Chapter 20

The god of love, a!benedicite!How mighty and how greet a lord is he!For he can make of lowe hertes hye,And of hye lowe, and lyke for to dye,5And harde hertes he can maken free.And he can make, within a litel stoundeOf seke folk ful hole, fresshe and sounde,And of [the] hole, he can make seke;And he can binden and unbinden eke10What he wol have bounden or unbounde.To telle his might my wit may not suffyse;For he may do al that he wol devyse.For he can make of wyse folk ful nyce,And [eke] in lyther folk distroyen vyce;15And proude hertes he can make agryse.Shortly, al that ever he wol he may;Ageines him ther dar no wight sey nay.For he can gladde and greve whom him lyketh;And, who that he wol, he laugheth or he syketh;20And most his might he sheweth ever in May.For every trewe gentil herte freeThat with him is, or thinketh for to be,Ageines May now shal have som steringeOther to joye, or elles to morninge,25In no sesoun so greet, as thinketh me.For whan they mowe here the briddes singe,And see the floures and the leves springe,That bringeth into hertes rémembraunceA maner ese, medled with grevaunce,30And lusty thoughtes fulle of greet longinge.And of that longing cometh hevinesse,And therof groweth ofte greet seknesse,And al for lak of that that they desyre;And thus in May ben hertes sette on fyre,35So that they brennen forth in greet distresse.I speke this of feling, trewely;For, althogh I be old and unlusty,Yet have I felt of that seknesse, in May,Bothe hoot and cold, an acces every day,40How sore, y-wis, ther wot no wight but I.I am so shaken with the fevers whyte,Of al this May yet slepte I but a lyte;And also it naught lyketh unto me,That any herte shulde slepy be45In whom that Love his fyry dart wol smyte.But as I lay this other night wakinge,I thoghte how lovers had a tokeninge,And among hem it was a comune tale,That it were good to here the nightingale50Rather than the lewde cukkow singe.And then I thoghte, anon as it was day,I wolde go som whider to assayIf that I might a nightingalë here;For yet had I non herd of al this yere,55And hit was tho the thridde night of May.And than, anon as I the day espyde,No lenger wolde I in my bedde abyde,But unto a wode, that was faste by,I wente forth alone, boldely,60And held my way doun by a broke-syde,Til I com to a launde of whyte and grene;So fair oon had I never in[ne] been;The ground was grene, y-poudred with daisye,The floures and the gras y-lyke hye,65Al grene and whyte; was nothing elles sene.Ther sat I doun among the faire floures;And saw the briddes trippe out of her bouresTher-as they had hem rested al the night.They were so joyful of the dayes light70That they †begonne of May to don hir houres!They coude that servyce al by rote;Ther was many a lovely straunge note;Some songe loudë, as they hadde pleyned,And some in other maner vois y-feyned,75And some al out, with al the fulle throte.They proyned hem, and made[n] hem right gay,And daunseden, and lepten on the spray,And evermore two and two in-fere;Right so as they had chosen hem to-yere80In Feverere, on seint Valentynes day.And eke the river, that I sat upon,It made suche a noise, as it ron,Accordaunt with the briddes armonye,Me thoughte, it was the best[e] melodye85That mighte been y-herd of any mon.And for delyt ther-of, I wot never how,I fel in suche a slomber and a swow,Not al a-slepe, ne fully wakinge;And in that swow me thoughte I herde singe90That sory brid, the lew[e]de cukkow.And that was on a tree right fast[e] by;But who was than evel apayd but I?'Now god,' quod I, 'that dyëd on the croisYeve sorow on thee, and on thy lewde vois!95For litel joye have I now of thy cry.'And as I with the cukkow thus gan chyde,I herde, in the nexte bush besyde,A Nightingalë so lustily singeThat with her clere vois she made ringe100Through-out al the grene wode wyde.'A! goode Nightingale!' quod I thenne,'A litel hast thou been to longe henne;For here hath been the lew[e]de Cukkow,And songen songes rather than hast thou;105I pray to god that evel fyr him brenne!'But now I wol you telle a wonder thing:As longë as I lay in that swowning,Me thoughte, I wiste what the briddes ment,And what they seyde, and what was her entent,110And of her speche I hadde good knowing.And than herde I the Nightingale say,'Now, gode Cukkow! go som-where away,And let us that can singen dwellen here;For every wight escheweth thee to here,115Thy songes be so elenge, in good fay!''What?' quod he, 'what may thee eylen now?It thinketh me, I singe as wel as thou,For my song is bothe trewe and playn;Al-though I can not crakel so in vayn120As thou dost in thy throte, I wot never how.And every wight may understande me;But, Nightingale, so may they not do thee;For thou hast many a nyce queinte cry.I have herd thee seyn, "ocy! ocy!"125How mighte I knowe what that shulde be?''A fole!' quod she, 'wost thou not what it is?Whan that I say "ocy! ocy!" y-wis,Than mene I that I wolde, wonder fayn,That alle they were shamfully y-slayn130That menen aught ayeines love amis.And also I wolde alle tho were dedeThat thenke not in love hir lyf to lede;For who that wol the god of love not serve,I dar wel say, is worthy for to sterve;135And for that skil "ocy! ocy!" I grede.''Ey!' quod the Cukkow, 'this is a queint lawe,That every wight shal love or be to-drawe!But I forsake al suchë companye.For myn entent is neither for to dye,140Ne, whyl I live, in loves yok to drawe.For lovers ben the folk that been on-lyveThat most disesë han, and most unthryve,And, most enduren sorow, wo, and care;And, at the laste, failen of welfare;145What nedeth hit ayeines trouth to stryve?''What?' quod she, 'thou art out of thy minde!How might thou in thy cherles herte findeTo speke of loves servaunts in this wyse?For in this worlde is noon so good servyse150To every wight that gentil is of kinde.For ther-of, trewly, cometh al goodnesse,Al honóur, and [eke] al gentilnesse,Worship, esë, and al hertes lust,Parfit joye, and ful assured trust,155Jolitee, plesauncë, and freshnesse,Lowliheed, and trewe companye,Seemliheed, largesse, and curtesye,Drede of shame for to doon amis;For he that trewly Loves servaunt is160Were lother to be shamed than to dye.And that this is sooth, al that I seye,In that beleve I wol bothe live and deye,And Cukkow, so rede I thou do, y-wis.''Ye, than,' quod he, 'god let me never have blis165If ever I to that counseyl obeye!Nightingale, thou spekest wonder fayre,But, for al that, the sooth is the contrayre;For loving is, in yonge folk, but rage,And in olde folk hit is a greet dotage;170Who most hit useth, most he shal apeyre.For therof comth disese and hevinesse,Sorowe and care, and mony a greet seknesse,Dispyt, debat, [and] anger, and envye,Repreef and shame, untrust and jelousye,175Pryde and mischeef, povértee, and woodnesse.What! Loving is an office of dispayr,And oo thing is ther-in that is not fayr;For who that geteth of love a litel blis,But-if he be alway therwith, y-wis,180He may ful sone of age have his heyr.And, Nightingale, therfor hold thee ny;For, leve me wel, for al thy queynte cry,If thou be fer or longe fro thy make,Thou shalt be as other that been forsake,185And than[ne] thou shalt hoten as do I!''Fy!' quod she, 'on thy namë and on thee!The god of love ne let thee never y-thee!For thou art wors a thousand-fold than wood.For many on is ful worthy and ful good,190That had be naught, ne hadde love y-be!For Love his servaunts ever-more amendeth,And from al evel taches hem defendeth,And maketh hem to brenne right as fyrIn trouthë and in worshipful desyr,195And, whom him liketh, joye y-nough hem sendeth.''Thou Nightingale,' he seyde, 'hold thee stille;For Love hath no resoun but his wille;For ofte sithe untrewe folk he eseth,And trewe folk so bitterly displeseth200That, for defaute of grace, he let hem spille.With such a lorde wol I never be;For he is blind alwey, and may not see;And whom he hit he not, or whom he fayleth;And in his court ful selden trouthe avayleth;205Só dyvérs and so wilfúl is he.'Than took I of the Nightingale kepe,She caste a sigh out of her herte depe,And seyde, 'Alas! that ever I was bore!I can, for tene, say not oon word more;'210And right with that she brast out for to wepe.'Alas!' quod she, 'my herte wol to-brekeTo heren thus this false brid to spekeOf love, and of his worshipful servyse;Now, god of love, thou help me in som wyse215That I may on this Cukkow been awreke!'Me thoughte than, that I sterte up anon,And to the broke I ran, and gat a stoon,And at the Cukkow hertely I caste;And he, for drede, fley away ful faste;220And glad was I when that he was a-goon.And evermore the Cukkow, as he fley,He seyde, 'Farewel! farewel, papinjay!'As though he hadde scorned, thoughte me;But ay I hunted him fro tree to tree225Til he was fer al out of sighte awey.And thanne com the Nightingale to me,And seyde, 'Frend, forsothe I thanke theeThat thou hast lyked me thus to rescowe;And oon avow to Love I wol avowe,230That al this May I wol thy singer be.'I thanked her, and was right wel apayed;'Ye,' quod she, 'and be thou not amayed,Though thou have herd the Cukkow er than me.For, if I live, it shal amended be235The nexte May, if I be not affrayed.And oon thing I wol rede thee also;Ne leve thou not the Cukkow, loves fo;For al that he hath seyd is strong lesinge.''Nay,' quod I, 'therto shal no thing me bringe240Fro love; and yet he doth me mochel wo.''Ye, use thou,' quod she, 'this medicyne;Every day this May, or that thou dyne,Go loke upon the fresshe dayësyë.And though thou be for wo in poynt to dye,245That shal ful gretly lissen thee of thy pyne.And loke alwey that thou be good and trewe,And I wol singe oon of my songes newe,For love of thee, as loude as I may crye;'And than[ne] she began this song ful hye—250'I shrewe al hem that been of love untrewe!'And whan she hadde songe hit to the ende,'Nów farewel,' quod she, 'for I mot wende;And god of love, that can right wel and may,As mochel joye sende thee this day255As ever yet he any lover sende!'Thus took the Nightingale her leve of me.I pray to god, he alway with her be,And joye of love he sende her evermore;And shilde us fro the Cukkow and his lore;260For ther is noon so fals a brid as he.Forth she fley, the gentil Nightingale,To al the briddes that were in that dale,And gat hem alle into a place in-fere,And †hem besoughte that they woldë here265Her disese; and thus began her tale:—'Ye witen wel, it is not fro yow hidHow the Cukkow and I faste have chidEver sithen it was dayes light;I pray yow alle, that ye do me right270Of that foule, false, unkinde brid.'Than spak oo brid for alle, by oon assent,'This mater asketh good avysement;For we ben fewe briddes here in-fere.And sooth it is, the Cukkow is not here;275And therefor we wol have a parlement.And therat shal the Egle be our lord,And other peres that ben of record,And the Cukkow shal be after sent.And ther shal be yeven the jugement,280Or elles we shal make som accord.And this shal be, withouten any nay,The morow of seynt Valentynes day,Under a maple that is fayr and grene,Before the chambre-window of the quene285At Wodestok, upon the grene lay.'She thanked hem, and than her leve took,And fley into an hawthorn by the brook,And ther she sat, and song upon that tree,'Terme of [my] lyf, Love hath with-holde me,'290So loude, that I with that song awook.Explicit Clanvowe.

The god of love, a!benedicite!How mighty and how greet a lord is he!For he can make of lowe hertes hye,And of hye lowe, and lyke for to dye,5And harde hertes he can maken free.

The god of love, a!benedicite!

How mighty and how greet a lord is he!

For he can make of lowe hertes hye,

And of hye lowe, and lyke for to dye,

And harde hertes he can maken free.

And he can make, within a litel stoundeOf seke folk ful hole, fresshe and sounde,And of [the] hole, he can make seke;And he can binden and unbinden eke10What he wol have bounden or unbounde.

And he can make, within a litel stounde

Of seke folk ful hole, fresshe and sounde,

And of [the] hole, he can make seke;

And he can binden and unbinden eke

What he wol have bounden or unbounde.

To telle his might my wit may not suffyse;For he may do al that he wol devyse.For he can make of wyse folk ful nyce,And [eke] in lyther folk distroyen vyce;15And proude hertes he can make agryse.

To telle his might my wit may not suffyse;

For he may do al that he wol devyse.

For he can make of wyse folk ful nyce,

And [eke] in lyther folk distroyen vyce;

And proude hertes he can make agryse.

Shortly, al that ever he wol he may;Ageines him ther dar no wight sey nay.For he can gladde and greve whom him lyketh;And, who that he wol, he laugheth or he syketh;20And most his might he sheweth ever in May.

Shortly, al that ever he wol he may;

Ageines him ther dar no wight sey nay.

For he can gladde and greve whom him lyketh;

And, who that he wol, he laugheth or he syketh;

And most his might he sheweth ever in May.

For every trewe gentil herte freeThat with him is, or thinketh for to be,Ageines May now shal have som steringeOther to joye, or elles to morninge,25In no sesoun so greet, as thinketh me.

For every trewe gentil herte free

That with him is, or thinketh for to be,

Ageines May now shal have som steringe

Other to joye, or elles to morninge,

In no sesoun so greet, as thinketh me.

For whan they mowe here the briddes singe,And see the floures and the leves springe,That bringeth into hertes rémembraunceA maner ese, medled with grevaunce,30And lusty thoughtes fulle of greet longinge.

For whan they mowe here the briddes singe,

And see the floures and the leves springe,

That bringeth into hertes rémembraunce

A maner ese, medled with grevaunce,

And lusty thoughtes fulle of greet longinge.

And of that longing cometh hevinesse,And therof groweth ofte greet seknesse,And al for lak of that that they desyre;And thus in May ben hertes sette on fyre,35So that they brennen forth in greet distresse.

And of that longing cometh hevinesse,

And therof groweth ofte greet seknesse,

And al for lak of that that they desyre;

And thus in May ben hertes sette on fyre,

So that they brennen forth in greet distresse.

I speke this of feling, trewely;For, althogh I be old and unlusty,Yet have I felt of that seknesse, in May,Bothe hoot and cold, an acces every day,40How sore, y-wis, ther wot no wight but I.

I speke this of feling, trewely;

For, althogh I be old and unlusty,

Yet have I felt of that seknesse, in May,

Bothe hoot and cold, an acces every day,

How sore, y-wis, ther wot no wight but I.

I am so shaken with the fevers whyte,Of al this May yet slepte I but a lyte;And also it naught lyketh unto me,That any herte shulde slepy be45In whom that Love his fyry dart wol smyte.

I am so shaken with the fevers whyte,

Of al this May yet slepte I but a lyte;

And also it naught lyketh unto me,

That any herte shulde slepy be

In whom that Love his fyry dart wol smyte.

But as I lay this other night wakinge,I thoghte how lovers had a tokeninge,And among hem it was a comune tale,That it were good to here the nightingale50Rather than the lewde cukkow singe.

But as I lay this other night wakinge,

I thoghte how lovers had a tokeninge,

And among hem it was a comune tale,

That it were good to here the nightingale

Rather than the lewde cukkow singe.

And then I thoghte, anon as it was day,I wolde go som whider to assayIf that I might a nightingalë here;For yet had I non herd of al this yere,55And hit was tho the thridde night of May.

And then I thoghte, anon as it was day,

I wolde go som whider to assay

If that I might a nightingalë here;

For yet had I non herd of al this yere,

And hit was tho the thridde night of May.

And than, anon as I the day espyde,No lenger wolde I in my bedde abyde,But unto a wode, that was faste by,I wente forth alone, boldely,60And held my way doun by a broke-syde,

And than, anon as I the day espyde,

No lenger wolde I in my bedde abyde,

But unto a wode, that was faste by,

I wente forth alone, boldely,

And held my way doun by a broke-syde,

Til I com to a launde of whyte and grene;So fair oon had I never in[ne] been;The ground was grene, y-poudred with daisye,The floures and the gras y-lyke hye,65Al grene and whyte; was nothing elles sene.

