The Oriel Text
[45]
Exersice your_e_-selfe also in redyng
Of bokys enournede wyth eloquence;
Ther shall ye fynde both pleasaunce and lernyng, 311
And so ye may in eu_er_y good presence
Some [what] fynde and see as in sentence,
That shall accorde the tyme to ocupie,
That ye not nede to stondyn idelie.
[46]
Itt[1] is fare to be cominycatyfe
[Sidenote 1: MS. Iit.]
In matires vnto purpoos according,
So that a wight sume not excessyfe, 318
For trusteth well, hit is tedious thyng
For to here a childe multiplie talkyng,
Yif hit be not to the purpose applied,
And also wyth goodly termys aleyde. 322
[47]
Redith Gower in his writyng moralle,
That au[=n]cient faders memorie,
Redith his bokis clepide ‘confessionalle,’
Wyth many anodir vertuous tretie,
Full of sentence sette so frutuously,
That them to rede shall yeue you corage,
So is he fulle of sentence and langage. 329
Hill’s Text.
¶ Excersyse also yo_u_r selfe in redyng
Off bokes enorned wit[=h] eloquence,
ther shall[e] ye fynde bot[=h] plesyre & lernynge,
so that ye may in eu_er_y good presence 312
Some-what fynde as in sentence
that shall[e] accorde the tyme to occupye,
That ye not nede to stonde ydellye.
¶ It ys fayer to be comynycatyfe
In maters vnto purpose accordyng, 317
So that a wyghte seme exersyfe;
ffor trustyth well[e] yt ys a tedyovs thy_n_g
ffor to here a child multyply talkyng
yf yt be not to the purpose applyed,
& also w_i_t_h_ goodly termes alyed.
¶ Redyt[=h] gover i_n_ his wrytyng morall[e],
That Auncyente ffader of memorye, 324
Redyt[=h] his bookes called co_n_fessyonall[e],
w_i_t_h_ many a-nother_e_ vertuvs tretye
ffull[e] of sentence sett full[e] fructvously,
That hy_m_ to rede shall[e] geve you covrage, 328
he ys so full[e] of frute, se_n_tence, & langage.
CAXTON’S TEXT.
[45]
Excersise your self also in redyng_e_
Of bookes enorned_e_ with eloquence
[Sidenote: Practice reading of eloquent books.]
Ther shal ye fynde / bothe plesir & lernyng_e_ 311
So that ye may / in euery good presence
Somwhat fynde / as in sentence
That shal acorde / the tyme to ocupy
That ye not nede / to stonden ydelly
[46]
Leaf 8 b.
It is fayr / for to be comynycatyf
In maters vnto purpose acordyng_e_
[Sidenote: It is right to talk pertinently,]
So that a wyght seme excersyf 318
For trusteth wel / it is a tedyous thyng_e_
For to here a chylde / multeplye talkyng
Yf it be not to the purpose applyed_e_
[Sidenote: but a bore if the talk is irrelevant.]
And_e_ also with / goodly termys alyed_e_ 322
[47]
Redeth gower in his wrytyng_e_ morall_e_
[Sidenote: Read Gower’s]
That auncyent[1] fader of memorye
[Sidenote 1: Orig. anucyent.]
Redeth his bookes / called_e_ confessionall_e_
[Sidenote: Confessio Amentis.]
With many another vertuous trayttye
Ful of sentence / set ful fructuosly
That hym to rede / shal gyue you corage
He is so ful of fruyt, sente_n_ce and langage 329
[48]
O Fader and Founder of eternate eloquence,
That eluminede all this oure britaigne;
To sone we lost his lauriate presence, 332
O lusty licoure of that fulsom_e_ fountaigne;
Cursed deth, why hast thou this poete slayne,
I mene Fadir chaucers, mastir Galfride?
Allas! the while, that eu_e_r he from vs diede. 336
[49]
Redith his bokys fulle of all plesaunce,
Clere in sentence, in longage excellent,
Brefly to wryte suche was his suffesaunce, 339
What-euer to sey he toke in his entent,
His longage was so feyre and p_er_tinent,
That semed vnto mennys heryng,
Not[1] only the worde, but verrely the thing. 343
[Sidenote 1: MS. But.]
[50]
Redith, my child, redith his warkys all,
Refuseth non, they ben expedient;
Sentence or langage, or both, fynde ye shall 346
Full delectable, for that fader ment
Of all his purpos and his hole entent
Howe to plese in euery audience,
And in our_e_ tou_n_g was well of eloquence.
