Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ANE SATIRE OF THE THREE ESTAITIS: OPPRESSION BETRAYS THEFT, by DAVID LYNDSAY Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Have I nocht made ane honest shift Last Line: Where thou hangs on that pin. Alternate Author Name(s): Lindsay, David; Lyndsay, Sir David Of The Moiunt | ||||||||
OPPRESSIOUN HAVE I nocht made ane honest shift That has betrasit Commoun Thift, For thar is nocht under the lift And curster corse. I am richt sure that he and I Within this half-year craftily Has stolen ane thousand sheep and kye By maris and hors. Wald God that I were sound and haill, Now liftit into Liddesdale, The Merse suld find me beef and kale Whatrack of bread. Where I there liftit with my life, The Devil suld stick me with a knife And ever I come again in Fife Whill I were deid: Adew, I leave the Devil amang you That in his fingaris he may fang you With all leill men that dois belang you, For I may rue That evir I come into this land; For why ye may weill understand I gat na gear to turn mine hand Yet anis adew. THEFT (Speaks from the gallows) Allace, this is ane fellon rippat. The widdefow wardens tuk my gear And left me nowdir hors nor meir, Nor erdly gude that me belangit, Now wallaway I mon be hangit. Repent your livis all plain oppressiouris All murdressaris and strang transgressouris Or ellis ga choose you gude confessouris, And mak you ford: For and ye tarry in this land And come under correctiounis hand Your grace sall be I understand Ane gude sharp cord. Adew, my brether commoun thievis That helpit me in my mischievis Adew Grossaris, Niksonis and Bellis, Oft have we fairne out through the fellis; Adew Robsonis, Hawis and Pylis That in our craft has mony wylis; Littillis, Trumbillis and Armestrangis Adew, all thievis that me belangis, Tailyouris, Erewynis and Elwandis, Speedy of feet and slicht of handis, The Scottis of Eskdale and the Grames I have na time to tell your names, With King Correctioun be ye fangit Believe richt sure ye will be hangit. FALSET (After Theft is hanged) Wae's me for good Commoun Thift Was never man made more honest shift His living for to win. There was nocht in all Liddesdale That kye more craftily could steal Where thou hangs on that pin. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ANE SATYRE OF THE THREI ESTAITIS, SELECTION by DAVID LYNDSAY ANE SUPPLICATION IN CONTEMPLATION OF SYDE TAILLIS by DAVID LYNDSAY COMPLAINT OF THE COMMON WEILL OF SCOTLAND by DAVID LYNDSAY THE HOPE OF IMMORTALITY by DAVID LYNDSAY THE TESTAMENT AND COMPLAYNT OF THE PAPINGO, SELECTION by DAVID LYNDSAY DEEP IN THE QUIET WOOD by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON EPIGRAM: 45. ON MY FIRST SON by BEN JONSON CHILDREN by WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR TO THE UNKNOWN EROS: BOOK 2: 7. TO THE BODY by COVENTRY KERSEY DIGHTON PATMORE |
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