The Pastime of Pleasure by Stephen Hawes A literal reprint of the earliest complete copy (1517) with variant readings from the editions of 1509, 1554, and 1555 together with introduction notes, glossary, and indexes: By William Edward Mead |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IIII. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIIII. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIIII. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
How mynerue ledde Graūde Amoure to kynge Melyzyus
whiche made hym knyght. ca. xxviii.
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| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
| XLII. |
| XLIIII. |
| XLV. |
| XLVI. |
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How mynerue ledde Graūde Amoure to kynge Melyzyus
whiche made hym knyght. ca. xxviii.
The Pastime of Pleasure by Stephen Hawes |  |
XXVIII. How mynerue ledde Graūde Amoure to kynge Melyzyus whiche made hym knyght. ca. xxviii.
To here of Mars the meruaylous argument
And of fortune I was sore amased
Tyll that I sawe a lady excellent
Clerely armed vpon whome I gased
And her armes full preuely I blased
The shelde of golde as I well vnderstande
With a lyon of asure through passande
And of fortune I was sore amased
Tyll that I sawe a lady excellent
Clerely armed vpon whome I gased
And her armes full preuely I blased
The shelde of golde as I well vnderstande
With a lyon of asure through passande
To me she came with lowely countenaunce
And bad me welcome vnto that mancyon
Ledynge me forthe with Ioy and plesaunce
Into an hall of meruaylous facyon
Ryght strongly fortyfyed of olde foundacyon
The pyllours of yuory garnysshed with golde
With perles sette and broudred many a folde
And bad me welcome vnto that mancyon
Ledynge me forthe with Ioy and plesaunce
125
Ryght strongly fortyfyed of olde foundacyon
The pyllours of yuory garnysshed with golde
With perles sette and broudred many a folde
The flore was paued with stones precyous
And the rose was braunched curyously
Of the beten golde both gay and gloryous
Knotted with pomaunders ryght swetely
Encencynge out the yll odours mysty
And on the walles ryght well dyde appere
The sege of Thebes depaynted fayre and clere
And the rose was braunched curyously
Of the beten golde both gay and gloryous
Knotted with pomaunders ryght swetely
Encencynge out the yll odours mysty
And on the walles ryght well dyde appere
The sege of Thebes depaynted fayre and clere
There were knyghtes playenge at the chesse
Whiche sawe Mynerue lede me in the hall
They lefte theyr play and all theyr besynesse
And welcomed me ryght gentely withall
With syr Nurture than moost in specyall
Accompanyed of his brother curtesy
They made me chere than full effectually
Whiche sawe Mynerue lede me in the hall
They lefte theyr play and all theyr besynesse
And welcomed me ryght gentely withall
With syr Nurture than moost in specyall
Accompanyed of his brother curtesy
They made me chere than full effectually
And after that they brought me vp a stayre
In to a chambre gayly gloryfyed
And at the dore there stode a knyght ryght fayre
Ye clypped trouthe ryght clerely purefyed
His countenaunce was ryght well modyfyed
To me he sayde that before myn entres
Hym for to loue I sholde hym promes
In to a chambre gayly gloryfyed
And at the dore there stode a knyght ryght fayre
Ye clypped trouthe ryght clerely purefyed
His countenaunce was ryght well modyfyed
To me he sayde that before myn entres
Hym for to loue I sholde hym promes
Of ryght he sayd I haue in custody
This chambre dore of kynge Melyzyus
That no man entre in to it wrongfully
Without me trouthe for to be chyualrous
Here knyghtes be made to be vyctoryous
I shall you promyse quod I faythfully
You for to loue and serue perdurably
This chambre dore of kynge Melyzyus
That no man entre in to it wrongfully
Without me trouthe for to be chyualrous
126
I shall you promyse quod I faythfully
You for to loue and serue perdurably
Abyde quod he I wyll speke with the kynge
Tell me your name and habytacyon
And ye chefe cause now of your comynge
That I to hym may make relacyon
