11

THE COMPLEYNTE TO PITE. PHILLIPPS MS. 9053.

THE COMPLEYNTE TO PITE.

?

[Phillipps MS. 9053 paper, ab. 1450, p. 91: alterd copy of Shirley's Harleian 78, Parallel-Text, p. 41, with his abominable 'vertuous' for Herenus' Erinnyes, in l. 92.]

= :

And now here folwith A complaynt of pite made bi Geffray Chaucier the Aureat Poete that euer was founde in oure vulgar to fore his dayes

(1)

Ite whiche that I have. sought so yoer p With hert sore. ful of besy peyne

That' in this world. was no wight' woer Without the detħ. and if I shal nat' feyne My purpos was. of pite for to pleyne

1

And eke vpon. the cruel tirannye

Of love that for my trowth. doth me to dye

7

(2)

¶ And whan that I bethynk'. of certayn yeeris Had euer in oon a tyme sought to speke

8

To pite I ran. albe-spreynt with teris

To

preyen hir. on cruelte me wreke

But' or I myght'. with any word out breke

11

I fonde pite ded. and buryed in an hert'

14

(3)

¶ And downe I fel. whan I sigħ the herse
Ded as ston. while that the swough last'
But vp I rose. with colours wel diuerse
And pitously. myn Ien on hir cast'

[p. 92]

18

And nere the corpse I come to
And for the soule. I shope me for to prey

Me thought me lorn. ther was no nothir wey

21

12

THE COMPLEYNTE TO PITE. PHILLIPPS MS. 9053.

(4)

¶ Thus am I slayne. sith that' pite is ded Allas the day. that' euer it' shuld befalle What' maner man . dar now heve vp his hede

To whom shal. my sorowful hert' cal

Now cruelte hath cast'. to slen vs al

222

25

In Idel hope we live. redles of peyne
Sith she is ded. to whom shul we compleyne

28

(5)

¶ Thus am I slayn. sith that' pite is ded truly1

29

But yet' encresith me. this wonder nuwe
That no wight' wot' hir ded. but only I
So many a man. that in hir tyme hir knewe
And yit' she dyed nat'. al so sodainly

For I have sought hir. ful busily

Sith first' I had wit'. of mannes mynde

But she was dede. or that I cowde hir fynde

1 truly added

32

[some spurious.

36

(6

¶ Abowte hir hers. stooden there boistously Without makyng' dole. as thought' me

37

// A compleynt' had I. writen in myn hand

44

Fo[r] to have putte. to pite as a bit

But whan I al this. company ther fond

That' rather wolden. al my cause spiłł

47

Than do me help. I hield my compleynt stil

For to the folkes. without any faile

Withouten pite. ne may no bil availe

50

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THE COMPLEYNTE TO PITE. PHILLIPPS MS. 9053.

(8)

¶ Than leve I al these vertues sauf pite
Kepyng the hers. as ye have herd me seyne
Confidred al. by band of cruelte

And bien assented. that' I shalbe slayne
So thanne I put. my compleynt vp ageyne
For to my foomen. my bil. I durst' nat' shewe
Theffect of the mater, was this at wordes fewe

(9) [The Bill of Complaint.] (Tern I. 1)

¶ Humblesse of hert. highest of reuerence
Benyngne floure. corowne of vertues al
Shewith vnto youre. souerayn excellence
Youre seruaunt yif I durst. my self so cal
His mortal harme. whiche he is in fal

51

54

57

The compleynt in the biй

61

¶ For kyndely bi youre. heritage and right'

72

Ye beth annexed. euer to beaute

And verraily ye oughten. do youre myght'

To helpe trowth. in his aduersite

Ye beth also. the corowne of beaute

And certes. if ye want in this wey
The world is lorn. ther is no more to scy

75

[p. 94]

78

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THE COMPLEYNTE TO PITE. PHILLIPPS MS. 9053.

(12) (Tern II. I)

¶ Eke what' availith. maner or gentillesse

With yow benygne. and faire creature

Shal cruelte be now oure gouerneresse

Allas. what hert. shal may that' endure

79

82

Youre renoun) is fredom. that' with a throwe

Ther shal no wight' wete. what' peyne is

Alas that youre renoune. shuld be so lowe

89

Ye bien than. from your heritage I-throwe
By cruelte. that' occupieth your place

And we dispaired. that' sechen to youre grace

92

(14) (II. 3)

Have mercy on me. ye vertuous qwene

93

That yow have sought. so trewly. and so yoore

Lete the streame of youre light'. on me be sene

That lovith and dredith yow. ay lengger the more

96

The soth for to sey. I bere the hevy peyne

And though I be nat' konnyng'. for to pleyne

For goddis love. have mercy on my peyne

99

(15) (Tern III. 1)

¶ My peyne is this. that what' so I desire

100

That have I nought. ne nought that lith therto

And euer settith desire.

myn hert' on fyre

Eke on that other side. where so I go

103

What' maner thyng. that' may encrese my wo

That have I redy. vnsought euery where

Me lakkith but my deth. and than my bere

106

THE COMPLEYNTE TO PITE.

PHILLIPPS MS. 9053.

15

(16) (III. 2)

¶ What' nedith it. shewe parcels of my peyne
Sith euery woo. that hert may bethynk
I souffre and yit. I dar nat' to yow pleyne
For wele I wote. although I wake or wynke
Ye recchen nat'. whether I fleete or synk'
Yit neuertheles. my trowth I shal sustene
Vn-to my deth. and that' shal wele be sene
(17) (III. 3)

¶ This is to sey. I wil be youres euere
Though ye me slee. bi cruelte as a foo
Algates my spirit. shal neuer disseuer
From your seruice. for any peyne or woo
Now pite that I haue sought' so yore agoo
Thus for yowre deth. I may wele wepe
With hert' sore. al ful of besy peyne

107

[p. 95]

110

113

114

117

and pleyne

120

[The Balade of Pite printed in the Appendix, p. 42-6, runs on here, as if it were part of this Compleynte.]