THE LYKE-WAKE DIRGE
(Lansdowne ms., 231, fol. 114 recto.)
1.
1.1 ‘ean,’ one.
1.3 ‘Fleet,’ water. —Aubrey’s marginal note. See above.
This ean night, this ean night,
eve[r]y night and awle:
Fire and Fleet and Candle-light
and Christ recieve thy Sawle.
2.
2.3 Whin is a Furze. —Aubrey.
2.4 This line stands in the MS. as here printed.
When thou from hence doest pass away
every night and awle
To Whinny-moor thou comest at last
thy silly poor
and Christ recieve thy ˄ Sawle.
3.
3.1 Job cap. xxxi. 19. If I have seen any perish for want of cloathing, or any poor without covering: 20. If his loyns have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep, &c. —Aubrey.
3.3 There will be hosen and shoon for them. —Aubrey.
If ever thou gave either hosen or shun
every night and awle
Sitt thee downe and putt them on
and Christ recieve thy Sawle.
4.
4.3 ‘beane.’ The ‘a’ was inserted by Aubrey after writing ‘bene.’
But if hosen nor shoon thou never gave nean
every night &c:
The Whinnes shall prick thee to the bare beane
and Christ recieve thy Sawle.
5.
From Whinny-moor that thou mayst pass
every night &c:
To Brig o’ Dread thou comest at last
and Christ &c:
[fol. 114 verso]
6.1 ‘no brader than a thread.’ Written by Aubrey as here printed over the second half of the line. Probably it indicates a lost stanza. See [Appendix].
no brader than a thread.
6.
From Brig of Dread that thou mayst pass
every night &c:
To Purgatory fire thou com’st at last
and Christ &c:
7.
If ever thou gave either Milke or drinke
every night &c:
The fire shall never make thee shrink
and Christ &c:
8.
8.3 ‘bane’ might be read ‘bene.’
But if milk nor drink thou never gave nean
every night &c:
The Fire shall burn thee to the bare bane
and Christ recive thy Sawle.