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Incipit lamentacio domini dalphini Francie pro morte uxoris sue dicte margarete1 Thee myti Makar of the major monde, Quhilk reuly rollis thir hevinly regions round2 About this erd, be mocioune circuler, Ger all the cloudis of the hevin habound, And souk up all thir watteris hal and sounde, Baith of salt sey, of burne, well and revere; Syn to discende in tygglande teris tere, To weip with me this wofull waymentyng, This petwys playnt of a princes but peire, Quhilk dulfull Deed has tane till his duellyng.3 Fill burnis, wellis, reveris and fontayns, Baith stankis and louchis and valeis of montayns, Of cloudis of sorow, of angger and distres, And baith my hart in endles wo that payns, For derfnes and dyspyt of Deed nocht fayns,4 Quhilk as us reft so ryal a riches. Wes never yit more gret peté of a princes, In quhome regnyt floure of nobilité; Helpe me to murn and murn hir mare and les, Quhilk for diseis dayly but dreid I dee.5 Ger all the ayre that in the hycht above is, And all the wyndis that under the hevyn amovis, Turn all in sobbyng and in sichyng soore; Ger all thir foulis that melody contruvis, And all thir birdis that syngand heir for luveis, Turn all thair joy in soro and in coore, And help to murn this dul my lady foore, And wary Weird, quhilk banyst as of France6 The mirroure of vertu and warldis glore, Quhilk Deed has reft, but reuth or rapentance.7 God of nature, quhilk all this erd honouris With fruyt and fulye, with herbe, fluris and flouris, Fair flurisand and freche in thair verdoure, Of quhilk the fleuvir to the hevyn retouris, And all the frechnes of thaire faire figouris8 Yeildis thaim and wourschip to thair Creatoure: Defaid thaire freschnes for thi gret valoure And turn in blakynnyng all thaire lustines; Heil never this erde more with plesand coloure Quhill we have murnyt the dull of our mastres. Turn all in blak that aire was fresche of hew, And in murnyng all myrth, musik and glew; Owresyle the sone with myst and with merknes; Ger every wy that are of luffe wes trew9 Haif mynd of my regret and on me rew, And stanche in erde all solace and blythnes. Turn all atis blyth in breith and bitternes, And in murnyng all myrth and melody; Quhill we have murnyt the dule of our mastres Lat Nature thole na kyng leife heire gladly. [Rubric] Bot nocht withstandyng thaire is mare of this lamentacioun xviii coupill, and in the ansuere of Resoune als mekill, this ma suffyce for the complant is bot fenyeit thing. Bot becaus the tother part, quhilk is the ansuere of Resoun, is verray suth-fastnes, me think it gud to put mare of it quhilk folowis thus efterwarte.10 Thou man that is of poure and smal valoure, Leifful to joy, sone movyt to doloure, And thow knew weill thin auvyn creacioun, Thou makis gret falt in fors of thi furoure, All thus but caus to crab thi Creatoure. And thou wald have consideracioun, Thou art subject till all humain passioun: Sic is thi det, sic is thi dwyté. And thou will seik to thi salvatioun, Have mynd of miserabile humanité. Lat be thi dull, thir ar bot dualinys of Deed; Quhare na reuth is quhy sekis thou remed? Quhy ravys thou, and thou man resonabile, Finare of forge as gold is be the leid, Off wyt and wysdome, of consale and of reed, Fra nature bestiall? This is na fabill.11 Discrecioune schawys thee deferans veritable Betueix resoune and sensualité. Sen God has gevyn thee wyt and knawlige abille, Than suld thou schaw quhether man or best thou be. Thou sais that this regratit he princes, Quhilk our the laif of vertu was peirles, Was tan owre soune in floure of hire fairheid; And countand of hir bewteis mare and les, And how with all men luffit and lovyt scho wes, Quhilk was gret worschip till all womanheid: Thocht all this warld suld well in wo and weid No wonder war, bot quhat ma this availye? It mendis hir nocht to meryt na to meid, Bot til hir frendis payn, tynsale and travailye. Thou suld weill knaw that He that all as made As langand governance of His Godhed Nathyng mysfaris bot all dois for the