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 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 AT LOS ANGELES
 
 (/^ 
 
 SPECIMENS 
 
 OF 
 
 LYRIC POETRY, 
 
 COMPOSED IN ENGLAND IN THE REIGN OF 
 EDWARD THE FIRST. 
 
 EDITED FROM MS. HARL. 22-53, IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 
 
 THOMAS WRIGHT, ESQ. M.A., F.S.A., he. 
 
 OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE. 
 
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 LONDON : 
 PRINTED FOR THE PERCY SOCIETY, 
 
 BV T. IllCIlARDS, FOR THE EXECUTORS OF THE LATE 
 
 C. RICHARDS, ion, ST. MARTINS I..\NE. 
 
 MDCC'CXMI.
 
 
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 VV92)s 
 
 Cf)e i3trr^ Society* 
 
 > COUNCIL 
 
 ^ OF 
 
 (D 
 
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 L_ President. 
 
 lii The Rt, Hon. LORD BRAYBROOKE, F.S.A 
 
 to 
 
 5 THOMAS AMYOT, Esq. F.R.S. Tkeas. S.A. 
 
 WILLIAM HENRY BLACK, Esq. 
 
 I 
 
 i- J. A. CAHUSAC, Esq. F.S.A. 
 
 WILLIAM CHAPPELL, Esq. F.S.A. Treasurer. 
 
 A 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. MR S L. 
 
 , \ CHARLES MACKAY, Esq. 
 
 5 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. 
 
 212();M
 
 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. 883), I have shown 
 that the song on the Traillebastons nmst have
 
 VI 
 
 been composed in some of the western counties 
 of England (under which head I inchide 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 nothins: 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, ro, we have a Latin life of 
 St. Ethelbert; at fol. 132, ro, we find the Latin 
 legend of St. Edfrid, who founded the abbey of 
 Leominster, Incipit legenda de Sancto Etfrido 
 presbitero de Leotwiinstria ; and at fol. 140, vo, 
 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." 
 They are curious as illustrating the language of 
 the period ; but some of them arc obscure, on
 
 Vlll 
 
 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. I 
 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 Antiquaj," 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. 
 
 Lnndon, Filrmtry \M2.
 
 SPECIMENS 
 
 LYRIC 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 hastiyement 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 lemmes lui a, b, c, 
 a I'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 ; 
 
 Ou va femme, la vet joie, 
 ele ne va pas soule. 
 
 ^mour de femme moun cuer entame, 
 
 de fere un poy enveysure, 
 Pur sauver femme de tote blame, 
 
 chescun devereit mettre cure ; 
 Pur I'amour de une dame, 
 
 que tot le mound en terre honure, 
 Que femme esclaundre e met en fame 
 
 ne vint unqe de bone nature ; 
 a veyr dyre. 
 Qui de femme dit vileynie, 
 
 certes sa bouche empyre. 
 
 JSeaute de femme 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 fans 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. 
 
 ISyamaund 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. 
 
 (£ux 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 ; 
 
 b2
 
 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 tous plere. 
 
 ^emmes 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 aver a si joye noun ; 
 De totes bountes sunt yl beyr, 
 
 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 nnlle vyleyne.
 
 LYRIC POETRY. 
 
 f^arpe, n'autre menesti-ausie, 
 
 ne oysel que chaunt u boys, 
 Ne sount si noble melodie, 
 
 come de femme oyr la vols. 
 Mout purracl 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. 
 
 B n'y out unqe honme nee 
 
 pvis le temps Adam e Eve, 
 Qe sout de femmes la bounte 
 
 ou comence ne oil acheve ; 
 A demostrer tiel segree, 
 
 a moy serreit donqe chose greve ; 
 Mes pus qe je I'ay comencee, 
 
 avant dirroi ou parole sweve 
 e fyne, 
 Femmes dussoms tous honorer, 
 
 pur I'amour d'une meschyne. 
 
 I^orteysie en femme git, 
 
 en lu ou ad bel desport ; 
 
 E cely en fenme char prist, 
 qe d'enfern nus dona resort ; 
 
 E do femme cil nasquist, 
 
 qe pur nus pus sufiry lu mort. 
 
 Qui a femme fet despit,
 
 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 il me semble que il ad tort, 
 En taunt ; 
 Quar en femme descendist, 
 Jhesu le tot pussaunt. 
 
 IL'amour du mound en femme habite, 
 
 en un lu molt aimable ; 
 Yl n'ad pas choysy lu petite, 
 
 mes large, grant, e delitable. 
 Yl ne trovera que ly desberyte, 
 
 la puet il meyndre tot dis estable ; 
 Son ostel est de tons maus quite, 
 
 pur veyr le dy, sauntz mot de fable, 
 dedenz, 
 Que maveste quert en femme, 
 
 certes il pert son tenz. 
 
 ilMarie, que portastes le salveour, 
 
 vostre grace vus requer, 
 Me seiez ayde e socour, 
 
 pur I'onour de femme sauver, 
 Qe portent fruyt de bel colour, 
 
 noble, douce, ne mie amer ; 
 Gentz que sount de grant valour, 
 
 qe le mound governent enter, 
 par sen. 
 Bene soit tiel arbre 
 
 que tiel fruit porte ! Amen. 
 
 ^ote de la russiuole 
 
 je tienk pur nient en temps de May,
 
 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 enjoy nt, 
 
 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 qn'est le myen 
 demeyne ;
 
 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 Unque ne trovay en ly 
 
 fors bounte e cuer certeygne. 
 
 (Suoyntement s'en vont armee 
 
 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 fuissent mors. 
 Que pur nus ount grevement ploree, 
 
 e ce a molt grauntz tortz, 
 sovent ; 
 Nul ne savera devyser 
 
 la joye que de eux descent. 
 
 2S.ose, qu'est de bel colour, 
 
 e d'este porte I'enseygne, 
 Ne gitte poynt si fyn odour 
 
 come est de femme la douce aleyne. 
 Qui porreit donque nuit e jour 
 
 aver une en son demeyne, 
 Mout purreit vivre a grant honour, 
 
 e en joie sauntz nuUe peyne 
 u mounde ; 
 Nul ne savera deviser 
 
 la joie que de femme habounde. 
 
 ^i tous I'espieces en tenz de pees, 
 
 qe de tous terres venent par mer, 
 Fuissent lyes en un fees, 
 
 e urn les devereit bien juger,
 
 LYRTC POETRY. 9 
 
 II n'y a nul de tel I'elees, 
 
 come de ferame un douz bayser, 
 
 Ce su je prest prover ades, 
 qui me vodra count repleyder 
 en dyt ; 
 
 Car femme est la plus graciouse 
 chose que unqe Dieu fyt. 
 
 Cryacle, tresbien tryee, 
 
 n'est poynt si fyn en sa termyne, 
 Come est le lycour alosee 
 
 quy femme porte en sa peytrine. 
 Bien doit tiele chose estre amee, 
 
 que porte si noble medicine I 
 Meint foyz est anguissee 
 
 par nous fenme en gysyne, 
 
 sanz bobance ; 
 Nul ne savera deviser 
 
 come sunt pur nus en grevaunce. 
 
 lirolables ne sunt point de corage, 
 
 quai* eles se tienent en une assise ; 
 A eux ne serra dit hountage, 
 
 quar il sount de bone aprise ; 
 Come plus est venu de haut parage, 
 
 meinz s'en orguile en tote guyse. 
 Chescun qu'est de bon estage 
 
 femmes honourt par soun devyse 
 tot dis ; 
 Honour en bone femme 
 
 ne puet estre mcsassis.
 
 10 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 Xpc le fitz Marie, 
 
 le tresnoble enfaunt, 
 Defent qe vyleynye 
 
 ne soit desorenavant 
 Dit par nulle folye 
 
 a nulle femme vivant ! 
 Mes chescun ayme s'amye, 
 
 come Dieu nus est amaunt 
 en terre, 
 Que sa douce face 
 
 en ciel pussoms vere. 
 
