Scottish Text Society publications > Old series > Actis and deidis of the illustere and vailzeand campioun, Schir William Wallace, Knicht of Ellerslie

86
SCHIR WILLIAM WALLACE.
In feyle debait with enemys mony ane.
God at his will my liff did ay to kepe :
Our Forth I swame, that awfull is and depe.
Quhat I haiff had in wer befor this day,
Presoune and payne, to this nycht was bot play ;
So bett I am with strakis sad and sar;
The cheyle wattir vrned me mekill mar ;
Eftir gret bind throu heit in cauld was brocht,
That off my lyff almost no thing I roucht.
I meyn fer mar the tynsell off my men,
Na for my selff, mycht I suffir sic ten.’
The persone said; “ Der sone, thow may se weyll,
Langar to stryff it helpis nocht adeyll,
Thi men ar lost, and nayne will with the rys;
For Goddis [saik,] wyrk as I sail dewys.
Tak a lordschipe, quhar on at thow may liff;
King Eduuard wald gret landis to the giff.”
‘ Wncle,’ he said, ‘off sic wordis no mar;
This is no thing bot eking off my car.
I lik bettir to se the Sothren de,
Than gold or land that thai can giff to me.
Trastis, rycht weyll of wer I will nocht ces,
Quhill tyme that I bryng Scotland in to pes,
Or de tharfor, in playne to wndrestand.’
So come Kerle, and gud Stewyn of Irland;
The wedowis sone to Wallace he thaim broucht.
Frai thai him saw, of na sadnes thai roucht;
For perfyt joy thai wepe with all thair eyne;
To ground thai fell, and thankit hewynnys queyn.
Als he was glaid for reskew off thaim twa;
Off thair feris leyffand was left no ma.
Thai tald him that Schyr Garrat was dede ;
How thai had weyll eschapyt of that stede.
379. hes ay my lyfe to keip. 392. saik, A.; not in MS.; P. said—:
383. bet. (zvyr/i) mak.
384. schill waiter brynt; P. wined me. 399. Traist thow. P. has Trust ye.
385. heit and cald was wrocht. 405. weipit with thair ene.
387. tynsall. 409. Gerard.
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