Whyzz dreare alonge, and songes of terror synges, Such songes as alwaies clos'd in lyfe eterne. Hurld by such strength along the ayre theie burne, [bloude; Not to be quenched butte ynn Normaunes Wherere theie came they were of lyfe forlorn, And alwaies followed by a purple floude; Like cloudes the Normanne arrowes did descend, [end. Like cloudes of carnage full in purple drops dyd Nor, Leofwynus, dydst thou still estande; Full soon thie pheon glytted in the aire; The force of none but thyne and Harolds hande Could hurle a javlyn with such lethal geer; Itte whyzzd a ghastlie dynne in Normannes ear, Then thundrynge dyd upon hys greave alyghte, Pierce to his hearte, and dyd hys bowels tear, He closed hys eyne in everlastynge nyghte; Ah! what avayld the lyons on his creste! His hatchments rare with him upon the grounde was prest. Wylliam agayne ymade his bowe-ends meet, And hie in ayre the arrowe wynged his waie, Descendyng like a shafte of thunder fleete, Lyke thunder rattling at the noon of daie, Onne Algars sheelde the arrowe dyd assaie, There throghe dyd peerse, and stycke into his groine; In grypynge torments on the feelde he laie, Tille welcome dethe came in and clos'd hiseyne; Distort with peyne he laie upon the borne, Lyke sturdie elms by stormes in uncothe wrythynges torne. Alrick his brother, when he this perceevd, He drewe his swerde, his lefte hande helde a speere, [steede, Towards the duke he turnd his prauncyng And to the Godde of Heaven he sent a prayre; Then sent his lethal javlyn in the ayre, On Hue de Beaumontes backe the javelyn came, Thro his redde armour to hys harte it tare, He felle and thondred on the place of fame; Next with his swerde he 'sayld the sieur De Roe, And braste his sylver helme so furyous was the blowe. But Willyam, who had seen hys prowesse great, And feared inuche how farre his bronde might 11 gue, Tooke a stronge arblaster, and bigge with fate From twangynge iron sente the fleetynge floe. As Alric hoistes hys arme for dedlie blowe, Which, han it came, had been Du Roees laste, The swyfte-wynged messenger from Willyams bowe Quite throwe his arme into his syde ypaste; His eyne shotte fyre, lyke blazyug starre at nyghte, [fyghte. He grypd his swerde, and felle upon the place of O Alfwolde, saie; howe shalle I synge of thee, Or telle howe manie dyd benethe thee falle; Not Haroldes self more Normanne knyghtes did slee, Not Haroides self did for more praises call; How shall a penne like myne then shew it all? Lyke thee, their leader, eche Brystowyanne foughte; Lyke thee their blaze must be canonical, Fore theie, like thee, that daie bewrecke yroughte: Did thirtie Normannes fail upon the grounde, Full half a score from thee and theie receive their fatale wounde. First Fytz Chivelloys felt thie direful force; Nete did bys heide out brazen sheelde availe; Eitsoones throwe that thie drivynge speare did peerce, Nor was ytte stopped by his coate of mayle; luto his breaste it quicklie did assayle; Out ran the bloude, like hygra of the tyde; With purple stayned all bys adventayle; In scarlet was his cuishe of sylver dyde: Upon the bloudie carnage house he laie, Whylst hys long sheelde dyd gleem with the Sun's rysyng ray. Next Fescampe feile; O Chrieste, how harde his fate To die the leckedst knyghte of all the thronge; As thine came thundrynge on his crysted beave; Nor, Norcie, could thie myghte and skilfulle lore [speere; Preserve thee from the doom of Alfwold's Couldste thou not kenne, inost sky'd Afterla-goure 8, How in the battle it would wythe thee fare? When Alfwolds javelyn, rattlynge in the ayre, From hande dyvine on thie habergeon came, Oute at thy backe it dyd thie hartes bloud bear, It gave thee death and everlastynge fame; Thy deathe