5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210 215 220 225 230 235 240 245 la dame 250 l'amant 255 260 la dame 265 l'amant 270 275 la dame 280 l'amant 286 290 la dame 295 300 l'amant 305 la dame 310 315 l'amant 320 la dame 326 330 l'amant 335 340 la dame 345 l'amant 350 355 la dame 360 l'amant 366 370 la dame 375 380 l'amant 385 la dame 390 395 l'amant 400 la dame 406 410 l'amant 415 420 la dame 425 l'amant 430 435 la dame 440 l'amant 446 450 la dame 455 460 l'amant 465 la dame 470 475 l'amant 480 la dame 486 490 l'amant 495 500 la dame 505 l'amant 510 515 la dame 520 l'amant 526 530 la dame 535 540 l'amant 545 la dame 550 555 l'amant 560 la dame 566 570 l'amant 575 580 la dame 585 l'amant 590 595 la dame 600 l'amant 606 610 la dame 615 620 l'amant 625 la dame 630 635 l'amant 640 la dame 646 650 l'amant 655 660 la dame 665 l'amant 670 675 la dame 680 l'amant 686 690 la dame 695 700 l'amant 705 la dame 710 715 l'amant 720 la dame 726 730 l'amant 735 740 la dame 745 l'amant 750 755 la dame 760 l'amant 766 770 la dame 775 780 l'amant 785 la dame 790 795 800 805 810 815 820 825 830 835 840 845 850 855

Half in a dreme, nat fully wele awaked, The golden slepe me wrapt undre his whynge; Yet not forthy I rose and, welny naked, Alle soudenly myself remembringe Of a matere, levyng al other thinge, Whiche I shulde doo withouten more delaye, For hem the whiche I durst not dissobaye. My charge was this: to translat by and by (Alle thing forgeve), as part of my penaunce, A boke called La Belle Dame sans Mercy, Whiche maister Alyn made of remembraunce, Cheif secretary with the kyng of Fraunce. And hereupon a while I stode musing, And in myself gretly ymagenyng What wise I shulde performe this said processe, Considering by good avisement Myn unconnyng and my gret simplesse, And agaynwarde the streit commaundement Whiche that I hade; and thus in myn entent I was vexed and turned up and down; Yet at the last, as in conclusion, I cast my clothes on and went my way, This forsaid charge havyng in remembraunce, Tylle I came to a lusty grene valy Full of floures, to se a gret plesaunce. And so bolded, with thaire benyng sufferaunce That rede this boke, touching this said matere, Thus I began, if it please you to here. Not long agoo, ryding an esy paas, I felle in thought, of joy ful desperate With gret disease and payn, so that I was Of al lovers the moost unfortunate, Sith by hire dart moost cruell, ful of hate, The deth hath take my lady and maistres And left me soul, thus discomfit and mate,1 Sore languisshing and in wey of distresse. Than said I thus: "It falleth me to cesse Either to ryme or dytees for to make, And I, surely, to make a ful promisse To laughe noo more, but wepe in clothes blake. My joyful tyme, alas, now is it slake, For in myself I fele noo manere ease; Lete it be writen, suche fortune I take, Whiche neither me nor deth noon other please.2 "If it were so, my will or myn entent Were constrained a joyful thing to writte, My penne cowde never have knowlech what it ment; To speke thereof my tonge hath noo delite, And with my moueth if I laughe muche or lite, Myn ey shulde make a countenaunce untrewe; Myn hert also wolde have thereof despite, The weping teres have so large issue. "These seke lovers, I leve that to heim longes,3 Whiche lede there lif in hope of alegeaunce, That is to say, to make ballade or songes, Every of heim as they fynde here grevaunce. For she that was my joy and my pleasaunce, Whos soule I pray God of His mercy save, She hath my wille, myn hertis ordenaunce, Whiche bethe with hire undre hire tumbe igrave. "Fro this tyme forth, tyme is to holde my peas, It weryth me this matere for to trete; Lete other lovers put heimself in preas. There season is, my tyme is now forgete. Fortune by strenghe the forser hath unshete Wherein was speryd al my worldly richesse, And al the goodis whiche I have gete In my best tyme of youthe and lustynesse. "Love hath me kept undre his governaunce, If I mysdud, God graunt me forgevenesse; Yef I dud well, yet felt I noo pleasaunce, It causid neither joye ner hevynesse. For when she dide, that was al my maistresse, My good welfare than made the same purchasse;4 The deth hath sete my boundes of witnesse, Whiche for noothing myn hert shal never passe." In this gret thought sore troubled in my mynde, Alone thus rode I al the morowtide, Tyll at the last it happed me to fynde The place wherein I cast me to abide. When that I hade noo further for to ride, And as I went my logging to purvey, Right sone I harde but litell me beside In a gardyn, where mynstrellis gan to play. With that anoon I went me bakkermore; Myself and I, me thought we were inowe; But twayne that were my frendis here-bifore Hade me aspyed, and yet I wote not howe. They came for me; awaywarde I me drowe, Summewhat by force, sumwhat by ther request, That in noo wise I cowde myself rescowe, But nede I muste come in and see the fest. At my commyng, the ladyes everychoon Bade me welcome, God wote, right gentilly, And made me chere ever, oon by oon, A gret delle better than I was worthy; And of thaire grace sewed me gret curtesy With good disport, by cause I shulde not morne. That day I bade still in thaire company, Whiche was to me a gracious sojorne. The bordes were sprede in right lityll space; The ladyes sate, eche as heim semyd beste. Were noon dud service within that place But chosen men, right of the goodlyest: And there were summe, paraventure moost fresshest,5 That sawe there juges, sitting ful demure, Withoute semblant either to moost or lest, Natwithstanding they hade hem undre cure. Amongis al other oon I gan aspye, Whiche in gret thought ful often came and went, As oon that hade ben ravisshed utterlye, In his langage nat gretly deligent; His countenaunce he kept with gret trament, But his desire fer passed his reason; For ever his ey went after his entent, Ful many a time whan it was noo season. To make good chere right sore himself he payned,6 And outewardly he fayned gret gladnesse. To synge also by force he was constrayned, For noo pleasaunce, but verrey shamefastnesse,7 For the complaynte of his moost hevynesse Came to his voix alwey withoute request, Like as the sowne of briddis doith expresse When they singe lowde in frith or in forest. Other there were that served in the halle, But noon like, as after myn avyse, For he was pale and sumwhat lene withalle; His speche also trembled in ferful wise, And ever alone but when he dud servise. Alle blake he ware and noo devise, but playne. Me thought by him, as my witte cowde suffice, His hert was noothing in his owne demayne. To fest hem al he dud his diligence, And wel he cowde, right as it semed me. But evermore when he was in presence, His chere was done; it wolde noon other be. His scolemaister hade suche autorité, That al the while he bode stille in the place, Speke cowde he not, but upon hire