In asking sowld Discretioun be

Off every asking followis nocht
Rewaird, bot gif sum caus war wrocht;
And quhair causs is, men weill ma sie,
And quhair nane is, it wilbe thocht
In asking sowld discretioun be.

Ane fule, thocht he haif causs or nane,
Cryis ay, Gif me, in to a drene ;
And he that dronis ay as ane bee
Sowld haif ane heirar dull as stane :
In asking sowld discretioun be.

Sum askis mair than he deservis ;
Sum askis far les than he servis ;
Sum schames to ask, as braidis of me,
And all withowt reward he stervis :
In asking sowld discretioun be.

To ask but seruice hurtis gud fame ;
To ask for seruice is not to blame ;
To serve and leif in beggartie
To man and maistir is baith schame :
In asking sowld discretion be.

He that dois all his best servyiss
May spill it all with crakkis and cryis,
Be fowll inoportunitie ;
Few wordis may serve the wyis :
In asking sowld discretioun be.

Nocht neidfull is men sowld be dum;
Na thing is gottin but wordis sum;
Nocht sped but diligence we se;
For nathing it allane will cum :
In asking sowld discretioun be.

Asking wald haif convenient place,
Convenient tyme, lasar, and space,
But haist or preiss of grit menȝie,
But hairt abasit, but toung rekless :
In asking sowld discretion be.

Sum micht haif ȝe, with littill cure,
That hes oft nay, with grit labour;
All for that tyme not byd can he,
He tynis baith eirand and honour :
In asking sowld discretion be.

Suppois the servand be lang vnquit,
The lord sumtyme rewaird will it ;
Gife he dois not, quhat remedy ?
To fecht with fortoun is no wit :
In asking sowld discretioun be.

Finis of Asking.