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. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXV. |
How he vaynquysshed a gyaunt / with seuen heedes
and was receyued of .vii. ladyes. ca. xxxv.
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| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
| XLII. |
| XLIIII. |
| XLV. |
| XLVI. |
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How he vaynquysshed a gyaunt / with seuen heedes
and was receyued of .vii. ladyes. ca. xxxv.
The Pastime of Pleasure by Stephen Hawes |  |
XXXV. How he vaynquysshed a gyaunt / with seuen heedes and was receyued of .vii. ladyes. ca. xxxv.
Whan mornynge cam vp anone I rose
And armed me as fast as I myght
Forthe for to trauayle vnto my purpose
I toke my leue and on my stede I lyght
Thankyng dame cōforte of her yt nyght
Se with perseueraunce in my company
Forthe on the waye we rode full merely
And armed me as fast as I myght
Forthe for to trauayle vnto my purpose
I toke my leue and on my stede I lyght
Thankyng dame cōforte of her yt nyght
Se with perseueraunce in my company
Forthe on the waye we rode full merely
Ouer the hethe tyll we sawe frome ferre
A ryall castell ryhgt strongly fortefyed
Bulwerke aboute accustomed for warre
On a craggy roche it was so edyfyed
Walled with gete so clerely puryfyed
To whiche we rode and drewe nere and nere
Tyll in our syght dyde openly apere
A ryall castell ryhgt strongly fortefyed
Bulwerke aboute accustomed for warre
178
Walled with gete so clerely puryfyed
To whiche we rode and drewe nere and nere
Tyll in our syght dyde openly apere
A myghty gyaunt .xv. fote of length
With hedes seuen and armed full sure
He semed well to be a man of strength
Than quod perceraunce ye must put in vre
This daye your power in honoure to endure
Agaynst this gyaunt your mortall enemy
Be of good chere you shall haue vyctory
With hedes seuen and armed full sure
He semed well to be a man of strength
Than quod perceraunce ye must put in vre
This daye your power in honoure to endure
Agaynst this gyaunt your mortall enemy
Be of good chere you shall haue vyctory
Besyde this gyaunt vpon euery tre
I dyde se hange many a goodly shelde
Of noble knyghtes that were of hye degre
Whiche he had slayne and murdred in the felde
Frome ferre this gyaunt I ryght well behelde
And towarde hym as I rode my way
On his fyrst hede I sawe a baner gay
I dyde se hange many a goodly shelde
Of noble knyghtes that were of hye degre
Whiche he had slayne and murdred in the felde
Frome ferre this gyaunt I ryght well behelde
And towarde hym as I rode my way
On his fyrst hede I sawe a baner gay
Wherin was wryten dyssymulacyon
Whose nature false is full of flatery
That vnder a fayned commendacyon
Can cloke a mocke and fraude full subtylly
So dooth he loue deceyue ofte pryuely
For the blynde loue dooth perceyue ryght nought
That vnder hony the poyson is wrought
Whose nature false is full of flatery
That vnder a fayned commendacyon
Can cloke a mocke and fraude full subtylly
So dooth he loue deceyue ofte pryuely
For the blynde loue dooth perceyue ryght nought
That vnder hony the poyson is wrought
And the seconde hede was a baner blewe
In whiche was wryten in letters ryght whyte
Delay my name is that can longe eschewe
A true louer with my fatall respyte
That loue for loue shall not hym acquyte
For euermore I lye ofte in awayte
Loue to delay and caste hym frome consayte
In whiche was wryten in letters ryght whyte
Delay my name is that can longe eschewe
A true louer with my fatall respyte
179
For euermore I lye ofte in awayte
Loue to delay and caste hym frome consayte
On the thyrde heed in a baner square
All of reed was wryten dyscomforte
Causynge a louer for to drowne in care
That he of loue shall haue no reporte
But lokes hye his herte to transporte
And I my selfe shall hym so assayle
That he in loue shall nothynge preuayle
All of reed was wryten dyscomforte
