[54]
I not why deth my mastir_e_ dide envie,
But for he shuld_e_ chaunge his habite;
Pety hit is that suche a man shulde die! 374
But nowe I trist he be a carmylite;
His amyse blacke is chaunged into white,
Among the muses ix celestiall,
Afore the hieghest Iubiter of all; 378
[55]
Passing the muses all of elicon_e_,
Where is ynympariable of Armonye,
Thedir I trist my mastir-is soule is gon_e_, 381
The sterrede palays aboue dapplede skye,
Ther to syng 'sanctus' incessantly
Among the muses ix celestiall,
Affore the highest Iubiter of all. 385
[56]
Redith is volumes that ben so large and wyde,
Souereynly sitte in sadnesse of sentence,
Elumynede wyth colouris fresshe on eu_er_y syde, 388
Hit passith my wytte, I haue no eloquence
To yeue hym lawde aftir his excellence,
For I dare say he lefte hym not on lyue,
That coude his cu_n_nyng suffisantly discreue. 392
[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._]
[Omitted. See Preface, p. ii] 372
376
¶ Passyng the mvses nyne of elycon,
Wher ys no pareyll[e] of Armonye; 380
Thyder I trust my Maysters sowle be gon,
The sterred paleys above _th_e dappled skye,
Ther to syng snactus insessavntly 384
Emonge the mvses nyne celestyall[e],
Before _th_e hyeste Iubyter of all[e].
¶ Redyth hys volumes _tha_t be large & wyde,
Severyly sette in sadnes of sentence,
Enlumined w_i_t_h_ colovres fresshe on eu_er_y side. 388
[Sidenote: ffl C lxiiij.]
Me lakketh wytt, I haue non eloquence,
To geve hy_m_ lawde after his excellence,
ffor I dare saye he lefte hy_m_ not alyve
That covde his cu_n_yng ssufficiently discryve. 392