Specimens with Memoirs of the Less-known British Poets Part 118

And h.o.a.rds of silver rusted in the ent,[19]

Canynge and his fair sweet did that despise, To change of truly love was their content; They lived together in a house adigne,[20]

Of good sendaument commily and fine.

22 But soon his brother and his sire did die, And left to William states and renting-rolls, And at his will his brother John supply.

He gave a chauntry to redeem their souls; And put his brother into such a trade, That he Lord Mayor of London town was made.

23 Eftsoons his morning turned to gloomy night; His dame, his second self, gave up her breath, Seeking for eterne life and endless light, And slew good Canynge; sad mistake of Death!

So have I seen a flower in summer-time Trod down and broke and wither in its prime.

24 Near Redcliff Church (oh, work of hand of Heaven!

Where Canynge showeth as an instrument) Was to my bismarde eyesight newly given; 'Tis past to blazon it to good content.

You that would fain the festive building see Repair to Redcliff, and contented be.

25 I saw the myndbruch of his notte soul When Edward menaced a second wife; I saw what Pheryons in his mind did roll: Now fixed from second dames, a priest for life, This is the man of men, the vision spoke; Then bell for even-song my senses woke.

[1] 'Amenged:' mixed.

[2] 'Wraytes:' flags.

[3] 'Swithin:' quickly.

[4] 'Ywrynde:' covered.

[5] 'Faitour:' vagrant.

[6] 'Digne:' worthy.

[7] 'Cuarr:' quarry.

[8] 'Forgard:' lose.

[9] 'Forstraught:' distracted.

[10] 'A crochee:' a cross.

[11] 'Adawe:' awake.

[12] 'Carvellers:' sculptors.

[13] 'A bordelier:' a cottager.

[14] 'Maynt:' many.

[15] 'Dulce:' sweet.

[16] 'Mockler:' more.

[17] 'Ying:' young.

[18] 'Bighes:' jewels.

[19] 'Ent:' bag.

[20] 'Adigne:' worthy.

KENRICK.

TRANSLATED FROM THE SAXON.

When winter yelled through the leafless grove; when the black waves rode over the roaring winds, and the dark-brown clouds hid the face of the sun; when the silver brook stood still, and snow environed the top of the lofty mountain; when the flowers appeared not in the blasted fields, and the boughs of the leafless trees bent with the loads of ice; when the howling of the wolf affrighted the darkly glimmering light of the western sky; Kenrick, terrible as the tempest, young as the snake of the valley, strong as the mountain of the slain; his armour shining like the stars in the dark night, when the moon is veiled in sable, and the blasting winds howl over the wide plain; his shield like the black rock, prepared himself for war.

Ceolwolf of the high mountain, who viewed the first rays of the morning star, swift as the flying deer, strong as the young oak, fierce as an evening wolf, drew his sword; glittering like the blue vapours in the valley of Horso; terrible as the red lightning, bursting from the dark-brown clouds; his swift bark rode over the foaming waves, like the wind in the tempest; the arches fell at his blow, and he wrapped the towers in flames: he followed Kenrick, like a wolf roaming for prey.

Centwin of the vale arose, he seized the ma.s.sy spear; terrible was his voice, great was his strength; he hurled the rocks into the sea, and broke the strong oaks of the forest. Slow in the race as the minutes of impatience. His spear, like the fury of a thunderbolt, swept down whole armies; his enemies melted before him, like the stones of hail at the approach of the sun.

Awake, O Eldulph! thou that sleepest on the white mountain, with the fairest of women. No more pursue the dark-brown wolf: arise from the mossy bank of the falling waters; let thy garments be stained in blood, and the streams of life discolour thy girdle; let thy flowing hair be hid in a helmet, and thy beauteous countenance be writhed into terror.

Egward, keeper of the barks, arise like the roaring waves of the sea: pursue the black companies of the enemy.

Ye Saxons, who live in the air and glide over the stars, act like yourselves.

Like the murmuring voice of the Severn, swelled with rain, the Saxons moved along; like a blazing star the sword of Kenrick shone among the Britons; Tenyan bled at his feet; like the red lightning of heaven he burnt up the ranks of his enemy.

Centwin raged like a wild boar. Tatward sported in blood; armies melted at his stroke. Eldulph was a flaming vapour; destruction sat upon his sword. Ceolwolf was drenched in gore, but fell like a rock before the sword of Mervin.

Egward pursued the slayer of his friend; the blood of Mervin smoked on his hand.

Like the rage of a tempest was the noise of the battle; like the roaring of the torrent, gushing from the brow of the lofty mountain.

The Britons fled, like a black cloud dropping hail, flying before the howling winds.

Ye virgins! arise and welcome back the pursuers; deck their brows with chaplets of jewels; spread the branches of the oak beneath their feet.

Kenrick is returned from the war, the clotted gore hangs terrible upon his crooked sword, like the noxious vapours on the black rock; his knees are red with the gore of the foe.

Ye sons of the song, sound the instruments of music; ye virgins, dance around him.

Costan of the lake, arise, take thy harp from the willow, sing the praise of Kenrick, to the sweet sound of the white waves sinking to the foundation of the black rock.

Rejoice, O ye Saxons! Kenrick is victorious.

FEBRUARY, AN ELEGY.

1 Begin, my muse, the imitative lay, Aeonian doxies, sound the thrumming string; Attempt no number of the plaintive Gray; Let me like midnight cats, or Collins, sing.

2 If in the trammels of the doleful line, The bounding hail or drilling rain descend; Come, brooding Melancholy, power divine, And every unformed ma.s.s of words amend.

3 Now the rough Goat withdraws his curling horns, And the cold Waterer twirls his circling mop: Swift sudden anguish darts through altering corns, And the spruce mercer trembles in his shop.

4 Now infant authors, maddening for renown, Extend the plume, and hum about the stage, Procure a benefit, amuse the town, And proudly glitter in a t.i.tle-page.

5 Now, wrapped in ninefold fur, his squeamish Grace Defies the fury of the howling storm; And whilst the tempest whistles round his face, Exults to find his mantled carcase warm.

6 Now rumbling coaches furious drive along, Full of the majesty of city dames, Whose jewels, sparkling in the gaudy throng, Raise strange emotions and invidious flames.

7 Now Merit, happy in the calm of place, To mortals as a Highlander appears, And conscious of the excellence of lace, With spreading frogs and gleaming spangles glares:

8 Whilst Envy, on a tripod seated nigh, In form a shoe-boy, daubs the valued fruit, And darting lightnings from his vengeful eye, Raves about Wilkes, and politics, and Bute.

9 Now Barry, taller than a grenadier, Dwindles into a stripling of eighteen; Or sabled in Oth.e.l.lo breaks the ear, Exerts his voice, and totters to the scene.

10 Now Foote, a looking-gla.s.s for all mankind, Applies his wax to personal defects; But leaves untouched the image of the mind;-- His art no mental quality reflects.

11 Now Drury's potent king extorts applause, And pit, box, gallery, echo, 'How divine!'

Whilst, versed in all the drama's mystic laws, His graceful action saves the wooden line.

12 Now--but what further can the muses sing?