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61. Sweet Rose of Virtue Sweit rois of vertew and of gentilnes, Delytsum lyllie of everie lustynes, Richest in bontie and in bewtie cleir And everie vertew that is deir, Except onlie that ye are mercyles. Into your garthe this day I did persew. Thair saw I flowris that fresche wer of hew, Baithe quhyte and rid, moist lusty wer to seyne, And halsum herbis upone stalkis grene, Yit leif nor flour fynd could I nane of rew. I dout that Merche with his caild blastis keyne Hes slane this gentill herbe that I of mene, Quhois petewous deithe dois to my hart sic pane That I wald mak to plant his rute agane, So that confortand his levis unto me bene. 62. Beauty and the Prisoner Sen that I am a presoneir Till hir that farest is and best, I me commend fra yeir till yeir Intill hir bandoun for to rest. I govit on that gudliest: So lang to luk I tuk laseir, Quhill I wes tane withouttin test And led furth as a presoneir. Hir Sweit Having and Fresche Bewté Hes wondit me but swerd or lance. With thame to go commandit me Ontill the Castell of Pennance. I said, "Is this your govirnance, To tak men for thair luking heir?" Fresche Bewty said, "Ya, schir, perchance Ye be my ladeis presoneir." Thai had me bundin to the get Quhair Strangenes had bene portar ay, And in deliverit me thairat And in thir termis can thai say: "Do wait and lat him nocht away." Quo Strangenes unto the porteir, "Ontill my lady, I dar lay, Ye be to pure a presoneir." Thai kest me in a deip dungeoun And fetterit me but lok or cheyne. The capitane, hecht Comparesone, To luke on me he thocht greit deyne. Thocht I wes wo I durst nocht pleyne, For he had fetterit mony a feir. With petous voce thus cuth I sene, "Wo is a wofull presoneir." Langour wes weche upoun the wall, That nevir sleipit bot evir wouke. Scorne wes bourdour in the hall And oft on me his babill schuke, Lukand with mony a dengerous luke. "Quhat is he yone that methis us neir? Ye be to townage, be this buke, To be my ladeis presoneir." Gud Houp rownit in my eir And bad me baldlie breve a bill; With Lawlines he suld it beir, With Fair Service send it hir till. I wouk and wret hir all my will. Fair Service fur withouttin feir, Sayand till hir with wirdis still, "Haif pety of your presoneir." Than Lawlines to Petie went And said till hir in termis schort, "Lat we yone presoneir be schent, Will no man do to us support. Gar lay ane sege unto yone fort." Than Petie said, "I sall appeir." Thocht sayis, "I hecht, coim I ourthort, I houp to lows the presoneir." Than to battell thai war arreyit all And ay the vawart kepit Thocht. Lust bur the benner to the wall, And Bissines the grit gyn brocht. Skorne cryis out, sayis, "Wald ye ocht?" Lust sayis, "We wald haif entré heir." Comparisone sayis, "That is for nocht. Ye will nocht wyn the presoneir." Thai thairin schup for to defend, And thai thairfurth sailyeit ane hour. Than Bissines the grit gyn bend, Straik doun the top of the foir tour. Comparisone began to lour And cryit furth, "I yow requeir Soft and fair and do favour, And tak to yow the presoneir." Thai fyrit the gettis deliverly With faggottis wer grit and huge, And Strangenes, quhair that he did ly, Wes brint into the porter luge. Lustely thay lakit bot a juge, Sik straikis and stychling wes on steir.11 The semeliest wes maid assege, To quhome that he wes presoneir. Throucht Skornes nos thai put a prik, This he wes banist and gat a blek. Comparisone wes erdit quik, And Langour lap and brak his nek. Thai sailyeit fast, all the fek. Lust chasit my ladeis chalmirleir; Gud Fame wes drownit in a sek: Thus ransonit thai the presoneir. Fra Sklandir hard Lust had undone His ennemeis, he him aganis Assemblit ane semely sort full sone And rais and rowttit all the planis. His cusing in the court remanis, Bot jalous folkis and geangleiris And fals Invy, that nothing lanis, Blew out on Luvis presoneir. Syne Matremony, that nobill king, Was grevit and gadderit ane grit ost, And all enermit, without lesing, Chest Sklander to the west se cost. Than wes he and his linege lost, And Matremony, withouttin weir, The band of freindschip hes indost Betuix Bewty and the presoneir. Be that of eild wes Gud Famis air And cumyne to continuatioun, And to the court maid his repair Quhair Matremony than woir the crowne. He gat ane confirmatioun, All that his modir aucht but weir, And baid still, as it wes resone, With Bewty and the presoneir. 