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diff --git a/29552.txt b/29552.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d326e9c --- /dev/null +++ b/29552.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2004 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Temple of Glass, by John Lydgate + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Temple of Glass + +Author: John Lydgate + +Release Date: July 30, 2009 [EBook #29552] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TEMPLE OF GLASS *** + + + + +Produced by Jason Isbell and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + + + + +The Temple of Glass +by +John Lydgate + +Printed at Westminster +by William Caxton about the year +1477 + +Cambridge +at the University Press +1905 + + + + + +The unique book here reprinted in facsimile came to the Cambridge +University Library in a famous volume of tracts described by Mr Blades +(Biography and Typography of W. Caxton, 1882, p. 201). + +The volume had formed part of the collection of John Moore, Bishop of +Ely, which was given to the University by King George the First in 1715. + +The first leaf, which is wanting, was probably blank. + +F. JENKINSON + + * * * * * + +I certify that I have printed 250 copies only of this facsimile, that +the impressions have been rubbed off the plates and the negatives +destroyed. + +P. DUJARDIN + + + + + + + +.The temple of glas. + + +For thought constreynt & greuous heuynes +For pensifhed and hig[=h] distres +To bed I went now this other nyght +Whan that lucina wit[=h] hir pale light +Was Ioyned last wit[=h] phebus in aquarye +Amyd decembre, whan of Ianuarye +Ther be kalendes of the new yere +And derk dyane horned and nothing clere +Had her beames vnder a mysty cloude +Wit[=h] in my bed for cold I gan me shroude +Al desolate for constraynt of my woo +The long nyght walowyng to and fro +Til at laste er I began take kepe +Me dyde oppresse a sodeyn dedly slepe +Wit[=h] in the whiche me thoug[=h]t I was +Rauysshed in spiryte in to a temple of glas +I nyste how fer in wildernes +That founded was as by liklynes +Not vpon stele, but on a craggy roche +Lyke yse y froze, and as I did approche +Agayn the sonne that shone so clere + +As ony Cristal and euer ner and ner +As I cam nyghe this grisly dredful place +I wex astonyed, the light so in my face +Be gan to smyte, so persing euer in one +On euery part wher that I gan gone +That I ne might no thing as I wolde +Aboute me considere and beholde +The wonder estres for brightnes of the sonne +Til atte last certayn skyes donne +Wit[=h] wynde chaced han her cours y went +To fore the stremes of titan and y blent +So that I mighte wit[=h] in and wit[=h] oute +Wherso I wolde beholden me aboute +For to reporte the fac[=o]n and manere +Of a[=ll] this place that was circuler +In compas wyse, round by entayle wrought +And whan I had longe gone and sought +I found a wiket and entred in as fast +In to the temple and myn eyen cast +On euery syde now lowe eft alofte +And right anon as I gan walken softe +Yf I the sot[=h] a right reporte shal +I sawe depeynted vpon a wal + +From este to weste many a fair ymage +Of sondry louers lyke as they were of age +Y sette in ordre after they were trewe +Wit[=h] liuely colours wonder fresh of hue +And as me thought I sawe som sitte & som st[=a]de +And so[=m]e knelyng wit[=h] billes in their hande +And so[=m]e wit[=h] compleynt woful & pietous +Wit[=h] doleful chere to putten to venus +So as she sat fleetyng in the see +Vpon her woo forto haue pitee +And first of alle I saug[=h] there of cartage +Dido the quene so goodly of visage +That gan compleyne hir auenture and cas +How she deceyued was of Eneas +For al his hestes and his othes sworn +And said alas that euer she was born +Whan she sawe that ded she must be +And next I sawe the compleynt of Medee +How that she falsed was of Iason +And nyg[=h] by venus sawe I sitte atheon +And al the maner how the boor hym sloug[=h] +For whom she wepte and had pyne ynoug[=h] +Ther saw I also how that penolope + +For she so longe her lord ne mighte see +Was of colour bothe pale and grene +And after next was the fresh quene +I mene alcest the noble trewe wyf +And for admete hou she lost her lif +And for her trout[=h] yf I shal not lye +How she was torned in to a daysye +Ther was Grisildes Innocence +And al her mekenes and pacience +There was eke Isode & many other moo +And al the torment and the cruel woo +That she had for tristram al her lyue +And how that Tisbe her hert dyde ryue +Wit[=h] thilk swerd of sir Piramus +And al the maner hou that Theseus +The mynotaure slow amyd the hous +That was forwrynked by crafte of dedalus +Whan he was in pryson shit in Crete +And how that philles felte of loues hete +The grete fyre of demephon allas +And for his falshed and for his trespas +Vpon the walles depeynt men might see +How she henge vpon a fylberd tree + +And many a story moo than I rekene can +Were in the temple, and how that paris wan +The fayr Eleyne a lusty fresh quene +And hou Achilles was for Policene +Y slayn vnwarly wit[=h]yn Troye toun +Al this sawe I walkyng vp and doun +Ther sawe I wreton eke the hole tale +How Philomene in to a nyghtyngale +Y torned was, and proigne vnto a swalowe +And how the sabyns in their maner halowe +The feste of lucresse yet in Rome toun +Ther saw I also the sorow of Palamon +That he in prison felte and al the smert +And how that he thurg[=h] vnto his hert +Was hurt vnwarly by castyng of an eye +On fair fresh the lusty yong Emelye +And al the stryf bytwene hym & his brother +And how that one faug[=h]t wit[=h] that other +Wit[=h]yn the groue, til they by Theseus +Accorded were as Chaucer tellet[=h] vs +And furthermore as I gan beholde +I sawe hou phebus wit[=h] an arowe of golde +Y wounded was thurg[=h] out his syde + +Only by enuye of the god Cupyde +And how that dyane vnto a laurer tre +Y torned was whan that she dide fle +And how that Ioue changed his cope +Only for loue of the fair Eurepe +And in to a hole, whan he did he sue +Liste of his godhed his fourme to transmue +And hou that he by transmutacion +The shap gan take of Amphitrion +For Alcumena so passing was of beaute +So was he hurt for al his deyte +Wit[=h] louys dart, and might it not escape +Ther sawe I also how mars was take +Of vulcanus and wit[=h] venus founde +And wit[=h] the cheynes Inuysible bounde +Ther was also al the poesye +Of hym Mercurye and al the philogye +And how that she for her sapience +Y wedded was to the god of eloquence +And how the Muses lowly did obeye +Hig[=h] in to heuyn this lady to conueye +And wit[=h] her songe hou she was magnefied +Wit[=h] Jubiter there to be stellefied + +And vppermore depeynt men might see +How wit[=h] her ryng the goodly canace +Of euery fowle, the leydons and songe +Coude vnderstond as she walked them among +And hou her brother so often holpen was +In his myschief, by the stede of bras +And furthermore in the temple were +Ful many a thousand louers here & there +In sondry wyse redy to compleyne +Vnto the goddesse, of her woo and peyne +How they were hyndred som for enuye +And how the serpent of fals Ielousie +Ful many a louer hath put a back +And causeles on them haue leid a lack +And so[=m]e