Bulchevy's Book of English Verse Part 11

Then did she say, Now have I found this proverb true to prove, The falling out of faithful friends renewing is of love.

Then took I paper, pen, and ink, this proverb for to write, In register for to remain of such a worthy wight: As she proceeded thus in song unto her little brat, Much matter utter'd she of weight, in place whereas she sat: And proved plain there was no beast, nor creature bearing life, Could well be known to live in love without discord and strife: Then kissed she her little babe, and sware by G.o.d above, The falling out of faithful friends renewing is of love.

She said that neither king nor prince nor lord could live aright, Until their puissance they did prove, their manhood and their might.

When manhood shall be matched so that fear can take no place, Then weary works make warriors each other to embrace, And left their force that failed them, which did consume the rout, That might before have lived their time, their strength and nature out: Then did she sing as one that thought no man could her reprove, The falling out of faithful friends renewing is of love.

She said she saw no fish nor fowl, nor beast within her haunt, That met a stranger in their kind, but could give it a taunt: Since flesh might not endure, but rest must wrath succeed, And force the fight to fall to play in pasture where they feed, So n.o.ble nature can well end the work she hath begun, And bridle well that will not cease her tragedy in some: Thus in song she oft rehea.r.s.ed, as did her well behove, The falling out of faithful friends renewing is of love.

I marvel much pardy (quoth she) for to behold the rout, To see man, woman, boy and beast, to toss the world about: Some kneel, some crouch, some beck, some check, and some can smoothly smile, And some embrace others in arm, and there think many a wile, Some stand aloof at cap and knee, some humble and some stout, Yet are they never friends in deed until they once fall out: Thus ended she her song and said, before she did remove, The falling out of faithful friends renewing is of love.

George Gascoigne. 1525?-77

47. A Lover's Lullaby

SING lullaby, as women do, Wherewith they bring their babes to rest; And lullaby can I sing too, As womanly as can the best.

With lullaby they still the child; And if I be not much beguiled, Full many a wanton babe have I, Which must be still'd with lullaby.

First lullaby my youthful years, It is now time to go to bed: For crooked age and h.o.a.ry hairs Have won the haven within my head.

With lullaby, then, youth be still; With lullaby content thy will; Since courage quails and comes behind, Go sleep, and so beguile thy mind!

Next lullaby my gazing eyes, Which wonted were to glance apace; For every gla.s.s may now suffice To show the furrows in thy face.

With lullaby then wink awhile; With lullaby your looks beguile; Let no fair face, nor beauty bright, Entice you eft with vain delight.

And lullaby my wanton will; Let reason's rule now reign thy thought; Since all too late I find by skill How dear I have thy fancies bought; With lullaby now take thine ease, With lullaby thy doubts appease; For trust to this, if thou be still, My body shall obey thy will.

Thus lullaby my youth, mine eyes, My will, my ware, and all that was: I can no more delays devise; But welcome pain, let pleasure pa.s.s.

With lullaby now take your leave; With lullaby your dreams deceive; And when you rise with waking eye, Remember then this lullaby.

Alexander Montgomerie. 1540?-1610?

48. The Night is Near Gone

HEY! now the day dawis; The jolly c.o.c.k crawis; Now shroudis the shawis Thro' Nature anon.

The thissel-c.o.c.k cryis On lovers wha lyis: Now skaillis the skyis; The nicht is neir gone.

The fieldis ouerflowis With gowans that growis, Quhair lilies like low is As red as the rone.

The turtle that true is, With notes that renewis, Her pairty pursuis: The nicht is neir gone.

Now hairtis with hindis Conform to their kindis, Hie tursis their tyndis On ground quhair they grone.

Now hurchonis, with hairis, Aye pa.s.sis in pairis; Quhilk duly declaris The nicht is neir gone.

The season excellis Through sweetness that smellis; Now Cupid compellis Our hairtis echone On Venus wha waikis, To muse on our maikis, Syne sing for their saikis-- 'The nicht is neir gone!'

