|
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210 215 220 225 230 235 240 245 250 255 260 265 270 275 280 285 290 295 300 305 310 315 320 325 330 335 340 345 350 355 360 365 370 375 380 385 390 395 400 405 410 415 420 425 430 435 440 445 450 455 460 465 470 475 480 485 490 495 500 505 510 515 520 525 530 535 540 545 550 555 560 565 570 575 580 585 590 595 |
When that Phebus his chaire of gold so hie1 Had whirled up the sterry sky aloft, And in the Boole was entred certainly; When shoures sweet of raine discended soft, Causing the ground, fele times and oft, Up for to give many an wholsome aire, And every plaine was clothed faire With new greene, and maketh small flours To springen here and there in field and in mede - So very good and wholsome be the shoures That it renueth that was old and deede In winter time, and out of every seede Springeth the hearbe, so that every wight Of this season wexeth glad and light. And I, so glad of the season swete, Was happed thus upon a certaine night: As I lay in my bed, sleepe ful unmete Was unto me; but why that I ne might Rest, I ne wist, for there nas earthly wight, As I suppose, had more hearts ease Then I, for I nad sicknesse nor disease. Wherefore I mervaile greatly of my selfe, That I so long withouten sleepe lay; And up I rose, three houres after twelfe, About the springing of the day, And on I put my geare and mine array, And to a pleasaunt grove I gan passe, Long or the bright sonne up risen was; In which were okes great, streight as a line, Under the which the grasse so fresh of hew Was newly sprong; and an eight foot or nine Every tree well fro his fellow grew, With braunches brode, lade with leves new, That sprongen out ayen the sonne shene, Some very red and some a glad light grene; Which as me thought was right a plesaunt sight, And eke the briddes song for to here Would have rejoised any earthly wight. And I, that couth not yet in no manere Heare the nightingale of all the yere, Full busily herkened with hart and with eare If I her voice perceive coud any where. And at the last a path of litle breade I found, that greatly had not used be, For it forgrowen was with grasse and weede That well unneth a wight might it se. Thought I, this path some whider goth, parde, And so I followed, till it me brought To right a pleasaunt herber, well ywrought, That benched was, and with turfes new Freshly turved, whereof the greene gras, So small, so thicke, so short, so fresh of hew, That most like unto green welwet it was. The hegge also, that yede in compas And closed in all the green herbere, With sicamour was set and eglatere, Wrethen in fere so wel and cunningly That every branch and leafe grew by mesure, Plain as a bord, of an height, by and by - I see never thing, I you ensure, So wel done; for he that tooke the cure It to make, y trow, did all his peine To make it passe all tho that men have seyne. And shapen was this herber, roofe and all, As a pretty parlour, and also The hegge as thicke as a castel wall, That who that list without to stond or go, Though he would all day prien to and fro, He should not see if there were any wight Within or no; but one within well might Perceive all tho that yeden there without In the field, that was on every side Covered with corne and grasse, that, out of doubt, Though one would seeke all the world wide, So rich a field coud not be espide On no coast, as of the quantity, For of all good thing there was plenty. And I, that all this pleasaunt sight sie, Thought sodainly I felt so sweet an aire Of the eglentere, that certainly There is no heart, I deme, in such dispaire, Ne with thoughts froward and contraire2 So overlaid, but it should soone have bote, If it had ones felt this savour soote. And as I stood and cast aside mine eie, I was ware of the fairest medle tre That ever yet in all my life I sie, As ful of blosomes as it might be. Therein a goldfinch leaping pretile Fro bough to bough, and as him list he eet, Here and there, of buds and floures sweet. And to the herber side was joyning This faire tree, of which I have you told. And at the last the brid began to sing, Whan he had eaten what he eat wold, So passing sweetly that, by manifold, It was more pleasaunt then I coud devise. And when his song was ended in this wise, The nightingale with so merry a note Answered him that all the wood rong, So sodainly that, as it were a sote, I stood astonied; so was I with the song Thorow ravished, that, till late and long, I ne wist in what place I was, ne where; And ayen, me thought, she song even by mine ere. Wherefore I waited about busily On every side, if I her might see; And at the last I gan full well aspy Where she sat in