63. To a Lady My hartis tresure and swete assured fo, The finale endar of my lyfe forever, The creuell brekar of my hart in tuo, To go to deathe this I deservit never. O man slayar, quhill saule and life dissever, Stynt of your slauchtir, allace, your man am I, A thousand tymes that dois yow mercy cry. Have mercie, luif, have mercie, ladie bricht. Quhat have I wrocht aganis your womanheid That ye suld murdir me, a saikles wicht, Trespassing never to yow in word nor deid? That ye consent thairto, O God forbid! Leif creuelté and saif your man, for schame, Or throucht the warld quyte losit is your name. My deathe chasis my lyfe so besalie That wery is my goist to fle so fast. Sic deidlie dwawmes so mischeifaislie Ane hundrithe tymes hes my hairt ovirpast. Me think my spreit rynnis away full gast, Beseikand grace on kneis yow befoir, Or that your man be lost for evermoir. Behald my wod, intollerabill pane, Forevermoir quhilk sal be my dampnage. Quhy undir traist your man thus have ye slane? Lo, deithe is in my breist with furious rage, Quhilk may no balme nor tryacle assuage Bot your mercie, for laik of quhilk I de. Allace, quhair is your womanlie petie? Behald my deidlie passioun dolorous, Behald my hiddous hew and wo, allace. Behald my mayne and murning mervalous, Withe sorrowfull teris falling frome my face. Rewthe, luif, is nocht, helpe ye not in this cace, For how sould ony gentill hart indure To se this sycht on ony creature? Quhyte dov, quhair is your sobir humilnes? Swete gentill turtour, quhair is your peté went? Quhair is your rewthe, the frute of nobilnes, Of womanheid the tresour and the rent? Mercie is never put out of meik intent, Nor out of gentill hart is fundin petie, Sen mercyles may no weycht nobill be. Into my mynd I sall you mercye cry Quhone that my toung sall faill me to speik, And quhill that Nature me my sycht deny, And quhill my ene for pane incluse and steik, And quhill the dethe my hart in soundir breik, And quhill my mynd may think and toung may steir - And syne, fair weill, my hartis lady deir! 64. Good Counsel for Lovers [Be secreit, trewe, incressing of your name] Be ye ane luvar, think ye nocht ye suld Be weill advysit in your governing? Be ye nocht sa, it will on yow be tauld. Be war thairwith for dreid of misdemying. Be nocht a wreche nor skerche in your spending, Be layth alway to do amis or schame, Be rewlit rycht and keip this doctring: Be secreit, trew, incressing of your name. Be ye ane lear, that is werst of all. Be ye ane tratlar, that I hald als evill. Be ye ane janglar and ye fra vertew fall. Be nevirmair onto thir vicis thrall. Be now and ay the maistir of your will, Be nevir he that lesing sall proclame, Be nocht of langage quhair ye suld be still: Be secreit, trew, incressing of your name. Be nocht abasit for no wicket tung, Be nocht sa set, as I haif said yow heir, Be nocht sa lerge unto thir sawis sung, Be nocht our prowd, thinkand ye haif no peir. Be ye so wyis that uderis at yow leir, Be nevir he to sklander nor defame. Be of your lufe no prechour as a freir: Be secreit, trew, incressing of your name. 65. The Golden Targe Ryght as the stern of day begouth to schyne, Quhen gone to bed war Vesper and Lucyne, I raise and by a rosere did me rest. Up sprang the goldyn candill matutyne With clere depurit bemes cristallyne Glading the mery foulis in thair nest. Or Phebus was in purpur cape revest Up raise the lark, the hevyns menstrale fyne, In May intill a morow myrthfullest. Full angel-like thir birdis sang thair houris Within thair courtyns grene into thair bouris Apparalit quhite and rede wyth blomes suete; Anamalit was the felde wyth all colouris. The perly droppis schuke in silvir schouris, Quhill all in balme did branch and levis flete. To part fra Phebus did Aurora grete - Hir cristall teris I saw hyng on the flouris, Quhilk he for lufe all drank up wyth his hete. For mirth of May wyth skippis and wyth hoppis The birdis sang upon the tender croppis With curiouse note, as Venus chapell clerkis. The rosis yong, new spreding of thair knopis, War powderit brycht with hevinly beriall droppis Throu bemes rede birnyng as ruby sperkis. The skyes rang for schoutying of the larkis, The purpur hevyn, ourscailit in silvir sloppis, Ourgilt the treis branchis, lef, and barkis. Doun throu the ryce a ryvir ran wyth stremys So lustily agayn thai lykand lemys That all the lake as lamp did leme of licht, Quhilk schadowit all about wyth twynkling glemis. The bewis bathit war in secund bemys Throu the reflex of Phebus visage brycht. On every syde the hegies raise on hicht, The bank was grene, the bruke was full of bremys, The stanneris clere as stern in frosty nycht. The cristall air, the sapher firmament, The ruby skyes of the orient, Kest beriall bemes on emerant bewis grene. The rosy garth, depaynt and redolent, With purpur, azure, gold, and goulis gent Arayed was by Dame Flora, the quene, So nobily that joy was for to sene The roch agayn the rivir resplendent, As low enlumynit all the leves schene. Quhat throu the mery foulys armony And throu the ryveris soun rycht ran me by, On Florais mantill I slepit as I lay; Quhare sone into my dremes fantasy I saw approch agayn the orient sky A saill als quhite as blossum upon spray, Wyth merse of gold brycht as the stern of day, Quhilk tendit to the land full