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SPECIMENS 


LYRIC    POETRY, 

COMPOSED   IN   ENGLAND    IN  THE  REIGN  OF 
EDWARD  THE  FIRST. 


EDITED  FROM  MS.  HAUL.  2253,  IN  THE   BRITISH  MUSEUM. 


THOMAS   WRIGHT,  ESQ.  M.A.,  F.S.A., 

OF  TRINITY  COLLEGE,  CAMBRIDGE. 


LONDON : 
PRINTED  FOR  THE  PERCY  SOCIETY, 

BY  T.   RICHARDS,  FOR  THE   EXECUTORS  OF  THE   LATE 

C.  RICHARDS,  100,  ST.  MARTIN'S  LANE. 


COUNCIL 


President. 
THE  ET.  HON.  LORD  BRAYBROOKE,  F.S.A, 

THOMAS  AMYOT,  ESQ.  F.R.S.  TKEAS.  S.A. 
WILLIAM  HENRY  BLACK,  ESQ. 
J.  A.  CAHUSAC,  ESQ.  F.S.A. 
WILLIAM  CHAPPELL,  ESQ.  F.S.A.  Treasurer. 
J.  PAYNE  COLLIER,  ESQ.  F.S.A. 
T.  CROFTON  CROKER,  ESQ.  F.S.A.  M.R.I.A 
REV.  ALEXANDER  DYCE. 
G.  P.  R.  JAMES,  ESQ. 

WILLIAM  JERDAN,  ESQ.  F.S.A.  M.R.S  L. 
CHARLES  MACKAY,  ESQ. 
T.  J.  PETTIGREW,  ESQ.  F.R.S.  F.S.A. 
E.  F.  RIMBAULT,  ESQ  F.S.A.  Secretary. 
JAMES  WALSH,  ESQ. 
THOMAS  WRIGHT,  ESQ.  M.A.  F.S.A. 


PREFACE. 


THE  manuscript  from  which  the  following  pieces 
are  edited  (MS.  Harl.  No.  2253),  is  well  known 
to  the  amateurs  of  early  English  poetry.  Its 
date  is  fixed  by  the  hand-writing  and  by  the  con- 
tents to  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  Edward  II. 
It  contains  political  songs  relating  to  different 
events  in  the  reigns  of  Henry  III  and  Edward  I. 
The  two  latest  are  those  on  the  Traillebastons 
(A.D.  1305)  and  the  death  of  Edward  I  (A.D  1307). 
It  is  probable  that  the  manuscript  was  written  in, 
or  very  soon  after,  the  latter  year.  Several  of 
the  political  songs  in  this  manuscript  belong,  as 
I  have  just  stated,  to  the  reign  of  Henry  III  :  it 
is  impossible  to  fix  any  exact  date  from  internal 
evidence  to  the  following  miscellaneous  lyric  pieces, 
but  it  is  most  probable  that  they  were  all  of  them 
current  during  the  reign  of  Edward  I,  and  had 
been  collected  by  the  writer  of  the  manuscript. 

It  is  fortunate  that  we  have  means  of  ascer- 
taining with  tolerable  accuracy  the  place,  as  well 
as  the  date,  at  which  this  manuscript  was  written. 
In  my  "  Political  Songs"  (p.  383),  I  have  shown 
that  the  song  on  the  Traillebastons  must  have 


VI 

been  composed  in  some  of  the  western  counties 
of  England  (under  which  head  I  include  Here- 
fordshire, Shropshire,  and  Worcestershire,  par- 
ticularly specified  in  the  document  there  quoted). 
Among  the  other  poetry,  the  local  allusions 
are  of  little  force,  as  they  only  show  where 
the  songs  were  originally  composed,  and  there 
is  nothing  about  these  which  should  make  them 
more  popular  in  one  part  of  the  kingdom  than 
in  another :  yet  in  one  of  them  there  is  an 
allusion  to  the  river  Wye  (p.  26  of  the  present 
volume),  which  renders  it  probable  that  that 
song  was  written  in  Herefordshire.  There  are, 
however,  three  pieces  in  the  volume  which  have 
a  peculiarly  local  character  (and  they  are  the 
only  local  pieces  in  it,  except  the  song  on  the 
Traillebastons  and  that  in  which  the  Wye  is 
mentioned)  :  at  fol.  53,  r«,  we  have  a  Latin  life  of 
St.  Ethelbert;  at  fol.  132,  ro,  wo  find  the  Latin 
legend  of  St.  Edfrid,  who  founded  the  abbey  of 
Leominster,  Incipit  legenda  de  Sancto  Etfrido 
preslitero  de  Leonminstria  ;  and  at  fol.  140,  v°, 
we  have  another  Mercian  legend  in  Latin,  De 
Martyrio  Sancti  Wistani.  These  three  legends 
could  hardly  have  been  collected  together  by  any 
one  who  was  not  residing  in,  and  interested  in 
the  monastic  establishments  of,  Herefordshire; 
and  the  only  question  that  remains  appears  to 
be  whether  the  writer  resided  at  Hereford  or 


Vll 


at  Leominster.  Every  one  knows  that  St. 
Ethelbert  was  buried  at  Hereford,  and  that 
he  was  the  patron  saint  of  that  city,  and 
therefore  of  the  diocese ;  his  legend  therefore 
was  interesting  in  every  part  of  the  county.  On 
the  contrary,  that  of  Edfrid  was  peculiar  to 
Leominster,  and  is  far  more  uncommon  in  manu- 
scripts. It  is  more  probable  that  the  legend  of 
Ethelbert  would  be  written  at  Leominster,  than 
that  that  of  Edfrid  would  be  written  at  Hereford 
or  elsewhere.  It  must  be  remembered  also  that 
Leominster  and  its  immediate  vicinity  was  the 
head  residence  of  the  Mercian  monarchs  in  the 
times  of  their  highest  power  and  glory,  and  was 
peculiarly  connected  with  the  Mercian  religious 
legends.  From  these  considerations,  I  feel  in- 
clined to  conclude,  that  the  Harleian  manuscript 
from  which  these  pieces  of  lyric  poetry  are  printed, 
was  written  by  some  secular  clerk  connected  with 
the  priory  of  Leominster.  Perhaps  he  was  himself 
a  poet,  and  was  the  author  of  the  song  containing 
the  allusion  to  the  river  Wye.  It  is  not  impro- 
bable that  the  Earl  of  Oxford  obtained  the  manu- 
script in  Herefordshire. 

In  the  present  volume  I  have  included  all  the 
lyric  poetry  in  this  manuscript,  except  those 
which  have  been  given  in  the  "  Political  Songs.11 
They  are  curious  as  illustrating  the  language  of 
the  period ;  but  some  of  them  are  obscure,  on 


account  of  the  difficult  grammatical  constructions 
and  uncommon  words  with  which  they  abound. 
I  at  first  proposed  to  give  a  glossary  ;  but  other 
occupations  have  so  far  taken  up  my  leisure,  that 
I  have  preferred  giving  to  the  members  of  the 
Percy  Society  bare  texts  than  nothing  at  all.  T 
am  also  rather  opposed  to  the  multiplication  of 
small  and  imperfect  separate  glossaries ;  and  I 
would  suggest  that,  after  the  publication  of  a  few 
more  collections  of  poetry  of  the  fourteenth  cen- 
tury, the  Society  should  print  a  general  glossary 
of  the  language  for  the  use  of  its  members. 

I  must  add  that  a  few  of  these  songs  have  been 
printed  in  Warton  and  Ritson,  though  not  always 
accurately.  Many  pieces  from  the  same  manu- 
script will  be  found  printed  in  the  "  Political 
Songs,"  the  Appendix  to  Walter  Mapes,  the 
"  Reliquiae  Antiquse,"  and  the  second  volume  of 
M.  JubinaPs  Collection  of  Fabliaux.  The  "  Ro- 
mance of  Horn"  was  printed  from  this  manuscript 
in  Ritson's  "  Collection  of  Metrical  Romances." 

T.  W. 


London,  February  1842. 


SPECIMENS 


LYEIC    POETRY. 


i. 

[Fol.  49,  ro.] 

QUY  a  la  dame  de  parays 

deyvent  foy  e  leaute, 
Ore  entendent  a  mes  dis, 

e  je  lur  dirroy  verite. 
Si  nul  y  soit  que  eit  mespris 

vers  femme  par  maveste, 
De  corteysie  soit  forbanys, 

ou  hastivement  soit  redresse 

a  dreyt ; 
Quar  il  pert  sa  noreture, 

certes,  que  femme  deceit. 

Dieu  m'avaunce  par  charite, 
auxi  come  j;ay  mestier, 

Je  froi  a  femmes  un  a,  b,  c, 
a  1'escole  si  eles  vueillent  aler ; 


SPECIMENS  OF 

Celes  que  sunt  lettree 

as  autres  purront  recorder, 

Coment  eles  sunt  honoree 
en  dreyture  sauntz  fauser 
de  nulle ; 

Oii  va  femme,  la  vet  joie, 
ele  ne  va  pas  soule. 

!3mour  de  femme  moun  cuer  entame, 

de  fere  un  poy  enveysure, 
Pur  sauver  femme  de  tote  blame, 

chescun  devereit  mettre  cure ; 
Pur  1'amour  de  une  dame, 

que  tot  le  mound  en  terre  honure, 
<L)ue  femme  esclaundre  e  met  en  <am<> 

ne  vint  unqe  de  bone  nature  j 

a  veyr  dyre, 
Qui  de  femme  dit  vileynie, 

certes  sa  bouche  empyre. 

J3<;aute  dc  t'emmc  passe  rose, 

qi  le  vodera  bien  juger, 
En  mounde  n'i  a  si  douce  chose, 

en  leaute  pur  bien  amer. 
Mes  je  certes  bien  dire  le  ose, 

e  si  mestier  soit  prover, 
Qe  maveste  que  en  faus  repose, 

fet  sovent  femme  des  oils  lermer, 

a  tort ; 
Qy  femme  dampne  par  tresoun, 

certes  sa  noreture  dort. 


LYRIC  POETRY. 

Chescun  honme  endreit  de  sey 

deit  de  femmes  tot  bien  dyre ; 
E  si  vus  dirroi  bien  pur  quei, 

pur  une  qu'est  de  tous  mals  myre, 
De  qui  nasquy  le  haut  rey 

qe  de  tot  le  mound  est  syre  ; 
Beneit  soit  eel  arbre  a  fey, 

qe  tiel  fruit  porte  que  ja  n'enpyre 

Pur  rien ! 
Quar  ele  porta  le  noble  enfaunt, 

Repleni  de  tot  bien. 

JElyamaund  ne  autre  piere 

ne  sount  si  fyn  en  lur  vertu, 
Come  sunt  femmes  en  lur  manere, 

d'amour  joindre  portent  le  glu, 
E  sount  pleysauntz  e  debonere, 

de  un  dart  d'amour  me  ount  feru ; 
Qe  femme  mespreyse  en  nulle  manere, 
il  corouce  la  mere  Jhesu, 

e  pecche ; 

Qy  a  ce  s'acostume, 
porte  vyleyne  tecche. 

ont  le  corps  de  bel  entayle, 

en  tous  poyntz  tresbien  assis ; 
Um  ne  vaudreit  une  mayle, 

si  femme  ne  fust,  ce  m'est  avys. 
Donque  dussum  nus  sauntz  fayle 

de  tiele  chose  tenir  grant  pris ; 

B  2 


SPECIMENS  OF 

Quar  il  n'y  a  rien  que  a  femme  vayle, 

desouz  la  joie  de  parays, 

en  terre ; 
Yl  n'y  a  nulle  terrene, 

que  purra  a  tons  plere. 

dferames  portent  les  oyls  veyrs, 

e  regardent  come  faucoun ; 
Mout  doit  estre  en  bon  espeyr 

cely  qe  gist  en  lor  prisoun  ; 
Quar  al  matyn  ne  a  seyr 

rien  n'y  avera  si  joye  noun  ; 
De  totes  bountes  sunt  yl  hcyr, 

fraunches  e  beles  par  resoun 

come  rose ; 
Quy  de  eux  dit  si  bien  noun, 

sa  vyleynie  desclose. 

^enterise  en  cuer  de  femme  floryst, 

e  espanit  come  fet  la  flur ; 
Bene  soit  qui  la  le  myst 

en  lu  de  si  grant  honur  ; 
Qy  vileynie  de  femme  dist, 

mout  pust  il  estre  ensur, 
D'aver  hounte  sauntz  respist, 

en  un  lu  molt  obscur, 

e  peyne. 
Pus  que  Dieu  de  femme  nasquist, 

n'out  unque  nulle  vyleyne. 


LYRIC  POETRY. 

f^arpe,  n'autre  menestrausie, 

ne  oysel  que  chaunt  u  boys, 
Ne  sount  si  noble  melodic, 

come  de  femme  oyr  la  vois. 
Mout  purrad  mener  sure  vie, 

que  de  femme  puet  aver  choys  ; 
Quar  a  tous  biens  femme  plye, 

come  fet  la  coudre  que  porte  noys 

e  foyl ; 
Qui  bealte  plaunta  en  femme, 

molt  chosy  noble  soyl. 

frl  n'y  out  unqe  honme  nee 

pus  le  temps  Adam  e  Eve, 
Qe  sout  de  femmes  la  bounte 

oil  comence  ne  oil  acheve ; 
A  demostrer  tiel  segree, 

a  moy  serreit  donqe  chose  greve ; 
Mes  pus  qe  je  1'ay  comencee, 

avant  dirroi  ou  parole  sweve 

e  fyne, 
Femmes  dussoms  tous  honorer, 

pur  1'amour  d'une  meschyne. 

Borteysie  en  femme  git, 

en  lu  ou  ad  bel  desport ; 
E  cely  en  fenme  char  prist, 

qe  d'enfern  nus  dona  resort ; 
E  de  femme  cil  nasquist, 

qe  pur  nus  pus  suffry  la  mort. 
Qui  a  fernine  fet  despit, 


SPECIMENS  OF 

il  me  semble  que  il  ad  tort, 

En  taunt ; 

Quar  en  femme  descendist, 
Jhesu  le  tot  pussaunt. 

H'amour  du  mound  en  femme  habite, 

en  un  lu  molt  aimable ; 
Yl  n'ad  pas  choysy  lu  petite, 

ines  large,  grant,  e  delitable. 
Yl  ne  trovera  que  ly  desheryte, 

la  puet  il  meyndre  tot  dis  estable  ; 
Son  ostel  est  de  tous  maus  quite, 

pur  veyr  le  dy,  sauntz  mot  de  fable, 

dedenz, 
Que  maveste  quert  en  femme, 

certes  il  pert  son  tenz. 

iHarie,  que  portastes  le  salveour, 

vostre  grace  vus  requer, 
Me  seiez  ayde  e  socour, 

pur  1'onour  de  femme  sauver, 
Qe  portent  fruyt  de  bel  colour, 

noble,  douce,  ne  mie  ann-r ; 
( i«  nt/.  quo  sount  de  grant  valour, 

<|e  le  mound  governent  enter, 

par  sen, 
Bene  soit  tiel  arbrr 

que  tiel  fruit  porte  !  Amen. 


e  <!'•  la 

je  tienk  pnr  nient  en  tor 


LYRIC  POETRY. 

E  de  chescun  oysel  que  vole, 

encountre  une  que  nome  ay. 
Quar  ele  chaunte  de  bone  escole, 

e  tient  le  cuer  de  honme  en  gay, 
II  porte  le  bek  douce  et  mole  ; 

si  mestier  soit,  nomer  le  say 
par  noun  ; 
Quant  diensist  femme  compaigne  a  honme, 

molt  lur  dona  bel  doun. 

<©u  femmes  est  honour  enjoynt, 

de  bountes  sunt  racyne  ; 
Pur  chescun  mal  qu'en  honme  poynt, 

femme  porte  medicine. 
Quant  eles  ount  le  mal  enoynt, 

languisse  va  e  tost  fyne  ; 
L'amour  de  cele  Dieu  nous  doint, 

a  cui  le  mound  enclyne  ! 
e  prie, 
Al  jour  de  le  graunt  jugement, 

que  ele  nous  seit  aye ! 

;Parvenke  de  pris  e  sauntz  pier, 

sount  femmes  sur  tote  autre  rien ; 
Quar  nul  ne  savera  devyser 

la  bounte  de  femmes,  ce  savoms  bien. 

Femmes  portent  le  vis  cler, 

*  #  * 

Dieu  me  doint  a  joie  aver 
la  bele  douce  qu'est  le  rnyen 
demeyne ; 


SPECIMENS  OF 

Unque  ne  trovay  en  ly 

fors  bounte  e  cuer  certeygne. 

(Quoyntement  s'en  vont  arinee 

de  grant  bealte,  que  pert  dehors, 
E  dedenz  de  tot  bounte 

en  ount  repleny  tot  le  cors ; 
Mout  serroit  donque  grant  piete, 

si  tous  tieles  fuisscnt  mors, 
Quo  pur  mis  ount  grevement  ploree, 

e  ce  a  molt  gnumtz  tort/, 
><>  vent ; 
Nul  ne  savera  devyser 

la  joye  que  de  eux  descent. 

3Hose,  qu'est  de  bel  colour, 

e  d'este  porte  1'enseygne, 
Ne  gitte  poynt  si  fyn  odour 

come  est  de  femme  la  douce  alcym-. 
Qui  porreit  donque  nuit  e  jour 

aver  une  en  son  demeyne, 
Mout  purreit  vivre  a  grant  honour, 

e  en  joie  sauntz  nulle  peyrie 
u  mounde ; 
Nul  ne  savera  deviser 

la  joie  que  de  femme  habounde. 

&i  tous  Pespieces  en  tenz  de  pees, 

qe  de  tous  terres  venent  par  mer, 
Fuissent  lyes  en  un  f< 

e  um  les  devercit  bien  j  uger, 


LYRIC  POKTRY. 

11  n'y  ti  mil  do  tol  role 

conic  dc  t'ennne  un  dou/  bavscr, 
IV  su  jo  prest  prover  ados, 

qui  me  vodra  eonntrepleyder 

on  dyt  ; 
Car  leinme  ost  hi  plus  ^raciotisc 

chose  quo  111140  Dion  tyt. 

d-yaclc,  tivshion  kr 

n'ost  poynt  si  tyn  on  sa  tcnnyisc, 
C'oino  ost  Ic  lyconr  al»)soc 

4iiy  tcinnic  portc  on  sa  poytrino. 
Uien   doit  tide  chose  estre  ainoo, 

quo  portc  si  noble  medicine  ! 
M.  :ni   t'»\  |  ost  an^uis- 

par  nous  tenino  en  -rysyne, 

san/  bohancc  ; 
Nul  no  savora  devisor 

conic  stint  pur  nus  en  «rrovaiinco. 

Volables  no  stint  point  do  cora-e, 

quar  elos  so  ticnont  en  tine  | 
A  oux  no  serra  dit  liountai^e, 

qnar  il  sount  <le  bone  aprise  ; 
C'oino  plus  ost  venu  do  haut  par 

rnein/  s'on  or^nile  on  tote  L-IIV-C. 
C'hoseun  quVst  do  bou  estate 

fenimes  liononrt  par  sonn  d« 

tot  dis ; 
Honour  on  bom-  tomme 

no  puot  estre  nie>u--i>. 