ther were that playned on absence +That were exiled and put out of presence +Thurg[=h] wicked tunges and fals suspec[=o]n +Wit[=h]oute mercy or ony remissi[=o]n +And other eke her seruyse spent in veyn +And of her lady were not loued ageyn +And other eke that for pouerte +Dursten in no wyse her grete aduersite +Discouere ne opene, lest they were refused + +And so[=m]e for wantyng also were accused +And other eke that loued secretly +And of her lady durst axe no mercy +Lest that she wolde of hym haue despyte +And so[=m]e also that putten right grete wite +Ou double louers that loue thinges newe +Thurg[=h] whos falsenes hyndred be the trewe +And so[=m] there were as hit is ofte founde +That for her lady many a blody wounde +Endured hat[=h] in many a regyon +Whiles that an other hat[=h] had possession +Al of his lady and beret[=h] a way the fruyt +Of his labour and of a[=ll] his fuyt +And other compleyned of richesse +How he wit[=h] tresour dot[=h] his besynesse +To wynne agaynst al kynde and right +Where as true louers haue force none ne might +And som ther were as maydyns yong of age +That pleynet[=h] so wit[=h] pipyng & wit[=h] rage +That were coupled agayn al nature +Wit[=h] croked elde that may not long endure +For to perfourme the lust of loues playe +For hit ne fit not vnto fress[=h] maye + +For to be coupled to olde Ianuarye +They be so dyuerse that they must varye +For elde is gruoching and malencolious +Ay ful of yre and suspecious +And yongth entendet[=h] to Ioye & lustynes +To mirt[=h] and play and to al gladnes +Allas that euer hit shold falle +So swete sugre y coupled be to galle +These yonge folke cryeden oft sithe +And praid venus her power to kythe +Vpon this myschief and shape remedye +And right anone I herde other crye +Wit[=h] sobbyng teres and pietous sowne +To fore the goddesse by lamentacion +That were constrayned in their yougthe +And in childhode as is ofte couthe +Y entrid were in to Religion +Or they had yeris of discresc[=o]n +That al her lif can not but compleyne +In wyde Copes perfection forto feyne +Ful couertly for to coueren thair smert +And shewe the contrary of thair hert +Thus saw I wepe many a fair mayde + +That on theyr frendes al the wyte thay layde +And other next I saw ther in grete rage +That they were maried in theyr tendre age +Wit[=h] oute fredom of fre election +Where loue hat[=h] selde domynacion +For loue at large and at liberte +Wolde frely chese and not wit[=h] suche trete +And other saw I ful ofte wepe and wrynge +That they in men fonde suche varyynge +To loue a season whyle that beaulte flourit[=h] +And after by disdayn so vngoodly lourit[=h] +On her that whylom he callyd his lady dere +That was to hym so playsant and entier +But lust wit[=h] fairnes is so ouer goon +That in her herte trouthe abidet[=h] noon +And so[=m]e also I sawe in teres reyne +And pietously on god and kynde pleyne +That euer they wold on ony creature +So moche beaute passing be mesure +Sette on a woman to yeue occasion +A man, to loue to his confusion +And namely there, where he shal haue no grace +For wit[=h] a loke fort[=h] by as he dot[=h] pace + +Ful ofte fallet[=h] thurg[=h] castyng of an eye +A man is wounded that he must nedis deye +That neuer peraunter after he shal her see +Why wil god don so grete a cruelte +To ony man, or to his creature +To make hym so muche woo endure +For her, percas, whom he shal in no wyse +Reioyse neuer, but so fort[=h] in Iuyse +Lede his lif til that he be graue +For he ne durst of hir no mercy craue +And eke [per]aunter thoug[=h] he durst & wolde +He can not wite where he hir fynd sholde +I sawe ther eke, and therof had I couthe +That som were hyndred by couetyse & slougthe +And so[=m]e also for their hastynes +And other eke for their rechelesnes +But altherlast as I walked and behelde +Beside pallas wit[=h] her Cristal sheld +Tofore the statue of venus set on height +Ther kneled a lady in my sight +To fore the goddesse, whiche as the sonne +Passet[=h] the sterris, and eke the stormys donne +And lucifer to voyde the nyghtes sorowe + +In clerenes passet[=h] erly the morowe +And so as maye hat[=h] the souereynte +Of euery monet[=h] the fayrnes and beaute +And as the rose in swetnes and odour +Surmounted flouris, and baine of al licour +Hath the pryse, and as the rubye bright +Of al stones in beaute and in sight +As it is knowe hat[=h] the Regalye +Right so this ladye wit[=h] her goodly eye +And wit[=h] the stremys of hir loke so bright +Surmountet[=h] al thourg[=h] beaute in my sight +That for to tel her grete semelines +Her womanhed her porte and her fairnes +Hit was a meruayle, how euer that nature +Cowde in her werkes make a creature +So angelyk so goodly on to see +So femynyn or passing of beaute +Whos sonnys[=h] heer brighter than goldwire +Lyche phebus beames shynyng in his spyre +The goodlihed eke of her fres[=h] face +So replenyshed of beaute and of grace +So wel ennewed by nature and depeynt +As Rose and lilyes to gyder were meynt + +So egally by good proporcion +That as me tought by myn inspection +I gan meruaylle hou god or werk of kynde +Mighten of beaute suche a tresour fynde +To yeuen hir so passing excellence +For in good fait[=h] thurg[=h] her hye presence +The temple was ensumyned enuyron +And forto speke of her condicion +She was the beste that might be on lyue +For ther was none [that] wit[=h] her might stryue +To speke of bounte or of gentilesse +Of womanhede or of lowlynesse +Of curtoysie or of goodlihede +Of speche of chere or of semelihede +Of poort benigne or of daliaunce +The best taught and therto of playsaunce +She was the welle eke of honeste +An Examplair and mirrour eke was she +Of secretnes of trouthe of feit[=h]fulnes +And to alle other lady and maistres +To shewe vertu who so list to lere +And so this lady right humble of chere +Kneling I sawe, clad in grene and whyte + +To fore venus goddesse of al delyte +Enbrowded al wit[=h] stones and perre +So richely that Ioye it was to see +Wit[=h] sondry rolles on her garnement +For texpowne the trout[=h] of her entent +To shewe fully that for her humblesse +And for her vertu and her stablenesse +That she was cote of al womanly playsance +Therfore her word wit[=h]oute variance +Enbrowded was as men might see +De mieulx en mieulx wit[=h] stones of perre +This is to sayne that she was so benygne +From better to better her hert dot[=h] resigne +And al her wy[=ll] to venus the goddesse +Whan that her list her harmes to redresse +For as me thought somwhat by her chere +For to compleyne she had grete desire +For in her hand she held a lityl bylle +For to declare the su[=m]e of al her wylle +And to the goddesse her quarel for to shewe +Theffect of whiche was in wordes fewe + +.The copye of the supplicacion. + + + + + +O lady venus moder of cupyde +That in this world hast the gouernance +And hertes hye that hawteyn be by pryde +Enclynest mekely to thyn obeyssance +Causer of Ioye Relees of penance +And with thy stremes canst euery thing discer[=n] +Thurg[=h] heuenly fire of loue that is eter[=n] + +O blesful sterre persaunt and ful of light +Of beames gladsom, deuoyder of derknes +Chief recomfort after the blak nyght +To wyde woful hertes out of theyr heuynes +Take now good