Chapter XLVIII: Part III (5)

193. wyfely. 194. faythe. 195. setrone (!); _read_ secree (_see note_). 197. lyke. 198. Alcest. 199. lyke. 202. lykened. 203. faythe. 206. semelynesse; Canace. 208. al. 209, 210. fal, al. 211. _Supply_ her. 216. bountie; beautie. 217. bountie. 218. meane bountie gothe. 220. beautie foloweth. 221. ne fende (!); degre. 222. fre. 224. fayre; one.

228. Onely. 230. rudenesse. 233. feare; betwyxt. 234. Leste; worde. 236. had. 237. fayre; _supply_ was; without. 239. assay. 240. gay. 241. lycoure. 242. Clye (!). 244. _Supply_ the; grounde. 245. say. 246. might; best entent. 247. faythe. 248. yaue; sent. 250. whyle; lyfe. 251. daunynge. 252, 259. saynte Valentyne (? _om._ saynte). 253. begynnyng (_read_ ginning); entent. 255. assent. 256. quicke; lyne (_misprint_). 257. sene; fethers.

258. mornynge (_for_ morweninge). 260. myne; luste. 261. onely; wodde bynde. 262. Holy. 263. where so. 265. al. 266. deuoute hert; thought. 267. Lenvoye. beautie; represent. 269. entent. 270. Lyke; _supply_ the. COLOPHON: Floure; Curtesy.

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X. A BALADE; IN COMMENDATION OF OUR LADY.

(A DEVOUTE BALADE BY LIDEGATE OF BURY, MADE AT THE REVERENCE OF OURE LADY, QWENE OF MERCY.--A.)

A thousand stories coude I mo reherce
Of olde poetes, touching this matere,
How that Cupyde the hertes gan so perce
Of his servauntes, setting hem on fere;
Lo, here the fyn of th'errour and the were! 5
Lo, here of love the guerdon and grevaunce
That ever with wo his servaunts doth avaunce!

Wherfor now playnly I wol my style dresse
Of one to speke, at nede that wol nat fayle;
Alas! for dole, I ne can ne may expresse 10
Her passing pryse, and that is no mervayle.
O wind of grace, now blow into my sayle!
O aureat licour of Cleo, for to wryte
My penne enspyre, of that I wolde endyte!

Alas! unworthy I am and unable 15
To love suche oon, al women surmounting,
To be benigne to me, and merciable,
That is of pitè the welle and eek the spring!
Wherfor of her, in laude and in praysing,
So as I can, supported by her grace, 20
Right thus I say, kneling tofore her face:--

O sterre of sterres, with thy stremes clere,
Sterre of the see, to shipmen light and gyde,
O lusty living, most plesaunt to apere,
Whos brighte bemes the cloudes may not hyde; 25
O way of lyf to hem that go or ryde,
Haven from tempest, surest up to ryve,
On me have mercy, for thy joyes fyve!

O rightful rule, O rote of holinesse,
And lightsom lyne of pitè for to playne, 30
Original ginning of grace and al goodnesse,
Clenest conduit of vertue soverayne,
Moder of mercy, our trouble to restrayne,
Chambre and closet clenest of chastitè,
And named herberwe of the deitè! 35

O hoolsom garden, al voyde of wedes wikke,
Cristallin welle, of clennesse clere consigned,
Fructif olyve, of foyles faire and thikke,
And redolent cedre, most dereworthly digned,
Remembre on sinners unto thee assigned 40
Er wikked fendes hir wrathe upon hem wreche;
Lanterne of light, thou be hir lyves leche!

Paradyse of plesaunce, gladsom to al good,
Benigne braunchelet of the pyne-tree,
Vyneyerd vermayle, refressher of our food, 45
Licour ayein languor, palled that may not be,
Blisful bawme-blossom, byding in bountè,
Thy mantel of mercy on our mischef sprede,
And er wo wake, wrappe us under thy wede!

O rody rosier, flouring withouten spyne, 50
Fountayne filthles, as beryl currant clere,
Som drope of graceful dewe to us propyne;
Light withoute nebule, shyning in thy spere,
Medecyne to mischeves, pucelle withouten pere,
Flame doun to doleful light of thyn influence 55
On thy servauntes, for thy magnificence!

Of al Christen protectrice and tutele,
Retour of exyled, put in prescripcioun
To hem that erre in the pathe of hir sequele;
To wery wandred tent and pavilioun, 60
The feynte to fresshe, and the pausacioun;
Unto unresty bothe reste and remedye,
Fruteful to al tho that in her affye.

To hem that rennen thou art itinerárie,
O blisful bravie to knightes of thy werre; 65
To wery werkmen thou art diourn denárie,
Mede unto mariners that have sayled ferre;
Laureat crowne, streming as a sterre
To hem that putte hem in palestre for thy sake,
Cours of her conquest, thou whyte as any lake! 70

Thou mirthe of martyrs, sweter than citole,
Of confessours also richest donatyf,
Unto virgynes eternal lauriole,
Afore al women having prerogatyf;
Moder and mayde, bothe widowe and wyf, 75
Of al the worlde is noon but thou alone!
Now, sith thou may, be socour to my mone!

O trusty turtle, trewest of al trewe,
O curteyse columbe, replete of al mekenesse,
O nightingale with thy notes newe, 80
O popinjay, plumed with al clennesse,
O laverok of love, singing with swetnesse,
Phebus, awayting til in thy brest he lighte
Under thy winge at domesday us dighte!

O ruby, rubifyed in the passioun 85
Al of thy sone, among have us in minde,
O stedfast dyamaunt of duracioun,
That fewe feres that tyme might thou finde,
For noon to him was founden half so kinde!
O hardy herte, O loving crëature, 90
What was it but love that made thee so endure?

Semely saphyre, depe loupe, and blewe ewage,
Stable as the loupe, ewage of pitè,
This is to say, the fresshest of visage,
Thou lovest hem unchaunged that serven thee. 95
And if offence or wrything in hem be,
Thou art ay redy upon hir wo to rewe,
And hem receyvest with herte ful trewe.

O goodly gladded, whan that Gabriel
With joy thee grette that may not be nombred! 100
Or half the blisse who coude wryte or tel
Whan the holy goost to thee was obumbred,
Wherthrough fendes were utterly encombred?
O wemlees mayde, embelisshed in his birthe,
That man and aungel therof hadden mirthe! 105

Lo, here the blossom and the budde of glorie,
Of which the prophet spak so longe aforn;
Lo, here the same that was in memórie
Of Isaie, so longe or she was born;
Lo, here of David the delicious corn; 110
Lo, here the ground that list [him] to onbelde,
Becoming man, our raunsom for to yelde!

O glorious vyole, O vytre inviolat!
O fyry Tytan, persing with thy bemes,
Whos vertuous brightnes was in thy brest vibrat, 115
That al the world embelisshed with his lemes!
Conservatrice of kingdomes and remes;
Of Isaies sede O swete Sunamyte,
Mesure my mourning, myn owne Margaryte!