10  SPECIMENS  OF 

Xpc  le  fitz  Marie, 

le  tresnoble  enfaunt, 
Defent  qe  vyleynye 

ne  soit  desorenavant 
Dit  par  nulle  folye 

a  nulle  ferame  vivant ! 
Mes  chescun  ay  me  s'amye, 

come  Dieu  nus  est  amaunt 
en  terre, 
Que  sa  douce  face 

en  ciel  pussoms  vere. 

gsope,  fenoil,  columbyn, 
Flur  de  lyls  alosee, 
Rose  que  porte  colour  fyn, 

gyngivre  racynee, 
Deveroit  crestre  u  chemyn, 
.  ou  femme  marche  soun  pee  ; 
Certes  cely  ad  bon  matyn 
que  de  femme  est  amee, 

saunz  feyntyse ; 
Quar  unqe  femme  ne  fust, 
si  noun  de  bon  aprise. 

Xabulon,  come  je  vus  counte, 
c'est  un  propre  noun, 

C'dy  que  bone  femme  afrounte, 
ja  n'eit  s'alme  pardoun  ! 

Fuisse-je  roy  ou  grant  counte, 
ou  de  tmv  noblr  Iwroim. 


LYRIC  POETRY.  11 

Quy  a  femme  ferreit  hiounte, 

tost  le  mettroi  en  prisoun 

sanz  tort ; 
Si  il  ne  se  vodra  amender, 

ja  n'avereit  resort. 

Douce  amie,  seiez  certeigne, 

que  de  Dieu  serra  maldit, 
Qe  de  male  parole  e  veyne 

dient  a  femme  hounte  ou  despyt ; 
Quar  Dieu  meismes  sauntz  nulle  peyne 

de  une  femme  en  terre  nasquyt, 
La  quele  en  ciel  sa  joye  demeyne  ; 

de  ly  servyr  ay  grant  delyt 

a  gree ; 
Quar  ele  est  de  joie  fonteyne. 

source  de  amistee. 

Place  la  ou  femme. siet, 

en  sale  ou  bane  countre  mur, 
Totes  vileynyes  het, 

tant  come  porte  fruit  si  pur, 
De  totes  arbres  dount  fueille  diet, 

si  est  femme  sovereyn  flur, 
Chescun  honme  a  mieux  qu'il  puet, 

sauve  lur  cors  e  lur  honur 

de  hounte, 
Quar  totes  choses  avenauntes, 

bone  femme  sourmounte. 


12  SPECIMENS  OF 

Cruelement  s'en  vont  lye, 

par  la  grace  de  ly  puissaunt ; 
Si  ne  fust  sa  grant  humilite, 

qe  mostre  a  femme  vertu  grant ; 
James  femme  de  mere  nee 

ne  fust  delyvres  de  un  enfant, 
Mount  seofrent  pur  nostre  amiste, 

e  meintefoiz  vont  suspirant 

pur  amour ; 
Molt  sovent  lur  nateresse 

lur  tome  a  grant  dolour. 

Ave  Maria  devoms  dire 

pur  totes  femmes  qe  grosses  sount, 
Lur  colour  pur  nus  empire. 

de  sale  en  chaunbre  quant  eles  vont ; 
Prioms  Jhesum,  nostre  sire, 

que  en  sa  joie  siet  la  a  mount, 
Que  si  ly  plest  lur  veile  myre 

les  anguisses  que  pur  nus  ount, 

molt  sovent ; 
Dieu  sauve  1'onour  de  femmes, 

e  quant  qe  a  eux  apent ! 

Amen  devoms  trestous  dire, 
benet  seit  le  tresdouz  mort 

Que  pur  nus  soffrir  nostre  sire, 
que  d'enfern  nus  dona  resort, 

E  en  terre  soffry  grant  martyre, 
sauntz  desert  a  graunt  tort, 


LYRIC  POETRY.  IS 

Saunz  rancour  e  sanz  ire, 

pur  nus  soffry  peyne  fort, 
en  croys, 
La  joie  de  ciel  nus  ad  graunte, 

meismes  de  sa  voys. 


II. 

[Fol.  55,  ro.] 

QUANT  voy  la  revenue 

d'yver,  qe  si  me  argue 

qe  ly  temps  se  remue, 

lors  aym  buche  fendue, 

charboun  clykant, 

tysoun  flambaunt, 

feu  de  souche  meis  ne  de  joie  chaunt ; 

quar  je  1'eym  tant, 

tot  le  cors  me  tressue. 

Quaunt  vient  acochier, 

certes  molt  me  agree 

fagot  en  fournil  secche  sauntz  fumee, 

qe  tost  esprent 

e  brese  rent ; 

e  je  me  degrat  molt  so  vent 

le  pys  e  1'eschyne, 

quar  la  char  bien  pue, 

e  de  draps  mal  vestue  ; 


14  SPECIMENS  OF 

ayme  molt  la  jorne, 

quar  quaunt  pur  chalour  se  sue 

taunt,  qe  fors  soit  issue 

la  freydour  e  alee, 

960  est  moun  delit, 

de  aver  beau  lit 

de  dras  braunchys, 

fleyre  la  buee. 

La  tenue  coverture 

e'est  ma  desconfiture, 

lange  sauntz  foreure, 

de  celi  n'ai-je  cure, 

quar  il  n'est  preuz  ; 

mieux  aym  les  feus 

quant  je  voy  la  refroidure, 

a  ly  m'en  von  mieux, 

aym  son  jou  que  dous  dees  detorsure. 

Quaunt  1'yver  s'esteynt  par  la  matym-e, 

certes  molt  me  grevee 

la  noyf  e  la  gelee ; 

mes  en  verglaz 

atourner  faz 

menues  hastes  en  bruaz 

de  pourcel  madle  ostee, 

pris  en  bone  pasture, 

la  loygne  sauntz  arsure, 

en  la  broche  botee  ; 

quar  c'est  ma  norture. 

Tout  ay  ma  tenure 

en  bon  morsel  donee, 

en  bon  dun'- 


LYRIC  POETRY.  15 

en  fort  raspee, 

q'eym  mieux  d'assez 

que  cervoyse  enfumee. 

Taverne  ay  mult  amee, 

n'est  pas  droit  que  la  hee, 

tout  ay  m'amour  donee 

en  savour  destempre, 

en  ganigant, 

en  cetewant, 

mys  en  chandee  penere, 

ne  fit  pas  mal 

entour  noal 

mostarde  oue  char  salee. 

Ques  e  madlarz,  plongons  e  blaryes, 

chapouns,  chavenans,  gelynes  rosties, 

cygnes,  pouns, 

groues,  heyrouns, 

terceles,  jauntes  e  morillons, 

e  purcel  en  farcie, 

la  loygne  entrelarde  de  cele  ay  molt  amee, 

venesoun  ne  has  mie, 

ne  char  de  cerf  ven  e, 

ne  deym  ne  porck  ne  lee, 

une  pome  flestrye. 

Jamboun  de  fresche  salesoun 
m'i  ad  rendu  la  vie  ; 
quant  je  su  leez  la  toune, 
e  yl  ploit  e  yl  tonne, 


16  SPECIMENS  OF 

tout  adees  ma  foysoyne, 

vyn  de  haute  persone, 

levre  en  cive,  conin  lardee, 

molt  est  fous  qe  saonne, 

formage  rees  quaunt  rostie  ay, 

e  je  le  faz  coroune, 

e  pur  grosoiller  nuilles  c  oblut- 

royssolees  e  guaffres, 

e  tostiz  dorrez, 

perdryz,  plovers, 

coloms,  croysers, 

le  wydecoks  est  bon  mangiers, 

e  andoilles  lardes 

je  tienke  pur  fol  qe  doune 

son  aver  enprisonee, 

pur  tripes  enfumes ; 

quar  grant  revient  a  noune. 

My  hoste  m'aresoune, 

si  dit  qu'il  ad  tr<>\ 

countre  la  nuyt  un  chaudon, 

quit  a  chasteyne  pan c. 

En  quaresme  a  Venire, 

lors  eym  perche  paree, 

la  tenche  en  verse, 

e  en  souz  botee ; 

harang,  plays, 

e  peschoun,  freshe  e  alosee 

en  pastee, 

irastieu  rostiz,  menu  brayz, 

e  flaunche  salee. 


LYRIC  POETRY.  ]  7 

Dars  ne  heez  je  mie 

fenduz  de  quonie  ; 

anguille  de  gors  de  sa  pieu  vendie, 

conger,  estorgoun, 

luz,  salmoun, 

vendoise,  breme,  ne  gerdon, 

ne  morue  ou  Faille,  ne  creinte  pelle, 

ne  roches,  ne  lampre, 

ne  raye  refreide, 

ly  makerel  freshe  e  novel, 

e  tot  cist  autre  bon  morsel 

mout  la  bourse  veydee. 

Quant  la  pasche  repeire, 
je  m'y  last  tayre, 
tart  e  flaon  faz  fere, 
pur  la  sesoun  retrere ; 
molt  aym  motoun  a  gras  reynoun, 
e  Faignel  faz  fors  trere, 
de  pelicoun, 
m'entencioun 
met  au  poyvre  clefere. 
Droyz  est  qe  Fen  eyt  motoun 
en  porree  pucynz, 
en  verynz, 
oue  en  franke  garde, 
atant  novel 
jus  de  tuel, 

la  teste  en  rost  apres  lowel, 
e  gras  cheveryl  larde, 


IS  S!'!;rl MEN'S  OF 

ne  me  doit  pas  despleyre, 
pur  le  manger  retrere, 
pee  de  porcke  en  socie, 
a  froit  celer, 
e  haut  soler, 
herbe  mugier, 
menuement  poudre, 
e  je  m'ennoys  donks  donnyr, 


III. 

[Fol.  61  v«.] 

CYI.  qe  vodra  oyr  mes  chnuns. 

en  soun  cuer  se  remyre ; 
Si  il  en  fet,  ou  en  scmblaims, 

Hen  louche  a  la  matire; 
DP  1111  rlmimvon  en  Romaiins 

ou  la  en  orrez  descrirc, 

La  lessoun  a  leals  ainantx 

y  comencez  a  lyre. 

Mcint  honme  quide  aver  ami 

conquis  en  sa  richesse, 
Q'assez  tost  le  avera  gerpi, 

si  il  veit  pus  sa  destresse ; 
E  primes  le  avera  eschar ni 

pur  ?a  tresgrant  largesse, 
Si  nul  vus  ad  dc  ce  servi, 

ne  creez  mes  sa  promesse. 


LYRIC  POETRY.  19 

Si  toun  ami  as  esprove, 

ne  ly  deves  pas  offendre ; 
Mez  seiez  de  une  volente, 

grant  bien  en  purrez  prendre ; 
Ne  seiez  pas  de  ly  greve 

quei  qe  um  vus  face  entendre ; 
Quar  meint  um  quide  aver  trove, 

qe  puis  ly  estuit  rendre. 

Si  te  avient  qe  eiez  mester 

de  counsail  ou  de  aye, 
Ne  le  devez  pas  a  tous  mostrer, 

tant  ad  le  siecle  envie. 
A  toun  ami  n'estuit  celer 

ton  consail  ne  ta  vie ; 
Quar  si  il  te  puet  de  ren  valer, 

il  ne  vus  faudra  mie. 

E  vostre  bon  ami  tenez, 

ne  devez  pas  retrere, 
E  lealment  li  consilez  ; 

com  leals  amis  doit  fere. 
Vostre  counsail  a  ly  mostrez, 

a  ly  ne  devez  tere, 
Si  lealment  vus  entreamez, 

le  un  puet  1'autre  crere. 

Si  vostre  ami  velt  mesaler, 
la  main  le  devez  tendre ; 

c2 


20  SPECIMENS  OF 

Ne  ly  soffrez  pas  soun  voler, 
si  vus  le  poez  defendre. 

Mes  bel  ly  devez  chastier, 
e  entre  vus  reprendre ; 

E  come  vus  meismes  en  le  ester, 
sauntz  nulle  rien  offendre. 

Si  vus  oiez  de  vostre  ami 

parler  par  aventure, 
Ne  devez  mettre  en  obly 

de  preisir  sa  porture. 
Les  bienz  diez  derere  ly, 

devant  ly  a  niesure  ; 
Quar  losenger  e  leal  ami 

diversent  par  nature. 

Entre  amis  seit  oweleU'-, 

senz,  e  corteysie, 
Amour  e  debonerete, 

e  tele  compagnie, 
Qe  tant  me  volez  de  bounte, 

de  solas,  e  de  aye, 
Come  vodrez  qe  feisse-je, 

si  je  usse  grant  mestrie. 

Uncore  y  a  en  fyn  amour 
chose  qe  molt  me  agree, 

Parount  si  pasent  ly  plusour, 
dount  ja  n'est  regardee ; 


LYRIC  POETRY.  21 

Si  vostre  ami  est  en  dolour, 

en  play,  ou  en  mellee, 
Ne  le  guerpez  a  deshonour, 

pur  coup  ne  pur  colee. 

Vostre  ami  cherissez, 

si  me  volez  crere ; 
De  iiulle  rien  ly  priez, 

si  il  ne  le  pust  bien  fere. 
Quar  si  il  ne  le  fet,  vus  ly  grevez, 

quant  il  ne  le  peut  parfere ; 
E  si  il  mesfet,  vus  meserrez, 

car  ce  fet  pur  vus  plere. 

Uncore  y  a  en  la  lessoun 

un  petit  plus  a  fere, 
La  privite  ton  compaignoun 

ne  devez  pas  retrere ; 
Soun  consail  te  est  confessioun, 

assez  en  devez  tere ; 
Si  en  tant  ly  feissez  tresoun, 

a  envis  vus  dust  um  crere. 

Si  vostre  ami  est  en  pecchie, 

qei  qe  nul  autre  en  die, 
Tot  sachez  vus  la  verite, 

ne  le  descoverez  mie. 
Car  meint  um  fust  plus  avilee, 

si  1'em  sust  sa  folie, 
E  meint  um  pecche  en  privitee, 

e  pus  prent  bone  vie. 


22  SPECIMENS  OF 

Ore  ai  mostre  un  poi  do  pas 

ou  amour  est  foimde  ; 
En  ce  vers  trover  purras 

si  tu  les  as  bien  garde ; 
A  toun  ami  ne  diez  pas 

quanque  son  cuer  agree, 
Mes  ce  qe  a  soun  honour  \ -erras, 

-I  en  ert  amour  paye. 

Ore  pri  a  tons  lais  <-  dors, 
si  ne  me  chant  qe  loye, 

Qe  nul  ne  prenge  le  travn>. 
de  fyn  amour  verroie  ; 

Car  leal  cuer  nVst  pa>  divers, 
cyux  aymc  droitr  \oit-  : 

I.V    1H    (llltl'llt    «'St    I'll    CC    \ 

ly  rcsixtuiix  s<»it  dr  joyr.      A\n:.\. 


IV. 

[Knl.  G2  v".  | 
MlDDEL-ERD  for  moil  Wl'S  IMJld, 

un-inihti  aren  is  meste  mcdc  ; 
'I'liis  liedy  hath  on  honde  y-lia<l. 

tliat  lievcuc  hem  is  l«?st  to  liedc 
Iclicrdc  a  l>li»t-  budcl  us  bad, 

tlu-  dreri  doiiii.'>-dai  to 


LYRIC  POETRY. 

Of  sunful  sauhting  sone  be  sad, 
that  derne  doth  this  derne  dede ; 
thah  he  ben  derne  done, 

This  wrakeful  werkes  under  wede 
in  soule  soteleth  sone. 


Sone  is  sotel,  as  ich  ou  sai, 

this  sake  al  thah  hit  seme  suetc, 
That  itelle  a  povre  play, 

that  furst  is  feir  ant  seththe  un-sete  ; 
This  wilde  wille  went  a-wai, 

with  mone  and  mournyng  muchel  un-mete, 
That  livith  in  likyng  out  of  lay, 

his  hap  he  deth  ful  harde  on  hete, 

a5eynz  he  howeth  henne  ; 
Alle  is  thrivene  thewes  threte, 

that  thenketh  nout  on  thenne. 


thenne  us  threteth  thre, 

3ef  he  beth  thryven  ant  thowen  in  theode, 
Ur  soule  bone  so  broerh  be, 

as  berne  best  that  bale  for-beode ; 
That  wole  wihtstonden  streynthe  of  theo, 

is  rest  is  reved  with  the  reode, 
Fyth  of  other  ne  darth  he  fleo, 

that  fleishshes  faunyng  furst  for-eode, 

that  falsist  is  of  fyve  ; 
;ef  we  leveth  eny  leode, 

werryng  is  worst  of  wyvc. 


24  SPECIMENS  OF 

Wyves  wille  were  ded  wo, 

3ef  he  is  wicked  forte  welde, 
That  burst  shal  bete  for  hem  bo, 

he  shal  him  burewen  thah  he  hire  bel 
By  body  ant  soule  y  sugge  al  so, 

that  some  beoth  founden  under  felde, 
That  hath  to  fere  is  meste  fo, 

of  gornenes  he  mai  gon  al  gelde, 
ant  sore  ben  fered  on  folde, 
Lest  he  to  harmes  liddc. 

ant  lia))])cs  hcntc  un-holde. 

Horn  un-holdest  her  is  on, 

\\ith-outen  helle,  ase  ir-h  liit  liolde, 
^<>  iele  bueth  founden  monnes  fon, 

the  furst  of  hem  biforen  y  tolde, 
Th<ir  jiftrr-wsird  tliis  worldes  won, 

Avitli  iiiuchel  nn-wynne  us  woren  wolde  ; 
Sone  beth  this  gomenes  gon, 

that  maketh  us  so  bruir  ant  bolde, 

ant  biddeth  us  ben  blytlic  ; 
An  ende  he  casteth  ous  fol  colde, 

in  sunne  ant  sorewe  sythe. 

In  sunne  ant  sorewe  y  am  seint, 

that  sivveth  me  so  fully  sore ; 
My  murthe  is  al  with  mournyng  meind, 

ne  may  ich  mythcn  hit  namore; 
Wlicn  \vc  bctli  with  tliis  world  for-wleynt, 

that  \vc  nc  Iti.-tnt'tli  ly\cs  l<»iv. 


LYRIC  POETRY.  25 

The  fend  in  fyht  us  fynt  so  feynt, 
we  falleth  so  flour  when  hit  is  frore, 
for  folkes  fader  al  fleme ; 

Wo  him  wes  y-warpe  3ore, 
that  Crist  nul  nowyht  queme  ! 

To  queme  Crist  we  weren  y-core, 

ant  kend  ys  craftes  forte  knowe; 
Leve  we  nout  we  buen  for -lore, 

in  lustes  thah  we  lyggen  lowe  ; 
We  shule  aryse  ur  fader  byfore, 

thah  fon  us  fallen  umbe  throwe, 
To  borewen  us  alle  he  wes  y-bore, 

this  bounyng  when  him  bemes  blowe, 

he  byt  us  buen  of  hyse  ; 
Ant  on  ys  ryht  hond  hente  rowe, 

wyth  ryhtwyse  men  to  aryse. 


V. 

[Fol.  63,  ro.] 

