 | Religious Lyrics of the XVth Century |  |
SONGS OF THE DECADENCE OF VIRTUE.
171. A Balade by Squire Halsham
The worlde so wide, th'aire so remuable,
The sely man so litel of stature,
The grove and grounde and clothinge so mutable,
The fire so hoote and subtil of nature,
The water neuer in oon—what creature
That made is of these foure, thus flyttyng,
May stedfast be as here in his lyving?
The sely man so litel of stature,
The grove and grounde and clothinge so mutable,
The fire so hoote and subtil of nature,
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That made is of these foure, thus flyttyng,
May stedfast be as here in his lyving?
The more I goo the ferther I am behinde,
The ferther behinde the ner my wayes ende,
The more I seche þe worse kan I fynde,
The lighter leve the lother for to wende,
The bet y serve the more al out of mynde.
Is thys fortune, not I, or infortune?
Though I go lowse, tyed am I with a Lune.
The ferther behinde the ner my wayes ende,
The more I seche þe worse kan I fynde,
The lighter leve the lother for to wende,
The bet y serve the more al out of mynde.
Is thys fortune, not I, or infortune?
Though I go lowse, tyed am I with a Lune.
172. Good Rule Is Out of Remembrance
[L]ord, what is thys world wele!
Rychesse, reule, and ryche Aray,
Alday to spende and not to spele,
Wel sone were-it and wastyth away.
Whan plente may no longer pay
What wyghte wole wythe hym Abyde?
A drede-ful man, bothe nyghte and day,
Wyth heuye hert hys hede must hyde.
Rychesse, reule, and ryche Aray,
Alday to spende and not to spele,
Wel sone were-it and wastyth away.
Whan plente may no longer pay
What wyghte wole wythe hym Abyde?
A drede-ful man, bothe nyghte and day,
Wyth heuye hert hys hede must hyde.
Al is for defaute of grace
That god grucchyth oure gouernaunce;
Whan mesure may not medyl in place
Good reule is oute of remembraunce.
What is to man mor greuaunce
Than sodeynly fro manhode falle?
In pride is sympyl preueaunce
Ther pouerte is steward of halle.
That god grucchyth oure gouernaunce;
Whan mesure may not medyl in place
Good reule is oute of remembraunce.
What is to man mor greuaunce
Than sodeynly fro manhode falle?
In pride is sympyl preueaunce
Ther pouerte is steward of halle.
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But who that can in somer sesoun
Gader or grype or þat he grynde,
In wyntour tyme by wey of resoun
Shuld not be ferre be-hynde.
ffor þer þat mesure is in mynde
Good reule may not longe fayle;
it is no crafte to be to kynde,
ffor scoryng on þe countre-tayle.
Gader or grype or þat he grynde,
In wyntour tyme by wey of resoun
Shuld not be ferre be-hynde.
ffor þer þat mesure is in mynde
Good reule may not longe fayle;
it is no crafte to be to kynde,
ffor scoryng on þe countre-tayle.
But wele and worshyp with welfare,
Moche waste and lytyl wynne,
Wel sone bryngyth an housold bare
Wyth large spendyng wyth-outen and inne.
Thanne be a-vysed or þu be-gynne
That þu haue no nede to pleyne;
Se what estate þu stonde inne
for pouerte is a preuy peyne.
Moche waste and lytyl wynne,
Wel sone bryngyth an housold bare
Wyth large spendyng wyth-outen and inne.
Thanne be a-vysed or þu be-gynne
That þu haue no nede to pleyne;
Se what estate þu stonde inne
for pouerte is a preuy peyne.
Thogh þu haue helpe and hope of truste
Of lordys and ladyes wyth þer plesaunce,
Yet be ware of had-I-wyste,
for envy makyth new dystaunce.
In pryde and pouerte is gret penaunce
And yet is daunger most dysese;
Þer is commorus enquentaunce
Wen neyþer of them may odyr plese.
