ASKE.............1
BD 32 But natheles, who aske this	32
ASKED............1
BD 365 I asked oon, ladde a lymere:	364
ASKING...........1
BD 33 Leseth his asking trewely.	32
ASLEPE...........1
BD 275 Y fil aslepe, and therwith even	274
ASONDER..........1
BD 425 They were nat an ynche asonder --	424
ASSAY............3
BD 346 T' assay hys horn and for to knowe	346
BD 552 Ye mowe preve hyt be assay;	550
BD 574 But whooso wol assay hymselve	572
ASTERTE..........1
BD 1154 And who hath that may not asterte.	1152
ASYDE............2
BD 558 With that he loked on me asyde,	556
BD 862 Therto hir look nas not asyde	860
AT...............23
BD 51 Then playe either at ches or tables.	50
BD 77 This lady, that was left at hom,	76
BD 199 And stood ryght at hyr beddes fet,	198
BD 364 And I with hem. So at the laste	364
BD 377 At the uncouplynge of hys houndes.	376
BD 380 Longe tyme; and so at the laste	380
BD 386 Blew a forloyn at the laste.	386
BD 444 Doun the woode; so at the laste	444
BD 502 I went and stood ryght at his fet,	500
BD 514 But at the last, to sayn ryght soth,	512
BD 646 Now by the fire, now at table;	644
BD 652 " At the ches with me she gan to pleye;	650
BD 668 I shulde have pleyd the bet at ches	666
BD 840 No maner counseyl but at hir lok	838
BD 841 And at myn herte; for-why hir eyen	840
BD 884 And that sat hyr ful lyte at herte,	882
BD 889 That woned at hom than he in Ynde;	888
BD 899 For to undo hyt at the fulle;	898
BD 973 She wolde have be, at the leste,	972
BD 1066 That Achilles slough at Troye --	1064
BD 1194 So at the laste, soth to sayne,	1192
BD 1221 " So at the laste, soth to seyn,	1220
BD 1280 The gladdest, and the moste at reste.	1278
ATEMPRE..........1
BD 1008 And esy, atempre governaunce	1006
ATHALUS..........1
BD 663 Than Athalus, that made the game	662
ATT..............1
BD 306 To telle shortly, att oo word,	306
ATTE.............1
BD 619 Atte ches with me, allas the while!	618
ATTEMPRE.........1
BD 341 And ful attempre for sothe hyt was;	340
ATWEYNE..........1
BD 1193 Me thoghte myn herte braste atweyne!	1192
AURORA...........1
BD 1169 Of the art (Aurora telleth so);	1168
AUTENTYK.........1
BD 1086 (Thogh hir stories be autentyk),	1084
AVISE............1
BD 697 For whan that I avise me wel	696
AVOW.............1
BD 93 I make avow to my god here,	92
AVYSYOUN.........1
BD 285 (He that wrot al th' avysyoun	284
AWAKE............3
BD 179 And cried, " O, how! Awake anoon! "	178
BD 181 " Awake! " quod he, " whoo ys lyth there? "	180
BD 202 Awake! Let be your sorwful lyf,	202
AWAKETH..........1
BD 183 And cried " Awaketh! " wonder hye.	182
AWAY.............3
BD 49 To rede and drive the night away;	48
BD 381 This hert rused and staal away	380
BD 1251 For pure fere, but stal away;	1250
AWAYE............1
BD 655 And whan I sawgh my fers awaye,	654
AWOOK............1
BD 1324 Therwyth I awook myselve	1322
AXE..............3
BD 30 But men myght axe me why soo	30
BD 416 Hyt ys no nede eke for to axe	416
BD 1276 Glad, that is no nede to axe!	1274
AXED.............1
BD 185 Cast up, and axed, " Who clepeth ther? "	184
AY...............1
BD 643 That ys ay fals and semeth wel;	642
AYLETH...........2
BD 449 What ayleth hym to sitten her? "	448
BD 481 " Allas, deth, what ayleth the,	480
AYR..............2
BD 340 Blew, bryght, clere was the ayr,	340
BD 694 Ne in ayr ne in erthe noon element,	692
BABYLOYNE........1
BD 1061 That ever was in Babyloyne,	1060
BAD..............3
BD 47 And bad oon reche me a book,	46
BD 135 Whan he was come, she bad hym thus:	134
BD 187 " Juno bad thow shuldest goon " --	186
BAGGETH..........1
BD 623 That baggeth foule and loketh faire,	622
BAK..............3
BD 446 That sat and had yturned his bak	446
BD 458 I stalked even unto hys bak,	458
BD 957 Hyr hippes were; a streight flat bak.	956
BALAUNCE.........1
BD 1021 To holde no wyght in balaunce	1020
BALE.............2
BD 227 For I ne myghte, for bote ne bale,	226
BD 535 As me thoghte, for al hys bale.	534
BAR..............1
BD 196 And bar hyt forth to Alcione,	196
BD...............1333
BD 1 I have gret wonder, be this lyght,	0
BD 2 How that I lyve, for day ne nyght	2
BD 3 I may nat slepe wel nygh noght;	2
BD 4 I have so many an ydel thoght	4
BD 5 Purely for defaute of slep	4
BD 6 That, by my trouthe, I take no kep	6
BD 7 Of nothing, how hyt cometh or gooth,	6
BD 8 Ne me nys nothyng leef nor looth.	8
BD 9 Al is ylyche good to me --	8
BD 10 Joye or sorowe, wherso hyt be --	10
BD 11 For I have felynge in nothyng,	10
BD 12 But as yt were a mased thyng,	12
BD 13 Alway in poynt to falle a-doun;	12
BD 14 For sorwful ymagynacioun	14
BD 15 Ys alway hooly in my mynde.	14
BD 16 And wel ye woot, agaynes kynde	16
BD 17 Hyt were to lyven in thys wyse,	16
BD 18 For nature wolde nat suffyse	18
BD 19 To noon erthly creature	18
BD 20 Nat longe tyme to endure	20
BD 21 Withoute slep and be in sorwe.	20
BD 22 And I ne may, ne nyght ne morwe,	22
BD 23 Slepe; and [thus] melancolye	22
BD 24 And drede I have for to dye.	24
BD 25 Defaute of slep and hevynesse	24
BD 26 Hath sleyn my spirit of quyknesse	26
BD 27 That I have lost al lustyhede.	26
BD 28 Suche fantasies ben in myn hede	28
BD 29 So I not what is best to doo.	28
BD 30 But men myght axe me why soo	30
BD 31 I may not slepe and what me is.	30
BD 32 But natheles, who aske this	32
BD 33 Leseth his asking trewely.	32
BD 34 Myselven can not telle why	34
BD 35 The sothe; but trewly, as I gesse,	34
BD 36 I holde hit be a sicknesse	36
BD 37 That I have suffred this eight yeer;	36
BD 38 And yet my boote is never the ner,	38
BD 39 For there is phisicien but oon	38
BD 40 That may me hele; but that is don.	40
BD 41 Passe we over untill eft;	40
BD 42 That wil not be mot nede be left;	42
BD 43 Our first mater is good to kepe.	42
BD 44 So whan I saw I might not slepe	44
BD 45 Til now late this other night,	44
BD 46 Upon my bed I sat upright	46
BD 47 And bad oon reche me a book,	46
BD 48 A romaunce, and he it me tok	48
BD 49 To rede and drive the night away;	48
BD 50 For me thoughte it better play	50
BD 51 Then playe either at ches or tables.	50
BD 52 And in this bok were written fables	52
BD 53 That clerkes had in olde tyme,	52
BD 54 And other poetes, put in rime	54
BD 55 To rede and for to be in minde,	54
BD 56 While men loved the lawe of kinde.	56
BD 57 This bok ne spak but of such thinges,	56
BD 58 Of quenes lives, and of kinges,	58
BD 59 And many other thinges smale.	58
BD 60 Amonge al this I fond a tale	60
BD 61 That me thoughte a wonder thing.	60
BD 62 This was the tale: There was a king	62
BD 63 That highte Seys, and had a wif,	62
BD 64 The beste that mighte bere lyf,	64
BD 65 And this quene highte Alcyone.	64
BD 66 So it befil thereafter soone	66
BD 67 This king wol wenden over see.	66
BD 68 To tellen shortly, whan that he	68
BD 69 Was in the see thus in this wise,	68
BD 70 Such a tempest gan to rise	70
BD 71 That brak her mast and made it falle,	70
BD 72 And clefte her ship, and dreinte hem alle,	72
BD 73 That never was founde, as it telles,	72
BD 74 Bord ne man, ne nothing elles.	74
BD 75 Right thus this king Seys loste his lif.	74
BD 76 Now for to speke of Alcyone, his wif:	76
BD 77 This lady, that was left at hom,	76
BD 78 Hath wonder that the king ne com	78
BD 79 Hom, for it was a longe terme.	78
BD 80 Anon her herte began to [erme];	80
BD 81 And for that her thoughte evermo	80
BD 82 It was not wele [he dwelte] so,	82
BD 83 She longed so after the king	82
BD 84 That certes it were a pitous thing	84
BD 85 To telle her hertely sorowful lif	84
BD 86 That she had, this noble wif,	86
BD 87 For him, alas, she loved alderbest.	86
BD 88 Anon she sent bothe eest and west	88
BD 89 To seke him, but they founde nought.	88
BD 90 " Alas! " quod she, " that I was wrought!	90
BD 91 And wher my lord, my love, be deed?	90
BD 92 Certes, I nil never ete breed,	92
BD 93 I make avow to my god here,	92
BD 94 But I mowe of my lord here! "	94
BD 95 Such sorowe this lady to her tok	94
