Couldest
thou the kivercled[58] of soughlys[59] see,
Thou wouldst eftsoones[60] see trothe ynne whatte I saie;
Botte lette me heere thie waie of lyffe, and thenne 65
Heare thou from me the lyffes of odher menne.
Thou wouldst eftsoones[60] see trothe ynne whatte I saie;
Botte lette me heere thie waie of lyffe, and thenne 65
Heare thou from me the lyffes of odher menne.
Thomas Chatterton - Rowley Poems
]
[Footnote 5: shepherds. ]
[Footnote 6: abruptly, so Chaucer, Syke he abredden dyd attourne. ]
[Footnote 7: affright. ]
[Footnote 8: Added. ]
[Footnote 9: sad. ]
[Footnote 10: woeful, lamentable. ]
[Footnote 11: the Devil. ]
[Footnote 12: might. ]
[Footnote 13: sweet. ]
[Footnote 14: good, neat, genteel. ]
[Footnote 15: groves, sometimes used for a coppice. ]
[Footnote 16: far-seen. ]
[Footnote 17: Hermit. ]
[Footnote 18: violin. ]
[Footnote 19: sounding. ]
[Footnote 20: inn, or public-house. ]
[Footnote 21: also. ]
[Footnote 22: pleasure. ]
[Footnote 23: annoying. ]
[Footnote 24: to keep off. ]
[Footnote 25: ever, always. ]
[Footnote 26: meadows. ]
[Footnote 27: grafted trees. ]
[Footnote 28: thick, stout. ]
[Footnote 29: liberty of pasture given to the Parker. ]
[Footnote 30: tender. ]
[Footnote 31: cows. ]
[Footnote 32: strong. ]
[Footnote 33: garden. ]
[Footnote 34: whitened. ]
[Footnote 35: cumfrey, a favourite dish at that time. ]
[Footnote 36: marygold. ]
[Footnote 37: hardened. ]
[Footnote 38: accustomed. ]
[Footnote 39: abide. This line is also wrote, "Here wyll I obaie
untill dethe appere," but this is modernized. ]
[Footnote 40: deadly. ]
[Footnote 41: destroyeth, killeth. ]
[Footnote 42: grow. ]
[Footnote 43: lament. ]
[Footnote 44: much-loved, beloved. ]
[Footnote 45: cast out, ejected. ]
[Footnote 46: alluding to the portcullis, which guarded the gate, on
which often depended the castle. ]
[Footnote 47: fate. ]
[Footnote 48: my only son. ]
[Footnote 49: dead. ]
[Footnote 50: cottages. ]
[Footnote 51: happiness. ]
[Footnote 52: monasterys. ]
[Footnote 53: only. ]
[Footnote 54: holy. ]
[Footnote 55: complexion. ]
ECLOGUE THE SECOND.
Sprytes[1] of the bleste, the pious Nygelle sed,
Poure owte yer pleasaunce[2] onn mie fadres hedde.
Rycharde of Lyons harte to fyghte is gon,
Uponne the brede[3] sea doe the banners gleme[4];
The amenused[5] nationnes be aston[6], 5
To ken[7] syke[8] large a flete, syke fyne, syke breme[9].
The barkis heafods[10] coupe[11] the lymed[12] streme;
Oundes[13] synkeynge oundes upon the hard ake[14] riese;
The water slughornes[15] wythe a swotye[16] cleme[17]
Conteke[18] the dynnynge[19] ayre, and reche the skies. 10
Sprytes of the bleste, on gouldyn trones[20] astedde[21],
Poure owte yer pleasaunce onn mie fadres hedde.
The gule[22] depeyncted[23] oares from the black tyde,
Decorn[24] wyth fonnes[25] rare, doe shemrynge[26] ryse;
Upswalynge[27] doe heie[28] shewe ynne drierie pryde, 15
Lyche gore-red estells[29] in the eve[30]-merk[31] skyes;
The nome-depeyncted[32] shields, the speres aryse,
Alyche[33] talle roshes on the water syde;
Alenge[34] from bark to bark the bryghte sheene[35] flyes;
Sweft-kerv'd[36] delyghtes doe on the water glyde. 20
Sprites of the bleste, and everich Seyncte ydedde,
Poure owte youre pleasaunce on mie fadres hedde.
The Sarafen lokes owte: he doethe feere,
That Englondes brondeous[37] sonnes do cotte the waie.
Lyke honted bockes, theye reineth[38] here and there, 25
Onknowlachynge[39] inne whatte place to obaie[40].
The banner glesters on the beme of daie;
The mittee[41] crosse Jerusalim ys seene;
Dhereof the syghte yer corrage doe affraie[42],
In balefull[43] dole their faces be ywreene[44]. 30
Sprytes of the bleste, and everich Seyncte ydedde,
Poure owte your pleasaunce on mie fadres hedde.
The bollengers[45] and cottes[45], soe swyfte yn fyghte,
Upon the sydes of everich bark appere;
Foorthe to his offyce lepethe everych knyghte, 35
Eftsoones[46] hys squyer, with hys shielde and spere.
The jynynge shieldes doe shemre and moke glare[47];
The dotheynge oare doe make gemoted[48] dynne;
The reynyng[49] foemen[50], thynckeynge gif[51] to dare,
Boun[52] the merk[53] swerde, theie seche to fraie[54], theie blyn[55].
Sprytes of the bleste, and everyche Seyncte ydedde,
Powre oute yer pleasaunce onn mie fadres hedde.
Now comm the warrynge Sarasyns to fyghte;
Kynge Rycharde, lyche a lyoncel[56] of warre,
Inne sheenynge goulde, lyke feerie[57] gronfers[58], dyghte[59],
Shaketh alofe hys honde, and seene afarre. 45
Syke haveth I espyde a greter starre
Amenge the drybblett[60] ons to sheene fulle bryghte;
Syke sunnys wayne[61] wyth amayl'd[62] beames doe barr
The blaunchie[63] mone or estells[64] to gev lyghte. 50
Sprytes of the bleste, and everich Seyncte ydedde,
Poure owte your pleasaunce on mie fadres hedde.
Distraughte[65] affraie[66], wythe lockes of blodde-red die,
Terroure, emburled[67] yn the thonders rage,
Deathe, lynked to dismaie, dothe ugsomme[68] flie, 55
Enchasynge[69] echone champyonne war to wage.
Speeres bevyle[70] speres; swerdes upon swerdes engage;
Armoure on armoure dynn[71], shielde upon shielde;
Ne dethe of thosandes can the warre assuage,
Botte salleynge nombers sable[72] all the feelde. 60
Sprytes of the bleste, and everych Seyncte ydedde,
Poure owte youre pleasaunce on mie fadres hedde.
The foemen fal arounde; the cross reles[73] hye;
Steyned ynne goere, the harte of warre ys seen;
Kyng Rycharde, thorough everyche trope dothe flie, 65
And beereth meynte[74] of Turkes onto the greene;
Bie hymm the floure of Asies menn ys sleene[75];
The waylynge[76] mone doth fade before hys sonne;
Bie hym hys knyghtes bee formed to actions deene[77],
Doeynge syke marvels[78], strongers be aston[79]. 70
Sprytes of the bleste, and everych Seyncte ydedde,
Poure owte your pleasaunce onn mie fadres hedde.
The fyghte ys wonne; Kynge Rycharde master is;
The Englonde bannerr kisseth the hie ayre;
Full of pure joie the armie is iwys[80], 75
And everych one haveth it onne his bayre[81];
Agayne to Englonde comme, and worschepped there.
Twyghte[82] into lovynge armes, and feasted eft[83];
In everych eyne aredynge nete of wyere[84],
Of all remembrance of past peyne berefte. 80
Sprites of the bleste, and everich Seyncte ydedde,
Syke pleasures powre upon mie fadres hedde.
Syke Nigel sed, whan from the bluie sea
The upswol[85] sayle dyd daunce before his eyne;
Swefte as the withe, hee toe the beeche dyd flee. 85
And founde his fadre steppeynge from the bryne.
Lette thyssen menne, who haveth sprite of loove,
Bethyncke untoe hemselves how mote the meetynge proove.