best; And all this warld that is baith lang and braid He ordand for refeccioun of manhaid, Bot nocht forthy that it suld allwais lest. In heritage, bot as pilgryme or gest, Of lawest lyme of erd al maid ar we, And to wyn perdoun to bryng the saul to rest Eftir this lyff, for neydlings we mon dee.12 He maid this warld nocht to be ay lestand, Bot to renew and ay be renewand, Fra lyff to deed, fra deed to lyff agan; He maid Nature to be His lufftenand, To forge the werkis He has tan on hand; For He lest nocht Hymselfe to tak the payn. Syn ordand He that Deed suld be ay bayn To tak His werkis in thaire best sesoun. His diligatis dois nathyng heire in vayn: Oure thame He ordand Wisdome and Resoun. Quhat mycht God mare do till His creatoure Bot dow hir with the gyftis of nature, With al bewteis of fresche feminité, First giffand hir the fairnes of figoure With plesand propirnes of portratoure, Enforst with Fortoun in the heast gre, Syn passand utheris of gudnes and beuté? Thir thre gyftis cumys ay fra the Fader doun. Suppos the twa may nocht ay lestand be, Thare is na ryches peire to gud ranoun. Fra we cum first in this warld mortelle, Cled with this corruptible corps carnelle, We draw to deed and deis everilk day; Syn mon we pas to lyffyng eternelle, To lestand joy or payn perpetuelle. We ma never wyt will we be went oure way This warld is maid for that warld to purvay, Nocht heire to leif in lustis at all oure eis. Men wynnis nocht hevin to dance and syng and play,13 Bot payn and penitence oure Lord mon ples. Thair is nocht heire bot vayn and vanité, Baith pompe and pryd, with passand poverté, Weire and invy, with cankirryt cuvatis, And every man a lord desyris to be, Quhilk has na lest; rycht now away is he And efter hym another soun will rys. Wyykkyt are welth and wourthy men perys. A man weill syt thocht he be kyng with crowun, And he inclinde be for to do justis, Thai sall never ceiss quhill at thai bryng hym doun. The lang lyff is nocht profitable heire, Quhill we be went oure will is ever in weire; And syn the passage is rycht peralus We have bot bale til we be brocht on beire. Bot syn we ordande ar till have gud cheire, And we do weill, traist weill it sall be thus. Cryst scheu quhen He rasyt Lazarus: He grat oure hym, for He kneu weil the payn He suld have in this lyffyng langarus, Never till have joy till he war deide agayn. Sen we have heire na ceté permanent, Oure saule, quhilk is in oure body lent, Is haldyn in us as it war in presoun, Ordant for to purvay for the parliament, Till ansuere at the dreidful Jugement. Thaire is oure rest, thaire is oure rycht sesoun. This warld is bot a permutacioun; We suld it hayt and all that it ma feire: Oure Lorde refusit the dominatioun, Sayand the prince of it was Lucifere. The lust is schort, joy has na day till ende;14 Welth is oure bland, mysdeide has nan attende; The wykkyt win, and with wraik pass away; Gud men ar lorn, the wykkyt weill ar kend;15 Mychtty man counpt for all the gude thai spend, And, quhen thai pass, quhat lordschip mare have thai, Bot as the pure, that has his lenth of clay? Quha maist gud has, nocht heire has bot the name, And blyndis thame that thai ma nocht heire purvay To graith thaire gait on to thaire langest hame.16 Sen warldis welth is al bot vayn glory, And warldis wysdome all bot fyne foly, And God as gevyn us wyt and knalage abille To depart resoun fra his contrary, And keip us that we eir not opinly, To mak us till oure Makare detestable, Be nocht in to thi vertu veriable, Bot soberly in paciens tak and gre: For hire, scho thankis nan to be lamentable, Scho is in joy, as be oure fayth trast we. Quhat proffyt is it with Fortoun for to flyt? Deed, Weird na Fortoun ar nocht for to wyt. Thai do nocht bot throu soverayn ordinance. In that scho was of bowté mare parfyte, Of princis cummyng and in to peirles plyte, Hire deed dois al men gret cair and displesance. Hir vertu and hir gudly guvernance, Quhilkis garris hir have sa mekil honor heire, Suld be till all youre paynis allegiance, To slok youre syt and gare you