Contents
-BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD
Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
John Barbour. d. 1395
9. Freedom
A! Fredome is a noble thing! | |
Fredome mays man to haiff liking; | |
Fredome all solace to man giffis, | |
He levys at ese that frely levys! | |
A noble hart may haiff nane ese, | 5 |
Na ellys nocht that may him plese, | |
Gyff fredome fail; for fre liking | |
Is yarnyt our all othir thing. | |
Na he that ay has levyt fre | |
May nocht knaw weill the propyrtè, | 10 |
The angyr, na the wretchyt dome | |
That is couplyt to foule thyrldome. | |
Bot gyff he had assayit it, | |
Than all perquer he suld it wyt; | |
And suld think fredome mar to prise | 15 |
Than all the gold in warld that is. | |
Thus contrar thingis evirmar | |
Discoweryngis off the tothir ar. | |
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GLOSS: liking] liberty. na ellys nocht] nor aught else. yarnyt] yearned for. perquer] thoroughly, by heart. |