| Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900. |
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| John Barbour. d. 1395 |
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| 9. Freedom |
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| A! Fredome is a noble thing! | |
| Fredome mays man to haiff liking; | |
| Fredome all solace to man giffis, | |
| He levys at ese that frely levys! | |
| A noble hart may haiff nane ese, | 5 |
| Na ellys nocht that may him plese, | |
| Gyff fredome fail; for fre liking | |
| Is yarnyt our all othir thing. | |
| Na he that ay has levyt fre | |
| May nocht knaw weill the propyrtè, | 10 |
| The angyr, na the wretchyt dome | |
| That is couplyt to foule thyrldome. | |
| Bot gyff he had assayit it, | |
| Than all perquer he suld it wyt; | |
| And suld think fredome mar to prise | 15 |
| Than all the gold in warld that is. | |
| Thus contrar thingis evirmar | |
| Discoweryngis off the tothir ar. | |
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GLOSS: liking] liberty. na ellys nocht] nor aught else. yarnyt] yearned for. perquer] thoroughly, by heart. |
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