When that Phebus his chaire of gold so hie When the Sun chariot high Had whirled up the sterry sky aloft, starry And in the Boole was entred certainly; Bull (Taurus) When shoures sweet of raine discended soft, showersline5 Causing the ground, fele times and oft, many Up for to give many an wholsome aire, And every plaine was clothed faire

With new greene, and maketh small flours flowers To springen here and there in field and in mede — meadowline10 So very good and wholsome be the shoures That it renueth that was old and deede dead In winter time, and out of every seede Springeth the hearbe, so that every wight plant creature Of this season wexeth glad and light. grows

line15 And I, so glad of the season swete, Was happed thus upon a certaine night: Happened to be in this situation As I lay in my bed, sleepe ful unmete sleep a very remote prospect Was unto me; but why that I ne might might not Rest, I ne wist, for there nas earthly wight, knew not was not creatureline20 As I suppose, had more hearts ease Then I, for I nad sicknesse nor disease. Than had not grief

Wherefore I mervaile greatly of my selfe, That I so long withouten sleepe lay; And up I rose, three houres after twelfe,line25 About the springing of the day, And on I put my geare and mine array, And to a pleasaunt grove I gan passe, did Long or the bright sonne up risen was; before

In which were okes great, streight as a line,line30 Under the which the grasse so fresh of hew hue Was newly sprong; and an eight foot or nine Every tree well fro his fellow grew, from its With braunches brode, lade with leves new, broad laden leaves That sprongen out ayen the sonne shene, toward the bright sunline35 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 also hear Would have rejoised any earthly wight. creature And I, that couth not yet in no manere couldline40 Heare the nightingale of all the yere, throughout Full busily herkened with hart and with eare If I her voice perceive coud any where. could

And at the last a path of litle breade breadth I found, that greatly had not used be, beenline45 For it forgrowen was with grasse and weede overgrown That well unneth a wight might it se. hardly see Thought I, this path some whider goth, parde, somewhere by God And so I followed, till it me brought To right a pleasaunt herber, well ywrought, a very arbor made

line50 That benched was, and with turfes new Freshly turved, whereof the greene gras, So small, so thicke, so short, so fresh of hew, hue That most like unto green welwet it was. velvet The hegge also, that yede in compas went aroundline55 And closed in all the green herbere, With sicamour was set and eglatere, eglantine

Wrethen in fere so wel and cunningly intertwined together That every branch and leafe grew by mesure, according to a set pattern Plain as a bord, of an height, by and by — Flat one in every detailline60 I see never thing, I you ensure, saw assure So wel done; for he that tooke the cure care It to make, y trow, did all his peine I believe To make it passe all tho that men have seyne. surpass those seen

And shapen was this herber, roofe and all,line65 As a pretty parlour, and also The hegge as thicke as a castel wall, That who that list without to stond or go, whoever wished Though he would all day prien to and fro, peer about He should not see if there were any wight personline70 Within or no; but one within well might

Perceive all tho that yeden there without those went In the field, that was on every side Covered with corne and grasse, that, out of doubt, without Though one would seeke all the world wide,line75 So rich a field coud not be espide On no coast, as of the quantity, region abundance For of all good thing there was plenty.

And I, that all this pleasaunt sight sie, saw Thought sodainly I felt so sweet an aireline80 Of the eglentere, that certainly There is no heart, I deme, in such dispaire, suppose Ne with thoughts froward and contraire So overlaid, but it should soone have bote, relief If it had ones felt this savour soote. once sweet

line85 And as I stood and cast aside mine eie, eye I was ware of the fairest medle tre aware medlar That ever yet in all my life I sie, saw As ful of blosomes as it might be. Therein a goldfinch leaping pretilé prettilyline90 Fro bough to bough, and as him list he eet, From it pleased him ate Here and there, of buds and floures sweet. flowers

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, birdline95 Whan he had eaten what he eat wold, wanted to eat So passing sweetly that, by manifold, by far It was more pleasaunt then I coud devise. than describe And when his song was ended in this wise, manner

