Le Livre du Duc des vrais amants
{"WorkMasterId":5395,"WpPageId":260698,"ParentWpPageId":193784,"Slug":"le-livre-du-duc-des-vrais-amants","Url":"https://chrisdeasy.com/theos/humanities/philosophy/philosophers/christine-de-pizan/le-livre-du-duc-des-vrais-amants/","RelativeUrl":"theos/humanities/philosophy/philosophers/christine-de-pizan/le-livre-du-duc-des-vrais-amants/","HasFullText":true,"RawHtmlLength":278206,"CleanHtmlLength":222096,"Kicker":"Philosophy Work","Title":"Le Livre du Duc des vrais amants","Deck":"Christine examines love, counsel, self-deception, reputation, and emotional governance through a romance narrative with embedded letters.","BackLink":{"Text":"Back to Christine de Pizan","Url":"https://chrisdeasy.com/theos/humanities/philosophy/philosophers/christine-de-pizan/"},"AuthorCard":{"Label":"Author","Title":"Christine de Pizan","Url":"https://chrisdeasy.com/theos/humanities/philosophy/philosophers/christine-de-pizan/","MediaHref":"","ImageSrc":"https://chrisdeasy.com/wp-content/uploads/christine-de-pizan-01-presentation-to-isabeau-cropped-illumination.jpg","ImageAlt":"Presentation illumination of Christine and Isabeau","FilterTerra":"Eastern Mediterranean","ClickText":"Christine de Pizan","ClickHref":"https://chrisdeasy.com/theos/humanities/philosophy/philosophers/christine-de-pizan/","Copies":["1364 CE – 1430 CE","Venice, Republic of Venice","Late medieval writer and political thinker whose defenses of women, education, virtue, wise rule, and responsible speech made manuscript authorship, courtly debate, and civic ethics central to early Renaissance philosophy."]},"ContextCards":[{"Label":"Period","Key":"Period:3","Title":"Early Modern History","DateText":"1500 CE – 1799 CE","Url":"https://chrisdeasy.com/theos/humanities/philosophy/eras-of-thought/philosophers-of-early-modern-history/"},{"Label":"Era","Key":"Era:7","Title":"Renaissance and Reformation","DateText":"1500 CE – 1599 CE","Url":"https://chrisdeasy.com/theos/humanities/philosophy/eras-of-thought/philosophers-of-early-modern-history/philosophers-of-the-renaissance-and-reformation/"},{"Label":"Composition","Title":"1404 CE","Url":"","DateText":""}],"DateNote":"Displayed year follows the standard 1403-1404 chronology, with 1404 used for ordering.","GeoCards":[{"Label":"Region","Key":"Region:1"},{"Label":"Terra Avita","Key":"TerraAvita:2"},{"Label":"Terra Avita Region","Key":"TerraAvitaRegion:6"},{"Label":"Modern Country","Key":"Country:ITA:2"}],"OriginalTitle":"Le Livre du Duc des vrais amants","Language":"Middle French","DisciplineCards":[{"Label":"Primary Discipline","Key":"Discipline:ethics"},{"Label":"Secondary Discipline","Key":"Discipline:philosophy-of-mind"}],"Tradition":"Late Medieval and Early Renaissance Humanism","FullText":{"Title":"Full Text","Copy":"Public-domain full text from Project Gutenberg eBook #36737 .","Url":"","Label":"","Kicker":"","Cards":[]},"CoreThesis":["Christine examines love, counsel, self-deception, reputation, and emotional governance through a romance narrative with embedded letters."],"Classification":{"AlternateTitles":"The Book of the Duke of True Lovers; Duc des vrais amants","KeyConcepts":"true lovers; counsel; emotion; reputation; self-deception; romance; moral psychology; prudence","Methodology":"Courtly, allegorical, historical, and didactic argument that combines learned authorities, exempla, dialogue, moral instruction, and political counsel.","Structure":"Standalone Christine de Pizan work transmitted through manuscript culture and later editions."},"Arguments":["Christine examines love, counsel, self-deception, reputation, and emotional governance through a romance narrative with embedded letters."],"Influence":{"InfluencedBy":"Christine works with Biblical, classical, Boethian, French courtly, humanist, and scholastic materials, including Boccaccio, Petrarch, Dante, Ovidian debate, Aristotle, and mirrors-for-princes traditions.","InfluenceOn":""},"Significance":["Accepted because it is listed by JHU and ARLIMA as a direct Christine work and is represented in manuscript tradition.","Christine examines love, counsel, self-deception, reputation, and emotional governance through a romance narrative with embedded letters."],"EvidenceNote":["Accepted because it is listed by JHU and ARLIMA as a direct Christine work and is represented in manuscript tradition."],"MainSections":[{"Kind":"RawSection","Title":"Full Versions","BodyHtml":"\u003cdiv class=\"dz-philo__full-version-grid\"\u003e\n \u003carticle class=\"dz-philo__full-version-card\"\u003e\n \u003cp class=\"dz-philo__full-version-provider\"\u003eProject Gutenberg\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003ch3 class=\"dz-philo__full-version-title\"\u003eProject Gutenberg eBook #36737\u003c/h3\u003e\n \u003cp class=\"dz-philo__full-version-meta\"\u003eHtmlText · Imported\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003ca class=\"dz-philo__full-version-link\" href=\"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/36737\"\u003eOpen full version\u003c/a\u003e\n \u003c/article\u003e\n \u003c/div\u003e"},{"Kind":"TextSection","Title":"Core Thesis","Paragraphs":["Christine examines love, counsel, self-deception, reputation, and emotional governance through a romance narrative with embedded letters."]},{"Kind":"FieldSection","Title":"Classification","Fields":[{"Label":"Alternate Titles","Value":"The Book of the Duke of True Lovers; Duc des vrais amants"},{"Label":"Key Concepts","Value":"true lovers; counsel; emotion; reputation; self-deception; romance; moral psychology; prudence"},{"Label":"Methodology","Value":"Courtly, allegorical, historical, and didactic argument that combines learned authorities, exempla, dialogue, moral instruction, and political counsel."},{"Label":"Structure","Value":"Standalone Christine de Pizan work transmitted through manuscript culture and later editions."}]},{"Kind":"TextSection","Title":"Arguments","Paragraphs":["Christine examines love, counsel, self-deception, reputation, and emotional governance through a romance narrative with embedded letters."]},{"Kind":"FieldSection","Title":"Influence","Fields":[{"Label":"Influenced By","Value":"Christine works with Biblical, classical, Boethian, French courtly, humanist, and scholastic materials, including Boccaccio, Petrarch, Dante, Ovidian debate, Aristotle, and mirrors-for-princes traditions."},{"Label":"Influence On","Value":"Christine\u0027s corpus shaped the Querelle des femmes, later defenses of women, medieval political thought, conduct literature, manuscript authorship, and modern feminist philosophy."}]},{"Kind":"TextSection","Title":"Significance","Paragraphs":["Accepted because it is listed by JHU and ARLIMA as a direct Christine work and is represented in manuscript tradition.","Christine examines love, counsel, self-deception, reputation, and emotional governance through a romance narrative with embedded letters."]},{"Kind":"TextSection","Title":"Evidence Note","Paragraphs":["Accepted because it is listed by JHU and ARLIMA as a direct Christine work and is represented in manuscript tradition."]},{"Kind":"RawSection","Title":"Full Text","BodyHtml":"\u003cp class=\"dz-philo__section-copy dz-philo__full-text-source\"\u003ePublic-domain full text from \u003ca href=\"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/36737\"\u003eProject Gutenberg eBook #36737\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003carticle class=\"dz-philo__full-text-body\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch2 class=\"level-2 pfirst section-title title\"\u003eTRANSLATOR\u0027S NOTE\u003c/h2\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eThe only two known MSS., both early fifteenth\r\ncentury French, of the love-story here rendered\r\ninto English prose, are the one in the Bibliothèque\r\nNationale (836), and that in the British\r\nMuseum (Harley, 4431).\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThe MS. in the Bibliothèque Nationale forms one\r\nof the treasures of the famous collection of MSS.\r\nmade by Jean, Duc de Berry, the Mecænas of illuminated\r\nMSS. At his death it passed into the possession\r\nof his daughter Marie, who, by marriage, had become\r\nDuchesse de Bourbon. When, in the reign of François\r\nI., the Connétable de Bourbon, to whom it had\r\ndescended, was disgraced, the king seized his books\r\nand MSS., and carried them off to Fontainebleau,\r\nwell pleased to add by any means, righteous or unrighteous,\r\nto the treasures of the royal library. Here\r\nthis MS. and others remained until the reign of\r\nCharles IX., when they were removed to Paris, and\r\nplaced in the Bibliothèque du Roi, now the world-famous\r\nBibliothèque Nationale.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThe MS. in the British Museum has also had an\r\ninteresting and chequered career. It was originally\r\npresented by Christine de Pisan to Isabelle of Bavaria,\r\nthe queen of Charles VI. of France, whose books and\r\nMSS. were, in 1425, acquired by John, Duke of Bedford,\r\nRegent of France. It is more than probable\r\nthat this MS. was amongst these and was brought to\r\nEngland, for the various signatures on the enclosing\r\nparchment would certainly seem to indicate that this\r\nwas the case. Late in the fifteenth century the MS.\r\nwas sold to one of the most celebrated bibliophiles of\r\nthe day, Louis of Bruges. After this, there is a blank\r\nin its history, until, in the seventeenth century, we find\r\nit once more in England, in the possession of Henry,\r\nDuke of Newcastle, whose grand-daughter married\r\nEdward Harley, Earl of Oxford, the founder of the\r\nsplendid collection of MSS. and books purchased in\r\n1754 for the British Museum, and now known as the\r\nHarleian Collection.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThe writer of the story, Christine de Pisan, was one\r\nof the world\u0027s many famous women, and one who, by\r\nher life and work, created an ideal for womankind—that\r\nof sweetness and strength. Born in Venice in\r\n1363, she was, when five years of age, taken by her\r\nmother to Paris, to join her father, Thomas de Pisan,\r\nwho had been summoned thither by the king, Charles\r\nV., to serve as his astrologer, in which service he\r\nremained until the king\u0027s death. The Court of\r\nCharles V. was, in spite of the constant warfare that\r\ntroubled his kingdom, at once most cultured and refined,\r\nand it was in such surroundings that Christine\r\nwas brought up. At the age of fifteen she was married\r\nto the king\u0027s notary and secretary, Etienne de Castel,\r\na gentleman of Picardy, who, however, died some ten\r\nyears later, leaving her with three children to provide\r\nfor. Like many another, she turned to letters as both\r\na material and a mental support. She wrote not only\r\npurely lyrical poetry, of extraordinary variety and\r\nabundance considering that the subject is almost invariably\r\nthe joys and sorrows of love, sometimes, as she\r\ntells us, expressing her own sentiments, sometimes\r\nthose of others at whose request she wrote, but she\r\nalso wrote sacred and scientific poems, and moral and\r\npolitical prose works, and a kind of romantic fiction, of\r\nwhich the story of The Duke of True Lovers is an\r\nexample, although it is quite possible, and indeed\r\nprobable, that it has some historic basis.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eChristine begins her story by saying that it had been\r\nconfided to her by a young prince who did not wish\r\nhis name to be divulged, and who desired only to be\r\nknown as The Duke of True Lovers. It has been\r\nsuggested, with much likelihood, that this is the love\r\nstory of Jean, Duc de Bourbon, and Marie, Duchesse\r\nde Berry, who has already been alluded to as the\r\ndaughter of the famous Jean, Duc de Berry, and the\r\ninheritor of his MSS. This Marie had been married,\r\nwhen quite a child, to Louis III. de Chatillon, Comte\r\nde Dunois, and afterwards to Philippe d\u0027Artois, Comte\r\nd\u0027Eu, Constable of France, whose wife she was at the\r\ntime when the incidents which have been woven into\r\nthis story are supposed to have taken place. Philippe\r\nd\u0027Artois only survived the marriage three or four\r\nyears, and after three years of widowhood, the already\r\nmuch-married Marie wedded (1400) our hero, Jean,\r\nDuc de Bourbon.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThe principal facts which seem to afford strong evidence\r\nin favour of connecting this love story with the\r\ntwo princely houses of Bourbon and Berry are (1) that\r\nthe MS. originally formed part of the library of the\r\nDuc de Berry, and subsequently passed on marriage\r\nto that of the Duc de Bourbon; (2) that although\r\nChristine\u0027s MSS. generally were so copied and multiplied\r\nduring her lifetime that they number even now\r\nat least two hundred, there is only one other copy—the\r\none already referred to as being in the British\r\nMuseum—known of this particular MS., this alone\r\nseeming to indicate that its contents were regarded as\r\nof a private family nature; and (3) that to add to the\r\nmystery, and to ensure secrecy, there is no definite\r\nending to the romance. The story merely tells us\r\nthat the ducal lover, harassed by mischief-makers, and\r\nunable to bear the pain of a separation in his own\r\ncountry which her position and his own gallantry alike\r\ndemanded, departs with the army for an expedition in\r\nSpain. For ten years the lovers meet from time to\r\ntime during the intervals between journeying and war,\r\nand further solace each other with short love-poems,\r\nexpressive of pensive longing, and with these the story\r\nends vaguely. But if we accept the story as being\r\nfounded on real life, history supplies a more definite\r\nending. As already stated, soon after the death of\r\nMarie\u0027s second husband, Philippe, the lovers are\r\nmarried, and spend a few happy years in their castle\r\nat Moulins, the chief town of the Duke\u0027s domains,\r\nsurrounded by and enjoying rare works of art and\r\nliterature, their happiness only marred by the unsettled\r\nstate of France, and by consequent calls on the\r\nDuke to fight for his country. It was on one of such\r\noccasions—the memorable and decisive battle of Agincourt\r\n(1415)—that the Duke was made prisoner, and\r\ntaken to London, where he died in captivity, and\r\nMarie, his Duchess, was left to mourn, and this time\r\nin real sorrow.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThus ends the story, which Christine has told with\r\nher wonderful gift as painter-poet. Besides making\r\nthe lovers, and that noxious growth of civilisation, the\r\ninevitable scandal-monger, intensely living through her\r\nwomanly sympathy and psychological insight, and\r\nintroducing, in the form of a letter, a most comprehensive\r\nand remarkable treatise on feminine morality,\r\nthe dangers of illicit love, and the satisfaction of simple\r\nwifely duty, she takes us in imagination to a royal\r\ncastle of the fifteenth century. There we seem to live\r\nthe daily life of its courtly circle, and, through the\r\nvivid description of the sumptuous pageant, to take\r\npart in the three days\u0027 tournament, and in the merry\r\nrevels which bring each day to a close. As we read,\r\nwe realise the extraordinary power of this woman, who\r\nseems in description to use the exact and detailed\r\nbrush of a Meissonier, whilst in her outlook on life she\r\npossesses the broader and freer touch of a Puvis de\r\nChavannes. Truly is it a master-mind indeed which\r\ncan see life largely, and see it well!\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eMuch might be written about the interesting and\r\ntalented Christine, but we must bid her farewell now\r\nand here. Still she must ever be held in remembrance\r\nfor her untiring championship of two things very near\r\nto her heart—a patriotic love for the land of her\r\nadoption, and an ardent devotion to the cause of\r\nwomankind. She had the happiness before her\r\ndeath, which occurred about 1430 in the Convent of\r\nPoissy, near Paris, to which she had retired, of seeing\r\nFrance aroused to patriotism, and that, too, by a\r\nwoman—Joan of Arc.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-2 section\" id=\"id1\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch2 class=\"level-2 pfirst section-title title\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"invisible pageno target\" title=\"1\" id=\"page-1\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eTHE BOOK OF THE DUKE OF TRUE LOVERS\u003c/h2\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eHere begins the Book of The Duke of True Lovers\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAlthough I might have no desire or intent at\r\nthe present time to discourse of love, since all\r\nmy mind is occupied with other matter the which is\r\nmore pleasing to me, I am willing, for the sake of\r\nothers, now to commence a wondrous story, for to this\r\nI am besought by one who, instead of making request,\r\nhas the right to give command to one even more\r\nworthy than I. And this is a lord whom it behoves\r\none duly to obey, and who of his grace has desired me\r\nto make known the trouble which, whether he has been\r\nwise, or whether he has been foolish, he has, during\r\nmany winters and summers, long been in by reason of\r\nlove to the which his heart is still in bondage. But\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"2\" id=\"page-2\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ehe would not that I should make known his name. It\r\ncontents him who tells this story for their sake, to\r\nbe called the Duke of True Lovers. And it is his\r\npleasure that I recount, even as he has told them\r\nunto me, the grievous distresses, the joys, and the\r\nstrange adventures, through the which, during many\r\nbygone years, he has passed. And he would that to\r\nthis rehearsal I should at the same time add other\r\nmatter, the which I grant him, for I know him to be\r\nof such disposition, and of such good sense, that his\r\nhumility will take in good part the imperfection of\r\nmy little poem, and, with his consent, I will relate on\r\nhis behalf the facts even as he has set them forth.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-2 section\" id=\"the-duke-of-true-lovers\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch2 class=\"level-2 pfirst section-title title\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"3\" id=\"page-3\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eTHE DUKE OF TRUE LOVERS\u003c/h2\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eI was a mere lad when I first experienced\r\na great desire to become a lover. And for\r\nthat I heard it maintained that a lover is courteous\r\nabove other folk, and better esteemed amongst men, I\r\ndesired to be one. To this end I resorted thither where\r\nI might choose a lady whom I might serve, but ne\u0027ertheless\r\nI was longwhile without one, for, on my soul, I\r\nhad not the understanding to make choice, and although\r\nI had enough of leisure, I ne\u0027ertheless understood not\r\nhow to discover the way to this. And because of my\r\ndesire, I frequented much fair company of dames and\r\nmaidens, and saw many very fair damsels, but youth\r\nstill kept possession of me, so that in nowise did I know\r\nhow to determine whom to choose. Thus I was longwhile\r\nhappy, content with this gay and pleasing life.\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"4\" id=\"page-4\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eBut when the time dured too long for me, in this\r\nmanner did I make sore plaint to love:—\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eVery God of Love, who art of lovers Lord,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAnd Venus, thou, Love\u0027s Lady and Goddess,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSince in love only is set my happiness,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eVouchsafe to turn my heart soon thitherward.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eVouchsafe, that I be with right courage stored,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSoon to bring unto me my heart\u0027s mistress,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eVery God of Love, who art of lovers Lord.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAnd may I choose, if thou the grace accord,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eOne that shall pardon me the simpleness\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eOf youth, and honour on my days impress;\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eOut of a great desire have I implored,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eVery God of Love, who art of lovers Lord.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eAnd because of the desire which I had in view, oft\r\ndid I discourse thus until that true love heard me,\r\nand gratified my longing. And I will rehearse unto\r\nyou in what manner love first took possession of my\r\nheart and made it captive, and never after set it free.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"align-center auto-scaled figure\" style=\"margin-left: 27%; width: 46%\" id=\"figure-10\"\u003e\r\n\u003cimg style=\"display: block; width: 100%\" alt=\"images/fig_001.jpg\" src=\"https://chrisdeasy.com/wp-content/uploads/gutenberg-le-livre-du-duc-des-vrais-amants-fig-001.jpg\" width=\"100%\"/\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"caption italics\"\u003e\r\n“On a day for my diversion …\r\nwe mounted on to our horses”\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eOn a day, for my diversion, with one of my kinsfolk\r\nand four others of my gentlemen, we mounted on to\r\nour horses. A longing for the chase took possession\r\nof me, and, to ensure success, I caused the huntsmen\r\nto take greyhounds and ferrets. Then, without ado,\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"5\" id=\"page-5\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ewe entered on a path the which I had ofttimes followed,\r\nbut not far had we gone when a wide beaten track\r\nled us whither I knew there were many rabbits.\r\nAnd near by, I assure you, there was a strong and\r\nvery goodly castle, but its name I will not make\r\nknown.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAt that time there was come to this place a Princess\r\nwho was held of every one as so good and beautiful,\r\nand of so great worth, that she was had in honour of\r\nall. In nowise did we know that she was there, since\r\nwe came thither by chance. Here and there, without\r\nthe castle, her attendants amused themselves, some\r\nsinging, some casting the weight, and others, afoot,\r\nexercising with the bar. And as they remained there,\r\nwe turned our steps toward them. Then they all\r\nturned them toward us, and when they perceived us,\r\nand recognised who we were, the chief amongst them\r\nat once rose up. And when they had saluted us, they\r\ntarried not, but, as it seemed to me, by twos and by\r\nthrees repaired them to their mistress. And methinks\r\nthey did not hide from her that we were come there,\r\nfor as soon as we were come quite nigh unto the\r\ncastle, we saw a goodly company of ladies coming\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"6\" id=\"page-6\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eforth to meet us. And these gave us welcome with\r\ngracious bearing.