To the King (Off benefice, Schir, at everie feist)

Off benefice, Schir, at everie feist,
Quha monyast hes makis maist requeist :
Get thai nocht all, thay think ȝe wrang thame :
Ay is the ouir-word of the geist,
Giff thame the pelffe to pairt amang thame.

Sum swelleis swan, sum swelleis duke,
And I stand fastand in a nwke,
Quhill the effect of all thay fang thame :
Bot, lord ! how petewuslie I luke,
Quhen all the pelfe thay pairt amang thame.

Off sic hie feistis of saintis in glorie,
Baithe off commoun and propir storie,
Quhair lordis war patrones, oft I sang thame
Caritas pro Dei amore ;
And ȝit, I gat na thing amang thame.

This blynd warld euer so payis his dett,
Riche befoir puir spreidis ay thair nett,
To fische all wateris dois belang thame :
Quha na thing hes, can na thing gett,
Bot ay as syphir sett amang thame.

Swa thai the kirk haue in thair cure,
Thay fors bot litill how it fure,
Nor of the buikis, nor bellis quha rang thame :
Thay panss nocht off the parrochin pure,
Had thai the pelfe to pairt amang thame.

So variant is this warldis rent,
That nane thairof can be content,
Off deathe quhyll that the dragoun stang thame ;
Quha maist hes than sall maist repent,
With largest compt to pairt amang thame.

Quod Dumbar.