Xvii. Transition Period

Examples of True Prosody in Ballad, Carols, etc.

(a) Chevy Chase:

The Per|cy out | of Northum|berland, And a vow | to God | made he, That he | would hunt | in the moun|tains Of Chev|iot within | days three, In the mau|gre of dough|ty Doug|las And all | that ever with | him be.

(It must be observed that this modern spelling exactly represents the old prosodically. The reader will then see that there are no liberties, on the equivalent system, except the crasis of "-viot" and "ever." The former, insignificant in any case, is still more so here, for the actual Northumbrian pronunciation is or was "Chevot"; while if "ever" changes places with "that," there is not even any crasis needed. For a piece so rough in phrase, and copied by a person so evidently illiterate, the exactness is astonishing.)

(b) "E.I.O.":

To doom | we draw | the sooth | to schaw In life | that us | was lent, Ne la|tin, ne law, | may help | ane haw, But rath|ely us | repent. The cross, | the crown, | the spear | bees bown, That Je|su rug|ged and rent, The nail|ès rude, | shall thee | conclude With their | own ar|gument. With E | and O take keep | thereto, As Christ | himself | us kenned We com|e and go | to weal | or woe, That dread|ful doom | shall end.

(Spelling modernised as before, but not a word altered.)