a fresh greene laurey tree, On the further side, even right by me, That gave so passing a delicious smell According to the eglentere full well. Whereof I had so inly great pleasure That as me thought I surely ravished was Into Paradise, where my desire Was for to be, and no ferther passe As for that day, and on the sote grasse I sat me downe; for, as for mine entent, The birds song was more convenient, And more pleasaunt to me, by many fold, Than meat or drinke, or any other thing. Thereto the herber was so fresh and cold, The wholsome savours eke so comforting That, as I demed, sith the beginning Of the world was never seen or than So pleasant a ground of none earthly man. And as I sat, the birds harkening thus, Me thought that I heard voices sodainly, The most sweetest and most delicious That ever any wight, I trow trewly, Heard in their life, for the armony And sweet accord was in so good musike That the voice to angels most was like. At the last, out of a grove even by, That was right goodly and pleasant to sight, I sie where there came singing lustily A world of ladies; but to tell aright Their great beauty, it lieth not in my might, Ne their array; neverthelesse I shall Tell you a part, though I speake not of all. In surcotes white of veluet wele sitting They were clad, and the semes echone, As it were a maner garnishing, Was set with emerauds, one and one, By and by; but many a rich stone Was set on the purfiles, out of dout, Of colors, sleves, and traines round about, As great pearles, round and orient, Diamonds fine and rubies red, And many another stone, of which I went The names now; and everich on her head A rich fret of gold, which, without dread, Was full of stately rich stones set. And every lady had a chapelet On her head, of leves fresh and grene, So wele wrought, and so mervelously, That it was a noble sight to sene. Some of laurer, and some ful pleasantly Had chapelets of woodbind, and sadly Some of Agnus castus were also Chapelets fresh. But there were many of tho That daunced and eke song ful soberly; But all they yede in maner of compace. But one there yede in mid the company Soole by her selfe, but all followed the pace That she kept, whose heavenly figured face So pleasaunt was, and her wele-shape person, That of beauty she past hem everichon. And more richly beseene, by manyfold, She was also, in every maner thing; On her head, ful pleasaunt to behold, A crowne of gold, rich for any king; A braunch of Agnus castus eke bearing In her hand; and to my sight, trewly, She lady was of the company. And she began a roundell lustely, That Suse le foyle de vert moy men call, Seen & mon joly cuer en dormy. And than the company answered all With voice sweet entuned and so small,3 That me thought it the sweetest melody That ever I heard in my life, soothly. And thus they came, dauncing and singing, Into the middes of the mede echone, Before the herber where I was sitting, And, God wot, me thought I was wel bigone, For than I might avise hem, one by one, Who fairest was, who coud best dance or sing, Or who most womanly was in all thing. They had not daunced but a little throw When that I heard, not fer of, sodainly, So great a noise of thundering trumps blow As though it should have departed the skie. And after that, within a while, I sie, From the same grove where the ladies come out, Of men of armes comming such a rout As all the men on earth had ben assembled In that place, wele horsed for the nones, Stering so fast that all the earth trembled. But for to speake of riches and stones, And men and horse, I trow, the large wones Of Pretir John, ne all his tresory, Might not unneth have bought the tenth party. Of their array who-so list heare more, I shal rehearse, so as I can, a lite. Out of the grove that I spake of before I sie come first, all in their clokes white, A company that were for their delite Chapelets fresh of okes seriall Newly sprong, and trumpets they were all. On every trumpe hanging a broad banere Of fine tartarium, were ful richely bete -4 Every trumpet his lords armes bere; About their necks, with great pearles set, Colers brode; for cost they would not lete, As it would seeme, for their scochones echone Were set about with many a precious stone. Their horse harneis was all white also. And after them next, in one company, Came nine kings of armes, and no mo, In clokes of white cloth of gold, richly, Chapelets of greene on their heads on hye. The crowns that they on their scochones bere Were set with pearle, ruby, and saphere, And eke great diamonds many one; But all their horse harneis and other geare Was in a sute according, everichone, As ye have heard the foresaid trumpets were. And