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CHAPTER III.

FROM THE DEATH OF CHAUCER TO THE AGE OF ELIZABETH A. D. 1400-1558.

A. SCOTTISH POETS.

18. JAMES I. 1394-1437. (Manu: 1, p. 60.)

From the King's Quair (Quire or Book).

ON HIS BELoved.

The longè dayès and the nightès eke,
I would bewail my fortune in this wise,
For which, again 1 distress comfort to seek
My custom was, on mornès, for to rise
Early as day: O happy exercise!
By thee come I to joy out of torment;
But now to purpose of my first intent.

Bewailing in my chamber, thus alone,
Despaired of all joy and remedy,
For-tired of my thought, and woe begone;
And to the window gan I walk in hye,"
To see the world and folk that went forby;
As for the time (though I of mirthis food
Might have no more) to look it did me good.

Now was there made fast by the touris wall
A garden fair; and in the corners set
An herbere3 green; with wandis long and small
Railed about and so with treeìs set

Was all the place, and hawthorn hedges knet,
That life was none (a) walking there forby
That might within scarce any wight espy.

*

Of her array the form gif" I shall write,
Toward her golden hair, and rich attire,

A Against.

2 Haste.

8 Herbary, or garden of simples.

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And for to walk that freshè mayè's morrow,
An hook she had upon her tissue white,
That goodlier had not been seen toforrow, 10
As I suppose, and girt she was a lyte
Thus halfling 12 loose for haste; to such delight
It was to see her youth in goodlihead,
That for rudeness to speak thereof I dread.

In her was youth, beauty with humble port,
Bounty, richess, and womanly feature:
(God better wote than my pen can report)
Wisdom largèss, estate and cunning sure,
In a word in deed, in shape and countenance,
That nature might no more her childe avance.

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7 Mr. Ellis conjectures that this is an error, for fair email, 1. e. enamså
9 Fire.
10 Heretofore.
11 A little.

13 Half.

19. WILLIAM DUNBAR, about 1465-1520. (Manual, p. 60.)

From the Dance of the Seven Deadly Sins.

IRE, PRIDE, AND ENVY.

And first of all in dance was Pryd,
With hair wyl'd bak, bonet on side,'
Like to mak vaistie wainis; 2
And round about him, as a quheill,"
Hang all in rumpilis to the heill,*
His kethat for the nanis.5

Mony proud trompour with him trippit,®
Throw skaldan fyre ay as they skippit,"
They girnd with hyddous granis."

1 With hair combed back (and) bonnet to one side. 2 Likely to make wasteful wants. 8 Like wheel. 4 Hung all in rumples to the heel. 5 His cassock for the nonce. 6 Many a proud impostor with him tripped. 7 Through scalding fire as they skipped. 8 They grinned with bideoris groans.

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Then Ire came with trouble and strife. 10 Boasters, braggarts, and bullies, 11 After him pasisa in pairs. 12 All arrayed in feature of war. 13 In coats of armor and bonnets of steel. 14 Their legs were chained to the heel. (Probably it means covered with iron net-work.) 15 Froward was their aspect. 16 Some struck upon others with brands. knives that sharply could mangle. 19 Followed Envy. privy hatred that traitor trembled. 22 Him followed many a dissembling renegado. 23 With feigned 24 And flatterers to men's faces. 25 And backbiters of sundry races. 20 To 27 With spreaders of false lies. 28 Alas that courts of noble kings. 29 Of them

words fair or white.

lie that had delight

fan never be rid.

17 Some stuck others to the hilt. 18 With 20 Filled full of quarrel and felony. 21 For

20. SIR DAVID LYNDSAY. 1490-1557. (Manual, p. 69.)

MELDRUM'S DUEL WITH THE ENGLISH CHAMPION TALBART.

Then clariouns and trumpets blew,
And weiriours' many hither drew;
On eviry side come 2 mony man

To behald wha the battel wan.
The field was in the meadow green,

Quhare everie man micht weil be seen:

The heraldis put tham sa in order,
That na man past within the border,

Warriors.

8 Came.

& Pressed the course. 15 Courser. understanding.

Nor preissit3 to com within the green,
Bot heraldis and the campiouns keen;
The order and the circumstance
Wer lang to put in remembrance.
Quhen thir twa nobill men of weir
Wer weill accounterit in their geir,
And in thair handis strong burdounis,
Than trumpettis blew and clariounis,
And heraldis cryit hie on hicht,
Now let thame go-God shaw the richt.
Than trumpettis blew triumphantly,
And thay twa campiouns eagerlie,

They spurrit their hors with spier on breist,
Pertly to prief" their pith they preist."

8

That round rink-room was at utterance,
Bot Talbart's hors with ane mischance
He outterit, and to run was laith; 10
Quharof Talbart was wonder wraith."
The Squyer furth his rink 12 he ran,
Commendit weill with every man,
And him discharget of his speir
Honestlie, like ane man of weir.
The trenchour 13 of the Squyreis speir
Stak still into Sir Talbart's geir;
Than everie man into that steid 14
Did all beleve that he was dede.
The Squyer lap richt haistillie
From his coursour 15 deliverlie,
And to Sir Talbart made support,
And humillie did him comfort.

16

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Spears.

20 Loath.

16 Humbly.

6 Shew. 11 Wroth.

! Made. 23 Which.

7 Tried. 8 Course-roum.
13 Head of the spear.
20 Thou knowest.

• Prove.
12 Course.
18 Bore. 19 Joust.
23 Lose. 24 To him.

Swerved from 14 In that situation 21 Agreement or

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Then said the Squyer, courteouslie,
Brother, I thank you hartfullie;
Of you, forsooth, nothing I crave,
For I have gotten that I would have.

B.-ENGLISH POETS.

21. JOHN SKELTON, d. 1529. (Manual, p. 65.)

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