Of lordys and ladyes wyth þer plesaunce,
Yet be ware of had-I-wyste,
for envy makyth new dystaunce.
In pryde and pouerte is gret penaunce
And yet is daunger most dysese;
Þer is commorus enquentaunce
Wen neyþer of them may odyr plese.
But had-I-wyst comyth euer to late
Whan þer lackyth bothe lok and ky;
What nede is it to spare the yate,
þer no thyng is lefte in the wey?
Wyth a penylese purse to pley,
lete se, who can þe pepyl plese;
Summe man had as lef dey,
As longe to lyue in suche dysese.
Whan þer lackyth bothe lok and ky;
What nede is it to spare the yate,
þer no thyng is lefte in the wey?
Wyth a penylese purse to pley,
lete se, who can þe pepyl plese;
Summe man had as lef dey,
As longe to lyue in suche dysese.
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A bare berde wyl sone be shaue
Þer no here is lefte Aboute;
I mene be hym that myche wold haue
And is not ellys but pore and proude,
But redy to ryot in euery route,
To ley to wedde bothe potte and panne.
Whan the fere is clene blowen oute
Where shal we go dyne thanne?
Þer no here is lefte Aboute;
I mene be hym that myche wold haue
And is not ellys but pore and proude,
But redy to ryot in euery route,
To ley to wedde bothe potte and panne.
Whan the fere is clene blowen oute
Where shal we go dyne thanne?
What nede is it to delue depe
Whan þer is no sede to sowe?
Þe pot is esy for to kepe
Þer þe fatte is ouer-blowe.
neþer for the kyte nor for the crowe,
Encombyr not þyn owne neste;
To myche bende wyl breke the bowe,
Whan þe game is alþer beste.
Whan þer is no sede to sowe?
Þe pot is esy for to kepe
Þer þe fatte is ouer-blowe.
neþer for the kyte nor for the crowe,
Encombyr not þyn owne neste;
To myche bende wyl breke the bowe,
Whan þe game is alþer beste.
Ensample men may se alday—
Yet kepe I no man de-fame—
Hye housold and grete aray
ys lordys lyf and ladyis game;
Whan gladness growyth into grame
And thanne for nede begge and borowe,
Þer pryde is be-fore and after shame,
ffro solace into sodeyne sorowe.
Yet kepe I no man de-fame—
Hye housold and grete aray
ys lordys lyf and ladyis game;
Whan gladness growyth into grame
And thanne for nede begge and borowe,
Þer pryde is be-fore and after shame,
ffro solace into sodeyne sorowe.
And that is hevy for to here
Of hym alwey that man hath be,
And may no lenger make good chere.
By my trouth, it is gret pite!
Yet shuld worshyp know and se
And help hevy herte at nede,
Lest he falle in þat same degre
For happis is euer worse than drede.
Of hym alwey that man hath be,
And may no lenger make good chere.
By my trouth, it is gret pite!
Yet shuld worshyp know and se
And help hevy herte at nede,
Lest he falle in þat same degre
For happis is euer worse than drede.
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He that is bothe chek and mate
It is ful heuy to restore;
Whan al is go it is to late
To weshe and wepe after more.
Than be Avysed well before,
That the fyrst draughte be weel drawe,
for whan the game is lore
þy part is not worthe an hawe.
It is ful heuy to restore;
Whan al is go it is to late
To weshe and wepe after more.
Than be Avysed well before,
That the fyrst draughte be weel drawe,
for whan the game is lore
þy part is not worthe an hawe.
Now he that worshyp wol haue
And leue after hys degre,
In manhod his state to saue
God graunte hym here prosperite!
Plesaunce, pouer & plente,
Wythe al honest ordinaunce,
Þis wolle seruice you bothe and me,
To be ensample of good gouernaunce.
And leue after hys degre,
In manhod his state to saue
God graunte hym here prosperite!
Plesaunce, pouer & plente,
Wythe al honest ordinaunce,
Þis wolle seruice you bothe and me,
To be ensample of good gouernaunce.
