Front matter (continued 10)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

205 The hert began to swel within his chest, So sore strayned for anguish and for payne That al to peces almost it to-brest, Whan bothe at ones so sore it did constrayne; Desyr was bold, but shame it gan refrayne; 210 That oon was large, the other was ful cloos; No litel charge was layd on him, certayn, To kepe suche werre, and have so many foos.

Ful often-tymes to speke him-self he peyned, But shamfastnesse and drede sayd ever 'nay'; 215 Yet at the last so sore he was constrayned, Whan he ful long had put it in delay, To his lady right thus than gan he say With dredful voice, weping, half in a rage:— 'For me was purveyd an unhappy day 220 Whan I first had a sight of your visage!

I suffre payne, god wot, ful hoot brenning, To cause my deeth, al for my trew servyse; And I see wel, ye rekke therof nothing, Nor take no hede of it, in no kins wyse. 225 But whan I speke after my best avyse, Ye set it nought, but make ther-of a game; And though I sewe so greet an entrepryse, It peyreth not your worship nor your fame.

Alas! what shulde be to you prejudyce 230 If that a man do love you faithfully To your worship, eschewing every vyce? So am I yours, and wil be verily; I chalenge nought of right, and reson why, For I am hool submit to your servyse; 235 Right as ye liste it be, right so wil I, To bynde my-self, where I was in fraunchyse!

Though it be so, that I can nat deserve To have your grace, but alway live in drede, Yet suffre me you for to love and serve 240 Without maugrè of your most goodlihede; Both faith and trouth I give your womanhede, And my servyse, withoute ayein-calling. Love hath me bounde, withouten wage or mede, To be your man, and leve al other thing.'

245 Whan this lady had herd al this langage, She yaf answere ful softe and demurely, Without chaunging of colour or corage, No-thing in haste, but mesurabelly:— 'Me thinketh, sir, your thought is greet foly! 250 Purpose ye not your labour for to cese? For thinketh not, whyl that ye live and I, In this matére to set your hert in pees!'

Lamant. 'Ther may non make the pees, but only ye, Which ar the ground and cause of al this werre; 255 For with your eyen the letters written be, By which I am defyed and put a-fer. Your plesaunt look, my verray lode-sterre, Was made heraud of thilk same défyaunce Which utterly behight me to forbarre 260 My faithful trust and al myn affyaunce.'

La Dame. 'To live in wo he hath gret fantasy And of his hert also hath slipper holde, That, only for beholding of an y, Can nat abyde in pees, as reson wolde! 265 Other or me if ye list to beholde, Our eyen are made to loke; why shuld we spare? I take no kepe, neither of yong nor olde; Who feleth smert, I counsayle him be ware!'

Lam. 'If it be so, oon hurte another sore, 270 In his defaut that feleth the grevaunce, Of very right a man may do no more; Yet reson wolde it were in remembraunce. And, sith Fortune not only, by her chaunce, Hath caused me to suffre al this payn, 275 But your beautè, with al the circumstaunce, Why list ye have me in so greet disdayn?'

La D. 'To your persone ne have I no disdayn, Nor ever had, trewly! ne nought wil have, Nor right gret love, nor hatred, in certayn; 280 Nor your counsayl to know, so god me save! If such beleve be in your mynde y-grave That litel thing may do you greet plesaunce, You to begyle, or make you for to rave, I wil nat cause no suche encomberaunce!'

285 Lam. 'What ever it be that me hath thus purchased, Wening hath nat disceyved me, certayn, But fervent love so sore hath me y-chased That I, unware, am casten in your chayne; And sith so is, as Fortune list ordayne, 290 Al my welfare is in your handes falle, In eschewing of more mischévous payn; Who sonest dyeth, his care is leest of alle.'

La D. 'This sicknesse is right esy to endure, But fewe people it causeth for to dy; 295 But what they mene, I know it very sure, Of more comfort to draw the remedy. Such be there now, playning ful pitously, That fele, god wot, nat alther-grettest payne; And if so be, love hurt so grevously, 300 Lesse harm it were, oon sorowful, than twayne!'

Lam. 'Alas, madame! if that it might you plese, Moche better were, by way of gentilnesse, Of one sory, to make twayn wel at ese, Than him to stroy that liveth in distresse! 305 For my desyr is neither more nor lesse But my servyce to do, for your plesaunce, In eschewing al maner doublenesse, To make two joyes in stede of oo grevaunce!'

La D. 'Of love I seke neither plesaunce nor ese, 310 Nor greet desyr, nor right gret affyaunce; Though ye be seke, it doth me nothing plese; Also, I take no hede to your plesaunce. Chese who-so wil, their hertes to avaunce, Free am I now, and free wil I endure; 315 To be ruled by mannes governaunce For erthely good, nay! that I you ensure!'

Lam. 'Love, which that joy and sorowe doth departe, Hath set the ladies out of al servage, And largëly doth graunt hem, for their parte, 320 Lordship and rule of every maner age. The poor servaunt nought hath of avauntage But what he may get only of purchace; And he that ones to love doth his homage, Ful often tyme dere bought is the rechace.'

325 La D. 'Ladies be nat so simple, thus I mene, So dul of wit, so sotted of foly, That, for wordes which sayd ben of the splene, In fayre langage, paynted ful plesauntly, Which ye and mo holde scoles of dayly, 330 To make hem of gret wonders to suppose; But sone they can away their hedes wrye, And to fair speche lightly their eres close.'

Lam. 'Ther is no man that jangleth busily, And set his hert and al his mynd therfore, 335 That by resoun may playne so pitously As he that hath moche hevinesse in store. Whos heed is hool, and sayth that it is sore, His fayned chere is hard to kepe in mewe; But thought, which is unfayned evermore, 340 The wordes preveth, as the workes sewe.

La D. 'Love is subtel, and hath a greet awayt, Sharp in worching, in gabbing greet plesaunce, And can him venge of suche as by disceyt Wold fele and knowe his secret governaunce; 345 And maketh hem to obey his ordinaunce By chereful wayes, as in hem is supposed; But whan they fallen in-to repentaunce, Than, in a rage, their counsail is disclosed.'

Lam. 'Sith for-as-moche as god and eke nature 350 Hath †love avaunced to so hye degrè, Moch sharper is the point, this am I sure, Yet greveth more the faute, wher-ever it be. Who hath no cold, of hete hath no deyntè, The toon for the tother asked is expresse; 355 And of plesaunce knoweth non the certeyntè But it be wonne with thought and hevinesse.'

La D. 'As for plesaunce, it is nat alway oon; That you is swete, I thinke it bitter payne. Ye may nat me constrayne, nor yet right non, 360 After your lust, to love that is but vayne. To chalenge love by right was never seyn, But herte assent, before bond and promyse; For strength nor force may not atteyne, certayn, A wil that stant enfeffed in fraunchyse!'

