Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition

Anglo-Irish poems of the Middle Ages (Author: [unknown])

Poem 11

Song of the Times

1] Anyone who thinks night and day about this sorrowful life that is ours, [knows that] we see so much of sorrow and what little there is of the world's joy.
5] Hate and anger is very widespread there, and faithful love is completely lacking in vigour. Men who are in the highest position in life are most loaded with sin.
9] This land is false and wicked, as we can see all the time. There is both hatred and envy therein - I expect that it will always be so.
13] Covetousness has the law at its disposal, so that it cannot see the truth, now pride and envy are master. Alas! Lord, why does it submit patiently?
17] If Holy Church would apply its power and the law of the land apply itself to it, then covetousness and injustice would be put out of the land.
21] Holy Church ought to keep to its duty, that it should not, on account of any fear or any affection, fail to show its power because of the outcry of lordings who are in high places
25] to place under interdict or excommunication all those, whatever they be, who rob law-abiding men either on land or on sea.
29] And those light-armed horse men namely, who deprive the timid husbandman of compensation for his piece of land, one ought not to bury them in any church, but cast them out like a dog.
33] Those king's ministers, who should pay attention to justice and the law, are corrupt, and in order to reform all the country they take bribes from all those thieves.
37] If the law-abiding man is brought to death and his property taken away, they do not disclose his death, but they have some of their booty.
41] If they have received the silver and the corrupt gains and the property, they take no heed of the felony; all that sort of offence has come to pass.
45] I heard a parable narrated about those people: the lion is king of all the animals, and - everyone listen to my story - in his country he gave a command.
49] The lion made a proclamation as it was [usually] done, because he heard it said frequently, and moreover it was told to him, that the wolf did not behave well.
53] And the fox, that wicked worthless creature, was accused with the wolf. They had to come before their lord to punish their wrong-doing.
57] And so men brought it about that the innocent ass, who did not transgress, and committed no offence, was accused with them both, and was forced into the indictment.
61] The fox got to know from amongst all the men, and told the wolf with the wide head, that geese and hens committed the one of them to trial, and goats and sheep committed the other.
65] The innocent ass thought he was safe, for he ate nothing but grass. He gave no gifts nor supposed that there was any evil.
69] When they came to court to their lord, he told them what was due according to the law, and the argument of the case. Those wicked animals made obeisance: ‘Lord,’ they said, ‘what is your intention?’
73] Then the lion spoke to them, spoke his pleasure to the fox immediately: ‘Tell me, wretch, what have you done? You are about to be put to death’.
77] Then the fox spoke first straight away: ‘Lord king, your favour now! Those men of the town accuse me and would gladly kill me’.
81] ‘I had no geese nor hen, Sire, I tell you for certain, except as I purchased them dearly and carried them on my own back’.
85] ‘He must needs have God's anger who thus put you in the court, when it is as you say, I vouchsafe. I forgive you this offence’.
89] The false wolf stood behind. He was cruel and also ruthless. ‘I am descended from a family of high position, may you grant me protection who are fully able to do so’.
93] ‘What have you done, fair friend, that You thus call for protection from me?’ --- ‘Sire’, he said, ‘I do not wish to he, if you will hear a case from me.’
97] ‘For I hunted upon the hill to look, Sire, for my spoils. There I killed a sheep, yes, Sire, and a few goats.’
101] ‘I am denounced to you, Sire, on account of that offence. Sire, I must clear myself of a charge: I did not give them any blow or thrust’.
105] ‘For certain, I say to you, fair friend, they who denounced you to me had no good intention. You did nothing except according to your nature.’
109] ‘Tell me, ass, what have you done? It seems to me you are able to do no good. Why have you not done as the majority of others? You come of a wicked breed’.
113] ‘Certainly, Sire, I do not know anything. I eat sage apple stalks. I committed no other wrong. Therefore I was denounced’.
117] ‘Fair friend, that was badly done. That was against your nature thus to eat such grass. Bind him without delay’.
121] ‘Pull all his bones asunder. Take heed that you do not leave off, and what I lay down as a rule to be obeyed is that his flesh be thoroughly tortured’.
125] It happens just like that now in the land, whoever wishes to pay attention to it, concerning those who have control: they take bribes from thieves.
129] The law-abiding man shall be bound, and thrown into great torment and kept in a secure prison, until he pay for exemption from punishment.
133] And the thief, who always acts against what is right, to get thus clean away! May God, who is all-powerful, take notice of that!
137] Thus fares the whole world now, as we can all see, both east and west, north and south, God and the Trinity help us!
141] Truth is absent from stranger and from kin, as far and wide as this whole country. No man is able to live in it, what with covetousness and envy.
145] Though the law-abiding man would preserve his life in love, in charity and in peace, soon his life must be plotted against, and that in a small matter.
149] Pride is master, and covetousness, the third brother men call envy. Night and day they try indeed to possess the land of law-abiding men.
153] When man born of earth has acquired the goods of this world and thus has sufficient earth, when he is enclosed therein, he who was in the wrong is afflicted.
157] What is the possession that man shall bear out of this world when he must go? A mean garb, why shall I deceive? For he brought no more with him.
161] Just as he came, he must return, in misery, suffering, in poverty. Pay proper attention to your end, men, for it will be everything that I say.
165] I do not know what men are so proud of, of earth and ashes, skin and bone. Once the soul is excluded, there is no viler carcass.
169] The carrion is so hateful to see that men have to hide it beneath the earth. Both wife and child will flee away from him. There is no friend who will remain with him.
173] What will men share out for [the good of] the soul? Corn or grain, you know well, only very seldom; at the meal-time a rough empty platter or a crust.
177] The beggar who must have the crust looks very contemptuously upon it. To tell the truth and not to lie, he is not at all satisfied by it.
181] Then says the beggar in his manner: ‘The crust is both hard and tough’. The wretch who ought to do good was cruel. Harsh action in return for harsh action is good enough.
185] Much bad luck [to the one] who prayed Our Father and Creed for him, but let him have according as he did, for he will have no reward for the gift.
189] I advise thee, have trust in no man, nor in anyone else, but take action with your own fist. Trust neither sister nor brother.
193] Honour God and Holy Church, and give to the poor who have need; thus you will do God's will and have the joy of heaven as a reward. To which joy may Jesus Christ, king of heaven, bring us. Amen.