Be merry, man, and tak not sair in mind
The wavering of this wretchit warld of sorrow;
To God be humble, and to thy friend be kind,
And with thy neighbour gladly lend and borrow:
His chance to-nicht, it may be thine to-morrow;
Be blyth in heart for ony aventure;
For oft with wise men't has been said aforrow
Without Gladness availis no Treasure.
Mak thee gude cheer of it that God thee sendis,
For warldis wrak but weilfare nocht availis;
Nae gude is thine, save only that thou spendis,
Remenant all thou brukis but with bailis:
Seek to solace when sadness thee assailis;
In dolour lang thy life may not indure,
Wherefore of comfort set up all thy sailis;
Without Gladness availis no Treasure.
Follow on pity, flee trouble and debate,
With famous folkis hald thy company;
Be charitable and humble in thine estate,
For warldly honour lastis but a cry:
For trouble in erd tak no melancholy;
Be rich in patience, give thou in guids be puir;
Who livis merry he livis michtily;
Without Gladness availis no Treasure.
Thou sees thir wretches set with sorrow and care
To gather guids in all their livis space;
And when their bags are full, their selves are bare,
And of their riches but the keeping has:
While others come to spend it that has grace,
Whilk of thy winning no labour had nor cure.
Tak thou example, and spend with merriness;
Without Gladness availis no Treasure.
Though all the work that e'er had living wicht
Were only thine, no more thy part does fall
But meat, drink, clais, and of the lave a sicht,
Yet to the Judge thou sall give compt of all;
Ane reckoning richt comes of ane ragment small:
But just and joyous, do to none injure,
Ane Truth sail mak thee strang as ony wall;
Without Gladness availis no Treasure.