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd we straightway turned toward them, and\r\nsaluted them on bended knee. And there was amongst\r\nthem both a lady and a maiden who were kinsfolk of\r\nher who was mistress of them all. And without giving\r\naffront, and without rebuke, I kissed the maiden with\r\nfair tresses, as well as the lady. And my cousin and\r\nI escorted the maiden, who was high-born, and the\r\nnoble lady, and in suchwise entered the castle.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd the Lady, of whom every one spake well, had\r\nalready come forth from out her chamber, and stood\r\nthere with noble mien, neither proudly, nor haughtily,\r\nbut in such manner as befitted her noble estate and\r\nroyal person. And as soon as we saw her, we duly\r\nsaluted her, and, in a little space, she came forward,\r\nand took me with ungloved hand, and kissed me,\r\nand said, “I knew not of your coming, fair cousin.\r\nYou are right welcome, but what brings you here\r\nnow?”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen said my cousin, “Certes, my Lady, we set\r\nout for amusement, and knew not that you were here.\r\nChance brought us hither, but praised be God who\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"7\" id=\"page-7\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ehas so favoured us that we have found at your hands\r\nso warm a welcome.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd the good and gracious lady laughed at this, and\r\nmade answer, “Then let us go amuse ourselves.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eSo we descended down into a green meadow, and\r\nthen, accompanying us, she went to a very fair place,\r\nand drew me to her right side to sit down beside her.\r\nAnd without more ado, large cushions of gold and of\r\nsilk were brought to her, under the shade of a willow,\r\nwhere, beneath the trees, the waters of a spring ran\r\nfair and clear along a straight channel fashioned and\r\ncut with skill through the green and tender herbage.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd no longer did she remain standing, but she\r\nseated herself with me beside her, and then the others\r\nwithdrew them to a distance from us, and sat them\r\ndown, here and there, beside the stream. Then she\r\nbegan to question me, for I confess that I knew not at\r\nthat time how to converse with her or with others,\r\nfor I was still somewhat young.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd she began her discourse by making enquiry of\r\nme concerning a journey from the which I was newly\r\ncome, and, in especial, of the demeanour and the appearance\r\nof the ladies, and, further, in what manner\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"8\" id=\"page-8\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ethe Court, the which the King and Queen held, was\r\nordered. And I made her answer according to my\r\nknowledge. And I remember me that we discoursed\r\ntogether there of many things.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"align-center auto-scaled figure\" style=\"margin-left: 27%; width: 46%\" id=\"figure-11\"\u003e\r\n\u003cimg style=\"display: block; width: 100%\" alt=\"images/fig_002.jpg\" src=\"https://chrisdeasy.com/wp-content/uploads/gutenberg-le-livre-du-duc-des-vrais-amants-fig-002.jpg\" width=\"100%\"/\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"caption italics\"\u003e\r\n“And now it is time that I\r\ntell how the grievous malady\r\nbegan … for love\u0027s sake.”\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eAnd now it is time that I tell of how the grievous\r\nmalady began the which has made me to suffer right\r\ncruelly for love\u0027s sake. Truly it is a marvel to understand\r\nhow it came to pass that love of her whom I\r\nhad ofttimes seen, but whom I had never before\r\nthought on, took possession of my heart. It is like\r\nunto one who passes over the sea, exploring many lands\r\nto discover that which he might find close at hand,\r\nbut the which he perceives not until another makes it\r\nknown unto him. Thus in truth did it befall me, for,\r\nby reason of my want of understanding, in nowise did\r\nI perceive the grace of my precious lady until love put\r\nme in the way, and I had but desired to see such an\r\none in order to yield my heart to her. For long had\r\nI seen her oft, but, until that day, no thought had I\r\ngiven to her. Thus I had ready to my hand that\r\nwhich I went elsewhere to seek. But, in order to\r\nallay my passion, love at length willed to release my\r\nheart from this strife. And now, when this perfect\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"9\" id=\"page-9\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eone, who has caused me sore trouble, spake to me,\r\nher speech and her gentle and gracious bearing pleased\r\nme more than ever aforetime, and made me wholly\r\ndumb. Intently did I observe her, and right well\r\ndid I contemplate her beauty, since she seemed to\r\nme to be more distinguished, and to have much\r\nmore of grace and sweetness, than I had ever before\r\nobserved.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen love, the playful archer, who saw my silent\r\ndemeanour, and that I was inclined unto love, took the\r\narrow with the which it is his wont to surprise lovers,\r\nand bent his bow, and drew it silently. But I heeded\r\nit not. The arrow of a tender glance, the which is so\r\npleasing and so powerful, pierced me to the heart.\r\nThen was I sore bewildered. Verily did I think myself\r\nto be lost when I felt the loving blow, but my\r\nheart yielded itself to the amorous wound. In nowise\r\nwas the wound mortal, for it came to pass that the\r\nsting pierced me again and again.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen her gentle, laughing eyes, all fraught with\r\nloving fetters, so stirred my heart, that I knew not\r\nhow to make answer unto her. Truly must she have\r\nthought my look and my manner to be foolish, since\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"10\" id=\"page-10\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eI moved neither hand nor foot, and I so ofttimes\r\nchanged colour at her glance, that it might have been\r\nthought that my heart trembled with fear. How\r\nshall I set the matter forth briefly? If I longed to\r\nbe made captive, then in this I failed not.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThus ended the life of my early youth. How to\r\nlive otherwise, true love now taught me. In this\r\nmanner was I made captive from that hour.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eLongwhiles did I remain there, and I discoursed in\r\na simple manner, like unto a child, and, without\r\nceasing, I kindled the burning fire-brand in my heart.\r\nWhen I gazed on her beauty, I was caught as is the\r\nmoth in the candle, or the bird in the lime, and no\r\nheed did I take of it.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd when I had tarried in this place nigh unto the\r\nthird of a summer\u0027s day, my cousin no longer remained\r\nin meditation, but said to me, “Take your leave now,\r\nfor, on my soul, methinks you have detained my Lady\r\ntoo long here, and it is the time to sup.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen the noble and courteous one, who is called fair\r\nand good, besought me much to sup with her, but I\r\nexcused me. For but a short while longer did I linger\r\nthere, and then I arose, and would have taken my\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"11\" id=\"page-11\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eleave, but it behoved us first to take wine, and so we\r\ndrank. And when we had drunken and eaten, I besought\r\nher that of her grace it might please her that\r\nI should escort her to her dwelling, but the fair one\r\nconsented not. So, without tarrying, I took leave of\r\nher and of them all.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen love, the more to pierce my tender heart,\r\ncaused me of a sudden to receive a loving glance from\r\nher, the which came to me like a tender greeting as I\r\nleft the place, for, whiles I was departing, I turned\r\ntowards her, and, as I turned me away, the tender,\r\nfervent look from her fair, loving eyes, fell upon\r\nme in such wise that never, since love lodged there,\r\nhas it faded away. And thus I departed with love\u0027s\r\narrow.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd when we were without the walls, we straightway\r\nmounted on to our horses, and made all haste to set\r\nforth because of the night, the which was already\r\ncome. And by the way, my cousin made great endeavour\r\nto be merry, but as for me, certes I spake not\r\na word, but kept silence, and bowed my head in a very\r\npensive way, for the burning and living flame with\r\nthe which the tender glance had pierced and wholly\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"12\" id=\"page-12\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003etaken possession of my heart, left me not, and I so\r\nthought without ceasing on the beauty of the gentle\r\ncountenance where I had left my heart in pledge,\r\nand on her fair and faultless body and her winning\r\neyes, that all came up before me. Thus I rode forward\r\nin pensive mood. And my cousin conversed\r\nmuch with me by the way, and spake with much good\r\nsense, but since I was wrapped in thought, I listened\r\nnot to him until he said to me, “Fair Sir, what do\r\nyou thus think on in silence, and what is the cause of\r\nthis? Have you not had great joy there from whence\r\nyou come, that you bear yourself so pensively? Certes,\r\nit seems to me, so help me God, that whoso desires a\r\nlady, could not have one fairer and more perfect than,\r\nwithout doubt, is the one from whom you but now\r\ncome. What say you to this? Do I not speak truly?\r\nIs she not courteous and kind? Have you ever in\r\nyour life seen a lady in every way more perfect? To\r\nmy thinking, she is beautiful to look on, and excels\r\nall others in discretion, in honour, in grace, and in\r\nnobility, and, in fine, never on my soul have I seen\r\nher like, save only the lady who is mistress of mine\r\nown heart, for her pure heart displays such surpassing\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"13\" id=\"page-13\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003evirtue that there is none other to be compared to her,\r\nsave only her of whom I have spoken, and this God\r\nwould allow.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd when I heard another praised more than her\r\nwhom I thought on, although before I had held my\r\npeace, no longer for all the gold in the world could\r\nI remain silent, and therefore, pondering deeply, I\r\nsighed and said, “Certes, I will say what I think, if it\r\nbe only that I believe it certain that, if God would\r\nchoose an earthly mistress and friend, none other\r\ncould he desire if he would possess the one in the world\r\nthe most beyond compare, and in pledge of this I\r\noffer my body in combat. If you take not up this\r\ngage, then you love not this same lady of yours who\r\nis without equal in the world, and once again do I\r\navouch that all other ladies are, to this one, only as\r\nare the small sparks from a candle to the brightness\r\nof the stars.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd when he heard me speak thus, he began to\r\nsmile, and verily do I believe that he perceived my\r\nheart to be already gone out to her.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd then he went on in front, and we, riding in\r\nall haste, came in a short space to the place where I\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"14\" id=\"page-14\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003edwelt, and the night had already closed in. And at\r\nthe time, my father was looking out into the court,\r\nand he sternly made enquiry where I had been all the\r\nday long, and I, who had made great haste for that I\r\nfeared and dreaded his anger, saw him at a window,\r\nand much did I wish that he had been elsewhere.\r\nHowsoever I dismounted, and then, without waiting,\r\nI knelt to greet him. Then said he, turning his\r\nhead, “Whence come you, fair Sir? Is it the time\r\nto return home when the night is already come?\r\nBut all is well with him who returns.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd I said not a word to him, and he left me, and\r\nI departed to my chamber. And there I supped,\r\npensive and sad, albeit there were many youths there\r\nwho were at great pains to divert me, and who related\r\nmany tales to me, but know that without ceasing my\r\nthoughts were elsewhere, for it ever seemed to me\r\nthat I saw, face to face, her who knew not how she had\r\nmade captive my heart. And when the time to retire\r\nto rest was come, I laid me down in a well-prepared\r\nand comfortable bed, but I believe not that I slept\r\none hour and a half, and if there was one thing which\r\ndisquieted me more than another, it was that I was\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"15\" id=\"page-15\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003efearful lest perchance she for whom I felt such sweet,\r\njoyous longing, might not look upon this as I desired,\r\nfor, as it seemed to me, nowhere could I obtain solace\r\nwhich could give me so much pleasure, and from the\r\nwhich my heart could derive such happiness, and, in\r\nthis mood, I pondered, and said:—\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-3 section\" id=\"ballad\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch3 class=\"level-3 pfirst section-title title\"\u003eBALLAD\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eVerily, Love, I have no language, none\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eOf thanksgiving sufficient for thy grace\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThat moved me unto love, and such an one\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eGave me for mistress as doth all abase\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eBeside her, queen of beauty and of grace\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAnd precious worth; O, when on her I muse,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eTruly my speech with my thought keeps no pace.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThanks be to thee, who mad\u0027st me her to choose.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eNow all that I desired so dear is won,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eHaving a lady to serve all my days,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eWho holds my heart in joy to think upon\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eHer beauty, and in every hour and place\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eMakes my heart high and glad, so to embrace\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eHer soul with mine, joy that I may not lose.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eMine was the choice, but thine shall be the praise.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThanks be to thee who mad\u0027st me her to choose.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eO now, Love, into whose dominion\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eI yield my heart, vouchsafe my service space\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThat to my lady I suffice alone,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eBeing all hers, and that her beauteous face\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"16\" id=\"page-16\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAnd her regard that doth all pain erase,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eBend pitying on me and not refuse\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eHer tender eyes; I ask no other grace.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThanks be to thee, who mad\u0027st me her to choose.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAh, God of Love, ere that I run my race,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eVouchsafe I may alone content her, whose\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eI am always, in good and evil case.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThanks be to thee, who mad\u0027st me her to choose.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eIn such wise did I commune with myself, and as yet\r\nI felt not the fierce onset of the ardent desire which\r\nassails lovers, and makes them to burn, to grow pale,\r\nto pine away, and to fret. This was not yet come.\r\nThus I only bethought me at the time to consider how\r\nI might be blithe and gay, and possess a very fine\r\nequipment and fair raiment, and give away very freely\r\nand without stint, and behave so honourably that in\r\nall things I might everywhere be praised of gentlefolk\r\nin such sort that my lady might regard me with favour\r\non account of my well-doing. Thus I desired to perfect\r\nmy conduct, and thereafter to abandon the childish\r\nways which until then had made me wayward, and\r\nto take heed that thoughtlessness did not overtake\r\nme, and to learn how to have a care for that which\r\nis worthy.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"17\" id=\"page-17\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eAll these thoughts had I at that time, and thus I\r\nsought how, in my bearing and conduct, I might put\r\nall this into practice. So I much changed my ways, and\r\nnow all my endeavour was to think, and to say, and to\r\ndo, that which was in every way pleasing and gracious,\r\nand on no account to do aught that was discourteous.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd I was neither sad nor foolish, but was cheerful,\r\nhappy, contented, and prudent, and so as to become\r\nfamiliar with the ways of love, I took pains to learn to\r\nsing and to dance, and also to give myself up to the\r\npursuit of arms, for it seemed to me that it was said\r\ntruly that credit of a surety results from the pursuit\r\nof love, of arms, and of valour.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen forthwith I so importuned my father and my\r\nmother, that I came by that which I sought after, the\r\nwhich was that I might have gold and silver to spend\r\nfreely, and that in all ways I might be richly attired;\r\nand then I chose a device and a motto, in the which\r\nwas the name of my lady in such form that none could\r\nrecognise it; and I commanded chargers for jousting,\r\nand caused a festival to be arranged in order to make\r\nessay at the joust, and, as I have said, other things\r\nbeside did I purpose.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"18\" id=\"page-18\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eSo the festival was prepared, to the which many a\r\nnoble lady was bidden, but ere I had answer that my\r\nlady would come to it, I made request of him to whom\r\nthis was due, and who was distantly related to me;\r\nand he most heartily gave consent to it, and gave me\r\nwelcome to his castle. And there I saw my lady at\r\nmy leisure, but how wholly I loved her and held her\r\ndear, I told not unto her, but my face, methinks, made\r\nit quite manifest, for Love which, the more to arouse\r\nmy passion, taught me its devices, made me to be all\r\nsilent, and to pale, and then to regain colour, but the\r\nfair one held her peace concerning it, as if she perceived\r\nit not, and so little did she take notice of it,\r\nthat I bethink me she in nowise perceived the cause of\r\nall that happened to me, and that all came from love\r\nof the which she was the cause, and the one from whom\r\nflashed the loving spark which pierced my heart which\r\nmade no complaint of it. Ne\u0027ertheless I lived happily,\r\nand ofttimes did I see her, and this it was that comforted\r\nmy heart, the which rejoiced, and, aside to\r\nmyself, I thus addressed her whom I so loved:—\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-3 section\" id=\"id2\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch3 class=\"level-3 pfirst section-title title\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"19\" id=\"page-19\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eBALLAD\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eMy lady, and my sovereign, flower most rare,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eIn whom honour and worth are glorified,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFountain of all things wise, gracious, and fair;\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eWho art my way toward virtue, and the guide\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThat over all my goings dost preside;\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eLady, to whom humbly is vowed my fate,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eServing in that sweet service at thy side,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAll of my days to thee I dedicate.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eHow else, since none could with thyself compare?\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThou Beauty filled with sweetness, O provide\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eEnsample kindling me to do and dare,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAnd bring my ship in honour\u0027s port to ride!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSo sweet my joy, Lady, it cannot hide;\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eTherefore, in my simplicity elate,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eOut of my heart and body have I cried;\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAll of my days to thee I dedicate.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eMost noble Duchess, surely the hours prepare\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThat time, when thou shalt well be certified\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eHow my heart serves thee with its every prayer.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThen shall my life be brimmed and satisfied,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eWhen thou its full devotion having tried\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eKnow\u0027st it all truth; O honour\u0027s path and gate!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFame\u0027s flowering tree! O valour\u0027s starry guide!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAll of my days to thee I dedicate.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003ePrincess, who dost in power and praise abide,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eEarly I learnt to love thee; and love, being great,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eLifts up my heart above all thought of pride,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAll my days, all, to thee I dedicate.