BD 96 That trewly I, that made this book,	96
BD 97 Had such pittee and such rowthe	96
BD 98 To rede hir sorwe that, by my trowthe,	98
BD 99 I ferde the worse al the morwe	98
BD 100 Aftir to thenken on hir sorwe.	100
BD 101 So whan this lady koude here noo word	100
BD 102 That no man myghte fynde hir lord,	102
BD 103 Ful ofte she swouned, and sayed " Alas! "	102
BD 104 For sorwe ful nygh wood she was,	104
BD 105 Ne she koude no reed but oon;	104
BD 106 But doun on knees she sat anoon	106
BD 107 And wepte that pittee was to here.	106
BD 108 " A, mercy, swete lady dere! "	108
BD 109 Quod she to Juno, hir goddesse,	108
BD 110 " Helpe me out of thys distresse,	110
BD 111 And yeve me grace my lord to se	110
BD 112 Soone or wite wher-so he be,	112
BD 113 Or how he fareth, or in what wise,	112
BD 114 And I shal make yow sacrifise,	114
BD 115 And hooly youres become I shal	114
BD 116 With good wille, body, herte, and al;	116
BD 117 And but thow wolt this, lady swete,	116
BD 118 Send me grace to slepe and mete	118
BD 119 In my slep som certeyn sweven	118
BD 120 Wherthourgh that I may knowen even	120
BD 121 Whether my lord be quyk or ded. "	120
BD 122 With that word she heng doun the hed	122
BD 123 And fel a-swowne as cold as ston.	122
BD 124 Hyr women kaught hir up anoon	124
BD 125 And broghten hir in bed al naked,	124
BD 126 And she, forweped and forwaked,	126
BD 127 Was wery; and thus the dede slep	126
BD 128 Fil on hir or she tooke kep,	128
BD 129 Throgh Juno, that had herd hir bone,	128
BD 130 That made hir to slepe sone.	130
BD 131 For as she prayede, ryght so was don	130
BD 132 In dede; for Juno ryght anon	132
BD 133 Called thus hir messager	132
BD 134 To doo hir erande, and he com ner.	134
BD 135 Whan he was come, she bad hym thus:	134
BD 136 " Go bet, " quod Juno, " to Morpheus --	136
BD 137 Thou knowest hym wel, the god of slep.	136
BD 138 Now understond wel and tak kep!	138
BD 139 Sey thus on my half: that he	138
BD 140 Go faste into the Grete Se,	140
BD 141 And byd hym that, on alle thyng,	140
BD 142 He take up Seys body the kyng,	142
BD 143 That lyeth ful pale and nothyng rody.	142
BD 144 Bid hym crepe into the body	144
BD 145 And doo hit goon to Alcione	144
BD 146 The quene, ther she lyeth allone,	146
BD 147 And shewe hir shortly, hit ys no nay,	146
BD 148 How hit was dreynt thys other day;	148
BD 149 And do the body speke ryght soo,	148
BD 150 Ryght as hyt was woned to doo	150
BD 151 The whiles that hit was alyve.	150
BD 152 Goo now faste, and hye the blyve! "	152
BD 153 This messager tok leve and wente	152
BD 154 Upon hys wey, and never ne stente	154
BD 155 Til he com to the derke valeye	154
BD 156 That stant betwixe roches tweye	156
BD 157 Ther never yet grew corn ne gras,	156
BD 158 Ne tre, ne noght that ought was,	158
BD 159 Beste, ne man, ne noght elles,	158
BD 160 Save ther were a fewe welles	160
BD 161 Came rennynge fro the clyves adoun,	160
BD 162 That made a dedly slepynge soun,	162
BD 163 And ronnen doun ryght by a cave	162
BD 164 That was under a rokke ygrave	164
BD 165 Amydde the valey, wonder depe.	164
BD 166 There these goddes lay and slepe,	166
BD 167 Morpheus and Eclympasteyr,	166
BD 168 That was the god of slepes heyr,	168
BD 169 That slep and dide noon other werk.	168
BD 170 This cave was also as derk	170
BD 171 As helle-pit overal aboute.	170
BD 172 They had good leyser for to route,	172
BD 173 To envye who myghte slepe best.	172
BD 174 Somme henge her chyn upon hir brest	174
BD 175 And slept upryght, hir hed yhed,	174
BD 176 And somme lay naked in her bed	176
BD 177 And slepe whiles the dayes laste.	176
BD 178 This messager com fleynge faste	178
BD 179 And cried, " O, how! Awake anoon! "	178
BD 180 Hit was for noght; there herde hym non.	180
BD 181 " Awake! " quod he, " whoo ys lyth there? "	180
BD 182 And blew his horn ryght in here eere,	182
BD 183 And cried " Awaketh! " wonder hye.	182
BD 184 This god of slep with hys oon ye	184
BD 185 Cast up, and axed, " Who clepeth ther? "	184
BD 186 " Hyt am I, " quod this messager.	186
BD 187 " Juno bad thow shuldest goon " --	186
BD 188 And tolde hym what he shulde doon	188
BD 189 (As I have told yow here-to-fore;	188
BD 190 Hyt ys no nede reherse hyt more)	190
BD 191 And went hys wey whan he had sayd.	190
BD 192 Anoon this god of slep abrayd	192
BD 193 Out of hys slep, and gan to goon,	192
BD 194 And dyde as he had bede hym doon:	194
BD 195 Took up the dreynte body sone	194
BD 196 And bar hyt forth to Alcione,	196
BD 197 Hys wif the quene, ther as she lay	196
BD 198 Ryght even a quarter before day,	198
BD 199 And stood ryght at hyr beddes fet,	198
BD 200 And called hir ryght as she het	200
BD 201 By name, and sayde, " My swete wyf,	200
BD 202 Awake! Let be your sorwful lyf,	202
BD 203 For in your sorwe there lyth no red;	202
BD 204 For, certes, swete, I am but ded.	204
BD 205 Ye shul me never on lyve yse.	204
BD 206 But, goode swete herte, that ye	206
BD 207 Bury my body, for such a tyde	206
BD 208 Ye mowe hyt fynde the see besyde;	208
BD 209 And farewel, swete, my worldes blysse!	208
BD 210 I praye God youre sorwe lysse.	210
BD 211 To lytel while oure blysse lasteth! "	210
BD 212 With that hir eyen up she casteth	212
BD 213 And saw noght. " Allas! " quod she for sorwe,	212
BD 214 And deyede within the thridde morwe.	214
BD 215 But what she sayede more in that swow	214
BD 216 I may not telle yow as now;	216
BD 217 Hyt were to longe for to dwelle.	216
BD 218 My first matere I wil yow telle,	218
BD 219 Wherfore I have told this thyng	218
BD 220 Of Alcione and Seys the kyng,	220
BD 221 For thus moche dar I saye wel:	220
BD 222 I had be dolven everydel	222
BD 223 And ded, ryght thurgh defaute of slep,	222
BD 224 Yif I ne had red and take kep	224
BD 225 Of this tale next before.	224
BD 226 And I wol telle yow wherfore:	226
BD 227 For I ne myghte, for bote ne bale,	226
BD 228 Slepe or I had red thys tale	228
BD 229 Of this dreynte Seys the kyng	228
BD 230 And of the goddes of slepyng.	230
BD 231 Whan I had red thys tale wel	230
BD 232 And overloked hyt everydel,	232
BD 233 Me thoghte wonder yf hit were so,	232
BD 234 For I had never herd speke or tho	234
BD 235 Of noo goddes that koude make	234
BD 236 Men to slepe, ne for to wake,	236
BD 237 For I ne knew never god but oon.	236
BD 238 And in my game I sayde anoon	238
BD 239 (And yet me lyst ryght evel to pleye)	238
BD 240 Rather then that y shulde deye	240
BD 241 Thorgh defaute of slepynge thus,	240
BD 242 I wolde yive thilke Morpheus,	242
BD 243 Or hys goddesse, dame Juno,	242
BD 244 Or som wight elles, I ne roghte who --	244
BD 245 " To make me slepe and have som reste	244
BD 246 I wil yive hym the alderbeste	246
BD 247 Yifte that ever he abod hys lyve.	246
BD 248 And here on warde, ryght now as blyve,	248
BD 249 Yif he wol make me slepe a lyte,	248
BD 250 Of down of pure dowves white	250
BD 251 I wil yive hym a fether-bed,	250
BD 252 Rayed with gold and ryght wel cled	252
BD 253 In fyn blak satyn doutremer,	252
BD 254 And many a pilowe, and every ber	254
BD 255 Of cloth of Reynes, to slepe softe --	254
BD 256 Hym thar not nede to turnen ofte --	256
BD 257 And I wol yive hym al that falles	256
BD 258 To a chambre, and al hys halles	258
BD 259 I wol do peynte with pure gold	258
BD 260 And tapite hem ful many fold	260
BD 261 Of oo sute; this shal he have	260
BD 262 (Yf I wiste where were hys cave),	262
BD 263 Yf he kan make me slepe sone,	262
BD 264 As did the goddesse quene Alcione.	264
BD 265 And thus this ylke god, Morpheus,	264
BD 266 May wynne of me moo fees thus	266
BD 267 Than ever he wan; and to Juno,	266
BD 268 That ys hys goddesse, I shal soo do,	268
BD 269 I trow, that she shal holde hir payd. "	268
BD 270 I hadde unneth that word ysayd	270
BD 271 Ryght thus as I have told hyt yow,	270
BD 272 That sodeynly, I nyste how,	272
BD 273 Such a lust anoon me took	272
BD 274 To slepe that ryght upon my book	274
