Arts & Sciences
Lydgate's Answer
From The Rowley Poems (ed. Tyrwhitt, 1778)
Havynge wythe mouche attentyonn redde
Whatt you dydd to mee sende,
Admyre the varses mouche I dydd,
And thus an answerr lende.
Amongs the Greeces Homer was
A Poett mouche renownde,
Amongs the Latyns Vyrgilius
Was beste of Poets founde.
The Brytish Merlyn oftenne hanne
The gyfte of inspyration,
And Afled to the Sexonne menne
Dydd synge wythe elocation.
Ynne Norman tymes, Turgotus and
Goode Chaucer dydd excelle,
Thenn Stowe, the Bryghtstowe Carmelyte,
Dydd bare awaie the belle.
Nowe Rowlie ynne these mokie dayes
Lendes owte hys sheenynge lyghtes,
And Turgotus and Chaucer lyves
Ynne ev'ry lyne he wrytes.
Codex Note
The reply that Chatterton imagines John Lydgate sending to Rowley, praising him in the company of Homer, Virgil and Chaucer. It is Chatterton's own invention, framed as a document from the fifteenth century.
Cite this poem
MLA
Chatterton, Thomas. “Lydgate's Answer.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/chatterton/6/.
Chicago
Chatterton, Thomas. “Lydgate's Answer.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/chatterton/6/.
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