Hill’s Text.
ff C lxiij back.
¶ O fader & fownder of ornate eloquence
that Illumyned hast all[e] owre bretayne!
To sone we loste thy lavreat science, 332
O lusty lyqvovre of that fulsu_m_ fontayn_e_!
O cursed det[=h]! why hast thou that poete slayn_e_,
I mene fader chavucer, mayst_er_ galfryde?
Alas the while that ever he from vs dyed! 336
¶ Redyt[=h] his werkes full[e] of plesavnce,
Clere in sentence, I_n_ langage excellente:
Bryefly to wryte, such was his suffysavnce,
What-ever_e_ to say he toke i_n_ his entente,
his langage was so fayer_e_ & p_er_tynente,
yt semet[=h] vnto manys heryng
Not only the worde, but veryly the thyng. 343
¶ Redyth, my child, redyth his bookes all[e],
Refusith Non, they ben expedyente;
sentence or langage, bot[=h] fynd ye shall[e];
ffull[e] delectablé that good fader mente,
for all[e] his purpose & his hole entente 348
[was] how to please in eu_er_y audyence,
& In owr_e_ tonge was well[e] of Eloquence.
CAXTON’S TEXT.
[48]
Leaf 163, back.
O fader and founder of ornate eloquence
[Sidenote: and the Father and Founder of Eloquence,]
That enlumened hast alle our bretayne
To soone we loste / thy laureate scyence 332
O lusty lyquour / of that fulsom fontayne
O cursid deth / why hast thou þ^t poete slayne
I mene fader chaucer / maister galfryde
[Sidenote: mayster Galfryde Chawcer,]
Alas the whyle / that euer he from vs dyde 336
[49]
Leaf 9 a.
Redith his werkis / ful of plesaunce
[Sidenote: whose works are full of pleasaunce,]
Clere in sentence / in langage excellent
Briefly to wryte / suche was his suffysa[=n]ce 339
What euer to saye / he toke in his entente
His langage was so fayr and pertynente
It semeth vnto mannys heeryng_e_
Not only the worde / but verely the thynge 343
[Sidenote: whose language seems not only words, but truly things.]
[50]
Redeth my chylde / redeth his bookes alle
Refuseth none / they ben expedyente
[Sidenote: Read all his books; refuse none:]
Sentence or langage / or bothe fynde ye shall_e_ 346
Ful delectable / for that good fader mente
[Sidenote: he is delightful.]
Of al his purpose / and his hole entente
How to plese in euery audyence
And in our tunge / was welle of eloquence
[51]
Beholde Oclyff in his translac_i_on,
In goodly langage and sentence passing wyse,
Yevyng the prince suche exortac_i_on 353
As to his highnesse he coude best devyse.
Of trouth, peace, of mercy, and of Iustice,
And odir vertuys, sparing for no slouthe
To don his devere, and quiten hym, as trouth 357
[52]
Required hym, anenste his souereyne,
Most dradde and louyd, whos excellent highnesse
He aduertysede by his writing playne,
To vertue p_er_teynyng to the nobles
Of a prince, and berith wyttenesse
His trety entitlede ‘of regyment,’
Compyled of most entier true entent. 364
[53]
Loketh Also vppon dan Iohn lidgate,
My mastir_e_, whilome clepid monke of bury,
Worthy to be renownede laureate, 367
I pray to god_e_, in blis his soule be mery,
Synging ‘Rex Splendens,’ the heuenly ‘kery,’
Among the muses ix celestiall,
Afore the hieghest Iubiter of all. 371
Hill’s Text.
¶ Behold Ocklyf in his transslacion,[1]
[Sidenote 1: transflacion]
In goodly langage & se_n_tence passyng wyse 352
howe he gewyth his p_ri_nce such exortac_i_on
As to the hyeste he covld best devyse
Off trowt[=h] / pees / m_er_cy / & Iustyse,
& vertu, lettyng for no slowth 356
To do his devoyre & qvyte hy_m_ his trowth.
¶ Requyre hy_m_ As Agaynst his soverayn_e_,
moste Drade & loved, whose excellent hyenes
he advertysed by his wrytyng playn_e_
To vertu ap_er_teynyng to nobles
Off a p_ri_nce, as beryt[=h] god wytnes,
hys treatye entytled of regemente,
Compyled of entyer trewe entente. 364
¶ Loke also than vpon Ioh_a_n lydgate,
My mayrster, whylom monke of bury,
worthy to be renomed As poete lavreate;
I p_ra_y to god in blysse his sowle be mery, 368
Syngyng / Rex splendens / that hevenly Kyrye,
Amonge the mvses nyne celestyall[e]
be-fore the hyghest Iubyter of all[e],
CAXTON’S TEXT.
