lla, a Tragical Interlude

Chatterton, Thomas (1752 - 1770)

Original Text:
Thomas Chatterton], Poems, supposed to have been written at Bristol, by Thomas R
owley ... , ed. Thomas Tyrwhitt (London: T. Payne, 1777). B-10 8184 Fisher Rare
Book Library (Toronto).
FYRSTE MYNSTRELLE
...
160 The boddynge flourettes bloshes atte the lyghte;
161 The mees be sprenged wyth the yellowe hue;
162 Ynn daiseyd mantels ys the mountayne dyghte;
163 The nesh yonge coweslepe bendethe wyth the dewe;
164 The trees enlefed, yntoe Heavenne straughte,
165Whenn gentle wyndes doe blowe to whestlyng dynne ys broughte.
166 The evenynge commes, and brynges the dewe alonge;
167 The roddie welkynne sheeneth to the eyne;
168 Arounde the alestake Mynstrells synge the songe;
169 Yonge ivie rounde the doore poste do entwyne;
170 I laie mee onn the grasse; yette, to mie wylle,
171Albeytte alle ys fayre, there lackethe somethynge stylle.
SECONDE MYNSTRELLE
172 So Adam thoughtenne, whann, ynn Paradyse,
173 All Heavenn and Erthe dyd hommage to hys mynde;
174 Ynn Womman alleyne mannes pleasaunce lyes;
175 As Instruments of joie were made the kynde.
176 Go, take a wyfe untoe thie armes, and see
177Wynter and brownie hylles wyll have a charme for thee.
THYRDE MYNSTRELLE
178 Whanne Autumpne blake and sonne-brente doe appere,
179 With hys goulde honde guylteynge the falleynge lefe,
180 Bryngeynge oppe Wynterr to folfylle the yere,
181 Beerynge uponne hys backe the riped shefe;
182 Whan al the hyls wythe woddie sede ys whyte;
183Whanne levynne-fyres and lemes do mete from far the syghte;
184 Whann the fayre apple, rudde as even skie,
185 Do bende the tree unto the fructyle grounde;
186 When joicie peres, and berries of blacke die,
187 Doe daunce yn ayre, and call the eyne arounde;
188 Thann, bee the even foule or even fayre,
189Meethynckes mie hartys joie ys steynced wyth somme care.
...
MYNSTRELLES SONGE
844 O! synge untoe mie roundelaie,
845O! droppe the brynie teare wythe mee,
846Daunce ne moe atte hallie daie,
847Lycke a reynynge ryver bee;
848 Mie love ys dedde,
849 Gon to hys death-bedde,
850 Al under the wyllowe tree.
851 Black hys cryne as the wyntere nyghte,
852Whyte hys rode as the sommer snowe,
853Rodde hys face as the mornynge lyghte,
854Cale he lyes ynne the grave belowe;
855 Mie love ys dedde,
856 Gon to hys deathe-bedde,
857 Al under the wyllowe tree.
858 Swote hys tyngue as the throstles note,
859Quycke ynn daunce as thoughte canne bee,
860Defte hys taboure, codgelle stote,
861O! hee lyes bie the wyllowe tree:
862 Mie love ys dedde,
863 Gone to hys deathe-bedde,
864 Alle underre the wyllowe tree.
865 Harke! the ravenne flappes hys wynge,
866In the briered delle belowe;
867Harke! the dethe-owle loude dothe synge,
868To the nyghte-mares as heie goe;
869 Mie love ys dedde,
870 Gon to hys deathe-bedde,
871 Al under the wyllowe tree.
872 See! the whyte moone sheenes onne hie;
873Whyterre ys mie true loves shroude;
874Whyterre yanne the mornynge skie,
875Whyterre yanne the evenynge cloude;
876 Mie love ys dedde,
877 Gon to hys deathe-bedde,
878 Al under the wyllowe tree.
879 Heere, uponne mie true loves grave,
880Schalle the baren fleurs be layde,
881Nee one hallie Seyncte to save
882Al the celness of a mayde.
883 Mie love ys dedde,
884 Gonne to hys death-bedde,
885 Alle under the wyllowe tree.
886 Wythe mie hondes I'lle dente the brieres
887Rounde his hallie corse to gre,
888Ouphante fairie, lyghte youre fyres,
889Heere mie boddie stylle schall bee.
890 Mie love ys dedde,
891 Gon to hys deathe-bedde,
892 Al under the wyllowe tree.
893 Comme, wythe acorne-coppe and thorne,
894Drayne mie hartys blodde awaie;
895Lyfe and all yttes goode I scorne,
896Daunce bie nete, or feaste by daie.
897 Mie love ys dedde,
898 Gon to hys death-bedde,
899 Al under the wyllowe tree.
900 Waterre wytches, crownede wythe reytes,
901Bere mee to yer leathalle tyde.
902I die; I comme; mie true love waytes.
903Thos the damselle spake, and dyed.
Publication Start Year:
1777