(58) G8 verso - H1 recto (Page 112-113)

112 The Fabillis

Wer I bezond, my feist wer fer the more.

I haue no boit, heir is no maryner:
And thocht thair war, I haue no fraucht to pay.
Quod scho sister lat be zour heuie cheir:
Do my counsall, and I sall find the way,
Withoutin hors, brig, boit, or zit galay.
To bring zow ouer saiflie, be not afeird:
And not wetand, the campis off zour beird.

I haif mervell than quod the lytill mous,
How can thow fleit without fedder or fin:
This reuer is sa deip, and dangerous,
Me think, that thow suld droun to wed thairin.
Tell me thairfoir, quhat facultie or gin,
Thow hes to bring me ouer this watter wan?
That to declair the paddok thus began.

With my twa feit quod scho lukkin and braid,
In steid off airis, I row the streme full styll,
And thocht the brym be perrillous to waid.
Baith to, and fra, I swyme at my awin will,
I may not droun, for quhy my oppin gill
Deuoidis ay the watter I resaiff.
Thairfoir to droun forsuith na dreid I haif.

The mous beheld vnto hir fronsit face,
Hir runkillit cheikis, and hir lippis syde:
Hir hingand browis, and hir voce sa hace:
Hir loggerand leggis, and hir harsky hyde.

Off Esope, 113

Scho ran abak, and on the paddok cryde.
Giff I can ony skill off phisnomy,
Thow hes sumpart off falset, and inuy.

For clerkis sayis, the inclinatioun,
Off mannis thocht, proceidis commounly,

Efter the corporall complexioun,
To gude, or euill, as nature will apply.
Ane thrawart will ane thrawin phisnomy.
The auld prouerb is witnes off this lorum:
Distortum vultum sequitur distortio morum

Na quod the taid that prouerb is not trew:
For fair thingis oftymis ar fundin faikin.
The blaberyis thocht thay be sad off hew,
Ar gadderit vp, quhen primeros is forsakin.
The face may faill, to be the hartis takin.
Thairfoir I find this scripture in all place.
Thow suld not iuge ane man efter his face.

Thocht I vnhailsum be to luke vpon,
I haue na wyt quhy suld I lakkit be.
Wer I als fair, as iolie absolon,
I am no causer off that grit beutie,
This difference in forme, and qualitie,
Almychtie God hes causit dame nature:
To prent, and set in euerilk creature.
Off sum the face may be full flurischand,

Off silkin toung, and cheir rycht amorous,