Classic Poem

God Gif I Wer Wedo Now!

A SANG.

Under ane brokin bank ane by,
I hard ane heynd cheild mak his mane,
He sicht, and said richt drerelie,
Evil is the wyf that I have tane!
Forthy to yow I mak my mane,
Ye tak gud tent quhair that ye wow.
It is scant ane twelf-month gane —
God gif I wer wedo now!

War I ane wedo, forouttin weir,
Full weill I culd luik me aboute:
In all this land, bayth far and neir,
Of wyfing I suld have no doute.
Upon my hip I have ane clout,
Quhilk is nocht plesand for my prow.
Quhen scho is in, I am thairout.
God gif I wer wedo now!

Quhen scho is in, I am thairout.
Scho list nocht at my layr to leyr:
In all this land, forouttin dout,
Of sturtsumnes scho hes no peir.
Scho garris me say with sempill cheir
That I have nother corne nor kow.
I mak my mane, as ye may heir,
God gif I wer wedo now!

Scho luikis doun oft, lyk ane sow,
And will nocht speik quhen I cum in:
I spak ane wourde, nocht for my prow,
To ding her weill it war na syn.
Syne on hir fut [up] couth scho wyn;
And to the rude scho maid ane vow,
" For I sall hit thy spindill schyn."
God gif I wer wedo now!

With that scho raucht me sic ane rout
Quhill to the erde scho gart me leyn;
Suppois my lyf wes oft in dout,
Hir malice I culd nocht refrein.
Scho gars me muine, I bid nocht seyn,
And with sair straiks scho gars me sow.
Thus am I cummerit with ane quene.
God gif I wer wedow now!English