277. S. sat;restsate, satte. 281. F. non ne may;restmay non. 283. D. oth; S. soth;restothe. 285. Th. F. T. P. clepe; D. speke; S. cleke (!). 297. T. D. fulle; Th. F. ful. 298. Th. S. one;restoon. 299. F. more (forany). 303. Th. cal. 305. Th. fal. 306. Th. al. 307.Allthe name;I omitthe. 308.Allthe blame;readber'the.
314, 315. D. lowlyheed, speed;rest-hede,spede. 322.AllVn-to;readTo. 323. F. sithe; S. sithen;restsith. 332.Perhaps omithis. D. payn; T. peyn;restpayne (peyne). 337. S. bet; F. bette;restbetter. 338. Th. F.om. 2ndhis. 339. T. lady; F. ladye;restladyes. 346. D. perelees; F. T. S. P. pereles; Th. peerles.
347. T. liste of hym; S. can of him. 349. F. Gades; S. Gadis;restGaddes. 351. Th. P.om.ben. 352. S. Y-sett; D. Sette. 355.I supplyhe. 357. S. ȝit;rest omit. 360. S. fresch;rest omit. 363. T. dide;restdid. 368. S. eke;rest omit. 374. F. Tereus (forTheseus). 378. F. falshed; S. falshede. 379.I supplyknight. 380.Alleke;readalso.I supplyal.
382. S. and thair (forand hir);rest omitthair (= hir). 384. Th. lieges. 386.So all.391. S. worthi knycht & hir trew;rest omitworthiandtrew.I followS.;but omitand. 393. F. T. Ipomones; Th. Ypomedes; S. P. Ypomenes; D. Ipomeus. 394.I supplywas. 400. F. lovers; T. louys;restloues. 403. S. trewe;resttrewe men. 405. Th. moost. 407. D. S. oth;restothe. 409. F. P. S. port;restporte. 411. S. no;rest omit. 413. Th. lytel; P. litill; D. litle;restlyte.
414. F. nother;restnor. 415. Th. syknesse; F. sekenesse. 419. D. Iupardy;restin partynge (foriupartynge);readjuparting; cf. l. 475. 421. F. fals (error forfalse);rest omit. 426. S. double (forpitous). 429. S. falss;rest om.435. Th. F. P. bye; D. bie; T. bey; S. by. 437. Th. T. S. sene; F. seen; P. D. seyn. 438. Th. sticken; P. D. stekyn. 439. S. P. the;rest om.447. S. ȝit;rest om.
449.I supplyshe. S. ysuorn;rest om.y-. 451. Th.om.have. 453. T. D. S. aboue (forof love);seel. 454. 461. S. blend (readblent);restblynde (blinde). 462. S. as he wend (readwent); Th. by wende (!);restby wenynge (!). 464. F. T. avise; D. avice; S. aviss; Th. aduyse. 467. S. P. frend;restfrende. 468. B.begins here.I supplyand. 469. T. lette; F. leteth; Th. letteth; B. D. letith; S. lattith. 471. B. F. S. he doth; Th. T. doth to. 475. Th. ieopardye; S. Iupartye; F. partie (!); B. D. T. Iupardye; P. Iupard.
488. Th. systerne. 489. S. haue schapen (forshopen). 494. F. hath; Th. haue. 501. F. B. plentevous. Th. largnesse. 508. Th. trouthe; S. treuth;restrouthe;seel. 679. 514. Th. Gyltlesse; F. Giltles; P. Gylteles.
523. F. B. P. ye (foryou). 530. F. B. S. gilt;restgylte (gilte). 533. S. aȝeynes; T. agaynes; F. B. D. ayens; Th. agaynst. 536. S. ȝow to pay;resther to pay. 537. Th.om.eche. 538. T. D. liste;restlist. 541.Alleuery;readal. 543.Allgraunte (graunt);readgraunten. 545. Th. onely sle me; MSS. slee me only. 547. S. vnto;rest om.548. S. If (forAnd). 549. S. apaid;restpayd (paid). 550.Fortoreadshal? 551. F. P. legeaunce; Th. D. ligeaunce; T. lygeaunce.
553. T. D. luste; Th. F. B. lust. S. Quherso hir list to do me lyue or deye. 555. S. hoolly; Th. holy. 560. Th. T. D. lyste; F. S. P. list. 561. S. vnto;restto. 566. S. quhill þat me. 568. Th. mater. 571. F. B. P. hest. 573. T. liste;restlist (lust). 575. T. sike; S. to sike; Th. D. sygh; F. B. sile (!). 577. Th. no worde. 581. Th. long wisshing (!). Th. S. for; F. B. D. P. for his; T. for her. 583. S. P. gan;restgonne (gunne).
587. S. compleynen;restcomplayne. 598. T. faste;restfast. 605.I supplyhere. 606. Th. dytte. 611. T. D. weste;restwest. 617. T. D. faste;restfast. S. D. F. doun; Th. adowne; D. T. Adoun. 622. T. you;rest om.
626. S. for to;rest om.627. MSS. welwilly; Th. wyl I (!). 636. Th. socouer (misprint). 645. S. vnto;restto. 647. S. verily; Th. T. D. wery (!); B. very wery (!); F. werry wery (!); P. very. 650. F. B. reles; T. D. relese; Th. release; S. relesche. 656. Th. T. S. P.om.his.
659. Th.om.that. 663. Th. ialousyes; D. Ielosies;restIelosye. 664. T. B. P. of;restof his. 665. S. Werreyed; D. Werried;restWerred. 666. MSS. Princes; Th. Pryncesse. Th. pleaseth; F. pleseth; P. plesith (readplese). Th. it to your;rest om.to. 667. S. P. for;rest om.669. Th. D.om.trewe. 673. S. for;rest om.