could onlie come from Alfwolde [harme. As diamondes onlie can its fellow diamonds arme, Next sire Du Mouline fell upon the grounde, His soule and bloude came roushynge from the 8 The word astrologer used sometimes to be expressed asterlagour; and so it seems to have occurred in this line. Chatterton was so ignorant as to read it Afterlagour; and has absolutely dis jointed the constituent parts, and taken it for a proper name; the name of a Norman of some consequence. He accordingly forgets the real person spoken of, and addresses this After-la-gour as a person of science-"most skyll'd After-la-gour." He thought it was analogous to Delacoure, Delamere, and other compounded French names. So puerile are the mistakes of the person who is supposed to have been the author of these excellent poems.-Bryant. Howe manie Alfwolde sent to Heaven or Helle; As leaves from trees shook by derne Autumns hand, [strand. So laie the Normannes slain by Alfwold on the As when a drove of wolves with dreary yelles Assayle some flocke, ne care if shepster ken't, Besprenge destructione oer the woodes and delles; [ment; The shepter swaynes in vayne theyr lees leSo foughte the Brystowe menne; ne one crevent, Ne onne abashed enthoughten for to filce; With fallen Normans all the playne besprent, And lyke theyr leaders every man did slee; In vayne on every syde the arrowes fled; The Brystowe menne styll ragd, for Alfwold was not dead. Manie meanwhile by Haroldes arm did falle, And Leofwyne and Gyrthe encreasd the slayne; 'Twould take a Nestor's age to synge them all, Or telle how manie Normannes preste the playne; But of the erles, whom record nete hath slayne, lyve agayne, And be in deathe, as they in life were, greate; Adhelm, a knyghte, whose holie deathless sire His son the saincte behelde with looke adigne, His friends he lets to lyve, and all his foemen He married was to Kenewalchae faire, White as the chaulkie clyffes of Brittaines isle, Her breste more white than snow in feeldes that Or lillie lambes that never have been shorne, Swellynge like bubbles in a boillynge welle, Or new-braste brooklettes gently whyspringe in the delle. Browne as the fylberte droppyng from the shelle' Browne as the nappy ale at Hocktyde game, Majestic as the grove of okes that stood None fell in vayne; all shewed some entent; Her wordies did displaie her great entendement. Tapre as candles layde at Cuthberts shryne, 'Tapre as elmes that Goodrickes abbie shrove; Tapre as silver chalices for wine, So tapre was her armes and shape ygrove. As skyllful my nemenne by the stones above Can ken what metalle is ylach'd belowe, So Kennewalcha's face ymade, for love, The lovelie ymage of her soule did shewe; Thus was she outward form'd; the Sun her mind Did guilde, her mortal shape and all her charms refin'd. Lyke a tall oke by tempeste borne awaie, Stretchd in the armes of dethe upon the plaine he laie. Next thro the ayre he sent his javlyn feerce, Rang on his coate of mayle and spente its Like a tall pyne upon his native playne, Hue de Longeville, a force doughtre, mere, Had founde an easie passage to his hearte. So it came down upon Troyvillains horse; [floe; Deep thro hys hatchments wente the pointed Now here, now there, with rage bleedyng he rounde doth goe. Nor does he hede his mastres known commands, Tyll, growen furiouse by his bloudie wounde, Erect upon his hynder feete be staundes, And throwes hys mastre far off to the grounde. Near Adhelms feete the Normanne laie astounde, Besprengd his arrowes, loosend was his sheelde, Thro his redde armoure, as he laie ensoond, He peered his swerde, and out upon the feelde The Normannes bowels steeind, a deadlie syghte! He opd and closd his eyen in everlastynge nyghte. Caverd, a