Til I com to a launde of whyte and grene;

So fair oon had I never in[ne] been;

The ground was grene, y-poudred with daisye,

The floures and the gras y-lyke hye,

Al grene and whyte; was nothing elles sene.

Ther sat I doun among the faire floures;And saw the briddes trippe out of her bouresTher-as they had hem rested al the night.They were so joyful of the dayes light70That they †begonne of May to don hir houres!

Ther sat I doun among the faire floures;

And saw the briddes trippe out of her boures

Ther-as they had hem rested al the night.

They were so joyful of the dayes light

That they †begonne of May to don hir houres!

They coude that servyce al by rote;Ther was many a lovely straunge note;Some songe loudë, as they hadde pleyned,And some in other maner vois y-feyned,75And some al out, with al the fulle throte.

They coude that servyce al by rote;

Ther was many a lovely straunge note;

Some songe loudë, as they hadde pleyned,

And some in other maner vois y-feyned,

And some al out, with al the fulle throte.

They proyned hem, and made[n] hem right gay,And daunseden, and lepten on the spray,And evermore two and two in-fere;Right so as they had chosen hem to-yere80In Feverere, on seint Valentynes day.

They proyned hem, and made[n] hem right gay,

And daunseden, and lepten on the spray,

And evermore two and two in-fere;

Right so as they had chosen hem to-yere

In Feverere, on seint Valentynes day.

And eke the river, that I sat upon,It made suche a noise, as it ron,Accordaunt with the briddes armonye,Me thoughte, it was the best[e] melodye85That mighte been y-herd of any mon.

And eke the river, that I sat upon,

It made suche a noise, as it ron,

Accordaunt with the briddes armonye,

Me thoughte, it was the best[e] melodye

That mighte been y-herd of any mon.

And for delyt ther-of, I wot never how,I fel in suche a slomber and a swow,Not al a-slepe, ne fully wakinge;And in that swow me thoughte I herde singe90That sory brid, the lew[e]de cukkow.

And for delyt ther-of, I wot never how,

I fel in suche a slomber and a swow,

Not al a-slepe, ne fully wakinge;

And in that swow me thoughte I herde singe

That sory brid, the lew[e]de cukkow.

And that was on a tree right fast[e] by;But who was than evel apayd but I?'Now god,' quod I, 'that dyëd on the croisYeve sorow on thee, and on thy lewde vois!95For litel joye have I now of thy cry.'

And that was on a tree right fast[e] by;

But who was than evel apayd but I?

'Now god,' quod I, 'that dyëd on the crois

Yeve sorow on thee, and on thy lewde vois!

For litel joye have I now of thy cry.'

And as I with the cukkow thus gan chyde,I herde, in the nexte bush besyde,A Nightingalë so lustily singeThat with her clere vois she made ringe100Through-out al the grene wode wyde.

And as I with the cukkow thus gan chyde,

I herde, in the nexte bush besyde,

A Nightingalë so lustily singe

That with her clere vois she made ringe

100

Through-out al the grene wode wyde.

'A! goode Nightingale!' quod I thenne,'A litel hast thou been to longe henne;For here hath been the lew[e]de Cukkow,And songen songes rather than hast thou;105I pray to god that evel fyr him brenne!'

'A! goode Nightingale!' quod I thenne,

'A litel hast thou been to longe henne;

For here hath been the lew[e]de Cukkow,

And songen songes rather than hast thou;

105

I pray to god that evel fyr him brenne!'

But now I wol you telle a wonder thing:As longë as I lay in that swowning,Me thoughte, I wiste what the briddes ment,And what they seyde, and what was her entent,110And of her speche I hadde good knowing.

But now I wol you telle a wonder thing:

As longë as I lay in that swowning,

Me thoughte, I wiste what the briddes ment,

And what they seyde, and what was her entent,

110

And of her speche I hadde good knowing.

And than herde I the Nightingale say,'Now, gode Cukkow! go som-where away,And let us that can singen dwellen here;For every wight escheweth thee to here,115Thy songes be so elenge, in good fay!'

And than herde I the Nightingale say,

'Now, gode Cukkow! go som-where away,

And let us that can singen dwellen here;

For every wight escheweth thee to here,

115

Thy songes be so elenge, in good fay!'

'What?' quod he, 'what may thee eylen now?It thinketh me, I singe as wel as thou,For my song is bothe trewe and playn;Al-though I can not crakel so in vayn120As thou dost in thy throte, I wot never how.

'What?' quod he, 'what may thee eylen now?

It thinketh me, I singe as wel as thou,

For my song is bothe trewe and playn;

Al-though I can not crakel so in vayn

120

As thou dost in thy throte, I wot never how.

And every wight may understande me;But, Nightingale, so may they not do thee;For thou hast many a nyce queinte cry.I have herd thee seyn, "ocy! ocy!"125How mighte I knowe what that shulde be?'

And every wight may understande me;

But, Nightingale, so may they not do thee;

For thou hast many a nyce queinte cry.

I have herd thee seyn, "ocy! ocy!"

125

How mighte I knowe what that shulde be?'

'A fole!' quod she, 'wost thou not what it is?Whan that I say "ocy! ocy!" y-wis,Than mene I that I wolde, wonder fayn,That alle they were shamfully y-slayn130That menen aught ayeines love amis.

'A fole!' quod she, 'wost thou not what it is?

Whan that I say "ocy! ocy!" y-wis,

Than mene I that I wolde, wonder fayn,

That alle they were shamfully y-slayn

130

That menen aught ayeines love amis.

And also I wolde alle tho were dedeThat thenke not in love hir lyf to lede;For who that wol the god of love not serve,I dar wel say, is worthy for to sterve;135And for that skil "ocy! ocy!" I grede.'

And also I wolde alle tho were dede

That thenke not in love hir lyf to lede;

For who that wol the god of love not serve,

I dar wel say, is worthy for to sterve;

135

And for that skil "ocy! ocy!" I grede.'

'Ey!' quod the Cukkow, 'this is a queint lawe,That every wight shal love or be to-drawe!But I forsake al suchë companye.For myn entent is neither for to dye,140Ne, whyl I live, in loves yok to drawe.

'Ey!' quod the Cukkow, 'this is a queint lawe,

That every wight shal love or be to-drawe!

But I forsake al suchë companye.

For myn entent is neither for to dye,

140

Ne, whyl I live, in loves yok to drawe.

For lovers ben the folk that been on-lyveThat most disesë han, and most unthryve,And, most enduren sorow, wo, and care;And, at the laste, failen of welfare;145What nedeth hit ayeines trouth to stryve?'

For lovers ben the folk that been on-lyve

That most disesë han, and most unthryve,

And, most enduren sorow, wo, and care;

And, at the laste, failen of welfare;

145

What nedeth hit ayeines trouth to stryve?'

'What?' quod she, 'thou art out of thy minde!How might thou in thy cherles herte findeTo speke of loves servaunts in this wyse?For in this worlde is noon so good servyse150To every wight that gentil is of kinde.

'What?' quod she, 'thou art out of thy minde!

How might thou in thy cherles herte finde

To speke of loves servaunts in this wyse?

For in this worlde is noon so good servyse

150

To every wight that gentil is of kinde.

For ther-of, trewly, cometh al goodnesse,Al honóur, and [eke] al gentilnesse,Worship, esë, and al hertes lust,Parfit joye, and ful assured trust,155Jolitee, plesauncë, and freshnesse,

For ther-of, trewly, cometh al goodnesse,

Al honóur, and [eke] al gentilnesse,

Worship, esë, and al hertes lust,

Parfit joye, and ful assured trust,

155

Jolitee, plesauncë, and freshnesse,

Lowliheed, and trewe companye,Seemliheed, largesse, and curtesye,Drede of shame for to doon amis;For he that trewly Loves servaunt is160Were lother to be shamed than to dye.

Lowliheed, and trewe companye,

Seemliheed, largesse, and curtesye,

Drede of shame for to doon amis;

For he that trewly Loves servaunt is

160

Were lother to be shamed than to dye.

And that this is sooth, al that I seye,In that beleve I wol bothe live and deye,And Cukkow, so rede I thou do, y-wis.''Ye, than,' quod he, 'god let me never have blis165If ever I to that counseyl obeye!

And that this is sooth, al that I seye,

In that beleve I wol bothe live and deye,

And Cukkow, so rede I thou do, y-wis.'

'Ye, than,' quod he, 'god let me never have blis

165

If ever I to that counseyl obeye!

Nightingale, thou spekest wonder fayre,But, for al that, the sooth is the contrayre;For loving is, in yonge folk, but rage,And in olde folk hit is a greet dotage;170Who most hit useth, most he shal apeyre.

Nightingale, thou spekest wonder fayre,

But, for al that, the sooth is the contrayre;

For loving is, in yonge folk, but rage,

And in olde folk hit is a greet dotage;

170

Who most hit useth, most he shal apeyre.

For therof comth disese and hevinesse,Sorowe and care, and mony a greet seknesse,Dispyt, debat, [and] anger, and envye,Repreef and shame, untrust and jelousye,175Pryde and mischeef, povértee, and woodnesse.

For therof comth disese and hevinesse,

Sorowe and care, and mony a greet seknesse,

Dispyt, debat, [and] anger, and envye,

Repreef and shame, untrust and jelousye,

175

Pryde and mischeef, povértee, and woodnesse.

What! Loving is an office of dispayr,And oo thing is ther-in that is not fayr;For who that geteth of love a litel blis,But-if he be alway therwith, y-wis,180He may ful sone of age have his heyr.

What! Loving is an office of dispayr,

And oo thing is ther-in that is not fayr;

For who that geteth of love a litel blis,

But-if he be alway therwith, y-wis,

180

He may ful sone of age have his heyr.

And, Nightingale, therfor hold thee ny;For, leve me wel, for al thy queynte cry,If thou be fer or longe fro thy make,Thou shalt be as other that been forsake,185And than[ne] thou shalt hoten as do I!'

And, Nightingale, therfor hold thee ny;

For, leve me wel, for al thy queynte cry,

If thou be fer or longe fro thy make,

Thou shalt be as other that been forsake,

185

And than[ne] thou shalt hoten as do I!'

'Fy!' quod she, 'on thy namë and on thee!The god of love ne let thee never y-thee!For thou art wors a thousand-fold than wood.For many on is ful worthy and ful good,190That had be naught, ne hadde love y-be!

'Fy!' quod she, 'on thy namë and on thee!

The god of love ne let thee never y-thee!

For thou art wors a thousand-fold than wood.

For many on is ful worthy and ful good,

190

That had be naught, ne hadde love y-be!

For Love his servaunts ever-more amendeth,And from al evel taches hem defendeth,And maketh hem to brenne right as fyrIn trouthë and in worshipful desyr,195And, whom him liketh, joye y-nough hem sendeth.'

For Love his servaunts ever-more amendeth,

And from al evel taches hem defendeth,

And maketh hem to brenne right as fyr

In trouthë and in worshipful desyr,

195

And, whom him liketh, joye y-nough hem sendeth.'

'Thou Nightingale,' he seyde, 'hold thee stille;For Love hath no resoun but his wille;For ofte sithe untrewe folk he eseth,And trewe folk so bitterly displeseth200That, for defaute of grace, he let hem spille.

'Thou Nightingale,' he seyde, 'hold thee stille;

For Love hath no resoun but his wille;

For ofte sithe untrewe folk he eseth,

And trewe folk so bitterly displeseth

200

That, for defaute of grace, he let hem spille.

With such a lorde wol I never be;For he is blind alwey, and may not see;And whom he hit he not, or whom he fayleth;And in his court ful selden trouthe avayleth;205Só dyvérs and so wilfúl is he.'

With such a lorde wol I never be;

For he is blind alwey, and may not see;

And whom he hit he not, or whom he fayleth;

And in his court ful selden trouthe avayleth;

205

Só dyvérs and so wilfúl is he.'

Than took I of the Nightingale kepe,She caste a sigh out of her herte depe,And seyde, 'Alas! that ever I was bore!I can, for tene, say not oon word more;'210And right with that she brast out for to wepe.

Than took I of the Nightingale kepe,

She caste a sigh out of her herte depe,

And seyde, 'Alas! that ever I was bore!

I can, for tene, say not oon word more;'

210

And right with that she brast out for to wepe.

'Alas!' quod she, 'my herte wol to-brekeTo heren thus this false brid to spekeOf love, and of his worshipful servyse;Now, god of love, thou help me in som wyse215That I may on this Cukkow been awreke!'

'Alas!' quod she, 'my herte wol to-breke

To heren thus this false brid to speke

Of love, and of his worshipful servyse;

Now, god of love, thou help me in som wyse

215

That I may on this Cukkow been awreke!'

Me thoughte than, that I sterte up anon,And to the broke I ran, and gat a stoon,And at the Cukkow hertely I caste;And he, for drede, fley away ful faste;220And glad was I when that he was a-goon.

Me thoughte than, that I sterte up anon,

And to the broke I ran, and gat a stoon,

And at the Cukkow hertely I caste;

And he, for drede, fley away ful faste;

220

And glad was I when that he was a-goon.

And evermore the Cukkow, as he fley,He seyde, 'Farewel! farewel, papinjay!'As though he hadde scorned, thoughte me;But ay I hunted him fro tree to tree225Til he was fer al out of sighte awey.

And evermore the Cukkow, as he fley,

He seyde, 'Farewel! farewel, papinjay!'

As though he hadde scorned, thoughte me;

But ay I hunted him fro tree to tree

225

Til he was fer al out of sighte awey.

And thanne com the Nightingale to me,And seyde, 'Frend, forsothe I thanke theeThat thou hast lyked me thus to rescowe;And oon avow to Love I wol avowe,230That al this May I wol thy singer be.'

And thanne com the Nightingale to me,

And seyde, 'Frend, forsothe I thanke thee

That thou hast lyked me thus to rescowe;

And oon avow to Love I wol avowe,

230

That al this May I wol thy singer be.'

I thanked her, and was right wel apayed;'Ye,' quod she, 'and be thou not amayed,Though thou have herd the Cukkow er than me.For, if I live, it shal amended be235The nexte May, if I be not affrayed.

I thanked her, and was right wel apayed;

'Ye,' quod she, 'and be thou not amayed,

Though thou have herd the Cukkow er than me.

For, if I live, it shal amended be

235

The nexte May, if I be not affrayed.

And oon thing I wol rede thee also;Ne leve thou not the Cukkow, loves fo;For al that he hath seyd is strong lesinge.''Nay,' quod I, 'therto shal no thing me bringe240Fro love; and yet he doth me mochel wo.'

And oon thing I wol rede thee also;

Ne leve thou not the Cukkow, loves fo;

For al that he hath seyd is strong lesinge.'

'Nay,' quod I, 'therto shal no thing me bringe

240

Fro love; and yet he doth me mochel wo.'

'Ye, use thou,' quod she, 'this medicyne;Every day this May, or that thou dyne,Go loke upon the fresshe dayësyë.And though thou be for wo in poynt to dye,245That shal ful gretly lissen thee of thy pyne.

'Ye, use thou,' quod she, 'this medicyne;

Every day this May, or that thou dyne,

Go loke upon the fresshe dayësyë.

And though thou be for wo in poynt to dye,

245

That shal ful gretly lissen thee of thy pyne.

And loke alwey that thou be good and trewe,And I wol singe oon of my songes newe,For love of thee, as loude as I may crye;'And than[ne] she began this song ful hye—250'I shrewe al hem that been of love untrewe!'