IX. THE FLOUR OF CURTESYE.
In Fevrier, whan the frosty moneWas horned, ful of Phebus fyry light,And that she gan to reyse her stremes sone,Saint Valentyne! upon thy blisful night5Of duëtee, whan glad is every wight,And foules chese (to voyde hir olde sorowe)Everich his make, upon the nexte morowe;The same tyme, I herde a larke singeFul lustely, agayn the morowe gray—10'Awake, ye lovers, out of your slombringe,This gladde morowe, in al the haste ye may;Some óbservaunce doth unto this day,Your choise ayen of herte to reneweIn cónfirming, for ever to be trewe!15And ye that be, of chesing, at your large,This lusty day, by custome of nature,Take upon you the blisful holy chargeTo serve lovë, whyl your lyf may dure,With herte, body, and al your besy cure,20For evermore, as Venus and CiprydeFor you disposeth, and the god Cupyde.For joye owe we playnly to obeyeUnto this lordes mighty ordinaunce,And, mercilesse, rather for to deye25Than ever in you be founden variaunce;And, though your lyf be medled with grevaunce,And, at your herte, closed be your wounde,Beth alway one, ther-as ye are bounde!'Thát whan I had herd, and listed longe,30With devout herte, the lusty melodyeOf this hevenly comfortable songeSo ágreable, as by harmonye,I roos anon, and faste gan me hyeToward a grove, and the way [gan] take35Foules to sene, everich chese his make.And yet I was ful thursty in languisshing;Myn ague was so fervent in his hete,Whan Aurora, for drery complayning,Can distille her cristal teres wete40Upon the soile, with silver dewe so swete;For she [ne] durste, for shame, not apereUnder the light of Phebus bemes clere.And so, for anguisshe of my paynes kene,And for constraynte of my sighes sore,45I sette me doun under a laurer greneFul pitously; and alway more and more,As I beheld into the holtes hore,I gan complayne myn inward deedly smerte,That ay so sore †crampisshed myn herte.50And whyl that I, in my drery payne,Sat, and beheld aboute on every treeThe foules sitten, alway twayne and twayne,Than thoughte I thus: 'alas! what may this be,That every foul hath his libertee55Frely to chesen after his desyreEverich his make thus, fro yeer to yere?The sely wrenne, the titmose also,The litel redbrest, have free elecciounTo flyen y-ferë and †togider go60Wher-as hem liste, abouten enviroun,As they of kynde have inclinacoun,And as Nature, emperesse and gyde,Of every thing, liste to provyde;But man aloon, alas! the harde stounde!65Ful cruelly, by kyndes ordinaunce,Constrayned is, and by statut bounde,And debarred from alle such plesaunce.What meneth this? What is this purveyaunceOf god above, agayn al right of kynde,70Withoute cause, so narowe man to bynde?'Thus may I [soothly] seen, and playne, alas!My woful houre and my disaventure,That dolefully stonde in the same casSo fer behyndë, from al helth and cure.75My wounde abydeth lyk a sursanure;For me Fortune so felly list dispose,My harm is hid, that I dar not disclose.For I my herte have set in suche a placeWher I am never lykly for to spede;80So fer I am hindred from her graceThat, save daunger, I have non other mede.And thus, alas! I not who shal me redeNe for myn helpe shape remedye,For Male-bouche, and for false Envye:85The whiche twayne ay stondeth in my weyMaliciously; and Fals SuspecciounIs very causë also that I dey,Ginning and rote of my distruccioun;So that I fele, [as] in conclusioun,90With hir traynes that they wol me shende,Of my labour that deth mot make an ende!Yet, or I dye, with herte, wil, and thoughtTo god of lovë this avowe I make,(As I best can, how dere that it be bought,95Wher-so it be, that I slepe or wake,Whyl Boreas doth the leves shake)As I have hight, playnly, til I sterve,For wele or wo, that I shal [ay] her serve.And, for her sake, now this holy tyme,100Saint Valentyne! somwhat shal I wryteAl-though so be that I can not ryme,Nor curiously by no crafte endyte,Yet lever I have, that she putte the wyteIn unconning than in negligence,105What-ever I sayë of her excellence.What-ever I saye, it is of duëtee,In sothfastnesse and no presumpcioun;This I ensure to you that shal it see,That it is al under correccioun;110What I reherce in commendaciounOf herë that I shal to you, as blyve,So as I can, her vertues here discryve.—¶ Right by example as the somer-sonnePasseth the sterre with his bemes shene,115And Lucifer among the skyës donneA-morowe sheweth to voyde nightes tene,So verily, withouten any wene,My lady passeth (who-so taketh hede)Al tho alyve, to speke of womanhede.120And as the ruby hath the soveraintèOf riche stones and the regalyë;And [as] the rose, of swetnesse and beautè,Of fresshe floures, withouten any lyë;Right so, in sothe, with her goodly yë,125She passeth al in bountee and fairnesse,Of maner ekë, and of gentilnesse.For she is bothe the fairest and the beste,To reken al in very sothfastnesse;For every vertue is in her at reste;130And furthermore, to speke of stedfastnesse,She is the rotë; and of seemlinesseThe very mirrour; and of governaunceTo al example, withouten variaunce.Of port benigne, and wonder glad of chere,135Having evermore her trewe advertenceAlway to reson; so that her desyreIs brydeled ay by witte and providence;Thereto, of wittë and of hy prudenceShe is the wellë, ay devoide of pryde,140That unto vertue her-selven is the gyde!And over this, in her daliaunceLowly she is, discret, wyse, [and secree],And goodly gladde by attemperaunce,That every wight, of high and low degree,145Are gladde in herte with her for to be;Só that, shortly, if I shal not lye,She named is 'The Flour of Curtesye.'And there, to speke of femininitee,The leste mannish in comparisoun,150Goodly abasshed, having ay piteeOf hem that been in tribulacioun;For she aloon is consolaciounTo al that arn in mischeef and in nede,To comforte hem, of her womanhede.155And ay in vertue is her besy charge,Sadde and demure, and but of wordes fewe;Dredful also of tonges that ben large,Eschewing ay hem that listen to heweAbove hir heed, hir wordes for to shewe,160Dishonestly to speke of any wight;She deedly hateth of hem to have a sight.The herte of whom so honest is and clene,And her entent so faithful and entereThat she ne may, for al the world, sustene165To suffre her eres any word to here,Of frend nor fo, neither fer ne nere,Amis resowning, that hinder shulde his name;And if she do, she wexeth reed for shame.So trewëly in mening she is set,170Without chaunging or any doublenesse;For bountee and beautee ar togider knetIn her personë, under faithfulnesse;For void she is of newëfangelnesse;In herte ay oon, for ever to perséver175Ther she is set, and never to dissever.I am to rude her vertues everichoonCunningly [for] to discryve and wryte;For wel ye wot, colour[es] have I noonLyk her discrecioun craftely t'endyte;180For what I sayë, al it is to lyte.Whérfor to you thus I me excuse,That I aqueynted am not with no muse!By rethoryke my style to governe,In her preyse and commendacioun,185I am to blind, so hyly to discerne,Of her goodnesse to make discripcioun,Save thus I sayë, in conclusioun,If that I shal shortly [her] commende,In her is naught that Nature can amende.190For good she is, lyk to Policene,And, in fairnesse, to the quene Helayne;Stedfast of herte, as was Dorigene,And wyfly trouthë, if I shal not fayne:In constaunce eke and faith, she may attayne195To Cleopatre; and therto as †secreeAs was of Troye the whyte Antigone;As Hester meke; lyk Judith of prudence;Kynde as Alceste or Marcia Catoun;And to Grisilde lyk in pacience,200And Ariadne, of discrecioun;And to Lucrece, that was of Rome toun,She may be lykned, as for honestè;And, for her faith, unto Penelope.To faire Phyllis and to Hipsiphilee,205For innocencë and for womanhede;For seemlinessë, unto Canacee;And over this, to speke of goodlihede,She passeth alle that I can of rede;For worde and dede, that she naught ne falle,210Acorde in vertue, and her werkes alle.For though that Dydo, with [her] witte sage,Was in her tyme stedfast to Enee,Of hastinesse yet she did outrage;And so for Jason did also Medee.215But my lady is so aviseeThat, bountee and beautee bothe in her demeyne,She maketh bountee alway soverayne.This is to mene, bountee goth afore,Lad by prudence, and hath the soveraintee;220And beautee folweth, ruled by her lore,That she †n'offendë her in no degree;So that, in one, this goodly fresshe freeSurmounting al, withouten any were,Is good and fair, in oon persone y-fere.225And though that I, for very ignoraunce,Ne may discryve her vertues by and by,Yet on this day, for a rémembraunce,Only supported under her mercy,With quaking hondë, I shal ful humbly230To her hynesse, my rudenes for to quyte,A litel balade here bineth endyte,Ever as I can suppryse in my herte,Alway with fere, betwixe drede and shame,Lest out of lose any word asterte235In this metre, to make it seme lame;Chaucer is deed, that hadde suche a nameOf fair making, that [was], withoute wene,Fairest in our tonge, as the laurer grene.We may assaye for to counterfete240His gaye style, but it wil not be;The welle is drye, with the licour swete,Bothe of Clio and of Caliopè;And first of al, I wol excuse meTo her, that is [the] ground of goodlihede;245And thus I saye until hir womanhede:—Balade simple.¶ 'With al my mightë, and my beste entente,With al the faith that mighty god of kyndeMe yaf, sith he me soule and knowing sente,I chese, and to this bonde ever I me bynde,250To love you best, whyl I have lyf and mynde':—Thus herde I foules in the dawëningeUpon the day of saint Valentyne singe.'Yet chese I, at the ginning, in this entente,To love you, though I no mercy fynde;255And if you liste I dyed, I wolde assente,As ever twinne I quik out of this lynde!Suffyseth me to seen your fetheres ynde':—Thus herde I foules in the morweningeUpon the day of saint Valentyne singe.260'And over this, myn hertes lust to-bente,In honour only of the wodëbynde,Hoolly I yeve, never to repenteIn joye or wo, wher-so that I wyndeTofore Cupyde, with his eyën blynde':—265The foules alle, whan Tytan did springe,With dévout herte, me thoughte I herde singe!Lenvoy.¶ Princesse of beautee, to you I representeThis simple dytè, rude as in makinge,Of herte and wil faithful in myn entente,270Lyk as, this day, [the] foules herde I singe.Here endeth the Flour of Curtesye.
