Political, religious, and love poems. Some by Lydgate, Sir Richard Ros, Henry Baradoun, Wm. Huchen, etc. from the Archbishop of Canterbury's Lambeth Ms. no. 306, and other sources, with a fragment of The Romance of Peare of Provence and the fair Magnelone, and a sketch, with the prolog and epilog, of The Romance of the knight Amoryus and the Lady Cleopes,

La Belle Dame sans Merci englisht by Sir Richard Ros from the French of Alain Chartier. [Œuvres de M. Alain Chartier, 1617, p. 502. The heading in H is "La Belle Dame sanz Mercy, translated out of French by Sir Richard Ros."]

[MS. Ff. 1. 6, University Library, Cambridge (U), leaf 117.] [Collated with MS. R. 3. 19, Trin. Coll., Camb. (T), and Harleian 372, leaf 61 (H).] Prologe [by Sir R. Ros, in 4 stanzas of Sevens, ababbcc.]

(1)

Halfe in a dreme, not fully well a-waked, Line 1 The golden slepe me wrapt vndir his wyng yet nat [UH not, om. T.] for-thy I rose, [arose UH.] and welny naked, All sodenly my-selfë Rémembryng Of a matér, leuyng all othir thyng Line 5 Which I schuld do, withouten more delay, ffor hem [hyr T, them H.] þe which [UT, to whom H.] I durst nat dysobbey. Line 7

(2)

My charge was þis, [UH, thus T.] to translat by and by, Line 8 (All thyng foryif [foryeuyn T, forgiven H.] ), as part of my penaunce, A boke callëd "la belle dame sans mercy," which maister Alayn made, of Rémembraunce, Chefe secretary with the kyng of fraunce. Line 12 And here-vpon, a while I [I UH, om. T.] stode musynge, And in my-selfe gretly ymagynynge Line 14

(3)

What wyse I schuld perfourme þis said processe, Line 15 Consideryng, by gode a-vysëment, Myn vnkonnyng and my gret [UT, om. H.] symplesse, And ayeynward, þe streyt commaundëment which þat I hade; and þus, in myn entent, Line 19 I wasse vexid, and turnyd vp and doun; yet att the last, as In conclusyoun, [HT, conclusy U.] Line 21

Line 21

(4)

I cast my clothës on, and went my way,— [folio 117b] Line 22 This forsaid charge hauyng in rémembraunce,— Til I cam to [UT, into H.] a lusty grene valey fful of floures; to se, a grete plesaunce; And so, bolded [UH, voldyd T.] with þair benyng suffraunce Line 26 That Rede [UH, to Rede T.] þis boke, touchyng þis [UT, the H.] said matere, Thus I bygan, [begynne H.] iff hit please yow to here: Line 28

(5. The Poem, in 50 stanzas of eights, ababbcbc.)

Not long ago, Rydyng an [UH, on a T.] esy paas, [

N'agueres cheuauchant pensoye,Comme homme triste & douloreux,Au dueil où il faut que je soyeLe plus dolant des amoureux;Puis que, par son dart rigoureux,La mort me tolli ma Maistresse,Et me laisse seul langoureuxEn la conduiste de tristesse.

Œuvres de M. Alain Chartier, 1617, p. 502.] Line 29 I fill in þought, of ioy full desperat, With gret disease and payn, so þat I was Of all louérs þe most vnfortunat, Sith by [UT, with H.] his dart most cruell, full of haat, Line 33 Þe [UH, om. T.] dethe hath [UH, Det hath fro me T.] take my lady and maystres, And left me sole, thus [UH, thys T.] discomfort and mate, Sore languischynge, and in way of distresse. Line 36

(6)

Then said I þus: hit falleth me to cesse, Line 37 Eyþer to ryme, or dytes for to make; And I, seurly, [UH, yet therwith T.] to make a fulle promesse To laughe no more, but wepe in clothës blake. My ioyfull tyme, alas! now is hit [UH, hit is T.] slake, Line 41 ffor in my selfe I fele no maner ease; lat hit by [be H, by U (by is an allowable spelling, but apt to confuse a reader).] wryten, siche fortune I take, which neyther me, nor doth non other, [UH, non other doth T.] please.

(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!

Iffe I did well, yit felt [UH, fele T.] I no plesaunce; hit caused neither ioy nor [UH, causeth no but T.] hevynesse; ffor when sche dydë, þat wasse [whyche was T, that was H, þat wasse all U.] my maistresse, Line 73 All my [HT, My gode U.] welfare then made [UT, made then H.] þ^e sam purchasse; Þe deth hath set my boundis, of wytnesse, [La mort m'assist illec la bourne.] which for no thyng myn hert schall neuer passe.

(11)

In þis gret þought, sore trowbled in my mynde, Line 77 Allon þus rode I [H, I rode T, rode & U.] all þe morow tyde, Tyll, at þe last, hit happed me to fynde The place wher-In I cast me to a-byde, [UT, I purposid me to hide H.] when þat I had no ferþer for [UT, forth H.] to ryde. Line 81 And as I went, my loggyng to purvey, Ryght sone I herd, but lytell me be-syde, In a gardyn, wher mynstrells gan to play. Line 84

(12)

With þat anon I went me bakkermore; [Si me retray.] Line 85 My selfe and I, me þought we wer Inow; But tweyn, [UH, y. T.] þat wer my frendis her-byfore, [UH, tofore T.] had me espiëd, and I wot [UH, wyst T.] not how. Thai cam for me: aweyward I me drow, Line 89 Sum-what by force, sum-what by þair request, That in no wyse I couthe [UH, cowde T.] my selfe rescow, But [HT, bud U.] nede I must cum In, and se þ^e fest. Line 92

(13)

At my commyng, the ladyse euerychon [folio 119] Line 93 Bade me welcom, god wot, ryght gentilly, And made me chere, euerych by on and on, [These lines transferred in Trinity MS.] A gret dele better þen I wasse worthy; [These lines transferred in Trinity MS.] And, of þair grace, schewd me gret courtesy Line 97

Line 97 with good disport, by cause I schuld not morne. [UH, mone T.] That day I bode [UH, abode T.] still in þair cumpany, which wasse to me a gracyous soiourne. Line 100

(14)

The boordës wér spred in ryght [UH, full T.] lytell space; Line 101 The ladyse sat, eche as hem semyd best. were [were H, wher U, Ther were T.] non þat dide seruyse [UT, þat serued H.] with-In þat place, But chosen men, ryght of þ^e goodlyest; And sum þer were, paraunter [parauenture H.] most [more T, om. H.] freschest, Line 105 That saw þair Iuges syttyng full demure, without semblant, oþer [UH, eyþer T.] to most or lest, Not with standyng [UH, But not . . T.] þai had hem vndur cure. Line 108

(15)

Among all oder, on I gan aspye, Line 109 which in gret thought full often cam and went, As on [UT, man H.] þat had bene rauysched vttirlye, In his langage not gretly dylygent; Hys countynaunce he kept with gret turement, Line 113 But his desir far passed his resoun, ffor euer his yie [ey T, yee H.] went after his entent ffull many a tyme, when hit wasse no sesoun. Line 116

(16)

