Altenglische legenden.

                                
                                  In rethorik thouh that I haue no flour [Rethoryk. though, that fehlt.] 
                                
                                  Nor no coloures, his story tenlumyne, [colours. stoory.] 
                                
                                  I dar not calle to Clio for socour [Cleo.] 
                                  Line 90 
                                
                                  Nor to tho muses that been in noumbre nyne, [the.] 
                                
                                  But to this martir, his grace to enclyne,
                                
                                  To forthre my penne of that I wolde write:
                                
                                  His glorious lif to translate and endite. [gloryous lyff. endyte.]  [be the s. . Carnotence.] 
                                
                                  For be sentence of prudent Carnotense
                                  Line 95 
                                
                                  In Enteticon where he doth specefie,
                                
                                  Grace forthereth more than doth elo|quence, [forthryth moore. Ello|quence.] 
                                
                                  Whiche of alle vertues hath the regalie: [which. regalye.] 
                                
                                  For Mercurie nothir Philologie [nouthir phylologye.] 
                                
                                  To-gidre knet and ioyned in mariage,
                                  Line 100 
                                
                                  Withoute grace may haue noon auauntage.
                                
                                  For grace hath power alle vertues to directe— [poweer al.] 
                                
                                  Withouten whom auailith no prudence: [With|oute whoom avayleth.] 
                                
                                  For this princesse hath fredham to correcte [fredam.] 
                                
                                  Alvicious thinges, al slouthe, al negligence, [thyng. neclygence.] 
                                  Line 105 
                                
                                  Which halt the reyne of wisdam and science; [hath st. halt. reene.] 
                                
                                  And but she gouerne of our lif the bridil, [your lyff. brydel.] 
                                
                                  What-euer we do, we werke but in ydil. [euere ye doo. we werke not but in ydel.] 
                                
                                  Withoute grace ech vertu is bareyn,
                                
                                  Withoute grace force is but febilnesse,
                                  Line 110 
                                
                                  Withoute grace al wisdam is but veyn,
                                
                                  Withoute grace may be no rihtwisnesse,
                                
                                  Fredam, bounte, manhod, nor gentilesse, [manhood. gentillesse.] 
                                
                                  Prowesse in armis, nor sheltrouns in bataile— [armys. bataylle.] 
                                
                                  Withoute grace what may al this auaile? [al this world avaylle.] 
                                  Line 115 
                                
                                  She set in ordre alle vertues be reson, [resoun.] 
                                
                                  Preserueth tunges from al froward lang|uage. [preservith tounges froom hire froward.] 
                                
                                  And she restreynith thoruh hir hih renon [restreyneth. thorough.] 
                                
                                  The cours of fortune, for al hir fel outrage,
                                
                                  And grace kan best directen the passage [can. dyrectyn.] 
                                  Line 120 
                                
                                  Of folk in labour, which that disespeire,
                                
                                  To reste eternall to make hem to repeire. [to v. make fehlt.] 
                                
                                  Grace of the stronge double kan the strengthe, [strong. can.] 
                                
                                  And she the feeble kan supporte in his riht [feble. ryght.] 
                                
                                  And make a dwerf of a cubit lengthe [To make. cubyt of.] 
                                  Line 125 
                                
                                  Venquysshe a geant for al his grete myht. [geaunt. greet myght.] 
                                
                                  Which callid is in euery mannys syht [sight.] 
                                
                                  Gouerneresse of vertues alle:
                                
                                  Therfore to grace for helpe I wil now calle. [wyll.] 
                                
                                  And first this martir shal for me prouide
                                  Line 130 
                                
                                  And of his mercy opne me the gate, [opyn.] 
                                
                                  To make grace forto be my guide [been.] 
                                
                                  His holi lif in ynglissh to translate. [This. Englyssh.] 
                                
                                  And to remembre the statly royal date
                                
                                  Whan I first gan on this translacioun:
                                  Line 135 
                                
                                  It was the yeer by computacioun, [be.] 
                                
                                  Whan sixte Herry in his estat roial
                                
                                  With his sceptre of Yngland and of France [Yngelond. Fraunce.] 
                                
                                  Heeld at Bury the feste pryncipal [his ffeeste.] 
                                
                                  Of Cristemesse with ful gret habundance, [with a ful.] 
                                  Line 140 
                                
                                  And aftir that list to haue plesance— [lyst.] 
                                
                                  As his consail gan for hym prouide— [counseyl.] 
                                
                                  There in his place til hesterne forto abide: [tyl Estirn for tabyde.] 
                                
                                  Whiche is an hous of his fundacioun, [which.] 
                                
                                  Where his preestis synge ay for him and preie [wheer.] 
                                  Line 145 
                                
                                  Of ful hool herte and trewe affeccioun,
                                
                                  That god his noblesse in al vertu conueie
                                
                                  And grante him wynne to-forn, or that he deie, [graunte.] 
                                
                                  A palme of conquest, and, whan that he shal fyne,

About this Item

Title: Altenglische legenden.
Author: Horstmann, Carl, ed. b. 1851.
Canvas: Page 379
Publication: Heilbronn,: Gebr. Henninger,; 1881.
Subject terms: Saints -- Legends; English poetry; Legends

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Collection: Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse
Link to this Item: https://name.umdl.umich.edu/afw1383.0001.001
Link to this scan: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/c/cme/afw1383.0001.001/551:4

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Full citation: "Altenglische legenden." In the digital collection Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/afw1383.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 25, 2025.

Altenglische legenden.

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