beauté He loked stille with a right pituous face. With that, his hede he turned at the last, For to beholde the ladies everychoon, But ever in oon he sett his ey stefast - On hire the whiche his thought was moost upon. And of his eyn the shote I knewe anoon, Whiche fedred was with right humble requestis. Then to myself I said, "By God aloon, Suche oon was I, or that I sawe these gestis." Oute of the prese he went ful esely To make stable hevy countenaunce; And, witte ye well, he sighed tendirly For his sorowes and woful remembraunce. Then in himself he made his ordenaunce, And forthwithal came to bringe in a messe; But, for to juge his moost rewful semblaunce, God wote it was a piteuous entremesse. After dyner anoon they heim avaunsed To daunce aboute, these folkis everychoon, And forthwithal this hevy daunsed - Summetyme with twayne and sumtyme with oon - Unto hem al his chere was after oon; Nowe here, now there, as fall by aventure, But ever amonge, he drewe to hire aloon, Whiche moost he dred of lyvyng creature. To myn avise, good was his purveaunce When he hire chase to his maistres alone, If that hire hert were sette to his pleasaunce As muche as was hire beauteuous persone. For who that ever sete his trust upon The report of thaire eyen, withouten more, He might be deed and grave undre stone Or ever he shulde his hertis ease restore. In hire failled noothing, as I cowde gesse, Oon wise ner other, pryvé ner pert; A garyson she was of al goodnesse To make a frounter for a lovers hert; Right yonge and fresshe, a woman ful covert; Assured well hire port and eke chere, Well at hire ease, withouten woo or smart, Alle undreneth the standart of Daungere. To se the fest it wered me ful sore, For hevy joy doth sore the hert travayle. Oute of the prese I me withdrewe therfor And sette me adowne alone behinde a trayle Ful of leves, to see a gret mervaille, With grene wetheys ibounde wonderlye; The leves were so thikke withouten faille That thoroughoute might noo man me aspye. To this lady he came ful curtesly, When he thought tyme to daunce with hire a trace. Sith in an erbere made ful pleasauntly They rested heim fro thens but a litell space. Nigh heim were noon a certeyne of compace,8 But only they, as fer as I cowde see, And sauf the trayle there as I had chose my place, There was noo more betwix hem twayn and me. I harde the lover sighing wondre sore; For ay the nere, the sorer it him sought. His inwarde payne he cowde not kepe in store, Nor for to speke, so hardy was he nought. His leche was nere, the greter was his thought; He mused sore to conquere his desire; For no man may to more penaunce be brought Than in his hete to bringe him to the fire. The hert began to swell within his chest, So sore strayned for anguisshe and for payne That al to peces almoost it tobrest When bothe at oonys so sore it dud constrayne; Desire was bolde but Shame it gan refrayne - The toon was large, the other was ful close; No litell charge was leyde on hym, certayne, To kepe suche warre and have so many foose. Ful often tyme to speke himself he payned, But Shamefastnesse and Drede said ever "nay"; Yet at the last so sore he was constrayned, When he hade longe put it in delay, To his lady right thus then gan he say With dredful voix, weping, half in a rage: "For me was purveyd an unhappy day When I first hade a sight of youre visage! "I suffre payne, God wot, ful hote brennynge, To cause my deth al for my trewe servise, And I se well ye reke thereof noothinge, Nor take noon hede of it in noo kynnys wise; But whan I speke after in best advise, Ye sette it nought, but make therof a game;9 And though I sue so gret an enterprise, It peyrith not youre worship ner youre fame. "Alas, what shulde be to you prejudice If that a man doo love you fastfully, To youre worship, eschewing every vise? So am I youres and wol be verreily; I chalang nought of right and reason why, For I am hole submytted to youre servise; Right as ye list it be, right so wol I To binde myself where I was in fraunches. "Though it be so that I cannot diserve To half youre grace, but alwey lyve in drede, Yet suffre me you for to love and serve Withoute magré of youre moost goodlyhede; Bothe faithe and trouthe I geve youre womanhede, And my servise, withoute any callyng. Love hath me bounde withoute wage or mede To be youre man and leve al other thyng." When this lady had hard al his langage, She gave answere ful soft and demurely, Withoute chanching of coloure or courage, Nathing in hast but mesurably: "Me thinketh, Sire, youre thought is gret foly. Pourpose ye not youre laboure for to shese? For thinketh nat, whiles that ye lyve and I, In this matere to sete youre hert in pese." "There may noon make the peas but only ye, Whiche are the grounde and cause of al this warre, For with youre eyen the leters writen be, Be whiche I am defyde and put afarre; Youre pleasaunt loke, my verrey lodesterre, Was made heraude of thilke same defyaunce, Whiche utterly behight me for to berre My faithful truste and al my affyaunce." "To lyve in woo he hath gret fantesye, And of his hert also hath slepire holde, That only for beholding of an eye Cannat abide in peas, as reason wolde. Other or me if ye list to beholde, Oure eyen are made to loke - why shulde we spare? - I take noo kepe neither of yonge ner olde; Who felyth smart, I counsaill him beware." "If it be so oon hurt another sore In his defaute that felyth the grevaunce, Of verrey right a man may doo no more, Yet Reason wolde it were in remembraunce; And sith Fortune nat oon by his chaunce Hath caused me to suffre al this payne, But youre beauté, with al the circumstaunce, Why list you have me in so gret disdayne?" "To youre persone ne have I noo disdayne, Ne never hade, truly, ner naught wil have; Ner right gret love, ner hatered, in certayne, Ner youre counsaille to knowe, so God me save. If suche love be in youre mynde grave, That litell thing may doo you gret pleasaunce, You to begile, or make you for to rave, I wil not cause noon suche encomberaunce." "Whatever it be that me hath thus purchasid, Wenyng hath not deceyved me, certayne, But fervent love so sore me hath chasid That I am unware casten in youre chayne; And, sith so is as Fortune list ordeyne, Alle my welfare is in youre handis falle, In eschewing of more mischevous payne, Who sonnest deyeth, his care is lest of alle." "This sikenes is right easé to endure - But fewe people it causith for to dye - But what they mene, I knowe it verrey sure, Of more comfort to drawe the remedye; Suche be there now, playnyng ful pituouslye, That fele God wote nat alther gretest payne,10 And yef so be love hurt so grevouslye, Lesse harme it were oon sorowful then twayne." "Alas madame, if that it might you please, Muche better were, by way of gentilnesse, Of oon sory to make twayn well at ease Than him to stroy that lyveth in distresse. For my