And loke alwey that thou be good and trewe,

And I wol singe oon of my songes newe,

For love of thee, as loude as I may crye;'

And than[ne] she began this song ful hye—

250

'I shrewe al hem that been of love untrewe!'

And whan she hadde songe hit to the ende,'Nów farewel,' quod she, 'for I mot wende;And god of love, that can right wel and may,As mochel joye sende thee this day255As ever yet he any lover sende!'

And whan she hadde songe hit to the ende,

'Nów farewel,' quod she, 'for I mot wende;

And god of love, that can right wel and may,

As mochel joye sende thee this day

255

As ever yet he any lover sende!'

Thus took the Nightingale her leve of me.I pray to god, he alway with her be,And joye of love he sende her evermore;And shilde us fro the Cukkow and his lore;260For ther is noon so fals a brid as he.

Thus took the Nightingale her leve of me.

I pray to god, he alway with her be,

And joye of love he sende her evermore;

And shilde us fro the Cukkow and his lore;

260

For ther is noon so fals a brid as he.

Forth she fley, the gentil Nightingale,To al the briddes that were in that dale,And gat hem alle into a place in-fere,And †hem besoughte that they woldë here265Her disese; and thus began her tale:—

Forth she fley, the gentil Nightingale,

To al the briddes that were in that dale,

And gat hem alle into a place in-fere,

And †hem besoughte that they woldë here

265

Her disese; and thus began her tale:—

'Ye witen wel, it is not fro yow hidHow the Cukkow and I faste have chidEver sithen it was dayes light;I pray yow alle, that ye do me right270Of that foule, false, unkinde brid.'

'Ye witen wel, it is not fro yow hid

How the Cukkow and I faste have chid

Ever sithen it was dayes light;

I pray yow alle, that ye do me right

270

Of that foule, false, unkinde brid.'

Than spak oo brid for alle, by oon assent,'This mater asketh good avysement;For we ben fewe briddes here in-fere.And sooth it is, the Cukkow is not here;275And therefor we wol have a parlement.

Than spak oo brid for alle, by oon assent,

'This mater asketh good avysement;

For we ben fewe briddes here in-fere.

And sooth it is, the Cukkow is not here;

275

And therefor we wol have a parlement.

And therat shal the Egle be our lord,And other peres that ben of record,And the Cukkow shal be after sent.And ther shal be yeven the jugement,280Or elles we shal make som accord.

And therat shal the Egle be our lord,

And other peres that ben of record,

And the Cukkow shal be after sent.

And ther shal be yeven the jugement,

280

Or elles we shal make som accord.

And this shal be, withouten any nay,The morow of seynt Valentynes day,Under a maple that is fayr and grene,Before the chambre-window of the quene285At Wodestok, upon the grene lay.'

And this shal be, withouten any nay,

The morow of seynt Valentynes day,

Under a maple that is fayr and grene,

Before the chambre-window of the quene

285

At Wodestok, upon the grene lay.'

She thanked hem, and than her leve took,And fley into an hawthorn by the brook,And ther she sat, and song upon that tree,'Terme of [my] lyf, Love hath with-holde me,'290So loude, that I with that song awook.

She thanked hem, and than her leve took,

And fley into an hawthorn by the brook,

And ther she sat, and song upon that tree,

'Terme of [my] lyf, Love hath with-holde me,'

290

So loude, that I with that song awook.

Explicit Clanvowe.

FromTh. (Thynne, ed. 1532);collated withF. (Fairfax 16); B. (Bodley 638); S. (Arch. Selden, B. 24); T. (Tanner 346);also inFf. (Camb. Univ. Ff. 1. 6).Title: Th. Of the C. and the N.; F. B. The boke of Cupide, god of loue. 1. Th. ah; F. a; S. a. a. 2. Th. Howe; gret; lorde. 4. Th. of his; Ff. S. of hye; F. B. high hertis. 6. F. B. S. Ff. And he; Th.om.And. 7. Th. folke;om.ful. 8.I supplythe. S. hole folke. 9. S. And he;rest om.And. Th. F. B. bynde;readbinden. 10. Th. T. That; F. B. Ff. What; S. Quhom. 11. Th. tel; wytte. 12, 13. Th. T.transpose these lines. 12. Th. Ff. wol;restcan. 13. Th. folke. 14.I supplyeke. Th. T.om.in (S.hasin-to). F. lyther; S. lidder; Th. Ff. lythy; T. leþi. Th. folke. Th. T. to distroyen;rest om.to.

17. Ff. T. Ageynes; S. Ageynest; Th. Agaynst; F. B. Ayenst. Th. Ff. T.om.ther. 18. Th. glad;restglade. 19. Th. loweth. S.has 2ndhe;rest omit. F. B. don hym laugh or siketh. 20. Th. T. shedeth. 21. Th. fre. 22. F. B.om.for. 23. S. Ff. Aȝeynes; F. B. Ayenst; Th. T. Agayne. Th. nowe. 24. F. B. Other; S. Outhir; Th. T. Ff. Or. Th. ioy. F. B. S. T. ellis; Th. els. Th. T. Ff. some mournyng;rest om.some. 25. F. B. grette; Ff. S. grete; Th. moche. 26. F. then;restwhan (when). Th. may; T. mai; F. B. S. mow; Ff. mowe. Th. byrdes; S. foulis;restbriddes. 27. Th. leaues. 28. Th. T. her (forhertes). 29. Th. T. ease; S. ess; F. B. case (!). Ff. y-medled. 30. Th. ful; Ff. fulle. Th. great. 32. Th. great sicknesse. 33. S. all;rest om.Th. lacke. 35. Th. forthe; great. 36. S. trewely; Th. trewly. 37. F. B. S. For althogh; Th. T. If(!). Th. olde. 38. Th. T. I haue;resthaue I. Th. felte; sicknesse. Th. Ff. through;restin. 39.Allhote. Th. F. B. colde. Th. T. and (!);foran. Th. axes; F. B. acces. 40. Th. Howe; wote.

42. Th. T.om.yet; (Ff.hasne.) Th. T. slepe; Ff. S. slepte; F. B. slept. 43. S. naught likith vnto me; Th. T. Ff. is not lyke to me; F. B. is vnlike for to be. 45. Th. darte. 47. Th. howe. 48. Th. amonge. 50. Th. cuckowe. 51. Th. thought. 52. T. Ff. whider; S. quhider; F. B. whedir; Th. where. 54. Th. none herde. F. B. T. this; Ff. the; Th. S. that. 55. S. thridde; T. thridd; Th. F. B. thirde. 56. S. than;rest om.Th. aspyde. 58. Ff. to; Th. T. vnto; F. B. into; S. in. Th. wodde; F. B. wode. 59. Th. T. went; F. B. wente. Th. forthe. Th. boldely; Ff. T. boldly;restpriuely. 60. Th. helde. F. B. S. my; Th. Ff. the; T. me the. Th. downe. 61. F. B. come; S. cam; Th. T. came (readcom). 62.Allin;readinne. S.hasin y-ben. 63, 64. B.transposes. 64. F. B. gras; S. greses; Th. greues; T. Ff. grenes. S. ylike; F. B. al I-like; Th. T. Ff. lyke. 65. Th. els.

66. Th. sate; downe. 67. Th. sawe; birdes. Th. trippe; T. trip; S. flee; F. B. crepe. 68. Th. T. Ff.om.had. S. thame rested;restrested hem. 70. Th. T.om.That.Allbegan;readbegonne. Ff. to don hir; Th. T. for to done. F. B. of Mayes ben her houres (!); S. on mayes vss thair houres. 72. S. lusty (forlovely). S. straunge;rest om.73. Ff. lowe. T. hade;resthad. S. compleyned. 74. Th. voice yfayned. 75. Ff. S. all (2);rest om.Th. Ff. T. the ful; S. fulle; F. B. a lowde. 76. F. B. pruned.Allmade;readmaden. 80. Th. Feuerere; T. Feuirȝere;restMarche (!).Allupon;readon. 81. S. eke;rest om.83. Th. T. with;restto. T. Ff. briddes; S. birdis; Th. byrdes; F. B. foules. S. T. Ff. armonye; Th. armony; F. B. ermonye. 84. Th. thought.Allbest (!). 85. Th. myght; yherde. 86.Alldelyte. S. therof;rest om.Th. wotte; F. B. note; S. wote; T. wot. F. B. ner (fornever). Th. howe. 87. Th. swowe; Ff. swough; S. slowe (!); B. slow (!). 88. F. B. S. on slepe. 89. Th. swowe; thought. 90. F. B. Ff. That;restthe. F. B. Ff. bridde; S. T. brid; Th. byrde. Th. Cuckowe.

91.Allfast. 92. Th. yuel apayde. 93. Th. Nowe. F. B. vpon (foron). 94. Th. the. 95. Th. nowe. 96. Th. cuckowe. Th. T. thus gan; Ff. now gan; S. gan to; F. B. gan. 97. Th. B. busshe; Ff. T. bussh; F. busshes (!); S. beugh. F. B. me beside. 100. Th. T. Ff.om.out. Ff. the greues of the wode (better). 101. Th. Ah. Ff. S. thenne; T. thanne;restthen. 102. Th. haste. Ff. S. T. henne;resthen. 103. F. B. lewde; S. lewed; T. Ff. loude (!). (The line runs badly.) 104. F. B.om.hast. 105. Th. T.om.that. Th. yuel fyre. Th. S. her;resthim. Th. bren;restbrenne. 106. Th. nowe; tel. 107. Th. laye. (The line runs badly; readlongëorswowening.) 108. Th. thought; wyst. Th. T. what;restal that. 109. Th. sayd. 110. T. hade;resthad. 111. Th.om.And. Th. T. there (forthan). 112. Th. Nowe good. 113. Th. lette. 114. Th. the.

116. F. B. she (forhe). Th. the. 118. Th. songe; playne. 119. Th. T. And though;restAl-though. Th. crakel; T. crakil; S. crekill; Ff. crake; F. B. breke hit (!). Th. vayne. 120. Th. doest; S. dois;restdost. Th. Ff. S. neuer; T. not; F. B. ner. 122. Th. done; T. S. Ff. do; F. B.om.Th. the. 123. Th. haste. Th. T. Ff. nyce queynt(e); S. queynt feyned; F. B. queint. 124. F. B. S. herd the; T. the herd; Th. the herde. Th. sayne; T. seyn; F. B. seye; S. sing. 125. Th. Howe. F. B. Who myghte wete what; S. Bot quho mycht vnderstand quhat. 126. Th. Ah; Ff. T. A;restO. Th. foole; woste. Th. T. Ff. it;restthat. 128. Th. meane; fayne. 129. Ff. alle; S. all;restal. Th. T. Ff. they;resttho. Th. yslayne. 130. Th. meanen. S. aȝeines; F. B. ayen; T. again; Th. agayne. 131. F. B. al tho were dede; Th. T. Ff. that al tho had the dede. S. And al they I wold also were dede. 132. Th. thynke; T. think; S. thinkith; Ff. thenke; F. B. thenk. F. B. S. Ff. her lyue in loue. 133. Th. S. who so;rest om.so. Th. T. Ff.placenotafterwol. 134. Th. T. F. B. Ff. he is; S.om.he. Th. Ff. T.om.for. 136. Th. Eye; cuckowe. F. B.insertywisbeforethis. 137. Th. T. Ff. That euery wight shal loue or be to-drawe; F. B. That eyther I shal love or elles be slawe. 139. Th. myne. F. B. neyther; S. nouthir; Th. T. Ff. not. 140. Th. T. Ff. Ne neuer;rest om.neuer. Th. T. on;restin.

141. Th. S. ben; Ff. T. bene; F. B. lyven (forbeen). 142. Th. moste (twice); disease. 143. Th. moste. F. B. S. enduren; Th. Ff. T. endure. 144.SoF. B. (withof herforof); Th. T. Ff. And leste felen of welfare; S. And alderlast have felyng of welefare. 145. S. aȝeynes; Th. B. ayenst; F. T. ayens. 146. S. Quhat brid quod. Th. arte. 147. Th. T. Ff. might thou; F. maist thou; B. S. maistow. Th. Ff. churlnesse; T. clerenes (!); F. B. cherles hert; S. cherlish hert. 148. Th. seruauntes. 149. Th. none. 152. S. Honestee estate and all gentilness; Th. T. F. Ff. Al honour and al gentylnesse; B. Al honour and al gentillesse. 153. Th. ease. 154. Th. Parfyte. F. B. ensured. 155. S. and eke. 156, 157.All but the first words transposed inTh. T. 158. F. B. S. and for; Th. T. Ff.om.and. Th. done. 160. Th. T. Ff.om. 1stto. 161. F. B. Ff.om.this. F. B. S. al; Th. T. Ff.om.162. Th. T.om.bothe. 163. F. B. S. rede I; Th. T. Ff. I rede. Th. that thou. 164. Th. T. Ff.om.Ye. F. B. she;resthe. Th. T.om.god. 165. Th. T. vnto; F. B. Ff. S. to. F. B. thy (forthat).

167. F. B. the sothe; S. full sooth. Th. T. Ff. is the sothe contrayre. 168. F. B. S. Ff. loving; Th. T. loue. Th. folke. 169. Th. folke; F. B. Ff.om.F. B. hit is; Th. T.om.Th. great. 170. Th. moste (twice). F. B. he; S. it; Th. T. Ff.om.171. F. mony an; B. mony a; Th. T. S. Ff. disease and. 172. Th. So sorowe;rest om.So. Th. many a gret. F. B.om.greet. 173. Th. Dispyte debate.I supplyand. 174. F. Repreve and; B. Repreff and; S. Repref and; Th. T. Deprauyng. 175. Th. T. B. Ff.om. 1stand. Th. mischefe. S. pouertee; Ff. pouerte;restpouert. 176. Th. T. Ff.om.What. Th. dispayre. 177. B. T. oo; S. o; F. oon; Th. one. Th. fayre. 178. Th. getteth; S. get (better). Th. blysse. 179. F. B.om.if. F. B. S. Ff. therby. 180. Th. heyre; T. eyre; S. aire; F. B. crie (!); Ff. heiere. 181. F. B. therfor Nyghtyngale. Th. therefore holde the nye. 182. Th. Ff. T. S. queynt; F. B. loude. 183. Th. T. Ff. ferre. F. of (foror). 184. Th. T. S. ben; F. B. be (readbeen). 185. Th. Ff. than; F. B. T. then (readthanne); S.om.F. B. shalt thou. 186. Th. the. 188. Th. T. worse. Th. folde. 189. Th. one; Ff. on; F. B.om.S. ar;restis. 190. T. hade (twice);resthad.

191. Th. T. Ff.putevermoreafterFor. Th. seruauntes; F. B. seruant. 192. Ff. T. euel; S. euell; Th. yuel; F. B.om.F. tachches; S. stachis (!). F. B. him. 193. F. B. him. F. B. as eny; T. right as a; Ff. right as; Th. right in a. S. be brynnyng as a. Th. fyre. 195. Th. whan; T. when; Ff. whanne (forwhom). F. B. Ff. him; S. he; Th. T. hem. Th. ioy. 196. F. B. Ye (forThou). Th. sayd. T. F. B. S. Ff. hold the; Th. be. Th. styl. 197. F. B. S. Ff. his; Th. T. it is. Th. wyl. 198. F. B. Ff. sithe; Th. T. tyme; S. tymes. Th. folke; easeth. 199. Th. folke. Th. T. Ff. he displeaseth;rest om.he. 200. F. B. And (forThat). Th. corage;restgrace. Th. spyl. 201-205.FromF. B. Ff. S.; Th. T.omit. 201. Ff. wille; F. wolde; B. wull; S. wole. 202. F. B. blynde; S. blynd. S. alweye; F. B. Ff.om.203. Ff. And whom he hit he not, or whom he failith (best); F. B. And whan he lyeth he not, ne whan he fayleth; S. Quhom he hurtith he note, ne quhom he helith (!). 204.SoFf.; F. B. In; S. Into. Ff. S. his; F. B. this. F. B. selde. 205. F. B. dyuerse. 206. Th. toke. 207. Th. T. Howe she; F. B. S.om.Howe. Th. T. Ff.om.herte. 208. Th. sayd. 209. Th. not say one; T. nouȝt sey oo. 210. Th. that worde;rest om.worde. F. B. on (forout). Th.om.for. 212. Th. leude; Ff. false;restfals. T. B. brid; Ff. bridde; Th. byrde; S. bird. F. B. Ff. to;rest om.214. Th. helpe; some. 215. Th. cuckowe ben.

