Skip to main contentRubric None in D, H1. C: Dictamen. Vel lugubre carmen terribilissimi mortis. (Letter. A very grievous song of most frightful death.)↩back to note source1 hostesse. So C. D, H1: costes. We have chosen hostesse since it is an existing manuscript reading that fits in with the trope of female addressees found elsewhere in contemporary death poetry.↩back to note source2 And in youre book to set myn ymage. In Douce 322 and Harley 1706 (fol. 19v in both), the poem is immediately preceded by an inkdrawn image of a skeleton holding a bell and spear (see Explanatory Note to line 7 and Headnote to the Explanatory Notes) with the words “deth” written in profusion around the skeleton’s form, evoking the pealing of the bell as well as naming the figure.↩back to note source3 with gret avyses. So D, H1. C: by gret avisenesse.↩back to note source4 mortall. So D, H1. C: my mortal.↩back to note source5 to spare. So D. H1: spare.↩back to note source nether. So D, H1. C: neither.↩back to note source ne. So D. C: ner.↩back to note source7 Afore. So D, H1. C: Aforn.↩back to note source8 ygrounde. So D. H1: sharpe I grounde. C: whet and grounde.↩back to note source9 thys. So D, H1. C: thus.↩back to note source10 withstande. So D, H1. C: withstonde.↩back to note source11 Ne whomme I merke. So D, H1. C: Nor whan I marke.↩back to note source other. So D, H1. C: othir.↩back to note source12 of day oure ne space. So D, H1. C: a day houre or space.↩back to note source14 Yef. So D, H1. C: Though.↩back to note source15 past. So D, H1. C: passed.↩back to note source16 lasteth but. So D, H1. C: lastyng.↩back to note source17 ey. So D. H1: eye. C: yhe.↩back to note source18 blossom falleth. So D, H1. C: blosmes falle.↩back to note source20 elde unwarly crepyng. So D, H1. C: age unwardly in crepyng.↩back to note source21 purely thanne. So D, H1. C: pouerly you.↩back to note source22 The gospell byddeth than wake and prey. So D. H1: The gospel than wake and pray. C: The gospel bit you for to wake and prey.↩back to note source24 Ne no manne knoweth whenne. So D, H1. C: Nor no man wote the houre whan.↩back to note source dye. So D, H1. C: dey.↩back to note source26 kynde. So D, H1. C: kynge.↩back to note source knot unknyt. So D, H1. C: knot upknet. These readings point to opposite understandings of the relationship between death and creation. C emphasizes how tightly bound death is with the very idea of life, while D and H1 instead speak to the theme, seen in other death-related works of this period, of death loosening all bonds. Compare the acrostic in “A Mirror for Young Ladies at their Toilet” (DIMEV 3454), spelling out MORS SOLVIT OMNIA (“death loosens all”).↩back to note source27 every. So D, H1. C: eche.↩back to note source28 For. So D, H1. C: Fro.↩back to note source Adams. So D, H1. C: Adames.↩back to note sourceRubric Thyese balades that . . . tyme to come. So D, H1. Not in C. This omission is especially interesting since all three manuscripts then continue with an extract from Henry Suso’s Seven Points of True Love and Everlasting Wisdom, entitled “Orologium Sapientie,” suggesting some textual relationship between their contents, despite the differences in their presentation.↩back to note source29 worldely. So D, H1. C: wordly.↩back to note source31 be. So D, H1. C: bene.↩back to note source33 breke. So D, C. H1: breken.↩back to note source preceptys. So H1. D: preceprt; C: preceptes.↩back to note source ayenst. So D, H1. C: ageyn.↩back to note source35 he dyed. So D, H1. C: he shedde it.↩back to note source36 hate. So D, H1. C: hateth.↩back to note source37 offens. So D, H1. C: offences.↩back to note source38 mokry. So D. H1: mokey; C: mockery.↩back to note source39 Ayenst. So D, H1. C: ageyn.↩back to note source do. So D, H1. C: doth.↩back to note source40 for to have. So D, H1. C: to have.↩back to note source souveranly. So D, H1. C: soffevenly.