 ^sope, fenoil, columbyn, 
 
 Flur de lyls alosee, 
 Rose que porte colour fyn, 
 
 gyngivre racynee, 
 Deveroit crestre u chemyn, 
 
 oii 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. 
 
 %abulon, come je vus counte, 
 c'est un propre noun, 
 
 Cely que bone femme afrounte, 
 ja n'eit s'alme pardoun ! 
 
 Fuisse-je roy ou grant counte, 
 ou de terre noble baroun,
 
 LYRIC POETRY. 11 
 
 Quy a femme ferreit hounte, 
 
 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 banc countre mur, 
 Totes vileynyes het, 
 
 tant come porte fruit si pur, 
 De totes arbres dount fueille cliet, 
 
 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 liumilite, 
 
 qe mostre d 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 torne a grant dolour. 
 
 Ave 3Iaria 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 I'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. 13 
 
 Saunz rancour e sanz ire, 
 pur nus soiFry peyne fort, 
 en croys, 
 
 La joie de ciel nus ad graunte, 
 meisme.s 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 I'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 sovent 
 
 le pys e I'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, 
 
 geo est moun delit, 
 
 de aver beau lit 
 
 de dras braunchys, 
 
 fleyre la buee. 
 
 La tenue coverture 
 
 c'est ma desconfiture, 
 
 lange sauntz foreure, 
 
 de cell 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 I'yver s'esteynt par la matynee, 
 
 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 clare
 
 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 cliandee 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 i3ur grosoiller nuilles e oblees, 
 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 trovee 
 
 countre la nuyt un chaudon, 
 
 quit a chasteyne paree. 
 
 En quaresme a I'entre, 
 
 lors eym perche paree, 
 
 la tenche en verse, 
 
 e en souz botee ; 
 
 harang, plays, 
 
 e peschoun, freshe e alosee 
 
 en pastee, 
 
 gastieu rostiz, menu brayz, 
 
 e flaunclie salee.
 
 LYRIC POETRY. 1 7 
 
 Dars ne heez je mie 
 
 fenduz de quonie ; 
 
 anguille de goi's de sa pieu veiidie, 
 
 conger, estoi'goun, 
 
 luz, salmoun, 
 
 vendoise, breme, ne gerdon, 
 
 ne morue ou I'aille, ne creinte pelle, 
 
 ne roclies, ne lampre, 
 
 ne raye refreide, 
 
 ly makerel freslie e novel, 
 
 e tot cist autre bon morsel 
 
 mout la bourse veydee. 
 
 Quant la pasche repeire, 
 
 je in'y last tayre, 
 
 tart e flaon faz fere, 
 
 pur la sesoun retrere ; 
 
 molt aym motoun a gras reynovin, 
 
 e I'aignel faz fors trere, 
 
 de pelicoun, 
 
 m'entencioun 
 
 met au poyvi'e defere. 
 
 Droyz est qe Ten 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,
 
 18 SPFXJIMENS 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 dormyi'. 
 
 III. 
 
 [Fol. 61 v'o.] 
 
 Cyl qe vodra oyr mes chauns, 
 
 en soun cuer se remyre ; 
 Si il en fet, ou en semblauns^ 
 
 rien touche a la matire ; 
 De un chaungon en Romauns 
 
 ou la en orrez descrire. 
 La lessoun a leals amantz 
 
 vus y comencez a lyre. 
 
 Meint honme quide aver ami 
 
 conquis en sa richesse, 
 Q'assez tost le avera gerpi, 
 
 si il veit pus sa destresse ; 
 E primes le avera escharni 
 
 pur ea tresgrant largesse, 
 Si nul vus ad de ce servi, 
 
 ne creez mhs sa promesse.
 
 LYRIC POETRY. 19 
 
 Si toun ami as esprove, 
 
 lie 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, 
 
 taut ad le siecle envie. 
 A toun ami n'estuit celer 
 
 ton consail ne ta vie ; 
 Quar si il te puet de reii valer, 
 
 il ne vus faudra niie. 
 
 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 I'autre crere. 
 
 Si vostre ami velt mesaler, 
 la main le devez tendre ; 
 
 c 2
 
 20 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 Ne ly softrez 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 offendrc. 
 
 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 mesure ; 
 Quar losenger e leal ami 
 
 diversent par nature. 
 
 Entre amis seit owelete, 
 
 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 nuUe 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 I'em sust sa folic, 
 E nieint um pecclie en privitee, 
 
 e i)us yirent bone vie.
 
 22 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 Ore ai mostre un poi de pas 
 
 ou amour est founde ; 
 En ce vers trover purras 
 
 si tu les as bien gai'de ; 
 A toun ami ne diez pas 
 
 quanque son cuer agree, 
 Mes ce qe a soun honour verras, 
 
 si en ert amour paye. 
 
 Ore pri a tous lais e clers, 
 
 si ne me chant qe loye, 
 Qe nul ne prenge le travers, 
 
 de fyn amour verroie ; 
 Car leal cuer n'est pas divers, 
 
 eynz ayme droite voie ; 
 Ly tu antem est en ce vers, 
 
 ly respounz soit de joye. Amen. 
 
 IV. 
 
 [Fol. 62 v".] 
 
 MiDDEL-ERD for mon wes mad, 
 un-mihti aren is meste mede ; 
 
 This hedy hath on honde y-had, 
 that hevene hem is hest to hede ; 
 
 Icherde a blisse budel us bad, 
 the dreri domes-dai to drede.
 
 LYRIC POETRY. 23 
 
 Of sunful sauliting sone be sad, 
 
 that derne doth this derne dede ; 
 thali 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 suete, 
 That itelle a povre play, 
 
 that furst is feir ant seththe un-sete ; 
 This wilde wille went a-\vai, 
 
 with mone and mournyng muchel un-mete, 
 That livith in likyng out of lay, 
 
 his hap he deth ful harde on hete, 
 ajeynz he howeth henne ; 
 Alle is thrivene thewes threte, 
 
 that thenketh nout on thenne. 
 
 A3eynes 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 tlieo, 
 
 is rest is reved with the reode, 
 Fyth of other ne dartli he fleo, 
 
 that fleishshes faunyng furst for-eode, 
 that falsist is of fy ve ; 
 5ef we leveth eny leode, 
 
 werryng is wort^t of wyve.
 
 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 gomenes he mai gon al gelde, 
 ant sore ben fered on folde, 
 Lest he to harmes helde, 
 
 ant happes hente un-holde. 
 
 Horn un-holdest her is on, 
 
 with-outen helle, ase ich hit holde, 
 (So fele bueth founden monnes fon, 
 
 the furst of hem biforen y tolde, 
 Ther after-ward this worldes won, 
 
 with muchel un-wynne us woren wolde ; 
 Sone beth this gomenes gon, 
 
 that maketh us so brag ant bolde, 
 ant biddeth us ben blytlie ; 
 An ende he casteth ous fol colde, 
 
 in sunne ant sorewe sythe. 
 
 In sunne ant sorewe y am seint, 
 that siweth me so fully sore ; 
 
 My murthe is al with mournyng meind, 
 ne may ich mythen hit namore ; 
 
 When we beth with this world for-wleynt, 
 tliat we ne lustneth lyves loi'e.
 
 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 foi-te 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 hemes blowe, 
 he byt us buen of hyse ; 
 Ant on ys ryht hond hente rowe, 
 
 wyth ryhtwyse men to aryse. 
 
 V. 
 
 [Fol. 63, n'.] 
 
 IcHOT a burde in a hour ase beryl so bryht, 
 
 Ase saphyr in selver semly on sylit, 
 
 Ase jaspe the gentil that lemeth with lyht, 
 
 Ase gernet in golde, ant ruby wel rylit, 
 
 Ase onycle he ys on y-holden on hyht, 
 
 Ase diaraaunde the dere in day when he is dylit^ 
 
 He is coral y-cud with cayser ant knyht,
 
 2ii SPECIMENS OF 
 
 Ase ernei'aude a-morewen this may haveth myht. 
 The myht of the margarite haveth this may mere, 
 For charbocle ich hire ches hi 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 thare-to, ache ant anys, 
 
 Coynte ase columbine, such hire cunde ys, 
 
 Glad under gore in gro ant in grys. 
 
