The eye and the heart / [ed. Eleanor Prescott Hammond].

The Eye and the Heart

MS. Longleat 258

1

In the first weke of the saisoun of May Whan the wodes be couered al in grene In whiche the nightingale list for to play To shewe his voix amonges þe thornes kene Theim to reioisse whiche loue is seruauntes bene [ 5] Whiche from al comfort thinke theim far behinde My pleasir was as it was after seen ffor my disport to chase hert and hinde

2

Than I commaunded myn huntes to goo To drawe aboute if they might finde a vewe [ 10] [No heading to the poem, which begins on fol. 102a with a four-line capital.]

And forth we yede bothe I and other moo Nowe here now there the huntes for to sewe Whiche in thair hornes many blastes blewe To finde an hert they dud thair ful entent In a forest of myn for to say trewe [ 15] In whiche to hunte I hade gret talent [16 The phrase "had talent", "did talent", occurs three times in this poem; cp. lines 115, 183.]

3

We sought so muche aboute in euery part Tyll at the last we founde right wel to chase Gret hertes oute of the hyrde apart Whiche yede aboute thair pasture to purchase [ 20] And than anoon we went for to embrace Many braunches of Elme and of hable tre With whiche to dresse vs a good standing place We made vs busshes wel as semed me

4

Whan this was doon I tourned my bak anoon [ 25] To fette myn houndes and came soon agayn Whereof Aloundes I brought many oon And whan I came in to the forest playn I founde anoon the hunt of hertes twayn ffor whiche I made to blowe the hornes hye [ 30] And houndes six score and moo certayn Whiche made me thought a Ioious melodye

5

ffor that poure hert that sorowe doith manace Might haue plaisaunce and also gret comfort To here the houndes make thair mery chace [ 35] So proprely the ran of oon accorde [36 MS. reads the instead of they; at the end of the line accorde is underscored and sorte written close beside it by another(?) hand.] And eke so swete was thair mery report That it me thought a verrey paradyse ffor in that forest was muche more disport Than Instrument cowde make to my deuise [ 40]

6

And in chasing not fer oute of my way I harde womannys voix wondre clere More swetter harde I neuer to my pay Than of myn horse I descended right there To vnderstande the better and to here [ 45] So long till that thair songes were songe & doon And for to knowe the place I drewe me nere Wher as I founde this noble emprise soon

7

And as I serched ladyes many a oon [49 a is written in, just above the line.] I founde sitting aboute a faire fontayne [ 50] Vndre a pyne whiche shadowed theim echoon It was to me a thing yet vncertayne To knowe of theim whiche was the souerayne [53 The copyist has omitted was; the French runs "Tant estoit leur atour notable".] Thair behauyng so Inly notable And of thair beaute if I shulde not fayne [ 55] Of al other they were incomperable

8

And in thair presence if I shulde not lye Were gentilwommen of right goodlye stature [58 Here and in 161 the English version changes the "hommes gentils" of the French into women.] I hade not saien a fore in companye More fressher folke of shap I you ensure [ 60] And in thair doing sad and eke demure To fest the people they had gret delite [62 A later hand has changed delite in this line to delight. Cp. whight in 503.] Alle that I sawe was doon by good mesure And well demened euery manere wight

9

And I approched as nigh as I might [ 65] And saluted theim anoon ful curtesly

And towardes me there came two anoon right [67 A later hand (?) has underlined two and written it as the first word in the next line.] Whiche said to me vs semeth verreily Ye list to take your disport secretly As it appereth wel in youre persoune [ 70] Whan ye be wery ye may rest hardely And lette your houndes make theim game aloon

10

Than we pray you that ye will come and see These ladeis and these dameselles in fere And they shal fest you as they cane perde [ 75] To youre worship and thaires in al manere And in singing thay haue noon thair pere [77 The scribe ended the line with noon here; the last word was later underscored and the present reading added.] ffor aboue al other thay haue the name And goodly storyes who so lust to here They can report and thereof haue gret fame [ 80]

11

So muche of wele they gan to me recorde That I was rauisshed meruelously ffor whiche my thoughtes felle soon to accorde To goo see theim and whan I sawe trewly Thaire faire ladyes made so perfitly [ 85] Where god him self and also dame nature Hade planted beaute right plentyuously fferre aboue any erthely Creatur

12

And to al theim I dud suche reuerence Whiche as to me thought I aught to doo soon [ 90] Not oonly after the high apperence Of thair noblenesse but after oon by oon [92 Here and in 493, 660, the scribe writes noblenesse for noblesse.] And thair wanted noo thing that shuld be doon Of worship there men might ensample finde

So goodly folke yet sawe I neuer noon [ 95] ffor in al pleasaunce set was hole thaire mynde [96 The scribe has inserted in, above the line.]

