Robert Henryson's Orpheus and Eurydice

Heir begynnis the traitie of orpheus kyng and how he yeid to hewyn and to hel to seik his quene and ane othir ballad in the lattir end.

Lines 1 through 98

The nobilnes and grete magnificence Line 1 Off prince or lord quha list to magnify Line 2 His grete ancester and linyall descense Line 3 Suld first extoll and his genology Line 4 So that his hert he mycht enclyne thare by Line 5 The more to vertu and to worthynes Line 6 Herand reherse his eldirs gentilnes Line 7

It is contrair the lawis of nature Line 8 A gentill man to be degenerate Line 9 Noucht folowing of his progenitoure Line 10 The worthy reule and the lordly estate Line 11 A ryall renk for to be rusticate Line 12 Is bot a monster in comparison Line 13 Had in despyte and foule derision Line 14

I say this be the grete lordis of grewe Line 15 Quhilk sett thair hert and all thair hale curage Line 16 Thair fadirs steppis iustly to persewe Line 17 Eking the worschip of thair hye lynage Line 18 The ancient and sad wyse-men of age Line 19 War tendouris to the yong and insolent Line 20 To mak thame in all vertu excellent Line 21

Lyke as a strand of water or a spring Line 22 Haldis the sapour of his fontall well Line 23 So did in grece ilk lord and worthy king Line 24 Off forebearis thay tuke tarage and smell Line 25 Amang the quhilk of ane i think to tell Line 26 Bot first his gentill generation Line 27 I sall reherse with youre correction Line 28

Apon the mountane of elicone Line 29 The most famouse of all arabia Line 30 A godesse duelt excellent of beautee Line 31 Gentil of blude callit memoria Line 32 Quhilk iupiter that god to wyf can ta Line 33 And carnaly hir knew quhilk eftir syne Line 34 Apon a day bare hym fair douchteris nyne Line 35

The first in grew was callit euterpe Line 36 In oure langage gude dilectacioun Line 37 The secund maide namyt melpomene Line 38 As hony suete in modulacion Line 39 Tersicor quhilk is gude instruction Line 40 Of ewiry thing the thrid sister i wis Line 41 Thus out of grewe in latyne translate is Line 42

Caliope that maidyn meruailus Line 43 The ferde sister of all musik maistresse Line 44 And moder to the king sir orpheus Line 45 Quhilk throu his wyf was efter king of trace Line 46 Cleo the fyft that now is a goddesse Line 47 In latyne callit meditation Line 48 Of ewiry thing that has creacion Line 49

The sext lady was callit herato Line 50 Quhilk drawis lyke to lyke in ewiry thing Line 51 The sevynt lady was fair pollymyo Line 52 Quhilk coud a thousand sangis suetly syng Line 53 Thelya syne quhilk can oure saulis bring Line 54 To profund wit and grete agilitee Line 55 To vnderstand and haue capacitee Line 56

Wranya the nynt and last of all Line 57 In oure langage quha coud it wele expound Line 58 Is callit armony celestiall Line 59 Reiosing men with melody and sound Line 60 Amang thir nyne caliope was crownd Line 61 And maid a quene be mychti god phebus Line 62 Of quhom he gat this prince schir orpheus Line 63

No wounder is thocht he was fair and wyse Line 64 Gentill and full of liberalite Line 65 His fader god and his progenitrys Line 66 A goddes fyndar of all ermonye Line 67 Quhen he was borne scho set him on hir kne Line 68 And gart him sowke of hir twa palpis quhyte Line 69 The sweit licour of all musike parfyte Line 70

Incressand sone to manhed vp he drewe Line 71 Of statur large, and frely fair of face Line 72 His noble fame so far it sprang and grewe Line 73 Till at the last the mychti quene of trace Line 74 Excellent fair haboundand in riches Line 75 Ane message send vnto this prince so zing Line 76 Requyrand him to wed hir and be kyng Line 77

Erudices that lady had to name Line 78 Quhen that scho saw this prince so glorius Line 79 Hir erand to propone scho thocht no schame Line 80 With wordis sweit and blenkis amorus Line 81 Said welcome lord and luf schir orpheus Line 82 In this province ze sall be king and lord Line 83 Thai kissit syne and thus war at accord Line 84