BD 275 Y fil aslepe, and therwith even	274
BD 276 Me mette so ynly swete a sweven,	276
BD 277 So wonderful that never yit	276
BD 278 Y trowe no man had the wyt	278
BD 279 To konne wel my sweven rede;	278
BD 280 No, not Joseph, withoute drede,	280
BD 281 Of Egipte, he that redde so	280
BD 282 The kynges metynge Pharao,	282
BD 283 No more than koude the lest of us;	282
BD 284 Ne nat skarsly Macrobeus	284
BD 285 (He that wrot al th' avysyoun	284
BD 286 That he mette, kyng Scipioun,	286
BD 287 The noble man, the Affrikan --	286
BD 288 Suche marvayles fortuned than),	288
BD 289 I trowe, arede my dremes even.	288
BD 290 Loo, thus hyt was; thys was my sweven.	290
BD 291 Me thoghte thus: that hyt was May,	290
BD 292 And in the dawenynge I lay	292
BD 293 (Me mette thus) in my bed al naked	292
BD 294 And loked forth, for I was waked	294
BD 295 With smale foules a gret hep	294
BD 296 That had affrayed me out of my slep	296
BD 297 Thorgh noyse and swetnesse of her song.	296
BD 298 And, as me mette, they sate among	298
BD 299 Upon my chambre roof wythoute,	298
BD 300 Upon the tyles, overal aboute,	300
BD 301 And songe, everych in hys wyse,	300
BD 302 The moste solempne servise	302
BD 303 By noote that ever man, y trowe,	302
BD 304 Had herd, for som of hem song lowe,	304
BD 305 Som high, and al of oon acord.	304
BD 306 To telle shortly, att oo word,	306
BD 307 Was never herd so swete a steven	306
BD 308 But hyt had be a thyng of heven --	308
BD 309 So mery a soun, so swete entewnes,	308
BD 310 That certes, for the toun of Tewnes	310
BD 311 I nolde but I had herd hem synge;	310
BD 312 For al my chambre gan to rynge	312
BD 313 Thurgh syngynge of her armonye;	312
BD 314 For instrument nor melodye	314
BD 315 Was nowhere herd yet half so swete,	314
BD 316 Nor of acord half so mete;	316
BD 317 For ther was noon of hem that feyned	316
BD 318 To synge, for ech of hem hym peyned	318
BD 319 To fynde out mery crafty notes.	318
BD 320 They ne spared not her throtes.	320
BD 321 And sooth to seyn, my chambre was	320
BD 322 Ful wel depeynted, and with glas	322
BD 323 Were al the wyndowes wel yglased	322
BD 324 Ful clere, and nat an hoole ycrased,	324
BD 325 That to beholde hyt was gret joye.	324
BD 326 For hooly al the story of Troye	326
BD 327 Was in the glasynge ywroght thus,	326
BD 328 Of Ector and of kyng Priamus,	328
BD 329 Of Achilles and of kyng Lamedon,	328
BD 330 And eke of Medea and of Jason,	330
BD 331 Of Paris, Eleyne, and of Lavyne.	330
BD 332 And alle the walles with colours fyne	332
BD 333 Were peynted, bothe text and glose,	332
BD 334 [Of] al the Romaunce of the Rose.	334
BD 335 My wyndowes were shette echon,	334
BD 336 And throgh the glas the sonne shon	336
BD 337 Upon my bed with bryghte bemes,	336
BD 338 With many glade gilde stremes;	338
BD 339 And eke the welken was so fair --	338
BD 340 Blew, bryght, clere was the ayr,	340
BD 341 And ful attempre for sothe hyt was;	340
BD 342 For nother to cold nor hoot yt nas,	342
BD 343 Ne in al the welken was a clowde.	342
BD 344 And as I lay thus, wonder lowde	344
BD 345 Me thoght I herde an hunte blowe	344
BD 346 T' assay hys horn and for to knowe	346
BD 347 Whether hyt were clere or hors of soun.	346
BD 348 And I herde goynge bothe up and doun	348
BD 349 Men, hors, houndes, and other thyng;	348
BD 350 And al men speken of huntyng,	350
BD 351 How they wolde slee the hert with strengthe,	350
BD 352 And how the hert had upon lengthe	352
BD 353 So moche embosed -- y not now what.	352
BD 354 Anoon ryght whan I herde that,	354
BD 355 How that they wolde on-huntynge goon,	354
BD 356 I was ryght glad, and up anoon	356
BD 357 Took my hors, and forth I wente	356
BD 358 Out of my chambre; I never stente	358
BD 359 Til I com to the feld withoute.	358
BD 360 Ther overtok y a gret route	360
BD 361 Of huntes and eke of foresteres,	360
BD 362 With many relayes and lymeres,	362
BD 363 And hyed hem to the forest faste	362
BD 364 And I with hem. So at the laste	364
BD 365 I asked oon, ladde a lymere:	364
BD 366 " Say, felowe, who shal hunte here? "	366
BD 367 Quod I, and he answered ageyn,	366
BD 368 " Syr, th' emperour Octovyen, "	368
BD 369 Quod he, " and ys here faste by. "	368
BD 370 " A Goddes half, in good tyme! " quod I,	370
BD 371 " Go we faste! " and gan to ryde.	370
BD 372 Whan we came to the forest syde,	372
BD 373 Every man dide ryght anoon	372
BD 374 As to huntynge fil to doon.	374
BD 375 The mayster-hunte anoon, fot-hot,	374
BD 376 With a gret horn blew thre mot	376
BD 377 At the uncouplynge of hys houndes.	376
BD 378 Withynne a while the hert yfounde ys,	378
BD 379 Yhalowed, and rechased faste	378
BD 380 Longe tyme; and so at the laste	380
BD 381 This hert rused and staal away	380
BD 382 Fro alle the houndes a privy way.	382
BD 383 The houndes had overshote hym alle	382
BD 384 And were on a defaute yfalle.	384
BD 385 Therwyth the hunte wonder faste	384
BD 386 Blew a forloyn at the laste.	386
BD 387 I was go walked fro my tree,	386
BD 388 And as I wente, ther cam by mee	388
BD 389 A whelp, that fauned me as I stood,	388
BD 390 That hadde yfolowed and koude no good.	390
BD 391 Hyt com and crepte to me as lowe	390
BD 392 Ryght as hyt hadde me yknowe,	392
BD 393 Helde doun hys hed and joyned hys eres,	392
BD 394 And leyde al smothe doun hys heres.	394
BD 395 I wolde have kaught hyt, and anoon	394
BD 396 Hyt fledde and was fro me goon;	396
BD 397 And I hym folwed, and hyt forth wente	396
BD 398 Doun by a floury grene wente	398
BD 399 Ful thikke of gras, ful softe and swete.	398
BD 400 With floures fele, faire under fete,	400
BD 401 And litel used; hyt semed thus,	400
BD 402 For both Flora and Zephirus,	402
BD 403 They two that make floures growe,	402
BD 404 Had mad her dwellynge ther, I trowe;	404
BD 405 For hit was, on to beholde,	404
BD 406 As thogh the erthe envye wolde	406
BD 407 To be gayer than the heven,	406
BD 408 To have moo floures, swiche seven,	408
BD 409 As in the welken sterres bee.	408
BD 410 Hyt had forgete the povertee	410
BD 411 That wynter, thorgh hys colde morwes,	410
BD 412 Had mad hyt suffre, and his sorwes;	412
BD 413 All was forgeten, and that was sene,	412
BD 414 For al the woode was waxen grene;	414
BD 415 Swetnesse of dew had mad hyt waxe.	414
BD 416 Hyt ys no nede eke for to axe	416
BD 417 Wher there were many grene greves,	416
BD 418 Or thikke of trees, so ful of leves;	418
BD 419 And every tree stood by hymselve	418
BD 420 Fro other wel ten foot or twelve --	420
BD 421 So grete trees, so huge of strengthe,	420
BD 422 Of fourty or fifty fadme lengthe,	422
BD 423 Clene withoute bowgh or stikke,	422
BD 424 With croppes brode, and eke as thikke --	424
BD 425 They were nat an ynche asonder --	424
BD 426 That hit was shadewe overal under.	426
BD 427 And many an hert and many an hynde	426
BD 428 Was both before me and behynde.	428
BD 429 Of founes, sowres, bukkes, does	428
BD 430 Was ful the woode, and many roes,	430
BD 431 And many sqwirelles that sete	430
BD 432 Ful high upon the trees and ete,	432
BD 433 And in hir maner made festes.	432
BD 434 Shortly, hyt was so ful of bestes	434
BD 435 That thogh Argus, the noble countour,	434
BD 436 Sete to rekene in hys countour,	436
BD 437 And rekene with his figures ten --	436
BD 438 For by tho figures mowe al ken,	438
BD 439 Yf they be crafty, rekene and noumbre,	438
BD 440 And telle of every thing the noumbre --	440
BD 441 Yet shoulde he fayle to rekene even	440
BD 442 The wondres me mette in my sweven.	442
BD 443 But forth they romed ryght wonder faste	442
BD 444 Doun the woode; so at the laste	444
BD 445 I was war of a man in blak,	444
BD 446 That sat and had yturned his bak	446
BD 447 To an ook, an huge tree.	446
BD 448 " Lord, " thoght I, " who may that be?	448
BD 449 What ayleth hym to sitten her? "	448
BD 450 Anoon-ryght I wente ner;	450
BD 451 Than found I sitte even upryght	450
BD 452 A wonder wel-farynge knyght --	452