↩back to note source42 exampelere. So D, H1. C: exemplary.↩back to note source43 redempcioun. So D, H1. C: redempcion.↩back to note source44 nayled to. So D, H1. C: nayled on.↩back to note source45 Suffred. So H1, C. D: suffird.↩back to note source passioun. So D, H1. C: cruel passyon.↩back to note source46 asketh. So D, H1. C: axed.↩back to note source47 ayenward. So D, H1. C: ageyn.↩back to note source48 that we sette. So D, C. H1: we sette.↩back to note source all holy. So D, C. H1: alonly.↩back to note source52 entré. So D, H1. C: entre ageyn.↩back to note source53 From. So D, H1. C: For.↩back to note source55 so brynge. So D. H1: brynge. C: do bryng.↩back to note source56 by thy dethe had. So D, H1. C: by dethe haddest.↩back to note source Amen. So D, H1. Absent in C.↩back to note source - Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- General Introduction
- John Lydgate, Dance of Death: A Version (Selden) - Headnote
- John Lydgate, Dance of Death: A Version (Selden) - Explanatory Notes
- John Lydgate, Dance of Death: A Version (Selden) - Textual Notes
- John Lydgate, Dance of Death: B Version (Lansdowne) - Headnote
- John Lydgate, Dance of Death: B Version (Lansdowne) - Explanatory Notes
- John Lydgate, Dance of Death: B Version (Lansdowne) - Textual Notes
- John Lydgate, "Death's Warning to the World" (DIMEV 4905) - Headnote
- John Lydgate, "Death's Warning to the World" (DIMEV 4905) - Explanatory Notes
- John Lydgate, "Death's Warning to the World" (DIMEV 4905) - Textual Notes
- "Three Messengers of Death" (DIMEV 5387) - Headnote
- "Three Messengers of Death" (DIMEV 5387) - Explanatory Notes
- "Three Messengers of Death" (DIMEV 5387) - Textual Notes
- "A Warning Spoken by the Soul of a Dead Person" (DIMEV 3624) - Headnote
- "A Warning Spoken by the Soul of a Dead Person" (DIMEV 3624) - Explanatory Notes
- "A Mirror for Young Ladies at their Toilet" (DIMEV 3454) - Headnote
- "A Mirror for Young Ladies at their Toilet" (DIMEV 3454) - Explanatory Notes
- "A Mirror for Young Ladies at their Toilet" (DIMEV 3454) - Textual Notes
- "The Ressoning betuix Deth and Man," Ascribed to Robert Henryson (DIMEV 4000) - Headnote
- "The Ressoning betuix Deth and Man," Ascribed to Robert Henryson (DIMEV 4000) - Explanatory Notes
- "The Ressoning betuix Deth and Man," Ascribed to Robert Henryson (DIMEV 4000) - Textual Notes
- "The Dawnce of Makabre" (DIMEV 4104) - Headnote
- "The Dawnce of Makabre" (DIMEV 4104) - Explanatory Notes
- "The Dawnce of Makabre" (DIMEV 4104) - Textual Notes
- "Can Ye Dance the Shaking of the Sheets" (DIMEV 956) - Headnote
- "Can Ye Dance the Shaking of the Sheets" (DIMEV 956) - Explanatory Notes
- "Can Ye Dance the Shaking of the Sheets" (DIMEV 956) - Textual Notes
- La Danse macabre - Headnote
- La Danse macabre - Explanatory Notes
- La Danse macabre - Textual Notes
- Bibliography
- John Lydgate, Dance of Death: A Version (Selden)
- John Lydgate, Dance of Death: A Version (Selden)
- John Lydgate, Dance of Death: B Version (Lansdowne)
- John Lydgate, Dance of Death: B Version (Lansdowne)
- John Lydgate, "Death's Warning to the World" (DIMEV 4905)
- John Lydgate, "Death's Warning to the World" (DIMEV 4905)
- "Three Messengers of Death" (DIMEV 5387)
- "Three Messengers of Death" (DIMEV 5387)
- "A Warning Spoken by the Soul of a Dead Person" (DIMEV 3624)
- "A Warning Spoken by the Soul of a Dead Person" (DIMEV 3624)
- "A Mirror for Young Ladies at their Toilet" (DIMEV 3454)
- "A Mirror for Young Ladies at their Toilet" (DIMEV 3454)
- "The Ressoning betuix Deth and Man," Ascribed to Robert Henryson (DIMEV 4000)
- "The Ressoning betuix Deth and Man," Ascribed to Robert Henryson (DIMEV 4000)
- "The Dawnce of Makabre" (DIMEV 4104)
- "The Dawnce of Makabre" (DIMEV 4104)
- "Can Ye Dance the Shaking of the Sheets" (DIMEV 956)
- "Can Ye Dance the Shaking of the Sheets" (DIMEV 956)
- La Danse macabre