hede lady and goddesse +So that my bille may your grace attayne +Redresse to fynde of that I me compleyne + +For I am bounde to thing that I nolde +Frely to chese ther lack I liberte +And so I want of that myn herte wolde +The body is knyt, thoug[=h] my thought be fre +So that I muste of necessite +My hertes lyst outward contrarye +Thoug[=h] we be oon the dede muste varye + +My worship sauf I faylle election +Agayn al right bot[=h] of god and kynde +Therto be knyt vnder subiection +For whens for bot[=h] ar out of mynde +My thought got[=h] furt[=h] my body is behynde +For I am here, and yond my remembrance +Betwene two so hange I in balance + +Deuoyde of Ioye, of woo I haue plente +What I desire, that may I not possede +For that I nolde is redy ay to me +And that I loue, for to sue I drede +To my desire contrary is my mede +And thus I stonde departed in tweyne +Of wy[=ll] and dede ylaced in a cheyne + +For thoug[=h] I brenne wit[=h] feruence & hete +Wit[=h]yn myn herte I mote compleyne of colde +And by excesse thoug[=h] I swelte and swete +Me to compleyne god wote I am not bolde +Vnto no wight, ner one word vnfolde +Of al my peyne, allas the hard stounde +The hotter that I brenne, [the] colder is my wounde + +For he that hat[=h] myn hert feyt[=h]fully +And hool my loue in al honeste +Wit[=h]oute chaunge al be hit secretly +I haue no space wit[=h] hym for to be +O lady venus consider now and see +Vnto theffecte and compleynt of my by[=ll] +Sit[=h] lyf and det[=h] I put a[=ll] in thy wy[=ll] + +And tho me thought the goddes did enclyne +Mekely her hede and softly gan expresse +That in short tyme her torment shold fyne +And how of hym for whom al her distresse +Contynned had and al her heuynesse +She shold haue Ioye and of her purgatorye +Be holpen sone and so lyue fort[=h] in glorye + +And said doughter for thy sad trouthe +Thy fait[=h]ful menyng and Innocence +That planted be wit[=h] outen ony slouthe +In your persone deuoyed of al offence +So han they atteyned to our audience +That wit[=h] our grace ye shal be wel releuyd +I you behete of al that hat[=h] you greuyd + +And for that ye be euer of one entent +Wit[=h]oute chaunge or mutabilyte +And in your paynes ben so pacient +To take lowly your aduersyte +And that so longe thurgh the cruelte +Of olde saturne my fader vnfortuned +Your woo shal now no lenger be contuned + +And thinket[=h] this wit[=h] in a litil whyle +Hit shal aswage and ouer passen sone +For men by laysir passen many a myle +And ofte after a droppyng mone +The weder cleret[=h], and whan [the] storme is done +The sonne shynet[=h] in his spyer bright +And Ioye waket[=h] whan woo is putto flight + +Remembre eke how neuer yet no wight +Ne cam to worship wit[=h] out som debate +And folke reioyse also more of light +That they wit[=h] derknes were waped & mate +No ma[=n]s cha[=n]ce is allewey fortunate +Ne no wight preyset[=h] of sugre the swetnes +But they to fore haue tasted bitternes + +Gryssyld was asayed atte fu[=ll] +That torned after to encrese of Ioye +Penolope gan eke for sorowes dulle +For that her lord abode so long at troye +Also the torment ther coude noman accoye +Of dorygene flour of al Bretaigne +Thus euer Ioye is fyn and ende of payne + +And trustet[=h] this for conclusion +The ende of sorow is Ioye voyde of drede +For hoolly seyntes thurg[=h] her passion +Haue heuyn wonne by their souerain mede +And plente gladly folowet[=h] after nede +And so my doughter after your greuaunce +I you behote ye shal haue ful plesaunce + +For euer of loue the maner and the gyse +Is for to hurte his seruaunt & to wounde +And whan he hat[=h] taught them his empryse +He can in Ioye make them to habounde +And sit[=h] that ye haue in my laas be bounde +Wit[=h] oute gruoching or rebellyon +Ye muste of night haue consolacion + +This to sayne dowtet[=h] neuer a deel +That ye shal haue ful possession +Of hym that ye now cherisshe so weel +In honest maner wit[=h] oute offencion +By cause I knowe youre entencion +Is truly sette in party and in a[=ll] +To loue hym best and most in specia[=ll] + +For he that ye haue chosen you to serue +Shal be to you suche as ye desire +Wit[=h] oute chaunge fully til he sterue +So wit[=h] my bronde I haue sette hym a fyre +And wit[=h] my grace I shal hym so enspyre +That he in herte shal be right at your wylle +Wherso you liste to saue hym or to spylle + +For vnto you I shal his herte so lowe +Wit[=h] oute spotte of ony doblenesse +That he ne shal escape from the bowe +Thaug[=h] that hym self by vnstedfastnesse +I mene of cupide that shal hym so distresse +Vnto your honde wit[=h] tharowe of golde +That he ne shal escapen thaugh he wolde + +And sith ye list of pyte and of grace +In vertu only his yonghthe to cherisshe +I shal by aspectes of my benigne face +Make hym beschewe euery synne and vice +So that he shal haue no maner spice +In his corage to loue thinges newe +He shal to yow so playn be found and trewe + +And whan this goodly fair fress[=h] of hue +Humble and benygne of trout[=h] crop & rote +Conceyued had how venus gan to rewe +On her prayer plainly to do bote +To chaunge her bitter attones in to sote +She fyl on knees of hig[=h] deuocion +And in this wyse began her orison + +Hyghest of hye quene and Emperice +Goddesse of loue, of good yet the best +That thurg[=h] your beaute wit[=h]oute vice +Whylom conquerd thappel atte fest +That Iubiter thurg[=h] his hye request +To alle the goddes aboue celestyal +Made in his palais most Imperyal + +To you my lady vpholder of my lyf +Mekely I thanke so as I may suffise +That ye list now wit[=h] herte ententyf +So graciously for me to deuyse +That whyle I lyue wit[=h] humble sacrefise +Vpon your auters your fest yer by yer +I shal encence casten in to the fyre + +For of your grace I am ful reconsiled +From euery troble vnto ioye and ease +That sorowes alle be from me exiled +Sit[=h] ye my lady list now tappease +My paynes olde and fully my disease +Vnto gladnes so sodenly to torne +Hauyng no cause from hens fort[=h] to morne + +For sithen ye so mekely liste to daunte +To my seruise hym that louet[=h] me best +And of your bounte so graciously to graunte +That he ne shal barye thoug[=h] hym leste +Wherof myn herte is fully brought to reste +For now and euer o lady myn benigne +That hert and wi[=ll] I hooly to you resigne + +Thankyng you wit[=h] al my ful herte +That of your grace and visitacion +So humble liste hym to conuerte +Fully to ben at my subiection +Wit[=h] oute chaunge or transmutacion +Vnto his laste, now laude and reuerence +Be to your name and excellence + +This al and sum and chief of my request +And hool substance of my ful entente +You thankyng euer of your graunt & hest +Bot[=h] now and euer that ye me grace sent +To conquer hym that neuer shal repent +Me for to serue and humblye for to please +As fynal tresour of my hertes ease + +And than anon venus cast a doun +In to her lappe braunches whyte and grene +Of hawthorn that wenten enuyron +Aboute her heed that ioye was to sene +And had her kepe hem honestly and clene +Whiche shold not fade ne neuer wexe olde +Yf she her biddyng kepe as she hat[=h] told + +And as these vowes be bothe fair and swete +Folowe theffecte that they do specifye +This is to seyne