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!'