To knowe his mynde without varyacyon
La graunde amoure my name is sayd I
The cause of my comynge intentyfly
Tell me your name and habytacyon
And ye chefe cause now of your comynge
That I to hym may make relacyon
To knowe his mynde without varyacyon
La graunde amoure my name is sayd I
The cause of my comynge intentyfly
Is for bycause that I haue enterprysed
Now for the sake of fayre la belle pucell
To passe the passage whiche I her promysed
That is so daungerous with serpentes cruell
And for asmoche as I knowe neueradell
The feates of armes to attayne honoure
I am come to lerne with dylygent laboure
Now for the sake of fayre la belle pucell
To passe the passage whiche I her promysed
That is so daungerous with serpentes cruell
And for asmoche as I knowe neueradell
The feates of armes to attayne honoure
I am come to lerne with dylygent laboure
Than forthe he wente vnto the mageste
Of kynge Melyzyus the myghty conqueroure
Saynge O power so hye in dygnyte
O prynce vyctoryous and famous Emperoure
Of Iustynge truely the orgynall floure
One graunde amoure wolde be acceptable
In your hye courte for to be tendable
Of kynge Melyzyus the myghty conqueroure
Saynge O power so hye in dygnyte
O prynce vyctoryous and famous Emperoure
Of Iustynge truely the orgynall floure
One graunde amoure wolde be acceptable
In your hye courte for to be tendable
With all my herte I wyll quod he accepte
Hym to my seruyce for he is ryght worthy
For vnto doctryne the hye way he kepte
And so frome thens to the toure of chyualry
He shall attayne grete actes wonderly
Go on your way and brynge hym fast to me
For I thynke longe hym to beholde and se
Hym to my seruyce for he is ryght worthy
For vnto doctryne the hye way he kepte
And so frome thens to the toure of chyualry
He shall attayne grete actes wonderly
127
For I thynke longe hym to beholde and se
And than the good knyght trouthe incontynent
In to the chambre so pure / soone me lede
Where sate the kynge so moche benyuolent
In purple clothed set full of rubyes rede
And all the flore on whiche we dyde trede
Was crystall clere and the rofe at nyght
Wish tarbuncles dyde gyue a meruaylous lyght
In to the chambre so pure / soone me lede
Where sate the kynge so moche benyuolent
In purple clothed set full of rubyes rede
And all the flore on whiche we dyde trede
Was crystall clere and the rofe at nyght
Wish tarbuncles dyde gyue a meruaylous lyght
The walles were hanged with clothe of tyssue
Broudred with perles and rubyes rubyconde
Myxte with emeraudes so full of vertue
And bordred aboue with many a dyamonde
An heuy herte it wolde make Iocunde
For to beholde the meruaylous ryches
The lordeshyp / welthe / and the grete worthynes
Broudred with perles and rubyes rubyconde
Myxte with emeraudes so full of vertue
And bordred aboue with many a dyamonde
An heuy herte it wolde make Iocunde
For to beholde the meruaylous ryches
The lordeshyp / welthe / and the grete worthynes
There sate Melyzyus in his hye estate
And ouer his heed was a payre of balaunce
With his crowne / and ceptre after the true rate
Of an other wordly kynge for to haue gouernaunce
In his hande a balle of ryght grete cyrcumstaunce
Before whome than I dyde knele adowne
Saynge O Emperoure moost hygh of renowne
And ouer his heed was a payre of balaunce
With his crowne / and ceptre after the true rate
Of an other wordly kynge for to haue gouernaunce
In his hande a balle of ryght grete cyrcumstaunce
Before whome than I dyde knele adowne
Saynge O Emperoure moost hygh of renowne
I the beseche of thyn haboundaunt grace
Me to accept in this courte the for to serue
So to contynue by longe tyme and space
Of chyualry that I may now deserue
The ordre ryght and well it to obserue
For to attayne the hygh aduauntage
Of the enterpryse of my doughty vyage
Me to accept in this courte the for to serue
So to contynue by longe tyme and space
Of chyualry that I may now deserue
The ordre ryght and well it to obserue
For to attayne the hygh aduauntage
128
Welcome he sayd to this courte ryall
Mynerue shall arme you with grete dylygence
And teche you the feates of armes all
For she them knoweth by good experyence
