A Comparison Between Four Birds

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¶A comparyson bytwene .iiij. byrdes / the Larke / the Nyghtyngale / the Thrusshe and the Cucko / for theyr syngynge who shuld be chauntoure of the quere.

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¶How a sorowful man went to the wood and there toke comforte by the melody and comparyson of thes byrdes.

LAmentyng my sorowes with syghes depe

How lowryng fortune me had scorned

Pensyue in my harte dreryly dyd wepe

Whos scoffe perfyt anone I lerned scoffe ='contempt, ridicule'

Rare is the welth that hath not morned

Iocunde / plesaunt and of corage

O sorowful howre in his outrage O: =one

As whyle markyng in cyrcle rotyng rotyng ='rotating', here and below; see OED s.v. rote v2

Famous men callyng to my remembrance

That rued pytyful in-to dotyng

To meane men also showyng his varyaunce

Lyke the ayre than founde I hym of constance

Now smylyth fayre and sodenly doth rage

Ma[n] rockyng in the flode of sharpe passage Man] Mam 1534

This dyd I secretly with me reason This: =Thus

Of hym anon hauyng aduertysment

To clyme not to hye for fere of euersyon

A ####ab#### boue my state to make no interment interment ='dealings', probably a nonce-formation from entermete, 'to concern oneself, to have dealings'. MED s.v. entermeten v records a form entermenten.

Of comparyson ospryngyth torment

Which of me patiently ponderedospryngyth: either a variant of aspryngyth, 'springs up', here and below (lines 552, 655), or 'off-spring' used as a verb.

In me the matter lay / that he scorned

O low byrth / why woldyst thou auaunce

Whan in thy purse lay al thy corage

In proudly port to make repastaunce proudly ='of proud manner'; repastaunce: not recorded in OED, but cf. repast, repasture, 'food, feasting'

My welth vanyshed in redy passage

Thus turned my state in-to dotage

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Fortune than why shuld I now accuse

Seyng he ragyth of my mys ####ab#### vse

Proude nor portly be thou neuer

Comparyng / bosting nor of wylfulnese

To gyue reuerence the endeuer

Recounter thy blode to be of mekenese Recounter: =recount, 'regard, consider', although this form is not recorded in OED s.v. recount v1

Of thy homage reason no secretnese

For whan lowe blode clymith o[u]er-hye

He tumblyth oft hedlyng in vylonye

Let the cartar than handel his plough

The smyth his hammar dylygent entrete

Thy mynd insatyat content with ynoug[h] ynoug[h]: the final letter is illegible.

Peres lyke of blod together wel met

Of nature prudently pondar thy fet fet ='pursuit, employment, profession'; see OED s.v. feat n, 5

Seldom buddyt[h] from the cartars grosse brest buddyth] buddyte 1534

Polycy / cheualry and maners honest

This repetyng / in my mynd oft reuolued

Of presumptyon I dyd me repent

And that comparyson me not behoued

To late bewaylyng tyme mysspent

Sorowe to doble a folyshe entent

Therfore purposyng for my comfort

To a place of plesure me to resort

I drewe to the wood freysh enpareled enpareled: =apparelled

With flowrs smylyng plesauntly

With bewtyful colours enpurpuled

With swete odor ryght sauory

A medycen apt for syke memory

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And ny to a haythorne I approched haythorne: =hawthorn

Entendyng to take rest there me choched choched: =nonce-form of checked? Cf. choch, below. Or it may be a form of couch v.

A busshe of plesure perlese in the wood

Fragraunt / vernaunt / bewtyful in coloure

The blossoms iucunde / in vertu lyke good

Facyng the Lyly in whytly candoure whytly ='whitish, pale'; see OED s.v. whitely

Al swete flowrs dysclosyd theyr odor

The goddes there to solace than I iugged

Such comly flowrs on euery boufe budded boufe: =bough, but this spelling is not attested in OED s.v. bough; elsewhere in this text the word is spelled bowghe (3x)

A fayre founten was there at hande

A freyshe spring / clere as any Crystal

That sof[t]ely tryllyd on the sande softely] sofely 1534sof[t]ely tryllyd: cf. tryl ... softly, below

The which moysted the flowrs vernaunt all

The Lybanot and Lyly of conwall Lybanot: not recorded in OED, and presumably derived from the Greek libanos (=incense); cf. MED s.v. libanus, 'a tree from which incense is derived'. Conwall: see OED s.v. convally, an adapted form of the Latin Lilium convallium, 'lily of the valleys'.

With a pure sauoure that there remayned

As Pallas / or Uenus there had bathed

The ayre murmured of theyr presence

As after assemble remaynith monument monument ='record, document'; see OED s.v. monument n, 2a

Of great powrs in fet of magnyfycence fet: =feat, 'exceptional act'

Which reuyued my mynde with sorowe ny spent

Reioysed streight / vnb[u]rdened of torment

And as fre myndes pursuyth oft slepe

So soft and gentyl on me dyd it crepe

But not long after as I ny slombered

Of tewnable cordes I harde melody

Oft recountering that my rest combered recountering ='encountering'; see OED s.v recounter v

A noyse far passyng in armony

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In cordes and raches of consony raches: error for caches? OED s.v. catch n1, 14, '(sung) round', sense first att. 1601.

