Classic Poem

1

How sowld I rewill me or quhat wyis,
I wald sum wyisman wald dewyis.
I can not leif in no degre,
Bot sum my maneris will dispyis.
Lord God, how sall I governe me?

2

Gif I be galland, lusty and blyth,
Than will thay say on me full swyth,
" Yon man, out of his mynd is he,
Or sum hes done him confort kyth".
Lord God, how sall I governe me?

3

Gife I be sorrowfull and sad,
Than will thay say that I am mad,
I do bot drowp as I wold die.
Thus will thay deyme, baith man and lad.
Lord God, how sall I governe me?

4

Gife I be lusty in array,
Than luve I parramouris, thay say,
Or in my hairt is prowd and hie,
Or ellis I haif it sum wrang way.
Lord God, how sall I governe me?

5

And gif I be nocht weill besene,
Than twa and twa sayis thame betwene,
That " Evill he gydis, yone man, trewlie,
Lo, be his claithis it may be sene!"
Lord God, how sall I governe me?

6

Gif I be sene in court ouirlang,
Than will thay mvrmour thame ammang,
My freyndis ar not worth a fle,
That I sa lang but gwerdon gang.
Lord God, how sall I governe me?

7

In court rewaird gif purches I,
Than haif thay malyce and invy,
And secreitly thay on me lie
And dois me hinder prevely.
Lord God, how sall I governe me?

8

I wald my gyding war dewysit:
Gif I spend littill I am dispysit,
Gif I be nobill, gentill and fre,
A prodigall man I am so prysit.
Lord God, how sall I governe me?

9

Sen all is iugit, baith gude and ill,
And I may no mans tung hald still,
To do the best my mynd salbe.
Latt every man say quhat he will,
The gratious God mot governe me.