Talk:Lament of Edward II

Text of the poem
A search on "En tenps de iver me survynt damage" produced only the first few lines of the work. I think it would be very useful to be able to see the whole text or at least more than just a few lines. Perhaps those who have access through libaries, etc., could help out. The work is, after all, out of copyright. - Ipigott (talk) 09:36, 4 March 2011 (UTC)

I finally succeeded in finding the text. See the external link in the article. It may be useful to copy excerpts into the article itself to allow readers to have an immediate impression - but I would rather leave the choice of which lines or stanzas to someone else. - Ipigott (talk) 12:19, 4 March 2011 (UTC) ---

The text of the link is a bit of a mess on my computer. I put a tidied version below. It might need further improvement. Xxanthippe (talk) 05:04, 7 January 2023 (UTC). -- OF KING  EDWARD,  THE  SON  OF  KING  EDWARD, THE SONG  WHICH  HE  MADE.

I. 1   In  winter  woe  befell  me ; By cruel  Fortune  thwarted, My life  now  lies  a  ruin. Full oft  have  I  experienced,

There's none  so  fair,  so  wise, So courteous  nor  so  highly  famed, But, if  Fortune  cease  to  favour, Will be  a  fool  proclaimed.

II. My clamour  rises — yet  in  vain  ; 10 When  favour  once  is  lost, Soon does  man's  love  grow  cold. Too fondly  have  I  trusted, And honours  done  to  many Who now  seek,  my  destruction  ; 15 They  love  me  little,  pity  me  less, In prison  they  torment  me.

III. Torment me,  aye  ! most cruelly — Ev'n though  'twere  well  deserved. Their evil  faith  in  Parliament 20 From  high  has  brought  me  low. Lord of  Salvation,  I  me  repent ; For all  my  sins  forgiveness  crave  : May from  the  pain  the  flesh  endureth The soul  receive  both  joy  and  mercy.

IV. 25   Mejcy,  I  trow,  I  needs  shall  reap From precious  gifts  and  kindly  deeds Which oft  upon  my  friends  and  kin, Within my  power  I  did  bestow. If I  have  erred,  it  grieveth  me  :

30 But  to  their  counsel  was  I  sworn. What I  have  sinned  against  the  faith, Alas ! dear Lord,  full  well  Thou  knowest.

V. Thou knowest  well  and  openly, For nought  is  there  so  well  concealed 35  But  is  to  Thee  fully  revealed, Both good  and  ill  all  equally; Thereon will  rest  Thy  judgments  dread. Deal with  my  sins  mercifully  ! But nonetheless  Thy  will  be  done, 40 For  body  and  soul  to  Thee  I  yield.

VI. I yield  me  all  to  Jesu, Craving His  grace  and  pardon. Once was  I  feared  and  dreaded, But now  all  men  despise  me, 45  And  hail  me  'crownless  king,3 A laughing  stock  to  all. My dearest  friends  deceived  me  : Too late  I  see  it  openly.

VII. And openly  have  they  defied  me, 50  Those  who  betrayed  me  thus ; Methought I  had  their  love, Now have  they  all  forsaken  me. For many  a  jewel  and  many  a  gift I have  now  their  reward. 55  The  tears  are  mine,  but  theirs  the  laugh  ; The game's  unfairly  dealt.

VIII. They've dealt  to  me  a  joyless  game. And 'mid  such  grief  my  heart  complains Of her  whom  fondly  I  believed 60  A  faithful  wife — turned  to  deceit ! Fair Isabel  I  dearly  loved, But now  love's  spark  is  dead  ; And with  my  love  my  joy  is  gone, As 'tis  from  many  a  heart.

IX. 65  And  now  'twere  time  indeed That I  in  death  should  sleep, Mine honours  all  I've  lost Beyond recovery. And yet  why  be  dismayed  ? 70  What  God  hath  thus  ordained Full meekly  will  I  bear, And serve  Him  faithfully.

X. His service  be  my  constant  thought. Ah ! why was  it  not  ever  so  ? 75 What  marvel  then  that  I  am  sad, And earthly  grandeur  faileth  me  ? O let  my  contrite  heart  be  near To Him  who  suffered  on  the  cross, That truly  now  I  may  repent 80 Of  all  the  sins  that  e'er  I  did. »

XL For ever  in  captivity Those felons  make  me  languish, Who in  their  crass  insanity Three kings  have  now  elected. 85   Upon  the  youngest,  in  stately  pomp, .  A  crown  of  gold  they've  placed. Keep him,  Jesu,  the  Son  of  Mary, From traitors,  whom  God  confound  !

XII. May God  confound  his  enemies, 90 And  make  of  him  a  monarch  wise, Endowed both  with  might  and  will Fair fame  to  uphold  and  chivalry  ! And let  them  all  be  brought  to  shame Who seek  to  harm  or  injure  him  ! 95  And  then  at  last  shall  be  fulfilled The inmost  wish  of  all  my  heart.

XIII. My heart  no  longer  will  lament, Arid weep  o'er  earthly  honours  ; But let  sweet  Jesu,  Who  redeemed  us 100   By  His  most  precious  blood, Moved by  the  prayers  of  all  the  Saints Who in  His  glory  share, Lead us  ere  long  to  that  great  joy Which shall  be  without  end.

XIV. 105  An  end  I'll  make  and  say  no  more. Hie thee,  my  song,  on  wings  ! Go to  the  Doe  beyond  Kenire  [  =  Kenil worth  ?] Aiid tell  it  her  in  brief. That when  the  stag  is  roused  to  wrath 110 And  turns  upon  the  hounds, She may  forgo  the  leech's  care, Bearing herself  so  wise.

XV. Both wise  and  fool  I  would  entreat, Make prayers  for  me,  ye  all, 115  To  Mary,  the  mother  all  merciful, Who bore  the  almighty  Lord, That through  the  joys  she  had  of  Him She may  her  Son  beseech, For all  my  sins  and  treacherous  deeds 120  To  grant  me  mercy  yet.