CELMONDE.
Hee lyves; & stylle maie use
The behylte[108] blessynges
of a future yeare.
BIRTHA.
Whatte heavie tydynge thenne have I to
feare? 940
Of whatte mischaunce dydste thou so latelie
saie?
CELMONDE.
For heavie tydynges swythyn
nowe prepare.
AElla sore wounded ys, yn
bykerous fraie;
In Wedecester’s wallid
toune he lyes.
BIRTHA.
O mie agroted breast!
CELMONDE:
Wythoute your syghte, he dyes. 945
BIRTHA.
Wylle Birtha’s presence
ethe herr AElla’s payne?
I flie; newe wynges doe from
mie schoulderrs sprynge.
CELMONDE.
Mie stede wydhoute wylle deftelie beere us twayne.
BIRTHA.
Oh! I wyll flie as wynde,
& no waie lynge;
Sweftlie caparisons for rydynge
brynge; 950
I have a mynde wynged wythe
the levyn ploome.
O AElla, AElla! dydste thou
kenne the stynge,
The whyche doeth canker ynne
mie hartys roome,
Thou wouldste see playne thieselfe
the gare to bee;
Aryse, uponne thie love, & flie to meeten
mee. 955
CELMONDE.
The stede, on whyche I came,
ys swefte as ayre;
Mie servytoures doe wayte
mee nere the wode;
Swythynne wythe mee unto the
place repayre;
To AElla I wylle gev you conducte
goode.
Youre eyne, alyche a baulme,
wylle staunche hys bloode, 960
Holpe oppe hys woundes, &
yev hys harte alle cheere;
Uponne your eyne he holdes
hys lyvelyhode[109];
You doe hys spryte, & alle
hys pleasaunce bere.
Comme, lette’s awaie,
albeytte ytte ys moke,
Yette love wille bee a tore to tourne
to feere nyghtes smoke. 965
BIRTHA.
Albeytte unwears dyd the welkynn
rende,
Reyne, alyche fallynge ryvers,
dyd ferse bee,
Erthe wythe the ayre enchased
dyd contende,
Everychone breathe of wynde
wythe plagues dyd flee,
Yette I to AElla’s eyne
eftsoones woulde flee; 970
Albeytte hawethornes dyd mie
fleshe enseme,
Owlettes, wythe scrychynge,
shakeynge everyche tree,
And water-neders wrygglynge
yn eche streme,
Yette woulde I flie, ne under
coverte staie,
Botte seke mie AElla owte; brave Celmonde,
leade the waie. 975
A WODE.
HURRA, DANES.
HURRA.
Heere ynn yis forreste lette
us watche for pree,
Bewreckeynge on oure foemenne
oure ylle warre;
Whatteverre schalle be Englysch
wee wylle slea,
Spreddynge our ugsomme rennome
to afarre.
Ye Dacyanne menne, gyff Dacyanne
menne yee are, 980
Lette nete botte blodde suffycyle