The Storie of William Canynge
Anent a brooklette as I laie reclynd,Listeynge to heare the water glyde alonge,Myndeynge how thorowe the grene mees yt twynd,Awhilst the cavys respons'd yts mottring songe,At dystaunt rysyng Avonne to be sped,Amenged wyth rysyng hylles dyd shewe yts head;
Engarlanded wyth crownes of osyer weedesAnd wraytes of alders of a bercie scent,And stickeynge out wyth clowde agested reedes,The hoarie Avonne show'd dyre semblamente,Whylest blataunt Severne, from Sabryna clepde,Rores flemie o'er the sandes that she hepde.
These eynegears swythyn bringethe to mie thowghteOf hardie champyons knowen to the floude,How onne the bankes thereof brave Ælle foughte,Ælle descended from Merce kynglie bloude,Warden of Brystowe towne and castel stede,Who ever and anon made Danes to blede.
Methoughte such doughtie menn must have a sprighteDote yn the armour brace that Mychael bore,Whan he wyth Satan kynge of helle dyd fyghte,And earthe was drented yn a mere of gore;Orr, soone as theie dyd see the worldis lyghte,Fate had wrott downe, thys mann ys borne to fyghte.
Ælle, I sayd, or els my mynde dyd saie,Whie ys thy actyons left so spare yn storie?Were I toe dispone, there should lyvven aieIn erthe and hevenis rolles thie tale of glorie;Thie actes soe doughtie should for aie abyde,And bie theyre teste all after actes be tryde.
Next holie Wareburghus fylld mie mynde,As fayre a sayncte as anie towne can boaste,Or bee the erthe wyth lyghte or merke ywrynde,I see hys ymage waulkeyng throwe the coaste:Fitz Hardynge, Bithrickus, and twentie moeYnn visyonn fore mie phantasie dyd goe.
Thus all mie wandrynge faytour thynkeynge strayde,And eche dygne buylder dequac'd onn mie mynde,Whan from the distaunt streeme arose a mayde,Whose gentle tresses mov'd not to the wynde;Lyche to the sylver moone yn frostie neete,The damoiselle dyd come soe blythe and sweete.
Ne browded mantell of a scarlette hue,Ne shoone pykes plaited o'er wyth ribbande geere,Ne costlie paraments of woden blue,Noughte of a dresse, but bewtie dyd shee weere;Naked shee was, and loked swete of youthe,All dyd bewryen that her name was Trouthe.
The ethie ringletts of her notte-browne hayreWhat ne a manne should see dyd swotelie hyde,Whych on her milk-white bodykin so fayreDyd showe lyke browne streemes fowlyng the white tyde,Or veynes of brown hue yn a marble cuarr,Whyche by the traveller ys kenn'd from farr.
Astounded mickle there I sylente laie,Still scauncing wondrous at the walkynge syghte;Mie senses forgarde ne coulde reyn awaie;But was ne forstraughte whan shee dyd alyghteAnie to mee, dreste up yn naked viewe,Whych mote yn some ewbrycious thoughtes abrewe.
But I ne dyd once thynke of wanton thoughte;For well I mynded what bie vowe I hete,And yn mie pockate han a crouchee broughte,Whych yn the blosom woulde such sins anete;I lok'd wyth eyne as pure as angelles doe,And dyd the everie thoughte of foule eschewe.
Wyth sweet semblate and an angel's graceShee 'gan to lecture from her gentle breste;For Trouthis wordes ys her myndes face,False oratoryes she dyd aie deteste:Sweetnesse was yn eche worde she dyd ywreene,Tho shee strove not to make that sweetnesse sheene.
Shee sayd; mie manner of appereynge hereMie name and sleyghted myndbruch maie thee telle;I'm Trouthe, that dyd descende fromm heavenwere,Goulers and courtiers doe not kenne mee welle;Thie inmoste thoughtes, thie labrynge brayne I sawe,And from thie gentle dreeme will thee adawe.
Full manie champyons and menne of lore,Payncters and carvellers have gaind good name,But there's a Canynge, to encrease the store,A Canynge, who shall buie uppe all theyre fame.Take thou mie power, and see yn chylde and manneWhat troulie noblenesse yn Canynge ranne.
As when a bordelier onn ethie bedde,Tyr'd wyth the laboures maynt of sweltrie daie,Yn slepeis bosom laieth hys deft headde,So, senses sonke to reste, mie boddie laie;Eftsoons mie sprighte, from erthlie bandes untyde,Immengde yn flanched ayre wyth Trouthe asyde.