bot[=h] in cold and hete +Be ye of one hert and of one fantasye +As ar these leues whiche may not dye +By no duresse of stormes that be kene +Nomore in wynter than in somer grene + +Right so by ensample of wele or woo +For Ioye torment or for aduersite +Whether so fortune fauoure, or be foo +For pouert riches or prosperyte +That ye your hert kepe in on degre +To loue hym best for no thing that ye fyne +Whom I haue bound so low vnder your cheyne + +And wit[=h] [that] word the goddesse shoke her heed +And was in pees & spack as tho nomore +And therwit[=h] a[=ll] ful femynyn of drede +Me thought this lady sighen gan ful sore +And said agayn, lady that maist restore +Hertes in Ioye from theyr aduersite +To do your wil de mieulx en mieulx ma gree + +Thus euer slepyng dremyng as I laye +Wit[=h]yn the temple me thought I saye +Grete prees of folk wit[=h] murmur wonderful +To croude and shoue, the temple was so ful +Eueric[=h] ful besy, in his owne cause +That I ne may shortly in a clause +Discriuen alle the rites and the guyse +And eke I wante connyng to deuyse +How so[=m]e ther were wit[=h] blood, encence & milk +And so[=m]e wit[=h] flouris sote & softe as silk +And so[=m]e wit[=h] sparowes & douues whyte +That for to offren gan hem delyte +Vnto the goddesse wit[=h] sighe and prayer +Hem to relese of that they most desire +That for the prees shortly to conclude +I wente my way for the multitude +Me for to refress[=h] out of the prees allone +And by my self me thought as I gan gone +Wit[=h] in the estres and gan a whyle tarye +I sawe a man that walked al solitarye +That as me semed for heuynes and dole +Hym to compleyne, that he walked so sole +Wit[=h] oute espyyng of ony other wight + +And yf I s[=h]al diseryuen hym a right +Yf that he had not ben in heuynes +Me thought he was, to speke of semelines +Of shap of fourme, and also of stature +The most passing, that euer yet nature +Made in her werkes, and lyke to be a man +And ther wit[=h] al as I reherce can +Of face and chere the most gracyous +To be biloued happy and ewrous +Bur as it semed outward by his chere +That he complayned for lack of his desire +For by hym self as he walked vp and doun +I herde hym make a lamentacion +And said alas, what thing may this be +That now am bonde that whylom was fre +And wente at large at myn election +Now am I caught vnder subiection +For to become a beray homager +To god of loue, wher er I cam here +Felt in myn herte, nought of loues peyne +But now of newe, wit[=h]in hur firy cheyne +I am embraced so that I may not stryue +To serue and loue whyle I am on lyue + +The godly freshe in the temple yonder +I sawe right now, that I had wonder +How euer god, for to rekene a[=ll] +Might make a thing so celestia[=ll] +So angelike on erthe to appere +For wit[=h] the stremes of her eyen clere +I am wounded euen to the hert +That fro the det[=h] I may not astert +And most I meruayle that so sodeinly +I was so yolde to be at hur mercy +Wit[=h]oute more, I muste her lust obeye +Whether that she liste me to lyue or deye +And take mekely my sodeyn auenture +For sit[=h] my lif, my det[=h], and eke my cure +Is in her hand it wil not auaylle +To gruoche agayn, for of this bataylle +The palme is heris, and plainly the victorye +Yf I rebellid honour none ne glorye +I might not in ony wyse achyeue +Sit[=h] I am [the]olden, how shold I thenne preue +To renne a wey, I wote hit wil not be +Thoug[=h] I be loos, at large I may not fle +O god of loue how sharp is now thyn arowe + +How mayst thou now so cruelly and so narowe +Wit[=h] oute cause hurte me and wounde +And takest none hede my sorowes to founde +But liche a birde that fleet[=h] at her desire +Tyl sodeynly wit[=h]yn the pantere +She is caught thaug[=h] late she was at large +Anewe tempest forcastet[=h] now my barge +Now vp now doun, wit[=h] wynd it is so blowe +So am I possed and almost ouerthrowe +For dryue in derknes of many sondry wawe +Alas whan shal this tempest ouerdrawe +To clere the skyes of myn aduersite +The lode sterre whan that I ne may see +Hit is so hid wit[=h] clowdes that be blake +Alas whan wy[=ll] this torment ouerslake +I can not wyte, for who is hurt of newe +And bledet[=h] inward til he wex pale of hue +And hat[=h] his wound vnwarly fress[=h] & grene +And hit is not couthe vnto the harmes kene +Of myghty cupyde that can so hertes daunte +That no man may in his warre hym vaunte +To gete a pryce but only by mekenes +For ther ne haylet[=h] stryf ne sturdynes + +So may I sayne that wit[=h] a loke am yolde +And haue no power to stryue thaug[=h] I wolde +Thus stonde I euer betwix lif and det[=h] +To loue and serue whyle I haue bret[=h] +In suche a place where I dar not pleyne +Liche hym that is in torment and in peyne +And knowet[=h] not to whom to discure +For ther that I haue holly set my aire +I dar not wel for drede ne for daunger +And for vnknowen tellen how the fyre +Of loues bronde is kyndlid in my breste +Thus am I murdred and slayn atte leste +So priuely wit[=h]yn my thought +O lady venus whom I haue sought +So wysse me now what me is best to doo +That am distraught wit[=h] my self so +That I ne wote what way for to torne +Sauf by my self soleyn for to morne +Hangyng in balance betwix hope and drede +Wit[=h] oute comfort remedye or rede +For hope biddet[=h] pursue and assaye +And agaynward drede answert[=h] naye +And now wit[=h] hope I am set a lofte + +But drede and daunger hard & nothyng softe +Hat[=h] ouerthrowe my trust and put a doun +Now at my large, now fetred in prisoun +Now in torment, now in souerayn glorye +Now in paradyse and now in purgatorye +As man dispayred in a double were +Born vp wit[=h] hope, and the[=n]e anon daunger +Me drawet[=h] aback, and sait[=h] it shal not be +For where as I of myne aduersite +Am bolde somwhyle mercy to requyre +Thenne comet[=h] dispair & gynnet[=h] me to lere +A newe lesson to hope ful the contrary +They be so diuerse they wil do me varye +And thus I stand dismayed in a traunce +For whan that hope were likly me tauaunce +For drede I tremble & dar one word not speke +And yf hit so be, that I not out breke +To telle the harmes that greuen me so sore +But in my self encrece them more and more +And to be slayn fully me delyte +When of my det[=h] she is nothing to wyte +For but yf she my constreynt plainly knewe +How shold she euer, on my peynes rue + +Thus oft tyme wit[=h] hope I am meuyd +To tel her a[=ll], how I am greuyd +And to be hardy on me for to take +To axe mercy, but drede dot[=h] me the[=n]e awake +And than wanhop answert[=h] me agayn +That better were than she haue disdayn +To dye attones vnknowe of ony wight +And ther wit[=h] a[=ll] biddet[=h] hope anon right +Me, to be bold and prayen her of grace +And fit[=h] alle vertues be portreyd in her face +Hit were not sittyng, that pyte were behynde +And right anon wit[=h]yn my self I fynde +A newe plee brought on me wit[=h] drede +That me so maset[=h] that I see no spede +Be cause he sait[=h] that stonyet[=h] al my blood +I am so symple and she is so good +Thus hope & drede in me wyl not sece +To plete and stryue my harmys to encrece +But at hardest yet or I be dede +Of my distresse sit[=h] I can no rede +But stande do[=m] styl as ony stone +To fore the goddesse