- La Danse macabre
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- General Introduction
- John Lydgate, Dance of Death: A Version (Selden) - Headnote
- John Lydgate, Dance of Death: A Version (Selden) - Explanatory Notes
- John Lydgate, Dance of Death: A Version (Selden) - Textual Notes
- John Lydgate, Dance of Death: B Version (Lansdowne) - Headnote
- John Lydgate, Dance of Death: B Version (Lansdowne) - Explanatory Notes
- John Lydgate, Dance of Death: B Version (Lansdowne) - Textual Notes
- John Lydgate, "Death's Warning to the World" (DIMEV 4905) - Headnote
- John Lydgate, "Death's Warning to the World" (DIMEV 4905) - Explanatory Notes
- John Lydgate, "Death's Warning to the World" (DIMEV 4905) - Textual Notes
- "Three Messengers of Death" (DIMEV 5387) - Headnote
- "Three Messengers of Death" (DIMEV 5387) - Explanatory Notes
- "Three Messengers of Death" (DIMEV 5387) - Textual Notes
- "A Warning Spoken by the Soul of a Dead Person" (DIMEV 3624) - Headnote
- "A Warning Spoken by the Soul of a Dead Person" (DIMEV 3624) - Explanatory Notes
- "A Mirror for Young Ladies at their Toilet" (DIMEV 3454) - Headnote
- "A Mirror for Young Ladies at their Toilet" (DIMEV 3454) - Explanatory Notes
- "A Mirror for Young Ladies at their Toilet" (DIMEV 3454) - Textual Notes
- "The Ressoning betuix Deth and Man," Ascribed to Robert Henryson (DIMEV 4000) - Headnote
- "The Ressoning betuix Deth and Man," Ascribed to Robert Henryson (DIMEV 4000) - Explanatory Notes
- "The Ressoning betuix Deth and Man," Ascribed to Robert Henryson (DIMEV 4000) - Textual Notes
- "The Dawnce of Makabre" (DIMEV 4104) - Headnote
- "The Dawnce of Makabre" (DIMEV 4104) - Explanatory Notes
- "The Dawnce of Makabre" (DIMEV 4104) - Textual Notes
- "Can Ye Dance the Shaking of the Sheets" (DIMEV 956) - Headnote
- "Can Ye Dance the Shaking of the Sheets" (DIMEV 956) - Explanatory Notes
- "Can Ye Dance the Shaking of the Sheets" (DIMEV 956) - Textual Notes
- La Danse macabre - Headnote
- La Danse macabre - Explanatory Notes
- La Danse macabre - Textual Notes
- Bibliography
- John Lydgate, Dance of Death: A Version (Selden)
- John Lydgate, Dance of Death: A Version (Selden)
- John Lydgate, Dance of Death: B Version (Lansdowne)
- John Lydgate, Dance of Death: B Version (Lansdowne)
- John Lydgate, "Death's Warning to the World" (DIMEV 4905)
- John Lydgate, "Death's Warning to the World" (DIMEV 4905)
- "Three Messengers of Death" (DIMEV 5387)
- "Three Messengers of Death" (DIMEV 5387)
- "A Warning Spoken by the Soul of a Dead Person" (DIMEV 3624)
- "A Warning Spoken by the Soul of a Dead Person" (DIMEV 3624)
- "A Mirror for Young Ladies at their Toilet" (DIMEV 3454)
- "A Mirror for Young Ladies at their Toilet" (DIMEV 3454)
- "The Ressoning betuix Deth and Man," Ascribed to Robert Henryson (DIMEV 4000)
- "The Ressoning betuix Deth and Man," Ascribed to Robert Henryson (DIMEV 4000)
- "The Dawnce of Makabre" (DIMEV 4104)
- "The Dawnce of Makabre" (DIMEV 4104)
- "Can Ye Dance the Shaking of the Sheets" (DIMEV 956)
- "Can Ye Dance the Shaking of the Sheets" (DIMEV 956)
- La Danse macabre
- La Danse macabre
Rubric None in D, H1. C: Dictamen. Vel lugubre carmen terribilissimi mortis. (Letter. A very grievous song of most frightful death.)↩back to note source1 hostesse. So C. D, H1: costes. We have chosen hostesse since it is an existing manuscript reading that fits in with the trope of female addressees found elsewhere in contemporary death poetry.↩back to note source2 And in youre book to set myn ymage. In Douce 322 and Harley 1706 (fol. 19v in both), the poem is immediately preceded by an inkdrawn image of a skeleton holding a bell and spear (see Explanatory Note to line 7 and Headnote to the Explanatory Notes) with the words “deth” written in profusion around the skeleton’s form, evoking the pealing of the bell as well as naming the figure.↩back to note source3 with gret avyses. So D, H1. C: by gret avisenesse.