365 Lam. 'Right fayr lady, god mote I never plese, If I seke other right, as in this case, But for to shewe you playnly my disese And your mercy to abyde, and eke your grace. If I purpose your honour to deface, 370 Or ever did, god and fortune me shende! And that I never rightwysly purchace Oon only joy, unto my lyves ende!'

La D. 'Ye and other, that swere suche othes faste, And so condempne and cursen to and fro, 375 Ful sikerly, ye wene your othes laste No lenger than the wordes ben ago! And god, and eke his sayntes, laughe also. In such swering ther is no stedfastnesse, And these wrecches, that have ful trust therto, 380 After, they wepe and waylen in distresse.'

Lam. 'He hath no corage of a man, trewly, That secheth plesaunce, worship to despyse; Nor to be called forth is not worthy The erthe to touch the ayre in no-kins wyse. 385 A trusty hert, a mouth without feyntyse, These ben the strength of every man of name; And who that layth his faith for litel pryse, He leseth bothe his worship and his fame.'

La D. 'A currish herte, a mouth that is curteys, 390 Ful wel ye wot, they be not according; Yet feyned chere right sone may hem apeyse Where of malyce is set al their worching; Ful fals semblant they bere and trew mening; Their name, their fame, their tonges be but fayned; 395 Worship in hem is put in forgetting, Nought repented, nor in no wyse complayned.'

Lam. 'Who thinketh il, no good may him befal; God, of his grace, graunt ech man his desert! But, for his love, among your thoughtes al, 400 As think upon my woful sorowes smert; For of my payne, wheder your tender hert Of swete pitè be not therwith agreved, And if your grace to me were discovert, Than, by your mene, sone shulde I be releved.'

405 La D. 'A lightsom herte, a folly of plesaunce Are moch better, the lesse whyl they abyde; They make you thinke, and bring you in a traunce; But that seknesse wil sone be remedyed. Respite your thought, and put al this asyde; 410 Ful good disportes werieth men al-day; To help nor hurt, my wil is not aplyed; Who troweth me not, I lete it passe away.'

Lam. 'Who hath a brid, a faucon, or a hound, That foloweth him, for love, in every place, 415 He cherissheth him, and kepeth him ful sound; Out of his sight he wil not him enchace. And I, that set my wittes, in this cace, On you alone, withouten any chaunge, Am put under, moch ferther out of grace, 420 And lesse set by, than other that be straunge.'

La D. 'Though I make chere to every man aboute For my worship, and of myn own fraunchyse, To you I nil do so, withouten doute, In eschewing al maner prejudyse. 425 For wit ye wel, love is so litel wyse, And in beleve so lightly wil be brought, That he taketh al at his own devyse, Of thing, god wot, that serveth him of nought.'

Lam. 'If I, by love and by my trew servyse, 430 Lese the good chere that straungers have alway, Wherof shuld serve my trouth in any wise Lesse than to hem that come and go al-day, Which holde of you nothing, that is no nay? Also in you is lost, to my seming, 435 Al curtesy, which of resoun wold say That love for love were lawful deserving.'

La D. 'Curtesy is alyed wonder nere To Worship, which him loveth tenderly; And he wil nat be bounde, for no prayere, 440 Nor for no gift, I say you verily, But his good chere depart ful largely Where him lyketh, as his conceit wil fal; Guerdon constrayned, a gift don thankfully, These twayn may not accord, ne never shal.'

445 Lam. 'As for guerdon, I seke non in this cace; For that desert, to me it is to hy; Wherfore I ask your pardon and your grace, Sith me behoveth deeth, or your mercy. To give the good where it wanteth, trewly, 450 That were resoun and a curteys maner; And to your own moch better were worthy Than to straungers, to shewe hem lovely chere.'

La D. 'What cal ye good? Fayn wolde I that I wist! That pleseth oon, another smerteth sore; 455 But of his own to large is he that list Give moche, and lese al his good fame therfore. Oon shulde nat make a graunt, litel ne more, But the request were right wel according; If worship be not kept and set before, 460 Al that is left is but a litel thing.'

Lam. 'In-to this world was never formed non, Nor under heven crëature y-bore, Nor never shal, save only your persone, To whom your worship toucheth half so sore, 465 But me, which have no seson, lesse ne more, Of youth ne age, but still in your service; I have non eyen, no wit, nor mouth in store, But al be given to the same office.'

La D. 'A ful gret charge hath he, withouten fayle, 470 That his worship kepeth in sikernesse; But in daunger he setteth his travayle That feffeth it with others businesse. To him that longeth honour and noblesse, Upon non other shulde nat he awayte; 475 For of his own so moche hath he the lesse That of other moch folweth the conceyt.'

Lam. 'Your eyen hath set the print which that I fele Within my hert, that, where-so-ever I go, If I do thing that sowneth unto wele, 480 Nedes must it come from you, and fro no mo. Fortune wil thus, that I, for wele or wo, My lyf endure, your mercy abyding; And very right wil that I thinke also Of your worship, above al other thing.'

485 La D. 'To your worship see wel, for that is nede, That ye spend nat your seson al in vayne; As touching myn, I rede you take no hede, By your foly to put your-self in payne. To overcome is good, and to restrayne 490 An hert which is disceyved folily. For worse it is to breke than bowe, certayn, And better bowe than fal to sodaynly!'

Lam. 'Now, fair lady, think, sith it first began That love hath set myn hert under his cure, 495 I never might, ne truly I ne can Non other serve, whyle I shal here endure; In most free wyse therof I make you sure, Which may not be withdrawe; this is no nay. I must abyde al maner aventure; 500 For I may not put to, nor take away.'

La D. 'I holde it for no gift, in sothfastnesse, That oon offreth, where that it is forsake; For suche gift is abandoning expresse That with worship ayein may not be take. 505 He hath an hert ful fel that list to make A gift lightly, that put is in refuse; But he is wyse that such conceyt wil slake, So that him nede never to study ne muse.'

Lam. 'He shuld nat muse, that hath his service spent 510 On her which is a lady honourable; And if I spende my tyme to that entent, Yet at the leest I am not reprevable Of feyled hert; to thinke I am unable, Or me mistook whan I made this request, 515 By which love hath, of entreprise notable, So many hertes gotten by conquest.'

La D. 'If that ye list do after my counsayl, Secheth fairer, and of more higher fame, Whiche in servyce of love wil you prevayl 520 After your thought, according to the same. He hurteth both his worship and his name That folily for twayne him-self wil trouble; And he also leseth his after-game That surely can not sette his poyntes double.'

525 Lam. 'This your counsayl, by ought that I can see, Is better sayd than don, to myn advyse; Though I beleve it not, forgive it me, Myn herte is suche, so hool without feyntyse, That it ne may give credence, in no wyse, 530 To thing which is not sowning unto trouthe; Other counsayl, it ar but fantasyes, Save of your grace to shewe pitè and routhe.'