 He is blosme opon bleo bi'ihtest under bis, 
 
 With celydoyne ant sauge, ase thou thi self sys. 
 
 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 telle the mi tale, 
 He is thrustle thryven in thro that singeth in sale. 
 The wilde laveroc ant wolc ant the wodewale, 
 He is faucoun in friht dernest in dale, 
 Ant with everuch a gome gladest in gale, 
 From Weye he is wisist into Wyrhale, 
 Hire nome is in a note of the nyhtegale. 
 
 In annote is hire nome, nempneth hit non. 
 
 Whose ryht redeth ronne to Johon. 
 
 Muge he is ant mondrake, thouh miht of the mone, 
 Trewe triacle y-told with tonges in trone. 
 Such licoris mai leche from lyve to lone, 
 Such Sucre mon secheth that savcth men sone,
 
 LYRIC POETRY. 27 
 
 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 corny n cud is in crone. 
 Cud comyn in court, canel in cofre. 
 With gyngyvre ant sedewale ant the gylofre. 
 
 He is Medierne of miht, 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 Ililde that haveth me to hede. 
 He haveth me to hede this hendy a-non, 
 Geutil ase Jonas, he joyeth with Jon. 
 
 VI. 
 
 [Fol. 63, vo.] 
 
 Bytuene Mershe ant Averil 
 
 when spray biginneth to s[)ringe. 
 
 The hitel foul hath hire wyl 
 on hyre lud to synge ; 
 
 Ich libbe in love-longinge 
 
 For semlokest of alle thynge. 
 
 He may me blisse bringe, 
 ii-liam in liii'c l)aiiii<]()uu.
 
 28 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 An hendy hap icliabbe y-hent, 
 leliot from hevene it is me sent, 
 From alle wymmen mi love is lent 
 ant lyht on Alysoun. 
 
 On lieu hire her is fayr y-noh, 
 
 hire browe broune, hire eje blake ; 
 With lossum chere he on me loh ; 
 
 with micldel smal ant wel y-make ; 
 Bote he me wolle to hire talie, 
 Forte buen hire owen make, 
 Longe to lyven ichulle forsake, 
 
 ant feye fallen a-doun. 
 An hendy hap, etc. 
 
 Nihtes when y wende ant wake, 
 for-thi myn wonges waxeth won j 
 
 Levedi, al 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-jyi'ned 301'e. 
 Beterc is tholien whyle sore,
 
 LYRIC POETRY. 29 
 
 Then mournen evermore. 
 Geynest under gore, 
 
 herkne to my roune. 
 An hencli, 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 aUe 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 han onde. 
 To love nuly noht wonde, 
 
 ne lete for non of tho.
 
 o 
 
 SPFX'IMENS OF 
 
 Levedi, with al my milit 
 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, 
 
 whil mi lif leste may. 
 
 Lylie-whyt hue is, 
 Hire rode so rose on rys, 
 
 that reveth me mi rest. 
 Wymmon war ant wys, 
 Of prude hue bereth the pris, 
 
 burde on of the best ; 
 
 this wommon woneth by west, 
 Brihtest under bys, 
 Hevene y tolde al his 
 
 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, 
 bruches broken ase bok byt.
 
 LYRIC POETRY. 
 
 Of levedis love that y lia let, 
 
 that lemeth al with litefly 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 Avyde ; 
 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 slion, 
 
 ase Sonne doth thourh the glas ; 
 Wommon 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 sawcs have seid un-sete ; 
 My fykel fleishe, mi falsly blod, 
 
 on feld hem feole y falle to fete.
 
 32 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 To fet J falle beui t'eole, 
 
 for falsleke fifti folde ; 
 Of alle untrewe on tele, 
 
 with tonge ase y her told. 
 
 Thali told boon tales uiitoun in toun, 
 
 such tiding mei tide y nul nout teme, 
 Of brudes bryht with broAves broune, 
 
 or blisse heo beyen this briddes breme ; 
 In rude were roo with hem roune, 
 
 that he mihte henten ase him were heme ; 
 Nys kyng, cayser, ne clerk with croune, 
 
 this semly serven that mc ne may seme. 
 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 colde. 
 Ever wymmen ich herie ay, 
 
 ant ever in hyrd with hem ich holde ; 
 Ant ever at neode y nycke nay, 
 
 that y ner nemnede that heo nolde. 
 Y nolde ant nuUyt noht, 
 
 for nothyng nou a nede ; 
 Sotli is that y of hem ha wroht, 
 
 as Richard erst con rede. 
 
 I
 
 LYRIC POETRY. S3 
 
 Richard, vote 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 liylit, 
 
 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, vo.] 
 
 MosTi ryden by Rybbcsdale, 
 Wilde wymraen 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 fy 111 or fax to folde. 
 
 u
 
 34 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 Hire bed when ich biholde apon, 
 The sonne-beem aboute noon 
 
 me thohte that j se^e ; 
 Hyre eyjen aren grete ant gray y-noh, 
 Th[at] lussum when heo on me loh, 
 
 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 muchel y mourne may, 
 
 for duel to deth y drey3e. 
 
 Heo hath browes bend an heh, 
 Whj^t bytuene, ant nout to neh, 
 
 lussum lyf heo ledes ; 
 Hix'e neose ys set as hit wel semeth ; 
 Y de3e for deth that me demeth, 
 
 hire speche 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-noh 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 
 
 Evene set ant atlecl al, 
 
 ase hende mowe taken hede. 
 Swannes swjre swythe wel y-sette, 
 A sponne lengore tlien y-rnette, 
 
 that freoly ys to fede. 
 Me were levere kepe hire come, 
 Then been 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 ann an ehie 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 je 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
 
 o6 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 The water that it wetes yn, 
 Y-wis hit wortheth al to wyn, 
 that sejen seyden so. 
 
 Heo hath a mete mydclel smal, 
 Body ant brest wel mad al, 
 
 ase feynes with-oute fere ; 
 Eyther side soft ase sylk, 
 Whittore then the moren mylk, 
 
 with leofly lit on lere. 
 Al that ich ou nempne noht, 
 Hit is wonder wele y-wroht, 
 
 ant elles wonder were. 
 He niyhte sayen that Crist hym seje, 
 That myhte nyhtes neh hyre leje, 
 
 hevene he hevede here. 
 
 X. 
 
 [Fol. 66, vo.] 
 
 In a fryht as y con fare fremede, 
 
 y founde a wel feyr fenge to fere ; 
 Heo glystnede ase gold when hit glemede, 
 
 nes ner gome so gladly on gere. 
 Y wolde wyte in world who hire kenede, 
 
 this burde bi'yht, 5ef hire wil were ; 
 Heo me bed go my gates, lest hire gremede, 
 
 ne kepte heo non henyng here.
 
 LYRIC POETRY. 2] 
 
 " Y-liere tliou me uou, hendest in liekle, 
 
 navy the none harmes to hethe ; 
 Casten y wol tlie from cares ant kelcle, 
 
 comeliche 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, je waxeth unwraste, 
 
 afterward or thonke be thynne ; 
 Betre is make forewardes faste, 
 
 then afterward to mene ant mynne." 
 
 " Of munnyng ne niinit thou namore, 
 
 of menske thou were wurthe by my myht ; 
 Y take an bond to holde that y bore, 
 
 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 rybt." 
 
 " Such reed me myhte spaclyche reowe, 
 
 when al my ro were me at-raht ; 
 Sone tho waldest vacben an newe, 
 
 ant take an other witb-inne ny3e nabt. 
 Tbenne mihti bengren on beowe, 
 
 in uch an hyrd ben hated ant for-haht ; 
 Ant ben y-cayred from alle that y kneowe, 
 
 ant bede clenycn ther y Juide clabt." 
 
