte, s. suffering, sorrow, 
 
 161, 450; pi. sytis, 211, 10. 
 
 T. 
 
 ta, s. toe, 102, 205. 
 
 !-. to take, 172, 33. 
 
 taid, s. toad, 134, 57. 
 taikning, takining, s. token, 152, 
 
 232. 
 taill, a. tale, fable, 200, 33. 
 
 s. tail, 120, 71. 
 
 taillisman, s. tale-teller, 223, 12. 
 takining, see taikining. 
 
 tais, s. pi. toes, 26, 69. See ta. 
 
 pres. t. takes, 43, 30. 
 
 taist, v. to taste, 33, 214. 
 tait, a. playful, 69, 90. 
 tak, s. lease, land, 129, 126. 
 
 pres. t. take, 231, 54. 
 
 takin, s. token, indication, 134, 
 
 61. 
 takis, receives, 211. 23; pays, 
 53, 268. 
 
 tald, tauld, pp. told, 223, 10. 
 
 talyeis, s. pi. slices, 17, 109. 
 
 tane, pp. taken, 126, 59. 
 
 tareying, tarying, s. tarrying, 
 delay, 50, 205. 
 
 tarrow, tary, v. to tarry, delay, 
 138, 156. 
 
 tary, tarye, s. tarrying, delay, 
 27, 85; but t., without delay, 
 180, 212. 
 
 tauld, see tald. 
 
 tech, v. to teach, 241, 29. 
 
 tedderit, pp. tethered, 190, 456. 
 
 teiris, teres, teris, s. pi. tears, 
 145, 47. 
 
 teith, teth, s. pi. teeth, 15, 62. 
 
 tellis, v. tells, 5, 43. 
 
 tempill, s. temple, 147, 114. 
 
 temporall, a,, worldly, 91, 297. 
 
 tempis, pres. t. pi. tempt, 57, 
 343. 
 
 tendouris, s. pi. guides, tender- 
 ers, helpers, 172, 20. 
 
 tene, teyne, s. anger, cruelty, 
 fierceness, 117, 21: for t., 
 with anger, 99, 148; a. 
 angry, 99, 153. 
 
 tennour, t. tenor, 45, 85. 
 
 tent, s. care, heed, 7, 10. 
 
 tipat, s. tippet, 210, 26. 
 
 tere, v. to tear, 42, 7. 
 
 teres, teris, see teiris. 
 
 terme, s. time, period, time of 
 payment, 129, 131. 
 
 Termigant, s. Termagant, a sup- 
 posed Mohammedan idol, or 
 false god, 228, 68. 
 
 termis, termys, s. words, lan- 
 guage, 3, 3. 
 
 Tersicor, Terpsichore, 172, 40. 
 
 teth, see teith. 
 
 teuch, a. tough, 4, 15. 
 
 teyn, a. fierce and cruel, 228, 
 68. 
 
 teyne, see tene. 
 
 tha, demonstr. a. those, 126, 63. 
 
 thai, thay, pron. they, 47, 130. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 lhaim, thame, pron. them, 50, 
 
 195. 
 thair, adv. there, 94, 27. 
 thairfra, adv. there from, 56, 
 
 334. 
 thairin, adv. therein, 7, 11. 
 thairthrow, adv. thereby, by 
 
 this means, 115, 20. 
 thame, see thaim. 
 than, thane, adv. then, 112, 
 
 140. 
 thankand, pres. p. thanking, 42, 
 
 19. 
 thank, s. thanks, 223, 3. 
 thar, poss. pro. their, 3, 3. 
 thay, see thai, 
 that, pron. what, 84, 135. 
 the, pron. thee, 22, 222. 
 theif, s. thief, 108, 45. 
 Thelya, Thalia, one of the 
 
 Muses, 173, 54. 
 thens, adv. thence, 180, 215. 
 theologe, s. theologian, 189, 422. 
 the self, itself, 125, 31. 
 Thesphonee, Tisiphone, one of 
 
 the Furies, 182, 264. 
 Thetes, Thetis, one of the sea 
 
 deities, 34, 8. 
 thevis, s. pi. thieves, 35, 43. 
 thi, poss. pron. thy, 8, 23. 
 thidder, adv. thither, 158, 383. 
 thiddirwart, adv. thitherward, 
 
 186, 346. 
 thift, s. theft, 49, 183. 
 thig, v. to beg, 129, 126. 
 thik, a. thick, 184, 289. 
 thinkand, pres. p. thinking, 86, 
 
 179. 
 thinkis, v. 2nd sing, thinkest, 
 
 243, 70; 3rd sing. 102, 216. 
 thir, demonstr. a. these, 51, 226. 
 this, adv. thus, 200, 28. 
 thiself, pron. thyself, 22, 222. 
 tho, adv. then, 147, 106. 
 Thobe, Tobias, 217, 16. 
 thocht, v. impers. pt. seemed: 
 
 him t., it seemed to him, 43, 
 
 45. 
 
