ÆLLA, EGWINA.
Reading edition
EGWINA.
Oh Ælla!
ÆLLA.
Ah! that semmlykeene to mee Speeketh a legendary tale of woe.
EGWINA.
Birtha is—
ÆLLA.
Whatt? where? how? saie, whatte of shee?
EGWINA.
Gone—
ÆLLA.
Gone! ye goddes!
EGWINA.
Alas! ytte ys toe true. Yee seynctes, hee dies awaie wythe myckle woe! 1150 Ælla! what? Ælla! oh! hee lyves agen.
ÆLLA.
Cal mee notte Ælla; I am hymme ne moe. Where ys shee gon awaie? ah! speake! how? when?
EGWINA.
I will.
ÆLLA.
Caparyson a score of stedes; flie, flie. Where ys shee? swythynne speeke, or instante thou shalte die. 1155
EGWINA.
Stylle thie loud rage, & here thou whatte I knowe.
ÆLLA.
Oh! speek.
EGWINA.
Lyche prymrose, droopynge wythe the heavie rayne, Laste nyghte I lefte her, droopynge wythe her wiere, Her love the gare, thatte gave her harte syke peyne—
ÆLLA.
Her love! to whomme?
EGWINA.
To thee, her spouse alleyne[122]. 1160 As ys mie hentylle everyche morne to goe, I wente, and oped her chamber doore ynn twayne, Botte found her notte, as I was wont to doe; Thanne alle arounde the pallace I dyd seere[123], Botte culde (to mie hartes woe) ne fynde her anie wheere. 1165
ÆLLA.
Thou lyest, foul hagge! thou lyest; thou art her ayde To chere her louste;—botte noe; ytte cannotte bee.
EGWINA.
Gyff trouthe appear notte inne whatte I have sayde, Drawe forthe thie anlace swythyn, thanne mee flea.
ÆLLA.
Botte yette ytte muste, ytte muste bee foe; I see, 1170 Shee wythe somme loustie paramoure ys gone; Itte moste bee foe—oh! how ytte wracketh mee! Mie race of love, mie race of lyfe ys ronne; Nowe rage, & brondeous storm, & tempeste comme; Nete lyvynge upon erthe can now enswote mie domme. 1175