Cleveland Lyke - Wake Dirge
Traditional
Cleveland Lyke - Wake Dirge - form Summary
Refrain-driven Ritual Dirge
This traditional dirge uses a strict stanzaic pattern and a recurring refrain to create a ritualized, incantatory effect. Each stanza advances a moral scenario—journeying across Whinny-muir and the Brigg o' Dread toward purgatory—linking earthly acts of charity or neglect to posthumous fate. The repetition and simple conditional clauses foreground communal remembrance and warning, making the poem function as both liturgical lament and moral exhortation.
Read Complete AnalysesThis ae nighte, this ae nighte, Every nighte and alle; Fire and sleete and candle lighte, And Christe receive thye saule. When thou from hence away are paste, Every nighte and alle; To Whinny-muir thou comest at laste; And Christe receive thye saule. If ever thou gavest hosen and shoon, Every nighte and alle; Sit thee down, and put them on; And Christe receive thye saule. If hosen and shoon thou ne'er gavest nane, Every nighte and alle; The whinnes shall pricke thee to the bare bane, And Christe receive thye saule. From Whinny-muir when thou mayst passe, Every nighte and alle ; To Brigg o' Dread thou comest at laste, And Christe receive thye saul (A stanza wanting) From Brigg o' Dread when thou mayst passe, Every nighte and alle; To purgatory fire thou comest at laste; And Christ receive thye saule. If ever thou gavest meat or drinke, Every nighte and alle; The fire shall never make thee shrinke; And Christ receive thye saule. If meate or drinke thou never gavest nane, Every nighte and alle; The fire will burn thee to the bare bane; And Christe receive thye saule. This ae nighte, this ae nighte, Every nighte and alle; Fire and sleete, and candle lighte, And Christe receive thye saule.
Feel free to be first to leave comment.