Classic Poem

1

Illuster Lodouick, of France most cristin king,
Thow may complain with sighis lamentable
The death of Bernard Stewart, nobill and ding,
In deid of armes most anterous and abill,
Most mychti, wyse, worthie and confortable
Thy men of weir to governe and to gy.
For him, allace, now may thow weir the sabill,
Sen he is gon, the flour of chevelrie.

2

Complaine sould euerie noble valiant knycht
The death of him that douchtie was in deid,
That many ane fo in feild hes put to flight,
In weris wicht be wisdome and manheid.
To the Turk sey all land did his name dreid,
Quhois force all France in fame did magnifie.
Of so hie price sall nane his place posseid,
For he is gon, the flour of cheuilrie.

3

O duilfull death, O dragon dolorous,
Quhy hes thow done so dulfullie devoir
The prince of knychtheid, nobill and chevilrous,
The witt of weiris, of armes and honour,
The crop of curage, the strenth of armes in stoir,
The fame of France, the fame of Lumbardy,
The schois of chiftanes, most awfull in airmour,
The charbuckell cheif of euery chevelrie?

4

Pray now for him all that him loueit heir,
And for his saull mak intercessioun
Vnto the lord that hes him bocht so deir,
To gif him mercie and remissioun;
And namelie we of Scottis natioun,
Intill his lyff quhom most he did affy,
Foryett we neuir into our orisoun
To pray for him, the flour of chavelrie.