ICHOT  a  burde  in  a  bour  ase  beryl  so  bryht, 

Ase  saphyr  in  selver  semly  on  syht, 

Ase  jaspe  the  gentil  that  lemeth  with  lyht, 

Ase  gernet  in  golde,  ant  ruby  wel  ryht, 

Ase  onycle  he  ys  on  y-holden  on  hyht, 

Ase  diamaunde  the  dere  in  day  when  he  is  dy 

Tie  is  coral  y-cud  with  cayser  ant  knyht, 


2(>  SPECIMENS  OF 

Ase  erneraude  a-morewen  this  may  haveth  myht. 
The  myht  of  the  margarite  haveth  this  may  mere, 
For  charbocle  ich  hire  ches  bi  chyn  ant  by  chere. 

Hire  rode  is  ase  rose  that  red  is  on  rys, 

With  lilye-white  leres  lossum  he  is, 

The  primerole  he  passeth,  the  parvenke  of  pris, 

With  alisaundre  tliare-to,  ache  ant  anys, 

Coy nte  ase  columbine,  such  hire  cunde  ys, 

Glad  under  gore  in  gro  ant  in  grys. 

He  is  blosme  opon  bleo  brihtest  under  bis, 

With  celydoyne  ant  sauge,  ase  thou  thi  self  ays. 

That  syht  upon  that  semly,  to  blis  he  is  broht, 

He  is  solsecle,  to  sanne  ys  for-soht. 

He  is  papejai  in  pyn  that  beteth  me  my  bale, 
To  trewe  tortle  in  a  tour,  y  trlle  the  mi  tale, 
He  is  thrustle  thryven  in  thro  that  singeth  in  sale, 
The  wilde  laveroc  ant  wolc  ant  the  w<»:le\vale, 
He  is  fuiiroim  in  friht  deniest  in  dale, 
Ant  Avith  c\  eruch  a  gome  gladest  in  gale, 
I'Yom  Weye  he  is  wisist  into  Wyrhale, 
Hire  nome  is  in  a  note  of  the  nyhtegale. 

In  annote  is  hire  nome,  nempneth  hit  mm. 

Whose  ryht  redeth  ronne  to  Johon. 

Muge  he  is  ant  mondrake,  thouli  miht  of  tin-  mone, 
Trewe  triacle  y-told  with  tonges  in  trone, 
Such  licoris  mai  leehe  iroin  ly\c  t(»  lone. 
Such  sucre  mon  seelietli  that  >avei!i  men  >oiie. 


LYRIC  POETRY.  2 

Blithe  y-blessed  of  Crist  that  bayeth  me  mi  bone, 
When  derne  dede  is  in  dayne  derne  are  done. 
Ase  gromyl  in  grene  grene  is  the  grone, 
Ase  quibibe  ant  comyn  cud  is  in  crone. 
Cud  comyn  in  court,  canel  in  cofre, 
With  gyngyvre  ant  sedewale  ant  the  gylofre. 

He  is  Medierne  of  mint,  mercie  of  mede, 
Rekene  ase  Regnas  resoun  to  rede, 
Trewe  ase  Tegen  in  tour,  ase  Wyrwein  in  wede, 
Baldore  then  Byrne  that  of  the  bor  bede, 
Ase  Wylcadoun  he  is  wys,  dohty  of  dede, 
Feyrore  then  Floyres  folkes  to  fede, 
Cud  ase  Cradoc  in  court  carf  the  brede, 
Hendore  then  Hilde  that  haveth  me  to  hede. 
He  haveth  me  to  hede  this  hcndy  a-non, 
(lentil  ase  Jonas,  he  joyeth  with  Jon. 


VI. 

[Fol.  63,  v".] 

BYTUENE  Mershe  ant  Averil 

when  spray  biginnetli  to  springe, 

The  lutel  foul  hath  hire  wyl 
on  hyre  lud  to  synge  ; 

Ich  libbe  in  love -Ion  ginge 

For  semlokest  of  alle  thynge. 

He  may  me  blisse  bringe, 
ic-liam  in  hire  baundoun. 


28  SPECIMENS  OF 

An  hendy  hap  ichabbe  y-hent, 
Ichot  from  hevene  it  is  me  sent, 
From  alle  wyinmen  mi  love  is  lent 
ant  lyht  on  Alysoun. 

On  Leu  hire  her  is  fayr  y-noh, 

hire  browe  broune,  hire  650  blake ; 
With  lossum  chere  he  on  me  loh  ; 

with  middel  smal  ant  wel  y-make ; 
Bote  he  me  wolle  to  hire  take, 
Forte  buen  hire  owen  make, 
Longe  to  lyven  ichulle  forsake, 

ant  feye  fallen  a-doun. 
An  liendy  hap,  etc. 

Nihtes  when  y  wende  ant  wake, 
for-thi  myn  wonges  waxeth  won  ; 

Levedi,  nl  for  thine  sake 
longinge  is  y-lent  me  on. 

In  world  nis  non  so  wyter-mon 

That  al  hire  bounte  telle  con  ; 

Hire  swyre  is  whittore  then  the  swon, 
ant  feyrest  may  in  toune. 

An  hendy,  etc. 

Icham  for  wowyng  al  for-wake, 

wery  so  water  in  wore ; 
Lest  eny  reve  me  my  make, 

ychabbe  y~3yrned  3ore. 
Betere  is  tholien  whyle  sore, 


LYRIC  POETRY. 

Then  mournen  evermore. 
Geynest  under  gore, 

herkne  to  my  roune. 
An  hendi,  etc. 


VII. 

[Fol.  63,  vo.] 

WITH  longyng  y  am  lad, 
On  molde  y  waxe  mad, 

a  maide  marreth  me  ; 
Y  grede,  y  grone,  un-glad, 
For  selden  y  am  sad 

that  semly  forte  se ; 

levedi,  thou  rewe  me, 
To  routhe  thou  havest  me  rad ; 
Be  bote  of  that  y  bad, 

My  lyf  is  long  on  the. 

Levedy,  of  alle  londe 
Les  me  out  of  bonde, 

broht  icham  in  wo, 
Have  resting  on  honde, 
Ant  sent  thou  me  thi  sonde, 

sone,  er  thou  me  slo ; 

my  reste  is  with  the  ro : 
Thah  men  to  me  ban  onde, 
To  love  nuly  noht  wonde, 

ne  lete  for  non  of  tho. 


SPECIMENS  OF 

Levedi,  with  til  my  miht 
My  love  is  on  the  liht, 

to  menske  when  y  may ; 
Thou  rew  ant  red  me  ryht, 
To  dethe  thou  havest  me  diht, 

y  de3e  longe  er  my  day ; 

thou  leve  upon  mi  lay. 
Treuthe  ichave  the  plyht, 
To  don  that  ich  have  hyht, 

\vliil  mi  lit'  leste  may. 

Lylie-whyt  hue  is, 
Hire  rode  so  rose  on  rys, 

that  reveth  me  mi  rot. 
Wymmon  war  ant  wys, 
Of  prude  hue  bereth  the  pris, 

burde  on  of  the  best  ; 

tliis  woimmm  wonoth  by  \v<>t. 
Brihtest  under  bys, 
Hevene  y  toldc  al  hi- 

That  o  nyht  were  hire  gest. 


VIII. 

[Fol.  66,  ro.] 

WEPING  haveth  myn  wonges  wet, 

for  wikked  werk  ant  wone  of  wyt ; 
Unblithe  y  be  til  y  ha  bet, 

hriirhcs  broken  u>c  bok  byt. 


LYRIC  POETRY.  <*>  I 

Of  leveclis  love  that  y  ha  let, 

that  lemeth  al  with  luefly  lyt, 
Ofte  in  song  y  have  hem  set, 

that  is  unsemly  ther  hit  syt ; 
Hit  syt  ant  semeth  noht, 

ther  hit  ys  seicl  in  song, 
That  y  have  of  hem  wroht, 

y-wis  hit  is  al  wrong. 

Al  wrong  y  wrohte  for  a  wyf, 

that  made  us  wo  in  world  ful  wyde ; 
Heo  rafte  us  alle  richesse  ryf, 

that  durthe  us  nout  in  reynes  ryde. 
A  stythye  stunte  hire  sturne  stryf, 

that  ys  in  heovene  hert  in  hyde ; 
In  hire  lyht  on  ledeth  lyf, 

ant  shon  thourh  hire  semly  syde  ; 
Thourh  hyre  side  he  shon, 

ase  sonne  doth  thourh  the  glas ; 
Wbmmon  nes  wicked  now, 

seththe  he  y-bore  was. 

Wycked  nis  non  that  y  wot, 

that  durste  for  werk  hire  wonges  wete ; 
Alle  heo  lyven  from  last  of  lot, 

ant  are  al  hende  ase  hake  in  chete. 
For-thi  on  molde  y  waxe  mot, 

that  y  sawes  have  seid  un-sete  ; 
My  fykel  fleishe,  mi  falsly  blod, 

on  feld  hem  feole  y  falle  to  fete. 


SPECIMENS  OF 

To  fet  y  falle  hem  feole, 

for  falsleke  fifti  folde ; 
Of  alle  untrewe  on  tele, 

with  tonge  ase  y  her  told. 

Thah  told  beon  tales  untoun  in  toun, 

such  tiding  inei  tide  y  nul  nout  teme, 
Of  brudes  bryht  with  browes  broune, 

or  blisse  heo  beyen  this  briddes  breme ; 
In  rude  were  roo  with  hem  roune, 

that  he  niilitc  licnten  ase  him  wuv  Ix-mr 
Nys  kyng,  cayser,  ne  clerk  with  crounc, 

this  semly  serven  that  mo  ne  may  SCHK  . 
Semen  him  may  on  sonde, 

this  semly  serven  so, 
Bothe  with  fet  ant  honde, 

for  on  that  us  warp  from  wo. 

Nou  wo  in  world  ys  went  a-way, 

ant  weole  is  come  ase  we  wolde, 
Thourh  a  mihti  methful  mai, 

that  ous  hath  cast  from  cares  coldc. 
Ever  wymiiH-n  irh  herie  ay, 

ant  ever  in  liyrd  with  hem  ich  holde ; 
Ant  ever  at  neode  y  nycke  nay, 

that  y  ner  nemnede  that  heo  nolde. 
Y  nolde  ant  nullyt  noht, 

for  nothyng  nou  a  nede"; 
Soth  is  that  y  of  hem  ha  wroht, 
liichard  erst  con  rede. 


LYRIC  POETRY.  33 

Richard,  rote  of  resoun  ryht, 

rykening  of  rym  ant  ron, 
Of  maidnes  meke  thou  hast  myht, 

on  molde  y  holde  the  murgest  mon, 
Cunde  comely  ase  a  knyht, 

clerk  y-cud  that  craftes  con, 
In  uch  an  hyrd  thyn  athel  ys  hyht, 

ant  uch  an  athel  thin  hap  is  on. 
Hap  that  hathel  hath  hent, 

with  hende  let  in  halle, 
Selthe  be  hem  sent 

in  londe  of  levedis  alle. 


IX. 

[FoL  66,  yo.] 

MOSTI  ryden  by  Rybbesdale, 
Wilde  wymmen  forte  wale, 

ant  welde  wuch  ich  wolde ; 
Founde  were  the  feyrest  on 
That  ever  wes  mad  of  blod  ant  bon 

in  boure  best  with  bolde. 
Ase  sonne-bem  hire  bleo  ys  briht. 
In  uche  londe  heo  leometh  liht, 

thourh  tale  as  mon  me  tolde. 
The  lylie  lossum  is  ant  long, 
With  riche  rose  ant  rode  among, 

a  fyld  or  fax  to  folde. 


3-i  SPECIMENS  OF 

Hire  bed  when  ich  biholde  apon, 
The  sonne-beem  aboute  noon 

me  thohte  that  y  se$e ; 
Hyre  ey3en  aren  grete  ant  gray  y-noh, 
Th[at]  lussum  when  heo  on  me  loli, 

y-bend  wax  eyther  bre3e. 
The  mone  with  hire  muchele  maht, 
Ne  leveth  non  such  lyht  a  naht, 

that  is  in  heovene  heje, 
Ase  hire  forhed  doth  in  day ; 
For  wham  thus  muchcl  y  mourne  may, 
for  duel  to  deth  y  drey3e. 

Heo  hath  browes  bend  an  hell, 
Whyt  bytuene,  ant  nout  to  neh, 

lussum  lyf  heo  ledes ; 
Hire  neose  ys  set  as  hit  wel  semeth  ; 
Y  deje  for  deth  that  me  demeth, 

hire  spcchc  as  spices  spredeth. 
Hire  lockes  lefly  aren  ant  longe, 
For  sone  he  mihte  hire  murthes  monge 

with  blisse  when  hit  bredes. 
Hire  chyn  ys  chosen,  ant  eyther  cheke 
Whit  y-noli  ant  rode  on  eke 

ase  rosen  when  hit  redes. 

Heo  hath  a  mury  mouht  to  mele, 
With  lefly  rede  lippes  lele, 

Romaunz  forte  rede. 
Hire  teht  aren  white  ase  bon  of  whal, 


LYRIC  POETRY.  35 

Everie  set  ant  atled  al, 

ase  hende  mowe  taken  hede. 
Swannes  swyre  swythe  wel  y-sette, 
A  sponne  lengore  then  y-mette, 

that  freoly  ys  to  fede. 
Me  were  levere  kepe  hire  come, 
Then  beon  pope  ant  ryde  in  Rome 

stythes  upon  stede. 

When  y  byholde  upon  hire  hond, 
The  lylie-white  lef  in  lond 

best  heo  myhte  beo ; 
Eyther  arm  an  elne  long, 
Baloynge  mengeth  al  by-mong, 

ase  baum  ys  hire  bleo. 
Fyngres  heo  hath  feir  to  folde ; 
Myhte  ich  hire  have  ant  holde, 

in  world  wel  were  me. 
Hyre  tyttes  aren  an  under  bis 
As  apples  tuo  of  parays, 

ou  self  36  mowen  seo. 

Hire  gurdel  of  bete  gold  is  al, 
Umben  hire  middel  smal, 

that  triketh  to  the  to ; 
Al  whith  rubies  on  a  rowe, 
With-inne  corven  craft  to  knowe, 

ant  emeraudes  mo. 
The  bocle  is  al  of  whalles  bon, 
Ther  with-inne  stont  a  ston, 

that  warneth  men  from  wo ; 

D  2 


36  SPKC'IMKXS  OF 

The  water  that  it  wetes  yn, 
Y-wis  hit  worthcth  al  to  wyn, 
that  se;en  -evden  so. 

Heo  hath  a  mete  myddel  snial, 
Body  ant  hrest  \vel  mad  al, 

ase  feynes,  with-onte  fere  ; 
Kyther  side  soft  ase.  sylk, 
Whittore  tlien  the  inoreii  mylk. 

with  leollv  lit  on  lere. 
Al  that  irh  on  nempne  nolit. 
Hit  is  wonder  \\cle  y-wroht, 

ant  elles  wonder  were. 
He  myhte  saym  that  Crist  liyin 
That  myhte  nylite>  neli  hyre  l.^e, 

l:e\ciie  lie  hevede  liere. 


X. 

[F..I.  r,«,  v".] 

IN  a  try  lit  as  y  con  Ian-  t'remede, 

y  fonnde  a  \vel  feyr  fenge  to  fere ; 
Heo  glystnede  ase  irold  when  hit  glemede, 

m's  ner  jLToine  so  2la<llv  on  gere. 
Y  wolde  wyte.  in  world  who  hire  kenede, 

tli is  burde  bryht,  jef  hire  wil  wen- : 
Heo  me  bed  go  my  gates,  lest  hire  Lrreinede, 

ne  kepte  heo  non  henynir  here. 


LYRIC  POETRY. 

"  Y-here  thou  me  nou,  hendest  in  Lelde, 
navy  the  none  liarraes  to  hetlie ; 

Casten  y  wol  the  from  cares  ant  kelde, 
comeliclie  y  wol  the  nou  clethe." 

"  Clothes  y  have  forte  caste, 

such  as  y  may  weore  with  wynne ; 
Betere  is  were  thunne  boute  laste, 

then  syde  robes  ant  synke  into  synne. 
Have  56  or  wyl,  36  waxeth  unwraste, 

afterward  or  thonke  be  thynne ; 
Betre  is  make  forewardes  faste, 

then  afterward  to  mene  ant  mynne." 

"  Of  muimyng  ne  inunt  thou  namore, 

of  menske  thou  were  wurthe  by  my  myht ; 
Y  take  an  hond  to  holde  that  y  hore, 

of  al  that  y  the  have  byhyht. 
Why  ys  the  loth  to  leven  on  my  lore, 

lengore  then  my  love  were  on  the  lyht ; 
Another  myhte  3ern  the  so  5ore, 

that  nolde  the  noht  rede  so  ryht." 

"  Such  reed  me  myhte  spaclyche  reowe, 

when  al  my  ro  were  me  at-raht ; 
Sone  tho  waldest  vachen  an  newe, 

ant  take  an  other  with-inne  ny3e  naht. 
Thenne  mihti  hengren  on  heowe, 

in  uch  an  hyrd  ben  hated  ant  for-haht ; 
Ant  ben  y-cayred  from  alle  that  y  kneowe, 

ant  bede  clenyen  ther  y  hade  claht." 


38  SPECIMENS  OF 

"  Betere  is  taken  a  comeliche  y-clothe, 

in  armes  to  cusse  ant  to  cluppe, 
Then  a  wrecche  y-wedded  so  wrothe, 

than  he  me  slowe,  ne  myhti  him  asluppe. 
The  beste  red  that  y  con  to  us  bothe, 

that  thou  me  take  ant  y  the  toward  huppe ; 
Thah  y  swore  by  treuthe  ant  othe, 

that  God  Imth  shaped  me  y-nou  at  luppe." 

"  Mid  shupping  ne  mey  hit  me  ftshtmche, 

nes  y  never  wyc-che  ne  wyle ; 
Ych  am  a  maide,  tliat  me  of  thnriehe, 

luef  me  were  gome  boutc  gyle." 


XI. 

[Fol.  67,  r\] 

A  WAYLE  whyt  "da  whalles  bon, 
A  grein  in  golde  that  godly  shon, 
A  tortle  that  min  herte  is  on, 

in  tounes  trewe ; 
Hire  gladshipe  nes  never  gon, 

whil  y  may  glewe. 

When  heo  is  glad, 
Of  til  this  world  naniorc  y  bad 
Then  beo  with  hire  myn  one  bi.-tad. 
with-oute  strif ; 


LYRIC  POETRY. 

The  care  that  icham  yn  y-brad, 
y  wyte  a  wyf. 

A  wyf  nis  non  so  worly  wroht, 
When  heo  ys  blythe  to  bedde  y-broht, 
Wei  were  him  that  wiste  hire  thoht, 

that  thryven  ant  thro, 
Wei  y  wot  heo  nul  me  noht, 

myn  herte  is  wo. 

Hou  shal  that  lefly  syng, 

That  thus  is  marred  in  mournyng  ? 

Heo  me  wol  to  dethe  bryng, 

longe  er  my  day. 
Gret  hire  wel,  that  swete  thyng, 

with  ejenen  gray. 

