To my Lady Dear.
[Lambeth MS. 306, leaf 138.]
(1)
Frische flour of womanly nature,
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ye be full gentill and goodly one to se,
And all so stedfaste as any criatur
that is lyuynge in any degre,
fullfyled with all benyngnete,
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And an Exsample of all worthynes,
And they that to you haue nessesite
be gracious euer thorough your gentilnes.
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(2)
But y am so bowndon, y may nat stert,
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to you complayning in this manere,
Besechinge you euer with myn enterly hert,
And humbly also y you Requer,
As that bethe onely withowten pere
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of goodely-hede and of assuraunce,
y that am yours, whethe[r] ye be fare or ner,
Reffuse me nat oute of your Réme[m]braunce.
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(3)
Concedire, ladi dere, of your pete, [folio 138b]
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the highe complaynt of my desses,
my gref and myn aduerssite!
ye be my bote þat may me best please;
schewe me your meke sprite in my desses,
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for other louer haue y none,
And euer y well be Redy youe for to plesse,
neuer none to haue bute you alone.
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