The Life of St. George By Alexander Barclay: Edited by William Nelson |
 |
|
| i. |
| ii. |
| iii. |
| iiii. |
| v. |
| vi. |
| vii. |
| viii. |
| ix. |
| x. |
| xi. |
| viii. |
| xv. |
| xvi. |
| xvii. |
| xviii. |
| xix. |
| xx. |
| xxi. |
| xxii. |
| xxiii. |
| xxiiii. |
| xxv. |
| xxvi. |
| xxvii. |
| xxviii. |
 | The Life of St. George |  |
Of the vayne bostynge of Dacyan which wenyd to haue ouercom saynt George / and howe at the prayers of saynt george the great temple of the Idollys brast in sonder and sanke into the erth with horryble noyse and murdre of paynyms. Capitulum. xxiiii.
Now ioyed ye iudge / throughe gladnes & plesour
Supposyng surely / to hane ouercome ye knyght
He thought to haue won great worshyp & honour
But erly on mornynge / what tyme the sonne gaue lyght
With trumpet he callyd the people to the syght
His solem tryumphe / with hym to testyfy
Whych after / hym tourned to shame / and vylany
Supposyng surely / to hane ouercome ye knyght
He thought to haue won great worshyp & honour
But erly on mornynge / what tyme the sonne gaue lyght
With trumpet he callyd the people to the syght
His solem tryumphe / with hym to testyfy
Whych after / hym tourned to shame / and vylany
91
In mean tyme he was / more proude / than was ye kynge
And wandrynge alone / hymselfe thus bostyd he
Saynge to hymselfe / in ponpous whisperynge
This knyght cam to presence with suche audacyte
With suche strength / in stryuynge: and magnanymyte
That the kynge hymselfe / yf he had ben present
Shuld sore haue feryd / his wordys eloquent
And wandrynge alone / hymselfe thus bostyd he
Saynge to hymselfe / in ponpous whisperynge
This knyght cam to presence with suche audacyte
With suche strength / in stryuynge: and magnanymyte
That the kynge hymselfe / yf he had ben present
Shuld sore haue feryd / his wordys eloquent
He thought he haue founde / the coward Tharsytes
Or Sardanapalus voyde of audacyte
Whome he as Synon / hym selfe puttynge in preas
Shulde haue dysceyuyd / by crafte and subtylte
But to eneas / thoughe nat vnlyke were he
yet here dyomedes / his better / hath he founde
Thoughe he were hector / Achylles gaue hym wounde
Or Sardanapalus voyde of audacyte
Whome he as Synon / hym selfe puttynge in preas
Shulde haue dysceyuyd / by crafte and subtylte
But to eneas / thoughe nat vnlyke were he
yet here dyomedes / his better / hath he founde
Thoughe he were hector / Achylles gaue hym wounde
Nowe ioy dacyan / thou hast the victory
The goddys to the graunt / the tryumphe with honour
This knyght subduynge / thou hast immortall glory
Regardynge his strength / his boldnes / and rygour
I haue subdued / an enmy and traytour
To great Iupyter / whose power nere was able
From heuyn to depose / our goddys venerable
The goddys to the graunt / the tryumphe with honour
This knyght subduynge / thou hast immortall glory
Regardynge his strength / his boldnes / and rygour
I haue subdued / an enmy and traytour
To great Iupyter / whose power nere was able
From heuyn to depose / our goddys venerable
Nowe goddys be glad / and solemnyse thys day
For in ouercomynge / of this same knyght alone
Without all bostynge / I dare afferme and say
I haue ouercome / the crysten men echone
Beholde what is crafte / conueyed in season
Se of what valoure / is art: and eloquence
Of sharpe and bolde wordys / se here experyence
For in ouercomynge / of this same knyght alone
Without all bostynge / I dare afferme and say
I haue ouercome / the crysten men echone
Beholde what is crafte / conueyed in season
Se of what valoure / is art: and eloquence
Of sharpe and bolde wordys / se here experyence
92
Let cryst be walkynge / to strange regyons