 «. thought, 56, 323. 
 
 thouch, conj. though, al- 
 though, 97, 89. 
 
 thoill, thole, v. to suffer, en- 
 dure, 70, 105. 
 
 thow, pron. thou, 43, 39. 
 
 thralde, pp. made thrall, en- 
 slaved, 240, 15. 
 
 thrawand, pres. p. struggling, 
 121, 93. 
 
 thrawart, a. stubborn, ill-con- 
 ditioned, crooked, 126, 46. 
 
 thrawin, pp. thrown, 191, 4S8. 
 
 u. ill-tempered, frowning, 
 
 crooked, twisted, 15, 77. 
 
 thre, a. three, 58, 19. 
 
 threfe, a. made of oatmeal 
 without yeast: threif-caikis, 
 " bannocks," 18, 122. 
 
 threid, s. thread, 87, 209. 
 
 thrid, u. third, 92, 326. 
 
 thrift, s. luck, 102, 197. 
 
 thrise, thryis, thryiss, adv. 
 thrice, 44, 53. 
 
 thrist, *. thirst, 124, 4. 
 
 thristy, a. thirsty, 193, 530. 
 
 throte, s. throat, 27, 84. 
 
 throuch, throw, throwch, prep. 
 through, 51, 225: this will 
 not t., this will not be 
 finished, 110, 91. 
 
 throwout, adv. through, ]65, 
 539. 
 
 thryis, thryss, see thrise. 
 
 thus-gait, thus-gate, thusgatis, 
 in this way, 83, 99. 
 
 thyne, pron. thine, 43, 39. 
 
 tig, v. to play, meddle with, 
 42, 7. 
 
 tike, tyke, s. dog, cur, rascal (a 
 term of reproach), 54, 287. 
 
 til, till, prep, to, 8, 26. 
 
 tint, tynt, pt. lost, 115, 209. 
 See tyne. 
 
 tippit, a. tipped, pointed, 94, 
 41. 
 
 tirlyt, pt. tugged, plucked, 69, 
 94. 
 
368 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 tirrane, a. tyrannous, 63, 115. 
 tit, pt. turned, tugged, 123, 
 
 147. 
 tithingis, s. tidings, 227, 26. 
 titlaris, a. pi. tatlers, tale- 
 tellers, 223, 1. 
 to, adv. too, over, 158, 363. 
 tod, s. fox, 30, 147. 
 togidder, adv. together, 16, 91. 
 tol, *. toll, 12, 12. 
 tolter, a. hanging, swinging, 
 
 183, 283. 
 to - morne, adv. to - morrow 
 
 morning, 44, 66. 
 tone, pp. taken, 206, 78. 
 tong, s. tongue, 138, 145. 
 tonys, s. pi. tones, 181, 226. 
 to-rent, pp. torn to pieces, 82, 
 
 74. 
 tornand, pres. p. turning, 182, 
 
 265. 
 tomes, pres. t. pi. turn, 191, 
 
 483; 2nd sing, turnest, 187, 
 
 382. 
 tothir, the tothir, the other, 12, 
 
 10. 
 toum, tume, a. empty, 8, 28. 
 toun, town, towne, s. farm, 
 
 town, 25, 30. 
 toung, tung, s. tongue, 97, 104. 
 town, towne, s. farm, town, 25, 
 
 30. 
 Trace, Thrace, 187, 364. 
 trace, traise, s. track, 83, 103. 
 traine, trane, s. snare, 88, 235. 
 traist, trest, v. to trust, 166, 
 
 564; expect, 70, 104; «. 
 
 trust, 116, 215. 
 trampit, pt. tramped, stepped. 
 
 175, 105. 
 trane, see traine. 
 transformat, traneformit, pp. 
 
 transformed, 6, 56. 
 translait, translat, pp. trans- 
 formed, 234, 40. 
 trape, s. trap, 16, 90. 
 tratour, s. traitor, 127, 82. 
 
 travell, trawall, s. toil, labour, 
 exertion, 31, 164. 
 
 traytor, a. traitorous, 52, 250. 
 
 tre, s. tree, 39, 131. 
 
 tresoun, tressone, tressoun, s. 
 treason, 54, 294. 
 
 trespas, s. trespass, sin, fault, 
 242, 42. 
 
 trest, see traist. 
 
 trestarid, pres. p. trusting, hop- 
 ing, 27, 80. 
 
 trestly, adv. truly, safely, 206. 
 74. 
 
