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Syng I wolde, butt, alas!
   decendunt prospera grata.
Ynglond sum tyme was
   regnorum gemma vocata,
Of manhod the flowre,
   ibi quondam floruit omnis;
Now gone ys that oure--
   traduntur talia sompnis.
Lechery, slewthe and pryde--
   hec sunt quibus Anglia paret.
Sethyn trewth was set asyde,
   dic qualiter Anglia staret.
Wheche oure fryndes were
   nostri fiunt inimici,
With bow, schyld and spere:
   poterunt--eu!--talia dici. 1
Oft tymes we have herd
   mala nobis esse futura,
But ever we have deferred
   a nobis commoda plura.
Loo! withyn oure lond
   insurgunt undeque guerre.
But God put to his hond,
   fiet destructio terre.
On water and on lond,
   que quondam nos timuerunt,
Now many a thowsand,
   nos per rus per mare querunt.
The dred of God ys went,
   humanus sed timor astat.
Whoo sayth the trewthe ys schent;
   regnum violentia vastat;
Rowners and flatereres,
   hi sunt regno nocituri;
Wold God suche klaterers
   subdant sua colla securi.
Ynglond, awake now--
   consurgunt jugiter hostes,
And goode hede take thu:
   fac ostia, dirige postes.
The ryche maketh myry,
   sed vulgus collacrematur;
The pepulle ys wery,
   quia ferme depopulatur.
The chyrche ys greved
   quia spirituales cedunt.
And some bene myschevyd;
   plus dampni crescere credunt.
Ynglond goose to noght
   plus facit homo viciosus;
To lust mon ys broght,
   nimis est homo deliciosus.
Godys dere halydays
   non observantur honeste.
For unthryfty playes
   in eis regnant manifeste;
Unthryft and wombes joyse
   steriles et luxuriosi,
Gentyles, gromes, and boyse,
   socii sunt atque gulosi.
Sugget and suffrayn
   uno quasi fune trahuntur.
Putt thay bene to payne
   ad eos quicunque locuntur.
At Wesmynster halle
   leges sunt valde scientes;
Noght ellys before thayme alle,
   ibi vincuntur jura potentes.
That never herd the case,
   juramento mediabit,
The mater wylle he face   
   et justum dampnificabit,
And an obligacion
   de jure satis valitura
Throgh a fals cavelacoun,
   erit effectu caritura.
His own cause mony mon
   nunc judicat et moderatur.
Law helpis nott then,
   ergo lex evacuatur.
Monslaghter and theft
   crucis ad votum redimuntur.
Be warre of ylle sponon weft;
   quia pravi prave locuntur.
Jurrers with payntyt sleves,
   inopes famuli dominorum,
Theys hurtes and greves,
   nobis Deus ipse deorum.
Grete hurt to this lond
   est usurpata potestas;
Therefore putt to his hond
   regis metuendi majestas.
For harmes that wil falle,
   nonnulla statuta parantur;
The kyng knows nott alle,
   non sunt qui vere loquuntur.
He and he says welle,
   sed sermo placere videtur;
The kattys nek to the bel
   hic et ille ligare veretur.
What ys the cause of this?
   vere violentia legis.
Amend that ys amysse
   poterit clementia regis.
Now without a jak
   paucos timuit remanere;
Sum have hym on his bak,
   sed bursa mallet habere.
Goode Jak, where is John?
   ubi gratia nunc requiescit?
Jak, now grace ys gone;
   ad regna remota recessit.
Jak nobil with hym ys;
   iter simul accipuerunt.
Of bothe ys grete mys;
   illos multi modo querunt.
Galauntes, Purs Penyles--
   per vicos ecce vagantur.
Yf yt be as I gesse,
   male solvunt quod mutuantur.
On with another anone