desire is neither more ne lasse But my servise to doo for youre pleasaunce,11 In eschewing al manere of doublenesse To make twoo joyes instede of oo grevaunce." "Of love I seke neyther pleasaunce nor ease, Ner right gret love, ner gret affyaunce; Though ye be seke, it doith me noothing please - Also I take noon hede to youre pleasaunce. Chese whoso woll there hertis to avaunce - Free am I nowe, and fre will I endure; To be rewled by manis goveraunce For erthely good, nay - that I you ensure!" "Love, whiche that joy and sorowe doith depart, Hath set the ladies oute of al servage And largely doith graunt hem for thaire part Lordship and rewle of every manere age. The poure servaunt nought hath of avauntage But what he may gete only of purchace; And he that onys to love doith his homage, Ful often tyme dere bought is the rechace." "Ladyes bith not so semple, thus I meane, So dulle of witte, so sotid of foly, That for wordis whiche said ben of the splene, In faire langage peynted ful pleasauntly, Whiche ye and moo holde scoles of duly, To make hem al gret wondres to supoose, But sone they can away thaire hede wry, And to faire speche lyghtly thaire eres close." "There is noo man that jangelyth besily, And sette his hert and al his mynde therfore, That by reason may playne so pituously, As he that hath muche hevynes in store. Whos hede is hole and saith that it is sore, His fayned chere is harde to kepe in mewe;12 But thought whiche is unfayned evermore The wordis preveth as the werkis sewe." "Love is sotill and hath a gret awayte, Sharpe in worching, in gabbyng gret plesaunce,13 And him can venge of suche as, by deceyte, Wolde fele and knowe his secrete governaunce; And maketh hem to obey his ordenaunce By chereful wayes, as in him is supposed; But when they fallen into repentaunce, Then in a rage thaire counsaill is disclosed." "Sith for as muche as God and eke Nature Hath avaunsed Love to so high degré, Muche sharper is the poynt, this am I sure, Yet greveth more the faute, wherever it be. Who hath noo colde, of hete hath noo deynté The toone for tother axed is expresse; And of pleasaunce knoweth noon the certaynté, But it be wonne with thought and hevynesse." "As for pleasaunce, it is not alwey oon; That to you is swete me thinke a bitter payne. Ye may not me constrayne (ner yet right noon) After youre list to love, that is but vayne. To chalange Love by right was never sayne, But hert assent, bifore bonde and promese; For strenghe ne force may not atayne, certayne, A will that stont enfeffid in fraunchese." "Right faire lady, God mote I never please If I seke other right, as in this case, But for to shewe you playnly my desease, And youre mercy to abide, and eke youre grace. If I purpose youre honoure to deface, Or ever dide, God and fortune me schende And that I never unrightfully purchace Oon only joye, unto my lyves ende." "Ye and other that swere suche othes fast And so condempne and cursen too and fro, Full sycourly ye wene youre othes last Noo lenger than the wordis ben agoo. And God and eke His seintis laugh also; In suche sweryng there is noo stedfastnesse, And these wrecches, that have ful trist thereto - After, they wepe and waylen in distresse." "He hath noo courage of a man, truly, That sechith pleasaunce, worship to dispise; Ner, to be called forth, is not worthy, The erthe to touche, the ayre in noo-kynde wise; A trusty hert, a mouthe withoute fayntise: These ben the strenghe of every man of name; And who that leyth his faith for litell prise, He lesith bothe his worship and his fame." "A currysshe hert, a mouthe that is curtese, Full well ye wote, they ben not according; Yet Fayned Chere right sone may theim apeyse, Where of malice is sete al here worching; Ful Fals Semblant they bere, and Trewsemyng; Thaire name, thaire fame, thaire tongis be bot fayned;14 Worship in hem is put in forgeting, Nought repented, ner in noo wise complayned." "Who thinketh ill, no good may him befalle; God of His grace graunt eche man his desert. But, for His love, amonge youre thoughtis alle As thinke upon my woofull sorowes smert; For, of my payne, whether youre tendre hert Of swete pité be not therewith agreved? And if youre grace to me were discovert, Then, by youre meane, sone shulde I be releved." "A lightsum hert, a foly of pleasaunce, Ar muche better the lesse whille they abide. They make you thinke and bringe you in a traunce, But that sekenesse wol sone be remedide. Respite youre thought and put al this aside; Full good disportis weryth men al day. To helpe ner hurt my will is not aplide - Who troweth me not, I late him pas away." "Who hath a bride, a fawcon, or an hounde That folowith him for love in every place, He cheryssheth him and kepith him ful sounde; Oute of his sight he wol not him enchace. And I, that set my wittes in this cace On you alone, withoute any chaunge, Am put undre, muche forther oute of grace, And lesse sette by than other that be straunge." "Though I make chere to every man aboute For my worship and of myn owne fraunchese, To you I nell doo so, withouten doute, In eschewinge al manere prejudice. For, wote ye well, Love is so lityll wise, And in beleve so lightly wol be brought, That he takith al at his owne devise Of thing, God wote, that servyth him of nought." "Iffe I, by love and by my trew servyse, Lese the good chere that straungers have alway, Wherof schuld serve my trouth in any wyse Les then to heme that come and go al day, Which hold of you nothyng, that is no nay? Also in you is loste, to my semynge, All courtesy, which of resoun will say That love by love were lawfull deservynge." "Courtesye is allied wondir nere To worschip, which hyme lovyth tendurly, And he will not be bound for no prayere, Nor for no gifte, I say you verely, But his good chere depart ful largely Wher hyme lyketh, as his conseit wil falle; Guerdoun constraynt, a gifte done thankefully - Thes twayn may not acord, nor never schale." "As for guerdoun, I seche none in this case, For that desert, to me it is to hye; Wherfor I asche your pardoun and your grace, Sith me byhovyth deth, or your mercy. To give the god wher hit wanteth, treulye, That wer resoun and a courteys manere; And to your awn myche bettyr were worthy, Then to straungers, to schew heme lovely chere."15 "What call ye good? Fayn wold I that I wyste! That plesith on, another smertyth sore; But of his awn to large is he that liste Gyve myche, and lese all his goode fame therfore. On schuld not make a graunt, lytele nor more, But the request were ryght wele acordynge; Yif worschip be not kept and set byfore, All that is lefte is but a lytell thynge." "Into this world was never formyd non, Nor undur heven creature ibore, Nor never schall, saffe only your parson, To whom your worschip touchith half so sore But me, which have no sesoun, les ne more, Of youth nor age, but styll in your servyse; I have non yne, no