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"20\" id=\"page-20\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eAnd now I must turn me again to the former matter.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eIn all haste, a great and fair festival was prepared,\r\nwhere many folk had much diversion. And proclamation\r\nwas made of the jousts, at the which whosoe\u0027er\r\nwould combat lustily might win jewels of great worth\r\nand the prize, and that to this tournament there would\r\ncome twenty knights who would joust with all comers.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd on the day appointed, the meeting was held in\r\na fair meadow, where, well placed at the end of a lake,\r\nwas a castle the which had six high towers. And in\r\nthis meadow were set up large and spacious tents and\r\nscaffolds, and pavilions in great number, and all was\r\nmade ready for the festival and the jousts. And without\r\nadding more of this, I tell you that when the day\r\nnamed was come, my sweet lady arrived before nightfall,\r\nand there met her a goodly company of noble\r\nfolk, and, certes, minstrels with drums, of the which\r\nthere were more than three pairs, and trumpets the\r\nwhich they blew so loudly that the hills and valleys\r\nresounded.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd know that I had great joy when I saw my\r\ngoddess coming toward me, and never could aught\r\nbeside happen from the which I could derive such\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"21\" id=\"page-21\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ejoy. So I met her in the way with a very noble\r\nretinue, and I approached her litter, and saluted her,\r\nas she did me, and then my fair lady said to me, “You\r\ntake great trouble, fair cousin, for it puts you to inconvenience\r\nto come at such a time.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThus holding, with joyful countenance, much converse\r\nwith my sweet and dear lady, we came nigh unto\r\nthe castle, and riding beside her litter (and, certes, it\r\nseemed to me that I had for my service sufficient recompense,\r\nsince my great joy was doubled in that it\r\nappeared to me that she then looked on me more\r\ntenderly than she had ever done afore), we arrived at\r\nthe castle, where we found awaiting her many fair\r\nladies, who kneeled before her in seemly manner.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd in the courtyard she descended down from the\r\nlitter, and was received there with great rejoicing;\r\nand I forthwith escorted her through the rooms to\r\nher tiring chamber. And all the house had been made\r\nready for her whom I thought on, and at whose dwelling\r\nI had sojourned.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen those whose duty it was brought wine and\r\ncomfits, and the fair one desired that I should partake\r\nof them with her. And after this we withdrew, and\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"22\" id=\"page-22\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eretired elsewhere, so as to suffer her to have repose\r\nfor a while, and I straightway withdrew me elsewhere,\r\nand dressed and attired me.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd so as to dance in the German fashion, and to the\r\nend that naught should be wanting to make the festival\r\nperfect, I had caused an hundred rich liveries to\r\nbe made according to my device, and I remember me\r\nthat the five-and-twenty of them the which the\r\nknights had on this occasion, were of green velvet,\r\nand of cloth of gold broidered. But on the day following\r\nthe joust, the esquires and the gentlefolk, but\r\nnot the waiting-men, apparelled them, whatsoe\u0027er it\r\ncost, in satin, broidered with silver.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd when that we were dressed, we appeared before\r\nmy mistress. And there we found a goodly assemblage\r\nof ladies and damsels of the country who were already\r\ncome to this festival. Then, without tarrying, I\r\nsaluted my lady and them all, and verily do I believe\r\nthat I changed colour. Ne\u0027ertheless I said, “My\r\nLady, it is time to sup.” And straightway I took\r\nher by the hand, and led her to the hall. Then each\r\none descended thither. The knights led the ladies,\r\nand the minstrels blew their trumpets in such manner\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"23\" id=\"page-23\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ethat everything re-echoed with the sound, and the\r\nfeast gave such pleasure, that it made a goodly sight\r\nto witness.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd my lady seated herself on the large raised dais,\r\nand I think not that it was displeasing to her that\r\nnext to her I placed my mother, and that, after her,\r\nfour countesses, who entertained her well, seated them\r\nclose by, following down the hall each one according\r\nto her rank. And the gentlewomen-in-waiting all sat\r\nthem down in order of rank. And the gentlemen\r\nseated them apart. And I hope and believe that in\r\nall respects they were well served at the supper with\r\nmeats and with wine.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd, without making any excuse, I tell you that,\r\nwhen we had supped, after taking comfits, we drank.\r\nThen the minstrels came forward, and began to sound\r\ntheir horns in pleasing harmony. And, in a short\r\nspace, there began the dance, joyous and gay, and at\r\nit every one, because of the happy festival, made merry.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen no longer did I tarry, but I went straightway\r\nto beseech my lady to dance. And for a little she\r\nmade excuse, but at last she gave consent. So I took\r\nher by the hand, and led her to the dance, and then\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"24\" id=\"page-24\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eI escorted her back to her seat, and misdoubt not that\r\nI was so carried away by love of her, that I seemed to\r\nmyself to be altogether overcome of delight to be near\r\nher. I bethink me that I conceived this to be indeed\r\nthe celestial paradise, and desired naught better. And\r\nthat which pleased and rejoiced me the most, was her\r\nvery sweet countenance, the which, fearlessly and\r\nwithout frowardness, and with a gentle, tender glance,\r\nlooked upon me so sweetly and so kindly, that it seemed\r\nto me that all I said and did was pleasing unto her.\r\nAnd I observed her very intently, and then I cried\r\nfor joy, for I seemed to possess the great happiness\r\nwhich I desired.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd it was right fitting that I should now approach\r\nher joyously. And so we danced merrily a greater\r\npart of the night, and then the revel ended, for it was\r\ntime to make ready to retire to rest. Then I led her\r\nwho was as fair as amber to her chamber, and there\r\nmany a courteous word was spoken. And when she\r\nhad gazed on me with her eyes the more to inflame my\r\npassion, after partaking of comfits, I took leave of her\r\nand of all. And we laid us down, here and there, on\r\nfair beds, with rich coverlets, but all the night long I\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"25\" id=\"page-25\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eceased not to think on her beauty, and I gave utterance\r\nto these words, the which were in my heart:—\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-3 section\" id=\"roundel\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch3 class=\"level-3 pfirst section-title title\"\u003eROUNDEL\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eWhen you are come, joy is so all complete,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThe heart leaps in my breast, beholding you,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eO flower of beauty, O rose fresh and new,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eWhose slave I am, whose servitude is sweet.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eLady of gracious ways, whom all men greet\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eMost beautiful of women and most true,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eWhen you are come, joy is so all complete.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFor you the happy festival shall meet\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eIn glee; with none else have I need to do\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFor my delight; from you alone I drew\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThe life and joy that make my heart to beat,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eWhen you are come, joy is so all complete.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eAnd like unto one who is consumed with love, I\r\nwas impatient for the morn, when I might see my\r\nmistress. So I arose from my bed as soon as I saw\r\nthat the time was fitting. And already was the house\r\nfull of brave and valiant knights, and esquires who\r\neven now were jousting with foils and overthrew many\r\nan one.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd when that I was ready, and mass was said, I\r\nwent out, and because I saw not my lady, I remained\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"26\" id=\"page-26\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003epensive. Then I went to meet her, and in a short\r\nspace I found her. For the nonce she was at mass,\r\nbut after hearing it, she hasted to make ready her\r\nattire.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd when, after she was come forth from the\r\nchapel, she had attired her fair form, the which of\r\na truth was fair above all, I courteously made her\r\nsalutation. And she said tenderly, “Welcome, fair\r\ncousin. Take good heed, for every one who would\r\nwin a fair lady will appear at the joust.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen I smiled, and took courage to say, “I would\r\nmake a request of you, my Lady, and if you will grant\r\nit, right glad shall I be. It is that you give me, if\r\nso it pleases you, a sleeve from off one of your bodices,\r\nand a chaplet of periwinkle, to wear on my helm.\r\nMethinks it would not please me more, or give me\r\ngreater joy, if that you gave me a kingdom!”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen my lady pondered awhile, and at length she\r\nsaid, “Certes, fair cousin, it would profit you more\r\nto have agreement with some other lady for whom to\r\nadventure knightly and brave deeds. There are here\r\nmany ladies of high degree, but right certain it is that\r\nyou cannot have a lady here without jeopardy of your\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"27\" id=\"page-27\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003elife if you would have of her, to place on your helm, a\r\ntoken for the which it behoves you to go forth to do\r\ndeeds of chivalry. This you should receive from your\r\nmistress and friend, and not from me, but I tell you\r\nthat I am by no means willing to refuse you your\r\nrequest, for even more would I do for you, though I\r\nwould not that any one should know of it.” Then\r\nshe drew a knife from beneath her bed-hangings, and\r\ncut out the sleeve with the ermine from one of her\r\nbodices of cloth of gold, and gave it to me. And for\r\nthis I gave her much thanks, and I likewise received\r\nfrom her the green chaplet, wherefore I was happy\r\nand joyous, and said that I would bear it on my helm,\r\nand would joust for love of her, but she must be\r\nwilling to take all in good part, for I had still to learn\r\nhow to do this.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen my gracious lady was silent, without letting\r\nit be seen whether this was pleasing unto her, or\r\nwhether it gave her displeasure, and more I dared\r\nnot say. And I took my leave, for it was time\r\nto go.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd the dinner was made ready early on that\r\nsummer\u0027s day. We all dined hastily in our chambers,\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"28\" id=\"page-28\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eand then repaired to the meadow where the jousts\r\nwere to be held, and dismounted before the gorgeous\r\npavilions set up around. The armour was there already,\r\nand the lances were got ready, and the chargers\r\nwere examined. And there you might see high saddles\r\nwith stirrups, and covered with devices, white, and\r\nred, and green, and shields of many colours, and\r\npainted lances; and already there was a great assemblage,\r\nin many rows, of the common folk, and\r\nmuch quarrelling and uproar.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd then I armed me, and made me ready, in my\r\npavilion, but I tarried there awhile, for it fell not to\r\nme to sally forth to begin the joust. And there were\r\ntwenty of us, apparelled alike, and all akin, and we\r\nwere knights prepared to joust with all comers.\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"29\" id=\"page-29\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"align-center auto-scaled figure\" style=\"margin-left: 27%; width: 46%\" id=\"figure-12\"\u003e\r\n\u003cimg style=\"display: block; width: 100%\" alt=\"images/fig_003.jpg\" src=\"https://chrisdeasy.com/wp-content/uploads/gutenberg-le-livre-du-duc-des-vrais-amants-fig-003.jpg\" width=\"100%\"/\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"caption italics\"\u003e\r\n“My cousin, without long waiting,\r\nfound his challenge taken up”\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eAnd my cousin, of whom I have before spoken, and\r\nwho was very courageous, was the first in the field.\r\nTo this he was well accustomed, and in such array did\r\nhe enter the lists, that verily he looked like a kinsman\r\nof the king. And he had his helm laced for to tourney\r\nin proper manner; and painted lances, and banners,\r\nand much fair company were to be seen there, and, as\r\nwas fitting, many a player on the pipes was to be heard,\r\nthe which gave delight to all around. But of this we\r\nwill say no more.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd I had caused many pavilions to be set up there\r\nfor the service of strangers, where they could lodge\r\nand refresh them. And you may be assured that\r\nbefore the appointed hour there came thither many\r\nvaliant knights who failed us not at the joust. Others,\r\nwho came to look on, remained on their horses.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd my cousin, without long waiting, found his\r\nchallenge taken up by a knight who touched his shield\r\nwith the point of his lance, and he avoided it not, so\r\nthat if it should chance unto him to be overthrown\r\nin the encounter, then must his blood be spilt.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd it was our part to be the first to take the field,\r\nand the heralds might be heard making proclamation\r\nin a loud voice of the name of this one, who was known\r\nin England and in many lands. And then five of our\r\ncompany sallied forth from the tents, and in nowise\r\ndid they fail to joust with all comers, and of a truth\r\neach one did his duty there so exceeding well, that\r\nit is indeed right that the renown of their achievements\r\nshould endure.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen the general tourney began, and, in double\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"30\" id=\"page-30\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003efile, and much increased in numbers, our company\r\nsallied forth, and, as it behoved them, tourneyed\r\nbravely. The trumpets sounded joyously, and the\r\nheralds made proclamation, and the knights on noble\r\nbattle horses, and according to their several ranks,\r\ntourneyed lustily. And my lady, and many other\r\nladies, each one of whom was fair to look upon, twenty\r\nladies with fair tresses, nobly born, and adorned with\r\nchaplets, of whom the sovereign and mistress was her\r\nwho was in my thoughts, were seated apart, in order\r\nof rank, on scaffolds richly bedecked. And, certes,\r\nthey were all apparelled in gowns of white silk,\r\nbroidered with gold of special design. They seemed\r\nlike unto goddesses from heaven, or fairies fashioned\r\nas faultlessly as one could desire.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd you may know of a surety that many a glorious\r\ncourse was run that day, and, certes, it must have\r\nbeen not a little pleasing to those who watched such\r\nbeings, since they made great endeavour to merit their\r\nregard, and to overcome each other, the better to win\r\ntheir favour. Thus you could here see many a thrust\r\nquickly parried, and how that one overthrew another\r\nin the shock, and another aimed at the opening of the\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"31\" id=\"page-31\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003evisor, or else struck at shield or helm. One was unhelmed,\r\nor at once cast to the ground, and another\r\ncame who carried him off. Lances were broken, and\r\nblows resounded, and the trumpets were sounded so\r\nloudly, that God\u0027s thunder could not be heard. And\r\nhard blows were given on either side.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAt length, with lance in rest, I sallied forth from\r\nmy pavilion swifter than a merlin, well planted in\r\nthe stirrup, and armed all in white on a charger, the\r\nwhich had a white caparison. Neither red, nor green,\r\nnor any other colour whatsoever was there, save fine\r\ngold. And there came forth with me all those of the\r\nplace, and these meted out many a good blow, and all\r\nwere armed in white, and the lances the which our\r\nfolk bare were all of white. And I had caused the\r\nsleeve, the which my lady had given me, to be right\r\nwell disposed, and fastened firmly to my helm, so\r\nthat it could not be torn off. And I placed the green\r\nchaplet on my helm, and set me forth with a goodly\r\ncompany, for exceeding great desire had I to see my\r\nvery sweet goddess.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen, all full of gladness, I arrived at the place of\r\njousting. And I turned my eyes to where she was,\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"32\" id=\"page-32\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eand met with her tender glance, and thus I feared not\r\nany mischance. I passed before her, and then quickly\r\nclosed my helm and went to my place. And, in her\r\npresence, a noble count forthwith brought me my\r\nlance, at the same time saying unto me that much\r\nshame would it be to me if I jousted not worthily since\r\nI bare so noble a crest.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen, with lance lowered, being desirous that it\r\nshould be rightly placed, without ado I spurred my\r\ncharger against another, and you could see him come\r\ntowards me. And we faltered not in the encounter,\r\nbut, since it is not seemly to relate one\u0027s own deeds,\r\nI will not here tell aught with regard to my exploits\r\non that occasion, save that the fair one held what I\r\nperformed that day so well done, that, of her grace,\r\nshe gave me very great praise for it, and, in the end,\r\nshe awarded the prize for those who were of the place\r\nto me, and, right joyous, I took it with the ready\r\nassent of the ladies, and thus you may know of a\r\ntruth that, according to my age, I did my duty there,\r\nall the day, as much as in me lay. If I did aught that\r\nwas valiant, no praise do I deserve for it, for you may\r\nknow of a surety that it was love, and not I myself,\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"33\" id=\"page-33\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ewhich was the cause of it all. Without doubt there\r\nwere to be found in this company many proven\r\nknights more doughty than myself, for, of a truth, as\r\nwas well known, there were come there, from all parts,\r\nboth nobles and those of lesser degree who were more\r\nworthy of the prize. But I trow that the ladies did\r\nthis for that they saw how eager I was, and because of\r\nthis favourable disposition, I believe that when they\r\nawarded me the prize, they were really desirous that\r\nI might be constrained to joust the more readily.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd the prize which was decreed for strangers, was\r\ngiven to a German, an able and skilful jouster amongst\r\na thousand.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThus did the tournament dure all the day, and,\r\nwithout ceasing, fresh jousters came to it, and our\r\nmen maintained themselves against all comers. And\r\nhow shall I sum it all up? Every one jousted well\r\nand fairly, but the blows which were given, and by\r\nwhom, and in what manner, it concerns me not to\r\nrecount, for that is not what I have in view, nor\r\nwhat I purpose to tell.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd night came, and the joust ended. Then every\r\none departed quickly, and all returned to the castle,\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"34\" id=\"page-34\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ewhere the cooks made haste with the supper. And I\r\nsent my gentlemen to those who were lodged without,\r\nas to friends, with a message that, in the name of the\r\nnoble ladies, and in my own name, I earnestly besought\r\nof all gentlefolk, both strangers and neighbours,\r\nthat they would come and keep festival with us.\r\nThus on all sides I caused a knightly entertainment\r\nto be proclaimed, and that whoso would, might come\r\nand keep the feast.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen straightway there came those of both high\r\nand low degree. There were barons from many lands,\r\nand it needs not to ask if there was a great assemblage,\r\nand, certes, there were received there, with ever increasing\r\npleasure, so many folk, that the castle was\r\nfilled. And I received them with glad countenance.\r\nAnd there was a great number of barons and of gentlefolk\r\nfrom many parts, and, with right goodwill, I did\r\nhonour to each one according to his rank. And the\r\nsupper was plenteous and choice.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd when that we were risen from the table, the\r\nminstrels sounded their horns, and those of noble rank\r\napparelled them for the dance, and none were there\r\namongst them who did not wear rich broidered\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"35\" id=\"page-35\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003edoublets, all sewn over with lace of beaten gold and\r\nsilver, and the ladies were arrayed in like manner; in\r\nsuchwise did they make ready to dance gaily. Then\r\nmerrily commenced the glad festival, at the which\r\nmany a gracious lady and fair damozel courteously besought\r\nthe strangers to dance, and led them forth.