In the olde tyme it was her scyence
And I my selfe shall gyue you a worthy stede
Called galantyse to helpe you in your nede
Mynerue shall arme you with grete dylygence
And teche you the feates of armes all
For she them knoweth by good experyence
In the olde tyme it was her scyence
And I my selfe shall gyue you a worthy stede
Called galantyse to helpe you in your nede
I humbly thanked his grete hyenes
And so to Mynerue I dyde than applye
Whiche dyde me teche with syker perfytnes
For to haunt armes ryght well and nobly
Sapyence me ruled well and prudently
Thus amonge knyghtes for to Iust and tourney
Mynerue me taught in sundry wyse all day
And so to Mynerue I dyde than applye
Whiche dyde me teche with syker perfytnes
For to haunt armes ryght well and nobly
Sapyence me ruled well and prudently
Thus amonge knyghtes for to Iust and tourney
Mynerue me taught in sundry wyse all day
It was a Ioyfull and a knyghtly syght
For to beholde so fayre and good a sorte
Of goodly knyghtes armed clere and bryght
That I sawe there whiche dyde me well exorte
Armes to haunte with couragyous comforte
Mynerue me taught my strokes and defence
That in shorte space was no resystence
For to beholde so fayre and good a sorte
Of goodly knyghtes armed clere and bryght
That I sawe there whiche dyde me well exorte
Armes to haunte with couragyous comforte
Mynerue me taught my strokes and defence
That in shorte space was no resystence
Agaynst my power and myghty puyssaunce
To my wylfull herte was nought impossyble
I bare myselfe so without doubtaūce
My herte made my courage inuyncyble
Of whiche the trouthe was soone intellygyble
With my behauynge before the preemynence
Of kynge Mylyzyus famous excellence
To my wylfull herte was nought impossyble
I bare myselfe so without doubtaūce
My herte made my courage inuyncyble
Of whiche the trouthe was soone intellygyble
With my behauynge before the preemynence
Of kynge Mylyzyus famous excellence
129
Whiche ryght anone for dame Mynerue sent
And me also with syr trouthe to obey
We thought full lytell what the mater ment
But vnto hym we toke anone the way
Entrynge the chambre so / fayre / clere and gay
The kynge vs called vnto his persone
Sayenge I wyll graunde amoure anone
And me also with syr trouthe to obey
We thought full lytell what the mater ment
But vnto hym we toke anone the way
Entrynge the chambre so / fayre / clere and gay
The kynge vs called vnto his persone
Sayenge I wyll graunde amoure anone
Truly make knyght for the tyme approcheth
That he must haunt and seke aduenture
For Labell pucell as true loue requyreth
And fyrst of all began to me dyscure
The hyghe order how I sholde take in cure
And than anone he began to expresse
What knyghthode was to perfyte sykernesse
That he must haunt and seke aduenture
For Labell pucell as true loue requyreth
And fyrst of all began to me dyscure
The hyghe order how I sholde take in cure
And than anone he began to expresse
What knyghthode was to perfyte sykernesse
Knyghthode he sayd was fyrst establysshed
The comyn welthe in ryght to defende
That by the wronge it be not mynysshed
So euery knyght must truely condyscende
For the comyn welthe his power to entende
Agaynst all suche rebelles contraryous
Them to subdue with power vyctoryous
The comyn welthe in ryght to defende
That by the wronge it be not mynysshed
So euery knyght must truely condyscende
For the comyn welthe his power to entende
Agaynst all suche rebelles contraryous
Them to subdue with power vyctoryous
For knyghthode is not in the feates of warre
As for to fyght in quarell ryght or wronge
But in a cause whiche trouthe can not defarre
He ought hymselfe for to make sure and stronge
Iustyce to kepe myxte with mercy amonge
And no quarell a knyght ought to take
But for a trouthe or for the comyns sake
As for to fyght in quarell ryght or wronge
But in a cause whiche trouthe can not defarre
He ought hymselfe for to make sure and stronge
Iustyce to kepe myxte with mercy amonge
And no quarell a knyght ought to take
But for a trouthe or for the comyns sake
For fyrst good hope his legge harneys sholde be
