The hedge also that yede there in compass,1 And closed in allè the green herbere, With sycamore was set and eglatere. . . .
And shapen was this herber, roof and all, As a pretty parlour; 2 and also
The hedge as thickè as a castle wall; That who that list without to stond or go, Though he would all day pryen to and fro, He should not see if there were any wight Within or no. But one within well might
Perceive all tho that yeden3 there without, Into the field that was on every side, Covered with corn and grass: that, out of doubt, Though one would seeken all the world wide, So rich a fieldè could not be espied
Upon no coast, as of the quantity,
For of all good thing there was great plenty.
And I that all this pleasant sight gan see Thought suddenly I felt so sweet an air Of the eglenterè that certainly
There is no heart I deem in such despair, Ne with thoughtès froward and contrair So overlaid, but it should soon have bote If it had onès felt this savour sote.
And, as I stood and cast aside mine eye, I was ware of the fairest medlar tree That ever yet in all my life I sie; As full of blossomes as it might be ; Therein a gold-finch leaping prettily
From bough to bough; and as him list he eat Here and there of buds and flowers sweet.
And to the herber sidè was joining This fairè tree of which I have you told; And at the last the bird began to sing, When he had eaten what he eaten wold, So passing sweetly that by manifold It was more pleasant than I could devise. And, when his song was ended in this wise,
2 Line of imperfect measure in the copies. 5 Healing. - 6 Sweet. 7 Would.
The nightingale with so merry a note Answered him that all the wood y-rong So suddenly that, as it were a sote,1 I stood astonied: so was I with the song Thorough ravished that till late and long I ne wist in what place I was, ne where ; And methought she song ever by mine ear. ...
And, as I sat, the birdes hearkening thus, Methought that I heard voices suddenly, The most sweetest and most delicious That ever any wight, I trow truly, Heard in their life; for the armony And sweet accord was in so good musike As that the voice to angels most was like.
And at the last, out of a grove even by, That was right goodly and pleasaunt to sight, I sie2 where there came singing lustily A world of ladies.
THE PALACE OF ADMETUS AND ALCESTIS.
When I was young, at eighteen year of age, Lusty and light, desirous of pleasaunce, Approaching on full sad and ripe courage, Love arted3 me to do mine observaunce To his estate, and don him obeisaunce, Commanding me the Court of Love to see A lite beside the mount of Citharee.
There Citherea goddess was and queen, Honoured highly for her majesty, And eke her son, the mighty god, I ween, Cupid the blind, that for his dignity A thousand lovers worship on their knee. There was I bid in pain of death to appear By Mercury, the winged messenger.
4 "Courts of Love" were a species of gay literary entertainment held by great ladies at the various royal and ducal courts of northern and southern France during the twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth centuries, in which poets sang or recited love-verses, and questions of love and chivalry were discussed. 5 A little way off from.
So then I went by strange and far countrees, Enquiring aye what coast had to it drew1 And thitherward, as bees,
The Court of Love.
At last I see the people gan pursue.
And methought that some wight was there that knew Where that the court was holden, far or nigh; And after them full fast I gan me hie.
Anon, as I them overtook, I said,
Hail, Friends! whither purpose ye to wend?" Forsooth," quoth one that answered like a maid, "To Love's Court now go we, gentle friend." "Where is that place," quoth I, "my fellow hend?" 2 "At Citheron, sir," said he, "withoutè doubt, The King of Love and all his noble rout
"Dwelleth within a castle royally." So then apace I journeyed forth among ; And as he said so found I there truly; For I beheld the towers high and strong, And high pinnacles, large of height and long, With plate of gold bespread on every side, And precious stones the stonework for to hide.
No sapphire in Ind, no ruby rich of price, There lacked then, nor emerald so green, Balais, turkis, ne thing to my device, That may the castle maken for to shene :5 All was as bright as stars in winter been.
For unto Heaven it stretcheth, I suppose, Within and out depainted wonderly With many a thousand daisies red as rose, And white also. This saw I verily ; But who those daisies might do signify Can I not tell, save that the Queenes flower, Alceste, it was that kept there her sojour;
Which, under Venus, lady was and queen, And Admete king and soverain of that place : To whom obeyed the ladies good nineteen, With many a thousand other bright of face.
3 A kind of ruby.
6 Sojourn.
And young men fele1 came forth with lusty pace, And aged eke, their homage to dispose ; But what they were I could not well disclose.2..
Yet near and near forth-in I gan me dress, Into an hall of noble apparail,3
With arras spread and cloth of gold, I guess, And other silk of easier avail.4
Under the cloth of their estate,5 sans fail, The King and Queen there sat, as I beheld : It passèd joy of Elysie the field. . .
And, as I stood perceiving her apart, And eke the beamès shining of her eyne, Methought they weren shapen like a dart, Sharp and piercing, and small and straight of line; And all her hair it shone as gold so fine, Dishivil crisp, down hanging at her back A yard in length. And soothly then I spake ;-
"O bright Regina, who made thee so fair? Who made thy colour vermelet and white? Where wonneth' that god, how far above the air? Great was his craft and great was his delight. Now marvel I nothing that ye do hight
The Queen of Love, and occupy the place Of Citharee. Now, sweet lady, thy grace!
FROM THE LEGEND OF GOOD WOMEN (Prologue).
And, as for me, though that I can but lite,9 On bookès for to read I me delight; And to them give I faith and full credence, And in mine heart have them in reverence,
So heartily that there is gamè none That fro my bookès maketh me to gone, But 10 it be seldom on the holy-day :
Save, certainly, when that the month of May Is comen, and that I hear the fowlès sing,
1 Many. Canopied chair. 6 Elysium. 9 Know but little.
4 Less worth. 7 Dwelleth. 8 That you are called. 10 Except it be now and then.
And that the flowers ginnen1 for to spring,- Farewell my book and my devotion !
Now have I then eke this condition, As that, of all the flowers in the mead, Then love I most these flowers white and red, Such that men callen daisies in our town. To them I have so great affection,
As I said erst,2 when comen is the May, That in my bed there daweth3 me no day That I n'am up and walking in the mead, To seen this flower against the sunnè sprede. When it up-riseth early by the morrow, That blissful sight softeneth all my sorrow; So glad am I, when that I have presence Of it, to done it allè reverence,
As she that is of all flowers the flower, Fulfilled of all virtue and honour, And ever alike fair and fresh of hue; And ever I love it and ever alike new, And ever shall till that mine heartè die. .
My busy ghost, that thirsteth alway new To seen this flower so young, so fresh of hue, Constrained me with so greedy desire That in my heart I feele yet the fire
That made me for to rise ere it were day,- And this was now the first morrow" of May,- With dreadful heart and glad devotion For to been at the resurrection
Of this flower, when that it should unclose Again' the sun that rose as red as rose That in the breast was of the beast that day That Angenore's daughter led away. And down on knees, anon, right I me set; And as I could this fresh flower I gret,8 Kneeling alway, till it unclosèd was, Upon the smallè softè sweetè grass,
That was with flowers sweet embroided all.
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