BD 453 By the maner me thoghte so --	452
BD 454 Of good mochel, and ryght yong therto,	454
BD 455 Of the age of foure and twenty yer,	454
BD 456 Upon hys berd but lytel her,	456
BD 457 And he was clothed al in blak.	456
BD 458 I stalked even unto hys bak,	458
BD 459 And there I stood as stille as ought,	458
BD 460 That, soth to saye, he saw me nought;	460
BD 461 For-why he heng hys hed adoun,	460
BD 462 And with a dedly sorwful soun	462
BD 463 He made of rym ten vers or twelve	462
BD 464 Of a compleynte to hymselve --	464
BD 465 The moste pitee, the moste rowthe,	464
BD 466 That ever I herde; for, by my trowthe,	466
BD 467 Hit was gret wonder that Nature	466
BD 468 Myght suffre any creature	468
BD 469 To have such sorwe and be not ded.	468
BD 470 Ful pitous pale and nothyng red,	470
BD 471 He sayd a lay, a maner song,	470
BD 472 Withoute noote, withoute song;	472
BD 473 And was thys, for ful wel I kan	472
BD 474 Reherse hyt; ryght thus hyt began:	474
BD 475 " I have of sorwe so gret won	474
BD 476 That joye gete I never non,	476
BD 477 Now that I see my lady bryght,	476
BD 478 Which I have loved with al my myght,	478
BD 479 Is fro me ded and ys agoon.	478
BD 481 " Allas, deth, what ayleth the,	480
BD 482 That thou noldest have taken me,	480
BD 483 Whan thou toke my lady swete,	482
BD 484 That was so fair, so fresh, so fre,	482
BD 485 So good that men may wel se	484
BD 486 Of al goodnesse she had no mete! "	484
BD 487 Whan he had mad thus his complaynte,	486
BD 488 Hys sorwful hert gan faste faynte	486
BD 489 And his spirites wexen dede;	488
BD 490 The blood was fled for pure drede	488
BD 491 Doun to hys herte, to make hym warm --	490
BD 492 For wel hyt feled the herte had harm --	490
BD 493 To wite eke why hyt was adrad	492
BD 494 By kynde, and for to make hyt glad,	492
BD 495 For hit ys membre principal	494
BD 496 Of the body; and that made al	494
BD 497 Hys hewe chaunge and wexe grene	496
BD 498 And pale, for ther noo blood ys sene	496
BD 499 In no maner lym of hys.	498
BD 500 Anoon therwith whan y sawgh this --	498
BD 501 He ferde thus evel there he set --	500
BD 502 I went and stood ryght at his fet,	500
BD 503 And grette hym; but he spak noght,	502
BD 504 But argued with his owne thoght,	502
BD 505 And in hys wyt disputed faste	504
BD 506 Why and how hys lyf myght laste;	504
BD 507 Hym thoughte hys sorwes were so smerte	506
BD 508 And lay so colde upon hys herte.	506
BD 509 So, throgh hys sorwe and hevy thoght,	508
BD 510 Made hym that he herde me noght;	508
BD 511 For he had wel nygh lost hys mynde,	510
BD 512 Thogh Pan, that men clepeth god of kynde,	510
BD 513 Were for hys sorwes never so wroth.	512
BD 514 But at the last, to sayn ryght soth,	512
BD 515 He was war of me, how y stood	514
BD 516 Before hym and did of myn hood,	514
BD 517 And had ygret hym as I best koude,	516
BD 518 Debonayrly, and nothyng lowde.	516
BD 519 He sayde, " I prey the, be not wroth.	518
BD 520 I herde the not, to seyn the soth,	518
BD 521 Ne I sawgh the not, syr, trewely. "	520
BD 522 " A, goode sir, no fors, " quod y,	520
BD 523 " I am ryght sory yif I have ought	522
BD 524 Destroubled yow out of your thought.	522
BD 525 Foryive me, yif I have mystake. "	524
BD 526 " Yis, th' amendes is lyght to make, "	524
BD 527 Quod he, " for ther lyeth noon therto;	526
BD 528 There ys nothyng myssayd nor do. "	526
BD 529 Loo, how goodly spak thys knyght,	528
BD 530 As hit had be another wyght;	528
BD 531 He made hyt nouther towgh ne queynte.	530
BD 532 And I saw that, and gan me aqueynte	530
BD 533 With hym, and fond hym so tretable,	532
BD 534 Ryght wonder skylful and resonable,	532
BD 535 As me thoghte, for al hys bale.	534
BD 536 Anoon ryght I gan fynde a tale	534
BD 537 To hym, to loke wher I myght ought	536
BD 538 Have more knowynge of hys thought.	536
BD 539 " Sir, " quod I, " this game is doon.	538
BD 540 I holde that this hert be goon;	538
BD 541 These huntes konne hym nowher see. "	540
BD 542 " Y do no fors therof, " quod he;	540
BD 543 " My thought ys theron never a del. "	542
BD 544 " By oure Lord, " quod I, " y trow yow wel;	542
BD 545 Ryght so me thinketh by youre chere.	544
BD 546 But, sir, oo thyng wol ye here?	544
BD 547 Me thynketh in gret sorowe I yow see;	546
BD 548 But certes, sire, yif that yee	546
BD 549 Wolde ought discure me youre woo,	548
BD 550 I wolde, as wys God helpe me soo,	548
BD 551 Amende hyt, yif I kan or may.	550
BD 552 Ye mowe preve hyt be assay;	550
BD 553 For, by my trouthe, to make yow hool	552
BD 554 I wol do al my power hool.	552
BD 555 And telleth me of your sorwes smerte;	554
BD 556 Paraunter hyt may ese youre herte,	554
BD 557 That semeth ful sek under your syde. "	556
BD 558 With that he loked on me asyde,	556
BD 559 As who sayth, " Nay, that wol not be. "	558
BD 560 " Graunt mercy, goode frend, " quod he,	558
BD 561 " I thanke the that thow woldest soo,	560
BD 562 But hyt may never the rather be doo.	560
BD 563 No man may my sorwe glade,	562
BD 564 That maketh my hewe to falle and fade,	562
BD 565 And hath myn understondynge lorn	564
BD 566 That me ys wo that I was born!	564
BD 567 May noght make my sorwes slyde,	566
BD 568 Nought al the remedyes of Ovyde,	566
BD 569 Ne Orpheus, god of melodye,	568
BD 570 Ne Dedalus with his playes slye;	568
BD 571 Ne hele me may no phisicien,	570
BD 572 Noght Ypocras ne Galyen;	570
BD 573 Me ys wo that I lyve houres twelve.	572
BD 574 But whooso wol assay hymselve	572
BD 575 Whether his hert kan have pitee	574
BD 576 Of any sorwe, lat hym see me.	574
BD 577 Y wrecche, that deth hath mad al naked	576
BD 578 Of al the blysse that ever was maked,	576
BD 579 Yworthe worste of alle wyghtes,	578
BD 580 That hate my dayes and my nyghtes!	578
BD 581 My lyf, my lustes, be me loothe,	580
BD 582 For al welfare and I be wroothe.	580
BD 583 The pure deth ys so ful my foo	582
BD 584 That I wolde deye, hyt wolde not soo;	582
BD 585 For whan I folwe hyt, hit wol flee;	584
BD 586 I wolde have hym, hyt nyl nat me.	584
BD 587 This ys my peyne wythoute red,	586
BD 588 Alway deynge and be not ded,	586
BD 589 That Cesiphus, that lyeth in helle,	588
BD 590 May not of more sorwe telle.	588
BD 591 And whoso wiste al, by my trouthe,	590
BD 592 My sorwe, but he hadde rowthe	590
BD 593 And pitee of my sorwes smerte,	592
BD 594 That man hath a fendly herte;	592
BD 595 For whoso seeth me first on morwe	594
BD 596 May seyn he hath met with sorwe,	594
BD 597 For y am sorwe, and sorwe ys y.	596
BD 598 " Allas! and I wol tel the why:	596
BD 599 My [song] ys turned to pleynynge,	598
BD 600 And al my laughtre to wepynge,	598
BD 601 My glade thoghtes to hevynesse;	600
BD 602 In travayle ys myn ydelnesse	600
BD 603 And eke my reste; my wele is woo,	602
BD 604 My good ys harm, and evermoo	602
BD 605 In wrathe ys turned my pleynge	604
BD 606 And my delyt into sorwynge.	604
BD 607 Myn hele ys turned into seknesse,	606
BD 608 In drede ys al my sykernesse;	606
BD 609 To derke ys turned al my lyght,	608
BD 610 My wyt ys foly, my day ys nyght,	608
BD 611 My love ys hate, my slep wakynge,	610
BD 612 My myrthe and meles ys fastynge,	610
BD 613 My countenaunce ys nycete	612
BD 614 And al abaved, where so I be;	612
BD 615 My pees in pledynge and in werre.	614
BD 616 Allas, how myghte I fare werre?	614
BD 617 My boldnesse ys turned to shame,	616
BD 618 For fals Fortune hath pleyd a game	616
BD 619 Atte ches with me, allas the while!	618
BD 620 The trayteresse fals and ful of gyle,	618
BD 621 That al behoteth and nothyng halt,	620
BD 622 She goth upryght and yet she halt,	620
BD 623 That baggeth foule and loketh faire,	622
BD 624 The dispitouse debonaire	622
BD 625 That skorneth many a creature!	624
BD 626 An ydole of fals portrayture	624
BD 627 Ys she, for she wol sone wrien;	626
BD 628 She is the monstres hed ywrien,	626
BD 629 As fylthe over-ystrawed with floures.	628
BD 630 Hir moste worshippe and hir flour ys	628
