fol. 187r Incipit quidam cantus quem composuit frater Thomas de Hales de ordine fratrum minorum ad instanciam cuiusdam puelleDeo dicate.

A mayde Cristes me bit yorne that ich hire wurche a luve ron, For-hwan heo myhte best ileorne to taken onother soth lefmon That treowest were of alle berne, and best wyte cuthe a freo wymmon. Ich hire nule nowiht werne — ich hire wule teche as ic con.

line5 Mayde, her thu myht biholde this worldes luve nys bute o res, And is byset so felevolde, vikel and frakel and wok and les. Theos theines that her weren bolde beoth aglyden so wyndes bles; Under molde hi liggeth colde, and faleweth so doth medewe gres.

Nis no mon iboren o lyve that her may beon studevest,line10 For her he haveth seorewen ryve, ne tyt him never ro ne rest; Toward his ende he hyeth blyve, and lutle hwile he her ilest; Pyne and deth him wile ofdryve hwenne he weneth to libben best.

Nis non so riche, ne non so freo, that he ne schal heonne sone away. Ne may hit never his waraunt beo gold ne seolver, vouh ne gray;line15 Ne beo he no the swift, ne may he fleo, ne weren his lif enne day — Thus is thes world, as thu mayht seo, al so the schadewe that glyt away.

This world fareth hwilynde: hwenne on cumeth, another goth. That wes bifore nu is bihynde; that er was leof nu hit is loth. Forthi he doth as the blynde that in this world his luve doth.fol. 187v Ye mowen iseo the world aswynde — that wouh goth forth, abak that soth.

line21 Theo luve that ne may her abyde, thu treowest hire myd muchel wouh Al so hwenne hit schal toglide — hit is fals and mereuh and frouh, And fromward is uychon tide — hwile hit lesteth, is seorewe inouh. An ende, ne werie mon so syde, he schal todreosen so lef on bouh.

line25 Monnes luve nys buten o stunde: nu he luveth, nu he is sad; Nu he cumeth, nu wile he funde; nu he is wroth, nu he is gled; His luve is her and ek alunde; nu he luveth sum that he er bed; Nis he never treowe ifunde — that him tristeth, he is amed!

Yf mon is riche of worldes weole, hit maketh his heorte smerte and ake;line30 If he dret that me him stele, thenne doth him pyne nyhtes wake. Him waxeth thouhtes, monye and fele, hw he hit may witen withuten sake. An ende, hwat helpeth hit to hele? Al Deth hit wile from him take.

Hwer is Paris and Heleyne, that weren so bryht and feyre on bleo? Amadas and Dideyne, Tristram, Yseude, and alle theo?line35 Ector with his scharpe meyne, and Cesar riche of wordes feo? Heo beoth iglyden ut of the reyne so the schef is of the cleo.

Hit is of heom al so hit nere — of heom me haveth wunder itold! Nere hit reuthe for to heren hw hi were with pyne aquold, And hwat hi tholeden alyve here? Al is heore hot iturnd to cold —line40 Thus is thes world of false fere! Fol he is the on hire is bold.

Theyh he were so riche mon as Henry ure kyng, And al so veyr as Absalon, that nevede on eorthe non evenyng, Al were sone his prute agon — hit nere on ende wrth on heryng! Mayde, if thu wilnest after leofmon, ich teche the enne treowe King.

line45 A, swete, if thu iknowe the gode thewes of thisse childe — He is feyr and bryht on heowe, of glede chere, of mode mylde, Of lufsum lost, of trueste treowe, freo of heort, of wisdom wilde — Ne thurhte the never rewe, myhtestu do the in his ylde!

He is ricchest mon of londe, so wide so mon speketh with muth;line50 Alle heo beoth to his honde, est and west, north and suth!fol. 188r Henri, King of Engelonde, of hym he halt and to hym buhth. Mayde, to the he send his sonde, and wilneth for to beo the cuth.

Ne byt he with the lond ne leode, vouh ne gray ne rencyan; Naveth he therto none neode — he is riche and weli man!line55 If thu him woldest luve beode and bycumen his leovemon, He brouhte the to suche wede that naveth king ne kayser non!

Hwat spekestu of eny bolde that wrouhte the wise Salomon Of jaspe, of saphir, of merede golde, and of mony onother ston? Hit is feyrure of feolevolde — more than ich eu telle con!line60 This bold, mayde, the is bihote if that thu bist his leovemon.