[Footnote 1: Spirits, souls. ]
[Footnote 2: pleasure. ]
[Footnote 3: broad. ]
[Footnote 4: shine, glimmer. ]
[Footnote 5: diminished, lessened. ]
[Footnote 6: astonished, confounded. ]
[Footnote 7: see, discover, know. ]
[Footnote 8: such, so. ]
[Footnote 9: strong. ]
[Footnote 10: heads. ]
[Footnote 11: cut. ]
[Footnote 12: glassy, reflecting. ]
[Footnote 13: waves, billows. ]
[Footnote 14: oak. ]
[Footnote 15: a musical instrument, not unlike a hautboy. ]
[Footnote 16: sweet. ]
[Footnote 17: sound. ]
[Footnote 18: confuse, contend with. ]
[Footnote 19: sounding. ]
[Footnote 20: thrones. ]
[Footnote 21: seated. ]
[Footnote 22: red. ]
[Footnote 23: painted. ]
[Footnote 24: carved. ]
[Footnote 25: devices. ]
[Footnote 26: glimmering. ]
[Footnote 27: rising high, swelling up. ]
[Footnote 28: they. ]
[Footnote 29: a corruption of _estoile_, Fr. a star. ]
[Footnote 30: evening. ]
[Footnote 31: dark. ]
[Footnote 32: rebus'd shields; a herald term, when the charge of the
shield implies the name of the bearer. ]
[Footnote 33: like. ]
[Footnote 34: along. ]
[Footnote 35: shine. ]
[Footnote 36: short-lived. ]
[Footnote 37: furious. ]
[Footnote 38: runneth. ]
[Footnote 39: not knowing. ]
[Footnote 40: abide. ]
[Footnote 41: mighty. ]
[Footnote 42: affright. ]
[Footnote 43: woeful. ]
[Footnote 44: covered. ]
[Footnote 45: different kinds of boats. ]
[Footnote 46: full soon, presently. ]
[Footnote 47: glitter. ]
[Footnote 48: united, assembled. ]
[Footnote 49: running. ]
[Footnote 50: foes. ]
[Footnote 51: if. ]
[Footnote 52: make ready. ]
[Footnote 53: dark. ]
[Footnote 54: engage. ]
[Footnote 55: cease, stand still. ]
[Footnote 56: a young lion. ]
[Footnote 57: flaming. ]
[Footnote 58: a meteor, from _gron_, a fen, and _fer_, a corruption of
fire; that is, a fire exhaled from a fen. ]
[Footnote 59: deckt. ]
[Footnote 60: small, insignificant. ]
[Footnote 61: carr. ]
[Footnote 62: enameled. ]
[Footnote 63: white, silver. ]
[Footnote 64: stars. ]
[Footnote 65: distracting. ]
[Footnote 66: affright. ]
[Footnote 67: armed. ]
[Footnote 68: terribly. ]
[Footnote 69: encouraging, heating. ]
[Footnote 70: break, a herald term, signifying a spear broken in
tilting. ]
[Footnote 71: sounds. ]
[Footnote 72: blacken. ]
[Footnote 73: waves. ]
[Footnote 74: many, great numbers. ]
[Footnote 75: slain. ]
[Footnote 76: decreasing. ]
[Footnote 77: glorious, worthy. ]
[Footnote 78: wonders. ]
[Footnote 79: astonished. ]
[Footnote 80: certainly. ]
[Footnote 81: brow. ]
[Footnote 82: plucked, pulled. ]
[Footnote 83: often. ]
[Footnote 84: grief, trouble. ]
[Footnote 85: swollen. ]
ECLOGUE THE THIRD.
Wouldst thou kenn nature in her better parte?
Goe, serche the logges [1] and bordels[2] of the hynde[3];
Gyff[4] theie have anie, itte ys roughe-made arte,
Inne hem[5] you see the blakied[6] forme of kynde[7].
Haveth your mynde a lycheynge[8] of a mynde? 5
Woulde it kenne everich thynge, as it mote[9] bee?
Woulde ytte here phrase of the vulgar from the hynde,
Withoute wiseegger[10] wordes and knowlache[11] free?
Gyf soe, rede thys, whyche Iche dysporteynge[12] pende;
Gif nete besyde, yttes rhyme maie ytte commende. 10
MANNE.
Botte whether, fayre mayde, do ye goe?
O where do ye bende yer waie?
I wille knowe whether you goe,
I wylle not bee asseled[13] naie.
WOMANNE.
To Robyn and Nell, all downe in the delle, 15
To hele[14] hem at makeynge of haie.
MANNE.
Syr Rogerre, the parsone, hav hyred mee there,
Comme, comme, lett us tryppe ytte awaie,
We'lle wurke[15] and we'lle synge, and wylle drenche[16] of stronge beer
As longe as the merrie sommers daie. 20
WOMANNE.
How harde ys mie dome to wurch!
Moke is mie woe.
Dame Agnes, whoe lies ynne the Chyrche
With birlette[17] golde,
Wythe gelten[18] aumeres[19] stronge ontolde, 25
What was shee moe than me, to be soe?
MANNE.
I kenne Syr Roger from afar
Tryppynge over the lea;
Ich ask whie the loverds[20] son
Is moe than mee. 30
SYR ROGERRE.
The sweltrie[21] sonne dothe hie apace hys wayne[22],
From everich beme a seme[23]; of lyfe doe falle;
Swythyn[24] scille[25] oppe the haie uponne the playne;
Methynckes the cockes begynneth to gre[26] talle.
Thys ys alyche oure doome[27]; the great, the smalle, 35
Mofte withe[28] and bee forwyned[29] by deathis darte.
See! the swote[30] flourette[31] hathe noe swote at alle;
Itte wythe the ranke wede bereth evalle[32] parte.
The cravent[33], warrioure, and the wyse be blente[34],
Alyche to drie awaie wythe those theie dyd bemente[35]. 40
MANNE.
All-a-boon[36], Syr Priest, all-a-boon,
Bye yer preestschype nowe saye unto mee;
Syr Gaufryd the knyghte, who lyvethe harde bie,
Whie shoulde hee than mee
Bee moe greate, 45
Inne honnoure, knyghtehoode and estate?
SYR ROGERRE.
Attourne[37] thine eyne arounde thys haied mee,
Tentyflie[38] loke arounde the chaper[39] delle[40];
An answere to thie barganette[41] here see,
Thys welked[42] flourette wylle a leson telle: 50
Arist[43] it blew[44], itte florished, and dyd welle,
Lokeynge ascaunce[45] upon the naighboure greene;
Yet with the deigned[46] greene yttes rennome[47] felle,
Eftsoones[48] ytte shronke upon the daie-brente[49] playne,
Didde not yttes loke, whilest ytte there dyd stonde, 55
To croppe ytte in the bodde move somme dred honde.
Syke[50] ys the waie of lyffe; the loverds[51] ente[52]
Mooveth the robber hym therfor to slea[53];
Gyf thou has ethe[54], the shadowe of contente,
Beleive the trothe[55], theres none moe haile[56] yan thee. 60
Thou wurchest[57]; welle, canne thatte a trobble bee?
Slothe moe wulde jade thee than the roughest daie.
Couldest thou the kivercled[58] of soughlys[59] see,
Thou wouldst eftsoones[60] see trothe ynne whatte I saie;
Botte lette me heere thie waie of lyffe, and thenne 65
Heare thou from me the lyffes of odher menne.
MANNE.
I ryse wythe the sonne,
Lyche hym to dryve the wayne[61],
And eere mie wurche is don
I synge a songe or twayne[62]. 70
I followe the plough-tayle,
Wythe a longe jubb[63] of ale.
Botte of the maydens, oh!
Itte lacketh notte to telle;
Syr Preeste mote notte crie woe, 75
Culde hys bull do as welle.
I daunce the beste heiedeygnes[64],
And foile[65] the wysest feygnes[66].
On everych Seynctes hie daie
Wythe the mynstrelle[67] am I seene, 80
All a footeynge it awaie,
Wythe maydens on the greene.
But oh! I wyshe to be moe greate,
In rennome, tenure, and estate.
SYR ROGERRE.
Has thou ne seene a tree uponne a hylle, 85
Whose unliste[68] braunces[69] rechen far toe fyghte;
Whan fuired[70] unwers[71] doe the heaven fylle,
Itte shaketh deere[72] yn dole[73] and moke affryghte.
