| William Dunbar. 1465–1520? |
| 21. Lament for the Makers |
| I THAT in heill was and gladnèss | |
| Am trublit now with great sickness | |
| And feblit with infirmitie:— | |
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. | |
| Our plesance here is all vain glory, | 5 |
| This fals world is but transitory, | |
| The flesh is bruckle, the Feynd is slee:— | |
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. | |
| The state of man does change and vary, | |
| Now sound, now sick, now blyth, now sary, | 10 |
| Now dansand mirry, now like to die:— | |
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. | |
| No state in Erd here standis sicker; | |
| As with the wynd wavis the wicker | |
| So wannis this world's vanitie:— | 15 |
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. | |
| Unto the Death gois all Estatis, | |
| Princis, Prelatis, and Potestatis, | |
| Baith rich and poor of all degree:— | |
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. | 20 |
| He takis the knichtis in to the field | |
| Enarmit under helm and scheild; | |
| Victor he is at all mellie:— | |
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. | |
| That strong unmerciful tyrand | 25 |
| Takis, on the motheris breast sowkand, | |
| The babe full of benignitie:— | |
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. | |
| He takis the campion in the stour, | |
| The captain closit in the tour, | 30 |
| The lady in bour full of bewtie:— | |
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. | |
| He spairis no lord for his piscence, | |
| Na clerk for his intelligence; | |
| His awful straik may no man flee:— | 35 |
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. | |
| Art-magicianis and astrologgis, | |
| Rethoris, logicianis, and theologgis, | |
| Them helpis no conclusionis slee:— | |
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. | 40 |
| In medecine the most practicianis, | |
| Leechis, surrigianis, and physicianis, | |
| Themself from Death may not supplee:— | |
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. | |
| I see that makaris amang the lave | 45 |
| Playis here their padyanis, syne gois to grave; | |
| Sparit is nocht their facultie:— | |
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. | |
| He has done petuously devour | |
| The noble Chaucer, of makaris flour, | 50 |
| 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:— | 55 |
| 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. | 60 |
| 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, | 65 |
| That made the anteris of Gawaine; | |
| Sir Gilbert Hay endit has he:— | |
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. | |
| He has Blind Harry and Sandy Traill | |
| Slain with his schour of mortal hail, | 70 |
| Quhilk Patrick Johnstoun might nought flee:— | |
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. | |
| He has reft Merseir his endite, | |
| That did in luve so lively write, | |
| So short, so quick, of sentence hie:— | 75 |
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. | |
| He has tane Rowll of Aberdene, | |
| And gentill Rowll of Corstorphine; | |
| Two better fallowis did no man see:— | |
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. | 80 |
| In Dunfermline he has tane Broun | |
| With Maister Robert Henrysoun; | |
| Sir John the Ross enbrast has he:— | |
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. | |
| And he has now tane, last of a, | 85 |
| Good gentil Stobo and Quintin Shaw, | |
| Of quhom all wichtis hes pitie:— | |
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. | |
| Good Maister Walter Kennedy | |
| In point of Death lies verily; | 90 |
| 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 man his next prey be:— | 95 |
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. | |
| Since for the Death remeid is none, | |
| Best is that we for Death dispone, | |
| After our death that live may we:— | |
| Timor Mortis conturbat me. | 100 |
From.
Timor Mortis conturbat me in English is "fear of death disturbs me"
