Classic and Contemporary Poetry
ANE SUPPLICATION IN CONTEMPLATION OF SYDE TAILLIS, by DAVID LYNDSAY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Schir, though your grace has put great order Last Line: Except the queenis majesty. Alternate Author Name(s): Lindsay, David; Lyndsay, Sir David Of The Moiunt | ||||||||
Schir, though your grace has put great order Baith in the Hieland and the Border, Yet make I supplicatioun Till have some reformatioun Of ane small fault whilk is nocht treason, Though it be contrary to reason. Because the matter been so vile It may nocht have an ornate style: Wharefore I pray your excellence To hear me with great patience: Of stinkand weedis maculate No man may make a rose chaplet. Soverane, I mean of thir syde taillis Whilk through the dust and dubbis traillis Three quarteris lang behind their heelis, Express agane all Commoun weillis. Though bishopis in their pontificalis Have men for to bear up their tailis For dignity of thier office, Richt so ane queen or ane Emprice, Howbeit they use sic gravity Conformand to their majesty; Though their robe royalis be upborne, I think it is ane very scorn That every lady of the land Suld have her tail so syde trailand, Howbeit they bene of hie estate, The Queen they suld nocht counterfait. Wharever they go it may be seen How kirk and causay they soup clean. The imagis into the kirk May think of their syde taillis irk, For when the wedder bene most fair, The dust flies highest in the air And all their faces dois begarie. Gif they culd speak, they wald them warie. To see I think ane pleasant sicht Of Italy the ladyis bricht, In their clothing maist triumphand Above all other Christian land. Yet when they travel through the townes Men seis their feet beneath their gownis, Four inch abune their proper heelis, Circulate about as round as wheelis, Whare through there dois na poulder rise There fair white limbis to supprise. Bot I have most into despite Puir claggokis clad in raploch white Whilk has scant twa merkis for their fees Will have twa ellis beneath their knees. Kittok that clekkit was yestreen, The morn will counterfeit the Queen. Ane muirland Meg that milks the yowis Claggit with clay abune the bowis, In barn nor byre she will nocht bide Without her kirtle tail be syde. In boroughis wanton burgess wivis Wha may have sidest taillis strivis, Weill borderit with velvet fine: Bot following them it is ane pyne; In summer when the streetis dryis They raise the dust abune the skyis: None may go near them at their ease Without they cover mouth and neis, I think maist pain after ane rain To see them tuckit up again; Then when they step furth through the street Thare faldingis flappis about their feet, Their laithlie lining furthward flypit Whilk has the muck and midding wypit. Bot wald you grace my counsel tak Ane proclamation ye suld mak, Baith through the land and borrowstounis To shaw their face and cut their gownis. Nane suld fra that exemptit be Except the Queenis Majesty. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ANE SATIRE OF THE THREE ESTAITIS: OPPRESSION BETRAYS THEFT by DAVID LYNDSAY ANE SATYRE OF THE THREI ESTAITIS, SELECTION 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 PEOPLE'S SURROUNDINGS by MARIANNE MOORE A WINTER NIGHT by SARA TEASDALE TO QUILCA; A COUNTRY HOUSE IN NO GOOD REPAIR by JONATHAN SWIFT THE FRONTIER GUARD by ANTON ALEXANDER VON AUERSPERG |
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