John Lydgate: Poems Quotes

Quotes

"Behold my love, and gyf me thyn ageyn;

Behold, I deyde thy raunsom for to paye.

Se howe myn herte is open brode and pleyn,

They gostly enemyes onely to affraye."

Lydgate, "The Testament of John Lydgate"

In this excerpt Jesus asks the sinner to return and love him because he has demonstrate his own love for the sinner already. He died because he won a spiritual battle against the sinner's enemies, even though the sinner was even unaware that these enemies existed. Because the sinner didn't know this battle needed fighting, he has previously ignored Christ's sacrifice for him.

"Thynke howe short tyme thou hast abyden here.

Thy place is bygged above the sterres clere,

Noon erthly palys wrought in so statly wyse."

Lydgate, "Vox Ultima Crucis"

Lydgate writes from a divine perspective, reminding his reader that death awaits them. He desires the reader to acknowledge that time is short but that there is no anxiety in that acknowledgement because the reader's place in heaven has been assured already.

"Of precious stones bylt is the wall,

Who clymbeth theder ogthe nevar base,

Out of that palce may be no fall,

Ther is no heye but all fresh grase."

Lydgate, "That Now Is Hay Some-Tyme Was Grase"

In Lydgate's conception, heaven is a place with real walls. It's a place from which the occupants cannot accidentally fall, implying it's located high above. Surrounded by fresh grass, the occupants enjoy a constant reminder of life and growth.

"Cooks to me they took good intent,

And proffered me bread, with ale and wine,

Ribs of beef, both fat and full fine"

Lydgate, "The London Lackpenny"

After asking seemingly everyone in the city, the beggar finally finds some charity from the cooks in Westminster. They are the only ones to take pity and give him anything so that he does not die. They generously give him some of the best food and wine they have to offer, treating him well like a king. Nevertheless the beggar still has no money.

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