2 2
THE WOWING OF THE KING, ETC.
I wait nocht gif he gaif hir grace,
Bot all the hollis wes stoppit hard :
And that me thocht ane ferly cace.
Quhen men dois fleit in joy maist far,1
Sone cumis wo, or thay be war;
Quhen carpand wer thir two most crowss,
The wolf he ombesett2 the houss,
Vpoun the tod to mak ane chace ;
The lamb than cheipit lyk a mowss :
And that3 me thocht ane ferly cace.
Throw hiddowis jowling of the wowf,
This wylie tod plat doun on growf,4
And in the silly lambis 5 skin,
He crap als far as he micht win,
And hid him thair ane weill lang space;
The jowis besyd thay maid na din :
And that me thocht ane ferly cace.
Quhen of the tod wes hard no peip,
The wowf6 went all had bene on sleip;
And quhill the tod7 had strikkin ten,
The wowf8 hes drest him to his den,
Protestand for the secound place :
And this report I with my pen,
How at Dumfermling fell the cace.
Quod Dumbar.
. a-growfe.
fer.
2 M. vmbeset.
8 M. lammes.
8 M. wowlfe.
3 M. this.
6 M. wolfe.
M. bell.