BD 631 To lyen, for that ys hyr nature;	630
BD 632 Withoute feyth, lawe, or mesure	630
BD 633 She ys fals, and ever laughynge	632
BD 634 With oon eye, and that other wepynge.	632
BD 635 That ys broght up she set al doun.	634
BD 636 I lykne hyr to the scorpioun,	634
BD 637 That ys a fals, flaterynge beste,	636
BD 638 For with his hed he maketh feste,	636
BD 639 But al amydde hys flaterynge	638
BD 640 With hys tayle he wol stynge	638
BD 641 And envenyme; and so wol she.	640
BD 642 She ys th' envyouse charite	640
BD 643 That ys ay fals and semeth wel;	642
BD 644 So turneth she hyr false whel	642
BD 645 Aboute, for hyt ys nothyng stable --	644
BD 646 Now by the fire, now at table;	644
BD 647 For many oon hath she thus yblent.	646
BD 648 She ys pley of enchauntement,	646
BD 649 That semeth oon and ys not soo.	648
BD 650 The false thef! What hath she doo,	648
BD 651 Trowest thou? By oure Lord I wol the seye:	650
BD 652 " At the ches with me she gan to pleye;	650
BD 653 With hir false draughtes dyvers	652
BD 654 She staal on me and tok my fers.	652
BD 655 And whan I sawgh my fers awaye,	654
BD 656 Allas, I kouthe no lenger playe,	654
BD 657 But seyde, `Farewel, swete, ywys,	656
BD 658 And farewel al that ever ther ys!'	656
BD 659 " Therwith Fortune seyde `Chek her!	658
BD 660 And mat in the myd poynt of the chekker,	658
BD 661 With a poun errant!' Allas,	660
BD 662 Ful craftier to pley she was	660
BD 663 Than Athalus, that made the game	662
BD 664 First of the ches, so was hys name.	662
BD 665 But God wolde I had oones or twyes	664
BD 666 Ykoud and knowe the jeupardyes	664
BD 667 That kowde the Grek Pictagores!	666
BD 668 I shulde have pleyd the bet at ches	666
BD 669 And kept my fers the bet therby.	668
BD 670 And thogh wherto? For trewely	668
BD 671 I holde that wyssh nat worth a stree!	670
BD 672 Hyt had be never the bet for me,	670
BD 673 For Fortune kan so many a wyle	672
BD 674 Ther be but fewe kan hir begile;	672
BD 675 And eke she ys the lasse to blame;	674
BD 676 Myself I wolde have do the same,	674
BD 677 Before God, hadde I ben as she;	676
BD 678 She oghte the more excused be.	676
BD 679 For this I say yet more therto:	678
BD 680 Had I be God and myghte have do	678
BD 681 My wille whan she my fers kaughte,	680
BD 682 I wolde have drawe the same draughte.	680
BD 683 For, also wys God yive me reste,	682
BD 684 I dar wel swere she took the beste.	682
BD 685 But through that draughte I have lorn	684
BD 686 My blysse; allas, that I was born!	684
BD 687 For evermore, y trowe trewly,	686
BD 688 For al my wille, my lust holly	686
BD 689 Ys turned; but yet, what to doone?	688
BD 690 Be oure Lord, hyt ys to deye soone.	688
BD 691 For nothyng I leve hyt noght,	690
BD 692 But lyve and deye ryght in this thoght;	690
BD 693 For there nys planete in firmament,	692
BD 694 Ne in ayr ne in erthe noon element,	692
BD 695 That they ne yive me a yifte echone	694
BD 696 Of wepynge whan I am allone.	694
BD 697 For whan that I avise me wel	696
BD 698 And bethenke me every del	696
BD 699 How that ther lyeth in rekenyng,	698
BD 700 In my sorwe, for nothyng,	698
BD 701 And how ther leveth no gladnesse	700
BD 702 May glade me of my distresse,	700
BD 703 And how I have lost suffisance,	702
BD 704 And therto I have no plesance,	702
BD 705 Than may I say I have ryght noght.	704
BD 706 And whan al this falleth in my thoght,	704
BD 707 Allas, than am I overcome!	706
BD 708 For that ys doon ys not to come.	706
BD 709 I have more sorowe than Tantale. "	708
BD 710 And whan I herde hym tel thys tale	708
BD 711 Thus pitously, as I yow telle,	710
BD 712 Unnethe myght y lenger dwelle,	710
BD 713 Hyt dyde myn herte so moche woo.	712
BD 714 " A, goode sir, " quod I, " say not soo!	712
BD 715 Have som pitee on your nature	714
BD 716 That formed yow to creature.	714
BD 717 Remembre yow of Socrates,	716
BD 718 For he ne counted nat thre strees	716
BD 719 Of noght that Fortune koude doo. "	718
BD 720 " No, " quod he, " I kan not soo. "	718
BD 721 " Why so, good syr? Yis parde! " quod y;	720
BD 722 " Ne say noght soo, for trewely,	720
BD 723 Thogh ye had lost the ferses twelve,	722
BD 724 And ye for sorwe mordred yourselve,	722
BD 725 Ye sholde be dampned in this cas	724
BD 726 By as good ryght as Medea was,	724
BD 727 That slough hir children for Jasoun;	726
BD 728 And Phyllis also for Demophoun	726
BD 729 Heng hirself -- so weylaway! --	728
BD 730 For he had broke his terme-day	728
BD 731 To come to hir. Another rage	730
BD 732 Had Dydo, the quene eke of Cartage,	730
BD 733 That slough hirself for Eneas	732
BD 734 Was fals -- which a fool she was!	732
BD 735 And Ecquo died for Narcisus	734
BD 736 Nolde nat love hir, and ryght thus	734
BD 737 Hath many another foly doon;	736
BD 738 And for Dalida died Sampson,	736
BD 739 That slough hymself with a piler.	738
BD 740 But ther is no man alyve her	738
BD 741 Wolde for a fers make this woo! "	740
BD 742 " Why so? " quod he, " hyt ys nat soo.	740
BD 743 Thou wost ful lytel what thou menest;	742
BD 744 I have lost more than thow wenest. "	742
BD 745 " Loo, [sey] how that may be? " quod y;	744
BD 746 " Good sir, telle me al hooly	744
BD 747 In what wyse, how, why, and wherfore	746
BD 748 That ye have thus youre blysse lore. "	746
BD 749 " Blythely, " quod he; " com sytte adoun!	748
BD 750 I telle the upon a condicioun	748
BD 751 That thou shalt hooly, with al thy wyt,	750
BD 752 Doo thyn entent to herkene hit. "	750
BD 753 " Yis, syr. " " Swere thy trouthe therto. "	752
BD 754 " Gladly. " " Do thanne holde hereto! "	752
BD 755 " I shal ryght blythely, so God me save,	754
BD 756 Hooly, with al the wit I have,	754
BD 757 Here yow as wel as I kan. "	756
BD 758 " A Goddes half! " quod he, and began:	756
BD 759 " Syr, " quod he, " sith first I kouthe	758
BD 760 Have any maner wyt fro youthe,	758
BD 761 Or kyndely understondyng	760
BD 762 To comprehende in any thyng	760
BD 763 What love was, in myn owne wyt,	762
BD 764 Dredeles, I have ever yit	762
BD 765 Be tributarye and yive rente	764
BD 766 To Love, hooly with good entente,	764
BD 767 And throgh plesaunce become his thral	766
BD 768 With good wille, body, hert, and al.	766
BD 769 Al this I putte in his servage,	768
BD 770 As to my lord, and dide homage;	768
BD 771 And ful devoutly I prayed hym to	770
BD 772 He shulde besette myn herte so	770
BD 773 That hyt plesance to hym were	772
BD 774 And worship to my lady dere.	772
BD 775 " And this was longe, and many a yer	774
BD 776 Or that myn herte was set owher,	774
BD 777 That I dide thus, and nyste why;	776
BD 778 I trowe hit cam me kyndely.	776
BD 779 Paraunter I was therto most able,	778
BD 780 As a whit wal or a table,	778
BD 781 For hit ys redy to cacche and take	780
BD 782 Al that men wil theryn make,	780
BD 783 Whethir so men wil portreye or peynte,	782
BD 784 Be the werkes never so queynte.	782
BD 785 " And thilke tyme I ferde ryght so,	784
BD 786 I was able to have lerned tho,	784
BD 787 And to have kend as wel or better,	786
BD 788 Paraunter, other art or letre;	786
BD 789 But for love cam first in my thoght,	788
BD 790 Therfore I forgat hyt noght.	788
BD 791 I ches love to my firste craft;	790
BD 792 Therfore hit ys with me laft,	790
BD 793 For-why I tok hyt of so yong age	792
BD 794 That malyce hadde my corage	792
BD 795 Nat that tyme turned to nothyng	794
BD 796 Thorgh to mochel knowlechyng.	794
BD 797 For that tyme Yowthe, my maistresse,	796
BD 798 Governed me in ydelnesse;	796
BD 799 For hyt was in my firste youthe,	798
BD 800 And thoo ful lytel good y couthe,	798
BD 801 For al my werkes were flyttynge	800
BD 802 That tyme, and al my thoght varyinge.	800
BD 803 Al were to me ylyche good	802
BD 804 That I knew thoo; but thus hit stood:	802
BD 805 " Hit happed that I cam on a day	804
BD 806 Into a place ther that I say	804
BD 807 Trewly the fayrest companye	806
BD 808 Of ladyes that evere man with ye	806
BD 809 Had seen togedres in oo place.	808
