The Lives of Ss. Edmund and Fremund: Text

The Canon of John Lydgate Project

The Lives of Ss. Edmund and Fremund: Text

MS Harley 2278 fol. 6v

[The initial letter of each stanza is lightly decorated.]

In rethorik / thouh that I haue no flour
Nor no coloures / his story tenlumyne
I dar not calle / to Clio for socour
Nor to tho muses / that been in nou[m]bre nyne
But to this martir / his grace to enclyne
To forthre my penne / of that I wolde write
His glorious lif / to translate and endite

ffor be sentence / of prudent Carnotense
In Enteticon / where he doth specefie
Grace / forthereth more / than doth eloquence
Whiche of alle vertues / hath the regalie
ffor Mercurie / nothir Philologie
To gidre knet and ioyned / in mariage
Withoute grace / may have noon auau[n]tage

ffor grace / hath power / alle vertues to directe
Withouten whom / auailith no prudence
ffor this princesse / hath fredham to correcte
Al vicious thinges / al slouthe / al negligence
Which halt the reyne / of wisdam and science
And but she gouerne / of our lif / the bridil
What euer we do / we werke but in ydil

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