173. The Rancour of this Wicked World
1
In ffull grett hevenesse myn hert ys pwyght,And sadely warpud mony a ffowld;
Wher [it be]ffore wasse ryght lyght
And warme, that ys nowe ffull Colde.
Alle Ioy ffro myn hert ys bowght and sowld,
Thorow rancoure off thys wekyd worde
That never agayne hyt may remord.
2
Synglure persone I doo none name,But alle the world In generalle
Swyfte off ffalsnesse, replete off blame,
lame off trewth, off malese regalle.
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Beste be trust, wythowghton any nay
Sonest may them-selffe be-tray.
3
But iij. thynges ther bene wryten off recordA mane to be ware a-boue all other:
The pryncypall ffurst ys the world,
A monis hown flechse ys a-nother,
The develle hym-selff, the thred brother,
But who so Euer be to blame
A wold Euerry body wer the ssame—
4
Not ffor tha[t] ne, so god me spede,Be all the world I sett no talle,
ffor any-thyng that Euer I sed or dede
Vn-to thys owr, securet or aperyalle.
But trust ryght thus wythowghton ffaylle—
And that ys Euer my be-leff—
The trewth In dede hyt-selff well preffe.
5
But the moste parte off my grevaunce,Ottherly hyt ffor to Exspresse,
ffor to haue In my rememberaunce
Wyth-owtthten Causse that lythe En destresse,
Trustyng to Ihū, off hys Ryghtewyssnese,
Tho send hys grace to subpouell & Comffort
Tho all that ys wyth wronge repourt.
6
And alle wykyd tongyss, who Euer they be,The whych haue no grace to say wylle—
That I may sse or Euer I dey
The Skene ther-off a-wey to pell
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And shurtely shew they grace
Tho Comfort the trewth and all ffalshed deface.
amen pure cherite.
174. If One Only Knew Whom to Trust
Wel were hym þat wyst
To wam he myȝt tryste,
bote þat ys in a wyre,
ffor offte men but holde chere;
and trystyt frendes fur an ner
þat walkytt in þe myre.
To wam he myȝt tryste,
bote þat ys in a wyre,
ffor offte men but holde chere;
and trystyt frendes fur an ner
þat walkytt in þe myre.
Wol god þat alle suche
had a marke lyte oþer moche
þat al men myȝt y-knowe
how here hert & moȝt
stent as ryȝt as norþe & sowþe
to þylke hy but sowe.
had a marke lyte oþer moche
þat al men myȝt y-knowe
how here hert & moȝt
stent as ryȝt as norþe & sowþe
to þylke hy but sowe.
175. Perversities of the Age
Wise men bene but scorned,& wedowȝ eke foryerned,
Grete men arn bot glosid,
& smale men arn borne doun & myslosed,
lordis wex euer blynd,
ffrendis ben vnkynde,
dethe is oute of mynde,
Treuth may no man fynde.
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176. Virtues Exiled—Vices Enthroned
Lex is layde and lethyrly lukys,Iusticia is exylde owt of owre bowkys,
Paciencia is plukytt þat mony men hyme Lothys,
ffides is fybled & goys in torynde clothys,
Caritas is lowkyde & knokytt full smawyll,
Verus is noght vsyde nothyng att all,
Humilitas is hyde, he wyll noght be seyne,
Castitas is prisonde as mony men weynys,
Veritas is demytt to hange one the ruyde,
Verecundia was drownytt at þe laste fluyde,
So þat few freyndys may a mane fynde,
ffor rectum iudicium commys so farre be-hynde.
ffraus is fykyll as a fox, & reuys in þis lande,
ffuror is hys freynde, as I vndyrstande,
Decepcio is his chamerlande, haif heire-of no dowtte
Detraccio is of his cownsell—I be-schrew þat rowtte!
ffalsum Iudicium is a lordschype of hys,
Violencia berys hys swerde, he may noght mysse,
Inuidia is als vmpeire qwen þai be-gyne to stryfe.