O sovereignest, sought out of Sion, 120
O punical pome ayens al pestilence;
And aureat urne, in whom was bouk and boon
The agnelet, that faught for our offence
Ayens the serpent with so high defence
That lyk a lyoun in victorie he was founde; 125
To him commende us, of mercy most habounde!

O precious perle, withouten any pere,
Cockle with gold dew from above berayned,
Thou busshe unbrent, fyrles set a-fere,
Flambing with fervence, not with hete payned; 130
Thou during daysye, with no +weder stayned;
Flees undefouled of gentil Gedeon,
And fructifying yerd thou of Aaron.

Thou misty arke, probatik piscyne,
Laughing Aurora, and of pees olyve; 135
Columpne and base, up bering from abyme;
Why nere I conning, thee for to discryve?
Chosen of Joseph, whom he took to wyve,
Unknowing him, childing by greet mirácle,
And of our manhode trewe tabernacle! 140

_From_ Th.; _collated with_ A. (Ashmole 59); _and_ Sl. (Sloane 1212). 1. A. I kouþe to you. 2. A. clerkis (_for_ poetes); the (_for_ this). 3. A. cane mens hertes presse (!). 4. Th. hem; A. þeire hertes. Th. in fere; A. a fuyre. 5. A. With ful daunger payeþe his subgettes hyre. Sl. weere; Th. fere. 7. Th. Sl. euer; A. aye. Sl. A. his ... doth; Th. her ... do. 8. Th. nowe; A. _om._ Sl. redresse. 10. A. Ellas I ne can ne may not ful expresse. 11. Th. Sl. and that; A. the whiche. 12. Th. wynde. Sl. into; Th. unto. A. þou blowe nowe to my. 13. Th. auryate; A. aureate. A. _om._ of. 14. A. tenspyre of whiche I thenk to wryte. Sl. wold; Th. wol. 15. A. But sith I am sonworthy (!). 16. Sl. on; Th. A. one. 17. A. To; Th. Sl. But she.

18. A. Whiche of pytee is welle. 19. Th. Sl. of; A. to. 20. Th. Sl. can; A. am. 22. A. O souereine sterre. 24. Sl. lemand (_for_ living). Sl. most; Th. A. moste. 25. Th. Whose bright beames. Th. Sl. may; A. cane. 26. A. lyff; Th. Sl. lyfe. 27. A. frome; Th. Sl. after. 29. Sl. rote; Th. A. bote. 31. A. gynnyng of grace and; Th. Sl. begynning of grace and al. 32. A. Clennest; Th. And clenest. Th. Sl. _ins._ most _bef._ sovereyne. 33. A. Moder; Th. Mother. 34. A. al cloose closette; Th. Sl. and closet clennest. 35. Th. herbrough; Sl. herberwe. A. The hyest herber (!) of al the. 36. A. holsome; Th. Sl. closed. A. _om._ al. 37. A. Welle cristallyne. A. Sl. clennesse; Th. clerenesse. 38. A. Fructyff; Th. Fructyfyed. Th. fayre; A. so feyre. 39. A. _om._ And. A. _om._ most. 40. A _om._ on. Sl. pecchours (_for_ sinners). A. unto; Th. Sl. that to the be. 41. Th. Sl. Or wikked; A. Er foule. A. on hem þeire wrathe. Sl. upon; Th. on. 42. Th. _om._ be. 43. A. Thou Paradys plesante, gladnesse of goode. 44. A. And benigne braunche. 45. A. Vyneyerde vermayle; Th. Sl. Vynarie enuermayled. Sl. food; Th. A. bote.

46. Th. ayen al langour; A. geyne langoure. A. palde that; Th. Sl. that palled. 47. Sl. Blisful bawme; A. Thou blessed; Th. Blysful blomy. 48. Sl. misericord on our myschef. Th. on our myserie; A. vppon vs spilt thou. 49. Th. awake. A. wake and wrappe vs ay vnder. 50. A. O rede roos raylling withouten. Th. without. 51. Th. al fylthlesse; A. _om._ al. A. currant as beryle. Th. byrel. 52. Th. Sl. of thy; _I omit_ thy. A. Grace of thy dewe til vs thou do propyne. 53. Th. O light; Sl. Thou lyght. A. Thou louely light, shynynge in bright spere. 54. A. missers; Th. mischeues; Sl. myscheuows. A. withouten; Th. without. 55. Th. Flambe; A. Dryve. Sl. to; Th. A. the. A. _om._ doleful. 56. A. On; Th. Sl. Rem_em_bring. 58. Sl. Retour; Th. Returne; A. Recure. A. Sl. in; Th. in the. 59. A. To therroures of the pathe sequele. 60. A. For (_for_ To). Sl. wandrid; Th. forwandred; A. wandering. 61. _So_ A. Th. To faynte and to fresshe the. 62. A. To wery wightes ful reste. 63. Th. tho that; A. that hem. A. _omits_ ll. 64-119. 64. Th. arte. 66. Sl. thou art; Th. she is. Th. diourne. 68. Th. Laureate. 69. Th. put; palastre. 71. Sl. Thow; Th. O. Th. myrthe; swetter; sytole. 72. Sl. _om._ also. Th. donatyfe.

74. Th. -tyfe. 75. Th. Mother; wyfe. 76. Sl. In all this. Sl. noon; Th. none. 78. Sl. trewest; Th. truefastest. 81. Sl. plumed; Th. pured. 82. Sl. larke. 83. Sl. in; Th. on. 83, 84. lyght, dyght. 85. passyon. 86. Sl. All_e_; Th. _om._ Th. sonne. Sl. among haue us; Th. vs haue amonge. 87. Sl. dyamaunt; Th. dyametre. 88. Sl. that; Th. any. 89. halfe. 91. the. 92. Th. saphre (_sic_); Sl. saffyr. 95. _So_ Sl. Th. unchaunged hem. 96. Sl. writhyng; Th. varyeng. 97. arte; her. 98. hert; _see note_. 99. gladed. 100. the. 102. goste; the. 103. Sl. vtterly; Th. bytterly. 104. wemlesse. Th. in; Sl. with.

106. blosme. 107. Th. prophete; Sl. prophetys. Sl. spak so long aforn; Th. so longe spake beforne. 109, 110. borne, corne. 111. Th. of lyfe in to bilde; Sl. that list to onbelde. 113. Sl. o vitre; Th. and vyte. Th. inuyolate. 115. Th. _om._ thy; vibrate. 116. Sl. his; Th. the. 117. Sl. kyngdamys; Th. kynges dukes. Sl. remys; Th. realmes. 118. Sl. o; Th. _om._ 120. A. souereine. Th. A. sought; Sl. sowth. Th. out of; Sl. of out; A. fer oute. 121-127. _In_ Sl. _only_. 121. Sl. alle. 122. Sl. auryat; book and born (!); _see note_. 125. Sl. victory. 126. Sl. moost. 127. Sl. ony. 128. Th. golde dewe; A. glorie. 129. A. Sl. Thou; Th. Dewe (!). Sl. ferlett (!) set affere; A. fuyrles thou sette vppon; Th. fyrelesse fyre set on. 130. Sl. peyned; A. empeyred (!). 131. Sl. Th. _om._ Thou. A. with; Th. that. Th. A. wether. A. disteyned. 132. Th. Fleece. A. gentyle; Th. gentylest. 133. Th. Sl. _insert_ fayrest _after_ fructifyeng (_sic_). A. yerde thowe; Th. Sl. the yerde.

