DÉBIT DU PREMIER CHANT

Il a Ô64 vers.

O Chrvste, it is a grief for me to telle Hov manie a nohil erle and vairons knygbte In fyghlynge for kvngc Harrold noblie fell, Al sleyne in Hastings fceld in blondie fvghie. O sea ! our teeming donorc ', ban iliv floncle, Han anie frueiuous enlendemcnl -.

Thou vouldst hâve rose and sank wylli lliyde of Monde, Before Duke Wyllyam's knygbtes han hit lier vent ; AYhose rovart arrows manie erles slevne, And brued 5 the feeld wvlli blonde as season ravne.

And of lus knvghtes did eke full manie die. Ail passyng hic, of inickle myghte ccli one, "Whose p ygnant arrowcs, tvpp'd viih deslynie , Caus'd manie vyduves lo make niyckl mime.

Lordynges, avannt, ihat, cliycken-hai ted are, From out of hearynge quicklie now départe ; Full vell I vote '», to svnge of bloudie varie Will greeve your lenderlie and maiden harle. Go, do llie weaklie womman inn niann's gcarc *, And scond 6 vour mansion if grvmm war rome there.

Soone as the erlie maten belle vas tolde, And sonne vas corne 10 byd us ail gond daie, 15olhe armies on the feehl, holh brave and bolde, Prepar'd for fvghie, in cliampvon arraie. As viien Iwo huiles, destynde for Hocktide fyghle, Are yoked bie llie neckc vithin a sparre ", Theie rend the erthe, and travellyrs affrygthe, Lar kynge to gage the sportive bloudie varie ; So lacked Harrohles menue lo corne lo blowes, Tlie Normans lacked for to wielde tlieir hoves .

I. Prolific benefartress. — 2 Uieful meaiiiiiff. — 3. Embrued. - 5. Dress. — 6. Abscond from, quit. — 7. Bar, enclosure.

DE CHATII'RTON. Û51

Kyiifjc Hanolde, lurnyoge lo hys Icegemen l, snake :

My merrir mon, be moi caste downe in niynde :

Your onlie Iode - for aye to inar or make

Eefore you sunne bas donde bis welke "■ . yon'll fynde.

Your loyyng wife, vrlio erst dvd rid the londe

Of Luidanes '*, ami tlie treasurc ilial vou hau,

Wyll falle into the Normaiine robber's honde

TJnlesse wilfa honde ami liane you plaie die manne.

Clieer np yonic lianes, chase sorrowe farre awaie, Godde and seynrte Cnlbbert bc die worde to daie.

And thenne Duke Wvllvam to 1 1 i ^ knygbtes did saie : My incrrie mennc, be bravelie, eveiiche :> ; Gif I do gayn tlie honore of ihe daie , Ech one of you I will make mvckle riche. Béer you in mvnde, we for a kvngdomm lyghle ; Lordshippes and kouores ech one shall possessc ; Be tins the worde to daie, God and my Byyhte ; Ne doubi liut God will oure irne cause blesse.

The clarions G tben sounded sharpe and shrille ; Deaduloeyn«e blades wcre ont inieut 10 kille.

Aud brave Kyny Hanolde had nnwe donde bis saie "; He direwe wylhe myghtc aniavne s hvs shorle horse-spear : The noise it made the duke lo iurh awaie, And bytl bis Rnyghle, de Beque, upoii the ear, His crislede ° beaver dyd livm smalle abounde ,n; Tbe cruel spcar wenl ihoroup.h allhishede; The purpel blonde came j»oushynge to the grouudr, And at Duke Wyllyam's feet he inmblcd deade :

So fell the mvghlie tower of Slandrip, whcnne It felte the furie of die Danisb mennc.

O afflem, son of Cnlbbert, bolie saynète, Corne ayde ihyfreend, ami shcwe Dnke Wyllyam's payne ; Take np iby pencyl, ail hvs Featiires paincle; Thy coloryng excells a synger sirayne.

Duke Yyllyain sawe hys frcende sleyne piteouslie , Hvs lovynge freende whonie he inucbc honoreil, For he ban lovd hvm from pueiilitie II And iheie logetber bolhe ban bin ybred :

O! in Duke Wyliyani's harie it raisde a flame, To whiche the rage of cmptie wo'vcs is unie.

t. Subjerls — 2. Priise, hononr. — ?,. Fiimbed his course — i. I.ord Danes — 5. Kvery one. — (i. Trurapets. — 7 Put on 1ns military roat. — 8. Great force. — !). Creslcd Ueln;el — 10 BeneQI, or service. — M. Cliildbood.