lustily, As falcoun swift desyrouse of hir pray. And hard on burd unto the blomyt medis Amang the grene rispis and the redis Arrivit sche; quhar fro anon thare landis Ane hundreth ladyes, lusty into wedis, Als fresch as flouris that in May up spredis, In kirtillis grene, withoutyn kell or bandis. Thair brycht hairis hang gleting on the strandis In tressis clere, wyppit wyth goldyn thredis, With pappis quhite and mydlis small as wandis. Discrive I wald, bot quho coud wele endyte How all the feldis wyth thai lilies quhite Depaynt war brycht, quhilk to the hevyn did glete? Noucht thou, Omer, als fair as thou coud wryte, For all thine ornate stilis so perfyte. Nor yit thou, Tullius, quhois lippis swete Of rethorike did into termes flete. Your aureate tongis both bene all to lyte For to compile that paradise complete. Thare saw I Nature and Venus, quene and quene, The fresch Aurora and Lady Flora schene, Juno, Appollo, and Proserpyna, Dyane, the goddesse chaste of woddis grene, My Lady Cleo, that help of makaris bene, Thetes, Pallas, and prudent Minerva, Fair feynit Fortune, and lemand Lucina. Thir mychti quenis in crounis mycht be sene Wyth bemys blith, bricht as Lucifera. Thare saw I May, of myrthfull monethis quene, Betuix Aprile and June hir sistir schene, Within the gardyng walking up and doun, Quham of the foulis gladdith all bedene. Scho was full tender in hir yeris grene. Thare saw I Nature present hir a goun Rich to behald and nobil of renoun, Of eviry hew under the hevin that bene, Depaynt and broud be gude proporcioun. Full lustily thir ladyes all in fere Enterit within this park of most plesere, Quhare that I lay ourhelit wyth levis ronk. The mery foulis blisfullest of chere Salust Nature, me thoucht, on thair manere; And eviry blome on branch and eke on bonk Opnyt and spred thair balmy levis donk, Full low enclynyng to thair quene so clere Quham of thair noble norising thay thonk. Syne to Dame Flora on the samyn wyse Thay saluse and thay thank a thousand syse, And to Dame Venus, lufis mychti quene, Thay sang ballettis in lufe, as was the gyse, With amourouse notis lusty to devise As thay that had lufe in thair hertis grene. Thair hony throtis opnyt fro the splene With werblis suete did perse the hevinly skyes, Quhill loud resownyt the firmament serene. Aneothir court thare saw I consequent Cupide the king, wyth bow in hand ybent And dredefull arowis grundyn scharp and square. Thare saw I Mars the god armypotent, Aufull and sterne, strong and corpolent. Thare saw I crabbit Saturn, ald and haire - His luke was lyke for to perturb the aire. Thare was Mercurius, wise and eloquent, Of rethorike that fand the flouris faire. Thare was the god of gardingis, Priapus, Thare was the god of wildernes, Phanus, And Janus, god of entree delytable. Thare was the god of fludis, Neptunus, Thare was the god of wyndis, Eolus, With variand luke rycht lyke a lord unstable. Thare was Bacus, the gladder of the table, There was Pluto, the elrich incubus, In cloke of grene - his court usit no sable - And eviry one of thir in grene arayit. On harp or lute full merily thai playit, And sang ballettis with michty notis clere. Ladyes to dance full sobirly assayit, Endlang the lusty ryvir so thai mayit Thair observance rycht hevynly was to here. Than crap I throu the levis and drew nere Quhare that I was rycht sudaynly affrayt, All throu a luke quhilk I have boucht full dere. And schortly for to speke, be lufis quene I was aspyit. Scho bad hir archearis kene Go me arrest, and thay no tyme delayit. Than ladyes fair lete fall thair mantillis grene, With bowis big in tressit hairis schene All sudaynly thay had a felde arayit. And yit rycht gretly was I noucht affrayit, The party was so plesand for to sene. A wonder lusty bikkir me assayit. And first of all with bow in hand ybent Come Dame Beautee, rycht as scho wald me schent. Syne folowit all hir dameselis yfere, With mony diverse aufull instrument. Unto the pres Fair Having wyth hir went, Fyne Portrature, Plesance, and Lusty Chere. Than come Resoun with schelde of gold so clere; In plate and maille as Mars armypotent, Defendit me that nobil chevallere. Syne tender Youth come wyth hir virgyns ying, Grene Innocence, and schamefull Abaising, And quaking Drede wyth humble obedience. The goldyn targe harmyt thay nothing. Curage in thame was noucht begonne to spring, Full sore thay dred to done a violence. Suete Womanhede I saw cum in presence - Of artilye a warld sche did in bring, Servit wyth ladyes full of reverence. Sche led wyth hir Nurture and Lawlynes, Contenence, Pacience, Gude Fame, and Stedfastnes, Discrecioun, Gentrise, and Considerance, Levefull Company, and Honest Besynes, Benigne Luke, Mylde Chere, and Sobirnes: All thir bure ganyeis to do me grevance. Bot Reson bure the targe wyth sik constance, Thair scharp assayes mycht do no dures To me, for all thair aufull