Betwene orpheus and fair erudices Line 85 Fra thai war weddit on fra day to day Line 86 The lowe of luf couth kendill and encres Line 87 With myrth blythnes gret plesans and gret play Line 88 Off wardlie ioye allace quhat sall we say Line 89 Lyke till a flour that plesandly will spring Line 90 Quhilk fadis sone and endis with murnyng Line 91

I say this be erudices the quene Line 92 Quhilk walkit furth in till a maii mornyng Line 93 Bot with a madin in a medowe grene Line 94 To tak the dewe and se the flouris spring Line 95 Quhar in a schawe ner by this lady zing Line 96 A bustuos herd callit arystyus Line 97 Kepand his bestis lay wnder a buss Line 98

Lines 99 through 197

And quhen he saw this lady solitar Line 99 Barfute with schankis quhytar than the snawe Line 100 Prikkit with lust he thocht withoutin mar Line 101 Hir till oppres and till hir can he drawe Line 102 Dredand for scaith sche fled quhen scho him saw Line 103 And as scho ran all bairfut in ane bus Line 104 Scho trampit on a serpent wennomus Line 105

This cruell wennome was so penitryf Line 106 As natur is of all mortall poisoun Line 107 In pecis small this quenis hart couth ryf Line 108 And scho anone fell in a dedly swoun Line 109 Seand this cais proserpyne maid hir bovne Line 110 Quhilk clepit is the goddes infernall Line 111 And till hir court this gentill quene couth call Line 112

And quhen scho wanyst was and invisible Line 113 Hir madin wepit with a wofull cheir Line 114 Cryand with mony schout and voce terrible Line 115 Till at the last schir orpheus couth heir Line 116 And of hir cry the caus than can he speir Line 117 Scho said allace erudices zour quene Line 118 Is with fary tane befor myne ene Line 119

This noble king inflammit all in ire Line 120 And rampand as ane lyoun ravenus Line 121 With awfull luke and eyne glowand as fyre Line 122 Speris the maner and the maid said thus Line 123 Scho trampit on a serpent wennomus Line 124 And fell in swoun with that the quene of fary Line 125 Claucht hir wp sone and furth with hir can cary Line 126

Quhen scho had said the king sichit full sore Line 127 His hert ner birst for werray dule and wo Line 128 Half out of mynd he maid na tary more Line 129 Bot tuke his harpe and to the wod can go Line 130 Wryngand his handis walkand to and fro Line 131 Quhill he mycht stand syne sat dovn on a stone Line 132 And to his harpe thusgate he maid his mone Line 133

O dulfull harpe with mony dolly stryng Line 134 Turne all thi mirth and musik in murnyng Line 135 And ces of all thi subtell sangis sweit Line 136 Now wepe with me thi lord and carefull kyng Line 137 Quhilk losit has in erd all his lyking Line 138 And all thi game thow change in gule and greit Line 139 Thy goldin pynnis with thi teris weit Line 140 And all my pane for to report thow pres Line 141 Cryand with me in euery steid and streit Line 142 Quhar art thou gane my luf erudices Line 143

Him to reios zit playit he a spryng Line 144 Quhill all the foulis of the wod can syng Line 145 And treis dansit with thar leves grene Line 146 Him to devoid of his gret womenting Line 147 Bot all in wane thai comfort him no thing Line 148 His hart was sa apon his lusty quene Line 149 The bludy teres sprang out of his eyne Line 150 Thar was na solace mycht his sobbing ces Line 151 Bot cryit ay with caris cald and kene Line 152 Quhar art thow gane my luf erudices Line 153

Fair weill my place fair weile plesance and play Line 154 And welcome woddis wyld and wilsome way Line 155 My wikit werd in wildernes to wair Line 156 My rob ryall and all my riche array Line 157 Changit sall be in rude russat of gray Line 158 My diademe in till ane hat of hair Line 159 My bed sall be with bever broke and bair Line 160 In buskis bene with mony bustuos bes Line 161 Withoutin sang sayng with siching sair Line 162 Quhar art thow gane my luf erudices Line 163

