Learning vain without guid Lyfe. Written at Oxinfurde

To speik of science, craft, or sapience,
Off vertew, morall cwnnyng, or doctrine ;
Off jure, of wisdome, or intelligence;
Off euerie study, lair, or discipline ;
All is bot tynt, or reddie for to tyne,
Nocht vsing it as it sould vsit be ;
The craift exerceing, considdering not the fyne :
Ane paralous seiknes is vaine prosperite.

The curious probatioun logicall;
The eloquence of ornat rethorie ;
The naturall science philosophicall;
The dirk apperance of astronomie;
The theologis sermoun; the fablis of poetry;
Without gud lyfe all in the self dois de,
As Mayis flouris dois in September dry :
A paralous lyfe is vaine prosperite.

Quhairfoir, ȝe clarkis grittest of Constance,
Fullest of science and of knawlegeing,
To ws be myrrouris in ȝour governance ;
And in our darkness be lampis in schyning :
Or than in frustar is all ȝour lang leirning ;
Gif to ȝour sawis ȝour deidis contrair be,
Ȝour maist accusar salbe ȝour awin cwnning :
A peralus seiknes is vane prosperitie.

Quod Dumbar at Oxinfurde.