   satagit committere guerram.
Now ys he here, now is he gone,
   destruxit ut advena terram.
Freshest of the new towche,
   incedunt ridiculose,
Lytel or noght in the powche,
   pascuntur deliciose.
Brodder then ever God made
   humeris sunt arte tumentes;
Narow thay bene, thay seme brod,
   nova sunt haec respice gentes
They bere a newe facoun,
   humeris in pectore tergo;
Goddes plasmacoun
   non illis complacet ergo.
With wyde koleres and hye,
   gladio sunt colla parata,
War ye the profycy;
   contra tales recitata.
Longe spores on the hele,
   et rostra fovent ocrearum.
They thynk it dose wele,
   si non sit regula Sarum.
A strayt bend have the hose,
   laqueantur ad corpora crura.
They may nott, I suppose,
   curvare genu sine cura:
When other men kneles
   pia Christo vota ferentes,
Thay stondyn at here helys,
   se non curvare valentes;
For hurtyng of herre hose
   non inclinare laborant
I trow, for herre long toose
   dum stant ferialiter orant.
Mony a mon they lett
   et turbant ad sacra stando;
Crystys curse they get,
   nisi desistant aliquando.
Womon, lo! with wantoun brestes
   procendunt arte prophana;
Prechers ne pristes
   possunt hec pellere vana.
With poyntys ful stronge
   caligas de more sigillant
Now schort and now longe,
   ventus velud ecce vacillant.
Theyer knokuld elbows
   manice laqueant lacerate 2
In frost and in snows,
   ut aves spectant laqueate.
When frost awakes,
   et stringunt frigore gentes,
Theyer teth then quakes,
   sese quasi concientes.
Ful oftymes ywys
   gelido fervent in amore,
There specyall when thay kysse
   distillat nasus in ore.
Huffe o galant ther a towche,
   unguentum stillat amoris.
I wolde fulle were there powche 3
   tanti dulcedine roris!
Lo! this fore a grete nede,
   sua miscent ora libenter.
Whoo so ever takes hede
   manat liquor irreverenter.
"Vye velabel!" they kry,
   fragrantia vina bibentes,
They drynke tyl thay be dry,
   lingua sensuque carentes.
They kry, "Ful the bolles!"
   "Bonus est liquor, hic maneamus!
Fore alle Crystyn soles,
   dum durant vasa, bibamus!"
Qwen men rest takes,
   noctis sompno recreati,
Seche felows awakes
   ad dampna patranda parati 4
"Armes, sydes, and blode!"
   horum quidam recitauit;
Yit when he ys most wode,
   tunc blandus sermo domauit.
Peraventure at an owre
   poscunt hi tempore plausus 5
A countur-tenore,
   cantabit carcere clausus.
Of the cherche that I wryte,
   non forte placet sibi psalmus;
Noght say I for despyte,
   sic me Deus adjuvet almus.
Alas and waylaway!
   decus ecclesie tenebrascit.
Lyght wylle fayl, darre y say
   Sanctus nunc Spiritus assit.
Symon, that fals man
   decus nocet ecclesiarum;
Myche sorow he began,
   virus diffudit amarum.
And than fals avaryce
   satis ecclesiam laqueasti;
With mony other vice
   Christi sponsam violasti.
Here mekyl more myght I say,
   tamen ordo vetat feriarum;
Of seche more se ye may
   in libris ecclesiarum.
The lanterne of lyght
   non fulget luce serena;
Yt ys nott alle oryght:
   populus bibit ecce venena.
Owre kynge and his lond
   servet, regat et tueatur,
God that with Hys hond
   celum, terram moderatur,
In age as he grows
   sua crescat gratia fructu; 6
Fulle lytelle he knowes
   quanto dolet Anglia luctu.
   