To make gud chere, ryght [UH, full T.] sore hym selfe he payned. [he peyned H, payned U, he feynyd T.] [folio 119b] And outwardly [UT, outeward H.] he feyned gret gladnesse; To syng also, by force he wasse constrayned, ffor no plesaunce, but [UH, for T.] verrey schamfastnesse; ffor the compleynt of his most hevynesse Line 121 Cam to his voyce alway with-out request, lyke as þ^e sown of byrdës doth expresse, [UH, doutles T.] when þai syng lowd, in fryth or in [in UT, om. H.] forést. Line 124

Line 124

(17)

Othir þer wer þat seruëd in the halle, Line 125 But non lyke hym, as after [hym . . H, hym for soth to T, as after U.] myn avyse; ffor he wase pale, and sumwhat lene with-all; his speche also tremlyd [UH, he spake also tremblyng T.] in ferefull wyse; And euer allon, but when he dyde seruyse. Line 129 All blake he ware, and no deuyse but playn; Me þought by hym, as my wyt couth [UH, wyll cowde T.] suffyse, hys hert wasse no thynge [UH, then not T.] in his awn demayn. Line 132

(18)

To feste hem all, he did his dilygence; Line 133 And wel he couth, [couthe H, cowde T.] ryght as hit semyd me; But euermor when he wasse in presence, his chere wasse do, [UH, done T.] it wold non other [UH, no bettyr T.] be: his scolemaystres [scole-maister UH, scolemaystres T.] hade siche autoryte, Line 137 That, all the while he stode [UH, that while he bode T.] still in þ^e place, Speke couth [coude H, cowde T.] he nat; but vpon her beaute he lokyd still, with Ryght [UH, ryght with T.] a pytous face. Line 140

(19)

With þat, his hede he turned attë [at the T.] laste, [folio 120] Line 141 ffor to biholde þe ladies euerychon; But euer in one he sette his ye [ey T.] stedfaste On hir, þe which his þought was most [UH, euer T.] vppon; And of his yen, [yen H, eyen T.] the shot [UT, sighte H, [Fr. trait].] y knewe anon, Line 145 Which federid was with right humble requestis. Then to my self y seyd, 'by god allon, Sich on was y, or that y [or y that y U, I that there H, I or euer y T.] sawe þese gestes.' Line 148

(20)

Out of the prees he went full esily, Line 149 To make stabill his heuy contynaunce;

And wite ye wele, he sighëd tenderly ffor his sorowes and wofull rémembraunce. Then in hym self he made his ordynaunce, Line 153 And forth-with-all cam to bryng in the mes; But, for to Iuge his [UH, But to beholde with T.] moste rewfull semblaunce, God wot it was a petous entremes. Line 156

(21)

After dynér, anone they hem avaunsed Line 157 To daunce aboute, these [UH, the T.] folkës euerychon; And forth-with-all þis heuy lover [louer HT, om. U.] daunced, Sumtyme with tweyne, and sum tyme but with on: Vnto hem all, his chere was after [UH, euer T.] on, Line 161 Now here, now there, as fill by áuenture; But euer among, [among HT, anone U.] he drow to hir allon, Which he most dredde, [UH, louyd T.] of lyuyng crëature. Line 164

(22)

To myn avise, god [good H.] was his puruiaunce [folio 120b] Line 165 When he hir chase [UH, chose T.] to his maystres allone, If þat hir herte were sette to his plesaunce As moche as was hir beauteous persone; ffor who þat euer setteth [sett H, wyll set T.] his trust vppon Line 169 Þe réporte of thair yen, withouten [UH, such oon then without T.] more, he myght be dede, and grauen vnder a [om. HT.] stone, Or euer she [UT, he H.] shuld, his hertis ease restore. Line 172

(23)

In hir faylëd no thyng, þat y couthe [as I koude H, þat I cowde T.] gesse [

En la dance ne failloit riensNe plus auent ne plus arriere

] Line 173 O wyse nor other, [On vice ner othir H, In any wyse nether T.] pryue nor apert; [or perte H, ne perte T.] A garnyson [UH, gramyson T.] sche was of all goodnesse, [UH, goodlynesse T.] To make a frounter [Fr. frontiere, front rank (make an attack on).—Skeat.] for a louers herte;

Right ȝonge and fressh, a woman full couert; Line 177 Assured wele [UH, wele with T.] hir port, and eke hir chere, Wele [UH, went T.] atte hir ease, withouten wo or smert, All vndirnethe the standart of daungere. Line 180

(24)

To se the fest, it weryd me full sore; Line 181 ffor hevy ioye dothe the herte sore [sore the herte T, soore the hurte H.] trauaylle. Out of the prees y me withdrow therfore, And sette me down allon, behynde a trayll ffull of leuès, to se, a gret mervayll: Line 185 with grene wythies ybounden [UH, ybounde full T.] wundirly; The leues were so thik, withouten fayll, That thoroughout myght no man me [UH, man T.] aspye. Line 188

(25)

To his lady he cam full curteysely, [folio 121] Line 189 Whan he [UH, he hym T.] þought tyme to daunce with hir a trace; Sith in an herber made full plesauntly Thei rested them, fro thens but lytill space; Nigh hem were non, a certeyn of compace, [UH, certeyn space T.] Line 193 But onely they, as fer as y couthe se; And safe [saue HT.] the trayll, there y [UH, there as T.] hadde chose my place, Ther was nomore betuyxt hem tweyne [UH, ij. T.] and me.

(26)

I herde þ^e louer sighyng wondir sore; Line 197 ffor ay þe ner, þe sorer it hym sought; [UH, thought T.] his [UH, whos T.] inward payn he couthe [UH, cowde T.] not kepe in store, Nor [ne HT.] for to speke, so hardy was he nought; his leche was nere, þe gretter was his þought; Line 201 he mused sore, to conquere his desire, ffor noman may to more penaunce be brought, Þen in his hete to bryng hym to þe fire. Line 204

Line 204

(27)

Þe herte began to swelle withyn his chest, Line 205 So sore streynëd for anguysh and for payn, That all to pecis almost it to-brest, When bothe at ones, so sore it did constrayn; Desire was bold, but shame it gan [can H, dyd T.] refrayn; Line 209 Þe ton [UH, That oon T.] was large, the tother [UH, that other T.] was full cloos; No lytyll charge was leyd on hym, [UH, on hym was leyd T.] certeyn, To kepe such ware, [werre H.] and haue so many foos. Line 212

(28)

fful often tyme to speke, hym self he payned, [UH, feynyd T.] [folio 121b] Line 213 But shamefastnes and drede seid euer 'nay;' yit atte the last, so sore he was constreyned, When he full longe hadde putte it in delay; To his lady, right thus then gan he [UH, he gan to, T.] say Line 217 With dredfull voys, wepyng, halfe in a rage, "ffor me was purueied an vnhappy [UH, happy T.] day Whan y first hadde a sight of youre vysage! Line 220

(29)

"I suffre peyn, god wot, full hote [UH, sore T.] burnyng, Line 221 To cause my dethe, all for my trew seruice; And y se wele, ye reche [UH, rek T.] therof nothyng, Nor take non hede of it in no kyns [UH, therof hede in no maner T.] wyse; But when y speke, after my best avise, [UH, deuyse T.] Line 225 ye set it at [om. HT.] nought, but make therof a game; And though y sue [UH, shew T.] so grete an entirprise, It peireth [UH, apeireth T.] not your wurship nor your fame. Line 228

(30)

"Alas! what shuld be to you preiudice, Line 229 yf þat a man do loue you faythefully, To your [UH, euery T.] wurship, eschuyng euery vice? So am y youres, and will be [UH, shalbe T.] verely;

I chalange nought [UH, shall nat T.] of right, and resoun why, Line 233 ffor y am hole submyt to youre seruyse; Right as ye lyste it be, right [euyn H, om. T.] so will y, To bynde my selfe, where y was [UH, am T.] in fraunchise.