Strayte was I carryd back to tymes of yore,Whylst Canynge swathed yet yn fleshlie bedde,And saw all actyons whych han been before,And all the scroll of Fate unravelled;And when the fate-mark'd babe acome to syghte,I saw hym eager gaspynge after lyghte.
In all hys shepen gambols and chyldes plaie.In everie merriemakeyng, fayre or wake,I kenn'd a perpled lyghte of Wysdom's raie;He eate downe learnynge wyth the wastle cake.As wise as anie of the eldermenne,He'd wytte enowe toe make a mayre at tenne.
As the dulce downie barbe beganne to gre,So was the well thyghte texture of hys lore;Eche daie enhedeynge mockler for to bee,Greete yn hys councel for the daies he bore.All tongues, all carrols dyd unto hym synge,Wondryng at one soe wyse, and yet soe yinge.
Encreaseynge yn the yeares of mortal lyfe,And hasteynge to hys journie ynto heaven,Hee thoughte ytt proper for to cheese a wyfe,And use the sexes for the purpose gevene.Hee then was yothe of comelie semelikeede,And hee had made a mayden's herte to blede.
He had a fader, (Jesus rest hys soule!)Who loved money, as hys charie joie;Hee had a broder (happie manne be's dole!)Yn mynde and boddie, hys owne fadre's boie;What then could Canynge wissen as a parteTo gyve to her whoe had made chop of hearte?
But landes and castle tenures, golde and bighes,And hoardes of sylver rousted yn the ent,Canynge and hys fayre sweete dyd that despyse,To change of troulie love was theyr content;Theie lyv'd togeder yn a house adygne,Of goode fendaument commilie and fyne.
But soone hys broder and hys syre dyd die,And lefte to Willyam states and renteynge rolles,And at hys wyll hys broder Johne supplie.Hee gave a chauntrie to redeeme theyre soules;And put hys broder ynto syke a trade,That he lorde mayor of Londonne towne was made.
Eftsoons hys mornynge tournd to gloomie nyghte;Hys dame, hys seconde selfe, gyve upp her brethe,Seekeynge for eterne lyfe and endless lyghte,And sleed good Canynge; sad mystake of dethe!Soe have I seen a flower ynn Sommer tymeTrodde downe and broke and widder ynn ytts pryme.
Next Radeleeve chyrche (oh worke of hande of heav'n,Whare Canynge sheweth as an instrumente.)Was to my bismarde eyne-syghte newlie giv'n;'Tis past to blazonne ytt to good contente.You that woulde faygn the fetyve buyldynge seeRepayre to Radcleve, and contented bee.
I sawe the myndbruch of hys nobille souleWhan Edwarde meniced a seconde wyfe;I saw what Pheryons yn hys mynde dyd rolle;Nowe fyx'd fromm seconde dames a preeste for lyfe.Thys ys the manne of menne, the vision spoke;Then belle for even-songe mie senses woke.
Words in this poem 48
- anent prep.
- Over against; as, he lives anent the church. [OE. anent, anentis, anence, anens, anents, AS. onefen, onemn; an, on, on + efen even, equal; hence meaning, on an equality with, even with, beside. See Even, a.]
- dyre n.
- One whose occupation is to dye cloth and the like. Dyer's broom, Dyer's rocket, Dyer's weed. See Dyer's broom, under Broom.
- onne prep.
- The general signification of on is situation, motion, or condition with respect to contact or support beneath; as: -- [OE. on, an, o, a, AS. on, an; akin to D. aan, OS. & G. an, OHG. ana, Icel. a, Sw. ana, Russ. na, L. an-, in anhelare to pant, Gr. ana. sq. root195. Cf. A-, 1, A]
- merce v. t.
- To subject to fine or amercement; to mulct; to amerce. [See Amerce.]
- anon adv.
- Straightway; at once. [OE. anoon, anon, anan, lit., in one (moment), fr. AS. on in + an one. See On and One.]
- menn pron.
- A man; one; -- used with a verb in the singular, and corresponding to the present indefinite one or they. Piers Plowman. [OE. me, men. "Not the plural of man, but a weakened form of the word man itself." Skeat.]
- dote n.
- A marriage portion. See 1st Dot, n. Wyatt. [See Dot dowry.]
- armour n.
