THE LYKE-WAKE DIRGE

(Lansdowne MS., 231, fol. 114 _recto_.)

1.

This ean night, this ean night,

eve[r]y night and awle:

Fire and Fleet and Candle-light

and Christ recieve thy Sawle.

2.

When thou from hence doest pass away

every night and awle

To Whinny-moor thou comest at last

and Christ recieve thy [thy silly poor] Sawle.

3.

If ever thou gave either hosen or shun

every night and awle

Sitt thee downe and putt them on

and Christ recieve thy Sawle.

4.

But if hosen nor shoon thou never gave nean

every night &c:

The Whinnes shall prick thee to the bare beane

and Christ recieve thy Sawle.

5.

From Whinny-moor that thou mayst pass

every night &c:

To Brig o' Dread thou comest at last

and Christ &c:

[fol. 114 _verso_]

no brader than a thread.

6.

From Brig of Dread that thou mayst pass

every night &c:

To Purgatory fire thou com'st at last

and Christ &c:

7.

If ever thou gave either Milke or drinke

every night &c:

The fire shall never make thee shrink

and Christ &c:

8.

But if milk nor drink thou never gave nean

every night &c:

The Fire shall burn thee to the bare bane

and Christ recive thy Sawle.

[Annotations:

1.1: 'ean,' one.

1.3: 'Fleet,' water. --_Aubrey's marginal note._ See above.

2.3: Whin is a Furze. --_Aubrey_.

2.4: This line stands in the MS. as here printed.

3.1: Job cap. xxxi. 19. If I have seen any perish for want of

cloathing, or any poor without covering: 20. If his loyns have

not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my

sheep, &c. --_Aubrey_.

3.3: There will be hosen and shoon for them. --_Aubrey_.

4.3: 'beane.' The 'a' was inserted by Aubrey after writing 'bene.'

6.1: 'no brader than a thread.' Written by Aubrey as here printed

over the second half of the line. Probably it indicates a lost

stanza. See Appendix.

8.3: 'bane' might be read 'bene.']

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