134. A. Thowe; Sl. Th. The. Sl. mysti; Th. A. mighty. Sl. probatyk; Th. probatyfe; A. the probatyf. 135. A. Aurora; Th. aurore. A. tholyve; Sl. Th. olyue. 136. A. Pillor from base beryng from abysme. 137. A. Why nad I langage. Sl. the for; A. hir for; Th. here. 138. Th. toke. A. Chosen of god, whome Joseph gaf (!) to wyve. 139. Th. Sl. childyng; A. bare Cryste. Th. Sl. _om._ greet. 140. Th. And of our manly figure the; Sl. And of oure mar (!) figure; A. And of Ihesus manhode truwe.

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XI. TO MY SOVERAIN LADY.

I have non English convenient and digne
Myn hertes hele, lady, thee with t'honoure,
Ivorie clene; therfore I wol resigne
In-to thyn hand, til thou list socoure
To help my making bothe florisshe and floure; 5
Than shulde I shewe, in love how I brende,
In songes making, thy name to commende.

For if I coude before thyn excellence
Singen in love, I wolde, what I fele,
And ever standen, lady, in thy presence, 10
To shewe in open how I love you wele;
And sith, although your herte be mad of stele,
To you, withoute any disseveraunce,
_J'ay en vous toute ma fiaunce_.

Wher might I love ever better besette 15
Than in this lilie, lyking to beholde?
The lace of love, the bond so wel thou knette,
That I may see thee or myn herte colde,
And or I passe out of my dayes olde,
Tofore singing evermore utterly-- 20
'Your eyën two wol slee me sodainly.'

For love I langour, blissed be such seknesse,
Sith it is for you, my hertely suffisaunce;
I can not elles saye, in my distresse,
So fair oon hath myn herte in governaunce; 25
And after that I +ginne on esperaunce
With feble entune, though it thyn herte perce,
Yet for thy sake this lettre I do reherce.

God wot, on musike I can not, but I gesse,
(Alas! why so?) that I might say or singe, 30
So love I you, myn own soverain maistresse,
And ever shal, withouten départinge.
Mirrour of beautè, for you out shuld I ringe,
In rémembraunce eke of your eyen clere,
Thus fer from you, my soverain lady dere! 35

So wolde god your love wold me slo,
Sith, for your sake, I singe day by day;
Herte, why nilt thou [never] breke a-two,
Sith with my lady dwellen I ne may?
Thus many a roundel and many a virelay 40
In fresshe Englisshe, whan I me layser finde,
I do recorde, on you to have minde!

Now, lady myn! sith I you love and drede,
And you unchaunged finde, in o degree,
Whos grace ne may flye fro your womanhede, 45
Disdayneth not for to remembre on me!
Myn herte bledeth, for I may nat you see;
And sith ye wot my mening désirous,
_Pleurez pur moi, si vous plaist amorous!_

What marveyle is, though I in payne be? 50
I am departed from you, my soveraine;
Fortune, alas! _dont vient la destenee_,
That in no wyse I can ne may attayne
To see the beautè of your eyën twayne.
Wherfore I say, for tristesse doth me grame, 55
_Tant me fait mal departir de ma dame!_

Why nere my wisshing brought to suche esploit
That I might say, for joye of your presence,
'_Ore a man cuer ce quil veuilloit,_
_Ore a man cuer_ the highest excellence 60
That ever had wight;' and sith myn advertence
Is in you, reweth on my paynes smerte,
I am so sore wounded to the herte.

To live wel mery, two lovers were y-fere,
So may I say withouten any blame; 65
If any man [per cas] to wilde were,
I coude him [sonë] teche to be tame;
Let him go love, and see wher it be game!
For I am brydled unto sobernesse
For her, that is of women cheef princesse. 70

But ever, whan thought shulde my herte embrace,
Than unto me is beste remedye,
Whan I loke on your goodly fresshe face;
So mery a mirrour coude I never espye;
And, if I coude, I wolde it magnifye. 75
For never non was [here] so faire y-founde,
To reken hem al, and also Rosamounde.

And fynally, with mouthe and wil present
Of double eye, withoute repentaunce,
Myn herte I yeve you, lady, in this entent, 80
That ye shal hoolly therof have governaunce;
Taking my leve with hertes obeysaunce,
'_Salve, regina!_' singing laste of al,
To be our helpe, whan we to thee cal!

Al our lovë is but ydelnesse 85
Save your aloon; who might therto attayne?
Who-so wol have a name of gentillesse,
I counsayle him in love that he not fayne.
Thou swete lady! refut in every payne,
Whos [pitous] mercy most to me avayleth 90
To gye by grace, whan that fortune fayleth.

Nought may be told, withouten any fable,
Your high renome, your womanly beautè;
Your governaunce, to al worship able,
Putteth every herte in ese in his degree. 95
O violet, _O flour desiree_,
Sith I am for you so amorous,
_Estreynez moy_, [lady,] _de cuer joyous_!

With fervent herte my brest hath broste on fyre;
_L'ardant espoir que mon cuer poynt, est mort,_ 100
_D'avoir l'amour de celle que je desyre_,
I mene you, swete, most plesaunt of port,
_Et je sai bien que ceo n'est pas mon tort_
That for you singe, so as I may, for mone
For your departing; alone I live, alone. 105

Though I mighte, I wolde non other chese;
In your servyce, I wolde be founden sad;
Therfore I love no labour that ye lese,
Whan, in longing, sorest ye be stad;
Loke up, ye lovers [alle], and be right glad 110
Ayeines sëynt Valentynes day,
For I have chose that never forsake I may!

_Explicit._

_From_ Th. (Thynne, ed. 1532); _I note rejected spellings_. 1. none englysshe. 2. heale; the; to honour. 3. cleane. 4. thyne hande; socoure. 5. helpe; flour. 6. howe. 8. thyne. 11. howe. 12. made. 13. withouten; disceueraunce. 14. tout. 15. Where; beset. 17. bonde; knyt. 18. se the; myne. 22. sicknesse. 23. Sythe. 24. els say. 25. fayre one; myne. 26. begynne; _read_ ginne.

27. thyne. 28. letter. 30. wote. 31. owne; maistres. 32. without. 35. ferre. 36. wolde (_twice_). 37. Sythe. 38. nylte; _I supply_ never; breake. 39. Sythe; dwel. 43. Nowe; myne sithe. 44. euer fynde (_om._ euer). 45. Whose. 47. Myne; se. 48. sithe; wotte; meanyng. 49. Plures; moy. 52. destenie. 53. canne. 54. se. 55. dothe. 56. male. 58. ioye. 61. sithe myne.

66. _Short line; I insert_ per cas. 67. _Short line; I insert_ sone. for to; _I omit_ for. 68. Lette; se where. 70. chefe. 71. my hert shuld. 72. best remedy. 74. espy. 76. none; _I insert_ here. 79. without. 81. holy. 82. leaue. 84. the. 86. your loue alone; _om._ loue. 89. refute. 90. Whose; _I insert_ pitous. 92. tolde. 95. ease. 96. floure.

