ROBERT HENRYSON
1425-1500
16. Robin and Makyne
Robin sat on gude green hill,
Kepand a flock of fe:
Mirry Makyne said him till
'Robin, thou rew on me:
I haif thee luvit, loud and still,
Thir yeiris twa or thre;
My dule in dern bot gif thou dill,
Doutless but dreid I de.'
Robin answerit 'By the Rude
Na thing of luve I knaw,
But keipis my scheip undir yon wud:
Lo, quhair they raik on raw.
Quhat has marrit thee in thy mude,
Makyne, to me thou shaw;
Or quhat is luve, or to be lude?
Fain wad I leir that law.'
'At luvis lair gif thou will leir
Tak thair ane A B C;
Be heynd, courtass, and fair of feir,
Wyse, hardy, and free:
So that no danger do thee deir
Quhat dule in dern thou dre;
Preiss thee with pain at all poweir
Be patient and previe.'
kepand] keeping. fe] sheep, cattle. him till] to him.
dule in dern] sorrow in secret. dill] soothe. but dreid] without
dread, i. e. there is no fear or doubt. raik on raw] range in
row. lude] loved. leir] learn. lair] lore. heynd] gentle.
feir] demeanour. deir] daunt. dre] endure. preiss] endeavour.