 212034
 
 38 SPECIMENS OP 
 
 " Betere is taken a comeliclie y-clothe, 
 
 in armes to cusse ant to cluppe, 
 Then a wrecchey- wedded so wrothe, 
 
 thah 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 hath shaped me y-nou at luppe." 
 
 " Mid shupping ne mey hit me ashunche, 
 
 nes y never wycche ne wyle ; 
 Ych am a maide, that me of tliunche, 
 
 luef me were gome boute gyle." 
 
 XI. 
 
 [Fol. 67, r".] 
 
 A WAYLE whyt as 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 al this world namore y bad 
 Then beo with hire myn one bistad. 
 with-oute strif ;
 
 LYRIC POETRY. 39 
 
 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 thi-yven ant thro, 
 Wei y wot heo nul me noht, 
 
 myn herte is wo. 
 
 Hon 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 e3enen gray. 
 
 Hyre heje 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 jeve threo, 
 
 with-oute chep. 
 From helle to hevene ant sonne to see 
 
 nys non so 3eep,
 
 -iO SPECliMENS OF 
 
 ne half so freo, 
 Whose wole of love be trewe, 
 do lystne me. 
 
 Herkneth me, y ou telle, 
 
 Li such wondiyng for wo y welle, 
 
 Nys no fur so hot in helle, 
 
 al to mon, 
 That lovetli derne ant darnout telle 
 
 whet him ys on. 
 
 Ich unne hire wel ant heo me wo ; 
 
 Yeham hire frend ant heo my fo ; 
 
 Me thuncheth min herte wol breke a two, 
 
 for sorewe ant syke ! 
 In Godes greting mote heo go, 
 
 that wayle whyte. 
 
 Ich wold ich were a threstelcok. 
 A boimtyng other a lavercok, 
 
 swete bryd ! 
 Bituene hire curtel ant hire smok 
 
 y wolde ben hyd.
 
 LYKIC POETRY. 4 I 
 
 xn. 
 
 [FoL 70, vo.J 
 
 Of a mon Matheu thohte, 
 Tho he the w'yn3ord whrohte, 
 
 ant wrot hit on ys boc ; 
 In marewe men he sohte, 
 At under mo he brohte, 
 
 ant nom and non forsoc. 
 At mydday ant at non 
 He sende hem thider fol son, 
 
 to helpen hem with hoc ; 
 Huere foreward wes to fon, 
 So the furmest hevede y-don, 
 
 ase the erst undertoc. 
 
 At evesong even neb, 
 Ydel men 5et he seh, 
 
 lomen habbe an honde ; 
 To hem he sayde an heh, 
 That suythe he wes undreli, 
 
 so ydel forte stonde. 
 So hit wes bistad. 
 That nomon hem ne bad, 
 
 liuere lomes to fonde ; 
 Anon he was by-rad. 
 To werk that he hem hid, 
 
 for nyht nolde he nout wonde.
 
 42 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 Huere hure a nylit 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, 
 That hem wes werk by-taht, 
 
 longe er hit were lyht ; 
 For ryht were that me raht. 
 The mon that al day wraht, 
 
 the more mede a nyht. 
 
 Thenne seith he y-wis, 
 
 " Why, nath nout uch mon his ? 
 
 holdeth nou or pees ; 
 A-way, thou art unwis 
 Tak al that thin ys. 
 
 ant fare ase foreward wees. 
 jef 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 wi"atlithe-]ees." 
 
 This world me wurcheth wo, 
 Roo-les ase the roo, 
 
 y sike for un-sete ; 
 Ant mourne ase men doh mo,
 
 LYRIC POETRY. 43 
 
 For doute of foule lb, 
 
 liou J 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 3ore, 
 
 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 tills 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 fei'ly fele, 
 Ant wlyteth on huere wynter wele, 
 
 that al the wode lyngeth. 
 
 The rose rayleth hire rode, 
 The leves on the lyhte wode 
 waxen al with wille ;
 
 44- SPECIMENS OF 
 
 The mone mandeth hire bleo, 
 The lilie is lossora to seo, 
 
 the fenyl ant the fiUe ; 
 Wowes this wilde drakes, 
 Miles mux'geth huere makes, 
 
 ase strem that striketh stille ; 
 Mody meneth, so doh mo, 
 Ichot ycham on of tho, 
 
 for love that likes ille. 
 
 The mone mandeth hire lyht, 
 So doth the semly sonne bryht, 
 
 when briddes singeth breme ; 
 Deowes donketh the dounes, 
 Deoi'es with huere derne rounes, 
 
 domes forte deme ; 
 Wormes woweth under cloude, 
 Wymmen waxeth wounder proude, 
 
 so wel hit wol hem seme. 
 5ef me shal wonte wille of on, 
 This wunne weole y wole for-gon, 
 
 ant wyht in wode be fleme.
 
 LYRIC POETRY. 45 
 
 XIV. 
 
 [Fol. 71, vo.] 
 
 In May hit murgeth 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 boure, 
 
 with love who mihte hem bynde ; 
 So worly wymmen are by west ; 
 One of hem ich herie best, 
 
 Fom Ii'lond in to Ynde. 
 
 "Wymmen were the beste thing, 
 That shup oure heje hevene kyng, 
 
 3ef feole false nere ; 
 Heo beoth to rad upon huere red, 
 To love ther me hem lastes bed, 
 
 when heo shule fenge fere ; 
 Lut in londe are to leve, 
 Thah me hem trewe trouthe jeve, 
 
 for tricherie to jere ; 
 When trichour hath is trouthe y-plyht, 
 By-swyken he hath that suete wyht, 
 
 thah he hire othes swere.
 
 46 SPEC;iMENS OF 
 
 Wjmmon, war the with the swyke, 
 That feir ant freoly ys to fyke, 
 
 ys fare is o to fouude ; 
 So wycle in workl ys huere won, 
 In uch a toune untrewe is on, 
 
 from Leycesti'c to Lounde. 
 Of treuthe nis the trichour noht, 
 Bote he habbe is wille y-wroht, 
 
 at stevenyng umbe stovinde; 
 Ah feyre levedis be on-war, 
 To late Cometh the 3eyn char, 
 
 when love on hath y-bounde. 
 
 Wymmen bueth so feyr on hewe, 
 Ne trowy none that nere trewe, 
 
 3ef trichour hem ne tahte ; 
 Ah feyre thinges freoly bore, 
 When me on woweth, beth war bifore, 1 
 
 whuch is worldes ahte. 
 Al to late is send a3eyn, 
 When the ledy liht by leyn, 
 
 ant ly veth by that he lahte ; 
 Ah wolde lylie leor in lyn 
 Y-here lovely lores myn, 
 
 with selthe we weren sahte. 
 
 I
 
 LYRIC POETRY. 
 
 XV. 
 
 [Fol. 72, r".] 
 
 Heje loverd, thou hei'e 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 fuUe 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.
 
 48 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 A goute me hath y-greythed so, 
 Ant other eveles monye mo, 
 
 y not whet bote is beste ; 
 Thar er wes wilde ase the ro, 
 Nou y swyke, y mei nout so, 
 
 hit siweth me so faste. 
 
 Faste y wes on horse heh, 
 
 ant werede worly wede ; 
 Nou is faren al my feh, 
 With serewe that ich liit ever seh, 
 
 a staf is nou my stede. 
 
 When y se steden stythe in stalle, 
 Ant y go haltinde in the halle, 
 
 myn huerte gynneth to helde ; 
 That er wes wildest in with waUe, 
 Nou is under fote y-falle, 
 
 ant mey no fynger felde. 
 Ther ich wes hief, icham ful loht, 
 Ant alle myn godes me at-goht, 
 
 myn gomenes waxeth gelde ; 
 That feyre fouuden me mete ant cloht, 
 Hue wrieth a-wey as hue w^ere wrolit, 
 
 such is evel ant elde. 
 