Whylest the congeon[74] flowrette abessie[75] dyghte[76],
Stondethe unhurte, unquaced[77] bie the storme: 90
Syke is a picte[78] of lyffe: the manne of myghte
Is tempest-chaft[79], hys woe greate as hys forme,
Thieselfe a flowrette of a small accounte,
Wouldst harder felle the wynde, as hygher thee dydste mounte.
[Footnote 1: lodges, huts. ]
[Footnote 2: cottages. ]
[Footnote 3: servant, slave, peasant. ]
[Footnote 4: if. ]
[Footnote 5: a contraction of _them_. ]
[Footnote 6: naked, original. ]
[Footnote 7: nature. ]
[Footnote 8: liking. ]
[Footnote 9: might. The sense of this line is, Would you see every
thing in its primaeval state. ]
[Footnote 10: wise-egger, a philosopher. ]
[Footnote 11: knowledge. ]
[Footnote 12: sporting. ]
[Footnote 13: answered. ]
[Footnote 14: aid, or help. ]
[Footnote 15: work. ]
[Footnote 16: drink. ]
[Footnote 17: a hood, or covering for the back part of the head. ]
[Footnote 18: guilded. ]
[Footnote 19: borders of gold and silver, on which was laid thin
plates of either metal counterchanged, not unlike the present spangled
laces. ]
[Footnote 20: lord. ]
[Footnote 21: sultry. ]
[Footnote 22: car. ]
[Footnote 23: seed. ]
[Footnote 24: quickly, presently. ]
[Footnote 25: gather. ]
[Footnote 26: grow. ]
[Footnote 27: fate. ]
[Footnote 28: a contraction of wither. ]
[Footnote 29: dried. ]
[Footnote 30: sweet. ]
[Footnote 31: flower. ]
[Footnote 32: equal. ]
[Footnote 33: coward. ]
[Footnote 34: ceased, dead, no more. ]
[Footnote 35: lament. ]
[Footnote 36: a manner of asking a favour. ]
[Footnote 37: turn. ]
[Footnote 38: carefully, with circumspection. ]
[Footnote 39: dry, sun-burnt. ]
[Footnote 40: valley. ]
[Footnote 41: a song, or ballad. ]
[Footnote 42: withered. ]
[Footnote 43: arisen, or arose. ]
[Footnote 44: blossomed. ]
[Footnote 45: disdainfully. ]
[Footnote 46: disdained. ]
[Footnote 47: glory. ]
[Footnote 48: quickly. ]
[Footnote 49: burnt. ]
[Footnote 50: such. ]
[Footnote 51: lord's. ]
[Footnote 52: a purse or bag. ]
[Footnote 53: slay. ]
[Footnote 54: ease. ]
[Footnote 55: truth. ]
[Footnote 56: happy. ]
[Footnote 57: workest. ]
[Footnote 58: the hidden or secret part of. ]
[Footnote 59: souls. ]
[Footnote 60: full soon, or presently. ]
[Footnote 61: car. ]
[Footnote 62: two. ]
[Footnote 63: a bottle. ]
[Footnote 64: a country dance, still practised in the North. ]
[Footnote 65: baffle. ]
[Footnote 66: a corruption of _feints_. ]
[Footnote 67: a minstrel is a musician. ]
[Footnote 68: unbounded. ]
[Footnote 69: branches. ]
[Footnote 70: furious. ]
[Footnote 71: tempests, storms. ]
[Footnote 72: dire. ]
[Footnote 73: dismay. ]
[Footnote 74: dwarf. ]
[Footnote 75: humility. ]
[Footnote 76: decked. ]
[Footnote 77: unhurt. ]
[Footnote 78: picture. ]
[Footnote 79: tempest-beaten. ]
ELINOURE AND JUGA.
Onne Ruddeborne[1] bank twa pynynge Maydens fate,
Theire teares faste dryppeynge to the waterre cleere;
Echone bementynge[2] for her absente mate,
Who atte Seyncte Albonns shouke the morthynge[3] speare.
The nottebrowne Elinoure to Juga fayre 5
Dydde speke acroole[4], wythe languishment of eyne,
Lyche droppes of pearlie dew, lemed[5] the quyvryng brine.
ELINOURE.
O gentle Juga! heare mie dernie[6] plainte,
To fyghte for Yorke mie love ys dyghte[7] in stele;
O maie ne sanguen steine the whyte rose peyncte, 10
Maie good Seyncte Cuthberte watche Syrre Roberte wele.
Moke moe thanne deathe in phantasie I feele;
See! see! upon the grounde he bleedynge lies;
Inhild[8] some joice[9] of lyfe or else mie deare love dies.
JUGA.
Systers in sorrowe, on thys daise-ey'd banke, 15
Where melancholych broods, we wyll lamente;
Be wette wythe mornynge dewe and evene danke;
Lyche levynde[10] okes in eche the odher bente,
Or lyche forlettenn[11] halles of merriemente,
Whose gastlie mitches[12] holde the traine of fryghte[13], 20
Where lethale[14] ravens bark, and owlets wake the nyghte.
[ELINOURE. ]
No moe the miskynette[15] shall wake the morne,
The minstrelle daunce, good cheere, and morryce plaie;
No moe the amblynge palfrie and the horne
Shall from the lessel[16] rouze the foxe awaie; 25
I'll seke the foreste alle the lyve-longe daie;
Alle nete amenge the gravde chyrche[17] glebe wyll goe,
And to the passante Spryghtes lecture[18] mie tale of woe.
[JUGA. ]
Whan mokie[19] cloudis do hange upon the leme
Of leden[20] Moon, ynn sylver mantels dyghte; 30
The tryppeynge Faeries weve the golden dreme
Of Selyness[21], whyche flyethe wythe the nyghte;
Thenne (botte the Seynctes forbydde! ) gif to a spryte
Syrr Rychardes forme ys lyped, I'll holde dystraughte
Hys bledeynge claie-colde corse, and die eche daie ynn thoughte. 35
ELINOURE.
Ah woe bementynge wordes; what wordes can shewe!
Thou limed[22] ryver, on thie linche[23] maie bleede
Champyons, whose bloude wylle wythe thie waterres flowe,
And Rudborne streeme be Rudborne streeme indeede!
Haste, gentle Juga, tryppe ytte oere the meade, 40
To knowe, or wheder we muste waile agayne,
Or wythe oure fallen knyghtes be menged onne the plain.
Soe sayinge, lyke twa levyn-blasted trees,
Or twayne of cloudes that holdeth stormie rayne;
Theie moved gentle oere the dewie mees[24], 45
To where Seyncte Albons holie shrynes remayne.
There dyd theye fynde that bothe their knyghtes were slayne,
Distraughte[25] theie wandered to swollen Rudbornes syde,
Yelled theyre leathalle knelle, sonke ynn the waves, and dyde.
[Footnote 1: Rudborne (in Saxon, red-water), a River near Saint
Albans, famous for the battles there fought between the Houses of
Lancaster and York. ]
[Footnote 2: lamenting. ]
[Footnote 3: murdering. ]
[Footnote 4: faintly. ]
[Footnote 5: glistened. ]
[Footnote 6: sad complaint. ]
[Footnote 7: arrayed, or cased. ]
[Footnote 8: infuse. ]
[Footnote 9: juice. ]
[Footnote 10: blasted. ]
[Footnote 11: forsaken. ]
[Footnote 12: ruins. ]
[Footnote 13: fear. ]
[Footnote 14: deadly or deathboding. ]
[Footnote 15: a small bagpipe. ]
[Footnote 16: in a confined sense, a bush or hedge, though sometimes
used as a forest. ]
[Footnote 17: church-yard. ]
[Footnote 18: relate. ]
[Footnote 19: black. ]
[Footnote 20: decreasing. ]
[Footnote 21: happiness. ]
[Footnote 22: glassy. ]
[Footnote 23: bank. ]
[Footnote 24: meeds. ]
[Footnote 25: distracted. ]
TO JOHNE LADGATE.
[Sent with the following _Songe to AElla. _]
Well thanne, goode Johne, sythe ytt must needes be soe,
Thatt thou & I a bowtynge matche must have,
Lette ytt ne breakynge of oulde friendshyppe bee,
Thys ys the onelie all-a-boone I crave.