- Defensive arms for the body; any clothing or covering worn to protect one's person in battle. [OE. armure, fr. F. armure, OF. armeure, fr. L. armatura. See Armature.]
- mann n.
- A human being; -- opposed tobeast. [AS. mann, man, monn, mon; akin to OS., D., & OHG. man, G. mann, Icel. maedhr, for mannr, Dan. Mand, Sw. man, Goth. manna, Skr. manu, manus, and perh. to Skr. ma]
- merke a.
- Murky. Piers Plowman.
- throwe n.
- A turning lathe.
- fitz n.
- A son; -- used in compound names, to indicate paternity, esp. [OF. fils, filz, fiz, son, F. fils, L. filius. See Filial.]
- mantell n.
- The finish around a fireplace, covering the chimney-breast in front and sometimes on both sides; especially, a shelf above the fireplace, and its supports. [The same word as mantle a garment; cf. F. manteau de cheminée. See Mantle.]
- scarlette n.
- A deep bright red tinged with orange or yellow, -- of many tints and shades; a vivid or bright red color. [OE. scarlat, scarlet, OF. escarlate, F. écarlate (cf. Pr. escarlat, escarlata, Sp. & Pg. escarlata, It. scarlatto, LL. scarlatum), from Per. sakirlat.]
- woden n.
- A deity corresponding to Odin, the supreme deity of the Scandinavians. Wednesday is named for him. See Odin. [AS. Woden; akin to OS. Wodan, OHG. Wuotan, Icel. Othinn, and probably to E. wood, a. Cf. Wednesday.]
- notte
- Wot not; know not; knows not. [Contr. from ne wot. See 2d Note.]
- manne n.
- A human being; -- opposed tobeast. [AS. mann, man, monn, mon; akin to OS., D., & OHG. man, G. mann, Icel. maedhr, for mannr, Dan. Mand, Sw. man, Goth. manna, Skr. manu, manus, and perh. to Skr. ma]
- farr n.
- A young pig, or a litter of pigs. [See Farrow.]
- mickle a.
- Much; great. [Old Eng. & Scot.] [OE. mikel, muchel, mochel, mukel, AS. micel, mycel; akin to OS. mikil, OHG. mihil, mihhil, Icel. mikill, mykill, Goth. mikils, L. magnus, Gr. mahat. sq. root103]
- wondrous adv.
- In a wonderful or surprising manner or degree; wonderfully. [OE. wonders, adv. (later also adj.). See Wonder, n., and cf. -wards.]
- mote n.
- A meeting of persons for discussion; as, a wardmote in the city of London. [See Moot, a meeting.]
- hete v. t.
- Variant of Hote.
- eyne n.
- Plural of eye; obsolete, or used only in poetry.
- kenne n.
- To know; to understand; to take cognizance of. [OE.kennen to teach, make known, know, AS. cennan to make known, proclaim, or rather from the related Icel. kenna to know; akin to D. & G. kennen to know, Goth. ]
- manie n.
- Mania; insanity. [F. See Mania.]
- menne pron.
- A man; one; -- used with a verb in the singular, and corresponding to the present indefinite one or they. Piers Plowman. [OE. me, men. "Not the plural of man, but a weakened form of the word man itself." Skeat.]
- encrease v. t.
- i. See Increase.
- shall v. i.
- To owe; to be under obligation for. [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen,]
- uppe adv.
- Aloft; on high; in a direction contrary to that of gravity; toward or in a higher place or position; above; -- the opposite of Ant: down. [AS. up, upp, ; akin to OFries. up, op, D. op, OS. , OHG. , G. auf, Icel. upp, Dan. op, Goth. iup, and probably to E. over. See Over.]
- ranne n.
- Open robbery. Lambarde. [As. ran.]
- bedde v. t.
- To place in a bed.
- deft a.
- Apt; fit; dexterous; clever; handy; spruce; neat. [OE. daft, deft, becoming, mild, gentle, stupid (cf. OE. daffe, deffe, fool, coward), AS. dæft (in derivatives only) mild, gentle, fitting, seasonable; akin to d]
- headde n.
- The anterior or superior part of an animal, containing the brain, or chief ganglia of the nervous system, the mouth, and in the higher animals, the chief sensory organs; poll; cephalon. [OE. hed, heved, heaved, AS. heáfod; akin to D. hoofd, OHG. houbit, G. haupt, Icel. höfu, Sw. hufvud, Dan. hoved, Goth. haubip. The word does not corresponds reg]
- eftsoons adv.