↩back to note source4 mortall. So D, H1. C: my mortal.↩back to note source5 to spare. So D. H1: spare.↩back to note source nether. So D, H1. C: neither.↩back to note source ne. So D. C: ner.↩back to note source7 Afore. So D, H1. C: Aforn.↩back to note source8 ygrounde. So D. H1: sharpe I grounde. C: whet and grounde.↩back to note source9 thys. So D, H1. C: thus.↩back to note source10 withstande. So D, H1. C: withstonde.↩back to note source11 Ne whomme I merke. So D, H1. C: Nor whan I marke.↩back to note source other. So D, H1. C: othir.↩back to note source12 of day oure ne space. So D, H1. C: a day houre or space.↩back to note source14 Yef. So D, H1. C: Though.↩back to note source15 past. So D, H1. C: passed.↩back to note source16 lasteth but. So D, H1. C: lastyng.↩back to note source17 ey. So D. H1: eye. C: yhe.↩back to note source18 blossom falleth. So D, H1. C: blosmes falle.↩back to note source20 elde unwarly crepyng. So D, H1. C: age unwardly in crepyng.↩back to note source21 purely thanne. So D, H1. C: pouerly you.↩back to note source22 The gospell byddeth than wake and prey. So D. H1: The gospel than wake and pray. C: The gospel bit you for to wake and prey.↩back to note source24 Ne no manne knoweth whenne. So D, H1. C: Nor no man wote the houre whan.↩back to note source dye. So D, H1. C: dey.↩back to note source26 kynde. So D, H1. C: kynge.↩back to note source knot unknyt. So D, H1. C: knot upknet. These readings point to opposite understandings of the relationship between death and creation. C emphasizes how tightly bound death is with the very idea of life, while D and H1 instead speak to the theme, seen in other death-related works of this period, of death loosening all bonds. Compare the acrostic in “A Mirror for Young Ladies at their Toilet” (DIMEV 3454), spelling out MORS SOLVIT OMNIA (“death loosens all”).↩back to note source27 every. So D, H1. C: eche.↩back to note source28 For. So D, H1. C: Fro.↩back to note source Adams. So D, H1. C: Adames.↩back to note sourceRubric Thyese balades that . . . tyme to come. So D, H1. Not in C. This omission is especially interesting since all three manuscripts then continue with an extract from Henry Suso’s Seven Points of True Love and Everlasting Wisdom, entitled “Orologium Sapientie,” suggesting some textual relationship between their contents, despite the differences in their presentation.↩back to note source29 worldely. So D, H1. C: wordly.↩back to note source31 be. So D, H1. C: bene.↩back to note source33 breke. So D, C. H1: breken.↩back to note source preceptys. So H1. D: preceprt; C: preceptes.↩back to note source ayenst. So D, H1. C: ageyn.↩back to note source35 he dyed. So D, H1. C: he shedde it.↩back to note source36 hate. So D, H1. C: hateth.↩back to note source37 offens. So D, H1. C: offences.↩back to note source38 mokry. So D. H1: mokey; C: mockery.↩back to note source39 Ayenst. So D, H1. C: ageyn.↩back to note source do. So D, H1. C: doth.↩back to note source40 for to have. So D, H1. C: to have.↩back to note source souveranly. So D, H1. C: soffevenly.↩back to note source42 exampelere. So D, H1. C: exemplary.↩back to note source43 redempcioun. So D, H1. C: redempcion.↩back to note source44 nayled to. So D, H1. C: nayled on.↩back to note source45 Suffred. So H1, C. D: suffird.↩back to note source passioun. So D, H1. C: cruel passyon.↩back to note source46 asketh. So D, H1. C: axed.↩back to note source47 ayenward. So D, H1. C: ageyn.↩back to note source48 that we sette. So D, C. H1: we sette.↩back to note source all holy. So D, C. H1: alonly.↩back to note source52 entré. So D, H1. C: entre ageyn.↩back to note source53 From. So D, H1. C: For.↩back to note source55 so brynge. So D. H1: brynge. C: do bryng.↩back to note source56 by thy dethe had. So D, H1. C: by dethe haddest.↩back to note source Amen. So D, H1. Absent in C.↩back to note source