ADVERTISEMENT.
The Reader is desired to observe, that the notes at the bottom of the several pages, throughout the following part of this book, are all copied from MSS. in the hand-writing of Thomas Chatterton.
POEMS, &c.
ECLOGUE THE FIRST.
Whanne Englonde, smeethynge[1] from her lethal[2] wounde,
From her galled necke dyd twytte[3] the chayne awaie,
Kennynge her legeful sonnes falle all arounde,
(Myghtie theie fell, 'twas Honoure ledde the fraie,)
Thanne inne a dale, bie eve's dark surcote[4] graie, 5
Twayne lonelie shepsterres[5] dyd abrodden[6] flie,
(The rostlyng liff doth theyr whytte hartes affraie[7],)
And wythe the owlette trembled and dyd crie;
Firste Roberte Neatherde hys sore boesom stroke.
Then fellen on the grounde and thus yspoke. 10
ROBERTE.
Ah, Raufe! gif thos the howres do comme alonge,
Gif thos wee flie in chase of farther woe,
Oure fote wylle fayle, albeytte wee bee stronge,
Ne wylle oure pace swefte as oure danger goe.
To oure grete wronges we have enheped[8] moe, 15
The Baronnes warre! oh! woe and well-a-daie!
I haveth lyff, bott have escaped soe,
That lyff ytsel mie Senses doe affraie.
Oh Raufe, comme lyste, and hear mie dernie[9] tale,
Comme heare the balefull[10] dome of Robynne of the Dale. 20
RAUFE.
Saie to mee nete; I kenne thie woe in myne;
O! I've a tale that Sabalus[11] mote[12] telle.
Swote[13] flouretts, mantled meedows, forestes dygne[14];
Gravots[15] far-kend[16] arounde the Errmiets[17] cell;
The swote ribible[18] dynning[19] yn the dell; 25
The joyous daunceynge ynn the hoastrie[20] courte;
Eke[21] the highe songe and everych joie farewell,
Farewell the verie shade of fayre dysporte[22]:
Impestering[23] trobble onn mie heade doe comme,
Ne on kynde Seyncte to warde[24] the aye[25] encreasynge dome. 30
ROBERTE.
Oh! I coulde waile mie kynge-coppe-decked mees[26],
Mie spreedynge flockes of shepe of lillie white,
Mie tendre applynges[27], and embodyde[28] trees,
Mie Parker's Grange[29], far spreedynge to the syghte,
Mie cuyen[30] kyne [31], mie bullockes stringe[32] yn syghte, 35
Mie gorne[33] emblaunched[34] with the comfreie[35] plante,
Mie floure[36] Seyncte Marie shotteyng wythe the lyghte,
Mie store of all the blessynges Heaven can grant.
I amm duressed[37] unto sorrowes blowe,
Ihanten'd[38] to the peyne, will lette ne salte teare flowe. 40
RAUFE.
Here I wille obaie[39] untylle Dethe doe 'pere,
Here lyche a foule empoysoned leathel[40] tree,
Whyche sleaeth[41] everichone that commeth nere,
Soe wille I fyxed unto thys place gre[42].
I to bement[43] haveth moe cause than thee; 45
Sleene in the warre mie boolie[44] fadre lies;
Oh! joieous I hys mortherer would slea,
And bie hys syde for aie enclose myne eies.
Calked[45] from everych joie, heere wylle I blede;
Fell ys the Cullys-yatte[46] of mie hartes castle stede. 50
ROBERTE.
Oure woes alyche, alyche our dome[47] shal bee.
Mie sonne, mie sonne alleyn[48], ystorven[49] ys;
Here wylle I staie, and end mie lyff with thee;
A lyff lyche myn a borden ys ywis.
Now from een logges[50] fledden is selyness[51], 55
Mynsterres[52] alleyn[53] can boaste the hallie[54] Seyncte,
Now doeth Englonde weare a bloudie dresse
And wyth her champyonnes gore her face depeyncte;
Peace fledde, disorder sheweth her dark rode[55],
And thorow ayre doth flie, yn garments steyned with bloude. 60
[Footnote 1: Smething, smoking; in some copies bletheynge, but in the original as above.]
[Footnote 2: deadly.]
[Footnote 3: pluck or pull.]
[Footnote 4: Surcote, a cloke, or mantel, which hid all the other dress.]
[Footnote 5: shepherds.]
[Footnote 6: abruptly, so Chaucer, Syke he abredden dyd attourne.]
[Footnote 7: affright.]
[Footnote 8: Added.]
[Footnote 9: sad.]
[Footnote 10: woeful, lamentable.]
[Footnote 11: the Devil.]
[Footnote 12: might.]
[Footnote 13: sweet.]
[Footnote 14: good, neat, genteel.]
[Footnote 15: groves, sometimes used for a coppice.]
[Footnote 16: far-seen.]
[Footnote 17: Hermit.]
[Footnote 18: violin.]
[Footnote 19: sounding.]
[Footnote 20: inn, or public-house.]
[Footnote 21: also.]
[Footnote 22: pleasure.]
[Footnote 23: annoying.]
[Footnote 24: to keep off.]
[Footnote 25: ever, always.]
[Footnote 26: meadows.]
[Footnote 27: grafted trees.]
[Footnote 28: thick, stout.]
[Footnote 29: liberty of pasture given to the Parker.]
[Footnote 30: tender.]
[Footnote 31: cows.]
[Footnote 32: strong.]
[Footnote 33: garden.]
[Footnote 34: whitened.]
[Footnote 35: cumfrey, a favourite dish at that time.]
[Footnote 36: marygold.]
[Footnote 37: hardened.]
[Footnote 38: accustomed.]
[Footnote 39: abide. This line is also wrote, "Here wyll I obaie untill dethe appere," but this is modernized.]
[Footnote 40: deadly.]
[Footnote 41: destroyeth, killeth.]
[Footnote 42: grow.]
[Footnote 43: lament.]
[Footnote 44: much-loved, beloved.]
[Footnote 45: cast out, ejected.]
[Footnote 46: alluding to the portcullis, which guarded the gate, on which often depended the castle.]
[Footnote 47: fate.]
[Footnote 48: my only son.]
[Footnote 49: dead.]
[Footnote 50: cottages.]
[Footnote 51: happiness.]
[Footnote 52: monasterys.]
[Footnote 53: only.]
[Footnote 54: holy.]
[Footnote 55: complexion.]