Buke of the Howlat

Originally written in the 1440s by Richard Holland, a Scottish cleric who was chaplain to Archibald Douglas, Earl of Moray, The Buke of the Howlat is one of the great poetic gems of fifteenth-century Scots. Believing himself to be ugly, a young owl (howlat) decides to speak to the most handsome bird of all, the peacock, and ask his help so that Nature can change him. But the peacock isn’t sure this should be done – after all, Nature doesn’t usually make mistakes – and summons a council of birds to make a decision. A huge feast takes place, and Nature herself appears and orders all the birds present to give the owl one of their feathers. But the result is not what they expect. The howlat’s initial joy turns to unbearable arrogance at his new-found beauty, and drastic action must be taken . . .

This is the Scots Languge Edition of The Book of the Howlat.

Scris initial in anii 1440 de catre Richard Holland, un cleric scotian care era capelan al lui Archibald Douglas, contele de Moray, The Buke of the Howlat este una dintre marile bijuterii poetice ale scotienilor din secolul al XV-lea. Crezandu-se urat, o tanara bufnita (howlat) decide sa vorbeasca cu cea mai frumoasa pasare dintre toate, paunul si sa-i ceara ajutorul pentru ca Natura sa-l poata schimba.