ordynance. Unto the pres persewit Hie Degree: Hir folowit ay Estate and Dignitee, Comparisoun, Honour, and Noble Array, Will, Wantonnes, Renoun, and Libertee, Richesse, Fredome, and eke Nobilitee. Wit ye thay did thair baner hye display. A cloud of arowis as hayle schour lousit thay, And schot quhill wastit was thair artilye, Syne went abak reboytit of thair pray. Quhen Venus had persavit this rebute, Dissymilance scho bad go mak persute At all powere to perse the goldyn targe; And scho, that was of doubilnes the rute, Askit hir choise of archeris in refute. Venus the best bad hir go wale at large. Scho tuke Presence, plicht anker of the barge, And Fair Callyng, that wele a flayn coud schute, And Cherising for to complete hir charge. Dame Hamelynes scho tuke in company, That hardy was and hende in archery, And broucht Dame Beautee to the felde agayn With all the choise of Venus chevalry. Thay come and bikkerit unabaisitly - The schour of arowis rappit on as rayn. Perilouse Presence, that mony syre has slayn, The bataill broucht on bordour hard us by. The salt was all the sarar, suth to sayn. Thik was the schote of grundyn dartis kene, Bot Resoun, with the scheld of gold so schene, Warly defendit quhosoevir assayit. The aufull stoure he manly did sustene, Quhill Presence kest a pulder in his ene; And than as drunkyn man he all forvayit. Quhen he was blynd, the fule wyth him thay playit And banyst hym amang the bewis grene. That sory sicht me sudaynly affrayit. Than was I woundit to the deth wele nere, And yoldyn as a wofull prisonnere To Lady Beautee in a moment space. Me thoucht scho semyt lustiar of chere (Efter that Resoun tynt had his eyne clere) Than of before, and lufliare of face. Quhy was thou blyndit, Resoun, quhi, allace? And gert ane hell my paradise appere, And mercy seme quhare that I fand no grace. Dissymulance was besy me to sile, And Fair Calling did oft apon me smyle, And Cherising me fed wyth wordis fair. New Acquyntance enbracit me a quhile And favouryt me, quhill men mycht go a myle, Syne tuke hir leve, I saw hir nevirmare. Than saw I Dangere toward me repair. I coud eschew hir presence be no wyle, On syde scho lukit wyth ane fremyt fare. And at the last Departing coud hir dresse, And me delyverit unto Hevynesse For to remayne, and scho in cure me tuke. Be this the lord of wyndis with wodenes, God Eolus, his bugill blew I gesse, That with the blast the levis all toschuke. And sudaynly in the space of a luke All was hyne went - thare was bot wildernes, Thare was no more bot birdis, bank, and bruke. In twynklyng of ane eye to schip thai went, And swyth up saile unto the top thai stent, And with swift course atour the flude thai frak. Thai fyrit gunnis with powder violent Till that the reke raise to the firmament. The rochis all resownyt wyth the rak, For rede it semyt that the raynbow brak. Wyth spirit affrayde apon my fete I sprent Amang the clewis, so carefull was the crak. And as I did awake of my sweving, The joyfull birdis merily did syng For myrth of Phebus tender bemes schene. Suete war the vapouris, soft the morowing, Halesum the vale depaynt wyth flouris ying, The air attemperit, sobir, and amene. In quhite and rede was all the felde besene Throu Naturis nobil fresch anamalyng In mirthfull May, of eviry moneth quene. O reverend Chaucere, rose of rethoris all, As in oure tong ane flour imperiall That raise in Britane, evir quho redis rycht, Thou beris of makaris the tryumph riall, Thy fresch anamalit termes celicall This mater coud illumynit haue full brycht. Was thou noucht of oure Inglisch all the lycht, Surmounting eviry tong terrestriall, Alls fer as Mayes morow dois mydnycht? O morall Gower and Ludgate laureate, Your sugurit lippis and tongis aureate Bene to oure eris cause of grete delyte. Your angel mouthis most mellifluate Oure rude langage has clere illumynate, And fair ourgilt oure spech that imperfyte Stude or your goldyn pennis schupe to write. This ile before was bare and desolate Of rethorike or lusty fresch endyte. Thou lytill quair, be evir obedient, Humble, subject, and symple of entent Before the face of eviry connyng wicht. I knaw quhat thou of rethorike hes spent. Of all hir lusty rosis redolent Is non into thy gerland sett on hicht. Eschame tharof and draw thee out of sicht. Rude is thy wede, disteynit, bare, and rent; Wele aucht thou be aferit of the licht. 