Th[a]t none I iuge but wold it desyre That] Thet 1534

Except the ayshe vnapt to the lyre ayshe: =ash(tree)

O my spyryttes so it refreyshed

My body trymbelyd in reioysyng

That ny my sorowe away it wayshed

And fully awake from my slombering

To it gaue than dyligent heryng

My eye rollyd swyft here and there

To be fed as wel as was the ere

Than gentyl touches I recorded touches ='feelings'; see OED s.v. touch n, 13b; recorded ='recollected'; see OED s.v. record v1, 4

In welth whyle fortune dyd fauor

But to far mownt I remembered

A fayned melody lost in labor

Proue who lyst nothyng lyke sauor

For there is lernyng of reuenyence of reuenyence ='retrospective'? Revenience is not recorded in OED, but cf. OED s.v. revene, 'to come again', and Latin revenire

But I lerned here the notes of prudence

Mannys state was there descrybed

100

A ####ab#### mong the fowles of the ayre

Man promptly there myght haue lerned

Elegaunt to garnyshe nature fayre

My sorowe where-at dyd appayre

For comparysons I dyd combynde For: =Four? comparysons ='rivalries, contentions'? see OED s.v. comparisn n, 7; combynde ='combine, bind together'; see OED s.v. combind v

105

Mekly assuagyng in theyr kynde assuagyng ='pacifying, appeasing'? Or perhaps, 'giving way (to one another)'.

Of foules there certayne dyd assymble

To proue theyr voyces in counteryng counteryng: ='singing an accompaniment to a melody or plain-song'; see OED s.v. counter v2; the sense 'engaging in contest', OED s.v. counter v1, 4, is also present.

Arrogaunt began / but endyd humble

To syng most plesaunt was theyr stryuing

110

In swete armony and also reasonyng

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Betwyx the nyghtyngale and the thrusshe

The larke and the cocko in that busshe

Among them began a natural stryfe

Of melody who coude best endyte

115

Theyr tewnes ware redy and outraunce ryfe

To tedyous ware it to resyte

Comparysons made in theyr delyte

With reasons strong there lackyd none

That they renderyd one after one

¶The descryptyon of the nyghtyngale.

120

The nyghtyngale made heuynly noyse

Redobelyng her tewnes melodyously

Man beryed in sorowe it wold reioyse

Swete / plesaunt in consent / in corde redy consent: =concent, '(musical) harmony'

The ere fedyth no sownde more freyshly

125

That yf al melody ware truly loste

To be found in her / perelese she myght boste

Ful meryly in tyme it recorded recorded ='sang, warbled'; see OED s.v. record v1, 3b

Swete / swete / iug / iug ryght meruelus

And in a nother key streyght reported reported ='uttered, pronounced'; see OED s.v. report v, 8a

130

In manyfold notes lyke wonderus

To be taught in Paradyse / I iuged thus

Or had some lectorne of Melpomene lectorne (=lecturn): an error for lecture ='lesson'? See OED s.v. lecture n, 5a, and cf. lectorn below

Which of armony hath the dygnyte

But of the ere thus fed not suffysed

135

My eye I cast on that mery orgon

Of whos syght anon [I] was amased I] 1534 omits

So lytel a byrde to muse that lesson muse ='sing'; this sense is not recorded in OED s.v. muse v, but see the note on muses ='songs' below. Lesson ='musical piece'; see OED s.v. lesson n, 5

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So audyble / so tewnable in good facyon

From the lytel body than I remembred

140

That famous vertu oft hath burgened

Hystoryes calling to my rem[em]braunce remembraunce] rembraunce 1534

In the lytel body that vertu hydyth

The grosse body a yocke to be of combraunce yocke: =yoke

Of educatyon / such robustnesse rysith

145

Demynishment of stature in vertu smilyth

Pregnaunt in wyt / lusty in corage

In goodnese prompt / in counsel ryght sage

The sume of vertu there enharboryng

To al thynges apte that be of fame

150

The greattest conquest left in wrytting

To a lytel body that honor came

Before Alexandar who berith the name

Cesar in stature properd / fete and small properd: apparently a nonce-spelling for proper (='own, individual'), here and below

Whos polycy tryumph had ouer-all

155

Which Corylane morned in lost of victory lost ='loss'

The grosse body turning in occasyo[n]

Also Sertorius hym saued by polycy

The tayle of the horse lesyng by reason

Sonar than strenght by good conclusyon strenght: =strength

160

The batel of wyt this prouyd spetyal

Where strenght and lymmes seruyd not natural

Moch feble deceyt raignyth in strenghth strenghth: =strength

Hartes p[r]opyd in corage without aduysement propyd] popyd 1534propyd ='stuffed'; see OED s.v. prop v2

For lake of wysdome fowndering at lenght

165

And so most comyn we haue it in experyment

In a lytel body lernyng hath enclosement

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Freshe subtyl and redy of outteraunce

Facunde / elegaunt and of remembraunce

The seneuey-sede who lystyth to beholde seneuey: =senvy, 'mustard'

170

In vertu all other that doth excell

Exhausten of nature gyftes manyfolde Exhausten of ='drawn from'; see OED s.v. exhaust v, 1

Powned the fragraunter I you tell Powned: =pounded

Busshyth in vernaunce thoughe not mychel

So thys lytel byrde her notes endyted

175

Of no great fowle so wel there recorded

Of the Larkys melody

But not far of the Larke dyd appere

Composyng her pennes arrogauntly

Which to that busshe approched sone nere

Fayre-penned redy proferyng to fly

180

Which as in worthy cheke for cheualry cheke ='attack'; see OED s.v. check v1, 2

Ny to that busshe streyght toke her flyght

Mowntyng meruelus agaynst the lyght

And euer as she dyd than assende

Lyke knyght in campe for vyctory

185

Her notes she swetely dyd amende

Exaltynge her voyce merely

The trebyl tewne song than freshly

The Nyghtyngale no bettar in report

Such swete armony she made of comfort

190

I behelde that byrde of strange nature

The clowdes welny her inclosed

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In the element redounded her voyce pure

The heuyn to penetrat I supposed

The heuynly melody she dysclosed

195

At heuyn-gates I iuge she dyd get

The reches at plesure that she dyd fet reches: =riches

Of orbes rotyng she lerned armony

Enforsed by powre of the fyrst mouyng

Enstructed of nature lawde god almyghty lawde ='may laud?