BD 810 Shal I clepe hyt hap other grace	808
BD 811 That broght me there? Nay, but Fortune,	810
BD 812 That ys to lyen ful comune,	810
BD 813 The false trayteresse pervers!	812
BD 814 God wolde I koude clepe hir wers,	812
BD 815 For now she worcheth me ful woo,	814
BD 816 And I wol telle sone why soo.	814
BD 817 " Among these ladyes thus echon,	816
BD 818 Soth to seyen, y sawgh oon	816
BD 819 That was lyk noon of the route;	818
BD 820 For I dar swere, withoute doute,	818
BD 821 That as the someres sonne bryght	820
BD 822 Ys fairer, clerer, and hath more lyght	820
BD 823 Than any other planete in heven,	822
BD 824 The moone or the sterres seven,	822
BD 825 For al the world so hadde she	824
BD 826 Surmounted hem alle of beaute,	824
BD 827 Of maner, and of comlynesse,	826
BD 828 Of stature, and of wel set gladnesse,	826
BD 829 Of goodlyhede so wel beseye --	828
BD 830 Shortly, what shal y more seye?	828
BD 831 By God and by his halwes twelve,	830
BD 832 Hyt was my swete, ryght as hirselve.	830
BD 833 She had so stedfast countenaunce,	832
BD 834 So noble port and meyntenaunce,	832
BD 835 And Love, that had wel herd my boone,	834
BD 836 Had espyed me thus soone,	834
BD 837 That she ful sone in my thoght,	836
BD 838 As helpe me God, so was ykaught	836
BD 839 So sodenly that I ne tok	838
BD 840 No maner counseyl but at hir lok	838
BD 841 And at myn herte; for-why hir eyen	840
BD 842 So gladly, I trow, myn herte seyen	840
BD 843 That purely tho myn owne thoght	842
BD 844 Seyde hit were beter serve hir for noght	842
BD 845 Than with another to be wel.	844
BD 846 And hyt was soth, for everydel	844
BD 847 I wil anoon ryght telle thee why.	846
BD 848 " I sawgh hyr daunce so comlily,	846
BD 849 Carole and synge so swetely,	848
BD 850 Laughe and pleye so womanly,	848
BD 851 And loke so debonairly,	850
BD 852 So goodly speke and so frendly,	850
BD 853 That certes y trowe that evermor	852
BD 854 Nas seyn so blysful a tresor.	852
BD 855 For every heer on hir hed,	854
BD 856 Soth to seyne, hyt was not red,	854
BD 857 Ne nouther yelowe ne broun hyt nas;	856
BD 858 Me thoghte most lyk gold hyt was.	856
BD 859 " And whiche eyen my lady hadde!	858
BD 860 Debonaire, goode, glade, and sadde,	858
BD 861 Symple, of good mochel, noght to wyde.	860
BD 862 Therto hir look nas not asyde	860
BD 863 Ne overthwert, but beset so wel	862
BD 864 Hyt drew and took up everydel	862
BD 865 Al that on hir gan beholde.	864
BD 866 Hir eyen semed anoon she wolde	864
BD 867 Have mercy -- fooles wenden soo --	866
BD 868 But hyt was never the rather doo.	866
BD 869 Hyt nas no countrefeted thyng;	868
BD 870 Hyt was hir owne pure lokyng	868
BD 871 That the goddesse, dame Nature,	870
BD 872 Had mad hem opene by mesure	870
BD 873 And close; for were she never so glad,	872
BD 874 Hyr lokynge was not foly sprad,	872
BD 875 Ne wildely, thogh that she pleyde;	874
BD 876 But ever, me thoght, hir eyen seyde,	874
BD 877 `Be God, my wrathe ys al foryive!'	876
BD 878 " Therwith hir lyste so wel to lyve,	876
BD 879 That dulnesse was of hir adrad.	878
BD 880 She nas to sobre ne to glad;	878
BD 881 In alle thynges more mesure	880
BD 882 Had never, I trowe, creature.	880
BD 883 But many oon with hire lok she herte,	882
BD 884 And that sat hyr ful lyte at herte,	882
BD 885 For she knew nothyng of her thoght;	884
BD 886 But whether she knew or knew it nowght	884
BD 887 Algate she ne roughte of hem a stree! --	886
BD 888 To gete her love no ner nas he	886
BD 889 That woned at hom than he in Ynde;	888
BD 890 The formest was alway behynde.	888
BD 891 But goode folk, over al other,	890
BD 892 She loved as man may do hys brother;	890
BD 893 Of which love she was wonder large,	892
BD 894 In skilful places that bere charge.	892
BD 895 " But which a visage had she thertoo!	894
BD 896 Allas, myn herte ys wonder woo	894
BD 897 That I ne kan discryven hyt!	896
BD 898 Me lakketh both Englyssh and wit	896
BD 899 For to undo hyt at the fulle;	898
BD 900 And eke my spirites be so dulle	898
BD 901 So gret a thyng for to devyse.	900
BD 902 I have no wit that kan suffise	900
BD 903 To comprehende hir beaute.	902
BD 904 But thus moche dar I sayn, that she	902
BD 905 Was whit, rody, fressh, and lyvely hewed,	904
BD 906 And every day hir beaute newed.	904
BD 907 And negh hir face was alderbest,	906
BD 908 For certes Nature had swich lest	906
BD 909 To make that fair that trewly she	908
BD 910 Was hir chef patron of beaute,	908
BD 911 And chef ensample of al hir werk,	910
BD 912 And moustre; for be hyt never so derk,	910
BD 913 Me thynketh I se hir ever moo.	912
BD 914 And yet moreover, thogh alle thoo	912
BD 915 That ever livede were now alyve,	914
BD 916 Ne sholde have founde to discryve	914
BD 917 Yn al hir face a wikked sygne,	916
BD 918 For hit was sad, symple, and benygne.	916
BD 919 " And which a goodly, softe speche	918
BD 920 Had that swete, my lyves leche!	918
BD 921 So frendly, and so wel ygrounded,	920
BD 922 Up al resoun so wel yfounded,	920
BD 923 And so tretable to alle goode	922
BD 924 That I dar swere wel, by the roode,	922
BD 925 Of eloquence was never founde	924
BD 926 So swete a sownynge facounde,	924
BD 927 Ne trewer tonged, ne skorned lasse,	926
BD 928 Ne bet koude hele -- that, by the masse	926
BD 929 I durste swere, thogh the pope hit songe,	928
BD 930 That ther was never yet throgh hir tonge	928
BD 931 Man ne woman gretly harmed;	930
BD 932 As for her, was al harm hyd --	930
BD 933 Ne lasse flaterynge in hir word,	932
BD 934 That purely hir symple record	932
BD 935 Was founde as trewe as any bond	934
BD 936 Or trouthe of any mannes hond;	934
BD 937 Ne chyde she koude never a del;	936
BD 938 That knoweth al the world ful wel.	936
BD 939 " But swich a fairnesse of a nekke	938
BD 940 Had that swete that boon nor brekke	938
BD 941 Nas ther non sene that myssat.	940
BD 942 Hyt was whit, smothe, streght, and pure flat,	940
BD 943 Wythouten hole or canel-boon,	942
BD 944 As be semynge had she noon.	942
BD 945 Hyr throte, as I have now memoyre,	944
BD 946 Semed a round tour of yvoyre,	944
BD 947 Of good gretnesse, and noght to gret.	946
BD 948 " And goode faire White she het;	946
BD 949 That was my lady name ryght.	948
BD 950 She was bothe fair and bryght;	948
BD 951 She hadde not hir name wrong.	950
BD 952 Ryght faire shuldres and body long	950
BD 953 She had, and armes, every lyth	952
BD 954 Fattyssh, flesshy, not gret therwith;	952
BD 955 Ryght white handes, and nayles rede;	954
BD 956 Rounde brestes; and of good brede	954
BD 957 Hyr hippes were; a streight flat bak.	956
BD 958 I knew on hir noon other lak	956
BD 959 That al hir lymmes nere pure sewynge	958
BD 960 In as fer as I had knowynge.	958
BD 961 " Therto she koude so wel pleye,	960
BD 962 Whan that hir lyste, that I dar seye	960
BD 963 That she was lyk to torche bryght	962
BD 964 That every man may take of lyght	962
BD 965 Ynogh, and hyt hath never the lesse.	964
BD 966 Of maner and of comlynesse	964
BD 967 Ryght so ferde my lady dere,	966
BD 968 For every wight of hir manere	966
BD 969 Myght cacche ynogh, yif that he wolde,	968
BD 970 Yif he had eyen hir to beholde;	968
BD 971 For I dar swere wel, yif that she	970
BD 972 Had among ten thousand be,	970
BD 973 She wolde have be, at the leste,	972
BD 974 A chef myrour of al the feste,	972
BD 975 Thogh they had stonden in a rowe,	974
BD 976 To mennes eyen that koude have knowe;	974
BD 977 For wher-so men had pleyd or waked,	976
BD 978 Me thoghte the felawsshyppe as naked	976
BD 979 Withouten hir that sawgh I oones	978
BD 980 As a corowne withoute stones.	978
BD 981 Trewly she was, to myn ye	980
BD 982 The soleyn fenix of Arabye,	980
BD 983 For ther livyth never but oon,	982
BD 984 Ne swich as she ne knowe I noon.	982
BD 985 " To speke of godnesse, trewly she	984
BD 986 Had as moche debonairte	984
BD 987 As ever had Hester in the Bible,	986
BD 988 And more, yif more were possyble.	986