In Fevrier, whan the frosty moneWas horned, ful of Phebus fyry light,And that she gan to reyse her stremes sone,Saint Valentyne! upon thy blisful night5Of duëtee, whan glad is every wight,And foules chese (to voyde hir olde sorowe)Everich his make, upon the nexte morowe;
In Fevrier, whan the frosty mone
Was horned, ful of Phebus fyry light,
And that she gan to reyse her stremes sone,
Saint Valentyne! upon thy blisful night
5
5
Of duëtee, whan glad is every wight,
And foules chese (to voyde hir olde sorowe)
Everich his make, upon the nexte morowe;
The same tyme, I herde a larke singeFul lustely, agayn the morowe gray—10'Awake, ye lovers, out of your slombringe,This gladde morowe, in al the haste ye may;Some óbservaunce doth unto this day,Your choise ayen of herte to reneweIn cónfirming, for ever to be trewe!
The same tyme, I herde a larke singe
Ful lustely, agayn the morowe gray—
10
10
'Awake, ye lovers, out of your slombringe,
This gladde morowe, in al the haste ye may;
Some óbservaunce doth unto this day,
Your choise ayen of herte to renewe
In cónfirming, for ever to be trewe!
15And ye that be, of chesing, at your large,This lusty day, by custome of nature,Take upon you the blisful holy chargeTo serve lovë, whyl your lyf may dure,With herte, body, and al your besy cure,20For evermore, as Venus and CiprydeFor you disposeth, and the god Cupyde.
15
15
And ye that be, of chesing, at your large,
This lusty day, by custome of nature,
Take upon you the blisful holy charge
To serve lovë, whyl your lyf may dure,
With herte, body, and al your besy cure,
20
20
For evermore, as Venus and Cipryde
For you disposeth, and the god Cupyde.
For joye owe we playnly to obeyeUnto this lordes mighty ordinaunce,And, mercilesse, rather for to deye25Than ever in you be founden variaunce;And, though your lyf be medled with grevaunce,And, at your herte, closed be your wounde,Beth alway one, ther-as ye are bounde!'
For joye owe we playnly to obeye
Unto this lordes mighty ordinaunce,
And, mercilesse, rather for to deye
25
25
Than ever in you be founden variaunce;
And, though your lyf be medled with grevaunce,
And, at your herte, closed be your wounde,
Beth alway one, ther-as ye are bounde!'
Thát whan I had herd, and listed longe,30With devout herte, the lusty melodyeOf this hevenly comfortable songeSo ágreable, as by harmonye,I roos anon, and faste gan me hyeToward a grove, and the way [gan] take35Foules to sene, everich chese his make.
Thát whan I had herd, and listed longe,
30
30
With devout herte, the lusty melodye
Of this hevenly comfortable songe
So ágreable, as by harmonye,
I roos anon, and faste gan me hye
Toward a grove, and the way [gan] take
35
35
Foules to sene, everich chese his make.
And yet I was ful thursty in languisshing;Myn ague was so fervent in his hete,Whan Aurora, for drery complayning,Can distille her cristal teres wete40Upon the soile, with silver dewe so swete;For she [ne] durste, for shame, not apereUnder the light of Phebus bemes clere.
And yet I was ful thursty in languisshing;
Myn ague was so fervent in his hete,
Whan Aurora, for drery complayning,
Can distille her cristal teres wete
40
40
Upon the soile, with silver dewe so swete;
For she [ne] durste, for shame, not apere
Under the light of Phebus bemes clere.
And so, for anguisshe of my paynes kene,And for constraynte of my sighes sore,45I sette me doun under a laurer greneFul pitously; and alway more and more,As I beheld into the holtes hore,I gan complayne myn inward deedly smerte,That ay so sore †crampisshed myn herte.
And so, for anguisshe of my paynes kene,
And for constraynte of my sighes sore,
45
45
I sette me doun under a laurer grene
Ful pitously; and alway more and more,
As I beheld into the holtes hore,
I gan complayne myn inward deedly smerte,
That ay so sore †crampisshed myn herte.
50And whyl that I, in my drery payne,Sat, and beheld aboute on every treeThe foules sitten, alway twayne and twayne,Than thoughte I thus: 'alas! what may this be,That every foul hath his libertee55Frely to chesen after his desyreEverich his make thus, fro yeer to yere?
50
50
And whyl that I, in my drery payne,
Sat, and beheld aboute on every tree
The foules sitten, alway twayne and twayne,
Than thoughte I thus: 'alas! what may this be,
That every foul hath his libertee
55
55
Frely to chesen after his desyre
Everich his make thus, fro yeer to yere?
The sely wrenne, the titmose also,The litel redbrest, have free elecciounTo flyen y-ferë and †togider go60Wher-as hem liste, abouten enviroun,As they of kynde have inclinacoun,And as Nature, emperesse and gyde,Of every thing, liste to provyde;
The sely wrenne, the titmose also,
The litel redbrest, have free eleccioun
To flyen y-ferë and †togider go
60
60
Wher-as hem liste, abouten enviroun,
As they of kynde have inclinacoun,
And as Nature, emperesse and gyde,
Of every thing, liste to provyde;
But man aloon, alas! the harde stounde!65Ful cruelly, by kyndes ordinaunce,Constrayned is, and by statut bounde,And debarred from alle such plesaunce.What meneth this? What is this purveyaunceOf god above, agayn al right of kynde,70Withoute cause, so narowe man to bynde?'
But man aloon, alas! the harde stounde!
65
65
Ful cruelly, by kyndes ordinaunce,
Constrayned is, and by statut bounde,
And debarred from alle such plesaunce.
What meneth this? What is this purveyaunce
Of god above, agayn al right of kynde,
70
70
Withoute cause, so narowe man to bynde?'
Thus may I [soothly] seen, and playne, alas!My woful houre and my disaventure,That dolefully stonde in the same casSo fer behyndë, from al helth and cure.75My wounde abydeth lyk a sursanure;For me Fortune so felly list dispose,My harm is hid, that I dar not disclose.
Thus may I [soothly] seen, and playne, alas!
My woful houre and my disaventure,
That dolefully stonde in the same cas
So fer behyndë, from al helth and cure.
75
75
My wounde abydeth lyk a sursanure;
For me Fortune so felly list dispose,
My harm is hid, that I dar not disclose.