I wil me haste ano[=n] +And compleyne wit[=h] oute more sermo[=n] + +Thoug[=h] det[=h] be fyn and ful conclusion +Of my request, yet I wyl assaye +And right anon me thought I saye +This woful man as I haue memorye +Ful lowly entre in to an oratorye +And knelid a doun in ful humble wyse +To fore the goddesse and gan anon deuyse +His pitous quarel wit[=h] a doleful chere +Sayng right this as ye sha[=ll] here + +.The compleynt of the man. + + + + +Redresse of sorow O Citherea +That wit[=h] the stremys of thy playsaunt hete +Gladest the mounte of al Cirrea +Where thou hast chosen thy paleys and sete +Whos bright beames ben wesshen and wete +In the ryuer of Elycon the welle +Haue now pyte of that I shal you telle + +And not desdayne ye of your benygnyte +My mortal woo O lady myn goddesse +Of grace and bounte & mercyful pyte +Benygnely to helpe and to redresse +And thaug[=h] so be I can not wel expresse +The greuous harmes that I fele in my herte +Haue neuer yet the lesse mercy of my smerte + +This is to sayne O cler heuenes light +That next the sonne sercled han your spere +Sit[=h] ye me hurte wit[=h] your dredful myght +By influence of your beames clere +And that I by your seruyse now so dere +As ye me brought in to this maladye +Be ye gracyous and shape ye remedye + +For in you hoolly liet[=h] help of al this caas +And knowe best my sorow and al my peyne +For drede of det[=h], how I ne dar allas +To aren mercy ones, ne me compleyne +Now wit[=h] your fyre her hert so constrayne +Wit[=h] oute more, or I deye atte leste +That she may witte what is my request + +How I no thyng in al this world desire +But for to serur fully to myn ende +That goodly freshe so womanly of chere +Wit[=h]out chaunge whyle I haue lyf & mynde +And that ye wold suche grace sende +Of my seruyse that she not disdeyne +Sithen her to serue I may not me restreyne + +And sit[=h] that hope me hat[=h] yeue hardynes +To loue her best and neuer to repente +Whylis that I lyue wit[=h] al my besynes +To drede & serue, thaug[=h] daunger neuer assente +And here vpon ye knowe myn entente +How I haue vowed fully in myn mynde +To ben her man, thaug[=h] I no mercy fynde + +For in my hert emprynted is so sore +Her shap her forme & al her semelynes +Her porte her chere, her godenes more & more +Her womanhed and eke her gentiles +Her trout[=h], her fait[=h] and her kyndnes +Wit[=h] alle vertues eche set in her degre +Ther is no lack, sauyng only of pyte + +Her sad demenyng of wyl not variable +Of loke benygne, and rote of al plesance +And exemplayre to alle that wyl be stable +Discrete prudent of wisedom suffisance +Mirrour of witte ground of gouernance +A world of beaute compassed in her face +Whos persant loke doth thurg[=h] my hert race + +And ouer this wonder secrete and true +A wel of fredome and right bounteous +And euer encrecyng in vertu new & newe +Of speche goodly, and wonder gracyous +Deuoyd of pryde, to poure not despytous +And yf that I shortly shal not feyne +Saue vpon mercy I no thing compleyne + +What wonder thenne, thoug[=h] I be wit[=h] drede +Inly supprised for to axen grace +Of her that is quene of womanhede +For wel I wote in so hig[=h] a place +Hit wil not be, therfore I ouer pace +And take lowly what wo I endure +Til she of pyte me take to her cure + +But one auowe plainly here I make +That whethir so be, she do me lyue or deye +I wil not gruoche, but humbly hit take +And thanke god and wilfully obeye +For by my trout[=h] my hert shal neuer reneye +For lyf ne det[=h] mercy ne daunger +Of wil and thought to be at her desire + +To ben as trewe as euer was antonyus +To cleopatre whyle hym lastet[=h] bret[=h] +Or vnto thesbe yong Piramus +That was faithful found, til them deptid deth +Right so shal I til Antropos me slet[=h] +For whele or woo her faithful man be found +Vnto my last, like as my hert is bound + +To loue as wel as did Achilles +Vnto his laste the fair Polixene +Or as the grete famous Hercules +For dyanyre that felte the shott kene +Right so shal I saye right as I mene +Whyle that I lyue, her bot[=h] drede and serue +For lack of mercy thoug[=h] she do me sterue + +Now lady venus to whom nothing vnknowe +Is in the world hid, ne nought may be +For ther nys thing nether hye ne lowe +May be conceyled from your pryuete +Fro whom my menyng is not now secret +But wite fully that myn entent is true +And liche my trouthe now on my peyne rue + +For more of grace than of presumpcion +I axe mercy, and no thing of dute +Of lowly humbles, wit[=h] oute offencion +That ye enclyne of your benygnyte +Your audience vnto my humylyte +To graunte me that to you I clepe & calle +Sum day relees yet of my peynes alle + +And sit[=h] ye haue the guerdon and the mede +Of alle louers pleinly in your honde +Now of grace and pyte take ye hede +Of my distrees, that am vnder your bonde +So lowly bound, as ye wel vnderstonde +In that place where I toke first my wounde +Of pyte suffre ye my helt[=h] may be founde + +That liche as she me hurte wit[=h] a sight +Right so with helth late me hur sustene +And as the stremes of her eyen bright +Whylom my hert wit[=h] woundes sharp & kene +Thurg[=h] persed haue and yet be fresh & grene +So as she me hurte, lete her me socoure +Or ellis certayn I may not long endure + +For lack of speche I can say you no more +I haue mater but I can not pleyne +My witte is du[=ll] to tel al my sore +A mouth I haue, And yet for al my peyn +For want of wordes I may not now atteyn +To tel half, that dot[=h] my hert greue +Mercy abydyng, til she me list releue + +But this theffect of my mater fynal +Wit[=h] det[=h] or mercy relees for to fynde +For hert body thought lyf lust and al +Wit[=h] al my reson and al my ful mynde +And fyue wittes of on assent I bynde +To her seruyse wit[=h] oute ony stryf +And make her pryncesse of my det[=h] or lyf + +And now I pray of rout[=h] and eke pyte +O goodly planet, O lady venus bright +That ye your sone of his deyte +Cupide I mene that wit[=h] his dredful myght +And wit[=h] his brond that is so clere of light +Her herte so to fyre and to marke +As ye me whylem brent wit[=h] a sparke + +That euenlic[=h] and with the same fyre +She may be hit, as I now brenne and melte +So that her herte be flamed wit[=h] desire +That she may knowe by feruence hou I swelte +For of pyte plainly yf she felte +The self hete that doth myn hert enbrace +I hope of rout[=h] she wi[=ll] do me grace + +And ther wit[=h] al bemis as me thought +Towardes this man ful benyngely +Gan cast her eye, like as that she rought +Of his disease, and said ful goodly +Sith it is so, that thou so humbly +Wit[=h] out gruachyng our hestes liste obeye +Toward thyn help I wil anon pourueye + +And eke my sone Cupyde that is so blynde +He shal be helpyng fully to performe +Your hool desire, that nothing be behynde +Ne shal be lefte, so we shal reforme +This pietous c[=o]pleynt, [that] maket[=h] the to morne +That she for whom thau sorowest most in hert +Shal thurg[=h] hur mercy relece al thy smert + +Whan she scet[=h] tyme, thurg[=h] our purueaunce +Be not to hasty, but suffre althing wele +For in abydyng, thurg[=h] lowly obeyssaunce +Lyet[=h] ful redres, of al that ye now fele +And she shal be as trewe as ony stele +To you allone, by our