 tretv, s. entreaty, persuasive- 
 ness, 20, 162. 
 
 treuth, trewth, s. truth, reality, 
 3, 2. 
 
 trew, trewe, a. true, 185, 336. 
 
 trewlie, adv. truly, surely, 88, 
 221. 
 
 trig, a. spruce^ neat, 69, 90. 
 
 trimbling, s. trembling, 164, 
 514. 
 
 trimillit, trymblit, pt. trembled, 
 99, 148. 
 
 trip, s. troop, flock, 39, 131. 
 
 tripler, a. (musical) lit. triple 
 tone, 181, 227. 
 
 trippand, pres. p. tripping, 
 springing,' 45, 77. 
 
 trippit, pt. hopped, 98, 111. 
 
 triumphand, pres. p. triumph- 
 ing, 161, 434. 
 
 trone, s. throne, 45, 83. 
 
 trow, v. to believe, 101, 194. 
 
 trowand, pres. p. believing, 88, 
 226. 
 
 Troylus, Troilus, 163, 485. 
 
 truble, s. trouble, 18, 130. 
 
 truker, s. rascal, rogue, 99, 151. 
 
 trusterie, e. trust, faith, 115, 
 212. 
 
 trymblit, see trimillit. 
 
 tuche, a. tough, 76, 241. 
 
 tuichit, pt. touched, 125, 37. 
 
 tuik, tuk, tuke, pt. took, 83, 
 99. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 369 
 
 tuilyeour-like, like a quarrel- 
 some man, 151, 194. 
 
 tume, see toum. 
 
 tang, see toung. 
 
 turne, v. to turn, 27, 77; pp. 
 turnit, turnyt, changed into, 
 240, 3. See tornes. 
 
 tuskis, s. pi. tusks, teeth, 100, 
 168. 
 
 tussillit, pp. tussled, 98, 115. 
 
 twa, tway, a. two, 98, 109. 
 
 twane, a. twain, the two, 39, 
 136. 
 
 twichis, pres. t. touches, 196, 
 611. See tuichit. 
 
 twin, v. to unloose, separate, 
 depart, 139, 174. 
 
 twise, twyis, twyse, adv. twice, 
 44, 53. 
 
 twist, s. branch (of a tree), 137, 
 120. 
 
 twynit, twynnit, pt. twined, 87, 
 209. 
 
 twynkling, a. twinkling, 34, 16. 
 
 twyse, see twyis. 
 
 ty, v. to tie, 95, 63. 
 
 tyde, s. time, season, 85, 155. 
 
 tyke, see tike. 
 
 tyme, s. time: in gude t., in- 
 deed, to be sure, 100, 161. 
 See N. E. D., sub. v. Time, 
 sb. 42 c (d). 
 
 tyn, s. tin, 65, 163. 
 
 tyne, v. to lose, 103, 240; pp. 
 tint, tynt, 7, 12. 
 
 typis, s. pi. figures, characters: 
 t. figurall, allegorical char- 
 acters, 32, 191. 
 
 tyran, *. tyrant, 52, 250. 
 
 tyrrane, s. tyranny, 46, 96. 
 
 tyre, v. to tire, weary, 164, 516. 
 
 tyring, s. wearying, fatigue, 
 weariness, 151, 210. 
 
 tyt, adv. quickly, 238, 69. 
 
 24 
 
 U. 
 udir, a. other, 243, 57. 
 uglye, a. ugly, 157, 344. 
 unameabill, a. unamiable, 47, 
 
 136. 
 unbald, a. modest, full of fear, 
 
 233, 8. 
 unbrynt, a. unburnt, uncon- 
 
 sumed, 227, 40. 
 unce, s. ounce, 232, 71; pi. in 
 
 231, 44. 
 uncertane, a. uncertain, 233, 12. 
 unclene, a. unclean, 155, 285. 
 uncouth, a. rough, 159, 403. 
 undir, prep, under, 36, 59. 
 understud, understude, under- 
 
 stuyd, pt. understood, 5, 44. 
 undirta, pres. t. undertake, 
 
 warrant, 71, 128. 
 uneis, s. unease, difficulty, 104, 
 
 247. 
 unfair, u. disorderly, 149, 163. 
 unfane, a. unhappy, disappoint- 
 ed, 115, 209. 
 unfutsair, a. not foot-sore, not 
 
 lame or troubled in her feet, 
 
 13, 15. 
 unhelsum, a. unwholesome, 73, 
 
 173. 
 unhurt, a. uninjured, whole, 52, 
 
 235. 
 unknawin, a. unknown, 24, 9. 
 unkynd, a. unnatural, 43, 22. 
 unmyndfull, a. unmindful, neg. 
 
 ligent, 86, 170. 
 unperfyte, a. imperfect, 80, 24. 
 unplesand, a. unpleasant, 157, 
 
 338. 
 unremedable, a. irremediable, 
 
 243, 63. 
 unricht, adv. not right, 
 
 wrongly, 161, 205. 
 unrokkit, pp. unrocked, excited, 
 
 111, 116. 
 unsmert, a. unsmart, slow toj 
 
 resume its straightness, to 
 
 spring back, 4, 23. 
 
