Must be the speech that men most need. (From The Pricke of Conscience,1 c. 1340) [When man] was born to this world's light, He had not either strength or might, Either to walk or yet to stand, Nor to creep with foot and hand. Then has the man less might than beast; As the first in Father Adam's name. 245 250 255 258 265 270 465 470 And there an endless home made sure; 7830 There too are all delights and ease, And sure tranquility and peace; There peaceful joy forever is, And pleasure there and lasting bliss. ... 7834 475 480 There's melody and angel's song, And love and praise from that bright throng: There is all friendship that may be; And perfect love and charitie; There is accord, and its due mede Is given aye to each good deed; There's lowly awe and reverence, And meekness and obedience; There are all virtues and no sin, All dainties and delights therein, All wisdom's there from folly free, And honour without villany.. ... There is brightness and beautie 7850 7852 7860 7865 Lawrence Dinot c. 1300-1352 THE BATTLE OF HALIDON HILL1 Listen, Lordings, if you will Hear of the battle of Halidon Hill. True King that sitteth on thy throne, Unto thee I tell my tale, And unto thee I bid a boon, For thou art balm of all my bale. As thou hast made the earth and moon, And beasts and foulés great and smale, In this dale I droup2 and dare A pear is more of price sometide" For all their boast they durst not fight, For dint of death they had such dout," Of Scotland had they never sight Although they were of wordės stout. They would have magnified their might And troubled were they there about. Now God help Edward in his right,Amen-and all his ready rout. 5 10 15 20 25 30 They said it should full dear be bought, The land whence they were driven out. Philip Valois wordes wrought, And said he should their foeman stay; But all these words they went for naught, Words must be meet or weak are they. More menaces they boasting cry, A little from that selfsame town, To make such boasts they were to blame; Shame they have as I here say; There dwelled our king, the sooth to sayn, With his meniè14 a little while; And save them both by night and day; He gave good comfort on that plain To all his men about a mile. 85 That were before so stout and gay. Man in this world was never born, He hath a queen full fair of pris,3 The fairest woman for the nonės " That might be made of flesh and bonės, Full of all love and of goodness, No man may tell of her fairness. It befel in time of May, 55 60 When is merry and pleasing the summer's day, And full soon that fairest queen, She cried, and loathsome 'gan her make, 39 65 20 70 75 89 80 35 85 90 35 95 100 Where thou comest thou shalt with me, Two gallant knights came to me there, Arrayed in richest garments fair, The King gan to his chamber go, He fell adown upon the stone, And made great dole and mickle moan, 130 Well nigh he had himself yschent14 195 He saw there was no ámendement. And bade me come without letting, To speak unto their lord the king. 135 Right boldly then I answered there He sent for earl and for baróun, go, 200 205 210 215 220 And after, back he brought me home, 160 Back into our own orchard, He journeyed barefoot through the gate. And said to me this afterward: No man there must with him go, 'Look tomorrow that thou be Alas! there weeping was and woe. Here beneath this ympė tree; He that was King and bare the crown, And if thou makest any let, 165 Where'er thou be thou shalt be fet,12 Went out so poorly from the town, Into the wild he takes his road, 230 And to tear thy limbės all, Shall help thee naught whate'er befall, And although thou be all torn Both through the heath and through the wood. Nothing he hath to give him ease, 13 Alas! 14 Disgraced. 18 Hair-shirt. Now must dig and grub full sair, Ere of roots he gets his fare. In summer on the haws he lives, That midst her leaves the hawthorne gives; He taketh harp and maketh glee, And lies all night beneath a tree. When bright and clear there dawns the day, And tunes his harp with a merry soun, He saw her plain and she him eke, Yet ne'er a word did either speak. For him she did so poor espy 245 250 255 260 265 That sometime was so rich and high, 315 320 325 And all the little birds that were, 330 For joy they come about him there His sclavyne put he on his back To listen to that harping fine, And took his harp right as he spak, So mickle joy there was therein. And swiftly after them is gone, His harping when he laid aside, Over stock and over stone. Nor bird, nor beast would then abide, 270 In at the rock the ladies ride, 335 But all together they are flown, He went straight after, he would not bide. And leave him there to sit alone. When he was into the rock y-go20 Often saw he him beside, Full three mile and some deal mo,21 In the heat of summer-tide, He came unto a fair countráy, The Fairy King with all his rout, Come a-hunting all about. With shout and merry din they go And noise of hound and horn alsó; And yet forsooth, no beast they slay, 275 Nor knows he where they take their way. 280 And other whiles he may espye, A mighty hunt go passing by, Full two hundred knights of pride It was as bright as any day. 340 Neither hill nor dale was seen, All was lawn full fair and green, 345 Shone as doth the clear crystál, And the towers that were there Were gaily set with pearles fair; Armed through the forest ride. The farthest, rising from the ditch, Somewhile he saw other thing, 285 Was all of gold and silver rich; 350 Knights and ladies come riding The front, that stood amidst them brade, 22 With raiment bright and courtly grace, Was all of divers metals made; Moving all with easy pace; Within, a wondrous dwelling wide, Tabors and pipes with them there be, With gold and gems all glorified, And every kind of minstrelsy 290 The pillars fair thereon, were dight 355 And ladies too there come riding, With precious stones and sapphires bright. So fair the palace shone by night Jolie they were in everything, 295 18 Pleases him. 19 Pretty. That all the town was full of light, Those richė stones so fairly shone They were as bright as any sun, No man might tell, nor think in thought, The riches that therein were wrought. The ladies at the castle light, 20 Gone. 21 More. 360 22 Broad. |