For I my herte have set in suche a placeWher I am never lykly for to spede;80So fer I am hindred from her graceThat, save daunger, I have non other mede.And thus, alas! I not who shal me redeNe for myn helpe shape remedye,For Male-bouche, and for false Envye:
For I my herte have set in suche a place
Wher I am never lykly for to spede;
80
80
So fer I am hindred from her grace
That, save daunger, I have non other mede.
And thus, alas! I not who shal me rede
Ne for myn helpe shape remedye,
For Male-bouche, and for false Envye:
85The whiche twayne ay stondeth in my weyMaliciously; and Fals SuspecciounIs very causë also that I dey,Ginning and rote of my distruccioun;So that I fele, [as] in conclusioun,90With hir traynes that they wol me shende,Of my labour that deth mot make an ende!
85
85
The whiche twayne ay stondeth in my wey
Maliciously; and Fals Suspeccioun
Is very causë also that I dey,
Ginning and rote of my distruccioun;
So that I fele, [as] in conclusioun,
90
90
With hir traynes that they wol me shende,
Of my labour that deth mot make an ende!
Yet, or I dye, with herte, wil, and thoughtTo god of lovë this avowe I make,(As I best can, how dere that it be bought,95Wher-so it be, that I slepe or wake,Whyl Boreas doth the leves shake)As I have hight, playnly, til I sterve,For wele or wo, that I shal [ay] her serve.
Yet, or I dye, with herte, wil, and thought
To god of lovë this avowe I make,
(As I best can, how dere that it be bought,
95
95
Wher-so it be, that I slepe or wake,
Whyl Boreas doth the leves shake)
As I have hight, playnly, til I sterve,
For wele or wo, that I shal [ay] her serve.
And, for her sake, now this holy tyme,100Saint Valentyne! somwhat shal I wryteAl-though so be that I can not ryme,Nor curiously by no crafte endyte,Yet lever I have, that she putte the wyteIn unconning than in negligence,105What-ever I sayë of her excellence.
And, for her sake, now this holy tyme,
100
100
Saint Valentyne! somwhat shal I wryte
Al-though so be that I can not ryme,
Nor curiously by no crafte endyte,
Yet lever I have, that she putte the wyte
In unconning than in negligence,
105
105
What-ever I sayë of her excellence.
What-ever I saye, it is of duëtee,In sothfastnesse and no presumpcioun;This I ensure to you that shal it see,That it is al under correccioun;110What I reherce in commendaciounOf herë that I shal to you, as blyve,So as I can, her vertues here discryve.—
What-ever I saye, it is of duëtee,
In sothfastnesse and no presumpcioun;
This I ensure to you that shal it see,
That it is al under correccioun;
110
110
What I reherce in commendacioun
Of herë that I shal to you, as blyve,
So as I can, her vertues here discryve.—
¶ Right by example as the somer-sonnePasseth the sterre with his bemes shene,115And Lucifer among the skyës donneA-morowe sheweth to voyde nightes tene,So verily, withouten any wene,My lady passeth (who-so taketh hede)Al tho alyve, to speke of womanhede.
¶ Right by example as the somer-sonne
Passeth the sterre with his bemes shene,
115
115
And Lucifer among the skyës donne
A-morowe sheweth to voyde nightes tene,
So verily, withouten any wene,
My lady passeth (who-so taketh hede)
Al tho alyve, to speke of womanhede.
120And as the ruby hath the soveraintèOf riche stones and the regalyë;And [as] the rose, of swetnesse and beautè,Of fresshe floures, withouten any lyë;Right so, in sothe, with her goodly yë,125She passeth al in bountee and fairnesse,Of maner ekë, and of gentilnesse.
120
120
And as the ruby hath the soveraintè
Of riche stones and the regalyë;
And [as] the rose, of swetnesse and beautè,
Of fresshe floures, withouten any lyë;
Right so, in sothe, with her goodly yë,
125
125
She passeth al in bountee and fairnesse,
Of maner ekë, and of gentilnesse.
For she is bothe the fairest and the beste,To reken al in very sothfastnesse;For every vertue is in her at reste;130And furthermore, to speke of stedfastnesse,She is the rotë; and of seemlinesseThe very mirrour; and of governaunceTo al example, withouten variaunce.
For she is bothe the fairest and the beste,
To reken al in very sothfastnesse;
For every vertue is in her at reste;
130
130
And furthermore, to speke of stedfastnesse,
She is the rotë; and of seemlinesse
The very mirrour; and of governaunce
To al example, withouten variaunce.
Of port benigne, and wonder glad of chere,135Having evermore her trewe advertenceAlway to reson; so that her desyreIs brydeled ay by witte and providence;Thereto, of wittë and of hy prudenceShe is the wellë, ay devoide of pryde,140That unto vertue her-selven is the gyde!
Of port benigne, and wonder glad of chere,
135
135
Having evermore her trewe advertence
Alway to reson; so that her desyre
Is brydeled ay by witte and providence;
Thereto, of wittë and of hy prudence
She is the wellë, ay devoide of pryde,
140
140
That unto vertue her-selven is the gyde!
And over this, in her daliaunceLowly she is, discret, wyse, [and secree],And goodly gladde by attemperaunce,That every wight, of high and low degree,145Are gladde in herte with her for to be;Só that, shortly, if I shal not lye,She named is 'The Flour of Curtesye.'
And over this, in her daliaunce
Lowly she is, discret, wyse, [and secree],
And goodly gladde by attemperaunce,
That every wight, of high and low degree,
145
145
Are gladde in herte with her for to be;
Só that, shortly, if I shal not lye,
She named is 'The Flour of Curtesye.'
And there, to speke of femininitee,The leste mannish in comparisoun,150Goodly abasshed, having ay piteeOf hem that been in tribulacioun;For she aloon is consolaciounTo al that arn in mischeef and in nede,To comforte hem, of her womanhede.
And there, to speke of femininitee,
The leste mannish in comparisoun,
150
150
Goodly abasshed, having ay pitee
Of hem that been in tribulacioun;
For she aloon is consolacioun
To al that arn in mischeef and in nede,
To comforte hem, of her womanhede.
155And ay in vertue is her besy charge,Sadde and demure, and but of wordes fewe;Dredful also of tonges that ben large,Eschewing ay hem that listen to heweAbove hir heed, hir wordes for to shewe,160Dishonestly to speke of any wight;She deedly hateth of hem to have a sight.
155
155
And ay in vertue is her besy charge,
Sadde and demure, and but of wordes fewe;
Dredful also of tonges that ben large,
Eschewing ay hem that listen to hewe
Above hir heed, hir wordes for to shewe,
160
160
Dishonestly to speke of any wight;
She deedly hateth of hem to have a sight.
The herte of whom so honest is and clene,And her entent so faithful and entereThat she ne may, for al the world, sustene165To suffre her eres any word to here,Of frend nor fo, neither fer ne nere,Amis resowning, that hinder shulde his name;And if she do, she wexeth reed for shame.
The herte of whom so honest is and clene,
And her entent so faithful and entere
That she ne may, for al the world, sustene
165
165
To suffre her eres any word to here,
Of frend nor fo, neither fer ne nere,
Amis resowning, that hinder shulde his name;
And if she do, she wexeth reed for shame.
So trewëly in mening she is set,170Without chaunging or any doublenesse;For bountee and beautee ar togider knetIn her personë, under faithfulnesse;For void she is of newëfangelnesse;In herte ay oon, for ever to perséver175Ther she is set, and never to dissever.
So trewëly in mening she is set,
170
170
Without chaunging or any doublenesse;
For bountee and beautee ar togider knet
In her personë, under faithfulnesse;
For void she is of newëfangelnesse;
In herte ay oon, for ever to perséver
175
175
Ther she is set, and never to dissever.
