On the Folye of Ane Auld Manis Maryand Ane Young Woman
Amang all folleis ane great folye I find,
Quhen that ane man past fyftie yeir of aige
That in his vaine consait he growes sa blind
As for to join him-selffe in maryage
With ane young lass quhais bluid is yet in raige,
Thinkand that he may serve hir appetyte;
Quhilk and he faill than1161 will scho him dispyte.
Still ageit men sould jois1162 in morall taillis,
And nocht in taillis: for folye is to mary
Fra tyme that baith thair strenthe and nature faillis,
And tak ane wyf to bring him-selffe in tarye1163;
For fresche Maii and cauld Januarij
Agreeis nocht upon ane sang in tune,
The tribbill wantis that sould be sang abune1164.
Men sould tak voyage at the larkis sang,
And nocht at evin quhen passit is the day.
Efter mid-age the luifar1165 lyes full lang,
Quhen that his hair is turnit lyart1166 gray.
Ane auld beird till ane quhyte mouth to lay
In-to ane bed, it is ane piteous sycht:
The ane cryes help! the uther hes no mycht.
Till haive bene merchand bygaine monie ane yeir
In Antwerp, Burges, and in town of Berrie,
Syne in-to Deip for to tyne1167 all his geir
With vane conseat to puir1168 himselffe, and herrie1169.
Grit perell is for to pas our the ferrie
In-to ane laikand boit1170 nocht naillit fast,
To beir the saill nocht havand ane steife mast.
To tak ane mellein1171 that grit lawbour requyris,
Syne wantis grayth1172 for to manure the land;
Quhair seid wantis then men of teilling tyris;
Than cumis ane, findis it waist lyand,
Yokis his pleuch, teilleis1173 at his awin hand.
Better had bene the first had never kend it1174
Nor thoill1175 that schame. And sa my tale is endit.