ÆLLA, EGWINA, SERVYTOURE.
Reading edition
SERVYTOURE.
Loverde! I am aboute the trouthe to saie. Laste nyghte, fulle late I dydde retourne to reste. As to mie chamber I dydde bende mie waie, To Birtha onne hys name & place addreste; Downe to hym camme shee; butte thereof the reste 1180 I ken ne matter; so, mie hommage made—
ÆLLA.
O! speake ne moe; mie harte flames yn yttes heste; I once was Ælla; nowe bee notte yttes shade. Hanne alle the fuirie of mysfortunes wylle Fallen onne mie benned[124] headde I hanne been Ælla stylle. 1185
Thys alleyn was unburled[125] of alle mie spryte; Mie honnoure, honnoure, frownd on the dolce[126] wynde, Thatte steeked on ytte; nowe wyth rage Im pyghte; A brondeous unweere ys mie engyned mynde. Mie hommeur yette somme drybblet joie maie fynde, 1190 To the Danes woundes I wylle another yeve; Whanne thos mie rennome[127] & mie peace ys rynde, Itte were a recrandize to thyncke toe lyve; Mie huscarles, untoe everie asker telle, Gyffe noblie Ælla lyved, as noblie Ælla felle. 1195 [Stabbeth hys breste.
SERVYTOURE.
Ælla ys sleene; the flower of Englonde's marrde!
ÆLLA.
Be stylle: swythe lette the chyrches rynge mie knelle. Call hyther brave Coernyke; he, as warde Of thys mie Brystowe castle, wyll doe welle. [Knelle ryngeth.