English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700; Knights and knighthood -- Poetry; Virtues -- Poetry
Him booteth not resist, nor succour call,
2 His bleeding hart is in the vengers hand,
Who streight him rent in thousand peeces small,
4 And quite dismembred hath: the thirstie land
Drunke vp his life; his corse left on the strand.
6 His fearefull friends weare out the wofull night,
Ne dare to weepe, nor seeme to vnderstand
8 The heauie hap, which on them is alight,
Affraid, least to themselues the like mishappen might.
1 Him boots not resist, nor succour call,
boots > it avails
resist > [to resist]
succour > [for succour]
2 His bleeding heart is in the avenger's hand,
3 Who straight him rent in thousand pieces small,
straight > straightway
rent > tore
4 And quite dismembered has: the thirsty land
5 Drank up his life, his corpse left on the strand.
strand > {?Sandy or earthen ?floor; this meaning not in _OED_}
6 His fearful friends wear out the woeful night,
7 Nor dare to weep, nor seem to understand
8 The heavy hap which on them is alight,
hap > fortune
is alight > [has fallen]
9 Afraid lest to themselves the like mishappen might.
mishappen > happen amiss
103.21
Now when broad day the world discouered has,
2 Vp _Vna_ rose, vp rose the Lyon eke,
And on their former iourney forward pas,
4 In wayes vnknowne, her wandring knight to seeke,
With paines farre passing that long wandring _Greeke_,
6 That for his loue refused deitie;
Such were the labours of this Lady meeke,
8 Still seeking him, that from her still did flie,
Then furthest from her hope, when most she weened nie.
1 Now when broad day the world discovered has,
discovered > uncovered, revealed
2 Up Una rose, up rose the lion eke,
eke > also
3 And on their former journey forward pass,
4 In ways unknown, her wandering knight to seek,
5 With pains far passing that long wandering Greek,
passing > surpassing [those of]
that long wandering Greek > (Odysseus who, for the sake of Penelope,
rejected the immortality offered him by Calypso (_Odyssey_ 5))
6 That for his love refused deity;
7 Such were the labours of this lady meek,
8 Still seeking him, that from her still did fly;
fly > flee
9 Then furthest from her hope, when most she weened nigh.
weened > supposed [him]
103.22
Soone as she parted thence, the fearefull twaine,
2 That blind old woman and her daughter deare
Came forth, and finding _Kirkrapine_ there slaine,
4 For anguish great they gan to rend their heare,
And beat their brests, and naked flesh to teare.
6 And when they both had wept and wayld their fill,
Then forth they ranne like two amazed deare,
8 Halfe mad through malice, and reuenging will,
To follow her, that was the causer of their ill.
1 Soon as she parted thence, the fearful twain
Soon > [As soon]
2 (That blind old woman and her daughter dear)
3 Came forth and, finding Kirkrapine there slain,
Kirkrapine > "Church-robber"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account