Quia Amore Langueo. (PART II.)
(OR CHRIST'S COMPLAINT FOR HIS SISTER, MAN'S SOUL.)
[16 stanzas of eights, abab bcbc.]
Lambeth MS. 853.
[Follows the last poem, seemingly as a continuation.]
(1)
IN a valey of þis restles mynde
I souȝte in mounteyne & in myde,
Trustynge a trewe loue for to fynde.
Vpon an hil þan y took hede;
Line 4
¶ A voice y herde—& neer y ȝede— [page 8]
In huge dolour complaynynge þo,
"Se, dere soule, how my sidis blede,
Quia amore langueo."
Line 8
(2)
Vpon þis hil y fond a tree;
Vndir þe tree a man sittynge,
From heed to foot woundid was he,
His hertë blood y siȝ bledinge:—
Line 12
¶ A semeli man to ben a king,
A graciouse face to loken vnto;—
I askide whi he had peynynge,
He seide "quia amore langueo."
Line 16
(3)
I am true loue, þat fals was neuere;
Mi sistyr, mannis soule, y loued hir þus;
Bi-cause we wolde in no wise disceuere,
I lefte my kyngdom glorious.
Line 20
¶ I purueide for hir a paleis precious;
Sche fleyth, y flolowe, y souȝte hir so,
I suffride þis peynë piteuous
Quia amore langueo.
Line 24
