| I THAT in heill was and
gladnèss |
|
| Am trublit now with great sickness |
|
| And feblit with infirmitie:— |
|
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. |
|
| |
| Our plesance here is all vain glory, |
5 |
| This fals world is but transitory, |
|
| The flesh is bruckle, the Feynd is slee:— |
|
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. |
|
| |
| The state of man does change and vary, |
|
| Now sound, now sick, now blyth, now sary, |
10 |
| Now dansand mirry, now like to die:— |
|
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. |
|
| |
| No state in Erd here standis sicker; |
|
| As with the wynd wavis the wicker |
|
| So wannis this world's vanitie:— |
15 |
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. |
|
| |
| Unto the Death gois all Estatis, |
|
| Princis, Prelatis, and Potestatis, |
|
| Baith rich and poor of all degree:— |
|
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. |
20 |
| |
| He takis the knichtis in to the field |
|
| Enarmit under helm and scheild; |
|
| Victor he is at all mellie:— |
|
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. |
|
| |
| That strong unmerciful tyrand |
25 |
| Takis, on the motheris breast sowkand, |
|
| The babe full of benignitie:— |
|
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. |
|
| |
| He takis the campion in the stour, |
|
| The captain closit in the tour, |
30 |
| The lady in bour full of bewtie:— |
|
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. |
|
| |
| He spairis no lord for his piscence, |
|
| Na clerk for his intelligence; |
|
| His awful straik may no man flee:— |
35 |
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. |
|
| |
| Art-magicianis and astrologgis, |
|
| Rethoris, logicianis, and theologgis, |
|
| Them helpis no conclusionis slee:— |
|
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. |
40 |
| |
| In medecine the most practicianis, |
|
| Leechis, surrigianis, and physicianis, |
|
| Themself from Death may not supplee:— |
|
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. |
|
| |
| I see that makaris amang the lave |
45 |
| Playis here their padyanis, syne gois to grave; |
|
| Sparit is nocht their facultie:— |
|
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. |
|
| |
| He has done petuously devour |
|
| The noble Chaucer, of makaris flour, |
50 |
| The Monk of Bury, and Gower, all three:— |
|
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. |
|
| |
| The good Sir Hew of Eglintoun, |
|
| Ettrick, Heriot, and Wintoun, |
|
| He has tane out of this cuntrie:— |
55 |
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. |
|
| |
| That scorpion fell has done infeck |
|
| Maister John Clerk, and James Afflek, |
|
| Fra ballat-making and tragedie:— |
|
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. |
60 |
| |
| Holland and Barbour he has berevit; |
|
| Alas! that he not with us levit |
|
| Sir Mungo Lockart of the Lee:— |
|
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. |
|
| |
| Clerk of Tranent eke he has tane, |
65 |
| That made the anteris of Gawaine; |
|
| Sir Gilbert Hay endit has he:— |
|
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. |
|
| |
| He has Blind Harry and Sandy Traill |
|
| Slain with his schour of mortal hail, |
70 |
| Quhilk Patrick Johnstoun might nought flee:— |
|
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. |
|
| |
| He has reft Merseir his endite, |
|
| That did in luve so lively write, |
|
| So short, so quick, of sentence hie:— |
75 |
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. |
|
| |
| He has tane Rowll of Aberdene, |
|
| And gentill Rowll of Corstorphine; |
|
| Two better fallowis did no man see:— |
|
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. |
80 |
| |
| In Dunfermline he has tane Broun |
|
| With Maister Robert Henrysoun; |
|
| Sir John the Ross enbrast has he:— |
|
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. |
|
| |
| And he has now tane, last of a, |
85 |
| Good gentil Stobo and Quintin Shaw, |
|
| Of quhom all wichtis hes pitie:— |
|
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. |
|
| |
| Good Maister Walter Kennedy |
|
| In point of Death lies verily; |
90 |
| Great ruth it were that so suld be:— |
|
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. |
|
| |
| Sen he has all my brether tane, |
|
| He will naught let me live alane; |
|
| Of force I man his next prey be:— |
95 |
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. |
|
| |
| Since for the Death remeid is none, |
|
| Best is that we for Death dispone, |
|
| After our death that live may we:— |
|
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. |
100 |