La D. 'I holde him wyse that worketh folily And, whan him list, can leve and part therfro; 535 But in conning he is to lerne, trewly, That wolde him-self conduite, and can not so. And he that wil not after counsayl do, His sute he putteth in desesperaunce; And al the good, which that shulde falle him to, 540 Is left as deed, clene out of rémembraunce.'

Lam. 'Yet wil I sewe this mater faithfully Whyls I may live, what-ever be my chaunce; And if it hap that in my trouthe I dy, That deeth shal not do me no displesaunce. 545 But whan that I, by your ful hard suffraunce, Shal dy so trew, and with so greet a payne, Yet shal it do me moche the lesse grevaunce Than for to live a fals lover, certayne.'

La D. 'Of me get ye right nought, this is no fable, 550 I nil to you be neither hard nor strayt; And right wil not, nor maner customable, To think ye shulde be sure of my conceyt. Who secheth sorowe, his be the receyt! Other counsayl can I not fele nor see, 555 Nor for to lerne I cast not to awayte; Who wil therto, let him assay, for me!'

Lam. 'Ones must it be assayd, that is no nay, With such as be of reputacioun, And of trew love the right devoir to pay 560 Of free hertes, geten by due raunsoun; For free wil holdeth this opinioun, That it is greet duresse and discomfort To kepe a herte in so strayt a prisoun, That hath but oon body for his disport.'

565 La D. 'I know so many cases mervaylous That I must nede, of resoun, think certayn, That such entree is wonder perilous, And yet wel more, the coming bak agayn. Good or worship therof is seldom seyn; 570 Wherefore I wil not make no suche aray As for to fynde a plesaunce but barayn, Whan it shal cost so dere, the first assay.'

Lam. 'Ye have no cause to doute of this matere, Nor you to meve with no such fantasyes 575 To put me ferre al-out, as a straungere; For your goodnesse can think and wel avyse, That I have made a prefe in every wyse By which my trouth sheweth open evidence; My long abyding and my trew servyse 580 May wel be knowen by playn experience.'

La D. 'Of very right he may be called trew, And so must he be take in every place, That can deserve, and let as he ne knew, And kepe the good, if he it may purchace. 585 For who that prayeth or sueth in any case, Right wel ye wot, in that no trouth is preved; Suche hath ther ben, and are, that geten grace, And lese it sone, whan they it have acheved.'

Lam. 'If trouth me cause, by vertue soverayne, 590 To shew good love, and alway fynd contráry, And cherish that which sleeth me with the payne, This is to me a lovely adversary! Whan that pitè, which long a-slepe doth tary, Hath set the fyne of al myn hevinesse, 595 Yet her comfort, to me most necessary, Shuld set my wil more sure in stablenesse.'

La D. 'The woful wight, what may he thinke or say? The contrary of al joy and gladnesse. A sick body, his thought is al away 600 From hem that fele no sorowe nor siknesse. Thus hurtes ben of dyvers businesse Which love hath put to right gret hinderaunce, And trouthe also put in forgetfulnesse Whan they so sore begin to sighe askaunce.'

605 Lam. 'Now god defend but he be havëlesse Of al worship or good that may befal, That to the werst tourneth, by his lewdnesse, A gift of grace, or any-thing at al That his lady vouchsauf upon him cal, 610 Or cherish him in honourable wyse! In that defaut what-ever he be that fal Deserveth more than deth to suffre twyse!'

La D. 'There is no juge y-set of such trespace By which of right oon may recovered be; 615 Oon curseth fast, another doth manace, Yet dyeth non, as ferre as I can see, But kepe their cours alway, in oon degrè, And evermore their labour doth encrese To bring ladyes, by their gret soteltè, 620 For others gilte, in sorowe and disese!'

Lam. 'Al-be-it so oon do so greet offence, And be not deed, nor put to no juÿse, Right wel I wot, him gayneth no defence, But he must ende in ful mischévous wyse, 625 And al that ever is good wil him dispyse. For falshed is so ful of cursednesse That high worship shal never have enterpryse Where it reigneth and hath the wilfulnesse.'

La D. 'Of that have they no greet fere now-a-days, 630 Suche as wil say, and maynteyne it ther-to, That stedfast trouthe is nothing for to prays In hem that kepe it long for wele or wo. Their busy hertes passen to and fro, They be so wel reclaymed to the lure, 635 So wel lerned hem to withholde also, And al to chaunge, whan love shuld best endure.'

Lam. 'Whan oon hath set his herte in stable wyse In suche a place as is both good and trewe, He shuld not flit, but do forth his servyse 640 Alway, withouten chaunge of any newe. As sone as love beginneth to remewe, Al plesaunce goth anon, in litel space; For my party, al that shal I eschewe, Whyls that the soule abydeth in his place.'

645 La D. 'To love trewly ther-as ye ought of right, Ye may not be mistaken, doutëlesse; But ye be foul deceyved in your sight By lightly understanding, as I gesse. Yet may ye wel repele your businesse 650 And to resoun somwhat have attendaunce, Moch better than to byde, by fol simplesse, The feble socour of desesperaunce.'

Lam. 'Resoun, counsayl, wisdom, and good avyse Ben under love arested everichoon, 655 To which I can accorde in every wyse; For they be not rebel, but stille as stoon; Their wil and myn be medled al in oon, And therwith bounden with so strong a cheyne That, as in hem, departing shal be noon, 660 But pitè breke the mighty bond atwayne.'

La D. 'Who loveth not himself, what-ever he be In love, he stant forgete in every place; And of your wo if ye have no pitè, Others pitè bileve not to purchace; 665 But beth fully assured in this case, I am alway under oon ordinaunce, To have better; trusteth not after grace, And al that leveth tak to your plesaunce!'

Lam. 'I have my hope so sure and so stedfast 670 That suche a lady shulde nat fail pitè; But now, alas! it is shit up so fast, That Daunger sheweth on me his crueltè. And if she see the vertue fayle in me Of trew servyce, then she to fayle also 675 No wonder were; but this is the suretè, I must suffre, which way that ever it go.'

La D. 'Leve this purpos, I rede you for the best; For lenger that ye kepe it thus in vayn, The lesse ye gete, as of your hertes rest, 680 And to rejoice it shal ye never attayn. Whan ye abyde good hope, to make you fayn, Ye shal be founde asotted in dotage; And in the ende, ye shal know for certayn, That hope shal pay the wrecches for their wage!'

685 Lam. 'Ye say as falleth most for your plesaunce, And your power is greet; al this I see; But hope shal never out of my rémembraunce, By whiche I felt so greet adversitè. For whan nature hath set in you plentè 690 Of al goodnesse, by vertue and by grace, He never assembled hem, as semeth me, To put Pitè out of his dwelling-place.'

