Of Discretioun in Geving

To speik of gift or almouss deidis ;
Sum gevis for mereit and for meidis;
Sum warldly honour to vphie
Gevis to thame that no thing neidis :
In geving sowld discretioun be.

Sum gevis for pryd and glory vane ;
Sum gevis with grugeing and with pane ;
Sum gevis in practik for supple ;
Sum gevis for twyiss als gud agane :
In geving sowld discretioun be.

Sum gevis for thank, sum for chereitie ;
Sum gevis money, and sum gevis meit ;
Sum gevis wordis fair and sle ;
Giftis fra sum ma na man treit :
In giving sowld discretioun be.

Sum is for gift sa lang requyrd,
Quhill that the crevar be so tyrd
That, or the gift deliuerit be,
The thank is frustrat and expyrd :
In geving suld discretioun be.

Sum gevis to littill full wretchitly,
That his giftis ar not set by,
And for a huidpyk haldin is hie,
That all the warld cryis on him fy:
In geving sowld discretioun be.

Sum in his geving is so large,
That all ourlaidin is his barge ;
Than vyce and prodigalite
Thairof his honour dois discharge :
In geving sowld discretioun be.

Sum to the riche gevis geir,
That micht his giftis weill forbeir ;
And thocht the peur for falt sowld de,
His cry nocht enteris in his eir :
In geving sowld discretioun be.

Sum givis to strangeris with face new,
That ȝisterday fra Flanderis flew;
And to awld serwandis list not se,
War thay nevir of sa grit vertew:
In geving sowld discretioun be.

Sum gevis to thame can ask and plenȝie ;
Sum gevis to thame can flattir and fenȝie ;
Sum gevis to men of honestie,
And haldis all janglaris at disdenȝie :
In geving sowld discretioun be.

Sum gettis giftis and riche arrayis,
To sweir all that his maister sayis,
Thocht all the contrair weill knawis hie ;
At mony sic now in thir dayis :
In geving sowld discretioun be.

Sum gevis gud men for thair thewis ;
Sum gevis to trumpouris and to schrewis ;
Sum gevis to knaiffis awtoritie;
Bot in thair office gude fundin few is :
In geving sowld discretioun be.

Sum givis parrochynnis full wyd,
Kirkis of Sanct Barnard and Sanct Bryd,
To teiche, to rewill and to ouirsie,
That he na wit hes thame to gyd :
In geving sowld discretioun be.

Finis of Discretioun of Geving.