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1306 Of the Scottish Ladies

Thus in the hyllis levyt he,

Till the maist part off his menyhe

Wes revyn and rent; na schoyne thai had, 510

Bot as thai thaim off hydys mad.

Tharfor thai went till Abyrdeyne,

Quhar Nele the Bruys come, and the Queyn,

And othir ladyis fayr and farand,

Ilkane for luff off thar husband; 515

That for leyle luff, and leawte,

Wald partenerys off thair paynys be.

Thai chesyt tyttar with thaim to ta

Angyr, and payn, na be thaim fra.

For luff is off sa mekill mycht, 520

That it all paynys makis lycht;

And mony tyme mais tendir wychtis

Off swilk strenthtis, and swilk mychtis,

That thai may mekill paynys endur,

And forsakis nane aventur 525

That evyr may fall, with-thi that thai

Thar-throw succur thair luffys may.[†] Men redys, quhen Thebes wes tane, And King Adrastus men war slane, That assailyt the cite, 530 That the wemen off his cuntre Come for to fech him hame agayne, Quhen thai hard all his folk wes slayne; Quhar the King Campaneus,[†] Throw the help off Menesteus, 535 That come percas ridand tharby, With three hunder in cumpany, That throw the kingis prayer assailyt, That yheit to tak the toun had failyheit. Then war the wiffys thyrland the wall 540 With pikkis, quhar the assailyheours all Entryt, and dystroyit the tour, And slew the pupill but recour. Syn quhen the duk his way wes gayne, And all the kingis men war slayne, 545 The wiffis had him till his cuntre, Quhar wes na man leiffand bot he. In wemen mekill comfort lyis; And gret solace on mony wis. Sa fell it her, for thar cummyng 550 Rejosyt rycht gretumly the King; The-quhethir ilk nycht him-selvyn wouk And his rest apon daiis touk. A gud quhile thar he sojournyt then, And esyt wondir weill his men; 555 Till that the Inglis men herd say That he thair with his mengyhe lay, All at ese and sekyrly.[†] Assemblit thai thar ost in hy, And thar him trowit to suppris. 560 Bot he, that in his deid wes wys, Wyst thai assemblyt war, and quhar; And wyst that thai sa mony war, That he mycht nocht agayne thaim fycht. His men in hy he gert be dycht, 565 And buskyt of the toune to ryd: The ladyis raid rycht by his syd. Then to the hill thai raid thar way, Quhar gret defaut off mete had thai.

1306 The Labours of Douglas

Bot worthy James off Dowglas 570

Ay travailland and besy was,

For to purches the ladyis mete;

And it on mony wis wald get.

For quhile he venesoun thaim brocht:

And with his handys quhile he wrocht 575

Gynnys, to tak geddis and salmonys,

Trowtis, elys, and als menounys.

And quhill thai went to the forray;

And swa thar purchesyng maid thai.

Ilk man traveillyt for to get 580

And purches thaim that thai mycht ete.

Bot off all that evir thai war,

Thar wes nocht ane amang thaim thar,

That to the ladyis profyt was

Mar then Jamys of Dowglas. 585

And the King oft confortyt wes,

Throw his wyt and his besynes.

On this maner thaim governyt thai,

Till they come to the hed of Tay.