Hit stont uppon a treowe mote that hit never truke ne schal; Ne may no mynur hire underwrote, ne never false thene grundwal; Tharinne is uich balewes bote, blisse and joye, and gleo and gal! This bold, mayde, is the bihote and uych o blisse tharwythal.

line65 Ther ne may no freond fleon other, ne non furleosen his iryhte; Ther nys hate, ne wreththe nouther, of prude ne of onde of none wihte. Alle heo schule wyth engles pleye, some and sauhte in heovene lyhte. Ne beoth heo, mayde, in gode weye that wel luveth ure Dryhte?

Ne may no mon hine iseo al so he is in his mihteline70 That may withuten blisse beo; hwanne he isihth ure Drihte, His sihte is al joye and gleo! He is day withute nyhte! Nere he, mayde, ful seoly that myhte wunye myd such a knyhte?

He haveth bitauht the o tresur that is betere than gold other pel, And bit the luke thine bur, and wilneth that thu hit wyte wel.line75 Wyth theoves, with reveres, with lechurs, thu most beo waker and snel. Thu art swetture than eny flur hwile thu witest thene kastel.

Hit is ymston of feor iboren — nys non betere under heovene grunde; He is tofore alle othre icoren; he heleth alle luve wunde. Wel were alyve iboren that myhte wyten this ilke stunde,line80 For habbe thu hine enes forloren, ne byth he never eft ifunde.

This ilke ston that ich the nemne “maydenhod” icleoped is.fol. 188v Hit is o derewurthe gemme; of alle othre, he berth that pris, And bryngeth the withute wemme into the blysse of paradis. The hwile thu hyne witest under thine hemme, thu ert swetture than eny spis.

line85 Hwat spekstu of eny stone that beoth in vertu other in grace — Of amatiste, of calcydone, of lectorie and tupace, Of jaspe, of saphir, of sardone, smaragde, beril, and crisopace? Among alle othre ymstone, thes beoth deorre in uyche place!

Mayde, al so ich the tolde, the ymston of thi burline90 He is betere an hundred-folde than alle theos in heore culur; He is idon in heovene golde, and is ful of fyn amur. Alle that myhte hine wite scholde; he schyneth so bryht in heovene bur!

Hwen thu me dost in thine rede for the to cheose a leofmon, Ich wile don, as thu me bede, the beste that ich fynde con;line95 Ne doth he, mayde, on uvele dede that may cheose of two that on, And he wile, withute neode, that thet wurse the betere let gon?

This rym, mayde, ich the sende, open and withute sel. Bidde ic that thu hit untrende, and leorny bute bok uych del, Herof that thu beo swithe hende, and tech hit other maydenes wel:line100 Hwoso cuthe hit to than ende, hit wolde him stonde muchel stel.

Hwenne thu sittest in longynge, drauh the forth this ilke wryt — Mid swete stephne thu hit singe, and do al so hit the byt. To the he haveth send one gretynge: God Almyhti the beo myd, And leve cumes to his brudthinge heye in heovene ther he sit!line105 And yeve him god endynge that haveth iwryten this ilke wryt. Amen.

fol. 187r Here begins a certain song which Brother Thomas of Hales of the order of Minorites composed at the request of a young girl dedicated to God.

A maid of Christ longingly asked me to make a love rune for her, From which she might best learn how to take another true lover Who is truest of all men, and best able to protect a noblewoman. I won’t deny her at all — I will teach her as I am able.

line5 Maid, here you may behold that worldly love is but madness, And is afflicted so many times over, fickle and vile and weak and false. These men who here were bold have passed away like a gust of wind; Under earth they lie cold, and wither as does meadow grass.

There is no man born alive who can here be steadfast,line10 For here he has many sorrows, and he never attains peace or rest; Toward his end he hastens fast, and a short while he here endures; Suffering and death will drive him away when he hopes to prosper best.

There’s none so rich, none so noble, that he won’t soon go from here. His insurance can never be gold or silver, variegated or gray fur;line15 However swift he is, he cannot flee, nor guard his life a single day — Thus is this world, as you may see, just like the shadow that glides away.

This world changes constantly: when one comes, another goes. He who was ahead is now behind; who once was beloved now is despised. Therefore he acts like the blind man who in this world seeks his love.fol. 187v You may see the world languish — while grief advances, truth retreats.

line21 The love that may not here abide, you trust in it with much grief Until the time when it shall pass — it is false and unstable and weak, And unruly in every season — while it lasts, there’s plenty of sorrow. In the end, however man guards himself, he shall die like a leaf on bough.

line25 Man’s love lasts but a moment: now he loves, now he is sated; Now he comes, now he will depart; now he is angry, now he is glad; His love is here and also elsewhere; now he loves some he formerly fought; He is never found to be true — whoever trusts him, he is mad!