Rememberr Stowe, the Bryghtstowe Carmalyte, 5
Who whanne Johne Clarkynge, one of myckle lore,
Dydd throwe hys gauntlette-penne, wyth hym to fyghte,
Hee showd smalle wytte, and showd hys weaknesse more.
Thys ys mie formance, whyche I nowe have wrytte,
The best performance of mie lyttel wytte. 10
SONGE TO AELLA, LORDE OF THE CASTEL OF BRYSTOWE YNNE DAIES OF YORE.
Oh thou, orr what remaynes of thee,
AElla, the darlynge of futurity,
Lett thys mie songe bolde as thie courage be,
As everlastynge to posteritye.
Whanne Dacya's sonnes, whose hayres of bloude-redde hue 5
Lyche kynge-cuppes brastynge wythe the morning due,
Arraung'd ynne dreare arraie,
Upponne the lethale daie,
Spredde farre and wyde onne Watchets shore;
Than dyddst thou furiouse stande, 10
And bie thie valyante hande
Beesprengedd all the mees wythe gore.
Drawne bie thyne anlace felle,
Downe to the depthe of helle
Thousandes of Dacyanns went; 15
Brystowannes, menne of myghte,
Ydar'd the bloudie fyghte,
And actedd deeds full quent.
Oh thou, whereer (thie bones att reste)
Thye Spryte to haunte delyghteth beste, 20
Whetherr upponne the bloude-embrewedd pleyne,
Orr whare thou kennst fromm farre
The dysmall crye of warre,
Orr seest somme mountayne made of corse of sleyne;
Orr seest the hatchedd stede, 25
Ypraunceynge o'er the mede,
And neighe to be amenged the poynctedd speeres;
Orr ynne blacke armoure staulke arounde
Embattel'd Brystowe, once thie grounde,
And glowe ardurous onn the Castle steeres; 30
Orr fierye round the mynsterr glare;
Lette Brystowe stylle be made thie care;
Guarde ytt fromme foemenne & consumynge fyre;
Lyche Avones streme ensyrke ytte rounde,
Ne lette a flame enharme the grounde, 35
Tylle ynne one flame all the whole worlde expyre.
The underwritten Lines were composed by JOHN LADGATE, a Priest in
London, and sent to ROWLIE, as an Answer to the preceding _Songe of
AElla_.
Havynge wythe mouche attentyonn redde
Whatt you dydd to mee sende,
Admyre the varses mouche I dydd,
And thus an answerr lende.
Amongs the Greeces Homer was 5
A Poett mouche renownde,
Amongs the Latyns Vyrgilius
Was beste of Poets founde.
The Brytish Merlyn oftenne hanne
The gyfte of inspyration, 10
And Afled to the Sexonne menne
Dydd synge wythe elocation.
Ynne Norman tymes, Turgotus and
Goode Chaucer dydd excelle,
Thenn Stowe, the Bryghtstowe Carmelyte, 15
Dydd bare awaie the belle.
Nowe Rowlie ynne these mokie dayes
Lendes owte hys sheenynge lyghtes,
And Turgotus and Chaucer lyves
Ynne ev'ry lyne he wrytes. 20
THE TOURNAMENT.
AN INTERLUDE.
ENTER AN HERAWDE.
The Tournament begynnes; the hammerrs sounde;
The courserrs lysse[1] about the mensuredd[2] fielde;
The shemrynge armoure throws the sheene arounde;
Quayntyssed[3] fons[4] depictedd[5] onn eche sheelde.
The feerie[6] heaulmets, wythe the wreathes amielde[7], 5
Supportes the rampynge lyoncell[8] orr beare,
Wythe straunge depyctures[9], Nature maie nott yeelde,
Unseemelie to all orderr doe appere,
Yett yatte[10] to menne, who thyncke and have a spryte[11],
Makes knowen thatt the phantasies unryghte. 10
I, Sonne of Honnoure, spencer[11] of her joies,
Muste swythen[12] goe to yeve[13] the speeres arounde,
Wythe advantayle[14] & borne[15] I meynte[16] emploie,
Who withoute mee woulde fall untoe the grounde.
Soe the tall oake the ivie twysteth rounde; 15
Soe the neshe[17] flowerr grees[18] ynne the woodeland shade.
The worlde bie diffraunce ys ynne orderr founde;
Wydhoute unlikenesse nothynge could bee made.
As ynn the bowke[19] nete[20] alleyn[21] cann bee donne,
Syke[22] ynn the weal of kynde all thynges are partes of onne. 20
Enterr SYRR SYMONNE DE BOURTONNE.
Herawde[23], bie heavenne these tylterrs staie too long.
Mie phantasie ys dyinge forr the fyghte.
The mynstrelles have begonne the thyrde warr songe,
Yett notte a speere of hemm[24] hath grete mie syghte.
I feere there be ne manne wordhie mie myghte. 25
I lacke a Guid[25], a Wyllyamm[26] to entylte.
To reine[27] anente[28] a fele[29] embodiedd knyghte,
Ytt gettes ne rennome[30] gyff hys blodde bee spylte.
Bie heavenne & Marie ytt ys tyme they're here;
I lyche nott unthylle[31] thus to wielde the speare. 30
HERAWDE.
Methynckes I heare yer slugghornes[32] dynn[33] fromm farre.
BOURTONNE.
Ah! swythenn[34] mie shielde & tyltynge launce bee bounde [35].
Eftsoones[36] beheste[37] mie Squyerr to the warre.
I flie before to clayme a challenge grownde.
[_Goeth oute_.
HERAWDE.
Thie valourous actes woulde meinte[38] of menne astounde;
Harde bee yer shappe[39] encontrynge thee ynn fyghte;
Anenst[40] all menne thou bereft to the grounde,
Lyche the hard hayle dothe the tall roshes pyghte[41].
As whanne the mornynge sonne ydronks the dew,
Syche dothe thie valourous actes drocke[42] eche knyghte's hue. 40
THE LYSTES. THE KYNGE. SYRR SYMONNE DE BOURTONNE, SYRR HUGO
FERRARIS, SYRR RANULPH NEVILLE, SYRR LODOVICK DE CLYNTON,
SYRR JOHAN DE BERGHAMME, AND ODHERR KNYGHTES, HERAWDES,
MYNSTRELLES. AND SERVYTOURS[43].
KYNGE.
The barganette[44]; yee mynstrelles tune the strynge,
Somme actyonn dyre of auntyante kynges now synge.
MYNSTRELLES.
Wyllyamm, the Normannes floure botte Englondes thorne,
The manne whose myghte delievretie[45] hadd knite[46],
Snett[46] oppe hys long strunge bowe and sheelde aborne[47], 45
Behesteynge[48] all hys hommageres[49] to fyghte.
Goe, rouze the lyonn fromm hys hylted[50] denne,
Lett thie floes[51] drenche the blodde of anie thynge bott menne.
Ynn the treed forreste doe the knyghtes appere;
Wyllyamm wythe myghte hys bowe enyronn'd[52] plies[53]; 50
Loude dynns[54] the arrowe ynn the wolfynn's eare;
Hee ryseth battent[55] roares, he panctes, hee dyes.
Forslagenn att thie feete lett wolvynns bee,
Lett thie floes drenche theyre blodde, bott do ne bredrenn flea.
Throwe the merke[56] shade of twistynde trees hee rydes; 55
The flemed[57] owlett[58] flapps herr eve-speckte[59] wynge;
The lordynge[60] toade ynn all hys passes bides;
The berten[61] neders[62] att hymm darte the stynge;
Styll, stylle, hee passes onn, hys stede astrodde,
Nee hedes the daungerous waie gyff leadynge untoe bloodde. 60
The lyoncel, fromme sweltrie[63] countries braughte,
Coucheynge binethe the sheltre of the brierr,
Att commyng dynn[64] doth rayse hymselfe distraughte[65],
He loketh wythe an eie of flames of fyre.
Goe, sticke the lyonn to hys hyltren denne. 65
Lette thie floes[66] drenche the blood of anie thynge botte menn.