wyt, nor mouth in store, But all beth given to the same offyse." "A full gret charge hath he, withouten fayle, That his worschip kepyth in sykernesse; But in daunger he settyth his travayle That feffith hit with othyrs bysynesse. To hym that longeth honneur and noblesse, Upon non othir schuld not he awayte, For of his awn so mych hathe the lesse That of othir mych folouth the conseit."16 "Youre eyen have sette the prynte which that I fele Within myn hert, that, wheresoever I goo, If I doo thing that sowneth unto wele, Nede must it come fro you, and fro no moo. Fortune will thus: that I, for well or woo, My lif endure, youre mercy abiding; And verrey right will that I thinke also Of youre worship, above al other thing." "To youre worship se wele, for that is nede, That ye spende not youre season al in vayne; As touching myn, I rede you take noon hede, By youre foly to put youreself in payne. To overcome is good, and to refrayne An hert whiche is deseyved folely; For worse it is to breke than bowe, certayne - Better bowe than falle to soudenly." "Nowe, faire lady, thinke, sith it first began, That love had sete myn hert undre his cure. I never might (ner trewly I ne can) Noon other serve whiles I shal here endure. In moost fre wise thereof I make you suere, Whiche may not be withdrawe - this is no nay - I must abide al manere aventure, For I may not put to, ner take away." "I holde it for noo geft, in sothfastnesse, That oon offrith when that it is forsake, For suche geft is abandonnyng expresse, That with worship agein may not be take. He hath hertis ful fele that list to make A geft lightly that put is in refuse;17 But he is wise that such conncept wol slake, So that him nede nother stodye ner muse." "He shulde not muse that hath his service spent On hire whiche is a lady honourable, And yef I spende my tyme to that entent, Yet at the last I am not reprevable Of fayled hert, to thinke I am unable, Or me mistake when I made this request, By whiche Love hath, of enterprise notable, So many hertis geten by conquest." "If that ye list to doo after my counsaille, Sechith fairer and of more higher fame, Whiche, in service of Love, wol you prefaylle After youre thought, according to the same. He hurtith bothe his worship and his name That folely for twayne himself wol trouble; And he also lesith his after game, That surely cannot sette his poyntis double."18 "This youre counsaile, by ought that I can se, Is better said than doon, to myn avise; Though I beleve it not, forgyf it me Myn hert is suche, so hole, withoute fantise, That it may not geve grede in noo wise To thing whiche is not sownnyng unto trouth; Other counsaille - it are but fantasise, Sauf of youre grace to shewe pité and routh." "I holde him wise that worchith folely, And whan him list can leve and part therfroo, But in connyng he is to lerne, trewly, That wolde himself condit and cannot soo. And he that wol not after counsaille doo, His sowte puttith he in desperaunce; And alle the good that shulde falle him too Is lost and dede - clene oute of remembraunce." "Yet wol I sewe this matere faithfullye Whils I may lyve, whatever be my chaunce, And if it happe that in my trouth I dye, That dethe shall doo me not noo displeasaunce. But when that I, by youre ful herd sufferaunce, Shal dye so trewly and with so gret a payne, Yet shal it do me muche the lesse grevaunce Then for to lyve a fals lover, certayne." "Of me gete ye right naught - this is noo fable - I nell to you be neither herde ne streite; And right wol not, nor maner custumable, To thinke ye shulde be sure of my conceyte. Who sechith sorowe, his be the resceyte! Other counsaille can I not fele ner see, Nor for to lerne I cast not to awayte; Who wol therto, lete him assay, for me." "Onys it must be assayed, that is noo nay, With suche as bethe of reputacion, And, of trewe love, the right devoure to pay Of fre hertis, geten by deue raunson; For fre wule holdith this opynyon: That it is gret duresse and discomfort To kepe a hert in so streite a prison, That hath but o body for his disport." "I knowe so many cases mervelous That I must nedis of reason thynke, certayn, That suche entré is wonder perlous, And yet wel more, the commyng bake agayn; Good or worship thereof is selden sayn; Wherfore I wol not make suche aray As for to fynde a pleasaunce but barayn Whan it shal cost so dere, the first asay." "Ye have noo cause to doubte of this matere, Nor you to meve with noo suche fantesyes To put me fer al oute, as a straungere; For youre goodnesse can thinke and wel avise That I have made a pref in every wise By whiche my trouth shewith opyn evydence; My long abiding and my trewe service May well be knowe be playne experience." "Of verrey right he may be called trewe, And so must he be take in every place, That can deserve and let as he ne knewe,19 And kepe the good, if he it may purchace; For who that prayeth and sueth in any cace,20 Right ye wote well in that no trouth is preved; Suche hath there ben, and are, that gete grace And lese it soon when they have it acheved." "If trouth me cause, by vertu souverayne, To shewe good love and alway finde the contraye, And cherith that that sleith me with the payne, This is to me a lovely adversarye. Whan that Pité, whiche long aslepe doith tarye, Hath sette the fyne of al my hevynesse, Yet hire comfort, to me moost nessarye, Shal sette my will more surer in stablenesse." "The woful wight, what may he thinke or saye? The contrary of al joy and gladnesse. A seke body, his thought is al awaye From hem that felen noo sore ner sekenesse. Thus hertis ben of divers besynesse, Whiche Love hath put to gret hinderaunce, And trouth also put in forgetfulnesse, When they so sore begyn to sighe askawunce." "Now God defende, but he be haveles Of al worship or good that may befalle That to the worst turneth, by his lewdenes, A geft of grace, or anything at alle, That his lady vouchesauf upon him calle, Or cherisshe him in hounourable wise; In that defaute, whatever he be that falle, Deserveth more than deth to suffre twise." "There is noo juge isett of suche trespace, By whiche of right oon may recoverd be.21 Oon cursith fast, another doith manace, Yet dyeth noon, as for as I can se; But kepith thaire course alway in oo degré, And evermore thaire laboure doith increse To bringe ladyes be thaire gret sotilbté, For others gilt in sorowe and desease." "Alle be it so that oon doith so gret offence And be not dede, nor put to juyse, Right well I wote, him gayneth noo defence, But he must ende in full mischevesse wise. And all that ever is good wille him dispice, For falshode is so ful of cursydnesse That high worship may never have entirpryse Where it reyneth and hath the wilfulnesse." "Of that have they noo gret fere nowadayes, Suche as wille say, and mayteyne it thereto, That stedfaste trouthe is noothing for to prayes In hem that kepe