Where be no goddys / for dwellers / to honour
There let hym chalenge / honour and orysons
Amonge rude people / which wandyr in errour
We haue Iupiter / for god and gouernour
Cryst shall not hyther / with his newe tryfyls com
Amonge men of lernynge / and auncyent wysdom
Where be no goddys / for dwellers / to honour
There let hym chalenge / honour and orysons
Amonge rude people / which wandyr in errour
We haue Iupiter / for god and gouernour
Cryst shall not hyther / with his newe tryfyls com
Amonge men of lernynge / and auncyent wysdom
If this knyght had founde / A iudge without prudence
Rude or abasshyd / or voyde of polecy
Suche is his constance / boldnes and eloquence
That playnly he shuld / haue won the vyctory
But an olde prouerbe / hath ben sayd comonly
That a shalowe pyt / can nat kepe in / in cage
An hart / or lyon / or lyke great beste sauage
Rude or abasshyd / or voyde of polecy
Suche is his constance / boldnes and eloquence
That playnly he shuld / haue won the vyctory
But an olde prouerbe / hath ben sayd comonly
That a shalowe pyt / can nat kepe in / in cage
An hart / or lyon / or lyke great beste sauage
A spyders webbe / can nat a doue inlace
None stoppith a Dam / with a small febyl gate
Craft must be vsyd / and strenght in suche a case
And frawde / agayst fraude / els is our purpos late
I haue founde wyles / his craftys to abate
Styntynge his flodes / of wordys eloquent
By crafte and cunnynge / most hye and excellent
None stoppith a Dam / with a small febyl gate
Craft must be vsyd / and strenght in suche a case
And frawde / agayst fraude / els is our purpos late
I haue founde wyles / his craftys to abate
Styntynge his flodes / of wordys eloquent
By crafte and cunnynge / most hye and excellent
Dacyan the Iudge / fylled with vayne gladnes
With hym selfe babled / these wordys: or equal
Reioysynge and iettynge / replete with pompousnes
Whyle hym selfe alone / wandryd in his hall
In the mean season / the people: great and small
Swarmyd to this syght / rennynge with glad myndes
As it were cloudys / dryuen before the wyndys
With hym selfe babled / these wordys: or equal
Reioysynge and iettynge / replete with pompousnes
Whyle hym selfe alone / wandryd in his hall
In the mean season / the people: great and small
Swarmyd to this syght / rennynge with glad myndes
As it were cloudys / dryuen before the wyndys
93
The dyn redoundyd / in dyuers murmurynge
In barbaryke maner / the market dyd redound
In dyuers langages / eche had theyr comonynge
That stretys and temple / were trowbled by the sounde
Forthe brought was ye knyght / hys cheynes al vnbounde
Streyght to the temple / he went at lyberte
The people stryuyd / who fyrst his face myght se
In barbaryke maner / the market dyd redound
In dyuers langages / eche had theyr comonynge
That stretys and temple / were trowbled by the sounde
Forthe brought was ye knyght / hys cheynes al vnbounde
Streyght to the temple / he went at lyberte
The people stryuyd / who fyrst his face myght se
What tyme seynt George was to the temple com
We may nat suppose / that Dacyan was away
Soon cessyd the sounde / the people stode as dome
The knyght beholdynge / suspectynge noon affray
Theyr erys erect / to here what he wolde say
Than knelyd the knyght / his eyen toward the skye
Sayenge in his hart / these wordys secretly
We may nat suppose / that Dacyan was away
Soon cessyd the sounde / the people stode as dome
The knyght beholdynge / suspectynge noon affray
Theyr erys erect / to here what he wolde say
Than knelyd the knyght / his eyen toward the skye
Sayenge in his hart / these wordys secretly
O gloryous god / shewe nowe thy myght and name
