Classic Poem

1

Now lythis off ane gentill knycht,
Schir Thomas Norny, vys and vycht,
And full off cheuelry,
Quhais father was ane giand keyne;
His mother was ane farie queyne,
Gottin be sossery.

2

Ane fairar knycht nor he was ane
On ground may nothair ryd nor gane,
Na beire buklar nor brand;
Or comin in this court, but dreid,
He did full mony valyeant deid
In Rois and Murray land.

3

Full mony catherein hes he chaist,
And cummerid mony Helland gaist
Amang thay dully glennis.
Off the glen Quhettane twenti scoir
He drawe as oxin him befoir —
This deid thocht na man kennis.

4

At feastis and brydallis wpaland
He wan the gre and the garland,
Dansit non so on deis.
He hes att werslingis bein ane hunder,
Yet lay his body neuer at wnder.
He knawis giff this be leis.

5

Was neuer vyld Robein wnder bewch
Nor yet Roger off Clekniskleuch
So bauld a berne as he;
Gy off Gysburne na Allan Bell,
Na Simonis sonnes off Quhynfell
At schot war neuer so slie.

6

This anterous knycht, quhar euer he vent,
At iusting and at tornament
Euermor he wan the gre;
Was neuer off halff so gryt renowne
Schir Bewis the knycht off Southe Hamptowne —
I schrew him giff I le.

7

Thairfoir Quenetyne was bot a lurdane,
That callit him ane full plum iurdane,
This wyse and worthie knycht.
He callit him fowlar than a full,
He said he was ane licherus bull,
That croynd baith day and nycht.

8

He wald heff maid him Curris kneff.
I pray God better his honour saiff
Na to be lychtleit sua.
Yet this far furth I dar him prais:
He fyld neuer sadell in his dais,
And Curry befyld tua.

9

Quhairfoir euer at Pesche and Yull
I cry him lord of euere full
That in this regeone duellis;
And verralie that war gryt rycht,
For off ane hy renowned knycht
He wanttis no thing bot bellis.