 Evel ant elde, ant other wo, 
 foleweth me so faste, 
 
 i
 
 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 hither ant lees, 
 Glotonie mi glemon wes, 
 
 with me he wonede a while ; 
 Prude wes my plowe fere, 
 Lecherie 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 jore, 
 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 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 Godes heste ne huld y nolit, 
 Bote ever ajeyn is wille y wroht ; 
 
 mon lereth 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 Avel fous, 
 ant comely mon ta calle ; 
 
 Y sugge by other ase bi ous, 
 Alse ys hirmon halt in hous, 
 
 ase heved hount in halle. 
 
 Dredful deth, wliy wolt thou dare, 
 Bryng this body that is so bare, 
 
 ant yn bale y-bounde ? 
 Careful mon, y-cast in care, 
 
 Y falewe as flour y-let forth-fare, 
 ychabbe myn dethes wounde. 
 
 Murthes helpeth me no more ; 
 Help me. Lord, er then ich here, 
 
 ant stunt my lyf a stounde ! 
 That 3okkyn hath y-3yrned 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 sylit 
 
 ant hevene to mede ! Amen. 
 
 XVI. 
 
 [Fol. 72, vo.] 
 
 Blow, northerne wynd, 
 
 Sent thou me my suetyng. 
 
 Blow, northerne wynd, blou, blou, blou ! 
 
 Ichot a bui-de 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, 
 
 k2
 
 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 With murtlies monie mote heo monge, 
 
 that brid so breme in boure ; 
 With lossom eye, grete ant gode, 
 With browen blysfol nnder hode, 
 He that reste him on the rode 
 
 that leflich lyf honoure ! Bloii, etc. 
 
 Hive lure lumes liht, 
 Ase a launterne a nyht, 
 Hire bleo blykyeth so bryht, 
 
 so feyr heo is ant fyn ; 
 A suetly suyre heo hath to hokle, 
 With amies, shuldre, ase mon wolde, 
 Ant fyngres feyre forte folde ; 
 
 God wolde hue were myn ! 
 
 Middel heo hath raenskful 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 derewoi'the 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, bj north ant south ; 
 Ther nis fiele ne ci'outh 
 
 that sucli murthes maketh. 
 
 Heo is coral of godnesse, 
 Heo is rubie of ryhtfuhiesse, 
 Heo is cristal of clannesse, 
 
 ant baner of bealte ; 
 Heo is lilie of hxrgesse, 
 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, sorevvyng, ant thoht, 
 Tho thre me han in bale broht, 
 
 a5eyn the poer of pees. 
 
 To love y putte pleyntes mo, 
 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, 
 
 unlahfiilliclif in lylitc.
 
 54 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 Hire love me lustnede uch word, 
 Ant bell him to me over bord, 
 Ant bed me hente that hord, 
 
 of myne huerte hele ; 
 Ant bisecheth that swete ant swote, 
 Er then thou falle ase fen of fote, 
 That heo with the woUe of bote 
 
 dereworthliche dele. 
 
 For hire love y carke ant care, 
 For hire love j 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 make 
 
 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 I
 
 LYRIC POETRY. OO 
 
 Ma douce dame, eii 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 savuitz nul retour. 
 Si come te envoit ton creatour, 
 
 mar serrez esbaye." 
 
 Pur la joie, uncoi-e vus pri, 
 Qe aviez quant il nasqui 
 
 e virgine remeytes ; 
 Vus noristes, je le vus dy, 
 Le fitz Dieix Jhesu, par qui 
 
 en joie vus en estes. 
 
 Uncore vus pri, pur eel confort 
 Qe aviez, quant il de mort 
 
 releva en vie, 
 E enfern brusa, com ly fort, 
 E reraena a soun deport 
 
 sa douce compagnie. 
 
 Marie, mere Jhesu Crist, 
 Pur la joie que il vus fist, 
 quant il en oiel mounta,
 
 56 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 E la char qe de viis 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, 
 De moi qe su repentant, 
 
 gloriouse mere, 
 Eyez merci, quar en mon vivant, 
 Serroi vostre lige serjaunt, 
 
 en ma povre manere. 
 
 Marie, mere Dee, 
 Pur la tue seinte piete 
 
 e pur ta grant fraunchise, 
 Escu me seiez vers le malfe 
 Que par tey seye salve, 
 
 e ma alme en ciel myse !
 
 LYRIC POETRY. 57 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 [Fol. 75, ro.] 
 
 SuETE Jhesu, king of blysse, 
 Myn liuerte love, min liuerte 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 jeve 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 Bedleheera, 
 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 e^e wepe. 
 
 Suete Jhesu, kyng of londe. 
 Thou make me fer undei'stonde.
 
 58 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 That mill herte mote f'onde, 
 Hon suete bueth tlii love bonde. 
 
 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 gode, 
 Thou bohtest me upon the rode. 
 For me thou sheddest thi blode. 
 
 Suete Jhesu, me reoweth sore, 
 Gultes that y ha wrotht 501^6 ; 
 Tharefore 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 tlie by stod. 
 
 Suete Jhesu, bryht ant shene, 
 Y preye the thou here my bene, 
 Thourh ernding of the hevene quene, 
 That my bone be nou sene. 
 
 Suete Jhesu, berne best, 
 With ich hope habbe rest,
 
 LYRIC POETRY. 59 
 
 Whether y be south othei- west, 
 The help of the be me nest ! 
 
 .Suete Jhesu, wel may him be, 
 That the may in blisse se ! 
 After mi soule let amigles 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 fourme of bred, 
 Ant seththe to heovene thou us led ? 
 
 XIX. 
 
 [Fol. 75, V".] 
 
 Jesu Crist, heovene kyng, 
 5ef us alle god endyng, 
 
 that bone biddetli the ; 
 At the biginnyng of mi song, 
 Jhesu, y the preye among, 
 
 in stnde al wher y be ; 
 P'or tliou art kyng of alle. 
 To the y olepie ant calle, 
 
 thon liavo mcrci of me.
 
 60 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 lete, 
 
 that thou wel 3erne sohtest. 
 
 Wei ichot, ant soth hit ys. 
 That in this world nys no blys, 
 
 bote care, serewe, ant pyne ; 
 Tharefore ich rede we wurchen so, 
 That we mowe come to 
 
 the joye withoute fyne ! 
 
 XX. 
 
 [Fol. 75, yo.] 
 
 Wynter wakeneth al my care, 
 Nou this leves waxeth bare, 
 Ofte y sike ant mourne sare, 
 
 When hit cometh in my thoht 
 
 Of tliis worldey joie, hou hit goth al to noht.
 
 LYRIC POETRY. 
 
 61 
 
 Now hit is, ant now hit nys, 
 
 Also hit ner nere y-wys, 
 
 That moni men seith soth hit ys, 
 Al goth bote Grodes 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, ro.J 
 
 When y se blosraes 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,
 
 ^2 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 Thurled fot ant honde 
 
 with grete nayles threo ; 
 Blodj wes ys heved, 
 On him nes nout bileved 
 
 that wes of peynes freo ; 
 Wei, wel ohte myn herte 
 For his love to swerte, 
 ant sike ant sory beo. 
 
 Jesu milde ant softe, 
 
 3ef me streynthe ant myht, 
 Longen soi-e ant ofte 
 
 to lovye the a-rylit, 
 Pyne to tholie ant dreje, 
 For the sone, Marye, 
 
 thou art so fre ant bryht, 
 Mayden 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 hath 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, ro.] 
 
 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 phis 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 merei me crye. 
 
 II n'y a guere passe, 
 Que je ne la amay sauntz fiiucete, 
 e tot sanntz tryrheryc.
 
 64 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 Pur ce me tient ele fol, 
 
 e tot pleyn de folye. 
 En verite le vus dy, 
 Si ma amie me ust garnj, 
 
 je usse pris amye. 
 Je pri a Dieu, etc. 
 
