(53) [ G3v-G4 recto (Page 102-103) ]

102 The Fabillis

Syne lap ouer leis, and draif throw dub and myre.
Na quod the wedder in faith we part not swa.
It is not the lamb, bot the, that I desyre.
I sall cum neir, for now I se the tyre.
The volff ran till ane rekill stude behind him
Bot ay the neirar the vedder he couth bind him.

Sone efter that, he followit him sa neir,
Quhill that the volff 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 off na beild.
The wedder followit him, baith out, and in,
Quhill that ane breir busk raif rudelie off the skyn.

The volff wes wer, and blenkit him behind,
And saw the wedder come thrawand throw the breir.
Tyne saw the doggis skyn hingand on his lind.
Na (quod he) is this ze, that is sa neir?
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 ze sall rew this rais.

Quhat wes the cause ze gaif me sic ane katche?
With that in hy he hint him be the horne.
For all zour mowis, ze met anis with zour matche,
Suppois ze leuch me all this zeir to scorne.
For quhat enchessoun this doggis skyn haue ze borne?
Maister (quod he) bot to haue playit with zow,

Off Esope. 103

I zow requyre, that ze nane vther trow.

Is this zour bourding in ernist than (quod he)
For I am verray effeirit, and on flocht.
Cum bak agane, and I sall let zow se.
Than quhar the gait wes grimmit he him brocht.
Quhether call ze this fair play, or nocht?
To set zour maister in sa fell effray,
Quhill he for feiritnes hes fylit vp the way.

Thryis (be my saull) ze gart me schute behind,
Vpon my hoichis the senzeis may be sene.
For feiritnes full oft I fylit the wind.
Now is this ze: na bot ane hound, I wene.
Me think zour teith ouer schort to be sa kene.
Blissit be the busk, that reft zow zour array.
Ellis, fleand, bursin had I bene this day.

Schir (quod the wedder) suppois I ran in hy,
My mynd wes neuer to do zour persoun ill.
Ane flear gettis ane follower commounly,
In play or ernist, preif quha sa euer will.
Sen I bot playit, be gracious me till..
And I sall gar my freindis blis zour banis.
Ane full gude seruand will crab his maister anis.

I haue bene oftymis set in grit effray,
Bot (be the rude) sa rad zit wes I neuer.
As thow hes maid me with thy prettie play.
I schot behind quhen thow ouertuke me euer.