200

The Egle thowghe strangly be in mowntyng strangly ='strong', although strongly is not recorded in OED as an adjective; but cf. proudly, whytly in this text.

Yet of it sure hath not lyke outteryng

Recordyng at plesure / deuydyng wonderus deuydyng ='descanting'; see OED s.v. divide v, 11

Nothyng so swete [song] Syrene the dangerus song] 1534 omits

Anone after she dyd descende

205

By lytel and lytel lyke a byrde of pryce

With note that euer dyd amende

Redy in wynges swyft / mowntyng at a tryce

Of the vernaunt lawre worthy in my aduyce lawre: = laure, 'laurel-chaplet'

Which in the grotton anone lyghted grotton: =gratten, a southern dialect word meaning 'stubble(-field)'

210

Faryng as she there wold haue rested

But quykly lyke a byrde of bewte

To the fayre haythorne toke her flyght

As after worthynesse showed of dewte

Wolde make clame there to some dewe ryght

215

And among the blossomes dyd lyght

Lyke an heyre to take possessyon

Clamyd of ryght for her swet lesson swet: =sweet

Of the thrusshe

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Which the thrusshe dylygent marked

That her ere fast layd to that melody

220

Lyke a byrde greuyd anone carped

Expressyng sone her fast memory Expressyng ='expelling (the contents of)'; see OED s.v. express v1, 1b

As nothyng had scaped of that armony

She whysteled and also chypped chypped: =cheeped, here and below? See OED s.v. cheep v

And from bowghe to bowghe there trypped

225

Sone after that byrde so semble and fayre semble: =seemly

Her chere changyd of greuyd cowntenaunce

To the hyest branche leppyng of the bryar

And her gyft of nature prowdly dyd avaunce

Showyng of muses her redy owtterance muses ='songs'; see OED s.v. muse n1, 3

230

Nothyng was truly to her than strange

In cordes at plesure she dyd range

The nyghtyngale she dyd cownterfet

Lyke a byrde that wolde the hole reply

For no dysdayne she dyd than let

235

Ful of corage syngyng ryght freshly

The larkys note she dyd descry

The starle / the keyt she pertly dyd mocke

Robyn redbrest the wren and the Pecocke

Such borowed descaunt she song freshly

240

And of her owne she spared no bost

Now swete / now sharpe and scornfully

Avaunsyng as the other had lost

Or none such to be in that same cost

And so on the bryar syttyng a ####ab#### hy

245

Proyned her fayre fethers by and by Proyned: =preened; see OED s.v. preen v2

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¶The melody of the Cocko.

Which father cocko sone espyed

Ful sagely restyng not far off

That to confownde hym-self emplyed hym-self emplyed ='he indicated his presence'; see OED s.v. imply v, 2c

He noddyd with the hed as a man wold coff

250

Apperyng lyke one hauyng no vse therof

And at the last it out dyd brast

A sad song and a formal blast

Great grauyte therin pretendyng

Tewnes syngyng of solempnyte

255

Playne was it wit[h]out ruffelyng without] witout 1534

Crachettis nor quauerettis cured she The cuckoo appears to have changed his gender.

That esyly iuged it myght be

By some subtyl reason wold make clame

And not by note to encrese her name

260

Lyke as we rede vertu hath oft spyred spyred ='sprouted, mounted'; see OED s.v. spire v1

From body not elegaunt of composyng

In membres deforme or in tonge lypped lypped ='lopped, truncated'? See OED s.v. lip v2

Esope was not al venust in shapyng

Demosthenes of nature was stuttyng stuttyng ='stuttering'; see OED s.vv. stut v1, stutting

265

Yet reason pregnaunt in the one rayngned rayngned: =reigned

Dylygence in th'other eloquence procured

So plesaunt cowntenaunce oft hath be occasyon

In vyce or troble that some ware trapped

Moch bewty shone in the face of Absolon

270

His bewtyful heere in vyce hym lapped

Putyfers spouse fayre Ioseph clapped

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In pryson for his fayre cowntenaunce

Be ####ab#### ca[u]se with her he made [n]ot dalyaunce

So rudy chekes haue often dysseued

275

Crokyd lymmes be of louely mekenese

Esyly gotten oft-tymes hath greued

Elabored thyng is of more suernese Elabored ='worked for'; see OED s.v. elabour v, which does not record a transitive use in this sense, however

That lake bewty be of prompt redynese

To garnyshe nature with pregnaunt reson

280

In the cowcko prouyd by conclusyon

So from the cothows oft hath floryshed cothows: =cothouse, 'small cottage'

Prynces redoub[t]ed of valeaunt pusaunce redoubted] redoubded 1534

By vertu and vyctory that it purchased

Actes declaryng of worthy remembraunce

285

Gydyng theyr people by noble gouernaunce

Which conquered to landes great royalte

Where vyce spoyled them of auctoryte

So from the thorne buddyth the rose

In bowghe and branch not lyke apperyng

290

Ye in sauour his nature doth lose

Rubycunde fayre of plesaunt smylyng

Whyte / sprynkeled of semble colouryng

Lyke in the blake botel lyquor hydyth

Swete / freysh / fragraunt that man confortyth

295

So thys sory byrde in notes ryght playne

Not in pennes arrogaunt composed

Of the lawre made profer to be fayne

But [she that] note no bettar expressed she that] that she 1534

To reason she wold styke I than iuged

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300

In an oke not far of restyng

As wold fle with her hed noddyng

Streyght from her perch she toke her flyght

Entendyng there to make comparyson

And in that bussh boldly dyd lyght

305

Where they chypped and chaunted a ceson

But not long after they began to reason

The chantors offyce who shuld haue

So they compared them-selfe to saue

¶The reason of the nyghtyngale.

