Passeport pour la Francophonie - Robert Henryson

Robert Henryson is one of Scotland's greatest poets.

Although not very much is known about him, it is thought that he was born around about the year 1450 during the reign of Scotland's King James III.

It is thought that Henryson was educated at the University of Glasgow and that he also undertook a law degree in France. He became a school teacher at Dunfermline's famous Abbey School and it is believed that he also practiced as a lawyer.

Henryson wrote many great poems but he is most notably remembered for his translations of Aesop’s Fables.

You're about to hear the opening of Henryson's version of Aesop's 'The Two Mice'. Although the language is middle Scots and sounds very different to the way we talk today, if you listen closely you might be able to recognise some words.

The Taill of the Vponlandis Mous and the Burges Mous

Esop, myne authour, makis mentioun 
Of twa myis, and thay wer sisteris deir
Of quham the eldest in ane borous toun,
The yungir wynnit uponland weill neir
Richt soliter, quhyle under busk and breir,
Quhilis in the corne in uther mennis skaith
As owtlawis dois and levit on hir waith

This rurall mous into the wynter tyde
Had hunger, cauld, and tholit grit distres.
The tother mous that in the burgh couth byde,
Was gild brother and made ane fre burges,
Toll-fre alswa but custum mair or les
And fredome had to ga quhairever scho list
Amang the cheis and meill in ark and kist.

Ane tyme quhen scho wes full and unfutesair,
Scho tuke in mynd hir sister uponland
And langit for to heir of hir weilfair
To se quhat lyfe scho led under the wand.
Bairfute, allone, with pykestaf in hir hand
As pure pylgryme scho passit owt off town
To seik hir sister baith oure daill and down.

Throw mony wilsum wayis can scho walk,
Throw mure and mosse, throw bankis, busk, and breir,
Fra fur to fur, cryand fra balk to balk,
"Cum furth to me, my awin sweit sister deir,
Cry peip anis!" With that the mous couth heir
And knew hir voce as kinnismen will do
Be verray kynd and furth scho come hir to.

The hartlie cheir, lord God geve ye had sene
Beis kythit quhen thir sisteris twa war met,
Quhilk that oft syis wes schawin thame betwene!
For quhylis thay leuch and quhylis for joy thay gret,
Quhyle kissit sweit and quhilis in armis plet
And thus thay fure quhill soberit wes their mude,
Syne fute for fute unto the chalmer yude.