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. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
How graunde amoure dyscomfyted the gyaunt
with thre hedes & was receyued of thre fayre ladyes.
Ca. xxxiij.
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| XXXIII. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
| XLII. |
| XLIIII. |
| XLV. |
| XLVI. |
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How graunde amoure dyscomfyted the gyaunt
with thre hedes & was receyued of thre fayre ladyes.
Ca. xxxiij.
The Pastime of Pleasure by Stephen Hawes |  |
161
XXXIII. How graunde amoure dyscomfyted the gyaunt with thre hedes & was receyued of thre fayre ladyes. Ca. xxxiij.
Whan golden Phebus in the Caprycorne
Gan to ascende fast vnto aquary
And Ianus byfrus ye crowne had worne
With his frosty berde in Ianuary
Whan clere Dyana Ioyned with mercury
The crystyall ayre and asured fyrmamente
Were all depured without encumbremente
Gan to ascende fast vnto aquary
And Ianus byfrus ye crowne had worne
With his frosty berde in Ianuary
Whan clere Dyana Ioyned with mercury
The crystyall ayre and asured fyrmamente
Were all depured without encumbremente
Forthe than I rode at myne owne aduenture
Ouer the mountaynes and the craggy rockes
To beholde the countrees I had grete pleasure
Where corall growed by ryght hye stockes
And the popyngayes in the tre toppes
Than as I rode I sawe me beforne
Besyde a welle hange bothe a shelde and a horne
Ouer the mountaynes and the craggy rockes
To beholde the countrees I had grete pleasure
Where corall growed by ryght hye stockes
And the popyngayes in the tre toppes
162
Besyde a welle hange bothe a shelde and a horne
Whan I came there / adowne my stede I lyght
And the fayre bugle I ryght well behelde
Blasynge the armes as well as I myghte
That was so grauen vpon the goodly shelde
Fyrst all of syluer dyde appere the felde
With a rampynge lyon of fyne golde so pure
And vnder the shelde there was this scrypture
And the fayre bugle I ryght well behelde
Blasynge the armes as well as I myghte
That was so grauen vpon the goodly shelde
Fyrst all of syluer dyde appere the felde
With a rampynge lyon of fyne golde so pure
And vnder the shelde there was this scrypture
Yf ony knyght that is aduenturous
Of his grete pryde dare the bugle blowe
There is a gyaunte bothe fyerce and rygoryous
That with his myght shall hym soone ouerthrowe
This is the waye as ye shall now knowe
To la belle pucell but withouten fayle
The sturdy gyaunte wyll gyue you batayle
Of his grete pryde dare the bugle blowe
There is a gyaunte bothe fyerce and rygoryous
That with his myght shall hym soone ouerthrowe
This is the waye as ye shall now knowe
To la belle pucell but withouten fayle
The sturdy gyaunte wyll gyue you batayle
Whan I the scrypture ones or twyes hadde redde
And knewe therof all the hole effecte
I blewe the horne without ony drede
And toke good herte all fere to abiecte
Makynge me redy for I dyde suspecte
That the grete gyaunte vnto me wolde hast
Whan he had herde me blowe so loude a blast
And knewe therof all the hole effecte
I blewe the horne without ony drede
And toke good herte all fere to abiecte
Makynge me redy for I dyde suspecte
That the grete gyaunte vnto me wolde hast
Whan he had herde me blowe so loude a blast
I alyght anone vpon my gentyll stede
Aboute the well then I rode to and fro
And thought ryght well vpon the Ioyfull mede
That I sholde haue after my payne and wo
And of my lady I dyde thynke also
Tyll at the last my varlet dyde me tell
Take hede quod he here is a fende of hell
Aboute the well then I rode to and fro
And thought ryght well vpon the Ioyfull mede
That I sholde haue after my payne and wo
And of my lady I dyde thynke also
Tyll at the last my varlet dyde me tell
163
My greyhoundes leped and my stede dyde sterte
My spere I toke and dyde loke aboute
With hardy courage I dyde arme my herte
At last I fawe a sturdy gyaunte stoute
Twelue fote of length to fere a grete route
Thre hedes he had and he armed was
Bothe hedes and boody all aboute with bras
My spere I toke and dyde loke aboute
With hardy courage I dyde arme my herte
At last I fawe a sturdy gyaunte stoute
Twelue fote of length to fere a grete route
Thre hedes he had and he armed was
Bothe hedes and boody all aboute with bras
Vpon his fyrst hede in his helmet creest
There stode a fane of the sylke so fyne
Where was wryten with letters of the best
My name is falshed I shall cause enclyne
Myn neyghboures goodes for to make them myne