13

And I was of these ladies gracious Receyued wele with perfit gentilnesse The whiche of floures right delicious Made a fresshe Chapellet the trouthe to expresse [ 100] I had not seen suche oon bifore doubtelesse The whiche they yaue to me right curtesly And than I founde that I of al gladnesse Was refresshed right wel and Ioiously

14

Than oon of theim me by the hande dud take [ 105] And gan to singe a songe of gret pleasaunce And al that other answered soon gan make [107 MS. reads answered.] Hole to gedre withoute variaunce So perfitly with al the Circumstaunce That I had not harde noon of suche mesure [ 110] It was a lif to voide all displeasaunce Oute of a troubled hert I you ensure [112 The scribe inserted a later, above the line.]

15

Alle these louers that were present Began to singe that Ioy it was to here In suche places where they dud talent [ 115] They cast thair sight eche man in his degre [114-116 The rime here fails.] And summe gan sighe with pituous loke and chere Offering thair hertes with hole entent While that thair lif and body were in fere [119 The scribe repeated that, underdotting it for erasure.] So muche that loue shulde be therewt content [ 120]

16

That oon of theim went oute fro the fest And withdrewe hir oute of the companye

I can not say why it was at the lest But wele I wote and darr say verreilye Myn ye hade gret pleasure hir to aspye [ 125] Warnyng myn hert on hir to take good hede Whiche of sorowe was al voide trewly Whan I behilde hir goodly womanhede

17

It semed an aungell that god hade made To come adowne for beaute souueraine [ 130] There cowde noo man see wt his yen glade A more gracious lady south to saiene Hir for to please though I dud al my payne I cowde not telle hir features halfendele Therefore I committe this matere al playne [ 135] With theim that lust with materes to dele

18

And for hir beaute whiche was Imperiaille My pleasure alway gan me to complayne To sewe for grace and dud myn hole trauaille To whom my thought gan to stryue certayne [ 140] Yet my poure hert said he wold doo his payne And toke noon hede but tyll hir noble grace In hir seruice for to be trewe and playne Hir for to serue during my lyues space

19

And whan she had thought al that hir list [ 145] To the feest she tourned anoon right And with hir voix whiche was moost swetist Began to singe with al hir force and might And as she cast aboute hir goodly sight Whiche was gret pleasaunce to al there [ 150] Vnto myn ye it yaue so gret a light That in al comfort I stode verreily clere

20

And or that she had ended ful hir songe An hert came rennyng by theim hastly [154 MS. reads And hert . . . . .]

And lept in to a welle al theim amonge [ 155] Than for myn houndes I blewe certainly With whom the hert was holde so strait trewly That he thought he shulde not long endure And for gret fere he lept ful besily ffor of his deth he demed him verrey sure [ 160]

21

The ladyes and the gentilwomen also [161 See note on line 58.] Hade gret pleasur to be holde and see And dud thair part to helpe the houndes so The hert to take at soile if it might be But suche disport bifore I dud not see [ 165] Myn ye wolde not thereof noo tresour make But hir in whom al vertu was plente Behilde alwey I darre well vndretake

22

And whan this hert aspied wel his tyme He leped lightly oute of the fontayne clere [ 170] My wery houndes laide theim stille by me ffor noon of theim might noo thing nigh hym nere He brake the busshes so bothe here and there He went his wey withouten any arrest And rennyng forth amonges the bowes shere [ 175] He scope vs fro and toke the thik forest

23

I went to these ladyes my leue to take The hert to pursewe I dud myn entent Within a while my corage gan a shake Myn hert suche discomfort to him hath hent [ 180] That I ne knewe well what hunting ment But well I wote I was ful disease Me to disport I had but smal talent But lette my thoughtes forth al at his ease

24

And what for walking I was wery soon [ 185] Seing the sonne began to goo to rest

Of hert ne houndes I cowde see right noon As fer as I cowde loke bothe est and west Anoon the night began to make him prest So fast he came that I lost my place [ 190] And stille to abide me thought it for the best Tyll that the day began to shewe his face

25

I tyed myn hors vnto a faire grene tree Agayn the whiche myn hede anoon I sette The erthe as colde as marble semed me [ 195] Whiche made my tethe al in myn hede to whette My self complaynyng howe that I was lette That I might not that lady see agayn Whom that myn ye promised and behette Whan I hade first sight of hir certayn [ 200]