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen the dancing commenced throughout the hall,\r\nand every one strove to dance gaily. But I, whom\r\nlove had filled with ardent passion, thought only of\r\nmy lady, and gave no heed to this. I essayed to dance\r\na little, so that my longing might not be perceived or\r\nknown. Then I joined the elder knights, until word\r\nwas brought to me to go without tarrying into the\r\nhall, for that my lady, who eagerly made enquiry for\r\nme, sent for me. And truly did I rejoice at this.\r\nSo with a goodly company of gentlefolk, I turned me\r\nto the hall, where all were merry for that they vied\r\nwith one another in the dance.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd when I was come to my lady, she said to me,\r\n“Fair Sir Cousin, wherefore do you not dance?”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd I made answer, “Do \u003cem class=\"italics\"\u003eyou\u003c/em\u003e dance, my Lady, and\r\nthus set me the example.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd she said that I must dance first; and so, to\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"36\" id=\"page-36\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003emake commencement, I led to the dance a fair lady\r\nwith a merry countenance, and escorted her round once\r\nor twice, and then led her back to her seat. Then I\r\ntook my lady by the hand, and with her assent, gaily\r\nled her forth to the dance.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThus the dance dured the most part of the night,\r\nand at last it ended, and each one retired to rest,\r\nand laid him down on fair white sheets. But I who\r\nhad lady and mistress, and who in my heart felt\r\nthe torment of the desire to be loved of her with\r\nthe which I was consumed, spake thus under my\r\nbreath:—\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-3 section\" id=\"id3\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch3 class=\"level-3 pfirst section-title title\"\u003eROUNDEL\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eLaughing grey eyes, whose light in me I bear,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eDeep in my heart\u0027s remembrance and delight,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eRemembrance is so infinite delight\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eOf your brightness, O soft eyes that I fear.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eOf love-sickness my life had perished here,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eBut you raise up my strength in death\u0027s respite,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eLaughing grey eyes, whose light in me I bear.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eCertes, by you my heart, I see full clear,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eShall of desire attain at last the height,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eEven that my lady, through your sovereign might,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eMay me continue in her service dear,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eLaughing grey eyes, whose light in me I bear.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"37\" id=\"page-37\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eAnd the day dawned, and what shall I tell concerning\r\nit? Wherefore should I longer stray from\r\nmy subject without good cause? On the morrow,\r\nthroughout the whole day, the esquires, who bore\r\nthem fairly and well in every way, likewise jousted.\r\nAnd there were also twenty, clad all in green, who\r\nmaintained the combat, and the ladies assembled to\r\nwatch them, and to bestow the prizes. And there\r\nwere twenty damsels there, apparelled in green, and\r\nthey wore golden chaplets on their tresses, and were\r\nall very noble ladies, comely, and fair to look on.\r\nAnd during the encounter, many high-saddled\r\nchargers were overthrown, and shields were struck,\r\nand lances broken. And many a blow deserving of\r\npraise was given and endured. But I will not stay\r\nme further to give a long account of this, for it\r\npleases me better to rehearse that for the sake of\r\nwhich I began this story, and that which I thought\r\nand did and said in this love affair, about the which\r\nat that time I made great dole.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eFor three whole days—this is no fable—the pleasing\r\nfestival dured, at the which all were made welcome\r\nand at their ease. Then the revel ended, but my\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"38\" id=\"page-38\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003elady departed not for the space of a whole month.\r\nI besought of him who was her lord to grant this,\r\nand he granted it, and if that I had dared, right\r\nwillingly would I have made a recompense unto him\r\nfor this.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd you may know right well what joy I must needs\r\nhave had from this pleasing sojourn. Each hour my\r\nonly care was to devise perfectly how I could best\r\ngive her diversion.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd on a day I caused baths to be made ready,\r\nand the stoves to be heated, and the tubs to be placed\r\nin white pavilions in a fitting spot. And it chanced\r\nthat I went thither when my lady was in the bath,\r\nand she received me not with pleasure, but I had\r\nperfect joy when I looked upon her fair flesh as white\r\nas a lily. Greatly did this delight me, as you who hear\r\ntell of it can well believe. On another day we went\r\nto the chase, and on another we descended down to\r\nthe river to fish. In suchwise did we pass the whole\r\nmonth, following many gladsome pursuits.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eBut know that in the midst of this my happiness,\r\nlove bound my heart in its toils more firmly than ever,\r\nand laid so violent hold on it, that a great desire to be\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"39\" id=\"page-39\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eloved was so kindled within me, that, ere the festival\r\nwas ended, never did any other miserable being\r\nendure such stress of mind. No happiness had I if\r\nI could not see her and gaze constantly upon her,\r\nof the which I never wearied, for, as it seemed to\r\nme, never could I be enough in her presence, and\r\nmoreover this mood made me so to crave after her\r\nkindly goodwill, that dolour laid grievous hold on\r\nme, and you may well believe that I was not skilled\r\nenough to know how wholly to hide the grievous\r\nsorrow I endured. And albeit I would not discover\r\nmy thoughts to either man or woman, ne\u0027ertheless\r\nso troubled was I in mind, and in such great tumult,\r\nthat, in spite of myself, my face revealed my state.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eI was now pensive, now merry. And like unto one\r\nforsaken, I ofttimes wept so bitterly, that I seemed\r\nto myself like to die in grievous sorrow from despair\r\nand from loss of the hope of ever gaining her love;\r\nwherefore I paled, and trembled, and reddened, and\r\noft changed colour, and sweated from fear, and\r\nbecame disquieted, so that at times my courage\r\naltogether failed me, and then it oft happened that\r\nin bed I became quite calm. I neither drank nor ate\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"40\" id=\"page-40\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003emeat with relish, nor could I in anywise sleep, the\r\nwhich threw me into such state, that I grew worse\r\nand worse. And no one knew what ailed me, for in\r\nnowise would I speak to any one of my condition, nor\r\nfor my life would I confess it even to her whom I\r\nloved. Ne\u0027ertheless she ofttimes enquired of me what\r\nailed me, and bade me tell unto her my condition, and\r\nhide it not from her, and that I should speak to her\r\nwithout fear, for I must not doubt me that she would\r\ndo all that in her lay to ease me.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThus longwhiles my lady comforted me, but ne\u0027ertheless\r\nI dared not, for all the gold in the world, make\r\nknown or confess unto her the load which my heart\r\nbare, and thus, in deep thought, I wept and sighed.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd at that time I became so filled with love, that\r\nI know not what more to say concerning it, save that\r\nI had troublous and painful acquaintance with it, and\r\nfrom that time lacked the quiet and pleasurable peace\r\nof mind which aforetime I enjoyed, and plunged my\r\nheart into another peril, for I came to reject all\r\nsolace, and to make of sorrow my very pitiless guest.\r\nLongwhiles did I remain in this state, without daring\r\nto pray for mercy, for fear of refusal. And thus,\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"41\" id=\"page-41\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ebewailing my ill-fortune, I made complaint in these\r\nwords:—\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-3 section\" id=\"id4\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch3 class=\"level-3 pfirst section-title title\"\u003eBALLAD\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eLove, I had not ever thought\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThou would\u0027st bid thy servant share\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eGrief to which all else is naught,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eGrief whereunder I despair:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThus unfaltering I declare\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThat in death I pass away\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eIf thy saving grace delay.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eIn a burning passion caught\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eI grow faint, and may not bear\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAll the torment it hath wrought:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThine the fault, be thine the care!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eLoose me from this evil snare!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eOther help is none to pray,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eIf thy saving grace delay.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eRather had I death besought,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e(So without deceit I swear),\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSince my heart is all distraught\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eWith thy flame enkindled there.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eMurmuring is not mine to dare:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eI must perish as I may,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eIf thy saving grace delay.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eLove, with gladness meet my prayer,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eCleanse my soul and make it fair,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSince in sorrow I must stay\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eIf thy saving grace delay.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"align-center auto-scaled figure\" style=\"margin-left: 27%; width: 46%\" id=\"figure-13\"\u003e\r\n\u003cimg style=\"display: block; width: 100%\" alt=\"images/fig_004.jpg\" src=\"https://chrisdeasy.com/wp-content/uploads/gutenberg-le-livre-du-duc-des-vrais-amants-fig-004.jpg\" width=\"100%\"/\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"caption italics\"\u003e\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"42\" id=\"page-42\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eAnd at the end of the month\r\nit behoved my mistress … to\r\nquit the castle\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eAnd at the end of the month it behoved my\r\nmistress, by reason of whom I lived in anguish, to quit\r\nthe castle afore-named, for no longer could she remain\r\nthere, and so she departed. Then was I truly in\r\ngrievous plight, since I lost from sight the very\r\nperfect fair one without whom I could not live.\r\nNow was all my happiness ended, for longwhiles had\r\nI been used to look on her, and to be with her, at\r\nall times. But now it befell that perchance three\r\nmonths or four would pass ere I should hear of her,\r\nor see her, the which was very grievous unto me to\r\nendure. And I so grieved over the past, and felt\r\nsuch dolour at her departure, that I lost my colour,\r\nmy judgment, my demeanour, and my self-command.\r\nThus I believe that, as it might well be, many folk\r\nperceived my yearning, about which they made\r\ngossip, the which caused her disquiet. And so much\r\ndid this weigh upon me, that I thought to die of\r\ngrief. And when I heard it noised abroad that I\r\nloved my fair lady, my grief was the more increased,\r\nfor, because of this, I had suspicion that this great\r\nfriendship made discord between me and her friends,\r\nand this grief caused me very dire distress, for I much\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"43\" id=\"page-43\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003efeared me that she was constrained to leave because\r\nof this, and so much did this disquiet me, that I\r\nknow not how to tell of it. Howsoever, as far as in\r\nme lay, I hid my sorrowful anger better than was my\r\nwont, and, enduring great grief, sighing, I uttered\r\nthese words:—\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-3 section\" id=\"id5\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch3 class=\"level-3 pfirst section-title title\"\u003eBALLAD\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eNow in good sooth my joy is vanished clean,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAnd all my gladness changed to grievous ire:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eWhat profits it, dear flower! since I have seen\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThy going hence, that I could never tire\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"inner line-block\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eWhen thou wast here\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eTo greet thee every day in every year?\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eDelight that was is grown disaster fell:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAlas! How can I bid thee now farewell!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eMy love, my choice, my lady and my queen,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFor whom my heart is kindled in desire,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eWhat shall I do when love from what hath been\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eTaketh the gold and leaveth me the mire?\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"inner line-block\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eNor far nor near\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eIs comfort found, nor any pleasant cheer.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eGone is thy beauty, that did all excel:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAlas! How can I bid thee now farewell!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThine is the deed, O evil tongue and keen!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eForged for my fate upon an anvil dire:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFortune, that loveth not my hand, I ween,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eNor yet my pen, did in the task conspire.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"44\" id=\"page-44\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"inner line-block\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eNo help is clear\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSave Death, when God shall grant him to appear;\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eElse thou alone could\u0027st win me out of hell.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAlas! How can I bid thee now farewell!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"inner line-block\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAh, simple and dear!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAt least behold me and my mourning drear.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThy loss is torment more than I can tell.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAlas! How can I bid thee now farewell!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eAnd the day of departure came, and my lady set\r\nforth, and I verily believe that she would have still\r\ndelayed her going if she had dared, but it was meet\r\nfor her to do her lord\u0027s will, since it behoved her to\r\nguard his good name. And she gave thanks to all, and\r\ntook her leave, and set out on her way.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd I, unhappy being, who attended her, rode\r\nbeside her litter, and the fair one, who could well\r\nperceive how that, without disguise, I loved her with\r\na true love, looked at me fixedly with so tender a\r\nglance, that methinks she desired to cheer my drooping\r\nheart, which was sad, and moreover she might\r\nperchance have conversed with me but that on her\r\nleft hand there rode another, who came so nigh unto\r\nus that we were not free to say aught which he\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"45\" id=\"page-45\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003emight repeat, for the which I hated him fervently,\r\nand I saw well that I should oft have to endure much\r\nvexation.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eIn such manner we rode for a day and a half, until\r\nthat we were come to her dwelling, but in nowise did\r\nthe journey seem long to me, but quickly ended, and\r\nin truth it wearied me not, albeit I verily suffered.\r\nAnd I would have taken my leave of her, but her\r\nLord, making much false pretence of welcome, endeavoured\r\nto detain me, but I knew from his demeanour\r\nthat he was beside himself on account of\r\nme. And this jealousy had been put into his head\r\nby one who was at our feast, and to whom I had\r\nafterward made a recompense, and never did I think\r\nthat he would keep watch on her. This caitiff had\r\nthe charge of the fair one whom I worshipped, and\r\nfor whom I was dying of grief. So I took my leave,\r\nand went on my way, and out of regard for my\r\nsovereign lady I dissimulated, and hid the sorrow that\r\nwas mine, and never did any eye discover that which\r\nwas such grievous pain to me, and scarce could I\r\nrestrain my feelings. But this was needful for fear of\r\nthe slanderer, and so I departed, saying:—\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-3 section\" id=\"id6\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch3 class=\"level-3 pfirst section-title title\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"46\" id=\"page-46\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eBALLAD\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFarewell, my lady dear and dread,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFarewell, of all sovereign and queen,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFarewell, perfect and sacred head,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFarewell, who dost all honour mean,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFarewell, true heart, loyal and clean,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFarewell, best flower the world doth bear,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFarewell, yet not farewell, O white and fair!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFarewell, O wise, that no ill said,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFarewell, river that made life green,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFarewell, in whom fame harboured,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFarewell, voice that all ears could win,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFarewell, solace of all my teen,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFarewell, whose grace is wide as air,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFarewell, yet not farewell, O white and fair!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFarewell, soft look that through me sped,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFarewell, more fair than Helen queen,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFarewell, body and sweet soul wed,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFarewell, thou most gracious demesne,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFarewell, pole-star, joyous and keen,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFarewell, fountain of valour rare,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFarewell, yet not farewell, O white and fair!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFarewell, Princess of noblest mien,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFarewell, thou aweing smile serene,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFarewell, without fault, sin\u0027s despair,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFarewell, yet not farewell, O white and fair!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eThus did I commune with myself, and, sighing, I\r\ndeparted, and made great haste to reach my dwelling.\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"47\" id=\"page-47\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eAnd I was weighed down and troubled with grievous\r\nsorrow when I no longer saw there her whom I had\r\ndared choose as my lady, and whom my heart held\r\nso dear.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eNow I made known at the beginning how that I\r\ndesired to be a lover, and to be gentle, and how love\r\nwounded me with his dart, of the which my heart\r\nwill never be healed, and as I have spoken of the ill\r\nthat came to me from that time, so is it meet that I\r\ntell you of the good. And this distemper increased,\r\nby reason of which my strength diminished, so that in\r\na little I grew pale, and thin, and sad, and ofttimes\r\nsighed from grief, for no solace had I, since I knew not\r\nhow to discover any good way to see my sweet lady,\r\nand, certes, so much did I fear her rebuke, that I dared\r\nnot approach her, however grievous it was, and this\r\nplunged me into tears, and troubled me. Thus I\r\nwas sick a-bed, and then I uttered this ballad:—\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-3 section\" id=\"id7\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch3 class=\"level-3 pfirst section-title title\"\u003eBALLAD\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSince, O my Love, I may behold no more\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThy sovereign beauty that was all my cheer,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eMy heart is given up to sorrows sore:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFor though the wealth of all the world were here,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"48\" id=\"page-48\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThere is no ease but in beholding thee\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eWho art afar! Whence I of tears am fain\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eMourning the happy days that used to be:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eYet unto none but thee may I complain.