Alwaye I gete theyr lande or substaunce
With subtyll fraude deceyte or varyaunce
There stode a fane of the sylke so fyne
Where was wryten with letters of the best
My name is falshed I shall cause enclyne
Myn neyghboures goodes for to make them myne
Alwaye I gete theyr lande or substaunce
With subtyll fraude deceyte or varyaunce
And whan a knyght with noble chyualry
Of la belle pucell sholde attayne the grace
With my grete falshed I werke so subtylly
That in her herte she hath no dwellynge place
Thus of his purpose I do lete the cace
This is my power and my condycyon
Loue to remoue by a grete yllusyon
Of la belle pucell sholde attayne the grace
With my grete falshed I werke so subtylly
That in her herte she hath no dwellynge place
Thus of his purpose I do lete the cace
This is my power and my condycyon
Loue to remoue by a grete yllusyon
And of the seconde hede in a sylken tassell
There I sawe wryten ymagynacyon
My crafty wytte is withouten fayle
Loue for to brynge in perturbacyon
Where la belle pucell wolde haue affeccyon
To graunde amoure I shall a tale deuyse
To make her hate hym and hym to despyse
There I sawe wryten ymagynacyon
My crafty wytte is withouten fayle
Loue for to brynge in perturbacyon
Where la belle pucell wolde haue affeccyon
To graunde amoure I shall a tale deuyse
To make her hate hym and hym to despyse
164
By my fals wytte so moche ymagynatyfe
The trouthe full ofte I brynge in dysease
Where as was peas I cause to be stryfe
I wyll suffre no man for to lyue in ease
For yf by fortune he wyll be dysplease
I shall of hym ymagyn suche a tale
That out of Ioy it shall torne in to bale
The trouthe full ofte I brynge in dysease
Where as was peas I cause to be stryfe
I wyll suffre no man for to lyue in ease
For yf by fortune he wyll be dysplease
I shall of hym ymagyn suche a tale
That out of Ioy it shall torne in to bale
And on the thyrde hede in a stremer grene
There was wryten my name is pariury
In many a towne I am knowen as I wene
Where as I lyst I do grete Iniury
And do forswere my selfe full wrongfully
Of all thynges I do hate conscyence
But I loue lucre with all dylygence
There was wryten my name is pariury
In many a towne I am knowen as I wene
Where as I lyst I do grete Iniury
And do forswere my selfe full wrongfully
Of all thynges I do hate conscyence
But I loue lucre with all dylygence
Betwene two louers I do make debate
I wyll so swere that they thynke I am true
For euer falshed with his owne estate
To a lady cometh and sayth to eschewe
An inconuenyence that ye do not rue
Your loue is nought ymagynacyon knoweth
I swere in lykewyse and anone she troweth
I wyll so swere that they thynke I am true
For euer falshed with his owne estate
To a lady cometh and sayth to eschewe
An inconuenyence that ye do not rue
Your loue is nought ymagynacyon knoweth
I swere in lykewyse and anone she troweth
That we haue sayd is of veray trouthe
Her loue she casteth ryght clene out of mynde
That with her loue she is wonderly wrothe
With fayned kyndnes we do her so blynde
Than to her louer she is full vnkynde
Thus our thre powers were Ioyned in one
In this myghty gyaunt many dayes a gone
Her loue she casteth ryght clene out of mynde
That with her loue she is wonderly wrothe
With fayned kyndnes we do her so blynde
Than to her louer she is full vnkynde
Thus our thre powers were Ioyned in one
In this myghty gyaunt many dayes a gone
And whan that I had seen euery thynge
My spere I charged that was veray grette
And to this gyaunt so fyersly comynge
I toke my course that I with hym mette
Brekynge my spere vpon his fyrst helmet
And ryght anone adowne my stede I lyght
Drawȳge my swerde that was fayre and bryght
165
And to this gyaunt so fyersly comynge
I toke my course that I with hym mette
Brekynge my spere vpon his fyrst helmet
And ryght anone adowne my stede I lyght
Drawȳge my swerde that was fayre and bryght
Yclypped Claraprudence that was fayre and sure
At the gyaunte I stroke with all my valyaunce
But he my strokes myght ryght well endure
He was so grete and huge of puysaunce
His glayue he dyde agaynst me aduaunce
Whiche was .iiij. fote and more of cuttynge
And as he was his stroke dyschargynge
At the gyaunte I stroke with all my valyaunce
But he my strokes myght ryght well endure
He was so grete and huge of puysaunce
His glayue he dyde agaynst me aduaunce
Whiche was .iiij. fote and more of cuttynge
And as he was his stroke dyschargynge
Bycause his stroke was heuy to bere
I lepte a syde frome hym full quyckely
And to hym I ranne without ony fere
