II.

ON THE DEATH OF K. EDWARD THE FIRST.

We have here an early attempt at Elegy. EDWARD I. died July 7. 1307, in the 35th year of his reign, and 69th of his age. This poem appears to have been compofed foon after his death. According to the modes of thinking peculiar to thofe times, the writer dwells more upon his devotion, than his skill in government, and pays lefs attention to the martial and political abilities of this great monarch, in which he had no equal, than to fome little weaknesses of fuperftition, which he had in common with all his cotemporaries. The king had in the decline of life vowed an expedition to the holy land, but finding his end approach, he dedicated the fum of 32,000l. to the maintenance of a large body of knights (140 Jay hiftorians, 80 fays our poet,) who were his heart with them into Palestine. This dying command of the king was never performed. Our poet with the boneft prejudices of an Englishman, attributes this failure to the advice of the king of France, whofe daughter fabel our young monarch immediately married. But the truth is, Edward and his deftructive favourite Piers Gaveflon Spent the money upon their pleasures. To do the greater bonour to the memory of his herce, our poet puts his eloge in the mouth of the Pope; with the fame poetic licence, as a more modern bard would have introduced Britannia, or the Genius of Europe pouring forth his praises.

to carry

This antique Elegy is extracted from the fame MS. volume, as the preceding article; is found with the fame pe

culiarities

culiarities of writing and orthography; and tho' written at near the distance of half a century contains little or no variation of idiom: whereas the next following poem by Chaucer, which was probably written not more than 50 or 60 years after this, exhibits almost a new language. This feems to countenance the opinion of fome antiquaries, that this great poet made confiderable innovations in his mother tongue, and introduced many terms, and new modes of Speech from other languages.

ALLE, that beoth of huerte trewe,

A ftounde herkneth to my fong

Of duel, that Deth hath diht us newe,

That maketh me fyke, ant forewe among;

Of a knyht, that wes so strong,

Of wham God hath don ys wille;

Me-thuncheth that deth hath don us wrong,
That he so fone fhall ligge ftille.

Al Englond ahte for te knowe

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Of wham that fong is, that y fynge;

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Byfore that oure kyng wes ded,

He spek afe mon that wes in care,
"Clerkes, knyhtes, barons, he fayde,
Y charge ou by oure fware,

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"That

"That ye to Engelonde be trewe.
"Y deze, y ne may lyven na more;
"Helpeth mi fone, ant crouneth him newe,

"For he is neft to buen y-core,

"Ich biqueth myn herte aryht,
"That hit be write at mi devys,
"Over the fee that Hue* be diht,

"With fourscore knyhtes al of
"In werre that buen war ant wys,

prys,

"Azein the hethene for te fyhte,
"To wynne the croiz that lowe lys,
"Myfelf ycholde zef that y myhte."

Kyng of Fraunce, thou hevedeft finne,"
That thou the counfail woldest fonde,
To latte the wille of Edward kyng'

To wende to the holy londe;
That oure kyng hede take on honde

All Engelond to zeme art wyffe,

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30

35

*This is probably the name of some person, who was to prefide over this bufiness. Ver. 33. funne. MS. Ver. 35. kyng Edward. MS.

Ver. 43. ys is probably a contraction of in hys or yn his.

The Pope him felf the lettre redde,

Ant fpec a word of gret honour. "Alas! he feid, is Edward ded? "Of Criftendome he ber the flour."

The Pope to is chaumbre wende,

For dol ne mihte he fpeke na more; Ant after cardinals he fende,

That muche couthen of Criftes lore, Bothe the laffe, ant eke the more,

Bed hem bothe rede ant fynge:

Gret deol me myhte fe thore,
Mony mon is honde wrynge.

The Pope of Peyters ftod at is maffe
With ful gret folempnetè,

Ther me con the foule bleffe :

Kyng Edward honoured thou be:

"God love thi fone come after the,

"The holy crois y-mad of tre,

"Bringe to ende that thou haft bygonne,

"So fain thou woldest hit hav

y-wonne.

"Jerufalem, thou haft i-lore

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"The flour of al chivalrie

"Now kyng Edward liveth na more: "Alas! that he zet fhulde deye!

"He

Ver. 55. Me, i, e. Men. fo in Robert of Gloucefier paffim.

"He wolde ha rered up ful heyze

"Oure banners, that bueth broht to grounde;

"Wel! longe we mowe clepe and crie

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"Er we a fuch kyng han y-founde."

Nou is Edward of Carnarvan

King of Engelond al aplyht,
God lete him ner be worse man

Then is fader, ne laffe of myht,
To holden is pore men to ryht,

And underflonde good counfail,
Al Engelong for to wyffe ant dyht;
Of gode knyhtes darh him nout fail.

Thah mi tonge were mad of stel,
Ant min herte yzote of bras,
The godness myht y never telle,
That with kyng Edward was :
Kyng, as thou art cleped conquerour,

In uch bataille thou hadeft prys ;
God bringe thi foule to the honour,
That ever wes, ant ever ys

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Here follow in the original three lines more, which, as apparently purious, we chufe to throw to the bottom of the Page, viz.

That lafteth ay withouten ende,

Bidde we God, ant oure Ledy to thilke bliffe
Jefus us fende. Amen.

III. A N