by seeming they were nothing to lere -5 And there guiding they did so manerly. And after hem cam a great company Of herauds and pursevaunts eke Arraied in clothes of white veluet; And hardily, they were no thing to seke6 How they on hem should the harneis set; And every man had on a chapelet. Scochones and eke horse harneis, in-dede, They had in sute of hem that before hem yede. Next after hem came in armour bright, All save their heads, seemely knights nine; And every claspe and naile, as to my sight, Of their harneis were of red gold fine; With cloth of gold and furred with ermine Were the trappours of their stedes strong, Wide and large, that to the ground did hong. And every boose of bridle and paitrell7 That they had was worth, as I would wene, A thousand pound; and on their heads, well Dressed, were crownes of laurer grene, The best made that ever I had sene. And every knight had after him riding Three hensh-men, on him awaiting; Of which ever the on on a short tronchoun His lords helme bare, so richly dight That the worst was worth the raunsoun Of a king; the second a shield bright Bare at his neck; the thred bare upright A mighty spheare, ful sharpe ground and kene. And every child ware, of leaves grene, A fresh chapelet upon his haires bright; And clokes white of fine veluet they were; Their steeds trapped and raied right Without difference, as their lords were. And after hem, on many a fresh corsere, There came of armed knights such a rout That they besprad the large field about. And all they were, after their degrees, Chapelets new, made of laurer grene, Some of oke, and some of other trees. Some in their honds bare boughes shene, Some of laurer, and some of okes kene, Some of hauthorne, and some of woodbind, And many mo which I had not in mind. And so they came, their horse freshly stering With bloody sownes of their trompes loud. There sie I many an uncouth disguising In the array of these knights proud. And at the last, as evenly as they coud, They took their places in middes of the mede, And every knight turned his horse hede To his fellow, and lightly laid a speare In the rest, and so justes began On every part about, here and there. Some brake his spere, some drew down hors and man; About the field astray the steeds ran; And to behold their rule and governaunce, I you ensure, it was a great pleasaunce. And so the justes last an houre and more; But tho that crowned were in laurer grene Wan the prise - their dints were so sore That there was none ayenst hem might sustene. And the justing all was left of clene, And fro their horse the nine alight anon, And so did all the remnant everichon. And forth they yede togider, twain and twain, That to behold it was a worthy sight, Toward the ladies on the green plain, That song and daunced, as I said now right. The ladies, as soone as they goodly might, They brake of both the song and dance, And yede to meet hem with full glad semblance. And every lady tooke ful womanly By the hond a knight, and forth they yede Unto a faire laurer that stood fast by, With leves lade, the boughes of great brede; And to my dome there never was indede Man that had seen halfe so faire a tre; For underneath there might it wel have be An hundred persons at their own plesance, Shadowed fro the heat of Phebus bright, So that they should have felt no grevance Of raine ne haile, that hem hurt might. The savour eke rejoice would any wight That had be sicke or melancolius, It was so very good and vertuous. And with great reverence they enclining low To the tree, so soot and faire of hew; And after that, within a little throw, They began to sing and daunce of new; Some song of love, some plaining of untrew, Environing the tree that stood upright, And ever yede a lady and a knight. And at the last I cast mine eie aside, And was ware of a lusty company That came roming out of the field wide, Hond in hond, a knight and a lady; The ladies all in surcotes, that richely Purfiled were with many a rich stone; And every knight of greene ware mantels on, Embrouded well, so as the surcotes were. And everich had a chapelet on her hed, Which did right well upon the shining here, Made of goodly floures, white and red. The knights eke, that they in hond led, In sute of hem ware chapelets everichone. And before hem went minstrels many one, As harpes, pipes, lutes, and sautry, All in greene; and on their heads bare, Of divers floures, made full craftely, All in a sute, goodly chapelets they ware. And so dauncing into the mede they fare, In mid the which they found a tuft that was All oversprad with floures in compas. Whereto they enclined everichon With great reverence, and that full humbly. And at