Reliques of Ancient English Poetry:: Consisting of Old Heroic Ballads, Songs ...

II.

ON THE DEATH OF K. EDWARD THE FIRST.

We have here an early attempt at Elegy. early attempt at Elegy. EDWARD I, died July 7, 1307, in the 35th year of his reign, and 69th of his age. This poem appears to have been compofed foon after his death. According to the modes of thinking peculiar to thofe times, the writer dwells more upon his devotion, than his skill in government, and pays less attention to the martial and political abilities of this great manarch, in which he had no equal, than to fome little weakneffes of fuperftition, which he had in common with all his cotemporaries. The king had in the decline of life vowed an expedition to the holy land, but finding his end approach, he dedicated the fum of 32,000l. to the maintenance of a large body of knights (140 fay hiftorians, 80 fays our poet,) who were to carry his heart with them into Palestine. This dying command of the king was never performed. Our poet, with the boneft prejudices of an Englishman, attributes this failure to the advice of the king of France, whofe daughter Isabel cur young monarch immediately married. But the truth is, Edward and his deftructive favourite Piers Gavefton Spent the money upon their pleafures.To do the greater honour to the memory of his heroe, our poet puts his eloge in the mouth of the POPE; with the fame poetic licence, as a more modern bard would have introduced Britannia, or the Genius of Europe pouring forth his praises.

This antique Elegy is extracted from the fame MS ~0lume, as the preceding article; is found with the fame peculiarities of writing and orthography; and tho' written at near the distance of half a century contains little or no

variation of idiom: whereas the next following poem by Chaucer, which was probably written not more than 50 or 60 years after this, exhibits almost a new language. This feems to countenance the opinion of Some antiquaries that this great poet made confiderable innovations in his mother tongue, and introduced many terms, and new modes of Speech from other languages.

ALLE, that both of huerte trewe,

A ftounde herkneth to my fong

Of duel, that Deth hath diht us newe,

That maketh me fyke, ant forewe among;

Of a knyht, that wes so strong,

Of wham God hath don ys wille;
Me-thuncheth that deth hath don us wrong,
That he fo fone shall ligge ftille.

Al Englond ahte for te knowe

Of wham that fong is, that y fynge;
Of Edward kyng, that lith fo lowe,
Zent al this world is nome con springe:
Treweft mon of alle thinge,

Ant in werre war ant wys,

For him we ahte oure honden wrynge,

Of Criftendome he ber the prys.

Byfore that oure kyng wes ded,
He spek afe mon that wes in care,
"Clerkes, knyhtes, barons, he fayde,
"Y charge ou by oure fware,

B 4

"That

"That ye to Engelonde be trewe.

Y deze, y ne may lyven na more;
"Helpeth mi fone, ant crouneth him newe,
"For he is neft to buen y-core.

Ich biqueth myn herte aryht,
"That hit be write at mi devys,
Over the fee that Hue* be diht,
"With fourscore knyhtes al of
"In werre that buen war ant wys,

prys,

Azein the hethene for te fyhte,
To wynne the croiz that lowe lys,
"Myfelf ycholde zef that y myhte."
ty

Kyng of Fraunce, thou hevedeft finne,'
That thou the counfail woldest fonde,

To latte the wille of Edward kyng?

To wende to the holy londe :

That oure kyng hede take on honde

All Engelond to zeme ant wyffe,

This is probably the name of fome perfon, who was to prefide omer ebis business. Ver. 33. funne. MS. Vr. 35. kyng Edward. MS. Ver. 43. ys is probably a contraction of in hys or yn his.

The Pope him felf the lettre redde,

Ant spec a word of gret honour. "Alas! he feid, is Edward ded? “Of Cristendome he ber the flour.”