97. Sythe; amerous. 98. Estreynes; _I insert_ lady _to fill out the line_. 99. brost. 102. meane; porte. 103. say. 106. myght; none. 107. sadde. 109. stadde. 110. _I supply_ alle; gladde. 111. Ayenst saynt. 112. chese (_read_ chose).

* * * * *

XII. BALLAD OF GOOD COUNSEL.

Consider wel, with every circumstaunce,
Of what estat so-ever that thou be--
Riche, strong, or mighty of puissaunce,
Prudent or wyse, discrete or avisee,
The doom of folke in soth thou mayst nat flee; 5
What-ever that thou do, trust right wel this,
A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.

For in thy port or in thyn apparayle
If thou be clad or honestly be-seyn,
Anon the people, of malice, wol nat fayle, 10
Without advyce or reson, for to sayn
That thyn array is mad and wrought in vayn;
What! suffre hem spekë!--and trust right wel this,
A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.

Thou wilt to kinges be equipolent, 15
With gretë lordes even and peregal;
And, if thou be to-torn and al to-rent,
Than wol they say, and jangle over-al,
Thou art a slogard, that never thryvë shal;
Yet suffre hem spekë!--and trust right wel this, 20
A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.

If thou be fayr, excelling of beautee,
Than wol they say, that thou art amorous;
If thou be foul and ugly on to see,
They wol afferme that thou art vicious, 25
The peple of langage is so dispitous;
Suffre hem spekë, and trust right wel this,
A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.

And if it fallë that thou take a wyf,
[Than] they wol falsly say, in hir entent, 30
That thou art lykly ever to live in stryf,
Voyd of al rest, without alegëment;
Wyves be maistres, this is hir jugëment;
Yet suffre hem spekë--and trust right wel this,
A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis. 35

And if it so be that, of parfitnesse,
Thou hast avowed to live in chastitee,
Thán wol folk of thy persone expresse
Say thou art impotent t'engendre in thy degree;
And thus, whether thou be chast or deslavee, 40
Suffre hem spekë--and trust right wel this,
A wikked tonge wel alway deme amis.

And if that thou be fat or corpulent,
Than wol they say that thou art a glotoun,
A devourour, or ellës vinolent; 45
If thou be lene or megre of fassioun,
Cal thee a nigard, in hir opinioun;
Yet suffre hem spekë--and trust right wel this,
A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.

If thou be richë, som wol yeve thee laud, 50
And say, it cometh of prudent governaunce;
And som wol sayen, that it cometh of fraud,
Outher by sleight, or by fals chevisaunce;
To say the worst, folk have so gret plesaunce;
Yet suffre hem sayë--and trust right wel this, 55
A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.

If thou be sad or sobre of countenaunce,
Men wol say--thou thinkest som tresoun;
And if [that] thou be glad of daliaunce,
Men wol deme it dissolucioun, 60
And calle thy fair speche, adulacioun;
Yet let hem spekë--and trust right wel this,
A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.

Who that is holy by perfeccioun,
Men, of malyce, wol calle him ipocryte; 65
And who is mery, of clene entencioun,
Men say, in ryot he doth him delyte;
Som mourne in blak; som laughe in clothes whyte;
What! suffre them spekë--and trust right wel this,
A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis. 70

Honest array, men deme, +is pompe and pryde,
And who goth poore, men calle him a wastour;
And who goth [mene], men marke him on every syde,
And saye that he is a spye or a gylour;
Who wasteth, men seyn [that] he hath tresour; 75
Wherfore conclude, and trust [right] wel this,
A wikked tonge wil alway deme amis.

Who speketh mochë, men calle him prudent;
And who debateth, men say, he is hardy;
And who saith litel with gret sentiment, 80
Som men yet wol edwyte him of foly;
Trouth is put down, and up goth flatery;
And who list plainly know the cause of this,
A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.

For though a man were al-so pacient 85
As was David, through his humilitee,
Or with Salamon in wysdom as prudent,
Or in knighthode egal with Josuë,
Or manly proved as Judas Machabee,
Yet, for al that--trust right wel this, 90
A wicked tonge wol alway deme amis.

And though a man hadde the high prowesse
Of worthy Hector, Troyes champioun,
The love of Troilus or the kindenesse,
Or of Cesar the famous high renoun, 95
With Alisaundres dominacioun,
Yet, for al that--trust right wel this,
A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.

And though a man of high or low degree
Of Tullius hadde the sugred eloquence, 100
Or of Senek the greet moralitee,
Or of Catoun the foresight or prudence,
Conquest of Charles, Arthurs magnificence,
Yet, for al that--trust right wel this,
A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis. 105

Touching of women the parfit innocence,
Thogh they had of Hestre the mekenes,
Or of Griseldes [the] humble pacience,
Or of Judith the proved stablenes,
Or Policenes virginal clennes, 110
Yit dar I say and truste right wel this,
A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.

The wyfly trouthë of Penelope,
Though they it hadde in hir possessioun,
Eleynes beautè, the kindnes of Medee, 115
The love unfeyned of Marcia Catoun,
Or of Alcest the trewe affeccioun,
Yit dar I say and truste right wel this,
A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.

Than sith it is, that no man may eschewe 120
The swerde of tonge, but it wol kerve and byte,
Ful hard it is, a man for to remewe
Out of hir daunger, so they hem delyte
To hindre or slaundre, and also to bakbyte;
For [this] hir study fynally it is 125
And hir plesaunce, alwey to deme amis.

Most noble princes, cherisshers of vertue,
Remembreth you of high discrecioun,
The first vertue, most plesing to Jesu,
(By the wryting and sentence of Catoun), 130
Is a good tonge, in his opinioun;
Chastyse the révers, and of wysdom do this,
Withdraw your hering from al that deme amis.

_From_ Th. (Thynne's edition, 1532); _collated with_ Ff. (MS. Ff. 1. 6, Camb. Univ. Library). _Another copy in_ H. (Harl. 2251). 1. H. with; Ff. wiht; Th. _om._ 2. Ff. H. estat; Th. estate. Th. _om._ that. 3. Th. stronge. 4. Ff. avisee; H. avice; Th. besy. 5. Th. Ff. dome; H. doome. Th. sothe. H. mayst; Th. Ff. may. Th. Ff. flye; H. flee. 6. H. that; _rest om._ Ff. H. do; Th. doste. Th. _om._ right. 7. H. Ff. deme; Th. say. 8. Ff. port; Th. porte. Th. thyne. 9. _All_ cladde. Ff. H. or; Th. and. Ff. beseyn; Th. be sayne. 10. Ff. Anon; Th. Anone (_and so in other places I correct the spelling by the_ MSS.). 12. _All_ made. 13. Th. H. _om._ right. 14. Ff. H. deme; Th. say. 15. Ff. H. wylt; Th. wolde. Ff. H. equipolent; Th. equiuolent. 16. Ff. H. grete; Th. great. 17. Ff. to-torn; Th. H. torn. 19. Ff. H. Thou; Th. That thou. 20. Th. H. _om._ right. 21. Ff. H. deme; Th. say.