26

And with that thought I founde that I Hade lost myn hope and Ioies euerychoon And that harde sorowe nighed me so nigh That I shuld not but wepe waile and groon And diuers paynes came vpon me soon [ 205] ffor I cowde not see in noo manere wise Hir in whom al my Ioyes were aloon And than I slept a while me to suffise

27

And in sleping myn hert I harde complayne And with myn ye anoon began debate [ 210] Seing fals ye thou doist me gret payne To be so hardy that erly or late [Hert] To cast thy loke vpon so gret estate Where al beaute is set in litel space I trowe to me thou hast summe manere hate [ 215] That thou hast set me in so high a place

28

The ye than saide thou hert to what entent Seist thou that I haue doon thee any wronge

I am thy frende if thou list be content I may wel swere myn othe if thou wil it fonge [ 220] [Ye] And leue me wel bothe at short and longe That I dud neuer euyll vnto thee I doubte me not though thou wt wordes stronge List thus to chide take this for certaynete

29

Hast thou not made by right swete aventure [ 225] Me for to chese the floure of womanhede The moost pleasaunt of lyuyng Creature Surmounting al in verrey goodlyhede [Hert] And for the swetnesse that in hir doith sprede Thou hast on hir planted thy stedefast sight [ 230] Whiche is to me gret preiudice in dede Sith I may not see hir as it were right

30

ffor southe I will not the contrarye But that I haue a goodly lady sayne In pleasaunt wise I wol not fro it varye [ 235] In al honnour she hath noo pere certayne [Ye] Amonges all other chosen souueraine As for the fairest and the best also Therfore thou hast noo cause on me to complayne Ne me to hate / a welle why doist thou so [ 240]

31

Yesse for southe for whan thou hade so doo Of gret desire thy sight on hir thou cast Thorough the whiche I was rauisshed soo That in al Ioye me thought I was stedfast [Hert] And hir goodnesse in me portered thou hast [ 245] And or I aske mercy other grace She was right ferre oute of thy sight ypast ffor whiche dispaire me straitly doith embrace

32

I haue fraunchise that at myn owne pleasaunce My sight to cast whan that me liketh best [ 250]

ffor whiche thou aught to haue noo displeasaunce Thy drede and myn be not like at the lest [Ye] Though that we bothe in oon place take our rest I am ordenned to beholde and see And thou to loue shuldist alwey be prest [ 255] Why puttest thou this blame than al on me

33

Like as frute may not wexe ripe kyndely But if he take of the sonne summe manere hete In like wise I may not lyue trewly Withoute thy counseille wherfore cause grete [ 260] [Hert] I haue to blame the sith I may not gete Sith of hir alas the harde while [262 Here read Sight of her?] I am not like with hir to mete Howe maist thou forth me thus begile

34

Though I beholde a ladyes gret beaute [ 265] Thorough whiche thou art becommen amerous And as of hope thou art in noo surete Whiche maketh the haply right dolerous [Ye] Yet shuld thou not with wordes rigerous So wofully me to repreue and blame [ 270] Nowe in goodfaith thou art not vertuous To doo or say that shulde be to my shame

35

Thou aughtest wel sumwhat lenger to abide Tyll that the mouthe hade hir besought of grace And that the ere had take good hede that tide [ 275] In hir conceit if I hade any place [Hert] So might thou to me hir pleasaunce purchace But I now fele that I am so purueide Of gret sorowe whiche doith me sore embrace And of al Ioye I knowe me dispurveide [ 280]

36

I rekke not of the mouth ner of the nose Of ere ner fote ner of the handes twayne

It sitteth me muche better as I suppose To loke vpon a faire lady certayne [Ye] And to beholde theim I shal doo my payne [ 285] Whiche is my pleasaunce and euer shal be ffor I rek not whether thou laugh or playne Take now right good hede what I say to the

37

Thou scornest fals murtherer as I trowe Thou hast me smytte with a stroke mortall [ 290] By thy fals loke thou hast me ouer throwe I wende ful litell thou hade be suche at all [Hert] Thou hast me cast withoute the castell wall Of good comfort and oute of al gladnesse Therfore in faith I may the right welle call [ 295] Werse than an Eritike the trouthe to expresse

38

I am noo murtherer ner oute of byleue Thou shalt me fynde alwey bothe plain and trewe Ner by noo witnesse shalt thou neuer preue That euer I was to man vntrewe [ 300] [Ye] And namely to loue whois stappys I sewe And if thou wolde say aught to the contrarye To desire the marshal I wol poursewe And make him Iugge I wol noo lenger tarye