The nightingale with so merry a noteline100 Answered him that all the wood rong, echoed So sodainly that, as it were a sote, fool I stood astonied; so was I with the song stunned Thorow ravished, that, till late and long, Thoroughly I ne wist in what place I was, ne where; knew notline105 And ayen, me thought, she song even by mine ere. again sang

Wherefore I waited about busily looked 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, laurelline110 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 inwardly That as me thought I surely ravished wasline115 Into Paradise, where my desire Was for to be, and no ferther passe As for that day, and on the sote grasse sweet I sat me downe; for, as for mine entent, purpose The birds song was more convenient, congenial

line120 And more pleasaunt to me, by many fold, by far Than meat or drinke, or any other thing. Thereto the herber was so fresh and cold, cool The wholsome savours eke so comforting also That, as I demed, sith the beginning supposed sinceline125 Of the world was never seen or than before then So pleasant a ground of none earthly man. no

And as I sat, the birds harkening thus, Me thought that I heard voices sodainly, The most sweetest and most deliciousline130 That ever any wight, I trow trewly, creature believe Heard in their life, for the armony harmony And sweet accord was in so good musike such That the voice to angels most was like.

At the last, out of a grove even by, rightline135 That was right goodly and pleasant to sight, I sie where there came singing lustily saw A world of ladies; but to tell aright Their great beauty, it lieth not in my might, Ne their array; neverthelesse I shallline140 Tell you a part, though I speake not of all.

In surcotes white of velvet wele sitting outer garments fitting They were clad, and the semes echone, each one of the seams As it were a maner garnishing, kind of Was set with emerauds, one and one, one after anotherline145 By and by; but many a rich stone In order Was set on the purfiles, out of dout, hems Of colors, sleves, and traines round about, collars

As great pearles, round and orient, of supreme excellence Diamonds fine and rubies red,line150 And many another stone, of which I went lack The names now; and everich on her head every one A rich fret of gold, which, without dread, hair-net doubt Was full of stately rich stones set. And every lady had a chapelet garland

line155 On her head, of leves fresh and grene, So wele wrought, and so mervelously, That it was a noble sight to sene. see Some of laurer, and some ful pleasantly laurel Had chapelets of woodbind, and sadly soberlyline160 Some of Agnus castus were also [a willow-like plant] wore Chapelets fresh. But there were many of tho

That daunced and eke song ful soberly; also sang But all they yede in maner of compace. went in circular formation But one there yede in mid the companyline165 Soole by her selfe, but all followed the pace Alone That she kept, whose heavenly figured face So pleasaunt was, and her wele-shape person, That of beauty she past hem everichon. surpassed them all

And more richly beseene, by manyfold, arranged by farline170 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,line175 She lady was of the company.

And she began a roundell lustely, dance-song That Suse le foyle de vert moy men call, Seen & mon joly cuer en dormy. And than the company answered all thenline180 With voice sweet entuned and so small, That me thought it the sweetest melody That ever I heard in my life, soothly. truly

And thus they came, dauncing and singing, Into the middes of the mede echone, meadow each oneline185 Before the herber where I was sitting, And, God wot, me thought I was wel bigone, knows situated For than I might avise hem, one by one, study Who fairest was, who coud best dance or sing, Or who most womanly was in all thing.

line190 They had not daunced but a little throw while When that I heard, not fer of, sodainly, far off So great a noise of thundering trumps blow As though it should have departed the skie. split And after that, within a while, I sie, sawline195 From the same grove where the ladies come out, Of men of armes comming such a rout large company

As all the men on earth had ben assembled been In that place, wele horsed for the nones, occasion Stering so fast that all the earth trembled. Driving online200 But for to speake of riches and stones, And men and horse, I trow, the large wones horses palace-dwellings Of Pretir John, ne all his tresory, Might not unneth have bought the tenth party. hardly part

Of their array who-so list heare more, wishesline205 I shal rehearse, so as I can, a lite. little 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 wore Chapelets fresh of okes seriall evergreen oaksline210 Newly sprong, and trumpets they were all. trumpeters

On every trumpe hanging a broad banere Of fine tartarium, were ful richely bete — Every trumpet his lords armes bere; trumpeter About their necks, with great pearles set,line215 Colers brode; for cost they would not lete, Collars spare As it would seeme, for their scochones echone coats of arms Were set about with many a precious stone.