66. The Merle and the Nightingale In May as that Aurora did upspring With cristall ene chasing the cluddis sable, I hard a merle with mirry notis sing A sang of lufe with voce rycht confortable, Agane the orient bemis amiable Upone a blisfull brenche of lawry grene. This wes hir sentens sueit and delectable: "A lusty lyfe in luves service bene." Undir this brench ran doun a revir bricht Of balmy liquour cristallyne of hew Agane the hevinly aisur skyis licht, Quhair did upone the tother syd persew A nychtingall with suggurit notis new, Quhois angell fedderis as the pacok schone. This wes hir song and of a sentens trew: "All luve is lost bot upone God allone." With notis glaid and glorius armony This joyfull merle so salust scho the day Quhill rong the widdis of hir melody, Saying, "Awalk, ye luvaris, o this May! Lo, fresche Flora hes flurest every spray As Natur hes hir taucht, the noble quene. The feild bene clothit in a new array: A lusty lyfe in luvis service bene." Nevir suetar noys wes hard with levand man Na maid this mirry gentill nychtingaill. Hir sound went with the rever as it ran Outthrow the fresche and flureist lusty vaill. "O merle," quod scho, "O fule, stynt of thy taill, For in thy song gud sentens is thair none, For boith is tynt the tyme and the travaill Of every luve bot upone God allone." "Seis," quod the merle, "thy preching, nychtingale! Sall folk thair yewth spend into holines? Of yung sanctis growis auld feyndis, but faill. Fy, ypocreit in yeiris tendirnes, Agane the law of kynd thow gois expres That crukit aige makis on with yewth serene, Quhome Natur of conditionis maid dyvers: A lusty lyfe in luves service bene." The nychtingaill said, "Fule, remembir thee That both in yewth and eild and every hour The luve of God most deir to man suld be, That Him of nocht wrocht lyk His awin figour And deit Himself, fro deid him to succour. O, quhithir wes kythit thair, trew lufe or none? He is most trew and steidfast paramour: All luve is lost bot upone him allone." The merle said, "Quhy put God so grit bewté In ladeis with sic womanly having, Bot gife He wald that thay suld luvit be? To luve eik Natur gaif thame inclynnyng, And He, of Natur that wirker wes and king, Wald nothing frustir put nor lat be sene Into his creature of His awin making: A lusty lyfe in luves service bene." The nychtingall said, "Nocht to that behufe Put God sic bewty in a ladeis face That scho suld haif the thank thairfoir, or Lufe, Bot He, the wirker, that put in hir sic grace Of bewty, bontie, riches, tyme or space, And every gudnes that bene to cum or gone, The thank redoundis to Him in every place: All luve is lost bot upone God allone." "O nychtingall, it wer a story nyce That luve suld nocht depend on cherité; And gife that vertew contrair be to vyce, Than lufe mon be a vertew, as thinkis me, For ay to lufe invy mone contrair be. God bad eik lufe thy nychtbour fro the splene, And quho than ladeis suetar nychbouris be? A lusty lyfe in lufes service bene." The nychtingaill said, "Bird, quhy dois thow raif? Ane man may in his lady tak sic delyt Him to forget that hir sic bewtie gaif, And for his hevin rassaif hir cullour quhyt. Hir goldin tressit hairis redomyt, Lyk to Appollois bemis thocht thay schone, Suld nocht him blind fro lufe that is perfyt: All lufe is lost bot upone God allone." The merle said, "Lufe is caus of honour ay, Luve makis cowardis manheid to purchas, Luve makis knychtis hardy at assey, Luve makis wrechis full of lergenes, Luve makis sueir folkis full of bissines, Luve makis sluggirdis fresche and weill besene, Luve changis vyce in vertewis nobilnes. A lusty lyfe in luvis service bene." The nychtingaill said, "Trew is the contrary! Sic frustir luve it blindis men so far Into thair myndis it makis thame to vary. In fals vane glory thai so drunkin ar, Thair wit is went, of wo thai ar nocht war Quhill that all wirchip away be fro thame gone - Fame, guddis, and strenth - quhairfoir weill say I dar, All luve is lost bot upone God allone." Than said the merle, "Myn errour I confes. This frustir luve all is bot vanité. Blind ignorance me gaif sic hardines To argone so agane the varité. Quhairfoir I counsall every man that he With lufe nocht in the Feindis net be tone, Bot luve the Luve that did for his lufe de. All lufe is lost bot upone God allone." Than sang thay both with vocis lowd and cleir. The merle sang, "Man, lufe God that hes thee wrocht." The nychtingall sang, "Man, lufe the lord most deir That thee and all this warld hes maid of nocht." The merle said, "Luve Him that thy lufe hes socht Fra hevin to erd and heir tuk flesche and bone." The nychtingall sang, "And with His deid thee bocht. All luve is lost bot upone Him allone." Thane flaw thir birdis our the bewis schene, Singing of lufe amang the levis small, Quhois ythand pleid into my thocht is grene, Bothe sleping, walking, in rest and in travall. Me to reconfort most it dois availl, Agane for lufe quhen lufe I can find none, To think how song this merle and nychtingaill: All lufe is lost bot upone God allone. 