22-35. _So in_ H.; Th. Ff. _transpose_ ll. 21-28 _and_ 29-35. Th. fayre and; Ff. H. _om._ and. H. excellyng; Ff. Th. excellent. 23. Ff. H. Than; Th. Yet. _All_ amerous. 24. _All_ foule. 26. Ff. H. peple of; Th. peoples. 27. _So_ Ff.; Th. H. Suffre al their speche and truste (H. deme) wel this. 28. Ff. H. deme; Th. say. 29. Ff. And yif hit falle; Th. If it befal. 30. _Insert_ Than; _see_ l. 23. 31. Ff. Thou art euer lykkely to lyue in stryve. 32. Ff. alleggement. 33. Ff. H. be maistres; Th. hem maystren. 34. _So_ Ff.; Th. suffren their speche; _om._ right. 35. Ff. H. deme; Th. say. 36. H. And if; Ff. And yif; Th. If. H. it; Th. Ff. _om._ Th. that thou; Ff. H. _om._ thou. 37. Ff. H. Thou hast; Th. Haue. 39. Ff. H. Say; Th. That. Th. tengendre; Ff. to gendre. 40. Ff. Th. chaste. Ff. dyslave (_better_ deslavee); Th. delauie. 41. Th. H. _om._ right. 42. Ff. H. deme; Th. say. 43. Th. _om._ And. 44. Th. H. _om._ that. 45. Th. H. deuourer; Ff. devowrer (_better_ devourour). 46. Ff. H. lene or megre; Th. megre or leane. 47. Ff. H. her; Th. H. their. 48. Th. H. _om._ right. 49. Ff. H. deme; Th. say.

50. _All_ the. Th. laude; Ff. H. lawde. 52. Ff. Th. say; H. sayne. H. that; Th. Ff. _om._ 53. Ff. Outher; Th. H. Or. 55. Th. What; Ff. H. Yit. Ff. Th. say. Th. H. _om._ right. 56. Ff. H. deme; Th. say. 57. _All_ sadde. 58. Ff. tresone; Th. H. treason. 59. _I supply_ that. 60. Ff. it is; Th. H. _om._ is. 61. Th. Callyng; Ff. H. And calle. Th. _om._ thy. 62. Th. H. _om._ right. 63. Ff. H. deme; Th. say. 64. Ff. H. Who; Th. And who. 65. Th. him an; Ff. H. _om._ an. 66. Th. who that; Ff. H. _om._ that. 69. Ff. speke; Th. say. Th. H. _om._ right. 70. Ff. H. deme; Th. say. 71-77. _In_ H. _only_. 71. H. in; _read_ is. 72. H. vastour. 73. _I insert_ mene; _see note_. 75. H. wastith; _I insert_ that. 76. H. coclude(!); H. _om._ right.

78. Ff. H. men calle him; Th. is holden. 79. Th. And who; Ff. H. Who that. Th. H. say that; Ff. _om._ that. 80. Th. who that; Ff. H. _om._ that. 81. Th. men yet; Ff. folke. Ff. H. edwyte; Th. wyte. 82. Ff. H. vp; Th. nowe. 83. H. who; Ff. ho (= who); Th. who that. Ff. H. cause; Th. trouth. 84. _So_ H. Ff.; Th. It is a wicked tonge th_a_t alway saythe amys. 85. Ff. also; Th. H. as. 86. Th. _om._ his. 87. H. wisdom; Th. wisedome; Ff. wysdome. 88. Ff. to; Th. H. with. 91. _So_ Ff. H.; Th. Some wycked tonge of hym wol say amys. 92. Ff. _om._ a. _All_ had. Ff. H. _om._ high. 94. Ff. H. kyndenes; Th. kyndnesse. 96. Th. Wyth al; Ff. H. _om._ al. 98. _So_ Ff.; Th. Some wycked tonge of hym wol say amys. 99. Ff. H. And; Th. Or. 101. H. Senek; Ff. Senec; Th. Seneca. Th. great; Ff. H. _om._ 102. Ff. or prudence; Th. H. and prouidence. 103. Th. The conquest; Ff. _om._ The. Ff. Arthurs; Th. H. Arturs. 105. _See note to_ 96.

106-112. _Not in_ Thynne; _from_ Ff. H. 106. H. of; Ff. to. 108. Ff. grecildes; H. Gresieldis; _I supply_ the. 110. H. Polycenes; Ff. Penilops. 113. H. wyfly; Th. wyfely; Ff. wylfull_e_ (!). Th. H. trouth; Ff. trowth; _read_ trouthe. 114. Th. had; Ff. H. hadde. Th. her; Ff. thaire; H. theyr. 115. H. Eleynes; Ff. Eleyons; Th. Holynesse (_for_ Heleynes). Th. kyndenesse; Ff. kyndnes. 116. Ff. H. loue; Th. lyfe (!). Th. Mertia; Ff. H. Marcia. Th. Caton; Ff. H. and catou_n_. 117. Ff. H. Alcestys (_om._ the). 119. _So_ Ff.; Th. A wycked tonge wol say of her amys. 120. Ff. suyth; H. sith; Th. sythen. H. it is; Ff. it; Th. it is so (_om._ that). 121. Ff. wyll (= wol); H. wil; Th. _om._ 122. Ff. H. _om._ for. 123. H. hir; Ff. ar; Th. theyr. Ff. so them hem delyte; Th. him for to aquyte. 124. Ff. Tho (_for_ To) hindre sclau_n_der, and also to bacbyte; Th. Wo to the tonges that hem so delyte. 125. Ff. For thayre study fynaly it ys; Th. To hynder or sclaunder, and set theyr study in this (cf. l. 124). 126. Th. And theyr pleasaunces to do and say amis; H. And theyr plesaunce alwey to deme amys; Ff. _has (as usual)_ A wicked tonge wol alway deme amis. 127. Ff. princesse; Th. princes. 129. Th. and most; Ff. H. _om._ and. Ff. plesing; Th. pleasyng.

132. H. revers; Th. reuerse; Ff. reu_er_ce. H. wisdom; Th. Ff. wysdome. 133. H. Voydeth (_for_ Withdraw). Ff. deme; Th. saine.

* * * * *

XIII. BEWARE OF DOUBLENESS.

(BALADE MADE BY LYDGATE.)

This world is ful of variaunce
In every thing, who taketh hede,
That faith and trust, and al constaunce,
Exyled ben, this is no drede;
And, save only in womanhede, 5
I can [nat] see no sikernesse;
But for al that, yet, as I rede,
Be-war alway of doublenesse.

Also these fresshe somer-floures
Whyte and rede, blewe and grene, 10
Ben sodainly, with winter-shoures,
Mad feinte and fade, withoute wene;
That trust is non, as ye may seen,
In no-thing, nor no stedfastnesse,
Except in women, thus I mene; 15
Yet ay be-war of doublenesse.

