(7)
Iffe hit wer so, [UH, so that T.] my will or myn entent [folio 118]
Line 45
wer cónstreynëd a ioyfull thyng to wryte,
my penne couth neuer hauë [neuer have U, haue no T, haue H, with 'neuer know' in margin. [Neuer = ne'er.]] knolege what hit ment;
To speke þerof, my tunge hathe no delyte;
And with my mouth, iffe I laugh myche or lyte,
Line 49
Myn yne schuld make a countynaunce vntrue;
Myn hert also wold haue þerof despyte;
the wepyng terës haue so large issue.
Line 52
(8)
Thes seke louers, I leue þat to hem longes,
Line 53
whiche lede þair [her HT.] lyfe in hope of állegeaunce, [Fr. allegement.]
Þat is to say, to make balade [UH, baladys T.] or songes,
Eueryche of hem, as þei fele her [theyr T, þer H.] grevaunce;
ffor sche þat wasse my ioy and my plesaunce,—
Line 57
whos soule, I pray god of his mercy saue,—
Sche hath myn wyle, my hertës ordeynaunce,
which lithe with hir vnder her toumbe in [in H, y T, & U. Which lyeth here, within this tombe ygrave. Skeat, from 3 MSS.] graue.
(9)
ffro þis tym forthe, tyme is to hold my pees;
Line 61
It weryth [werieth H.] me þis mater for to trete;
lat other louers put hem selfe in prees;
Thair sesoun is; my tym is now [UH, nygh T.] for-yete;
ffortune, by [UT, with H.] strenght, þe forser hath [UH, hath the forser T.] vnschete,
Line 65
Wher-in wasse sparde [H, margin: text spradde; sperryd T, spred U.] all my worldely [H, wordely U.] Rychesse,
And all þe goodys which þat I haue gete,
In my best tyme of youth and lustynesse.
Line 68
(10)
Loue hath me kept vndir his gouernaunce: [folio 118b]
Line 69
Iffe I mysdid, god graunt me for-yifnesse!