Whan he had dyscharged agayne full lyghtly
He rored loude and sware I sholde abye
But what for that I stroke at hym fast
And he at me but I was not agast
I lepte a syde frome hym full quyckely
And to hym I ranne without ony fere
Whan he had dyscharged agayne full lyghtly
He rored loude and sware I sholde abye
But what for that I stroke at hym fast
And he at me but I was not agast
But as he faught he had a vauntage
He was ryght hye and I vnder hym lowe
Tyll at the last with lusty courage
Vpon the syde I gaue hym suche a blowe
That I ryght nere dyde hym ouerthrowe
But ryght anone he dyde his myght enlarge
That vpon me he dyde suche strokes dyscharge
He was ryght hye and I vnder hym lowe
Tyll at the last with lusty courage
Vpon the syde I gaue hym suche a blowe
That I ryght nere dyde hym ouerthrowe
But ryght anone he dyde his myght enlarge
That vpon me he dyde suche strokes dyscharge
That I vnneth myght make resystence
Agaynst his power for he was so stronge
I dyde defende me agaynst his vyolence
And thus the batayle dured full ryght longe
Yet euermore I dyde thynke amonge
Of la belle pucell whome I sholde attayne
After my batayles to release my payne
Agaynst his power for he was so stronge
166
And thus the batayle dured full ryght longe
Yet euermore I dyde thynke amonge
Of la belle pucell whome I sholde attayne
After my batayles to release my payne
And as I loked I sawe than auale
Fayre golden Phebus with his beames rede
Than vp my courage I began to hale
Whiche nyghe before was agone and dede
My swerde so entred that the gyaunt blede
And with my strokes I cut of anone
One of his legges amyddes the thye bone
Fayre golden Phebus with his beames rede
Than vp my courage I began to hale
Whiche nyghe before was agone and dede
My swerde so entred that the gyaunt blede
And with my strokes I cut of anone
One of his legges amyddes the thye bone
Than to the grounde he adowne dyde fall
And vpon me he gan to loure and glum
Enforcynge hym so for to ryse with all
But that I shortely vnto hym dyde cum
With his thre hedes he spytte all his venum
And I with my swerde as fast as coude be
With all my force cut of his hedes thre
And vpon me he gan to loure and glum
Enforcynge hym so for to ryse with all
But that I shortely vnto hym dyde cum
With his thre hedes he spytte all his venum
And I with my swerde as fast as coude be
With all my force cut of his hedes thre
Whan I had so obtayned the vyctory
Vnto me than my varlet well sayd
You haue demeaned you well and worthely
My greyhoundes lepte and my stede than brayde
And than frome ferre I sawe well arayde
To me come rydynge thre ladyes ryght swete
Forthe than I rode and dyde with them mete
Vnto me than my varlet well sayd
You haue demeaned you well and worthely
My greyhoundes lepte and my stede than brayde
And than frome ferre I sawe well arayde
To me come rydynge thre ladyes ryght swete
Forthe than I rode and dyde with them mete
The fyrst of them was called veryte
And the seconde good operacyon
The thyrde also clypped fydelyte
All they at ones with good opynyon
Dyde gyue to me grete laudacyon
And me beseched with theyr herte entere
With them to rest and to make good chere
And the seconde good operacyon
The thyrde also clypped fydelyte
167
Dyde gyue to me grete laudacyon
And me beseched with theyr herte entere
With them to rest and to make good chere
I graunted them and than backewarde we rode
The myghty gyaunte to se and beholde
Whose huge body was more than fyue carte lode
Whiche lay there bledynge that was almoost colde
They for his dethe dyde thanke me many a folde
For he to them was enmy mortall
Wherfore his thre hedes they toke in specyall
The myghty gyaunte to se and beholde
Whose huge body was more than fyue carte lode
Whiche lay there bledynge that was almoost colde
They for his dethe dyde thanke me many a folde
For he to them was enmy mortall
Wherfore his thre hedes they toke in specyall
And than veryte on the fyrst fane
Dyde sette a lofte of falshode the hede
And good operacyon in lykewyse had tane
Of ymagynacyon that full sore than bledde
Vpon his hede alofte vpon his baner rede
And in lyke wyse fydelyte had serued
Periuryes hede as he had well deserued
Dyde sette a lofte of falshode the hede
And good operacyon in lykewyse had tane
Of ymagynacyon that full sore than bledde
Vpon his hede alofte vpon his baner rede
And in lyke wyse fydelyte had serued
Periuryes hede as he had well deserued
And with swete songes and swete armony
Before me they rode to theyr fayre castel!