- Again; anew; a second time; at once; speedily. [OE. eftsone, eftsones; AS. eft + s soon. See Eft, and Soon.]
- flanched a.
- Having flanches; -- said of an escutcheon with those bearings.
- yore adv.
- In time long past; in old time; long since. [OE. , yare, , AS. geára;akin to geár a year, E. year. Year.]
- babe n.
- An infant; a young child of either sex; a baby. [Cf. Ir. bab, baban, W. baban, maban.]
- shepen n.
- A stable; a shippen.
- tenne n.
- A tincture, rarely employed, which is considered as an orange color or bright brown. It is represented by diagonal lines from sinister to dexter, crossed by vertical lines. [Cf. Tawny.]
- dulce v. t.
- To make sweet; to soothe.
- gyve n.
- A shackle; especially, one to confine the legs; a fetter. [Of Celtic origin; cf. W. gefyn, Ir. geibbionn, Gael. geimheal.]
- golde n.
- An old English name of some yellow flower, -- the marigold (Calendula), according to Dr. Prior, but in Chaucer perhaps the turnsole.
- londonne n.
- The capital city of England. London paste (Med.), a paste made of caustic soda and unslacked lime; -- used as a caustic to destroy tumors and other morbid enlargements.
- dame n.
- A mistress of a family, who is a lady; a womam in authority; especially, a lady. [F. dame, LL. domna, fr. L. domina mistress, lady, fem. of dominus master, ruler, lord; akin to domare to tame, subdue. See Tame, and cf. Dam mother, Dan, Danger]
- broke v. i.
- To transact business for another. Brome. [See Broker, and cf. Brook.]
- blazonne v. t.
- To depict in colors; to display; to exhibit conspicuously; to publish or make public far and wide. [From blazon, n.; confused with 4th blaze: cf. F. blasonner.]
- spoke n.
- The radius or ray of a wheel; one of the small bars which are inserted in the hub, or nave, and which serve to support the rim or felly. [OE. spoke, spake, AS, spaca; akin to D. speek, LG. speke, OHG. speihha, G. speiche. sq. root170. Cf. Spike a nail.]
- belle n.
- A young lady of superior beauty and attractions; a handsome lady, or one who attracts notice in society; a fair lady. [F. belle, fem. of bel, beau, beautiful, fine. See Beau.]
Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.
About this text
The Storie of William Canynge is in the public domain. This text is taken from The Rowley Poems, Project Gutenberg ebook #13037; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.
Cite as: Thomas Chatterton, The Storie of William Canynge, in The Rowley Poems (1777), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #13037, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/chatterton-rowley/the-storie-of-william-canynge.html, id L12167.
Form and metre
The Storie of William Canynge is 150 lines in 25 stanzas of 6 lines each. The rhyme scheme is ABABCC, complete in 13 of its 25 stanzas. The metre is iambic pentameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 83%). 98% of its stressed syllables fall where the metre puts the beat. The lines average 10.1 syllables. 7 lines end on an unstressed syllable, a feminine ending. 10% of the lines run on without a stop at the line end.
See other poems in iambic pentameter.
Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.
Rhyme words, stanza by stanza
The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.