39

Asmuche as is in me I am contente [ 305] Bifore him the causes nede Of our strif bitwix vs presente And lette the trouthe so for vs procede [Hert] That he may knowe where the fault is in dede And lette him Iugge for vs bothe rightfully [ 310] Withoute mercy for right so god me spede In that quarell I darre well fight trewly

40

Than the ye answered in this manere That he wolde him defende wt al his might

Than bothe two were accorded thus in fere [ 315] To goo towardes the Court of loue ful right Whan they came to shewe thaire right Than said Desire of loue the marshalle Hert telle thou thy cause anoon here in our sight Of youre rumour that is bitwix you falle [ 320] [320 rumour. The French word is remour,—dispute.]

41

The hert than toke noo manere of counseille But his owne tale he tolde ful prudently And desire loo here my cause samfaille [323 The scribe has omitted the word said before Desire; French "Et dist Desir."] The ye hath doon to me vncurtesly [Hert] Not long agoo he put his sight trewly [ 325] On the fairest and best where euer she goo ffor his pleasure and not for myn trewly Right in this wise as I shal telle you loo

42

Whan the ye hade on hir set his sight Loue put in me of his gret worthynesse [ 330] Thought desire and plaisaunce these thre ful right Whiche shulde make me to stande in stedfastnesse ffor to loue hir withoute doublenesse If that I might hir grace to attayne Whom I am like neuer to see doubtelesse [ 335] Wherfore I haue gret heuynesse and payne

43

And thus the ye hath sette me in suche plight ffor whan he sawe that I was thus take With loue of hir he parted from hir quyght Or that I cowde any certainte make [ 340] Wherfore oft tyme I tremble sore and quake And thinke right long after alligeaunce Thus by the ye my woo begynneth to wake Alle in dispaire thus standing in balaunce

44

And with this greif I am to deth brought [ 345] And oute of Ioye stande ful sorowfully Alle in discomfort as that I ne rought Of erthly thing so troubleth me the yey ffor if the faire hade not so pleasauntly Hir goodly loke on me besette so sore [ 350] This sorowe hade not commen to me trewly But I hade lyued as I dud bifore

45

Wherfore I complayne me thus rightfully Of gret Iniurye that the ye hath doon And my cause is ment moost faithfully [ 355] Wherfore to you I doo submissioun And on my trouthe I make promissioun To fight with him in louys high presence Bifore the whiche we shal knowe soon The right fro wronge wtoute more diffence [ 360]

46

The ye answered and said in this manere I haue doon noo thing contrarye to thyn hert ffor though I cast myn loke bothe here and there Vpon the faire if ye list wel aduert [Ye] The hert shuld not in his conceit peruert [ 365] Sith loue hath graunted me the high office I wol it kepe and neuer fro it stert Of him I haue noon other benefice

47

The hert replied with his ful entent And said thou ye thou art fals and vntrewe [ 370] I cast to fight in this quarell present [371 The English here differs; the French runs "Un souspir en gette pour gaige."] The ye answered and said I am as trewe [Hert] As euer thou were therfore in wordes fewe To knowe the right thy wedde I wol vp take

And in presence of loue we shal it shewe [ 375] Who hath the wronge and no more noise to make

48

Than whan desire had herde the matere playne In myddis of May he signed a day The gret quarell bifore loue to darrayne And lettres write and sealed bothe to say [ 380] With sealles of their armes fresshe and gay Echoon of theim his right for to mayntayne Thus to be there in al best array They made there bothe two thair promisse certayne

49

Than went this worthy Marshal of loue [ 385] To telle his lord and maistre part and al Of this affray reherced here aboue And loue anoon commaunded forth wt al To make a felde wherein bothe gret and smal Might haue thaire sight closed aboute wt lices [ 390] And there wt al if I the southe sey shal A riche Scaffold arraide with delices

50

And whan loue hade him his charge thus tolde And anoon was made a felde both longe and wide [394 The scribe inserted the a of anoon above the line.] With double listes al of right fyne golde [ 395] Couered with Tissewe well on euery side Nabegodonesor with al his pride Whiche was the richest kyng as in his deyes Hade neuer suche oon bifore that ilke tide As was that felde with al the riche arrayes [ 400]

51

ffor in that felde were two faire entrees Alle made of Jasper and of clere Cristall Whiche good werkmen of diuers straunge countres With bariers of passing fyne Corall [404 bariers. The French as printed by Wright reads banieres.]