216. S. thocht;restthought (readthoughte). F. B. S. that I; T. Ff. I; Th. he. 217-219. Th. T.omit. 217. S. gat; F. B. gatte. 218. S. hardily; F. B. Ff. hertly. 219. Ff. flyeȝ; F. flyed; B. flye; S. gan flee (readfley,as in221). 220. Th.om.when. Th. agon; T. S. agone; Ff. goon; F. gone; B. gon. 221. F. B. fley; Th. flaye; Ff. S. flay; T. flai. 222. Th. T.om.He. Th. sayd. Th. popyngaye; F. B. papyngay; S. papaIay; Ff. papeiay. 223. T. hade;resthad. F. B. Ff. thoght me; S. as thocht me (readthoughte me); Th. me alone (to rime with217). 224, 225. Th. T.omit. 225. F. B. Ff. sight away. 226. Th. S. than; F. B. T. then; Ff. thanne. F. B. T. S. come; Th. Ff. came. 227. F. B. seyde; Th. sayd. Th. the. 228. Th. haste. F. B. thus; S. for; Th. T. Ff.om.T. rescow;restrescowe. 229. Th. one. Ff. I wol avowe; F. B. I avowe; Th. T. make I nowe. S. And rycht anon to loue I wole allowe. 231. Th. apayde; T. apaied. 232. F. B. Ff. S. amayed; Th. T. dismayde. 233. Th. herde. F. B. er; Th. T. Ff. erst. 235. Ff. nexte;restnext. Th. affrayde; T. affraied. 236. Th. one. 237. S. leue;restloue (!). Th. cuckowe ne his; F. B. S.om.ne his. 238. Th. stronge leasyng. 239. F. B. S. Ff. there (fortherto). T. man (forthing). 240. F. B. S. Fro; Th. T. Ff. For (!).SoFf. F. B. S.; Th. T. and it hath do me moche (T. myche) wo.

241. F. B. Yee; S. Ya. S. thou schalt vss. Th. T. Ff.om.thou. 242. Ff. F. B. er;restor. Th. T. Ff.om.that. 243. F. B. S. fressh flour; Ff. Th. T.om.flour. S. dayeseye. 245. Th. greatly. B. lisse; F. Ff. lyssen; Th. T. S. lessen. S.om.thee. 246—end.Lost inS. 247. Th. one. Ff. my;restthe. 248. Th. the. 249. Th. T. Ff. than; F. B. then (readthanne). Th. songe. 250. F. B. Ff. hem al. Th. ben; T. bene. 251. Ff. hadde; T. hade;resthad. 252. Th. Nowe. F. most; B. must; Th. Ff. mote; T. mot. 254. Ff. mochel; F. B. mekil; T. mykil; Th. moche. Th. the. 255.SoF. B. Ff.; Th. T. As any yet louer he euer sende. 256. Th. T. Ff. taketh; F. B. toke. Th. leaue. 257. Th. T. Ff.om.he. 259. Th. cuckowe. 260. Ff. noon; F. B. non; Th. T. not. T. Ff. brid; F. B. bridde; Th. byrde. 261. F. B. fley; T. fleigh; Ff. fleȝt; Th. flewe. 262. Th. byrdes;restbriddes. B. the vale; F. the wale; Th. T. Ff. that dale. 263. Th. T. gate; F. B. gat. 264.All puthemafterbesoughte. Ff. bysought;restbesoughten (!). 265. Th. T. disease.

266. Ff. Ye wyten; F. B. Ye knowe; Th. T. The cuckowe (!). F. B. fro yow hidde; Th. T. for to hyde (!). 267. F. B. How that;rest om.that. Th. T. Ff. fast; F. B.om.Th. chyde;T.chide; F. B. Ff. chidde. 268. Th. Ff. daye;restdayes. 269. Th. Ff. praye;restpray (prey). Ff. alle;restal. 270. Th. bride; T. Ff. brid; F. B. bridde. 271. Th. o;restoon. T. all;restal. Th. one; T. oon; F. B.om.273. Th.om.fewe. Th. byrdes. 274.Allsoth. Th. cuckowe. 276. T. Ff. lord;restlorde. 277. T. Ff. record;restrecorde. 278. Th. cuckowe. 279. Ff. Th. T.om.And. Th. There. Th. T. yeue; F. yeuen; B. yeuyn; Ff. youe. 280. F. B. make summe; Th. T. fynally make. 281. Th. without;restwithouten. Th. T. Ff.om.any. 282. F. B. of; Th. T. Ff. after. 283 Th. T. Ff. a; F. B. the. Th. fayre. 284. Th. wyndowe. 285. Th. wodestocke; F. B. wodestok. 286. F. B. thanketh. Th. leaue toke. 287. F. B. fleye; Th. T.om.Th. T. Ff. an; F. B. a. Th. hauthorne; T. hauthorn.Allbroke. 288.Allsate. T. Ff. song;restsonge. Th. T. that; F. B. the; Ff. a. 289.I supplymy. Th. T. Ff. lyfe; F. B. lyve.After290, Ff.hasExplicit Clanvowe.

XIX. ENVOY TO ALISON.

O lewde book, with thy foole rudenesse,Sith thou hast neither beautee n'eloquence,Who hath thee caused, or yeve thee hardinesseFor to appere in my ladyes presence?5I am ful siker, thou knowest her benivolenceFul ágreable to alle hir obeyinge;For of al goode she is the best livinge.Allas! that thou ne haddest worthinesseTo shewe to her som plesaunt sentence,10Sith that she hath, thorough her gentilesse,Accepted thee servant to her digne reverence!O, me repenteth that I n'had scienceAnd leyser als, to make thee more florisshinge;For of al goode she is the best livinge.15Beseche her mekely, with al lowlinesse,Though I be fer from her [as] in absence,To thenke on my trouth to her and stedfastnesse,And to abregge of my sorwe the violence,Which caused is wherof knoweth your sapience;20She lyke among to notifye me her lykinge;For of al goode she is the best livinge.Lenvoy.Aurore of gladnesse, and day of lustinesse,Lucerne a-night, with hevenly influenceIllumined, rote of beautee and goodnesse,25Suspiries which I effunde in silence,Of grace I beseche, alegge let your wrytinge,Now of al goode sith ye be best livinge.Explicit.

O lewde book, with thy foole rudenesse,

Sith thou hast neither beautee n'eloquence,

Who hath thee caused, or yeve thee hardinesse

For to appere in my ladyes presence?

I am ful siker, thou knowest her benivolence

Ful ágreable to alle hir obeyinge;

For of al goode she is the best livinge.

Allas! that thou ne haddest worthinesseTo shewe to her som plesaunt sentence,10Sith that she hath, thorough her gentilesse,Accepted thee servant to her digne reverence!O, me repenteth that I n'had scienceAnd leyser als, to make thee more florisshinge;For of al goode she is the best livinge.

Allas! that thou ne haddest worthinesse

To shewe to her som plesaunt sentence,

Sith that she hath, thorough her gentilesse,

Accepted thee servant to her digne reverence!

O, me repenteth that I n'had science

And leyser als, to make thee more florisshinge;

For of al goode she is the best livinge.

15Beseche her mekely, with al lowlinesse,Though I be fer from her [as] in absence,To thenke on my trouth to her and stedfastnesse,And to abregge of my sorwe the violence,Which caused is wherof knoweth your sapience;20She lyke among to notifye me her lykinge;For of al goode she is the best livinge.

Beseche her mekely, with al lowlinesse,

Though I be fer from her [as] in absence,

To thenke on my trouth to her and stedfastnesse,

And to abregge of my sorwe the violence,

Which caused is wherof knoweth your sapience;

She lyke among to notifye me her lykinge;

For of al goode she is the best livinge.

Lenvoy.

Aurore of gladnesse, and day of lustinesse,Lucerne a-night, with hevenly influenceIllumined, rote of beautee and goodnesse,25Suspiries which I effunde in silence,Of grace I beseche, alegge let your wrytinge,Now of al goode sith ye be best livinge.

Aurore of gladnesse, and day of lustinesse,

Lucerne a-night, with hevenly influence

Illumined, rote of beautee and goodnesse,

Suspiries which I effunde in silence,

Of grace I beseche, alegge let your wrytinge,

Now of al goode sith ye be best livinge.

Explicit.

FromF. (Fairfax 16);collated withT. (Tanner 346);andTh. (Thynne, ed. 1532). 1. F. boke; T. Th. booke. Th. foule. 2.Allbeaute. 3.Allthe (twice). 5.So all.6. Th. abeyeng (!). 7. F. T. goode; Th. good. Th. best; F. T. beste. 9.Allsomme, some. Th. plesaunt; F. plesant. 10. T. thurugh; F. thorgh; Th. through. 11.Allthe. 12.Allne (beforehad). 13.So all(withtheforthee). 14. Th. good. Th. best; F. T. beste. 16.I supplyas. 17. T. Th. trouth; F. trouthe. 18. F. abregge; Th. abrege; T. abrigge. T. sorow; F. sorwes; Th. sorowes. 20.Allamonge. T. Th. notifye; F. notefye. 21. T. Th. al; F. alle. F. T. goode; Th. good.

Th. Lenuoye; T. The Lenuoye; F.om.24. Th. T. Illumyned; F. Enlumyned. F. Rote (with capital).Allbeaute. F. and of; Th. T.om.of. 25. F. Suspiries; Th. Suspires. 26. T. beseke. Th. alege. 27. F. goode; Th. T. good.After27: Th. Explicit; F. T.om.

