The Praise Of Age Poem by Walter Kennedy

At matin hour, in middis of the night,
Wakened of sleep, I saw beside me soon,
Ane aged man, seemed sixty years of sight,
This sentence set, and sung it in good tune -
Omnipotent, and eterne God in trone!
To be content and love thee I have cause
That my light youth-head is opprest and done,
Honour with age to every virtue draws.

Green youth, to age thou mon obey and bow,
They folly lustis lastis scant ane May;
That then was wit, is natural folly now,
As worldly honour, riches, or fresh array,
Defy the devil, dread God and doomisday.
For all shall be accused as thou knawis;
Blessed be God, my youth-head is away;
Honour with age to every virtue drawis.

O bitter youth! that seemis so delicious;
O holy age! that sometimes seemed sour,
O restless youth! hie, hait, and vicious;
O honest age! fulfilled with honour;
O froward youth! fruitless and feedand flowr,
Contrar to conscience, both to God and lawis
Of all vain glore the lamp and the mirrour:
Honour with age till every virtue drawis.

This world is set for to deceive us even,
Pride is the net, and covetous the train;
Fo no reward, except the joy of heaven,
Would I be young into this world again.
The ship of faith, tempestuous wind and rain
Drives in the sea of Lolledry, that blawis;
My youth is gane, and I am glad and fain:
Honour with age to every virtue drawis.

Law, love, and lawtie, graven low they lie;
Dissimulance has borrowed conscience clais;
Aithis, writ, wax nor seals are nought set by;
Flattry is fostered both with friends and faes.
The son, to bruik it that his father has,
Would see him dead: Sathanus sic seed sawis
Youth-head, adieu! ane of my mortal faes;
Honour with age to every virtue drawis.