mak gud cheire. Thow suld traist that scho was virgyn pure and cleyn, Born and upbrocht with vertu, ever has beyn In hous ryalle in till hir tender age, Leyffand but syn and mekyl gud, as seyn; Dyd never of plycth the pointyr of a preyn, Tynt nocht hir madenheid for hir maritage. Scho schew weill that scho was nocht of parage:17 Scho mad gud end and deit with all gud devys. Thus als fer as man may have knalage, We traist hir saule restis in paradis. It grevys God in His he magesté, Wenand that man is mair of micht than He; Quhilk is contrare till his commandment. Deed makis na differens of na dignité, Of bonté, bewté, na of ryches he. His deed alowyt is at the parliament. Sobris your wyt and stabill your entent, For ye wait nocht how son your cas ma cum And have mynd of the dreidfull Jugment. Sum ar heire crous that thaire will syt full dum. Lat be thi mane and murne for hir no mare, Thou suld mak joy quhare now thou makis care, Sen scho decest with all the sacramentis. Quhen scho was born men wyst scho suld cum thaire. Thaire is na thyng that ma lest ever mare That compunde is of brukyll alymentis. Scho has assythit Deed of all his rentis; Hir dule is done, scho as na more a do Bot double hir joy eftir the Jugimentis. Weill war the wy that weil ma cum tharto.18 In this mater it feris no mare to pleid, God sparyt nocht His awyn son fra the deid; Gart Hym manheid of the may Mary, Syn offerit Hym for oure synnys remeid. Quhare synful man mycht na thyng stand in steid, He was ful worthy for that legasy. Quha wald mak dule for deed in this party? Sen mony thousand martir and virgin cleyn Was put to deed with tyrannis cruely Quhy suld we than for faire deed murn or meyn? Tak gud confurte and leife in hop of grace, And think how scho throu vertu and gudnasse Baith luffit and lovit with God and man has beyn; And think how that X M yeiris that wasse, Quhen it is gane semys bot an houre of spasse, Lik till a dreme that we had dremyt yestreyn. Gar haly kirk have mynd on hir and meyn. Thinke on thiselfe and all thi mys amend, And pray to Mary, moder virgyn cleyn, That for hir grace scho bryng us to gud end. Amen. Explicit consolacio racionis ad lamentantem.19

(see note) mighty Creator of the greater world; (t-note) (see note); (t-note) earth, in a circular motion; (see note) Make; heaven overflow draw up; waters whole and sound Both; sea; brook; spring; river; (see note) in trickling [and] distressing tears weep; lamentation piteous complaint; peerless princess (see note) Fill up brooks, springs, rivers Both ditches; lochs; valleys; (see note); (t-note) With; (see note); (t-note) (see note); (t-note) (t-note) Who has stolen from us such royal riches; (t-note) pity for whom reigned [the] flower of nobility mourn and mourn her completely; (t-note) (see note) Make; air; sky are in motion; (t-note) everything into; sighing sore the birds that make melody the birds; here for [their] loves sorrow; care (see note); (t-note) world’s glory (see note); (see note) who all this earth honors fruit; leaves; blossoms and flowers Flourishing fair and fresh; greenness which; smell returns to heaven They render [homage]; give worship; (see note); (t-note) Make their freshness fade; your; honor; (t-note) into paleness all their loveliness Cover no more; earth; pleasant Until; mourned; sorrow; mistress previously; bright of color; (see note); (t-note) into mourning; mirth; game; (see note) Obscure; mist; darkness; (see note); (t-note) (t-note) Be mindful of my sorrow; pity me; (t-note) extinguish; comfort and joy pleasant oats; anger; (see note); (t-note) into mourning; mirth; (see note) Until; mourned; sorrow; mistress; (see note) permit no king to live here with joy; (see note); (see note); (t-note) (see note); (t-note) sorry and small worth quick to joy, soon moved to sorrow; (see note) Since; aware of; own commit; through the strength of make your Creator angry; (see note) If only you would remember that; (t-note) to; human pain; (see note) Such is your debt; duty; (see note); (t-note) If; look for; (t-note) Bear