myght and grace +Yf ye list mekely abyde a lityl space + +But vnderstande ye that al her cherising +Shal be grounded vpon honeste +That no wight shal by ony compacyng +Demen amys of hur in no degre +For neyther mercy, cout[=h] ner pyte +She shal not haue ne take of the non hede +Further than longet[=h] vnto her womanhede + +Be not astonyed of no wilfulnes +Ne not despeyred of this dissolucion +Late reson bridle lust by buxumnes +Wit[=h]out gruochyng or rebellyon +For ioye shal folowe al this passion +For who can suffre torment and endure +Ne may not faylle, but folowe shal his cure + +For to fore alle she shal the louen best +So shal I her wit[=h]oute offencion +By Influence enspire in her brest +In honest wyse wit[=h] ful entencion +For tenclyne by clene affection +Her hert fully on the to haue routhe +Be cause I knowe that thou menest trouthe + +Go now to hir where as she stant a syde +Wit[=h] humble chere, and put the in her grace +And al beforn lete hope be thy guyde +And thaug[=h] that drede wold wit[=h] the pace +Hit sittet[=h] wel, but loke that thou arace +Out of thyn hert wanhop and despeire +To her presence er thou haue repeir + +And mercy first shal thy way make +And honest menyng afore do thy message +To make pyte in her herte awake +And secretnes to further thy viage +Wit[=h] humble porte to her that is so sage +Shal menes be, and I my self also +Shal the fortune, or thy tale be do + +Go fort[=h] anon, and be right good of chere +For specheles nothing mayst thou spede +Be good of trust & be no thing in were +Sit[=h] I my self shal helpen in this nede +For atte lest of her goodly hede +She shal to the her audience enclyne +And lowe the to her til thou thy tale fyne + +For wel thou wost yf I shal not feyne +Wit[=h]oute speche thou maist no mercy haue +For who that wil of his pryue peyne +Fully be cured his lyf to helpe and saue +He must mekely out of his hert graue +Discure his wound and shewe hit his leche +Or ellis deye for defaute of speche + +For he that is in myschief reklees +To seche help I holde hym a wrecche +And she ne may thyn hert bryng in pees +But yf thy compleynt to hir hert strecche +Woldest thou be cured & wilt no salue fecche +Hit wil not be, for no wight may atteyne +To come to blys, yf he list lyue in peyne + +Therfore attones go fort[=h] in humble wyse +To fore thy lady and lowly knele a doun +And in al trouthe thy wordes so deuyse +That she on the haue compassion +For she that is of so hye renoun +In al vertues as quene and souerayn +Of womanhed shal rue on thy payn + +And whan the goddes this lesson had told +Aboute me so I gan behold +Rig[=h]t so a stoned stode in a traunce +To se the maner and contenance +And al the chere of this woful man +That was of hue dedely pale and wan +Wit[=h] drede supprised in his owne thought + +Makyng chere as thaug[=h] he rought nought +Of lyf ne det[=h] ne what so hym betyde +So moche fere he had on euery side +To put hym fort[=h] to tel his peyne +Vnto his lady, other to compleyne +What woo he felt torment or disese +What dedely sorow his hert dide sese +For cout[=h] of whiche his wo as I endite +My penne I fele quaken as I wryte +Of hym I had so grete compassion +For to reherce his weymentacion +That vnnethe, thoug[=h] I wit[=h] my self stryue +I want connyng his peynes to discryue +Allas to whom shal I for help calle +Not to the muses for cause they ben alle +Help of right in Ioye and not in woo +And in matiers that they delite also +Wherfore they nyl as now directe my style +Nor me enspiren Alas the hard whyle +I can no further but to the siphon +And to her suster to calle help vpon +That be goddesses of torment and peyne +Nowe lete your teris in to myn Inke reyne + +Wit[=h] woful wordes my paper for to blotte +This woful mater not to peynt, but spotte +To tel the maner of this dredeful man +Vpon his complaynt whan he first began +To tel his lady whan he gan declare +His hid sorowis, and his euel fare +That at his herte constreyned so sore +Theffect of whiche was this wit[=h]oute more + +Pryncesse of yougt[=h] & flour of gentilesse +Ensample of vertu ground of curtesye +Of beaute rote quene and eke maistres +To alle women how they shal hem gye +And sot[=h]fast mirrour texemplifye +The right way of port and of womanhede +What I shal saye, of mercy take ye hede +Besechyng first vnto your hye nobles +Wit[=h] quakyng hert of my Inward drede +Of grace and pyte & not of right wysnes +Of verrey cout[=h]e to help in this nede +This is to say O wel of goodlyhede +That I ne rekke thaug[=h] ye do me deye +So ye list first to heven what I seye + +The dredeful stroke the gret force and might +Of god cupide that noman may rebelle +So inwardly thurg[=h] out myn hert right +Y perced hat[=h] that I ne may councele +Myn hid wound ne I ne may apele +Vnto no gretter, this mighty god so faste +You to serue hat[=h] me bound vnto my laste + +That hert and a[=ll] wit[=h] out stryf ar yolde +For lyf or det[=h] to your seruyse allone +Right as the goddesse myghty venus wolde +To for her mekely whan I made my mone +She me constrayned wit[=h]oute chaunge anone +To your seruyse and neuer for to fayne +Wherso euer ye list to do me ease or payne + +So that I can no thing but mercy crye +Of you my lady, and chaunge for no newe +That ye list godely to fore er that I dye +Of verray couthe vpon my paynes rue +For by my trouthe, and ye my peynes knewe +What is the cause of myne aduersite +On myn disese ye wolde haue pyte + +For vnto you trewe and eke secre +I wil be founde to serue as I best can +And therwit[=h] al as lowly in eche degre +To you be allone as euer yet was man +Vnto his lady from the tyme I began +And shal so fort[=h] wit[=h]outen ony sleut[=h] +Whylis that I lyue, by god & by my trout[=h] + +For leuer I had to deyen sodenly +Than you offende in any maner wyse +And suffre paynes inward priuely +Than my seruyse as now ye shold dispyse +For I right neught wil axe in no wyse +But for your seruaunt ye wold me accepte +And whan I trespace, goodly me correcte + +And for to graunte of mercy the prayer +Only of grace and womanly pyte +From day to day that I myght leve +You for to plese, and therwit[=h] al that ye +Whan I do mys, list for to teche me +In your seruyse hou that I may amende +From hensfort[=h] and neuer you offende + +For vnto me it doth ynow[=h] suffyse +That for your man ye wold me resseyue +Fully to ben as you lyst deuyse +And as ferforth as my wittes can conceyue +And therwith al liche as ye preue +That I be true, to guerdone me of grace +Or ellis to punysshe after my trespace + +And yf so be that I may not atteyne +Vnto your mercy, yet graunte at the leste +In your seruyse for al my wo and peyne +That I may deyen after my beheste +This is al and som the fyn of my request +Outher with mercy your seruaunt to saue +Or mercyles that I may be begraue + +And whan this benygne of her entent true +Conceyued hat[=h] the compleynt of this man +Right as the fresh rody Rose newe +Of her colour to wexen she began +Her blood astoned so from her herte ran +In to her face of verray femynyte +Thurgh honest drede abasshed was she + +And humbly she began her eyen caste +Towardes hym of hir benygnyte +So that no word by her lippes past +For hast nor drede