Hyre  he3e  haveth  wounded  me  y  wisse ; 
Hire  bende  browen  that  bringeth  blisse. 
Hire  comely  mouth  that  mihte  cusse, 

in  muche  murthe  he  were  ; 
Y  wolde  chaunge  myn  for  his, 

that  is  here  fere. 

Wolde  hyre  fere  beo  so  freo, 

Ant  wurthes  were  that  so  myhte  beo, 

Al  for  on  y  wolde  3eve  threo, 

with-oute  chep, 
From  helle  to  hevene  ant  sonne  to  see 

nys  non  so  3eep, 


40  IX'I.MRNS  OF 

ne  half  so  freo, 

Whose  wole  of  love  be  trewe, 
do  lystne  me. 

Ilerkneth  inc.  y  on  tellc, 

In  such  wondryn«r  for  wo  y  welle, 

Nys  no  fur  so  hot  in  helle, 

al  to  mon. 
That  lovcth  dcnic  ant  darnout  tclle 

whet  him  ys  on. 

Jch  mine  hire  wcl  ant  Jico  me  wo; 

Ycham  Iiirc  trend  ant  hco  my  io  ; 

Me  thuncheth  inin  hcrte  wol  hrckc  a  t\v<», 

for  sore  we  ant  syke  ! 
In  Godes  greting  mote  hco  go, 

that  \\aylc  whyte. 

Ich  wold  icli  were  a  threstelcok. 
A  homityii.i;  oilier  a  lavcrcok. 

swete  brytl  ! 
Bituene  hire  nirtcl  ant  hire  <mok 

y  wolde  ben  hyd. 


LYRIC  POETRY. 


41 


XII. 

[Fol.  70,  v°.] 

OF  a  inon  Matheu  thohte, 
Tho  he  the  wynjord  whrohte, 

ant  wrot  hit  on  ys  boc ; 
In  marewe  men  he  sohte, 
At  under  mo  he  brohte, 

ant  norn  and  non  forsoc. 
At  mydday  ant  at  non 
He  sende  hem  thider  fol  son, 

to  helpen  hem  with  hoc ; 
Huere  foreword  wes  to  fon, 
So  the  furmest  hevede  y-don, 

ase  the  erst  undertoc. 

At  evesong  even  neh, 
Ydel  men  jet  he  seh, 

lomen  habbe  an  lionde  ; 
To  hem  he  sayde  an  heh, 
That  suythe  he  wes  undreli, 

so  ydel  forte  stoudc. 
So  hit  wes  bistad, 
That  nomon  hem  ne  bad, 

liuere  lomes  to  fonde  ; 
Anon  he  was  by-rad, 
To  werk  that  lie  hem  lad, 

for  nyht  nolde  he  nout  wonde 


42  SPECIMENS  OF 

Huere  hure  a  nyht  hue  nome, 
He  that  furst  ant  last  come, 

a  peny  brod  ant  bryht ; 
This  other  swore  alle  ant  some, 
That  er  were  come  with  lome, 

that  so  nes  hit  nout  ryht ; 
Ant  swore  somme  unsaht, 
Tliat  hem  wes  w<;rk  by-taht, 

longe  er-hit  were  lyht ; 
For  ryht  were  that  me  nil  it, 
The  mon  that  al  day  wraht, 

the  more  mede  a  nyht. 

Thenne  seith  he  y-wi.-. 

"Why,  nath  nout  m-h  mon  hi.-? 

holdeth  nou  or  pees ; 
A-way,  thou  art  umvis 
Tak  al  that  thin  ys. 

ant  fare  ase  fore  ward  wees. 
5ef  y  may  betere  beode, 
To  mi  latere  leode, 

to  leve  nam  y  nout  lees, 
To  alle  that  ever  hider  code, 
To  do  to  day  my  neode, 

ichulle  be  wrathth<--l<    - 

This  world  me  wuicln  th  wo. 
Roo-les  ase  the  roo, 

y  sike  for  un-sete  ; 
Ant  mourne  ase  men  doh  mo, 


LYRIC  POETRY. 

For  doute  of  foule  fo, 

hou  y  my  sunne  may  bete. 

This  mon  that  Matheu  3ef 

A  peny  that  wes  so  bref, 
this  frely  folk  unfete  ; 

3et  he  3yrnden  more, 

Ant  saide  he  come  wel  5ore, 
ant  gonne  is  love  for-lete. 


XIII. 

[Fol.  71,  vo.] 

LENTEN  ys  come  with  love  to  toune, 
With  blosmen  ant  with  briddes  roune, 

that  al  this  blisse  bryngeth ; 
Dayes-e3es  in  this  dales, 
Notes  suete  of  nyhtegales, 

uch  foul  song  singeth. 
The  threstelcoc  him  threteth  oo, 
A-way  is  huere  wynter  wo, 

when  woderove  springeth ; 
This  foules  singeth  ferly  fele, 
Ant  wlyteth  on  huere  wynter  wele, 

that  al  the  wode  ryngeth. 

The  rose  rayleth  hire  rode, 
The  leves  on  the  lyhte  wode 
waxen  al  with  wille ; 


44  Sl'Kl'LMKNS  01' 

The  mono  mandeth  hire  bleo, 
The  lilie  is  lossuin  to  seo, 

tin.'  i'enyl  ant  the  fille  : 
"NVowes  this  wilde  drake-. 
Miles  murgeth  huerc  makes, 

ase  strem  that  striketh  still*' : 
Mody  menetli,  so  doli  mo. 
lehot  yeham  on  of  tho, 

for  love  that  likes  ille. 

The  mom-  maiidrth  hire  lylit. 
So  doth  the  semly  somic  hryht. 

when  briddes  sin^clli  hn-nio; 
Deowes  donketh  the  duunes. 
Deores  with  huei-e  derm-  ronno. 

domes  forte  deme ; 
\Vormcs  wowetli  under  elonde. 
Wynsmen  Avaxetli  wonnder  j»nuidi-, 

.-»  wel  liit  \v«»l  hem  semr. 
;<•!'  me  >lial  wontti  wille  of  on. 
This  wnnne  weole  y  wole  t'or-uon. 

ant  wvht  in  \\od-'  !>«• 


LYRIC  POETRY. 


XIV. 

[Fol.  71,  v<\] 

IN  May  hit  mnrgeth  when  hit  dawes, 
In  dounes  with  this  dueres  plawes, 

ant  lef  is  lyht  on  lynde  ; 
Blosmes  bredeth  on  the  bowes, 
Al  this  wylde  wyhtes  wowes, 

so  wel  ych  under-fynde. 
Y  not  non  so  freoli  flour, 
Ase  ledies  that  beth  bryht  in  bouro, 

with  love  who  mihte  hem  bynde ; 
So  worly  wymmen  are  by  west ; 
One  of  hem  ich  herie  best, 

Fom  Irlond  in  to  Ynde. 

Wymmen  were  the  beste  thing, 
That  simp  oure  11630  hevene  kyng, 

5ef  feole  false  nere  ; 
Heo  beoth  to  rad  upon  lincre  red, 
To  love  ther  me  hem  lastes  bed, 

when  heo  shule  fenge  lore  ; 
Lut  in  londe  are  to  leve, 
Thah  me  hem  trewe  tronthe  3eve, 

for  tricherie  to  3ere  ; 
When  trichour  hath  is  trout-he  y-plyht, 
By-swyken  he  hath  that  snete  wyht, 

tli ah  he  hire  othes  swere. 


46  SPECIMENS  OF 

Wymmon,  war  the  with  the  swyke, 
That  feir  ant  freoly  ys  to  fyke, 

ys  fare  is  o  to  founde ; 
So  wyde  in  world  ys  huere  won, 
In  uch  a  toune  untrewe  is  on, 

from  Leycestre  to  Lounde. 
Of  treuthe  nis  the  trichour  noht, 
Bote  he  habbe  is  wille  y-wroht, 

at  stevenyng  umbe  stounde ; 
All  feyre  levedis  be  on-war, 
To  late  cometh  the  jeyn  char, 

when  love  on  hath  y-bounde. 

"VVymmen  bueth  so  feyr  on  hewe, 
Ne  trowy  none  that  nere  trewe, 

jef  trichour  hem  ne  taht<> ; 
Ah  feyre  thinges  freoly  bore, 
When  me  on  wowrth,  bi-th  war  bifore, 

whuch  is  worldes  ahte. 
Al  to  late  is  send  ajeyn. 
When  the  ledy  liht  by  leyn, 

ant  lyveth  by  that  li<-  laht«- ; 
Ah  wolde  lylie  leor  in  lyn 
V-liere  lovely  lores  myn, 

with  selthe  we  weren  salitc. 


LYRIC  POETRY.  47 


HE3E  loverd,  thou  here  my  bone, 
That  madest  middel-ert  ant  mone, 

ant  mon  of  murthes  munne, 
Trusti  kyng  ant  trewe  in  trone, 
That  thou  be  with  me  sahte  sone, 

asoyle  me  of  sunne. 
Fol  ich  wes  in  folies  fayn, 
In  luthere  lastes  y  am  layn, 

that  maketh  myn  thryftes  thunne  ; 
That  semly  sawes  wes  woned  to-seyn, 
Nou  is  marred  al  my  meyn, 

a-way  is  al  my  wunne. 

Un-wunne  haveth  myn  wonges  wet, 

that  maketh  me  routhes  rede  ; 
Ne  semy  nout  ther  y  am  set, 
Ther  me  calleth  me  fulle  flet, 
ant  waynoun  wayte  glede. 

Whil  ich  wes  in  wille  wolde, 
In  uch  a  bour  among  the  bolde 

y  holde  with  the  heste  ; 
Nou  y  may  no  fynger  folde, 
Lutel  loved  ant  lasse  y-tolde, 

y-leved  with  the  leste. 


4S  SPECIMENS  OF 

A  goute  me  hath  y-greythed  >«». 
Ant  other  eveles  monye  ino, 

y  not  whet  bote  is  beste ; 
Thar  er  wes  wildc  ase  the  ro, 
Nou  y  swyke,  y  raei  nout  so, 

hit  siweth  mo  so  fasto. 

Faste  y  wes  on  horse  heh, 

suit  werede  worly  wcde  ; 
Nou  is  faren  al  my  fell, 
With  serewc  tliat  ich  liit  over  seh, 

:l  Still'  is  lioil  lliy   stede. 

When  y  se  steden  stythc  in  stall*', 
Ant  y  go  haltindo  in  the  liallr, 

invii  huerte  gynnoth  to  liddc  ; 
That  cj%  wes  wildest  in  with  \vallc, 
Nou  is  under  tote  y-l'alle, 

ant  mey  no  fyngcr  felde. 
Ther  ieh  wes  luof   ichain  fill  loht. 
Ant  alle  myn  godes  me  at-goht, 

inyn  Li'oinenes  waxrth  ^-Idc; 
I'hat  1'cyi-e  I'oiinden  UK;  mete  ;int  elolit, 
Hue  wrieth  ;i-we\   ;is  hue  were  wroht, 

such  is  evel  ant  elde. 

Evel  ant  elde,  ant  other  wo, 
foleweth  me  s<>  t 


LYRIC  POETRY. 


49 


Me  thunketh  myn  lierte  breketh  a  tuo ; 
Suete  God,  whi  shal  hit  swo  ? 
hou  mai  hit  lengore  laste  ? 

Whil  mi  lif  wes  luther  ant  lees, 
Grlotonie  mi  glemon  wes, 

with  me  he  wonede  a  while ; 
Prude  wes  my  plowe  fere, 
Lecher ie  my  lavendere, 

with  hem  is  gabbe  ant  gyle. 
Coveytise  myn  keyes  bere, 
Nithe  ant  onde  were  mi  fere, 

that  bueth  folkes  fyle  ; 
Lyare  wes  mi  latymer, 
Sleuthe  ant  slep  mi  bedyner, 

that  weneth  me  unbe-while. 


Umbe-while  y  am  to  whene, 
when  y  shal  murthes  meten ; 

Monne  mest  y  am  to  mene ; 

Lord,  that  hast  me  lyf  to-lene, 
such  lotes  lef  me  leten  ! 

Such  lyf  ich  have  lad  fol  3ore, 
Merci,  loverd  !  y  nul  namore, 

bowen  ichulle  to  bete  ; 
Syker  hit  siweth  me  ful  sore, 
Gabbes  les  ant  luthere  lore, 

sunnes  bueth  un-sete. 


50  SPKC1MKNS  OF 

Godes  heste  ne  huld  y  noht, 
Bote  ever  ajeyn  is  wille  y  wroht ; 

mon  Icreth  me  to  lete : 
Such  serewe  hath  myn  sides  thurh-soht, 
That  al  y  weolewe  a-way  to  noht, 

when  y  shal  murthes  mete. 

To  mete  murthes  ich  wes  wel  fous, 

ant  comely  mon  ta  call*1 ; 
Y  sugge  by  other  ase  bi  ous, 
Alse  ys  hirmon  halt  in  hoi  is, 

ase  heved  hount  in  hall*-. 

Dredful  deth,  why  wolt  thou  dan-. 
Bryng  this  body  that  is  so  bare, 

ant  yn  bale  y-bounde  ? 
Careful  mon,  y-cast  in  care, 
V  ialewe  as  flour  y-let  forth- iniv, 

ychabbe  myn  dethes  woundr. 
Murthes  helpeth  me  no  more  ; 
Help  me,  Lord,  er  then  ich  hore, 

ant  stunt  my  lyf  a  stounde  ! 
That  3okkyn  hath  y-jyrned  3ore, 
Nou  hit  sereweth  him  ful  sore, 

ant  bringeth  him  to  grounde. 

To  grounde  hit  haveth  him  y-broht : 
whet  ys  the  beste  bote  ? 


LYRIC  POETRY.  51 

Bote  heryen  him  that  haht  us  boht, 
Ure  Lord  that  al  this  world  hath  wroht, 
ant  fallen  him  to  fote. 

Nou  icham  to  dethe  y-dyht, 

y-don  is  al  my  dede ; 
God  us  lene  of  ys  lyht, 
That  we  of  sontes  habben  syht 

ant  hevene  to  mede  !  AMEN. 


XVI. 

[Fol.  72,  v°.] 

BLOW,  northerne  wynd, 

Sent  thou  me  my  suetyng. 

Blow,  northerne  wynd,  blou,  blou,  blou! 

Ichot  a  burde  in  boure  bryht, 
That  fully  semly  is  on  syht, 
Menskful  maiden  of  myht, 

feir  ant  fre  to  fonde ; 
In  al  this  wurhliche  won, 
A  burde  of  blod  ant  of  bon 
Never  3ete  y  nuste  non 

lussomore  in  londe.  Blou,  etc. 

With  lokkes  lefliche  ant  longe, 
With  frount  ant  face  feir  to  fonde. 

E2 


SPECIMENS  OF 

With  murthes  monie  mote  heo  monge, 

that  brid  so  breme  in  boure  ; 
With  lossom  eye,  grete  ant  gode, 
With  browen  blysfol  under  hode, 
He  that  reste  him  on  the  rode 

that  leflich  lyf  honoure  !  Blou,  etc 

Hire  lure  lumes  liht, 
Ase  a  launterne  a  nyht, 
Hire  bleo  blykyeth  so  brylit, 

so  feyr  heo  is  ant  fyn  ; 
A  suetly  suyre  heo  hath  to  holde, 
With  arines,  shuldre,  ase  mon  woldc, 
Ant  fyngres  feyre  forte  folde  ; 

God  wolde  hue  were  myn  ! 

Middel  heo  hath  menskful  smal ; 
Hire  loveliche  chere  as  cristal : 
The3es,  legges,  fet,  ant  al. 

y-wraht  wes  of  the  beste. 
A  lussum  ledy  lasteles 
That  sweting  is  ant  ever  wes ; 
A  betere  burde  never  nes 

y-heryed  with  the  heste. 

Heo  is  dereworthe  in  day, 
Graciouse,  stout,  ant  gay, 
Gentil,  jolyf  so  the  jay, 

worhliche  when  heo  waketh  ; 
Maiden  murgest  of  mouth, 


LYRIC  POETRY.  53 


Bi  est,  bi  west,  by  north  ant  south  ; 
Ther  uis  fiele  ne  crouth 

that  such  rnurthes  maketh. 

Heo  is  coral  of  godnesse, 
Heo  is  rubie  of  ryhtfulnesse, 
Heo  is  cristal  of  clannesse, 

ant  baner  of  bealte  ; 
Heo  is  lilie  of  largesse, 
Heo  is  parvenke  of  prouesse, 
Heo  is  solsecle  of  suetnesse, 

ant  ledy  of  lealte. 

To  love  that  leflich  is  in  londe, 
Y  tolde  him  as  ych  understonde, 
Hou  this  hende  hath  hent  in  honde 

on  huerte  that  myn  wes  ; 
Ant  hire  knyhtes  me  han  so  soht, 
Sykyng,  sorewyng,  ant  thoht, 
Tho  thre  me  han  in  bale  broht, 
the  poer  of  pees. 


To  love  y  putte  pleyntes  ino, 
Hou  sykyng  me  hath  siwed  so, 
Ant  eke  thoht  me  thrat  to  slo, 

with  maistry  3ef  he  myhte  ; 
Ant  serewe  sore  in  balful  bende, 
That  he  wolde  for  this  hende 
Me  lede  to  my  lyves  ende, 

unlahfulliche  in  lyhte. 


54  SPECIMENS  OF 

Hire  love  me  lustnede  uch  word, 
Ant  beh  him  to  me  over  bord, 
Ant  bed  me  hente  that  hord, 

of  myne  huerte  hele ; 
Ant  bisecheth  that  swete  ant  swote, 
Kr  then  thou  falle  ase  fen  of  fote, 
That  heo  with  the  wolle  of  bote 

dereworthliche  dele. 

For  hire  love  y  carke  ant  care, 
For  hire  love  y  droupne  ant  dare, 
For  hire  love  my  blisse  is  bare, 

ant  al  ich  waxe  won  ; 
For  hire  love  in  slep  y  slake, 
For  hire  love  al  nyht  ich  wake, 
For  hire  love  mournyng  y  mak< 

more  then  eny  mon. 


XVII. 

[Fol.  75,  r°.] 

MARIE,  pur  toun  enfaunt, 
Qe  est  roi  tot  puissaunt, 

e  tot  le  mounde  guye, 
Nus  seiez  de  la  mort  garaunt, 
Qe  li  maufe  mescreaunt 

nus  ne  eit  en  baylie ! 


LYRIC  POETRY. 

Ma  douce  dame,  en  vus  me  fy ; 
Car  ta  docour  me  hardy 

de  aver  en  vus  fiaunce ; 
Pur  ce,  dame,  vus  cri  merci, 
Ne  sofFrez  qe  soi  maubaily, 

pur  ta  seinte  puissaunce. 

Par  la  joie  e  le  doucour, 
Que  vus  aviez  icel  jour 

quant  le  angle  dit,  "  Marie, 
Virgine  seiez  sauntz  nul  retour, 
Si  come  te  envoit  ton  creatour, 

mar  serrez  esbaye." 

Pur  la  joie,  uncore  vus  pri, 
Qe  aviez  quant  il  nasqui 

e  virgine  remeytes ; 
Vus  noristes,  je  le  vus  dy, 
Le  fitz  Dieu  Jhesu,  par  qui 

en  joie  vus  en  estes. 

