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The Minor Poems of John Lydgate

edited from all available mss. with an attempt to establish The Lydgate Canon: By Henry Noble MacCracken
Lydgate, John (1370?-1451?)

collapse sectionI. 
Part I. RELIGIOUS POEMS.
 1. 
1. BENEDIC ANIMA MEA DOMINO.
 2. 
2. BENEDICTUS DEUS IN DONIS SUIS.
 3. 
3. DEUS IN NOMINE TUO SALUUM ME FAC.
 4. 
4. AN EPISTLE TO SIBILLE.
 5. 
5. THE PATER NOSTER TRANSLATED.
 6. 
6. A PRAYER IN OLD AGE.
 7. 
7. TE DEUM LAUDAMUS.
 8. 
8. VEXILLA REGIS PRODEUNT.
 9. 
9. GOD IS MYN HELPERE.
 10. 
10. A DEFENCE OF HOLY CHURCH.
 11. 
11. A PROCESSION OF CORPUS CRISTI.
 12. 
12. AN HOLY MEDYTACION.
 13. 
13. LETABUNDUS.
 14. 
14. AN EXPOSITION OF THE PATER NOSTER.
 15. 
15. MISERICORDIAS DOMINI IN ETERNUM CANTABO.
 16. 
16. ON DE PROFUNDIS.
collapse section 
17. POEMS ON THE MASS.
 I. 
I. An exortacion to Prestys when they shall sey theyr Masse.
 II. 
II. The Interpretation and Virtues of the Mass.
 III. 
III. On Kissing at Verbum Caro Factum Est.
 18. 
18. THE FIFFTENE TOKNYS AFORN THE DOOM.
 19. 
19 PRAYERS TO TEN SAINTS.
 20. 
20. TO ST. EDMUND.
 21. 
21. A DEVOWTE INVOCACIOUN TO SAINTE DENYS.
 22. 
22. A PRAISE OF ST. ANNE.
 23. 
23. AN INVOCATION TO SEYNTE ANNE.
 24. 
24. A PRAYERE TO SEYNT MICHAELL.
 25. 
25. A PRAYEER TO GAUBRIELL.
 26. 
26. TO ST. KATHERINE, ST. MARGARET, AND ST. MARY MAGDALENE.
 27. 
27. A PRAYER TO ST. LEONARD.
 28. 
28. TO ST. OSITHA.
 29. 
29. TO ST. ROBERT OF BURY.
 30. 
30. A PRAYER TO SEYNT THOMAS.
 31. 
31. A PRAYER TO ST. THOMAS OF CANTERBURY.
 32. 
32. TO ST. URSULA AND THE ELEVEN THOUSAND VIRGINS.
 33. 
33. THE LEGEND OF ST. GEORGE.
 34. 
34. THE LEGENDE OF ST. PETRONILLA.
 35. 
35. HOW THE PLAGUE WAS CEASED IN ROME.
 36. 
36. THE LEGEND OF SEYNT GYLE.
 37. 
37. THE LEGEND OF SEYNT MARGARETE.
 38. 
38. THE LEGEND OF ST. AUSTIN AT COMPTON.
 39. 
39. THE EIGHT VERSES OF ST. BERNARD.
 40. 
40. THE EIGHT VERSES OF ST. BERNARD.
 41. 
41. A PRAYER FOR KING, QUEEN, AND PEOPLE, 1429.
 42. 
42. CRISTES PASSIOUN.
 43. 
43. A SEYING OF THE NIGHTINGALE.
 44. 
44. THE CHILD JESUS TO MARY, THE ROSE.
 45. 
45. CRISTE QUI LUX ES ET DIES.
 46. 
46. THE FIFTEEN OOES OF CHRIST.
 47. 
47. THE DOLEROUS PYTE OF CRYSTES PASSIOUN.
 48. 
48. A PRAYER UPON THE CROSS.
 49. 
49. BALLADE AT THE REVERENCE OF OUR LADY, QWENE OF MERCY.
collapse section50. 
50. THE FYFFTENE IOYES OF OURE LADY (II).
 1. 
Primum gaudium.
 2. 
Secundum gaudium.
 3. 
Tercium gaudium.
 4. 
Quartum Gaudium.
 5. 
Quintum gaudium.
 6. 
Sextum Gaudium.
 7. 
Septimum Gaudium.
 8. 
Octauum Gaudium.
 9. 
Duodecimum Gaudium.
 10. 
Terciumdecium Gaudium.
 11. 
Quintumdecimum Gaudium.
collapse section51. 
51. THE FIFTEEN JOYS AND SORROWS OF MARY.
  
