Dyrk beyn my muse with dolorus armony.
Melpomene, on the wald clerkis call
Fortill compyle this dedly Tragedy,
Twiching of Troy the subuersioun and fall;
Bot sen I follow the Poete principall,5
Quhat nedis purches fenȝeit termys new?
God grant me grace hym dyngly to ensew!
The drery fait with terys lamentabill
Of Troys sege wydequhar our all is song;
Bot followand Virgil, gif my wit war abill,10
Ane othir wys now sall that bell be rong
Than euer was tofor hard in our tong.
Saturn, thou auld fader of malancoly,
Thyne is the cuyr my wofull pen to gy.
Harkis, Ladeis, ȝour bewte was the caws;15
Harkis, Knychtis, the wod fury of Mart;
Wys men, attendis mony sorofull claws;
And, ȝe dyssavouris, reid heir ȝour proper art;
And fynaly, to specify euery part,
Heir verifeit is that proverbe teching so,20
All erdly glaidnes fynysith with wo.