- 1 ABABCC reclyndA · alongeB · twyndA · songeB · spedC · headC
- 2 ABABCC weedesA · scentB · reedesA · semblamenteB · clepdeC · hepdeC
- 3 ABABCC thowghteA · floudeB · foughteA · bloudeB · stedeC · bledeC
- 4 ABABAA sprighteA · boreB · fyghteA · goreB · lyghteA · fyghteA
- 5 A-A-BB saieA · storie · aieA · glorie · abydeB · trydeB
- 6 ABABCC myndeA · boasteB · ywryndeA · coasteB · moeC · goeC
- 7 ABABCC straydeA · myndeB · maydeA · wyndeB · neeteC · sweeteC
- 8 ABABCC hueA · geereB · blueA · weereB · youtheC · troutheC
- 9 ABABCC hayreA · hydeB · fayreA · tydeB · cuarrC · farrC
- 10 ABAB-- laieA · syghteB · awaieA · alyghteB · viewe · abrewe
- 11 ABAB-- thoughteA · heteB · broughteA · aneteB · doe · eschewe
- 12 ABABCC graceA · bresteB · faceA · detesteB · ywreeneC · sheeneC
- 13 ABABCC hereA · telleB · heavenwereA · welleB · saweC · adaweC
- 14 ABABCC loreA · nameB · storeA · fameB · manneC · ranneC
- 15 ABABCC beddeA · daieB · headdeA · laieB · untydeC · asydeC
- 16 A-A-BB yoreA · bedde · beforeA · unravelled · syghteB · lyghteB
- 17 ABABCC plaieA · wakeB · raieA · cakeB · eldermenneC · tenneC
- 18 -A-A-- gre · loreA · bee · boreA · synge · yinge
- 19 A-A-BB lyfeA · heaven · wyfeA · gevene · semelikeedeB · bledeB
- 20 -A-ABB soule · joieA · dole · boieA · parteB · hearteB
- 21 -A-A-- bighes · entA · despyse · contentA · adygne · fyne
- 22 ----AA die · rolles · supplie · soules · tradeA · madeA
- 23 ABABCC nyghteA · bretheB · lyghteA · detheB · tymeC · prymeC
- 24 -A-ABB heav'n · instrumenteA · giv'n · contenteA · seeB · beeB
- 25 -A-ABB soule · wyfeA · rolle · lyfeA · spokeB · wokeB
Scansion, line by line
Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against iambic pentameter. How this is done.
| Line | Syl. | Stress |
|---|---|---|
| Anent a brooklette as I laie reclynd, | 10 | ·········· |
| Listeynge to heare the water glyde alonge, | 10 | ·····/˘·/˘ |
| Myndeynge how thorowe the grene mees yt twynd, | 10 | ·········· |
| Awhilst the cavys respons'd yts mottring songe, | 11 | ········/˘· |
| At dystaunt rysyng Avonne to be sped, | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Amenged wyth rysyng hylles dyd shewe yts head; | 10 | ·········· |
| Engarlanded wyth crownes of osyer weedes | 10 | ·········· |
| And wraytes of alders of a bercie scent, | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| And stickeynge out wyth clowde agested reedes, | 10 | ·········· |
| The hoarie Avonne show'd dyre semblamente, | 10 | ···/˘·/··· |
| Whylest blataunt Severne, from Sabryna clepde, | 11 | ··········· |
| Rores flemie o'er the sandes that she hepde. | 9 | ········· |
| These eynegears swythyn bringethe to mie thowghte | 11 | ··········· |
| Of hardie champyons knowen to the floude, | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| How onne the bankes thereof brave Ælle foughte, | 9 | ········· |
| Ælle descended from Merce kynglie bloude, | 9 | ·˘/˘····· |
| Warden of Brystowe towne and castel stede, | 10 | /˘·····/˘· |
| Who ever and anon made Danes to blede. | 10 | ·/˘·˘/···· |
| Methoughte such doughtie menn must have a sprighte | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Dote yn the armour brace that Mychael bore, | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Whan he wyth Satan kynge of helle dyd fyghte, | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| And earthe was drented yn a mere of gore; | 10 | ·········· |
| Orr, soone as theie dyd see the worldis lyghte, | 10 | ·········· |
| Fate had wrott downe, thys mann ys borne to fyghte. | 10 | ·········· |
| Ælle, I sayd, or els my mynde dyd saie, | 9 | ········· |
| Whie ys thy actyons left so spare yn storie? | 11 | ·········/˘ |
| Were I toe dispone, there should lyvven aie | 10 | ···˘/····· |
| In erthe and hevenis rolles thie tale of glorie; | 12 | ············ |
| Thie actes soe doughtie should for aie abyde, | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| And bie theyre teste all after actes be tryde. | 11 | ···/˘······ |
| Next holie Wareburghus fylld mie mynde, | 10 | ·········· |
| As fayre a sayncte as anie towne can boaste, | 10 | ·········· |
| Or bee the erthe wyth lyghte or merke ywrynde, | 10 | ·········· |
| I see hys ymage waulkeyng throwe the coaste: | 10 | ·········· |
| Fitz Hardynge, Bithrickus, and twentie moe | 10 | ·········· |
