QUHEN Flora had o'erfret the firth   In May of every moneth queen; Quhen merle and mavis singis with mirth   Sweet melling in the shawis sheen;   Quhen all luvaris rejoicit bene And most desirous of their prey,   I heard a lusty luvar mene —'I luve, but I dare nocht assay!'

'Strong are the pains I daily prove,   But yet with patience I sustene, I am so fetterit with the luve   Only of my lady sheen,   Quhilk for her beauty micht be queen, Nature so craftily alway   Has done depaint that sweet serene: —Quhom I luve I dare nocht assay.

'She is so bricht of hyd and hue,   I luve but her alone, I ween; Is none her luve that may eschew,   That blinkis of that dulce amene;   So comely cleir are her twa een That she mae luvaris dois affray   Than ever of Greece did fair Helene: —Quhom I luve I dare nocht assay!'

o'erfret] adorned. shawis] woods. sheen] beautiful. mene] mourn. hyd] skin. blinkis] gets a glimpse. dulce amene] gentle and pleasant one. mae] more.