Collected English Verse — William Dunbar. b. 1465, d. ?1520 (Part 3 of 3)

He spairis no lord for his piscence,¹²
Na clerk for his intelligence;
His awful straik¹³ may no man flee:—
       Timor Mortis conturbat me.

Art-magicianis and astrologgis,
Rethoris, logicianis, and theologgis,
Them helpis no conclusionis slee:—
       Timor Mortis conturbat me.

In medecine the most practicianis,
Leechis, surrigianis, and physicianis,
Themself fra ded may not supplee:¹⁴—
       Timor Mortis conturbat me.

I see that makaris¹⁵ amang the lave¹⁶
Playis here their padyanis,¹⁷ syne gois to grave;
Sparit is nocht their facultie:—
       Timor Mortis conturbat me.

He has done petuously devour
The noble Chaucer, of makaris flour,
The Monk of Bury, and Gower, all three:—
       Timor Mortis conturbat me.

The good Sir Hew of Eglintoun,
Ettrick, Heriot, and Wintoun,
He has tane out of this cuntrie:—
       Timor Mortis conturbat me.

That scorpion fell has done infeck
Maister John Clerk, and James Afflek,
Fra ballat-making and tragedie:—
       Timor Mortis conturbat me.

Holland and Barbour he has berevit;
Alas! that he not with us levit
Sir Mungo Lockart of the Lee:—
       Timor Mortis conturbat me.

Clerk of Tranent eke he has tane,
That made the anteris¹⁸ of Gawaine;
Sir Gilbert Hay endit has he:—
       Timor Mortis conturbat me.

He has Blind Harry and Sandy Traill
Slain with his schour¹⁹ of mortal hail,
Quhilk Patrick Johnstoun might nought flee:—
       Timor Mortis conturbat me.

He has reft Merseir his endite,²⁰
That did in luve so lively write,
So short, so quick, of sentence hie:—
       Timor Mortis conturbat me.

He has tane Rowll of Aberdene,
And gentill Rowll of Corstorphine;
Two better fallowis²¹ did no man see:—
       Timor Mortis conturbat me.

In Dumfermline he has done roun
With Maister Robert Henrysoun;
Sir John the Ross enbrast has he:—
       Timor Mortis conturbat me.

And he has now tane, last of a,
Good gentil Stobo and Quintin Shaw,
Of quhom all wichtis²² hes pitie:—
       Timor Mortis conturbat me.

Good Maister Walter Kennedy
In point of Death lies verily;
Great ruth it were that so suld be:—
       Timor Mortis conturbat me.

Sen he has all my brether tane,
He will naught let me live alane;
Of force I man²³ his next prey be:—
       Timor Mortis conturbat me.

Since for the Death remeid is none,
Best is that we for Death dispone,²⁴
After our death that live may we:—
       Timor Mortis conturbat me.