The Oxford Book of English Verse, 1250-1900 — John Shaqi
The Oxford Book of English Verse, 1250-1900
General
The Oxford Book of English Verse, 1250-1900
English poetry
_14._ bygged] built. palys] palace.
KING JAMES I OF SCOTLAND
1394-1437
_15._ _Spring Song of the Birds_
Worschippe ye that loveris bene this May,
For of your blisse the Kalendis are begonne,
And sing with us, Away, Winter, away!
Cum, Somer, cum, the suete sesoùn and sonne!
Awake for schame! that have your hevynnis wonne,
And amorously lift up your hedis all,
Thank Lufe that list you to his merci call!
_15._ suete] sweet. Lufe] Love.
ROBERT HENRYSON
1425-1500
_16._ _Robin and Makyne_
Robin sat on gude green hill,
Kepand a flock of fe:
Mirry Makyne said him till
‘Robin, thou rew on me:
I haif thee luvit, loud and still,
Thir yeiris twa or thre;
My dule in dern bot gif thou dill,
Doutless but dreid I de.’
Robin answerit ‘By the Rude
Na thing of luve I knaw,
But keipis my scheip undir yon wud:
Lo, quhair they raik on raw.
Quhat has marrit thee in thy mude,
Makyne, to me thou shaw;
Or quhat is luve, or to be lude?
Fain wad I leir that law.’
‘At luvis lair gif thou will leir
Tak thair ane A B C;
Be heynd, courtass, and fair of feir,
Wyse, hardy, and free:
So that no danger do thee deir
Quhat dule in dern thou dre;
Preiss thee with pain at all poweir
Be patient and previe.’
kepand] keeping. fe] sheep, cattle. him till] to him. dule in dern]
sorrow in secret. dill] soothe. but dreid] without dread, i. e.
there is no fear or doubt. raik on raw] range in row. lude] loved.
leir] learn. lair] lore. heynd] gentle. feir] demeanour. deir]
daunt. dre] endure. preiss] endeavour.
Robin answerit hir agane,
‘I wat nocht quhat is lufe;
But I haif mervel in certaine
Quhat makis thee this wanrufe:
The weddir is fair, and I am fain;
My scheip gois haill aboif;
And we wald pley us in this plane,
They wald us baith reproif.’
‘Robin, tak tent unto my tale,
And wirk all as I reid,
And thou sall haif my heart all haill,
Eik and my maiden-heid:
Sen God sendis bute for baill,
And for murnyng remeid,
In dern with thee bot gif I daill
Dowtles I am bot deid.’
‘Makyne, to-morn this ilka tyde
And ye will meit me heir,
Peraventure my scheip may gang besyde,
Quhyle we haif liggit full neir;
But mawgre haif I, and I byde,
Fra they begin to steir;
Quhat lyis on heart I will nocht hyd;
Makyn, then mak gude cheir.’
‘Robin, thou reivis me roiff and rest;
I luve bot thee allane.’
‘Makyne, adieu! the sone gois west,
The day is neir-hand gane.’
wanrufe] unrest. haill] healthy, whole. aboif] above, up yonder.
and] if. tak tent] give heed. reid] advise. bute for baill] remedy
for hurt. bot gif] but if, unless. daill] deal. mawgre haif I] I am
uneasy. reivis] robbest. roiff] quiet.
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.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account