Hec quicumque legat / non dampnet metra que pegi
Anglica lingua negat / semet subdere legi. 7
   
O rex, si rex es, rege te, et eris sine re rex
Nomen habes sine re, te nisi recte regas. 8
   
   
Explicit autem scriptum. Nunc finem feci, da mihi quod merui.
   
[This work is finished. Now I have made an end. Grant me what I deserve.]
but
good times are fading away; (see note)
once
called the jewel of realms/nations
(see note)
where once all flourished
hour (time); (see note)
such things are fading into dreams
sloth; (see note)
these are the things which England obeys
Since truth; (see note)
tell how England stands
Those who; friends; (see note)
now have become our enemies; (see note)
(see note)
(see note)
heard; (see note)
that there would be evils for us
put off; (see note)
more favorable opportunities for ourselves; (see note)
   
wars rise up everywhere
Unless; intervene
there will be a destruction of the land
   
[powers] which once feared us; (see note)
   
seek us out through countryside and by the sea; (see note)
fear; has vanished; (see note)
but fear of people remains
Whoever speaks; ruined; (see note)
violence lays waste to the realm
Whisperers; (see note)
these will injure the realm
gossips; (see note)
might submit their necks to the axe; (see note)
   
[our] enemies jointly arise
   
bar the gates, batten the doors
merry
but the common people weep; (see note)
Humankind
since (the land) is nearly laid waste; (see note)
aggrieved
because the spiritual leaders withdraw; (see note)
Some are brought to disaster; (see note)
they believe more harm is coming
goes; ruin; (see note)
and the sinful creature is more esteemed; (see note)
mankind
Mankind is too given to delights
God's precious holy days; (see note)
aren't observed honorably
Since profligate diversion; (see note)
openly rules these days
Profligate; bodily
sterile and lustful; (see note)
Nobility, grooms; churls (youth)
are gluttons all alike
Subject; sovereign
are drawn as if with a single line; (see note)
torture; (see note)
whoever speaks against them
(see note)
there are men most learned in law
Nevertheless; (see note)
there the powerful laws are chained; (see note)
One who never heard the case
will arrange things with an oath
He will outface (face down) the evidence; (see note)
and will condemn the just
legal contract (surety)
that would be valid enough in law
legal quibble
will be emptied of its force
   
now judges and oversees
   
for alas! the law is eviserated
   
are exonerated when cash speaks up for them; (see note)
Beware of ill-spun wool; (see note)
since corruption haunts the corrupt
Jurors; sleeves
retainers of noblemen
These; oppress
God of gods Himself knows
Great harm
is power falsely claimed
   
the majesty of the fearsome king; (see note)
Against; may
no statutes are drafted
(see note)
there are none who speak the truth
This one and that one
and the speech seems to please
cat's neck; (see note)
he fears to tie (the string) here and there
   
the violence against the law
what
the mercy of the king will be able to
jack (quilted jerkin/coin)
few fear to remain
him (the jerkin/coin); (see note)
but would prefer to have him in their purses
(see note)
Where does his grace now lie at rest; (see note)
   
he has gone off to distant realms; (see note)
noble (a coin)
they've gone on a journey together
Both (the duke & his money) are greatly missed
many now seek them
(see note)
behold, they wander through the countryside
   
they repay badly what they borrow
One; soon
is busy to commit war
(see note)
he ravages the earth like a stranger
fashion; (see note)
they strut ridiculously
purse
they dine deliciously
   
they puff out (their) shoulders artificially
[Though] narrow; broad; (see note)
they are a "new fashion" of gents; (see note)
fashion
with shoulders in the back of the chest
shaping of them
therefore is not pleasing to them
collars; high
their necks are prepared for the sword
Beware of the prophecy; (see note)
tales are told against such men
spurs; heel
they cherish the pointed toes of their slippers
   
even if it may be not the rule of Sarum; (note)
   
the shins are adorned to the crotch; (note)
   
to bend the knee without care
kneel
saying pious vows to Christ
their heels
unable themselves to bend their [knees]
For fear of damaging their hose
they take pains not to bend
believe; their; toes
while they pray standing up in a workaday manner
hinder; (see note)
by standing they cause confusion in the service
   
unless they desist somewhat; (see note)
(see note)
behave with a profane art; (see note)
Neither preacher nor priest
are able to warn [them] off these vanities
enormous
they decorate [their] boots fashionably
   
behold, just as the wind they vary; (see note)
(see note)
   
   
like snared birds they look
   
and people huddle together for cold
Their; chatter; (see note)
as if clattering on their own; (see note)
truly
they burn in icy love
Their sweetheart; kiss
the nose drips in the mouth
(see note)
she drips the balm of love; (see note)
(see note)
with the sweetness of such great dew
   
they freely mix their mouths
   
liquid (saliva?) irreverently flows
Long live beauty; cry; (see note)
drinking fragrant wines
   
lacking tongue and sense
Fill the bowls
The liquor is good; let's stay here
Christian souls
while the bottles last, let's drink
When; (see note)
renewed by a night's sleep
   
(see note)
(see note)
one of them swears; (see note)
crazed
then the flattering word will prevail
By chance, after an hour
(see note)
(see note)
shut up in a prison will sing
   
[to sing] a psalm perhaps pleases him (the tenor)
shameful behavior; (see note)
so help me sweet God
   
the glory of the Church grows dark
   
now let the Holy Spirit be here
(see note)
harms the Churches' dignity
   
poured forth a bitter poison
Thereafter
you have ensnared the Church enough
many a vice
you have ravished the bride of Christ
On this matter a great deal more
yet festive propriety prohibits
such; you may behold; (see note)
in the books of the Church
(see note)
does not shine with a steady light
   
Behold, the people drink poisons; (see note)
(see note)
may He keep, rule, and protect; (see note)
   
judges heaven [and] earth
As he [the king] grows older
(see note)
   
with how much sorrow England suffers