Robert Henryson's The morall fabillis of Esope the Phrygian

Moralitas

As i suppois, this mychtie gay lyoun, Line 1566 May signifie ane prince, or empriour. Line 1567 Ane potestate, or zit ane king with croun, Line 1568 Quhilk suld be walkrife gyde, and gouernour, Line 1569 Of his pepill and takis na labour Line 1570 To reule, and steir, the land, and iustice keip, Line 1571 Bot lyis still in lustis, sleuth, and sleip. Line 1572

The fair forest with leuis lowne and le, Line 1573 With foulis sang, and flouris ferlie sweit, Line 1574 Is bot the warld, and his prosperitie, Line 1575 As fals plesance myngit with cair repleit. Line 1576 Richt as the rois, with froist, and wynter weit Line 1577 Faidis, swa dois the warld, and thame desauis, Line 1578 Quhilk in thair lustis maist confidence hauis. Line 1579

Thir lytill myis, ar bot the commountie, Line 1580 Wantoun, vnwyse, without correctioun. Line 1581 Thair lordis, and princis quhen that thay se, Line 1582 Of iustice mak nane executioun, Line 1583 Thay dreid na thing to mak rebellioun, Line 1584 And disobey: for quhy thay stand nane aw, Line 1585 That garris thame thair soueranis to misknaw. Line 1586

Be this fabill, ze lordis of prudence, Line 1587 May considder the vertew of pietie. Line 1588 And to remit sumtyme ane grit offence, Line 1589 And mitigate with mercy crueltie. Line 1590 Oftymis is sene ane man of small degre, Line 1591 Hes quit ane commoun baith for gude and ill. Line 1592 As lord hes done rigour, or grace him till. Line 1593

Quha wait how sone ane lord of grit renoun, Line 1594 Rolland in wardlie lust, and vane plesance, Line 1595 May be ouerthrawin, destroyit, and put doun, Line 1596 Throw fals fortoun? quhilk of all variance Line 1597 Is haill maistres, and leidar of the dance Line 1598 Till iniust men, and blindis thame so soir. Line 1599 That thay na perrell can prouyde befoir. Line 1600

Thir rurall men, that stentit hes the net, Line 1601 In quhilk the lyoun suddandlie wes tane: Line 1602 Waittit alway amendis for to get. Line 1603 For hurt men wrytis in the marbill stane Line 1604 Mair till expound, as now i lett allane. Line 1605 Bot king and lord may weill wit quhat i mene: Line 1606 Figure heirof oftymis hes bene sene. Line 1607

Quhen this wes said quod esope my fair child, Line 1608 Perswaid the kirkmen ythandly to pray, Line 1609 That tressoun of this cuntrie be exyld, Line 1610 And iustice regne, and lordis keip thair fay Line 1611 Vnto thair souerane lord baith nycht and day. Line 1612 And with that word he vanist, and i woke. Line 1613 Syne throw the schaw my iourney hamewart tuke. Line 1614