Digital Index of Middle English Verse: No. 283

DIMEV 283

IMEV 154

NIMEV 154

Alas I woeful creature

John Lydgate, ‘A Gentlewoman’s Lament’ — seven 8-line stanzas

Note: Ringler Jr. (1992)

XRingler Jr., William A. Bibliography and Index of English Verse in Manuscript 1501-1558. London: Mansell, 1992; prepared and completed by Michael Rudick and Susan J. Ringler

, TM 99.

Author(s): John Lydgate

Title(s): ‘A Gentlewoman’s Lament’

Subjects: lovers’ laments; women, as speakers/narrators

Versification: — eight-line — ababbcbc

Manuscript Witnesses:

1.Source: Cambridge UK, Trinity College R.3.20 (600), pp. 152-154

First Lines:

Allas I wooful creature
Lyving betweene hope and dreed
Howe might I þe woo endure
In tendrenesse of wommanhede…

Last Lines:

…To haue hooly my Remembraunce
On his persone so mychil I thynke

Attributed Author: Lidegate (RT, 152-154)

Attributed Title: And here begynneþe a balade sayde by a gentil womman whiche loued a man of gret estate (p. 152); A Womans Compleynte made by Lidegate (RT, 152-154)

Editions:

MacCracken, Henry Noble, ed. John Lydgate: The Minor Poems, Vol. II: Secular Poems. EETS o.s. 192 (1934); repr. 1961: 418-20.

2.Source: London, British Library Addit. 29729, ff. 160-161

First Lines:

Allas I wofull creature
lyuinge betwene hope and dred
how mighte I the woo endure
in tendernesse of womanhede…

Last Lines:

…to haue holy my remembraunce
on hys persone so mychill I thynke

Note: Ends ‘funis’ (f. 161).

Attributed Author: lidgate (f. 160)

Attributed Title: And here begynneth a balade sayde by a gentillwoman which loued a man of gret estate made by lidgate (f. 160)

3.Source: London, British Library Harley 2251, ff. 250v-251v

First Lines:

Allas woful creature
Lyveng betwene hope and drede…

Last Lines:

…Is whether that I wake of wynke
To have holy my Remembraunce
On his persone so mochil I thynk

Editions:

Halliwell-Phillipps, James Orchard, ed. A Selection from the Minor Poems of Don John Lydgate. Percy Society 2. London: T. Richard, 1840: 220-2.

hinder: adj.¹ and noun.² A. adj.¹ 1. Situated behind, at the back, or in the rear; posterior. (Notwithstanding its comparative form, it does not differ in sense from hind, but is more frequently used. Cf. YON adv., YONDER adv., adj., pron., and n.) hinder gate, postern gate. 2. Of time. a. Last past, ‘last’; as in this hinder day yesterday, this hinder night last night, yesternight. OED

priven: verb To deprive (sb.) of (sth.), deny (sb. sth.); ppl. prived, bereaved, bereft of, deprived of; without; (b) ~ of (from), to deprive (sb. of sth.), deny (sth. to sb.), exclude (sb. from sth.); prived of (from), deprived of (sth.), bereft of; lacking, without; ben of god priving, be a robber of goods; (c) to depose (sb.), dismiss; ~ of (from), deprive (sb.) of (power, kingdom, etc.), remove or dismiss (sb.) from (office or position); (d) to take (sth.) away; prevent (sth.), deny, oppose; weaken (the body); -- also without obj. MED