(31)

"Þough it be so, [be so I cannot H, so be þat I can hit nat T.] þat y cannot deserue [folio 122] Line 237 To haue youre grace, but alwey leue [ay to lyve H, alwey lyue T, alwey to leue U.] in drede; yit suffre me you fór to loue and serue without magrè [mauger H, mawgre T.] of youre most goodlyhede; Bothe feyth and trouth y yeue [yeue T, to gif H, ye U.] your womanhede, And my seruise, without ayen-callyng; Loue hathe me bounde, withoutë wage or mede, To be your man, and leue all othir thyng." Line 244

(32) LA DAME.

When this lady hadde herde all his [UT, this H.] langage, Line 245 She yaf [yaf hym U, om. hym HT.] answere full softe and démurely, Without chaungyng of Colour or corage, Nothyng in haste, but mesurabëly: "Me thynketh, sir, your þought is [your hert is T, ye doo fulle H.] grete foly. Line 249 purpose ye not your labour for to sees? ffor thynketh [thynk ye, HT.] not, whils þat ye leue and [ye . . and HT, I . . an U.] y, In this [UH, your T.] matier to sette youre hert in pees." [UH, ese T.] Line 252

(33) LAMANT.

"Þer may non make þ^e pees, but only ye, Line 253 Which ar the ground and cause [cause and grounde HT.] of all this war; ffor with youre yen þ^e letters writen be, By which y am defied [UH, deferryd T.] and put a-fer, youre plesaunt looke, my very lodësterre, Line 257 was made heraud of thilke same [thilke same H, þe same U, thys saunce T.] diffiaunce

which vtterly behight me to forbar [forbarre (loodsterre, aferre, werre) H.] Mi feythefull trust, and all my affiaunce." Line 260

(34) LA DAME.

"To leue in wo, he hathe gret fantasie, [folio 122b] Line 261 And of his hert also hathe sliper hold, That, only for byholdyng of an ye, [yee H, ey T.] Cannot abide in pees, as resoun wolde. Other, or me, [UH, ne T.] yf ye liste to biholde, Line 265 Oure yen [yeen H, eyen T.] ar made to loke: why shuld we spare? I take no kepe, nether of yong ne olde; who feleth smert, [UH, seketh harme T.] y consayll hym by [be H.] ware." Line 268

(35) LAMANT.

"If it be so, [UH, so be T.] one hurt an other sore, Line 269 In his defaut þat feleth the [the HT, no U.] greuaunce, Of very right a man may do no more; yit resoun wuld it were in rémembraunce. And, sith fortune nat only (by his chaunce) Line 273 hathe caused me to suffre all this payn, But your beaute, with all þe sircumstaunce, Whi list you [ye HT.] haue me in so grete disdeyn?" Line 276

(36) LA DAME.

"To your persone ne haue y non [UH, om. T.] disdeyn, Line 277 Nor neuer hadde, truly; nor nought [ner neuere H, ne neuer T.] will haue, Nor right gret loue, nor hatrede, in certeyn; Nor [UH, Ne T.] youre consayll to knowe, (so god me saue!) If such beleue [UH, conseyte T.] be in your mynde y-graue, [UH, graue T.] Line 281 Þat lytell thyng may do you gret plesaunce, you to begyle, or make [UH, mok T.] you for to rave, I will not cause non [noon H, no T.] such éncomberaunce." Line 284

(37) LAMANT.

"What euer hit be þat hath me [UT, me hath H.] þis purchácyde, [folio 123] Line 285 Wenyng hath noght deseyued me, [UH, om. T.] sertayne;

But feruent loue so sore me hath I-chasede, [UH, hath me enbrasyd T.] That I, [UH, om. T.] vnware, am casten [UH, cast T.] in your chayne; And sith so is, as [UH, hyt ys that T.] fortune lyste [UH, lyste so T.] ordayne, Line 289 All my welfare is in your handys falle, Inn éschewyng of more myschévous payne; Who sunnest dieth, his care is leste of alle." Line 292

(38) LA DAME.

"Þis [UH, The T.] sykenesse is ryght [UH, full T.] esy to endure, Line 293 But few peple hit causeth for to dye; But what þei meane, I know hit [it H, om. T.] verrey sure, Of mor comfórt to draw the remedye. Sych be þer now, [nought H, lew T.] playnyng full pytouslye, Line 297 That fele [UH, faylen T.] (gode wote) not alþer [UH, all the T.] -grettyst payne; And [Are UT.] iffe so be, loue hurtes [hurte H, hurt T.] so grevously, lesse harme hit were, wone sorouful, þen twayn." [tweyne HT, wayn U.]

(39) LAMANT.

"Alas, madame! iffe þat hit [UT, I H.] myght you please, Line 301 mych better wer, [UH, hyt were bettyr T.] by way of gentyllesse, Of won sory, [UT, sorwe H ('sory' in margin).] to make twayne [UH, ij. T.] well at ease, Then hyme to strye [stroye H, dystroy T.] that lyueth in destresse. ffor my desyr is noþer mor ne lesse, Line 305 But my seruysse to [UH, I T.] do, for your plesaunce, In éschewyng al maner doublenesse, To make too Joys insted of won [oo HT.] grevaunce." Line 308

(40) LA DAME.

"Of loue I seke noþer plesaunce nore [UT, ne H.] ease, [folio 123b] Line 309 Nor Ryght gret loue, [Nor gret desire HT.] nor [UH, ne T.] ryght gret affyaunce. þough ye be seke, hit dothe me no thyng please; Also, I take none hede to your plesaunce.

Chese who-so wyle, þair hertys to a-vaunce, Line 313 ffre am I now, and fre wyll I endure; To be Rulyd by mannys gouernaunce, ffor erthly gode, nay! that I you ensure." Line 316

(41) LAMANT.

"Loue, which þat [UT, om. H.] ioy and sorow doth depart, Line 317 hath set þe [UH, yow T.] ladyes out of all seruage, And largëly doth graunt hem, for þair [þar H, youre T.] part, Lordschip and rule of euery maner age. The pore seruaunt noght hath of [UH, hath noon T.] ávauntage Line 321 But what he may get only of purcháce; And he þat ones to loue dothe his omáge, ffull often [ofte H, oft T.] tyme, der boght is the rechace." [UT, dere his richesse boughte has H. O. Fr. rachatz; Mod. Fr. rachat, redemption, ransom.—Skeat. 'Rachapt, a redemp|tion, redeeming, rebuying, recovery of a thing sold, by paying that for which it was sold.'—Cotgrave.] Line 324

(42) LA DAME.