Wythe passent[67] steppe the lyonn mov'th alonge;
Wyllyamm hys ironne-woven bowe hee bendes,
Wythe myghte alyche the roghlynge[68] thonderr stronge;
The lyonn ynn a roare hys spryte foorthe sendes. 70
Goe, slea the lyonn ynn hys blodde-steyn'd denne,
Botte bee thie takelle[69] drie fromm blodde of odherr menne.
[Footnote 5: shepherds. ]
[Footnote 6: abruptly, so Chaucer, Syke he abredden dyd attourne. ]
[Footnote 7: affright. ]
[Footnote 8: Added. ]
[Footnote 9: sad. ]
[Footnote 10: woeful, lamentable. ]
[Footnote 11: the Devil. ]
[Footnote 12: might. ]
[Footnote 13: sweet. ]
[Footnote 14: good, neat, genteel. ]
[Footnote 15: groves, sometimes used for a coppice. ]
[Footnote 16: far-seen. ]
[Footnote 17: Hermit. ]
[Footnote 18: violin. ]
[Footnote 19: sounding. ]
[Footnote 20: inn, or public-house. ]
[Footnote 21: also. ]
[Footnote 22: pleasure. ]
[Footnote 23: annoying. ]
[Footnote 24: to keep off. ]
[Footnote 25: ever, always. ]
[Footnote 26: meadows. ]
[Footnote 27: grafted trees. ]
[Footnote 28: thick, stout. ]
[Footnote 29: liberty of pasture given to the Parker. ]
[Footnote 30: tender. ]
[Footnote 31: cows. ]
[Footnote 32: strong. ]
[Footnote 33: garden. ]
[Footnote 34: whitened. ]
[Footnote 35: cumfrey, a favourite dish at that time. ]
[Footnote 36: marygold. ]
[Footnote 37: hardened. ]
[Footnote 38: accustomed. ]
[Footnote 39: abide. This line is also wrote, "Here wyll I obaie
untill dethe appere," but this is modernized. ]
[Footnote 40: deadly. ]
[Footnote 41: destroyeth, killeth. ]
[Footnote 42: grow. ]
[Footnote 43: lament. ]
[Footnote 44: much-loved, beloved. ]
[Footnote 45: cast out, ejected. ]
[Footnote 46: alluding to the portcullis, which guarded the gate, on
which often depended the castle. ]
[Footnote 47: fate. ]
[Footnote 48: my only son. ]
[Footnote 49: dead. ]
[Footnote 50: cottages. ]
[Footnote 51: happiness. ]
[Footnote 52: monasterys. ]
[Footnote 53: only. ]
[Footnote 54: holy. ]
[Footnote 55: complexion. ]
ECLOGUE THE SECOND.
Sprytes[1] of the bleste, the pious Nygelle sed,
Poure owte yer pleasaunce[2] onn mie fadres hedde.
Rycharde of Lyons harte to fyghte is gon,
Uponne the brede[3] sea doe the banners gleme[4];
The amenused[5] nationnes be aston[6], 5
To ken[7] syke[8] large a flete, syke fyne, syke breme[9].
The barkis heafods[10] coupe[11] the lymed[12] streme;
Oundes[13] synkeynge oundes upon the hard ake[14] riese;
The water slughornes[15] wythe a swotye[16] cleme[17]
Conteke[18] the dynnynge[19] ayre, and reche the skies. 10
Sprytes of the bleste, on gouldyn trones[20] astedde[21],
Poure owte yer pleasaunce onn mie fadres hedde.
The gule[22] depeyncted[23] oares from the black tyde,
Decorn[24] wyth fonnes[25] rare, doe shemrynge[26] ryse;
Upswalynge[27] doe heie[28] shewe ynne drierie pryde, 15
Lyche gore-red estells[29] in the eve[30]-merk[31] skyes;
The nome-depeyncted[32] shields, the speres aryse,
Alyche[33] talle roshes on the water syde;
Alenge[34] from bark to bark the bryghte sheene[35] flyes;
Sweft-kerv'd[36] delyghtes doe on the water glyde. 20
Sprites of the bleste, and everich Seyncte ydedde,
Poure owte youre pleasaunce on mie fadres hedde.
The Sarafen lokes owte: he doethe feere,
That Englondes brondeous[37] sonnes do cotte the waie.
Lyke honted bockes, theye reineth[38] here and there, 25
Onknowlachynge[39] inne whatte place to obaie[40].
The banner glesters on the beme of daie;
The mittee[41] crosse Jerusalim ys seene;
Dhereof the syghte yer corrage doe affraie[42],
In balefull[43] dole their faces be ywreene[44]. 30
Sprytes of the bleste, and everich Seyncte ydedde,
Poure owte your pleasaunce on mie fadres hedde.
The bollengers[45] and cottes[45], soe swyfte yn fyghte,
Upon the sydes of everich bark appere;
Foorthe to his offyce lepethe everych knyghte, 35
Eftsoones[46] hys squyer, with hys shielde and spere.
The jynynge shieldes doe shemre and moke glare[47];
The dotheynge oare doe make gemoted[48] dynne;
The reynyng[49] foemen[50], thynckeynge gif[51] to dare,
Boun[52] the merk[53] swerde, theie seche to fraie[54], theie blyn[55].
Sprytes of the bleste, and everyche Seyncte ydedde,
Powre oute yer pleasaunce onn mie fadres hedde.
Now comm the warrynge Sarasyns to fyghte;
Kynge Rycharde, lyche a lyoncel[56] of warre,
Inne sheenynge goulde, lyke feerie[57] gronfers[58], dyghte[59],
Shaketh alofe hys honde, and seene afarre. 45
Syke haveth I espyde a greter starre
Amenge the drybblett[60] ons to sheene fulle bryghte;
Syke sunnys wayne[61] wyth amayl'd[62] beames doe barr
The blaunchie[63] mone or estells[64] to gev lyghte. 50
Sprytes of the bleste, and everich Seyncte ydedde,
Poure owte your pleasaunce on mie fadres hedde.
Distraughte[65] affraie[66], wythe lockes of blodde-red die,
Terroure, emburled[67] yn the thonders rage,
Deathe, lynked to dismaie, dothe ugsomme[68] flie, 55
Enchasynge[69] echone champyonne war to wage.
Speeres bevyle[70] speres; swerdes upon swerdes engage;
Armoure on armoure dynn[71], shielde upon shielde;
Ne dethe of thosandes can the warre assuage,
Botte salleynge nombers sable[72] all the feelde. 60
Sprytes of the bleste, and everych Seyncte ydedde,
Poure owte youre pleasaunce on mie fadres hedde.
The foemen fal arounde; the cross reles[73] hye;
Steyned ynne goere, the harte of warre ys seen;
Kyng Rycharde, thorough everyche trope dothe flie, 65
And beereth meynte[74] of Turkes onto the greene;
Bie hymm the floure of Asies menn ys sleene[75];
The waylynge[76] mone doth fade before hys sonne;
Bie hym hys knyghtes bee formed to actions deene[77],
Doeynge syke marvels[78], strongers be aston[79]. 70
Sprytes of the bleste, and everych Seyncte ydedde,
Poure owte your pleasaunce onn mie fadres hedde.
The fyghte ys wonne; Kynge Rycharde master is;
The Englonde bannerr kisseth the hie ayre;
Full of pure joie the armie is iwys[80], 75
And everych one haveth it onne his bayre[81];
Agayne to Englonde comme, and worschepped there.
Twyghte[82] into lovynge armes, and feasted eft[83];
In everych eyne aredynge nete of wyere[84],
Of all remembrance of past peyne berefte. 80
Sprites of the bleste, and everich Seyncte ydedde,
Syke pleasures powre upon mie fadres hedde.
Syke Nigel sed, whan from the bluie sea
The upswol[85] sayle dyd daunce before his eyne;
Swefte as the withe, hee toe the beeche dyd flee. 85
And founde his fadre steppeynge from the bryne.
Lette thyssen menne, who haveth sprite of loove,
Bethyncke untoe hemselves how mote the meetynge proove.