the last there began anon A lady for to sing right womanly A bargaret in praising the daisie; For, as me thought, among her notes swete She said Si douce est la Margarete. Then they all answered her in fere So passingly well and so pleasauntly That it was a blisful noise to here. But I not how, it happed sodainly, As about noone, the sonne so fervently Waxe whote that the prety tender floures Had lost the beauty of her fresh coloures, Forshronke with heat; the ladies eke tobrent, That they ne wist where they hem might bestow. The knights swelt, for lack of shade nie shent. And after that, within a little throw, The wind began so sturdily to blow That down goeth all the floures everichone So that in all the mede ther laft not one, Save suche as succoured were among the leves Fro every storme that might hem assaile, Growing under hegges and thicke greves. And after that there came a storme of haile And raine in feare, so that, withouten faile, The ladies ne the knights nade o threed Dry on them, so dropping was her weed. And whan the storm was cleane passed away, Tho in white, that stood under the tre - They felt nothing of the great affray That they in greene without had in ybe - To them they yede for routh and pite, Them to comfort after their great disease, So faine they were the helplesse for to ease. Then I was ware how one of hem in grene Had on a crown, rich and well sitting, Wherefore I demed wel she was a quene, And tho in greene on her were awaiting. The ladies then in white that were coming Toward them, and the knights in fere, Began to comfort hem and make hem chere. The queen in white, that was of great beauty, Tooke by the hond the queen that was in grene And said, 'Suster, I have right great pity Of your annoy, and of the troublous tene Wherein ye and your company have bene So long, alas! and if that it you please To go with me, I shall do you the ease In all the pleasure that I can or may.' Whereof the tother, humbly as she might, Thanked her; for in right ill array She was with storm and heat, I you behight. And every lady then, anon right, That were in white, one of them took in grene By the hond; which when the knights had sene, In like wise ech of them took a knight Clad in grene, and forth with hem they fare To an hegge, where they, anon right, To make their justs they would not spare Boughes to hew downe and eke trees square, Wherwith they made hem stately fires great To dry their clothes that were wringing weat. And after that, of hearbs that there grew, They made, for blisters of the sonne brenning, Very good and wholsome ointments new, Where that they yede the sick fast annointing. And after that they yede about gadering Pleasaunt salades, which they made hem eat For to refresh their great unkindly heat. The lady of the Leafe then began to pray Her of the Floure (for to my seeming They should be, as by their array) To soupe with her, and eke, for any thing, That she should with her all her people bring. And she ayen, in right goodly manere, Thanketh her of her most friendly cheare, Saying plainly that she would obay With all her hart all her commaundement. And then anon, without lenger delay, The lady of the Leafe hath one ysent For a palfray, after her intent, Araied well and faire in harneis of gold, For nothing lacked that to him long should. And after that, to all her company She made to purvey horse and every thing That they needed; and then, full lustily, Even by the herber where I was sitting, They passed all, so pleasantly singing That it would have comforted any wight. But then I sie a passing wonder sight: For then the nightingale, that all the day Had in the laurer sete and did her might The whol service to sing longing to May, All sodainly gan to take her flight, And to the lady of the Leafe forthright She flew, and set her on her hond softly, Which was a thing I marveled of greatly. The goldfinch eke, that fro the medill tre Was fled for heat into the bushes cold, Unto the lady of the Flower gan fle, And on hir hond he set him, as he wold, And pleasantly his wings gan to fold; And for to sing they pained hem both as sore As they had do of all the day before. And so these ladies rode forth a great pace, And all the rout of knights eke in fere. And I, that had sene all this wonder case, Thought I would assay, in some manere, To know fully the trouth of this matere, And what they were that rode so pleasantly. And when they were the herber passed by I drest me forth, and happed to mete anon Right a faire lady, I you ensure; And she come riding by hir selfe alone, All in white, with semblance ful demure. I saluted her, and bad her good aventure Must her befall, as I coud most humbly, And she answered, 'My doughter, gramercy.' 