The croked mone, this is no tale,
Som whyle is shene and bright of hewe,
And after that ful derk and pale,
And every moneth chaungeth newe; 20
That, who the verray sothe knewe,
Al thing is bilt on brotelnesse,
Save that these women ay be trewe;
Yet ay be-war of doublenesse.

The lusty fresshe somers day, 25
And Phebus with his bemes clere,
Towardes night, they drawe away,
And no lenger liste appere;
That, in this present lyf now here
Nothing abit in his fairnesse, 30
Save women ay be founde intere
And devoid of doublenesse.

The see eke, with his sterne wawes,
Ech day floweth newe again,
And, by concours of his lawes, 35
The ebbe foloweth, in certain;
After gret drought ther comth a rain,
That farewel here al stabelnesse,
Save that women be hole and plain;
Yet ay be-war of doublenesse. 40

Fortunes wheel goth round aboute
A thousand tymes, day and night:
Whos cours standeth ever in doute
For to transmew; she is so light.
For which adverteth in your sight 45
Th'untrust of worldly fikelnesse,
Save women, which of kindly right
Ne have no tache of doublenesse.

What man may the wind restraine
Or holde a snake by the tail, 50
Or a sliper eel constraine
That it nil voide, withouten fail;
Or who can dryve so a nail
To make sure new-fangelnesse,
Save women, that can gye hir sail 55
To rowe hir boot with doublenesse.

At every haven they can aryve
Wher-as they wote is good passage;
Of innocence, they can not stryve
With wawes nor no rokkes rage; 60
So happy is hir lodemanage,
With nelde and stoon hir cours to dresse,
That Salamon was not so sage
To find in hem no doublenesse.

Therfor who-so hem accuse 65
Of any double entencioun,
To speke, rowne, other to muse,
To pinche at hir condicioun;
Al is but fals collusioun,
I dar right wel the sothe expresse; 70
They have no better proteccioun
But shroude hem under doublenesse.

So wel fortúned is hir chaunce
The dys to turnen up-so-doun,
With sys and sink they can avaunce, 75
And than, by revolucioun,
They sette a fel conclusioun
Of ambes as, in sothfastnesse;
Though clerkes make mencioun
Hir kind is fret with doublenesse. 80

Sampsoun had experience
That women were ful trewe founde,
Whan Dalida, of innocence,
With sheres gan his heer to rounde;
To speke also of Rosamounde 85
And Cleopatras feithfulnesse,
The stories plainly wil confounde
Men that apeche hir doublenesse.

Sengle thing ne is not preised,
Nor oo-fold is of no renoun; 90
In balaunce whan they be peised,
For lakke of weght they be bore doun;
And for this cause of just resoun,
These women alle, of rightwisnesse,
Of chois and free eleccioun 95
Most love eschaunge and doublenesse.

LENVOY.

O ye women, which been enclyned,
By influence of your nature,
To been as pure as gold y-fyned
In your trouth for to endure, 100
Arm your-self in strong armure
Lest men assaile your sikernesse:
Set on your brest, your-self t'assure,
A mighty sheld of doublenesse.

1. _From_ F. (Fairfax 16); _collated with_ Ed. (ed. 1561). _Also in_ A. (Ashmole 59), _in which it is much altered; other copies in_ Ha. (Harl. 7578), _and_ Ad. (Addit. 16165). 2. F. whoo. 6. _I supply_ nat. 9. F. A. these; Ed. that. 12. F. feynt; Ha. Ed. feinte. 13. F. Ed. sene. 18. F. A. Ad. is shene; Ed. ishene. 21. F. A. who so; Ha. Ad. Ed. who. 23. Ad. these; _rest om._

28. Ha. Ad. no; F. Ed. non. 29. F. So; _rest_ That. 30. F. abytte; Ed. abieth; Ad. abydeth. 32. _In the margin of_ F. Ad.--Per Antifrasim. 36. F. Ad. Ha. foloweth; Ed. _repeats_ floweth _from_ l. 34. A. Soone affter that comthe thebbe certeyne. 38. F. Ha. farewel al her; Ed. Ad. farewel here al. 48. F. Ad. Ha. haue; Ed. hath. F. tachche; Ed. teche. 51. F. slepur; Ha. sleper; Ed. Ad. slipper. 52. A. nyl; Ad. nil; Ha. wol; F. wil; Ed. will. 53. A. dryve so depe a. 54. Ed. suere. 55, 56. Ad. hir; Ha. F. her; Ed. their.

61. F. happe; Ha. Ed. happy. F. her (= hir); Ed. their. 62. F. nelde; Ed. Ha. nedle. F. Ha. her; Ed. their. 64. F. Ha. hem; Ed. them. 65. F. Wherfor; Ed. Ha. Ad. Therefore. MSS. hem; Ed. them. 67. Ed. rowme (!). 68. F. hyr; Ad. hir; Ha. her; Ed. their. 69. A. Ad. nys (_for_ is). 71. Ed. better; F. bette; Ha. Ad. bet. 72. MSS. hem; Ed. them. 73. Ad. Ed. their. 74. F. Ed. turne; Ad. Ha. turnen. 78. F. Ambes ase; Ad. Ha. aumbes as; Ed. lombes, as (!) 82. F. weren; Ed. A. were. MSS. founde; Ed. ifound. 84. A. heres; Ad. here; Ed. heere; F. hede. 87. F. Ad. Ed. The; A. Hir. 88. MSS. hir, her; Ed. their. 90. F. oo folde; A. oone folde; Ed. ofolde.

92. F. A. Ad. weght; Ha. wight; Ed. waighte. A. borne. 96. A. Ad. Haue stuffed hem with doublenesse. 97. A. that (_for_ which). 100. A. In alle youre touches for. Ad. trouthe for tendure. 101. _For_ Arm _read_ Armeth? 102. Ha. assaye. 103. F. A. Ad. tassure; Ed. Ha. to assure. 104. F. Ed. shelde; A. sheelde.

* * * * *

XIV. A BALADE: WARNING MEN TO BEWARE OF DECEITFUL WOMEN.

Loke wel aboute, ye that lovers be;
Lat nat your lustes lede you to dotage;
Be nat enamoured on al thing that ye see.
Sampson the fort, and Salamon the sage
Deceived were, for al hir gret corage; 5
Men deme hit is right as they see at y;
Bewar therfore; the blinde et many a fly.

I mene, in women, for al hir cheres queinte,
Trust nat to moche; hir trouthë is but geson;
The fairest outward ful wel can they peinte, 10
Hir stedfastnes endureth but a seson;
For they feyn frendlines and worchen treson.
And for they be chaungeáble naturally,
Bewar therfore; the blinde et many a fly.

Though al the world do his besy cure 15
To make women stonde in stablenes,
Hit may nat be, hit is agayn nature;
The world is do whan they lak doublenes;
For they can laughe and love nat; this is expres.
To trust in hem, hit is but fantasy; 20
Bewar therfore; the blind et many a fly.

What wight on-lyve trusteth in hir cheres
Shal haue at last his guerdon and his mede;
They can shave nerer then rasóurs or sheres;
Al is nat gold that shyneth! Men, take hede; 25
Hir galle is hid under a sugred wede.
Hit is ful hard hir fantasy t'aspy;
Bewar therfore; the blinde et many a fly.