Uncore  vus  pri,  pur  eel  contort 
Qe  aviez,  quant  il  de  mort 

releva  en  vie, 

E  enfern  brusa,  com  ly  fort, 
E  remena  a  soun  deport 

sa  douce  compagnie. 

Marie,  mere  Jhesu  Crist, 
Pur  la  joie  que  il  vus  fist, 
quant  il  en  ciel  mounta, 


56  SPECIMENS  OF 

E  la  char  qe  de  vus  prist, 
A  la  destre  son  pere  assist, 
hautement  la  corona. 

Pur  la  joie,  mere  Marie, 
Qu'il  vus  fist  en  ceste  vie, 

file  Joachyn  ; 

Ore  estes  en  sa  compagnie, 
Des  aungles  haltement  servye, 

e  serrez  sauntz  fyn. 

Pur  celes  joies  qe  je  vus  chaunt, 
I)c  moi  qe  su  repentant, 

gloriouse  mere, 

Eyez  merci,  quar  en  mon  vivant, 
Surroi  vostre  lige  serjaunt, 

en  ma  povre  manere. 

Marie,  mere  Dee, 
Pur  la  tue  seinte  picte 

e  pur  ta  grant  fraunchise, 
Escu  me  seiez  vers  le  malfe 
Que  par  tey  seye  salve, 

e  ma  aline  en  ciel  myse ! 


LYRIC  POETRY.  57 


XVIII. 

[Fol.  75,  ro.] 

SUETE  Jhesu,  king  of  blysse, 
Myn  huerte  love,  min  huerte  lisse, 
Thou  art  suete  myd  y-wisse, 
Wo  is  him  that  the  shal  misse  ! 

Suete  Jhesu,  min  huerte  lyht, 
Thou  art  day  with-oute  nyht, 
Thou  3eve  me  streinthe  ant  eke  myht, 
Forte  lovien  the  a-ryht. 

Suete  Jhesu,  min  huerte  bote, 
In  myn  huerte  thou  sete  a  rote 
Of  thi  love,  that  is  so  swote, 
Ant  lene  that  hit  springe  mote. 

Suete  Jhesu,  min  huerte  gleem, 
Bryhtore  then  the  sonne  beem, 
Y-bore  thou  were  in  Bedleheem, 
Thou  make  me  here  thi  suete  dreem. 

Suete  Jhesu,  thi  love  is  suete, 
Wo  is  him  that  the  shall  lete  ! 
Tharefore  me  shulden  ofte  the  grete, 
With  salte  teres  ant  636  wepe. 

Suete  Jhesu,  kyng  of  londe, 
Thou  make  me  fer  understonde, 


58  SPECIMENS  OF 

That  min  herte  mote  fonde, 
Hou  suete  bueth  thi  love  bondc. 

Swete  Jhesu,  loverd  myn, 
My  lyf,  myn  huerte,  al  is  thin, 
Undo  myn  herte  ant  liht  ther-yn, 
Ant  wite  me  from  fendes  engyn. 

Suete  Jhesu,  my  soule  fode, 
Thin  werkes  bueth  bo  suete  ant  <:<  ><!«•. 
Thou  bohtest  me  upon  the  rode, 
For  me  thou  sheddest  thi  bl<>  I-  •. 

Suete  Jhesu,  me  reoweth  sore, 
Gultes  that  y  ha  wrotht  jore  ; 
Tluirefore  y  bidde  thin  mylse  ant  ore. 
Merci,  lord,  ynul  na  more  ! 

Suete  Jhesu,  loverd  God, 
Thou  me  bohtest  with  thi  blod, 
Out  of  thin  huerte  orn  the  flod, 
Thi  moder  hit  seh  that  the  by  stod. 


Suete  Jhesu,  bryht  ant  shene, 
Y  preye  the  thou  here  my  bene, 
Thourh  ernding  of  the  hevene 
That  my  bone  be  nou 


Suete  Jhesu,  berne  best. 
With  ich  hope  habbc  iv-t. 


LYRIC  POETRY.  59 

Whether  y  be  south  other  west, 
The  help  of  the  be  me  nest ! 

Suete  Jhesu,  wel  may  him  be, 
That  the  may  in  blisse  se  ! 
After  mi  soule  let  aungles  te, 
For  me  ne  gladieth  gome  ne  gle. 

Suete  Jhesu,  hevene  kyng, 
Feir  ant  best  of  alle  thyng, 
Thou  bring  me  of  this  longyng, 
Ant  come  to  the  at  myn  endyng. 

Suete  Jhesu,  al  folkes  reed, 
Graunte  ous  er  we  buen  ded 
The  under-fonge  in  fouraie  of  bred, 
Ant  seththe  to  heovene  thou  us  led  ? 


XIX. 

[Fol.  75,  v°] 

JESU  CRIST,  heovene  kyng, 
5ef  us  alle  god  endyng, 

that  bone  biddeth  the ; 
At  the  biginnyng  of  mi  song, 
Jhesu,  y  the  preye  among, 

in  stude  al  wher  y  be ; 
For  thou  art  kyng  of  alle, 
To  the  y  clepie  ant  calle, 

thou  have  merci  of  me. 


GO  SPECIMENS  OF 

This  ender  day  in  o  morewenyng, 
With  dreri  herte  ant  gret  mournyng, 

on  mi  folie  y  thohte ; 
One  that  is  so  suete  a  thing, 
That  ber  Jesse  the  hevene  kyng, 

merci  y  besohte ; 
Jhesu,  for  thi  muchele  myht, 
Thou  graunte  us  alle  hevene  lyht, 

that  us  so  duere  bohtes ; 
For  thi  merci,  Jhesu  suete, 
Thin  hondy  werk  nult  thou  Ictc. 

that  thou  wel  3erne  sohtest. 

\\ Cl  ichot,  ant  soth  hit  ys, 
That  in  tliis  world  nys  no  blys, 

bote  care,  serewe,  ant  pyne ; 
Tharefore  ich  rede  we  wurchcn  so, 
That  we  mowe  come  to 

the  joye  withoute  fyne  ! 


XX. 

[Fol.  75,  v«>.] 

WYNTER  wakeneth  al  my  can-. 
Nou  this  Irvcs  waxcth  bare, 
Ofte  y  sike  ant  mourne  saiv. 

When  hit  comcth  in  my  thoht 

Of  this  \vorl<l»-.>joir,  lion  hit  jr<»th  al  to  noht. 


LYRIC  POETRY.  61 

Now  hit  is,  ant  now  hit  nys, 

Also  hit  ner  nere  y-wys, 

"That  moni  mon  seith  soth  hit  ys, 

Al  goth  bote  Godes  wille, 

Alle  we  shule  deye,  thath  us  like  ylle. 

Al  that  gren  me  graueth  grene, 
Nou  hit  faleweth  al  by-dene  ; 
Jhesu,  help  that  hit  be  sene, 

Ant  shild  us  from  helle, 

For  y  not  whider  y  shal,  ne  hou  longe  her  duelle. 


XXI. 

[Fol.  76,  r°.] 

When  y  se  blosmes  springe, 

ant  here  soules  song ; 
A  suete  love-longynge 

myn  herte  thourh  out  stong, 
Al  for  a  love  newe, 
That  is  so  suete  ant  trewe, 

that  gladieth  al  my  song ; 
Ich  wot  al  myd  i-wisse 
My  joie  ant  eke  my  blisse 

on  him  is  al  y-long. 

When  y  mi  selve  stonde, 
ant  with  myn  ejen  seo, 


62  SPECIMENS  OF 

Thurled  fot  ant  honde 
with  grete  nayles  threo  ; 

Blody  wes  ys  heved, 

On  him  nes  nout  bileved 
that  wes  of  peynes  f'reo ; 

Wei,  wel  ohte  myn  herte 

For  his  love  to  swerte, 
ant  sike  ant  sory  beo. 

Jesu  rnilde  ant  softe, 

jef  me  streynthe  ant  myht, 
Longen  sore  ant  ofte 

to  lovye  the  a-ryht, 
Pyne  to  tholie  ant  dre3e, 
For  the  sone,  Marye, 

thou  art  so  fre  ant  bryht, 
May  den  ant  moder  mylde, 
For  love  of  thine  childe, 

ernde  us  hevene  lyht. 

Alas  !  that  y  ne  coutlie  turne 

to  him  my  thoht, 
Ant  cheosen  him  to  lemmon, 

so  duere  he  us  hatli  y-boht, 
With  woundes  deope  ant  stronge, 
With  peynes  sore  ant  longe, 

of  love  ne  conne  we  noht ; 
His  blod  that  feol  to  grounde, 
Of  hise  suete  wounde, 

of  peyne  us  hath  y-boht. 


LYRIC  POETRY. 

Jesu  milde  ant  suete, 

y  synge  the  mi  song, 
Ofte  y  the  grete, 

ant  preye  the  among, 
Let  me  sunnes  lete, 
Ant  in  this  lyve  bete 

that  ich  have  do  wrong  ; 
At  oure  lyves  ende, 
When  whe  shule  wende, 

Jesu  us  under  fong  !     AMEN. 


63 


XXII. 

[Fol.  76,  r<>. ] 

FERROY  chaunsoun  que  bien  doit  estre  oye, 
De  ma  amie  chaunterai  qe  m'ad  deguerpie. 
Bien  le  sai,  e  bien  le  voi, 

qe  ele  ne  me  ayme  mye ; 
E  ele  ayme  un  autre  plus  de  moi, 
E  si  ad  perdu  la  foy 

que  ele  me  out  plevye. 
Je  pri  a  Dieu  e  seint  Thomas, 
Qe  il  la  pardoigne  le  trespas  ! 
E  je  si  verroiement  le  fas, 

si  ele  merci  me  crye. 

II  n'y  a  guere  passe, 
Que  je  ne  la  amay  sauntz  faucete, 
e  tot  sauntz  trycherye. 


64  SPECIMENS  OF 

Pur  ce  me  tient  ele  fol, 

e  tot  pleyn  de  folye. 
En  verite  le  vus  dy, 
Si  ma  amie  me  ust  garny, 

je  usse  pris  amyc. 
Je  pri  a  Dieu,  etc. 

Certes  uncore  la  ameray, 

quei  que  1'em  me  dye  ; 
K  par  taunt  asayerai 

si  amour  soit  folie. 

Parcest  chaunsoun  portez  salutz  a  ma  tresdouce  arnye 
Quar  ne  vueil  autre  message,  <juci  que  je  me  afye. 
Si  ele  die  rien  de  moi, 
Que  me  ayme  en  bone  foy, 
Ja  ay  lours  ne  ameroi, 

taunt  come  su  en  vir. 
Je  pri  a  Dicu,  etc. 


XXIII. 

[Fol.  76,  ro.] 

Dum  ludisfloribus  velut  lacinia, 
Le  dieu  d'amour  moi  tient  en  tiel  angustia, 
Merour  me  tient  de  duel  e  de  miscriti, 
Si  je  ne  la  ay  quam  a  mo  super  omit  in. 


LYRIC  POETRY.  65 

Ejus  amor  tantum  me  facit  fervere ; 
Qe  je  ne  soi  quid  possum  indefacere; 
Pur  ly  covent  hoc  sceculum  relinquere. 
Si  je  ne  pus  1'amour  de  li  perquirere. 

Ele  est  si  bele  e  gente  dame  egregia, 
Cum  ele  fust  imperatoris  jilia, 
De  beal  semblant  et  pulcra  continencia, 
Ele  est  la  flur  in  omni  regis  curia. 

Quant  je  la  vey,  je  su  in  tali  gloria, 
Come  est  la  lune  cceli  inter  sidera ; 
Dieu  la  moi  doint  sua  misericordia 
Beyser  e  fere  quce  secuntur  alia! 

Scripsi  hcec  carmina  in  tabulis! 
Mon  ostel  est  en  mi  la  vile  de  Paris : 
May  y  sugge  namore,  so  wel  me  is ; 
3ef  hi  deje  for  love  of  hire,  duel  hit  ys. 


[Fol.  77,  v°] 

MARIE,  mere  al  Salveour, 
De  totes  femmes  estes  flour ; 
Vus  estes  pleyne  de  grant  docour, 
Vus  estes  refu  al  peccheour. 


66  SPECIMENS  OF 

Dame,  vus  estes  virgine  e  mere, 
Espouse  a  le  haltisme  piere ; 
Vus  estes  pleyne  de  bounte, 
Vus  estes  dame  de  piete. 

Toun  fitz,  dame,  est  vostre  pere, 
E  vus  file  e  sa  mere, 
Tresbele,  tresnoble,  e  treschere, 
A  tons  peccheours  estes  lumere. 

De  totes  femmes  estes  la  flour, 
De  purete  e  de  douz  odour ; 
Mestresse  estes  de  lei  amour, 
Marie,  mere  al  Salveour. 

Digne  ne  sui  de  estre  oye, 
Pur  mon  desert  e  ma  folie, 
Mes  par  vus,  qe  estes  douz  e  pir. 
Espier  je  bien  aver  la  vie. 

Marie,  pleyne  de  bounte, 
Marie,  pleyne  de  charite, 
Douce  est  vostre  amyste, 
De  moi  cheitif  eiez  piete. 

Ton  fitz,  dame,  me  ad  cher  achate, 
E  grant  amour  a  moi  mostre ; 
Alas !  trop  poi  le  ay  pensee, 
Qe  molt  ay  ver  ly  meserre. 


LYRIC  POETRY.  67 

Quant  je  regard  mes  pecchiez, 
Bien  quide  certes  estre  dampnez ; 
Mes  quant  regard-je  v  os  grant  bountez, 
Grant  espoir  ay  de  salvetez. 

Dame,  pur  nus  devynt  enfaunt 
Ly  douz  Jesu,  roi  puissaunt ; 
Pur  vus,  dame,  nus  ama  taunt, 
Dame,  seiez  nostre  garaunt. 

E  nus  par  vus  averum  la  vie ; 
Quar  vus  li  estes  si  chere  amye, 
Qe  nule  rien  a  vns  desdie  ; 
Pensez  de  nus,  douce  Marie. 

Ave,  de  totes  la  plus  digne ; 
Ave,  de  totes  la  plus  benigne ; 
Ave,  de  totes  graces  signe ; 
Pur  moi  priez  que  su  indigne. 

Mostrez,  dame,  qe  tu  es  mere 
A  toun  fitz  e  a  toun  pere ; 
A  ly  portez  ma  priere, 
Qe  je  pus  vere  sa  chere, 
Tresdouce  dame  debonere. 

Dame,  moi  donez  vostre  enfaunt, 
Qe  de  vus  si  fust  1'estaunt, 
Par  vostre  doucour  fetez  taunt, 
Autre  chose  ne  vous  demaunt. 

F2 


68  SPECIMENS  OF 

XXV. 

[Fol.  77,  v°  ] 

DULCIS  JHESU  MEMORIA. 

JESU,  sucte  is  the  love  of  the, 
Nothing  so  suete  may  be ; 
Al  that  may  with  ejen  se, 
Haveth  no  suetnesse  a3eynes  the. 

Jhesu,  nothing  may  be  suettere, 
Ne  noht  on  eorthe  blysfulere, 
Noht  may  be  feled  lykerusere, 
Then  thou  so  suete  alumere. 

Jhesu,  thi  love  wes  ous  so  fre, 
That  we  from  hevene  brohten  the ; 
For  love  thou  deore  bohtest  me, 
For  love  thou  hong  on  rode  tre. 

Jhesu,  for  love  thou  tholedest  wrong, 
Woundes  sore  ant  pine  strong ; 
Thine  peynes  rykene  hit  were  long, 
Ne  may  hem  tellen  spel  ne  song. 

Jhesu,  for  love  thou  drejedest  wo, 
Blody  stremes  ronne  the  fro, 
That  thi  bodi  wes  blak  ant  bio, 
For  oure  sunnes  hit  wes  so. 


LYRIC  POETRY.  69 

Jhesu,  for  love  thou  stehe  on  rode, 
For  love  thou  8650  thin  heorte  blode ;      % 
Love  thou  madest  oure  soule  fode, 
Thi  love  us  brohte  to  alle  gode. 

Jhesu,  mi  lemman,  thou  art  so  fre 
That  thou  dejedest  for  love  of  me ; 
Whet  shal  y  tharefore  jelde  the  ? 
Thar  nys  noht  bote  hit  love  be. 

Jhesu,  my  God,  Jhesu,  my  kyng, 
Thou  ne  askesd  me  non  other  thing, 
Bote  trewe  love  ant  eke  servyng, 
Ant  leve  teres  with  suete  mournyng. 

Jhesu,  my  lyf,  Jhesu,  my  lyht, 
Ich  love  the,  ant  that  is  ryht ; 
Do  me  love  the  with  al  mi  myht, 
Ant  for  the  mournen  day  ant  nyht 

Jhesu,  do  me  so  serven  the, 

That  ever  mi  thoht  upon  the  be, 

With  thine  suete  e3en  loke  towart  me, 

Ant  myldeliche  myne  y  preie  al  that  thou  se. 

Jhesu,  thi  love  be  al  mi  thoht, 
Of  other  thing  ne  recche  y  noht ; 
Y  5yrne  to  have  thi  wille  y-wroht, 
For  thou  me  havest  wel  deore  y-boht. 


70  SPECIMENS  OF 

Jhesu,  thah  ich  sunful  be, 

Wei  longe  thou  havest  y-spared  me, 

The  more  oh  ich  to  lovie  the, 

That  thou  me  havest  ben  so  fre, 

Thy  bac  of  thornes,  thy  nayles  thre, 

The  sharpe  spere  that  thourh-stong  the. 

Jesu,  of  love  soth  tocknynge, 
Thin  armes  spredeth  to  mankynde, 
Thin  heved  doun  boweth  to  suete  cussingc, 
Thin  side  al  openeth  to  love-longynge. 

Jhesu,  when  ich  thenke  on  the, 
Ant  loke  upon  the  rode  tre, 
Thi  suete  body  to-toren  y  se, 
Hit  maketh  heorte  to  smerte  me. 

Jhesu,  the  quene  that  by  the  stud, 
Of  love  teres  he  weop  a  flod ; 
Thin  woundes  ant  thin  holy  blod 
Made  hire  huerte  of  dreori  mod. 

Jhesu,  suete  love  the  dude  gredyn, 
Love  the  made  blod  to  sueten ; 
For  love  thou  were  sore  y-beten ; 
Love  the  dude  thi  lyf  to-leten. 

Jhesu,  fyf  woundes  ich  fynde  in  the, 
Thy  love  sprenges  tacheth  me, 
Of  blod  ant  water  the  stremes  be, 
Us  to  whosshe  from  oure  fon  thre. 


LYRIC  POETRY. 

Jhesu,  my  saule  drah  the  to, 
Min  heorte  opene  ant  wyde  un-do ; 
This  hure  of  love  to  drynke  so, 
That  fleysshliche  lust  be  al  for-do. 

Jhesu  Crist,  do  me  love  the  so, 
That  wher  y  be  ant  what  so  y  do, 
Lyf  ne  deth,  weole  ne  wo, 
Ne  do  myn  huerte  the  turne  fro. 

Marie,  suete  mayde  fre, 

For  Jhesu  Crist  byseche  y  the, 

Thi  suete  sone  do  lovie  me, 

Ant  make  me  worthi  that  y  so  be. 