it long for wele or woo. Thaire besy hertis passyn to and froo, They ben so well reclaymed to the lure, So welle lerned hem to withholde also, And al to chaunge when love shuld best endure." "Whan oon hath sette his hert in stable wise, In suche a place whiche is both good and trewe, He shuld not flitt, but doo forth his servise - Alwey withouten chaunge of any newe. As soon as love begynnyth to remewe, Alle pleasaunce goith anoon in litel space; As for my party, that shal I eschewe, Whilis that the soule abidith in his place." "To love trewly thereas ye ought of right, Ye may not be mistaken, doutelesse; But ye be foule deceyved in youre sight By lyghtly understanding, as I gesse; Yet may ye wel repele youre besynesse, And to reason sumwhat have attendaunce, Muche better than to abide, by foule symplenesse, The feble socoure of desesperaunce." "Rason, Counsaille, Wisdam, and Good Advise Ben undre Love arested every oon, To whiche I can accorde in every wise, For they ben nat rebelle, but stille as stoon; Thaire wille and myn ben meduled al in oon, And therewith bounden with so stronge a chayne, That as in heim departing shal be noon But Pité breke the mighty bounde atwayne." "Who loveth not himself, whatever he be, In love he stante forgete in every place; And of youre woo yf ye have noo pité, Others pité belove nat to purchace; But bethe fully assured in this cace, I am alwey undre oon ordenaunce; To have better trusteth not after grace, And al that levyth take to youre pleasaunce." "I have myn hope so sure and so stedfast That suche a lady shulde not faille pité, But now, alas, it is shit up so fast That Daungere sheweth on me his cruelté, And yef she se the vertu faille on me, Of trewe service, then she to fayle also Noo wondre were; but this is the shorté: I must suffre whiche way that ever it goo." "Leve this purpose, I rede you for youre best; For lenger that ye kepe it thus in vayne, The lesse ye gete, as for youre hertis rest, And to rejoise it shal ye never attayne. When ye abide good Hope to make you fayne, Ye shal be founde asoted in dotage, And in th'ende ye shal knowe for certayne That Hope shal pay the wrecchis for thaire wage." "Ye say as fallith moost for youre plesaunce, And youre power is gret - al this I see, But Hope shal never oute of my remembraunce, By whiche I felt so gret adversité. For when Nature hath sett in you plenté Of al goodnesse, by vertu and by grace, He never assembled hem, as semyth me, To put Pité oute of his dwelling place." "Pité, of right, ought to be resonable And to noo wight of gret disavantage; There as is nede, it shulde be profitable, And to the pitous shewing noo damage; If a lady wol doo so gret outrage To shewe pité and cause hire owne debate, Of suche pité cometh dispitous rage, And of the love also right dedly hate." "To comfort him that lyve al comforlesse, That is noon harme, but worship to youre name; But ye, that have an hert of suche duresse, A faire body iformed to the same, If I durst say, ye wyn al this defame By cruelté, whiche sitteth you full yll, But yef Pité, whiche may al this tame, In youre high hert may rest and tary styll." "Whatever he be that saith that he loveth me, And peraventure I leve that it be soo, Ought he be wrothe, or shuld I blamed be, Though I dydd not as he wol have me doo? If I medelyd with suche or other moo, It might be called 'pité manerlesse,' And afterwarde, if I shuld lyve in woo, Then to repent, it were to late, I gesse." "O marble hert, and yet more harde, perdé, Whiche mercy may not perce for noo laboure, More stronge to bowe than is a mighty tre, What vayleth you to shewe so gret rigoure? Please it you more to se me dye this houre Before youre eyen, for youre disport and play, Then for to shewe summe comfort or socoure To respite dethe, whiche chacith me alwey?" "Of youre desease ye may have allegeaunce; And, as for myn, I lete it overshake. Also, ye shal not dye for my pleasaunce, Ner for youre heille I can noo sureté make. I nyll not hate myn hert for others sake, Wepe thay, laugh they, or singe, this I warent,22 For this matere so wol I undretake That noon of you shal make thereof avaunt." "I can noo skille of songe, by God alone, I have more cause to wepe in youre presence; And wel I wote avaunter am I noone, For certaynly I love better silence. Oon shulde not love by his hertis credence But he were sure to kepe it secretly, For avaunter is of noo reverence When that his tonge is his moost enemy." "Malabouche in court hath gret commaundement: Eche man studith to say the worst he may. These fals lovers in this tyme now present, They serve to bost, to jangle as a jay. The moost secret wil well that sum man say23 Howe he mystersted is on summe partyse; Wherfore to ladies, what men speke or pray, It shuld not be belovyd in noo wise." "Of good and ille shal be and is alwey; The worlde is suche, the erthe it is not playne. They that bith good, the pref shewith every day, And otherwise, gret velany, certayne. Is it reason, though oon his tonge distayne With coursed speche to doo himself a shame, That suche refuse shuld wrongfully remayne Upon the good, renomyd in thaire fame?" "Suche as be nought, when they here tidingis new That eche trespace shal lightly have perdon, They that purposith to be good and trew, (Welle sette by noble disposission To continue in good condicion), They are the first that fallith in damage, And ful frely thaire hartis habundon To litill faith with soft and faire langage." "Now knowe I well, of verrey certaynté, If oon doo trewly, yet shal he be shent, Sith al manere of justise and pité Is banished oute of a ladis entent. I cannot se but al is at o stent: The good, the ill, the vise, and eke the vertu. Suche as be goode, suche have the punisment For the trespis of heim that bith untrew." "I have noo power you to doo no grevaunce, Nor to doo ponysshe noon other creature; But to eschewe the more encombraunce - To kepe us from you al - I hold it sure. Fals Semblant hath a visage ful demure, Lightly to cacche the ladyes in awayte, Wherfore we moost, if that we will endure, Make right good wacche; loo, this is my conceyte!" "Sith that of grace o goodly worde aloone May not be had, but alwey kept in store, I pele to God, for He may here my moone Of the duresse whiche greveth me so sore. And of pité I playne me furthermore, Whiche He forgate in al His ordenaunce, Or ellis my lif to have endid bifore, Whiche He so soon put oute of remembraunce." "Myn hert, ner I, have doon you noo forfet By whiche ye shuld complayn in any kinde. There hurtith you nothing but youre owne conceyt; Be jugge youreself, for so ye shal it finde. Ons for alwey lete this synke in youre mynde - That the desire shal never rejoysed be. Ye noye me sore in wasting al this winde, For I have said inought, as semeth me." This wooful man rose up in al his payne And so deperted, with wepyng