How sowld I rewill me, or quhat Wyiss

How sowld I rewill me, or quhat wyiss,
I wald sum wyisman wald dewyiss;
I can not leif in no degre,
Bot sum will my maneris dispyiss.
Lord God, how sall I governe me ?

Gif I be galland, lusty and blyth,
Than will thay say on me full swyth,
That owt of mynd ȝone man is hie,
Or sum hes done him confort kyth.
Lord God, how sall I governe me ?

Gife I be sorrowfull and sad,
Than will thay say that I am mad ;
I do bot drowp as I wald die,
Thus will thay say, baith man and lad.
Lord God, how sall I governe me?

Be I liberall, gentill and kynd
Thocht I it tak of nobill strynd,
Ȝit will thai say, baythe he and he,
Ȝon man is lyke out of his mynd :
Lord God, how sall I governe me?

Gife I be lusty in array,
Than luve I parramouris thay say,
Or in my hairt is prowd and hie,
Or ellis I haif it sum wrang way.
Lord God, how sall I governe me ?

Gif I be nocht weill als besene,
Than twa and twa sayis thame betwene,
That evill he gydis ȝone man trewlie ;
Lo ! be his claithis it may be sene.
Lord God, how sall I governe me ?

Gif I be sene in court ouir lang,
Than will thay mvrmour thame amang,
My freyndis ar not worth a fle,
That I sa lang but guerdon gang.
Lord God how sall I governe me?

In court rewaird than purchess I,"
Than haif thay malyce and invy,
And secreitly thay on me lie,
And dois me hinder prevely.
Lord God, how sall I governe me ?

I wald my gyding war diwysit ;
Gif I spend littill I am despysit ;
Gif I be nobill, gentill and fre,
A prodigall man I am so prysit.
Lord God, how sall I governe me ?

Now juge thay me baith guid and ill,
And I may no mans tung hald still ;
To do the best my mynd salbe,
Latt every man say quhat he will
The gratious God mot governe me.

Finis quod Dumbar.