XX. THE FLOWER AND THE LEAF.

When that Phebus his chaire of gold so hyHad whirled up the sterry sky aloft,And in the Bole was entred certainly;Whan shoures swete of rain discended †soft,5Causing the ground, felë tymes and oft,Up for to give many an hoolsom air,And every plain was [eek y-]clothed fairWith newe grene, and maketh smalë flouresTo springen here and there in feld and mede;10So very good and hoolsom be the shouresThat it reneweth, that was old and deedeIn winter-tyme; and out of every seedeSpringeth the herbë, so that every wightOf this sesoun wexeth [ful] glad and light.15And I, só glad of the seson swete,Was happed thus upon a certain night;As I lay in my bed, sleep ful unmeteWas unto me; but, why that I ne mightRest, I ne wist; for there nas erthly wight,20As I suppose, had more hertës eseThan I, for I n'ad siknesse nor disese.Wherfore I mervail gretly of my-selve,That I so long withouten sleepë lay;And up I roos, three houres after twelve,25About the [very] springing of the day,And on I put my gere and myn array;And to a plesaunt grovë I gan passe,Long or the brightë sonne uprisen was,In which were okës grete, streight as a lyne,30Under the which the gras, so fresh of hew,Was newly spronge; and an eight foot or nyneEvery tree wel fro his felawe grew,With braunches brode, laden with leves new,That sprongen out ayein the sonnë shene,35Som very rede, and som a glad light grene;Which, as me thought, was right a plesaunt sight.And eek the briddes song[ës] for to hereWould have rejoised any erthly wight.And I, that couth not yet, in no manere,40Here the nightingale of al the yere,Ful busily herkned, with herte and ere,If I her voice perceive coud any-where.And at the last, a path of litel bredeI found, that gretly had not used be,45For it forgrowen was with gras and weede,That wel unneth a wight [ther] might it see.Thought I, this path som whider goth, pardè,And so I folowèd, til it me broughtTo right a plesaunt herber, wel y-wrought,50That benched was, and [al] with turves newFreshly turved, wherof the grenë grasSo small, so thik, so short, so fresh of hew,That most lyk to grene †wol, wot I, it was.The hegge also, that yede [as] in compas55And closed in al the grene herbere,With sicamour was set and eglantere,Writhen in-fere so wel and cunninglyThat every braunch and leef grew by mesure,Plain as a bord, of on height, by and by,60[That] I sy never thing, I you ensure,So wel [y-]don; for he that took the cureIt [for] to make, I trow, did al his peynTo make it passe al tho that men have seyn.And shapen was this herber, roof and al,65As [is] a prety parlour, and alsoThe hegge as thik as [is] a castle-wal,That, who that list without to stond or go,Though he wold al-day pryen to and fro,He shuld not see if there were any wight70Within or no; but oon within wel mightPerceive al tho that yeden there-withoutIn the feld, that was on every sydeCovered with corn and gras, that, out of dout,Though oon wold seeken al the world wyde,75So rich a feld [ne] coud not be espyed[Up]on no cost, as of the quantitee,For of al good thing ther was [greet] plentee.And I, that al this plesaunt sight [than] sy,Thought sodainly I felt so sweet an air80[Come] of the eglantere, that certainly,Ther is no hert, I deme, in such despair,Ne with [no] thoughtës froward and contrairSo overlaid, but it shuld soone have bote,If it had onës felt this savour sote.85And as I stood and cast asyde myn y,I was ware of the fairest medle-treeThat ever yet in al my lyf I sy,As full of blossomës as it might be.Therin a goldfinch leping pretily90Fro bough to bough, and, as him list, he eetHere and there, of buddes and floures sweet.And to the herber-sydë was joiningThis fairë tree, of which I have you told;And, at the last, the brid began to sing,95Whan he had eten what he etë wold,So passing sweetly, that, by manifold,It was more plesaunt than I coud devyse;And whan his song was ended in this wyse,The nightingale with so mery a note100Answéred him, that al the wodë rongSo sodainly, that, as it were a sot,I stood astonied; so was I with the songThrough ravishèd, that, [un]til late and longNe wist I in what place I was, ne where;105And †ay, me thought, she song even by myn ere.Wherfore about I waited busilyOn every syde, if I her mightë see;And, at the last, I gan ful wel aspyWher she sat in a fresh green laurer-tree110On the further syde, even right by me,That gave so passing a delicious smelAccording to the eglantere ful wel.Wherof I had so inly greet plesyrThat, as me thought, I surely ravished was115Into Paradyse, where my desyrWas for to be, and no ferther [to] passeAs for that day, and on the sotë grasI sat me doun; for, as for myn entent,The birdës song was more convenient,120And more plesaunt to me, by many fold,Than mete or drink, or any other thing;Thereto the herber was so fresh and cold,The hoolsom savours eek so comfortingThat, as I demed, sith the beginning125Of the world, was never seen, or than,So plesaunt a ground of non erthly man.And as I sat, the briddës herkning thus,Me thought that I herd voices sodainly,The most sweetest and most delicious130That ever any wight, I trow trewly,Herde in †his lyf, for [that] the armonyAnd sweet accord was in so good musyk,Thát the voice to angels most was lyk.The Leaf.At the last, out of a grove even by,135That was right goodly and plesaunt to sight,I sy where there cam singing lustilyA world of ladies; but to tell arightTheir greet beautè, it lyth not in my might,Ne their array; nevertheless, I shal140Tell you a part, though I speke not of al.†In surcotes whyte, of veluet wel sitting,They were [y-]clad; and the semes echoon,As it were a maner garnishing,Was set with emeraudës, oon and oon,145By and by; but many a richë stoonWas set [up-]on the purfils, out of dout,Of colors, sleves, and trainës round about;As gret[e] perlës, round and orient,Diamondës fyne and rubies rede,150And many another stoon, of which I †wantThe namës now; and everich on her hedeA richë fret of gold, which, without drede,Was ful of statly richë stonës set;And every lady had a chapëlet155On her hede, of [leves] fresh and grene,So wel [y-]wrought, and so mervéilously,Thát it was a noble sight to sene;Some of laurer, and some ful plesauntlyHad chapëlets of woodbind, and sadly160Some ofagnus-castusware alsoChápëlets fresh; but there were many thoThat daunced and eek song ful soberly;But al they yede in maner of compas.But oon ther yede in-mid the company165Sole by her-self; but al folowed the pace[Which] that she kept, whos hevenly-figured faceSo plesaunt was, and her wel-shape persòn,That of beautè she past hem everichon.And more richly beseen, by manifold,170She was also, in every maner thing;On her heed, ful plesaunt to behold,A crowne of gold, rich for any king;A braunch ofagnus-castuseek beringIn her hand; and, to my sight, trewly,175She lady was of [al] the company.And she began a roundel lustily,ThatSus le foyl de vert moymen call,Seen, et mon joly cuer endormi;And than the company answéred all180With voice[s] swete entuned and so small,That me thought it the sweetest melodyThat ever I herdë in my lyf, soothly.And thus they came[n], dauncing and singing,Into the middes of the mede echone,185Before the herber, where I was sitting,And, god wot, me thought I was wel bigon;For than I might avyse hem, on by on,Who fairest was, who coud best dance or sing,Or who most womanly was in al thing.190They had not daunced but a litel throwWhen that I herd, not fer of, sodainlySo greet a noise of thundring trumpës blow,As though it shuld have départed the sky;And, after that, within a whyle I sy195From the same grove, where the ladyes come out,Of men of armës coming such a routAs al the men on erth had been assembledIn that place, wel horsed for the nones,Stering so fast, that al the erth[ë] trembled;200But for to speke of riches and [of] stones,And men and hors, I trow, the largë wonesOf Prester John, ne al his tresoryMight not unneth have bought the tenth party!Of their array who-so list herë more,205I shal reherse, so as I can, a lyte.Out of the grove, that I spak of before,I sy come first, al in their clokes whyte,A company, that ware, for their delyt,Chapëlets fresh of okës cereal210Newly spronge, and trumpets they were al.On every trumpe hanging a brood banereOf fyn tartarium, were ful richly bete;Every trumpet his lordës armës †bere;About their nekkës, with gret perlës set,215Colers brode; for cost they would not lete,As it would seme; for their scochones echoonWere set about with many a precious stoon.Their hors-harneys was al whyte also;And after hem next, in on company,220Cámë kingës of armës, and no mo,In clokës of whyte cloth of gold, richly;Chapelets of greene on their hedes on hy,The crownës that they on their scochones bereWere set with perlë, ruby, and saphere,225And eek gret diamondës many on;But al their hors-harneys and other gereWas in a sute àccording, everichon,As ye have herd the foresayd trumpets were;And, by seeming, they were nothing to lere;230And their gyding they did so manerly.And after hem cam a greet companyOf heraudës and pursevauntës ekeArrayed in clothës of whyt veluët;And hardily, they were nothing to seke235How they [up]on hem shuld the harneys set;And every man had on a chapëlet;Scóchones and eke hors-harneys, indede,They had in sute of hem that before hem yede.Next after hem, came in armour bright,240Al save their hedes, seemely knightës nyne;And every clasp and nail, as to my sight,Of their harneys, were of red gold fyne;With cloth of gold, and furred with ermyneWere the trappurës of their stedës strong,245Wyde and large, that to the ground did hong;And every bosse of brydel and peitrelThat they had, was worth, as I would wene,A thousand pound; and on their hedës, welDressed, were crownës [al] of laurer grene,250The best [y-]mad that ever I had seen;And every knight had after him rydingThree henshmen, [up]on him awaiting;Of whiche †the first, upon a short tronchoun,His lordës helme[t] bar, so richly dight,255That the worst was worth[y] the raunsounOf a[ny] king; the second a sheld brightBar at his nekke; the thridde bar uprightA mighty spere, ful sharpe [y-]ground and kene;And every child ware, of leves grene,260A fresh chapelet upon his heres bright;And clokes whyte, of fyn veluet they ware;Their stedës trapped and [a]rayed rightWithout[en] difference, as their lordës were.And after hem, on many a fresh co[u]rsere,265There came of armed knightës such a routThat they besprad the largë feld about.And al they ware[n], after their degrees,Chapëlets new, made of laurer grene,Some of oke, and some of other trees;270Some in their handës berë boughës shene,Some of laurer, and some of okës kene,Some of hawthorn, and some of woodbind,And many mo, which I had not in mind.And so they came, their hors freshly stering275With bloody sownës of hir trompës loud;Ther sy I many an uncouth disgysingIn the array of these knightës proud;And at the last, as evenly as they coud,They took their places in-middes of the mede,280And every knight turned his horse[s] hedeTo his felawe, and lightly laid a spereIn the [a]rest, and so justës beganOn every part about[en], here and there;Som brak his spere, som drew down hors and man;285About the feld astray the stedës ran;And, to behold their rule and governaunce,I you ensure, it was a greet plesaunce.And so the justës last an houre and more;But tho that crowned were in laurer grene290Wan the pryse; their dintës were so soreThat ther was non ayenst hem might sustene;And [than] the justing al was left of clene;And fro their hors the †nine alight anon;And so did al the remnant everichon.295And forth they yede togider, twain and twain,That to behold, it was a worldly sight,Toward the ladies on the grenë plain,That song and daunced, as I sayd now right.The ladies, as soone as they goodly might,300They breke[n] of both the song and dance,And yede to mete hem, with ful glad semblance.And every lady took, ful womanly,Bý the hond a knight, and forth they yedeUnto a fair laurer that stood fast by,305With levës lade, the boughës of gret brede;And to my dome, there never was, indede,[A] man that had seen half so fair a tree;For underneth it there might wel have beAn hundred persons, at their own plesaunce,310Shadowed fro the hete of Phebus brightSo that they shuld have felt no [greet] grevaunceOf rain, ne hail, that hem hurt[ë] might.The savour eek rejoice would any wightThat had be sick or melancolious,315It was so very good and vertuous.And with gret reverence they †enclyned low[Un]to the tree, so sote and fair of hew;And after that, within a litel throw,†Bigonne they to sing and daunce of-new;320Some song of love, some playning of untrew,Environing the tree that stood upright;And ever yede a lady and a knight.The Flower.And at the last I cast myn eye asyde,And was ware of a lusty company325That came, roming out of the feld wyde,Hond in hond, a knight and a lady;The ladies alle in surcotes, that richlyPurfyled were with many a riche stoon;And every knight of greene ware mantles on,330Embrouded wel, so as the surcotes were,And everich had a chapelet on her hede;Which did right wel upon the shyning here,Made of goodly floures, whyte and rede.The knightës eke, that they in hond lede,335In sute of hem, ware chapelets everichon;And hem before went minstrels many on,As harpës, pypës, lutës, and sautry,Al in greene; and on their hedës bareOf dyvers flourës, mad ful craftily,340Al in a sute, goodly chapelets they ware;And so, dauncing, into the mede they fare,In-mid the which they found a tuft that wasAl oversprad with flourës in compas.Where[un]to they enclyned everichon345With greet reverence, and that ful humblely;And, at the last[ë], there began anonA lady for to sing right womanlyA bargaret in praising the daisy;For, as me thought, among her notës swete,350She sayd, 'Si doucë est la Margarete.'Thén they al answéred her infere,So passingly wel, and so plesauntly,Thát it was a blisful noise to here.But I not [how], it happed sodainly,355As, about noon, the sonne so ferventlyWex hoot, that [al] the prety tender flouresHad lost the beautè of hir fresh coloures,For-shronk with hete; the ladies eek to-brent,That they ne wist where they hem might bestow.360The knightës swelt, for lak of shade ny shent;And after that, within a litel throw,The wind began so sturdily to blow,That down goth al the flourës everichonSo that in al the mede there laft not on,365Save suche as socoured were, among the leves,Fro every storme, that might hem assail,Growing under hegges and thikke greves;And after that, there came a storm of hailAnd rain in-fere, so that, withouten fail,370The ladies ne the knightës n'ade o threedDrye [up]on hem, so dropping was hir weed.And when the storm was clene passed away,Tho [clad] in whyte, that stood under the tree,They felt[ë] nothing of the grete affray,375That they in greene without had in y-be.To hem they yedë for routh and pitè,Hem to comfort after their greet disese;So fain they were the helpless for to ese.Then was I ware how oon of hem in grene380Had on a crown[ë], rich and wel sitting;Wherfore I demed wel she was a quene,And tho in greene on her were awaiting.The ladies then in whyte that were comingToward[ës] hem, and the knightës in-fere385Began to comfort hem and make hem chere.The quene in whyte, that was of grete beautè,Took by the hond the queen that was in grene,And said, 'Suster, I have right greet pitèOf your annoy, and of the troublous tene390Wherein ye and your company have beenSo long, alas! and, if that it you pleseTo go with me, I shal do you the eseIn al the pleisir that I can or may.'Wherof the tother, humbly as she might,395Thanked her; for in right ill arayShe was, with storm and hete, I you behight.And every lady then, anon-right,That were in whyte, oon of hem took in greneBy the hond; which when the knightes had seen,400In lyke wyse, ech of hem took a knightClad in grene, and forth with hem they fare[Un]to an heggë, where they, anon-right,To make their justës, [lo!] they would not spareBoughës to hew down, and eek treës square,405Wherewith they made hem stately fyres greteTo dry their clothës that were wringing wete.And after that, of herbës that there grew,They made, for blisters of the sonne brenning,Very good and hoolsom ointments new,410Where that they yede, the sick fast anointing;And after that, they yede about gadringPlesaunt saladës, which they made hem ete,For to refresh their greet unkindly hete.The lady of the Leef then gan to pray415Her of the Flour, (for so to my seemingThey should[ë] be, as by their [quaint] array),To soupe with her; and eek, for any thing,That she should with her al her people bring.And she ayein, in right goodly manere,420Thanketh her of her most freendly chere,Saying plainly, that she would obeyWith al her hert al her commaundëment,And then anon, without lenger delay,The lady of the Leef hath oon y-sent425For a palfray, [as] after her intent,Arayed wel and fair in harneys of gold,For nothing lakked, that to him long shold.And after that, to al her companyShe made to purvey hors and every thing430That they needed; and then, ful lustily,Even by the herber where I was sitting,They passed al, so plesantly singing,That it would have comfórted any wight;But then I sy a passing wonder sight:—435For then the nightingale, that al the dayHad in the laurer sete, and did her mightThe hool servyse to sing longing to May,Al sodainly [be]gan to take her flight;And to the lady of the Leef forthright440She flew, and set her on her hond softly,Which was a thing I marveled of gretly.The goldfinch eek, that fro the medle-treeWas fled, for hete, into the bushes cold,Unto the lady of the Flour gan flee,445And on her hond he set him, as he wold,And plesantly his wingës gan to fold;And for to sing they pained hem both as soreAs they had do of al the day before.And so these ladies rood forth a gret pace,450And al the rout of knightës eek in-fere;And I, that had seen al this wonder case,Thought [that] I would assay, in some manere,To know fully the trouth of this matere,And what they were that rood so plesantly.455And, when they were the herber passed by,I drest me forth, and happed to mete anonRight a fair lady, I you ensure;And she cam ryding by herself aloon,Al in whyte, with semblance ful demure.460I salued her, and bad good aventure†Might her befall, as I coud most humbly;And she answered, 'My doughter, gramercy!''Madam,' quod I, 'if that I durst enquereOf you, I wold fain, of that company,465Wit what they be that past by this herbere?'And she ayein answéred right freendly:'My fair daughter, al tho that passed herebyIn whyte clothing, be servants everichoonUnto the Leef, and I my-self am oon.470See ye not her that crowned is,' quod she,'Al in whyte?' 'Madamë,' quod I, 'yis!''That is Diane, goddesse of chastitè;And, for bicause that she a maiden is,In her hond the braunch she bereth, this475Thatagnus-castusmen call properly;And alle the ladies in her companyWhich ye see of that herb[ë] chaplets were,Be such as han kept †ay hir maidenhede;And al they that of laurer chaplets bere480Be such as hardy were and †wan, indede,Victorious name which never may be dede.And al they were so worthy of hir hond,[As] in hir tyme, that non might hem withstond.And tho that werë chapelets on hir hede485Of fresh woodbind, be such as never wereTo love untrew in word, [ne] thought, ne dede,But ay stedfast; ne for plesaunce, ne fere,Though that they shuld hir hertës al to-tere,Would never flit, but ever were stedfast,490Til that their lyves there asunder brast.''Now, fair madam,' quod I, 'yet I would prayYour ladiship, if that it might be,That I might know[ë], by some maner way,Sith that it hath [y-]lyked your beautè,495The trouth of these ladies for to tel me;What that these knightës be, in rich armour;And what tho be in grene, and were the flour;And why that some did reverence to the tree,And some unto the plot of flourës fair?'500'With right good wil, my fair doughter,' quod she,'Sith your desyr is good and debonair.Tho nine, crownèd, be very exemplairOf all honour longing to chivalry,And those, certain, be called the Nine Worthy,505Which ye may see [here] ryding al before,That in hir tyme did many a noble dede,And, for their worthines, ful oft have boreThe crowne of laurer-leves on their hede,As ye may in your old[ë] bokes rede;510And how that he, that was a conquerour,Had by laurer alway his most honour.And tho that bere boughës in their hondOf the precious laurer so notáble,Be such as were, I wol ye understond,515Noble knightës of the Round[ë] Table,And eek the Douseperes honourable;Which they bere in signe of victory,†As witness of their dedes mightily.Eek there be knightës olde of the Garter,520That in hir tyme did right worthily;And the honour they did to the laurerIs, for by [it] they have their laud hoolly,Their triumph eek, and martial glory;Which unto hem is more parfyt richesse525Than any wight imagine can or gesse.For oon leef given of that noble treeTo any wight that hath don worthily,And it be doon so as it ought to be,Is more honour then any thing erthly.530Witnesse of Rome that founder was, truly,Of all knighthood and dedës marvelous;Record I take of Titus Livius.And as for her that crowned is in greene,It is Flora, of these flourës goddesse;535And al that here on her awaiting been,It are such [folk] that loved idlenes,And not delyte [had] of no businesBut for to hunt and hauke, and pley in medes,And many other such [lyk] idle dedes.540And for the greet delyt and [the] plesaunceThey have [un]to the flour, so reverentlyThey unto it do such [gret] obeisaunce,As ye may see.' 'Now, fair madame,' quod I,'If I durst ask what is the cause and why545That knightës have the signe of [al] honourRather by the Leef than by the Flour?''Sothly, doughter,' quod she, 'this is the trouth:For knightës ever should be persévering,To seeke honour without feintyse or slouth,550Fro wele to better, in al maner thing;In signe of which, with Levës ay lastingThey be rewarded after their degree,Whos lusty grene may not appeired be,But ay keping hir beautè fresh and greene;555For there nis storm [non] that may hem deface,Hail nor snow, wind nor frostës kene;Wherfore they have this propertè and grace.And for the Flour within a litel spaceWol be [y-]lost, so simple of nature560They be, that they no grevance may endure,And every storm wil blow hem sone away,Ne they last not but [as] for a sesoun,That †is the cause, the very trouth to say,That they may not, by no way of resoun,565Be put to no such occupacioun.''Madame,' quod I, 'with al my hool servyseI thank you now, in my most humble wyse.For now I am acértainèd throughlyOf every thing I désired to know.'570'I am right glad that I have said, sothly,Ought to your pleysir, if ye wil me trow,'Quod she ayein, 'but to whom do ye owYour servyce? and which wil ye honour,Tel me, I pray, this yeer, the Leef or Flour?'575'Madame,' quod I, 'though I [be] leest worthy,Unto the Leef I ow myn observaunce.''That is,' quod she, 'right wel don, certainly,And I pray god to honour you avaunce,And kepe you fro the wikked rémembraunce580Of Male-Bouche, and al his crueltè;And alle that good and wel-condicioned be.For here may I no lenger now abyde,I must folowe the gret[ë] companyThat ye may see yonder before you ryde.'585And forth[right], as I couth, most humblely,I took my leve of her as she gan hyAfter hem, as fast as ever she might;And I drow hoomward, for it was nigh night;And put al that I had seen in wryting,590Under support of hem that lust it rede.O litel book, thou art so unconning,How darst thou put thy-self in prees for drede?It is wonder that thou wexest not rede,Sith that thou wost ful lyte who shal behold595Thy rude langage, ful boistously unfold.Explicit.