Women, of kinde, have condicions three;
The first is, that they be fulle of deceit; 30
To spinne also hit is hir propertee;
And women have a wonderful conceit,
They wepen ofte, and al is but a sleight,
And whan they list, the tere is in the y;
Bewar therfore; the blinde et many a fly. 35

What thing than eyr is lighter and meveable?
The light, men say, that passeth in a throw;
Al if the light be nat so variable
As is the wind that every wey [can] blow;
And yet, of reson, som men deme and trow 40
Women be lightest of hir company;
Bewar therfore; the blind et many a fly.

In short to say, though al the erth so wan
Were parchëmyn smothe, whyte and scribable,
And the gret see, cleped the occian, 45
Were torned in inke, blakker then is sable,
Ech stik a penne, ech man a scriveyn able,
They coud nat wryte wommannes traitory;
Bewar therfore; the blinde et many a fly.

_From_ Trin. (Trin. Coll. Cam. R. 3. 19), _printed in_ Ed. (ed. 1561); T. (Trin. Coll. O. 9. 38); H. (Harl. 2251). 1. Trin. welle. T. abowte; Trin. about. 2. Trin. leede. 3. Trin. se. 4. T. H. Salamon; Trin. Salomon. 5. T. her_e_ (_read_ hir); Trin. H. theyr (_and elsewhere_). 6. _So_ T.; Trin. H. hit right that they se with. T. eye; Trin. ey; H. ye; (_read_ y). 7. T. ette, _alt. to_ ettyth; Trin. H. eteth (_read_ et, _and so elsewhere_). 8. H. T. in; Trin. of. Trin. wemen; queynt. 9. Trin. H. hem nat (T. _om._ hem). Trin. trowth; geason (T. geson). 10. T. full_e_; Trin. H. _om._ Trin. peynt. 12. Trin. feyne. 13. T. be; Trin. ar; H. are. Trin. chaungeabylle. 15-28. _So_ T. H.; Trin. _transposes_ 15-21 _and_ 22-28. 16. Trin. wemen stond; stabylnes. 17. T. H. may; Trin. wolle. 18. Trin. doubylnes. 19. Trin. lawgh; expresse. H. _om._ nat. 20. H. T. in; Trin. on. Trin. theym.

22. T. yn; Trin. on. Trin. cherys. 24. T. They; Trin. For wemen. 25. Trin. shynyth. 26. Trin. sugryd. 27. T. harde; Trin. H. queynt. Trin. to aspy. 29. T. _has the note_: Fallere flere nere tria sunt hec in muliere. Trin. thre. 30. T. that; Trin. H. _om._ 31. T. hyt; Trin. _om._ T. properte; Trin. p_ro_purte. 32. H. haue; T. hath; Trin. _om._ Trin. conseyte. 33. Trin. H. For they; T. _om._ For. T. wepyth (_read_ wepen); Trin. wepe. T. H. but; Trin. _om._ H. a sleight; T. deceyt; Trin. asteyte; Ed. a sleite. 34. Trin. teere; ey. 36-42. _In_ T. _only_. 37. T. passyth. 38. T. All yff; waryabylle. 39. T. wynde; ys blow (_alt. to_ blowth; _read_ can blow). 40. T. yut; summen. 41. T. ther (_for_ hir). 43. T. schorte; Trin. sothe. Trin. erthe; wanne. 44. Trin. parchemyne; scrybabylle. 45. T. H. that clepyd is; Trin. that callyd ys (_read_ cleped). H. _om._ the. Trin. occiane. 46. T. yn; Trin. into; H. to. T. H. is; Trin. _om._ 47. T. H. Eche; Trin. Euery. Trin. yche; abylle. H. scryven; T. Trin. scriuener. 48. T. They cowde not; Trin. Nat cowde then (!). T. wymmenys; Trin. womans; H. wommans. T. treytorye; Trin. H. trechery.

* * * * *

XV. THREE SAYINGS.

(A). A SAYING OF DAN JOHN.

Ther beth four thinges that maketh a man a fool,
Hónour first putteth him in outrage,
And alder-next solitarie and sool;
The second is unweldy croked age;
Women also bring men in dotage; 5
And mighty wyne, in many dyvers wyse,
Distempreth folk which [that] ben holden wyse.

(B). YET OF THE SAME.

Ther beth four thinges causing gret folye,
Honour first, and [than] unweldy age;
Women and wyne, I dar eek specifye,
Make wyse men [to] fallen in dotage;
Wherfore, by counseil of philosophers sage, 5
In gret honour, lerne this of me,
With thyn estat have [eek] humilitee.

(C). BALADE DE BON CONSAIL.

If it befalle, that god thee list visyte
With any tourment or adversitee,
Thank first the lord; and [than], thyself to quyte,
Upon suffrauncë and humilitee
Found thou thy quarrel, what-ever that it be; 5
Mak thy defence (and thou shall have no losse)
The rémembraunce of Crist and of his crosse.

A. _From_ Stowe (ed. 1561). 1. bethe foure; foole. 3. soole. 7. Distempren (!); folke whiche; _supply_ that; bene.

B. _From the same._ 1. bene (_read_ beth, _as above_) foure. 2. _I supply_ than; vnwildy. 3. dare eke specify. 4. _I supply_ to. 6. learne. 7. thine estate; _I supply_ eek.

C. _From the same._ 1. befall; the. 2. aduersite. 3. Thanke; lorde; _I supply_ than; selfe. 4. humilite. 5. Founde; quarel. 6. Make.

* * * * *

XVI. LA BELLE DAME SANS MERCY.

TRANSLATED OUT OF FRENCH BY SIR RICHARD ROS.

Half in a dreme, not fully wel awaked,
The golden sleep me wrapped under his wing;
Yet nat for-thy I roos, and wel nigh naked,
Al sodaynly my-selve rémembring
Of a matér, leving al other thing 5
Which I shold do, with-outen more delay,
For hem to whom I durst nat disobey.

My charge was this, to translate by and by,
(Al thing forgive), as part of my penaunce,
A book called Belle Dame sans Mercy 10
Which mayster Aleyn made of rémembraunce,
Cheef secretarie with the king of Fraunce.
And ther-upon a whyle I stood musing,
And in my-self gretly imagening

What wyse I shuld performe the sayd processe, 15
Considering by good avysement
Myn unconning and my gret simplenesse,
And ayenward the strait commaundement
Which that I had; and thus, in myn entent,
I was vexed and tourned up and doun; 20
And yet at last, as in conclusioun,

I cast my clothes on, and went my way,
This foresayd charge having in rémembraunce,
Til I cam to a lusty green valey
Ful of floures, to see, a gret plesaunce; 25
And so bolded, with their benygn suffraunce
That rede this book, touching this sayd matere,
Thus I began, if it plese you to here.

Nat long ago, ryding an esy paas,
I fel in thought, of joy ful desperate 30
With greet disese and payne, so that I was
Of al lovers the most unfortunate,
Sith by his dart most cruel, ful of hate,
The deeth hath take my lady and maistresse,
And left me sole, thus discomfit and mate, 35
Sore languisshing, and in way of distresse.