The nyghtyngale sayd she was worthy

310

In whom the key of musyke dyd rest

All-hole her-self fayned melody

Nothyng delyueryng from her brest

But descaunt it was of the purest

A nother bost than made of comparement

315

A swete qualite to her only lent

Whan Lucyfers bemes be beryed bryght

Than at rest syt you all lurkyng

Many sad hartes than make I lyght

The corde of trewe musyke reportyng

320

So Pheba I please with my chantyng

And yet on the day I seldom delay

Utteryng my notes with sport and play

The kocke refreysheth many a man

In the nyght from dull and duskyd slomberyng

325

Prowdly crowyng now and than

But that ne pausyng suckeryth lamentyng suckeryth: =succoureth

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Of more lawde is worthy after reasonyng

Wherfore most apte am I for this offyce

A byrde perelese of pryke and pryce

330

The subtyl fet of good inuentyng fet: =feat

In cordes and tewnes that plesaunt be

With coraged brest of clene delyueryng

Seyng the grounde with reportes of bewte Seyng: an error for Sedyng (=seeding) or Sewyng (=sowing)? Reportes ='notes'

Bettar than his boke is of auctoryte

335

Such cordes be in me / such tewne is kepte

As the lady of musyke in me had slepte

A nother argument of ryght tytell tytell ='that which justifies or substantiates a claim'; see OED s.v. title n. 6

Most men of me take theyr repast

To fede theyr ere delectable well

340

Wherby to me such loue haue cast

Sayeng my tewnes that all haue past

What nedyth me than to make reclame

Of that in possessyon that is my name

¶The larkys reason

Me-semyth (quod the larke) ye do dote

345

Imprudently your-self to avaunce

That wyll compare must haue no blotte

I fynde in you a thyng of combraunce

That sone assuage shall your dalyaunce

Lyke as the Pecoke in pen[n]es dysdaynyth

350

But fowle legges his corage assuagyth fowle: =foul, with a pun on 'fowl'

So doth many one promote his parson

With crafty colours of aduauncement

All that furtheryng is good reason

The bowe indyfferent is not bent indyfferent ='impartial'

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355

To touch the but lokyng for punyshment

Of whom the prouerbe shal not dye

A man fawtlese / but / but doth denye This proverb is not recorded in Tilley, Whiting or the Oxford Dictionary of English Proverbs.

Many commodytes ye do propone

Of notes / dytes and armony

360

By your-selfe as ye ware perles alone

But to me it semyth a pange sory pange: here and below, pang(e) seems to have a different sense (='attitude'?) from those recorded in OED s.v. pang n1 ('sudden pain or feeling')

That lokyth on vertu and not foly

Them in a bundel wysdom doth combynde

Which sone assuagyth the arrogaunt mynde

365

Your notes I besech where do become

Whan Baron Ianus blo[w]yth his blast blowyth] bloyth 1534

You lurke in a corner than very dome

Your voyce slomberyth / your pennes do wast

That after your syght than no man hath hast

370

Is not thys a byrde lyke to make comparyson?

In a pange of fortune whystelyng his lesson?

Yet nere by nature may I approche

Thys offyce vpon me to take

No sharpe / hore-frost makyth me to choch choch: =check? Cf. choched, above

375

Nor fethers for it do asslake

But in the grotton myrth do [I] make I] 1534 omits

And somtyme for my plesure merely

My armony sone wyl exalte an hye

With an-other gyfte that surmowntyth all

380

Not erth only in me doth delyt

But also the aungels ethereal

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Where I lerne so puerly to endyte

And ful wel do I theyr grace requyte

In theyr swete dewe there bath I oft

385

With plesaunt armony mowntyng a ####ab#### loft

I rendar kyndly that they me lent

Benefyttes geuyn in me do not spyl

My nowne person doth it present

With prompt seruys and voyce subtyl

390

Which is famous after my skyl

In an-other freysh to behold playne freysh ='(to) refresh'? See OED s.v. fresh v

That with study dyscussyd his brayne dyscussyd ='drove out'; see OED s.v. discuss v, 1, 2

This leftyd swetly in the ayre This: =Thus

Of armony only [I] here not the lesson I] 1534 omits

395

But I contemplat the woddes fayre woddes: =woods

The flowrs / the odors haue assentyon

Wherof I haue great delectatyon

I behold wel the place of amenyte the place of amenyte ='the locus amoenus, the earthly paradise'

Paradyse in erth / most worthy of dygnyte

¶The reason of the thrushe.

400

Whom the thrush coude no lengar forbere

Supposyng to speke al to late

As no laude had be lefte for [her] there her] here 1534

And for the offyce began to chat

Euyn in the bussh there-as she sat

405

With formal reason of eloquence

As of Pallas had some influence

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If in report there restyth praysyng

In the nyghtys melody commendatyon

In varyable notes moch reioysyng

410

In contynual syngyng swete consolatyon

Of armony to rendar the mery lesson

At heuyn-gattes where freyshly it is

In solace bathyng of meruelus blys

In them cockyng vertu elegauntly cockyng: the sense is unclear here; but see OED s.v. cock v1.

415

Allegyng for the lawre with dysdayne Allegyng ='pleading'? See OED s.v. allege v2

Chockyng with a bone of dyshonesty Chockyng: =choking

But one thyng marke you very playne

Of parteys the hole doth remayne

And the hole is no other thyng

420

But parteys compact in ioynyng

What thyng partly ye haue descrybed

In me of it the hole sume restyth

Who can endyte? of me not fayned

No fowle in the ayre that euer fleyth

425

Of me herd but my brest reportyth

Seldom the byrde vtteryth melody

That I reporte not in bettar armony

The mo the meryar it is sayd

Sen in dyuerse the bettar is sped

430

And of more worthynese vndenayd

Study in scyence sone is enhaunsed

If with quycke memory it be flowred

In incredyble memory scyence is lockyd incredyble ='beyond belief'? See OED s.v. incredible adj., 1