[section]
  
[section]
  
Lenvoye.
 52. 
52. AVE MARIA!
 53. 
53. TO MARY, THE STAR OF JACOB.
 54. 
54. TO MARY, THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN.
 55. 
55. GAUDE VIRGO MATER CHRISTI.
 56. 
56. THE IMAGE OF OUR LADY.
 57. 
57. AVE REGINA CELORUM.
 58. 
58. REGINA CELI LETARE.
 59. 
59. STELLA CELI EXTIRPAUIT (I).
 60. 
60. STELLA CELI EXTIRPAUIT (II).
 61. 
61. A PRAYER TO MARY IN WHOM IS AFFIAUNCE.
 62. 
62. ON THE IMAGE OF PITY.
 63. 
63. AVE, JESSE VIRGULA!
 64. 
64. A VALENTINE TO HER THAT EXCELLETH ALL.
 65. 
65. THE LEGEND OF DAN JOOS.
 66. 
66. GLORIOSA DICTA SUNT DE TE.
 67. 
67. QUIS DABIT MEO CAPITI FONTEM LACRIMARUM?
collapse section68. 
68. THE TESTAMENT OF DAN JOHN LYDGATE.
  
IESUS.
 69. 
69. A KALENDARE.
collapse sectionII. 
Part II. SECULAR POEMS.
collapse section 
[Poems of Courtly Love.]
 1. 
1. A BALLADE, OF HER THAT HATH ALL VIRTUES.
 2. 
2. A COMPLAINT, FOR LACK OF MERCY.
 3. 
3. THE COMPLAINT OF THE BLACK KNIGHT.
 4. 
4. THE FLOURE OF CURTESY.
 5. 
5. A GENTLEWOMAN'S LAMENT.
 6. 
6. MY LADY DERE.
 7. 
7. A LOVER'S NEW YEAR'S GIFT
 8. 
8. THE SERVANT OF CUPYDE FORSAKEN.
collapse section 
[Satirical Poems.]
 9. 
9. A BALLADE ON AN ALE-SELLER.
 10. 
10. BALLADE PER ANTIPHRASIM.
 11. 
11. BYCORNE AND CHYCHEVACHE.
 12. 
12. BEWARE OF DOUBLENESSE.
 13. 
13. EXAMPLES AGAINST WOMEN.
 14. 
14. A BALLADE OF JAK HARE.
 15. 
15. AGAINST MILLERS AND BAKERS.
 16. 
16. THE ORDER OF FOOLS.
 17. 
17. THE PAIN AND SORROW OF EVIL MARRIAGE.
 18. 
18. RYGHT AS A RAMMES HORNE.
 19. 
19. SO AS THE CRABBE GOTH FORWARD.
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[Narrative Poems.]
 20. 
20. THE CHURL AND THE BIRD.
 21. 
21. FABULA DUORUM MERCATORUM.
 22. 
22. GUY OF WARWICK.
 23. 
23. THE DEBATE OF THE HORSE, GOOSE, AND SHEEP.
collapse section24. 
24. ISOPES FABULES.
 I. 
PROLOGUE AND FABLE I. The Tale of the Cok, that founde a precyous stone, groundyd by Isopus, the phylosopher of Rome, that yche man shuld take in gree suche as God sent.
 II. 
FABLE II. The Tale of the Wolfe and the Lambe groundyd opon Isopus, the phylosophor of Rome, ayenst raueyn & tiranny.
 III. 
FABLE III. The Tale of the Frogge and þe Mowse foundyd by Isopus, þe philosophor, groundyd ayenst deceyte.
 IV. 
FABLE IV. The Tale of þe Hownde and þe Shepe groundyd ayen periure & false wytnes founde by Isopus.
collapse sectionv. 
FABLE V. How the wollffe diseyvyd the crane, Isopus, translatyd by Iohn Lydgat.
  
[Moralization.]
 VI. 
FABLE VI. THE SUN'S MARRIAGE
 VII. 
FABLE VII. Thys ffable is of þe hound that bare the chese, gronddyd on Isopus agaynst covetousness, translatyd by Iohn Lydgat, made in Oxforde.
collapse section 
[Political Poems.]
 25. 
25. A BALLADE, IN DESPYTE OF THE FLEMYNGES.
 26. 
26. ON GLOUCESTER'S APPROACHING MARRIAGE.
 27. 
27. A COMPLAINT FOR MY LADY OF GLOUCESTER AND HOLLAND.
collapse section28. 
28. THE TITLE AND PEDIGREE OF HENRY VI
  
Þe prolog.
  