La D. 'Pitè of right ought to be resonable, And to no wight of greet disavantage; 695 There-as is nede, it shuld be profitable, And to the pitous shewing no damage. If a lady wil do so greet out-rage To shewe pitè, and cause her own debate, Of such pitè cometh dispitous rage, 700 And of the love also right deedly hate.'

Lam. 'To comforte hem that live al comfortlesse, That is no harm, but worship to your name; But ye, that bere an herte of such duresse, And a fair body formed to the same, 705 If I durst say, ye winne al this defame By Crueltè, which sitteth you ful il, But-if Pitè, which may al this attame, In your high herte may rest and tary stil.'

La D. 'What-ever he be that sayth he loveth me, 710 And peraventure, I leve that it be so, Ought he be wroth, or shulde I blamed be, Though I did noght as he wolde have me do? If I medled with suche or other mo, It might be called pitè manerlesse; 715 And, afterward if I shulde live in wo, Than to repent it were to late, I gesse.'

Lam. 'O marble herte, and yet more hard, pardè, Which mercy may nat perce, for no labour, More strong to bowe than is a mighty tree, 720 What vayleth you to shewe so greet rigour? Plese it you more to see me dy this hour Before your eyen, for your disport and play, Than for to shewe som comfort or socour To respite deth, that chaseth me alway!'

725 La D. 'Of your disese ye may have allegeaunce; And as for myn, I lete it over-shake. Also, ye shal not dye for my plesaunce, Nor for your hele I can no surety make. I nil nat hate myn hert for others sake; 730 Wepe they, laugh they, or sing, this I waraunt, For this mater so wel to undertake That non of you shal make therof avaunt!'

Lam. 'I can no skil of song; by god aloon, I have more cause to wepe in your presence; 735 And wel I wot, avauntour am I noon, For certainly, I love better silence. Oon shuld nat love by his hertes credence But he were sure to kepe it secretly; For avauntour is of no reverence 740 Whan that his tonge is his most enemy.'

La D. 'Male-bouche in courte hath greet commaundement; Ech man studieth to say the worst he may. These fals lovers, in this tyme now present, They serve to boste, to jangle as a jay. 745 The most secret wil wel that some men say How he mistrusted is on some partyes; Wherfore to ladies what men speke or pray, It shuld not be bileved in no wyse.'

Lam. 'Of good and il shal be, and is alway; 750 The world is such; the erth it is not playn. They that be good, the preve sheweth every day, And otherwyse, gret villany, certayn. Is it resoun, though oon his tonge distayne With cursed speche, to do him-self a shame, 755 That such refuse shuld wrongfully remayne Upon the good, renommed in their fame?'

La D. 'Suche as be nought, whan they here tydings newe, That ech trespas shal lightly have pardoun, They that purposen to be good and trewe— 760 Wel set by noble disposicioun To continue in good condicioun— They are the first that fallen in damage, And ful freely their hertes abandoun To litel faith, with softe and fayr langage.'

765 Lam. 'Now knowe I wel, of very certayntè, Though oon do trewly, yet shal he be shent, Sith al maner of justice and pitè Is banisshed out of a ladyes entent. I can nat see but al is at oo stent, 770 The good and il, the vyce and eek vertue! Suche as be good shal have the punishment For the trespas of hem that been untrewe!'

La D. 'I have no power you to do grevaunce, Nor to punisshe non other creature; 775 But, to eschewe the more encomberaunce, To kepe us from you al, I holde it sure. Fals semblaunce hath a visage ful demure, Lightly to cacche the ladies in a-wayt; Wherefore we must, if that we wil endure, 780 Make right good watch; lo! this is my conceyt.'

Lam. 'Sith that of grace oo goodly word aloon May not be had, but alway kept in store, I pele to god, for he may here my moon, Of the duresse, which greveth me so sore. 785 And of pitè I pleyn me further-more, Which he forgat, in al his ordinaunce, Or els my lyf to have ended before, Which he so sone put out of rémembraunce.'

La D. 'My hert, nor I, have don you no forfeyt, 790 By which ye shulde complayne in any kynde. There hurteth you nothing but your conceyt; Be juge your-self; for so ye shal it fynde. Ones for alway let this sinke in your mynde— That ye desire shal never rejoysed be! 795 Ye noy me sore, in wasting al this wynde; For I have sayd y-nough, as semeth me.'

Verba Auctoris.

This woful man roos up in al his payne, And so parted, with weping countenaunce; His woful hert almost to-brast in twayne, 800 Ful lyke to dye, forth walking in a traunce, And sayd, 'Now, deeth, com forth! thy-self avaunce, Or that myn hert forgete his propertè; And make shorter al this woful penaunce Of my pore lyfe, ful of adversitè!'

805 Fro thens he went, but whider wist I nought, Nor to what part he drow, in sothfastnesse; But he no more was in his ladies thought, For to the daunce anon she gan her dresse. And afterward, oon tolde me thus expresse, 810 He rente his heer, for anguissh and for payne, And in him-self took so gret hevinesse That he was deed, within a day or twayne.

Lenvoy.

Ye trew lovers, this I beseche you al, Such †avantours, flee hem in every wyse, 815 And as people defamed ye hem cal; For they, trewly, do you gret prejudyse. Refus hath mad for al such flateryes His castelles strong, stuffed with ordinaunce, For they have had long tyme, by their offyce, 820 The hool countrè of Love in obeysaunce.

And ye, ladyes, or what estat ye be, In whom Worship hath chose his dwelling-place, For goddes love, do no such crueltè, Namely, to hem that have deserved grace. 825 Nor in no wyse ne folowe not the trace Of her, that here is named rightwisly, Which by resoun, me semeth, in this case May be called La Belle Dame sans Mercy.

Verba Translatoris.

Go, litel book! god sende thee good passage! 830 Chese wel thy way; be simple of manere; Loke thy clothing be lyke thy pilgrimage, And specially, let this be thy prayere Un-to hem al that thee wil rede or here, Wher thou art wrong, after their help to cal 835 Thee to correcte in any part or al.

Pray hem also, with thyn humble servyce, Thy boldënesse to pardon in this case; For els thou art not able, in no wyse, To make thy-self appere in any place. 840 And furthermore, beseche hem, of their grace, By their favour and supportacioun, To take in gree this rude translacioun,

The which, god wot, standeth ful destitute Of eloquence, of metre, and of coloures, 845 Wild as a beest, naked, without refute, Upon a playne to byde al maner shoures. I can no more, but aske of hem socoures At whos request thou mad were in this wyse, Commaunding me with body and servyse.

850 Right thus I make an ende of this processe, Beseching him that al hath in balaunce That no trew man be vexed, causëlesse, As this man was, which is of rémembraunce; And al that doon their faythful observaunce, 855 And in their trouth purpose hem to endure, I pray god sende hem better aventure.