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eDoubt not of this, true love whom I adore,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThine image in my soul is ever clear:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eI think but on the blessedness of yore\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAnd on thy beauty, simple-sweet and dear.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSo fiercely smiteth love, I may not flee\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eNor may my soul the dread assault sustain:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eDeath could not bring a sorrier weird to dree,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eYet unto none but thee may I complain.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAlas! one only mercy I implore.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eWhen I am dead (as I to death am near)\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003ePray for me, and thy praying shall restore\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eMy wounded spirit: shed one tender tear—\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eGreat were my comfort if my piteous plea\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eMight touch thy heart, if sorrow might constrain\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThy lips to sigh, such need of sighs have we.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eYet unto none but thee may I complain.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSweet flower, to whom I do abandon me,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eMy heart is broken down with bitter pain\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFor one whom Fortune would not have me see:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eYet unto none but thee may I complain.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"inner line-block\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eHere is set forth how the Lover made Complaint\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eunto his Friend\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"align-center auto-scaled figure\" style=\"margin-left: 27%; width: 46%\" id=\"figure-14\"\u003e\r\n\u003cimg style=\"display: block; width: 100%\" alt=\"images/fig_005.jpg\" src=\"https://chrisdeasy.com/wp-content/uploads/gutenberg-le-livre-du-duc-des-vrais-amants-fig-005.jpg\" width=\"100%\"/\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"caption italics\"\u003e\r\nComment l\u0027amant se complaint a son\r\ncompaignon\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eThus did my sorrow increase until my heart endured\r\nvery grievous torment, and without doubt this sore\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"49\" id=\"page-49\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003etrouble would have killed me if God had not betimes\r\nbrought back my kinsman of the whom I have made\r\nmention, and who delivered me from destruction.\r\nAnd when he was come back from the country, he\r\nwell perceived and understood from my countenance\r\nthe sorrow which possessed me. Thus he found me\r\nvery sick and without colour, the which caused him\r\ngreat disquiet. And he came to me as soon as ever\r\nhe was able, and I was o\u0027erjoyed when I heard his\r\nvoice, for right dearly did I love him. And he wept\r\nwhen he saw me thus grown worse. And I drew him\r\nnear to me, and embraced him lovingly, and he said\r\nto me, “My God, what a face! Is there cause for it?\r\nIn good sooth you must tell me truly of your state,\r\nwithout reserve, and naught must you conceal from\r\nme of your condition which you would not do from\r\na priest to whom you would make confession, and,\r\ncertes, very foolish would you be to keep sealed up in\r\nyour heart the trouble which robs you of your peace\r\nof mind and your health. So much have I frequented\r\nthe world, that I perceive and understand your\r\nsorrow, for I have been in danger of the like malady.\r\nThis is not sickness; rather is it passion, for doubtless\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"50\" id=\"page-50\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003esuch love has come to you as consumes you like as fire\r\ndoes straw. Of this, naught have I to learn of you.\r\nAnd greatly do you misconceive our close fellowship\r\nif you fear that in aught I would betray you, and that\r\nI would not screen you more than I would myself.\r\nWhen you have told unto me the trouble which has\r\ncruelly taken possession of you, doubtless you will\r\nfind your grief diminished, for very great hurt comes\r\nto him who suffers from love-sickness without speaking\r\nof it to any one. Therefore tell me the whole\r\nmatter, my dear cousin, my lord and my master,\r\nwithout keeping aught back, or, if you do not so,\r\nfor longwhiles will I go into Germany, for believe\r\nme that it grieves me not a little to see you thus,\r\nand not a whit can I rest.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd when this one, who held me dear, had thus,\r\nto the utmost of his power, urged me to make confession\r\nunto him of my inmost thoughts, his gentle\r\nspeech so touched and melted my heart, that I began\r\nto sob and to weep piteously enough to kill me, since\r\nit seemed as if I neither ought nor could tell unto\r\nhim the grief which everything caused me. And he,\r\ncast down and sad by reason of the trouble from the\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"51\" id=\"page-51\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ewhich he saw that I suffered, out of great compassion\r\nwept bitterly, and began freely to make offer to me\r\nof himself and his possessions for to make me happy,\r\nand in every way, no matter how great it was, he\r\nstrove to this end, and without ceasing he strongly\r\ncounselled me rather to take comfort, and to\r\nweep no more, since this was neither reasonable nor\r\ndignified.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eIn suchwise did my good friend exhort me to be\r\nhappy once more. Then I at once made him answer,\r\n“Sweet cousin and friend, I know well that you have\r\ngreat love for me, even as I, forsooth, have for you,\r\ntherefore it is meet that we conceal not from one\r\nanother our joys, or our misfortunes, or aught beside.\r\nTherefore I will tell unto you truly all my state, although\r\nto none other, however much I loved him,\r\nwould I speak of it. You know, very sweet cousin,\r\nand you have in remembrance, how that we went\r\ntogether, not long since, to a place nigh unto this,\r\nwhere we met with a lady whose coming I have since\r\npaid dearly for, for from that time my very simple\r\nyouthfulness has left me, and, without intent to do\r\nme harm, love has brought this trouble upon me, from\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"52\" id=\"page-52\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ethe which I am dying, but in nowise must I blame\r\nany one, for truly no lady is there who is her equal in\r\nbeauty, in prudence, or in worth. And you know how\r\nthat I devised our festival, the which was gorgeous,\r\nand that all this was for love of her. And after the\r\nfeast was ended, I besought of him who is her lord, to\r\nallow my sweet lady to remain all the summer at our\r\ncastle for her diversion and pleasure, and to hunt in\r\nthe forest, the which was green then, and is so still.\r\nAnd you know that he willingly gave consent, but you\r\nstayed not, methinks, three whole days after that, for\r\nyou soon departed thence, but life was joyous to me\r\nbecause of my lady whom I saw the while without\r\nhindrance. But, with intent to make me sorrowful,\r\nmisfortune, which busies itself with bringing much\r\nhurt to lovers, caused one, whom may hell-fire consume,\r\nto keep watch on my doings, and this one, like\r\nunto one full of malice, well perceived my state (for\r\nI was very inexperienced), and that my heart was\r\naltogether in bondage to her. In nowise do I know\r\nhow he was able to perceive it, for, to deceive every\r\none in this affair, I took much pains to dissemble, and\r\nso much the more frequented the company of other\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"53\" id=\"page-53\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eladies, and never did I discover my thoughts to any\r\none, nor did I even speak of them to her whose liegeman\r\nI am, and who wots not aught of that which\r\nweighs heavily on me. And this disloyal one noised\r\nabroad such report, that her jealous lord constrained\r\nthe fair lady to depart without more delay. Wherefore,\r\nif I had not feared me to bring dishonour upon\r\nher, I would have made him who brought this about\r\nto feel regret for it, and greatly to repent it, and to\r\nexperience my vexation and displeasure. Thus have\r\nI lived in distress for the space of three months, and\r\nsooner would I die, so as to be delivered from this\r\nsad grief, than live thus, since I can no longer see her,\r\nalbeit she has since, of her grace, made enquiry regarding\r\nmy state, and has caused me to know that in a\r\nlittle while I may count upon seeing her, although I\r\nmust not let this be known, and that a time will come\r\nwhen a change in affairs will come about, and that I\r\nmust be of good cheer. So I know, or at least bethink\r\nme, that my dear lady perceives and knows without\r\ndoubt that I love her sincerely, but scarce can I endure\r\nthe strain of the longing which possesses me, for\r\ngreatly do I long for her. Ne\u0027ertheless I have since\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"54\" id=\"page-54\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eseen her, though unknown to others, for I disguised\r\nme so that I might not be recognised, and, from a\r\ndistance, I have seen her pass by. Thus you can\r\nunderstand that I have since lived in such grief that\r\na speedy death has been my only desire. But I see\r\nnot how either you or any other can succour me, for\r\nit is not possible that this jealous one, with his spies,\r\nwould not discover it, and be assured that I must\r\neither endure this or die, but if that you will give\r\nheed for a while, you will understand wherefore it\r\nbehoves me to rejoice over this grievous experience\r\nof love, and how I maintain this in my song.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-3 section\" id=\"id8\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch3 class=\"level-3 pfirst section-title title\"\u003eBALLAD\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThou, O Love, the traitor art!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eTender once as any may,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThen the wielder of the dart\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThat is pointed but to slay.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThee with reason, by my fay,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eDouble-visaged we declare:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eOne is as the ashes grey,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eBut one is as an angel fair.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eLoth am I to find my part\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eIn the night without a ray,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eYet desire hath stung my heart\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAnd I sigh in sorrow\u0027s sway.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"55\" id=\"page-55\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eGentle hope will never stay\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eIn the mansions of despair:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eOne to death would point the way,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eBut one is as an angel fair.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eHope might in my spirit start,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eDeath thy servant bids her nay:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eWhile beneath thy scourge I smart,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eDoleful still must be my lay,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSince to set my steps astray,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThou at once art wheat and tare:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eOne is like a devil, yea,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eBut one is as an angel fair.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eLove, thou teachest me to say\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eDouble tribute is to pay\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFor thy servants everywhere:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eOne is grievous, well-a-day!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eBut one is as an angel fair.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eMuch did this ballad charm my cousin, but greatly\r\nwas he distressed at my grief, and in this manner did I,\r\nwho never wearied of, or ceased from, weeping, make\r\nan end to my discourse. And thereby my distemper\r\nwas diminished, but my cousin was forthwith angered\r\nwhen he saw me thus discomforted. And he\r\nspake thus to me: “Alack-a-day! Right well do I\r\nperceive that you possess little discretion and courage.\r\nWhat reason have you, fair Sir, to demean you thus?\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"56\" id=\"page-56\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eCertes, you should be happy, methinks, since your lady,\r\nby her messenger, makes promise to you of solace at a\r\nfitting time. You are foolish when you relinquish the\r\nhope which gives you comfort, for be assured that\r\nyour lady is mindful of your love, and that she longs\r\nto give you pleasure. How can such grief enter your\r\nfoolish thoughts, so as to allow you to be thus cast\r\ndown and to die of despair? Many a lover, without\r\nany hope of being loved by his mistress, has longwhiles\r\nserved in great anguish without any solace either of\r\nsoul or body, and not a single glance from her has he\r\nreceived, nor has he dared to approach her for fear of\r\nslander. If you have patience, and believe what I\r\nsay, certes, you have but to make plaint as I have\r\ndone, and you will soon be able to attain your desire.\r\nSince your lady takes pleasure in your doings, you\r\nmay be assured that no fear will be strong enough\r\nto restrain her. But however grievous it may be, it\r\nmay lead to your undoing that you have allowed so\r\nlong time to pass by without making her acquainted\r\nwith your state. Very certain is it that never will she\r\nimportune you, and I know not wherefore you were\r\nso foolish that, when you had opportunity, and were\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"57\" id=\"page-57\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eunhindered, you spake not to her of all the love with\r\nthe which you loved her, instead of giving yourself up\r\nlongwhiles to dreams!”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen I forthwith made answer, “Alas, Cousin! I\r\ndared not, even if I had fitting opportunity, for I was\r\nafraid, and so much did I fear her, that I dared not\r\ntell her of it, even if I died because of this. For this\r\nreason I faltered, and greatly do I repent me of it,\r\nbut never had I the courage to do it, for in her presence\r\nI was greatly disquieted, although when I was\r\nalone I thought to myself that I would speak to her.\r\nAnd it ofttimes happened to me thus, but, certes, I\r\npersevered not when I was in her presence. The\r\ndelight of her loving glance, the which was so sweet\r\nto me, filled me with such great ecstasy, that it seemed\r\nto me that she would perceive my distress of mind\r\nwithout my saying aught.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen my cousin made answer, “Foolish is the\r\nlover who hides from a lady the love he bears her, for,\r\non my soul, the delay may do him sore hurt. But since\r\nyou dared not speak to her because of the fear which\r\npossessed you, as you know well how to write, wherefore\r\ndo you not send her a letter or missive? And I\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"58\" id=\"page-58\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eam still more surprised at your folly that, when you received\r\nher messenger, you sent not back word to her\r\nof your state since the time when you parted from her.\r\nAnd wherefore did you delay? His coming was indeed\r\ntimely had not your folly held you back, and in\r\nthis I without doubt speak the truth, for, since she so\r\ndesired to give you gratification that she took thought\r\nto hear news of your doings, you can perceive that your\r\nlove was in her thoughts. She must indeed regard\r\nyou as a novice since you sent not to her! Never a\r\nday let fall from your lips a single word in anywise\r\ntouching upon sadness, but rather be cheerful, and\r\nleave all to me, and so well shall I know how to deceive\r\nevery one, that I am willing to become a monk if there\r\nis any one on this earth who will be able to hinder you\r\nfrom seeing the fair one without this ever being noised\r\nabroad, if she so wills it, and you desire it. So grieve\r\nno more, but make glad countenance, for, without\r\npreaching longer to you, I make promise and swear to\r\nyou that ere the week is passed, more than once shall\r\nyou see your lady. And if God guides me in this,\r\nverily shall I find out the way to accomplish this.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen, even as the light illumines the darkness, and\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"59\" id=\"page-59\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ethe exceeding brightness of the sun banishes the gloom,\r\nso was the cruel torment of my suffering subdued and\r\nended by this one, who so truly comforted me that he\r\nfilled me with joy and gladness, and stayed my grief, so\r\nthat I had naught left of the which to make complaint.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd in nowise did he make default, but when that\r\nan hour and a half was gone by, he set forth to my\r\nlady. To be brief, he spoke prudently to the fair one,\r\nand right gladly did he plead on my behalf, and of his\r\nown free will he told unto her all the truth concerning\r\nmy sad trouble, and how that he had found me nigh\r\nunto death, and knew not whether I could recover\r\nfrom the sickness the which constrained me not to stir\r\nfrom my bed, and he told her all, and, in a word, that\r\nhe could not comfort me. Then he counselled her\r\nthat, for God\u0027s sake, she should not suffer one so\r\nyoung to be placed in peril of death by reason of too\r\ngreat love of her, and that she would be to blame if\r\nshe were the cause of my death.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eIn such manner did he, by his gentle and wise\r\nspeech, entreat my lady to feel pity for the sickness\r\nfrom the which I was languishing on account of her,\r\nsince never did I waver in the desire the which\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"60\" id=\"page-60\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ebrought misery unto me and made me long to see\r\nher. And he told me that when he had ended his\r\ndiscourse, he saw that the fair one, who was very\r\nsilent, was pale as death, and of very sad countenance,\r\nand he well perceived from her demeanour that my\r\nsickness grieved her, and aroused her compassion, but\r\nshe ne\u0027ertheless desired it to appear quite otherwise.\r\nAnd she spake in this wise: “This is a strange thing\r\nthat you tell unto me, fair Sir, that my cousin and\r\nyours is in this state. By the Apostle Paul, scarce can\r\nI believe that he could ever have thought on this!\r\nGood God, that this should have entered his thoughts!\r\nBut if this be so, doubtless it is naught but youthfulness\r\nand great lack of prudence which plunges him\r\ninto sadness, and, with God\u0027s help, in a little while\r\nthis will pass away. Turn him from this if you can,\r\nand counsel him that he put an end to it, and turn his\r\nthoughts elsewhere, for never could he come near me\r\nwithout great ill coming of it if that he were seen. I\r\nwot not how it came to the knowledge of that spy\r\n(God curse him), by reason of whom I have not the\r\ncourage to speak to any living man, and if he were\r\nwithin, I should not dare to hold converse thus with\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"61\" id=\"page-61\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eyou. Since he discovered that this young man had the\r\ndaring to love me, he has filled my lord with bitter\r\nanger, and has aroused such jealousy of me, that in\r\nnowise do I dare speak to any one alone, and wheresoe\u0027er\r\nI am, there the varlet must be, and I have him\r\never at my heels, for he is set to keep watch on me.\r\nAnd I fear me that all this is only because of suspicion\r\nof your cousin, for he pays close attention to that\r\nwhich is said to me, and ofttimes goes to the gate to\r\nsee who enters here. And by God I swear to you\r\nthat, if it were not for qualms of conscience, I would\r\nhave him so well beaten by my kinsfolk that, unless\r\nhe were very foolhardy, never would he dare return\r\nto keep watch on me. And so that this espial, the\r\nwhich is so irksome to me, might come to an end, I\r\nsent word to your cousin, and urged him much that for\r\nawhile he would refrain from coming hither, so that\r\nthis spy might not see him, and that when this watchfulness\r\nwas somewhat abated, he could come to see us,\r\nand more he could not look for. It indeed seems to\r\nme certain that it will come to an end by degrees, and\r\nthus I believe that doubtless my lord will no longer\r\ngive thought to jealousy, so that he will soon be able\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"62\" id=\"page-62\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eto come here, but sincerely do I believe that, if he\r\nhas a care for me, it will be better that he keep away,\r\nand come not here. Of a truth, as every one bears\r\nwitness, the love which dwells only in the imagination,\r\nfades away.