I am to rude her vertues everichoonCunningly [for] to discryve and wryte;For wel ye wot, colour[es] have I noonLyk her discrecioun craftely t'endyte;180For what I sayë, al it is to lyte.Whérfor to you thus I me excuse,That I aqueynted am not with no muse!
I am to rude her vertues everichoon
Cunningly [for] to discryve and wryte;
For wel ye wot, colour[es] have I noon
Lyk her discrecioun craftely t'endyte;
180
180
For what I sayë, al it is to lyte.
Whérfor to you thus I me excuse,
That I aqueynted am not with no muse!
By rethoryke my style to governe,In her preyse and commendacioun,185I am to blind, so hyly to discerne,Of her goodnesse to make discripcioun,Save thus I sayë, in conclusioun,If that I shal shortly [her] commende,In her is naught that Nature can amende.
By rethoryke my style to governe,
In her preyse and commendacioun,
185
185
I am to blind, so hyly to discerne,
Of her goodnesse to make discripcioun,
Save thus I sayë, in conclusioun,
If that I shal shortly [her] commende,
In her is naught that Nature can amende.
190For good she is, lyk to Policene,And, in fairnesse, to the quene Helayne;Stedfast of herte, as was Dorigene,And wyfly trouthë, if I shal not fayne:In constaunce eke and faith, she may attayne195To Cleopatre; and therto as †secreeAs was of Troye the whyte Antigone;
190
190
For good she is, lyk to Policene,
And, in fairnesse, to the quene Helayne;
Stedfast of herte, as was Dorigene,
And wyfly trouthë, if I shal not fayne:
In constaunce eke and faith, she may attayne
195
195
To Cleopatre; and therto as †secree
As was of Troye the whyte Antigone;
As Hester meke; lyk Judith of prudence;Kynde as Alceste or Marcia Catoun;And to Grisilde lyk in pacience,200And Ariadne, of discrecioun;And to Lucrece, that was of Rome toun,She may be lykned, as for honestè;And, for her faith, unto Penelope.
As Hester meke; lyk Judith of prudence;
Kynde as Alceste or Marcia Catoun;
And to Grisilde lyk in pacience,
200
200
And Ariadne, of discrecioun;
And to Lucrece, that was of Rome toun,
She may be lykned, as for honestè;
And, for her faith, unto Penelope.
To faire Phyllis and to Hipsiphilee,205For innocencë and for womanhede;For seemlinessë, unto Canacee;And over this, to speke of goodlihede,She passeth alle that I can of rede;For worde and dede, that she naught ne falle,210Acorde in vertue, and her werkes alle.
To faire Phyllis and to Hipsiphilee,
205
205
For innocencë and for womanhede;
For seemlinessë, unto Canacee;
And over this, to speke of goodlihede,
She passeth alle that I can of rede;
For worde and dede, that she naught ne falle,
210
210
Acorde in vertue, and her werkes alle.
For though that Dydo, with [her] witte sage,Was in her tyme stedfast to Enee,Of hastinesse yet she did outrage;And so for Jason did also Medee.215But my lady is so aviseeThat, bountee and beautee bothe in her demeyne,She maketh bountee alway soverayne.
For though that Dydo, with [her] witte sage,
Was in her tyme stedfast to Enee,
Of hastinesse yet she did outrage;
And so for Jason did also Medee.
215
215
But my lady is so avisee
That, bountee and beautee bothe in her demeyne,
She maketh bountee alway soverayne.
This is to mene, bountee goth afore,Lad by prudence, and hath the soveraintee;220And beautee folweth, ruled by her lore,That she †n'offendë her in no degree;So that, in one, this goodly fresshe freeSurmounting al, withouten any were,Is good and fair, in oon persone y-fere.
This is to mene, bountee goth afore,
Lad by prudence, and hath the soveraintee;
220
220
And beautee folweth, ruled by her lore,
That she †n'offendë her in no degree;
So that, in one, this goodly fresshe free
Surmounting al, withouten any were,
Is good and fair, in oon persone y-fere.
225And though that I, for very ignoraunce,Ne may discryve her vertues by and by,Yet on this day, for a rémembraunce,Only supported under her mercy,With quaking hondë, I shal ful humbly230To her hynesse, my rudenes for to quyte,A litel balade here bineth endyte,
225
225
And though that I, for very ignoraunce,
Ne may discryve her vertues by and by,
Yet on this day, for a rémembraunce,
Only supported under her mercy,
With quaking hondë, I shal ful humbly
230
230
To her hynesse, my rudenes for to quyte,
A litel balade here bineth endyte,
Ever as I can suppryse in my herte,Alway with fere, betwixe drede and shame,Lest out of lose any word asterte235In this metre, to make it seme lame;Chaucer is deed, that hadde suche a nameOf fair making, that [was], withoute wene,Fairest in our tonge, as the laurer grene.
Ever as I can suppryse in my herte,
Alway with fere, betwixe drede and shame,
Lest out of lose any word asterte
235
235
In this metre, to make it seme lame;
Chaucer is deed, that hadde suche a name
Of fair making, that [was], withoute wene,
Fairest in our tonge, as the laurer grene.
We may assaye for to counterfete240His gaye style, but it wil not be;The welle is drye, with the licour swete,Bothe of Clio and of Caliopè;And first of al, I wol excuse meTo her, that is [the] ground of goodlihede;245And thus I saye until hir womanhede:—
We may assaye for to counterfete
240
240
His gaye style, but it wil not be;
The welle is drye, with the licour swete,
Bothe of Clio and of Caliopè;
And first of al, I wol excuse me
To her, that is [the] ground of goodlihede;
245
245
And thus I saye until hir womanhede:—
Balade simple.
Balade simple.
¶ 'With al my mightë, and my beste entente,With al the faith that mighty god of kyndeMe yaf, sith he me soule and knowing sente,I chese, and to this bonde ever I me bynde,250To love you best, whyl I have lyf and mynde':—Thus herde I foules in the dawëningeUpon the day of saint Valentyne singe.
¶ 'With al my mightë, and my beste entente,
With al the faith that mighty god of kynde
Me yaf, sith he me soule and knowing sente,
I chese, and to this bonde ever I me bynde,
250
250
To love you best, whyl I have lyf and mynde':—
Thus herde I foules in the dawëninge
Upon the day of saint Valentyne singe.
'Yet chese I, at the ginning, in this entente,To love you, though I no mercy fynde;255And if you liste I dyed, I wolde assente,As ever twinne I quik out of this lynde!Suffyseth me to seen your fetheres ynde':—Thus herde I foules in the morweningeUpon the day of saint Valentyne singe.
'Yet chese I, at the ginning, in this entente,
To love you, though I no mercy fynde;
255
255
And if you liste I dyed, I wolde assente,
As ever twinne I quik out of this lynde!
Suffyseth me to seen your fetheres ynde':—
Thus herde I foules in the morweninge
Upon the day of saint Valentyne singe.
260'And over this, myn hertes lust to-bente,In honour only of the wodëbynde,Hoolly I yeve, never to repenteIn joye or wo, wher-so that I wyndeTofore Cupyde, with his eyën blynde':—265The foules alle, whan Tytan did springe,With dévout herte, me thoughte I herde singe!
260
260
'And over this, myn hertes lust to-bente,
In honour only of the wodëbynde,
Hoolly I yeve, never to repente
In joye or wo, wher-so that I wynde
Tofore Cupyde, with his eyën blynde':—
265
265
The foules alle, whan Tytan did springe,
With dévout herte, me thoughte I herde singe!
