Classic Poem

Solace in Age

Thoch that this warld be verie strange;
And theves hes done my rowmis range,
And teynd my fald:
Yit wald I leif, and byde ane change;
Thoch I be ald.

Now me to spulyie sum not spairis;
To tak my geir no captane cairis;
Thai ar sa bald.
Yit tyme may cum, may mend my sairis;
Thoch I be ald.

Sum now, be force of men of weir,
My hous, my landis, and my geir,
Fra me thai hald.
Yit, as I may, sall mak gud cheir;
Thoch I be ald.

So weill is kend my innocence,
That I will not, for nane offence,
Flyte lyk ane skald:
Bot thank God, and tak patience;
For I am ald.

For eild, and my infirmitie,
Warme clayths ar bettir far, for me
To keip fra cald;
Nor in dame Venus' chamber be;
Now being ald.

Of Venus' play past is the heit;
For I may not the mistirs beit
Of Meg, nor Mald.
For ane young las I am not meit;
I am sa ald.

The fairast wenche in all this toun,
Thoch I hir had in hir best goun,
Rycht braivlie brald;
With hir I micht not play the loun;
I am sa ald.

My wyf sumtyme wald talis trow,
And mony leisings weill allow,
War of me tald:
Scho will not eyndill on me now;
And I sa ald.

My hors, my harnés, and my speir;
And all uther, my hoisting geir,
Now may be sald.
I am not abill for the weir;
I am sa ald.

Quhan young men cumis fra the grene,
(Playand at the fute-ball had bene)
With brokin spald;
I thank my God, I want my ene;
And am sa ald.

Thoch I be sweir to ryd or gang;
Thair is sumthing, I've wantit lang,
Fane have I wald——
Thame punyfit that did me wrang;
Thoch I be ald.English