I the beseike my fair fader phebus Line 164 Haue pete of thi awne sone orpheus Line 165 Wait thow nocht wele i am thi barne and child Line 166 Now heir my plant panefull and petuous Line 167 Direct me fra this deid sa dolorus Line 168 Quhilk gois thus withoutin gilt begild Line 169 Lat nocht thi face with clowdis be oursyld Line 170 Len me thi licht and lat me nocht ga les Line 171 To fynd the fair in fame that neuer was fyld Line 172 My lady quene and luf erudices Line 173

O iupiter thow god celestiall Line 174 And grantschir to my self on the i call Line 175 To mend my murnyng and my drery mone Line 176 Thou geve me forse that i noucht faynt nor fall Line 177 Quhill i hir fynd for seke hir suth i sall Line 178 And nouthir stynt nor stand for stok no stone Line 179 Throu thy god-hede gyde me quhare scho is gone Line 180 Ger hir appere and put my hert in pes Line 181 Thus king orpheus with his harp allone Line 182 Sore wepit for his wyf erudices Line 183

Quhen endit was the sangis lamentable Line 184 He tuke his harp and on his brest can hyng Line 185 Syne passit to the hevin as sais the fable Line 186 To seke his wyf bot that auailit no thing Line 187 By wadlyng strete he went but tarying Line 188 Syne come doun throu the spere of saturn ald Line 189 Quhilk fader is of all thir stormis cald Line 190

Quhen scho was soucht out throu that cald region Line 191 To iupiter his grant-sir can he wend Line 192 Quhilk rewit sare his lamentation Line 193 And gert his spere be soucht fra end to end Line 194

Line 194 Scho was noucht thare than doun he can descend Line 195 To mars the god of bataill and of stryf Line 196 And soucht his spere yit gat he noucht his wyf Line 197

Lines 198 through 302

Syne went he doun to his fader phebus Line 198 God of the son wyth bemes brycht and clere Line 199 Bot quhen he saw his awin sone orpheus Line 200 In sik a plyte it changit all his chere Line 201 He gert anone go seke throu all his spere Line 202 Bot all in wayn that lady come noucht thare Line 203 Than tuke he leve and to venus can fare Line 204

Quhen he hir saw he knelit and said thus Line 205 Wate ye noucht wele i am your avin trewe knycht Line 206 In lufe nane lelare than sir orpheus Line 207 And ye of lufe goddesse and most of mycht Line 208 Off my lady help me to get a sicht Line 209 For suth quod scho ye mon seke nethir mare Line 210 Than fra venus he tuke his leve but mare Line 211

To mercury but tary is he gone Line 212 Quhilk callit is the god of eloquence Line 213 Bot of his wyf thare knaulage gat he none Line 214 Wyth wofull hert than passit he doun fro thens Line 215 Wnto the mone he maid na residence Line 216 Thus fra the hevyn he went doun to the erde Line 217 Yit by the way sum melody he lerde Line 218

In his passage amang the planetis all Line 219 He herd a hevynly melody and sound Line 220 Passing all instrumentis musicall Line 221 Causid be rollyng of the speris round Line 222 Quhilk armony throu all this mappamound Line 223 Quhill moving cesse vnyt perpetuall Line 224 Quhilk of this warld plato the saul can call Line 225

Thare lerit he tonys proportionate Line 226 As duplar triplar and emetricus Line 227 Enoleus and eke the quadruplate Line 228 Epodyus rycht hard and curius Line 229 And of thir sex suete and dilicius Line 230 Ryght consonant fyve hevynly symphonyis Line 231 Componyt ar as clerkis can deuise Line 232

First dyatesseron full suete i wis Line 233 And dyapason symple and duplate Line 234 And dyapente componyt with a dys Line 235 This makis fyve of thre multiplicate Line 236 This mery musik and mellifluate Line 237 Complete and full wyth nowmeris od and evyn Line 238 Is causit be the moving of the hevyn Line 239

Off sik musik to wryte i do bot dote Line 240 Thar-for at this mater a stra i lay Line 241 For in my lyf i coud newir syng a note Line 242 Bot i will tell how orpheus tuke the way Line 243 To seke his wyf atour the grauis gray Line 244 Hungry and cald our mony wilsum wane Line 245 Wyth-outyn gyde he and his harp allane Line 246

