The Rowley Poems by Thomas Chatterton (inspirational books to read .txt) 📖

good cheere, and morryce plaie;

    No moe the amblynge palfrie and the horne

    Shall from the lessel[16] rouze the foxe awaie;                        25

    I'll seke the foreste alle the lyve-longe daie;

    Alle nete amenge the gravde chyrche[17] glebe wyll goe,

  And to the passante Spryghtes lecture[18] mie tale of woe.

 

  [JUGA.]

 

    Whan mokie[19] cloudis do hange upon the leme

    Of leden[20] Moon, ynn sylver mantels dyghte;                          30

    The tryppeynge Faeries weve the golden dreme

    Of Selyness[21], whyche flyethe wythe the nyghte;

    Thenne (botte the Seynctes forbydde!) gif to a spryte

    Syrr Rychardes forme ys lyped, I'll holde dystraughte

  Hys bledeynge claie-colde corse, and die eche daie ynn thoughte.         35

 

  ELINOURE.

 

    Ah woe bementynge wordes; what wordes can shewe!

    Thou limed[22] ryver, on thie linche[23] maie bleede

    Champyons, whose bloude wylle wythe thie waterres flowe,

    And Rudborne streeme be Rudborne streeme indeede!

    Haste, gentle Juga, tryppe ytte oere the meade,                        40

    To knowe, or wheder we muste waile agayne,

  Or wythe oure fallen knyghtes be menged onne the plain.

 

    Soe sayinge, lyke twa levyn-blasted trees,

    Or twayne of cloudes that holdeth stormie rayne;

    Theie moved gentle oere the dewie mees[24],                            45

    To where Seyncte Albons holie shrynes remayne.

    There dyd theye fynde that bothe their knyghtes were slayne,

    Distraughte[25] theie wandered to swollen Rudbornes syde,

  Yelled theyre leathalle knelle, sonke ynn the waves, and dyde.

 

[Footnote 1: Rudborne (in Saxon, red-water), a River near Saint

Albans, famous for the battles there fought between the Houses of

Lancaster and York.]

 

[Footnote 2: lamenting.]

 

[Footnote 3: murdering.]

 

[Footnote 4: faintly.]

 

[Footnote 5: glistened.]

 

[Footnote 6: sad complaint.]

 

[Footnote 7: arrayed, or cased.]

 

[Footnote 8: infuse.]

 

[Footnote 9: juice.]

 

[Footnote 10: blasted.]

 

[Footnote 11: forsaken.]

 

[Footnote 12: ruins.]

 

[Footnote 13: fear.]

 

[Footnote 14: deadly or deathboding.]

 

[Footnote 15: a small bagpipe.]

 

[Footnote 16: in a confined sense, a bush or hedge, though sometimes

used as a forest.]

 

[Footnote 17: church-yard.]

 

[Footnote 18: relate.]

 

[Footnote 19: black.]

 

[Footnote 20: decreasing.]

 

[Footnote 21: happiness.]

 

[Footnote 22: glassy.]

 

[Footnote 23: bank.]

 

[Footnote 24: meeds.]

 

[Footnote 25: distracted.]

 

 

TO JOHNE LADGATE.

 

 

[Sent with the following _Songe to Ælla._]

 

 

  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 ÆLLA, LORDE OF THE CASTEL OF BRYSTOWE YNNE DAIES OF YORE.

 

 

    Oh thou, orr what remaynes of thee,

    Ælla, the darlynge of futurity,

  Lett thys mie songe bolde as thie courage be,

    As everlastynge to posteritye.

 

  Whanne Dacya's sonnes, whose hayres of bloude-redde hue                   5

  Lyche kynge-cuppes brastynge wythe the morning due,

    Arraung'd ynne dreare arraie,

    Upponne the lethale daie,

  Spredde farre and wyde onne Watchets shore;

    Than dyddst thou furiouse stande,                                      10

    And bie thie valyante hande

  Beesprengedd all the mees wythe gore.

 

    Drawne bie thyne anlace felle,

    Downe to the depthe of helle

    Thousandes of Dacyanns went;                                           15

    Brystowannes, menne of myghte,

    Ydar'd the bloudie fyghte,

    And actedd deeds full quent.