Causynge a louer for to drowne in care
That he of loue shall haue no reporte
But lokes hye his herte to transporte
And I my selfe shall hym so assayle
That he in loue shall nothynge preuayle
On the fourthe heed on the helmet creste
There was a stremer ryght whyte large and longe
Where on was wryten with byse of the beste
My name is varyaunce that euer amonge
The mynde of loue dooth chaunge with grete wronge
That a true louer can not be certayne
Loue for his mede ryght stedfast to retayne
There was a stremer ryght whyte large and longe
Where on was wryten with byse of the beste
My name is varyaunce that euer amonge
The mynde of loue dooth chaunge with grete wronge
That a true louer can not be certayne
Loue for his mede ryght stedfast to retayne
And yet a lofte on the fyfte helmet
In a blacke baner was wryten enuy
Whose herte euer inwardly is fret
Whan graunde amoure sholde attayne his lady
He museth ofte in hym selfe inwardly
To let the lady for to sette her herte
On graund amoure for to release his smerte
In a blacke baner was wryten enuy
Whose herte euer inwardly is fret
Whan graunde amoure sholde attayne his lady
He museth ofte in hym selfe inwardly
To let the lady for to sette her herte
On graund amoure for to release his smerte
In a russet baner on the .vj. hede
There was wryten this worde detraccyon
That can open in a couerte stede
His subtyll male replete with treason
To cause a lady to haue suspeccyon
Vnto her true louer with his bytter tale
That she her loue frome hym than dyde hale
There was wryten this worde detraccyon
That can open in a couerte stede
His subtyll male replete with treason
To cause a lady to haue suspeccyon
180
That she her loue frome hym than dyde hale
On the .vij. hede in a baner of ryches
Was wryten with letters all of grewe
My name truely is called doublenes
Whiche I do owe vnto all ladyes trewe
At a tyme vnware my dette shall be dewe
To graunde amoure for to make hym repente
That he his loue on la belle pucell spente
Was wryten with letters all of grewe
My name truely is called doublenes
Whiche I do owe vnto all ladyes trewe
At a tyme vnware my dette shall be dewe
To graunde amoure for to make hym repente
That he his loue on la belle pucell spente
Whan in my mynde I had well agregate
Euery thynge that I in hym had sene
Bothe of his heed and of his hye estate
I called for helpe vnto the heuen quene
The day was fayre the sonne was bryghte and shene
Besyde a ryuer and a craggy roche
This gyaunt was whiche spyed me approche
Euery thynge that I in hym had sene
Bothe of his heed and of his hye estate
I called for helpe vnto the heuen quene
The day was fayre the sonne was bryghte and shene
Besyde a ryuer and a craggy roche
This gyaunt was whiche spyed me approche
He hurtled aboute and kest his shelde afore
And toke his axe of myghty fortytude
That was of length .xx. fote and more
Whiche he had vsed by longe consuetude
To daunce true louers and theyr power exclude
I toke my spere and dyde it well charge
And with hardynes I made my force enlarge
And toke his axe of myghty fortytude
That was of length .xx. fote and more
Whiche he had vsed by longe consuetude
To daunce true louers and theyr power exclude
I toke my spere and dyde it well charge
And with hardynes I made my force enlarge
I toke my course and to the gyaunte ranne
On his seconde hede brekynge than a sonder
My myghty spere that he to rore beganne
With so bace a crye that I had grete wonder
His seuen hedes so rored lyke the thonder
Ryght frome my stede I lyght to the grounde
And drewe clara prudence that was hole and founde
On his seconde hede brekynge than a sonder
My myghty spere that he to rore beganne
With so bace a crye that I had grete wonder
His seuen hedes so rored lyke the thonder
Ryght frome my stede I lyght to the grounde
181
The myghty gyaunte his axe dyde vplyfte
Vpon my hede that the stroke sholde fall
But I of hym was full ware and swyfte