He passit furth the space of twenty dayis Line 247 Fer and full fer and ferther than i can tell Line 248 And ay he fand stretis and redy wayis Line 249 Tyll at the last vnto the yett of hell Line 250 He come and thare he fand a portar fell Line 251 With thre hedis was callit cerberus Line 252 A hund of hell a monster meruailus Line 253

Than orpheus began to be agast Line 254 Quhen he beheld that vgly hellis hund Line 255 He tuke his harp and on it playit fast Line 256 Till at the last throu suetenes of the sound Line 257 The dog slepit and fell vnto the ground Line 258 And orpheus atour his wame in stall Line 259 And nethir mare he went as ye here sall Line 260

Than come he till ane rywir wonder depe Line 261 Our it a brig and on it sisteris thre Line 262 Quhilk had the entree of the brig to kepe Line 263 Alecto megera and thesiphonee Line 264 Turnand a quhele was vgly for to see Line 265 And on it spred a man hecht ixione Line 266 Rowit about rycht wonder wo begone Line 267

Than orpheus playit a ioly spryng Line 268 The thre sistirs full fast thay fell on slepe Line 269 The vgly quhele sessit of hir quhirlyng Line 270 Thus left was none the entree for to kepe Line 271 Than ixion out of the quhele can crepe Line 272 And stall away than orpheus anone Line 273 Without stoping atour the brig is gone Line 274

Syne come he till a wonder grisely flude Line 275 Droubly and depe that rathly doun can ryn Line 276 Quhare tantalus nakit full thristy stude Line 277 And yit the water yede abone his chyn Line 278 Thouch he gapit thare wald na drop cum in Line 279 Quhen he dulkit the water wald descend Line 280 Thus gat he noucht his thrist to slake no mend Line 281

Before his face ane apill hang also Line 282 Fast at his mouth apon a tolter threde Line 283 Quhen he gapit it rokkit to and fro Line 284 And fled as it refusit hym to fede Line 285 Than orpheus had reuth of his grete nede Line 286 Tuke out his harp and fast on it can clink Line 287 The water stude and tantalus gat drink Line 288

Syne our a mure wyth thornis thik and scharp Line 289 Weping allone a wilsum way he went Line 290 And had noucht bene throu suffrage of his harp Line 291 Wyth scharp pikis he had bene schorne and schent Line 292 And as he blent besyde hym on the bent Line 293 He saw speldit a wonder wofull wicht Line 294 Nailit full fast and titius he hicht Line 295

And on his breste thare sat a grisely gripe Line 296 Quhilk wyth his bill his bally throu can bore Line 297 Bath maw mydred hert lywir and trype Line 298 He ruggit out his paynis war the more Line 299 Quhen orpheus saw hym this suffer sore Line 300 Has tane his harp and maid suete melody Line 301 The grype is fled titius left his cry Line 302

Lines 303 through 414

Beyond this more he fand a ferefull strete Line 303 Myrk as the nycht to pas rycht dangerus Line 304 For slydernes scant mycht he hald his fete Line 305 In quhilk thare was a stynk rycht odiouse Line 306 That gydit hym to hydouse hellis house Line 307 Quhare rodomantus and proserpina Line 308 Were king and quene orpheus in coud ga Line 309

O dolly place and grondles depe dungeon Line 310 Furnes of fyre wyth stynk intollerable Line 311 Pit of dispair wyth-out remission Line 312 Thy mete venym thy drink is poysonable Line 313 Thy grete paynis to compt vnnowmerabil Line 314 Quhat creature cummys to duell in the Line 315 Is ay deyand and newir more may dee Line 316

Thare fand he mony carefull king and quene Line 317 Wyth croun on hede of brasse full hate birnand Line 318 Quhilk in thair lyf rycht maisterfull had bene Line 319 Conquerouris of gold richesse and of land Line 320 Ector of troy and priam thare he fand Line 321 And alexander for his wrang conquest Line 322 Anthiocus thare for his foule incest Line 323

And iulius cesar for his crueltee Line 324 And herode wyth his brotheris wyf he sawe Line 325 And nero for his grete iniquitee Line 326 And pilot for his breking of the lawe Line 327 Syne vnder that he lukit and coud knawe Line 328 Cresus the king none michtiar on mold Line 329 For couatise yett full of byrnand gold Line 330

