Scottish Text Society publications > Old series > Poems of Alexander Montgomerie

THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE.
89
35. [WREITTOUN
“ What is the way to heale thine1 hurt ?
What way is there 2 to stay thy sturt ?
What meanes to 3 make thee merrie ?
What is the comfort that thou craves ? 480
Suppose these Sophists thee deceaves,
Thou knowes it is the Cherrie.
Since for it onely thou but thirsts,
The Slae can bee no buite:
In it also thine 4 health consists, 485
And in none5 other fruite.
Why quakes thou,6 and shakes thou,
Or 7 studies at our strife ?
Advise thee, it lyes thee,
On no lesse than thy life. 490
36.
“ If any patient would be pansde,
Why should he loupe when he is lansde,
Or shrinke when he is shorne ?
For I have heard Chirurgians say,
Oft-times deferring of a day 495
Might not be mend the morne.
Take time in time, ere8 time be tint,
For time will not remaine :
What forceth fire out of the flint,
But as hard match againe ? 500
Delay not, nor 9 fray not,
And thou shall see it sa :
Such gets ay, as sets ay,10
Stout stomackes to the brae.
1 E.W.2 thy. 2 E. Quhat is the way.
4 E.W.2 thy. 5 E.W.2 na.
7 E.W.2 And. 8 E.W 2 or.
10 E. Sic (W.2 So) gets ay that setts ay.
E.W.2 may.
E. now. Cf. pp. 34, 35.
E. and. Cf. pp. 36, 37.
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