Explicit.

Ane dooly sesoun to ane cairfull dyte Suld correspond, and be equivalent. Richt sa it wes quhen I began to wryte This tragedy; the wedder richt fervent, 5 Quhen Aries, in middis of the Lent, Shouris of haill can fra the north discend; That scantly fra the cauld I micht defend.

Yit nevertheles, within myn orature I stude, quhen Tytan had his bemis bricht 10 Withdrawin doun and sylit under cure; And fair Venus, the bewty of the nicht, Uprais, and set unto the west full richt Hir goldin face, in oppositioun Of god Phebus direct discending doun.

15 Throwout the glas hir bemis brast sa fair That I micht see, on every syde me by, The northin wind had purifyit the air, And shed the misty cloudis fra the sky. The froist freisit, the blastis bitterly 20 Fra pole Artyk come quhisling loud and shill, And causit me remuf aganis my will.

For I traistit that Venus, luifis quene, To quhom sum-tyme I hecht obedience, My faidit hart of luf sho wald mak grene; 25 And therupon, with humbil reverence, I thocht to pray hir hy magnificence; But for greit cald as than I lattit was, And in my chalmer to the fyr can pas.

Thocht luf be hait, yit in ane man of age 30 It kendillis nocht sa sone as in youthheid, Of quhom the blude is flowing in ane rage; And in the auld the curage †douf and deid, Of quhilk the fyr outward is best remeid, To help be phisik quhair that nature failit; 35 I am expert, for baith I have assailit.

I mend the fyr, and beikit me about, Than tuik ane drink my spreitis to comfort, And armit me weill fra the cauld thairout. To cut the winter-nicht, and mak it short, 40 I tuik ane quair, and left all uther sport, Writtin be worthy Chaucer glorious, Of fair Cresseid and lusty Troilus.

And thair I fand, efter that Diomeid Ressavit had that lady bricht of hew, 45 How Troilus neir out of wit abraid, And weipit soir, with visage paill of hew; For quhilk wanhope his teiris can renew, Quhill †esperans rejoisit him agane: Thus quhyl in joy he levit, quhyl in pane.

50 Of hir behest he had greit comforting, Traisting to Troy that sho suld mak retour, Quhilk he desyrit maist of eirdly thing, For-quhy sho was his only paramour. Bot quhen he saw passit baith day and hour 55 Of hir gaincome, than sorrow can oppres His woful hart in cair and hevines.

Of his distres me neidis nocht reheirs, For worthy Chaucer, in the samin buik, In guidly termis and in joly veirs 60 Compylit hes his cairis, quha will luik. To brek my sleip ane uther quair I tuik, In quilk I fand the fatall desteny Of fair Cresseid, that endit wretchitly.

Quha wait gif all that Chauceir wrait was trew? 65 Nor I wait nocht gif this narratioun Be authoreist, or fenyeit of the new Be sum poeit, throw his inventioun, Maid to report the lamentatioun And woful end of this lusty Cresseid, 70 And quhat distres sho thoillit, and quhat deid.

Quhen Diomed had all his appetyt, And mair, fulfillit of this fair lady, Upon ane uther he set his haill delyt, And send to hir ane lybel of répudy, 75 And hir excludit fra his company. Than desolait sho walkit up and doun, And, sum men sayis, into the court commoun.

O fair Cresseid! the flour and A-per-se Of Troy and Grece, how was thou fortunait, 80 To change in filth all thy feminitee, And be with fleshly lust sa maculait, And go amang the Greikis air and lait Sa giglot-lyk, takand thy foull plesance! I have pity thee suld fall sic mischance!

85 Yit nevertheles, quhat-ever men deme or say In scornful langage of thy brukilnes, I sall excuse, als far-furth as I may, Thy womanheid, thy wisdom, and fairnes, The quilk Fortoun hes put to sic distres 90 As hir pleisit, and na-thing throw the gilt Of thee, throw wikkit langage to be spilt.

This fair lady, in this wys destitut Of all comfort and consolatioun, Richt prively, but fellowship, on fut 95 Disgysit passit far out of the toun Ane myle or twa, unto ane mansioun Beildit full gay, quhair hir father Calchas, Quhilk than amang the Greikis dwelland was.

Quhan he hir saw, the caus he can inquyr 100 Of hir cuming; sho said, syching full soir, 'Fra Diomeid had gottin his desyr He wox wery, and wald of me no moir!' Quod Calchas, 'Douchter, weip thow not thairfoir; Peraventure all cummis for the best; 105 Welcum to me; thow art full deir ane gest.'

This auld Calchas, efter the law was tho, Wes keeper of the tempill, as ane preist, In quhilk Venus and hir son Cupido War honourit; and his chalmer was thaim neist; 110 To quhilk Cresseid, with baill aneuch in breist, Usit to pas, hir prayeris for to say; Quhill at the last, upon ane solempne day,

As custom was, the pepill far and neir, Befoir the none, unto the tempill went 115 With sacrifys devoit in thair maneir. But still Cresseid, hevy in hir intent, In-to the kirk wald not hir-self present, For giving of the pepil ony deming Of hir expuls fra Diomeid the king:

120 But past into ane secreit orature Quhair sho micht weip hir wofull desteny. Behind hir bak sho cloisit fast the dure, And on hir knëis bair fell down in hy. Upon Venus and Cupid angerly 125 Sho cryit out, and said on this same wys, 'Allas! that ever I maid yow sacrifys!

Ye gave me anis ane devyn responsaill That I suld be the flour of luif in Troy; Now am I maid an unworthy outwaill, 130 And all in cair translatit is my joy. Quha sall me gyde? quha sall me now convoy, Sen I fra Diomeid and nobill Troilus Am clene excludit, as abject odious?

O fals Cupide, is nane to wyte bot thow 135 And thy mother, of luf the blind goddes! Ye causit me alwayis understand and trow The seid of luf was sawin in my face, And ay grew grene throw your supply and grace. But now, allas! that seid with froist is slane, 140 And I fra luifferis left, and all forlane!'

Quhen this was said, doun in ane extasy, Ravishit in spreit, intill ane dream sho fell; And, be apperance, hard, quhair sho did ly, Cupid the king ringand ane silver bell, 145 Quhilk men micht heir fra hevin unto hell; At quhais sound befoir Cupide appeiris The sevin planetis, discending fra thair spheiris,

Quhilk hes powèr of all thing generábill To reull and steir, be thair greit influence, 150 Wedder and wind and coursis variábill. And first of all Saturn gave his sentence, Quhilk gave to Cupid litill reverence, But as ane busteous churl, on his maneir, Com crabbitly, with auster luik and cheir.