 

    Oh thou, whereer (thie bones att reste)

    Thye Spryte to haunte delyghteth beste,                                20

  Whetherr upponne the bloude-embrewedd pleyne,

    Orr whare thou kennst fromm farre

    The dysmall crye of warre,

  Orr seest somme mountayne made of corse of sleyne;

    Orr seest the hatchedd stede,                                          25

    Ypraunceynge o'er the mede,

  And neighe to be amenged the poynctedd speeres;

    Orr ynne blacke armoure staulke arounde

    Embattel'd Brystowe, once thie grounde,

  And glowe ardurous onn the Castle steeres;                               30

 

    Orr fierye round the mynsterr glare;

    Lette Brystowe stylle be made thie care;

  Guarde ytt fromme foemenne & consumynge fyre;

    Lyche Avones streme ensyrke ytte rounde,

    Ne lette a flame enharme the grounde,                                  35

  Tylle ynne one flame all the whole worlde expyre.

 

 

 

 

The underwritten Lines were composed by JOHN LADGATE, a Priest in

London, and sent to ROWLIE, as an Answer to the preceding _Songe of

Ælla_.

 

 

  Havynge wythe mouche attentyonn redde

    Whatt you dydd to mee sende,

  Admyre the varses mouche I dydd,

    And thus an answerr lende.

 

  Amongs the Greeces Homer was                                              5

    A Poett mouche renownde,

  Amongs the Latyns Vyrgilius

    Was beste of Poets founde.

 

  The Brytish Merlyn oftenne hanne

    The gyfte of inspyration,                                              10

  And Afled to the Sexonne menne

    Dydd synge wythe elocation.

 

  Ynne Norman tymes, Turgotus and

    Goode Chaucer dydd excelle,

  Thenn Stowe, the Bryghtstowe Carmelyte,                                  15

    Dydd bare awaie the belle.

 

  Nowe Rowlie ynne these mokie dayes

    Lendes owte hys sheenynge lyghtes,

  And Turgotus and Chaucer lyves

    Ynne ev'ry lyne he wrytes.                                             20

 

 

 

 

THE TOURNAMENT.

 

AN INTERLUDE.

 

 

  ENTER AN HERAWDE.

 

    The Tournament begynnes; the hammerrs sounde;

    The courserrs lysse[1] about the mensuredd[2] fielde;

    The shemrynge armoure throws the sheene arounde;

    Quayntyssed[3] fons[4] depictedd[5] onn eche sheelde.

    The feerie[6] heaulmets, wythe the wreathes amielde[7],                 5

    Supportes the rampynge lyoncell[8] orr beare,

    Wythe straunge depyctures[9], Nature maie nott yeelde,

    Unseemelie to all orderr doe appere,

    Yett yatte[10] to menne, who thyncke and have a spryte[11],

    Makes knowen thatt the phantasies unryghte.                            10

 

    I, Sonne of Honnoure, spencer[11] of her joies,

    Muste swythen[12] goe to yeve[13] the speeres arounde,

    Wythe advantayle[14] & borne[15] I meynte[16] emploie,

    Who withoute mee woulde fall untoe the grounde.

    Soe the tall oake the ivie twysteth rounde;                            15

    Soe the neshe[17] flowerr grees[18] ynne the woodeland shade.

    The worlde bie diffraunce ys ynne orderr founde;

    Wydhoute unlikenesse nothynge could bee made.

    As ynn the bowke[19] nete[20] alleyn[21] cann bee donne,

  Syke[22] ynn the weal of kynde all thynges are partes of onne.           20

 

  Enterr SYRR SYMONNE DE BOURTONNE.

 

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

    Mie phantasie ys dyinge forr the fyghte.

    The mynstrelles have begonne the thyrde warr songe,

    Yett notte a speere of hemm[24] hath grete mie syghte.

    I feere there be ne manne wordhie mie myghte.                          25

    I lacke a Guid[25], a Wyllyamm[26] to entylte.

    To reine[27] anente[28] a fele[29] embodiedd knyghte,

    Ytt gettes ne rennome[30] gyff hys blodde bee spylte.

