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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BALADE AND ROUNDEL TO MASTER SOMER by THOMAS HOCCLEVE

Poet Analysis

First Line: THE SONNE, WITH HIS BEMES OF BRIGHTNESS
Last Line: AL KYNDE OF MAN THEE HOLDEN IS TO BLESSE!
The Sonne, with his bemes of brightnesse,
To man so kyndly is, and norisshynge,
That lakkyng it day nere but dirknesse:
To day he yeveth his enlumynynge,
And causith al fruyt for to wexe and sprynge.
Now, syn that sonne may so moche availle,
And moost with Somer is his sojournynge,
That sesoun bounteuous we wole assaille.
Glad cheerid Somer, to your governaille
And grace we submitte al our willynge!
To whom yee freendly been he may nat faille
But he shal have his resonable axynge.
Aftir your good lust, be the sesonynge
Of our fruytes this laste Mighelmesse,
The tyme of yeer was of our seed ynnynge,
The lak of which is our greet hevynesse.
We truste upon your freendly gentillesse,
Yee wole us helpe and been our suppoaille.
Now yeve us cause ageyn the Cristemesse
For to be glad. O lord, whethir our taille
Shal soone make us with our shippes saille
To port salut? If yow list we may synge;
And elles moot us bothe mourne and waille,
Til your favour us sende releevynge.
We, your servantes, Hoccleve and Baillay,
Hethe and Offorde, yow byseeche and preye:
"Haastith our hervest, as soone as yee may!'
For fere of stormes our wit is aweye
Were our seed inned wel we mighten pleye,
And us desporte and synge and make game.
And yit this rowndel shul we synge and seye
In trust of yow and honour of your name:
Somer, that rypest mannes sustenance
With holsum hete of the Sonnes warmnesse,
Al kynde of man thee holden is to blesse!
Ay thankid be thy freendly governance,
And thy fressh look of mirthe and of gladnesse!
Somer, that rypest mannes sustenance
With holsum hete of the Sonnes warmnesse,
Al kynde of man thee holden is to blesse!
To hevy folk of thee the remembraunce
Is salve and oynement to hir seeknesse,
Forwhy we thus shul synge in Cristemesse,
Somer, that rypest mannes sustenance
With holsum hete of the Sonnes warmnesse,
Al kynde of man thee holden is to blesse!






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