The Canterbury tales and Faerie queene &c., &c., &c., ed. for popular perusal with current illustrations and explanatory notes, by D. Laing Purves.

TIE COURT OF LOVE. 203
blue wore the colour in sign of their changeless The sixth statute, It was for me to use
truth; those in black, who uttered cries of Alone to wander, void of company,
grief, were the sick and dying of love. The And on my lady's beauty for to muse,
priests, nuns, hermits, and friars, and all that And thinken it no force 13 to live or die;
sat in white, in russet and in green, "wailed of And eft again to think 14 the remedy,
their woe;" and for all people, of every degree, How to her grace I might anon attain,
the Court was open and free. While he walked And tell my woe unto my sovereign.
about with Philobone, a messenger from the
about with Philobone, a messenger from the The sev'nth statute was, To be patient,
King entered, and summoned all the new-come Whether my lady joyful were or wroth;
folk to the royal presence. Trembling and pale, For word glad or heavy, diligent,
Philogenet approached the throne of Admetus, hether that she me held lefe or loth:
and was sternly asked why he came so late to And hereupon I put was to mine oath
Court. He pleaded that a hundred times he had or to ere to be
been at the gate, but had been prevented from Her fo r to serve, and lowly twenty times a day.
And show my cheer,16 yea, twenty times a day.
entering by failure to see any of his acquaintances, and by shamefacedness. The King par- The eighth statute, to my rememberance,
doned him, on condition that thenceforth he Was, For to speak and pray my lady dear,
should serve Love; and the poet took oath to With hourly labour and great entendance,l1
do so, "though Death therefor me thirle 2 with Me for to love with all her heart entere,18
his spear." When the King had seen all the And me desire and make me joyful cheer,
new-comers, he commanded an officer to take Right as she is, surmounting every fair;
their oaths of allegiance, and show them the Of beauty well,19 and gentle debonair.
Statutes of the Court, which must be observed The ninth statute, with letters writ of gold,
till death. This was the sentence, How that I and all
And, for that I was letter'd, there I read Should ever dread to be too overbold
The statutes whole of Love's Court and hall: Her to displease; and truly so I shall;
The first statute that on the book was spread, But be content for all thing that may fall,
Was, To be true in thought and deedis all And meekly take her chastisement and yerd,20
Unto the King of Love, the lord royal; And to offend her ever be afear'd.
And, to the Queen, as faithful and as kind T tnt u, u o
As I could think with hearte, will, and mind. eeenthe lay a a
Between the lady and thine ability,
The second statute, Secretly to keep And think thyself art never like to earn,
Counsel 3 of love, not blowing 4 ev'rywhere By right, her mercy nor her equity,
All that I know, and let it sink and fleet; 5 But of her grace and womanly pit:
It may not sound in ev'ry wighte's ear: For, though thyself be noble in thy strene,22
Exiling slander ay for dread and fear, A thousand fold more noble is thy Queen.
And to my lady, which I love and serve,
Be true and kind, her grace for to deserve. Thy ls lady and thy sovreign,
That hath thine heart all whole in governance
The third statute was clearly writ also, Thou mayt no wise it ta to disdain
Withoute change to live and die the same, To put thee humbly at her ordinance
None other love to take, for weal nor woe, And give her free rein of her pleasnce
For blind delight, for earnest nor for game: For liberty is thing that women look23
Without repent, for laughing or for grame,6 nd ruly else he ter is a crook.4
To bidi still in full perseverance:
All this was whole the Kinge's ordinance. Th' eleventh statute, Thy signis for to know
The fourth statute, To purchase ever to her,7 With eye and finger, and with smles soft,
And stirre folk to love, and bete 8 fire And low to couch, and alway for to show,
On Venus' altar, here about and there, For dread of spis, for to winken oft:
And preach to them of love and hot desire, And secretly to bring a sigh aloft,
And tell how love will quite well their hire: 9 Bt still beware of over much resort;
This must be kept; and loth me to displease: o that peradventure spoileth all thy sort.
If love be wroth, pass; for thereby is ease. The twelfth statute remember to observe:
The fifth statute, Not to be dangerous,19 For all the pain thou hast for love and woe,
If that a thought would reave 11 me of my sleep: All is too lite 2 her mercy to deserve,
Nor of a sight to be over squaimous; 12 Thou muste think, where'er thou ride or go;
And so verily this statute was to keep, And mortal woundes suffer thou also,
To turn and wallow in my bed and weepll for her sake, and think it well beset 26
To turn and wallow in my bed and weep, f m
When that my lady, of her cruelty, bebet
Would from her heart exilen all pity. The thirteenth statute, Whilom is to think
1 See note 14, page 121. 2 Pierce. 14 To think upon. 15 In love or in loathing.
3 Secret. 4 Talking, boasting. 16 Countenance. 17 Attention, application.
5 Float, swim. 6 Vexation, sorrow. 18 Entire. 19 Fountain.
7 Acquire (new followers) for her, promote her cause. 20 Rod; rule, dictation. 21 Equitably, justly
8 Kindle. 9 Reward their labour. 22 Strain; stock,'descent.
10 Fastidious, angry. 11 Deprive. 23 Look for, desire to have; 24 Things go wrong.
12 Fond. desirous. 13 Matter of indifference. 25 Little. 26 Spent. 27 Better (spent).