So forthe I rode with grete Ioy and glory
Vnto the place where these ladyes dyde dwell
Sette on rocke besyde a sprynge or a well
And fayre obseruaunce the goodly portres
Dyde vs receyue with solempne gladnes
Before me they rode to theyr fayre castel!
So forthe I rode with grete Ioy and glory
Vnto the place where these ladyes dyde dwell
Sette on rocke besyde a sprynge or a well
And fayre obseruaunce the goodly portres
Dyde vs receyue with solempne gladnes
Than to a chambre that was very bryght
They dyde me lede for to take myn ease
After my trouble and my grete sturdy fyght
But thre woundes I had causynge my dysease
My payne and wo they dyde soone appease
And heled my woundes with salue aromatyke
Tellynge me of a grete gyaunt lunatyke
They dyde me lede for to take myn ease
After my trouble and my grete sturdy fyght
But thre woundes I had causynge my dysease
168
And heled my woundes with salue aromatyke
Tellynge me of a grete gyaunt lunatyke
Whose name truely was called varyaunce
Whome I sholde mete after my departynge
These ladyes vnto me dyde grete pleasaunce
And in meane whyle as we were talkynge
For me my souper was in ordenynge
Thus whan by temperunce it was prepared
And than to it we wente and ryght well fared
Whome I sholde mete after my departynge
These ladyes vnto me dyde grete pleasaunce
And in meane whyle as we were talkynge
For me my souper was in ordenynge
Thus whan by temperunce it was prepared
And than to it we wente and ryght well fared
Tell me quod veryte yf you be content
What is your name so hye aduenturous
And who that you in to this coste hath sent
Madame I sayd I was so amorous
Of la belle pucell so fayre and beauteuous
La graunde amoure truely is my name
Whiche seke aduentures to attayne the fame
What is your name so hye aduenturous
And who that you in to this coste hath sent
Madame I sayd I was so amorous
Of la belle pucell so fayre and beauteuous
La graunde amoure truely is my name
Whiche seke aduentures to attayne the fame
Aha quod she I thought asmoche before
That you were he for your grete hardynes
La belle pucell must loue you euermore
Whiche for her sake in your hye nobles
Dooth suche actes by chyualrous exces
Her gentyll herte may nothynge deny
To rewarde your mede with loue full feruently
That you were he for your grete hardynes
La belle pucell must loue you euermore
Whiche for her sake in your hye nobles
Dooth suche actes by chyualrous exces
Her gentyll herte may nothynge deny
To rewarde your mede with loue full feruently
Thus dyde we passe tyme in all maner of Ioye
I lacketh nothynge that myght make me solace
But euermore as noble Troylus of Troye
Full ofte I thought on my fayre ladyes face
And her to se / a moche lenger space
Whan tyme was come to rest I was brought
All to me longynge there lacked ryght nought
I lacketh nothynge that myght make me solace
But euermore as noble Troylus of Troye
Full ofte I thought on my fayre ladyes face
And her to se / a moche lenger space
169
All to me longynge there lacked ryght nought
What sholde I wade by perambulucyon
My tyme is shorte and I haue ferre to sayle
Vnto the lande of my conclusyon
The wynde is eest ryght slowe without fayle
To blowe my shyppe of dylygent trauayle
To the laste ende of my mater troublous
With wawes enclosed so tempestyous
My tyme is shorte and I haue ferre to sayle
Vnto the lande of my conclusyon
The wynde is eest ryght slowe without fayle
To blowe my shyppe of dylygent trauayle
To the laste ende of my mater troublous
With wawes enclosed so tempestyous
Ryght in the morowe whan Aurora clere
Her radyaunt beames began for to sprede
And splendent Phebus in his golden spere
The crystall ayre dyde make fayre and rede
Derke Dyane declynynge pale as ony lede
Whan the lytell byrdes swetely dyde synge
Laudes to theyr maker erly in the mornynge
Her radyaunt beames began for to sprede
And splendent Phebus in his golden spere
The crystall ayre dyde make fayre and rede
Derke Dyane declynynge pale as ony lede
Whan the lytell byrdes swetely dyde synge
Laudes to theyr maker erly in the mornynge
|
How graunde amoure dyscomfyted the gyaunt
with thre hedes & was receyued of thre fayre ladyes.
Ca. xxxiij.
The Pastime of Pleasure by Stephen Hawes | |