Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, POEM: 2, by LAURENCE MINOT


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

POEM: 2, by                    
First Line: Skottes out of berwik and of abirdene
Last Line: Skottes broght him þe kayes, bot get for þaire gile.
Subject(s): Courts & Courtiers; Scotland; War


SKOTTES out of Berwik and of Abirdene,
At þe Bannok burn war ge to kene;
Pare slogh þe many sakles, als it was sene,
And now has king Edward wroken it, I wene,
It es wrokin, I wene, wele wurth þe while;
War zit with þe Skottes for þai er ful of gile.

Whare er ge, Skottes of Saint Iohnes toune?
þe boste of gowre baner es betin all doune;
When ge bosting will bede sir Edward es boune
For to kindel zow care and crak gowre crowne:
He has crakked gowre croune, wele worth þe while;
Schame bityde þe Skottes for þai er full of gile.

Skottes of Striflin war steren and stout;
Of God ne of gude men had þai no dout;
Now haue þai, þe þelers, priked obout;
Bot at þe last sir Edward rifild þaire rout,
He has rifild þaire rout, wele wurth þe while,
Bot euer er þai vnder, bot gaudes and gile.

Rughfute riueling, now kindels pi care,
Berebag with pi boste, pi biging es bare
Fals wretche and forsworn whider wiltou fare?
Busk þe vnto Brug and abide pare;
Pare, wretche, saltou won and wery þe while;
Pi dwelling in Donde es done for pi gile.

þe Skotte gase in Burghes and betes þe stretes,
All þise Inglis men harmes he hetes;
Fast makes he his mone to men pat he metes,
Bot fone frendes he findes þat his bale betes:
Fune betes his bale, wele wurth þe while,
He vses all threting with gaudes and gile.

Bot many man thretes and sþekes ful ill
þat sum tyme war better to be stane still;
þe Skot in his wordes has wind for to spill,
For at þe last Edward sall haue al his will:
He had his will at Berwik, wele wurth þe while;
Skottes broght him þe kayes, bot get for þaire gile.





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