370 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 unsuspect, a. unsuspected, un- 
 challengeable, 127, 74. 
 
 untill, prep, unto, 62, 108. 
 
 unto, prep, in, 143, 12. 
 
 untreuth, s. untruth, 240, 11. 
 
 untment, *. ointment, 231, 47. 
 
 unusit, pp. untrained, 106, 10. 
 
 unwarlye, adv. unwarily, 27, 81. 
 
 unwyis, unwyse, a. unwi3e, 32, 
 183. 
 
 up, v. raise, 47, 143. 
 
 adv. open: up wyde, wide 
 
 open, 19, 144. 
 
 upcast, s. taunt, reproach. 
 Perhaps a., uplifted; read- 
 ing a comma after blyth, 17, 
 113. 
 
 uplandis, uponland, a. and adv. 
 rural, in the country, 13, 16. 
 
 upoun, prep, upon, 27, 71. 
 
 uprais, pt. arose. 
 
 upricht, a. truly, 27, 74. 
 
 upwart, adv. upwards, 114, 179. 
 
 usand, pres. p. wont, 138, 160. 
 
 use, uss, s. custom, 68, 8. 
 
 usis, pres. t. uses, 22, 220. 
 
 usit, pt. used, was wont, 147, 
 110; appointed, 69, 27; pp. 
 accustomed, 16, 69. 
 
 uss, see use. 
 
 uther, uthir, a. other, 12, 6: 
 u. ma, others, 90, 270; poss. 
 utheris, 104, 252. See udir. 
 
 vaikit, pt. was unoccupied, 90, 
 269. 
 
 vaill, s. vale, 233, 2. 
 
 s. avail, worth, use, 91, 
 
 299. 
 
 vaine, vane, vayne, a. vain, 
 empty, 27, 78. 
 
 vaneist, vanischit, pt. vanished, 
 78, 300. 
 
 variabill, a. variable, change- 
 able, 149, 160. 
 
 variand, variant, pres. p. and a. 
 varying, changeful, caprici- 
 ous, 162, 230. 
 
 variance, varians, «. Change, 91, 
 299. 
 
 veiling, pres. p. lowering, tak- 
 ing off (a cap), 164, 271. 
 
 veirs, s. verse, 146, 58. 
 
 velyeit, pt. availed, 74, 206. 
 
 venysoun, *. venison, 73, 175. 
 
 ver, s. spring, 82, 85. 
 
 veretie, s. verity, truth. 
 
 verray, verry, verrye, adv. very, 
 really, 121, 157; a. 13, 27. 
 
 vertew, vertu, *. virtue, value, 
 power, 8, 23. 
 
 vexacioun, *. vexation, 22, 209. 
 
 vexit, pt. vexed, 125, 43. 
 
 vicis, s. pi. vices, 10, 70. 
 
 vincust, pp. vanquished, over- 
 come, 41, 170. 
 
 violens, s. violence, 237, 46. 
 
 vit = wit, v. know, 242, 55. 
 
 vittale, s. victual, food, 16, 83. 
 
 vocatioun, s. summons, calling, 
 assembling, 154, 272. 
 
 voce, s. voice, 13, 27. 
 
 void, a. empty, vain, 32, 195. 
 
 volumis, *. pi. volumes, 61, 71. 
 
 volvand, pres. p. rolling, twist- 
 ing. 74, 204. 
 
 vult, s. countenance, 15, 77. 
 
 vyce, s. vice, sinfulness, 239, 
 81; pi. vycis, 233, 16. 
 
 vyle, a. vile, 70, 107. 
 