Jhesu,  do  me  that  for  thi  name 
Me  liketh  to  dre3e  pyne  ant  shame, 
That  is  thy  soule  note  ant  frame, 
Ant  make  myn  herte  milde  ant  tame. 

Jhesu,  al  that  is  fayr  to  se, 
Al  that  to  fleyhs  mai  likyng  be, 
Al  worldes  blisse  to  leten,  me 
Graunte  for  the  love  of  the. 

Jhesu,  in  the  be  al  my  thoht, 
Of  other  blisse  ne  recchy  noht, 
When  ich  of  the  mai  felen  oht, 
Thenne  is  my  soule  wel  y-wroht. 


71 


72  SPECIMENS  OF 

Jhesu,  3ef  thou  for-letest  me, 
Wliat  may  mi  lykyng  of  that  y-se, 
Mai  no  god  blisse  with  me  be, 
Or  that  thou  come  a3eyn  to  me. 

Jesu,  jef  thou  bist  jeorne  bysoht, 
When  thou  comest  ant  elles  noht, 
No  fleishliche  lust  ne  wicked  thoht 
In  to  myn  heorte  ne  be  y-broht. 

Jesu,  mi  soule  is  spoused  to  the, 
Ofte  ych  habbc  mis-don  a3eynes  the, 
Jhesu,  thi  merci  is  wel  fre, 
Jhesu,  merci  y  crie  to  the. 

Jhesu,  with  herte  thi  love  y  crave,' 
Hit  bihoveth  nede  that  ich  hit  have ; 
The  deu  of  grace  upon  me  lave, 
Ant  from  allc  harmes  thou  me  save. 

Jesu,  from  me  be  al  that  thyng, 
That  me  may  be  to  mislikyng ; 
Al  that  is  nede  thou  me  bryng ; 
To  have  thi  love  is  my  3yrnyng. 

Jhesu,  mi  lif  of  milde  mod, 
Mi  soule  hath  gret  neode  of  thi  god, 
Tak  hire  trenfole  ant  tholemod, 
Ant  ful  hire  of  thi  love  blod 


LYRIC  POETRY. 

Jesu,  my  soule  bidde  y  the, 
Everemore  wel  us  be ; 
Jesu,  al  myhtful  hevene  kyng, 
Thi  love  is  a  wel  derne  thing. 

Jesu,  wel  mai  myn  herte  se, 
That  milde  ant  meoke  he  mot  be, 
Alle  unthewes  ant  lustes  fle, 
That  felen  wole  the  blisse  of  the. 

Jesu,  thah  ich  be  unworthi 
To  love  the,  loverd  almyhti, 
Thi  love  me  maketh  to  ben  hardy, 
Ant  don  me  al  in  thin  merci. 

Jesu,  thi  mildenesse  froreth  me, 
For  no  mon  mai  so  sunful  be, 
5ef  he  let  sunne  ant  to  the  fle, 
That  ne  fynd  socour  at  the. 

For  sunful  folk,  suete  Jesus, 
Thou  lihtest  from  the  he3e  hous, 
Pore  ant  loje  thou  were  for  ous. 
Thin  heorte  love  thou  sendest  ous. 


73 


Jesu,  for-thi  byseche  y  the, 
Thi  suete  love  thou  graunte  me, 
That  ich  thareto  worthi  be, 
Make  me  worthi  that  art  so  fre. 


74  SPECIMENS  OF 

Jesu,  thou  art  so  god  a  mon, 
Thi  love  y  3jrne  also  y  con  ; 
Tharefore  ne  lette  me  nomon, 
Thah  ich  for  love  be  blac  ant  won. 

Jesu,  al  suete,  Jesu,  al  god, 
Thi  love  drynketh  myn  heorte  blod, 
Thi  love  maketh  me  so  swythe  w<><], 
That  y  ne  drede  for  no  flod. 

Jesu,  tin  love  is  suete  ant  strong 
Mi  lif  is  al  on  the  y-long, 
Tech  me,  Jhesu,  thi  love  song, 
With  suete  teres  ever  among. 

Jesu,  do  me  to  serven  tin-, 
Wher  in  londe  so  y  be ; 
When  ich  the  fynde,  wel  ys  me, 
3ef  thou  ne  woldest  :i--.v«-v  lie. 

Jesu,  jef  thou  from  me  go, 
Mi  soule  is  fol  of  serewe  ant  wo  ; 
Whet  may  I  sugge,  bote  wolaw«>! 
When  mi  lif  is  me  at-go  ? 

Jesu,  thin  ore  thou  rewe  of  me ; 
For  whenne  shal  ich  come  to  the ; 
Jesu,  thi  lore  biddeth  me, 
With  al  myn  liertc  lovio  the. 


LYRIC  POETRY. 

Jesu,  mi  lif,  Jhesu,  my  kyng, 
My  soule  haveth  to  the  5yrnyng ; 
When  thi  wilte  is,  to  the  hire  bryng, 
Thou  art  suetest  of  alle  thyng. 

Jesu,  that  deore  bostest  me, 
Make  me  worthi  come  to  the, 
Alle  mi  sunnes  for-3ef  thou  me, 
That  ich  with  blisse  the  mowe  se. 

Jesu,  so  feir,  Jhesu,  so  briht, 
That  I  biseche  with  al  my  myht, 
Bring  mi  soule  into  the  lylit, 
Ther  is  day  withoute  nyht. 

Jesu,  thin  help  at  myn  endyng, 
Ant  ine  that  dredful  out  wendyng, 
Send  mi  soule  god  weryyng, 
That  y  ne  drede  non  eovel  thing. 

Jesu,  thi  grace  that  is  so  fre 
In  siker  hope  do  thou  me, 
At-scapen  peyne  ant  come  to  the, 
To  the  blisse  that  ay  shal  be. 

Jesu,  Jesu,  ful  wel  ben  he 
That  yne  thi  blisse  mowen  be, 
Ant  fulliche  habbe  the  love  of  the  ! 
Suete  Jesu,  thou  graunte  it  me ! 


75 


76  SPECIMENS  OF 

Jesu,  thy  love  haveth  non  endyng, 
Ther  nis  no  screwe  ne  no  wepyng, 
Bote  joie  ant  blisse  ant  lykyng ; 
Suete  Jesu,  hare-to  us  bryng  !     AMEN. 


XXVI. 

[Fol.  78,  v°]. 

Une  petite  parole,  seigneurs,  escotez, 

De  ce  que  je  vus  counterai  ne  me  blamerez  ; 

Mes  moltz  des  biens  apre[n]dre, 

Si  vus  volez  entendre, 

Trestous  vous  poez. 

Adam  fust  preincrement 

Le  premer  fet  de  tote  gent, 

Apres  Dieu  meismes  fust  fourme, 

Come  en  Escrit  nus  est  mostre  ; 

E  Eve  de  soun  un  coste, 

Come  Dieu  voleit,  fust  taille, 

La  quele  primes  fist  pecchie, 

Dount  nus  fumes  touz  dampne. 

Ce  vist  Jhesu  le  Salveour, 

De  tot  le  mound  creatour, 

Que  en  li  fust  nostre  socour, 

Nostre  eyde  e  nostre  honour; 

Ilonme  devynt  e  enfaunt, 

E  pur  nus  soffry  peyne  graunt ; 


LYRIC  POETRY.  77 


Molt  nus  fust  verroi  amaunt, 

Ne  se  feyna  taunt  ne  quaunt, 

En  la  croiz  si  fu  mounte, 

E  soun  cuer  par  mi  perce. 

Alas !  qe  tant  serroit  pene, 

Oil  qe  unque  ne  fist  pecchie  ! 

Des  espines  fust  coronee, 

E  d'escourges  flaele, 

Fel  a  boyvre  ly  fust  done. 

Molt  devoms  aver  grant  piete 

De  sa  benigne  humilite  ; 

Ne  fust  orgoil  en  ly  trove, 

Que  pout  tendre  a  nul  pecchie  ; 

Pur  ce  vus  pri  remenbrez 

Quei  il  soffry  pur  nos  pecchiez, 

E  de  ly  sovent  pensez, 

Quant  vus  estes  rien  temptez, 

De  pecchie  fere  ou  folie, 

De  averice  ou  envie, 

De  hayne  ou  de  lecherie, 

De  coveytise  ou  glotonie, 

Ou  de  orgoil  ensement, 

Qe  est  racyne  verroiement 

De  tous  mals  ou  de  tous  pecchiez  : 

Pur  Dieu  !  de  ly  vus  Dieu  gardez ! 

Quar  Lucifer  par  eel  pecchie, 

Que  fust  de  Dieu  molt  bien  ame, 

E  en  ciel  molt  halt  mounte, 

En  enfern  chiet  tot  parfound, 

La  ou  touz  remeyndrount 


78  SPECIMENS  OF 

Que  en  orguil  sunt  pris, 

Yleque  serrount  il  tot  dis  ; 

E  pur  ce  si  vus  seiez 

En  grant  honour  enhauncez, 

E  de  grant  saver  aournez, 

Ou  de  grant  force  on  bealtez, 

De  ce  ne  vus  enorguyllez, 

Pensez  de  vus  meisraes  salver, 

E  quant  temps  est  a  Dieu  servyr, 

Ne  pas  tous  jours  a  gayner  ; 

Ne  facez  pas  come  les  uns  fount, 

Quc  de  Dieu  rien  ne  pensount, 

Mes  tot  ount  done  lur  cuer 

Nuit  e  jour  a  lur  gaigner, 

Des  queux  il  fet  a  merviler, 

De  Dieu  ne  pensent,  ne  de  sa  mori, 

Mes  si  il  puissent  rien  a  tort 

Gaygner  par  nulle  faucine, 

Ou  par  robberie  on  par  ravyne, 

De  averice  sunt  englywe, 

Q'est  un  mortel  pecchie, 

James  ne  quident  assez  aver  ; 

Mes  come  la  terre  lur  dust  i'aih-r  ; 

De  quele  gent  fet  a  doter, 

Si  il  ne  se  vueillent  amender. 

Pur  ce  vus  pri-je  bonement 

Qe  vus  donez  entendement, 

E  ce  qe  vus  oiez  counter. 

Afforcez-vus  de  ce  tener, 

E  apres  eel  trestouz  overyr. 


LYRIC  POETRY.  79 


Ne  coveitez  pas  autrui  bienz 
A  tort  aver  pur  nulle  rienz  ; 
Mes  qe  dount  vivre  assez  eyez, 
Lealmentz  travilez ; 
E  si  rien  eiez  a  tort, 
Purpensez-vus  devant  la  mort 
Yce  rendre,  si  vus  poez, 
A  ly  de  qui  vus  le  avyez  : 
Si  il  seit  mort  qe  vus  quidez, 
Pur  sa  alme  le  donez, 
Issi  qe  en  peril  ne  seiez, 
Pur  ce  qe  devant  Jesu 
De  respoundre  sumes  tenu 
De  quanqe  nus  avoms  rescu  ; 
Molt  serra  estroit  acounte, 
Molt  en  averunt  il  grant  hounte 
Que  lors  serrunt  accusez, 
E  de  lur  pecchiez  reprovez  . 
Touz  nos  faitz  e  touz  nos  ditz, 
Que  en  pecchie  nus  ount  mys, 
Serrount  en  nos  frountz  escritz  ; 
Yl  n'y  avera  nul  pleder, 
Jour  de  amour,  ne  acorder, 
Ne  nul  qe  purra  acounter 
Pur  argent  ne  pur  or  gaygner. 
Alas !  que  froms  nus  ycel  jour, 
Quant  Jesu  vendra,  le  Salveour, 
Trestot  come  il  fust  crucifie, 
E  come  il  fust  des  Gyws  pene, 
E  come  il  fust  al  cuer  naufre, 


80  SPECIMENS  OF 

Pies  e  meyns  par  mi  pierce  ? 
Riant  ne  serra  mil  trove, 
Que  ly  averount  regard    ; 
Molt  serra  hidous  quant  jugera  ; 
N'y  avera  nul  qe  noise  fra  ; 
Chesctm  serra  rewerdone 
Come  il  avera  deservy  gre. 
En  grant  joie  les  bons  irrount, 
E  la  sauntz  fyn  remeindrount, 
Oii  totes  maneres  de  joies  sunt. 
Pur  ce  vus  vueil-je  or  garnyr, 
Que  vus  pensez  a  Dieu  servyr, 
E  la  joie  graunde  aver 
Que  nulle  lange  puet  counter. 
Yccl  mis  doint  ly  Salveour, 
De  eel  e  terre  empereour  ! 
Amen,  amen,  pur  sa  doucour  ! 


XXVII. 

[Fol.  79,  ro. ] 

"  STOND  wel,  moder,  under  rode, 
By -holt  thy  sone  with  glade  mode ; 

blythe,  moder,  myht  thou  be." 
"  Sone,  hou  shulde  y  blithe  stondc 
Y  se  thin  fet,  y  se  thin  honde, 

nayled  to  the  harde  tre." 


LYRIC  POETRY.  81 


"  Moder,  do  wey  thy  wepinge : 
Y  thole  deth  for  mankynde, 

for  my  gult  thole  y  non." 
**  Sone,  y  fele  the  dede  stounde, 
The  suert  is  at  myn  herte  grounde, 

that  me  byhet  Symeon." 

u  Moder,  merci,  let  me  deye, 
For  Adam  out  of  helle  beye, 

ant  his  kun  that  is  for -lore." 
"  Sone,  what  shal  me  to  rede  ? 
My  peyne  pyneth  me  to  dede, 

lat  me  deje  the  by-fore !" 

"  Moder,  thou  re  we  al  of  thi  bern, 
Thou  wosshe  a-wai  the  blody  tern, 

hit  doth  me  worse  then  my  ded." 
"  Sone,  hou  may  y  teres  werne  ? 
Y  se  the  blody  stremes  erne 

from  thin  herte  to  my  fet." 

"  Moder,  nou  y  may  the  seye, 
Betere  is  that  ich  one  deye, 

then  al  monkunde  to  helle  go." 
"  Sone,  y  se  thi  bodi  byswngen, 
Fet  ant  honden  thourh-out  stongen, 

no  wonder  thah  me  be  wo." 

"  Moder,  now  y  shal  the  telle, 
3ef  y  ne  de3e,  thou  gost  to  helle, 
y  thole  ded  for  thine  sake." 


82  SPECIMENS  OF 

"  Sone,  thou  art  so  meke  ant  mynde, 
Ne  wyt  me  naht,  hit  is  my  kynde, 
that  y  for  the  this  sorewe  make." 

"  Moder,  nou  thou  miht  wel  leren, 
Whet  sorewe  haveth  that  children  beren, 

whet  sorewe  hit  is  with  childe  gon." 
"  Sorewe  y-wis,  y  con  the  telle ; 
Bote  hit  be  the  pyne  of  helle, 

more  sorewe  wot  y  non." 

"  Moder,  rew  of  moder  kare, 
For  nou  thou  wost  of  moder  fare, 

thou  thou  be  clene  mayden  mon." 
"  Sone,  help  at  alle  nede 
Alle  tho  that  to  me  grede, 

maiden,  wif,  ant  fol  wymmon." 
"  Moder,  may  y  no  lengore  duellr, 
The  time  is  come  y  shal  to  helle, 

the  thridde  day  y  ryse  upon." 
"  Sone,  y  wil  with  the  founden, 
Y  deye  y-wis  for  thine  wounden, 

so  soreweful  ded  nes  never  non." 

When  he  ros,  tho  fel  hire  sorewe, 
Hire  blisse  sprong  the  thridde  rnoiv 

blythe  moder  were  thou  tho. 
Levedy,  for  that  ilke  blisse, 
Bysech  thi  sone  of  sunnes  lisse, 

thou  be  oure  sheld  a3eyn  oure  fo. 


LYRIC  POETRY.  88 

Blessed  be  them,  ful  of  blysse, 
Let  us  never  hevene  misse, 

thourh  thi  suete  sones  myht ! 
Loverd,  for  that  like  blod, 
That  thou  sheddest  on  the  rod, 

thou  bring  us  in  to  hevene  lyht     AMEN. 


XXVIII. 

[Fol.  79,  vo.] 

JESU,  for  thi  muchele  miht, 

thou  jef  us  of  thi  grace, 
That  we  mowe  dai  ant  nyht 

thenken  o  thi  face. 
In  myn  herte  hit  doth  me  god, 
When  y  thenke  on  Jesu  blod, 

that  ran  doun  bi  ys  syde, 
From  his  herte  doun  to  his  lot, 
For  ous  he  spradde  is  herte  blod, 

his  wondes  were  so  wyde. 

When  y  thenke  on  Jhesu  ded, 

min  herte  over-werpes, 
Mi  soule  is  won  so  is  the  led 

for  my  fole  werkes. 
Ful  wo  is  that  ilke  mon, 
That  Jhesu  ded  ne  thenkes  on, 

what  he  soifrede  so  sore  ! 

G2 


84  SPECIMENS  OF 

For  my  synnes  y  wil  wete, 
Ant  alle  y  wyle  hem  for-lete 
noil  ant  evermore. 

Mon  that  is  in  joie  ant  blis, 

ant  lith  in  shame  ant  synne, 
He  is  more  then  un-wis 

that  ther-of  nul  nout  blynne. 
Al  this  world  hit  geth  a-way, 
Me  thynketh  hit  ne3yth  domesday, 

nou  man  gos  to  grounde  ; 
Jhesu  Crist  that  tholede  ded, 
He  may  oure  soules  to  heveix   !«••!. 

withinne  a  lutel  stounde. 

Thah  thou  have  al  thi  wille, 

thenk  on  Godes  wondes, 
For  that  we  ne  shulde  spille, 

he  tholede  harde  stoundes  ; 
Al  for  mon  he  tholede  ded, 
3yf  he  wyle  leve  on  is  red, 

jint  leve  his  folie, 
We  shule  have  joie  ant  blis, 
More  then  we  conne  seien  y-wys 

in  Jesu  compagnie. 

Jhesu,  that  wes  milde  ant  fre, 
wes  with  spere  y-stonge ; 

1  Ic  was  nailod  to  the  tre, 
with  scourges  y-swonjrm 


LYRIC  POETRY.  85 


Al  for  mon  he  tholede  shame, 
Withouten  gult,  withouten  blame, 

bothe  day  ant  other. 
Mon,  ful  muchel  he  lovede  the, 
When  he  wolde  make  the  fre, 

ant  bicome  thi  brother. 


XXIX. 

[Fol.  80,  r°.] 

I  SYKE  when  y  singe, 

for  sorewe  that  y  se, 
When  y  with  wypinge 

biholde  upon  the  tre, 
Ant  se  Jhesu  the  suete, 
Is  herte  blod  for-lete, 

for  the  love  of  me ; 
Ys  woundes  waxen  wete, 
Thei  wepen  stille  ant  mete : 

Marie,  reweth  the. 

He3e  upon  a  doune, 
ther  al  folk  hit  se  may, 

A  mile  from  uch  toune. 
aboute  the  midday, 

The  rode  is  up  arered, 

His  frendes  aren  afered 
ant  clyngeth  so  the  clay ; 


86  SPECIMENS  OF 

The  rode  stond  in  stone, 
Marie  stont  hire  one, 
ant  seith,  wey -la-way  ! 