in mind Give over; mere deceptions of Death; (t-note) compassion; cure; (see note) (t-note) (see note) [the] true difference (see note) says; high lamented princess; (see note) above the rest; (t-note) considering her full beauties beloved and praised be plunged into sorrow and mourning; (see note) (t-note) does not help her; reward [brings] pain, harm, and suffering; (t-note) has made; (t-note) pertaining to [the] Nothing does amiss; does all; (t-note) long and wide recreation; mankind not so that; (t-note) (see note); (t-note) (see note); (t-note) (t-note) (t-note); (t-note) everlasting become new and always renew again From life to death; (see note) regent; (see note) forge the works; taken would not rather; take the effort; (t-note) Then decreed; always ready; (t-note) seize; (see note) deputies do nothing; (t-note) Over them; appointed for his creation (i.e., Margaret) Than endow her; gifts beauties; womanhood giving her; shape pleasing good looks Strengthened; highest degree Also excelling others; (t-note) Even though; ever-lasting treasure equal to good renown; (see note) Ever since Clothed; fleshly body make our way towards; (t-note) Then must (t-note) as advance preparation for Not [for us]; sensual pleasure (t-note) But [instead]; (see note) worthlessness and futility Both; pride; exceeding War; envy; malignant covetousness which [position] has no durability soon after him another will rise up; (t-note) Wicked people are wealthy; perish; (t-note) well set even though is keen to practice justice cease until they; (see note); (t-note) Until we are departed; spirit; in danger journey is very hazardous; (see note) bier; (t-note) commanded to rejoice; (t-note) If we do well, trust; (see note); (t-note) showed [this] when; raised Lazarus; (see note) wept for him should; distressing life to; until; dead; (see note); (t-note) Since; city; (see note) which dwells in our body prison; (see note) Commanded to prepare reply [to a charge]; (see note); (see note) Then comes; time of ripeness; (see note) an exhange (of one thing for another); (see note) hate; may belong to it refused; authority [of this world] (see note) too flattering, sin; no heed (t-note) (see note); (t-note) account for all the money; (t-note) more territory poor [man]; length; (see note) (t-note) (see note); (t-note) only exceptional folly; (t-note) given us; sound knowledge; (t-note) separate; its protect; do not go astray publically [In a manner that] makes us inconstant in your virtue; (t-note) calmly [and] in patience be satisfied her [part]; (t-note) so we trust by faith (see note); (t-note) Death; Fate nor; not to blame; (t-note) work only by divine command; (see note); (see note); (t-note) Given that; of more perfect beauty; (t-note) descended; matchless state Her death; causes; distress; (t-note) noble governance Which makes; so great; here; (t-note) extinguish; grief trust raised in her youth as is evident; (t-note) Did never a pin-prick of sin in spite of her marriage; (see note); (t-note) (t-note) died; intentions; (see note); (t-note) as far as man may know; (t-note) trust; soul rests; (see note) distresses; high (t-note) Which is contrary to; (t-note) goodness; beauty; high; (see note) Man's death is allowed Calm; clarify your thoughts time keep in mind the Last Judgment here bold; unable to speak Leave aside; (see note) pain; (t-note) Since she died there [i.e., heaven] made up; brittle elements; (see note) She; paid Death all his rents; (see note) sorrow; she has no more to do is no longer appropriate to contend; (t-note) (t-note) Gave; maiden as reparation for stand as a substitute worthy enough to act as delegate; (see note) in this (i.e., Margaret's) case Since; martyrs and pure virgins; (t-note) put cruelly to death by tyrants; (see note) moan live in hope of grace (see note) (t-note) (t-note) last night Ensure that; (t-note) make amends for your wrong-doing; (t-note) the pure virgin mother through her grace she may bring; (see note); (t-note)

 

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