Page 59 60 60 62 65 WORDSWORTH. “Surprised by joy” Written at sunrise on Westminster Bridge Monday before Easter 65 68 71 72 74 RUGBY HYMN Book. Confirmation 74 Faith 75 ENGLISH POETRY. ECCLESIASTICAL CHARACTERS OF ENGLAND, IN THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY. THER was also a Nonne, a Prioresse, And sikerly she was of grete disport, But for to speken of hire conscience, wepe if that she saw a mous Caughte in a trappe, if it were ded or bledde. Of smalè houndès hadde she, that she fedde With rosted flesh, and milk, and wastel brede. But sore wept she if on of hem were dede, Or if men smote it with a yerde 4 smert,” And all was conscience and tendre herte. Ful semely hire wimple ypinched was ; Hire nose tretis ; 6 hire eyen grey as glass; Hire mouth ful smale, and therto soft and red ; But sikerly she hadde a fayre forehéd. It was almost a spannè brode I trowe; For hardily she was not undergrowe.? Ful fetise 8 was hire cloke, as I was ware. Of smale corall about hire arm she bare A pair of bedès, gauded all with grene; And thereon heng a broche of gold ful shene, On whiche was first ywritten a crouned A, And after, Amor vincit omnia. Another Nonne also with hire hadde she, That was hire chapelleine, and Preestès thre. A Monk ther was, a fayre for the maistrie, An outrider, that loved venerie:9 A manly man, to ben an abbot able. Ful many a deinté hors hadde he in stable: And whan he rode, men might his bridel here Gingèling in a whistling wind as clere, i Took pains. 2 To imitate. 3 Worthy. 4 Stick. 8 Neat. 5 Smartly, adv. 9 Hunting |