V. PARALLÉLISME

Noo where elles was ony socoure or comforte, the cruell assautes of deth was fyers and sharpe ayenst him, the daungerous perylles whether he sholde become was importunely greuous all this worlde and worldly pleasures were to hym vnswete & full dyspleasaunt 1.

Delyuer my soule from the myseryes of this worlde, delyuer my soule from these deedly paynes, delyuer my soule from this corruptyble body, delyuer my soule from the bondes of synne, delyuer my soule from my mortall enemyes, delyuer my soule from the daungers of euerlastynge deth 2.

O synguler goodnesse and gentylnes of almyghty god. O meruaylous redynesse of hym vnto pyte and mercy 5.

It is more goodly beinge Margarite of a precious stone, then of a peble stone, of the fayre bright golde, then of rustie yron, of a goodly Fesaund then of a venemous Serpent, of a prettie Faune then of a foule Toade, of a reasonable soule, then of an vnreasonable beast.

Somtyme trees be called grete for theyr goodly and large heyght. Pyttes be called grete for theyr depenesse. Ferre Tourneys be called grete bycause they are longe. Stretes and hygh wayes be called grete for their brede and wyddenesse 5.

Enfin, voici pour terminer non plus des phrases détachées, mais des passages entiers, pris dans chacun des trois auteurs précédents, et qui donneront une idée de leur style dans leurs moments euphuistiques :

But now I repent me full sore of my great negligence, and right much I sorow that so little I regarded the wealth and profit of my soule, but rather tooke heede to the vayne comfortes and pleasures of my wretched bodie. O corruptible bodie,

. Fisher, Funerall Sermon of Henry VII, 279.

. Ibid.

. Ibid., 284.

. Fisher, Wayes to Perfect Religion, 370.

. Fisher, Penytencyall Psaimes, 95.

0 stinking carion, O rotten earth to whom I haue serued, whose appetites I haue followed, whose desire I haue procured, now doest thou appeare what thou arte in thy own likenesse. That brightnesse of thy eyes, that quicknesse in hearing, that lyuelinesse in thy other sences by naturall warmenesse, thy swiftnesse and nimblenesse, thy fayrenesse and bewtie. All these thou hast not of thy self, they were but lent vnto thee for a season, euen as a wall of earth that is fayre painted without for a season with freshe and goodly colours, and also gylted with golde, it appeareth goodly for the tyme to suche as consider no deeper then the outward crafte thereof. But when at the last the colour faileth, and the gilting falleth away, then appeareth it in hys owne lykenesse 1.

Generally if we will consider the natures of men, we shall perceiue that many of them delite neither in meates that bene most holsome, nor in studies that ben most honest, nor in dedes that be moste conuenient ; nor yet in doctrine that is most commodious, but imbracing plesant appetites, which be repugnant to profite, wolde seme to be painfull and laboriouse, although thei doo nothyng expedient, or necessarie ?.

. He was a goodly parsonage, and very Princely to behold, of hearte couragious, politique in counsaile, in aduersitie nothynge abashed, in prosperitie, rather ioyfull then prowde, in peace iuste and mercifull, in warre, sharpe and fyerce, in the fielde, bolde and hardye, and nathelesse no farther then wysedome woulde, aduenturouse. Whose warres who so well consyder, hee shall no lesse commende his wysedome where hee voyded, than hys mannehoode where he vainquished. He was of visage louelye, of bodye myghtie, stronge, and cleane made : howe bee it in his latter dayes wyth ouer liberall dyet, sommewhat corpulente and boorelye, and nathelesse not vncomelye 8.

Quand on a lu de pareils passages où apparaissent avec une parfaite netteté la forme, l'allure et l'ornementation de la phrase euphuistique, il est évidemment impossible de

1. Fisher, Spirituall Consolation to hys Sister Elizabeth, 355-356.