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The Testament of John Lydgate:
British Library Harley 218 Verses

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f.59 verso
Folio 52 VersoFolio 53 RectoFolio 53 VersoFolio 54 RectoFolio 54 VersoFolio 55 RectoFolio 55 VersoFolio 56 RectoFolio 56 VersoFolio 57 RectoFolio 57 VersoFolio 58 RectoFolio 58 VersoFolio 59 RectoFolio 59 VersoFolio 60 RectoFolio 60 VersoFolio 61 RectoFolio 61 VersoFolio 62 RectoFolio 62 VersoFolio 63 RectoFolio 63 VersoFolio 64 RectoFolio 64 VersoFolio 65 RectoFolio 65 VersoFolio 66 RectoFolio 66 VersoFolio 67 RectoFolio 67 VersoFolio 68 RectoFolio 68 VersoFolio 69 RectoFolio 69 VersoFolio 70 RectoFolio 70 VersoFolio 71 RectoFolio 71 VersoFolio 72 Recto

Folio 59 Verso
Compare Witnesses:
First zepherus / with his blastes sote
Enspireth ver / with newe buddes grene
The bavme1 ascendetħ out of euery rote
Causyng with flowre2 / ageyn the sunne shene
May among monthes / sitt like a quene
Hir suster Apryłł / watryng hir gardeynes
Witħ3 holsom shoures sad4 in the tender vynes
This tyme of ver / flora doth hir cure
With5 soleyne motlees / passyng fresħ6
Purpel colours wrougħt be dame nature
Mounteyns vales and medewes for to tarrye7
Hir warderobe open / list not to delaye
Large mesure / to shewe out and to shede
Witħ8 holsom shoures sad in the tender vynes
This sesoun ver / most plesaunt to childhode
With9 hir chapelettes / grene white and rede
In whiche tyme / the newe yong blode
Hote and moyste / ascendetħ vp in dede
Reioyssyng hertes / as it a brode doth sprede
Wenyng10 this sesoun among ther myrthes alle
Sholde neuer discrecen nor appalle
Notes
  1. The EETS edition has "bawme" here, but the manuscript makes it clear it's "v," not "w."
  2. The EETS edition has "flowres" here, which fits with the other witnesses. This witness, however, lacks the terminal "s."
  3. The rubricator only touched one half of the "w" glyph here.
  4. The EETS edition has "shad" here, which fits with the other witnesses.
  5. The rubricator only touched one half of the "w" glyph here.
  6. The EETS edition has "fressħ" here, but the manuscript has only a single "s." and gay
  7. The final word is underlined and "array" (although with an unclear first glyph) appears to be written underneath in a different hand.
  8. The rubricator only touched one half of the "w" glyph here.
  9. The rubricator only touched one half of the "w" glyph here.
  10. The rubricator only touched one half of the "w" glyph here.