Their horse harneis was all white also. And after them next, in one company,line220 Came nine kings of armes, and no mo, royal heralds more In clokes of white cloth of gold, richly, Chapelets of greene on their heads on hye. high The crowns that they on their scochones bere bore Were set with pearle, ruby, and saphere,

line225 And eke great diamonds many one; many a one But all their horse harneis and other geare Was in a sute according, everichone, matching kind As ye have heard the foresaid trumpets were. And by seeming they were nothing to lere —line230 And there guiding they did so manerly. their properly And after hem cam a great company them

Of herauds and pursevaunts eke junior heralds Arraied in clothes of white veluet; And hardily, they were no thing to sekeline235 How they on hem should the harneis set; them And every man had on a chapelet. Scochones and eke horse harneis, in-dede, Coats of arms They had in sute of hem that before hem yede. matching them

Next after hem came in armour bright,line240 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, trappingsline245 Wide and large, that to the ground did hong. hang

And every boose of bridle and paitrell That they had was worth, as I would wene, think A thousand pound; and on their heads, well Dressed, were crownes of laurer grene,line250 The best made that ever I had sene. And every knight had after him riding Three hensh-men, on him awaiting; mounted squires

Of which ever the on on a short tronchoun the first staff His lords helme bare, so richly dight decoratedline255 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. spear whetted sharp And every child ware, of leaves grene, young man

line260 A fresh chapelet upon his haires bright; And clokes white of fine veluet they were; wore Their steeds trapped and raied right arrayed entirely Without difference, as their lords were. And after hem, on many a fresh corsere, chargerline265 There came of armed knights such a rout large company That they besprad the large field about.

And all they were, after their degrees, wore ranks Chapelets new, made of laurer grene, Some of oke, and some of other trees.line270 Some in their honds bare boughes shene, bright Some of laurer, and some of okes kene, noble Some of hauthorne, and some of woodbind, And many mo which I had not in mind. more

And so they came, their horse freshly stering horses urging online275 With bloody sownes of their trompes loud. blood-curdling sounds There sie I many an uncouth disguising unfamiliar mode of dressing In the array of these knights proud. And at the last, as evenly as they coud, in as regular a formation They took their places in middes of the mede, meadowline280 And every knight turned his horse hede

To his fellow, and lightly laid a speare In the rest, and so justes began socket for couching spear jousts On every part about, here and there. Some brake his spere, some drew down hors and man;line285 About the field astray the steeds ran; And to behold their rule and governaunce, discipline conduct I you ensure, it was a great pleasaunce. assure

And so the justes last an houre and more; But tho that crowned were in laurer grene thoseline290 Wan the prise — their dints were so sore Won prize blows That there was none ayenst hem might sustene. against endure And the justing all was left of clene, off entirely And fro their horse the nine alight anon, And so did all the remnant everichon.

line295 And forth they yede togider, twain and twain, went together That to behold it was a worthy sight, Toward the ladies on the green plain, That song and daunced, as I said now right. just now The ladies, as soone as they goodly might, decorouslyline300 They brake of both the song and dance, off And yede to meet hem with full glad semblance. looks

And every lady tooke ful womanly By the hond a knight, and forth they yede hand went Unto a faire laurer that stood fast by,line305 With leves lade, the boughes of great brede; laden breadth And to my dome there never was indede in my opinion Man that had seen halfe so faire a tre; Anyone For underneath there might it wel have be been

An hundred persons at their own plesance,line310 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,line315 It was so very good and vertuous. full of healing power

And with great reverence they enclining low To the tree, so soot and faire of hew; sweet And after that, within a little throw, while They began to sing and daunce of new; anewline320 Some song of love, some plaining of untrew, sang complaining infidelity Environing the tree that stood upright, Surrounding And ever yede a lady and a knight.