mercy ne pyte +For so demened she was in honeste +That vnaduysed no thing fro her stert +So moche of reson was compassed in her hert + +Til atte last of whiche she did abreyd +Whan she is trouthe and menyng did fele +And vnto hym ful goodly spack and seyd +Of your behest and your menyng wele +And your seruyse so fait[=h]ful euerydele +Whiche vnto me so lowly now ye offre +Wit[=h] al my herte, I thanke you of your profre + +That for so moche your entent is sette +Only in vertu y bridled vnder drede +Ye must of right nedis face the bet +Of your request, and the better spede +But as for me I may of womanhede +No further graunte to you in myn entente +Than as my lady venus wil assente + +For she wel knoweth I am not at my large +To doon right nought but by her ordynance +So am I drownd vnder her dredeful charge +Her lyste tobbeye withoute variaunce +But for my parte so hit be pleasaunce +Vnto the goddesse for trout[=h] in your empryse +I you accepte fully to my seruyse + +For she my herte hath in subiection +Whiche hoolly is youres & neuer shal repente +In thought ner dede in myn election +Witnes on venus that knoweth myn entent +Fully tobeye hir dome and Iugement +So as hir liste disposen and ordeyne +Right as she knoweth the trout[=h] of vs tweyne + +For vnto the tyme that venus list prouyde +To shape away for our hertis ease +Bothe ye and I mekely must abyde +To take at gree, and not of our disease +To grucche agayn til that she list tappease +Our hid woo so Iuly that constreynet[=h] +From day to day and our hertis peyneth + +For in abidyng of woo and al affraye +Who so can suffre is founden remedye +And for the beste ful ofte is made delaye +Er men be heled of their maladye +Wherfore as venus list this mater to gye +Leet vs agreen, and take al for the best +Til her liste, sette bothe our hertes in rest + +For she is that byndet[=h] and can constreyn +Hertes in one, this fortunate planete +And can relece louers of her peyn +To turne fully her bitter in to swete +Now blisful goddes doun fro thy sterry sete +Vs to fortune cast your stremes shene +Lyke as ye knowe, that we trout[=h] mene + +And ther wit[=h] al as I myn eyen caste +For to perceyue the maner of these tweyne +To fore the goddesse mekely as they paste +Me thought I saw wit[=h] a goldyn cheyne +Venus, anon enbrace and constreyne +Her bothe hertes in one, for to perseuere +Whilis that they lyue, and neuer to disseuere + +Seyng right thus with a benygne chere +Sith it is so, ye be vnder my myght +My wil is thus, that ye my doughter dere +Ful accepte this man as it is right +Vnto your grace anon here in my sight +That euer hath ben so lowly you to serue +Hit is good shil your thank that he deserue + +Your honour sauf and eke your womanhede +Hym to cherisshe, hit sittet[=h] you right wele +Sith he is bounde vnder hope and drede +Amyd my cheyne that forged is of stele +Ye must of mercy shape that he fele +In yow som grace of his long seruyse +And that in hast lik as I shal deuyse + +This is to sayn that ye taken hede +Hou he to you most fait[=h]ful is and true +Ofal your seruauntes, & nothing for his mede +Of you ne asketh, but ye on hym rue +For he vowed hath to change for no newe +For lyf ne det[=h], for ioye ne for peyne +Ay to be youris, so as ye list ordeyne + +Wherfore ye muste or els it were wrong +Vnto your grace fully hym receyue +In my presence, by cause he hat[=h] so long +Hooly ben youris, as ye may conceyue +That from your mercy, yf ye hym weyue +I wyl my silf recorden cruelte +In your persone, and gret lack of pyte + +Late hym for his trout[=h] fynde than agayn +For long seruyse, guerdon hym wit[=h] grace +And late ye pyte weye doun his payn +For tyme is now daunger to arace +Out of your hert, and mercy in to pace +And loue for loue world wel beseme +To yeue agayn and this I plainly deme + +And as for hym I wil ben his borowe +Of lowlihede and besy attendance +How he shal be bothe eue and morowe +Ful diligent to doon his obseruance +And euer awaytyng, you to do playsance +Wherfore my sone, listen and take hede +Fully tobeye, as I shal the rede + +And first of a[=ll] my wi[=ll] is that thou be +Feithful in hert and constant as a wal +True humble, meke and therwith al secre +Wit[=h] out change in partie or in a[=ll] +And for no torment that the fallen shal +Tempest the not, but euer in stedfastnes +Rote thyn herte, and wyde doublenes + +And furthermore haue in reuerence +These women al for thy lady sake +And suffre neuer that men hem do offence +For loue of one, but euermore vndertake +Hem to defende whether they slept or wake +And ay be redy to holden them party +Ayenst a[=ll] tho that to hem haue enuye + +Be curtais ay and lowly of thy speche +To riche and poure ay fress[=h] & wel beseyn +And euer besy weyes for to seche +Alle true louers to relece of her peyn +Sith thou art one, & of no wight haue disdeyn +For loue hath power hertes for to daunte +And neuer for cherising, the to muche auaunte + +Be lusty eke voyd of a[=ll] tristesse +And take no thought but euer be iocound +And not to pensif for none heuynes +And wit[=h] thy gladnes, lete sadnes ay be found +Whan woo approched, lete mirt[=h] most habound +As manhod ayid, and though [thou] fele smert +Late not to many knowen of thyn hert + +And alle vertues besily thou sue +Vices eschewe for the loue of one +And for no tales thyn hert not renewe +Word is but wynd that shal soon ouergoon +What euer thou here be domb as ony stoon +And to answere to sone, not the delyte +For here she standet[=h] that al this shal [the] quyte + +And wherther thou be absent or in presence +None others beawte lete in thy hert myne +Sit[=h] I haue yeue hir of beaute excellence +Aboue al other in vertu for to shyne +And thynke hou in fyre men ar wont to fyne +this pured gold to put hit in assaye +So to the proue, thou art put in delaye + +But tyme shal come thou shalt for thy suffrance +Be wel apaid and take for thy mede +Thy lyurs ioye and al thy suffisance +So that good hope alway thy bridel lede +Lete no dispeir hyndre the with drede +But ay thy trust vpon her mercy grounde +Sith none but she may thy sorowe sounde + +Eche hour and tyme. weke. day and yere +Be lich faithful and vary not for lyte +Abyde a whyle and than of thy desire +The tyme neygheth that shal the most delyte +And late no sorow in thy hert byte +For no differring, sith thou for thy mede +Shal reioyse in pees the flour of womanhede + +Thinke hou she is this worldis sonne & light +The sterre of beaute the flour eke of fairnes +Both crop and robe and eke the rubye bright +Hertes to glade, y troubled with derknes +And hou I haue made her, thin hertes Empresse +Be glad therfore to be vnder her bond +Now come ner doughter & take him by the hond + +Vnto this syn that aftir alle these shouris +Of his torment he may be glad and light +Whan by your grace ye take hym to be youris +For euermore anon here in my sight +And eke I wil also as hit is right +Without more his langour for to lysse +In my presence anon that ye hym kysse + +That ther may be of al your old smertis +A ful relees vnder ioye assured +And that one lok be of your bothe hertis +Shet with my keye of gold so wel pured +Only in signe that ye haue recured +Your hool desire here in