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The Canon of John Lydgate Project
The Lives of Ss. Edmund and Fremund: Text
MS Harley 2278 fol. 9r[The initial letter of each stanza is lightly decorated.]
And thouh I was bareyn / of elloquence
Hauyng no practik / fresshley to endite
I took upon me / vndir obedience
Aftir his biddyng / me lowly forto quite
But yit a forn / or I gan to write
Vpon my knees / riht thus I gan to seie
To the holi martir / and meekly forto preie
[An illumination appears here, occupying the space of a single stanza,
showing the shrine of St. Edmund with several monks gathered around, and
Lydgate kneeling.]
O precious charboncle / of martirs alle
O heuenly gemme / saphir of stabilnesse
Thyn heuenly dewh of grace / let dou[n] falle
In to my penne / encloied with rudnesse
And blissid martir / my stile do so dresse
Vndir thi wengis / of protecciou[n]
That I nat erre / in my translaciou[n]
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The Canon of John Lydgate Project
Editorial matter © 1995 Stephen R. Reimer
English; University of Alberta; Edmonton, Canada
All rights reserved.
Last revised: 21 Nov. 1995
email:
Stephen.Reimer@UAlberta.Ca
URL: http://www.ualberta.ca/~sreimer/lydgate.htm/