"Ladyes beth not so symple (þus I mene), Line 325 So dulle of wyte, so sotyd [sottid H, dotyd T.] of folye, That, for wordes which said ben of [UT are, om. H.] þ^e splene, In fayr langáge, paynted ful plesantlye, Which ye and mo [UH, me T.] holde scolys of [UT, scoolys holden H.] dailye, [dulye U, dieulye margin, daily H.] Line 329 To make hem all [UT, of H.] grete wondyrs to suppose; But sone thei cane, away her hedes [UT, þer hedys away H.] wrye, And to fayr speche, lyghtly þair yerës close." Line 332

(43) LAMANT.

"Þer is no man þat iangulith bysily [folio 124] Line 333 And sette [UT, settith H.] his hert and all his mynd þerfor, þat be reason may playn so pytously As he þat hath myche hevynesse in store. Whose hede is hole, [UH, nat sore T.] and saith þat hit is [UT, is nat T.] sore, Line 337 his fayned chere is hard [UH, herde T.] to kepe in mewe;

But thoght, which [UH, that T.] is vnfaynëd euermore, The wordës previth [preven H, present T.] as the warkës sewe." [shew T, sewe margin, shew H.] Line 340

(44) LA DAME.

"Loue is sotyle, and hath a grete awayte, [UT, abaite H, margin awayte.] Line 341 Scharpe in worchyng, in gabbyng gret plesance, And cane hyme venge of [UH, on T.] siche as, by deceyte, Wold fele and know [UT, knowe & fele H.] his secrete gouernance; And makyth hem to abey [obeye H.] his ordynance Line 345 By cherfull wayes, [weies H, wyse T.] as In hem [UT, hym H.] is supposed, But when þei [UT, þat þei H.] fallen in-to [UH, vnto T.] répentance, Then, in a rage, þeir councele is disclosed." Line 348

(45) LAMANT.

"Sith, for-as-mych as gode and eke natur Line 349 hathe loue avaunced [Skeat MSS. avaunced loue.] to so hye degre, Mych scharper is the poynte, þis [UH, thus T.] am I sure, yete [UT, hit H.] greueth mor the faute, wher-euer hit be. Who hath no colde, of hete hathe no deyntye; Line 353 þe tone for þe toder, axed is expresse; And of plesaunce knothe non [noon H, not UT.] þe serteyntye, Bot hit be [be H, om. UT.] wonen with thought and hevynesse."

(46) LA DAME.

"As for plesaunce, hit is not alway wone: [on (one) H.] [folio 124b] Line 357 That you [UH, to you T.] is swete, me thynketh [thynketh HT, thynke U.] a bytter payne; ye may not me constrayn, nor yet ryght none, After your lust to loue, [UH, lyue T.] þat is bot vayne. To chalange [UH, shall T.] loue by ryght, was neuer [UH, men T.] sayne, Line 361 But hert assent, by-fore bonde or promyse; ffor strenght nor force may not ataine, sertayne, A wylle þat stant enfeffyd in [in HT, on U.] franchyse." Line 364

Line 364

(47) LAMANT.

"Ryght fayr lady, god mot [UT, myghte H.] I never please, Line 365 Iffe I seche oþer ryght, as in þis case, But for to schew you playnly my disease, And your mercy to [UT, om. H.] abyde, and eke your grace. Iffe I purpóse your honour to defface, Line 369 Or ever dide, gode and fortune me schende, And that I never ryghtwysly [rightwisly H.] purcháce On only ioy, vn-to my lyvës ende!" Line 372

(48) LA DAME.

"ye and oþer, that sweere such othës faste, Line 373 And so condempne and cursen to and fro, ffull sykerly, ye wene your othës laste No lengur then the wordës beth [UH, byn T.] ago; And gode, and eke his sayntës, laugh [UH, dysplesyn T.] also. Line 377 In siche sweryng þer is no stedfastnesse; And þes wreches þat haue ful trust þer-to, After, þai wepe and waylen in destresse." Line 380

(49) LAMANT.

"he hath no corage of a man, truly, [folio 125] Line 381 That sechith plesaunce, worschip to despyse; Nor to be callyd forth, is not worthy The erthe to toche the ayre in no-skynnes [UH, ne the . . . no kyns T.] wyse. A trusty harte, a mouth without fayntyse, Line 385 Thes ben the strenght of euery man of name; And who þat laith [latith H, lesyth T.] his faith for lytel price, he lesith bothe his worschip and his fame." Line 388

(50) LA DAME.

"A currysche hert, [Fr. Villain cueur.] a mouthe [UH, among T.] þat is courteys, Line 389 ffull wel ye wote, þei be [UH, these byn T.] not ácordynge; yet faynëd chere ryght sone may þeim [UH, they may T.] apeyse, Wher of malece is sete al her [there H, theyr T.] worchynge:

ffull fals semblant þei bere, and trew semynge; [UT, meuyng H (semyng in margin).] Line 393 þaire name, þaire fame, þair tongës be bot [UT, not H (but in margin).] fayned; Worschip in heme is put in fórgetynge, [forgetyng T, foryeting H, for etynge U.] Noght répentyd, nor in no wyse complayned." Line 396

(51) LAMANT.

"Who thynketh ylle, no good may hyme be-fale: Line 397 Gode, of his grace, grawnt yche mon his desert! But, for his loue, among your [UH, hys T.] thoughtës alle, As thenke opon my wofull sorous [sorowe H.] smert; ffor, of my payne, whedre [UT, where H.] your tendre hert, Line 401 Of swete pytë, be noght þer-with a-grevyde, And iffe your grace to me wer [UT, be H.] discouért, Then, be your meane, sone [UH, om. T.] schuld I be releuyde."

(52) LA DAME.

"A lyghtsome hart, a folye of plesaunce, [folio 125b] Line 405 Ar myche better, the lasse whyle þei abyde; Thei make you thynk, [thyng U, thynk H.] and bryng you in [UH, into T.] a traunce; But þat sykenes will sone be remedyde. Respyte your thought, and put all þis a-syde; [UT, on side T.] Line 409 ffull goode disportës werith [weriethe H.] men al daye; To helpe nor hurt, my wille is not aplyde; Who trouthe [trowith H, troweth T.] me not, I [HT, erasure in U.] let hit pase awaye."

(53) LAMANT.

"Who hath a byrde, a faukyn or a hounde, Line 413 That folowith hyme for loue in euery place, he cherische [cherisithe H, cherysseth T.] hyme, and kepith hym [UT, om. L.] ful sounde; Out [UH, But T.] of his syght he wol hym [hym UT, om. H.] note enchace. And I, þat sette my wyttës, in this case, Line 417 On you allon, withouten any chaunge, Am [UT, And H (Am in margin).] put vnder, myche forþer out of grace, And lese set [UT, sette lesse H.] by, þen oþer þat be straunge." Line 420

Line 420

(54) LA DAME.

