 | The Castell of Perseverance |  |
SCENE VI
DETRACCIO.
All þyngys I crye agayn þe pes
To knyt and knaue, þis is my kende.
Ȝa, dyngne dukys on her des
In byttyr balys I hem bynde.
Cryinge and care, chydynge and ches
And sad sorwe to hem I sende,
Ȝa, lowde lesyngys lacchyd in les,
Of talys vntrewe is al my mende.
Mannys bane abowtyn I bere.
I wyl þat ȝe wetyn, all þo þat ben here,
For I am knowyn fer and nere,
I am þe Werldys messengere,
My name is Bacbytere.
To knyt and knaue, þis is my kende.
Ȝa, dyngne dukys on her des
In byttyr balys I hem bynde.
Cryinge and care, chydynge and ches
And sad sorwe to hem I sende,
Ȝa, lowde lesyngys lacchyd in les,
Of talys vntrewe is al my mende.
Mannys bane abowtyn I bere.
I wyl þat ȝe wetyn, all þo þat ben here,
For I am knowyn fer and nere,
I am þe Werldys messengere,
My name is Bacbytere.
Wyth euery wyth I walke and wende
And euery man now louyth me wele.
Wyth lowde lesyngys vndyr lende
To dethys dynt I dresse and dele.
To speke fayre beforn and fowle behynde
Amongys men at mete and mele
Trewly, lordys, þis is my kynde.
Þus I renne upon a whele,
I am feller þanne a fox.
Fleterynge and flaterynge is my lessun,
Wyth lesyngys I tene boþe tour and town,
Wyth letterys of defamacyoun
I bere here in my box.
And euery man now louyth me wele.
Wyth lowde lesyngys vndyr lende
To dethys dynt I dresse and dele.
23
Amongys men at mete and mele
Trewly, lordys, þis is my kynde.
Þus I renne upon a whele,
I am feller þanne a fox.
Fleterynge and flaterynge is my lessun,
Wyth lesyngys I tene boþe tour and town,
Wyth letterys of defamacyoun
I bere here in my box.
I am lyth of lopys þorwe euery londe,
Myn holy happys may not ben hyd.
To may not togedyr stonde
But I, Bakbyter, be þe thyrde.
I schape ȝone boyis to schame and schonde,
All þat wyl bowyn whanne I hem bydde.
To lawe of londe in feyth I fonde.
Whanne talys vntrewe arn betydde
Bakbytere is wyde spronge.
Þorwe þe werld, be downe and dalys,
All abowtyn I brewe balys.
Euery man tellyth talys
Aftyr my fals tunge.
Myn holy happys may not ben hyd.
To may not togedyr stonde
But I, Bakbyter, be þe thyrde.
I schape ȝone boyis to schame and schonde,
All þat wyl bowyn whanne I hem bydde.
To lawe of londe in feyth I fonde.
Whanne talys vntrewe arn betydde
Bakbytere is wyde spronge.
Þorwe þe werld, be downe and dalys,
All abowtyn I brewe balys.
Euery man tellyth talys
Aftyr my fals tunge.
Þerfore I am mad massenger
To lepyn ouyr londys leye
Þorwe all þe world, fer and ner,
Vnsayd sawys for to seye.
In þis holte I hunte here
For to spye a preuy pley,
For whanne Mankynde is cloþyd clere,
Þanne schal I techyn hym þe wey
To þe dedly synnys seuene.
Here I schal abydyn wyth my pese
Þe wronge to do hym for to chese,
For I þynke þat he schal lese
Þe lyth of hey heuene.
To lepyn ouyr londys leye
Þorwe all þe world, fer and ner,
Vnsayd sawys for to seye.
In þis holte I hunte here
For to spye a preuy pley,
For whanne Mankynde is cloþyd clere,
Þanne schal I techyn hym þe wey
To þe dedly synnys seuene.
Here I schal abydyn wyth my pese
Þe wronge to do hym for to chese,
For I þynke þat he schal lese
Þe lyth of hey heuene.
| The Castell of Perseverance | |