John Lydgate, On the Mutability of Man’s Nature due to the Seasons, the
Elements, the Complexions, and the Planets — eighteen eight-line stanzas
(ababbcbc)
Note: For the first stanza separately see
5534; for a disarranged text see
5788.
Author(s): John Lydgate
Title(s): On the Mutability of Man’s Nature due to the Seasons, the Elements, the
Complexions, and the Planets
Subjects: mutability; seasons; astrology/astronomy
Versification: —
eight-line —
ababbcbc
4.Source: London, British Library Harley 2251, ff. 22-24
v
First Lines:The world so wyde the ayre so removable
The cely man so litel of
stature…
Last Lines:…ffor to aduertue in thi knowlachyng
Nothyng is stable here in
this livyng
Note: First two lines occur at the foot of f. 22 and are repeated, with a
lombard initial, at the top of f. 22v. Variant version: 17 stanzas
rhyme royal, including 3 unique stanzas on the zodiac.
5.Source: London, British Library Harley 2251, ff. 78
v2-79
First Lines:The Sangwyne man of bloode hath hardynes
Made to be lovyng and large
of expence…
Last Lines:…Herfor me thynkkyth after my semyng
That noman is stable here
in theyr lievyng
Note: Stanzas 11-13 only (on the complexions), in rhyme royal.
6.Source: London, British Library Harley 2255, ff. 14-17
First Lines:The world so wyd the hair so remevable
The celyman so litel of
Stature…
Last Lines:…And or thu passe remyssion final
Toward that lyf wher ioye is
ay lastyng
Note: Full text in eight-line stanzas; includes attribution to Lydgate at
end.
Attributed Author: Explicit John lydgate (f. 17, in margin)
Editions:
Halliwell-Phillipps, James Orchard,
ed.
A Selection from the Minor Poems of Don John Lydgate.
Percy Society
2. London: T. Richard, 1840: 193-8.
MacCracken, Henry Noble,
ed.
John Lydgate: The Minor Poems, Vol. II: Secular Poems.
EETS
o.s. 192 (1934); repr. 1961: 734-8.