Classic Poem

Schir, lat it neuer in toune be tald
That I suld be ane Yowllis yald.

1

Suppois I war ane ald yald auer,
Schott furth our clewch to squische the cleuer,
And hed the strenthis off all Strenever,
I wald at Youll be housit and stald.
Schir, lat it neuer in toune be tald
That I suld be ane Yowllis yald.

2

I am ane auld hors, as ye knaw,
That euer in duill dois drug and draw.
Gryt court hors puttis me fra the staw,
To fang the fog be firthe and fald.
Schir, lat it neuer in toune be tald
That I suld be ane Yowllis yald.

3

I heff run lang furth in the feild
On pastouris that ar plane and peld.
I mycht be now tein in for eild,
My bekis ar spruning he and bald.
Schir, lat it neuer in toun be tald
That I suld be ane Yowllis yald.

4

My maine is turned in to quhyt,
And thair off ye heff all the wyt.
Quhen vthair hors hed brane to byt,
I gat bot gris, grype giff I wald.
Schir, lat it neuer in towne be tald
That I suld be ane Yowllis yald.

5

I was neuer dautit in to stabell.
My lyff hes bein so miserabell
My hyd to offer I am abell,
For evill schoud strae that I reiv wald.
Schir, lat it neuer in towne be tald
That I suld be ane Yowllis yald.

6

And yett, suppois my thrift be thyne,
Gif that I die your aucht within
Lat neuir the soutteris haue my skin,
With vglie gumes to be gnawid.
Schir, lat it neuir in toun be tald
That I sould be ane Yuillis yald.

7

The court hes done my curage cuill
And maid me ane forriddin muill.
Yett to weir trapperis at the Yuill,
I wald be spurrit at everie spald.
Schir, lett it neuir in toun be tald
That I sould be ane Yuillis yald.

8

Now lufferis cummis with larges lowd.
Quhy sould not palfrayis thane be prowd,
Quhen gillettis wilbe schomd and schroud,
That riddin ar baith with lord and lawd?
Schir, lett it neuir in toun be tald
That I sould be ane Yuillis yald.

9

Quhen I was young and into ply
And wald cast gammaldis to the sky,
I had beine bocht in realmes by,
Had I consentit to be sauld.
Schir, lett it neuir in toun be tauld
That I sould be ane Yuillis yald.


10

With gentill hors quhen I wald knyp,
Thane is thair laid on me ane quhip.
To colleveris than man I skip,
That scabbit ar, hes cruik and cald.
Schir, lett it neuir in toun be tald
That I sould be ane Yuillis yald.

11

Thocht in the stall I be not clappit,
As cursouris that in silk beine trappit,
With ane new hous I wald be happit
Aganis this Crysthinmes for the cald.
Schir, lett it neuir in toun be tald
That I sould be ane Yuillis yald.

Respontio regis

Efter our wrettingis, thesaurer,
Tak in this gray hors, auld Dumbar,
Quhilk in my aucht with seruice trew
In lyart changeit is his hew.
Gar hows him new aganis this Yuill
And busk him lyk ane bischopis muill,
For with my hand I haue indost
To pay quhateuir his trappouris cost.