 Certes uncore la ameray, 
 
 quei que I'em me dye ; 
 E par taunt asayerai 
 
 si amour soit folic. 
 Parcest chaunsoun portez salutz a ma tresdouce amye 
 Quar ne vueil autre message, quei que je me afye. 
 Si ele die rien de moi, 
 Que me ayme en bone foy, 
 Ja aylours ne ameroi, 
 
 taunt come su en vie. 
 Je pri a Dieu, etc. 
 
 xxiir. 
 
 [Fol. 76, TO.] 
 
 Dum Indis Jloribus velut lacinia, 
 Le dieu d'amour moi tient en tiel angustla, 
 Merour me tient de duel e de miseria, 
 8i je ne la ay f/uam amn super omnia,.
 
 LYRIC POETRY. 65 
 
 Ejus amor tantum me facit fervere ; 
 Qe je ne soi quid possum indefacere; 
 Pur \j covent hoc sceculum relinquere. 
 Si je ne pus I'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 coeli inter sidera ; 
 Dieu la moi doint sua misericordia 
 Beyser e fere quce secuntur alia! 
 
 Scripsi hcBc carmina in tabidis! 
 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. 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 [Fol. 77, vo.] 
 
 Marie, mere al Salveour, 
 De totes femmes estes flour ; 
 Vus estes pleyne de grant docour, 
 Vus estes refu al peccheour.
 
 QQ 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 tous 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 pie, 
 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 vos grant bountez, 
 Grant espoir ay de salvetez. 
 
 Dame, pur nus devynt enfaunt 
 Jjj douz Jesu, roi puissaunt ; 
 Pur vus, dame, nus ama taunt, 
 Daipe, seiez nostre garaunt. 
 
 E nus par vus averum la vie ; 
 Quar vus li estes si chere amye, 
 Qe nule rien a vus 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 I'estaunt, 
 Par vostre doucour fetez taunt, 
 Autre chose ne vous demaunt. 
 
 f2
 
 68 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 XXV. 
 
 [Fol. 77, vo.] 
 
 DULCIS JHESU MEMORIA. 
 
 Jesu, suete is the love of the, 
 Nothing so suete may be ; 
 Al that may with ejen se, 
 Haveth no suetnesse ajeynes the. 
 
 Jhesu, nothing may be suettere, 
 Ne noht on eorthe blysfulere, 
 Noht may be feled lykerusere, 
 Then thou so suete alumere. 
 
 rJhesu, thi love wes ous so fre, 
 That we from hevene bi'ohten 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 seje thin heorte blode ; 
 Love thou madest oure soule fode, 
 Thi love us brohte to alle gode. 
 
 Jliesu, mi lemman, thou art so fre 
 That thou dejedest for love of me ; 
 Wliet shal y tharefore 3elde 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, 
 [eh 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 ejen loke towart me. 
 
 Ant myldeliche myne y preie al that thou se. 
 
 Jhesu, thi love be al mi thoht, 
 Of other thing ne recclie y noht ; 
 Y jyrne to have thi wille y-wroht. 
 For thou me havest wel dcore 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 cussinge, 
 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 stod, 
 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. 71 
 
 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 dreje 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 bUsse ne recchy noht, 
 When ich of the mai felen oht, 
 Thenne is my soule wel y-wroht.
 
 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, 3ef thou bist 3eorne 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 habbe 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 alle 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. 73 
 
 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, 
 AUe 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 hejc hous, 
 Pore ant loje thou were for ous. 
 Thin heorte love thou sendest ous. 
 
 Jesu, for-thi byseche y the, 
 Thi suete love thou graunte me. 
 That ich thareto worthi be, 
 Malce me worthi that art so frc.
 
 74 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 Jesu, thou art so god a inon, 
 Thi love j jyrne 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 Avod, 
 That y ne drede for no flod. 
 
 Jesu, thi 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 the, 
 Wher in londe so y be ; 
 When ich the fynde, wel ys me, 
 3ef thou ne woldest a-wey fle. 
 
 Jesu, 3ef thou from me go. 
 Mi soule is fol of serewe ant wo ; 
 Whet may I sugge, bote wolawo! 
 Wlien 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 herte lovie the.
 
 LYRIC POETRY. 75 
 
 Jesu, mi lif, Jhesu, my kyng, 
 My soule haveth to the 5yrnyng ; 
 When thi wille 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-jef 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 lyht, 
 Ther is day withoute nyht. 
 
 Jesu, thin help at myn endyng. 
 Ant ine that dredful out Avendyng, 
 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 !
 
 76 SPECIMENS OP 
 
 Jesu, thy love haveth non endyng, 
 Ther nis no screwe ne no wcpyng, 
 Bote joie ant blisse ant lykyng ; 
 Suete Jesu, hare- to us bryng ! Amen. 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 [Fol. 78, vo]. 
 
 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 premerement 
 
 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 taiUe, 
 
 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; 
 
 Honme 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, 
 
 Cil qe unque ne fist pecchie ! 
 
 Des espines fust coronee, 
 
 E d'escourges flaele, 
 
 Fel a boyvre ly fust clone. 
 
 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 teraptez, 
 
 De pecchie fere ou folic, 
 
 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 gardcz ! 
 
 Quar Lucifer par eel pecchie, 
 
 Que fust de Dieu molt bien arae, 
 
 E en ciel molt halt mounte, 
 
 En enfern chiet tot parfound, 
 
 La'ou touz I'emeyndrount
 
 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 meismes salver, 
 
 E quant temps est a Dieu servyr, 
 
 Ne pas tons jours a gayner ; 
 
 Ne facez pas come les uns fount, 
 
 Que 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 mort, 
 
 Mes si il puissent rien a tort 
 
 Gaygner par nuUe faucine, 
 
 Ou par robberie ou par ravyne, 
 
 De averice sunt englywe, 
 
 Q'est un mortel pecchie, 
 
 James ne quident assez aver ; 
 
 Mes come la terre lur dust failer ; 
 
 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 peccMez 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 Salvcour, 
 Trestot come il fust crucifie, 
 E come il fust des Gyws pene, 
 E come il fust al cuer naufre,
 
 80 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 Pies e mejns par mi pierce ? 
 Riant ne serra nul trove, 
 Que ly averount regard ; 
 Molt serra hidous quant jugera ; 
 N'y avera nul qe noise fra ; 
 Chescun serra rewerdone 
 Come il avera deservy gre. 
 En grant joie les bons iri'ount, 
 E la sauntz fyn remeindrount, 
 Ou 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. 
 Ycel nus 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, my lit thou be." 
 " Sone, hou shulde y blithe stonde ? 
 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 grouade, 
 that me byhet Symeon." 
 
 " 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 jjeyne pyneth me to dede, 
 
 lat me deje the by-fore I" 
 
 " Moder, thou rewe 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 deje, thou gost to helle, 
 y tliole 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 modey kare, 
 For nou thou wost of moder fare, 
 
 thou thou be clene mayden mon." 
 " Sone, help at alle nede 
 AUe tho that to me grede, 
 
 maiden, wif, ant fol wymmon." 
 " Moder, may y no lengore duelle, 
 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 woundeu, 
 
 so soreweful ded nes never non." 
 
 When he ros, tho fel hire sorewe. 
 Hire blisse sprong the thridde morewe, 
 
 blythe moder were thou tho. 
 Levedy, for that ilke blisse, 
 Bysech thi sone of sunnes lisse, 
 
 thou be oure sheld ajeyn oure fo.
 
 LYRIC POETRY. 83 
 
 Blessed be thou, ful of blysse, 
 Let us never hevene misse, 
 
 thourh thi suete sones rayht ! 
 Loverd, for that ilke 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 5ef 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 fot. 
 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 soffrede so sore ! 
 
 G 'I
 
 84 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 For my synnes y wil wete, 
 Ant alle y wyle hem for-lete 
 nou 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 hevene led, 
 
 withinne a Intel 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, 
 
 ant 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 ; 
 
 He was nailed to the tre, 
 with scourges y-swongen.
 
