Classic Poem

1

Memento, homo, quod cinis es:
Think, man, thow art bot erd and as.
Lang heir to dwell na thing thow pres,
For as thow come sa sall thow pas.
Lyk as ane schaddow in ane glas
Hyne glydis all thy tyme that heir is.
Think, thocht thy bodye ware of bras,
Quod tu in cinerem reuerteris.

2

Worthye Hector and Hercules,
Forcye Achill and strong Sampsone,
Alexander of grit nobilnes,
Meik Dauid and fair Absolone
Hes playit thair pairtis and all are gone,
At will of God, that all thing steiris.
Think, man, exceptioun thair is none,
Sed tu in cinerem reuerteris.

3

Thocht now thow be maist glaid of cheir,
Fairest and plesandest of port,
Yit may thow be within ane yeir
Ane vgsum, vglye tramort.
And sen thow knawis thy tyme is schort,
And in all houre thy lyfe in weir is,
Think, man, amang all vthir sport
Quod tu in cinerem reuerteris.

4

Thy lustye bewte and thy youth
Sall feid as dois the somer flouris,
Syne sall the swallow with his mouth
The dragone Death, that all devouris.
No castell sall the keip, nor touris,
Bot he sall seik the with thy feiris.
Thairfore remembir at all houris
Quod tu in cinerem reuerteris.

5

Thocht all this warld thow did posseid,
Nocht eftir death thow sall possess
Nor with the tak, bot thy guid deid,
Quhen thow dois fro this warld the dres.
Go speid the, man, and the confes,
With humill hart and sobir teiris,
And sadlye in thy hart inpres
Quod tu in cinerem reuerteris.

6

Thocht thow be taklit nevir so sure,
Thow sall in deathis port arryve.
Quhair nocht for tempest may indure,
Bot ferslye all to speiris dryff,
Thy ransonner with woundis fyve
Mak thy plycht anker and thy steiris,
To hald thy saule with him on lyve,
Cum tu in cinerem reuerteris.