ÆLLA, A TRAGYCAL ENTERLUDE, OR DISCOORSEYNGE TRAGEDIE, Wrotenn by Thomas Rowlete; platedd before Mastre Canynge, atte hys house nempte the Rodde Lodge alsoe before the Duke of Nor folck, Johan Howard. This poem, with the Epistle, Letter, and Entroductionne, is printed from a folio MS. furnished by Mr. Catcott, in the beginning of which he has written, "Chatterton's transcript, 1769." The whole transcript is of Chatterton's hand-writing. EPISTLE TO MASTRE CANYNGE ON ÆLLA. 'Trs songe bie mynstrelles, thatte yn auntyent tym, Whan Reasonn hylt herselfe in cloudes of nyghte, The preest delyvered alle the lege yn rhym; Lyche peyneted tyltynge speares to please the syght, [dere, The whyche yn yttes felle use doe make moke Syke dyd theire auncyante lee deftlie delyghte the care. Perchaunce yn vyrtues gare rhym mote bec Butte efte nowe flyeth to the odher syde; [thenne, In hallie preeste apperes the ribaudes penne, Inne lithie moncke apperes the barronnes pryde: But rhym wythe somme, as nedere widhout teethe, Make pleasaunce to the sense, botte maie do lyttel seathe. Syr John, a knyghte, who hath a barne of lore, Kenns Latyn att fyrst syghte from Frenche or Greke, Pyghtethe hys knowlachynge ten yeres or more, To rynge upon the Latynne worde to speke. Whoever speke the Englysch ys despysed, The Englysch hym to please moste fyrste be latynized. Vevyan, a moncke, a good requiem synges; Albeytte these gode guyfts awaie he flynges, Hee synges of seynctes who dyed for yer Godde, blodde. To maydens, huswyfes, and unlored dames, Yette Vevyan ye ne foole, behynde hys lynes. ware; [twynes, Wordes wythoute sense full groffyngelye he Cotteynge hys storie off as wythe a sheere; Unauthorized. There is, however, the adjective adraming, churlish. Waytes monthes on nothynge, and his storie donne, [begonne. Ne moe you from ytte kenn, than gyf you neere Enowe of odbers; of mieselfe to write, Requyrynge whatt I doe notte nowe possess, untrue. Playes made from hallie tales I holde unmeete Lette somme greate storie of a manne be songe; Whanne, as a manne, we Godde and Jesus treate, In mie pore mynde, we doe the Godhedde wronge Botte lette ne wordes, whyche droorie" mote ne heare, Bee placed yn the same. Adieu untylle anere. • Perhaps waystes. THOMAS ROWLEIE. + Droorie. Strange perversion of words! droorie, in its ancient signification, stood for modesty. • This is an error of Chatterton. Schyr Jhone Webetown thar was slayne; And quhen he dede wis, as ye her, Thai faod intill hys coffer A lettyr that hym send a lady That said quhen he had yemyta yer The Bruce. 1. 8. 488. Mr. Pinkerton adds per drouery is not in a way of marriage: the term is old French. LETTER. TO THE DYGNE MASTRE CANYNGE. STRAUNGE dome ytte ys, that, yn these daies of Heie pycke up wolsome weedes, ynstedde of flowers, And famylies, ynstedde of wytte, theie trace; Nowe poesie canne meete wythe ne regrate, Whylste prose, and herehaughtrie, ryse yn estate. Lette kynges, and rulers, whan heie gayne a throne, Shew whatt theyre grandsieres, and great grandsieres bore, Emarschalled armes, yatte, ne before theyre owne, A man ascaunse uponn a piece maye looke, Thorow hem al nete lyche ytte I coulde rede. • Probably nede. ↑ Sidrophel in Hudibras. Who having three times shook his head, To stir his wit up, thus he said. Pardon, yee graiebarbes, gyff I saie, onwise Canynge and I from common course dyssente; pente, sprente, [clene; We take ytte, and from oulde rouste doe ytte Wee wylle ne cheynedd to one pasture bee, Botte sometymes soare 'bove trouthe of hystorie. Saie, Canynge, whatt was vearse yn daies of yore ? The thynge ytte moste bee yttes owne defense; • This word is loosely made from the Saxon verb alysan, to loosen, to set free. |