Part 20 (1/2)

Amid the wortis and the rootis gent Picking his meat in alleys where he went, His wives Toppa and Partolet him by-- A bird all-time that hauntis bigamy.

The painted powne[23] pacing with plumes gym, Cast up his tail a proud pleasand wheel-rim, Yshrouded in his feathering bright and sheen, Shaping the print of Argus' hundred een.

Among the bowis of the olive twists, Sere[24] small fowls, working crafty nests, Endlong the hedges thick, and on rank aiks[25]

Ilk bird rejoicing with their mirthful makes.

In corners and clear fenestres[26] of gla.s.s, Full busily Arachne weaving was, To knit her nettis and her webbis sly, Therewith to catch the little midge or fly.

So dusty powder upstours[27] in every street, While corby gasped for the fervent heat.

Under the boughis bene[28] in lovely vales, Within fermance and parkis close of pales, The busteous buckis rakis forth on raw, Herdis of hartis through the thick wood-shaw.

The young fawns following the dun does, Kids, skipping through, runnis after roes.

In leisurs and on leais, little lambs Full tait and trig sought bleating to their dams.

On salt streams wolk[29] Dorida and Thetis, By running strandis, Nymphis and Naiadis, Such as we clepe wenches and damasels, In gersy[30] groves wandering by spring wells; Of bloomed branches and flowers white and red, Platting their l.u.s.ty chaplets for their head.

Some sang ring-songes, dances, leids,[31] and rounds.

With voices shrill, while all thel dale resounds.

Whereso they walk into their carolling, For amorous lays does all the rockis ring.

One sang, 'The s.h.i.+p sails over the salt faem, Will bring the merchants and my leman hame.'

Some other sings, 'I will be blithe and light, My heart is lent upon so goodly wight.'[32]

And thoughtful lovers rounis[33] to and fro, To leis[34] their pain, and plain their jolly woe; After their guise, now singing, now in sorrow, With heartis pensive the long summer's morrow.

Some ballads list indite of his lady; Some lives in hope; and some all utterly Despaired is, and so quite out of grace, His purgatory he finds in every place. * *

Dame Nature's minstrels, on that other part, Their blissful lay intoning every art, * *

And all small fowlis singis on the spray, Welcome the lord of light, and lamp of day, Welcome fosterer of tender herbis green, Welcome quickener of flourish'd flowers sheen, Welcome support of every root and vein, Welcome comfort of all kind fruit and grain, Welcome the birdis' bield[35] upon the brier, Welcome master and ruler of the year, Welcome welfare of husbands at the ploughs, Welcome repairer of woods, trees, and boughs, Welcome depainter of the bloomed meads, Welcome the life of every thing that spreads, Welcome storer of all kind b.e.s.t.i.a.l, Welcome be thy bright beamis, gladding all. * *

[1] 'Ished of:' issued from.

[2] 'Unshet:' opened.

[3] 'Spraings:' streaks.

[4] 'Ment:' mingled.

[5] 'Sore:' yellowish brown.

[6] 'Neisthirls:' nostrils.

[7] 'Abulyit:' attired.

[8] 'Lemand:' glittering.

[9] 'Loune:' calm.

[10] 'Sulyart:' sultry.

[11] 'Selcouth:' uncommon.

[12] 'Bews:' boughs.

[13] 'Kirnals:' battlements.

[14] 'Phiol:' cupola.

[15] 'Stage:' storey.

[16] 'Yerd:' earth.

[17] 'Prai:' meadow.

[18] 'Caller humours:' cool vapours.