[Footnote 1: Spirits, souls. ]
[Footnote 2: pleasure. ]
[Footnote 3: broad. ]
[Footnote 4: shine, glimmer. ]
[Footnote 5: diminished, lessened. ]
[Footnote 6: astonished, confounded. ]
[Footnote 7: see, discover, know. ]
[Footnote 8: such, so. ]
[Footnote 9: strong. ]
[Footnote 10: heads. ]
[Footnote 11: cut. ]
[Footnote 12: glassy, reflecting. ]
[Footnote 13: waves, billows. ]
[Footnote 14: oak. ]
[Footnote 15: a musical instrument, not unlike a hautboy. ]
[Footnote 16: sweet. ]
[Footnote 17: sound. ]
[Footnote 18: confuse, contend with. ]
[Footnote 19: sounding. ]
[Footnote 20: thrones. ]
[Footnote 21: seated. ]
[Footnote 22: red. ]
[Footnote 23: painted. ]
[Footnote 24: carved. ]
[Footnote 25: devices. ]
[Footnote 26: glimmering. ]
[Footnote 27: rising high, swelling up. ]
[Footnote 28: they. ]
[Footnote 29: a corruption of _estoile_, Fr. a star. ]
[Footnote 30: evening. ]
[Footnote 31: dark. ]
[Footnote 32: rebus'd shields; a herald term, when the charge of the
shield implies the name of the bearer. ]
[Footnote 33: like. ]
[Footnote 34: along. ]
[Footnote 35: shine. ]
[Footnote 36: short-lived. ]
[Footnote 37: furious. ]
[Footnote 38: runneth. ]
[Footnote 39: not knowing. ]
[Footnote 40: abide. ]
[Footnote 41: mighty. ]
[Footnote 42: affright. ]
[Footnote 43: woeful. ]
[Footnote 44: covered. ]
[Footnote 45: different kinds of boats. ]
[Footnote 46: full soon, presently. ]
[Footnote 47: glitter. ]
[Footnote 48: united, assembled. ]
[Footnote 49: running. ]
[Footnote 50: foes. ]
[Footnote 51: if. ]
[Footnote 52: make ready. ]
[Footnote 53: dark. ]
[Footnote 54: engage. ]
[Footnote 55: cease, stand still. ]
[Footnote 56: a young lion. ]
[Footnote 57: flaming. ]
[Footnote 58: a meteor, from _gron_, a fen, and _fer_, a corruption of
fire; that is, a fire exhaled from a fen. ]
[Footnote 59: deckt. ]
[Footnote 60: small, insignificant. ]
[Footnote 61: carr. ]
[Footnote 62: enameled. ]
[Footnote 63: white, silver. ]
[Footnote 64: stars. ]
[Footnote 65: distracting. ]
[Footnote 66: affright. ]
[Footnote 67: armed. ]
[Footnote 68: terribly. ]
[Footnote 69: encouraging, heating. ]
[Footnote 70: break, a herald term, signifying a spear broken in
tilting. ]
[Footnote 71: sounds. ]
[Footnote 72: blacken. ]
[Footnote 73: waves. ]
[Footnote 74: many, great numbers. ]
[Footnote 75: slain. ]
[Footnote 76: decreasing. ]
[Footnote 77: glorious, worthy. ]
[Footnote 78: wonders. ]
[Footnote 79: astonished. ]
[Footnote 80: certainly. ]
[Footnote 81: brow. ]
[Footnote 82: plucked, pulled. ]
[Footnote 83: often. ]
[Footnote 84: grief, trouble. ]
[Footnote 85: swollen. ]
ECLOGUE THE THIRD.
Wouldst thou kenn nature in her better parte?
Goe, serche the logges [1] and bordels[2] of the hynde[3];
Gyff[4] theie have anie, itte ys roughe-made arte,
Inne hem[5] you see the blakied[6] forme of kynde[7].
Haveth your mynde a lycheynge[8] of a mynde? 5
Woulde it kenne everich thynge, as it mote[9] bee?
Woulde ytte here phrase of the vulgar from the hynde,
Withoute wiseegger[10] wordes and knowlache[11] free?
Gyf soe, rede thys, whyche Iche dysporteynge[12] pende;
Gif nete besyde, yttes rhyme maie ytte commende. 10
MANNE.
Botte whether, fayre mayde, do ye goe?
O where do ye bende yer waie?
I wille knowe whether you goe,
I wylle not bee asseled[13] naie.
WOMANNE.
To Robyn and Nell, all downe in the delle, 15
To hele[14] hem at makeynge of haie.
MANNE.
Syr Rogerre, the parsone, hav hyred mee there,
Comme, comme, lett us tryppe ytte awaie,
We'lle wurke[15] and we'lle synge, and wylle drenche[16] of stronge beer
As longe as the merrie sommers daie. 20
WOMANNE.
How harde ys mie dome to wurch!
Moke is mie woe.
Dame Agnes, whoe lies ynne the Chyrche
With birlette[17] golde,
Wythe gelten[18] aumeres[19] stronge ontolde, 25
What was shee moe than me, to be soe?
MANNE.
I kenne Syr Roger from afar
Tryppynge over the lea;
Ich ask whie the loverds[20] son
Is moe than mee. 30
SYR ROGERRE.
The sweltrie[21] sonne dothe hie apace hys wayne[22],
From everich beme a seme[23]; of lyfe doe falle;
Swythyn[24] scille[25] oppe the haie uponne the playne;
Methynckes the cockes begynneth to gre[26] talle.
Thys ys alyche oure doome[27]; the great, the smalle, 35
Mofte withe[28] and bee forwyned[29] by deathis darte.
See! the swote[30] flourette[31] hathe noe swote at alle;
Itte wythe the ranke wede bereth evalle[32] parte.
The cravent[33], warrioure, and the wyse be blente[34],
Alyche to drie awaie wythe those theie dyd bemente[35]. 40
MANNE.
All-a-boon[36], Syr Priest, all-a-boon,
Bye yer preestschype nowe saye unto mee;
Syr Gaufryd the knyghte, who lyvethe harde bie,
Whie shoulde hee than mee
Bee moe greate, 45
Inne honnoure, knyghtehoode and estate?
SYR ROGERRE.
Attourne[37] thine eyne arounde thys haied mee,
Tentyflie[38] loke arounde the chaper[39] delle[40];
An answere to thie barganette[41] here see,
Thys welked[42] flourette wylle a leson telle: 50
Arist[43] it blew[44], itte florished, and dyd welle,
Lokeynge ascaunce[45] upon the naighboure greene;
Yet with the deigned[46] greene yttes rennome[47] felle,
Eftsoones[48] ytte shronke upon the daie-brente[49] playne,
Didde not yttes loke, whilest ytte there dyd stonde, 55
To croppe ytte in the bodde move somme dred honde.
Syke[50] ys the waie of lyffe; the loverds[51] ente[52]
Mooveth the robber hym therfor to slea[53];
Gyf thou has ethe[54], the shadowe of contente,
Beleive the trothe[55], theres none moe haile[56] yan thee. 60
Thou wurchest[57]; welle, canne thatte a trobble bee?
Slothe moe wulde jade thee than the roughest daie.
Couldest thou the kivercled[58] of soughlys[59] see,
Thou wouldst eftsoones[60] see trothe ynne whatte I saie;
Botte lette me heere thie waie of lyffe, and thenne 65
Heare thou from me the lyffes of odher menne.
MANNE.
I ryse wythe the sonne,
Lyche hym to dryve the wayne[61],
And eere mie wurche is don
I synge a songe or twayne[62]. 70
I followe the plough-tayle,
Wythe a longe jubb[63] of ale.
Botte of the maydens, oh!
Itte lacketh notte to telle;
Syr Preeste mote notte crie woe, 75
Culde hys bull do as welle.
I daunce the beste heiedeygnes[64],
And foile[65] the wysest feygnes[66].
On everych Seynctes hie daie
Wythe the mynstrelle[67] am I seene, 80
All a footeynge it awaie,
Wythe maydens on the greene.
But oh! I wyshe to be moe greate,
In rennome, tenure, and estate.
SYR ROGERRE.
Has thou ne seene a tree uponne a hylle, 85
Whose unliste[68] braunces[69] rechen far toe fyghte;
Whan fuired[70] unwers[71] doe the heaven fylle,
Itte shaketh deere[72] yn dole[73] and moke affryghte.
Whylest the congeon[74] flowrette abessie[75] dyghte[76],
Stondethe unhurte, unquaced[77] bie the storme: 90
Syke is a picte[78] of lyffe: the manne of myghte
Is tempest-chaft[79], hys woe greate as hys forme,
Thieselfe a flowrette of a small accounte,
Wouldst harder felle the wynde, as hygher thee dydste mounte.