'Madam,' quod I, 'if that I durst enquere Of you, I would faine, of that company, Wit what they be that past by this arbere?' And she ayen answered right friendly: 'My faire doughter, all tho that passed hereby In white clothing, be servants everichone Unto the Leafe, and I my selfe am one. Se ye not her that crowned is,' quod she, 'All in white?' 'Madame,' quod I, 'yis.' 'That is Diane, goddes of chastity; And for bicause that she a maiden is, In her hond the braunch she bereth, this That Agnus castus men call properly. And all the ladies in her company Which ye se of that hearb chaplets weare Be such as han kepte alway her maidenhede. And all they that of laurer chaplets beare Be such as hardy were and wan by deed Victorious name which never may be dede; And all they were so worthy of ther hond, In hir time, that none might hem withstond. And tho that weare chapelets on ther hede Of fresh woodbind, be such as never were To love untrue in word, thought, ne dede, But aye stedfast; ne for pleasance, ne fere, Thogh that they shuld their harts all to-tere, Would never flit, but ever were stedfast, Till that their lives there asunder brast.' 'Now, faire madame,' quod I, 'yet I would pray Your ladiship, if that it might be, That I might know, by some maner way - Sith that it hath liked your beaute The trouth of these ladies for to tell me - What that these knights be, in rich armour, And what tho be in grene, and weare the flour, And why that some did reverence to the tre And some unto the plot of floures faire?' 'With right good will, my fair doghter,' quod she, 'Sith youre desire is good and debonaire. Tho nine crowned be very exemplaire Of all honour longing to chivalry, And those, certaine, be called the Nine Worthy, Which ye may se riding all before, That in her time did many a noble dede, And for their worthines ful oft have bore The crowne of laurer leaves on their hede, As ye may in your old bookes rede; And how that he that was a conquerour Had by laurer alway his most honour. And tho that beare bowes in their hond Of the precious laurer so notable, Be such as were, I woll ye understond, Noble knights of the Round Table, And eke the Douseperis honourable; Which they beare in signe of victory - It is witnes of their dedes mightily. Eke there be knights old of the Garter, That in her time did right worthily; And the honour they did to the laurer Is for thereby they have their laud wholly, Their triumph eke and marshall glory; Which unto them is more parfit riches Then any wight imagine can or gesse. For one leafe given of that noble tre To any wight that hath done worthily, And it be done so as it ought to be, Is more honour then any thing earthly. Witnes of Rome that founder was, truly, Of all knighthood and deeds marvelous - Record I take of Titus Livius. And as for her that crowned is in greene, It is Flora, of these floures goddesse. And all that here on her awaiting beene, It are such that loved idlenes And not delite of no busines But for to hunt and hauke, and pley in medes, And many other such idle dedes. And for the great delite and pleasaunce They have to the floure, and so reverently They unto it do such obeisaunce, As ye may se.' 'Now, faire madame,' quod I, 'If I durst aske what is the cause and why That knights have the signe of honour Rather by the leafe than by the floure?' 'Sothly, doughter,' quod shee, 'this is the trouth: For knights ever should be persevering To seeke honour without feintise or slouth, Fro wele to better, in all maner thing; In signe of which, with leaves aye lasting They be rewarded after their degree, Whose lusty green May may not appaired be, But aye keping their beauty fresh and greene, For there nis storme that may hem deface, Haile nor snow, wind nor frosts kene; Wherfore they have this propertie and grace. And for the floure within a little space Woll be lost, so simple of nature They be, that they no greevance may endure, And every storme will blow them soone away, Ne they last not but for a season - That is the cause, the very trouth to say, That they may not, by no way of reason, Be put to no such occupacion.' 'Madame,' quod I, 'with all mine whole servise I thanke you now, in my most humble wise; For now I am acertained throughly Of every thing I desired to know.' 'I am right glad that I have said, sothly, Ought to your pleasure, if ye will me trow,' Quod she ayen, 'but to whome doe ye owe Your service? and which woll ye honour, Tell me, I pray, this yeere, the Leafe or the Flour?' 'Madame,' quod I, 'though I least worthy, Unto the Leafe I owe mine observaunce.' 