Hade wrought right wel by craft especiall [ 405] Alle sette with keyes made of Iuery Whiche a lokesmyth that came fro portingale ffiled with a file smothe and craftly

52

The scaffold of loue was made of aumbre ffounded in pilours of right faire baleys [ 410] With warderobe and halle and also wt chambre As though it were wt in a gret paleys The Tapettes also as the boke seys Were the story of the rose the romaunce ffor louers to rede bothe clerkes and lays [ 415] Were writen right well wt good diamaunce

53

The Chaire was also passing fresshe and gay Where loue him self in his estat sitte shulde Of clere burell wele polisshed soth to say And foure sparehaukes made of massy golde [ 420] And on the bake there were to be holde Six Carbuncles right wele sette and euen Whiche were clerar and brighter many folde Than ben the planettes shynyng from heuen

54

The day and the houre aboue saide [ 425] Whan the hert shuld fight ayeinst the ey Loue came him self wt his wynges displaide Descending downe of his scaffold trewly And in his Chaire he satte downe softly A robe on him embrodered wt riche stones [ 430] And fyne perles sette ful craftly Brodered of Emeraudes for the nones

55

The floures fresshe of the riche gowne of loue And Chamehieux were made of gret richesse [433/4 The French reads "De sa couronne les florons Estoient fais de camahieux."]

And of clere Sapheres sette al aboue [ 435] Alle his wynges were of suche brightnesse ffedered de bien en mieulx doubtlesse [437 The French reads "Plumetties de bien en mieux."] As of Topases shynyng wonderly I trowe noon angellis the trouthe to expresse Haue not thair wynges made so pleasauntly [ 440]

55

He hade also a bowe of vnicorne And two strenges made of gret substaunce Of gold of Cipres at eche ende an horne A sheef of arowes sette in ordennaunce To teche the louers his trace to daunce [ 445] ffedered wt fyne rubyes bright and shene Whiche yaue him for a gret pleasaunce [447 The scribe omitted Venus before yaue; the French is "Venus les lui donna si faites."] Poynted wt diamondes sharpe and kene [448 The MS. reads Paynted instead of poynted.]

57

And whan that loue this noble god archere Hade bowe and arowes set downe him biside [ 450] Regarde his heraulde wt voix inly clere Thrise as it was commaunded that tide [452 The MS. reads is instead of it.] Called the hert that he shuld not longe abide Whiche hade promissed to fight there that day Ayeinst the ye whiche was so ful of pride [ 455] And not to make tareing ner delay

58

The hert came forthe to fight again the yey Vpon a courser couered al wt larmes His armes were made of sorowe trewly Also thre sighes he bare in his armes [ 460] Paynted well vpon his Cote of armes They appered al with pituous weping And his swerde with whiche he shuld doo his armes Was tempored with sorowful complaynyng

59

In whois companye came honnoure also [ 465] Hardinesse prouesse and eke gentilnesse Thought and good hope and many other moo That were of his aliaunce as I gesse Alle clothed like for thaire worthynesse With rooses rede and also wt lilies white [ 470] Chapellettes they hade eke for thair noblenesse Of laventre a floure of gret delite

60

And whan he entered into the fresshe felde Than from his hors he descended lightly And on his knees fill downe and be helde [ 475] This noble loue and salued him goodly And a litell after full worshipfully Withdrewe him self and toke him to his Tent Whiche of roses many made was pleasauntly There tabide the ye was his hole entent [ 480]

61

Than regarde this noble heraulde and wise Called the ye bifore loue tappere Whiche was redy in al goodly wise Armed with swete disport on a coursere Whiche to my conceit hade noo were his pere [ 485] And semed welle he hade noo werynesse Couered with myrthe embroded here and there His swerde was of solace and of lustynesse

62

Of Ioye was made his Cote of armes riche ffugured al with pleasaunce and gladnesse [ 490] Right goodly folke also noon of theim liche He hade as happed him beaute and prowesse Goodly port melody and eke noblenesse Of pervyncle arraide all in grene And of mergelyn in right gret largesse [ 495] Hir faire Coursers were couered al by dene

63

And assoon as this ful noble yey The listes approched on fote he light And entered in and salued curtesly His worshipful lord loue as it was right [ 500] Whiche hade made promisse wt the hert to fight And after went in to his pauyloun Alle arraide wt gillofres rede and whight Whiche was worthe a kinges gret raunsoun