When  y  the  biholde 

with  ey3en  bryhte  bo, 
Ant  thi  bodi  colde. 

thi  ble  waxeth  bio, 
Thou  hengest  al  of  blode, 
So  heje  upon  the  rode, 

bituene  theves  tuo, 
Who  may  syke  more  ? 
Marie  wepeth  sore, 

ant  siht  al  this  wo. 

The  naylles  beth  to  stronge, 

the  smythes  are  to  sleye, 
Thou  bledest  al  to  longe, 

the  tre  is  al  to  hey3e ; 
The  stones  beoth  al  wete, 
Alas !  Jhesu  the  suete, 

for  nou  frend  hast  thou  non, 
Bote  Seint  Johan  to-mournynde, 
Ant  Marie  wepynde, 

for  pyne  that  the  ys  on. 

Ofte  when  y  sike 

ant  makie  my  mon, 
Wei  ille  thah  me  like, 

wonder  is  hit  non, 


LYRIC  POETRY.  87 


When  y  se  honge 
Ant  bittre  pynes  dre3e, 

Jhesu,  my  lemmon  j 
His  wondes  sore  swerte, 
The  spere  al  to  is  herte 

ant  thourh  is  sydes  gon. 

Ofte  when  y  syke, 

with  care  y  am  thourh-soht, 
When  y  wake  y  wyke, 

of  serewe  is  al  mi  thoht ; 
Alas !  men  beth  wode, 
That  suereth  by  the  rode, 

ant  selleth  him  for  noht, 
That  bohte  us  out  of  synne  ! 
He  bring  us  to  wynne, 

that  hath  us  duere  boht ! 


XXX. 

[Fol.  80,  r°.] 

Ibu  skruketh  rose  ant  lylie  flour, 
That  whilen  ber  that  suete  savour, 

in  somer,  that  suete  tyde ; 
Ne  is  no  quene  so  stark  ne  stour, 
Ne  no  levedy  so  bryht  in  bour, 

that  ded  ne  shal  by-glyde. 


88  SPECIMENS  OF 

Whose  wol  fleysh  lust  for-gon, 

ant  hevene  blis  abyde, 
On  Jhesu  be  is  thoht  anon, 

that  therled  was  ys  side. 

From  Petresbourh  in  o  morewenyng 
As  y  me  wende  omy  pley5yng, 

on  mi  folie  y  thohte, 
Menen  y  gon  my  monrnyng 
To  hire  that  ber  the  hevt-ne  kyn 

of  merci  hire  by-sohte : 
Ledy,  preye  tlii  sone  for  ous, 

that  us  ducre  bohte, 
Ant  shild  us  from  the  lothe  hous 

that  to  the  fend  is  wrohte. 

Myn  herte  of  dedes  wes  for-dred, 
Of  synne  that  y  have  my  fleish  fed, 

ant  folewed  al  my  tyme ; 
That  y  not  whider  I  shal  be  led, 
When  y  lygge  on  dethes  bed, 

in  joie  ore  in  to  pyne. 
On  o  ledy  myn  hope  is. 

moder  ant  virgyne, 
Whe  shulen  in  to  hevene  blis 

thurh  hire  medicine. 

Betere  is  hire  medycyn, 
Then  eny  mede  or  eny  wyn  ; 
hire  erbes  smulleth  suete  ; 


LYRIC  POETRY.  89 

From  Catenas  in  to  Dyvelyn, 
Nis  ther  no  leche  so  fyn, 

oure  serewes  to  bete. 
Mon  that  feleth  eni  sor, 

ant  his  folie  wol  lete, 
Withoute  gold  other  eny  tresor 

he  mai  be  sound  ant  sete. 

Of  penaunce  is  his  piastre  al, 
Ant  ever  serven  hire  y  shal, 

nou  ant  al  my  lyve ; 
Nou  is  fre  that  er  wes  thral, 
Al  thourh  that  levedy  gent  ant  smal, 

heried  by  hyr  joies  fyve. 
Wher  so  eny  sek  ys, 

thider  hye  blyve ; 
Thurh  hire  beoth  y-broht  to  blis 

bo  mayden  ant  wyve. 

For  he  that  dude  is  body  on  tre, 
Of  oure  sunnes  have  piete, 

that  weldes  heovene  boures  ; 
Wynimon  with  thi  jolyfte, 

thou  thench  on  Godes  shoures 
Thah  thou  be  whyt  ant  bryth  on  ble, 

falewen  shule  thy  floures. 
Jesu,  have  merci  of  us, 

that  al  this  world  honoures  !      AMEN. 


SPECIMENS  OF 


XXXI. 

[Fol.  80,  vo.] 

"  My  dcth  y  love,  my  lyf  ich  hate,  for  a  levedy  shenc, 
Heo  is  brith  so  dales  liht,  that  is  on  me  wel  sene ; 
Al  y  falewe  so  doth  the  lef  in  somer  when  hit  is  grene, 
3ef  mi  thoht  helpeth  me  noht,  to  wham  shal  y  me  mene, 

Sorewe  ant  syke  ant  drery  mod  byndeth  me  so  faste, 
That  y  wene  to  walke  wod,  3ef  me  lengore  laste ; 
My  serewe,  my  care,  al  with  a  word,  he  myhte  a-wey  caste, 
Whet  helpeth  the,  my  suete  lemmon,  my  lyf  thus  forte 
gaste  ?" 

"  Do  wey,  thou  clerc,  thou  art  a  fol,  with  the  byddt   y 

noht  chyde ; 
Shalt  thou  never  lyve  that  day,  mi  love  that  thou  shalt 

byde; 

3ef  thou  in  my  boure  art  take,  shame  the  may  bi-tyde, 
The  is  bettere  on  fote  gon,  then  wycked  hors  to  ryde." 

"  Wey-la-wei !  whi  seist  thou  so  ?  thou  rewe  on  me,  thy 

man; 

Thou  art  ever  in  my  thoht,  in  londe  wher  ich  am ; 
3ef  y  de3e  for  thi  love,  hit  is  the  mykel  sham ; 
Thou  lete  me  lyve,  ant  be  thy  luef,  ant  thou  my  suete 

lemman." 


LYRIC  POETRY.  91 

"  Be  stille,  thou  fol,  y  calle  the  ritht,  cost  thou  never 

blynne ; 

Thou  art  wayted  day  ant  nyhtwith  fader  ant  al  my  kynne; 
Be  thou  in  mi  hour  y-take,  lete  they  for  no  synne, 
Me  to  holde  ant  the  to  slon,  the  deth  so  thou  maht 

wynne." 

"  Suete  ledy,  thou  wend  thi  mod,  sorewe  thou  wolt  me 

kythe ; 

Ich  am  al  so  sory  mon,  so  ich  was  whylen  blythe ; 
In  a  wyndou  ther  we  stod,  we  custe  us  fyfty  sythe ; 
Feir  biheste  maketh  mony  mon  al  is  serewes  my  the." 

"  Wey-la-wey !    whi  seist  thou  so  ?   mi  serewe  thou 

makest  newe ; 

Y  lovede  a  clerk  al  par  amours,  of  love  he  wes  ful  trewe, 
He  nes  nout  blythe  never  a  day,  bote  he  me  sone  3036, 
Ich  lovede  him  betere  then  my  lyf,  whet  bote  is  hit  to 

Ie3e  ?" 

"  Whil  y  wes  a  clerc  in  scole,  wel  muchel  y  couthe  of 

lore, 

Ych  have  tholed  for  thy.  love  woundes  fele  sore ; 
Fer  from  [horn]  ant  eke  from  men  under  the  wode  gore; 
Suete  ledy,  thou  rewe  of  me,  nou  may  y  no  more." 

"  Thou  semest  wel  to  ben  a  clerc,  for  thou  spekest  so 

stille ; 

Shalt  thou  never  for  mi  love  woundes  thole  grylle ; 
Fader,  moder,  ant  al  my  kun,  ne  shal  me  holde  so  stille, 
That  y  nam  thyn  ant  thou  art  myn,  to  don  al  thi  wille." 


92  SPECIMENS  OF 


XXXII. 

[Fol.  80,  vo.] 

WHEN  the  nyhtegale  singes,  the  wodes  waxen  grene, 
Lef  ant  gras  ant  blosme  springes  in  Averyl,  y  wene, 
Ant  love  is  to  myn  herte  gon  with  one  spere  so  kene, 
Nyht  ant  day  my  blod  hit  drynkes,  myn  herte  deth  me 
tene. 

Ich  have  loved  al  this  5ur,  that  y  may  love  namore, 
Ich  have  siked  moni  syk,  lemmon,  for  thin  ore  ; 
Me  nis  love  never  the  ner,  ant  that  me  reweth  sore. 
Suete  lemmon,  thench  on  me,  ich  have  loved  the  51  MV. 

Suete  lemmon,  y  preye  the  of  love  one  speche, 
Whil  y  lyve  in  world  so  wyde  other  nulle  y  seche  ; 
With  thy  love,  my  suete  leof,  mi  blisthou  mihU's  rclir. 
A  suete  cos  of  thy  mouth  mihte  be  my  leche. 

Suete  lemmon,  y  pre3e  the  of  a  love  bene; 

jef  thou  me  lovest,  asc  men  says,  lemmon,  as  y  w<>n<-. 

Ant  3ef  hit  thi  wille  be,  thou  loke  that  hit  be 

So  muchel  y  thenke  upon  the,  that  al  y  waxc 


Bituene  Lyncolne   ant  Lyndeseye,  Norhamptoun  a  in 

Lounde,  < 

Ne  wot  y  non  so  fayr  a  may  as  y  go  fore  y-boundc  ; 
Suete  lemmon,  y  preje  the  thou  lovie  me  a  stoundr, 
Y  wole  mone  my  song  on  wham  that  hit  ys  on  y-long. 


LYRIC  POETRY.  93 


XXXIII. 

[Fol.  81,  r°.j 

BLESSED  be  thou,  levedy,  ful  of  heovene  blisse, 
Suete  flur  of  parays,  moder  of  mildenesse, 
Preyje  Jhesu  thy  sone,  that  he  me  rede  ant  wysse, 
So  my  wey  forte  gon,  that  he  me  never  misse. 

Of  the,  suete  levedy,  my  song  y  wile  byginne, 
Thy  deore  suete  sones  love  thou  lere  me  to  wynne ; 
Ofte  y  syke  ant  serewe  among,  may  y  never  blynne, 
Levedi,  for  thi  milde  mod,  thou  shilde  me  from  synne. 

Myne  thohtes,  levedy,  maketh  me  ful  wan, 
To  the  y  crie  ant  calle,  thou  here  me  for  thi  man  ; 
Help  me,  hevene  quene,  for  thyn  ever  ycham, 
Wisse  me  to  thi  deore  sone,  the  weies  y  ne  can. 

Levedy,  seinte  Marie,  for  thi  milde  mod, 
SofFre  never  that  y  be  so  wilde  ne  so  wod, 
That  ich  her  for-leose  the  that  art  so  god, 
That  Jhesu  me  to-bohte  with  is  to  suete  blod. 

Bryhte  ant  shene,  sterre  cler,  lyht  thou  me  ant  lere, 
In  this  false  fykel  world  my  selve  so  to  bere, 
That  y  ner  at  myn  endyng  have  the  feond  to  fere ; 
Jesu,  mid  thi  suete'  blod  thou  bohtest  me  so  dere. 


94  SPECIMENS  OF 

Levedi,  seinte  Marie,  so  fair  ant  so  briht, 
Al  myn  help  is  on  the  bi  day  ant  by  nyht, 
Levedi  fre,  thou  shilde  me  so  wel  as  thou  myht, 
That  y  never  for-leose  heveriche  lyht. 

Levedy,  seinte  Marie,  so  fayr  ant  so  hende, 

Preye  Jhesu  Crist  thi  sone,  that  he  me  grace  sende, 

So  to  queme  him  ant  the,  er  ich  henne  wende, 

That  he  me  bringe  to  the  blis  that  is  withouten  ende. 

Ofte  y  crie  merci,  of  mylse  thou  art  welle, 
Alle  buen  false  that  bueth  mad  bothe  of  fleyshe  ant  felle ; 
Levedi  suete,  thou  us  shild  from  the  pine  of  helle, 
Bring  us  to  the  joie  that  no  tonge  hit  may  of  telle. 

Jhesu  Crist,  Godes  sone,  fader  ant  holy  gost, 
Help  us  at  oure  nede,  as  thou  hit  al  wel  wost ; 
Bring  us  to  thin  riche  ther  is  joie  most, 
Let  us  never  hit  misse  for  non  worldes  bost ! 


XXXIV. 

[Fol.  81  vo.] 

ASE  y  me  rod  this  ender  day, 
By  grene  wode  to  seche  play, 
Mid  herte  y  thohte  al  on  a  may, 

suetest  of  alle  thinge ; 
Kythe,  ant  ichou  telle  may 

al  of  that  suete  thinge. 


LYRIC  POETRY.  95 

This  maiden  is  suete  ant  fre  of  blod, 
Briht  ant  feyr,  of  milde  mod, 
Alle  heo  mai  don  us  god, 

thurh  hire  bysechynge ; 
Of  hire  he  tok  fleysh  ant  blod, 

Jhesu  hevene  kynge. 

With  al  mi  lif  y  love  that  may, 
He  is  mi  solas  nyht  ant  day, 
My  joie  ant  eke  my  beste  play, 

ant  eke  my  love-longynge  ; 
Al  the  betere  me  is  that  day 

that  ich  of  hire  synge. 

Of  alle  thinge  y  love  hire  mest, 
My  dayes  blis,  my  nyhtes  rest, 
Heo  counseileth  ant  helpeth  best 

bothe  elde  ant  3ynge ; 
Now  y  may  jef  y  wole 

the  fif  joyes  mynge. 

The  furst  joie  of  that  wynman, 
When  Gabriel  from  hevene  cam, 
Ant  seide  God  shulde  bicome  man, 

ant  of  hire  be  bore, 
Ant  bringe  up  of  helle  pyn 

monkyn  that  wes  for-lore. 

That  other  joie  of  that  may, 

Wes  o  Cristesmasse  day, 

When  God  wes  bore  on  thore  lay, 


96  SPECIMENS  OF 

ant  brohte  us  lyhtnesse  ; 
Thestri  wes  seie  byfore  day, 
this  hirdes  bereth  wytnesse. 

The  thridde  joie  of  that  levedy, 
That  men  clepeth  the  Epyphany, 
When  the  kynges  come  wery, 

to  presente  hyre  sone 
With  myrre,  gold,  ant  encenz, 

that  wes  mon  bicome. 

The  furthe  joie  we  telle  mawen, 

On  Ester  morewe  wen  hit  gon  dawen, 

Hyre  sone  that  wes  slawen, 

aros  in  fleyshe  ant  bon ; 
More  joie  ne  mai  me  haven 

wyf  ne  mayden  non. 

The  fifte  joie  of  that  wymman, 
When  hire  body  to  hevene  earn, 
The  soule  to  the  body  nam, 

ase  hit  wes  woned  to  bene ; 
Crist  leve  us  alle  with  that  wymman 

that  joie  al  forte  sene. 

Preye  we  alle  to  cure  levedy, 

Ant  to  the  sontes  that  woneth  hire  by, 

That  heo  of  us  haven  merci, 

ant  that  we  ne  misse 
In  this  world  to  ben  holy, 

ant  wynne  hex  cue  blysse  !      AMEN. 


LYRIC  POETRY. 


97 


XXXV. 

[Fol.  83,  ro.] 

MAYDEN  moder  milde, 

oiez  eel  oreysoun  ; 
From  shome  thou  me  shilde, 

e  de  ly  malfelou,n. 
For  love  of  thine  childe, 

me  menez  de  tresoun  ; 
Ich  wes  wod  ant  wilde, 

ore  su  en  prisoun. 

Thou  art  feyr  ant  fre, 

e  plein  de  doucour  ; 
Of  the  sprong  the  ble, 

ly  soverein  creatour ; 
Mayde,  byseche  y  the, 

vostre  seint  socour, 
Meoke  ant  mylde,  be  with  me, 

pur  la  sue  amour. 

Tho  Judas  Jesuin  founde, 

donque  ly  beysa ; 
He  wes  bete  ant  bounde, 

que  nus  tousfourma  ; 
Wyde  were  is  wounde, 

qe  le  Gyw  ly  dona  ; 
He  tholede  harde  stounde, 

me  poi  le  greva. 


98  SPECIMENS  OF 

On  stou  ase  thou  stode, 

pucele,  tot  pensaunt) 
Thou  restest  the  under  rode, 

tonfitz  veites  pendant ; 
Thou  seje  is  sides  of  blode, 

Veil  me  de  ly  partaunt ; 
He  ferede  uch  an  fode, 

en  mound  quefmt  rh-aunt. 

Ys  siden  were  sore, 
le  sang  de  ly  com  : 

That  lond  wes  for-lore, 
mes  il  le  rechata. 

Uch  bern  that  wes  y-bore, 
en  enfern  descenda  ; 

He  tholede  deth  therfore, 
en  del  />///.>•  innunta. 

Tho  Pilat  herde  the  tydynirc. 

molt  fu  joyous  baron n  ; 
He  lette  byfore  him  bryn«r«- 

Jesu  Nazaroun. 
He  was  y-crouned  kynge, 

pur  nostre  redempcioun ; 
Whose  wol  me  synge, 

avera  grant  pardoun. 


LYRIC  POETRY.  99 

XXXVI. 

[Fol.  106,  ro.] 

GOD,  that  al  this  myhtes  may, 

in  hevene  ant  erthe  thy  wille  ys  oo, 
Ichabbe  be  losed  mony  a  day, 

er  ant  late  y  be  thy  foo ; 
Ich  wes  to  wyte  ant  wiste  my  lay, 

longe  habbe  holde  me  ther-fro  ; 
Vol  of  merci  thou  art  ay, 

al  ungreythe  icham  to  the  to  go. 

To  go  to  him  that  hath  ous  boht, 

my  gode  deden  bueth  fol  smalle 
Of  the  werkes  that  ich  ha  wroht, 

the  beste  is  bittrore  then  the  galle. 
My  god  ich  wiste,  y  nolde  hit  noht, 

in  folie  me  wes  luef  to  falle ; 
When  y  my  self  have  thourh-soht, 

y  knowe  me  for  the  wrst  of  alle. 

God,  that  de3edest  on  the  rod, 

al  this  world  to  forthren  ant  fylle, 
For  ous  thou  sheddest  thi  suete  blod, 

that  y  ha  don  me  lyketh  ylle ; 
Bote  er  a3eyn  the  stith  y  stod, 

er  ant  late,  loude  ant  stille, 
Of  myne  deden  fynde  y  non  god, 

Lord,  of  me  thou  do  thy  wille. 

n2 


100  SPECIMENS  OF 

In  herte  ne  rayhte  y  never  bowc, 

ne  to  my  kundc  loverd  drawc  ; 
My  rneste  vo  ys  my  loves  trowe, 

Crist  ne  stod  me  never  hawe ; 
Ich  holde  me  vilore  then  a  Gy\v, 

ant  y  my  self  wolde  hue  knowo : 
Lord,  merci  rewe  me  now, 

reyse  up  that  ys  tulle  low*'. 