When that Phebus his chaire of gold so hy

Had whirled up the sterry sky aloft,

And in the Bole was entred certainly;

Whan shoures swete of rain discended †soft,

Causing the ground, felë tymes and oft,

Up for to give many an hoolsom air,

And every plain was [eek y-]clothed fair

With newe grene, and maketh smalë flouresTo springen here and there in feld and mede;10So very good and hoolsom be the shouresThat it reneweth, that was old and deedeIn winter-tyme; and out of every seedeSpringeth the herbë, so that every wightOf this sesoun wexeth [ful] glad and light.

With newe grene, and maketh smalë floures

To springen here and there in feld and mede;

So very good and hoolsom be the shoures

That it reneweth, that was old and deede

In winter-tyme; and out of every seede

Springeth the herbë, so that every wight

Of this sesoun wexeth [ful] glad and light.

15And I, só glad of the seson swete,Was happed thus upon a certain night;As I lay in my bed, sleep ful unmeteWas unto me; but, why that I ne mightRest, I ne wist; for there nas erthly wight,20As I suppose, had more hertës eseThan I, for I n'ad siknesse nor disese.

And I, só glad of the seson swete,

Was happed thus upon a certain night;

As I lay in my bed, sleep ful unmete

Was unto me; but, why that I ne might

Rest, I ne wist; for there nas erthly wight,

As I suppose, had more hertës ese

Than I, for I n'ad siknesse nor disese.

Wherfore I mervail gretly of my-selve,That I so long withouten sleepë lay;And up I roos, three houres after twelve,25About the [very] springing of the day,And on I put my gere and myn array;And to a plesaunt grovë I gan passe,Long or the brightë sonne uprisen was,

Wherfore I mervail gretly of my-selve,

That I so long withouten sleepë lay;

And up I roos, three houres after twelve,

About the [very] springing of the day,

And on I put my gere and myn array;

And to a plesaunt grovë I gan passe,

Long or the brightë sonne uprisen was,

In which were okës grete, streight as a lyne,30Under the which the gras, so fresh of hew,Was newly spronge; and an eight foot or nyneEvery tree wel fro his felawe grew,With braunches brode, laden with leves new,That sprongen out ayein the sonnë shene,35Som very rede, and som a glad light grene;

In which were okës grete, streight as a lyne,

Under the which the gras, so fresh of hew,

Was newly spronge; and an eight foot or nyne

Every tree wel fro his felawe grew,

With braunches brode, laden with leves new,

That sprongen out ayein the sonnë shene,

Som very rede, and som a glad light grene;

Which, as me thought, was right a plesaunt sight.And eek the briddes song[ës] for to hereWould have rejoised any erthly wight.And I, that couth not yet, in no manere,40Here the nightingale of al the yere,Ful busily herkned, with herte and ere,If I her voice perceive coud any-where.

Which, as me thought, was right a plesaunt sight.

And eek the briddes song[ës] for to here

Would have rejoised any erthly wight.

And I, that couth not yet, in no manere,

Here the nightingale of al the yere,

Ful busily herkned, with herte and ere,

If I her voice perceive coud any-where.

And at the last, a path of litel bredeI found, that gretly had not used be,45For it forgrowen was with gras and weede,That wel unneth a wight [ther] might it see.Thought I, this path som whider goth, pardè,And so I folowèd, til it me broughtTo right a plesaunt herber, wel y-wrought,

And at the last, a path of litel brede

I found, that gretly had not used be,

For it forgrowen was with gras and weede,

That wel unneth a wight [ther] might it see.

Thought I, this path som whider goth, pardè,

And so I folowèd, til it me brought

To right a plesaunt herber, wel y-wrought,

50That benched was, and [al] with turves newFreshly turved, wherof the grenë grasSo small, so thik, so short, so fresh of hew,That most lyk to grene †wol, wot I, it was.The hegge also, that yede [as] in compas55And closed in al the grene herbere,With sicamour was set and eglantere,

That benched was, and [al] with turves new

Freshly turved, wherof the grenë gras

So small, so thik, so short, so fresh of hew,

That most lyk to grene †wol, wot I, it was.

The hegge also, that yede [as] in compas

And closed in al the grene herbere,

With sicamour was set and eglantere,

Writhen in-fere so wel and cunninglyThat every braunch and leef grew by mesure,Plain as a bord, of on height, by and by,60[That] I sy never thing, I you ensure,So wel [y-]don; for he that took the cureIt [for] to make, I trow, did al his peynTo make it passe al tho that men have seyn.

Writhen in-fere so wel and cunningly

That every braunch and leef grew by mesure,

Plain as a bord, of on height, by and by,

[That] I sy never thing, I you ensure,

So wel [y-]don; for he that took the cure

It [for] to make, I trow, did al his peyn

To make it passe al tho that men have seyn.

And shapen was this herber, roof and al,65As [is] a prety parlour, and alsoThe hegge as thik as [is] a castle-wal,That, who that list without to stond or go,Though he wold al-day pryen to and fro,He shuld not see if there were any wight70Within or no; but oon within wel might

And shapen was this herber, roof and al,

As [is] a prety parlour, and also

The hegge as thik as [is] a castle-wal,

That, who that list without to stond or go,

Though he wold al-day pryen to and fro,

He shuld not see if there were any wight

Within or no; but oon within wel might

Perceive al tho that yeden there-withoutIn the feld, that was on every sydeCovered with corn and gras, that, out of dout,Though oon wold seeken al the world wyde,75So rich a feld [ne] coud not be espyed[Up]on no cost, as of the quantitee,For of al good thing ther was [greet] plentee.

Perceive al tho that yeden there-without

In the feld, that was on every syde

Covered with corn and gras, that, out of dout,

Though oon wold seeken al the world wyde,

So rich a feld [ne] coud not be espyed

[Up]on no cost, as of the quantitee,

For of al good thing ther was [greet] plentee.

And I, that al this plesaunt sight [than] sy,Thought sodainly I felt so sweet an air80[Come] of the eglantere, that certainly,Ther is no hert, I deme, in such despair,Ne with [no] thoughtës froward and contrairSo overlaid, but it shuld soone have bote,If it had onës felt this savour sote.

And I, that al this plesaunt sight [than] sy,

Thought sodainly I felt so sweet an air

[Come] of the eglantere, that certainly,

Ther is no hert, I deme, in such despair,

Ne with [no] thoughtës froward and contrair

So overlaid, but it shuld soone have bote,

If it had onës felt this savour sote.

85And as I stood and cast asyde myn y,I was ware of the fairest medle-treeThat ever yet in al my lyf I sy,As full of blossomës as it might be.Therin a goldfinch leping pretily90Fro bough to bough, and, as him list, he eetHere and there, of buddes and floures sweet.

And as I stood and cast asyde myn y,

I was ware of the fairest medle-tree

That ever yet in al my lyf I sy,

As full of blossomës as it might be.

Therin a goldfinch leping pretily

Fro bough to bough, and, as him list, he eet

Here and there, of buddes and floures sweet.

And to the herber-sydë was joiningThis fairë tree, of which I have you told;And, at the last, the brid began to sing,95Whan he had eten what he etë wold,So passing sweetly, that, by manifold,It was more plesaunt than I coud devyse;And whan his song was ended in this wyse,

And to the herber-sydë was joining

This fairë tree, of which I have you told;

And, at the last, the brid began to sing,

Whan he had eten what he etë wold,

So passing sweetly, that, by manifold,

It was more plesaunt than I coud devyse;

And whan his song was ended in this wyse,

The nightingale with so mery a note100Answéred him, that al the wodë rongSo sodainly, that, as it were a sot,I stood astonied; so was I with the songThrough ravishèd, that, [un]til late and longNe wist I in what place I was, ne where;105And †ay, me thought, she song even by myn ere.

The nightingale with so mery a note

100

Answéred him, that al the wodë rong

So sodainly, that, as it were a sot,

I stood astonied; so was I with the song

Through ravishèd, that, [un]til late and long

Ne wist I in what place I was, ne where;

105

And †ay, me thought, she song even by myn ere.

Wherfore about I waited busilyOn every syde, if I her mightë see;And, at the last, I gan ful wel aspyWher she sat in a fresh green laurer-tree110On the further syde, even right by me,That gave so passing a delicious smelAccording to the eglantere ful wel.

Wherfore about I waited busily

On every syde, if I her mightë see;

And, at the last, I gan ful wel aspy

Wher she sat in a fresh green laurer-tree

110

On the further syde, even right by me,

That gave so passing a delicious smel

According to the eglantere ful wel.

Wherof I had so inly greet plesyrThat, as me thought, I surely ravished was115Into Paradyse, where my desyrWas for to be, and no ferther [to] passeAs for that day, and on the sotë grasI sat me doun; for, as for myn entent,The birdës song was more convenient,

Wherof I had so inly greet plesyr

That, as me thought, I surely ravished was

115

Into Paradyse, where my desyr

Was for to be, and no ferther [to] passe

As for that day, and on the sotë gras

I sat me doun; for, as for myn entent,

The birdës song was more convenient,

120And more plesaunt to me, by many fold,Than mete or drink, or any other thing;Thereto the herber was so fresh and cold,The hoolsom savours eek so comfortingThat, as I demed, sith the beginning125Of the world, was never seen, or than,So plesaunt a ground of non erthly man.

120

And more plesaunt to me, by many fold,

Than mete or drink, or any other thing;

Thereto the herber was so fresh and cold,

The hoolsom savours eek so comforting

That, as I demed, sith the beginning

125

Of the world, was never seen, or than,

So plesaunt a ground of non erthly man.

And as I sat, the briddës herkning thus,Me thought that I herd voices sodainly,The most sweetest and most delicious130That ever any wight, I trow trewly,Herde in †his lyf, for [that] the armonyAnd sweet accord was in so good musyk,Thát the voice to angels most was lyk.

And as I sat, the briddës herkning thus,

Me thought that I herd voices sodainly,

The most sweetest and most delicious

130

That ever any wight, I trow trewly,

Herde in †his lyf, for [that] the armony

And sweet accord was in so good musyk,

Thát the voice to angels most was lyk.

The Leaf.At the last, out of a grove even by,135That was right goodly and plesaunt to sight,I sy where there cam singing lustilyA world of ladies; but to tell arightTheir greet beautè, it lyth not in my might,Ne their array; nevertheless, I shal140Tell you a part, though I speke not of al.

The Leaf.

At the last, out of a grove even by,

135

That was right goodly and plesaunt to sight,

I sy where there cam singing lustily

A world of ladies; but to tell aright

Their greet beautè, it lyth not in my might,

Ne their array; nevertheless, I shal

140

Tell you a part, though I speke not of al.

†In surcotes whyte, of veluet wel sitting,They were [y-]clad; and the semes echoon,As it were a maner garnishing,Was set with emeraudës, oon and oon,145By and by; but many a richë stoonWas set [up-]on the purfils, out of dout,Of colors, sleves, and trainës round about;

†In surcotes whyte, of veluet wel sitting,

They were [y-]clad; and the semes echoon,

As it were a maner garnishing,

Was set with emeraudës, oon and oon,

145

By and by; but many a richë stoon

Was set [up-]on the purfils, out of dout,

Of colors, sleves, and trainës round about;

As gret[e] perlës, round and orient,Diamondës fyne and rubies rede,150And many another stoon, of which I †wantThe namës now; and everich on her hedeA richë fret of gold, which, without drede,Was ful of statly richë stonës set;And every lady had a chapëlet

As gret[e] perlës, round and orient,

Diamondës fyne and rubies rede,

150

And many another stoon, of which I †want

The namës now; and everich on her hede

A richë fret of gold, which, without drede,

Was ful of statly richë stonës set;

And every lady had a chapëlet

155On her hede, of [leves] fresh and grene,So wel [y-]wrought, and so mervéilously,Thát it was a noble sight to sene;Some of laurer, and some ful plesauntlyHad chapëlets of woodbind, and sadly160Some ofagnus-castusware alsoChápëlets fresh; but there were many tho

155

On her hede, of [leves] fresh and grene,

So wel [y-]wrought, and so mervéilously,

Thát it was a noble sight to sene;

Some of laurer, and some ful plesauntly

Had chapëlets of woodbind, and sadly

160

Some ofagnus-castusware also

Chápëlets fresh; but there were many tho

That daunced and eek song ful soberly;But al they yede in maner of compas.But oon ther yede in-mid the company165Sole by her-self; but al folowed the pace[Which] that she kept, whos hevenly-figured faceSo plesaunt was, and her wel-shape persòn,That of beautè she past hem everichon.

That daunced and eek song ful soberly;

But al they yede in maner of compas.

But oon ther yede in-mid the company

165

Sole by her-self; but al folowed the pace

[Which] that she kept, whos hevenly-figured face

So plesaunt was, and her wel-shape persòn,

That of beautè she past hem everichon.

And more richly beseen, by manifold,170She was also, in every maner thing;On her heed, ful plesaunt to behold,A crowne of gold, rich for any king;A braunch ofagnus-castuseek beringIn her hand; and, to my sight, trewly,175She lady was of [al] the company.

And more richly beseen, by manifold,

170

She was also, in every maner thing;

On her heed, ful plesaunt to behold,

A crowne of gold, rich for any king;

A braunch ofagnus-castuseek bering

In her hand; and, to my sight, trewly,

175

She lady was of [al] the company.

And she began a roundel lustily,ThatSus le foyl de vert moymen call,Seen, et mon joly cuer endormi;And than the company answéred all180With voice[s] swete entuned and so small,That me thought it the sweetest melodyThat ever I herdë in my lyf, soothly.

And she began a roundel lustily,

ThatSus le foyl de vert moymen call,

Seen, et mon joly cuer endormi;

And than the company answéred all

180

With voice[s] swete entuned and so small,

That me thought it the sweetest melody

That ever I herdë in my lyf, soothly.

And thus they came[n], dauncing and singing,Into the middes of the mede echone,185Before the herber, where I was sitting,And, god wot, me thought I was wel bigon;For than I might avyse hem, on by on,Who fairest was, who coud best dance or sing,Or who most womanly was in al thing.

And thus they came[n], dauncing and singing,

Into the middes of the mede echone,

185

Before the herber, where I was sitting,

And, god wot, me thought I was wel bigon;

For than I might avyse hem, on by on,

Who fairest was, who coud best dance or sing,

Or who most womanly was in al thing.