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThus strangely did she make answer, and not a\r\nword more did she utter for my comfort. And he\r\nforthwith made answer in this wise: “You are so full\r\nof compassion, my Lady, that, whatever you may say,\r\nI tell you truly I believe not that you will leave him,\r\nwho is wholly yours, to perish both in body and soul.\r\nYou have said that I can turn him from it. Yea,\r\ntruly, by rending his soul from his body! No other\r\nway do I know. Certes, I have made every endeavour\r\nto divert him from it, but I tell you, forsooth, that he\r\nwill die if he is left without hope, and naught will you\r\nhave profited if his days are cut off through losing\r\nyou. Worthy Lady, give me your answer, for I care\r\nnot a whit for the jealous one, and never will his spies\r\nmake use of such cunning that I shall not altogether\r\ndeceive them. But, since I perceive you pity him,\r\ngrant him this favour. I speak thus much of him to\r\nyou so that you may be willing that he come here with\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"63\" id=\"page-63\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eme, and I will apparel him duly and fittingly, and will\r\nso much concern me with this, that he shall be recognised\r\nof none provided you tell me how you would\r\nthat he should deport himself in order to see you. So\r\nhesitate no longer, for the matter moves too slowly\r\nfor him.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd she said: “In nowise believe that I am so\r\nmuch his enemy that his grief and his sorrow do not\r\ncause me much discomfiture, for you may know of a\r\ntruth that right well do I love him, and he is right\r\nin guarding mine honour, and without delay I shall\r\ndo all that should content him, but I am not willing\r\nto say more now concerning this matter save that he\r\ndemean himself with prudence, and come not here\r\nas yet, but \u003cem class=\"italics\"\u003eyou\u003c/em\u003e may come ofttimes provided you hold\r\nbut little discourse with me before this spy. Let me\r\nknow of your doings by one who is prudent, who shall\r\ngo to you. This messenger is loyal, I give you my\r\nfaith, and if you and he trust not one another, I shall\r\nbe uneasy, for none other dare approach me. And\r\nnow we have discoursed together long enough, and\r\nwe know not whether we are being watched. So\r\ntell your friend that he may be joyous and happy, and\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"64\" id=\"page-64\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ethat you have so prevailed with me that, if violence\r\ndoes not intervene, he will not fail in that which he\r\nasks for. Thus you will commend me to him, and\r\ncheer him, saying that ere a week is gone by he will\r\nbe able to see much of me. And let us hold counsel\r\ntogether no longer now, and do you trouble yourself\r\nno more about the matter. We have indeed been\r\nfortunate in that we have not been disturbed whiles\r\nthat we have so long time discoursed together at our\r\nease. Await, however, my lord, who, as I well know,\r\nhas not for long time had such pleasure as he will have\r\nwhen he knows of your coming. Meanwhiles, we will\r\nplay at chess. We may amuse ourselves in this manner\r\nfor a while.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd then, without more ado, they forthwith commenced\r\nto play at a side table. And at the end of\r\nthe game the master and lord entered the chamber.\r\nThen my cousin went towards him, and when the\r\nlatter met him, he gave him hearty welcome, and said\r\nthat his coming was very pleasing, and that he was\r\nwelcome. In a word, without detaining you longer,\r\nhe treated him with great deference, and said that all\r\nthat was his was at his command, and that whensoe\u0027er\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"65\" id=\"page-65\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ehe stayed in those parts, nowhere else must he lodge,\r\nbut he must come there. This would give him happiness\r\nabove all things, but otherwise he would be displeased.\r\nAnd the latter gave him much thanks for\r\nthis. And on the morrow, after meat, he took his\r\nleave and departed thence, and he hasted his return,\r\nfor he knew how I was longing for this and that it\r\nwould bring me very great delight.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd when he was returned, he related unto me all\r\nthat had happened to him on his journey, and that\r\nhe believed that my affairs would prosper right well\r\nprovided it were pursued yonder quickly and with\r\nskill, wherefore, as he had made promise to my lady,\r\nhe would have all things, both great and small, under\r\nhis ordering, since he had so agreed with her. Thus\r\ndid he tell and recount all to me.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen much joy had I in my heart, the which had\r\nerewhile been in sorrow which harassed it. But in\r\norder the sooner to advance my affair, he advised me\r\nthat in the first place I should write a letter, in the\r\nwhich I should wholly set forth my condition, and\r\nhow that love of her weighed heavily upon me, and\r\nthat she should hearken to the plaint of her slave who\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"66\" id=\"page-66\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ebesought her love and asked naught beside, and that\r\nI should put all suchlike things in a sealed letter, and\r\nhe would be the bearer of it for to assuage my grief.\r\nAnd I trusted in him, and so I wrote a letter in the\r\nwhich I set forth how it fared with me by reason of\r\nlove of her, and all that grieved me. And I enclosed\r\ntwo ballads with the letter, the which I sealed, to the\r\nrehearsal of which give heed all you who incline unto\r\nlove.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-3 section\" id=\"sealed-letter\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch3 class=\"level-3 pfirst section-title title\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eSealed Letter\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e\u003cem class=\"italics\"\u003eTo her who surpasses all, and whom my heart fears and worships\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eLady, the flower of all of high degree, very renowned\r\nand revered princess, the desire of my heart, and the\r\njoy of my eyes, who art exalted above the consideration\r\nof the lowly, my much loved and coveted lady,\r\ndeign, for pity\u0027s sake, to hearken unto and to accept\r\nthe sad plaint of your servant, who, since he is under\r\nrestraint, is like to one who is nigh unto death, and\r\nwho takes perilous remedies in order that he may either\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"67\" id=\"page-67\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eend his days or live. To you, very sweet Lady, who,\r\nby your refusal, can slay me, or, by the tender solace\r\nof your consent, can give me life, I come to entreat\r\neither swift death, or a speedy cure. Most beautiful\r\none, I know well that you have such discernment that\r\nyou have been able to perceive how that, because of\r\nyou, love has longwhiles held me, and still holds me,\r\nin its toils, and how that the fear and dread with the\r\nwhich great love has filled my heart, has robbed me of\r\nthe courage to tell you of it, sweet lady. And I know\r\nthat you are so gracious, that if you had perceived and\r\nknown all the pain and the torment which I have since\r\nsuffered, and still endure, through desire for your\r\ntender love, then, albeit I have not yet performed\r\nenough deeds of valour, and have not enough of worth,\r\nto have deserved the love of even one of less noble\r\nbirth than yourself, the gentle pity of your kindly\r\nheart would not have suffered me to endure such disquiet.\r\nAh, Lady, if you have regard to your worth\r\nand your great renown for that, by reason of my\r\nyouth, I have not yet been counted valiant, it will be\r\nmy death! But, my honoured Lady, know that you\r\ncan so strengthen me as to give me heart and courage\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"68\" id=\"page-68\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eto undertake and to achieve, according to my ability,\r\nall honourable things that the mind of a lover dare\r\nthink on or do for love of lady. And, sweet Lady,\r\nand my goddess on earth, since you can, with much\r\nease, greatly gladden him who loves and worships you\r\nas his most coveted possession, deign to recognise how\r\nthat, by your tender solace, he may be saved from\r\ndeath, and life may be restored to him. And if you\r\nwould ask or would know what has brought him to this,\r\nI tell you that it is your very sweet, pleasing, beautiful,\r\nlaughing, and loving eyes. Ah, Lady, since it is by\r\nthem that this cruel wound has been inflicted, it seems\r\nto me but just that it should be soothed and healed\r\nby the delight of your compassion. Therefore may it\r\nplease you, very winsome and honoured Lady, to make\r\nme acquainted with your good pleasure, and whether\r\nyou would that I die or recover. By no means would\r\nI weary you with a long letter, and be assured that I\r\nknow not how to tell or to write fully how matters stand\r\nwith me, but you will indeed come to know this,\r\nwhether I win your love or not, for, if I fail in this,\r\nyou will see me die, but if by good fortune I win it,\r\nthe result will be seen in willing service. So I send\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"69\" id=\"page-69\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eyou these two ballads here enclosed, the which may it\r\nplease you to receive kindly. Very beautiful and fair\r\none, whose praise I am not able duly to set forth, I\r\npray God that He will vouchsafe to you as many\r\nfavours and delights as the tears the which I have\r\nshed for love of you.—Written with a fervent and\r\nlonging heart,\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eYour very humble and obedient slave.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-3 section\" id=\"id9\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch3 class=\"level-3 pfirst section-title title\"\u003eBALLAD\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSweet Lady, fair and gentle without peer,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eHave mercy on me, who all thy words obey\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eBody and soul do I abandon here\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eUnto thy will, and humbly thus I pray:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"inner line-block\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eCome quickly nigh,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eHave pity, and cure my sickness when I cry:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eOh, I beseech thee, graciously attend\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAnd so consent to take me for thy friend.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eTo thee I give myself, O flower most dear.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFor mercy I beseech, and wilt thou slay?\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eI charge thee by that Lord whom we revere\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eTo lift this wrong that crushes me away.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"inner line-block\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eNo help have I\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFrom any other: leave me not to die!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSee, faithfully I serve thee to the end,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAnd so consent to take me for thy friend.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"70\" id=\"page-70\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSeest thou not how I shed full many a tear:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAnd if thy help for longer shall delay\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eI am but shent, what need to speak more clear?\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAh, love me, Love so holds me in his sway!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"inner line-block\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThen hither hie,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eBe merciful, for near to death I lie:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e\u0027Tis truth, thou knowest, I have no hope to mend,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAnd so consent to take me for thy friend.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eLady, I thank thee, and all my duty send,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAnd so consent to take me for thy friend.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-3 section\" id=\"another-ballad\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch3 class=\"level-3 pfirst section-title title\"\u003eANOTHER BALLAD\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eIn this sad world have pity, my lady dear,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eDear to me more than any other there:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eTheir pride you know not; let not gracious cheer\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eCheer me at so great cost, oh white and fair!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFare I thus ill, yet canst thou bid me see\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSeasons of solace that may comfort me.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eIf for unfitness I be slighted here,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eHere am I dead, and arrows of despair\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSpare not to pierce my heart, and life grows drear,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eDrear as my brooding on the doom I bear.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eBear witness, Love withholds in obduracy\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSeasons of solace that might comfort me.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eO loveliest one and sweetest, without peer,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003ePeerless in honour, of all bounties heir,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eEre I thy servant pine in sorry fear\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFear not a kind and gentle guise to wear.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"71\" id=\"page-71\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eWhere shall I find, \u0027mid this deep dolorous sea,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSeasons of solace that may comfort me?\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eDear Lady, grant in gracious courtesy\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSeasons of solace that may comfort me.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eThus as you have heard did I write to my lady, and\r\nby my letter I made known to her my trouble, for to\r\ngain her solace. And my cousin bare the letter. For\r\nawhile he remained on his guard, and carefully watched\r\nfor the time when he could safely have speech of her.\r\nAnd then he told her of my letter, at the which she in\r\nnowise made complaint, but received it gladly. And,\r\nsmiling, she read the letter and the ballads twice or\r\nthrice, and then the fair and gracious one said, “I will\r\nwrite in reply to your cousin, and more I will not say\r\nto you now, but I will set me about it. And whiles\r\nthat I am so occupied, do you divert yourself with\r\nchess, and checkmate my kinswoman here.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen she withdrew to an inner chamber with her\r\nsecretary, who well knew how to keep her counsel,\r\nand than whom she had none other more confidential,\r\nand she commenced to express her thoughts\r\nin writing, and composed the letter the which is\r\nhere set forth.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-3 section\" id=\"reply-of-the-lady-to-the-afore-mentioned-letter\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch3 class=\"level-3 pfirst section-title title\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"72\" id=\"page-72\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eReply of the Lady to the Afore-Mentioned Letter\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eTo my Courteous Friend—\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eMy fair and courteous knight, may it please you\r\nto know that I have received your tender and loving\r\nletter and ballads in the which you make known to me\r\nthat, unless you have speedy succour, you will die. So\r\nI write you this letter in reply. If you feel assured that\r\nit is on account of me that you are so ill at ease, I am\r\nheartily sorry for it, for I would not be the cause of\r\nsorrow to any one, and it grieves me the more in your\r\ncase than in that of any other, since so long time have\r\nI known you. But when, dear friend, you ask of me to\r\ngive you solace, I understand not the meaning of your\r\nrequest, but so that you may know my determination,\r\nbe well assured that if you asked of me, or I discovered\r\nthat you meant, aught that would be dishonouring or\r\nshameful, never would you obtain your desire, and\r\nwholly would I banish you from me. Of this you can\r\nbe certain, for rather would I die than that, for aught\r\nin the world, I should consent to soil mine honour.\r\nBut if so it be that the love of a lady, given honourably\r\nand without evil intent, can suffice you, you may\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"73\" id=\"page-73\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eknow that I am the one whom love has made disposed\r\nto hold you in esteem, both now and for aye. And\r\nonce again I make confession unto you that, when I\r\nknow of a surety that your desire is satisfied with that\r\nwhich I am willing to grant, I shall think on you as my\r\none dearly loved friend, if I see your loving purpose\r\nand goodwill continue. And if it be, as you have declared\r\nin your aforesaid letter, that I can be the means\r\nof your advancement in valour, I would ask of God no\r\ngreater favour. Therefore be pleased to write to me\r\nall your wishes in the matter, but have a care, ne\u0027ertheless,\r\nthat no desire make you false in aught which\r\nmay hereafter prove to be anyways contrary to that\r\nwhich you avouch, or wholly shall I banish you from\r\nme. So I would that you put away from you all\r\nmelancholy and sadness, and be merry and contented\r\nand cheerful, but above all I charge and enjoin you to\r\nbe discreet, and, as far as in me lies, I forbid you to\r\nconcern yourself with the habit common to many of\r\nyour age, the which is, not to know how to keep aught\r\nsecret, and to make boast of being even more favoured\r\nthan others. And have a care that you reveal naught\r\nto friend or companion, however intimate you may be,\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"74\" id=\"page-74\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003esave what, for your aid, it is needful that your best\r\nfriend should know. And if you do thus, and hold to\r\nit, you may be sure that love will in nowise fail to\r\nbestow its favour on you in large measure. My dear\r\nand good friend, I pray God to give you all that you\r\ncan wish for, for methinks not that this is beyond what\r\nis seemly.—Written in gladsome mood,\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eYour friend.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eWhen this letter was finished, my lady arose, and\r\nreturned to my cousin. And she gave it to him, and\r\ntold him that, despite its contents, I must no longer\r\nbe sad, and that she would take pains to heal me of my\r\nsickness, and ere long would appoint a day, hour, and\r\nplace, when I could without fail have speech with her,\r\nand that she sent the letter to me with the message\r\nthat she trusted herself in my hands, and charged me\r\nto be no longer ill at ease.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen he gave her thanks, and departed, and on his\r\nreturn he related unto me how gracious and good he\r\nhad found my lady to be. And I, who awaited him\r\nwith the fierceness and fervour of a great longing,\r\nheld out my hands with joy, saying, “I thank Thee,\r\nmy God, for Thy mercy to me.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"75\" id=\"page-75\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eAnd he delivered the letter to me, and I, whom this\r\nfilled with great joy, straightway took it. And as soon\r\nas I had read it, I kissed it, I think, an hundred times,\r\nand I read it, I assure you, not once only, but more\r\nthan twenty times, for never did I tire of this when\r\nI understood its contents, the which cheered me.\r\nWherefore I made merry, and ceased to grieve, for I\r\nwould be joyous, since my sweet lady so ordained.\r\nThus was hope wholly restored to me, and no longer\r\nhad I fear of refusal as had been my wont, but I desired\r\nto make answer to her letter. So I took pen and\r\npaper, and pounce and ink, and withdrew me. Then\r\ngladly, and without hindrance, I wrote in suchwise as\r\nI here set forth.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-3 section\" id=\"to-the-fairest-of-all\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch3 class=\"level-3 pfirst section-title title\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eTo the Fairest of All\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eMy very Honoured Mistress—\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eVery fair and kind, and indeed I could, from the\r\nbottom of my heart, say, very loved, honoured, and\r\ncoveted Lady, for whose sake love, through the charm\r\nof your beauteous eyes, has made me willingly become\r\nyour true bondsman, and in whose sweet service I\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"76\" id=\"page-76\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ewould, as far as I am able, even if not as far as I should\r\ndo, unreservedly spend all my life, I give you thanks\r\nfor your very gracious and pleasing letter, which,\r\nthrough the comfort of sweet hope, has imparted\r\nvigour and strength to my heavy-laden heart, the\r\nwhich was sorrowful and almost broken through\r\ndespair of ever gaining your love. And, my much\r\nlonged-for and honoured Lady, in answer to one of\r\nthe matters you treat of in it, the which is that you\r\nunderstand not the meaning of my request, whilst on\r\nyour part you would have me to know that you would\r\nrather die than that your honour were soiled, I tell\r\nyou truly, very sweet Mistress, and give you assurance,\r\nthat my wish is altogether and entirely like unto your\r\nown. Of a truth, if I could desire aught but your goodwill,\r\nin nowise could I hold you as the lady of my\r\nheart, nor myself as your liegeman. And touching\r\nyour warning to me to take heed that I so demean me\r\nas not to make boast of aught which may afterward\r\nprove to be untrue, I verily make promise unto you,\r\nvery gentle Lady, and I swear faithfully on my word of\r\nhonour, that all my life long you shall find me such an\r\none, and if in this I make default, I am willing, and\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"77\" id=\"page-77\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ebind myself, to be cut off from all joy, and to be\r\ncounted as vile. And as to concealing my secret, and\r\nrefraining from telling it to either companion or friend,\r\nsave to the one from whom I may not hide it, be\r\nassured, sweet Lady, that of this I take good heed, and,\r\nas far as in me lies, neither in this, nor in aught beside,\r\nshall you find me wanting, and I give you thanks for\r\nyour good counsel, kind Lady. And since I give you\r\nassurance on all matters which might embroil me, may\r\nit please you to perform that which you make promise\r\nof in your letter, the which is, that of your grace you\r\nwill hold me as your one loved friend, and if in aught\r\nyou find me disobedient, I am willing to be banished,\r\nand to accept great disgrace as my due, and may God\r\nnever suffer me so much as to live if at any time I\r\nhave desire to be false or untrue to you. And when,\r\nmoreover, you say that it would give you pleasure to\r\nbe the cause of my advancement, know, sweet Lady,\r\nthat this could never come to pass save through you,\r\nfor none but you can either save me, or be my undoing.