64

The ordener of the felde named desire [ 505] Made come anoon in to the high presence Of loue whiche was thair noble lord and sire Bothe the hert and the yey ful of prudence And made theim swere vpon thair conscience That in thair cause eche of theim hade right [ 510] And to crye it in open audience And not to tarye that they haue behight

65

Than after this the hert went forth agayne Vnto his Tent his rest for to take And sette him on his sege the southe to sayne [ 515] Made of Eglentere for his owne sake Also the ye his frendes hade let make A sege for him of woderone pleasauntly Where he made good wacche I vndirtake Vpon the hert whan he shulde come trewly [ 520]

66

And after this came loue the felde vnto And chose knyghtes to awaite vpon theim twayne Thought / swete hope / and remembraunce also And honnour eke if that I shuld not fayne Alle armed with Margaretes certayne [ 525] And eche of theim bare in his hande a spere Of grene laurer wele made bothe smothe & playne To depart these Champions if nede were

67

And than this Loue whiche is worthy and digne To whom noo Creature may him resemble [ 530] Vnto regarde his heraulde made a signe That he shulde make the hert and the ye assemble And whan they were thus bothe two at assemble The heraulde cried doo your deuoir anoon ffor whiche the hert and ye began to tremble [ 535] And so dud they that were present echoon

68

And thus the hert whiche was thappalaunt Oute of his tent issues right manly Whiche bare as he that was right vailaunt A spere heded with sorowe sikerly [ 540] The ye from his pauylon by and by Issued also in his hande a launce The whiche he gided ful gentilmanly Pointed it was right fresshely wt plesaunce

69

fforthewt the hert hent in his fist a spere [ 545] Thrise bifore the ye manly he went The ye anoon as he that had noo fere Came forth a goodly pace anoon of his tent And the hert wt good auisement Cast his spere and persed the visere [ 550] Of the ye whiche demed him almost shent And thought he was vnto deth right nere

70

And whan the ey felt him thus sore wounded Rudely ayeinst the hert he went anoon And first of al or that his hert were founded [ 555] His spere he caught manly and right soon Vnneth the hert might stande his fete vpon ffor he smote oon of his platis apart And of that stroke he hade so muche to doon [559 The MS. reads doo instead of doon.] That he demed his soule and body shuld part [ 560]

71

Yet for al this his hert he toke agayne And right manly his swerde anoon he toke [562 The MS. reads smerde instead of swerde.] And on the ye he smote right fast certayne Suche mighty strokes that al the grounde shoke And than the ye with a courageous loke [ 565] The hert strongly he bare so wt his swerde Ayeinst the listys and him not forsoke Whereof the hert was than right sore aferde

72

The hert sawe than that he was in daungier And right nigh discomfited thus by the ey [ 570] fful herdly he cast awey his spere And drewe his dagger wele auisely And layde on fast and smote so feruently Vpon the ye that he was nere attaynt And from his strokes he voided lightly [ 575] ffro whiche to Coure he had gret constraynt

73

And as they faught these gret Champions twayne With thaire sharpe dagers with so gret courage Whiche were like to falle downe on the playne Dame pite than that lady swete and sage [ 580] Come forth anoon with a certayne message To loue and praide hir eraunde for to here Right as he satte an high vpon his stage Whiche came from Venus his owne moder dere

74

Than loue to hir made glad and Ioiful chere [ 585] And yaue to hir a welcome honnourable Seing thus dame pite myn owne frende dere Sithe my moder of hir estat notable Venus I meane the goddesse amyable Hath you commaunded thus to come to me [ 590] Thinke it is to me right aggreable To here youre message what so it be

75

And than pite thanke loue right mekely Whiche was alwey on knees as I rede Seing right high lord here is now trewly [ 595] A gret debate of these knyghtes in dede Whiche haue ben euer bothe in worde and dede Willing of loue the steppys for to sewe And of Venus who so list take hede Aboue al other seruauntes good and trewe [ 600]

76

ffor whan Venus herde that mortall strif Thatt was bitwix the hert and ey thus falle Of verrey loue and of hert attentif Considereth wele the begynnyng and alle And wote right wele that hir estat roiall [ 605] Withoute theim two may not be kept vp right Ner hir mageste exalted be at alle But they were redy alwey in hir sight

77

And for they be bothe of hir court in fere [609 The scribe has inserted for above the line.] She now commaundeth theim to calle ayeine [ 610] And bifore hir they bothe must nedes appere As for this cas thus fell bitwix theim tweyne ffor she wolde knowe the verrey cause al playne Of thaire debate whiche to hir ere attayneth And wold they were in peas ful fayne [ 615] ffor of al suche causes vnto hir perteyneth