 W. 
 wa, s. woe, ill, 21, 191: For 
 
 weile and wa, for good and 
 
 evil; a. woeful., 157, 350. 
 Wadlyng Streit, Watling Street, 
 
 a name for the Milky Way, 
 
 179, 188. 
 wag, v. wag, move, 43, 46. 
 waid, v. to wade, 132, 3. 
 vvaik, a. weak, 38, 104. 
 waillit, a. choice, 161, 440. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 371 
 
 wailyeit, pt. availed, .177, 148. 
 wair, v. pt. were, 233, 0; pres. 
 
 subj. 11, 96. 
 
 s. weather, 82, 81. 
 
 wayr, v. spend, 11, 90. 
 
 waist, a. waste, wild, 112, 146. 
 waistit, pp. wasted, 104, 266. 
 wait, waitt, wate, watt, pres. t. 
 
 know, 17, 118; knows, 145, 
 
 64; knowest, 135, 78: is na 
 
 man w., there is no one who 
 
 knows, 92, 320. 
 waith, s. hunting, 12, 7 (O.E. 
 
 wath; Icel. veitkr, hunting), 
 waitit, pt. waited, 78, 290. 
 wald, pt. willed, 19, 141; subj. 
 
 should, would, might wish, 
 
 passim. 
 waldyne, a. supple, 214, 19. 
 walk, imperat. wake, 64, 151 ; 
 
 watch, 117, 4. 
 walkand, pres. p. watching, 56, 
 
 317. 
 walkit, pt. walked, 27, 81. 
 walkryif, walkryfe, s. sleepless, 
 
 28, 103; vigilant, 119, 46. 
 wallowit, walowit, pp. withered, 
 
 87, 212. 
 walterand, pres. p. weltering, 
 
 rolling, struggling, 139, 179. 
 wambe, wame, s. belly, 40, 146; 
 
 womb, 14, 53 ; stomach, 130, 
 
 142. 
 wamillis, pres. t. flutters, 
 
 yearns, 11, 82. 
 wan, as. pale, withered, 82, 71; 
 
 ? dark, 133, 34 (orig. mean- 
 ing " corpse - coloured ") ; 
 
 gloomy, 26, 62. 
 wan, pt. won, earned, 24, 16; 
 
 got to, reached, 99, 137; 
 
 arrived, 118, 22: w. away, 
 
 escaped, 103, 233. 
 wand, s. wand, rod, twig, 13, 
 
 18: under the w., under the 
 
 twigs of which her nest was 
 
 made. Icel. vondr (gen. 
 
 vandar), a wand, a switch, 
 
 whence vandahils, a wicker- 
 house. 
 wane, s. dwelling, 14, 36. 
 
 s. " wheen," few: gude 
 
 w., a good few, i.e., many 
 (Ger. wenig), 98, 131. 
 
 s. thought: will of w., at 
 
 her wits' end, 165, 543. 
 
 wanhope, wanhowp, a. despair, 
 145, 47. 
 
 wanner, a. comp. paler, 117, 11. 
 
 wanrufe, s. restlessness; a. rest- 
 less, unhappy, 200, 28. 
 
 •wantis, pres. t. 2nd pers. want- 
 est, 38, 99. 
 
 wanton, wantone, wantoun, a. 
 wanton, 77, 268. 
 
 wappinnis, *. pi. weapons, 
 teeth, 94, 25. 
 
 wappit, pp. dashed, 139, 171. 
 
 war, ware, weir, pt. were, 13, 
 30; pres. subj. were, 11, 89; 
 wert, 222, 40: weill w. him, 
 well were it for him, 36, G9. 
 
 a. wary, 27, 84; on guard. 
 
 121, 92: be w., beware, 196, 
 620. 
 
 wer, a. comp. worse, 42, 
 
 10. 
 
 wardit, pp. imprisoned, 139, 
 166. 
 
 warison, s. reward, 187, 374. 
 
 warkis, s. pi. works, 80, 42. 
 
 warld, s. world, 28, 109. 
 
 warldly, a. worldly, 192, 510. 
 
 warldlynes, s. worldliness, 43, 
 36. 
 
 warly, adv. warily, 40, 150. 
 
 warmis, warmys, pres. t. warms, 
 23, 229. 
 
 wame, pres. t. warn, 22, 222. 
 
 warrand, v. to warrant, guar- 
 antee, 31, 163. 
 
 warrare, a. comp. more wary, 
 wiser, 87, 193. 
 
 warrene, s. warrant, 242, 49. 
 
 warsche, a. pallid, sickly in ap- 
 pearance, 186, 350. 
 
372 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 warst, a. superl. worst, 42, 10. 
 warwolf, s. werewolf, 45, 94. 
 wastit, pp. wasted, 29, 123. 
 wasyll, s. weasel, 46, 115. 
 wate, see wait, 
 watere, watter, wattir, s. water, 
 
 43, 34. 
 watt, see wait, 
 waverand, pres. p. tossed to and 
 
 fro, 139, 181. 
 wavis, i. pi. waves, 39, 123. 
 wayis, s. pi. waves, 139, 180. 
 
 s. pi. ways, 39, 120. 
 
 wayr, v. see wair. 
 