\r\nTherefore, sweet Lady, may it please you to comfort\r\nme, and give me perfect happiness, by according to\r\nme your sweet love, and may you be willing to satisfy\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"78\" id=\"page-78\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003emy famished heart and eyes by granting them opportunity\r\nto see your loved and much-desired self. And\r\nmay you be minded to send me the very joyous news\r\nconcerning this the which I long for. Sweet and\r\nwinsome one, who art renowned above all others, I\r\nplead for your help more often than I can tell unto\r\nyou, and I pray God to grant you a happy life, and the\r\nwill to love me well.—Written right joyously, in the\r\nhope of better fortune,\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eYour humble slave.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eThus did I finish my letter, and, at the end, I\r\nadded a short ballad, so that she might not be wearied\r\nin the reading. Therefore listen to the device of it,\r\nfor it is after a strange manner—\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-3 section\" id=\"id10\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch3 class=\"level-3 pfirst section-title title\"\u003eBALLAD\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eKind and fair Saint,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eMy heart\u0027s repose,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eWhose sweet constraint\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eDoth all enclose\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThat the world knows\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eOf graciousness,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eVouchsafe me grace!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"79\" id=\"page-79\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFresh without taint\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAs the new rose,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThis my heart\u0027s plaint\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThat overflows,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eEre my breath goes,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003ePity and bless.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eVouchsafe me grace!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAh, sweet dove pent,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eShy dove, for whose\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eDear grace I faint,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSo my heart glows\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eIt dares disclose\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eLove, Love, nought less.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eVouchsafe me grace!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSave thy heart close\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eTo longing\u0027s throes,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eO Loveliness,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eVouchsafe me grace!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eAnd I despatched my letter by my cousin, and\r\nthus sent forth on his way him whom I loved, imploring\r\nhim to entreat of my lady that it might please\r\nher that ere long I might have speech of her, else my\r\nwretched and weary life would soon be ended.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd he tarried not until he was come to her dwelling.\r\nAnd there he was in nowise denied, but was\r\nmade very welcome. And he wisely restrained him\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"80\" id=\"page-80\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003euntil he saw the fitting time to report his errand.\r\nThen he spake well and wisely in my behalf, praying\r\nher that, for God\u0027s sake, she would no longer suffer\r\nme, who was dying of love, so to languish that such\r\nhurt would ensue to me that I could not recover.\r\nThen he gave her the letter, and she read it, and\r\nscanned it quite leisurely. To be brief, she made\r\nanswer that she well believed that I spake from the\r\nbottom of my heart when I made request for her\r\nlove, since dissimulation was not usual in one so\r\nyoung, and she thought it certain, and without doubt,\r\nthat the jealous one would depart within three days,\r\nand would go far away. And it seemed that at the\r\nsame time all danger would be at an end, and then\r\nwe should be able to hold converse together without\r\nhindrance, and, when she perceived it to be the fitting\r\ntime, she would that I should come secretly with my\r\ncousin in the evening, dressed as a varlet, although\r\nshe would have me to be concealed when I was come\r\nthere, so that neither stranger, nor kinsfolk, nor any\r\nsave her secretary, should know of it. And touching\r\nthis, she would not fail to make known by this one\r\nwhat she would that I should do, provided he failed\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"81\" id=\"page-81\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003enot to warn me to demean me so modestly towards\r\nher as not to do aught to provoke her displeasure or\r\nreproach.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd he gave her full assurance of this, saying that\r\nshe might be certain of it, for rather would I die than\r\nventure to do aught contrary to her will.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThus he returned with this news, the which was so\r\ngood and pleasing unto me, that I seemed to myself\r\nto be in a very happy dream.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd I thought on this without ceasing, but the\r\ndelay seemed long to me. And she who held my\r\nheart in bondage forgot me not on the day on which\r\nshe had made promise to send to me. Therefore it\r\nbehoved me to give hearty welcome to the very distinguished\r\nmessenger who brought to me the pleasing\r\nnews for the which I was longing, the which was that\r\nI should go at nightfall to her to whom my heart went\r\nout, and who made known to me by this one what\r\nshe would have me do, and that I should speak of\r\nit to no one save only to him who knew of it, and\r\nthat he, and I, and her secretary, should set out,\r\nand should take none other thither.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen we set out quickly, and parted from our followers,\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"82\" id=\"page-82\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ediscreetly telling them not to be uneasy about\r\nit, but to be of good cheer, for it was needful for us\r\nto arrange some business between us three, the which\r\nwould occupy us the whole day, and that we should\r\nreturn on the morrow.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd right joyously did we ride without drawing\r\nrein, and exactly at the hour named, we arrived at\r\nthe place where my dear lady sometimes sojourned.\r\nAnd we dismounted without a torch, and then I\r\ndivested me of my tunic, and put on another one.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd my kind and prudent cousin went up undisguised,\r\nand I took charge of the horses, and was\r\ncareful not to be recognised. And on the instant he\r\ninvented the excuse that he was come there at that\r\nhour upon a pressing matter the which had just arisen,\r\nand upon which he must without fail speak unto the\r\nlord as soon as possible, for very great need made\r\nthis urgent. And he was told that he was not there,\r\nand would not return for some months. And he said\r\nthat great hurt would happen to him in consequence.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen my very sweet lady made haste, and came on a\r\nsudden to a lattice window the which overlooked the\r\ncourtyard. And she said, “What chance brings my\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"83\" id=\"page-83\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ecousin here? Go and let down the bridge quickly.\r\nThus shall I learn what he wants. I know not but\r\nthat some one sends me urgent news by him.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen was my cousin escorted to her by two damsels.\r\nAnd when he was come, she asked of him, after that\r\nhe had saluted her, “Is any one dead, or what brings\r\nyou here so late? I have not seen you for a week.\r\nTell me what you want.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen he said that it was of no avail for him to\r\nremain since he had not met with the lord and master,\r\nthe which grieved him. Thus it was meet that he\r\nreturn.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd she made answer that he must not do so, but\r\nmust without fail make all his affair known unto her.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen he said, “My varlet, who holds my horses at\r\nthe gate, must bring me a letter the which I gave\r\ninto his charge, and some one must tell him to come\r\nwithout delay.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd my lady, in a haughty manner, gave command\r\nto her secretary to do this, and he, with much haste,\r\nput the horses into a stable, and then escorted me\r\nup. And my cousin, who took great precautions,\r\ncame to the door of the chamber, and he turned him\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"84\" id=\"page-84\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eto me, saying, “Give me that letter quickly.” Then\r\nhe said to the secretary, “Let him be gone at once,\r\nfor there is naught beside for him to do here, and it\r\nis not convenient for a varlet to remain in the chamber\r\nat this present.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eMy cousin said all this for that a light was shining in\r\nthe chamber, by the which I might be recognised, and\r\nthus I should be found out.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd he took a long letter the which I had placed\r\nin my bosom, and then he drew my lady aside, and,\r\nreading it, showed how weighty a matter was set\r\nforth in it. Meanwhiles the secretary, as my lady\r\nhad commanded him, made me to withdraw without\r\na light into the chamber, the which communicated\r\nwith that of my sweet and fair lady, of a lady who was\r\nprudent, reserved, and without reproach, and who was\r\nacquainted with everything.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd as soon as the letter had been read in the\r\npresence of all, my cousin was bent on departing,\r\nand made semblance of great regret, but she forbade\r\nhim to go, and said that without fail he must remain\r\nthere, or she would make complaint of it to her lord,\r\nand thus she made him tarry.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"85\" id=\"page-85\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eAnd she held long converse with him, and at length,\r\nso that this might not create wonderment, she said\r\nthat it was time to rest, and that there was no cause\r\nfor any one to keep watch in her chamber. And to\r\nthe end that there might be no suspicion or doubt\r\nwherefore he was come there at that hour, his bed\r\nwas made ready in a distant chamber, to the which\r\nhe was escorted to rest, and thither was he accompanied\r\nby the most trusted of the esquires who had\r\nthe charge of her within the castle, since they no\r\nlonger waited on her because of the hour.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen without delay she disrobed her, and laid her\r\ndown in the presence of her gentlewomen, but not\r\nlong did she remain there, but arose and apparelled\r\nher, and made complaint that she suffered somewhat,\r\nand because of this she would that a fire were prepared\r\nin the chamber where I was. So I was hidden\r\nuntil that the serving-woman had made a fire in the\r\nchamber.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen my lady came wrapped in a long mantle, and\r\nshe brought not with her any of her waiting-women\r\nsave one, the whom was the lady before mentioned,\r\nwhom she had chosen above all, and on whose breast\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"86\" id=\"page-86\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eshe leaned, and she dismissed the serving-woman to\r\nbed, for she said she would not that she remained up,\r\nso that she might not be wearied. And after she was\r\ngone, the door was bolted.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen the lady came to fetch me, and led me to my\r\nlady. And scarce did I salute her, for so perturbed did\r\nI feel, that I knew not where I was. Ne\u0027ertheless I\r\nsaid, “Sweet Lady, may God preserve you, both body\r\nand soul.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003e“Friend,” made she answer, “you are very welcome.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen she made me to sit down beside her, and as\r\nsoon as I looked on her, I became like one beside himself.\r\nAnd well did my lady perceive this, and she received\r\nme with a kiss, for the which I many times\r\nhumbly gave her thanks.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd my lady, revered of my fearful and doubting\r\nheart, commenced to speak after this manner. “Have\r\nI, who have caused you to come hither thus secretly,\r\ndone your will, fair Sir? Is this the deed of a friend?\r\nIn nowise deceive me now, but I earnestly entreat of\r\nyou to tell me, if you can, and whiles that you have\r\nopportunity, all your desire.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"87\" id=\"page-87\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eThen all trembling with joy, sighing, I said, “Ah,\r\nsweet Lady! by my troth I know not how to utter\r\nthat which I would. Therefore, very dear Lady, take\r\nit in good part, and recognise how that I am wholly\r\nyours, both body and soul, and more I cannot say.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd she drew nearer, and put her arm around my\r\nneck, and, laughing, she spake thus. “It behoves me,\r\nthen, to speak for us both, since you cannot call to mind\r\naught to say, and yet I verily believe that love bestows\r\non me so goodly a portion of his favours, that I trust\r\nI could in nowise utter a single word concerning that\r\nwhich I presume you speak of, beyond what it is meet\r\nfor me to say.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen the other lady who was there began to smile,\r\nand she said aloud, “Since I see you thus already in\r\nfriendly accord in this matter, truly do I perceive and\r\nknow that love makes fools of the wisest.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd my lady said to me, “My friend, since love has\r\nmade us of one mind, no longer is it needful to enquire\r\nif we love one another, and I well believe that love\r\nclaims us, or can claim us both, as his servants, the\r\nwhich grieves me not. Ne\u0027ertheless, dear friend, however\r\nmuch I trust you in this matter, I would, notwithstanding,\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"88\" id=\"page-88\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003emake known to you all my will without\r\nconcealing aught, and I know not what is your purport,\r\nbut I tell you that, whatever love you perceive in me,\r\nand whatever semblance I may make, in word or look,\r\nof being trusting, pleased, or mirthful, and although I\r\nmay kiss or embrace you, never for a moment must\r\nyou imagine that I have the mind or the desire to do\r\naught that is dishonouring, or in the which I may not\r\nbe in every way free from reproach. Dear friend, I\r\ngive you this warning, since never would I have you\r\nto say that in the smallest degree I had surrendered\r\nmyself to you, for I swear that never will I do aught\r\nthe which may tarnish mine honour. And so, once\r\nfor all, I swear to you, of a truth, that as soon as I\r\nperceive, either from your demeanour or your look,\r\nthat you cherish other desires, never again shall you\r\nsee me. I know not whether I err in this, but I seek\r\nnot to refuse you any other pleasure by the which it\r\nis permitted to a lady to enslave her lover, and but\r\nthat I should be acting foolishly, and doing wrong to\r\nmyself, I would surrender my heart altogether to you,\r\nand would give up all that I possess for you to use as\r\nyou will, but I make promise unto you of loyalty and\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"89\" id=\"page-89\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003etrue friendship, and am willing to prefer you above\r\nall others if that this will content you, and this do I\r\nsay truly. So tell me what you desire whiles that you\r\nhave time and the opportunity, for I would understand\r\nyour purpose.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd when she whom I revered had ceased speaking,\r\nI made answer, “Ah, my Lady! Almost does it kill\r\nme to hear you speak thus. The love, the goodness,\r\nand the favour which you extend to me, should well\r\ncontent me, and I trust that you will never imagine\r\nthat I am not willing to agree to all that you command.\r\nAnd believe me truly that, as I wrote in answer to your\r\nletter, I make promise unto you on my oath—and in\r\nthis I perjure myself not—I would that I should never\r\nbe had in honour, but should always be held disgraced,\r\nif that ever, for a single day, in deed, word, or thought,\r\nI should do or think aught, either in secret or openly,\r\nthe which could displease you, and you may put me\r\nto the proof in such manner as you will, for never will\r\naught that your heart desires be unwelcome to me, nor\r\nwill it befall that aught which may be your wish can\r\ngrieve me, and thus it behoves me not to distress me\r\nconcerning this, for are you not my loved one? Is it\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"90\" id=\"page-90\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003enot meet that I demean me according to your will?\r\nWhen I shall be moved to do otherwise, may I be\r\ndestroyed, body and soul, and brought to ruin! Good\r\nGod! how satisfied I ought to be since I perceive that\r\nyou love me, and call me your dear friend! I possess\r\nthat which I coveted, and naught beside do I strive\r\nafter, and I think myself well recompensed. And as\r\nyou are disposed alway to love me thus, I indeed perceive\r\nthat there is no guile or malice in your heart, and\r\nI bethink me, moreover, that I shall do such service,\r\nthat I shall be yet more loved by you. Therefore\r\ncommand me even now, for I am your liegeman, and\r\nmy heart is wholly pledged to you, fair one. Declare\r\nnow your pleasure, or send me whither you will, and I\r\nwill go, and will obey in all things, without opposing\r\nyour humour. Thus you can do as you will with me\r\nmore than I know how to tell, and may God watch\r\nover you, and reward you abundantly for that you\r\nthus make promise wholly to love me. I ought not to\r\nspeak ill of love, the which puts me in the way of\r\nattaining to such great joy. Therefore, fair and kind\r\none, I give you humble thanks, for henceforth I shall\r\nwear the lover\u0027s crown, and I shall put away from me\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"91\" id=\"page-91\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eevery evil habit, and take virtue into my service, the\r\nwhich I would seek above all things, in order to be\r\nlike unto the valiant. Thus will you make me a\r\nwise and prudent man. In fine, sweet Lady, I\r\ncould not be more happy, however much I might say\r\nconcerning it.”\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThen my lady, in whom dwells every grace, very\r\ntenderly embraced me, and kissed me more than an\r\nhundred times. And I remained thus happy all the\r\nnight, and be assured, you lovers who hear this, that I\r\nwas very contented. Many tender words full of delight\r\nwere spoken that night, and she, in whom is all\r\ngoodness, showed me how and where, in spite of every\r\none, I might see her very often. Thus I asked for\r\nnaught beside, for I had all that I desired. Ne\u0027ertheless\r\nshe earnestly charged me to be very mindful of her\r\nhonour, even if at any time I had to defer seeing her,\r\nalthough the delay might cause annoyance, for I should\r\nput her in peril if that I took not careful heed beforehand\r\nof the proper time to come, and to depart when\r\nshe admonished me.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThus we passed the time, but shortwhile dured the\r\nnight for me. And when the day was come, the which\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"92\" id=\"page-92\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003egrieved me, embracing and kissing me an hundred\r\ntimes, and giving me sweet loving glances, she said,\r\n“Farewell, dear love.” And she bolted me in there\r\nall alone, and retired to her room. And, later, dressed\r\nas a page, I was released by the astute secretary, who\r\nwas in the secret, and albeit I was not versed in the\r\nbusiness, I resumed my former office, for, as he well\r\nsaid, it was meet for one who received so sweet a recompense,\r\nto take charge of the horses at the gate, and\r\ndoubtless I would not wish to busy myself in any other\r\noffice, and ofttimes did I take upon myself this pleasing\r\nservice. Thus you see how it is sometimes needful for\r\na master to turn varlet, and perchance in this manner\r\nhe ofttimes comes by that which he desires.