[Footnote 1: lodges, huts. ]
[Footnote 2: cottages. ]
[Footnote 3: servant, slave, peasant. ]
[Footnote 4: if. ]
[Footnote 5: a contraction of _them_. ]
[Footnote 6: naked, original. ]
[Footnote 7: nature. ]
[Footnote 8: liking. ]
[Footnote 9: might. The sense of this line is, Would you see every
thing in its primaeval state. ]
[Footnote 10: wise-egger, a philosopher. ]
[Footnote 11: knowledge. ]
[Footnote 12: sporting. ]
[Footnote 13: answered. ]
[Footnote 14: aid, or help. ]
[Footnote 15: work. ]
[Footnote 16: drink. ]
[Footnote 17: a hood, or covering for the back part of the head. ]
[Footnote 18: guilded. ]
[Footnote 19: borders of gold and silver, on which was laid thin
plates of either metal counterchanged, not unlike the present spangled
laces. ]
[Footnote 20: lord. ]
[Footnote 21: sultry. ]
[Footnote 22: car. ]
[Footnote 23: seed. ]
[Footnote 24: quickly, presently. ]
[Footnote 25: gather. ]
[Footnote 26: grow. ]
[Footnote 27: fate. ]
[Footnote 28: a contraction of wither. ]
[Footnote 29: dried. ]
[Footnote 30: sweet. ]
[Footnote 31: flower. ]
[Footnote 32: equal. ]
[Footnote 33: coward. ]
[Footnote 34: ceased, dead, no more. ]
[Footnote 35: lament. ]
[Footnote 36: a manner of asking a favour. ]
[Footnote 37: turn. ]
[Footnote 38: carefully, with circumspection. ]
[Footnote 39: dry, sun-burnt. ]
[Footnote 40: valley. ]
[Footnote 41: a song, or ballad. ]
[Footnote 42: withered. ]
[Footnote 43: arisen, or arose. ]
[Footnote 44: blossomed. ]
[Footnote 45: disdainfully. ]
[Footnote 46: disdained. ]
[Footnote 47: glory. ]
[Footnote 48: quickly. ]
[Footnote 49: burnt. ]
[Footnote 50: such. ]
[Footnote 51: lord's. ]
[Footnote 52: a purse or bag. ]
[Footnote 53: slay. ]
[Footnote 54: ease. ]
[Footnote 55: truth. ]
[Footnote 56: happy. ]
[Footnote 57: workest. ]
[Footnote 58: the hidden or secret part of. ]
[Footnote 59: souls. ]
[Footnote 60: full soon, or presently. ]
[Footnote 61: car. ]
[Footnote 62: two. ]
[Footnote 63: a bottle. ]
[Footnote 64: a country dance, still practised in the North. ]
[Footnote 65: baffle. ]
[Footnote 66: a corruption of _feints_. ]
[Footnote 67: a minstrel is a musician. ]
[Footnote 68: unbounded. ]
[Footnote 69: branches. ]
[Footnote 70: furious. ]
[Footnote 71: tempests, storms. ]
[Footnote 72: dire. ]
[Footnote 73: dismay. ]
[Footnote 74: dwarf. ]
[Footnote 75: humility. ]
[Footnote 76: decked. ]
[Footnote 77: unhurt. ]
[Footnote 78: picture. ]
[Footnote 79: tempest-beaten. ]
ELINOURE AND JUGA.
Onne Ruddeborne[1] bank twa pynynge Maydens fate,
Theire teares faste dryppeynge to the waterre cleere;
Echone bementynge[2] for her absente mate,
Who atte Seyncte Albonns shouke the morthynge[3] speare.
The nottebrowne Elinoure to Juga fayre 5
Dydde speke acroole[4], wythe languishment of eyne,
Lyche droppes of pearlie dew, lemed[5] the quyvryng brine.
ELINOURE.
O gentle Juga! heare mie dernie[6] plainte,
To fyghte for Yorke mie love ys dyghte[7] in stele;
O maie ne sanguen steine the whyte rose peyncte, 10
Maie good Seyncte Cuthberte watche Syrre Roberte wele.
Moke moe thanne deathe in phantasie I feele;
See! see! upon the grounde he bleedynge lies;
Inhild[8] some joice[9] of lyfe or else mie deare love dies.
JUGA.
Systers in sorrowe, on thys daise-ey'd banke, 15
Where melancholych broods, we wyll lamente;
Be wette wythe mornynge dewe and evene danke;
Lyche levynde[10] okes in eche the odher bente,
Or lyche forlettenn[11] halles of merriemente,
Whose gastlie mitches[12] holde the traine of fryghte[13], 20
Where lethale[14] ravens bark, and owlets wake the nyghte.
[ELINOURE. ]
No moe the miskynette[15] shall wake the morne,
The minstrelle daunce, good cheere, and morryce plaie;
No moe the amblynge palfrie and the horne
Shall from the lessel[16] rouze the foxe awaie; 25
I'll seke the foreste alle the lyve-longe daie;
Alle nete amenge the gravde chyrche[17] glebe wyll goe,
And to the passante Spryghtes lecture[18] mie tale of woe.
[JUGA. ]
Whan mokie[19] cloudis do hange upon the leme
Of leden[20] Moon, ynn sylver mantels dyghte; 30
The tryppeynge Faeries weve the golden dreme
Of Selyness[21], whyche flyethe wythe the nyghte;
Thenne (botte the Seynctes forbydde! ) gif to a spryte
Syrr Rychardes forme ys lyped, I'll holde dystraughte
Hys bledeynge claie-colde corse, and die eche daie ynn thoughte. 35
ELINOURE.
Ah woe bementynge wordes; what wordes can shewe!
Thou limed[22] ryver, on thie linche[23] maie bleede
Champyons, whose bloude wylle wythe thie waterres flowe,
And Rudborne streeme be Rudborne streeme indeede!
Haste, gentle Juga, tryppe ytte oere the meade, 40
To knowe, or wheder we muste waile agayne,
Or wythe oure fallen knyghtes be menged onne the plain.
Soe sayinge, lyke twa levyn-blasted trees,
Or twayne of cloudes that holdeth stormie rayne;
Theie moved gentle oere the dewie mees[24], 45
To where Seyncte Albons holie shrynes remayne.
There dyd theye fynde that bothe their knyghtes were slayne,
Distraughte[25] theie wandered to swollen Rudbornes syde,
Yelled theyre leathalle knelle, sonke ynn the waves, and dyde.
[Footnote 1: Rudborne (in Saxon, red-water), a River near Saint
Albans, famous for the battles there fought between the Houses of
Lancaster and York. ]
[Footnote 2: lamenting. ]
[Footnote 3: murdering. ]
[Footnote 4: faintly. ]
[Footnote 5: glistened. ]
[Footnote 6: sad complaint. ]
[Footnote 7: arrayed, or cased. ]
[Footnote 8: infuse. ]
[Footnote 9: juice. ]
[Footnote 10: blasted. ]
[Footnote 11: forsaken. ]
[Footnote 12: ruins. ]
[Footnote 13: fear. ]
[Footnote 14: deadly or deathboding. ]
[Footnote 15: a small bagpipe. ]
[Footnote 16: in a confined sense, a bush or hedge, though sometimes
used as a forest. ]
[Footnote 17: church-yard. ]
[Footnote 18: relate. ]
[Footnote 19: black. ]
[Footnote 20: decreasing. ]
[Footnote 21: happiness. ]
[Footnote 22: glassy. ]
[Footnote 23: bank. ]
[Footnote 24: meeds. ]
[Footnote 25: distracted. ]
TO JOHNE LADGATE.
[Sent with the following _Songe to AElla. _]
Well thanne, goode Johne, sythe ytt must needes be soe,
Thatt thou & I a bowtynge matche must have,
Lette ytt ne breakynge of oulde friendshyppe bee,
Thys ys the onelie all-a-boone I crave.
Rememberr Stowe, the Bryghtstowe Carmalyte, 5
Who whanne Johne Clarkynge, one of myckle lore,
Dydd throwe hys gauntlette-penne, wyth hym to fyghte,
Hee showd smalle wytte, and showd hys weaknesse more.
