Scottish Text Society publications > Third series > Mar Lodge translation of the history of Scotland by Hector Boece

32 THE MAR LODGE TRANSLATION OF ‘ BOECE ’
M.L.T. 31
And thairfore kingis has na oppin rene
To use all pleseiris, as thaym likis best:
The hiear honour and office thay sustene.
Their vice is ay pe hiear manifest.
Schaw now quhat kind of soundis musicall
Is maist semand to valzeand chevaleris ;
As thoundran blast of trumpat bellicall
The spretis of men to hardy courage steris ;
So singing, fydling and pyping not effeiris
For men of honour nor of hye estate,
Becaus it spoutis sueet venome in thair eris,
And makis thair myndis [al] effeminat.
Be mony reasonis of gret experience,
Schaw how na thing into this erd may be
So gud, so precious, as ane virtuus prince,
Quhilk is so needfull to this realm, that we
But him has nocht but deith and poverte.
Schaw hou na gard nor armour may defend
Unhappy lyfe, and cursit tyrrane,
(Gif thay continue) but mischievous end.
Persuade all kingis (gif thly have ony sycht
To lang empyre or honour singular)
To conques favour and luf of evry wicht.
And evry wrangis in thair realme repare ;
For quhen thair subdittis are oppressit sare,
And finds na iustice in thair actionis,
Then rises nois and rumour populare.
And drawis pe nobyllis in syndry factionis.
Schaw quhat punition, be reason of iustice,
Effeiris to th[a]y unhappy creaturis
That nurisis kingis in corrupt vice.
And schaw quhat trouble, quhat vengeance and iniuris,
Continewally into this realm enduris,
Quhen men obscure and avaritius