 wayte, v. to watch, search, 40, 
 
 150. 
 weche, s. witch, wizard, 28, 103. 
 wecht, s. weight, 81, 53. 
 wedaw, «. widower, 189, 414. 
 wedder, weddir, s. weather, 04, 
 
 147. 
 wederis, s. pi. weathers, 26, 62. 
 wedois, s.poss. widow's, 25, 23. 
 wedow, 3. widow, 24, 15. 
 weid, s. dress, array, 118, 41. 
 
 s. weed, withered grass, 
 
 117, 11. 
 
 weil, weile, weill, wele, adv. 
 well, rightly, 3, 14; inter j. 
 well! 15, 64. 
 
 s. good, 21, 191. 
 
 weile-far, s. good food, 14, 46. 
 weip, v. to weep, 84, 131. 
 weir, v. to ward oft, 150, 182. 
 pt. were, 206, 55. 
 
 pt. wore, 67, 39. 
 
 s. war, 92, 325. 
 
 a. doubt: but w., without 
 
 doubt, 60, 62. 
 
 weird, werd, wered, s. fate, 158, 
 385. 
 
 weiris, pres. t. wastes away, 
 passes, 162, 467. 
 
 weit, s. wet (weather), moist- 
 ure, rain, 87, 212; v. to wet, 
 moisten, 177, 140. 
 
 welcum, welcome, 68, 46. 
 
 welcummyng, s. welcoming, 
 welcome, 13, 31. 
 
 wele, see weil. 
 
 welfair, s. welfare, 13, 17. 
 
 well, s. wood, 124, 3. See note. 
 
 welterit, pp. overturned, re- 
 versed, 161, 436. 
 
 welth, s. either weal or wealth, 
 240, 6. 
 
 wend, v. go, 102, 206; goest, 
 95, 46; pt. went, 162, 474; 
 wendis, goes, 115, 208. 
 
 wene, v. to think, 105, 268; pt. 
 wend, 106, 15; wenis, t hink- 
 est, 95, 57. 
 
 went, pp. gone: is w., is gone. 
 49, 186. 
 
 wepand, weping, pres. p. weep- 
 ing, 52, 240. 
 
 wepis, pres. t. weeps, 190, 445. 
 
 wer, s. war, 65, 171. 
 
 (=war), pt. were, 17, 
 
 106; subj. were, 25, 43. 
 
 werd, werde, wered, see weird, 
 werk, s. work, deed, 9, 39. 
 werryit, weryit, pp. worried, 54, 
 
 277. 
 wery, a. weary, 25, 32. 
 weryis, pres. t. wearies, 90, 278. 
 weryit, see werryit. 
 wes, pt. was, 7, 2; were, 106, 
 
 10. 
 wesch, wesche, v. to wash, 18, 
 
 134. 
 wete, a. wet, 26, 62; sap, 227, 
 
 43. 
 wey, v. weigh, 223, 9. 
 wichcraft, s. witchcraft, 195, 
 
 588. 
 wicht, wycht, a. strong, 81, 68. 
 
 s. wight, creature, man, 
 
 184, 294. 
 
 wichtly, adv. stoutly, intently, 
 
 30, 157. 
 wicket, wickit, wikkit, a. 
 
 wicked, 49, 184. 
 wicketnais, s. wickedness, 38, 
 
 92. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 widdercock, s. weathercock, 
 
 166, 567. 
 widderit, a. withered, faded, 
 
 112, 131. 
 widdy-nek, s. a rogue hanged 
 
 by the neck with a halter of 
 
 withes or willow twigs, 36, 
 
 48. 
 wikkit, see wicket. 
 wil, will, pres. t. will, 11, 97 ; 
 
 wilt, 38, 102. 
 wildernace, s. wilderness, 56, 
 
 317. 
 wilfull, a. voluntary, 56, 321; 
 
 honest, true, 41, 181. 
 will, a. destitute, at a loss, 
 
 wanting, 18, 139. 
 for weill, adv. well, 103, 
 
 230. 
 s. will, desire, 32, 183; 
 
 heart, 16, 79; pi. willis, 5, 
 
 42. 
 wilsom, wilsome, a. wild, wan- 
 dering, bewildering, 182, 
 
 245. 
 win, wyn, v. to gain, obtain, 
 
 arrive, approach, 18, 135; 
 
 can nothing w., can make 
 
 nothing of it, 52, 233; make 
 
 secure, 56, 328. 
 s. gain: wrangus w., ill- 
 gotten gains, 239, 79. 
 wind, s. breath, wind, 33, 211. 
 winkand, pres. p. closing the 
 
 eyes, 27, 81. 
 winkit, pt. winked, connived, 
 
 32, 183. 
 winnyng, s. dwelling, abiding 
 
 place, 68, 54. See wonnyt. 
 wintare, s. for a. winter, 82, 
 
 81. 
 wirdis, s. pi. words, 33, 205. 
 wirk, ii. to work, 38, 97; do, 
 
 200, 34. 
 wirkis, pres. t. pi. work, 55, 315. 
 wirrie, v. to worry, 94, 25. 
 