Thys ys mie formance, whyche I nowe have wrytte,
The best performance of mie lyttel wytte. 10
SONGE TO AELLA, LORDE OF THE CASTEL OF BRYSTOWE YNNE DAIES OF YORE.
Oh thou, orr what remaynes of thee,
AElla, the darlynge of futurity,
Lett thys mie songe bolde as thie courage be,
As everlastynge to posteritye.
Whanne Dacya's sonnes, whose hayres of bloude-redde hue 5
Lyche kynge-cuppes brastynge wythe the morning due,
Arraung'd ynne dreare arraie,
Upponne the lethale daie,
Spredde farre and wyde onne Watchets shore;
Than dyddst thou furiouse stande, 10
And bie thie valyante hande
Beesprengedd all the mees wythe gore.
Drawne bie thyne anlace felle,
Downe to the depthe of helle
Thousandes of Dacyanns went; 15
Brystowannes, menne of myghte,
Ydar'd the bloudie fyghte,
And actedd deeds full quent.
Oh thou, whereer (thie bones att reste)
Thye Spryte to haunte delyghteth beste, 20
Whetherr upponne the bloude-embrewedd pleyne,
Orr whare thou kennst fromm farre
The dysmall crye of warre,
Orr seest somme mountayne made of corse of sleyne;
Orr seest the hatchedd stede, 25
Ypraunceynge o'er the mede,
And neighe to be amenged the poynctedd speeres;
Orr ynne blacke armoure staulke arounde
Embattel'd Brystowe, once thie grounde,
And glowe ardurous onn the Castle steeres; 30
Orr fierye round the mynsterr glare;
Lette Brystowe stylle be made thie care;
Guarde ytt fromme foemenne & consumynge fyre;
Lyche Avones streme ensyrke ytte rounde,
Ne lette a flame enharme the grounde, 35
Tylle ynne one flame all the whole worlde expyre.
The underwritten Lines were composed by JOHN LADGATE, a Priest in
London, and sent to ROWLIE, as an Answer to the preceding _Songe of
AElla_.
Havynge wythe mouche attentyonn redde
Whatt you dydd to mee sende,
Admyre the varses mouche I dydd,
And thus an answerr lende.
Amongs the Greeces Homer was 5
A Poett mouche renownde,
Amongs the Latyns Vyrgilius
Was beste of Poets founde.
The Brytish Merlyn oftenne hanne
The gyfte of inspyration, 10
And Afled to the Sexonne menne
Dydd synge wythe elocation.
Ynne Norman tymes, Turgotus and
Goode Chaucer dydd excelle,
Thenn Stowe, the Bryghtstowe Carmelyte, 15
Dydd bare awaie the belle.
Nowe Rowlie ynne these mokie dayes
Lendes owte hys sheenynge lyghtes,
And Turgotus and Chaucer lyves
Ynne ev'ry lyne he wrytes. 20
THE TOURNAMENT.
AN INTERLUDE.
ENTER AN HERAWDE.
The Tournament begynnes; the hammerrs sounde;
The courserrs lysse[1] about the mensuredd[2] fielde;
The shemrynge armoure throws the sheene arounde;
Quayntyssed[3] fons[4] depictedd[5] onn eche sheelde.
The feerie[6] heaulmets, wythe the wreathes amielde[7], 5
Supportes the rampynge lyoncell[8] orr beare,
Wythe straunge depyctures[9], Nature maie nott yeelde,
Unseemelie to all orderr doe appere,
Yett yatte[10] to menne, who thyncke and have a spryte[11],
Makes knowen thatt the phantasies unryghte. 10
I, Sonne of Honnoure, spencer[11] of her joies,
Muste swythen[12] goe to yeve[13] the speeres arounde,
Wythe advantayle[14] & borne[15] I meynte[16] emploie,
Who withoute mee woulde fall untoe the grounde.
Soe the tall oake the ivie twysteth rounde; 15
Soe the neshe[17] flowerr grees[18] ynne the woodeland shade.
The worlde bie diffraunce ys ynne orderr founde;
Wydhoute unlikenesse nothynge could bee made.
As ynn the bowke[19] nete[20] alleyn[21] cann bee donne,
Syke[22] ynn the weal of kynde all thynges are partes of onne. 20
Enterr SYRR SYMONNE DE BOURTONNE.
Herawde[23], bie heavenne these tylterrs staie too long.
Mie phantasie ys dyinge forr the fyghte.
The mynstrelles have begonne the thyrde warr songe,
Yett notte a speere of hemm[24] hath grete mie syghte.
I feere there be ne manne wordhie mie myghte. 25
I lacke a Guid[25], a Wyllyamm[26] to entylte.
To reine[27] anente[28] a fele[29] embodiedd knyghte,
Ytt gettes ne rennome[30] gyff hys blodde bee spylte.
Bie heavenne & Marie ytt ys tyme they're here;
I lyche nott unthylle[31] thus to wielde the speare. 30
HERAWDE.
Methynckes I heare yer slugghornes[32] dynn[33] fromm farre.
BOURTONNE.
Ah! swythenn[34] mie shielde & tyltynge launce bee bounde [35].
Eftsoones[36] beheste[37] mie Squyerr to the warre.
I flie before to clayme a challenge grownde.
[_Goeth oute_.
HERAWDE.
Thie valourous actes woulde meinte[38] of menne astounde;
Harde bee yer shappe[39] encontrynge thee ynn fyghte;
Anenst[40] all menne thou bereft to the grounde,
Lyche the hard hayle dothe the tall roshes pyghte[41].
As whanne the mornynge sonne ydronks the dew,
Syche dothe thie valourous actes drocke[42] eche knyghte's hue. 40
THE LYSTES. THE KYNGE. SYRR SYMONNE DE BOURTONNE, SYRR HUGO
FERRARIS, SYRR RANULPH NEVILLE, SYRR LODOVICK DE CLYNTON,
SYRR JOHAN DE BERGHAMME, AND ODHERR KNYGHTES, HERAWDES,
MYNSTRELLES. AND SERVYTOURS[43].
KYNGE.
The barganette[44]; yee mynstrelles tune the strynge,
Somme actyonn dyre of auntyante kynges now synge.
MYNSTRELLES.
Wyllyamm, the Normannes floure botte Englondes thorne,
The manne whose myghte delievretie[45] hadd knite[46],
Snett[46] oppe hys long strunge bowe and sheelde aborne[47], 45
Behesteynge[48] all hys hommageres[49] to fyghte.
Goe, rouze the lyonn fromm hys hylted[50] denne,
Lett thie floes[51] drenche the blodde of anie thynge bott menne.
Ynn the treed forreste doe the knyghtes appere;
Wyllyamm wythe myghte hys bowe enyronn'd[52] plies[53]; 50
Loude dynns[54] the arrowe ynn the wolfynn's eare;
Hee ryseth battent[55] roares, he panctes, hee dyes.
Forslagenn att thie feete lett wolvynns bee,
Lett thie floes drenche theyre blodde, bott do ne bredrenn flea.
Throwe the merke[56] shade of twistynde trees hee rydes; 55
The flemed[57] owlett[58] flapps herr eve-speckte[59] wynge;
The lordynge[60] toade ynn all hys passes bides;
The berten[61] neders[62] att hymm darte the stynge;
Styll, stylle, hee passes onn, hys stede astrodde,
Nee hedes the daungerous waie gyff leadynge untoe bloodde. 60
The lyoncel, fromme sweltrie[63] countries braughte,
Coucheynge binethe the sheltre of the brierr,
Att commyng dynn[64] doth rayse hymselfe distraughte[65],
He loketh wythe an eie of flames of fyre.
Goe, sticke the lyonn to hys hyltren denne. 65
Lette thie floes[66] drenche the blood of anie thynge botte menn.
Wythe passent[67] steppe the lyonn mov'th alonge;
Wyllyamm hys ironne-woven bowe hee bendes,
Wythe myghte alyche the roghlynge[68] thonderr stronge;
The lyonn ynn a roare hys spryte foorthe sendes. 70
Goe, slea the lyonn ynn hys blodde-steyn'd denne,
Botte bee thie takelle[69] drie fromm blodde of odherr menne.