I lepte a syde so that the stroke withall
In the grounde lyghted besyde a stone wall
Thre fote and more / and anone than I
Dyde lepe vnto hym strykynge full quyckly
Vpon my hede that the stroke sholde fall
But I of hym was full ware and swyfte
I lepte a syde so that the stroke withall
In the grounde lyghted besyde a stone wall
Thre fote and more / and anone than I
Dyde lepe vnto hym strykynge full quyckly
But aboue me he had suche altytude
That I at hym coude haue no full stroke
He stroke at me with many strokes rude
And called me boye and gaue me many a mocke
At the last he sayd I shall gyue the a knocke
That with thy braynes I shall the trees depaynte
Abyde quod I thou shalte be fyrst full faynte
That I at hym coude haue no full stroke
He stroke at me with many strokes rude
And called me boye and gaue me many a mocke
At the last he sayd I shall gyue the a knocke
That with thy braynes I shall the trees depaynte
Abyde quod I thou shalte be fyrst full faynte
And ryght anone I by me espyed
On the rockes syde .xij. steppes full sure
And than ryght fast I vpon theym hyed
That we were bothe aboute one stature
My strength I doubled and put so in vre
The grete strokes that I cut of anone
Syxe of his hedes leuynge hym but one
On the rockes syde .xij. steppes full sure
And than ryght fast I vpon theym hyed
That we were bothe aboute one stature
My strength I doubled and put so in vre
The grete strokes that I cut of anone
Syxe of his hedes leuynge hym but one
Whan he felte hymselfe hurte so greuously
He stretched hym vp and lyfte his axe a lofte
Strykynge at me with strokes wonderly
But I full swyftely dyde gyue backe full ofte
For to deuoyde his grete strokes vnsofte
Whan he sawe this he thought hym forlore
With a hydeous voyce he began to tore
He stretched hym vp and lyfte his axe a lofte
Strykynge at me with strokes wonderly
But I full swyftely dyde gyue backe full ofte
For to deuoyde his grete strokes vnsofte
Whan he sawe this he thought hym forlore
With a hydeous voyce he began to tore
182
The batayle dured bytwene vs ryght longe
Tyll I sawe Phebus declynynge full lowe
I auaunced my swerde that was sure and stronge
And with my myghte I gaue hym suche a blowe
On his seuen hedes that he dyde ouerthrowe
Whan he was downe he gan to crye and yell
Full lyke a serpente or a fende of hell
Tyll I sawe Phebus declynynge full lowe
I auaunced my swerde that was sure and stronge
And with my myghte I gaue hym suche a blowe
On his seuen hedes that he dyde ouerthrowe
Whan he was downe he gan to crye and yell
Full lyke a serpente or a fende of hell
Whan I sawe this as fast as myghte be
Adowne I came and dyde then vnlace
His seuenth helmet ryght ryche for to se
And hym beheded in a ryght shorte space
And than full soone there came to the place
Perseueraunce and my varlet also
Alas they sayde we were for you ryght wo
Adowne I came and dyde then vnlace
His seuenth helmet ryght ryche for to se
And hym beheded in a ryght shorte space
And than full soone there came to the place
Perseueraunce and my varlet also
Alas they sayde we were for you ryght wo
But we were glad whan ye had forsaken
The lowe vale and vp the craggy fayre
For your aduauntage the hye waye had taken
Thus as we talked we dyde se ladyes fayre
Seuen in nombre that were debonaryre
Vpon whyte palfreys eche of them dyde ryde
To vs ryght gentylly frome the castell syde
The lowe vale and vp the craggy fayre
For your aduauntage the hye waye had taken
Thus as we talked we dyde se ladyes fayre
Seuen in nombre that were debonaryre
Vpon whyte palfreys eche of them dyde ryde
To vs ryght gentylly frome the castell syde
The fyrst of them was named Stedfastnes
And the seconde amerous purueyaunce
The thyrde was Ioye after grete heuynes
The .iiij. of them was dame contynuaunce
And the .v. of them called dame pleasaunce
The .vj. was called reporte famous
The seuenthe amyte to louers dolourous
And the seconde amerous purueyaunce