countenaunce - His woful hert, almoost it brast atwayne - Ful like to dye, walking forth in a traunce, And said, "Now deth come forth, thyself avaunce, Or that myn hert forget his properté, And make shorter al this woful penaunce Of my pore lif, ful of adversité." Fro thens he went, but whethire wist I nought, Ner to what part he drowyth, in sothfastnesse. But he noo more was in his ladys thought, For to the daunse anoon she gan hire dresse. And afterwarde oon tolde me this expresse: He rent his heere, for anguissh and for payne, And in hymself toke so gret hevynesse That he was deed within a day or twayne. Ye trewe lovers, thus I beseche you alle: Suche aventours, fle heim in every wise, And as people defamed ye heim calle; For they, trewly, doo you gret prejudise. Refuse hath mad, for al sich flateryse, His castellis stronge, stuffed with ordenaunce, For they have hade longe tyme, by thaire office, The hole countré of Love in obeissaunce. And ye, ladies, or what astate ye be, Of whom worship hath chose his dwelling place, For Goddis love, doo no suche cruelté, Namly to hem that have deservyd grace. Nor in noo wise ne folow not the trace Of hire, that here is named rightwisly, Whiche, by reason, me semeth in this cace, May be called la belle dame sanz mercy. L'envoy Goo litel boke, God sende thee good passage; Chese well thy way, be simple of manere, Loke thy clothing be like thy pilgrymage, And, specially, lete this be thy praiere Unto heim al that thee wil rede or here, Where thou art wronge, after thaire help to calle, Thee to corecte in any part or alle. Pray hem also, with thyn humble service, Thy boldnesse to perdon in this cace; For ellis thou art not hable in noo wise To make thyself appere in any place. And, furthermore, beseche heim of thaire grace, By thaire favoure and supportacion, To take in gre this rude translacion. The whiche, God wote, standith ful deceytute Of eloquence, of meter, and colours; Like as a best, naked, withoute refute, Upon a playne to abide al manere showres. I can noo more but aske of heim socoures, At whos request thou were made in this wise, Commaunding me with body and servise. Right thus I make an ende of this prosses, Beseching Him that al hath in balaunce, That noo trewe man be vexed, causeles, As this man was, whiche is of remembraunce; And alle that doon thaire faitheful observaunce And in thaire trouth purpose heim to endure, I pray God sende heim better aventure. Here endith la Bell Dame sanz Mercy.

awakened; (see note); (t-note) early morning sleep; wing Yet nevertheless; nearly suddenly matter, giving up everything else should do; (t-note) those whom; dared; (t-note) translate; (t-note) forgiven; (see note); (t-note) The Beautiful Lady without Pity master Alain [Chartier] recorded; (see note) Chief; (see note) on this point; stood considering; (t-note) worrying over (pondering) How; complete; narrative prudently My lack of skill; ignorance; (see note) in turn the direct commandment my mind; (t-note) down; (t-note) (see note) keeping in mind Till; pleasant; valley flowers; see; delight encouraged; kind tolerance; (t-note) Who read; regarding; (t-note) hear riding [at] an easy (a moderate) pace; (see note) completely despondent discomfort (suffering) most unlucky Since; her; (t-note) Death has taken; mistress; (t-note) (t-note) Greatly suffering; (t-note) Then; behooves me to cease rhyme; works to compose (see note); (t-note) weep; black time; over; (see note); (t-note) feel no kind [of] pleasure; (t-note) fate; suffer; (t-note) compelled pen could; knowledge; (see note); (t-note) tongue; no delight mouth; much or little; (see note) eye should; duplicitous heart; would feel resentful about it weeping tears; [an] outpouring [over it] (see note); (t-note) Who lead their lives; relief (see note) Each of them; suffer their pain; (t-note) delight (desire); (see note) heart's government is; tomb buried; (t-note) From; [it] is; peace I find it tiresome; subject; expound Let; themselves into the crowd [It] is their season; forgotten (past); (t-note) coffer has opened enclosed; riches (wealth); (t-note) goods; I got happiness did wrong If; did; nevertheless; satisfaction nor sorrow; (t-note) died, who; entirely my mistress; (t-note) (t-note) limits (boundaries); knowledge; (see note); (t-note) cross (see note) morning I happened to find where I decided to stay; (t-note) (t-note) room to get soon; heard only a short distance from me minstrels began right away; further away it seemed to me; enough two; friends previously spotted me; know; how; (t-note) drew Somewhat; their in no way could I excuse myself I must needs; feast every one knows; courteously (graciously) entertained me constantly; (t-note) A great deal; I deserved; (t-note) their; showed; (t-note) entertainment, so that; grieve; (t-note) stayed tables; set up in [a] very short time sat; it seemed best to them [There] were none [that] served; (see note); (t-note) Except (t-note) their judges; very grave; (see note); (t-note) a sign of feeling; greatest or humblest Although; them in their power Amongst all [the] others one I did espy Who one who had been utterly transported; (see note) not very careful he maintained his composure; torment far surpassed; (see note) eye acted in accordance with; desire out of season (i.e., not appropriate) (t-note) simulated (feigned) sing; perforce (see note) lament; greatest voice; invitation sound of birds; (t-note) loudly; park (woodland); (t-note) Others like [him], to my mind; (t-note) lean besides; (see note) fearfully; (t-note) [he was] always alone except; served black; wore; [heraldic] device; (see note) understanding could to no degree; control; (see note); (t-note) entertain; exerted himself to the utmost could; seemed [to]; (t-note) (t-note) face; down; (t-note) schoolmaster; authority; (see note) stayed piteous every one on one; set; eye steadfastly her whom; (t-note) eyes; arrow; recognized right away; (see note); (t-note) winged (feathered); petitions; (t-note) alone [a] one; before; guests; (t-note) crowd; softly To compose [his] dejected; (see note); (t-note) know; sadly; (t-note) recollection (see note) immediately; course [of the meal] judging from; sorrowful expression; (t-note) pathetic between-courses entertainment; (t-note) dinner right away they moved forward people; (t-note) at once; sorrowful [lover]; (t-note) two; one; (t-note) face was the same; (t-note) [it] happened by chance all the while; alone; (t-note) feared (i.e., stood in awe of); living; (see note); (t-note) my mind; foresight; (t-note) chose her to [be] his mistress committed; pleasure body (appearance) their eyes; (t-note) dead; buried Before; (t-note) nothing was wanting; could perceive; (t-note) [Neither] one way; another, covertly; overtly; (see note); (t-note) stronghold (defense); (see note); (t-note) border fortress; (t-note) lively; reserved Her bearing