Syche anothyre felyschype, god latt þam neuer thryfe!
177. A Series of Triads
Ther ben iij poyntis of myscheff
Þat arun confusion to many man,
Weche þat werkyn þe soule gret gryff,
I schall hem telle ȝou as I can.
Pore men proude þat lytyl han,
Þat wolden beryt owte as riche men goo;
Ȝyf þei don foly and þan be tan
þei may wytyn hem-self her owyn woo.
Þat arun confusion to many man,
Weche þat werkyn þe soule gret gryff,
I schall hem telle ȝou as I can.
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Þat wolden beryt owte as riche men goo;
Ȝyf þei don foly and þan be tan
þei may wytyn hem-self her owyn woo.
A Ryche man thef is a-nodyr,
Þat of covetyse wyll not slake;
Ȝyf he with wrong be-gyle his brother
In blis þat he schall ben forsake—
be-forun god thefte it is take.
Al þat wit wrong he wynnyt soo;
but ȝif he A-mendys make
he may wytyn hym-self his owyn woo.
Þat of covetyse wyll not slake;
Ȝyf he with wrong be-gyle his brother
In blis þat he schall ben forsake—
be-forun god thefte it is take.
Al þat wit wrong he wynnyt soo;
but ȝif he A-mendys make
he may wytyn hym-self his owyn woo.
Olde man lechere is þe iijde,
for his complexion waxit colde;
It bryngit his soule peyne in-mydde,
And stynkit on god many a folde.
The iij thyngis þat I haue told
arun plesyng to þe fende, oure fo.
Hem to vsyn, hoso is bold,
may wytyn hym-self his owyn wo.
for his complexion waxit colde;
It bryngit his soule peyne in-mydde,
And stynkit on god many a folde.
The iij thyngis þat I haue told
arun plesyng to þe fende, oure fo.
Hem to vsyn, hoso is bold,
may wytyn hym-self his owyn wo.
Many defautis god may fynde
In vs that schuldyn his seruantis be;
He schewyt vs loue and we on-kynde—
sertis þe more to blame are we.
Summe stare brode and may not se—
be many a clerk it faret so—
[Ther] þe dred of god wele not be,
þei may wytyn hem-self her owyn wo.
In vs that schuldyn his seruantis be;
He schewyt vs loue and we on-kynde—
sertis þe more to blame are we.
Summe stare brode and may not se—
be many a clerk it faret so—
[Ther] þe dred of god wele not be,
þei may wytyn hem-self her owyn wo.
In iij poyntis, I dar wel say,
god schuld be wurchapyd ouer all thynge:
With ryghtwysnesse & mercy—þer be twaye—
þe iijde is clennesse in levynge.
To men of holy chyrche þat kepyng
it is her charge & to lordys also,
and whan þei don contrari goddis byddyng
þei may wytyn hem-self her ow[yn] w[o].
god schuld be wurchapyd ouer all thynge:
With ryghtwysnesse & mercy—þer be twaye—
þe iijde is clennesse in levynge.
271
it is her charge & to lordys also,
and whan þei don contrari goddis byddyng
þei may wytyn hem-self her ow[yn] w[o].
Wrong is set þer right schuld be,
mercy fro manhod is put A-way,
lecchery clennesse hat mad to fle,
loue dar not bydyn neyther nyght ne day.
Thus þe deuyl, I dar wel say,
wolde makyn oure frende oure ful fo.
Man, A-mende the whyl þu may,
or wyte þi-self þin owyn wo.
mercy fro manhod is put A-way,
lecchery clennesse hat mad to fle,
loue dar not bydyn neyther nyght ne day.
Thus þe deuyl, I dar wel say,
wolde makyn oure frende oure ful fo.
Man, A-mende the whyl þu may,
or wyte þi-self þin owyn wo.