155 His face fronsit, his lyr was lyk the leid His teith chatterit and cheverit with the chin His ene drowpit, how, sonkin in his heid Out of his nois the meldrop fast can rin With lippis bla, and cheikis leine and thin 160 The yse-shoklis that fra his hair doun hang Was wonder greit, and as ane speir als lang.

Atour his belt his lyart lokkis lay Felterit unfair, ourfret with froistis hoir; His garmound and his †gyte full gay of gray; 165 His widderit weid fra him the wind out woir. Ane busteous bow within his hand he boir; Under his gyrdil ane flash of felloun flanis Fedderit with yse, and heidit with hail-stanis.

Than Juppiter richt fair and amiábill, 170 God of the starnis in the firmament, And nureis to all thing[is] generábill, Fra his father Saturn far different, With burely face, and browis bricht and brent; Upon his heid ane garland wonder gay 175 Of flouris fair, as it had been in May.

His voice was cleir, as cristal wer his ene; As goldin wyr sa glitterand was his hair; His garmound and his gyte full gay of grene, With goldin listis gilt on every gair; 180 Ane burely brand about his middill bair. In his right hand he had ane groundin speir, Of his father the wraith fra us to weir.

Nixt efter him com Mars, the god of ire, Of stryf, debait, and all dissensioun; 185 To chyde and fecht, als feirs as ony fyr; In hard harnes, hewmound and habirgeoun, And on his hanche ane rousty fell fachioun: And in his hand he had ane rousty sword, Wrything his face with mony angry word.

190 Shaikand his sword, befoir Cupide he com With reid visage and grisly glowrand ene; And at his mouth ane bullar stude of fome, Lyk to ane bair quhetting his tuskis kene Richt tuilyour-lyk, but temperance in tene; 195 Ane horn he blew, with mony bosteous brag, Quhilk all this warld with weir hes maid to wag.

Than fair Phebus, lanterne and lamp of licht Of man and beist, baith frute and flourishing, Tender nuréis, and banisher of nicht, 200 And of the warld causing, be his moving And influence, lyf in all eirdly thing; Without comfort of quhom, of force to nocht Must all ga dy, that in this warld is wrocht.

As king royáll he raid upon his chair, 205 The quhilk Phaeton gydit sum-tyme unricht; The brichtnes of his face, quhen it was bair, Nane micht behald for peirsing of his sicht. This goldin cart with fyry bemes bricht Four yokkit steidis, full different of hew, 210 But bait or tyring throw the spheiris drew.

The first was soyr, with mane als reid as rois, Callit Eöy, in-to the orient; The secund steid to name hecht Ethiös, Quhytly and paill, and sum-deill ascendent; 215 The thrid Peros, richt hait and richt fervent; The feird was blak, callit †Philegoney, Quhilk rollis Phebus down in-to the sey.

Venus was thair present, that goddes gay, Hir sonnis querrel for to defend, and mak 220 Hir awin complaint, cled in ane nyce array, The ane half grene, the uther half sabill-blak; Quhyte hair as gold, kemmit and shed abak; But in hir face semit greit variance, Quhyles perfit treuth, and quhylës inconstance.

225 Under smyling sho was dissimulait, Provocative with blenkis amorous; And suddanly changit and alterait, Angry as ony serpent venemous, Richt pungitive with wordis odious. 230 Thus variant sho was, quha list tak keip, With ane eye lauch, and with the uther weip:—

In taikning that all fleshly paramour, Quhilk Venus hes in reull and governance, Is sum-tyme sweit, sum-tyme bitter and sour, 235 Richt unstabill, and full of variance, Mingit with cairfull joy, and fals plesance; Now hait, now cauld; now blyth, now full of wo; Now grene as leif, now widderit and ago.

With buik in hand than com Mercurius, 240 Richt eloquent and full of rethory; With pólite termis and delicious; With pen and ink to réport all redy; Setting sangis, and singand merily. His hude was reid, heklit atour his croun, 245 Lyk to ane poeit of the auld fassoun.

Boxis he bair with fine electuairis, And sugerit syropis for digestioun; Spycis belangand to the pothecairis, With mony hailsum sweit confectioun; 250 Doctour in phisik, cled in scarlot goun, And furrit weill, as sic ane aucht to be, Honest and gude, and not ane word coud le.

Nixt efter him com lady Cynthia, The last of all, and swiftest in hir spheir, 255 Of colour blak, buskit with hornis twa, And in the nicht sho listis best appeir; Haw as the leid, of colour na-thing cleir. For all hir licht sho borrowis at hir brothir Titan; for of hir-self sho hes nane uther.

260 Hir gyte was gray, and full of spottis blak; And on hir breist ane churl paintit ful evin, Beirand ane bunch of thornis on his bak, Quhilk for his thift micht clim na nar the hevin. Thus quhen they gadderit war, thir goddis sevin, 265 Mercurius they cheisit with ane assent To be foir-speikar in the parliament.

Quha had ben thair, and lyking for to heir His facound toung and termis exquisyte, Of rhetorik the praktik he micht leir, 270 In breif sermone ane pregnant sentence wryte. Befoir Cupide vailing his cap a lyte, Speiris the caus of that vocacioun; And he anon shew his intencioun.

'Lo!' quod Cupide, 'quha will blaspheme the name 275 Of his awin god, outhir in word or deid, To all goddis he dois baith lak and shame, And suld have bitter panis to his meid. I say this by yonder wretchit Cresseid, The quhilk throw me was sum-tyme flour of lufe, 280 Me and my mother starkly can reprufe.

Saying, of hir greit infelicitè I was the caus; and my mother Venus, Ane blind goddes hir cald, that micht not see, With slander and defame injurious. 285 Thus hir leving unclene and lecherous Sho wald returne on me and [on] my mother, To quhom I shew my grace abone all uther.

And sen ye ar all sevin deificait, Participant of dévyn sapience, 290 This greit injúry don to our hy estait Me-think with pane we suld mak recompence; Was never to goddis don sic violence. As weill for yow as for myself I say; Thairfoir ga help to révenge, I yow pray.'

295 Mercurius to Cupid gave answeir, And said, 'Shir king, my counsall is that ye Refer yow to the hyest planeit heir, And tak to him the lawest of degrè, The pane of Cresseid for to modify; 300 As god Saturn, with him tak Cynthia.' 'I am content,' quod he, 'to tak thay twa.'

Than thus proceidit Saturn and the Mone, Quhen thay the mater rypely had degest; For the dispyt to Cupid sho had done, 305 And to Venus oppin and manifest, In all hir lyf with pane to be opprest And torment sair, with seiknes incurábill, And to all lovers be abominábill.

This dulefull sentence Saturn tuik on hand, 310 And passit doun quhair cairfull Cresseid lay; And on hir heid he laid ane frosty wand, Than lawfully on this wyse can he say; 'Thy greit fairnes, and al thy bewty gay, Thy wantoun blude, and eik thy goldin hair, 315 Heir I exclude fra thee for evermair.

