up yonder. and] if. tak tent] give heed. reid] advise. bute for
baill] remedy for hurt. bot gif] but if, unless. daill]
deal. mawgre haif I] I am uneasy. reivis] robbest. roiff]
quiet. drest] beset. lemman] mistress. sicht] sigh. in hir
intent] in her inward thought. brayd] strode. bent] coarse
grass. schent] destroyed. alis] ails. be that] by the time
that. till] to. tuke keip] paid attention. hard] heard. gestis]
romances. mot eik] may add to. be] by. janglour]
talebearer. wend] weened. howp] hope. but lett] without
hindrance. anneuche] enough. holttis hair] grey
woodlands. leuche] laughed. wreuch] peevish. huche] heuch,
cliff.


Robert Henryson. 1425-1500

17. The Bludy Serk

THIS hinder yeir I hard be tald
Thair was a worthy King;
Dukis, Erlis, and Barronis bald,
He had at his bidding.
The Lord was ancean and ald,
And sexty yeiris cowth ring;
He had a dochter fair to fald,
A lusty Lady ying.

Off all fairheid scho bur the flour,
And eik hir faderis air;
Off lusty laitis and he honour,