If one is rich of worldly wealth, it makes his heart sting and ache;line30 If he dreads someone will rob him, then worry keeps him awake at night. His thoughts grow, numerous and many, how he may protect it without sin. In the end, what good is it to hide it? Death will take it all from him.

Where are Paris and Helen, so beautiful and fair in face? Amadas and Idoine, Tristram, Isolde, and all those?line35 Hector with his powerful strength, and Caesar rich of worldly wealth? They have vanished from the realm as the sheaf is cut by the scythe.

It is as if they never were — I’ve been told wonders of them! Isn’t it a pity to hear how they were painfully killed, And what they suffered in life here? All their hot is turned to cold —line40 Thus is this world of false appearance! Foolish is he who here is bold.

Although he were as powerful a man as Henry our king, And just as fair as Absolon, who never on earth had an equal, All too soon was his pride gone — in the end it wasn’t worth a herring! Maid, if you long for a lover, I’ll teach you about the one true King.

line45 Ah, sweet, if you knew the good qualities of this noble youth — He is fair and handsome in appearance, of glad face, of mild manner, Of lovely disposition, of true faith, noble of heart, strong of wisdom — You’d never regret it if you were to put yourself in his protection!

He is the richest man on earth, as far as men speak with mouths;line50 Everything is at his command, east and west, north and south!fol. 188r Henry, King of England, holds power from him and bows to him. Maid, to you he sends his message, and desires to be known by you.

He asks from you neither lands nor people, nor fine furs or cloth; He has no need to do so — he’s a rich and prosperous man!line55 If you would grant him love and become his beloved, He would bring you to such a wedding as never had king or emperor!

What can you say of the castle that the wise Solomon constructed Of jasper, of sapphire, of refined gold, and of many other gems? It is fairer by many times — more than I am able to tell you!line60 This castle, maid, is promised to you if you become his beloved.

It stands upon a fine hill where it won’t ever fall; No miner may undermine it, or ever cause the foundation to give way; Therein is remedy for every sorrow, bliss and joy, and mirth and song! This castle, maid, is promised you and every bliss belonging to it.

line65 There may no friend leave another, nor may any lose his rights; There isn’t hate, or anger either, for pride or envy against anyone. They all will play with angels, united and accorded in heaven’s light. Isn’t she, mayde, in a good way who loves well our Lord?

No one is allowed to see him as he is in his powerline70 Who is without bliss; when he sees our Lord, His sight is full of joy and gladness! He is day without night! Were he not, maid, fully blessed who might dwell with such a knight?

He has committed to you a treasure that is better than gold or fine cloth, And bids you lock your bower, and desires that you guard it well.line75 Against thieves, against robbers, against lechers, you must be alert and vigilant. You are sweeter than any flower while you defend your castle.

It is the gemstone borne from afar — there’s none better under heaven; It is chosen before all others; it heals all love wounds. Fortunate are they born alive who might keep this same condition,line80 For once you have lost it, it is never again found.

This same stone that I describe to you is called “virginity.”fol. 188v It is a precious gem; among all others, it bears the prize, And brings you without blemish into the bliss of paradise. While you guard it under your skirt, you are sweeter than any spice.

line85 What may you say of any stone that abides in power or grace — Of amethyst, of chalcedony, of cock-stone and topaz, Of jasper, of sapphire, of sardonyx, emerald, beryl, and chrysoprase? Among all other gemstones, these are precious everywhere!

Maid, as I told you, the gemstone of your bower,line90 He is better a hundredfold than all these in their colors; He is set in the gold of heaven, and is full of fin amour. All who’d know him ought to do so; he shines bright in heaven’s bower!

When you asked me for advice in your choosing of a lover, I will select, as you asked me, the best that I’m able to find;line95 Does he not, maid, do an evil deed who may choose one of two things, If he should, without need, pick the worse and neglect the better?

This poem, maid, I send to you, openly and without seal. I ask that you unroll it, and learn each part of it without book, So that you may be very expert in it, and teach it well to other maidens:line100 Whoever knows it to the end, it would afford him much help.

When you sit in longing, draw forth this same writ — In a sweet voice sing it, and do everything as it directs you. To you he has sent a greeting: God Almighty be with you, And allow you to come to his bridal chamber high in heaven where he sits!line105 And give to him a good ending who has written this very writ. Amen.