The Rowley Poems Part 13

[Footnote 22: gla.s.sy.]

[Footnote 23: bank.]

[Footnote 24: meeds.]

[Footnote 25: distracted.]

TO JOHNE LADGATE.

[Sent with the following _Songe to aella._]

Well thanne, goode Johne, sythe ytt must needes be soe, Thatt thou & I a bowtynge matche must have, Lette ytt ne breakynge of oulde friendshyppe bee, Thys ys the onelie all-a-boone I crave.

Rememberr Stowe, the Bryghtstowe Carmalyte, 5 Who whanne Johne Clarkynge, one of myckle lore, Dydd throwe hys gauntlette-penne, wyth hym to fyghte, Hee showd smalle wytte, and showd hys weaknesse more.

Thys ys mie formance, whyche I nowe have wrytte, The best performance of mie lyttel wytte. 10

SONGE TO aeLLA, LORDE OF THE CASTEL OF BRYSTOWE YNNE DAIES OF YORE.

Oh thou, orr what remaynes of thee, aella, the darlynge of futurity, Lett thys mie songe bolde as thie courage be, As everlastynge to posteritye.

Whanne Dacya's sonnes, whose hayres of bloude-redde hue 5 Lyche kynge-cuppes brastynge wythe the morning due, Arraung'd ynne dreare arraie, Upponne the lethale daie, Spredde farre and wyde onne Watchets sh.o.r.e; Than dyddst thou furiouse stande, 10 And bie thie valyante hande Beesprengedd all the mees wythe gore.

Drawne bie thyne anlace felle, Downe to the depthe of h.e.l.le Thousandes of Dacyanns went; 15 Brystowannes, menne of myghte, Ydar'd the bloudie fyghte, And actedd deeds full quent.

Oh thou, whereer (thie bones att reste) Thye Spryte to haunte delyghteth beste, 20 Whetherr upponne the bloude-embrewedd pleyne, Orr whare thou kennst fromm farre The dysmall crye of warre, Orr seest somme mountayne made of corse of sleyne; Orr seest the hatchedd stede, 25 Ypraunceynge o'er the mede, And neighe to be amenged the poynctedd speeres; Orr ynne blacke armoure staulke arounde Embattel'd Brystowe, once thie grounde, And glowe ardurous onn the Castle steeres; 30

Orr fierye round the mynsterr glare; Lette Brystowe stylle be made thie care; Guarde ytt fromme foemenne & consumynge fyre; Lyche Avones streme ensyrke ytte rounde, Ne lette a flame enharme the grounde, 35 Tylle ynne one flame all the whole worlde expyre.

The underwritten Lines were composed by JOHN LADGATE, a Priest in London, and sent to ROWLIE, as an Answer to the preceding _Songe of aella_.

Havynge wythe mouche attentyonn redde Whatt you dydd to mee sende, Admyre the va.r.s.es mouche I dydd, And thus an answerr lende.

Amongs the Greeces Homer was 5 A Poett mouche renownde, Amongs the Latyns Vyrgilius Was beste of Poets founde.

The Brytish Merlyn oftenne hanne The gyfte of inspyration, 10 And Afled to the s.e.xonne menne Dydd synge wythe elocation.

Ynne Norman tymes, Turgotus and Goode Chaucer dydd excelle, Thenn Stowe, the Bryghtstowe Carmelyte, 15 Dydd bare awaie the belle.

Nowe Rowlie ynne these mokie dayes Lendes owte hys sheenynge lyghtes, And Turgotus and Chaucer lyves Ynne ev'ry lyne he wrytes. 20

THE TOURNAMENT.

AN INTERLUDE.

ENTER AN HERAWDE.

The Tournament begynnes; the hammerrs sounde; The courserrs lysse[1] about the mensuredd[2] fielde; The shemrynge armoure throws the sheene arounde; Quayntyssed[3] fons[4] depictedd[5] onn eche sheelde.

The feerie[6] heaulmets, wythe the wreathes amielde[7], 5 Supportes the rampynge lyoncell[8] orr beare, Wythe straunge depyctures[9], Nature maie nott yeelde, Unseemelie to all orderr doe appere, Yett yatte[10] to menne, who thyncke and have a spryte[11], Makes knowen thatt the phantasies unryghte. 10

I, Sonne of Honnoure, spencer[11] of her joies, Muste swythen[12] goe to yeve[13] the speeres arounde, Wythe advantayle[14] & borne[15] I meynte[16] emploie, Who withoute mee woulde fall untoe the grounde.

Soe the tall oake the ivie twysteth rounde; 15 Soe the neshe[17] flowerr grees[18] ynne the woodeland shade.

The worlde bie diffraunce ys ynne orderr founde; Wydhoute unlikenesse nothynge could bee made.

As ynn the bowke[19] nete[20] alleyn[21] cann bee donne, Syke[22] ynn the weal of kynde all thynges are partes of onne. 20

Enterr SYRR SYMONNE DE BOURTONNE.

Herawde[23], bie heavenne these tylterrs staie too long.

Mie phantasie ys dyinge forr the fyghte.

The mynstrelles have begonne the thyrde warr songe, Yett notte a speere of hemm[24] hath grete mie syghte.

I feere there be ne manne wordhie mie myghte. 25 I lacke a Guid[25], a Wyllyamm[26] to entylte.

To reine[27] anente[28] a fele[29] embodiedd knyghte, Ytt gettes ne rennome[30] gyff hys blodde bee spylte.

Bie heavenne & Marie ytt ys tyme they're here; I lyche nott unthylle[31] thus to wielde the speare. 30

HERAWDE.

Methynckes I heare yer slugghornes[32] dynn[33] fromm farre.

BOURTONNE.

Ah! swythenn[34] mie s.h.i.+elde & tyltynge launce bee bounde [35].

Eftsoones[36] beheste[37] mie Squyerr to the warre.

I flie before to clayme a challenge grownde.

[_Goeth oute_.

HERAWDE.

Thie valourous actes woulde meinte[38] of menne astounde; Harde bee yer shappe[39] encontrynge thee ynn fyghte; Anenst[40] all menne thou bereft to the grounde, Lyche the hard hayle dothe the tall roshes pyghte[41].

As whanne the mornynge sonne ydronks the dew, Syche dothe thie valourous actes drocke[42] eche knyghte's hue. 40

THE LYSTES. THE KYNGE. SYRR SYMONNE DE BOURTONNE, SYRR HUGO FERRARIS, SYRR RANULPH NEVILLE, SYRR LODOVICK DE CLYNTON, SYRR JOHAN DE BERGHAMME, AND ODHERR KNYGHTES, HERAWDES, MYNSTRELLES. AND SERVYTOURS[43].

KYNGE.