DÉBUT DU PREMIER CHANT

(Il a 564 vers.)

Chryste , it is a grief for me io telle How manie a nobil erle and valrous knyghte In fyghtynge for kynge Harrold noblie fell, Al sleyne in Hastings feeld in bloudie fyghte. 6ea ! our teeming donore ^ han thy floude , Han anie fructuous entendement ', Thou TTouldst haye rose and sank wyth thyde of bloude^ Before Buke Wyllyam's knyghtes han hlther went; Whose cowart arrows manie erles sleyne i Ând brued ' the feeld -wyth bloude as season rayne.

And of bis knyghtes did eke fuU manie die, AU passyng hie , of mickle myghte ech one , Whose poygnant arrowes , typp'd with destynie , ^ Caus'd manie wydowes to make myckle mone.

Lordynges, ayaunt, that chycken-harted are , From out of hearynge quicklie now départe ;

s Prolific benefactress.

> Usefol meaning.

3 Embmed.

172 SDR' LES OEUVRES

Full well I wote *, to synge of bloudie warre Will greeve your tenderlie and maiden harte.

Go , do the weaklie woraman ina mlkiii's geare ', And scond ^ your mansion if grymm war corne there.

Soone as the erlie maten belle was tolde , And sonne was come to byd us ail good daie , Bothe armies on the feeld , both braye and holde , Prepar'd for fyghte, in champyon arraie.

As when two bulles , destynde for Hocktide fyghte , Are yoked bie the necke within a sparre *, Theie rend the erthe, and tra^ellyrs affrygthe, Lackynge to gage the sportive bloudie warre ; So lacked Harroldes menne to come to blowes , The Normans lacked for to wielde their bowea ,

Kynge Harrolde , turnynge to hys leegemen ^, spake My merrie men , be not caste downe in mynde : ïour onlie Iode ^ for aye to mar or make Before y ou sunne has donde his welke ', you'U fynde. Your loTyng wife, who erst dyd rid the londe Of Lurdanes ^^ and the treasure that you han , Wyll falle into the Normanne robber's honde Unlesse with honde and harte you plaie the manne.

' IÇnow.

a Dress.

3 Abscoud from, quit.

4 Bar, enclosure.

s Subjects.

9 Praise , hoDOiir.

7 Finisbed bis course.

' Lord Danes.

BB CHATTBITOR. 173

€heer up youre hartes, chase sorrowe farre awaie , Grodde and seyncte Cuthbert be the worde to daie.

And thenne Duke Wyllyam to his knyghtes did saie : My mer^e msnne , be bravelie cveriche * ; Gif I do gayn the honore of the daie , Ech one of you I will make myckle riche.

Béer yoi; in mynda , we for a kyngdomm fyghte ; Lordshippe* and honores eeh one shall possesse ; Be this the worde to daie, God and my Ryghte; Ne doubt but God "will oujfi true cause blesse.

The clarions ' then sounded sharpe and shrille ; Deathdoeynge blades were out intent to kille. ' ÀJid .b#aVe Kyng Harrolde had nowe donde his saie ^ ; Un ^rew# wyUvB tQfghta ainayo^ * hys shortq horse-spear i Xhe fiQÎsQ it ipade the dukie tp turn awaie , And hytt his Knyghte , de Beque, upon the ear, His oristede ' beayer dyd him smalle abounde ^ ; rhe cruel spear T?ent tborough ail his hede ; The purpel bloude came goushynge to the grounde ^ Apd at Duk9 WyUyam's feet he tumbled deade :

So fell the myghtie tower of Standrip , vrhenne It felte the furie of the Banish menne.

Afflem, son of Cuthbert, holie sayncte, Corne ayde thy freend , and shewe Buke Wyllyam's payne ^

» Every one.

a Trumpets.

3 Put on hii mililary coat.

4 Great force.

^ Crested helmet.

^ Benefit, or service.

Take up tliy pencyl , ail hys features paincte ; Thy coloryng excells a synger strayne.

Duke Wyllyam sawe hys freende sleyne piteouslle , Hys loTynge freende "whame he muche honoted, For he han lovd hym from puéril itie * And theie together bothe han bin ybred :

! in Duke Wyllyam's harte it raisde a flamè » To whiohe the rage of emptie woWea is tame.

On peut se faire tiné idée de ce qn^il H bUa de pénétration, d'aptitade, de savoir, pour écrire ainsi environ quatre mille vers, et se reporter avec une justesse de langage si par-* faite à l'époque où la langue française allait envahir la langue saxonne et se mêlait avec elle. De cette union est né l'anglais moderne; et nous avons dans Jean de Waçe (roman de Rou) de vieux vers où semble se former cette alliance :

Quand la bataille fut mostré La noit ayant le di quaté Furent Engleis forment hastie Itfult riant et mult enyeisie ;

' Childhood.

DE CBATTERTON. 175

Tote Doit maDgierent et burent M ult le Teiller demeuer :

Treper et saillir et chanter Lublie crie et weUseil Laticome et drinck heil Drinc hindre^art and drinc to me Drinc helf and drinc to me.

C'est aussi la relation du débarquement de Guillaume le Conquérant, et Chatterton s'en est peut-être inspiré.