78

Than loue for the whiche to yeue his obeissaunce To his moder and wolde noo more abide Seing thus she shulde haue cognoissaunce And thaire debat wolde noo lenger hide [ 620] But called the wacches that went by thair side Charging theim the Champions to disioyne And to pite whois goodnesse is knowen wide Deliuer bothe in peas theim for to ioyne

79

There pite bade theim warne theim bothe [ 625] [625 Read Then instead of There.] And after went of loue hir leue to take And charged theim whether they were leef or loth Bitwene theim twayne noo more quarelles to make But lete theyre strif and thaire debate slake And eschewe hate and loue togedre agayne [ 630] What meruaille than though thair hertes dud quake Towardis Venus whan thay shuld goo certayne

80

Bitwene theim went this good lady pite And led theim by the handes in ful frendly gise And said to theim nowe sithe ye are wt me [ 635] I shal you two make to morowe or ye rise My Cousyns germayns your hate to deprise And Venus shal you of oon accorde [638 The scribe has omitted the word make? The French is "Par Venus mettre en bon accord."] Whiche wol not suffre in noo manere wise Hir owne folkes to be at discorde [ 640]

81

Than they arryued al in a straunge yle That was made right stronge aboute wt all Of brennyng brondes by craft right habile By cause it was so derke in especiall Where two foules whiche Ostrigges men call [ 645] Bare on high in the eire in letere Of gold enhameled of asure at all Venus the goddes of loue moost entere

82

I sawe hir littere whiche borne was so hye Couered with a Cloude of gret substaunce [ 650] And she in whom al Ioy is moost trewlye And gladnesse continued wt pleasaunce

A robe of purple she had at hir ordenaunce With flames of fire and sparkis light Whiche was made to the suffisaunce [ 655] Of yonge louers for comfort day and night

83

And whan Madame Pite founde there present Hir lady Venus of loue the goddesse With a sote salue she dud hir present And said madame to your high noblenesse [ 660] Are come these two knightes of gret prouesse The hert and ey to knowe your entent Whom loue hath dred and wt al humblenesse Nowe at this tyme by me to you hath sent

84

To that entent that of thair gret debate [ 665] As ye my lady commaunded by me That ye might knowe the cause of al thair hate ffor he wold ye hade the souuerainte By cause he knoweth verreily that ye Can best Iugge theim as to thair behove [ 670] Also he wote that ye be oonly she By cause al goodnesse falleth vnto love

85

And than Venus with a goodly countenaunce Toke to hir these noble Champions Whiche hade so long at thair vtteraunce [ 675] With hardy hertes fought as were lions Whiche troued wele in thaire opinions If pite had not take theim into warde And made to staunche thair heuy actions Eny of theim to scape it hade ben harde [ 680]

86

The hert him set anoon vp his knee [681 The MS. writes hir instead of his.] And saide Venus our soueraine lady dere

Sith it pleased you to knowe the certaynete [683 The MS. writes certayne instead of certaynete.] Of our discorde the verray trewe manere Not lyeng a worde but bothe playne and clere [ 685] I shal you telle the begynnyng and thende Of our debate thus standing here in fere If it plaise your highnesse now to entende

87

That forthwith Venus yaue the hert licence [689 Read Than instead of That? Cp. line 121?] That he shuld shewe of his cause the substaunce [ 690] Also the ye shulde ordenne his sentence To answere him in wey of repliaunce And eke they were charged on thair aligeaunce That in thair causes they shuld noo thing varye And for to stande at Venus ordenaunce [ 695] And noon of theim therto say the contrarye

88

The hert attayned his cause thus trewly [697 Read attamed instead of attayned. The French is "Le euer la matere entama."] Seyng to Venus our souuerain lady goddesse Loo here nature hath yeuen to me the ey To sete me in the wey of rightuousnesse [ 700] To finde Ioy solace and also gladnesse And he hath taken a pillour to beholde The faire pleasaunt and floure of lustynesse Whiche fro me parted sonner than I wolde

89

And of that pleasur that the ey hade take [ 705] He warned me and that right soudenly And than anoon in me there dud awake Louely desire / and remembraunce trewly And logged theim in me ful pleasauntly And so dud thought and many other moo [ 710] And also swete hope to holde me company And happe comfort lakked not also

90

And after this it happed me ful ill ffor the ey hade noo lust there to abide Till I required as it was skyll [ 715] Of hir that I hade chosyn to be my gide But hir absenting taught me well that tide That who sumeuer that is fer from the ey Is fer from the hert and thus on euery side I lyue in tourment and gret paynes trewly [ 720]