[section]
  
[section]
  
[section]
 29. 
29. ROUNDEL FOR THE CORONATION OF HENRY VI.
 30. 
30. THE SOTELTES AT THE CORONATION BANQUET OF HENRY VI (1432).
 31. 
31. BALLADE TO KING HENRY VI UPON HIS CORONATION.
 32. 
32. KING HENRY VI'S TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO LONDON, 21 FEB., 1432.
 33. 
33. BALLADE ON A NEW YEAR'S GIFT OF AN EAGLE, PRESENTED TO KING HENRY VI.
collapse section 
[Occasional Poems.]
 34. 
34. VERSES ON CAMBRIDGE.
 35. 
35. DEATH'S WARNING.
 36. 
36. ON THE DEPARTING OF THOMAS CHAUCER (1417).
 37. 
37. OF THE SODEIN FAL OF PRINCES IN OURE DAYES.
 38. 
38. HORNS AWAY.
 39. 
39. LYDGATE'S LETTER TO GLOUCESTER.
 40. 
40. THE MUMMING AT BISHOPSWOOD.
 41. 
41. A MUMMING AT ELTHAM.
 42. 
42. A MUMMING AT HERTFORD.
 43. 
43. A MUMMING AT LONDON.
 44. 
44. A MUMMING AT WINDSOR.
 45. 
45. A MUMMING FOR THE MERCERS OF LONDON.
 46. 
46. A MUMMING FOR THE GOLDSMITHS OF LONDON.
collapse section 
[Didactic Poems.]
collapse section47, 48. 
47, 48. A DIETARY, AND A DOCTRINE FOR PESTILENCE.
  
[THE DIETARY.]
 49. 
49. DUODECIM ABUSIONES.
collapse section50. 
50. FOUR THINGS THAT MAKE A MAN A FOOL, AND OTHER SAYINGS OF DAN IOHAN.
 I. 
I. A seying of Daun Iohan.
 III. 
III. Another Version of the Four Things.
 IV. 
IV. On Worldly Worship.
 V. 
V. Balade de Bone Counseyle.
 51. 
51. THE KINGS OF ENGLAND SITHEN WILLIAM CONQUEROR.
 52. 
52. A TRETISE FOR LAUANDRES.
 53. 
53. THE NINE PROPERTIES OF WINE.
collapse section54. 
54. A PAGEANT OF KNOWLEDGE.
  
[prologue]
  
Septem Pagine sequntur sapiencie.
  
[section]
  
[section]
  
[section]
  
The dysposicion of the xij. sygnes.
  
The disposicion of þe iiij. elementes.
  
The disposicion of þe iiij. complexyons.
  
The dysposicion of þe .iiij. tymes of þe yere.
  
[section]
 54B. 
54B. A PAGEANT OF KNOWLEDGE, ANOTHER VERSION OF THE LAST PART.
 55. 
55. STANS PUER AD MENSAM.
collapse section 
[Little Homilies with Proverbial Refrains.]
 56. 
56. AMOR VINCIT OMNIA MENTIRIS QUOD PECUNIA.
 57. 
57. CONSULO QUISQUIS ERIS.
 58. 
58. A FREOND AT NEODE.
 59. 
59. A DITTY UPON HASTE.
 60. 
60. LOOK IN THY MEROUR, AND DEEME NOON OTHIR WIGHT.
 61. 
61. A SONG OF JUST MESURE.
 62. 
62. MESURE IS TRESOUR.
 63. 
63. AS A MYDSOMER ROSE.
 64. 
64. A PRAISE OF PEACE.
 65. 
65. RYME WITHOUT ACCORD
collapse section66. 
66. SAY THE BEST, AND NEVER REPENT.
  
[Text.]
 67. 
67. SEE MYCHE, SAY LYTELL AND LERNE TO SOFFAR IN TYME.
 68. 
68. EVERY THING TO HIS SEMBLABLE.
 69. 
69. THAT NOW IS HAY SOME-TYME WAS GRASE.
 70. 
70. THE COK HATH LOWE SHOONE.
 71. 
71. THEY THAT NO WHILE ENDURE (TWO VERSIONS).
 71B. 
71B. THEY THAT NO WHILE ENDURE
 72. 
72. A THOROUGHFARE OF WOE.
 73. 
73. TIMOR MORTIS CONTURBAT ME.
 74. 
74. TYED WITH A LYNE.
 75. 
75. A SONG OF VERTU.
 76. 
76. A WICKED TUNGE WILLE SEY AMYS.
 77. 
77. THE WORLD IS VARIABLE.