67. Love's Inconstancy Quha will behald of luve the chance With sueit dissavyng countenance, In quhais fair dissimulance    May none assure; Quhilk is begun with inconstance And endis nocht but variance. Scho haldis with continuance    No serviture. Discretioun and considerance Ar both out of hir govirnance, Quhairfoir of it the schort plesance    May nocht indure. Scho is so new of acquentance, The auld gais fra remembrance. Thus I gife our the observans    Of luvis cure. It is ane pount of ignorance To lufe in sic distemperance, Sen tyme mispendit may avance    No creature. In luve to keip allegance, It war als nys an ordinance As quha wald bid ane deid man dance    In sepulture. 68. True Love [And trew luve rysis fro the splene] Now cumis aige quhair yewth hes bene, And trew luve rysis fro the splene. Now culit is Dame Venus brand, Trew luvis fyre is ay kindilland, And I begyn to undirstand In feynit luve quhat foly bene. Now cumis aige quhair yewth hes bene, And trew luve rysis fro the splene. Quhill Venus fyre be deid and cauld, Trew luvis fyre nevir birnis bauld. So as the ta lufe waxis auld, The tothir dois incres moir kene. Now cumis aige quhair yewth hes bene, And trew lufe rysis fro the splene. No man hes curege for to wryte Quhat plesans is in lufe perfyte, That hes in fenyeit lufe delyt - Thair kyndnes is so contrair clene. Now cumis aige quhair yewth hes bene, And trew lufe rysis fro the splene. Full weill is him that may imprent Or onywayis his hairt consent To turne to trew luve his intent And still the quarrell to sustene. Now cumis aige quhair yewth hes bene, And trew lufe rysis fro the splene. I haif experience by mysell, In luvis court anis did I dwell; Bot quhair I of a joy cowth tell, I culd of truble tell fyftene. Now cumis aige quhair yewth hes bene, And trew lufe rysis fro the splene. Befoir quhair that I wes in dreid, Now haif I confort for to speid; Quhair I had maugré to my meid, I trest rewaird and thankis betuene. Now cumis aige quhair yewth hes bene, And trew lufe rysis fro the splene. Quhair lufe wes wont me to displeis, Now find I into lufe grit eis; Quhair I had denger and diseis, My breist all confort dois contene. Now cumis aige quhair yewth hes bene, And trew lufe rysis fro the splene. Quhair I wes hurt with jelosy And wald no luver wer bot I, Now quhair I lufe I wald all wy Als weill as I luvit, I wene. Now cumis aige quhair yewth hes bene, And trew lufe rysis fro the splene. Befoir quhair I durst nocht for schame My lufe discure nor tell hir name, Now think I wirschep wer and fame To all the warld that it war sene. Now cumis aige quhair yewth hes bene, And trew lufe rysis fro the splene. Befoir no wicht I did complene, So did hir denger me derene; And now I sett nocht by a bene Hir bewty nor hir twa fair ene. Now cumis aige quhair yewth hes bene, And trew lufe rysis fro the splene. I haif a luve farar of face, Quhome in no denger may haif place, Quhilk will me guerdoun gif and grace, And mercy ay quhen I me mene. Now cumis aige quhair yewth hes bene, And trew lufe rysis fro the splene. Unquyt I do nothing nor sane, Nor wairis a luvis thocht in vane. I sal be als weill luvit agane, Thair may no jangler me prevene. Now cumis aige quhair yewth hes bene, And trew luve rysis fro the splene. Ane lufe so fare, so gud, so sueit, So riche, so rewthfull, and discreit, And for the kynd of man so meit, Nevirmoir sal be nor yit hes bene. Now cumis aige quhair yewth hes bene And trew lufe rysis fro the splene. Is none sa trew a luve as He That for trew lufe of us did de. He suld be luffit agane, think me, That wald sa fane our luve obtene. Now cumis aige quhair yewth hes bene, And trew lufe rysis fro the splene. Is non but grace of God, iwis, That can in yewth considdir this. This fals dissavand warldis blis So gydis man in flouris grene. Now cumis aige quhair yewth hes bene, And trew luve rysis fro the splene.

(see note) Delightful; loveliness; (see note) goodness; beauty (see note) private garden; enter; (see note) hue (color) white and red, most pleasant; (see note) flourishing; (see note) leaf; none of rue; (see note) fear of which I speak such pain root comforting; might be Since; (see note) To; fairest myself entrust power; remain gazed; goodliest one; (see note) [my] leisure Until; captured without physical contact Attractive Manner; (see note) wounded; without sword (t-note) (see note) custom seize; looking here Yes; by chance; (t-note) brought me bound to the gate Disdain; [the] porter ever; (see note); (t-note) these words did they say Make him stay; not escape Said; (see note) Unto; assert too poor cast without lock or chain called; (see note) [a] great insult Although I was sad I dared not complain many a worthy adversary; (t-note) could I say (see note) Indifference; watchman; (see note) jester bauble shook hostile look observes (?) too townish (bourgeois); book; (see note) Good Hope whispered; ear; (see note) boldly write a letter Humility; should it carry awakened and wrote to her; desire; (see note) went without fear soft words "Have pity on" Pity; (see note) brief [If] we allow; [to] be destroyed [Then] no man will support us Let us make a siege appear [there, too] pledge, I come