this hooly place +Within my temple now in the yere of grace + +Eternally be bounde of assuraunce +The knot is knyt, that may not be vnbounde +That alle the goddes of this aliaunce +Satorne. Joue. and Mars as it is founde +And eke Cupyde that first did you wounde +Shal bere record, and ouermore bewreke +On whiche of yow, his trout[=h] first breke + +So that by aspectes of their fair lokis +Wit[=h]oute mercy shal fal the vengeance +For to be raced clene out of my bokis +On whiche of you be found of variance +Therfore attones settet[=h] your plesance +Fully to ben whyle ye haue lyf and mynde +Of one acorde vnto your lyues ende + +That yf the spiryte of newfanglenes +In ony wyse your hertes wold assaylle +To meue or styre to brynge in doublenes +Vpon your trout[=h] to gyuen a bataylle +Lete not your corage ne your force faylle +Nor none assaultes you flitten or remeue +For vnassayed no man may trout[=h] preue + +For whyte is whitter yf it be set by black +And swete is swetter after bitternes +And falshed euer is dryue and put a back +Where trouthe is roted wit[=h] doblenes +Wit[=h]out preue ther may be no sekernes +Of loue or hate and therfore of you two +Shal loue be more, for hit was bought with woo + +And euery thing is had more in deynte +And more of pris whan it is dere bought +And eke loue stondeth more in sewrte +Whan it is to fore with payne woo & thought +Conquerd was first whan hit was sought +And euery conquest hath his excellence +In his poursute as it fyndeth resistence + +And so to you more sote and agreable +Shal loue be found I do you plainly assure +Wit[=h]out grucchyng that ye were suffrable +So lowe so meke paciently to endure +That al attones I shal do now my cure +For now and euer your hertis so to bynde +That nought but deth shal the knot vnbynde + +Now in this mater what shold I lenger dwelle +Come ye attones and do as I haue said +And first my doughter that ar of bounte welle +In hert and thought be glad & wel apayd +To done hym grace that shal & hath obeyd +Your lustes euer, and I wil for his sake +Of trouth to you be bounde and vndertake + +And so fort[=h] wit[=h]in presence as they stand +To fore the goddes this fair and wele +Her humble seruant toke goodly by the hond +As he to fore her, mekely did knele +And kyssed hym after fulfillyng eueridele +From poynt to poynt in ful thryfty wyse +As ye to forn haue venus herd deuyse + +Thus is this man to ioye and al plesance +From heuynes and from his peynes olde +Ful reconcyled, and hat[=h] ful suffisance +Of her that euer ment wel, and wold +That in good fait[=h] and I tel shold +The inward mirthes did her hertis brace +For al my lyf to telle, it were to lityl space + +For he hat[=h] wonne hir that he louet[=h] best +And she to grace hat[=h] take hym of pyte +And thus her hertes ben bot[=h] set in rest +Wit[=h]oute chaunge or mutabilite +And venus hat[=h] of her benygnyte +Confermed al what shal I lenger tary +These tweyne in one and neuer to vary + +That for the ioye in the temple aboute +Of this acorde by grete solempnyte +Was laude and honour within & wit[=h]oute +Yeue to venus, and to the deyte +Of god cupide, so that Caliope +And al her sustren in her armonye +Soon with songes the goddes did magnifye + +And al attones with notes loud & sharp +They did her honour and her reuerence +And Orpheus among them with his harp +Gan strynges touche with his diligence +And Amphion that hath suche excellence +Of musyke ay dyde his besynes +To plese and queme venus the goddesse + +Only for cause of the affinyte +Betwix these two not lusty to disseuere +And euery louer of lowe and hye degre +Gan venus pray fro thens fort[=h] and euer +That hool of them the loue may [per]seuere +Wit[=h]outen ende in suche wyse as they gonne +And more encrece that hit of hard was wonne + +And the goddes heryng this request +As she that knewe the clene entencion +Of bothe them tweyne made a bihest +Perpetuelly by confirmacion +Whylis they lyue of one affection +They shal endure ther is no more to sayne +That neyther shal haue mater to complayne + +So ferfurt[=h] euermore in our eternal see +The goddes haue in our presence +Fully deuysed thurg[=h] their deyte +And hooly concluded by her Influence +That by thair myght and Iuste prudence +The loue of hem by grace and eke fortune +Wit[=h] oute chaunge shal euermore contune + +Of whiche graunt the temple enuiron +Thurg[=h] hye comfort of them that were present +Anon was begun wit[=h] a melodyous sowun +In name of tho that trout[=h] in loue ment +A balade newe in ful good entent +To fore the goddes wit[=h] notis londe and clere +Syngyng right this anon as ye shal here + +Fayrest of sterres that with your [per]sant light +And with the cherysyng of your stremes clere +Causen in loue hertes to be light +Only by shynyng of your glad spere +Now lawde and pryce O venus lady dere +Be to your name that haue without synne +This man fortuned his lady for to wynne + +Willy planete O esperus so bright +That woful hertes can appese and stere +And euer ar redy by your grace & might +To helpe al tho that bye loue so dere +And haue power hertis to sette on fyre +Honour to you of al that ben here Inne +That haue this man his lady made to wynne + +O mighty goddesse day sterre after nyght +Gladyng the morowe whan ye don appere +To wyde derknes by freshnes of your sight +Only wit[=h] twinkyng of your plesaunt chere +To you we thanke louers that ben here +That ye this man and neuer for to twynne +Fortune haue, his lady for to wynne + +And wit[=h] the noyse an heuenly melodye +Wit[=h] that they made in her armonye +Thurg[=h] out the temple for this mans sake +Out of my slepe anon I dyde awake +And for astonyed knewe as tho no rede +For sodeyn chaunge oppressed wit[=h] drede +Me thought I was cast in a traunce +So clene away was tho my remembrance +Of alle my dreme, wherof gret thought & wo +I had in herte and nyst what was to doo +For heuynes for that I had lost the sight +Of her that I al the longe nyght +Had dremed of in myn aduision +Wherof I made grete lamentacion +Be cause I had neuer in my lyf beforn +Saw none so fair sit[=h] that I was born +For loue of whom so as I can endyte +I purpose here to make and to wryte +A lityl tretyse and processe make +In pryce of women only for her sake +Hem to comence as it is skyl and right +For her godenes wit[=h] al my myght +Prayng to her that is so bounteuous + +So ful of vertu and so gracyeus +Of womanhede and mercyful pyte +This symple tretyse for to take in gre +Til I haue leyzer vnto her hye renoun +For to expound my forsaid visioun +And tel in playn the signefyaunce +As it cometh to my remembraunce +So that her after my lady may hit loke +Now go thy way thou litil rude boke +To her presence as I the comande +And first of a[=ll] thou me recomande +Vnto hir and to her excellence +And pray to hir, hit be non offence +Yf ony word in the be myssaid +Besechyng her, she be not euyl a paid +For as her list I wil the efte correcte +Whan that her liket[=h] ageinward the directe +I mene that benygne and goodly of face +Now go thy way and put the in her grace + +.Explicit the temple of glas. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The 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