190They had not daunced but a litel throwWhen that I herd, not fer of, sodainlySo greet a noise of thundring trumpës blow,As though it shuld have départed the sky;And, after that, within a whyle I sy195From the same grove, where the ladyes come out,Of men of armës coming such a rout

190

They had not daunced but a litel throw

When that I herd, not fer of, sodainly

So greet a noise of thundring trumpës blow,

As though it shuld have départed the sky;

And, after that, within a whyle I sy

195

From the same grove, where the ladyes come out,

Of men of armës coming such a rout

As al the men on erth had been assembledIn that place, wel horsed for the nones,Stering so fast, that al the erth[ë] trembled;200But for to speke of riches and [of] stones,And men and hors, I trow, the largë wonesOf Prester John, ne al his tresoryMight not unneth have bought the tenth party!

As al the men on erth had been assembled

In that place, wel horsed for the nones,

Stering so fast, that al the erth[ë] trembled;

200

But for to speke of riches and [of] stones,

And men and hors, I trow, the largë wones

Of Prester John, ne al his tresory

Might not unneth have bought the tenth party!

Of their array who-so list herë more,205I shal reherse, so as I can, a lyte.Out of the grove, that I spak of before,I sy come first, al in their clokes whyte,A company, that ware, for their delyt,Chapëlets fresh of okës cereal210Newly spronge, and trumpets they were al.

Of their array who-so list herë more,

205

I shal reherse, so as I can, a lyte.

Out of the grove, that I spak of before,

I sy come first, al in their clokes whyte,

A company, that ware, for their delyt,

Chapëlets fresh of okës cereal

210

Newly spronge, and trumpets they were al.

On every trumpe hanging a brood banereOf fyn tartarium, were ful richly bete;Every trumpet his lordës armës †bere;About their nekkës, with gret perlës set,215Colers brode; for cost they would not lete,As it would seme; for their scochones echoonWere set about with many a precious stoon.

On every trumpe hanging a brood banere

Of fyn tartarium, were ful richly bete;

Every trumpet his lordës armës †bere;

About their nekkës, with gret perlës set,

215

Colers brode; for cost they would not lete,

As it would seme; for their scochones echoon

Were set about with many a precious stoon.

Their hors-harneys was al whyte also;And after hem next, in on company,220Cámë kingës of armës, and no mo,In clokës of whyte cloth of gold, richly;Chapelets of greene on their hedes on hy,The crownës that they on their scochones bereWere set with perlë, ruby, and saphere,

Their hors-harneys was al whyte also;

And after hem next, in on company,

220

Cámë kingës of armës, and no mo,

In clokës of whyte cloth of gold, richly;

Chapelets of greene on their hedes on hy,

The crownës that they on their scochones bere

Were set with perlë, ruby, and saphere,

225And eek gret diamondës many on;But al their hors-harneys and other gereWas in a sute àccording, everichon,As ye have herd the foresayd trumpets were;And, by seeming, they were nothing to lere;230And their gyding they did so manerly.And after hem cam a greet company

225

And eek gret diamondës many on;

But al their hors-harneys and other gere

Was in a sute àccording, everichon,

As ye have herd the foresayd trumpets were;

And, by seeming, they were nothing to lere;

230

And their gyding they did so manerly.

And after hem cam a greet company

Of heraudës and pursevauntës ekeArrayed in clothës of whyt veluët;And hardily, they were nothing to seke235How they [up]on hem shuld the harneys set;And every man had on a chapëlet;Scóchones and eke hors-harneys, indede,They had in sute of hem that before hem yede.

Of heraudës and pursevauntës eke

Arrayed in clothës of whyt veluët;

And hardily, they were nothing to seke

235

How they [up]on hem shuld the harneys set;

And every man had on a chapëlet;

Scóchones and eke hors-harneys, indede,

They had in sute of hem that before hem yede.

Next after hem, came in armour bright,240Al save their hedes, seemely knightës nyne;And every clasp and nail, as to my sight,Of their harneys, were of red gold fyne;With cloth of gold, and furred with ermyneWere the trappurës of their stedës strong,245Wyde and large, that to the ground did hong;

Next after hem, came in armour bright,

240

Al save their hedes, seemely knightës nyne;

And every clasp and nail, as to my sight,

Of their harneys, were of red gold fyne;

With cloth of gold, and furred with ermyne

Were the trappurës of their stedës strong,

245

Wyde and large, that to the ground did hong;

And every bosse of brydel and peitrelThat they had, was worth, as I would wene,A thousand pound; and on their hedës, welDressed, were crownës [al] of laurer grene,250The best [y-]mad that ever I had seen;And every knight had after him rydingThree henshmen, [up]on him awaiting;

And every bosse of brydel and peitrel

That they had, was worth, as I would wene,

A thousand pound; and on their hedës, wel

Dressed, were crownës [al] of laurer grene,

250

The best [y-]mad that ever I had seen;

And every knight had after him ryding

Three henshmen, [up]on him awaiting;

Of whiche †the first, upon a short tronchoun,His lordës helme[t] bar, so richly dight,255That the worst was worth[y] the raunsounOf a[ny] king; the second a sheld brightBar at his nekke; the thridde bar uprightA mighty spere, ful sharpe [y-]ground and kene;And every child ware, of leves grene,

Of whiche †the first, upon a short tronchoun,

His lordës helme[t] bar, so richly dight,

255

That the worst was worth[y] the raunsoun

Of a[ny] king; the second a sheld bright

Bar at his nekke; the thridde bar upright

A mighty spere, ful sharpe [y-]ground and kene;

And every child ware, of leves grene,

260A fresh chapelet upon his heres bright;And clokes whyte, of fyn veluet they ware;Their stedës trapped and [a]rayed rightWithout[en] difference, as their lordës were.And after hem, on many a fresh co[u]rsere,265There came of armed knightës such a routThat they besprad the largë feld about.

260

A fresh chapelet upon his heres bright;

And clokes whyte, of fyn veluet they ware;

Their stedës trapped and [a]rayed right

Without[en] difference, as their lordës were.

And after hem, on many a fresh co[u]rsere,

265

There came of armed knightës such a rout

That they besprad the largë feld about.

And al they ware[n], after their degrees,Chapëlets new, made of laurer grene,Some of oke, and some of other trees;270Some in their handës berë boughës shene,Some of laurer, and some of okës kene,Some of hawthorn, and some of woodbind,And many mo, which I had not in mind.

And al they ware[n], after their degrees,

Chapëlets new, made of laurer grene,

Some of oke, and some of other trees;

270

Some in their handës berë boughës shene,

Some of laurer, and some of okës kene,

Some of hawthorn, and some of woodbind,

And many mo, which I had not in mind.

And so they came, their hors freshly stering275With bloody sownës of hir trompës loud;Ther sy I many an uncouth disgysingIn the array of these knightës proud;And at the last, as evenly as they coud,They took their places in-middes of the mede,280And every knight turned his horse[s] hede

And so they came, their hors freshly stering

275

With bloody sownës of hir trompës loud;

Ther sy I many an uncouth disgysing

In the array of these knightës proud;

And at the last, as evenly as they coud,

They took their places in-middes of the mede,

280

And every knight turned his horse[s] hede

To his felawe, and lightly laid a spereIn the [a]rest, and so justës beganOn every part about[en], here and there;Som brak his spere, som drew down hors and man;285About the feld astray the stedës ran;And, to behold their rule and governaunce,I you ensure, it was a greet plesaunce.

To his felawe, and lightly laid a spere

In the [a]rest, and so justës began

On every part about[en], here and there;

Som brak his spere, som drew down hors and man;

285

About the feld astray the stedës ran;

And, to behold their rule and governaunce,

I you ensure, it was a greet plesaunce.

And so the justës last an houre and more;But tho that crowned were in laurer grene290Wan the pryse; their dintës were so soreThat ther was non ayenst hem might sustene;And [than] the justing al was left of clene;And fro their hors the †nine alight anon;And so did al the remnant everichon.

And so the justës last an houre and more;

But tho that crowned were in laurer grene

290

Wan the pryse; their dintës were so sore

That ther was non ayenst hem might sustene;

And [than] the justing al was left of clene;

And fro their hors the †nine alight anon;

And so did al the remnant everichon.

295And forth they yede togider, twain and twain,That to behold, it was a worldly sight,Toward the ladies on the grenë plain,That song and daunced, as I sayd now right.The ladies, as soone as they goodly might,300They breke[n] of both the song and dance,And yede to mete hem, with ful glad semblance.

295

And forth they yede togider, twain and twain,

That to behold, it was a worldly sight,

Toward the ladies on the grenë plain,

That song and daunced, as I sayd now right.

The ladies, as soone as they goodly might,

300

They breke[n] of both the song and dance,

And yede to mete hem, with ful glad semblance.

And every lady took, ful womanly,Bý the hond a knight, and forth they yedeUnto a fair laurer that stood fast by,305With levës lade, the boughës of gret brede;And to my dome, there never was, indede,[A] man that had seen half so fair a tree;For underneth it there might wel have be

And every lady took, ful womanly,

Bý the hond a knight, and forth they yede

Unto a fair laurer that stood fast by,

305

With levës lade, the boughës of gret brede;

And to my dome, there never was, indede,

[A] man that had seen half so fair a tree;

For underneth it there might wel have be

An hundred persons, at their own plesaunce,310Shadowed fro the hete of Phebus brightSo that they shuld have felt no [greet] grevaunceOf rain, ne hail, that hem hurt[ë] might.The savour eek rejoice would any wightThat had be sick or melancolious,315It was so very good and vertuous.

An hundred persons, at their own plesaunce,

310

Shadowed fro the hete of Phebus bright

So that they shuld have felt no [greet] grevaunce

Of rain, ne hail, that hem hurt[ë] might.

The savour eek rejoice would any wight

That had be sick or melancolious,

315

It was so very good and vertuous.

And with gret reverence they †enclyned low[Un]to the tree, so sote and fair of hew;And after that, within a litel throw,†Bigonne they to sing and daunce of-new;320Some song of love, some playning of untrew,Environing the tree that stood upright;And ever yede a lady and a knight.

And with gret reverence they †enclyned low

[Un]to the tree, so sote and fair of hew;

And after that, within a litel throw,

†Bigonne they to sing and daunce of-new;

320

Some song of love, some playning of untrew,

Environing the tree that stood upright;

And ever yede a lady and a knight.

The Flower.And at the last I cast myn eye asyde,And was ware of a lusty company325That came, roming out of the feld wyde,Hond in hond, a knight and a lady;The ladies alle in surcotes, that richlyPurfyled were with many a riche stoon;And every knight of greene ware mantles on,

The Flower.

And at the last I cast myn eye asyde,

And was ware of a lusty company

325

That came, roming out of the feld wyde,

Hond in hond, a knight and a lady;

The ladies alle in surcotes, that richly

Purfyled were with many a riche stoon;

And every knight of greene ware mantles on,

330Embrouded wel, so as the surcotes were,And everich had a chapelet on her hede;Which did right wel upon the shyning here,Made of goodly floures, whyte and rede.The knightës eke, that they in hond lede,335In sute of hem, ware chapelets everichon;And hem before went minstrels many on,

330

Embrouded wel, so as the surcotes were,

And everich had a chapelet on her hede;

Which did right wel upon the shyning here,

Made of goodly floures, whyte and rede.

The knightës eke, that they in hond lede,

335

In sute of hem, ware chapelets everichon;

And hem before went minstrels many on,

As harpës, pypës, lutës, and sautry,Al in greene; and on their hedës bareOf dyvers flourës, mad ful craftily,340Al in a sute, goodly chapelets they ware;And so, dauncing, into the mede they fare,In-mid the which they found a tuft that wasAl oversprad with flourës in compas.

As harpës, pypës, lutës, and sautry,

Al in greene; and on their hedës bare

Of dyvers flourës, mad ful craftily,

340

Al in a sute, goodly chapelets they ware;

And so, dauncing, into the mede they fare,

In-mid the which they found a tuft that was

Al oversprad with flourës in compas.

Where[un]to they enclyned everichon345With greet reverence, and that ful humblely;And, at the last[ë], there began anonA lady for to sing right womanlyA bargaret in praising the daisy;For, as me thought, among her notës swete,350She sayd, 'Si doucë est la Margarete.'

Where[un]to they enclyned everichon

345

With greet reverence, and that ful humblely;

And, at the last[ë], there began anon

A lady for to sing right womanly

A bargaret in praising the daisy;

For, as me thought, among her notës swete,

350

She sayd, 'Si doucë est la Margarete.'

Thén they al answéred her infere,So passingly wel, and so plesauntly,Thát it was a blisful noise to here.But I not [how], it happed sodainly,355As, about noon, the sonne so ferventlyWex hoot, that [al] the prety tender flouresHad lost the beautè of hir fresh coloures,

Thén they al answéred her infere,

So passingly wel, and so plesauntly,

Thát it was a blisful noise to here.

But I not [how], it happed sodainly,

355

As, about noon, the sonne so fervently

Wex hoot, that [al] the prety tender floures

Had lost the beautè of hir fresh coloures,

For-shronk with hete; the ladies eek to-brent,That they ne wist where they hem might bestow.360The knightës swelt, for lak of shade ny shent;And after that, within a litel throw,The wind began so sturdily to blow,That down goth al the flourës everichonSo that in al the mede there laft not on,

For-shronk with hete; the ladies eek to-brent,

That they ne wist where they hem might bestow.

360

The knightës swelt, for lak of shade ny shent;

And after that, within a litel throw,

The wind began so sturdily to blow,

That down goth al the flourës everichon

So that in al the mede there laft not on,

365Save suche as socoured were, among the leves,Fro every storme, that might hem assail,Growing under hegges and thikke greves;And after that, there came a storm of hailAnd rain in-fere, so that, withouten fail,370The ladies ne the knightës n'ade o threedDrye [up]on hem, so dropping was hir weed.

365

Save suche as socoured were, among the leves,

Fro every storme, that might hem assail,

Growing under hegges and thikke greves;

And after that, there came a storm of hail

And rain in-fere, so that, withouten fail,

370

The ladies ne the knightës n'ade o threed

Drye [up]on hem, so dropping was hir weed.

And when the storm was clene passed away,Tho [clad] in whyte, that stood under the tree,They felt[ë] nothing of the grete affray,375That they in greene without had in y-be.To hem they yedë for routh and pitè,Hem to comfort after their greet disese;So fain they were the helpless for to ese.

And when the storm was clene passed away,

Tho [clad] in whyte, that stood under the tree,

They felt[ë] nothing of the grete affray,

375

That they in greene without had in y-be.

To hem they yedë for routh and pitè,

Hem to comfort after their greet disese;

So fain they were the helpless for to ese.

Then was I ware how oon of hem in grene380Had on a crown[ë], rich and wel sitting;Wherfore I demed wel she was a quene,And tho in greene on her were awaiting.The ladies then in whyte that were comingToward[ës] hem, and the knightës in-fere385Began to comfort hem and make hem chere.

Then was I ware how oon of hem in grene

380

Had on a crown[ë], rich and wel sitting;

Wherfore I demed wel she was a quene,

And tho in greene on her were awaiting.

The ladies then in whyte that were coming

Toward[ës] hem, and the knightës in-fere

385

Began to comfort hem and make hem chere.

The quene in whyte, that was of grete beautè,Took by the hond the queen that was in grene,And said, 'Suster, I have right greet pitèOf your annoy, and of the troublous tene390Wherein ye and your company have beenSo long, alas! and, if that it you pleseTo go with me, I shal do you the ese

The quene in whyte, that was of grete beautè,

Took by the hond the queen that was in grene,

And said, 'Suster, I have right greet pitè

Of your annoy, and of the troublous tene

390

Wherein ye and your company have been

So long, alas! and, if that it you plese

To go with me, I shal do you the ese

In al the pleisir that I can or may.'Wherof the tother, humbly as she might,395Thanked her; for in right ill arayShe was, with storm and hete, I you behight.And every lady then, anon-right,That were in whyte, oon of hem took in greneBy the hond; which when the knightes had seen,

In al the pleisir that I can or may.'