His habergyon of perfyte ryghtwysnes
Gyrde fast with the gyrdle of chastyte
His ryche placarde sholde be good besynes
Braudred with almes so full of larges
The helmet mekenes / and the shelde good fayth
His swerde goddes wordes as saynt Poule sayth
130
Gyrde fast with the gyrdle of chastyte
His ryche placarde sholde be good besynes
Braudred with almes so full of larges
The helmet mekenes / and the shelde good fayth
His swerde goddes wordes as saynt Poule sayth
Also true wydowes he ought to restore
Vnto theyr ryght for to attayne theyr dower
And to vpholde and maynteyne euermore
The welthe of maydens with his myghty power
And to his souerayne at euery maner hower
To be redy true and eke obeysaunt
In stable loue fyxt / and not varyaunt
Vnto theyr ryght for to attayne theyr dower
And to vpholde and maynteyne euermore
The welthe of maydens with his myghty power
And to his souerayne at euery maner hower
To be redy true and eke obeysaunt
In stable loue fyxt / and not varyaunt
Thus after this noble and solempne doctryne
He made my knyght and gaue me in charge
Vnto these poyntes ryght lowe to enclyne
And to stere well the frayle tumblynge barge
Ouer vaynglorye whan I sayle at large
Whan the wynde is ryght the barge can not fayle
Vnto his purpose so with hardynes to sayle
He made my knyght and gaue me in charge
Vnto these poyntes ryght lowe to enclyne
And to stere well the frayle tumblynge barge
Ouer vaynglorye whan I sayle at large
Whan the wynde is ryght the barge can not fayle
Vnto his purpose so with hardynes to sayle
I dyde well regystre in my remembraunce
Euery thynge whiche he hathe to me tolde
And ryght anone in good resemblaunce
The kynge I thanked with courage ryght bolde
Of his grete gyftes and grace many a folde
Whiche vnto me ryght openly he shewed
With golden droppes so lyberally indewed
Euery thynge whiche he hathe to me tolde
And ryght anone in good resemblaunce
The kynge I thanked with courage ryght bolde
Of his grete gyftes and grace many a folde
Whiche vnto me ryght openly he shewed
With golden droppes so lyberally indewed
I toke my leue of his ryght hye estate
And then Mynerue in to the hall me brought
Accompanyed of trouthe my faythfull mate
Vs for to solace there lacked ryght nought
That ony man can prynte in his thought
The knyghtes all vnto theyr armes wente
To brynge me forwarde with a true entente
And then Mynerue in to the hall me brought
131
Vs for to solace there lacked ryght nought
That ony man can prynte in his thought
The knyghtes all vnto theyr armes wente
To brynge me forwarde with a true entente
And Mynerue armed me as she coude deuyse
And brought vnto me my fayre barbed stede
On whome I mounted in all goodly guyse
With shelde and spere as nothynge to drede
In ryght to fyght for to attayne my mede
So with me went bothe my greyhoundes twayne
And good attendaunce my verlet certayne
And brought vnto me my fayre barbed stede
On whome I mounted in all goodly guyse
With shelde and spere as nothynge to drede
In ryght to fyght for to attayne my mede
So with me went bothe my greyhoundes twayne
And good attendaunce my verlet certayne
The good knyght trouthe brought me on the way
Accompanyed than of syr fydelyte
With haute courage betrapped fayre and gay
With shynynge trappoures of curyosyte
And thenne also there rode forth with me
The sturdy knyght well named fortytude
With the noble veterane syr consuetude
Accompanyed than of syr fydelyte
With haute courage betrapped fayre and gay
With shynynge trappoures of curyosyte
And thenne also there rode forth with me
The sturdy knyght well named fortytude
With the noble veterane syr consuetude
And eke syr Iustyce and syr myserycorde
Syr sapyence with good syr curteysy
With famous nurture / and than syr concorde
Accompanyed me full ryght gentylly
Oute of the castell rydynge ryally
And dame Mynerue the chyualreous goddes
Dyde me endue then with herty hardynes
Syr sapyence with good syr curteysy
With famous nurture / and than syr concorde
Accompanyed me full ryght gentylly
Oute of the castell rydynge ryally
And dame Mynerue the chyualreous goddes
Dyde me endue then with herty hardynes