across; (see note) hope to release arranged; (see note) always in the vanguard remained Desire bore the banner Vigor the great siege engine brought What do you want? have entry here [all] for nought prepared; (see note) assailed great siege engine drew foretower; (see note) grovel; (see note) I request of you favorable treatment (?) [will] bring to you set fire to the gates immediately; (see note) bundles of sticks [that] were where he lay burned in the porter's lodge Vigorously they fought without a judge The seemliest [one] was [now] besieged; (see note) Through Scorn's nose; stab wound; (see note) Thus he was banished; scar quickly put to earth (i.e., killed); (see note) leaped and broke his neck; (see note) fled; remainder chased; chambermaid; (see note) drowned in a sack; (see note); (t-note) freed After Slander heard; defeated; (see note) (t-note) band rose up and rode all over the plains cousin scandalmongers; (t-note) conceals Blabbed about Then annoyed; great host entirely armed, without falsehood (i.e., assuredly) Chased; sea coast Then; (see note) without [a] doubt endorsed; (see note) (t-note) By then of age was Good Fame's heir; (see note) had come into [his] inheritance brought himself wore (see note) mother possessed without doubt And still abides, as is proper heart's; undoubted foe; (see note) thusly which; separate Cease; slaughter; (see note) love done; womanliness should; an innocent man deed Leave; save throughout; quite injured vigorously; (see note) weary; spirit; (t-note) Such deadly swoons; harmfully experienced spirit runs; aghast Beseeching; knees Before wild, intolerable pain which shall be my injury Why under [your] safe-keeping; (see note) death ointment; medicine Without; for lack of which I die pity; (see note) hue (color) grief; mourning; (see note) tears Pity; useless, [if] you help not should see White dove; humility; (see note) turtle dove compassion; fruit wealth absent from gentle thoughts (see note) Since; person (see note) When; to speak for me while; sight eyes; close up and shut asunder breaks until; move And then, farewell If you are a lover; not; should behavior If you are not; about you be said; (see note) fear of false judgment miser nor stingy; (see note) loath ruled rightly (see note) liar; (see note) tattle-tell scandal-monger to these vices [a] slave falsehood be not a talker when dismayed because of wicked tongues; (see note) disposed; have told you before so free in spouting these wise sayings; (see note) overly proud; have no equal; (see note) others from you learn; (see note) (see note); (t-note) proclaimer like a friar star; began; (see note) were the evening star and moon; (see note) arose; a rose bush; recline of the morning; (see note) purified beams birds Before; purple; clothed; (see note) (see note) upon a most mirthful morn these; (see note) Behind; curtains blossoms sweet Enameled; field showers; (see note); (t-note) balm (i.e., dewdrops); flow weep; (t-note) (t-note) plants; (see note) artful notes buds Were glowing resounded overlaid; streaks; (see note) Gilded glade; (see note) lovely; those pleasing gleams lake (i.e., water); shine shown; (t-note) boughs; (t-note) reflection; face hedges; up high brook; breams (carp) pebbles; stars; (see note) sapphire; (see note) Cast; boughs; (t-note) garden, decorated and fragrant; (see note) red (see note) cliff flame illuminated Because of; harmony; (see note) river's sound; (t-note) (see note) against; eastern; (see note) as white top-castle; star moved toward; eagerly (see note); (t-note) close beside the flowery meadow; (see note) sedge and the reeds from which there disembarked attired in lovely clothing garments; caps or headbands hung shining; strands tied white breasts would; who; fully tell; (see note); (t-note) those shine Not; Homer Marcus Tullius Cicero abound too insufficient; (see note) portray queen; (see note) bright (see note) (see note) poets is; (see note) (see note) dissembling; gleaming; (see note) These joyous beams; (see note) (see note) her sisters bright greatly in her green youthfulness worth color; exists Decorated and embroidered; (t-note) joyously; all together covered by thick leaves; (see note) (see note) Welcomed also on bank; (see note) Opened; dewy leaves bowing nourishing Then; same manner greeted; times love's songs of love; fashion; (t-note) green (i.e., fresh) heart warblings sweet; pierce While loudly resounded following; (see note) (see note) warlike; (see note); (t-note) muscular ill-tempered; hoary; (see note) glance (see note) founded the flowers (i.e., ornaments) gardens; (see note) delightful entry; (see note) [the] seas changeable looks elfish; (see note) black them; arrayed; (see note) performed Along hear crept; (see note) frightened by love's; (see note) archers (see note); (t-note) strong bows of braided hair; (t-note) battle formation assumed