Rachel Basham - "Returna Brevium" (George Alleyn)

            The first obstacle I ran into with this text was the introduction, because I did not know whether it was necessary to translate it in order to understand the meaning of the poem itself. I decided to leave it in the translation, because I believe it provides a context for when the poem is set. In regards to my translation technique, I changed all the ‘v’s and ‘u’s to ensure that the poem would be read easily. I did, however, keep the extra ‘e’s and some of the minor spellings because those words are easily understood either way. Most of the obsolete words, or words that I had never heard of, are translated with tags by the Oxford English Dictionary. I tried to discern what definition would be best in the poem, though there were some words that had multiple plausible meanings. It may be up to another translator to find a more fitting word. As far as the Latin sentences/phrases, I used my knowledge of the language to translate them, but it is open for anyone to correct any mistranslations.

Returna Brevium¹

George Alleyn

Additional Authors: H.A.

Note, that whereas in the returne Quind. Pasce², the number 21 is twice set downe, it is not ment,

that there are two one and twenty days, but that that 21 day, serveth for two severall purposes, biz.³ for the Day of Exceptions, and the Returna brevium also, and so of such others. Note also, that a writ being returnable (in the common pleas) upon any of the Returne or Essoyne Days⁴ above mentioned, that the parrid⁵ ought not to be arrested, upon the same Essoyne Day, the Day of Exception, the Returna brevium, or the Appearance Day of that return.

To the curteous Reader.

All dayes in banke⁶, in every Terme,

As they fall out, this yeere,

(As plainly as I could contrive)

I offer to thee heere.

Which if to thee in any fort,

May pleasurable bee,

I have my wish, my purpose was,

Only, to pleasure thee.

Nude gratie⁷                 George Alleyn.

To the curteous & studious Reader.

Acceptance of a simple gift,

in kind and friendly wise*                               *manner                     

Is matchfull, with the giving of

a gift, of greater prise.

Each gift, that every man shall give,

such price and value takes,

As he that shall receive the fame,

acceptance thereof makes.

For kind accept makes smallest gifts

to seeme greatest of all:

And hard accept, makes greatest gifts

to seem but very small.

But good accept, the widdowes mites*                        *small coins

(a thing of small account)

All offrings that the rich men gave,

in value, did surmount.

Heereby, the poore man’s sacrifice.

that was a parched⁸ cake,

As pleasing was, as all the fleemes                  *flames

that sweet incense could make.

Heereby, two handfulls of water,

to Artaxerxes⁹ brought,

As welcome was, as jewels rich,

that were most finely wrought.*                      *created

Heereby, poore Cenons navew rootes¹⁰,

Became a greater gift,

Then was stately Stallion given,

Upon a gainefull drift.

In hope hereof, I boldned¹¹ was,                                

To string my bow anew,*                                *again

And subject this my second worke

Unto thy friendly view.

The good accept whereof shall be,

The spring-time of my paine:

The sommer of my recompence,¹²                  

And the harvest of my gaine.

Pro capivi lectoris habent sita fata libelli,

Proque animo capientis habent sua praemia dono¹³

H.A.

¹Returna Brevium. Return of Writs.

²Quind. Pasce. Fifteen Passed.

³Biz. Business (OED).

⁴Essoyne Days. Essoin Days. The first day Essoins were received at court.

⁴Essoyne. Essoin, essoign.  Law; The allegation for non-appearance in court at the appointed time.

⁵Parrid. To enclose, confine; to shut up in an enclosure (OED).

⁶Banke. A money-dealer’s table, counter, or shop (OED).

⁷Nude Gratie. Latin for unobstructed grace.

⁸Parched. Of foodstuffs, esp. grains: dried by exposure to intense heat (OED).

⁹Antaxerxes. Thrown name of the several Achaemenid rulers of the 1^st Persian Empire.

¹⁰Navew Rootes. Brassica napus, now rare. Roots of a plant grown for its sweet, fleshy, spindle-shaped root in its supposedly wild form (OED).

¹¹Boldned. Bolden, boldne. To swell (OED).

¹²Recompence. Recompence. Reparation made for a wrong done (OED).

¹³Pro…dona. “For the located books have captured the fate of the reader, and they have the gift of his mind for his prize.”