Lenvoy.
Lenvoy.
¶ Princesse of beautee, to you I representeThis simple dytè, rude as in makinge,Of herte and wil faithful in myn entente,270Lyk as, this day, [the] foules herde I singe.
¶ Princesse of beautee, to you I represente
This simple dytè, rude as in makinge,
Of herte and wil faithful in myn entente,
270
270
Lyk as, this day, [the] foules herde I singe.
Here endeth the Flour of Curtesye.
Here endeth the Flour of Curtesye.
FromTh. (Thynne, ed. 1532).Title: Th. The Floure of Curtesy; (ed. 1561adds—made by Ihon Lidgate).I note here the rejected spellings.1. Feverier. 2. firy. 3. streames. 5. dutie. 6. her. 7. Eueryche; next. 9. agayne. 11. glad. 12. dothe. 15. chosyng. 18. whyle; lyfe. 20. Cipride. 22. obey.
26. lyfe. 26. closet. 27. there. 29. herde. 30. deuoute. 32. ermonye. 33. rose. 34. Towarde;supplygan. 35. eueryche chose. 39. distyl; (readdistille); chrystal teeres. 41.Supplyne. 42. beames. 45. set; downe. 47. behelde. 48. inwarde. 49. aye; crampessh at (readcrampisshed). 50. whyle. 51. Sate; behelde; tre. 52. sytte (readsitten). 53. thought. 54. foule. 55. chose (readchesen). 56. Eueryche; yere to yere.
57. tytemose. 58. election. 59. togyther (readtogider). 60. Where as; lyst aboute envyron. 61. inclynacion. 62. empresse (reademperesse). 63. lyst. 64. alone. 66. statute. 67. al suche. 69. agayne. 70. Without. 71.Supplysoothly; sene. 73. doulfully; caas. 74. ferre. 75. lyke. 76. lyste. 77. harme; dare. 79. lykely. 80. ferre. 81. none. 83. myne. 85. aye. 86. false suspection. 88. distruction. 89.Supplyas; conclusyon.
91. dethe mote. 94. howe. 95. Where so. 96. Whyle; dothe; leaues. 98. wel;supplyay. 99. nowe. 103. put. 106. say; dute (readduetee). 107. presumpcion. 108. se. 109. correction. 110. commendacion. 111. her (readhere). 114. beames. 115. amonge. 122.Supplyas; swetenesse. 123. without. 124. eye.
125. bountie; fayrenesse. 128. reken (readreknen?). 131. semelynesse. 136. reason. 137. aye. 138. hye. 139. aye. 142. discrete and wyse (readdiscret wyse;and supplysecreefor the rime). 144. lowe. 145. glad. 147. Floure. 148. femynyte (!). 149. mannyshe; comparison. 150. aye pyte. 151. ben; trybulacion. 152. alone;-cion.153. arne; mischefe. 155. aye. 157. Dredeful. 158. aye. 159. her (twice.)
164. worlde. 165. eeres; worde. 166. frende; foe; ferre. 167. Amysse. 169. trewly; is in sette (om.in). 171. bountie; beautie are togyther knette. 173. voyde; newfanglenesse (or readvoideandnewfangelnesse). 174. aye one. 175. There; sette. 176. euerychone. 177.Supplyfor. 178. colour; none. 179. Lyke; to endyte. 180. say. 181. Wherfore. 184. commendacion. 185. blynde; hylye. 186. discrypcion. 187. say; conclusyon. 188.Supplyher. 190. lyke. 191. fayrenesse.
193. wyfely. 194. faythe. 195. setrone (!);readsecree (see note). 197. lyke. 198. Alcest. 199. lyke. 202. lykened. 203. faythe. 206. semelynesse; Canace. 208. al. 209, 210. fal, al. 211.Supplyher. 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;supplywas; without. 239. assay. 240. gay. 241. lycoure. 242. Clye (!). 244.Supplythe; 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 (readginning); entent. 255. assent. 256. quicke; lyne (misprint). 257. sene; fethers.
258. mornynge (formorweninge). 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;supplythe.Colophon: Floure; Curtesy.
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 reherceOf olde poetes, touching this matere,How that Cupyde the hertes gan so perceOf his servauntes, setting hem on fere;5Lo, here the fyn of th'errour and the were!Lo, here of love the guerdon and grevaunceThat ever with wo his servaunts doth avaunce!Wherfor now playnly I wol my style dresseOf one to speke, at nede that wol nat fayle;10Alas! for dole, I ne can ne may expresseHer passing pryse, and that is no mervayle.O wind of grace, now blow into my sayle!O aureat licour of Cleo, for to wryteMy penne enspyre, of that I wolde endyte!15Alas! unworthy I am and unableTo 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,20So as I can, supported by her grace,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,25Whos brighte bemes the cloudes may not hyde;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,30And lightsom lyne of pitè for to playne,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,35And named herberwe of the deitè!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,40Remembre on sinners unto thee assignedEr 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,45Vyneyerd vermayle, refressher of our food,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!50O rody rosier, flouring withouten spyne,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,55Flame doun to doleful light of thyn influenceOn thy servauntes, for thy magnificence!Of al Christen protectrice and tutele,Retour of exyled, put in prescripciounTo hem that erre in the pathe of hir sequele;60To wery wandred tent and pavilioun,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,65O blisful bravie to knightes of thy werre;To wery werkmen thou art diourn denárie,Mede unto mariners that have sayled ferre;Laureat crowne, streming as a sterreTo hem that putte hem in palestre for thy sake,70Cours of her conquest, thou whyte as any lake!Thou mirthe of martyrs, sweter than citole,Of confessours also richest donatyf,Unto virgynes eternal lauriole,Afore al women having prerogatyf;75Moder and mayde, bothe widowe and wyf,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,80O nightingale with thy notes newe,O popinjay, plumed with al clennesse,O laverok of love, singing with swetnesse,Phebus, awayting til in thy brest he lighteUnder thy winge at domesday us dighte!85O ruby, rubifyed in the passiounAl 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!90O hardy herte, O loving crëature,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,95Thou lovest hem unchaunged that serven thee.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 Gabriel100With joy thee grette that may not be nombred!Or half the blisse who coude wryte or telWhan the holy goost to thee was obumbred,Wherthrough fendes were utterly encombred?O wemlees mayde, embelisshed in his birthe,105That man and aungel therof hadden mirthe!Lo, here the blossom and the budde of glorie,Of which the prophet spak so longe aforn;Lo, here the same that was in memórieOf Isaie, so longe or she was born;110Lo, here of David the delicious corn;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,115Whos vertuous brightnes was in thy brest vibrat,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!120O sovereignest, sought out of Sion,O punical pome ayens al pestilence;And aureat urne, in whom was bouk and boonThe agnelet, that faught for our offenceAyens the serpent with so high defence125That lyk a lyoun in victorie he was founde;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,130Flambing with fervence, not with hete payned;Thou during daysye, with no †weder stayned;Flees undefouled of gentil Gedeon,And fructifying yerd thou of Aaron.Thou misty arke, probatik piscyne,135Laughing Aurora, and of pees olyve;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,140And of our manhode trewe tabernacle!
A thousand stories coude I mo reherceOf olde poetes, touching this matere,How that Cupyde the hertes gan so perceOf his servauntes, setting hem on fere;5Lo, here the fyn of th'errour and the were!Lo, here of love the guerdon and grevaunceThat ever with wo his servaunts doth avaunce!
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;
5
5
Lo, here the fyn of th'errour and the were!
Lo, here of love the guerdon and grevaunce
That ever with wo his servaunts doth avaunce!