( Jod,  that  al  this  world  shal  hede, 

thy  gode  myht  thou  hast  in  woldo, 
On  erthe  thou  com  for  oure  ncde, 

for  ous  sunful  were  boht  ant  sold<-  : 
When  we  bueth  dempned  after  ur  drdr. 

a  domesday  when  ryhtes  bueth  tol<l<>. 
When  we  shule  suen  thy  wound<- 

to  speke  thenne  we  bueth  unboldc. 

Unbold  ichani  to  bidde  the  bote, 

swythe  unreken  ys  my  rees ; 
Thy  wille  ne  welk  y  ner  a  fote, 

to  wickede  werkes  y  me  chees ; 
Fals  y  wes  in  crop  ant  rote, 

when  y  seyde  thy  lore  was  lees ; 
Jesu  Crist,  thou  be  mi  bote, 

so  boun  icham  to  make  my  pi •<  •-. 

Al  unreken  is  my  ro, 

Loverd  Crist,  whet  shal  y  say  ? 
Of  myne  deden  fyndc  y  non  fro, 

ne  nothyng  that  y  thenke  max . 


LYRIC  POETRY.  101 

Unwrth  icham  to  come  the  to, 
y  serve  the  nouther  nyht  ne  day  ; 

In  thy  merci  y  me  do, 

God,  that  al  this  myhtes  may. 


XXXVII. 

[Fol.  106,  r».] 

LUSTNETH  alle  a  Intel  throwe, 
3e  that  wolleth  ou  selve  y-knowe, 

unwys  thah  y  be, 
Ichulle  telle  ou  ase  y  con, 
Hou  holy  wryt  speketh  of  mon, 

herkneth  nou  to  me. 

The  holy  mon  sayth  in  his  bok, 
That  mon  is  worm  ant  wormes  kok, 

ant  wormes  he  shal  vede  ; 
When  is  lif  is  hym  by-reved, 
In  is  rug  ant  in  his  heved 

he  shal  foule  wormes  brede. 

The  fleyhs  shal  rotie  from  the  bon, 
The  senewes  untuen  everuchon, 

the  body  shal  to-fye  ; 
36  that  wolleth  that  sothe  y  suen, 
Under  grases  ther  hue  buen, 

byholdeth  wet  ther  lye. 


102  SPECIMENS  OF 

Mon  is  mad  of  feble  torn, 
Ne  hath  he  no  syker  hom, 

to  stunte  alle  wey  stille ; 
Ys  ryhte  stude  is  elles  wer, 
Jhesu,  bring  us  alle  ther, 

3ef  hit  be  thy  wille  ! 

The  fleysh  stout  t^eyn  the  gost, 
When  thou  shalt  de3e,  ner  thou  nost 

nouther  day  ne  nyht ; 
On  stede  ne  sitte  thou  ner  so  heje, 
jet  a-last  thou  shalt  deje, 

greyth  the  whil  thou  myht. 

In  false  wonyng  is  monnes  lyf, 
When  deth  draweth  is  sharpe  knyf, 

do  the  sone  to  shryve ; 
For  jef  thou  const  loke  ariht, 
Nast  thou  nothyng  bote  fyhl, 

whil  thou  art  a-lyve. 

Nou  thou  hast  wrong,  ant  nou  ryht ; 
Nou  thou  art  hevy,  ant  nou  lyht ; 

thou  lepest  ase  a  roo  ; 
Nou  thou  art  sekest,  ant  nou  holest ; 
Nou  thou  art  rychest,  ant  nou  porest ; 

nis  this  muche  woo  ? 

Thy  fleysh  ne  swyketh  nyht  ne  day, 
Hit  wol  han  eyse  whil  hit  may, 
ant  the  soule  sayth,  "  nay ; 


LYRIC  POETRY.  103 

3ef  ich  the  buere  to  muclie  meth, 
Thou  wolt  me  bringe  to  helle  cleth, 
ant  wo  that  lesteth  ay." 

Thus  hit  geth  bituene  hem  tuo, 

That  on  saith,  let,  that  other  seyth,  do, 

ne  conne  hue  nout  lynne  ; 
Wei  we  mowe  alle  y-se, 
The  soule  shulde  maister  be, 

The  pris  forte  wynne. 

Ne  be  thou  nout  thi  fleysh  uncouth, 
Loke  wet  cometh  out  of  thy  mouth, 

ant  elles  wher  wythoute  ; 
3ef  thou  nymest  wel  god  keep, 
Ne  fyndest  thou  non  so  fyl  dung-heep, 

ant  thou  loke  aboute. 

Nou  thou  hast  in  that  foul  hous, 
A  thyng  that  is  ful  precious, 

ful  duere  hit  ys  aboht ; 
Icholde  the  ful  wilde  ant  wod, 
3ef  thou  lesest  so  muche  god, 

ant  3evest  hit  for  noht. 

Mon,  be  war  ant  eke  wis, 
3ef  thou  fallest,  sone  arys, 

ne  ly  thou  none  stounde  ; 
With  al  thi  myhte  thou  do  this, 
Thy  soule  sit  ant  soth  hit  ys, 

blysse  ichave  y-foimde. 


104  SPECIMENS  OF 

Mon,  thou  havest  wicked  fon. 
The  alre  worst  is  that  on, 

here  nonies  y  shal  telle  ; 
Thyn  onne  fleysh,  thy  worldes  fend, 
That  best  shulde  be  thy  frend, 

that  most  doth  the  to  quelle. 

Thou  elothest  him  in  feir  shroud, 
Ant  makest  thy  fomon  fat  ant  proud, 

3ef  y  durste  seyn  ; 
Thou  dest  thy  selve  muche  wrong, 
Thou  makest  him  so  fat  ant  stronu. 

to  fyhte  the 


Do  my  counsail  ant  my  reed, 
Withdrah  hym  ofte  of  is  breed, 

ant  3ef  him  water  drynkc  ; 
Ne  let  hym  nothing  ydel  go, 
Bote  pyne  do  hym  ant  wo, 

ant  ofte  let  hym  swynke. 

Coveytise  of  mony  thyng, 

The  world  the  bringeth  in  fleish  lykyng, 

ant  jeveth  the  more  ant  more  ; 
Fals  he  is,  ant  feyr  he  semeth, 
Arle  best  when  he  the  quemeth, 

he  byndeth  the  fol  sore. 

Thenne  shal  he  go  to  noht, 
Nast  thou  nothing  hyder  y-broht, 
ne  nout  shalt  buere  wytli  the  ; 


LYRIC  POETRY.  105 

Thou  shall  alone  go  thy  wey, 
Withoute  stede  ant  palefrey, 
withoute  gold  ant  fee. 

Lucifer,  that  foule  wyht, 

That  wes  him  selve  so  feyr  ant  bryht, 

thurh  prude  fel  to  helle  ; 
With  foule  wille  ant  foul  thoht, 
He  fondeth  bringe  the  to  noht, 

ant  the  forte  quelle. 

Thench  that  he  the  nes  nout  god, 
He  wolde  have  thyn  huerte  blod, 

war  the  for  his  hokes ; 
Do  nou  ase  ichave  the  seyd, 
Ant  alle  thre  shule  ben  aleyd, 

with  huere  foule  crokes. 

3ef  thou  seist  my  spel  ys  hard, 
That  thou  ne  mist  this  foreward 

holde  ne  dreje ; 
A  lutel  thyng  y  aske  the, 
Sey  me  soth  par  charite, 

Ther-of  that  thou  ne  lye. 

Wher  beth  hue  by-foren  us  were, 
Lordes,  ledyes,  that  havekes  bere, 

haden  feld  ant  wode ; 
The  ryche  ledies  in  huere  bour, 
That  wereden  gold  on  huere  tressour, 

with  huere  bryhte  rode  ? 


I  06  SPECIMENS  OF 

Hue  eten  ant  dronken  ant  maden  huein  glad, 
Huere  lyf  al  with  joie  y-lad, 

me  knelede  huem  by-fore  ; 
Hue  beren  huem  so  swythe  heje, 
Ant  in  a  twynglyng  of  an  636 

so  hue  buen  for-lore. 

\\lier  bueth  hue  thy  wedes  longe  ? 
This  muchele  murthe,  joie,  ant  songe, 

this  havekes  ant  this  houndes  ? 
Al  that  weole  is  wend  a-way, 
Ant  al  is  turnd  to  wey-la-wey  ! 

to  monye  harde  stoundes. 

Huere  parais  hue  maden  here, 
Ant  nou  hue  liggeth  in  helle  y-fere, 

that  fur  huem  berneth  ever  ; 
Stronge  y  pyne  ant  stronge  in  wo, 
Longe  is  ay,  ant  longe  ys  o, 

out  ne  cometh  hue  never. 

3ef  the  feond,  the  foule  thyng, 
Thourh  wycked  werk,  other  eggyug, 

a-doun  hath  the  y-cast ; 
Up  ant  be  god  champioun, 
Stond,  ant  fal  no  more  adoun 

for  a  lutel  blast. 

Tac  the  rode  to  thy  staf, 

Ant  thenk  on  him  that  for  the  3af 

his  lyf,  that  wes  so  luef ; 
He  hit  5ef,  thou  thonke  hym  ; 

thy  fo  such  staf  thou  nym. 

ant  wrek  the  on  that  thuef. 


LYRIC  POETRY.  107 

XXXVIII. 

[Fol.  112,  r°.] 

Femmes  a  la  pye 
Portent  compagnye 

en  maners  e  en  mours ; 
Escotez  que  vus  dye, 
E  quele  assocye 

yl  tienent  en  amours. 
La  pie  de  costume 
Porte  penne  e  plume 

de  divers  colours ; 
E  femme  se  delite 
En  estraunge  habite, 

de  divers  atours. 

La  pie  ad  longe  cowe 
Que  pend  en  la  bowe, 

pur  la  pesauncie ; 
E  femme  fet  la  sowe 
Plus  long  que  nule  cowe 

de  poun  ou  de  pye. 

La  pie  est  jangleresse, 
E  reelement  cesse 

de  mostrer  ou  ele  est ; 
E  la  femme  pur  son  us, 
D'assez  jangle  plus; 

issi  nature  crest. 


108  SPECIMENS  OF 

Par  jangle  de  la  pie 
Um  vient  a  troveryc-, 

de  gopyl  e  de  chat ; 
Femme  par  parole 
Meynt  honme  afole, 

e  ly  rend  tot  mat. 

Vus  troverez  la  pye 
Si  pleyn  de  boydie, 

que  ele  se  garde  bien; 
Mes  la  femme  pase 
La  pie  en  cele  grace, 

quar  ele  ne  doute  rk-n. 

La  pie  en  arbre  haut 
En  freit  e  en  chant, 

prent  soun  repos; 
K  femme  velt  reposer 
En  hautesse  de  cuer, 

e  de  syre  los. 

La  pie  quant  ele  gr 
Countre  son  mary  levc, 

e  1'enchace  de  ly; 
E  femme  de  grant  cuer, 
Son  baroun  par  tencer 

fet  autresy. 
Pur  icele  gyse, 
Je  lou  que  um  se  avysc, 

avaunt  qu'il  soit  mary. 

E  nequedent la  pye 

Somi  rompai<riioun 


LYRIC  POETRY.  109 

de  quel  part  s'en  va; 
E  la  femme  auxi 
Espie  son  mary, 

par  gelosie  que  ele  a, 

La  pie  par  yre 
Les  gardyns  empire, 

par  braunche  debruser ; 
E  en  femme  corocee 
Hi  en  serra  celee, 

quant  ele  se  puet  venger. 

Horn  dit  que  la  pie 
En  sa  nature  crye, 

il  nus  viegnent  gestes  ; 
E  la  femme  puet  dire 
A  soun  mary,  "  syre, 

par  moi  averez  blestes." 

La  pie  siet  musser, 
Quanqe  ele  puet  gayner, 

en  un  prive  lu  ; 
E  la  femme  se  purveit, 
Avant  qe  ele  vidue  seit, 

dount  ert  sustenu. 

Bie[n]  dust  la  pie, 
Queiqe  um  en  die, 

a  femme  estre  chere ; 
Puis  qe  lur  vie 
Par  tiele  compagnie 

acordent  en  manere. 


110  SPECIMENS  OF 


XXXIX. 

[Fol.  114,  vo.] 

MON  in  the  mone  stond  ant  strit, 

on  is  bot  forke  is  burthen  he  bereth  ; 
Hit  is  muche  wonder  that  he  nadoun  slyt, 

for  doute  leste  he  valle  he  shoddretli  ant  shereth. 
When  the  forst  freseth,  muche  chele  he  byd ; 

the  thornes  beth  kene,  is  hattren  to-tereth ; 
Nis  no  wytht  in  the  world  that  wot  wen  he  syt, 

ne,  bote  hit  bue  the  hegge,  whet  wedes  he  wereth. 

Winder  trowe  this  mon  ha  the  wey  take, 

he  hath  set  his  o  fot  is  other  to-foren ; 
For  non  hithte  that  he  hath  ne  sytht  me  hym  ner  shake, 

he  is  the  sloweste  mon  that  ever  wes  y-boren  ; 
Wher  he  were  othe  feld  pycchynde  stake, 

for  hope  of  ys  thornes  to  dutten  is  doren, 
He  mot  myd  is  twy-byl  other  trous  make, 

other  al  is  dayes  werk  thor  were  y-loren. 

This  ilke  mon  upon  heh  when  er  he  were, 

wher  he  were  ythe  mone  boren  ant  y-fed, 
He  leneth  on  is  forke  ase  a  grey  frere, 

this  crokede  caynard  sore  he  is  a-dred ; 
Hit  is  mony  day  go  that  he  was  here, 

ichot  of  is  ernde  he  nath  nout  y-sped. 
He  hath  he  we  sum  wher  a  burthen  of  brere, 

tharefore  sum  hay-ward  hath  taken  ys  wed. 


LYRIC  POETRY. 

3ef  thy  wed  ys  y-take,  bring  horn  the  trous, 

sete  forth  thyn  other  fot,  stryd  over  sty ; 
We  shule  preye  the  hay-wart  horn  to  ur  hous, 

ant  maken  hym  at  heyse  for  the  maystry ; 
Dry nke  to  hym  deorly  of  fol  god  bous, 

ant  oure  dame  douse  shal  sitten  hym  by, 
When  that  he  is  dronke  ase  a  dreynt  mous, 

thenne  we  shule  borewe  the  wed  ate  bayly. 

This  mon  hereth  me  nout,  thah  ich  to  hym  crye ; 

ichot  the  cherl  is  def,  the  Del  hym  to-drawe ! 
Thah  ich  3036  upon  heth  nulle  nout  hye. 

the  lostlase  ladde  con  nout  o  lawe. 
Hupe  forth,  Hubert,  hosede  pye, 

ichot  thart  a-marstled  in  to  the  mawe. 
Tli ah  me  teone  with  hym  that  myn  teh  mye, 

the  cherld  nul  nout  a-doun  er  the  day  dawe. 


Ill 


XL. 

[Fol.  128,  r0.] 

LUTEL  wot  hit  anymon, 

how  love  hym  haveth  y-bounde, 
That  for  us  othe  rode  ron, 

ant  bohte  us  with  is  wounde. 
The  love  of  him  us  haveth  y-maked  sounde, 
Ant  y-cast  the  grimly  gost  to  grounde ; 
Ever  ant  oo,  nyht  ant  day,  he  haveth  us  in  is  thohte, 
He  nul  nout  leose  that  he  so  deore  bohte. 


112  SPECIMENS  OP 

He  bohte  us  with  is  holy  blocl, 
what  shulde  he  don  us  more  ? 

He  is  so  meoke,  milde,  ant  good, 
he  nagulte  nout  ther-fore  ; 

That  we  han  y-don,  y  rede  we  reowen 

Ant  crien  ever  to  Jhesu,  Crist,  thyn  on-. 

Ever  ant  oo,  niht  ant  day,  etc. 


He  seh  his  fader  so  wonder  wroht, 

with  raon  that  wes  y-falle, 
With  herte  sor  he  seide  is  oht 

whe  shulde  abuggen  alle  ; 
His  suete  sone  to  hym  gon  clepe  ant  callc, 
Ant  preiede  he  moste  deye  for  us  alle. 
Ever  ant  oo,  etc. 


He  brohte  us  alle  from  the  deth, 
ant  dude  us  frendes  dede  ; 

Suete  Jhesu  of  Nazareth, 
thou  do  us  hevene  mede  ; 

Upon  the  rode,  why  nulle  we  taken 

His  grene  wounde  so  grimly  conne 

Ever  ant  oo,  etc. 


His  deope  wounden  bledeth  fast, 

of  hem  we  ohte  munne  ; 
He  hath  ous  out  of  helle  y-cast, 

y-broht  us  out  of  sunne  ; 
For  love  of  us  his  wonges  waxcth  tliunnc, 
His  herte  blod  he  5ef  for  al  monkiiimc. 
Ever  ant  oo,  etc. 


LYRIC  POETRY.  113 

XLIL 

[Fol.  128,  ro.] 

LUTEL  wot  hit  anymon, 

hou  derne  love  may  stonde ; 
Bote  hit  were  a  fre  wymmon, 

that  muche  of  love  had  fonde. 
The  love  of  hire  ne  lesteth  no  wyht  longe, 
Heo  haveth  me  plyht,  ant  wyteth  me  wyth  wronge. 
Ever  ant  oo,  for  my  leof  icham  in  grete  thohte, 
Y  thenche  on  hire  that  y  ne  seo  nout  ofte. 

Y  wolde  nemne  hyre  to  day, 

ant  y  dorste  hire  munne  ; 
Heo  is  that  feireste  may, 

of  uch  ende  of  hire  kunne; 
Bote  heo  me  love,  of  me  heo  haves  sunne, 
Who  is  him  that  loveth  the  love  that  he  ne  may  ner 

y- wynne. 
Ever  ant  oo,  etc. 

A-doun  y  fel  to  hire  anon, 

ant  crie,  ledy,  thyn  ore ! 
Ledy,  ha  mercy  of  thy  mon  ! 

lef  thou  no  false  lore. 
5ef  thou  dost,  hit  wol  me  reowe  sore, 
Love  dreccheth  me  that  y  ne  may  lyve  namore. 
Ever  ant  oo,  etc. 

i 


380038 

114  SPECIMENS  OF 

Mury  hit  ys  in  hyre  tour, 

wyth  hatheles  ant  wyth  heowes; 
So  hit  is  in  hyre  bour, 

with  gomenes  ant  with  gleowes  ; 
Bote  heo  me  lovye,  sore  hit  wol  me  rewr.  1 
Wo  is  him  that  loveth  the  love  that  ner  nul  be  trewe  ! 
Ever  ant  oo,  etc. 


Fayrest  fode  upo  loft, 

my  gode  luef,  y  the  greete, 
Ase  fele  sythe  ant  oft 

as  dewes  dropes  beth  weete  ; 
As  sterres  beth  in  welkne,  ant  grases  sour  tint 
Whose  loveth  untrewe,  his  herte  is  selde  seete. 
i  ant  oo,  etc. 


KIMS. 


RICI1AKUS,    !•; 


PR  1120  .PH  S7  SMC 

Wright,  Thomas 
Specimens  of  lyric 
poetry 
47143294