All courageous knichtis Aganis the day dichtis The breist-plate that bright is To fight with their fone.

The stoned steed stampis Through courage, and crampis, Syne on the land lampis: The nicht is neir gone.

The freikis on feildis That wight wapins weildis With shyning bright s.h.i.+eldis At t.i.tan in trone; Stiff speiris in reistis Ouer corseris crestis Are broke on their breistis: The nicht is neir gone.

So hard are their hittis, Some sweyis, some sittis, And some perforce flittis On ground quhile they grone.

Syne groomis that gay is On blonkis that brayis With swordis a.s.sayis:-- The nicht is neir gone.

shroudis] dress themselves. shawis] woods. skaillis]

clears. gowans] daisies. low] flame. rone] rowan. pairty]

partner, mate. tursis] carry. tyndis] antlers. grone] groan, bell. hurchonis] hedgehogs, 'urchins.' maikis] mates. fone]

foes. stoned steed] stallion. crampis] prances. lampis]

gallops. freikis] men, warriors. wight wapins] stout weapons. at t.i.tan] over against t.i.tan (the sun), or read 'as.' flittis] are cast. blonkis] white palfreys.

William Stevenson. 1530?-1575

49. Jolly Good Ale and Old

I CANNOT eat but little meat, My stomach is not good; But sure I think that I can drink With him that wears a hood.

Though I go bare, take ye no care, I nothing am a-cold; I stuff my skin so full within Of jolly good ale and old.

Back and side go bare, go bare; Both foot and hand go cold; But, belly, G.o.d send thee good ale enough, Whether it be new or old.

I love no roast but a nut-brown toast, And a crab laid in the fire; A little bread shall do me stead; Much bread I not desire.

No frost nor snow, no wind, I trow, Can hurt me if I wold; I am so wrapp'd and thoroughly lapp'd Of jolly good ale and old.

Back and side go bare, go bare, &c.

And Tib, my wife, that as her life Loveth well good ale to seek, Full oft drinks she till ye may see The tears run down her cheek: Then doth she trowl to me the bowl Even as a maltworm should, And saith, 'Sweetheart, I took my part Of this jolly good ale and old.'

Back and side go bare, go bare, &c.

Now let them drink till they nod and wink, Even as good fellows should do; They shall not miss to have the bliss Good ale doth bring men to; And all poor souls that have scour'd bowls Or have them l.u.s.tily troll'd, G.o.d save the lives of them and their wives, Whether they be young or old.

Back and side go bare, go bare; Both foot and hand go cold; But, belly, G.o.d send thee good ale enough, Whether it be new or old.

Anonymous. 16th Cent. (Scottish)

50. When Flora had O'erfret the Firth

QUHEN Flora had o'erfret the firth In May of every moneth queen; Quhen merle and mavis singis with mirth Sweet melling in the shawis sheen; Quhen all luvaris rejoicit bene And most desirous of their prey, I heard a l.u.s.ty luvar mene --'I luve, but I dare nocht a.s.say!'

'Strong are the pains I daily prove, But yet with patience I sustene, I am so fetterit with the luve Only of my lady sheen, Quhilk for her beauty micht be queen, Nature so craftily alway Has done depaint that sweet serene: --Quhom I luve I dare nocht a.s.say.

'She is so bricht of hyd and hue, I luve but her alone, I ween; Is none her luve that may eschew, That blinkis of that dulce amene; So comely cleir are her twa een That she mae luvaris dois affray Than ever of Greece did fair Helene: --Quhom I luve I dare nocht a.s.say!'

o'erfret] adorned. shawis] woods. sheen] beautiful. mene]

mourn. hyd] skin. blinkis] gets a glimpse. dulce amene] gentle and pleasant one. mae] more.

Anonymous. 16th Cent. (Scottish)

51. l.u.s.ty May

O l.u.s.tY May, with Flora queen!

The balmy dropis from Phoebus sheen Preluciand beams before the day: By that Diana growis green Through gladness of this l.u.s.ty May.