Amang all folleis ane great folye I find,
Quhen that ane man past fyftie yeir of aige
That in his vaine consait he growes sa blind
As for to join him-selffe in maryage
With ane young lass quhais bluid is yet in raige,
Thinkand that he may serve hir appetyte;
Quhilk and he faill than
[1161] will scho him dispyte.
Still ageit men sould jois
[1162] in morall taillis,
And nocht in taillis: for folye is to mary
Fra tyme that baith thair strenthe and nature faillis,
And tak ane wyf to bring him-selffe in tarye
[1163];
For fresche Maii and cauld Januarij
Agreeis nocht upon ane sang in tune,
The tribbill wantis that sould be sang abune
[1164].
Men sould tak voyage at the larkis sang,
And nocht at evin quhen passit is the day.
Efter mid-age the luifar
[1165] lyes full lang,
Quhen that his hair is turnit lyart
[1166] gray.
Ane auld beird till ane quhyte mouth to lay
In-to ane bed, it is ane piteous sycht:
The ane cryes help! the uther hes no mycht.
Till haive bene merchand bygaine monie ane yeir
In Antwerp, Burges, and in town of Berrie,
Syne in-to Deip for to tyne
[1167] all his geir
With vane conseat to puir
[1168] himselffe, and herrie
[1169].
Grit perell is for to pas our the ferrie
In-to ane laikand boit
[1170] nocht naillit fast,
To beir the saill nocht havand ane steife mast.
To tak ane mellein
[1171] that grit lawbour requyris,
Syne wantis grayth
[1172] for to manure the land;
Quhair seid wantis then men of teilling tyris;
Than cumis ane, findis it waist lyand,
Yokis his pleuch, teilleis
[1173] at his awin hand.
Better had bene the first had never kend it
[1174]Nor thoill
[1175] that schame. And sa my tale is endit.