[51]
Beholde Ocklyf in his translac_i_on
[Sidenote: Read Occleve too,]
In goodly langage / & sente_n_ce passyng wyse
How he gyueth his prynce / suche exortac_i_on 353
[Sidenote: who gave his Prince such wise advice]
As to the hyest / he coude best deuyse
Of trouthe. pees. mercy. and Iustise
And vertues / leetyng for no slouthe
To do his deuoir & quite him of his trouthe 357
[52]
Leaf 9 b.
Required_e_ hym / as ayenst his souerayne
Most drad_e_ & louyd_e_ / wos excellent hyeues
He aduertysed_e_ / by his wrytyng_e_ playne
To vertu / apperteynyng to nobles
Of a prynce / as bereth good_e_ witnes
His traytye / entitled_e_ of regymente
[Sidenote: in his treatise De Regimine Principum.]
Compyled_e_ of entyer trewe entente 364
[53]
Loke also / vpon dan Io[=h]n lydgate
My maister whylome / monke of berye
[Sidenote: John Lydgate, too, my master.]
Worthy to be renomed_e_ / as poete laureate 367
I praye to god_e_ in blysse his soule be mercy
Syngyng_e_ Rex splendens that heuenly kyrye
[Sidenote: I pray God his soul is singing Rex splendens.]
Amonge the muses nyne celestyall_e_
Byfore the hyest Iubyter of all_e_ 371
[54]
I not why deth my mastir_e_ dide envie,
But for he shuld_e_ chaunge his habite;
Pety hit is that suche a man shulde die! 374
But nowe I trist he be a carmylite;
His amyse blacke is chaunged into white,
Among the muses ix celestiall,
Afore the hieghest Iubiter of all; 378
[55]
Passing the muses all of elicon_e_,
Where is ynympariable of Armonye,
Thedir I trist my mastir-is soule is gon_e_, 381
The sterrede palays aboue dapplede skye,
Ther to syng ‘sanctus’ incessantly
Among the muses ix celestiall,
Affore the highest Iubiter of all.
[56]
Redith is volumes that ben so large and wyde,
Souereynly sitte in sadnesse of sentence,
Elumynede wyth colouris fresshe on eu_er_y syde, 388
Hit passith my wytte, I haue no eloquence
To yeue hym lawde aftir his excellence,
For I dare say he lefte hym not on lyue,
That coude his cu_n_nyng suffisantly discreue. 392
Hill’s Text.
[Omitted. See Preface, p. ii] 372
376
¶ Passyng the mvses nyne of elycon,
Wher ys no pareyll[e] of Armonye;
Thyder I trust my Maysters sowle be gon,
The sterred paleys above the dappled skye,
Ther to syng snactus insessavntly 384
Emonge the mvses nyne celestyall[e],
Before the hyeste Iubyter of all[e].
¶ Redyth hys volumes that be large & wyde,
Severyly sette in sadnes of sentence,
Enlumined w_i_t_h_ colovres fresshe on eu_er_y side. 388
[Sidenote: ffl C lxiiij.]
Me lakketh wytt, I haue non eloquence,
To geve hy_m_ lawde after his excellence,
ffor I dare saye he lefte hy_m_ not alyve
That covde his cu_n_yng ssufficiently discryve. 392
CAXTON’S TEXT.
[54]
[Omitted. See Preface, p. ii.]
374
378
[55]
Passyng_e_ the muses nyne of Elyco[=n]
Where is non pareyl of armonye
Thider I truste my meistres soule begone 381
The sterrid_e_ paleys / aboue the dapplyd skye
[Sidenote: in the starred palace above the dappled sky, before the]
There to synge sanctus incessantly
Amonge the muses ix celestyall_e_
Byfore the hyest / Iubiter of all_e_
[Sidenote: highest Jupiter of all.]
[56]
Leaf 10 a.
Redeth his volumes / that ben large & wyde
[Sidenote: Read his large volumes]
Seueryly set / in sadnes of sentence
Enlumyned with colours fressh on euery side 388
[Sidenote: illuminated with fresh colours.]
Me lacketh witte / I haue none eloquence
To gyue hym lawde / after his excellence
For I dar saye / he lefte hym not a lyue
That coude his co_n_nyng / sufficiently discriue 392