Scottish Text Society publications > Old series > Treatise callit The court of Venus

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THE COURT OF VENVS.
On the thrid reill of life the Longitude,
I saw keruit gif I weill vnderstuid,
Thir thre giftis thir graces gaif in plane,
Quha thair seruice soucht weill with mansuetude. 705
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Of thair cleithing or Ornament to tell,
Ane thousand rimes my wit it dois excell:
Sa wonder riche it was and curious.
Heirfoir thairwith I will not Intermell,
Ukane most lik thay war to ane Angell, 71 o
Be apperance als bricht as fair Phebus :
Of fassoun fair, facound, and fauorous.
Quod Desperance, faith I feill be my sell,
Heir sail I get sum guerdoun gracious.
Inward he come law kneland on his kne : 715
His small missiue deliuerit to thame thre :
Lamentand soir with ane hewie regrait,
Askand at thame for luif and cherite,
Thay wald him mak sum aid, help, or supple :
Or his sorrow in sum part suffocat: 720
Of gude counsall he was richt desolate,
Sa sair he was vext with aduersite :
He was bot deid, without thay maid debait.
Thir Ladies hard his sair lamentacioun :
Thay red the bill, and saw the narratioun. 725
Richt discontent thay war in till ane part,
[T]hat he had put sa greit blasphematioun,
[Vpon] Quene Venus be corrupt relatioun
[Sy]n said forsuith thay kuld be na kin art
1 Amang thame all, hir Court cast or conuert, 730
Be no Ingine or Imaginatioun :
Bot tak his chance, & than blak was his hart.
1 Lf. 30, back.