Scot, who for the Normannes foughte, Á mann well skilld in swerde and soundynge strynge, Who fled his country for a crime enstrote, For darynge with bolde worde hys loiaule kynge, He at erle Aldhelme with grete force did flynge An heavie javlyn, made for bloudie wounde, Alonge his sheelde askaunte the same did ringe, Peered throthe corner, then stuck in the grounde; So when the thonder rauttles in the skie, [flie. Thro some tall spyre the shaftes in a torn clevis Then Addhelm hurld a croched javlyn stronge, With mighte that none but such grete champi ones know; Swifter than thoughte the javlyn past alonge, Where fruytless heathes and meadowes cladde Tis to far distaunte, and his onlie bedde Iwimpled in hys cloke ys on the playne, Whylste rattlynge thonder forrey oer his hedde, And raines come down to wette bys harde uncouthlie bedde. A wondrous pyle of rugged mountaynes standes, To the false god whom they did Tauran name, 'Twas here that Hengyst did the Brytons slee, As they were mette in council for to bee. Neere on a loftie hylle a citie standes, Herewarde, borne of parentes brave and wyse, So when derne Autumne wyth hys sallowe hande Tares the green mantle from the lymed trees, The leaves besprenged on the yellow strande Flie in whole armies from the blataunte breeze; Alle the whole fielde a carnage-howse he sees, And sowles unknelled hover'd oer the bloude; From place to place on either hand he slees, And sweepes alle neere hym lyke a bronded floude; Dethe honge upon his arme; he sleed so maynt, "Tis paste the pointel of a man to paynte. Bryghte Sonne in haste han drove bys fierie wayne A three howres course alonge the whited skyen, Vewynge the swarthless bodies on the playne, And longed greetlie to plonce in the bryne. For as hys beemes and far-stretchynge eyne Did view the pooles of gore yn purple sheene, The wolsomme vapours rounde hys lockes did And dyd disfygure all hys semmlikeen; [twyne, Then to harde actyon he hys wayne dyd rowse, In hyssynge ocean to make glair hys browes. Duke Wyllyam gave commaunde, eche Norman knyghte, That beer war-token in a shielde so fyne, Should onward goe, and dare to closer fyghte The Saxonne warryor, that dyd so entwine, Lyke the neshe bryon and the eglantine, Orre Cornysh wrastlers at a Hocktyde game. The Normannes, all emarchialld in a lyne, To the ourt arraie of the thight Saxonnes came; There 'twas the whaped Normannes on a parre Dyd know that Saxonnes were the sonnes of warre. Oh Turgotte, wheresoeer thie spryte dothe haunte, Whither wyth thie lovd Adhelme by thie syde, Where tou mayste heare the swotie nyghte larke chaunte, [glide, Orre wyth some mokynge brooklette sweteli Or rowle in ferselie wythe ferse Severnes tyde, Whereer thou art, come and my mynde enleeme Wyth such greete thoughtes as dyd with thee abyde, Thou sonne, of whom I oft have caught a beeme, Send mee agayne a drybblette of thie lyghte, That I the deeds of Englyshmenne maie wryte. Harold, who saw the Normannes to advaunce, Seizda huge byll, and layd hym down hys spere; Soe dyd ech wite laie downe the broched launce, And groves of bylles did glitter in the ayre. Wyth showtes the Normannes did to battel steere; Campynon famous for his stature highe, Fyrey wythe brasse, benethe a shyrte of lere, In cloudie daie he reechd into the skie; Neere to kyng Harolde dyd he come alonge, And drewe hys steele Morglaien sworde so stronge. Thryce rounde hys heade hee swung hys anlace wyde, On whyche the Sunne his visage did agleeme, Hee stroke on Haroldes sheelde in manner breme; Then yn the bloude the fierie swerde dyd steeme, Harolde upreer'd bys bylle, and furious sente goe, Threwe downe the Normannes, did their rankes Harolde, who ken'd hee was his armies