very self-assured; also expression; (t-note) sorrow; hurt; (t-note) underneath; standard; Resistance feast; exhausted; completely torture crowd; (see note) trellis; (t-note) leaves; marvel pliant branches; skillfully; (t-note) thick no one; notice; (t-note) courteously; (t-note) thought [it]; step; (t-note) Afterwards; pleasure garden; (t-note) themselves; thence only; time (t-note) Except; far; could except the trellis where the two of them heard; sighing ever the nearer; afflicted him; (t-note) suffering; keep in reserve; (t-note) bold; not doctor (leech); nearer; greater; (see note) strove greatly to subdue suffering (punishment) heat; (see note); (t-note) (see note) constrained; anguish pieces; shattered once did so severely pressure it curbed it (held it back); (see note) The one was undisciplined; restrained No little; laid; (see note); (t-note) war; enemies (foes) (t-note) Modesty; Fear; (see note) utterly; compelled; (see note) (t-note) did fearful voice, weeping, half insane; (see note) ordained; (t-note) (see note) suffer; burning hot; (t-note) loyal (faithful); (see note) care heed; in any way (i.e., at all); (t-note) judgment (thought); (t-note) undertake; (see note); (t-note) harms; honor; (t-note) injury faithfully; (see note); (t-note) honor; vice; (t-note) will; truly dispute; (t-note) completely submitted desire; do I desire; (t-note) a free agent (lit., in freedom); (see note); (t-note) (t-note) have allow me to love and serve you resentment; highest virtue loyalty; give your ladyship; (see note); (t-note) demand/protest (lit., outcry); (t-note) payment (reward); (see note) leave; thing heard; language; (t-note) changing; heart; (see note) Not at all; haste; deliberately (t-note) Have you not made up your mind; cease do not think; (t-note) matter; set; peace; (t-note) peace; (see note) Who; war eyes; letters are written By; challenged; further away; (see note); (t-note) true lodestar (guide); (see note) herald; challenge (declaration of war); (t-note) urges me; hold up (bear); (t-note) allegiance (confidence) misery; strong inclination slippery (i.e., precarious); (t-note) (see note) Cannot; wills If you want to look at me or [some] other; (t-note) eyes no heed; young nor; (t-note) feels pain; (t-note) be the case that one; (see note) Through his fault who feels; (t-note) Legitimately wishes; taken into consideration since; not only; (see note); (t-note) But [also]; (t-note) does it please you [to] hold Nor; (t-note) Neither . . . nor Nor; secret mind fixed; (t-note) [a] little; pleasure; (t-note) delude; become distraught [because of love]; (t-note) any such trouble has thus taken possession of me; (t-note) Presumption; (t-note) afflicted; (t-note) unexpectedly thrown; chain; (see note) since; chooses [to] your care miserable suffering soonest dies; least sickness; easy Only a few grumble complaining; (t-note) if one; than two; (see note) (t-note) (t-note) From one sorrowful (i.e., the lover); two; (see note); (t-note) destroy (t-note) duplicity one; (see note) seek neither Neither . . . nor; pledge of loyalty; (t-note) sick; does; (t-note) no Choose; will their hearts; thrust forward ruled by man's; (see note) (t-note) separate bondage (servitude); (t-note) generously; their portion; (t-note) rule poor servant (i.e., lover); nothing; gain; (t-note) entreaty once; pays his dearly; ransom; (see note); (t-note) are; simple; (see note) deluded are; in jest ornamented others conduct schools; diligently; (see note); (t-note) believe; (t-note) swiftly; turn their heads away quickly; ears close (refuse to listen) chatters busily complain is whole; (t-note) (see note) unfeigned (true) prove genuine; works follow; (t-note) subtle (clever); watchfulness/caution; (t-note) (t-note) can avenge himself on those who (see note); (t-note) cheering; assumed (expected); (t-note) secret; revealed promoted; (t-note) (t-note) hurts; lack (imperfection); (t-note) heat; pleasure; (see note) one; the other is expressly required; (t-note) happiness none knows; real nature; (t-note) Unless; won; (t-note) pleasure; always the same; (t-note) What; sweet; (t-note) nor; anyone According [to]; desire; futile; (t-note) witnessed; (t-note) Unless; marriage obligation (bond); (t-note) nor; encroach on (overpower); (t-note) is enfeoffed in freedom; (see note) may God grant that I never please seek; (t-note) show; anxiety reputation for purity to sully punish me [make sure] that; (t-note) A single; life's; (t-note) swear; oaths firmly swear surely you realize longer; have departed saints; (t-note) trust weep and wail heart seeks pleasure (gratification), honor Nor earth; air; in no way (not at all) guile strength; (t-note) expends; little value; (t-note) loses cur-like (mean); courteous; (see note); (t-note) compatible Counterfeit Expression; reconcile in; placed; their working (see note); (t-note) (t-note) Honor; forgotten about Not at all regretted; lamented; (t-note) [just] deserts (t-note) is it the case that your; (see note); (t-note) sad (distressed) shown; (t-note) favor; (t-note) merry; desire Are; less time sickness will at once; cured; (see note) Give up; set amusements tire; (t-note) nor; directed (applied); (t-note) believes; let; pass (i.e., ignore him); (t-note) bird; falcon; (t-note) out of; (see note) takes good care of; keeps; safe; (t-note) will; drive; (t-note) case (see note) further; (t-note) less valued; others who are unknown welcome; (see note) honor; generosity; (t-note) will not do [For the sake of] avoiding; injury (t-note) belief; will as he likes not at all by; true; (t-note) Lose; welcome Why should my loyalty serve in any way Less than to those who; (t-note) (t-note) is; in my opinion for; reward; (see note); (t-note) wonderfully close honor; (t-note) entreaty tell; truly spreads very generously it pleases him; fancy Reward compelled; given gladly; (see note) two; (t-note) reward; ask none; (t-note) too high (exalted) ask; (see note) Since death or your mercy is necessary to me; (t-note) it is lacking right (reasonable); (t-note) much better would be (t-note) I really wish I knew What; causes another severe emotional distress; (see note); (t-note) too open-handed; desires [to] much; loses; reputation; (t-note) One; gift, little Unless; appropriate to it honor merely anyone; (t-note) born shall [be], except your person (i.e., yourself) season, less no eyes; in reserve; (see note) all are given; duty; (t-note) responsibility Who keeps his honor; secure possession places (expends) his effort Who joins; others' work (effort) who possesses (t-note) eyes; imprint; (t-note) [so] that expresses (indicates) happiness It must necessarily; other weal or woe (i.e., for good or ill); (t-note) life; awaiting true honor pay full attention; (t-note) vain; (t-note) advise; no heed hold back; (t-note) deceived foolishly break; bend; (see note) [to] bend; too suddenly; (t-note) since