BIRTHA, EGWINA, MYNSTRELLES.
Reading edition
MYNSTRELLES SONGE.
O! synge untoe mie roundelaie, O! droppe the brynie teare wythe mee, 845 Daunce ne moe atte hallie daie, Lycke a reynynge[100] ryver bee; Mie love ys dedde, Gon to hys death-bedde, Al under the wyllowe tree. 850
Blacke hys cryne[101] as the wyntere nyghte, Whyte hys rode[102] as the sommer snowe, Rodde hys face as the mornynge lyghte, Cale he lyes ynne the grave belowe; Mie love ys dedde, 855 Gon to hys deathe-bedde, Al under the wyllowe tree.
Swote hys tyngue as the throstles note, Quycke ynn daunce as thoughte canne bee, Defte hys taboure, codgelle stote, 860 O! hee lyes bie the wyllowe tree: Mie love ys dedde, Gonne to hys deathe-bedde, Alle underre the wyllowe tree.
Harke! the ravenne flappes hys wynge, 865 In the briered delle belowe; Harke! the dethe-owle loude dothe synge, To the nyghte-mares as heie goe; Mie love ys dedde, Gonne to hys deathe-bedde, 870 Al under the wyllowe tree.
See! the whyte moone sheenes onne hie; Whyterre ys mie true loves shroude; Whyterre yanne the mornynge skie, Whyterre yanne the evenynge cloude: 875 Mie love ys dedde, Gon to hys deathe-bedde, Al under the wyllowe tree.
Heere, uponne mie true loves grave, Schalle the baren fleurs be layde. 880 Nee one hallie Seyncte to save Al the celness of a mayde. Mie love ys dedde, Gonne to hys death-bedde, Alle under the wyllowe tree. 885
Wythe mie hondes I'lle dente the brieres Rounde his hallie corse to gre, Ouphante fairie, lyghte youre fyres, Heere mie boddie stylle schalle bee. Mie love ys dedde, 890 Gon to hys death-bedde, Al under the wyllowe tree.
Comme, wythe acorne-coppe & thorne, Drayne mie hartys blodde awaie; Lyfe & all yttes goode I scorne, 895 Daunce bie nete, or feaste by daie. Mie love ys dedde, Gon to hys death-bedde, Al under the wyllowe tree.
Waterre wytches, crownede wythe reytes[103], 900 Bere mee to yer leathalle tyde. I die; I comme; mie true love waytes. Thos the damselle spake, and dyed.
BIRTHA.
Thys syngeyng haveth whatte coulde make ytte please; Butte mie uncourtlie shappe benymmes mee of all ease. 905
ÆLLA, atte WATCHETTE.
Curse onne mie tardie woundes! brynge mee a stede! I wylle awaie to Birtha bie thys nyghte: Albeytte fro mie woundes mie soul doe blede, I wylle awaie, & die wythynne her syghte. Brynge mee a stede, wythe eagle-wynges for flyghte; 910 Swefte as mie wyshe, &, as mie love ys, stronge. The Danes have wroughte mee myckle woe ynne syghte, Inne kepeynge mee from Birtha's armes so longe. O! whatte a dome was myne, sythe masterie Canne yeve ne pleasaunce, nor mie londes goode leme myne eie! 915
Yee goddes, howe ys a loverres temper formed! Sometymes the samme thynge wylle bothe bane, & blesse; On tyme encalede[104], yanne bie the same thynge warmd, Estroughted foorthe, and yanne ybrogten less. 'Tys Birtha's loss whyche doe mie thoughtes possesse; 920 I wylle, I muste awaie: whie staies mie stede? Mie huscarles, hyther haste; prepare a dresse, Whyche couracyers[105] yn hastie journies nede. O heavens! I moste awaie to Byrtha eyne, For yn her lookes I fynde mie beynge doe entwyne. 925
CELMONDE, att BRYSTOWE.
The worlde ys darke wythe nyghte; the wyndes are stylle; Fayntelie the mone her palyde lyghte makes gleme; The upryste[106] sprytes the sylente letten[107] fylle, Wythe ouphant faeryes joynyng ynne the dreme; The forreste sheenethe wythe the sylver leme; 930 Nowe maie mie love be sated ynn yttes treate; Uponne the lynche of somme swefte reynyng streme, Att the swote banquette I wylle swotelie eate. Thys ys the howse; yee hyndes, swythyn appere.