 LYKIC POETRY. 85 
 
 Al for mon he tholede shame, 
 Withouten gult, withouten blame, 
 
 bothe day ant other. 
 Mon, ful muchel he lovede the, 
 When he wokle make the fre, 
 
 ant bicome thi brother. 
 
 XXIX. 
 
 [Fol. 80, r".] 
 
 I vSYKE when y singe, 
 
 for sorewe that y se, 
 When y with wypingc 
 
 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. 
 
 Heje 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 uaylles beth to stronge, 
 
 the smythes are to sleye, 
 Thou bledest al to longe, 
 
 the tre is al to heyje ; 
 The stones beoth al wete, 
 Alas ! Jhesu the suete, 
 
 for nou fren'd 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 
 
 "VVlien y se honge heje, 
 Ant bittre pynes dreje, 
 
 Jhesu, my lemmon ; 
 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 betli 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 I 
 
 XXX. 
 
 [Fol. 80, r".] 
 
 Nou skruketh rose ant lylie Hour, 
 That whilen ber that suete savour, 
 
 in soraer, that suete tydc ; 
 Ne is no quene so stark ne stour, 
 Nc no levedy so bryht in hour, 
 
 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 pley3yng, 
 
 on mi folia y thohte, 
 Menen y gon my mournyng 
 To hire that ber the hevene kyng, 
 
 of merei hire by-sohte : 
 Ledy, preye tlii sone for ous, 
 
 that us duere 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 any* mede or eny wyn ; 
 hire erbes srauUeth suata ;
 
 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 foUe wol lete, 
 Withoute gold other eny tresor 
 
 he mai be sound ant sete. 
 
 Of penaunce is his piastre al, 
 Ant ever serven hire j shal, 
 
 nou ant al my ly ve ; 
 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 may den ant wyve. 
 
 For he that dude is body on tre, 
 Of oure sunnes have piete, 
 
 that weldes heovene boures ; 
 Wymmon with thi jolyftc, 
 
 thou thench on Godes shoures 
 Thah thou be whyt ant bryth on ble, 
 
 falevven shule thy floures. 
 Jesu, have merci of us, 
 
 that ill this world honoures ! Amen.
 
 90 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 [Fol. 80, v.] 
 
 " My deth y love, my lyf ich hate, for a levedy shene, 
 Heo is brith so dales liht, that is on me wel sene ; 
 Al y falewe so doth the lef in somei* 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 bydde y 
 
 noht chyde ; 
 Shalt thou never lyve that day, mi love that thou shalt 
 
 byde; 
 jef 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 rne, 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 way ted day ant nyht with fader ant al my ky nne ; 
 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 whyleu blythe ; 
 In a wyndou ther we stod, we custe us fyfty sythe ; 
 Feir biheste maketh mony mon al is serewes mythe." 
 
 " 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 seje, 
 Ich lovede him betere then my lyf, whet bote is hit to 
 
 1636 ?" 
 
 " Whil y wes a clerc in scole, wel muchel y couthe of 
 
 lore, 
 Ych have tholed for thy love woundes fele sore ; 
 Fer from [hom] ant eke from men under the wode gore; 
 Suete ledy, thou rewe of me, nou may y no moi'e." 
 
 " 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 di-ynkes, myn herte deth me 
 tene. 
 
 Ich have loved al this 3er, 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 jore. 
 
 Suete lemmon, y preye the of love one speche, 
 Wliil y lyve in world so wyde other nulle y seche ; 
 With thy love, my suete leof, mi blis thou mihtes eche, 
 A suete cos of thy mouth mihte be my leche. 
 
 Suete lemmon, y pre5e the of a love bene; 
 3ef thou me lovest, ase men says, lemmon, as y wene, 
 Ant 3ef hit thi wille be, thou loke that hit be sene. 
 So muchel y thenke upon the, that al y waxe grene. 
 
 Bituene Lyncolne ant Lyndeseye, Norhamptoun ant 
 
 Lounde, ^ 
 
 Ne wot y non so fayr a may as y go fore y-bounde ; 
 Suete lemmon, y preje the thou lovie me a stounde, 
 Y wole mone my song on wham that hit ys on y-long.
 
 LYRIC POETRY. 93 
 
 XXXIII. 
 
 [Fol. 81, ro.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 v^^ynne ; 
 Ofte y syke ant serevve 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 queue, for thyn ever yeham, 
 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. 
 
 Brylite ant shene, sterre cler, lyht thou me ant Icrc, 
 In this false fykel world my selve so to here, 
 That y ner at myn endyng have the feoud to fere ; 
 Jesu, mid thi suete blod tliou 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, 
 AUe 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 host ! 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 [Fol. 81 vo.] 
 
 AsE y me I'od 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, 
 AUe 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 3ef 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. 
 
 Tliat other joie of that may, 
 
 Wes o Cristesmasse day, 
 
 \Vhen God wes bore on thore lay.
 
 96 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 ant brohte us lyhtnesse j 
 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 byre 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, 
 Wlien hire body to hevene cam, 
 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 oure 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 hevene blysse ! Amen.
 
 LYRIC POETRY. 97 
 
 XXXV. 
 
 [Fol. 83, ro.] 
 
 Mayden model- milde, 
 
 oiez eel orei/soun ; 
 From shome thou me shilde, 
 
 e de ly malfeloun. 
 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 Jesum 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 pot le yreva. 
 
 H
 
 98 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 On stou ase thou stode, 
 
 pucele, tot pensaimt, 
 Thou restest the under rode, 
 
 tonfitz veites -pendant ; 
 Thou se3e is sides of blode, 
 
 Valine de ly partaunt ; 
 He ferede uch an fode, 
 
 en mound que fust vivaunt. 
 
 Ys siden were sore, 
 le sang de ly cora ; 
 
 That lond wes for -lore, 
 mes il le rechata. 
 
 Uch bern that wes y-bore, 
 en enfern descenda ; 
 
 He tholede deth therfore, 
 en del puis mounta. 
 
 Tho Pilat herde the tydynge, 
 
 molt fu joyous baroun ; 
 He lette byfore him brynge 
 
 Jesu Nazaroun. 
 He was y-crouned kynge, 
 
 ■pur nostre redempcioun ; 
 Whose wol me synge, 
 
 avera grant pardoun.
 
 LYRIC POETRY. 99 
 
 XXXVL 
 
 [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 mei'ci thou art ay, 
 
 al nngreythe icham to the to go. 
 
 To go to him that hath ous boht, 
 
 my gode deden bueth fol smaUe 
 Of the werkes that ich ha wroht, 
 
 the beste is bittrore then the galle. 
 My god ich wiste, y nolde hit noht, 
 
 in folic me wes luef to falle ; 
 When y my self have thourh-soht, 
 
 y knowe me for the wrst of alle. 
 
 God, that dejedest on the rod, 
 
 al this world to forthren ant fylle, 
 For ous thou sheddest thi suete blod, 
 
 that y ha don me lyketli ylle ; 
 Bote er a3eyn the stith y stod, 
 
 er ant late, loude ant stille, 
 Of rayne deden fynde y non god. 
 
 Lord, of me thou do tli}" wille. 
 
 h2
 
 TOO SPECIMENS OF 
 
 In herte ne myhte y never bowe, 
 
 no to my kunde loverd drawe ; 
 My meste vo ys my loves trowe, 
 
 Crist ne stod me never liawe ; 
 Ich holde me vilore tlien a Gyw, 
 
 ant y my self wolde bue knowe ; 
 Lord, merei rewe me now, 
 
 reyse up that ys falle lowe. 
 
 God, that al this world shal hede, 
 
 thy gode myht thou hast in wolde, 
 On erthe thou com for oure nede, 
 
 for ous sunful were boht ant solde ; 
 When we bueth dempned after ur dede, 
 
 a domesday when ryhtes bueth tolde, 
 Wlien we shule suen thy wounde blede, 
 
 to speke thenne we bueth unbolde. 
 
 Unbold icham to bidde the bote, 
 
 swythe unreken ys my rees ; 
 Thy Aville 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 pees. 
 