Than sayd I thus, 'it falleth me to cesse
Eyther to ryme or ditees for to make,
And I, surely, to make a ful promesse
To laugh no more, but wepe in clothes blake. 40
My joyful tyme, alas! now is it slake,
For in my-self I fele no maner ese;
Let it be written, such fortune I take,
Which neither me, nor non other doth plese.

If it were so, my wil or myn entent 45
Constrayned were a joyful thing to wryte,
Myn pen coud never have knowlege what it ment;
To speke therof my tonge hath no delyte.
And with my mouth if I laugh moche or lyte,
Myn eyen shold make a countenaunce untrewe; 50
My hert also wold have therof despyte,
The weping teres have so large issewe.

These seke lovers, I leve that to hem longes,
Which lede their lyf in hope of alegeaunce,
That is to say, to make balades and songes, 55
Every of hem, as they fele their grevaunce.
For she that was my joy and my plesaunce,
Whos soule I pray god of his mercy save,
She hath my wil, myn hertes ordinaunce,
Which lyeth here, within this tombe y-grave. 60

Fro this tyme forth, tyme is to hold my pees;
It werieth me this mater for to trete;
Let other lovers put hem-self in prees;
Their seson is, my tyme is now forgete.
Fortune by strength the forcer hath unshet 65
Wherin was sperd al my worldly richesse,
And al the goodes which that I have gete
In my best tyme of youthe and lustinesse.

Love hath me kept under his governaunce;
If I misdid, god graunt me forgifnesse! 70
If I did wel, yet felte I no plesaunce;
It caused neither joy nor hevinesse.
For whan she dyed, that was my good maistresse,
Al my welfare than made the same purchas;
The deeth hath set my boundes, of witnes, 75
Which for no-thing myn hert shal never pas.'

In this gret thought, sore troubled in my mynde,
Aloon thus rood I al the morow-tyde,
Til at the last it happed me to fynde
The place wherin I cast me to abyde 80
Whan that I had no further for to ryde.
And as I went my logging to purvey,
Right sone I herde, but litel me besyde,
In a gardeyn, wher minstrels gan to play.

With that anon I went me bakker-more; 85
My-self and I, me thought, we were y-now;
But twayn that were my frendes here-before
Had me espyed, and yet I wot nat how.
They come for me; awayward I me drow,
Somwhat by force, somwhat by their request, 90
That in no wyse I coud my-self rescow,
But nede I must come in, and see the feest.

At my coming, the ladies everichoon
Bad me welcome, god wot, right gentilly,
And made me chere, everich by oon and oon, 95
A gret del better than I was worthy;
And, of their grace, shewed me gret curtesy
With good disport, bicause I shuld nat mourne.
That day I bood stille in their company,
Which was to me a gracious sojourne. 100

The bordes were spred in right litel space;
The ladies sat, ech as hem semed best.
Were non that did servyce within that place
But chosen men, right of the goodliest:
And som ther were, peravénture most fresshest, 105
That sawe their juges, sitting ful demure,
Without semblaunt either to most or lest,
Notwithstanding they had hem under cure.

Among al other, oon I gan espy
Which in gret thought ful often com and went 110
As man that had ben ravished utterly,
In his langage nat gretly diligent;
His countenaunce he kept with greet tourment,
But his desyr fer passed his resoun;
For ever his eye went after his entent 115
Ful many a tyme, whan it was no sesoun.

To make good chere, right sore him-self he payned,
And outwardly he fayned greet gladnesse;
To singe also by force he was constrayned
For no plesaunce, but very shamfastnesse; 120
For the complaynt of his most hevinesse
Com to his voice alwey without request,
Lyk as the sowne of birdes doth expresse
Whan they sing loude, in frith or in forest.

Other ther were, that served in the hal, 125
But non lyk him, as after myn advyse;
For he was pale, and somwhat lene with-al;
His speche also trembled in fereful wyse;
And ever aloon, but when he did servyse.
Al blak he ware, and no devyce but playn. 130
Me thought by him, as my wit coud suffyse,
His hert was no-thing in his own demeyn.

To feste hem al he did his diligence,
And wel he couth, right as it semed me.
But evermore, whan he was in presence, 135
His chere was don; it wold non other be.
His scole-maister had suche auctoritè
That, al the whyle he bood stille in the place,
Speke coude he nat, but upon her beautè
He loked stil, with right a pitous face. 140

With that, his heed he tourned at the last
For to behold the ladies everichon;
But ever in oon he set his ey stedfast
On her, the which his thought was most upon.
And of his eyen the shot I knew anon 145
Which federed was with right humble requestes.
Than to my-self I sayd, 'By god aloon,
Suche oon was I, or that I saw these gestes.'

Out of the prees he went ful esely
To make stable his hevy countenaunce; 150
And, wit ye wel, he syghed tenderly
For his sorowes and woful remembraunce.
Than in him-self he made his ordinaunce,
And forth-withal com to bringe in the mes;
But, for to juge his most ruful semblaunce, 155
God wot, it was a pitous entremes!

After diner, anon they hem avaunced
To daunce about, these folkes everichoon;
And forth-withal this hevy lover daunced
Somtyme with twayn, and somtyme but with oon. 160
Unto hem al his chere was after oon,
Now here, now there, as fel by aventure;
But ever among, he drew to her aloon
Which he most dredde of living creature.

To myn advyse, good was his purveyaunce 165
Whan he her chase to his maistresse aloon,
If that her hert were set to his plesaunce
As moche as was her beauteous persone.
For who that ever set his trust upon
The réport of the eyen, withouten more, 170
He might be deed and graven under stoon
Or ever he shulde his hertes ese restore.

In her fayled nothing, as I coud gesse,
O wyse nor other, prevy nor apert;
A garnison she was of al goodnesse 175
To make a frounter for a lovers hert;
Right yong and fresshe, a woman ful covert;
Assured wel her port and eke her chere,
Wel at her ese, withouten wo or smert,
Al underneth the standard of Daungere. 180

To see the feest, it weried me ful sore;
For hevy joy doth sore the hert travayle.
Out of the prees I me withdrew therfore,
And set me down aloon, behynd a trayle
Ful of leves, to see, a greet mervayle, 185
With grene withies y-bounden wonderly;
The leves were so thik, withouten fayle,
That thorough-out might no man me espy.

To this lady he com ful curteisly
Whan he thought tyme to daunce with her a trace; 190
Sith in an herber made ful pleasauntly
They rested hem, fro thens but litel space.
Nigh hem were none, a certayn of compace,
But only they, as fer as I coud see;
And save the trayle, ther I had chose my place, 195
Ther was no more betwix hem tweyne and me.

I herd the lover syghing wonder sore;
For ay the neer, the sorer it him sought.
His inward payne he coud not kepe in store,
Nor for to speke, so hardy was he nought. 200
His leche was neer, the gretter was his thought;
He mused sore, to conquere his desyre;
For no man may to more penaunce be brought
Than, in his hete, to bringe him to the fyre.