The Nightingale said, 'True is the contrary; Such frustis love it blindis men so far, Into their minds it makis them to vary; In false vain-glory they so drunken are, Their wit is went, of woe they are not 'ware, Till that all worship away be from them gone, Fame, goods, and strength; wherefore well say I dare, All love is lost but upon God alone.' Then said the Merle, 'Mine error I confess: This frustis love is all but vanity: Blind ignorance me gave such hardiness, To argue so against the verity; Wherefore I counsel every man that he With love not in the fiendis net be tone,[14] But love the love that did for his love die: All love is lost but upon God alone.' Then sang they both with voices loud and clear, The Merle sang, 'Man, love God that has thee wrought.' The Nightingale sang, 'Man, love the Lord most dear, That thee and all this world made of nought.' The Merle said, 'Love him that thy love has sought From heaven to earth, and here took flesh and bone.' The Nightingale sang, 'And with his death thee bought: All love is lost but upon him alone.' Then flew these birds over the boughis sheen, Singing of love among the leaves small; Whose eidant plead yet made my thoughtis grein,[15] Both sleeping, waking, in rest and in travail; Me to recomfort most it does avail, Again for love, when love I can find none, To think how sung this Merle and Nightingale; 'All love is lost but upon God alone.' [1] 'Een:' eyes. [2] 'Merle:' blackbird. [3] 'Salust:' saluted. [4] 'Tint:' lost. [5] 'But:' without. [6] 'Kind:' nature. [7] 'Eild:' age. [8] 'Kythit:' shewn. [9] 'Frustrir:' in vain. [10] 'Spleen:' from the heart. [11] 'Redomite:' bound, encircled. [12] 'Sweir:' slothful. [13] 'Well beseen:' of good appearance. [14] 'Tone:' taken. [15] 'Whose eidant plead yet made my thoughtis grein:' whose close disputation made my thoughts yearn. GAVIN DOUGLAS.