Classic Poem

Sum of the poyets, and makars, that ar now,
Of grit despyte, and malice, ar sa fow,
That all lesingis, that can be inventit,
Thai put in writ, and garris thame be prentit;
To gar the peple ill opinioun taik
Of thame, quhom of that thai thair ballats maik.
With sclanderous words thai do all thing thai can
For to defame mony gude honest man,
In setting furthe thair buikis, and thair rymes,
Accusand sum of improbabil crymes.
And, thoch that sum thair lybells does allow,
Yit few [ar] that will thair awin warks avow.
And thoch that thai bakbytars and blasphemars,
Now at this tyme, has mony thair mantenars,
The day will cum that thai forthink sall it
That thai have put sic lesings into writ.
To steill ane manis fame is gritter sin
Nor ony geir that is this warld within.
Thairfoir repent, ye ralars, and restoir
To thame thair fame quhom ye sklandrit besoir:
To that effect apply your wordes, and deidis,
Ill brute to tak furthe of the peple's heidis.
Cry toung! I leid , throw all this natioun:
Mak buiks and rymes of recantatioun.
Sic alteratioun may cum in this land
May gar ane tak ane uther be the hand,
And say, Think on — Ye maid of me ane ballat ,
For your rewarde now I sall brek your pallat.
Men sould bewar quhat thing thai said or did,
For it may cum to lycht lang hes bene hid.
Thairfoire na man mak ballats, nor indyte,
Of ill, detractioun, sklander, nor dispyte.
Put not in writ that God, or man, may greif.
All vertew love; and all vyces repreif.
Or mak sum myrrie toy, to gude purpose,
That may the herar, and redar bayth, rejose:
Or sum frutful and gude Moralite:
Or plesand things, may stand with chirrite.
Dispytful poyets sould not tholit be
In commounweils, or godlic cumpanie:
That sorte ar [redie] ay to saw seditioun;
And put gude men into suspitioun.