And at the last I cast mine eie aside, And was ware of a lusty company aware vigorous companyline325 That came roming out of the field wide, Hond in hond, a knight and a lady; The ladies all in surcotes, that richely outer garments Purfiled were with many a rich stone; Ornamented at the hem And every knight of greene ware mantels on, had on (wore)

line330 Embrouded well, so as the surcotes were. Embroidered And everich had a chapelet on her hed, Which did right well upon the shining here, looked hair Made of goodly floures, white and red. The knights eke, that they in hond led,line335 In sute of hem ware chapelets everichone. wore matching And before hem went minstrels many one,

As harpes, pipes, lutes, and sautry, psaltery (small harp) All in greene; and on their heads bare, bare Of divers floures, made full craftely,line340 All in a sute, goodly chapelets they ware. matching wore And so dauncing into the mede they fare, go In mid the which they found a tuft that was All oversprad with floures in compas. all around

Whereto they enclined everichonline345 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; pastoral song in praise [of] For, as me thought, among her notes sweteline350 She said Si douce est la Margarete.

Then they all answered her in fere in unison So passingly well and so pleasauntly That it was a blisful noise to here. But I not how, it happed sodainly, know notline355 As about noone, the sonne so fervently Waxe whote that the prety tender floures hot Had lost the beauty of her fresh coloures, their

Forshronke with heat; the ladies eke tobrent, All shrivelled up scorched That they ne wist where they hem might bestow. knew notline360 The knights swelt, for lack of shade nie shent. fainted nearly exhausted And after that, within a little throw, while The wind began so sturdily to blow That down goeth all the floures everichone So that in all the mede ther laft not one, was left

line365 Save suche as succoured were among the leves Fro every storme that might hem assaile, Growing under hegges and thicke greves. bushes And after that there came a storme of haile And raine in feare, so that, withouten faile, togetherline370 The ladies ne the knights nade o threed had not one single Dry on them, so dropping was her weed. dripping wet their clothing

And whan the storm was cleane passed away, Tho in white, that stood under the tre — Those They felt nothing of the great affray tempestline375 That they in greene without had in ybe — been To them they yede for routh and pite, went pity (ruth) Them to comfort after their great disease, discomfort So faine they were the helplesse for to ease. eager

Then I was ware how one of hem in greneline380 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,line385 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 distress distressline390 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, otherline395 Thanked her; for in right ill array She was with storm and heat, I you behight. promise And every lady then, anon right, straightaway That were in white, one of them took in grene By the hond; which when the knights had sene,

line400 In like wise ech of them took a knight each Clad in grene, and forth with hem they fare go To an hegge, where they, anon right, To make their justs they would not spare jousts Boughes to hew downe and eke trees square, stoutline405 Wherwith they made hem stately fires great To dry their clothes that were wringing weat. wet

And after that, of hearbs that there grew, They made, for blisters of the sonne brenning, burning Very good and wholsome ointments new,line410 Where that they yede the sick fast annointing. Wherever busily And after that they yede about gadering Pleasaunt salades, which they made hem eat salad herbs For to refresh their great unkindly heat.

The lady of the Leafe then began to prayline415 Her of the Floure (for to my seeming it seems to me They should be, as by their array) To soupe with her, and eke, for any thing, dine by all means That she should with her all her people bring. And she ayen, in right goodly manere,line420 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, longer The lady of the Leafe hath one ysent sentline425 For a palfray, after her intent, palfrey in pursuance of Araied well and faire in harneis of gold, For nothing lacked that to him long should. belong

And after that, to all her company She made to purvey horse and every thingline430 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: wondrous

line435 For then the nightingale, that all the day Had in the laurer sete and did her might sat The whol service to sing longing to May, belonging All sodainly gan to take her flight, And to the lady of the Leafe forthrightline440 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 medlar Was fled for heat into the bushes cold, cool Unto the lady of the Flower gan fle, flyline445 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. done

And so these ladies rode forth a great pace,line450 And all the rout of knights eke in fere. And I, that had sene all this wonder case, incident Thought I would assay, in some manere, try To know fully the trouth of this matere, And what they were that rode so pleasantly.line455 And when they were the herber passed by

I drest me forth, and happed to mete anon stepped happened Right a faire lady, I you ensure; A very And she come riding by hir selfe alone, came All in white, with semblance ful demure. looksline460 I saluted her, and bad her good aventure greeted fortune Must her befall, as I coud most humbly, Might And she answered, ‘My doughter, gramercy.’ many thanks