"Though I make chere to euery man a-boute, Line 421 ffor my worschip, and of myn awne fraunchyse, To you I nylle do so, withouten doute, In éschwyng all maner preiudyse. ffor, wett you well, [ye well HT, you will U.] loue is so [UH, om. T.] lytle wyse, Line 425 And in be-leue so lyghtly wyll [wil H, wyll T, wel U.] be broght, That he taketh, al at his awne devyse, Of thyng (god wot) þat serueth hym of noght."

(55) LAMANT.

"Iffe I, by loue and by my trew seruyse, [folio 126] Line 429 lese the good chere þat straungers haue alway, Wher-of schuld [shuld H, I schuld UT.] serue my trouth in any wyse les þen to heme [hem H, theym T.] þat come and go alday, Which hold [UH, had T.] of you no thyng, þat is no [non H, to no T.] nay? Line 433 Also in you is loste, to my semynge, All courtesy, which of [UH, of all T.] Resoun will [UT, wolde H.] say, That loue by [for Skeat.] loue were lawfull déseruynge." Line 436

(56) LA DAME.

"Courtesye is allied wondir nere Line 437 To [UT, with H.] worschip, which hyme louyth tendurly; [UT, best & tendirly H.] And he will not be bound, for no prayere Nor for no [UT, om. H.] yifte, I say you verely, But his good chere depart ful largëly Line 441 Wher hyme lykéth, as his conseit wil falle: Guerdoun constraynt, a yifte done thankefully, Thes twayn [UH, ij. T.] may not a-cord, nor neuer schale."

(57) LAMANT.

"As for guerdoun, I seche [UH, seke T.] none in þis case; [UH, place T.] Line 445 ffor þat desert, to me it [UT, om. H.] is to hye; Wherfor I asche [ashe H, ax T.] your pardoun and your grace, Sith me by-houyth deth, [H, om. UT.] or your mercye.

To yiue the good [good H, god U.] wher hit [UH, that it T.] wanteth, treulye, Line 449 That wer Resoun, and á [UT, om. H.] courteys manere; And to your awn myche bettyr were worthy, [UH, worth T.] þen to straungers, to schew heme louely [H, lowly T, lonely U.] chere."

(58) LA DAME.

"What call ye good? fayn wold I þat I wyste! [folio 126b] Line 453 That plesith on, an-oþer [UH, and other T.] smertyth sore; But, of his awn, to large is he þat liste yiue myche, and lese all his goode fame þerfore. On schuld not make a graunt, lytele nor more, Line 457 But þ^e request were ryght wele ácordynge; yif worschip be not kept and set byfore, All þat is lefte, is but a lytell thynge." Line 460

(59) LAMANT.

"In-to þis world was neuer formyd non, Line 461 Nor vndur heven crëature [UT, o creature H.] I-bore, Nor neuer schall, saffe only your parson, [persone H.] To whom your worschip toucheth half so sore; But me, which haue no sesoun, les ne more, Line 465 of youth nor age, but styll in your seruyse, I haue non yne, [yeen H, eyen T.] no wyt, nor mouth in store, But all beth [But . . byn T, that ne alle ar H.] yiuen to þe same offyse." Line 468

(60) LA DAME.

"A full gret charge hath he, with outen fayle, Line 469 þat his worschip kepyth in sykernesse; But in daunger he settyth his trauayle, That feffith hit with othyrs [UH, other T.] bysynesse. To hym þat longeth honneur and noblesse, Line 473 Vpon non othir schuld not [UH, om. T.] he awayte; ffor of his [UT, om. H.] awn, so mych hathë [hathe he HT.] þe lesse, That, of othir, mych folouth the conseit." Line 476

Line 476

(61) LAMANT.

"your yen [yeen H, eyen T.] haue set the prynte [UH, theym present T.] which þat y fele [Fr. Voz yeulx out si empraint leur merche.] [folio 127] Line 477 withyn myn herte, þat, wher-so-euer [where-sum-euer H.] y goo, If y do thyng þat sowneth [sowndithe H.] vnto wele, Nede must it [UH, it must T.] come from you, and fro no mo. ffortune will thus, þat y, for wele or wo, Line 481 My lyfe endure, your mercy ábidyng; And very right, will þat y thynk also Of your wurship, aboue all other thyng." Line 484

(62) LA DAME.

"To your wurship se wele, for þat is nede, Line 485 þat ye spende not your seasoun [UT, ye your sesoun spende not H.] all in vayn. As touchyng myn, y rede you take non hede, By your foly, to putte your-selfe in peyn. To Ouercom is good, and to restreyn Line 489 An herte which is deseyved folyly; ffor wers it is to breke þan [UH, the T.] bowe, certeyn, And better bowe, than falle to sodenly." Line 492

(63) LAMANT.

"Now, faire lady, thenk, sith it first began, Line 493 þat loue hadde sette myn hert vndre his [your H, om. T.] cure, It neuer myght, nor [I . . ne H, It not UT.] treuly y ne can, None othir serue, whils y shall here [UT, here I shal H.] endure; In most fre wise, therof y make you sure, Line 497 which may not be with-drawe: this is no nay. I must abide all maner áuenture; ffor y may nought putte to, nor take away." Line 500

(64) LA DAME.

"I holde it for no yifte, in sothefastnes, [folio 127b] Line 501 That one offereth, where þat it is forsake; ffor suche yifte is abandonnyng expresse, That, with wurship, ayen may not be take.

he hathe an hert full fell, [Thynne (Sk.), hertis full fele UT, hurte ful fele H.] þat list to make Line 505 A yift lightly, þat put is in refuse; But he is wyse þat suche conseyt will slake, So þat hym nede nether stodie nor [UT, neuer to stody ne H.] muse." Line 508

(65) LAMANT.

"he [UT, Who H.] shuld not muse, þat hath [hath HT, om. U.] his seruyse spent Line 509 On hir which is a lady honouráble; And yf y spende my tyme to þat entent, yit atte the lest y am nat répreuáble Of faylëd herte: to thynk, y am vnable, Line 513 Or me mystoke whan y made this request, By which loue hathe, of entirprise notáble, So many hertis getyn bi conquest." Line 516

(66) LA DAME.

"yf þat ye liste do after my Counsayll Line 517 Secheth faycrer, [UH, ferther T.] and of more hier fame, Which in seruice of loue will you prevayll After your þought, acordyng to the same. he hurteth both [both HT, om. U.] his wurship and his name, Line 521 þat folyly for tweyn [UH, ij. T.] hym-selfe will trobull; And also he leséth his after game, That surely cannot sette his poyntës double." [After-game, return-match . . . I believe l. 524 to mean, 'who cannot thoroughly afford to double his stakes.' To set often means to stake. The French is:—

'Et celuy pert le ien d'attenteQui ne scet faire son point double.'

—Skeat, vii. 519.] Line 524

(67) LAMANT. [Fr.: Le conseil que vous me donnez.]

"This your Counsell, by ought þat y can se, [folio 128] Line 525 Is better seid than done, to myn avise. Though i beleue it not, foryif [UH, foryeue T.] it me; Myn herte is suche, so hele [hoole THU.] withoute fayntyse, That it may not [TU, om. H.] yeve credence, in no wyse, Line 529 To thyng which [UH, thynke that T.] is not sownyng vnto trouth:

Other Councell, it [other counsail it H, others counsayles hit T, hit om. U.] are but fantasise, [UH, fantasyes T.] Saf of [of HT, om. U.] your grace to shewe pitë and routhe." Line 532

(68) LA DAME.