    Bie heavenne & Marie ytt ys tyme they're here;

    I lyche nott unthylle[31] thus to wielde the speare.                   30

 

  HERAWDE.

 

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

 

  BOURTONNE.

 

    Ah! swythenn[34] mie shielde & tyltynge launce bee bounde [35].

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

    I flie before to clayme a challenge grownde.

                                             [_Goeth oute_.

 

  HERAWDE.

 

    Thie valourous actes woulde meinte[38] of menne astounde;

    Harde bee yer shappe[39] encontrynge thee ynn fyghte;

    Anenst[40] all menne thou bereft to the grounde,

    Lyche the hard hayle dothe the tall roshes pyghte[41].

    As whanne the mornynge sonne ydronks the dew,

    Syche dothe thie valourous actes drocke[42] eche knyghte's hue.        40

 

    THE LYSTES. THE KYNGE. SYRR SYMONNE DE BOURTONNE, SYRR HUGO

    FERRARIS, SYRR RANULPH NEVILLE, SYRR LODOVICK DE CLYNTON,

    SYRR JOHAN DE BERGHAMME, AND ODHERR KNYGHTES, HERAWDES,

    MYNSTRELLES. AND SERVYTOURS[43].

 

  KYNGE.

 

    The barganette[44]; yee mynstrelles tune the strynge,

    Somme actyonn dyre of auntyante kynges now synge.

 

  MYNSTRELLES.

 

    Wyllyamm, the Normannes floure botte Englondes thorne,

    The manne whose myghte delievretie[45] hadd knite[46],

    Snett[46] oppe hys long strunge bowe and sheelde aborne[47],           45

    Behesteynge[48] all hys hommageres[49] to fyghte.

    Goe, rouze the lyonn fromm hys hylted[50] denne,

  Lett thie floes[51] drenche the blodde of anie thynge bott menne.

 

    Ynn the treed forreste doe the knyghtes appere;

    Wyllyamm wythe myghte hys bowe enyronn'd[52] plies[53];                50

    Loude dynns[54] the arrowe ynn the wolfynn's eare;

    Hee ryseth battent[55] roares, he panctes, hee dyes.

    Forslagenn att thie feete lett wolvynns bee,

  Lett thie floes drenche theyre blodde, bott do ne bredrenn flea.

 

    Throwe the merke[56] shade of twistynde trees hee rydes;               55

    The flemed[57] owlett[58] flapps herr eve-speckte[59] wynge;

    The lordynge[60] toade ynn all hys passes bides;

    The berten[61] neders[62] att hymm darte the stynge;

    Styll, stylle, hee passes onn, hys stede astrodde,

  Nee hedes the daungerous waie gyff leadynge untoe bloodde.               60

 

    The lyoncel, fromme sweltrie[63] countries braughte,

    Coucheynge binethe the sheltre of the brierr,

    Att commyng dynn[64] doth rayse hymselfe distraughte[65],

    He loketh wythe an eie of flames of fyre.

    Goe, sticke the lyonn to hys hyltren denne.                            65

  Lette thie floes[66] drenche the blood of anie thynge botte menn.

 

    Wythe passent[67] steppe the lyonn mov'th alonge;

    Wyllyamm hys ironne-woven bowe hee bendes,

    Wythe myghte alyche the roghlynge[68] thonderr stronge;

    The lyonn ynn a roare hys spryte foorthe sendes.                       70

    Goe, slea the lyonn ynn hys blodde-steyn'd denne,

  Botte bee thie takelle[69] drie fromm blodde of odherr menne.

 

    Swefte fromm the thyckett starks the stagge awaie;

    The couraciers[70] as swefte doe afterr flie.

    Hee lepethe hie, hee stondes, hee kepes att baie,                      75

    Botte metes the arrowe, and eftsoones[71] doth die.

    Forslagenn atte thie fote lette wylde beastes bee,

  Lett thie floes drenche yer blodde, yett do ne bredrenn slee.

 

    Wythe murtherr tyredd, hee sleynges hys bowe alyne[72].