'That is,' quod she, 'right well done, certainly, And I pray God to honour you avaunce, And kepe you fro the wicked remembraunce Of Male Bouch, and all his crueltie; And all that good and well-condicioned be. For here may I no lenger now abide; I must follow the great company That ye may see yonder before you ride.' And forth, as I couth, most humbly, I tooke my leve of her as she gan hie After them, as fast as ever she might. And I drow homeward, for it was nigh night, And put all that I had seen in writing, Under support of them that lust it to rede. O little booke, thou art so unconning, How darst thou put thy self in prees for drede? It is wonder that thou wexest not rede, Sith that thou wost ful lite who shall behold Thy rude language, full boistously unfold. EXPLICIT |
(see note) starry Bull (Taurus) showers many flowers; (see note) meadow dead plant; creature grows Happened to be in this situation sleep a very remote prospect might not; (see note) knew not; was not; creature Than; had not; grief did; (see note) before hue from its broad; laden; leaves toward the bright sun; (see note) (see note) also; hear creature could throughout; (see note) could breadth been overgrown hardly; see somewhere; by God a very; arbor; made; (see note) (see note) hue velvet went around eglantine intertwined together according to a set pattern flat; one; in every detail saw; assure care I believe surpass; those; seen whoever; wished peer about person those; went without region; abundance saw; (see note) suppose relief once; sweet eye aware; medlar; (see note) saw prettily From; it pleased him; ate flowers bird wanted to eat by far than; describe manner echoed fool stunned Thoroughly knew not again; sang looked laurel inwardly sweet purpose congenial by far cool also supposed; since before then no creature; believe harmony such right saw outer garments; fitting; (see note) each one of the seams; (see note) kind of one after another In order hems collars of supreme excellence lack every one hair-net; doubt garland see laurel soberly [a willow-like plant]; wore; (see note) also sang went in circular formation Alone surpassed them all arranged by far dance-song; (see note) (see note) then truly meadow each one knows; situated study while far split saw large company been occasion Driving on horses; palace-dwellings (see note) hardly; part wishes little wore evergreen oaks; (see note) trumpeters trumpeter Collars; spare coats of arms royal heralds; more; (see note) high bore many a one matching kind their; properly them junior heralds (see note) them Coats of arms matching them trappings hang think mounted squires the first; staff decorated spear; whetted; sharp young man wore arrayed entirely charger large company wore; ranks bright noble; (see note) more horses; urging on blood-curdling sounds unfamiliar mode of dressing in as regular a formation meadow socket for couching spear; jousts (see note) discipline; conduct assure those Won; prize; blows against; endure off entirely together just now decorously off looks hand; went laden; breadth in my opinion Anyone been full of healing power (see note) sweet while anew sang; complaining; infidelity Surrounding aware; vigorous company outer garments Ornamented at the hem had on (wore); (see note) Embroidered (see note) looked; hair wore matching psaltery (small harp) bare matching; wore go all around pastoral song in praise [of]; (see note) (see note) in unison know not hot; (see note) their All shrivelled up; scorched knew not fainted; nearly exhausted while was left bushes together had not; one single dripping wet; their clothing Those tempest been went; pity (ruth) discomfort eager distress; distress other promise straightaway each go jousts; (see note) stout wet (see note) burning Wherever; busily salad herbs; (see note) it seems to me dine; by all means longer sent palfrey; in pursuance of; (see note) belong wondrous sat belonging; (see note) medlar cool fly done incident try stepped; happened; (see note) A very came looks greeted; fortune Might many thanks enquire gladly Know yes; (see note) [see note l. 160] have won dead their head deed fear tear to pieces waver burst pleased courteous model appertaining (see note) their boughs want (to) (see note) That which (see note) praise martial perfect Than If [him] of Rome; (see note) (see note) her in green that is crowned (see note) (see note) Truly deceit (see note) according to their rank vigorous; impaired (see note) is not function (use); (see note) apprised truly believe (see note) advance you to honor Slander; (see note) And [so with]; of good disposition forthwith hasten drew In the hope of support; desire ignorant; (see note) [the] throng red knowest rough; set forth in homely fashion |