So in a dull hed sone is it chockyd chockyd: =choked

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435

Cesar is lauded for fast memory

Of no man resyted / that euer red swyftar

Pennyng his mynde in quycknes as redy

Of foure quaterns he was compylar

Of epystels at ons no man bettar

440

Pycus de Myrandula not longe agon

Thrughe fast memory felowe had non

Now marke ye dylygent my entent

The flowre of study of me expressyd

To dylygent pregnaunce comyn is lent

445

Yf in no trechery the mynde be duskyd

In slewth and dyscord be not there luskyd luskyd ='lay hidden'

Apt to honor is that elegaunt parson

Which as in me lyke / in none hath perfectyon

This auaunsyd she in that natural hous

450

Coyshe with her cowntenaunce vnderp[r]opyng vnderpropyng] vnderpopyng 1534Coyshe: =coyish, 'somewhat coy'; vnderpropyng: cf. vnderproppyng, below

Fayre-mayled and a properd smale dows dows ='sweetheart, dear'; see OED s.v. douse n2; a properd smale dows ='a proper little dear'; see above for the form properd: =proper

With scornful syght rollyng on them lokyng

That bone in theyr throte thought to be choking

But sone after bespake her make

455

Her arrogaunt bost to aslake

¶The cocko.

Soth sayth the cocko it is that ye say

Sen in many but expert in very fewe

Your brest vtteryth sport and play

With Meduseus as ye dyd renewe

460

Or in the font of the hors lappyd the d[e]we

sig: [C2v]

Moch your comparyson greater your bostyng

As all the muses had in you reclosyng

To the hole perlese ye make reclame

A hole sume with a grosse gappe

465

A false tytel and forged fame

A vayne bost that the wynde doth flappe

A fayre byldyng wyl stand parhappe

Insculped / enbosted and paynted venustly Insculped ='adorned with carvings'; see OED s.v. insculp v

For lake of fundatyon fallyth quycly

470

So your reasons apperyng strong

Lykely / but false I can proue

What is descaunt with-out playnsong

With reportes of plesure as ye loue

In the meane or swetely to syng aboue

475

Yf the playnsong swarue from the boke

A ####ab#### none your descaunt wyl stande a ####ab#### croke

To me it longyth to syng the pla[y]nsong playnsong] plansong 1534

And you on me to syng descaunt I ####ab#### wys

Now on mynom-tyme and now two long mynom: =minim

480

To ####ab#### gether shal we syng swetely this

Most fyt for me than this offyce is

And seldome ye se it in experyence

But the quere rulyth the basys dyly[g]ence dylygence] dylyence 1534

After the which prudent and formal reason

485

To the cocko dyd they al assent

Geuyng hym that offyce of promotyon

And ech with other ware wel content

Knyt in trewe loue sone after ware bent

sig: [C3]

1534 misnumbers the signature as B.iij.

To repete theyr notes of melody

490

A swete song to make of armony

The cocko began than redely to syng

A fayre key takyng of meane tyme

The dyapason now and than touchyng

The larke in her voyce anon dyd clyme

495

The nyghtyngale reportyd hym

A standyng tenor song the thrussh

Ioyned in felysshyp in that bussh

Theyr voyces in the wood dyd redownde

All instrumentes in plesure excellyng

500

Far bettar theyr eccho was i[n] sownde

A fayrar lectorn they rede of syngyng lectorn (=lecturn): an error for lecture ='lesson', lection? See OED s.v. lecture n, 3, and cf. lectorne above

Than dyd the hamors of Tubals techyng

Or Pyctagoras that was so tedyus

Knyt in a sume myght se it compendyus

505

It was not frompelyd nor yet iombelyd frompelyd ='rumpled, disordered'; see OED s.v. frumple v

Nor fayned voyces but of nature pure

Not hob-for-gyb out rayshly tumbelyd

Lyke blynd bayar[d] that nothyng doth cure bayard] bayar 1534

Lytel in the grounde / in the boke assure The sense of boke is obscure, but may refer to the part of the plough-beam to which the horses are yoked; see OED s.v buck n5, 4.

510

Which not syngyth but scuyth al raysh scuyth: =skews, 'shies (as a horse), swerves'; see OED s.v. skew v2, 2b

That with his fryske from the cord doth laysh laysh ='dash, spring, start'; see OED s.v. lash v1, 1

Than perseuyd I good apperyng symple

Of many coniectured folyshnese

In the wooddes to lyue forsoke the cyte

515

Renownsyng al pompe of wantonnese

Dwellyd in the cothowse of wyldernese

sig: [C3v]

And no merwel that such plesure there founde

Eloquentar dyte than in the tounde tounde: a nonce-form of toune (=town)

So drewe my sorowe to perfectyon

520

In my reason it dyd so wel recorde

There restyth vehemence in a swete lesson

With whom ragyng wyldnese euer wyl borde

In greater dysdayne at the bettar worde

Which delyte in prouerbe shal not spyl

525

Moch swettar is sport to the wanton wyl

The wooddes and the cyte I dyd combynde

Many apply but fewe haue the lote lote: =lot

In corde and dyte to agre of mynde

Dyuerse study the armony of note

530

But in the dyte vtterly they dote

As oft is sen a man wel enpareled

Yet lyke goodnese within is fabeled

So in the cyte armony is forsed

From the woodyes translate that melody

535

But bondage for lyberte is yl scorsed scorsed ='bartered, exchanged'; see OED s.v. scorse v1

Byrdes in cages be mured gayly cages] chages 1534

But that is coacte syngyth not freyshly

As in musytyons we se it playne

Yf it come not of corage they wyl fayne

540

So cordes of lyberte are in corage

With me contryuyng his nature

Uertu is lyberte vyce is bondage

Which causyd me to take more cure

Theyr dyte to marke / as note pure

sig: [C4]