"I holde hym wise, þat wurcheth folyly, Line 533 And, whan hym list, can leue [And . . leue UH, when he can leue T.] and part therfro; But in konnyng he is to lerne, trewely, þat wold hym selfe condit, [conduyte H, condute T.] and cannot [cannat HT, canno U.] so. And he þat will not after Conseyll do, Line 537 his sute [UT, suerte UH (sute in margin).] he putteth in desé[s]peraunce; And all the good, which [goodys T, good which H.] þat shuld fall hym to, Is lefte as [UH, all T.] dede, clene out of rémembraunce." Line 540

(69) LAMANT.

"yit will y sue this matier faythfully Line 541 whils y may leue, what-euer be [UH, what oon by T.] my chaunce; And if it happe þat in my trouth y die, þat dethe shall not do me no displesaunce. But when þat y, by your full hard [UT, your harde H.] sufferaunce, Line 545 Shall die so trewe, and with so gretë [UT, grete a H.] peyne, yit shall it do me moche the [UT, moche H.] lesse grevaunce, þen for to leue a fals louer, sertayn." Line 548

(70) LA DAME.

"Of me gete ye right nought, this is no fable; [folio 128b] Line 549 I nyll [UH, wyll T.] to you be nether hard nor streyght; And right wil nat, nor maner Custumáble, To thynke ye shuld be sure of myn conseyt. Who secheth sorow, [UH, sorowys T.] his be [is by H ('his bi' margin), by T.] the reseyt. Line 553 Other Counceyll can y not fele nor se; Nor for to lerne, y cast not to awayte: Who wyll therto, late hym assay, for me." Line 556

Line 556

(71) LAMANT.

"Ones must it be [UH, it must be T.] asaied, þat is no nay, [Fr.: Vue fois le fault essayer.] Line 557 with suche as be of reputacïoun And of trewe loue the right deuoyr [UT, duetes H.] to paie, Of fre hertis, getyn by due Raunsom; ffor fre will holdeth this opynyon, Line 561 Þat it is grete dures and discomfort To kepe an hert in só streyt a presoun, Þat hathe but on body for [UH, to T.] his disport." Line 564

(72) LA DAME.

"I knowe so many Cases [UT, caases H (causes margin).] meruelos, Line 565 That y must nede, of resoun, thynk certeyn, Þat suche entre [UH, entent T.] is wondre perelous; And yit wele more, the comyng bak ageyn; [bak ageyn H, abak certeyn U, bak certeyn T.] Good or wurship therof is seldon seyn; Line 569 Wherfore y wil not make none suche aray, As for to fynde a plesaunce but bareyn, When it shall coste so dere, þ^e first asay." Line 572

(73) LAMANT.

"ye haue no cause to doute of this matiere, [Fr.: Vous n'auez cause de douter.] [folio 129] Line 573 Nor you to meve with non suche fantasise To putte me far all [all, om. T.] out, as a straunger; ffor youre goodnes can thynk [thynk H, thynke T, thyng U.] and wele avise, Þat y haue made a prefe [prese U.] in euery wise, Line 577 By which my trouth sheweth open evidence: Mi long abidyng and my trew seruice May wele be knowe by playn experience." Line 580

(74) LA DAME.

"Of very right, he may be called trewe, [Fr.: Il se peut loyal appeller.] Line 581 (And so must he be take in euery place) Þat can deserue, and let as he ne knewe, And kepe the good, yf he it may purcháce.

ffor who þat prayeth or sueth in any cace [UH, place T.] Line 585 Right wele ye wot, in [in, om. T.] þat no trouth is preued: Siche hathe ther bene, and [and H, an U.] are, þat geteth [UH, getyn T.] grace, And lese it sone, whan they it haue acheuyd." Line 588

(75) LAMANT.

"yf trouth me cause, bi vertu souerayn, Line 589 To shewe good loue, and all-wey fynde contráry, And cherissh þat at [that H.] slethe me with þ^e payn, Þis is to me a louely aduersarie. when þat pite, which longe aslepe dothe tarye, Line 593 hathe set þ^e fyn of all myn hevynesse, yit her comfort, to me most necessarye, Shuld sette my wille more sure in stabilnesse."

(76) LA DAME.

"Þe [UH, A T.] wofull wight, what may he [ye UT, he H.] thynk or say? [folio 129b] Line 597 Þe contrarie of áll ioye and gladnesse. A seke body, his thought is all away [UH, bodyes thought is alwey T.] ffro hem þat fele no sorow nor sekenes. Þus hertis [hurtes H. Skeat.] bene of dyuerse besynes Line 601 which loue [loue UH, om. T.] hathe putte to right gret hynderaunce, And treuthe also put in foryetfulnes, when they so sore begynne to sigh askaunce." Line 604

(77) LAMANT.

"Now god defende, but he be hauëles [De tous soit celuy deguerpiz.] Line 605 Of all wurship or good þat may befalle, Þat to the wurst turneth, by his lewdenes, A yift of grace, or ony thyng atte all That his lady [his lady H, this lady U, ys T.] vouchesaf vppon hym calle, Line 609 Or cheryssheth [cherysshe TH, cheryssheth U.] hym in honorable wyse! In þat defaut, what-euer he be þat fall, Deserueth [Deserueth H, Derserueth U.] more, then dethe to suffre twyse." Line 612

Line 612

(78) LA DAME.

"There is no Iuge yset of [UH, on T.] suche trespáce, Line 613 By which, of right, one may recouered be; One curseth faste, an-other dotbe manáce, yit dieth non, as fer as y can se, But kepe her cours all-wey, in one degre, [one degre H, oo degre T, ordre U.] Line 617 And euermore [euermore UT, euere newe H.] there labour dothe encrece, To brynge ladise, bi their grete [grete UT, om. H.] sotelte, ffor othirs gilt, in sorow and disese." Line 620

(79) LAMANT.

"All-be-hit [Though hit be T, Al be it H.] so, on do so gret offence, [Fr.: Combien qu on n'arde ne ne pende, p. 518.] [folio 130] Line 621 And be not dede, nor put to no Iuyse, Ryght wele I wot, hym gayneth no deffence, But he must ende in full myschéuous wyse, And all þat euer [euer UH, om. T.] is gode will hym despyse; Line 625 ffor falshode is so full of cursydnesse, That highe [theyr T, her H.] worschip may [may U, om. T, shall H.] never haue enterprise Wher hit rayneth, and hath the wylfulnysse." Line 628

(80) LA DAME.

"Of [Yef T, Off H.] that haue þei [þei haue T, haue þei H.] no gret fere now of [a TH.] dayes, Line 629 Siche as wyll [wyll T, wel U, wil H.] say, and maynten hit þer-to, That stidfast trouth is nothyng for to preyes [preys H.] In hem þat kepe hit longe, for weile or wo. Þaire bysy hertes passen to and fro, Line 633 Þai be so wele reclaymed to the lure, So well lorned hem [hem H, theym T, & U.] to with-holde also, And all to chaunge, when loue schuld best endure."

(81) LAMANT.

