Ballat of Gude-fallowis

I Mak it kend he that will spend, And luve God lait and air, God will him mend, and grace him send, Quhen catyvis sall haif cair. Thairfoir pretend weill for to spend Of geir, and nocht till spair: I knaw the end that all mon wend Away nakit and bair. With an O, and an I, Ane wreche sall haif na mair, Bot ane schort scheit at heid and feit, For all his wrek and wair.

For all the wrak a wreche can pak, And in his baggis imbrace, Yet deid sall tak him be the bak, And gar him cry, Allace! Than sall he swak away with lak And wait nocht to quhat place; Than will thay mak at him a knak That maist of his gud hais. With an O, and an I, Quhyle we have tyme and space, Mak we gud cheir quhyle we are heir, And thank God of his grace.

Were thair ane king to rax and ring Amang gude-fallowis cround, Wrechis wald wring, and mak murnyng, For dule thay sald be dround. Quha finds ane dring, owder auld or ying, Gar hoy him out and hound: Now lat us sing with Chrystis blissing, Be glaid, and mak gude sound. With an O, and ane I, Now or we furder found: Drink thow to me, and I to thé And let the cop go round.

Quha undirstude suld haif his gude Or he were closd in clay, Sum in thair mude thay wald go wude, And de lang or thair day. Nocht worthe ane hude, or ane auld snude, Thou sall beir hyne away, Wreche, be the rude, for, to conclude, Full few will for thé pray. With ane O, and ane I, Gude-fallowis, quhill we may, Be mirry and fré, syne blyth we be, And fing on tway and tway.