545

And anone perseuyd it not darke

Agaynst puaunt vyce that dyd barke puaunt ='stinking'; see OED s.v. puant

The dyte to me was wonderfull

Of the byrdes expressyd meruelus

No hed but it wold refreyshe dull

550

Man (quod they) lerne this lesson of vs

To syng in trewe loue as we do thus

From the corde of loue ospryngyth grace

Heuyn wynnyng / hydyng al trespace

Be content with the gyft of nature

555

Upon the neyghbors enter not pryse pryse ='contest'; see OED s.v. prize n2

For presumptyon may not endure

Uyce of dysdayne doth euer aryse

Goddys creatyon do thou surmyse surmyse ='conceive, imagine'; see OED s.v. surmise v, 3b

All-thyng he creatyd in trewe armony

560

Gyft to accorde here with gyft meryly

After from thens they toke theyr flyght

Nature to sustayne by his prouysion

Utterly vanyshyng from my syght

Than fel I in great medytatyon

565

Compassyng that swete noyse with my reason

As lyghtly it is in man most feruent

To recorde delyte somtyme present recorde ='recall, recollect'

O fortune ouerrollyd in darkenese ouerrollyd ='enveloped'; see OED s.v. overroll v

Ny mured slomberyng in my brest

570

Thy-self forgettyng in welthynese

But sone a ####ab#### wry whan he dyd wrest

Repentaunce had me wel-ny opprest

sig: [C4v]

Lerne lerne man arrogaunce euer to fle

Condescend with thes byrdes in humylyte

575

Man thy reason yf thou do wel tyll tyll ='cultivate'; see OED s.v. till v1, 6

Lyke swetenese of armony we fynde

In all men that refrayne theyr wyll

As in brefe sentence I wyll combynde

The larkys note who bettar hath in mynde

580

Than where the flowr of chastyte smylyth

A heuynly tewne where-so it restyth

That passyth this lyfe in vyrgynyte

With aungel equal and hym beforne

Aungel in ioy / man lapped in mysere

585

Trogyng and mournyng as ware forlorne Trogyng: =trudging

But syngyng this note fortunat is borne

Whose mynde sone the cloudes doth penetrat

Meke and redy all wronge to tollerat

So the nyghtyngale euydent syngeth

590

In the gentyl brest of curtese

The fetes of reason there reporteth

A ####ab#### propred clame of that dygnyte

O[n] pregnaunt wyt grounded auctoryte

Lawes to sancyt of ryghtfulnes sancyt ='sanction'; see OED s.v. sancite v

595

The ragyng mynde to let of wyldnes

Whome of innocentes I may call

The good and sure buckeler of defence

Chastenyng vyce and wyll tyrannicall

A note trewly of hye magnyficence

600

Both in nyght and daye of redy presence

sig: D1

The nyght turnyth in dayly pastaunce

Correctyth synne and vertu doth enhaunce

In dyuerse tewnes of the thrushys musyng

In a grosse sume to ####ab#### together coniest coniest: =congest

605

Clerely expressyth the comyn lyuyng

In the lyne of lyke meryt that do rest

That holdyth of other is not the purest

Whos varyable notes do dysclose

The indygest lyfe that most do repose indygest ='shapeless, confused'

610

The dangerus recourse of marchandyse

The subtyl inuentyon artyfytyal

Composyng in ordar by semble wyse

To confort our lyfe with thynges of materyal

With handy-craftes that be lyke natural natural ='pertaining to the physical (as opposed to spiritual) world'; see OED s.v. natural adj., 5

615

Which in a nombre yf we redresse redresse: some such meaning as 'have recourse to' is needed here, but this sense is not recorded in OED s.v. redress v1. An emendation to adresse may be required; see OED s.v. address v, 11 ('to turn the attention to').

The th[ru]shys notes wyl expresse thrushys] thurshys 1534

Now the cocko druggyth at the plough

Playne as a packestafe euer in care

Be it frost or snowe he goyth thrugh

620

Yf the plough spede the bettar do they fare

Th'other geuyng the tewne of welfare

Than goyth the playnsong ryght swetly

The bettar musyke there of armony

But yf the cocko the larke wold fayne

625

Dekey wold sone theyr modulatyon

Or yf the thrusshe the note wold retayne

Of the nyghtyngalys gentyl fatyon

Sone theyr corde wold come to confusyon

sig: [D1v]

As lyke to syght as an ape purpuled

630

Or a slaue in a regal vesture palled

As plesaunt to the ere as the blacke sanctus blacke sanctus ='a kind of burlesque hymn'; see OED s.v. sanctus n, 3, where the term is first attested 1578

Of a sad sorte vpon a mery pyn

Lernyd in the bole of curtys Bacchus

Bathyd in musyke without / and within

635

Rage in cordes / in dyte do deuyn

Querystars arrogaunt syt with dysdayne Querystars: =choristers

For than al wysdome rumbelyth in theyr brayne

Lyke Sylene in swetnes of armony

Relyng from his dene with a blacke tankarde

640

Endyted verses of famous memory

The styffe okes fayned hym to regarde

To Aglays promysyng wanton rewarde

Al faynyng to daunce I iuge they dremed

Or the erth with molles euerywhere heued

645

Lyke Promachus in tryumph dysgysed

That lorde of drynkars I may call

In Alexanders game vnsemble deuysed

Of thre tankerdes he dronke vp all

No man lyke hym in quaftyng prodygall quaftyng: =quaffing

650

He vsyd to sup them at a tryce

Wherfore among them he had the pryce

Lyke knyght in felde for vyctory

For the gottys-wul that often stryuyth

Or for tryumph beyng vylony

655

Of tyranny what laude ospryngyth

What to hym that an-other spoylyth

sig: D2

So of comparyson sory is electyon

Where nether of them bryngyth but infectyon

To stryue in offyce it to auaunce

660

Famyd with the flowre of humilyte

The vertu it is of noble constance

Not to barke at an-others dygnyte

That garnyshe theyr gyfte ryght famous be

So drenched in pryde often do lowre

665

Syt it in cothowse or in hye bowre

The greater in wysdom / the hyar in grace

Goddys ordynaunce if they behold

In them pryde shal occ[u]py no place occupy] occapy 1534

The inflat mynde may sone make colde

670

Comyn folowyth gyftes manyfolde Comyn ='commonly'