BD 989 And soth to seyne, therwythal	988
BD 990 She had a wyt so general,	988
BD 991 So hool enclyned to alle goode,	990
BD 992 That al hir wyt was set, by the rode,	990
BD 993 Withoute malyce, upon gladnesse;	992
BD 994 And therto I saugh never yet a lesse	992
BD 995 Harmful than she was in doynge.	994
BD 996 I sey nat that she ne had knowynge	994
BD 997 What harm was, or elles she	996
BD 998 Had koud no good, so thinketh me.	996
BD 999 " And trewly for to speke of trouthe,	998
BD 1000 But she had had, hyt hadde be routhe.	998
BD 1001 Therof she had so moche hyr del --	1000
BD 1002 And I dar seyn and swere hyt wel --	1000
BD 1003 That Trouthe hymself over al and al	1002
BD 1004 Had chose hys maner principal	1002
BD 1005 In hir that was his restyng place.	1004
BD 1006 Therto she hadde the moste grace	1004
BD 1007 To have stedefast perseveraunce	1006
BD 1008 And esy, atempre governaunce	1006
BD 1009 That ever I knew or wyste yit,	1008
BD 1010 So pure suffraunt was hir wyt;	1008
BD 1011 And reson gladly she understood;	1010
BD 1012 Hyt folowed wel she koude good.	1010
BD 1013 She used gladly to do wel;	1012
BD 1014 These were hir maners everydel.	1012
BD 1015 " Therwith she loved so wel ryght	1014
BD 1016 She wrong do wolde to no wyght.	1014
BD 1017 No wyght myghte do hir noo shame,	1016
BD 1018 She loved so wel hir owne name.	1016
BD 1019 Hyr lust to holde no wyght in honde,	1018
BD 1020 Ne, be thou siker, she wolde not fonde	1018
BD 1021 To holde no wyght in balaunce	1020
BD 1022 By half word ne by countenaunce --	1020
BD 1023 But if men wolde upon hir lye --	1022
BD 1024 Ne sende men into Walakye,	1022
BD 1025 To Pruyse, and into Tartarye,	1024
BD 1026 To Alysaundre, ne into Turkye,	1024
BD 1027 And byd hym faste anoon that he	1026
BD 1028 Goo hoodles into the Drye Se	1026
BD 1029 And come hom by the Carrenar,	1028
BD 1030 And seye, `Sir, be now ryght war	1028
BD 1031 That I may of yow here seyn	1030
BD 1032 Worshyp or that ye come ageyn!'	1030
BD 1033 She ne used no suche knakkes smale.	1032
BD 1034 " But wherfore that y telle my tale?	1032
BD 1035 Ryght on thys same, as I have seyd,	1034
BD 1036 Was hooly al my love leyd;	1034
BD 1037 For certes she was, that swete wif,	1036
BD 1038 My suffisaunce, my lust, my lyf,	1036
BD 1039 Myn hap, myn hele, and al my blesse,	1038
BD 1040 My worldes welfare, and my goddesse,	1038
BD 1041 And I hooly hires and everydel. "	1040
BD 1042 " By oure Lord, " quod I, " y trowe yow wel!	1040
BD 1043 Hardely, your love was wel beset;	1042
BD 1044 I not how ye myghte have do bet. "	1042
BD 1045 " Bet? Ne no wyght so wel, " quod he.	1044
BD 1046 " Y trowe hyt wel, sir, " quod I, " parde! "	1044
BD 1047 " Nay, leve hyt wel! " " Sire, so do I;	1046
BD 1048 I leve yow wel, that trewely	1046
BD 1049 Yow thoghte that she was the beste	1048
BD 1050 And to beholde the alderfayreste,	1048
BD 1051 Whoso had loked hir with your eyen. "	1050
BD 1052 " With myn? Nay, alle that hir seyen	1050
BD 1053 Seyde and sworen hyt was soo.	1052
BD 1054 And thogh they ne hadde, I wolde thoo	1052
BD 1055 Have loved best my lady free,	1054
BD 1056 Thogh I had had al the beaute	1054
BD 1057 That ever had Alcipyades,	1056
BD 1058 And al the strengthe of Ercules,	1056
BD 1059 And therto had the worthynesse	1058
BD 1060 Of Alysaunder, and al the rychesse	1058
BD 1061 That ever was in Babyloyne,	1060
BD 1062 In Cartage, or in Macedoyne,	1060
BD 1063 Or in Rome, or in Nynyve;	1062
BD 1064 And therto also hardy be	1062
BD 1065 As was Ector, so have I joye,	1064
BD 1066 That Achilles slough at Troye --	1064
BD 1067 And therfore was he slayn alsoo	1066
BD 1068 In a temple, for bothe twoo	1066
BD 1069 Were slayne, he and Antylegyus	1068
BD 1070 (And so seyth Dares Frygius),	1068
BD 1071 For love of Polixena --	1070
BD 1072 Or ben as wis as Mynerva,	1070
BD 1073 I wolde ever, withoute drede,	1072
BD 1074 Have loved hir, for I moste nede.	1072
BD 1075 `Nede?' Nay, trewly, I gabbe now;	1074
BD 1076 Noght `nede,' and I wol tellen how:	1074
BD 1077 For of good wille myn herte hyt wolde,	1076
BD 1078 And eke to love hir I was holde	1076
BD 1079 As for the fairest and the beste.	1078
BD 1080 She was as good, so have I reste,	1078
BD 1081 As ever was Penelopee of Grece,	1080
BD 1082 Or as the noble wif Lucrece,	1080
BD 1083 That was the beste -- he telleth thus,	1082
BD 1084 The Romayn, Tytus Lyvyus --	1082
BD 1085 She was as good, and nothyng lyk	1084
BD 1086 (Thogh hir stories be autentyk),	1084
BD 1087 Algate she was as trewe as she.	1086
BD 1088 " But wherfore that I telle thee	1086
BD 1089 Whan I first my lady say?	1088
BD 1090 I was ryght yong, soth to say,	1088
BD 1091 And ful gret nede I hadde to lerne;	1090
BD 1092 Whan my herte wolde yerne	1090
BD 1093 To love, hyt was a gret empryse.	1092
BD 1094 But as my wyt koude best suffise,	1092
BD 1095 After my yonge childly wyt,	1094
BD 1096 Withoute drede, I besette hyt	1094
BD 1097 To love hir in my beste wyse,	1096
BD 1098 To do hir worship and the servise	1096
BD 1099 That I koude thoo, be my trouthe,	1098
BD 1100 Withoute feynynge outher slouthe,	1098
BD 1101 For wonder feyn I wolde hir se.	1100
BD 1102 So mochel hyt amended me	1100
BD 1103 That whan I saugh hir first a-morwe	1102
BD 1104 I was warished of al my sorwe	1102
BD 1105 Of al day after; til hyt were eve	1104
BD 1106 Me thoghte nothyng myghte me greve,	1104
BD 1107 Were my sorwes never so smerte.	1106
BD 1108 And yet she syt so in myn herte	1106
BD 1109 That, by my trouthe, y nolde noght	1108
BD 1110 For al thys world out of my thoght	1108
BD 1111 Leve my lady; noo, trewely! "	1110
BD 1112 " Now, by my trouthe, sir, " quod I,	1110
BD 1113 " Me thynketh ye have such a chaunce	1112
BD 1114 As shryfte wythoute repentaunce. "	1112
BD 1115 " Repentaunce? Nay, fy! " quod he,	1114
BD 1116 " Shulde y now repente me	1114
BD 1117 To love? Nay, certes, than were I wel	1116
BD 1118 Wers than was Achitofel,	1116
BD 1119 Or Anthenor, so have I joye,	1118
BD 1120 The traytor that betraysed Troye,	1118
BD 1121 Or the false Genelloun,	1120
BD 1122 He that purchased the tresoun	1120
BD 1123 Of Rowland and of Olyver.	1122
BD 1124 Nay, while I am alyve her,	1122
BD 1125 I nyl foryete hir never moo. "	1124
BD 1126 " Now, goode syre, " quod I thoo,	1124
BD 1127 " Ye han wel told me herebefore;	1126
BD 1128 Hyt ys no nede to reherse it more,	1126
BD 1129 How ye sawe hir first, and where.	1128
BD 1130 But wolde ye tel me the manere	1128
BD 1131 To hire which was your firste speche --	1130
BD 1132 Therof I wolde yow beseche --	1130
BD 1133 And how she knewe first your thoght,	1132
BD 1134 Whether ye loved hir or noght?	1132
BD 1135 And telleth me eke what ye have lore,	1134
BD 1136 I herde yow telle herebefore. "	1134
BD 1137 " Yee! " seyde he, " thow nost what thow menest;	1136
BD 1138 I have lost more than thou wenest. "	1136
BD 1139 " What los ys that? " quod I thoo;	1138
BD 1140 " Nyl she not love yow? Ys hyt soo?	1138
BD 1141 Or have ye oght doon amys,	1140
BD 1142 That she hath left yow? Ys hyt this?	1140
BD 1143 For Goddes love, telle me al. "	1142
BD 1144 " Before God, " quod he, " and I shal.	1142
BD 1145 I saye ryght as I have seyd,	1144
BD 1146 On hir was al my love leyd,	1144
BD 1147 And yet she nyste hyt nat, never a del	1146
BD 1148 Noght longe tyme, leve hyt wel!	1146
BD 1149 For be ryght siker, I durste noght	1148
BD 1150 For al this world telle hir my thoght,	1148
BD 1151 Ne I wolde have wraththed hir, trewely.	1150
BD 1152 For wostow why? She was lady	1150
BD 1153 Of the body; she had the herte,	1152
BD 1154 And who hath that may not asterte.	1152
BD 1155 But for to kepe me fro ydelnesse,	1154
BD 1156 Trewly I dide my besynesse	1154
BD 1157 To make songes, as I best koude,	1156
BD 1158 And ofte tyme I song hem loude;	1156
BD 1159 And made songes thus a gret del,	1158
BD 1160 Althogh I koude not make so wel	1158
BD 1161 Songes, ne knewe the art al,	1160
