Scottish Text Society publications > New series > Poems of John Stewart of Baldynneis

ROLAND FURIOVS.
35
Gif thow hes saift me from the suelling sie,
[Foi. 25 a.] Vith sauuage heists heir to persavve me rent,
Cause tham approtche vith speid and lat me die 175
for to dissolwe my duill Incontinent.
Quhat now awails the beutie excellent
Quhilk thow O Nature did on me dispon ?
Of that grayt gift I lairgelie may repent.
for It am I not raueist from my tron? 180
My bruther Argail lykuayis lost and gon,
To quhom Inchantit harneis not awaild,
And als my father Mychtie Galafron,
To battell kein be Agrican appaild,
All for the beutie quhilk thow in me saild. 185
Void god I haid in Ethiopia thair
Beine bred and borne, Quhair fairnes all is faild,
And not in ynd ane maikles maede preclair.
0 Philida, thow happi vas and fair,
Quha fed thy flock in pouertie and rest, 190
Bot I vith Lucrece may lament in cair
My onlie beutie dois my lyf molest.
from part to part I pass persewd and drest
In duyning dolor Quhilk I dalie drie.
And 3it this thing deteins me maist supprest, 195
1 feir my honor quyt extinguist bie;
for thocht I haif obseruit chastetie,
3it vandring as ane volsum vagabound,
Report perhaps vill attribute to me
That sum hes fauor in my fancie found; 200
for meschant mouths of this malitius mound
Of proper prettick vill vith pert pretens
Prepair sum propos of ane sempill ground
Quhair thay may purches place and audiens;
Agains the quhilk auaillis no defens, 205
Bot to gif liars liwe ane space to lie;
[Foi. 25 £.] And than vith tyme, As smell of sueit Incens,
Treuth sail triumphe Immaculat and frie.