I change thy mirth into melancholy, Quhilk is the mother of all pensivenes; Thy moisture and thy heit in cald and dry; Thyne insolence, thy play and wantones 320 To greit diseis: thy pomp and thy riches In mortall neid; and greit penuritie Thow suffer sall, and as ane beggar die.'

O cruel Saturn, fraward and angry, Hard is thy dome, and to malicious! 325 On fair Cresseid quhy hes thow na mercy, Quhilk was sa sweit, gentill, and amorous? Withdraw thy sentence, and be gracious As thow was never; so shawis thow thy deid, Ane wraikfull sentence gevin on fair Cresseid.

330 Than Cynthia, quhen Saturn past away, Out of hir sait discendit down belyve, And red ane bill on Cresseid quhair sho lay, Contening this sentence diffinityve:— 'Fra heil of body I thee now depryve, 335 And to thy seiknes sal be na recure, But in dolóur thy dayis to indure.

Thy cristall ene minglit with blude I mak, Thy voice sa cleir unplesand, hoir, and hace; Thy lusty lyre ourspred with spottis blak, 340 And lumpis haw appeirand in thy face. Quhair thow cummis, ilk man sall flee the place; Thus sall thou go begging fra hous to hous, With cop and clapper, lyk ane lazarous.'

This dooly dream, this ugly visioun 345 Brocht to ane end, Cresseid fra it awoik, And all that court and convocatioun Vanischit away. Than rais sho up and tuik Ane poleist glas, and hir shaddow coud luik; And quhen sho saw hir face sa déformait, 350 Gif sho in hart was wa aneuch, god wait!

Weiping full sair, 'Lo! quhat it is,' quod she, 'With fraward langage for to mufe and steir Our crabbit goddis, and sa is sene on me! My blaspheming now have I bocht full deir; 355 All eirdly joy and mirth I set areir. Allas, this day! Allas, this wofull tyde, Quhen I began with my goddis to chyde!'

Be this was said, ane child com fra the hall To warn Cresseid the supper was redy; 360 First knokkit at the dure, and syne coud call— 'Madame, your father biddis you cum in hy; He has mervell sa lang on grouf ye ly, And sayis, "Your prayërs been to lang sum-deill; The goddis wait all your intent full weill."'

365 Quod sho, 'Fair child, ga to my father deir, And pray him cum to speik with me anon.' And sa he did, and said, 'Douchter, quhat cheir?' 'Allas!' quod she, 'father, my mirth is gon!' 'How sa?' quod he; and sho can all expone, 370 As I have tauld, the vengeance and the wrak, For hir trespas, Cupide on hir coud tak.

He luikit on hir ugly lipper face, The quhilk befor was quhyte as lilly-flour; Wringand his handis, oftymes he said, Allas! 375 That he had levit to see that wofull hour! For he knew weill that thair was na succour To hir seiknes; and that dowblit his pane; Thus was thair cair aneuch betwix tham twane.

Quhen thay togidder murnit had full lang, 380 Quod Cresseid, 'Father, I wald not be kend; Thairfoir in secreit wyse ye let me gang To yon hospítall at the tounis end; And thidder sum meit, for cheritie, me send To leif upon; for all mirth in this eird 385 Is fra me gane; sik is my wikkit weird.'

Than in ane mantill and ane bevar hat, With cop and clapper, wonder prively, He opnit ane secreit yet, and out thairat Convoyit hir, that na man suld espy, 390 Unto ane village half ane myle thairby; Deliverit hir in at the spittail-hous, And dayly sent hir part of his almous.

Sum knew hir weill, and sum had na knawlege Of hir, becaus sho was sa déformait 395 With bylis blak, ourspred in hir visage, And hir fair colour faidit and alterait. Yit thay presumit, for hir hy regrait And still murning, sho was of nobill kin; With better will thairfoir they tuik hir in.

400 The day passit, and Phebus went to rest, The cloudis blak ourquhelmit all the sky; God wait gif Cresseid was ane sorrowful gest, Seeing that uncouth fair and herbery. But meit or drink sho dressit hir to ly 405 In ane dark corner of the hous allone; And on this wyse, weiping, sho maid hir mone.

The Complaint of Cresseid.

'O sop of sorrow sonken into cair! O caytive Cresseid! now and ever-mair Gane is thy joy and all thy mirth in eird; 410 Of all blyithnes now art thow blaiknit bair; Thair is na salve may saif thee of thy sair! Fell is thy fortoun, wikkit is thy weird; Thy blis is baneist, and thy baill on breird! Under the eirth god gif I gravin wer, 415 Quhar nane of Grece nor yit of Troy micht heird!

Quhair is thy chalmer, wantounly besene With burely bed, and bankouris browderit bene, Spycis and wynis to thy collatioun; The cowpis all of gold and silver shene, 420 The swete meitis servit in plaittis clene, With saipheron sals of ane gude sessoun; Thy gay garmentis, with mony gudely goun, Thy plesand lawn pinnit with goldin prene? All is areir thy greit royáll renoun!

425 Quhair is thy garding, with thir greissis gay And fresshe flouris, quhilk the quene Floray Had paintit plesandly in every pane, Quhair thou was wont full merily in May To walk, and tak the dew be it was day, 430 And heir the merle and mavis mony ane; With ladyis fair in carrolling to gane, And see the royal rinkis in thair array In garmentis gay, garnischit on every grane?

Thy greit triumphand fame and hy honour, 435 Quhair thou was callit of eirdly wichtis flour, All is decayit; thy weird is welterit so, Thy hy estait is turnit in darknes dour! This lipper ludge tak for thy burelie bour, And for thy bed tak now ane bunch of stro. 440 For waillit wyne and meitis thou had tho, Tak mowlit breid, peirry, and syder sour; But cop and clapper, now is all ago.

My cleir voice and my courtly carrolling, Quhair I was wont with ladyis for to sing, 445 Is rawk as ruik, full hiddeous, hoir, and hace; My plesand port all utheris precelling, Of lustines I was held maist conding; Now is deformit the figour of my face; To luik on it na leid now lyking hes. 450 Sowpit in syte, I say with sair siching— Lugeit amang the lipper-leid—"Alas!"

O ladyis fair of Troy and Grece, attend My misery, quhilk nane may comprehend, My frivoll fortoun, my infelicitie, 455 My greit mischief, quhilk na man can amend. Be war in tyme, approchis neir the end, And in your mynd ane mirrour mak of me. As I am now, peradventure that ye, For all your micht, may cum to that same end, 460 Or ellis war, gif ony war may be.