It is no wondyr thow þu be wo,
þi owyn wyl quan þu wolt sewe;
goddis byddyng þu wilt not do—
þu art fals and he is trewe,
Syn he sende þe alle thyng newe
and þu seruyst þe fende & gost hym fro,
but þu mende it schall þe rewe,
þu schalt wytyn þi-self þi owyn wo.
þi owyn wyl quan þu wolt sewe;
goddis byddyng þu wilt not do—
þu art fals and he is trewe,
Syn he sende þe alle thyng newe
and þu seruyst þe fende & gost hym fro,
but þu mende it schall þe rewe,
þu schalt wytyn þi-self þi owyn wo.
In iij degreis þe werd kepis:
with presthod, knyghthod, and labourere.
Þer ar but fewe þat nede don A-mys
þer-for a-byd þei schal ful dere.
Be good exampyl þe prestis schuld lere
to on-lernyd how þat þei schuldyn do
and, for þat wurde & werke acordit not in fere,
þei schul wytyn hem-self her owyn w[o].
with presthod, knyghthod, and labourere.
Þer ar but fewe þat nede don A-mys
þer-for a-byd þei schal ful dere.
Be good exampyl þe prestis schuld lere
to on-lernyd how þat þei schuldyn do
and, for þat wurde & werke acordit not in fere,
þei schul wytyn hem-self her owyn w[o].
Lordys also, boþe knytis & other,
many arun of consciens lyght;
þei schulde helpe þe pore syster and brodyr
for to streynye hem in her ryght.
Pride and coueytyse hat lost here myght,
grace, for lecherye, is kept hem fro;
Ȝyf þei be-heldyn her owyn syth,
þei may wytyn hem-self her owyn wo.
many arun of consciens lyght;
þei schulde helpe þe pore syster and brodyr
for to streynye hem in her ryght.
272
grace, for lecherye, is kept hem fro;
Ȝyf þei be-heldyn her owyn syth,
þei may wytyn hem-self her owyn wo.
The labourere schuld trauayle for god and man
ryghtfully in word & dede,
In what degre þat he hath tan,
And resonabylly takyn his mede.
Wrongfully summe her lyfe lede—
A-mong ryche and pore it is foundyn so—
þe last ende is to drede,
þei schal wytyn hem-self her owyn wo.
ryghtfully in word & dede,
In what degre þat he hath tan,
And resonabylly takyn his mede.
Wrongfully summe her lyfe lede—
A-mong ryche and pore it is foundyn so—
þe last ende is to drede,
þei schal wytyn hem-self her owyn wo.
Man, take hed what þu arte—
but wormys mete, þu wost wel þis;
Whan þat erthe hat taken hys parte,
heuyn or helle wyl haue his.
Ȝif þu do weel þu gost to blys,
yf þu do euyl to þi foo;
loue þi lord and thynk on this,
or wyte þi-self þin owyn wo.
but wormys mete, þu wost wel þis;
Whan þat erthe hat taken hys parte,
heuyn or helle wyl haue his.
Ȝif þu do weel þu gost to blys,
yf þu do euyl to þi foo;
loue þi lord and thynk on this,
or wyte þi-self þin owyn wo.
Glorious god, for þi mercy
þi wretthe gostly þu slake!
to vs þat leuyn here ful falsly
on-to þi mercy euer vs take!
Now, ihū cryst, oure saueour,
fro vr foo vs defende;
In al oure nede be oure socour
or þat we schul hens wende,
þi wretthe gostly þu slake!
to vs þat leuyn here ful falsly
on-to þi mercy euer vs take!
Now, ihū cryst, oure saueour,
fro vr foo vs defende;
In al oure nede be oure socour
or þat we schul hens wende,
And sende vs grace so to A-mende
þi blysse þat we may come to,
Here to haue so good an ende
þat we be not cause of oure owyn wo.
þi blysse þat we may come to,
Here to haue so good an ende
þat we be not cause of oure owyn wo.
Amen.
| Religious Lyrics of the XVth Century | |