BD 1162 As koude Lamekes sone Tubal,	1160
BD 1163 That found out first the art of songe;	1162
BD 1164 For as hys brothres hamers ronge	1162
BD 1165 Upon hys anvelt up and doun,	1164
BD 1166 Therof he took the firste soun --	1164
BD 1167 But Grekes seyn Pictagoras,	1166
BD 1168 That he the firste fynder was	1166
BD 1169 Of the art (Aurora telleth so);	1168
BD 1170 But therof no fors of hem two.	1168
BD 1171 Algates songes thus I made	1170
BD 1172 Of my felynge, myn herte to glade;	1170
BD 1173 And, lo, this was [the] altherferste --	1172
BD 1174 I not wher hyt were the werste.	1172
BD 1175 `Lord, hyt maketh myn herte lyght	1174
BD 1176 Whan I thenke on that swete wyght	1174
BD 1177 That is so semely on to see;	1176
BD 1178 And wisshe to God hit myghte so bee	1176
BD 1179 That she wolde holde me for hir knyght,	1178
BD 1180 My lady, that is so fair and bryght!'	1178
BD 1181 " Now have I told thee, soth to say,	1180
BD 1182 My firste song. Upon a day	1180
BD 1183 I bethoghte me what woo	1182
BD 1184 And sorwe that I suffred thoo	1182
BD 1185 For hir, and yet she wyste hyt noght,	1184
BD 1186 Ne telle hir durste I nat my thoght.	1184
BD 1187 `Allas,' thoghte I, `y kan no red;	1186
BD 1188 And but I telle hir, I [nam] but ded;	1186
BD 1189 And yif I telle hyr, to seye ryght soth,	1188
BD 1190 I am adred she wol be wroth.	1188
BD 1191 Allas, what shal I thanne do?'	1190
BD 1192 " In this debat I was so wo	1190
BD 1193 Me thoghte myn herte braste atweyne!	1192
BD 1194 So at the laste, soth to sayne,	1192
BD 1195 I bethoghte me that Nature	1194
BD 1196 Ne formed never in creature	1194
BD 1197 So moche beaute, trewely,	1196
BD 1198 And bounte, wythoute mercy.	1196
BD 1199 In hope of that, my tale I tolde	1198
BD 1200 With sorwe, as that I never sholde,	1198
BD 1201 For nedes, and mawgree my hed,	1200
BD 1202 I most have told hir or be ded.	1200
BD 1203 I not wel how that I began;	1202
BD 1204 Ful evel rehersen hyt I kan;	1202
BD 1205 And eke, as helpe me God withal,	1204
BD 1206 I trowe hyt was in the dismal,	1204
BD 1207 That was the ten woundes of Egipte --	1206
BD 1208 For many a word I over-skipte	1206
BD 1209 In my tale, for pure fere	1208
BD 1210 Lest my wordes mysset were.	1208
BD 1211 With sorweful herte and woundes dede,	1210
BD 1212 Softe and quakynge for pure drede	1210
BD 1213 And shame, and styntynge in my tale	1212
BD 1214 For ferde, and myn hewe al pale --	1212
BD 1215 Ful ofte I wex bothe pale and red --	1214
BD 1216 Bowynge to hir, I heng the hed;	1214
BD 1217 I durste nat ones loke hir on,	1216
BD 1218 For wit, maner, and al was goon.	1216
BD 1219 I seyde `Mercy!' and no more.	1218
BD 1220 Hyt nas no game; hyt sat me sore.	1218
BD 1221 " So at the laste, soth to seyn,	1220
BD 1222 Whan that myn hert was come ageyn,	1220
BD 1223 To telle shortly al my speche,	1222
BD 1224 With hool herte I gan hir beseche	1222
BD 1225 That she wolde be my lady swete;	1224
BD 1226 And swor, and gan hir hertely hete	1224
BD 1227 Ever to be stedfast and trewe,	1226
BD 1228 And love hir alwey fresshly newe,	1226
BD 1229 And never other lady have,	1228
BD 1230 And al hir worship for to save	1228
BD 1231 As I best koude. I swor hir this:	1230
BD 1232 `For youres is alle that ever ther ys	1230
BD 1233 For evermore, myn herte swete!	1232
BD 1234 And never to false yow, but I mete,	1232
BD 1235 I nyl, as wys God helpe me soo!'	1234
BD 1236 " And whan I had my tale y-doo,	1234
BD 1237 God wot, she acounted nat a stree	1236
BD 1238 Of al my tale, so thoghte me.	1236
BD 1239 To telle shortly ryght as hyt ys,	1238
BD 1240 Trewly hir answere hyt was this --	1238
BD 1241 I kan not now wel counterfete	1240
BD 1242 Hir wordes, but this was the grete	1240
BD 1243 Of hir answere: she sayde `Nay'	1242
BD 1244 Al outerly. Allas, that day	1242
BD 1245 The sorowe I suffred and the woo	1244
BD 1246 That trewly Cassandra, that soo	1244
BD 1247 Bewayled the destruccioun	1246
BD 1248 Of Troye and of Ilyoun,	1246
BD 1249 Had never swich sorwe as I thoo.	1248
BD 1250 I durste no more say thertoo	1248
BD 1251 For pure fere, but stal away;	1250
BD 1252 And thus I lyved ful many a day,	1250
BD 1253 That trewely I hadde no ned	1252
BD 1254 Ferther than my beddes hed	1252
BD 1255 Never a day to seche sorwe;	1254
BD 1256 I fond hyt redy every morwe,	1254
BD 1257 For-why I loved hyr in no gere.	1256
BD 1258 " So hit befel, another yere	1256
BD 1259 I thoughte ones I wolde fonde	1258
BD 1260 To do hir knowe and understonde	1258
BD 1261 My woo; and she wel understod	1260
BD 1262 That I ne wilned thyng but god,	1260
BD 1263 And worship, and to kepe hir name	1262
BD 1264 Over alle thynges, and drede hir shame,	1262
BD 1265 And was so besy hyr to serve,	1264
BD 1266 And pitee were I shulde sterve,	1264
BD 1267 Syth that I wilned noon harm, ywis.	1266
BD 1268 So whan my lady knew al this,	1266
BD 1269 My lady yaf me al hooly	1268
BD 1270 The noble yifte of hir mercy,	1268
BD 1271 Savynge hir worship by al weyes --	1270
BD 1272 Dredles, I mene noon other weyes.	1270
BD 1273 And therwith she yaf me a ryng;	1272
BD 1274 I trowe hyt was the firste thyng;	1272
BD 1275 But if myn herte was ywaxe	1274
BD 1276 Glad, that is no nede to axe!	1274
BD 1277 As helpe me God, I was as blyve	1276
BD 1278 Reysed as fro deth to lyve --	1276
BD 1279 Of al happes the alderbeste,	1278
BD 1280 The gladdest, and the moste at reste.	1278
BD 1281 For trewely that swete wyght,	1280
BD 1282 Whan I had wrong and she the ryght,	1280
BD 1283 She wolde alway so goodly	1282
BD 1284 Foryeve me so debonairly.	1282
BD 1285 In al my yowthe, in al chaunce,	1284
BD 1286 She took me in hir governaunce.	1284
BD 1287 Therwyth she was alway so trewe	1286
BD 1288 Our joye was ever ylyche newe;	1286
BD 1289 Oure hertes wern so evene a payre	1288
BD 1290 That never nas that oon contrayre	1288
BD 1291 To that other for no woo.	1290
BD 1292 For sothe, ylyche they suffred thoo	1290
BD 1293 Oo blysse and eke oo sorwe bothe;	1292
BD 1294 Ylyche they were bothe glad and wrothe;	1292
BD 1295 Al was us oon, withoute were.	1294
BD 1296 And thus we lyved ful many a yere	1294
BD 1297 So wel I kan nat telle how. "	1296
BD 1298 " Sir, " quod I, " where is she now? "	1296
BD 1299 " Now? " quod he, and stynte anoon.	1298
BD 1300 Therwith he wax as ded as stoon	1298
BD 1301 And seyde, " Allas, that I was bore!	1300
BD 1302 That was the los that here-before	1300
BD 1303 I tolde the that I hadde lorn.	1302
BD 1304 Bethenke how I seyde here-beforn,	1302
BD 1305 `Thow wost ful lytel what thow menest;	1304
BD 1306 I have lost more than thow wenest.'	1304
BD 1307 God wot, allas! Ryght that was she! "	1306
BD 1308 " Allas, sir, how? What may that be? "	1306
BD 1309 " She ys ded! " " Nay! " " Yis, be my trouthe! "	1308
BD 1310 " Is that youre los? Be God, hyt ys routhe! "	1308
BD 1311 And with that word ryght anoon	1310
BD 1312 They gan to strake forth; al was doon,	1310
BD 1313 For that tyme, the hert-huntyng.	1312
BD 1314 With that me thoghte that this kyng	1312
BD 1315 Gan homwarde for to ryde	1314
BD 1316 Unto a place, was there besyde,	1314
BD 1317 Which was from us but a lyte --	1316
BD 1318 A long castel with walles white,	1316
BD 1319 Be Seynt Johan, on a ryche hil,	1318
BD 1320 As me mette; but thus hyt fil.	1318
BD 1321 Ryght thus me mette, as I yow telle,	1320
BD 1322 That in the castell ther was a belle,	1320
BD 1323 As hyt hadde smyten houres twelve.	1322
BD 1324 Therwyth I awook myselve	1322
BD 1325 And fond me lyinge in my bed;	1324
BD 1326 And the book that I hadde red,	1324
BD 1327 Of Alcione and Seys the kyng,	1326
BD 1328 And of the goddes of slepyng,	1326
BD 1329 I fond hyt in myn hond ful even.	1328
BD 1330 Thoghte I, " Thys ys so queynt a sweven	1328
BD 1331 That I wol, be processe of tyme,	1330
BD 1332 Fonde to put this sweven in ryme	1330
BD 1333 As I kan best, and that anoon. "	1332
BD 1334 This was my sweven; now hit ys doon.	1332