 wirschep, worschip, worschipe, 
 wyrschip, s. worship, honour, 
 72, 164: it is no w., it is 
 disgraceful, 224, 17. 
 
 wirthie, a. worthy, 90, 268. 
 
 wis, see I wis, 230, 38. 
 
 wischit, pt. wished, 100, 174. 
 
 wisedoine, s. wisdom, 243, 67. 
 
 wisk, s. whisk, 137, 122. 
 
 wiskis, pres. t. whisks, 91, 301. 
 
 wiss, s. wish, 211, 6. 
 
 wist, pt. knew, 89, 255. 
 
 wit, s. intellect, knowledge, 
 reason, wisdom, 79, 2. 
 
 witt, v. to know, 103, 235: 
 
 let you w., give you to know, 
 166, 563. 
 
 with, prep, by, 30, 147; against, 
 162, 470; for, 49, 183. 
 
 withgang, s. liberty, 123, 150. 
 
 withoutin, withouttin, with- 
 outtyn, prep, without, 14, 
 41. ■ 
 
 witness, s. coll. witness, wit- 
 nesses, 59, 22. 
 
 witt, see wit. 
 
 wittie, witty, a. wise, 80, 42. 
 
 witting, pres. p. knowing, 163, 
 497. 
 
 wittis, s. pi. wits, senses, 215, 
 36. 
 
 witty, see wittie. 
 
 wo, s. woe, 92, 309. 
 
 wod, wode, a. mad, 28, 92. 
 
 s. wood, forest, 34, 15. 
 
 woddis, s. pi. woods, 30, 157. 
 
 wode, see wod. 
 
 wodwyse, s. satyr, wild man, 
 46, 107. 
 
 woid, s. wood, 202, 99. 
 
 woik, woke, watched, kept a- 
 wake, 162, 471. 
 
 vvoir, pt. wore, 237, 23. 
 
 wolfyne, s. extension of wolf, 
 as wolverine is, 46, 107. 
 
 wolk, s. week, 29, 132. 
 
 woll, s. wool, 21, 198. 
 
374 
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 womanheid, s. womanhood, 146, 
 
 88. 
 womenting, s. lamenting, sor- 
 row, 177, 147. 
 wonder, adv. wondrously, quite, 
 
 101, 191. 
 wondir, wounder, s. wonder, 76, 
 
 240. 
 wondis, s. pi. wounds, 127, 82. 
 wondit, pp. wounded, 206, 59. 
 wonnyt, pt. dwelt, 12, 4. 
 woolfis, s. poss. wolf's, 48, 149. 
 wormis, s. worms, 8, 31. 
 worrit, pp. worried, 30, 147. 
 worschip, worschipe, see wir- 
 
 schep. 
 worth, s. worth, value, 112, 131. 
 v. betide, 116, 119; wor- 
 
 this, becomes, 4, 23 ; worthit, 
 
 became, 107, 27. 
 wortbin, pp. become, 240, 6. 
 wouk, pt. awaked, 70, 97. 
 wounder, see wondir. 
 adv. mervellously, 182, 
 
 267. 
 wourd, «. word, 226, 61. 
 woux, wox, woxe, pt. waxed, 
 
 grew, 217, 19. 
 wow, v. to woo, 207, 78; wowd, 
 
 wooed, 208, 105. 
 woweir, s. wooer, 208, 104. 
 wox, woxe, see woux. 
 wraik, v. to avenge, 75, 218. 
 wraikfull, a. vengeful, 156, 329. 
 wrait, wrat, wrate, pt. wrote, 
 
 62, 94. 
 wraith, wreth, s. wrath, 93, 7; 
 
 a. wroth, 96, 73. 
 wrak, s. revenge, 158, 370. 
 