Dyssolue this temple / of fendys infernall
Dysioyne the wallys / dysseuer this great frame
Tourne it to Asshes / And into pouder small
That these false ydollys / and wyckyd fendys all
Dryuyn from theyr seatys / retourne agayne to hell
In endles darknes / eternally to dwell
Dyssolue this temple / of fendys infernall
Dysioyne the wallys / dysseuer this great frame
Tourne it to Asshes / And into pouder small
That these false ydollys / and wyckyd fendys all
Dryuyn from theyr seatys / retourne agayne to hell
In endles darknes / eternally to dwell
So that this people / nowe blyndyd in errour
By suche dredefull dyn / may take admonestynge
And open warnynge / to drede our sauyour
And lerne to worshyp / the great eternall kynge
Leuynge theyr errour / and mendynge theyr lyuynge
Theyr myndys lyftyd / vnto the fyrmament
Graunt this my bowne / o lorde omnypotent
By suche dredefull dyn / may take admonestynge
And open warnynge / to drede our sauyour
And lerne to worshyp / the great eternall kynge
Leuynge theyr errour / and mendynge theyr lyuynge
Theyr myndys lyftyd / vnto the fyrmament
Graunt this my bowne / o lorde omnypotent
94
Scant were these wordys / brought to conclusyon
Whan sodaynly / from farre / was harde a sounde
Of feresull thonder / as yf the regyon
Aboue of the ayre / shuld all the erth confounde
Thayre / by fyre flamyd / and sodaynly the grounde
His mouth dysplayed / the temple sodaynly
Brast all in pecys / wall / voult / and towrys hye.
Whan sodaynly / from farre / was harde a sounde
Of feresull thonder / as yf the regyon
Aboue of the ayre / shuld all the erth confounde
Thayre / by fyre flamyd / and sodaynly the grounde
His mouth dysplayed / the temple sodaynly
Brast all in pecys / wall / voult / and towrys hye.
The myghty beamys / dissoluyd out of frame
The erthe all swalowyd / nought leuynge vtterly
All sanke vnto hell / and after went the flame
With smoke and stynkynge / fast brennynge ardantly
The townes nere by / myght here the dyn and cry
What tyme the temple / with ferefull sounde / downe fell
And whan the people / for drede dyd shout and yell
The erthe all swalowyd / nought leuynge vtterly
All sanke vnto hell / and after went the flame
With smoke and stynkynge / fast brennynge ardantly
The townes nere by / myght here the dyn and cry
What tyme the temple / with ferefull sounde / downe fell
And whan the people / for drede dyd shout and yell
The fere and clamour / downe to hell dennes went
The fendys feryd / lyst openynge of the grounde
Shulde shewe theyr houses / vnto the firmament
Of this great ruyne / so hydous was the sounde
But furour and fere / dyd dacyan confounde
Which scantly escapyd / thys maruelous ruyne
God at this season / hym suffred to declyne
The fendys feryd / lyst openynge of the grounde
Shulde shewe theyr houses / vnto the firmament
Of this great ruyne / so hydous was the sounde
But furour and fere / dyd dacyan confounde
Which scantly escapyd / thys maruelous ruyne
God at this season / hym suffred to declyne
And with a fewe moo / whome god sparyd alyue
Afterwarde to suffer / more grouous vengeaunce
He fled the peryll / as faste as he myght dryue
With them fled the fendys / also with euyll chaunce
Dryuyn vnto hell / there redy to auaunce
With eternall tourment / and paynes manyfolde
Such / as theyr honour / and temples dyd vpholde
Afterwarde to suffer / more grouous vengeaunce
He fled the peryll / as faste as he myght dryue
With them fled the fendys / also with euyll chaunce
Dryuyn vnto hell / there redy to auaunce
With eternall tourment / and paynes manyfolde
Such / as theyr honour / and temples dyd vpholde
95
To hell fled these fendys / by cauys of the grounde