Panges of foly dayly pursuyng

In pryde that the mynde may haue no raging

Holy saynt Paul was oft cuffyd cuffyd= 'buffeted'; see OED s.v. cuff v1

For al he was drenched in hye grace

675

With enflamed lechery oft buffyd

Gladly callyng to heuynly solace

To saue hym from that fylthy trespace

Which let al byrdes dylygent contemplat

So prydly venom shal not intoxycat prydly ='prideful', although OED does not record an adj. pridely

680

Let the larke than dylygent aduort aduort is a nonce-spelling of advert, 'turn one's attention to'.

Which of nature in the grotton restyth

Heuyn to refreyshe by dewe resorte

With mowntyng plesauntly as she syngyth

Which thyng a chaste mynde wel expressyth

sig: [D2v]

685

No lowryng darke clowde may hym let

His prayer afore god to be set

The famous vyrgyn by prerogatyue

Tastyd grace slomberyng on Chrystys brest

The sacrament of secresy dyd contryue

690

In storys restyth ne such a conquest

Al powre in ordar that hath redrest

Recusyng honor / where honor myght haue Recusyng ='rejecting, renouncing'; see OED s.v. recuse v

Hyest in honor / that most men dyd saue

Not entreprysyng iuste[s] at the campe iustes] iusted 1534iustes: =jousts

695

Not shyned in vayne-glory and ryet

Theyr lyfe is bryghter than eny lampe

Trechery quenchyng by good dyet

In hyest tryumphe beyng most quyet

This offeryth incenses for our mortalyte This: =these

700

That oft sagge redemyng our fraylte

Solinus showyth of a prouynce

Where the indwellars be hole chast

Al toyes of ryet that do deuynce deuynce is not recorded as a verb in OED, but cf. devict, 'subdued, overcome', and devinct, 'bound'. Deuynce must therefore derive from either Latin devincere, 'to conquer' or devincire, 'to bind fast'.

Theyr mynde in vertu is lockyd fast

705

Not haltyng doune from theyr norme cast norme: =norm, 'standard', here and below; OED s.v. norme first attests it in this sense 1635.

Lyke one tyme losyng / relyth to the close relyth ='rushes, dashes'; see OED s.v. reel v, 3. Close ='end, conclusion'

Wrystyng and wryngyng to bryng to purpose

The famous flowre of nobylyte

The swete reportes yf be loste

710

A byrde in name but not in dygnyte

Which of hye lynage may make boste

But lackyng vertu / slepyth in the froste

sig: D3

Gentyl vngentyl that may be named

In the parent fayre in the sonne dyffamed

715

Sone honor vadyth led by auaryce vadyth: =fades; see OED s.v. vade v1

Euer lackyng yet drouned in opulence

Sone mannys mynde spousid to vyce

Blynded / tumbelith in-to neclygence

This garryth the note of reuerence garryth: =jars

720

Moch truculence wherof ospringyth

That playne a dyscord no other syngyth

The vernaunt flowre of gentylry

Bathyth in the well-spryng of clemence

Iustyce / and the dewe acte of honesty

725

Preferryng / fauoryth royalte

Not grossyth / nor engratyth dayle engratyth ='is harsh or oppressive'; see OED s.v. ingrate v

Nor druggyth with the cartar at the plough

But syngyth swetly content with ynough

Craftes resyted artyfytyal resyted ='already mentioned'

730

Theyr gyfte labored yf they do apply

Most restyth in thynges materyal

To folowe the larke behouyth truly

Th'other to obey in corde meryly

So ioynyng fortunes by dyscretyon

735

The swete corde shal sone rendar of reason

Now the larke pouerly the ploughman can play pouerly: =poorly, 'humbly'

The cocko vnapt the other counterfyttys

Nature repugnyth the gentylman to play

As truly no game it is for slauys

740

To iust in the felde with syluer sperys

sig: [D3v]

So dewe ordar makyth armony

A confused state garryth vtterly

To pray belongith for our offence

The larkys note in humylite

745

The nyghtyngale protector of innocence

The thrusshe clothith our necessite

Of the cockoys playnsong al fed be

Which to confuse no other thyng is

But the plough the oxen to drawe I ####ab#### wys

750

Where thes agre. O fortunat countre

Irrored with the dew celestyal Irrored ='bedewed'; cf. OED s.v. irrorate

Spousyd to vertu / indued with bownte

The swete key reportyng armonycal

Rauyshed plesaunt in noyse ethereal

755

Where though the muses be not present

Yet theyr odor pausith in monument

A nother lyke lesson than dyd I bownte bownte: probably an error; cf. bownte in the previous stanza

Which me refreyshed meruelusly

Many thynges creat I dyd recownte

760

Of the elementys nature facundly facundly ='eloquently', although the adverbial form of the adj. facund is not recorded in OED

In proportyons syngyng iocundly

In rarnesse / or thycknesse euer a tenth rarnesse ='thinness'; see OED s.v. rareness n, 1. Tenth may be used in the musical sense; see OED s.v. tenth n, 3

From theyr corde mak[y]ng no ragement makyng] makng 1534ragement ='violence', although ragement is not recorded in OED (but see OED s.v. toying vbl. n [1580])

Dystyncted in stryfe by dew proportyon Dystyncted ='distinguished'; see OED s.v. distinct v

765

Of whom compact is al-thyng sensyble

Whos armony spyreth propagatyon spyreth ='produces'; see OED s.v. spire v1, 1b

And whan they rage / yssueth mysere

Than ceasith the corde by fayned amyte

sig: [D4]