Nocht is your fairnes bot ane faiding flour, Nocht is your famous laud and hy honour Bot wind inflat in uther mennis eiris; Your roising reid to rotting sall retour. 465 Exempill mak of me in your memour, Quhilk of sic thingis wofull witnes beiris. All welth in eird away as wind it weiris; Be war thairfoir; approchis neir the hour; Fortoun is fikkil, quhen sho beginnis and steiris.'—

470 Thus chydand with her drery desteny, Weiping, sho woik the nicht fra end to end, But all in vane; hir dule, hir cairfull cry Micht nocht remeid, nor yit hir murning mend. Ane lipper-lady rais, and till hir wend, 475 And said, 'Quhy spurnis thou aganis the wall, To sla thyself, and mend na-thing at all?

Sen that thy weiping dowbillis bot thy wo, I counsall thee mak vertew of ane neid, To leir to clap thy clapper to and fro, 480 And †live efter the law of lipper-leid.' Thair was na buit, bot forth with thame sho yeid Fra place to place, quhill cauld and hounger sair Compellit hir to be ane rank beggair.

That samin tyme, of Troy the garnisoun, 485 Quhilk had to chiftane worthy Troilus, Throw jeopardy of weir had strikkin doun Knichtis of Grece in number mervellous. With greit triúmph and laud victorious Agane to Troy richt royally thay raid 490 The way quhair Cresseid with the lipper baid.

Seing that company cum, all with ane stevin They gaif ane cry, and shuik coppis gude speid; Said, 'Worthy lordis, for goddis lufe of hevin, To us lipper part of your almous-deid.' 495 Than to thair cry nobill Troilus tuik heid; Having pity, neir by the place can pas Quhair Cresseid sat, nat witting quhat sho was.

Than upon him sho kest up baith her ene, And with ane blenk it com in-to his thocht 500 That he sum-tyme hir face befoir had sene; But sho was in sic ply he knew hir nocht. Yit than hir luik in-to his mind it brocht The sweit visage and amorous blenking Of fair Cresseid, sumtyme his awin darling.

505 Na wonder was, suppois in mynd that he Tuik hir figure sa sone, and lo! now, quhy; The idole of ane thing in cace may be Sa deip imprentit in the fantasy, That it deludis the wittis outwardly, 510 And sa appeiris in forme and lyke estait Within the mynd as it was figurait.

Ane spark of lufe than till his hart coud spring, And kendlit all his body in ane fyre; With hait fevir ane sweit and trimbilling 515 Him tuik, quhill he was redy to expyre; To beir his sheild his breist began to tyre; Within ane whyle he changit mony hew, And nevertheles not ane ane-uther knew.

For knichtly pity and memoriall 520 Of fair Cresseid, ane girdill can he tak, Ane purs of gold and mony gay jowáll, And in the skirt of Cresseid doun can swak; Than raid away, and not ane word he spak, Pensive in hart, quhill he com to the toun, 525 And for greit cair oft-syis almaist fell doun.

The lipper-folk to Cresseid than can draw, To see the equall distribucioun Of the almous; but quhan the gold they saw, Ilk ane to uther prevely can roun, 530 And said, 'Yon lord hes mair affectioun, However it be, unto yon lazarous Than to us all; we knaw be his almous.'

'Quhat lord is yon?' quod sho, 'have ye na feill, Hes don to us so greit humanitie?' 535 'Yes,' quod a lipper-man, 'I knaw him weill; Shir Troilus it is, gentill and free.' Quhen Cresseid understude that it was he, Stiffer than steill thair stert ane bitter stound Throwout hir hart, and fell doun to the ground.

540 Quhen sho, ourcom with syching sair and sad, With mony cairfull cry and cald—'Ochane! Now is my breist with stormy stoundis stad, Wrappit in wo, ane wretch full will of wane'; Than swounit sho oft or sho coud refrane, 545 And ever in hir swouning cryit sho thus: 'O fals Cresseid, and trew knicht Troilus!

Thy luf, thy lawtee, and thy gentilnes I countit small in my prosperitie; Sa elevait I was in wantones, 550 And clam upon the fickill quheill sa hie; All faith and lufe, I promissit to thee, Was in the self fickill and frivolous; O fals Cresseid, and trew knicht Troilus!

For lufe of me thou keipt gude countinence, 555 Honest and chaist in conversatioun; Of all wemen protectour and defence Thou was, and helpit thair opinioun. My mynd, in fleshly foull affectioun, Was inclynit to lustis lecherous; 560 Fy! fals Cresseid! O, trew knicht Troilus!

Lovers, be war, and tak gude heid about Quhom that ye lufe, for quhom ye suffer paine; I lat yow wit, thair is richt few thairout Quhom ye may traist, to have trew lufe againe; 565 Preif quhen ye will, your labour is in vaine. Thairfoir I reid ye tak thame as ye find; For they ar sad as widdercock in wind.

Becaus I knaw the greit unstabilnes Brukkil as glas, into my-self I say, 570 Traisting in uther als greit unfaithfulnes, Als unconstant, and als untrew of fay. Thocht sum be trew, I wait richt few ar thay. Quha findis treuth, lat him his lady ruse; Nane but my-self, as now, I will accuse.'

575 Quhen this was said, with paper sho sat doun, And on this maneir maid hir TESTAMENT:— 'Heir I beteich my corps and carioun With wormis and with taidis to be rent; My cop and clapper, and myne ornament, 580 And all my gold, the lipper-folk sall have, Quhen I am deid, to bury me in grave.

This royall ring, set with this ruby reid, Quhilk Troilus in drowry to me send, To him agane I leif it quhan I am deid, 585 To mak my cairfull deid unto him kend. Thus I conclude shortly, and mak ane end. My spreit I leif to Diane, quhair sho dwellis, To walk with hir in waist woddis and wellis.

O Diomeid! thow hes baith broche and belt 590 Quhilk Troilus gave me in takinning Of his trew lufe!'—And with that word sho swelt. And sone ane lipper-man tuik of the ring, Syne buryit hir withoutin tarying. To Troilus furthwith the ring he bair, 595 And of Cresseid the deith he can declair.

Quhen he had hard hir greit infirmitè, Hir legacy and lamentatioun, And how sho endit in sik povertè, He swelt for wo, and fell doun in ane swoun; 600 For greit sorrow his hart to birst was boun. Syching full sadly, said, 'I can no moir; Sho was untrew, and wo is me thairfoir!'

Sum said, he maid ane tomb of merbell gray, And wrait hir name and superscriptioun, 605 And laid it on hir grave, quhair that sho lay, In goldin letteris, conteining this ressoun:— 'Lo! fair ladyis, Cresseid of Troyis toun, Sumtyme countit the flour of womanheid, Under this stane, late lipper, lyis deid!'

610 Now, worthy wemen, in this ballet short, Made for your worship and instructioun, Of cheritè I monish and exhort, Ming not your luf with fals deceptioun. Beir in your mynd this short conclusioun 615 Of fair Cresseid, as I have said befoir; Sen sho is deid, I speik of hir no moir.