Scottish Text Society publications > Third series > Works of Sir David Lindsay of the Mount, 1490-1555 > Volume 1, 1938

48 THE COMPLAYNT OF SIR DAUID LINDESAY.
And quho maist to my skaith consentit, 295
Within few Jens full sore repentit,
Quhen thay could mak me no remeid ;
For thay war harlit out be the heid,
And vtheris tuke the gouemyng,
Weill wors than thay in alkin thyng. 300
Thay lordis tuke no more regaird,
Bot quho mycht purches best rewaird.
Sum to thare freindis gat benefyceis,
And vther sum gat Byschopreis.
[G 5a] For euery lord, as he thocht best, 305
Brocht in ane bird to fyll the nest,
To be ane wacheman to his marrow.
Thay gan to draw at the cat harrow.
The proudest Prelatis of the kirk
Was faine to hyde thame in the myrk 310
That tyme, so fail3eit wes thare sycht.
Sen syne thay may nocht thole the lycht
Off Christis trew Gospell to be sene.
So blyndit is thare corporall Ene
With wardly lustis sensuall, 315
Takyng in realmes the gouemall,
Baith gyding court and cessioun,
Contrar to thare professioun,
Quhareof I thynk thay sulde haue schame,
Off spiritual! preistis to tak the name. 320
For Esayas, in to his wark,
Calhs thame lyke Doggis that can nocht bark,
That callit ar preistis, and can nocht preche.
Nor Christis law to the peple teche.
Geue for to preche bene thare professioun, 325
Quhy sulde thay mell with court, or Cessioun,
Except it war in spiritual! thyngis ;
Referryng vnto lordis and kyngis
Temporal! causis to be desydit ?
Geue thay thare spiritual! office gydit,
like man mycht say, thay did thare partis.
Bot, geue thay can play at the cairtis,
330