Wherfor now playnly I wol my style dresseOf one to speke, at nede that wol nat fayle;10Alas! for dole, I ne can ne may expresseHer passing pryse, and that is no mervayle.O wind of grace, now blow into my sayle!O aureat licour of Cleo, for to wryteMy penne enspyre, of that I wolde endyte!
Wherfor now playnly I wol my style dresse
Of one to speke, at nede that wol nat fayle;
10
10
Alas! for dole, I ne can ne may expresse
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!
15Alas! unworthy I am and unableTo 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,20So as I can, supported by her grace,Right thus I say, kneling tofore her face:—
15
15
Alas! unworthy I am and unable
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,
20
20
So as I can, supported by her grace,
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,25Whos brighte bemes the cloudes may not hyde;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 sterre of sterres, with thy stremes clere,
Sterre of the see, to shipmen light and gyde,
O lusty living, most plesaunt to apere,
25
25
Whos brighte bemes the cloudes may not hyde;
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,30And lightsom lyne of pitè for to playne,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,35And named herberwe of the deitè!
O rightful rule, O rote of holinesse,
30
30
And lightsom lyne of pitè for to playne,
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,
35
35
And named herberwe of the deitè!
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,40Remembre on sinners unto thee assignedEr wikked fendes hir wrathe upon hem wreche;Lanterne of light, thou be hir lyves leche!
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,
40
40
Remembre on sinners unto thee assigned
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,45Vyneyerd vermayle, refressher of our food,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!
Paradyse of plesaunce, gladsom to al good,
Benigne braunchelet of the pyne-tree,
45
45
Vyneyerd vermayle, refressher of our food,
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!
50O rody rosier, flouring withouten spyne,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,55Flame doun to doleful light of thyn influenceOn thy servauntes, for thy magnificence!
50
50
O rody rosier, flouring withouten spyne,
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,
55
55
Flame doun to doleful light of thyn influence
On thy servauntes, for thy magnificence!
Of al Christen protectrice and tutele,Retour of exyled, put in prescripciounTo hem that erre in the pathe of hir sequele;60To wery wandred tent and pavilioun,The feynte to fresshe, and the pausacioun;Unto unresty bothe reste and remedye,Fruteful to al tho that in her affye.
Of al Christen protectrice and tutele,
Retour of exyled, put in prescripcioun
To hem that erre in the pathe of hir sequele;
60
60
To wery wandred tent and pavilioun,
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,65O blisful bravie to knightes of thy werre;To wery werkmen thou art diourn denárie,Mede unto mariners that have sayled ferre;Laureat crowne, streming as a sterreTo hem that putte hem in palestre for thy sake,70Cours of her conquest, thou whyte as any lake!
To hem that rennen thou art itinerárie,
65
65
O blisful bravie to knightes of thy werre;
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,
70
70
Cours of her conquest, thou whyte as any lake!
Thou mirthe of martyrs, sweter than citole,Of confessours also richest donatyf,Unto virgynes eternal lauriole,Afore al women having prerogatyf;75Moder and mayde, bothe widowe and wyf,Of al the worlde is noon but thou alone!Now, sith thou may, be socour to my mone!
Thou mirthe of martyrs, sweter than citole,
Of confessours also richest donatyf,
Unto virgynes eternal lauriole,
Afore al women having prerogatyf;
75
75
Moder and mayde, bothe widowe and wyf,
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,80O nightingale with thy notes newe,O popinjay, plumed with al clennesse,O laverok of love, singing with swetnesse,Phebus, awayting til in thy brest he lighteUnder thy winge at domesday us dighte!
O trusty turtle, trewest of al trewe,
O curteyse columbe, replete of al mekenesse,
80
80
O nightingale with thy notes newe,
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!
85O ruby, rubifyed in the passiounAl 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!90O hardy herte, O loving crëature,What was it but love that made thee so endure?
85
85
O ruby, rubifyed in the passioun
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!
90
90
O hardy herte, O loving crëature,
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,95Thou lovest hem unchaunged that serven thee.And if offence or wrything in hem be,Thou art ay redy upon hir wo to rewe,And hem receyvest with herte ful trewe.
Semely saphyre, depe loupe, and blewe ewage,
Stable as the loupe, ewage of pitè,
This is to say, the fresshest of visage,
95
95
Thou lovest hem unchaunged that serven thee.
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 Gabriel100With joy thee grette that may not be nombred!Or half the blisse who coude wryte or telWhan the holy goost to thee was obumbred,Wherthrough fendes were utterly encombred?O wemlees mayde, embelisshed in his birthe,105That man and aungel therof hadden mirthe!
O goodly gladded, whan that Gabriel
100
100
With joy thee grette that may not be nombred!
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,
105
105
That man and aungel therof hadden mirthe!
Lo, here the blossom and the budde of glorie,Of which the prophet spak so longe aforn;Lo, here the same that was in memórieOf Isaie, so longe or she was born;110Lo, here of David the delicious corn;Lo, here the ground that list [him] to onbelde,Becoming man, our raunsom for to yelde!
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;
110
110
Lo, here of David the delicious corn;
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,115Whos vertuous brightnes was in thy brest vibrat,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 glorious vyole, O vytre inviolat!
O fyry Tytan, persing with thy bemes,
115
115
Whos vertuous brightnes was in thy brest vibrat,
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!
120O sovereignest, sought out of Sion,O punical pome ayens al pestilence;And aureat urne, in whom was bouk and boonThe agnelet, that faught for our offenceAyens the serpent with so high defence125That lyk a lyoun in victorie he was founde;To him commende us, of mercy most habounde!
120
120
O sovereignest, sought out of Sion,
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
125
125
That lyk a lyoun in victorie he was founde;
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,130Flambing with fervence, not with hete payned;Thou during daysye, with no †weder stayned;Flees undefouled of gentil Gedeon,And fructifying yerd thou of Aaron.
O precious perle, withouten any pere,
Cockle with gold dew from above berayned,
Thou busshe unbrent, fyrles set a-fere,
130
130
Flambing with fervence, not with hete payned;
Thou during daysye, with no †weder stayned;
Flees undefouled of gentil Gedeon,
And fructifying yerd thou of Aaron.
Thou misty arke, probatik piscyne,135Laughing Aurora, and of pees olyve;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,140And of our manhode trewe tabernacle!
Thou misty arke, probatik piscyne,
135
135
Laughing Aurora, and of pees olyve;
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,
140
140
And of our manhode trewe tabernacle!
FromTh.;collated withA. (Ashmole 59);andSl. (Sloane 1212). 1. A. I kouþe to you. 2. A. clerkis (forpoetes); the (forthis). 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 (forliving). 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.mostbef.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. Aom.on. Sl. pecchours (forsinners). 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 omitthy. 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. Remembring. 58. Sl. Retour; Th. Returne; A. Recure. A. Sl. in; Th. in the. 59. A. To therroures of the pathe sequele. 60. A. For (forTo). Sl. wandrid; Th. forwandred; A. wandering. 61.SoA. Th. To faynte and to fresshe the. 62. A. To wery wightes ful reste. 63. Th. tho that; A. that hem. A.omitsll. 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. Alle; 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.SoSl. 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.InSl.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.insertfayrestafterfructifyeng (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.