power; (t-note) (t-note) None promise fortune gift, certainly offers; repudiated; (see note); (t-note) [a] gift; [an] explicit surrender Which with honor may not be taken back (see note); (t-note) (t-note) [an] idea will let go he need neither meditate anxiously; (t-note) (t-note) if; end; (t-note) at least; blameworthy deficient did wrong; (t-note) enterprising spirit acquired wish; i.e., follow my advice; (t-note) Seek; (t-note) will benefit you conforming (agreeable) honor foolishly; two loses; second game; (t-note) (see note) as far as done; my mind; (see note) forgive; (t-note) so honest; deceit (guile) give credence; way; (t-note) indicating loyalty; (t-note) they are; lies; (t-note) Except; show pity; compassion; (t-note) who works foolishly; (t-note) Yet when he desires; leave; (t-note) understanding; must learn control i.e., follow advice; (t-note) legal suit; at risk; (t-note) fall to him; (t-note) dead - completely forgotten; (see note); (t-note) follow through with (t-note) happens; loyalty; die displeasure; (t-note) callous permission; (t-note) (see note) Than to live [as] nothing at all will not; harsh nor stern neither law nor custom grants; (t-note) frame of mind receiving [of it]; (see note); (t-note) understand (feel) learn; plan; wait Whoever wants to do that; try, for all I care; (t-note) Some day; attempted; (t-note) are respected feudal tax; (see note); (t-note) noble; gotten; customary tribute will believes this secure only one amusement astonishing situations; (see note) entrance; perilous; (t-note) coming back (i.e., return); (t-note) seldom witnessed preparations discover; barren; (t-note) dearly; attempt to trouble yourself; false suspicions far; (t-note) consider (think on) offered confirmatory evidence; (t-note) faithfulness shows clear proof known by simple faithful understood; (t-note) (t-note) acquire (see note); (t-note) demonstrated; (t-note) (t-note) lose it right away; gained the highest power show; yet; contrary; (t-note) cherish that which destroys; (t-note) lovable; (t-note) does tarry conclusion (t-note) steadfastness person; (t-note) (t-note) those who feel; (t-note) endeavors (concerns) harm; (t-note) insincerely; (t-note) forbid; devoid; (t-note) honor wickedness gift; (see note); (t-note) condescend; (t-note) treat; honorable [case of] failure, whoever than to suffer death twice (see note) (t-note) One curses; threatens none dies; far the same; (t-note) increases; (t-note) ladies by; guile; (t-note) others' sins Although; someone does dead; punished (brought to justice); (t-note) it gains him miserable (unfortunate) all who; despise; (t-note) falsehood (deceitfulness); wickedness; (t-note) honor; control; (t-note) it (i.e., falsehood) reigns; determination fear; (t-note) maintain loyalty; unworthy of praise those who; (t-note) Their eager; go brought under control (see note) trained to hold themselves back flee (fly away) Always begins; vary (undergo change); (t-note) goes right away in a short time part; (t-note) For as long as; remains in those cases when you; (t-note) certainly deceived; (t-note) carelessly; think; (t-note) disavow; endeavor; (t-note) (t-note) ignorance; (t-note) weak ministrations; despair; (t-note) Reason; Judgment restrained; (t-note) agree defiant; at peace; (see note); (t-note) mingled all; (see note); (t-note) them there shall be no separating; (t-note) Unless Pity breaks; to pieces (t-note) stands forgotten; (t-note) your [own] expect not be; (t-note) the same rule; (see note) remains be pleased with; (t-note) lack; (t-note) shut; (see note) Resistance exercises; cruelty if; strength (virtue) fail in; (see note) fail; (t-note) wonder; sure thing; (t-note) suffer; (t-note) advise; (t-note) (t-note) attain; achieve expect; happy; (t-note) besotted (made a fool of); infatuation; (t-note) wretches; (t-note) speak; falls (agrees) be forgotten adversity (difficulty) placed (t-note) as [it] seems [to] me reasonable person; harm; (t-note) Where there is need pitiful causing harm; (see note); (t-note) degradation spiteful deadly; (t-note) entirely without hope; (t-note) (t-note) disposition; hard-heartedness; (t-note) formed; (t-note) dare; dishonor; (t-note) suits; ill Unless; (t-note) continue to tarry believe; (t-note) angry; (t-note) Because; would; (t-note) had sexual intercourse; more unmannerly (ungracious); (see note); (t-note) pardee (by God); (see note); (t-note) pierce; (t-note) tree good does it do you; hardness of heart Does it please eyes; entertainment (sport) some; relief put a stop to; pursues; (t-note) disease (discomfort); relief; (t-note) let; pass away; (t-note) (t-note) recovery; guarantee; (t-note) will not; (t-note) (t-note) (t-note) none; boast; (t-note) know; (t-note) boaster; none; (t-note) authority Unless [a] boaster; i.e., not deserving of respect greatest Slander; control (sway); (see note) endeavors boast; chatter; (t-note) (t-note) distrusted; in some respects; (t-note) (t-note) believed; way; (t-note) even surfaced (i.e., uniform); (see note); (t-note) are; evidence shows villany [shows] reasonable; speaks vilely; (t-note) cursed speech rejection; devolve (remain) known for their reputation; (t-note) unworthy; hear tidings transgression; easily (swiftly); pardon intend prepared; disposition; (t-note) character; (t-note) fall into trouble freely; hearts abandon; (t-note) little destroyed Since (t-note) one rate (i.e., of equal value) vice; (t-note) (t-note) those who are untrue (unfaithful); (t-note) punish; (t-note) avoid; encumbrance safe (prudent); (t-note) False Seeming; face; (see note); (t-note) catch; ambush must; (t-note) watch; lo; opinion one; (t-note) (t-note) appeal; hear; complaint; (t-note) hardness; (t-note) forgot; (t-note) nor; done; injury; (t-note) thought; (t-note) judge sink into; (t-note) attained; (t-note) annoy; wind (i.e., breath); (t-note) enough departed; (t-note) broke in pieces; (see note) trance (state of mental distraction); (t-note) (t-note) Before; propriety distress (love-longing); (t-note) poor where (whither) knew I nothing withdrew, truly (t-note) right away; did direct herself explicitly; (see note); (t-note) hair dead; (see note) (see note); (t-note) boasters, flee them; (t-note) dishonored injury Rejection; flatteries; (t-note) castles; equipped; cannons [for a] long time whole; under [their] authority whatever estate (rank) (t-note) follow; path; (t-note) fittingly the beautiful lady without pity; (t-note) poem; (see note) choose; (t-note) See [that] prayer; (t-note) those; will read or hear you; (t-note) their help correct otherwise; able present yourself beseech sufferance receive with favor; unsophisticated; (t-note) completely devoid rhetorical elaboration beast; shelter; (t-note) plain; showers assistance you (i.e., the poem) narrative i.e., God without cause worthy to be remembered do their; (t-note) commit themselves