Bristowe Tragedie (excerpt)
Bristowe Tragedie (excerpt)
Thomas Chatterton
The feathered songster Chauntecleer
Hadd wounde hys bugle horne,
And tolde the earlie villager
The commynge of the morne:
Kynge Edwarde sawe the ruddie streakes
Of lyghte eclypse the greie;
And herde the raven's crokynge throte
Proclayme the fated daie.
"Thou'rt ryght," quod hee, "for, by the Godde
That syttes enthroned on hyghe!
Charles Bawdin, and hys fellowes twaine,
To-daie shall surelie die."
Thenne wythe a jugge of nappy ale
Hys Knyghtes dydd onne hymm waite;
Goe tell the traytour, thatt to-daie
Hee leaves thys mortall state.
Verse breaks and indentation are preserved. Wrapped lines have a hanging indent. Width adapts to your screen.
Published posthumously 1772.