XI. TO MY SOVERAIN LADY.
I have non English convenient and digneMyn hertes hele, lady, thee with t'honoure,Ivorie clene; therfore I wol resigneIn-to thyn hand, til thou list socoure5To help my making bothe florisshe and floure;Than shulde I shewe, in love how I brende,In songes making, thy name to commende.For if I coude before thyn excellenceSingen in love, I wolde, what I fele,10And ever standen, lady, in thy presence,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.15Wher might I love ever better besetteThan 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,20Tofore singing evermore utterly—'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,25So fair oon hath myn herte in governaunce;And after that I †ginne on esperaunceWith 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,30(Alas! why so?) that I might say or singe,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,35Thus fer from you, my soverain lady dere!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?40Thus many a roundel and many a virelayIn 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,45Whos grace ne may flye fro your womanhede,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!50What marveyle is, though I in payne be?I am departed from you, my soveraine;Fortune, alas!dont vient la destenee,That in no wyse I can ne may attayneTo see the beautè of your eyën twayne.55Wherfore I say, for tristesse doth me grame,Tant me fait mal departir de ma dame!Why nere my wisshing brought to suche esploitThat I might say, for joye of your presence,'Ore a man cuer ce quil veuilloit,60Ore a man cuerthe highest excellenceThat ever had wight;' and sith myn advertenceIs in you, reweth on my paynes smerte,I am so sore wounded to the herte.To live wel mery, two lovers were y-fere,65So may I say withouten any blame;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 sobernesse70For her, that is of women cheef princesse.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;75And, if I coude, I wolde it magnifye.For never non was [here] so faire y-founde,To reken hem al, and also Rosamounde.And fynally, with mouthe and wil presentOf double eye, withoute repentaunce,80Myn herte I yeve you, lady, in this entent,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!85Al our lovë is but ydelnesseSave 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,90Whos [pitous] mercy most to me avaylethTo 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,95Putteth every herte in ese in his degree.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;100L'ardant espoir que mon cuer poynt, est mort,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 tortThat for you singe, so as I may, for mone105For your departing; alone I live, alone.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;110Loke up, ye lovers [alle], and be right gladAyeines sëynt Valentynes day,For I have chose that never forsake I may!Explicit.
I have non English convenient and digneMyn hertes hele, lady, thee with t'honoure,Ivorie clene; therfore I wol resigneIn-to thyn hand, til thou list socoure5To help my making bothe florisshe and floure;Than shulde I shewe, in love how I brende,In songes making, thy name to commende.
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
5
5
To help my making bothe florisshe and floure;
Than shulde I shewe, in love how I brende,
In songes making, thy name to commende.
For if I coude before thyn excellenceSingen in love, I wolde, what I fele,10And ever standen, lady, in thy presence,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.
For if I coude before thyn excellence
Singen in love, I wolde, what I fele,
10
10
And ever standen, lady, in thy presence,
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.
15Wher might I love ever better besetteThan 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,20Tofore singing evermore utterly—'Your eyën two wol slee me sodainly.'
15
15
Wher might I love ever better besette
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,
20
20
Tofore singing evermore utterly—
'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,25So fair oon hath myn herte in governaunce;And after that I †ginne on esperaunceWith feble entune, though it thyn herte perce,Yet for thy sake this lettre I do reherce.
For love I langour, blissed be such seknesse,
Sith it is for you, my hertely suffisaunce;
I can not elles saye, in my distresse,
25
25
So fair oon hath myn herte in governaunce;
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,30(Alas! why so?) that I might say or singe,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,35Thus fer from you, my soverain lady dere!
God wot, on musike I can not, but I gesse,
30
30
(Alas! why so?) that I might say or singe,
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,
35
35
Thus fer from you, my soverain lady dere!
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?40Thus many a roundel and many a virelayIn fresshe Englisshe, whan I me layser finde,I do recorde, on you to have minde!
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?
40
40
Thus many a roundel and many a virelay
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,45Whos grace ne may flye fro your womanhede,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!
Now, lady myn! sith I you love and drede,
And you unchaunged finde, in o degree,
45
45
Whos grace ne may flye fro your womanhede,
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!
50What marveyle is, though I in payne be?I am departed from you, my soveraine;Fortune, alas!dont vient la destenee,That in no wyse I can ne may attayneTo see the beautè of your eyën twayne.55Wherfore I say, for tristesse doth me grame,Tant me fait mal departir de ma dame!
50
50
What marveyle is, though I in payne be?
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.
55
55
Wherfore I say, for tristesse doth me grame,
Tant me fait mal departir de ma dame!
Why nere my wisshing brought to suche esploitThat I might say, for joye of your presence,'Ore a man cuer ce quil veuilloit,60Ore a man cuerthe highest excellenceThat ever had wight;' and sith myn advertenceIs in you, reweth on my paynes smerte,I am so sore wounded to the herte.
Why nere my wisshing brought to suche esploit
That I might say, for joye of your presence,
'Ore a man cuer ce quil veuilloit,
60
60
Ore a man cuerthe highest excellence
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,65So may I say withouten any blame;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 sobernesse70For her, that is of women cheef princesse.
To live wel mery, two lovers were y-fere,
65
65
So may I say withouten any blame;
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
70
70
For her, that is of women cheef princesse.
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;75And, if I coude, I wolde it magnifye.For never non was [here] so faire y-founde,To reken hem al, and also Rosamounde.
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;
75
75
And, if I coude, I wolde it magnifye.
For never non was [here] so faire y-founde,
To reken hem al, and also Rosamounde.
And fynally, with mouthe and wil presentOf double eye, withoute repentaunce,80Myn herte I yeve you, lady, in this entent,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!
And fynally, with mouthe and wil present
Of double eye, withoute repentaunce,
80
80
Myn herte I yeve you, lady, in this entent,
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!
85Al our lovë is but ydelnesseSave 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,90Whos [pitous] mercy most to me avaylethTo gye by grace, whan that fortune fayleth.
85
85
Al our lovë is but ydelnesse
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,
90
90
Whos [pitous] mercy most to me avayleth
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,95Putteth every herte in ese in his degree.O violet,O flour desiree,Sith I am for you so amorous,Estreynez moy, [lady,]de cuer joyous!
Nought may be told, withouten any fable,
Your high renome, your womanly beautè;
Your governaunce, to al worship able,
95
95
Putteth every herte in ese in his degree.
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;100L'ardant espoir que mon cuer poynt, est mort,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 tortThat for you singe, so as I may, for mone105For your departing; alone I live, alone.
With fervent herte my brest hath broste on fyre;
100
100
L'ardant espoir que mon cuer poynt, est mort,
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
105
105
For your departing; alone I live, alone.
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;110Loke up, ye lovers [alle], and be right gladAyeines sëynt Valentynes day,For I have chose that never forsake I may!
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;
110
110
Loke up, ye lovers [alle], and be right glad
Ayeines sëynt Valentynes day,
For I have chose that never forsake I may!
Explicit.
Explicit.
FromTh. (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;readginne.
27. thyne. 28. letter. 30. wote. 31. owne; maistres. 32. without. 35. ferre. 36. wolde (twice). 37. Sythe. 38. nylte;I supplynever; 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 insertper cas. 67.Short line; I insertsone. for to;I omitfor. 68. Lette; se where. 70. chefe. 71. my hert shuld. 72. best remedy. 74. espy. 76. none;I inserthere. 79. without. 81. holy. 82. leaue. 84. the. 86. your loue alone;om.loue. 89. refute. 90. Whose;I insertpitous. 92. tolde. 95. ease. 96. floure.
97. Sythe; amerous. 98. Estreynes;I insertladyto fill out the line. 99. brost. 102. meane; porte. 103. say. 106. myght; none. 107. sadde. 109. stadde. 110.I supplyalle; gladde. 111. Ayenst saynt. 112. chese (readchose).
XII. BALLAD OF GOOD COUNSEL.