And whan we came in to a goodly playne
Ryght of them all I toke my lycence
Me thought it tyme that they tourne agayne
Vnto the kynge with all theyr dylygence
I made myn othe with percynge influence
Vnto them all for to remayne full true
In stedfast loue all treason to eschue
Ryght of them all I toke my lycence
Me thought it tyme that they tourne agayne
132
I made myn othe with percynge influence
Vnto them all for to remayne full true
In stedfast loue all treason to eschue
Full lothe they were fro me to departe
Euery one of them as ye may vnderstande
With salte teres full wofull was my harte
Whan all on rowe they toke me by the hande
Adyeu they sayd and grace with you stande
You for to ayde whan that you do fyght
And so they torned vnto the castell ryght
Euery one of them as ye may vnderstande
With salte teres full wofull was my harte
Whan all on rowe they toke me by the hande
Adyeu they sayd and grace with you stande
You for to ayde whan that you do fyght
And so they torned vnto the castell ryght
And good dame Mynerue vnto me than sayde
Be not adredde of your hye entrepryse
Be bolde and hardy and nothynge afrayde
And rather deye in ony maner of wyse
To attayne honoure and the lyfe dyspyse
Than for to lyue and to remayne in shame
For to dye with honoure it is a good name
Be not adredde of your hye entrepryse
Be bolde and hardy and nothynge afrayde
And rather deye in ony maner of wyse
To attayne honoure and the lyfe dyspyse
Than for to lyue and to remayne in shame
For to dye with honoure it is a good name
Fare well she sayd and be of good chere
I must departe I may no lenger tary
Ryde on your way the weder is full clere
Seke your aduenture and loke ye not vary
Frome your hye ordre by ony contrary
And therwithall forthe on her way she rode
Ryght so dyde I whiche no lenger abode
I must departe I may no lenger tary
Ryde on your way the weder is full clere
Seke your aduenture and loke ye not vary
Frome your hye ordre by ony contrary
And therwithall forthe on her way she rode
Ryght so dyde I whiche no lenger abode
With bothe my greyhoundes and my varlet
Thrughe the playne and in to wyldernes
And so alofte amonge the hylles gret
Tyll it was nyght so thycke of derkenes
That of constraynt of veray werynes
We lyght adowne vnder an hyll syde
Vnto the day to rest vs there that tyde
Thrughe the playne and in to wyldernes
And so alofte amonge the hylles gret
Tyll it was nyght so thycke of derkenes
133
We lyght adowne vnder an hyll syde
Vnto the day to rest vs there that tyde
And whan my page my helmet vnlaced
He layde it downe vnderneth my hede
And to his legge he my stede enbraced
To grase about whyle on the grase he fed
And than also his horse in lyke stede
With bothe our greyhoundes lyenge vs nere by
And slouthe our hedes had caught so sodaynly
He layde it downe vnderneth my hede
And to his legge he my stede enbraced
To grase about whyle on the grase he fed
And than also his horse in lyke stede
With bothe our greyhoundes lyenge vs nere by
And slouthe our hedes had caught so sodaynly
That all the nyght we slepte in good reste
Tyll agaynst day began to nese and cry
My stede galantyse with a rorynge breste
And eke began to stampe full meruaylously
Whose hye courage awaked vs wonderly
And ryght anone we kest vp our eyes
Beholdynge aboue the fayre crystall skyes
Tyll agaynst day began to nese and cry
My stede galantyse with a rorynge breste
And eke began to stampe full meruaylously
Whose hye courage awaked vs wonderly
And ryght anone we kest vp our eyes
Beholdynge aboue the fayre crystall skyes
Seynge the cloudes rayed fayre and rede
Of Phebus rysynge in the oryent
And aurora her golden bemes sprede
Aboute the ayre clerely refulgent
Withouten mysty blacke encombremente
Vp I arose and also my page
Makynge vs redy for to take our vyage.
Of Phebus rysynge in the oryent
And aurora her golden bemes sprede
Aboute the ayre clerely refulgent
Withouten mysty blacke encombremente
Vp I arose and also my page
Makynge vs redy for to take our vyage.
|
How mynerue ledde Graūde Amoure to kynge Melyzyus
whiche made hym knyght. ca. xxviii.
The Pastime of Pleasure by Stephen Hawes | |