 Al unreken is my ro, 
 
 Loverd Crist, whet shal y say ? 
 Of myiic deden fynde y non fro, 
 
 ne nothyng that y thenkc may.
 
 LYRIC POETRY. iOl 
 
 Unwrth icham to come the to, 
 y serve the nouther iiyht ne day ; 
 
 In thy merci y nie do, 
 
 God, that al this rnyhtes may. 
 
 XXXVII. 
 
 [Fol. 106, !•'>.] 
 
 LusTNETH alle a Intel throwe, 
 3c that woUeth on selve y-knowe, 
 
 nnwys thah y be, 
 IchuUe telle on ase y con, 
 PIou 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 hyni by-reved, 
 In is rug ant in his heved 
 
 he shal foule wormes bi-ede. 
 
 The fleyhs shal rotie from the bon, 
 The senewes untuen everuchon, 
 
 the body shal to-fye ; 
 36 that wolleth that sothe y suen, 
 Under grascs ther hue buen, 
 
 byholdeth wet ther lye.
 
 102 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 Mon is mad of feble torn, 
 Ne hath he no syker horn, 
 
 to stunte alle wey stille ; 
 Ys ryhte stude is elles wer, 
 Jhesu, bring us alle ther, 
 
 3ef hit be thy wille ! 
 
 The fleysh stont ajeyn the gost, 
 When thou shalt deje, ner thou nost 
 
 nouther day ne nyht ; 
 On stede ne sitte thou ner so heje, 
 3et a-last thou shalt deje, 
 
 greyth the whil thou myht. 
 
 In false wonyng is monnes lyf, 
 Wlien deth draweth is sharpe kuyf, 
 
 do the sone to shryve ; 
 For 3ef thou const loke ariht, 
 Nast thou nothyng bote fyht, 
 
 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 muche meth, 
 Thou wolt me bringe to helle detb, 
 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-founde.
 
 104 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 Mon, thou havest wicked fon, 
 The ah-e worst is that on, 
 
 here nomes y shal telle ; 
 Thyn onne fleysh, thy worldes fend, 
 That best shulde be thy frend, 
 
 that most doth the to quelle. 
 
 Thou clothest 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 strong, 
 
 to fyhte the ajeyn. 
 
 Do my counsail ant my reed, 
 Withdrah hym ofte of is breed, 
 
 ant 3ef him water drynke ; 
 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 3eveth 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 wyth the ;
 
 LYRIC POETRY. 105 
 
 Thou shalt alone go thy wey, 
 Withoute stede ant palefrey, 
 withoute ";old ant fee. 
 
 t)~- 
 
 Lucifer, that foule wyht, 
 
 That wes him selve so feyr ant brylit, 
 
 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 aUe tlire shule ben aleyd, 
 
 with huere foule crokes. 
 
 3ef thou seist ray spel ys hard. 
 That thou ne mist this foreward 
 
 holde ne dre5e ; 
 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 havekcs bei'c, 
 
 haden feld ant wode ; 
 The ryche ledies in huere bour. 
 That wei'eden gold on huere tressoiu', 
 
 with huere bryhte rode ?
 
 06 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 Hue eten ant dronken ant maden liuem glad, 
 Huere lyf al with joie y-lad, 
 
 me knelede huem by-fore ; 
 Hue beren hueni so swythe he3e, 
 Ant in a twynglyng of an e3e 
 
 so hue buen for-lore. 
 
 Wher 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 eggyng, 
 
 a-doun hath the y-cast ; 
 Up ant be god champioun, 
 Stond, ant fal no more adoun 
 
 for a Intel blast. 
 
 Tac the rode to thy staf, 
 
 Ant thenk on him that for the 3af 
 
 his lyf, that wes so luef ; 
 He hit 3ef, thou thonke hym ; 
 A5eyn thy fo such staf thou nym, 
 
 ant wrek the on that thuef.
 
 LYRIC POETRY. 107 
 
 XXXVIII. 
 
 [Fol. llL>, 1-0.] 
 
 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 troverye, 
 
 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 rien. 
 
 La pie en arbre haut 
 En freit e en chant, 
 
 prent soun repos; 
 E femme velt reposer 
 En hautesse de cuer, 
 
 e de syre los. 
 
 La pie quant ele greve, 
 Countre son mary leve, 
 
 e I'enchaee de ly; 
 E femme de grant cuer, 
 Son baroun j^ar tencer 
 
 fet autresy. 
 Pur icele gyse, 
 Je lou que um se avyse, 
 
 avaunt qu'il soit mary. 
 
 E nequedent la pye 
 Soun compaignoun espye,
 
 LYRIC POETRY. 109 
 
 <lc 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 
 Rien serra celee, 
 
 quant ele se puet venger. 
 
 Hom dit que la pie 
 
 En sa nature crye, 
 
 il nus viegnent gestes ; 
 E la femme puet dire 
 A soun mary, " syre, 
 
 par moi averez blestcs." 
 
 La pie siet musser, 
 (^uanqe ele puet gayncr, 
 
 en un prive lu ; 
 E la femme se purveit, 
 Avant qe ele vidue seit, 
 
 dount ert sustcnu. 
 
 Bic[n] dust la pie, 
 Queiqe um en die, 
 
 a femme estrc chere ; 
 Puis qe lur vie 
 Par tiele compagnie 
 
 acordent en manere.
 
 1 1 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 shoddreth ant shereth. 
 Wlien 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. 
 
 Whider trowe this mon ha the wey take, 
 
 he hath set his o fot is other to-foren ; 
 For non hithte that he hatli ne sytht me hym ner shake, 
 
 he is the sloweste mon that ever wes y-boren ; 
 Wher he were othe feld pycehynde stake, 
 
 for hope of ys thornes to dutten is doren, 
 He mot myd is twy-byl other trous make, 
 
 other al is dayes werk ther 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 hewe sum wher a burthen of brere, 
 
 tharefore sum hay-ward hath taken ys wed.
 
 LYRTC POETRY. Hi 
 
 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 ; 
 Drynke 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 3e3e 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. 
 Thah me teone with hym that rayn teh mye, 
 
 the cherld nul nout a-doun er the day dawe. 
 
 XL. 
 
 [Fol. 128, To.]' 
 
 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 tliohte, 
 He nul nout leose that he so deore bohte.
 
 112 
 
 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 He bohte us with is holy blod, 
 
 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 reovven sore, 
 Ant crien ever to Jhesu, Crist, thyn ore. 
 Ever ant oo, niht ant day, etc. 
 
 He seh his fader so wonder wroht, 
 
 with mon that wes y-falle, 
 With herte sor he seide is oht 
 
 whe shulde abuggen alle ; - 
 His suete sone to liym gon clepe ant calle, 
 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 hede, 
 His grene wounde so grimly conne blede. 
 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 Avaxeth thunne, 
 His herte blod he jef for al monkunne. 
 Ever ant oo, etc.
 
 LYRIC POETRY. J 13 
 
 XLII. 
 
 [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. 
 3ef thou dost, hit wol me reowe sore, 
 Love dreccheth me that y ne may lyve namore. 
 
 Ever ant oo, etc. 
 
 I
 
 114 SPECIMENS OF 
 
 Mury hit ys in hyre tovir, 
 
 wyth hatheles ant wyth heowes; 
 So hit is in hyre hour, 
 
 with gomenes ant with gleowes ; 
 Bote heo me lovye, sore hit wol me rewe ! 
 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 ant suete ; 
 Whose loveth untrewe, his herte is selde seete. 
 Ever ant oo, etc. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 RICHARDS, I'BINTIiR, 100, ST MARTINS I.ANK.
 
 SPECIMENS 
 
 LYRLOJELQETRY, 
 
 COMPOSED IN ENGLAND IN THE REIGN OF 
 EDWARD THE FIRST. 
 
 EDITED FROM MS. HARL. 2253, IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 
 
 THOMAS WRIGHT, ESQ. M.A., F.S.A., &c. 
 
 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. 
 
 No. XIX. March 1, 1842.
 
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