 *. gear, possession, 91, 307. 
 
 wrang, s. wrong, 236, 6 ; a. 42, 
 
 11. 
 wrangous, wrangus, a. wrongful, 
 
 illegal, 49, 184. 
 wrangwiss, adv. wrongfully, 43, 
 
 37. 
 wrappit, pp. wrapped, 165, 643. 
 wrat, wrate, see wrait. 
 
 wreche, s. wretch, 70, 107. 
 wretchidness, s. wretchedness, 
 
 misery, 56, 320. 
 wrechit, wretchit, wreuch, a. 
 
 wretched, 124, 16. 
 wreth, see wraith, 
 wrett, pt. wrote, 229, 9. 
 wringand, pres. p. wringing, 
 
 158, 874. 
 wrink, s. trick, wile, device, 94, 
 
 37. 
 writ, s. written evidence, 108, 
 
 48; scripture, 226, 3. 
 writtin, pp. written, 52, 236. 
 wrocht, pp. wrought, made, 151, 
 
 203; changed, 211, 12. 
 wrokin, pp. avenged, 125, 45. 
 wryt, wryte, v. to write, 9, £5. 
 wryth, v. drive away, expel, 
 
 208, 107. 
 wrything, pres. p. twisting, 150, 
 
 189. 
 wrytin, *. writing, 68, 65. 
 wud, pt. would, 35, 25. 
 wude, s. wood, 199, 11. 
 wunt, pp. used, wont, 74, 192. 
 wurthyness, *. worthiness, 171, 
 
 6. 
 wy, s. way, 75, 218. 
 wycht, see wicht. 
 wyde, adv. widely, 91, 292. 
 wyf, wyfe, wyffe, *. woman, 
 
 28, 97. 
 wyfis, *. poss. wife's, 08, 118. 
 wyis, wyse, wyss, s. wise, way, 
 
 manner, 94, 40. 
 wyis, wyiss, wyse, a. wise, 100, 
 
 158. 
 wyisly, wyislye, adv. wisely, 41, 
 
 178. 
 wyld, a. wild, 24, 5. 
 wyle, s. wile, snare, 94, 37. 
 wyly, o. wily, 36, 57. 
 wyn, «. gain, 241, 22; v. see 
 
 win. 
 wynd, s. wind, 11, 96. 
 v. to guide: w. the pleuch, 
 
 83, 101. 
 
GLOSSARY. 
 
 375 
 
 wyne, s. wine, 17, 112. 
 wyne-yard, s. vineyard, 185, 
 
 337. 
 wynkand, pres. p. winking, 49, 
 
 172. 
 wynke, v. to close the eyes, 20, 
 
 172. 
 wynkis, in 240, 6, error for 
 
 wrinkis, q. v. 240, 6. 
 wynnit, pt. dwelt, 93, 1. 
 wynter, s. for a. winter, 12, 8: 
 
 w. tyde, winter time, 
 wyre, s. wire, 160, 177. 
 wyrschip, see wirsohip. 
 wyrtht, «. worth, 214, 22. 
 wysar, a. comp. wiser. In 241, 
 
 22, as *., wiseT people, 
 wyse, a. see wyis. 
 
 *. .see wyis. 
 
 wysest, a. superl. wisest, 53, 
 
 269. 
 wysly, adv. wisely, 196, 620. 
 wyss, s. see wyis. 
 wyte, *. blame, 112, 134; v. to 
 
 blame, 148, 134. 
 wyth, prep, with, 241, 36. 
 
 Y. 
 
 ya, yes, 26, 51. 
 
 yaip, a. eager, 214, 29. 
 
 ye, adv. yea, 17, 117. 
 
 yeid, pt. went, 16, 91. 
 
 yeir, s. year, 15, 67; pi. 98, 
 
 114. 
 yet, s. gate, 159, 388. 
 
 yield, v. to pay, reward, 39, 119. 
 
 ying, a. young, 174, 76. 
 
 yis, adv. yes, 70, 111. 
 
 yit, conj. yet, still, 3, 2: yit 
 
 than, still, nevertheless, 3, 2. 
 ymage, s. image, 81, 48. 
 ympit, pp. grafted: ympit in, 
 
 grafted on, 223, 2. 
 yneuch, yneugh, ynewe, a. and 
 
 adv. enough, 17, 104. 
 ynkhorne, s. inkhorn, 67, 38. 
 yondir, a. yonder, 135, 77. 
 yone, dem. adj. yon, that, 21, 
 
 187. 
 youngar, a. younger, 12, 4. 
 your sell, pron. yourself, 113, 
 
 163. 
 youthheid, s. youth, 144, 35. 
 yow, pron. you, 10, 74. 
 
 s. ewe, 53, 273. 
 
 ypolirica, s. hypolocrian mode 
 
 (musical), 187, 369. 
 ypolirica, s. hypolorican mode 
 
 (musical), 187, 370. 
 yre, s. ire, anger, 72, 143. 
 yt, pron. it, 171, 8. 
 ythand, a. constant, 194, 555. 
 ythandly, adv. busily, regularly, 
 
 78, 296. 
 yude, pt. went, 13, 35. 
 yule, s. Yule, Christmas, 232, 
 
 77. 
 youngast, a. youngest, 14, 44. 
 
 Z. 
 
 zodyak, «. zodiac, 34, 20. 
 
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