Thare fand he pharo for oppression Line 331 Off goddis folk on quhilk the plagis fell Line 332 And saul eke for the grete abusion Line 333 Off iustice to the folk of israell Line 334 Thare fand he acab and quene iesabell Line 335 Quhilk sely nabot that was a prophet trewe Line 336 For his wyne yarde wyth-outyn pitee sleue Line 337

Thare fand he mony pape and cardinall Line 338 In haly kirk quhilk dois abusion Line 339 And archbischopis in thair pontificall Line 340 Be symony and wrang intrusioun Line 341 Abbotis and men of all religion Line 342 For euill disponyng of thair placis rent Line 343 In flambe of fyre were bitterly turment Line 344

Syne nethir mare he went quhare pluto was Line 345 And proserpine and thider-ward he drewe Line 346 Ay playand on his harp as he coud pas Line 347 Till at the last erudices he knewe Line 348 Lene and dedelike pitouse and pale of hewe Line 349 Rycht warsch and wan and walowit as the wede Line 350 Hir lily lyre was lyke vnto the lede Line 351

Quod he my lady lele and my delyte Line 352 Full wa is me to se yow changit thus Line 353 Quhare is thy rude as rose wyth chekis quhite Line 354 Thy cristall eyne with blenkis amorouse Line 355 Thi lippis rede to kis diliciouse Line 356 Quod scho as now i dar noucht tell perfay Line 357 Bot ye sall wit the cause ane othir day Line 358

Quod pluto sir thouch scho be like ane elf Line 359 Thare is na cause to plenye and for quhy Line 360 Scho fure als wele dayly as did my self Line 361 Or king herode for all his cheualry Line 362 It is langour that puttis hir in sik ply Line 363 Were scho at hame in hir contree of trace Line 364 Scho wald refete full sone in fax and face Line 365

Than orpheus before pluto sat doun Line 366 And in his handis quhite his harp can ta Line 367 And playit mony suete proporcion Line 368 With base tonys in ypodorica Line 369 With gemynyng in ypolerica Line 370 Till at the last for reuth and grete pitee Line 371 Thay wepit sore that coud hym here and see Line 372

Than proserpyne and pluto bad hym as Line 373 His warison and he wald ask rycht noucht Line 374 Bot licence wyth his wyf away to pas Line 375 Till his contree that he so fer had soucht Line 376 Quod proserpyne sen i hir hidir broucht Line 377 We sall noucht part bot wyth condicion Line 378 Quod he thareto i mak promission Line 379

Erudices than be the hand thou tak Line 380 And pas thy way bot vnderneth this payne Line 381 Gyf thou turnis or blenkis behind thy bak Line 382 We sall hir haue forewir till hell agayn Line 383 Thouch this was hard yit orpheus was fayn Line 384 And on thai went talkand of play and sport Line 385 Quhill thay almaist come to the vtter port Line 386

Thus orpheus wyth inwart lufe replete Line 387 So blyndit was in grete affection Line 388 Pensif apon his wyf and lady suete Line 389 Remembrit noucht his hard condicion Line 390 Quhat will ye more in schort conclusion Line 391 He blent bak-ward and pluto come anone Line 392 And vnto hell agayn with hir is gone Line 393

Allace it was grete hertsare for to here Line 394 Of orpheus the weping and the wo Line 395 Quhen that his wyf quhilk he had bocht so dere Line 396 Bot for a luke sa sone was hynt hym fro Line 397 Flatlyngis he fell and mycht no forthir go Line 398 And lay a quhile in suoun and extasy Line 399 Quhen he our-come thus out on lufe can cry Line 400

Quhat art thou lufe how sall i the dyffyne Line 401 Bitter and suete cruel and merciable Line 402 Plesand to sum til othir playnt and pyne Line 403 To sum constant till othir variabil Line 404 Hard is thy law thi bandis vnbrekable Line 405 Quha seruis the thouch he be newir sa trewe Line 406 Perchance sum tyme he sall haue cause to rewe Line 407

Now fynd i wele this prouerbe trew quod he Line 408 Hert is on the hurd and hand is on the sore Line 409 Quhare lufe gois on forse turnis the ee Line 410 I am expert and wo is me thar-fore Line 411 Bot for a luke my lady is forlore Line 412 Thus chydand on with lufe our burn and bent Line 413 A wofull wedow hame-wart is he went Line 414