The thyrde was Ioye after grete heuynes
The .iiij. of them was dame contynuaunce
And the .v. of them called dame pleasaunce
The .vj. was called reporte famous
The seuenthe amyte to louers dolourous
And ryght anone with all humylyte
They lyghte adowne and than incontynente
Eche after other they came vnto me
I kyssed them with all my hole entente
Hayle knyght they sayde so clere and excellente
Whiche of this gyaunte our hydeous enemy
So worthely hath wonne the vyctory
183
Eche after other they came vnto me
I kyssed them with all my hole entente
Hayle knyght they sayde so clere and excellente
Whiche of this gyaunte our hydeous enemy
So worthely hath wonne the vyctory
Ladyes he sayd I am moche vnworthy
So to accepte your grete prayse and fame
They prayed me to kepe them company
I wyll quod I or elles I were to blame
They prayed me to shewe them my name
La graunde amoure it is I sayde in dede
And than sayde they no wonder though ye spede
So to accepte your grete prayse and fame
They prayed me to kepe them company
I wyll quod I or elles I were to blame
They prayed me to shewe them my name
La graunde amoure it is I sayde in dede
And than sayde they no wonder though ye spede
No doubte it is but ye shall obtayne
La belle pucell so ryght fayre and clere
We were with her exyled by dysdayne
And thenne besyeged in this castell here
With this grete gyaunte more than a hole yere
And you this nyght and it do you please
In this poore castell shall take your ease
La belle pucell so ryght fayre and clere
We were with her exyled by dysdayne
And thenne besyeged in this castell here
With this grete gyaunte more than a hole yere
And you this nyght and it do you please
In this poore castell shall take your ease
I thanked them and so I rode anone
In to the castell of olde foundacyon
Walled aboute with the blacke touche stone
I toke there than my recreacyon
Amonge these ladyes with commendacyon
And whan tyme came that they thought best
To a ryall bedde I was broughte to rest
In to the castell of olde foundacyon
Walled aboute with the blacke touche stone
I toke there than my recreacyon
Amonge these ladyes with commendacyon
And whan tyme came that they thought best
To a ryall bedde I was broughte to rest
After my wery and troublous trauayle
I toke myn ease tyll that it was day
Than vp I rose withoute ony fayle
And made me redy for to ryde my waye
But than anone into the chaumbre gaye
The seuen ladyes came with perseueraunce
Sayenge they wolde gyue me attendaunce
I toke myn ease tyll that it was day
184
And made me redy for to ryde my waye
But than anone into the chaumbre gaye
The seuen ladyes came with perseueraunce
Sayenge they wolde gyue me attendaunce
And brynge me to la belle pucell
Where that she is in her courte ryall
And lykewyse as Phebus doth hye excell
In bryghtnes truely the fayre sterres all
So in beaute and vertue specyall
She dothe excede ony erthely creature
That is nowe made by fayre dame Nature
Where that she is in her courte ryall
And lykewyse as Phebus doth hye excell
In bryghtnes truely the fayre sterres all
So in beaute and vertue specyall
She dothe excede ony erthely creature
That is nowe made by fayre dame Nature
We brake our fast and we made vs redy
To la belle pucelle on our waye to ryde
My stede was brought I lepte vp shorthly
So dyde the ladyes they wolde nothynge abyde
Thus forthe we rode at the morowe tyde
Oute of the castell with all Ioye and pleasure
Forthe on our way at all aduenture.
To la belle pucelle on our waye to ryde
My stede was brought I lepte vp shorthly
So dyde the ladyes they wolde nothynge abyde
Thus forthe we rode at the morowe tyde
Oute of the castell with all Ioye and pleasure
Forthe on our way at all aduenture.
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How he vaynquysshed a gyaunt / with seuen heedes
and was receyued of .vii. ladyes. ca. xxxv.
The Pastime of Pleasure by Stephen Hawes | |