He took her by the hand anon, 370 And some that had been brought thereto, 375 There was great joy amongst them all. 380 With right good will they out are gone, 440 445 450 How that the Queen was fetched away 455 Then said the King: "And what art thou, To the land of faerie on a day, Who come into my presence now? Myself nor none that is with me, And how the King did after go, But to what place no man can know. Have ever yet sent after thee. The Steward, he says, the land doth hold; Since I this kingdom first began 395 So, many tidings he them told. 460 The morrow at the noone tide It is the custom of us all To come to every lordės hall, Many a man him came to see, Men and wives and maidens fair, And though we may not welcome be, Then was there music in the hall, 490 And fey I'll fall adoun. A happy lot to me is sent, etc. Nights I toss and watch and wake, Longing comes to me alone. On earth there's none so learned grown That he her virtues can make known. Her neck is whiter than the swan, Or fairest maid in town. A happy lot to me is sent, etc. With love I'm worn and watchings late, Lest any rob me of my mate. Better to bear awhile a sore Hearken to my rune: The crimson rose is seen, New leaves of tender green The moon shines white and clear, And fixed on Alysoun. Each creature seeks his kind. As stream that trickles slow, A happy lot to me is sent, I know from heaven 'tis to me lent, From women all my love is bent We plain when life is drear, For cruel love the tear In her own speech to sing. In days of March and Averil 1 When the spray begins to spring, Each little bird hath her own will And I-I live in love longing 5 With lovesome eyes so large and good Blow, Northern Wind, Send thou me my sweeting Blow, Northern Wind, blow, blow, blow. She sheds a radiance bright, Her neck is slender to enfold, Her loving arms bring joy untold, Would God that she were mine. Blow, Northern Wind, Send thou me my sweeting Blow, Northern Wind, blow, blow, blow. Distracted, mad. 20 20 30 30 1 Bower. 5 25 Full of Godės grace, 40 45 50 55 Be thou, Mary, And queen of all mercy! All that are to greets Without deadly sin, Forty dayes of pardoún 15 20 A DESCRIPTION OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR (From the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, translated by J. A. GILES) If any would know what manner of man King William was, the glory that he obtained, and of how many lands he was lord; then will we describe him as we have known him, we, 5 who have looked upon him, and who once lived in his court. This King William, of whom we are speaking, was a very wise and a great man, and more honored and more powerful than any of his predecessors. He was mild to those good 10 men who loved God, but severe beyond measure towards those who withstood his will. He founded a noble monastery on the spot where God permitted him to conquer England, and he established monks in it, and he made it very 15 rich. In his days the great monastery at 1 Hail star of the sea. 3 Yet ever a virgin. 2 Dear Mother of God. To supplicate, to greet Mary with an Ave. The portion of the Chronicle given here is included in the entry for 1087: the year of the death of William the Conqueror. The passage is presumably the work of a contemporary who writes (as he declares) from personal knowledge. |