Wherof the tother, humbly as she might,

395

Thanked her; for in right ill aray

She was, with storm and hete, I you behight.

And every lady then, anon-right,

That were in whyte, oon of hem took in grene

By the hond; which when the knightes had seen,

400In lyke wyse, ech of hem took a knightClad in grene, and forth with hem they fare[Un]to an heggë, where they, anon-right,To make their justës, [lo!] they would not spareBoughës to hew down, and eek treës square,405Wherewith they made hem stately fyres greteTo dry their clothës that were wringing wete.

400

In lyke wyse, ech of hem took a knight

Clad in grene, and forth with hem they fare

[Un]to an heggë, where they, anon-right,

To make their justës, [lo!] they would not spare

Boughës to hew down, and eek treës square,

405

Wherewith they made hem stately fyres grete

To dry their clothës that were wringing wete.

And after that, of herbës that there grew,They made, for blisters of the sonne brenning,Very good and hoolsom ointments new,410Where that they yede, the sick fast anointing;And after that, they yede about gadringPlesaunt saladës, which they made hem ete,For to refresh their greet unkindly hete.

And after that, of herbës that there grew,

They made, for blisters of the sonne brenning,

Very good and hoolsom ointments new,

410

Where that they yede, the sick fast anointing;

And after that, they yede about gadring

Plesaunt saladës, which they made hem ete,

For to refresh their greet unkindly hete.

The lady of the Leef then gan to pray415Her of the Flour, (for so to my seemingThey should[ë] be, as by their [quaint] array),To soupe with her; and eek, for any thing,That she should with her al her people bring.And she ayein, in right goodly manere,420Thanketh her of her most freendly chere,

The lady of the Leef then gan to pray

415

Her of the Flour, (for so to my seeming

They should[ë] be, as by their [quaint] array),

To soupe with her; and eek, for any thing,

That she should with her al her people bring.

And she ayein, in right goodly manere,

420

Thanketh her of her most freendly chere,

Saying plainly, that she would obeyWith al her hert al her commaundëment,And then anon, without lenger delay,The lady of the Leef hath oon y-sent425For a palfray, [as] after her intent,Arayed wel and fair in harneys of gold,For nothing lakked, that to him long shold.

Saying plainly, that she would obey

With al her hert al her commaundëment,

And then anon, without lenger delay,

The lady of the Leef hath oon y-sent

425

For a palfray, [as] after her intent,

Arayed wel and fair in harneys of gold,

For nothing lakked, that to him long shold.

And after that, to al her companyShe made to purvey hors and every thing430That they needed; and then, ful lustily,Even by the herber where I was sitting,They passed al, so plesantly singing,That it would have comfórted any wight;But then I sy a passing wonder sight:—

And after that, to al her company

She made to purvey hors and every thing

430

That they needed; and then, ful lustily,

Even by the herber where I was sitting,

They passed al, so plesantly singing,

That it would have comfórted any wight;

But then I sy a passing wonder sight:—

435For then the nightingale, that al the dayHad in the laurer sete, and did her mightThe hool servyse to sing longing to May,Al sodainly [be]gan to take her flight;And to the lady of the Leef forthright440She flew, and set her on her hond softly,Which was a thing I marveled of gretly.

435

For then the nightingale, that al the day

Had in the laurer sete, and did her might

The hool servyse to sing longing to May,

Al sodainly [be]gan to take her flight;

And to the lady of the Leef forthright

440

She flew, and set her on her hond softly,

Which was a thing I marveled of gretly.

The goldfinch eek, that fro the medle-treeWas fled, for hete, into the bushes cold,Unto the lady of the Flour gan flee,445And on her hond he set him, as he wold,And plesantly his wingës gan to fold;And for to sing they pained hem both as soreAs they had do of al the day before.

The goldfinch eek, that fro the medle-tree

Was fled, for hete, into the bushes cold,

Unto the lady of the Flour gan flee,

445

And on her hond he set him, as he wold,

And plesantly his wingës gan to fold;

And for to sing they pained hem both as sore

As they had do of al the day before.

And so these ladies rood forth a gret pace,450And al the rout of knightës eek in-fere;And I, that had seen al this wonder case,Thought [that] I would assay, in some manere,To know fully the trouth of this matere,And what they were that rood so plesantly.455And, when they were the herber passed by,

And so these ladies rood forth a gret pace,

450

And al the rout of knightës eek in-fere;

And I, that had seen al this wonder case,

Thought [that] I would assay, in some manere,

To know fully the trouth of this matere,

And what they were that rood so plesantly.

455

And, when they were the herber passed by,

I drest me forth, and happed to mete anonRight a fair lady, I you ensure;And she cam ryding by herself aloon,Al in whyte, with semblance ful demure.460I salued her, and bad good aventure†Might her befall, as I coud most humbly;And she answered, 'My doughter, gramercy!'

I drest me forth, and happed to mete anon

Right a fair lady, I you ensure;

And she cam ryding by herself aloon,

Al in whyte, with semblance ful demure.

460

I salued her, and bad good aventure

†Might her befall, as I coud most humbly;

And she answered, 'My doughter, gramercy!'

'Madam,' quod I, 'if that I durst enquereOf you, I wold fain, of that company,465Wit what they be that past by this herbere?'And she ayein answéred right freendly:'My fair daughter, al tho that passed herebyIn whyte clothing, be servants everichoonUnto the Leef, and I my-self am oon.

'Madam,' quod I, 'if that I durst enquere

Of you, I wold fain, of that company,

465

Wit what they be that past by this herbere?'

And she ayein answéred right freendly:

'My fair daughter, al tho that passed hereby

In whyte clothing, be servants everichoon

Unto the Leef, and I my-self am oon.

470See ye not her that crowned is,' quod she,'Al in whyte?' 'Madamë,' quod I, 'yis!''That is Diane, goddesse of chastitè;And, for bicause that she a maiden is,In her hond the braunch she bereth, this475Thatagnus-castusmen call properly;And alle the ladies in her company

470

See ye not her that crowned is,' quod she,

'Al in whyte?' 'Madamë,' quod I, 'yis!'

'That is Diane, goddesse of chastitè;

And, for bicause that she a maiden is,

In her hond the braunch she bereth, this

475

Thatagnus-castusmen call properly;

And alle the ladies in her company

Which ye see of that herb[ë] chaplets were,Be such as han kept †ay hir maidenhede;And al they that of laurer chaplets bere480Be such as hardy were and †wan, indede,Victorious name which never may be dede.And al they were so worthy of hir hond,[As] in hir tyme, that non might hem withstond.

Which ye see of that herb[ë] chaplets were,

Be such as han kept †ay hir maidenhede;

And al they that of laurer chaplets bere

480

Be such as hardy were and †wan, indede,

Victorious name which never may be dede.

And al they were so worthy of hir hond,

[As] in hir tyme, that non might hem withstond.

And tho that werë chapelets on hir hede485Of fresh woodbind, be such as never wereTo love untrew in word, [ne] thought, ne dede,But ay stedfast; ne for plesaunce, ne fere,Though that they shuld hir hertës al to-tere,Would never flit, but ever were stedfast,490Til that their lyves there asunder brast.'

And tho that werë chapelets on hir hede

485

Of fresh woodbind, be such as never were

To love untrew in word, [ne] thought, ne dede,

But ay stedfast; ne for plesaunce, ne fere,

Though that they shuld hir hertës al to-tere,

Would never flit, but ever were stedfast,

490

Til that their lyves there asunder brast.'

'Now, fair madam,' quod I, 'yet I would prayYour ladiship, if that it might be,That I might know[ë], by some maner way,Sith that it hath [y-]lyked your beautè,495The trouth of these ladies for to tel me;What that these knightës be, in rich armour;And what tho be in grene, and were the flour;

'Now, fair madam,' quod I, 'yet I would pray

Your ladiship, if that it might be,

That I might know[ë], by some maner way,

Sith that it hath [y-]lyked your beautè,

495

The trouth of these ladies for to tel me;

What that these knightës be, in rich armour;

And what tho be in grene, and were the flour;

And why that some did reverence to the tree,And some unto the plot of flourës fair?'500'With right good wil, my fair doughter,' quod she,'Sith your desyr is good and debonair.Tho nine, crownèd, be very exemplairOf all honour longing to chivalry,And those, certain, be called the Nine Worthy,

And why that some did reverence to the tree,

And some unto the plot of flourës fair?'

500

'With right good wil, my fair doughter,' quod she,

'Sith your desyr is good and debonair.

Tho nine, crownèd, be very exemplair

Of all honour longing to chivalry,

And those, certain, be called the Nine Worthy,

505Which ye may see [here] ryding al before,That in hir tyme did many a noble dede,And, for their worthines, ful oft have boreThe crowne of laurer-leves on their hede,As ye may in your old[ë] bokes rede;510And how that he, that was a conquerour,Had by laurer alway his most honour.

505

Which ye may see [here] ryding al before,

That in hir tyme did many a noble dede,

And, for their worthines, ful oft have bore

The crowne of laurer-leves on their hede,

As ye may in your old[ë] bokes rede;

510

And how that he, that was a conquerour,

Had by laurer alway his most honour.

And tho that bere boughës in their hondOf the precious laurer so notáble,Be such as were, I wol ye understond,515Noble knightës of the Round[ë] Table,And eek the Douseperes honourable;Which they bere in signe of victory,†As witness of their dedes mightily.

And tho that bere boughës in their hond

Of the precious laurer so notáble,

Be such as were, I wol ye understond,

515

Noble knightës of the Round[ë] Table,

And eek the Douseperes honourable;

Which they bere in signe of victory,

†As witness of their dedes mightily.

Eek there be knightës olde of the Garter,520That in hir tyme did right worthily;And the honour they did to the laurerIs, for by [it] they have their laud hoolly,Their triumph eek, and martial glory;Which unto hem is more parfyt richesse525Than any wight imagine can or gesse.

Eek there be knightës olde of the Garter,

520

That in hir tyme did right worthily;

And the honour they did to the laurer

Is, for by [it] they have their laud hoolly,

Their triumph eek, and martial glory;

Which unto hem is more parfyt richesse

525

Than any wight imagine can or gesse.

For oon leef given of that noble treeTo any wight that hath don worthily,And it be doon so as it ought to be,Is more honour then any thing erthly.530Witnesse of Rome that founder was, truly,Of all knighthood and dedës marvelous;Record I take of Titus Livius.

For oon leef given of that noble tree

To any wight that hath don worthily,

And it be doon so as it ought to be,

Is more honour then any thing erthly.

530

Witnesse of Rome that founder was, truly,

Of all knighthood and dedës marvelous;

Record I take of Titus Livius.

And as for her that crowned is in greene,It is Flora, of these flourës goddesse;535And al that here on her awaiting been,It are such [folk] that loved idlenes,And not delyte [had] of no businesBut for to hunt and hauke, and pley in medes,And many other such [lyk] idle dedes.

And as for her that crowned is in greene,

It is Flora, of these flourës goddesse;

535

And al that here on her awaiting been,

It are such [folk] that loved idlenes,

And not delyte [had] of no busines

But for to hunt and hauke, and pley in medes,

And many other such [lyk] idle dedes.

540And for the greet delyt and [the] plesaunceThey have [un]to the flour, so reverentlyThey unto it do such [gret] obeisaunce,As ye may see.' 'Now, fair madame,' quod I,'If I durst ask what is the cause and why545That knightës have the signe of [al] honourRather by the Leef than by the Flour?'

540

And for the greet delyt and [the] plesaunce

They have [un]to the flour, so reverently

They unto it do such [gret] obeisaunce,

As ye may see.' 'Now, fair madame,' quod I,

'If I durst ask what is the cause and why

545

That knightës have the signe of [al] honour

Rather by the Leef than by the Flour?'

'Sothly, doughter,' quod she, 'this is the trouth:For knightës ever should be persévering,To seeke honour without feintyse or slouth,550Fro wele to better, in al maner thing;In signe of which, with Levës ay lastingThey be rewarded after their degree,Whos lusty grene may not appeired be,

'Sothly, doughter,' quod she, 'this is the trouth:

For knightës ever should be persévering,

To seeke honour without feintyse or slouth,

550

Fro wele to better, in al maner thing;

In signe of which, with Levës ay lasting

They be rewarded after their degree,

Whos lusty grene may not appeired be,

But ay keping hir beautè fresh and greene;555For there nis storm [non] that may hem deface,Hail nor snow, wind nor frostës kene;Wherfore they have this propertè and grace.And for the Flour within a litel spaceWol be [y-]lost, so simple of nature560They be, that they no grevance may endure,

But ay keping hir beautè fresh and greene;

555

For there nis storm [non] that may hem deface,

Hail nor snow, wind nor frostës kene;

Wherfore they have this propertè and grace.

And for the Flour within a litel space

Wol be [y-]lost, so simple of nature

560

They be, that they no grevance may endure,

And every storm wil blow hem sone away,Ne they last not but [as] for a sesoun,That †is the cause, the very trouth to say,That they may not, by no way of resoun,565Be put to no such occupacioun.''Madame,' quod I, 'with al my hool servyseI thank you now, in my most humble wyse.

And every storm wil blow hem sone away,

Ne they last not but [as] for a sesoun,

That †is the cause, the very trouth to say,

That they may not, by no way of resoun,

565

Be put to no such occupacioun.'

'Madame,' quod I, 'with al my hool servyse

I thank you now, in my most humble wyse.

For now I am acértainèd throughlyOf every thing I désired to know.'570'I am right glad that I have said, sothly,Ought to your pleysir, if ye wil me trow,'Quod she ayein, 'but to whom do ye owYour servyce? and which wil ye honour,Tel me, I pray, this yeer, the Leef or Flour?'

For now I am acértainèd throughly

Of every thing I désired to know.'

570

'I am right glad that I have said, sothly,

Ought to your pleysir, if ye wil me trow,'

Quod she ayein, 'but to whom do ye ow

Your servyce? and which wil ye honour,

Tel me, I pray, this yeer, the Leef or Flour?'

575'Madame,' quod I, 'though I [be] leest worthy,Unto the Leef I ow myn observaunce.''That is,' quod she, 'right wel don, certainly,And I pray god to honour you avaunce,And kepe you fro the wikked rémembraunce580Of Male-Bouche, and al his crueltè;And alle that good and wel-condicioned be.

575

'Madame,' quod I, 'though I [be] leest worthy,

Unto the Leef I ow myn observaunce.'

'That is,' quod she, 'right wel don, certainly,

And I pray god to honour you avaunce,

And kepe you fro the wikked rémembraunce

580

Of Male-Bouche, and al his crueltè;

And alle that good and wel-condicioned be.

For here may I no lenger now abyde,I must folowe the gret[ë] companyThat ye may see yonder before you ryde.'585And forth[right], as I couth, most humblely,I took my leve of her as she gan hyAfter hem, as fast as ever she might;And I drow hoomward, for it was nigh night;

For here may I no lenger now abyde,

I must folowe the gret[ë] company

That ye may see yonder before you ryde.'

585

And forth[right], as I couth, most humblely,

I took my leve of her as she gan hy

After hem, as fast as ever she might;

And I drow hoomward, for it was nigh night;

And put al that I had seen in wryting,590Under support of hem that lust it rede.O litel book, thou art so unconning,How darst thou put thy-self in prees for drede?It is wonder that thou wexest not rede,Sith that thou wost ful lyte who shal behold595Thy rude langage, ful boistously unfold.

And put al that I had seen in wryting,

590

Under support of hem that lust it rede.

O litel book, thou art so unconning,

How darst thou put thy-self in prees for drede?

It is wonder that thou wexest not rede,

Sith that thou wost ful lyte who shal behold

595

Thy rude langage, ful boistously unfold.

Explicit.

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