"When won hath sett his hert in stable wisse, Line 637 In siche a place which is boeth gude and trewe,

he schuld not flytte, bot do forth his seruyse Alway, with-outen [without the T, withoute H.] chaunge of any newe. As sone as loue by-gynneth to remew. [renew T, remewe H.] Line 641 All plesaunce goth anon, in letel space: As for my party, þat schal I [UT, For my party, al H, that I shal H.] eschewe, Whils þat my [my T, the UH.] sowle abydythe in his place."

(82) LA DAME.

"To loue trewly, ther as ye oght of ryght, [folio 130b] Line 645 ye may not be mysse-taken, dout[ë]lesse, Bot ye be fowle deceyued in your syght, By lyghtly vndurstandyng, as I gesse; yet may ye wel repeale your bysynesse, Line 649 And to resoun, some-what haue átendaunce, myche better þen to abyde, by fole [sole T, foly H.] symplesse, The feble socour [UH, socours T.] of desesperaunce." Line 652

(83) LAMANT.

"Resoun, councell, wysdam, and good avyse Line 653 Bene vndur loue a-restyd [UH, arestyn T.] euerychone,— To which I can acord in euery wyse;— ffor þai be not rebell, bot still as [UH, as a T.] stone; Their will and myne ar [myne ar T, mynd as U, myn ben H.] medeled al in won, Line 657 And þer-with bownden with so stronge a cheyne, That, as in hem, [theym T, heuen U, hem H.] departyng shal be none, But pytë breke the myghty bonde a-tweyn." Line 660

(84) LA DAME.

"Who loueth not hym-selfe, what-euer he be, Line 661 In loue he stant [UH, standeth T.] for-yet in euery place; And, of your woo, if ye haue no pyte, Othirs pyte be-leue not to purcháce, [purches UH.] But bethe fully assurèd in this case, Line 665 I am al-ways vndur on ordynaunce, To haue better: trysteth not after grace, And al þat leueth, [UH, loueth T.] take to your plesaunce." Line 668

Line 668

(85) LAMANT.

"I haue myn hope so sure and so stedfast, [Fr.: I'ay mon esperance fermee.] [folio 131] Line 669 That sich a lady schuld not faile pyte; But now, alas, it is schit vp so fast, That daunger schewth on me his cruelte. And iffe sche se þe [that T, the H.] vertu fayle in me Line 673 Of trew seruyse, þen sche to faile also No wondir wer; but þis is the seurte, I must suffre, which way þat euer hit [I T, it H.] go." Line 676

(86) LA DAME.

"leue [Loue T, Leve H.] this purpos, I rede you for your best; Line 677 ffor, lenger that [UH, the lenger T.] ye kepe hit þus in vayn, The les ye gete, as of your hertës rest, And to reioisse hit, schal ye neuer attayne. When ye abyde goode hope, to make you fayne, Line 681 ye schal be founde a-sotyde [UH, bounde assured T.] in dotage And in the ende, ye scháll know for sertayne, That hope schall pay þe wrecches for þer wage." [þer wage H, your wage T, your waye U.]

(87) LAMANT.

"ye say as fallyth most for your plesaunce, Line 685 And your power is grete; al þis I se; But hope schall neuer out of my Rémembraunce, By which I felt so grete aduersyte. ffor when nature hath set in you plente Line 689 Of all goodnes, by vertu and by [UH, hygh T.] grace, He [He UT, Ne U.] neuer assembled hem, as semyth me, To put pyte out of his dwellyng place." Line 692

(88) LA DAME.

"Pyte of ryght ought [oweth T, aught H.] to be resonáble, [folio 131b] Line 693 And to no wyght of gret disáuauntage: [disauauntaye . . domaye U.] Ther as is nede, hit schuld be [by U, be HT.] profytáble, And to the pytous, schewyng no domage. [disauauntaye . . domaye U.]

Iffe a lady will do so gret outráge Line 697 To schew pyte, and cause her awn debate. Of siche pyte comyth dispytous Rage, And of þe loue also ryght dedly [UH, dewly T.] hate" Line 700

(89) LAMANT.

"To coumfort hem þat lyue [UH, byn T.] all coumfortles, Line 701 That is non harme, but worschip to your name; But ye, þat bere an hert of syche dures, A fair body I-fourmyd [And a fair body formed. Thynne, Skeat.] to the same, Iffe I durst say, ye wyn all þis diffame Line 705 By cruelte, which sittyth you full ylle, But iffe pyte, which may al þis atame, [may . . attame H, may not al þis attame U, all this may attame T.] In your hye hert may reste and tary stylle." Line 708

(90) LA DAME.

"What-euer he be þat saith he loueth me,— Line 709 And paraunter I leue [UH, beleue T.] þat hit be so,— Ough[t] he be wroth, or schuld I [wrother schuld I T, wroth or I schuld U.] blamyd be, Though I did not as he wold haue me do? Iffe I medlyd with siche, or othir mo, Line 713 hit myght be called 'pyte maner-les;' And aftirward, iffe I schuld lyue in wo, Then to repent hit were to late, I gesse." Line 716

(91) LAMANT.

"O marbre [marbil H, marble T.] hert, and yet mor hard [UH, mor hardyr T.] ; pardye, [Ha! cueur plus dur que le noir marbre.] [folio 132] Line 717 Which mercy may not perse, [parte T, perce H.] for no labour, mor strong [UH, stronger T.] to bow then is a myghty tre, What vayleth [UH, avayleth T.] you to schew so gret rygour? please it you mor, to se me dye þis oure Line 721 By-for your yne, [eyne T, yeen H.] for your disport and play, Then for to schew some comfort or socour To respyte dethe, which chaseth me alway?" Line 724

Line 724

(92) LA DAME.

"Of your disease ye may haue á-legeaunce; [allegeaunce T, allegeance H.] Line 725 And as for myn, I lat hit ouer-schake. [UH, slake T.] Also, ye schall not dye for my plesaunce, Nor for your hele [UH, lyfe T.] I cane no suerty make. I wyll [UH, wold.] not hate myn hert for oþer [othyrs T, othirs H.] sake: Line 729 Wepe þei, laghe þei, [UH, or laghe T.] or syng, þis [UH, thus T.] I warant, ffor this mater so wele to [weel to H, wyll I T, wele I U.] vndur-take, Þat none of you schall make þer-of avaunt." Line 732

(93) LAMANT.

"I can no skylle of song: by god allone, Line 733 I haue mor cause to wepe in your presénce; And wel [wel T, wele H, wil U.] I wote, avaunter am I none, ffor certaynly, [UH, in certeyn T.] I loue better sylence. On schuld not loue by his hertis credénce, Line 737 But he wer suer to kepe hit secretly; ffor ávaunter is of no reuerence When þat his tonge is his most enemy." Line 740

(94) LA DAME.

"Male-bouche in court hath gret comaundëment; [folio 132b] Line 741 Ech man studith to say the wurst he may. Thes fals louers, in þis tyme now presént, Thai serue to bost, to Iangle as a Iay. Þe most secret wylle wele þat sum man [men TH.] say Line 745 how he mystristed is on sum partyse; [UH, in . . parte T.] Wherfor, to ladyse what men speke or pray, [UH, wherfor these louers whatsoeuer they say T.] It schuld not be byleuyd in no wyse." Line 748

(95) LAMANT.

