LETTER TO THE DYGNE MASTRE CANYNGE.
Reading edition
Straunge dome ytte ys, that, yn these daies of oures, Nete[35] butte a bare recytalle can hav place; Nowe shapelie poesie hast loste yttes powers, And pynant hystorie ys onlie grace; Heie[36] pycke up wolsome weedes, ynstedde of flowers, 5 And famylies, ynstedde of wytte, theie trace; Nowe poesie canne meete wythe ne regrate[37], Whylste prose, & herehaughtrie[38], ryse yn estate.
Lette kynges, & rulers, whan heie gayne a throne, Shewe whatt theyre grandsieres, & great grandsieres bore, 10 Emarschalled armes, yatte, ne before theyre owne, Now raung'd wythe whatt yeir fadres han before; Lette trades, & toune folck, lett syke[39] thynges alone, Ne fyghte for sable yn a fielde of aure; Seldomm, or never, are armes vyrtues mede, 15 Shee nillynge[40] to take myckle[41] aie dothe hede.
A man ascaunse upponn a piece maye looke, And shake hys hedde to styrre hys rede[42] aboute; Quod he, gyf I askaunted oere thys booke, Schulde fynde thereyn that trouthe ys left wythoute; 20 Eke, gyf[43] ynto a vew percase[44] I tooke The long beade-rolle of al the wrytynge route, Asserius, Ingolphus, Torgotte, Bedde, Thorow hem[45] al nete lyche ytte I coulde rede.—
Pardon, yee Graiebarbes[46], gyff I saie, onwise 25 Yee are, to stycke so close & bysmarelie[47] To hystorie; you doe ytte tooe moche pryze, Whyche amenused[48] thoughtes of poesie; Somme drybblette[49] share you shoulde to yatte[50] alyse[51], Nott makynge everyche thynge bee hystorie; 30 Instedde of mountynge onn a wynged horse, You onn a rouncy[52] dryve yn dolefull course.
Cannynge & I from common course dyssente; Wee ryde the stede, botte yev to hym the reene; Ne wylle betweene crased molterynge bookes be pente, 35 Botte soare on hyghe, & yn the sonne-bemes sheene; And where wee kenn somme ishad[53] floures besprente, We take ytte, & from oulde rouste doe ytte clene; Wee wylle ne cheynedd to one pasture bee, Botte sometymes soare 'bove trouthe of hystorie. 40
Saie, Canynge, whatt was vearse yn daies of yore? Fyne thoughtes, and couplettes fetyvelie[54] bewryen[55], Notte syke as doe annoie thys age so sore, A keppened poyntelle[56] restynge at eche lyne. Vearse maie be goode, botte poesie wantes more, 45 An onlist[57] lecturn[58], and a songe adygne[59]; Accordynge to the rule I have thys wroughte, Gyff ytt please Canynge, I care notte a groate.
The thynge yttself moste bee ytts owne defense; Som metre maie notte please a womannes ear. 50 Canynge lookes notte for poesie, botte sense; And dygne, & wordie thoughtes, ys all hys care. Canynge, adieu! I do you greete from hence; Full soone I hope to taste of your good cheere; Goode Byshoppe Carpynter dyd byd mee saie, 55 Hee wysche you healthe & selinesse for aie.
T. ROWLEIE.
[Footnote 35: nought.]
[Footnote 36: they.]
[Footnote 37: esteem.]
[Footnote 38: heraldry.]
[Footnote 39: such.]
[Footnote 40: unwilling.]
[Footnote 41: much.]
[Footnote 42: wisdom, council.]
[Footnote 43: if.]
[Footnote 44: perchance.]
[Footnote 45: them.]
[Footnote 46: Greybeards.]
[Footnote 47: curiously.]
[Footnote 48: lessened.]
[Footnote 49: small.]
[Footnote 50: that.]
[Footnote 51: allow.]
[Footnote 52: cart-horse.]
[Editor's note: ll. 15-16 See Introduction p. xli]
[Footnote 53: broken.]
[Footnote 54: elegantly.]
[Footnote 55: declared, expressed.]
[Footnote 56: a pen, used metaphorically, as a muse or genius.]
[Footnote 57: boundless.]
[Footnote 58: subject.]
[Footnote 59: nervous, worthy of praise.]