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

50
THE complaynt of schir dauid lindesay.
Bot of thare lyftis thay had sic dreid,
That thay war faine tyll trott ouer tweid.
■S3 ^
NOw, Potent Prince, I say to the,
I thank the haly Trinitie,
That I haue lenit to se this daye, 375
That all that warld is went awaye.
And thow to no man art subiectit.
Nor to sic counsalouris coactit.
The foure gret verteous Cardinalis,
I see thame with the principahs. 380
For lustice haldis hir sweird on hie,
With hir ballance of Equitie,
And, in this realme, hes maid sic ordom,
Baith throw the heland and the bordour,
That oppressioun and all his fallowis
Ar hangit heych apon the gallowis.
Dame Prudence hes the be the heid.
And temperance dois thy brydill leid
[G 6b] I se dame force mak assistance,
Berand thy Targe of assurance ;
And lusty lady Chaistitie
Hes baneist Sensuahtie.
Dame Ryches takis on the sic cure,
I pray God that scho lang indure,
That Pouertie dar nocht be sene
In to thy hous, for baith hir Ene,
Bot fra thy grace fled mony mylis,
Amangis the Hountaris in the Ylis.
Dissimulance dar nocht schaw hir face,
Quhilk wount was to begyill thy grace ; 400
Foly is fled out of the toun,
Quhilk ay was countrar to ressoun ;
Polyce and Peace begynnis to plant,
That verteous men can no thyng want;
And, as for sleuthful] Idyll lownis, 405
Sail fetterit be in the Gail3eownis.
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