Theyr ydollys lefte / them selfe bydynge / in payne
Where they longe lurkyd / in theyr darke cauys bounde
But to dacyan my pen / to tourne agayne
He knewe nat to whome / hym selfe for to complayne
But bode astonyed / nought hauynge more of myght
No mean or wepyn / for to impugne the knyght
Theyr ydollys lefte / them selfe bydynge / in payne
Where they longe lurkyd / in theyr darke cauys bounde
But to dacyan my pen / to tourne agayne
He knewe nat to whome / hym selfe for to complayne
But bode astonyed / nought hauynge more of myght
No mean or wepyn / for to impugne the knyght
And thus subdued / in his owne malyce
He causyd George / be brought to hym agayne
And sayd at the laste / vnto hym in this wyse
O wretche / o caytyf / cruell / and inhumayne
Of all mankynde / moste wycked and vyllayne
Alas what myschefe / hast thou attemptyd late
Mordrynge so many / with one lyke deth and fate
He causyd George / be brought to hym agayne
And sayd at the laste / vnto hym in this wyse
O wretche / o caytyf / cruell / and inhumayne
Of all mankynde / moste wycked and vyllayne
Alas what myschefe / hast thou attemptyd late
Mordrynge so many / with one lyke deth and fate
Alas why hath nature / ben so vnwyse and blynde
In lyght to brynge forthe / suche cruell creature
As foo and confounder / of myserable mankynde
Who cowde thy maners / and cruelnes indure
The goddys shall reuenge / theyr wrongys be thou sure
Thou mayst be abasshyd / thou oughtes shame to haue
Our towne and goddys / to bery in one graue
In lyght to brynge forthe / suche cruell creature
As foo and confounder / of myserable mankynde
Who cowde thy maners / and cruelnes indure
The goddys shall reuenge / theyr wrongys be thou sure
Thou mayst be abasshyd / thou oughtes shame to haue
Our towne and goddys / to bery in one graue
Whan the Iuge had sayd: than answered the knyght
Thou dacyan art mad / and reason hast thou none
These stones to worshyp / as they had godly myght
They ar no goddys / but fals fyndys echone
Syth these dede fygures / intaylled in colde stone
Them selfe cowde nat socour / how can they socour the
Or at nede be abyl / to socoure this cyte
Thou dacyan art mad / and reason hast thou none
These stones to worshyp / as they had godly myght
They ar no goddys / but fals fyndys echone
Syth these dede fygures / intaylled in colde stone
Them selfe cowde nat socour / how can they socour the
Or at nede be abyl / to socoure this cyte
96
But now dacyan / yf thou parchaunce agayne
Wylt me commaunde / newe sacryfyce to do
Assygne a temple / and gladly I certayne
Without dyfferrynge / shall go with the therto
Nay / quod dacyan / no farther wyll I go
He well may be callyd / vnwyse and fole hardy
Which wylfully rennyth / from rest to ieopardy
Wylt me commaunde / newe sacryfyce to do
Assygne a temple / and gladly I certayne
Without dyfferrynge / shall go with the therto
Nay / quod dacyan / no farther wyll I go
He well may be callyd / vnwyse and fole hardy
Which wylfully rennyth / from rest to ieopardy
Who euer the trustyth / neuer haue he ease nor ioy
Thou haste yet in handys / (I trowe) a newe ruyne
The rest of our comons / and me for to destroye
Nay Iupyter vs saue / Saturne / and Apollyne
Inoughe haue I medled / more sorowe shalbe thyne
It me suffyseth / that I onys scapyd haue
From so great daunger / my lyfe therfro to saue.
Thou haste yet in handys / (I trowe) a newe ruyne
The rest of our comons / and me for to destroye
Nay Iupyter vs saue / Saturne / and Apollyne
Inoughe haue I medled / more sorowe shalbe thyne
It me suffyseth / that I onys scapyd haue
From so great daunger / my lyfe therfro to saue.
| The Life of St. George | |