1

Musing allone this hinder nicht,
Of mirry day quhen gone was licht,
Within ane garth vndir a tre,
I hard ane voce that said on hicht:
" May na man now vndemit be.

2

" For thocht I be ane crownit king,
Yit sall I not eschew deming.
Sum callis me guid, sum sayis thai lie,
Sum cravis of God to end my ring.
So sall I not vndemit be.

3

" Be I ane lord and not lordlyk,
Than every pelour and purspyk
Sayis, " Land war bettir warit on me " .
Thocht he dow not to leid a tyk,
Yit can he not lat deming be.

4

" Be I ane lady fresche and fair,
With gentillmen makand repair,
Than will thay say, baith scho and hie,
That I am iaipit, lait and air.
Thus sall I not vndemit be.

5

" Be I ane courtman or ane knycht,
Honestly cled, that cumis me richt,
Ane prydfull man than call thay me.
Bot God send thame a widdy wicht,
That can not lat sic demyng be.

6

" Be I bot littill of stature,
Thay call me catyve createure,
And be I grit of quantetie,
Thay call me monstrowis of nature.
Thus can I not vndemit be.

7

" And be I ornat in my speiche,
Than Towsy sayis I am sa streiche,
I speik not lyk thair hous menyie.
Suppois hir mowth misteris a leiche,
Yit can scho nocht lat deming be.

8

" Bot wist thir folkis that vthir demis,
How that thair sawis to vthir semis,
Thair vicious wordis and vanitie,
Thair tratling tungis, that all furth temis,
Sum tyme wald lat thair demyng be.

9

" Gude Iames the ferd, our nobill king,
Quhen that he was of yeiris ying,
In sentens said full subtillie:
" Do weill and sett not by demyng,
For no man sall vndemit be " .

10

" And so I sall, with Goddis grace,
Keip his command in to that cace,
Beseiking ay the trinitie,
In hevin that I may haif ane place,
For thair sall no man demit be."