staie, Ten Kenters, ten Bristowans for th' emprize Dyd blush to see their champyon put to flyghte. As painctyd Bruton, when a wolfyn wylde, When yt is cale and blustrynge wyndes do blowe, Enters hys bordelle, taketh hys yonge chylde, And wyth his bloude bestreynts the lillie snowe, He thoroughe mountayne hie and dale doth goe, Throwe the quyck torrent of the bolien ave, Throwe Severne rollynge oer the sandes belowe He skyms alofe, and blents the beatynge wave, Ne stynts, ne lægges the chace, tylle rhys eyne In peecies hee the morthering theef doth chyne. So Alfwoulde he dyd to Campynon haste; Hys bloudie bylle awhap'd the Normannes eyne; Hee fled, as wolfes when bie the talbots chac'd, To bloudie byker he dyd ne enclyne. Duke Wyllyam stroke hym on hys brigandyne, And said; Campynon, is it thee I see? Thee? who dydst actes of glorie so bewryen, Now poorlie come to hyde thiese!fe bie mee? Awaie! thou dogge, and acte a warriors parte, Or with mie swerde l'll perce thee to the harte. Betweene erle Alfwoulde and duke Wyllyam's bronde [bee, Campynon thoughte that nete but deathe coulde Seezed a huge swerde Morglaien yn his honde, Mottrynge a praier to the Vyrgyne: So hunted deere the dryvynge houndes will slee, Alfwoulde began to dyghte hymselfe for fyghte, Campynon's swerde in burlie-brande dyd dree; Hys Brystowe menne came in hym for to save; Eftscons upgotten from the grounde was hee, And dyd agayne the touring Norman brave; Hee graspd bys bylle in syke a drear arraïe, Hee seem'd a lyon catchynge at hys preie. Upon the Normannes brazen adventayle Eftsoons agayne the thondrynge bill ycame,. He felle, and dyd the Norman rankes dyvyde; * Bled, gron'd and dyed: the Normanne knyghtes astound To see the bawsin champyon preste upon the grounde. As when the hygra of the Severne roars, 9 As when the mountain oak, or poplar tall, Or pine, fit mast for some great admiral, Groans to the oft-heaved axe with many a wound, Then spreads a length of ruin on the ground. Pope's Homer. The cleembe reboundes to Wedeceters shore, And sweeps the black sande rounde its horie prowe; So bremie Alfwoulde thro the warre dyd goe; Hys Kenters and Brystowans slew ech syde, Betreinted all alonge with bloudless foe, And seemd to swymm alonge with bloudie tyde; Fromme place to place besmeard with bloud [sprente. they went, And rounde aboute them swarthless corse beA famous Normanne who yclepd Aubene, Of skyll in bow, in tylte, and handesworde fyghte, That daie yn feelde han manie Saxons sleene, But now to Alfwoulde he opposynge went, sente At Alfwouldes head, as hard as hee could dree; But on hys payncted sheelde so bismarlie Aslaunte his swerde did go ynto the grounde; Then Alfwould hym attack'd most furyouslie, Athrowe hys gaberdyne hee dyd him wounde, Then soone agayne bys swerde hee dyd upryne, And clove his creste and split hym to the eyne. 1 Those words, whose significations were given by Chatterton, have the letter C affixed to them. Adygne, nervous; worthy of praise. C. Affere, to affright or terrify. Affraie, to fight, or engage in a fray. C. C. Alleine, as feme; to drive away, to affright. C. Aledge, idly. Alestake, a may-pole. All a boon, a manner of asking a favour. C. Amenged, as menged, mixed. Amenused, diminished. C. Ametten, met with. Amield, ornamented, enamelled. C. Aminge, among. Aneighe, near. Aneste, against. Anente, against. C. Anie, as nie, nigh. Anlace, an ancient sword. C. Annethe, beneath. C. Antecedent, going before. Applynges, grafted trees. C. apple trees. Arace, divest. C. Arblaster, a cross-bow. Arcublaster, a cross-bow. Arcublastries, cross-bowmen. Ardurous, burning. Aredynge, thinking. reading. qu. Argenthorse, the arms of Kent. C. C. Armlace, accoutrement, for the arms. |