"Of good and yll, schall be, and is alway; Line 749 the world is sich; þe erth it is nat playn. Thay þat be good, the preef schewth euery day, And othir-wyse, gret vylany, sertayn.

Is hit reson, þough on his tonge distayn, Line 753 with cursyd spech, to do hym-selfe a schame, Þat such [such T, suche H, sichur U.] refus schuld wrongfully remayn Vpon the good, Renomyd in þair fame?" [UH, renewyd in his name T.] Line 756

(96) LA DAME.

"Sich as be nought, when þai her[e] tydyngs newe, That eche trespace schall lyghtly haue pardon, Thai þat purpósith [purpose T, purposen H.] to be goode and trewe, (Wele set by noble disposicïoun To cóntynue in goode condycïoun) Line 761 Thai ar the first þat fallith [fall T.] in damáge, And full frely þair hertës [UT, theym H.] ábandone To lytell fayth, with soft and fair [UT, faire & softe H.] langage." Line 764

(97) LAMANT.

"Now know I welle, of verrey sertaynete, [folio 133] Line 765 Though [Though TH, Iff U.] on do trowly, yit [yet H, ye T.] shal he be schent, Sith all maner of Iustyce and pyte Is banyscht out of á ladys entent. I can nat se but all is at o stent, [a stent T, oo stente H.] Line 769 Þe good, þe [and TH.] yll, þe vyce, and eke vertu. Sych as be good, schall haue the punyschment ffor the trespace of hem þat beth vntrewe." Line 772

(98) LA DAME.

"I haue no power, you to do [UH, to do you T.] greuaunce, Line 773 Nor to punysch [UH, promyse T.] non oþer crëature; But, to eschewe þe more encoumberaunce, To kepe vs from you [you H, yow T, yois U.] all, I holde hit sure. ffals semblant hath a vysage full demure, Line 777 lyghtly to cache þ^e ladyse in a-wayte; wherfor we must, iffe þat [UH, om. T.] we wyll endure, Make ryght good wache: lo! þis is my conseyt."

(99) LAMANT.

"Sith þat, of grace, o goodly word allone Line 781 May noght be hade, but alway kept in store, I pele [UH, speke T.] to gode, (for he may her my mone,) Of þe duresse which greuythe me so [which . . . so UH, that . . me T.] sore. and of pyte I playne me fordermore, [furthermore T, furthere-more H.] Line 785 which he foryat, in all his ordynaunce, Or elles my lyfe to háue endid by-fore, which he so sone put out of Rémembraunce." Line 788

(100) LA DAME.

"Myn hert, nor I, haue done you no [noo H, om. T.] forfait, [folio 133b] Line 789 By which ye schuld complayne in any kynde. Ther hurtyth you [UH, Then T.] no thyng but your [your TH, ys U.] conseyt: Be Iuge your-selfe; for so ye schall hit fynde. Ons, for alwey, lat þis synke in your mynde: Line 793 Thát ye desir, schall neuer Reioysed be. ye noye me sore, in wastyng all þis [UH, of your T.] wynde; ffor I haue sayd ynoghe, as semythe me." Line 796

(101)

This wofull man rose vp in all his payn, Line 797 And so partyd, with wepyng [UH, heuy T.] countynaunce; his wofull hert, all-most itt brast a [it brest in H, brast in T.] -twayn ffull lyke to dye, forth walkyng [H, walkyng forth UT.] in a traunce, And said, "now, deth, com forth! [UH, deth come forthe and T.] thi-selfe avaunce, Or þat my hart for-yet his propirte; And make schortyr [UT, shorte H.] all þis wofull penaunce Offe my pour lyfe, full of aduersyte!" Line 804

(102)

ffro thens he went, bot whidur wyst I noght, Line 805 Nor to what part he drow, in sothfastnese; But he no mor wasse in his [his UH, om. T.] ladyes thought, ffor to the daunce anon sche gan her dresse.

And afterward,—on [on UH, and T.] told me þus expresse,— Line 809 He rent his here, for anguysch and for payn, And In hym-selfe toke so gret hevynesse, That he wasse dede with-In a day or twayn. Line 812

(103) LENVOY.

ye trew louers, þis [UH, thus T.] I be-seche you all, [folio 134] Line 813 Syche ávauntours, fle [UH, sle T.] hem in euery wyse, And as peple diffamyd, ye hem call, ffor þai, trewly, do you gret preiudyse. Refuse hath mad, for all sich flateryse, Line 817 Hys castels strong, stuffyd with ordynaunce; ffor þai haue hade long tyme, by þair offyce, The hole cuntre of loue in obbeisaunce. Line 820

(104)

And ye, ladyes, or [UH, of T.] what a-state ye be, Line 821 In whome worschip hath chose his dwellyng place, ffor goddes loue, do no sich cruelte, Namly to hem þat haue [haue UT, om. H.] deseruyd grace. Nore [Ner H, Nc T.] in no wyse ne folow not [ye not HT.] the trace Line 825 Of hyr, þat her is namyd [UH, is namyd her T.] ryght-wysly, Which by Reson, me semyth in þis case, May be called "la belle dame sanȝ mercy." [UH, om. T.] Line 828

Explicit.

(105. Sir R. Ros's Envoy, in 4 Stanzas of sevens, ababbcc.)

Go, lytell boke! god send thè good passáge! Line 829 Chese well thy way; be [be TH, by U.] symple of maner! Loke thy clothyng be [be TH, by U.] lyke thy pylgrymage, And specyally, lete þis be [be H, be in T, by U.] thi prayer Vn-to hem all [all UT, om. H.] þat thè wull rede or her, Line 833 'Wher þou art wronge, after þair helpe to call, Thè to corecte in any parte or all.' Line 835

Line 835

(106)

Pray hem also, with thyn humble seruyse, [folio 134b] Line 836 Thi boldënes [boldenesse H, boldnes U.] to pardon in þis case; ffor els þou art not able, in no wyse, To make thi selfe a-pere [appere TH.] in any place. And forþermor, by-seche hem, of þair grace, Line 840 By þair fauour and supportacïoun, To take in gre þis Rude translacioun. Line 842

(107)

The which, got wot, standith full destytute Line 843 Of eloquence, of metre, and of [of H, om. UT.] colours, Lyke as oo [a H. Wilde as a Harl. 372, Ff. I. 6, Camb. Univ.—Skeat.] best, naked, with-out refute, Vpon a playn tabyde [to abyde T, to bide H.] all maner schours. I can no mor, but aske of hem socours, Line 847 At whos request you wer mad [made was H.] in þis wyse, Comaundyng me with body and seruyse. Line 849

(108)

Ryght þus I make an end of þis processe, Line 850 By-sechyng hym þat all hath in baláunce, That no trew man be vexid, causëlesse, As þis man wasse, which is of Rémembraunce; And all þat do þair faithfull óbseruaunce, Line 854 And in þair trouth purpóse hem to endure, I pray god send [sende H, sun U.] hem bettyr áventure. [T, om. U, Qui legit, emendat scriptorem, non reprehendat H.] Line 856

Explicit la bell dame saunce mercy.