So wonderful in nature further in stryfe

770

Content with theyr vertu gyue to al lyfe

So founde I in countreys descryptyon

Of al thynges in one not lyke opulence

Which inducyth this elegaunt reason

To agre in corde of louely congruence

775

Therfore one hath not the hole influence

That by commodytes in nede of fodar

We shuld aduertyse one to loue an-other aduertyse ='notify, admonish'; see OED s.v. advertise v, 4a

As of landes made of in mentyon

For gyftes of nature that be auaunsyd

780

Some for subtyl and elegaunt inuentyon

Some for the vyne famous be extollyd

Some for theyr sauours greatly are commendyd

Some wooddes / fel / catal and freyshe spryng

Some forest / dale and holsom fosteryng

785

Some hold moch of the heuinly larke

An-other of the nyghtyngale bost dare

Dyuerse with the thrusshe dayly do warke

Most with the cocko druggen in care

Thus sowre and swet in loue ioyned are

790

But fortunat that parke / plesaunt that tre

Wher thes be knet and in corde do agre

Which in the lectorne of cosmography The meaning of lectorne (=lectern) is unclear; see the notes on lectorn(e) above.

The gyfte of nature in none more opulent

Than in Englonde of noble memory

795

Al thes byrdes there syng ryght reuerent

Seldom ragyng / or makyng interment interment ='meddling, interference'; see OED s.v. entermete v, and the note on interment above, line 18

sig: [D4v]

Fayre semble and of lusty corage

Gouernyd by prynces of hye lynage

A parke vernaunt / plesauntly paled

800

Under fruitful plage by syt[u]atyon plage ='region, clime'; see OED s.v. plage n1

With the surgyng see rownd a ####ab#### bowt mured

Fayre in prospect / a place of miratyon miratyon ='wonder'; see OED s.v. miration, where it is recorded only as a regional term in the United States, from 1893

Dystyncted in prouynces by discretyon

Aungels are lyke the people of cowntenaunce

805

For whom ther god makyth great purueaunce

Of catal and corne there is ryght good

From the hylles the stremes do tryl

Encresyng softly at last in flode

Of forest and dale they haue theyr wyl

810

Of fysshe and fowle they haue theyr fyl

Of metal there is a ryght good vayne

Of men there lackyth no poure and mayne

Al landes to it haue lyeng theyr trade

With al to change his gyfte is redy

815

Half-stuffyd come thyther / away go lade

God saue Englond and kepe in armony

The corde of goddis wyl to report dayly

In trewe musyke theyr lesson to rendar

Theyr famous state shal last the lengar

820

Consent neuer drawyth to confu[s]yon confusyon] confutyon 1534

The flowre euer garnyshyth of prudence

A meke state neuer tumblyth in euersyon

A suffysed brest is full of clemence

That knowyth hym-self geuyth reuerence

sig: [E1]

825

The swete lectorne of [t]he foules assemblaunce the] che 1534The meaning of lectorne (=lectern) is unclear (='music'?); see the notes on lectorn(e) above.

That where it spyryth is lytel combraunce spyryth ='mounts up'; see the note on spyred, above

Whereof yssuyth a noble sentence

Man assuage thy insatyat appetyte

Of presumptyon alay the offence

830

He lyuyth not here in cordly delyte

Suaruyng from the tewne of his benefyte

Than let go pryde and vnderproppyng

Loke on thy-self and leue thy choppyng

Let go bostyng and vayne-glory

835

The subtyl artyllary of the deuyl

Let go dyscorde a blast ful sory

Man of vertu that doth euer pyll

And spouse thy-selfe truly to goddys wyll

For wyl adulteryne may not endure adulteryne ='spurious, counterfeit, due to adulteration' in early uses; see OED s.v. adulterine adj.

840

That louyth wel god / he lyuyth sure

Creatyd thou must the remembre

In purpose of lyfe far moch bettar

Laude to god than se thou rendre

Frely he gaue the a gyfte comlyar

845

To rendar agayne thou art but dettar

For such is ordayned the meruelus syght

To behold the myrrour of tryforme lyght

Wherto to come god gyue vs grace

The louyng note to synge of humylyte

850

For that wyll mownt vnto that place

Must nosel in no pang of mysere nosel: =nuzzle

Lyke wyll to lyke and euer shalbe

sig: [E1v]

That in cordly ordar lyue not here of lyfe

Shal lament where is no ordar but al stryfe

855

Reason the norme of ordar hath inuentyd

To tech man the path of heuynnys s[o]lace solace] salace 1534

That to publyshe Cryst was incarnatyd

Growndyng obedyence to lede that trace Growndyng ='establishing'; see OED s.v. ground v, 3

Loue and ordar to purchese that place

860

Euyl-wyl and dysordar there to haue no powr

But fayth and vertu to floryshe in that bowre

That vse wel reason there shal haue meryte

That lyue for heuyn there shal haue honor

Uertu there shynyth in perfyt delyte

865

Of al swet flowrs there is the fragraunt odor

All perfectyon to beholde that myrror

With other ioyes that be there in corage

Of whom I can not expresse the surplusage

From blyndnese of hart god vs defende

870

To fyx our loue in lyfe perpetual

And not rest in thyng that shal haue ende

For mortal in thyng to delyte mortall

As neuer wolde depart with loue so spetyal

Hedlyng to tomble it is no other thyng

875

To the darke lake of pytyful mornyng

God saue our prynce and his louyng make

His byrdes to report in armony

From the breth god defende them of the lake

That the deuyl blastyth owt spytefully

sig: [E2]

880

That this compyled Cryst saue from foly

God send vs al the heuynly palace

Uyryng in bewte of meruelus solace Uyryng ='turning'?; see OED s.v. vire v1, 2

¶This endyth endyth] endythth 1534 the comparyson of the byrdes compyled by dan Robert Saltwood monke And imprynted by Iohnn Mychel.