THE TYME, SPACE, AND DAIT, OF THE TRANSLATIOUN
OF THIS BUKE.
Completyt was this wark Virgilian
Apon the fest of Mary Magdelan,
Fra Crystis byrth, the dait quha lyst to heir,
A thousand fyve hundreth and thretteyn ȝeir;
Quhilk, for othir gret occupatioun, lay 5
Onsteryt clos besyd me mony day:
And netheles, quhidder I serve thank or wyte,
Fra tyme I tharto fyrst set pen to wryte,
Thocht God wait gyf thir bundis war full wyde 10
To me, that had syk byssynes besyde,
Apon this wys, as God lyst len me grace,
It was compylit in auchteyn moneth space;
Set I feil syth syk twa monethis infeir
Wrait neuir a word, nor mycht the volum steir, 15
For grave materis and gret solicitud,
That all sik laubour far besyde me stud.
And thus gret scant of tyme and bissy cuyr
Has maid my wark mair subtell and obscur,
And nocht sa plesand as it aucht tobe; 20
Quharof ȝhe curtas redaris perdon me,
Ȝhe writaris all, and gentill redaris eyk,
Offendis nocht my volum, I beseik,
Bot redis leill, and tak gud tent in tyme.
Ȝhe nother maggill nor mysmetyr my ryme,
Nor alter not my wordis, I ȝou pray: 5
Lo, this is all; now, bew schirris, haue gud day.
Qð GAWINUS DOUGLAS.
MANTUA ME GENUIT, CALABRI RAPVERE, TENET NUNC PARTHENOPE; CECINI
PASCUA, RURA, DUCES.
OF MANTUA AM I BEGET AND BOIR,
IN CALABRE DECESSIT AND FORLOR,
NOW STANT I GRAVE IN NAPLYS THE CITE,
THAT IN MY TYME WRAIT NOTABILL WARKIS THRE;
OF PASTURAGE, AND EIK OF HUSBANDRY,
AND DOUCHTY CHIFTANYS FULL OF CHEVALRY.
Quod GAWINUS DOUGLAS.