In aspre spech the Persye than can speyr;

[“Quhat worth of him? I pray you graithlye tell.”]

‘My lord,’ he said, ‘rycht thus the case befell.

‘We knaw for treuth he was left him allayne;500

‘And, as he fled, he slew full mony ayne.

‘The horss we fand, that him that gait couth ber;

‘Bot of hym self no othyr word we her.

‘At Styrlyng bryg we wait he passit nocht;

‘To dede in Forth he may for vs be brocht.’505

Lorde Persye said; “Now suthlye that war syne;