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

OF THE MONARCHE.
273
For tyll agment thare superstitioun,
In those Ydolis thay maid thare entres, 2480
And in thame spak, as storyis doith expres.
Than men beleuit of thame to gett releif,
Askand thame help in all thare besynes ;
Bot, finallye, that tumit to thare myscheif.
C Traist weill, in thame is none Diuinitie, 2485
Quhen reik & rowst thare fair colour doith faid :
Thocht thay haue feit, one fute thay can not flee,
Quhowbeit the tempyll bym abone thair haid.
In thame is nother freindschip nor remaid.
In sic fyguris quhat fauour can 3e fynd ? 249G
With mouth, and eris, & eine thocht thay be maid,
All men may se thay ar dum, deif, and blynd.
Quhowbeit thay fal doun flatlyngis on the flure,
Thay haif none strenth thare self to rais agane ;
Thocht Rattonis ouir thame. ryn, thay tak no cure ; 2495
Quhowbeit thax breik thase neck, they feil no pane.
Quhy sulde men psalmes to thame sing or sane ?
Sen growand treis that 3eirly berith frute
Ar more to pryse, I mak it to the plane,
Nor cuttit stockis, wanting boith crope and rute. 2500
[H 4*1 a®" Off Edinburgh the gret Idolatrye
And manifest abominatioun,
On thare feist day, all creature may se.
Thay beir ane auld stock Image throuch the toun,
With talbrone, troumpet, schalme, and Clarioun, 2505
Quhilk hes bene vsit mony one 3eir bigone,
With preistis and freris in to processioun,
Siclyke as Bell wes borne throuch Babilone.
C Aschame 3e nocht, 3e seculare prestis and freris,
Tyll so gret superstitioun to consent ? 2510
Ydolateris 3e haue bene mony 3eris,
Expresse agane the Lordis commandiment.
S