[48]
O Fader and Founder of eternate eloquence,
That eluminede all this oure britaigne;
To sone we lost his lauriate presence, 332
O lusty licoure of that fulsom_e_ fountaigne;
Cursed deth, why hast thou this poete slayne,
I mene Fadir chaucers, mastir Galfride?
Allas! the while, that eu_e_r he from vs diede. 336
[49]
Redith his bokys fulle of all plesaunce,
Clere in sentence, in longage excellent,
Brefly to wryte suche was his suffesaunce, 339
What-euer to sey he toke in his entent,
His longage was so feyre and p_er_tinent,
That semed vnto mennys heryng,
Not[1] only the worde, but verrely the thing. 343
[Sidenote 1: MS. But.]
[50]
Redith, my child, redith his warkys all,
Refuseth non, they ben expedient;
Sentence or langage, or both, fynde ye shall 346
Full delectable, for that fader ment
Of all his purpos and his hole entent
Howe to plese in euery audience,
And in our_e_ tou_n_g was well of eloquence. 350
[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._]
[Sidenote: ff C lxiij back.]
¶ O fader & fownder of ornate eloquence
_tha_t Illumyned hast all[e] owre bretayne!
To sone we loste thy lavreat science, 332
O lusty lyqvovre of _tha_t fulsu_m_ fontayn_e_!
O cursed det[=h]! why hast _tho_u _tha_t poete slayn_e_,
I mene fader chavucer, mayst_er_ galfryde?
Alas _th_e while _tha_t ever he from vs dyed! 336
¶ Redyt[=h] his werkes full[e] of plesavnce,
Clere in sentence, I_n_ langage excellente:
Bryefly to wryte, such was his suffysavnce,
What-ever_e_ to say he toke i_n_ his entente, 340
his langage was so fayer_e_ & p_er_tynente,
yt semet[=h] vnto manys heryng
Not only the worde, but veryly _th_e thyng. 343
¶ Redyth, my child, redyth his bookes all[e],
Refusith Non, they ben expedyente;
sentence or langage, bot[=h] fynd ye shall[e];
ffull[e] delectablé that good fader mente,
for all[e] his purpose & his hole entente 348
[was] how to please in eu_er_y audyence,
& In owr_e_ tonge was well[e] of Eloquence.