The Devonshire Manuscript, the sueden ghance ded mak me mves

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The Devonshire Manuscript facsimile 67v (Image: DMSEG, CC BY-SA 3.0) |

f. [67v]

1    the sueden ghance 1 ded mak me mves
2    off hym that so lat was my ffrend
3    so straenely now the do me ues
4    that I well spy hes uavaryng2 mynd
5    wharffor I mak a promes now
6    to brek my ffansy and nat to bow
7    what cowld he say mor then he ded
8    or what aperrence mor covld he show
9    allways to put me owt off dred

hape hawe bedden my happe a vaneng3

Notes & Glosses

1. It is uncertain if the poet intended to write chance or glance.
2. It is uncertain if the poet may have intended to write wavering or unvarying, which affects the reading considerably.
3. The sentiment of this may be considered in relation to the poems on the facing page.

Commentary

Written in Margaret Douglas's hand, this poem remains unattributed. The interpretation of this poem is difficult due to the unclear meaning of a key word in line 4, “uavaryng.” This key word could be read as “wavering” or “unvarying”, which radically affects the sentiment of the poem and qualifies the “fancy” that must be broken in line 5. Mary Shelton enters an annotation under the poem that seems to be commenting on fortune. Shelton may have written her annotation in relation to the poem on the facing page, “My ywtheffol days ar past” (68r). The rhyme of the poem appears rough and may depend on particular pronunciation.

Where this page came from

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