‘Madam,’ quod I, ‘if that I durst enquere enquire Of you, I would faine, of that company, gladlyline465 Wit what they be that past by this arbere?’ Know 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.

line470 Se ye not her that crowned is,’ quod she, ‘All in white?’ ‘Madame,’ quod I, ‘yis.’ yes ‘That is Diane, goddes of chastity; And for bicause that she a maiden is, In her hond the braunch she bereth, thisline475 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. have And all they that of laurer chaplets beareline480 Be such as hardy were and wan by deed won Victorious name which never may be dede; dead And all they were so worthy of ther hond, In hir time, that none might hem withstond. their

And tho that weare chapelets on ther hede headline485 Of fresh woodbind, be such as never were To love untrue in word, thought, ne dede, deed But aye stedfast; ne for pleasance, ne fere, fear Thogh that they shuld their harts all to-tere, tear to pieces Would never flit, but ever were stedfast, waverline490 Till that their lives there asunder brast.’ burst

‘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 beauté pleasedline495 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?’line500 ‘With right good will, my fair doghter,’ quod she, ‘Sith youre desire is good and debonaire. courteous Tho nine crowned be very exemplaire model Of all honour longing to chivalry, appertaining And those, certaine, be called the Nine Worthy,

line505 Which ye may se riding all before, That in her time did many a noble dede, their And for their worthines ful oft have bore The crowne of laurer leaves on their hede, As ye may in your old bookes rede;line510 And how that he that was a conquerour Had by laurer alway his most honour.

And tho that beare bowes in their hond boughs Of the precious laurer so notable, Be such as were, I woll ye understond, want (to)line515 Noble knights of the Round Table, And eke the Douseperis honourable; Which they beare in signe of victory — That which It is witnes of their dedes mightily.

Eke there be knights old of the Garter,line520 That in her time did right worthily; And the honour they did to the laurer Is for thereby they have their laud wholly, praise Their triumph eke and marshall glory; martial Which unto them is more parfit riches perfectline525 Then any wight imagine can or gesse. Than

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, If Is more honour then any thing earthly.line530 Witnes of Rome that founder was, truly, [him] of Rome Of all knighthood and deeds marvelous — Record I take of Titus Livius.

And as for her that crowned is in greene, her in green that is crowned It is Flora, of these floures goddesse.line535 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.

line540 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 whyline545 That knights have the signe of honour Rather by the leafe than by the floure?’

‘Sothly, doughter,’ quod shee, ‘this is the trouth: Truly For knights ever should be persevering To seeke honour without feintise or slouth, deceitline550 Fro wele to better, in all maner thing; In signe of which, with leaves aye lasting They be rewarded after their degree, according to their rank Whose lusty green May may not appaired be, vigorous impaired

But aye keping their beauty fresh and greene,line555 For there nis storme that may hem deface, is not 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 natureline560 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,line565 Be put to no such occupacion.’ function (use) ‘Madame,’ quod I, ‘with all mine whole servise I thanke you now, in my most humble wise;

For now I am acertained throughly apprised Of every thing I desired to know.’line570 ‘I am right glad that I have said, sothly, truly Ought to your pleasure, if ye will me trow,’ believe 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?’

line575 ‘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, advance you to honor And kepe you fro the wicked remembraunceline580 Of Male Bouch, and all his crueltie; Slander And all that good and well-condicioned be. And [so with] of good disposition

For here may I no lenger now abide; I must follow the great company That ye may see yonder before you ride.’line585 And forth, as I couth, most humbly, forthwith I tooke my leve of her as she gan hie hasten After them, as fast as ever she might. And I drow homeward, for it was nigh night, drew

And put all that I had seen in writing,line590 Under support of them that lust it to rede. In the hope of support desire O little booke, thou art so unconning, ignorant How darst thou put thy self in prees for drede? [the] throng It is wonder that thou wexest not rede, red Sith that thou wost ful lite who shall behold knowestline595 Thy rude language, full boistously unfold. rough set forth in homely fashion

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