| Ynn visyonn fore mie phantasie dyd goe. | 10 | ·········· |
| Thus all mie wandrynge faytour thynkeynge strayde, | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| And eche dygne buylder dequac'd onn mie mynde, | 11 | ·/˘········ |
| Whan from the distaunt streeme arose a mayde, | 10 | ······˘/·· |
| Whose gentle tresses mov'd not to the wynde; | 10 | ·/˘/˘····· |
| Lyche to the sylver moone yn frostie neete, | 10 | ·········· |
| The damoiselle dyd come soe blythe and sweete. | 11 | ··········· |
| Ne browded mantell of a scarlette hue, | 10 | ···˘/··/˘· |
| Ne shoone pykes plaited o'er wyth ribbande geere, | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Ne costlie paraments of woden blue, | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Noughte of a dresse, but bewtie dyd shee weere; | 10 | ·········· |
| Naked shee was, and loked swete of youthe, | 10 | /˘˘······· |
| All dyd bewryen that her name was Trouthe. | 9 | ········· |
| The ethie ringletts of her notte-browne hayre | 11 | ·········/˘ |
| What ne a manne should see dyd swotelie hyde, | 11 | ··········· |
| Whych on her milk-white bodykin so fayre | 10 | ·········· |
| Dyd showe lyke browne streemes fowlyng the white tyde, | 10 | ·········· |
| Or veynes of brown hue yn a marble cuarr, | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Whyche by the traveller ys kenn'd from farr. | 10 | ···/˘˘···· |
| Astounded mickle there I sylente laie, | 10 | ˘/˘/˘····· |
| Still scauncing wondrous at the walkynge syghte; | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Mie senses forgarde ne coulde reyn awaie; | 10 | ·/˘······· |
| But was ne forstraughte whan shee dyd alyghte | 10 | ·········· |
| Anie to mee, dreste up yn naked viewe, | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Whych mote yn some ewbrycious thoughtes abrewe. | 10 | ·········· |
| But I ne dyd once thynke of wanton thoughte; | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| For well I mynded what bie vowe I hete, | 10 | ·········· |
| And yn mie pockate han a crouchee broughte, | 10 | ·········· |
| Whych yn the blosom woulde such sins anete; | 10 | ·········· |
| I lok'd wyth eyne as pure as angelles doe, | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| And dyd the everie thoughte of foule eschewe. | 12 | ········/˘·· |
| Wyth sweet semblate and an angel's grace | 9 | ······/˘· |
| Shee 'gan to lecture from her gentle breste; | 11 | ···/˘··/˘/˘ |
| For Trouthis wordes ys her myndes face, | 8 | ········ |
| False oratoryes she dyd aie deteste: | 10 | ·/˘·˘····· |
| Sweetnesse was yn eche worde she dyd ywreene, | 11 | ····/˘····· |
| Tho shee strove not to make that sweetnesse sheene. | 10 | ·········· |
| Shee sayd; mie manner of appereynge here | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Mie name and sleyghted myndbruch maie thee telle; | 10 | ·········· |
| I'm Trouthe, that dyd descende fromm heavenwere, | 10 | ·········· |
| Goulers and courtiers doe not kenne mee welle; | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Thie inmoste thoughtes, thie labrynge brayne I sawe, | 10 | ·········· |
| And from thie gentle dreeme will thee adawe. | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Full manie champyons and menne of lore, | 9 | ········· |
| Payncters and carvellers have gaind good name, | 10 | ·········· |
| But there's a Canynge, to encrease the store, | 10 | ······˘/·· |
| A Canynge, who shall buie uppe all theyre fame. | 11 | ·····˘/···· |
| Take thou mie power, and see yn chylde and manne | 10 | ···/······ |
| What troulie noblenesse yn Canynge ranne. | 10 | ·········· |
| As when a bordelier onn ethie bedde, | 10 | ·········· |
| Tyr'd wyth the laboures maynt of sweltrie daie, | 10 | ···/······ |
| Yn slepeis bosom laieth hys deft headde, | 9 | ···/˘···· |
| So, senses sonke to reste, mie boddie laie; | 10 | ·/˘····/˘· |
| Eftsoons mie sprighte, from erthlie bandes untyde, | 10 | ·········· |
| Immengde yn flanched ayre wyth Trouthe asyde. | 10 | ····˘····· |
| Strayte was I carryd back to tymes of yore, | 10 | ·········· |
| Whylst Canynge swathed yet yn fleshlie bedde, | 10 | ····˘····· |
| And saw all actyons whych han been before, | 10 | ·········· |
| And all the scroll of Fate unravelled; | 10 | ······˘/˘˘ |