91

Wherfore if he hade not thus sete his sight I hade not be taken in the snare But that I hade yet holpe my Ioy vpright And in noo wise I shulde haue this care ffor his beholding causith euyll fare [ 725] As to me for this tale is ful trewe That folkis say that women callid are That the ey seith the hert doith rewe

92

ffor in the ey is the gate whiche in noo wise Shulde not open to lete in heuynesse [ 730] But alwey shulde be redy to deuyse To kepe me surely from al pensyuenesse And lete in hope and happe and gladnesse Comfort and Ioy and also good aventure ffor whom he shulde doo his trew besynesse [ 735] And not to make an hasty aventure

93

I fele wele he dud the contrarye ffor he hath lete wepinges and complayntes Entre in me he may not from it varye With whiche my Ioy wt gret sorowmentes [ 740] [740 Read sorow meynt is.] And al my comfort in me now attaynt is [741 The MS. reads attaynted is.] Whiche is to me a merterdome mortall

Thus I conclude that by his constraintes That he is causer of my sorowes all

94

Than the ey whiche him gretly applied [ 745] To finde matere to his saluacions With right goodly aduise anoon replied Vnto the hertis composicions And saide I see wel by his accions That he hath ben at scole I trowe of loue [ 750] Whiche bringeth forth pleasaunt intencions Him self to further for his owne behove

95

And said lady Venus of loue goddesse The hert saith thus that he hath of nature Yeuen vnto him as he doith expresse [ 755] That he alwey in gladnesse shuld endure Yet might it happe by summe aventure That he shal not in Ioy alwey abounde ffor as I trowe there is noo Creature But in the contrarye summe tyme shal be founde [ 760]

96

Yet wol I in noo wise myself excuse But that nature me made for him doubtlesse And yet for sothe he aught not me accuse That he berith by me the heuynesse Of sorowe ner of noo manere distresse [ 765] ffor in good faith there can no thing be doon Withoute his consente as I can expresse ffor al the cause by him is wrought aloon

97

And as the cloke may smytte in noo wise But that he haue sume manere of meouyng [ 770] As he that kepith him list to deuyse So of myself in dede I haue noo thing But to beholde and than in tydinges bring And thus the hert is cause of al trewly

ffor withoute him thus haue I noo doing [ 775] But as an Instrument for sothe am I

98

If I on hir haue set al my beholding By his aduis that causith me thereto And to this cause he is moost attending By his desire hir for to loue also [ 780] If he absent him and sorowe come him to I may not gete that he list not to saue ffor as summe say the hert the warke must doo If he wol not I may noo pleasir haue

99

So my lady I pray you to take hede [ 785] To these causes and howe I me excuse And kepe ye wele my right and so procede Ayeinst the hert whiche doith you thus obstise [788 obstise. So MS. The French as printed by Wright reads "qui vous abuse."] To this entent that he shal not refuse But at the lest that he be take anoon [ 790] And put in prison there to be recluse Tyll he haue amended al that is mysdoon

100

Than Venus thought wel that wt oute theim two She might in noo wise hir court maynteyne Wherfore she dud the processe calle hir to [ 795] And made to write the matere hole and playne And the double thereof shulde remayne In hir owne hande what soeuer be falle And for they shulde abide hir warde both twayne She made theim swere afore hir folkes alle [ 800]

101

Of whiche trewly they were wele content And Venus than wrote vnto hir seruauntes all

And to al trewe louers the hole entent Theim commaunding thus both gret and small Eche man to serche on payne that might fall [ 805] As to thair aduis whiche of theim had right And this was the verray cause in especiall There peas to make she dud hir will & might

102

And who cowde bringe the verrey trewe report Of thoppynyoun of this forsaide matere [ 810] As for either shulde haue for his apport Of hir a Chappellet of roses to were Than anoon I founde al the substaunce clere Of my thoughtes whiche I had doon bifore Whiche I wrote as ye haue harde me here [ 815] Withoute any lesing lesse or more

103

I pray theim whiche in Ioye lede thair lif And of trewe loue be set in the wey That of the hert and the ye the doutful strif Wol in thair conceit euery man assay [ 820] To sende his opinion as soon as he may Vnto Venus and who the chappellet playne Shal gete than to loue for him I pray That to al his desires he may attayne

The poem endes on fol. 119a, with no Explicit. The page carries but one stanza, the rest of the page and the verso being blank.