Ælla, a Tragical Interlude

Ælla, a Tragical Interlude

Original Text
Thomas Chatterton], Poems, supposed to have been written at Bristol, by Thomas Rowley ... , ed. Thomas Tyrwhitt (London: T. Payne, 1777). B-10 8184 Fisher Rare Book Library (Toronto).
FYRSTE MYNSTRELLE
...
160      The boddynge flourettes bloshes atte the lyghte;
161    The mees be sprenged wyth the yellowe hue;
162    Ynn daiseyd mantels ys the mountayne dyghte;
163    The nesh yonge coweslepe bendethe wyth the dewe;
164    The trees enlefed, yntoe Heavenne straughte,
165Whenn gentle wyndes doe blowe to whestlyng dynne ys broughte.
166      The evenynge commes, and brynges the dewe alonge;
167    The roddie welkynne sheeneth to the eyne;
168    Arounde the alestake Mynstrells synge the songe;
169    Yonge ivie rounde the doore poste do entwyne;
170    I laie mee onn the grasse; yette, to mie wylle,
171Albeytte alle ys fayre, there lackethe somethynge stylle.
SECONDE MYNSTRELLE
172      So Adam thoughtenne, whann, ynn Paradyse,
173    All Heavenn and Erthe dyd hommage to hys mynde;
174    Ynn Womman alleyne mannes pleasaunce lyes;
175    As Instruments of joie were made the kynde.
176    Go, take a wyfe untoe thie armes, and see
177Wynter and brownie hylles wyll have a charme for thee.
THYRDE MYNSTRELLE
178      Whanne Autumpne blake and sonne-brente doe appere,
179    With hys goulde honde guylteynge the falleynge lefe,
180    Bryngeynge oppe Wynterr to folfylle the yere,
181    Beerynge uponne hys backe the riped shefe;
182    Whan al the hyls wythe woddie sede ys whyte;
183Whanne levynne-fyres and lemes do mete from far the syghte;
184      Whann the fayre apple, rudde as even skie,
185    Do bende the tree unto the fructyle grounde;
186    When joicie peres, and berries of blacke die,
187    Doe daunce yn ayre, and call the eyne arounde;
188    Thann, bee the even foule or even fayre,
189Meethynckes mie hartys joie ys steynced wyth somme care.
...
MYNSTRELLES SONGE
844  O! synge untoe mie roundelaie,
845O! droppe the brynie teare wythe mee,
846Daunce ne moe atte hallie daie,
847Lycke a reynynge ryver bee;
848       Mie love ys dedde,
849       Gon to hys death-bedde,
850       Al under the wyllowe tree.
851  Black hys cryne as the wyntere nyghte,
852Whyte hys rode as the sommer snowe,
853Rodde hys face as the mornynge lyghte,
854Cale he lyes ynne the grave belowe;
855       Mie love ys dedde,
856       Gon to hys deathe-bedde,
857       Al under the wyllowe tree.
858  Swote hys tyngue as the throstles note,
859Quycke ynn daunce as thoughte canne bee,
860Defte hys taboure, codgelle stote,
861O! hee lyes bie the wyllowe tree:
862       Mie love ys dedde,
863       Gone to hys deathe-bedde,
864       Alle underre the wyllowe tree.
865  Harke! the ravenne flappes hys wynge,
866In the briered delle belowe;
867Harke! the dethe-owle loude dothe synge,
868To the nyghte-mares as heie goe;
869       Mie love ys dedde,
870       Gon to hys deathe-bedde,
871       Al under the wyllowe tree.
872  See! the whyte moone sheenes onne hie;
873Whyterre ys mie true loves shroude;
874Whyterre yanne the mornynge skie,
875Whyterre yanne the evenynge cloude;
876       Mie love ys dedde,
877       Gon to hys deathe-bedde,
878       Al under the wyllowe tree.
879  Heere, uponne mie true loves grave,
880Schalle the baren fleurs be layde,
881Nee one hallie Seyncte to save
882Al the celness of a mayde.
883       Mie love ys dedde,
884       Gonne to hys death-bedde,
885       Alle under the wyllowe tree.
886  Wythe mie hondes I'lle dente the brieres
887Rounde his hallie corse to gre,
888Ouphante fairie, lyghte youre fyres,
889Heere mie boddie stylle schall bee.
890       Mie love ys dedde,
891       Gon to hys deathe-bedde,
892       Al under the wyllowe tree.
893  Comme, wythe acorne-coppe and thorne,
894Drayne mie hartys blodde awaie;
895Lyfe and all yttes goode I scorne,
896Daunce bie nete, or feaste by daie.
897       Mie love ys dedde,
898       Gon to hys death-bedde,
899       Al under the wyllowe tree.
900  Waterre wytches, crownede wythe reytes,
901Bere mee to yer leathalle tyde.
902I die; I comme; mie true love waytes.
903Thos the damselle spake, and dyed.
Publication Start Year
1777
RPO poem Editors
N. J. Endicott
RPO Edition
2RP 2.773.
Rhyme