Robert Henryson's The morall fabillis of Esope the Phrygian

Prologue

In middis of iune, that ioly sweit seasoun, Line 1314 Quhen that fair phebus with his bemis bricht, Line 1315 Had dryit vp the dew fra daill and doun, Line 1316 And all the land maid with his lemis licht. Line 1317 In ane mornyng betuix mid day and nicht, Line 1318 I rais and put all sleuth, and sleip asyde. Line 1319 And to ane wod i went allone but gyde Line 1320

Sweit wes the smell off flouris quhyte and reid. Line 1321 The noyes off birdis richt delitious Line 1322 The bewis braid blomit abone my heid, Line 1323 The ground growand with gresis gratious. Line 1324 Off all plesance, that place wes plenteous, Line 1325 With sweit odouris, and birdis harmony, Line 1326 The morning myld, my mirth wes mair for thy. Line 1327

The rosis reid arrayit rone and ryce, Line 1328 The prymeros, and the purpour viola. Line 1329 To heir it wes ane poynt off paradice, Line 1330 Sic mirth the mauis, and the merle couth ma. Line 1331 The blossummis blythe brak vp on bank and bra, Line 1332 The smell off herbis and the fowlis cry, Line 1333 Contending quha suld haue the victory. Line 1334

Me to conserue than fra the sonis heit, Line 1335 Vnder the schaddow off ane hawthorne grene, Line 1336 I lenit doun amang the flouris sweit, Line 1337 Syne maid a cors and closit baith my ene. Line 1338 On sleip i fell amang thir bewis bene. Line 1339 And in my dreme, me thocht come throw the schaw, Line 1340 The fairest man that euer befoir i saw. Line 1341

His gowne wes off ane claith, als quhyte as milk. Line 1342 His chymmeris wes off chambelate purpour broun. Line 1343 His hude off scarlet, bordowrit weill with silk, Line 1344 On hekillit wyis vntill his girdill doun. Line 1345 His bonat round, and off the auld fassoun. Line 1346 His heid wes quhyte, his ene wes grit and gray, Line 1347 With lokker hair, quhilk ouer his schulderis lay. Line 1348

Ane roll off paper in his hand he bair. Line 1349 Ane swannis pen stikand vnder his eir. Line 1350 Ane inkhorne, with ane prettie gilt pennair, Line 1351 Ane bag off silk, all at his belt he weir Line 1352 Thus wes he gudelie grathit in his geir, Line 1353 Off stature large, and with ane feirfull face. Line 1354 Euin quhair i lay he come ane sturdie pace. Line 1355

And said, god speid my sone: and i wes fane Line 1356 Off that couth word, and off his cumpany. Line 1357 With reuerence i salusit him agane, Line 1358 Welcome father: and he sat doun me by. Line 1359 Displeis zow not my gude maister, thocht i. Line 1360 Demand zour birth, zour facultye, and name, Line 1361 Quhy ze come heir, or quhair ze dwell at hame? Line 1362

My sone said he i am off gentill blude. Line 1363 My natall land is rome withoutin nay. Line 1364 And in that towne first to the sculis i zude, Line 1365 In ciuile law studyit full mony ane day. Line 1366 And now my winning is in heuin for ay. Line 1367 Esope i hecht, my writing and my werk, Line 1368 Is couth and kend to mony cunning clerk. Line 1369

O maister esope poet lawriate, Line 1370 God wait ze ar full deir welcum to me. Line 1371 Ar ze not he that all thir fabillis wrate, Line 1372 Quhilk in effect suppois thay fenzeit be, Line 1373 Ar full off prudence and moralitie? Line 1374 Fair sone said he i am the samin man. Line 1375 God wait gif that my hert wes merie than. Line 1376

I said, esope my maister venerabill, Line 1377 I zow beseik hartlie for cheritie, Line 1378 Ze wald dedene to tell ane prettie fabill, Line 1379 Concludand with ane gude moralitie. Line 1380 Schaikand his heid, he said, my sone lat be, Line 1381 For quhat is it worth to tell ane fenzeit taill, Line 1382 Quhen haly preiching may na thing auaill? Line 1383

Now in this warld me think richt few or nane, Line 1384 To goddis word that hes deuotioun. Line 1385 The eir is deif, the hart is hard as stane. Line 1386 Now oppin sin without correctioun. Line 1387 The e inclynand to the eirth ay doun. Line 1388 Sa roustit is the warld with canker blak, Line 1389 That now my taillis may lytill succour mak. Line 1390

Zit gentill schir said i for my requeist, Line 1391 Not to displeis zour fatherheid, i pray, Line 1392 Vnder the figure off ane brutall beist, Line 1393 Ane morall fabill ze wald denze to say. Line 1394 Quha wait, nor i may leir and beir away Line 1395 Sum thing thairby heirefter may auaill? Line 1396 I grant quod he and thus begouth ane taill. Line 1397