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74. TYED WITH A LYNE.

[_]

[From MS. Harl. 2251, leaves 38, back, to 39, back.]

1

The more I go, the further I am behynde;
The further behynd, the nere the weyes end;
The more I seche, the wers can I fynd;
The lighter leve, the lother for to wend;
The lengger I serve, the more out of mynd;
Is this fortune, or is it infortune?
Though I go loose, I tyed am with a lyne.

2

Drye in the see, and wete vpon the stronde;
Brenne in watir, in fuyre fresyng;
In reveris thurstlew, and moyst vpon the lond;
Gladde in mournyng, in gladnes compleyneng;
The fuller wombe, the gredyer in etyng;
Is this fortune, or is it infortune?
Though I go loose, I teyed am with a luyne.

3

A wery pees, and pees amyd the weere;
The better felaw, the rathir at discorde;
The neere at hande, the sonner set a-ferre;
Accorde debatyng, debatyng at accorde;
Furthest fro court, grettest with the lorde;
833

Is this fortune, or is it infortune?
Though I go loose, I tyed am with a lyne.

4

A wepyng laughter, a mery glad wepyng;
A fresy thowe, a meltyng fryse;
The slowar paas, the further in rennyng;
The more I renne, the more wey I lese;
The grettest losse whan I my chaunce do chese;
Is this fortune, or is it infortune?
Though I go loose, I teyed am with a lyne.

5

Weryles I walke ay in trouble and travaile,
Euer travilyng without werynes;
In labour idel, wynnyng that may nat availe;
A troubled ioy, a ioyeful hevynes;
A sobbyng songe, a chierful distres;
Is it fortune, or is it infortune?
Though I go loose, I tyed am with a lyne.

6

Wakyng a bedde, fastyng at the table;
Riche with wysshis, pore of possessioun;
Stable vnassured, assured eke vnstable;
Hope dispeyred, a gwerdonles gwerdon;
Trusty disceyte, feythful decepcioun;
Is this fortune, or is it infortune?
Though I go loose, I tiede am wythe a lyne.

7

A mournyng myrth, sobrenes savage,
Prudent foly, stidefast wildenesse;
Providence conveyed ay with rage;
A dronken sadnesse, and a sad drunkenesse;
A woode wisdom, and a wise woodenesse;
Is this fortune, or is it infortune?
Though I go loose, I tyed am with a lyne.

8

Vnhappy everous fortune infortunat;
An hertles thought, a thoughtlees reme[m]braunce;
Lo what avauntage! and sodainly chekmate,
834

Now six, now synk, now deny for my chaunce;
Thus al the world stant in variaunce:
Late men dispute, whethir this be fortune?
No man so loose, but he is tied with a luyne.

9

The world vnsure, contrary al stablenesse,
Whos ioye is meynt ay with adversite;
Now light, now hevy, now sorwe, now gladnes;
Ebbe after floode of al prosperite.
Set al asyde and lierne this of me,
Trust vpon fortune? Defye false fortune,
And al recleymes of hyr double luyne.

10

The gretter lord, the lasse his assuraunce;
The sikerest lyffe is in glad pouerte;
Both high and lough shal go on dethis daunce,
Renne vnto Powlis, beholde the Machabe;
Fraunchise of phisyk makith no man go free;
Trust vpon God, defye fals fortune,
And al recleymes of hyr double luyne.

11

Lothest departyng where is grettest richesse;
Al worldly tresour goth to the world agayne;
To kepe it longe may be no sikernesse,
Of grete receytis grete rekenyng in certayne.
Whan we gon hens al this shalbe but vayne;
Trust vpon God, defye false fortune,
That al recleymes of hir double luyne.

12

Nothyng more sure than al men shal deye,
Late men aforne make theyr ordynaunce;
vij. dedis of mercy shal best for vs purveye,
And almesdede shal make achevisaunce,
Texclude by grace the rigour of vengeaunce;
For Cristis passioun mavgre false fortune,
Shal-recleyme vs to his merciable luyne.
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