Larger constellations burning, mellow moons and happy skies,
Breadths of tropic shade and palms in cluster, knots of Paradise.
(Tennyson: Locksley Hall.)
Wild April, enkindled to laughter and storm by the kiss of
the wildest of winds that blow,
Calls loud on his brother for witness; his hands that were
laden with blossom are sprinkled with snow.
(Swinburne: March.)
ii. Verse showing irregular intervals between accents
Gegrētte ðā gumena gehwylcne,
hwate helm-berend, hindeman sīðe,
swǣse gesīðas: "Nolde ic sweord beran,
wǣpen tō wyrme, gif ic wiste hū
wið ðām āglǣcean elles meahte
gylpe wiðgrīpan, swā ic gīo wið Grendle dyde;
ac ic ðǣr heaðu-fȳres hātes wēne,
oreðes ond attres; forðon ic mē on hafu
bord ond byrnan. Nelle ic beorges weard
oferflēon fōtes trem,
ac unc sceal weorðan æt wealle, swā unc wyrd getēoð,
Metod manna gehwæs. Ic eom on mōde from,
þæt ic wið þone gūð-flogan gylp ofersitte.
(Beowulf, ll. 2516-2528. ab. 700.)
Ich herde men upo mold make muche mon,
hou he beþ itened of here tilyynge:
gode yeres & corn boþe beþ agon,
ne kepeþ here no sawe ne no song synge.
Nou we mote worche, nis þer non oþer won,
mai ich no lengore lyue wiþ mi lesinge.
Yet þer is a bitterore bit to þe bon,
for euer þe furþe peni mot to þe kynge.[4]
(The Farmer's Complaint, ab. 1300; in Böddeker's Altenglische Dichtungen, p. 102, and Wright's Political Songs, p. 149.)
I will speake out aloude, I care not who heare it:
Sirs, see that my harnesse, my tergat and my shield
Be made as bright now as when I was last in fielde,
As white as I shoulde to warre againe to-morrowe;
For sicke shall I be but I worke some folke sorow.
Therefore see that all shine as bright as Sainct George,
Or as doth a key newly come from the smiths forge.