    The stagge ys ouch'd[73] wythe crownes of lillie flowerrs.             80

    Arounde theire heaulmes theie greene verte doe entwyne;

    Joying and rev'lous ynn the grene wode bowerrs.

    Forslagenn wyth thie floe lette wylde beastes bee,

  Feeste thee upponne theire fleshe, doe ne thie bredrenn flee.

 

  KYNGE.

 

    Nowe to the Tourneie[74]; who wylle fyrste affraie[75]?                85

 

  HERAULDE.

 

    Nevylle, a baronne, bee yatte[76] honnoure thyne.

 

  BOURTONNE.

 

    I clayme the passage.

 

  NEVYLLE.

 

    I contake[77] thie waie.

 

  BOURTONNE.

 

    Thenn there's mie gauntlette[78] onn mie gaberdyne[79].

 

  HEREHAULDE.

 

    A leegefull[80] challenge, knyghtes & champyonns dygne[81],

    A leegefull challenge, lette the flugghorne sounde.                    90

                            [Syrr Symonne _and_ Nevylle _tylte_.

    Nevylle ys goeynge, manne and horse, toe grounde.

                                         [Nevylle _falls_.

    Loverdes, how doughtilie[82] the tylterrs joyne!

    Yee champyonnes, heere Symonne de Bourtonne fyghtes,

  Onne hee hathe quacedd[83], assayle[84] hymm, yee knyghtes.

 

  FERRARIS.

 

    I wylle anente[85] hymm goe; mie squierr, mie shielde;                 95

    Orr onne orr odherr wyll doe myckle[86] scethe[87]

    Before I doe departe the lissedd[88] fielde,

    Mieselfe orr Bourtonne hereupponn wyll blethe[89].

      Mie shielde.

 

  BOURTONNE.

 

      Comme onne, & fitte thie tylte-launce ethe[90].

    Whanne Bourtonn fyghtes, hee metes a doughtie foe.                    100

                    [_Theie tylte_. Ferraris _falleth_.

    Hee falleth; nowe bie heavenne thie woundes doe smethe[91];

    I feere mee, I have wroughte thee myckle woe[92].

 

  HERAWDE.

 

    Bourtonne hys seconde beereth to the feelde.

  Comme onn, yee knyghtes, and wynn the honnour'd sheeld.

 

  BERGHAMME.

 

    I take the challenge; squyre, mie launce and stede.                   105

    I, Bourtonne, take the gauntlette; forr mee staie.

    Botte, gyff thou fyghteste mee, thou shalt have mede[93];

    Somme odherr I wylle champyonn toe affraie[94];

    Perchaunce fromme hemm I maie possess the daie,

    Thenn I schalle bee a foemanne forr thie spere.                       110

    Herehawde, toe the bankes of Knyghtys saie,

    De Berghamme wayteth forr a foemann heere.

 

  CLINTON.

 

    Botte longe thou schalte ne tend[95]; I doe thee fie[96].

    Lyche forreying[97] levynn[98], schalle mie tylte-launce flie.

         [Berghamme & Clinton _tylte_. Clinton _fallethe_.

  BERGHAMME.

 

    Nowe, nowe, Syrr Knyghte, attoure[99] thie beeveredd[100] eyne.

    I have borne downe, and este[101] doe gauntlette thee.

    Swythenne[102] begynne, and wrynn[103] thie shappe[104] orr myne;

    Gyff thou dyscomfytte, ytt wylle dobblie bee.

      [Bourtonne & Burghamm _tylteth_. Berghamme _falls_.

 

  HERAWDE.

 

    Symonne de Bourtonne haveth borne downe three,

    And bie the thyrd hathe honnoure of a fourthe.                        120

    Lett hymm bee sett asyde, tylle hee doth see

    A tyltynge forr a knyghte of gentle wourthe.

    Heere commethe straunge knyghtes; gyff corteous[105] heie[106],

    Ytt welle beseies[107] to yeve[108] hemm ryghte of fraie[109].

 

  FIRST KNYGHTE.

 

    Straungerrs wee bee, and homblie doe wee clayme                       125

    The rennome[110] ynn thys Tourneie[111] forr to tylte;

    Dherbie