| And when the fate-mark'd babe acome to syghte, | 10 | ·········· |
| I saw hym eager gaspynge after lyghte. | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| In all hys shepen gambols and chyldes plaie. | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| In everie merriemakeyng, fayre or wake, | 11 | ··········· |
| I kenn'd a perpled lyghte of Wysdom's raie; | 10 | ····˘····· |
| He eate downe learnynge wyth the wastle cake. | 10 | ·········· |
| As wise as anie of the eldermenne, | 10 | ·········· |
| He'd wytte enowe toe make a mayre at tenne. | 11 | ·······/˘·· |
| As the dulce downie barbe beganne to gre, | 10 | ···/˘·˘/·· |
| So was the well thyghte texture of hys lore; | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Eche daie enhedeynge mockler for to bee, | 11 | /˘····/˘··· |
| Greete yn hys councel for the daies he bore. | 10 | ·········· |
| All tongues, all carrols dyd unto hym synge, | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Wondryng at one soe wyse, and yet soe yinge. | 10 | ·········· |
| Encreaseynge yn the yeares of mortal lyfe, | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| And hasteynge to hys journie ynto heaven, | 11 | ·········/˘ |
| Hee thoughte ytt proper for to cheese a wyfe, | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| And use the sexes for the purpose gevene. | 11 | ···/˘··/˘·· |
| Hee then was yothe of comelie semelikeede, | 12 | ············ |
| And hee had made a mayden's herte to blede. | 11 | ·····/˘/˘·· |
| He had a fader, (Jesus rest hys soule!) | 10 | ···/˘/˘··· |
| Who loved money, as hys charie joie; | 10 | ··˘/˘····· |
| Hee had a broder (happie manne be's dole!) | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Yn mynde and boddie, hys owne fadre's boie; | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
| What then could Canynge wissen as a parte | 10 | ·········· |
| To gyve to her whoe had made chop of hearte? | 10 | ·········· |
| But landes and castle tenures, golde and bighes, | 10 | ···/˘/˘··· |
| And hoardes of sylver rousted yn the ent, | 10 | ·········· |
| Canynge and hys fayre sweete dyd that despyse, | 10 | ·········· |
| To change of troulie love was theyr content; | 10 | ········/˘ |
| Theie lyv'd togeder yn a house adygne, | 10 | ·········· |
| Of goode fendaument commilie and fyne. | 10 | ·········· |
| But soone hys broder and hys syre dyd die, | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| And lefte to Willyam states and renteynge rolles, | 10 | ·········· |
| And at hys wyll hys broder Johne supplie. | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Hee gave a chauntrie to redeeme theyre soules; | 10 | ·········· |
| And put hys broder ynto syke a trade, | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| That he lorde mayor of Londonne towne was made. | 11 | ···/˘·/˘··· |
| Eftsoons hys mornynge tournd to gloomie nyghte; | 10 | ·········· |
| Hys dame, hys seconde selfe, gyve upp her brethe, | 10 | ·········· |
| Seekeynge for eterne lyfe and endless lyghte, | 10 | ···˘/··/˘· |
| And sleed good Canynge; sad mystake of dethe! | 10 | ·········· |
| Soe have I seen a flower ynn Sommer tyme | 10 | ·····/·/˘· |
| Trodde downe and broke and widder ynn ytts pryme. | 10 | ·····/˘··· |
| Next Radeleeve chyrche (oh worke of hande of heav'n, | 11 | ··········· |
| Whare Canynge sheweth as an instrumente.) | 10 | ···/˘····· |
| Was to my bismarde eyne-syghte newlie giv'n; | 10 | ·········· |
| 'Tis past to blazonne ytt to good contente. | 10 | ·········· |
| You that woulde faygn the fetyve buyldynge see | 10 | ·········· |
| Repayre to Radcleve, and contented bee. | 10 | ······˘/˘· |
| I sawe the myndbruch of hys nobille soule | 11 | ··········· |
| Whan Edwarde meniced a seconde wyfe; | 10 | ·····˘···· |
| I saw what Pheryons yn hys mynde dyd rolle; | 10 | ·········· |
| Nowe fyx'd fromm seconde dames a preeste for lyfe. | 10 | ·········· |
| Thys ys the manne of menne, the vision spoke; | 10 | ·······/˘· |
| Then belle for even-songe mie senses woke. | 10 | ···/˘··/˘· |
The reader shows the same poem with its rhymes coloured and a stress row above each line, the notes beside their stanzas, and any word's definition on a tap; the analysis page takes the whole book apart. How every part of this site was made.