124 THE FORMER AGE. MS. Ii. 3. 21, CAMBR. THE FORMER AGE. [Camb. Univ. MS. Ii. 3. 21, leaf 52, back.] Chawcer vp-on this fyfte metur of the second book (1) A Blysful lyf a paysyble and a swete Ledden the poeples in the former age They helde hem paied of the fructes þat þey ete 1 4 8 (2) ¶ Yit nas the grownd nat wownded with p plowh But corn vp-sprong vnsowe of mannes hond 9 be which they gnodded and eete nat half .I.-nowh (3) ¶ No Madyr welde or wod no litestere No batails trompes for the werres folk ne knewe THE FORMER AGE. MS. Ii. 3. 21, CAMBR. 125 (4) ¶ What sholde it han avayled to werreye (5) ¶ Thyse tyraunt; put hem gladly nat in pres No places wyldnesse ne no busshes for to wynne Ther as vitayle is ek so skars and thinne bat nat but mast or apples is ther Inne (6) ¶ Yit was no paleis chaumbres ne non halles 25 [leaf 53] 28 32 33 36 [† MS. transposes lines 39, 40.] Or gras or leues in parfyt Ioye reste and quiete +39 +40 41 44 [for -ete ryme] 48 Vmblesse and pes good feith the emperice no gap in the MS.] 56 126 THE FORMER AGE. MS. Ii. 3. 21, CAMBR. (8) Yit was nat Iuppiter the lykerous bat fyrst was fadyr of delicasie Come in this world ne nembrot desyrous To regne had nat maad his towres hye Allas allas now may [men] wepe And crye For in owre dayes nis but couetyse Dowblenesse and tresoun and enuye Poyson and manslawhtre and mordre in sondry wyse 57 60 64 128 ADAM SCRIVENER. MS. R. 3. 20 (SHIRLEY). ADAM SCRIVENER. [MS. R. 3. 20 (Shirley's), Trin. Coll. Library, 4th leaf from the end.] ¶ Chauciers wordes a. Geffrey vn to Adame his owen scryveyne/ ¶ Adam scryveyne if euer it þee byfalle Boece or Troylus for to wryten nuwe / Vnder by long lokkes / powe most haue þe scalle But affter my makyng powe wryte more truwe So offt a daye I mot by werk' renuwe / 1 It to. corect and eke to rubbe and scrape / And al is thorugh. by necglygence and ra,e/ 7 |