afraid pleasing to look upon wondrous assault assailed me (see note) destroy; (see note) Then; together (see note); (t-note) like war-like Mars knight; (t-note) Then; young shy Bashfulness trembling Timidness; (see note) they harmed not at all was not yet present do a violent deed artillery; world (i.e., a large amount) Humility Purity Gentility; Thoughtfulness; (t-note) Companionship; Activities All these bore weapons held the shield; such attacks; harm military might pursued High Rank Position and Respect (see note) Desire; (see note) Generosity (see note) hail shower they loosed until used up Then; deprived repulse; (see note) ordered; pursuit With; pierce the root of deceitfulness for protection choose at will [the] main anchor; (see note); (t-note) arrow; (see note) Familiarity; (see note) skillful choicest of Venus' knights attacked unabashedly fell like rain many [a] man on the field close by assault; more fierce, truth (see note) (t-note) awful attack; endure Until; cast; powder; eyes; (t-note) mis-went the fool; (see note) banished; boughs taken more lively in manner had lost lovelier Why; (see note) made found assail; (see note) Then approach could avoid; by no means in a disdainful manner presented herself; (see note) control; (t-note) And then; fierceness; (see note) leaves all shook; (t-note) glance gone (see note); (t-note) quickly; spread upon the sea they fled fired guns smoke rose cliffs; racket Because of the din feet I leapt crags; terrible from my dream; (see note) were the mists Freshly [was] temperate; mild; pleasant enameling rhetoricians; (see note) tongue; (t-note) bear of poets; royal celestial illuminated English; (see note); (t-note) Surpassing eloquent sugared lips; golden Are; ears; delight clearly illuminated gilded Stood before; (t-note) isle poetry book; (see note) modest; (see note) skillful person expended; (t-note) roses fragrant Be shame-faced clothing; stained; torn; (see note) ought; afraid the Dawn; (see note) eyes; the dark clouds heard; (see note) pleasing In response to; beams laurel; (see note); (t-note) saying sweet joyful; (see note) (see note) water Reflecting other side spoke sweet notes Whose angelic feathers; (see note) (see note) harmony greets While the woods rang (reverberated) lovers; (see note) (see note) (t-note) was heard by living man Than made blooming fool, cease; (see note) meaning lost; (see note) Cease without fail; (see note); (t-note) hypocrite; youth; (see note) Against; nature you speak crooked age should agree Nature made of diverse traits Fool (or Fowl); (see note) old age from nothing made; (see note) died; death; save which was shown there; (see note) (see note) Why did God put such great beauty such femininity Unless; wished also; (t-note) creator; (see note) worthless Not; purpose; (see note) whenever or wherever is to come or has been credit belongs foolish tale; (see note) if must also; heart sweeter (t-note) rave (t-note) (t-note) take her white color (i.e., lovely skin) resplendent beams though (see note) obtain during battle misers; generosity lazy folks; activity sluggards attractive (see note) Such worthless; (t-note) (see note); (t-note) (see note) (t-note) argue; the truth Fiend's; taken; (see note) die; (see note) (see note) made made from nothing; (t-note) sought earth bought (redeemed) these; over; bright boughs Whose sustained dispute; (t-note) waking; (t-note) comfort (see note) [Let] whoever wishes behold; (see note) sweet deceiving whose; dissembling have trust Which; inconstancy; (see note) [with] nothing but inconstancy steadfastness; (see note) service (see note) control (see note); (t-note) friendships; (see note) old goes abandon; (see note) labor sign; (see note) such disarray Since; misused; profit; (see note) (see note) were as foolish an order ask a dead man to dance [the] tomb comes old age where youth; (see note) arises from the heart cooled; torch; (see note) always burning; (t-note) false love what folly [there] is When; is dead and cold burns boldly; (see note) one [kind of] love grows other; more keenly [the] ability perfect love Who delights in false love Their natures are opposite (t-note) Well-off; impress upon; (see note) in any way conflict to withstand have; myself; (see note) once whereof I one joy could tell uncertainty succeed ill-will as my reward expect [to receive] reward; also great ease disdain and pain wished there were no lover but me wish all men [Were] loved as well as I disclose were were seen aloofness me derange; (t-note) not the value of a bean; (see note) eyes fairer; (see note) In whom no disdain Who; give reward and grace lament Unrepaid; say expends shall be as well loved in return gossiper; injure sweet; (t-note) merciful; wise nature; fitting (see note) die loved joyfully; (t-note) [There] is no one; indeed; (see note) deceiving guides; (i.e, during his youth); (see note)