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd my cousin no longer remained dreaming, but\r\narose betimes noiselessly, for he would not that any\r\nwho slept should be awakened, and he had taken his\r\nleave of my lady yesternight. And he went out. And\r\nI awaited him, and led the horses to and fro like a\r\ngood and trained varlet, and he said, “Come hither,\r\nfellow. How an-angered I could be with you when\r\nyou lean on the saddle-bow!” Thus did he speak\r\nbefore those present, for some knights and men-at-arms\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"93\" id=\"page-93\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ewould fain escort him to his dwelling, and they\r\nblamed him in that he had not more of his own men\r\nwith him, but he assured them that, for a certain\r\nreason, he had done it quite designedly. He had\r\nthought to find the lord there, for never in his life\r\nhad he had greater need or desire to speak with him.\r\nAnd then he desired that none should accompany\r\nhim. And he set out on his way.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd so we departed, and as we rode, we held much\r\nfriendly and gracious converse together, for the pleasing\r\nremembrance which I had on my return of the sweet\r\njoy which had comforted me, gave me so great solace,\r\nthat no one could have had greater joy of aught. And\r\nwe were quickly come to our journey\u0027s end, so much\r\ndid we spur our horses, but I had put on my tunic\r\nagain. Then, as soon as they perceived us, my retainers,\r\nwho loved me and held me in esteem, received\r\nus with great delight, and we also were glad, and with\r\ngreat joy sang, in cheerful refrain, this quite new\r\nvirelay:—\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-3 section\" id=\"virelay\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch3 class=\"level-3 pfirst section-title title\"\u003eVIRELAY\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSweet, in whom my joy must be,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eNow my heart is full of glee\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"94\" id=\"page-94\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFor thy love: and loosed from care\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAll my song is, “Lady fair,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eLiving I consume for thee.”\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eBut thy gentle love hath sent\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThe fair comfort that I need:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eI therewith am well content.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eGladness doth my spirit lead.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eRightly am I glad, pardie!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFor of old my jollity\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eDrowned in woes I had to bear:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eOf thy help when I was ware\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eGone was all my misery,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSweet, in whom my joy must be.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSince the day that thou hast lent\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThy dear heart, my life is freed\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFrom the sorrows I lament:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003ePeace and gladness are my meed.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eLady, love despatcheth me\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSuccour sweet, who thus am free\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFrom my sickness: pale despair\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eRules no longer when I share\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eHope that I thy face may see,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSweet, in whom my joy must be.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eNow have I recounted unto you how that in the\r\nfirst instance I was surprised and subdued by love,\r\nand was afterward grievously constrained by great\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"95\" id=\"page-95\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003elonging, and how my dear kinsman gave himself much\r\ntrouble, with the result that I was delivered from my\r\ntrouble by my lady, who had mercy on me, thanks\r\nbe to her. And I will tell how that from that time I\r\nwent to and fro. Thenceforth I was happy even as\r\nyou have heard, and because of the joy which I had,\r\nI devised this ballad:—\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-3 section\" id=\"id11\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch3 class=\"level-3 pfirst section-title title\"\u003eBALLAD\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eIn all the world is none so happy here\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eNor is there any joy to match with mine,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSince she that hath no rival and no peer\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eDoth mercifully to my suit incline.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eHer slave am I till death, for all my pain\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eIn very truth hath met with guerdon meet:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eShe was my help on whom I called amain,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFor she hath granted me her love so sweet.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFair queen, in whom all nobleness is clear,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThou would\u0027st not have me for thy presence pine:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eNay, bid me cry in every lover\u0027s ear,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e“Thirsty was I for Love\u0027s immortal wine!”\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eNot all my weeping might the gift obtain,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eYet she, enthroned on beauty\u0027s mercy-seat,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eHath pardoned all: too soon did I complain\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFor she hath granted me her love so sweet.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eNow to delight returns the torrent drear\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThat of my mourning was the sorry sign:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"96\" id=\"page-96\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eNow am I joyous and of merry cheer,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eMore than aforetime in her grace divine.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eLove bade me follow in his chosen train\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eWhere gladness walks beside my lady\u0027s feet,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eNor any loss is mingled with my gain,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFor she hath granted me her love so sweet.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003ePrincess of love, my sorrow I disdain\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSince out of mourning cometh joy complete\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eBy grace of her who is love\u0027s suzerain,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFor she hath granted me her love so sweet.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eSo I demeaned me prudently and wisely, and I desired\r\nto have apparel and horses and beautiful things\r\nin much plenty, and great pains did I take to make me\r\nacquainted with all matters which become honest folk,\r\nand, as far as I was able, I avoided those which are\r\nunworthy, and I always had the desire to increase my\r\nfame, to the end that my lady might hold herself loved\r\nof a brave man. Thus I spared no pains to become\r\nrich, in order to dispense freely, and it appeared as if\r\nI made no count of riches.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eBut to shorten my story, I tell you truly that none\r\nother thought had I than to follow in the path of true\r\nlovers, and oft, thank God, did I come to enjoy the\r\nwelcome favours the which Love and Dames dispense\r\nto those who are faithful to them, for I well knew how\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"97\" id=\"page-97\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eto compass this, although it became expedient to be\r\nvery careful where I saw my sweet goddess each week,\r\nso that no one, save those who were trusted, should\r\ncome to know of it. And the first time that I returned\r\nto her, I took her this new ballad, the which\r\ngreatly pleased her, and I brought back one from her.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-3 section\" id=\"id12\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch3 class=\"level-3 pfirst section-title title\"\u003eBALLAD\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eCommand of me, my Lady and my queen,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAll thy good pleasure, as I were thy slave,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eWhich I shall do with glad and humble mien\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThat whatsoe\u0027er thou willest, thou may\u0027st have.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"inner line-block\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eI owe no less\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eBeing bound thereto for so great pleasantness,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eMore than to other lovers may betide:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFor sweeter are thy gifts than all beside.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThy love delivered me from dule and teen,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAll that was needful to my soul it gave:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eIs there not here in truth good reason seen\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThy love should rule the heart thy love did save?\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"inner line-block\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAh, what mistress\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSo guerdoneth her servant with largess\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eOf love\u0027s delight? The rest have I denied,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFor sweeter are thy gifts than all beside.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSince such a harvest of reward I glean,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eLove in my heart hath risen like a wave:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThy slave am I, as I thy slave have been,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eWhile life shall last. Ah, damsel bright and brave,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"inner line-block\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"98\" id=\"page-98\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSweet patroness\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eOf spirit and strength, and lady of noblesse,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAll other comfort doth my heart deride,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFor sweeter are thy gifts than all beside.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"inner line-block\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eMost dear princess\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eOf joy thou art the fount, as I confess:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eI thirst no longer, but am satisfied,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFor sweeter are thy gifts than all beside.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eEre I parted from this very sweet being, I received\r\nan answer to my ballad, the which gave me more than\r\na little very ardent rapture, for the enchanting fair\r\none, whilst reading it, put her arms about my neck.\r\nAnd here it is:—\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-3 section\" id=\"id13\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch3 class=\"level-3 pfirst section-title title\"\u003eBALLAD\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eEver blessed be the day,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eBe the place and be the dwelling,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThat hath ended my delay,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eShown the truth I shrank from telling.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"inner line-block\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eDear friend, behold\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eMy love is yours, a costlier gift than gold:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eTo Love be praise, that first the bond hath knit,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFor I am filled with perfect joy from it.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSince I yielded to thy sway\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eWhen thy heart with grief was swelling,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSwiftly speeding as he may\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eJoy is come, my care dispelling:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"inner line-block\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"99\" id=\"page-99\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eNow am I bold\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eTo give thee love, that guerdons manifold\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eMay heal thee from thy sorrow every whit,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFor I am filled with perfect joy from it.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSo my soul, with God for stay,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThe new blissful years foretelling,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFinds in thee, for whom I pray,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eGrace and gladness all excelling.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"inner line-block\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eI that of old\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eGave thee but sorry cheer and comfort cold,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAm straightway turned to serve thee, as is fit,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFor I am filled with perfect joy from it.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"inner line-block\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eWhen I had told\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eMy love, my heart was yours to have and hold:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eTo grief I yield not, nor to blame submit,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFor I am filled with perfect joy from it.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eIn suchwise was happiness granted to me, even as\r\nyou hear, and I pursued it with joy and gladness. But\r\nfortune, who is ready, whensoe\u0027er she can, to do harm\r\nto lovers, straightway thought to do me very grievous\r\nhurt, as I will relate in a few words.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eIt chanced, in a short while, that the lady who\r\nknew of our love, and who concealed our doings, had\r\nbusiness at home, from the which loss would happen\r\nto her inheritance if she did not go there forthwith,\r\nwherefore, sad and sorrowful, she departed from the\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"100\" id=\"page-100\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eCourt. And as for me, this caused me great grief,\r\nfor I well knew that my lady would essay naught without\r\nher. And on this account I was much distressed,\r\nfor, certes, I could in nowise rest without seeing her.\r\nAnd my lady knew this well, and I am persuaded that\r\nit was not otherwise with her. So she then bethought\r\nher of a lady who had likewise been in her service\r\nall her life, and who was prudent and discreet, and\r\ngood, loyal, and reserved, although no longer did she\r\nlive at Court. So she resolved to inquire of her if\r\nshe was willing to return. Therefore without delay\r\nshe wrote this letter to her, and received an answer\r\nfrom her.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-3 section\" id=\"the-duchess\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch3 class=\"level-3 pfirst section-title title\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eThe Duchess\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e\u003cem class=\"italics\"\u003eTo my very dear and good friend\u003c/em\u003e,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"inner line-block\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e\u003cem class=\"italics\"\u003eThe Lady of La Tour\u003c/em\u003e.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eVery dear and kind Friend\u003c/span\u003e,—Concerning my\r\nestate, be pleased to know that I am in health, and I\r\npray God to grant the same to you. I write to you\r\nbecause of the desire which I have to see you, and to\r\nspeak with you, for I have not forgotten the good and\r\nfaithful service which you have alway rendered me, for\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"101\" id=\"page-101\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ethe which I hold myself so much bounden to you, that\r\nI can never repay it. And be sure that you have a\r\nfriend in me, and you can put this to the proof whensoe\u0027er\r\nyou will. Dear lady and friend, you well know\r\nhow that I am controlled, and held in great subjection\r\nand fear, and am harshly treated, and that my lot is\r\na very hard one, and allows me but little happiness,\r\nand that I have no friend to whom I can make plaint\r\nand tell my secret thoughts, the which I would not\r\nmake confession of to any save to you, from whom\r\nI would not hide aught any more than I would from\r\nmy confessor, for I know you to be so loyal, that I\r\ncan trust in you. You must know, therefore, that it\r\nis a very grievous sorrow to a young heart always\r\nto live in disquiet, and devoid of happiness. So I\r\nwould that you were near me, and I would tell\r\nyou of very pleasing things, concerning the which,\r\nwith good reason, I do not write to you. And thus I\r\nhave great need of your aid and good counsel, wherefore\r\nI pray you, by all the love you bear me, that, as\r\nsoon as you have read this letter, you so arrange your\r\naffairs that you may be ready to come to me within\r\na week from this, and I will send to fetch you with\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"102\" id=\"page-102\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eall due honour. And do not be in anywise troubled\r\nabout leaving your household, for I pledge you my\r\nfaith to make so liberal recompense, that it will alway\r\nbe to the advantage of you and yours. And I pray\r\nyou not to fail me in this, and to send me, by the\r\nbearer of this letter, your favourable reply. I commend\r\nme to your daughter-in-law. Dear, kind friend,\r\nmay the Holy Spirit have you in His keeping.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e\u003cem class=\"italics\"\u003eWritten in my Castle, the eighth day of January.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eAnd my lady despatched a messenger, and sent this\r\nletter to the lady whom she wholly regarded as her\r\nfriend, and whom she much loved. And she sent a\r\nreply, the which disquieted me, for it was very much to\r\nmy prejudice, and in this manner did she counsel her:—\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eMy very revered Lady\u003c/span\u003e,—In the first place I send\r\nyou my very humble respects, and may it please you\r\nto know that I have received your very loving and\r\ntender letter, for the which, with all my unworthy\r\nheart, I thank you, and in the which you do me so\r\ngreat honour as to have in remembrance the trivial\r\nservices, in nowise worthy of your honoured and noble\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"103\" id=\"page-103\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eself, which I rendered you in the past, and thus I am\r\nbeholden to you more than I can ever deserve. As\r\nconcerns my going to you at this present, I very humbly\r\nbeseech you, my very dear Lady, to hold me excused,\r\nfor, on my faith, my daughter is so grievously sick that\r\non no account can I leave her, and God knows how I\r\nam troubled because of her sickness. But since, my\r\nvery revered Lady, I cannot hold speech with you as\r\nsoon as I would, and I am bound to counsel you as to\r\nyour conduct, as one who has been under my guidance\r\nfrom childhood until now, however unworthy I have\r\nbeen of this, methinks I should be wrong if I kept\r\nsilence touching that which I knew might bring any\r\ntrouble upon you if I failed to make it known to you.\r\nWherefore, dear Lady, I write what follows, for the\r\nwhich I very humbly entreat of you in no way to bear\r\nme ill-will, for you may be assured that very great love,\r\nand the desire that your great renown and honour may\r\never increase, moves me to this. My Lady, I have\r\nheard certain rumours touching your conduct which\r\ngrieve me from the bottom of my heart because of the\r\nfear I have of the ruin of your good name, to the which,\r\nas it seems to me, they tend, for it is right and fitting\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"104\" id=\"page-104\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003efor every princess and high-born lady, since she is\r\nexalted in honour and estate above others, to exceed\r\nall others in goodness, wisdom, manners, disposition,\r\nand behaviour, to the end that she may be an ensample\r\nby the which other dames, and even all womankind,\r\nshould regulate their conduct. And thus it is meet\r\nthat she be devout toward God, and have a tranquil,\r\ngentle, and calm demeanour, and in her diversions be\r\nrestrained and without excess, that she laugh with\r\nmoderation and not without cause, and have a stately\r\ncarriage, modest look, and dignified bearing, with a\r\nkindly response and a courteous word for every one, her\r\ndress and attire rich but not too affected, gracious in\r\nher welcome of strangers, in speech restrained and not\r\ntoo familiar, not hasty in judgment or fickle, never\r\nappearing harsh, capricious, or ill-humoured, or too\r\ndifficult to serve, humane and kind to her waiting-women\r\nand servants, not too haughty, in giving bountiful\r\nwithin reason, knowing how to recognise those who\r\nare the most worthy in goodness and prudence, and\r\nher best servants, and to draw all these to her, and\r\nrecompense them according to their deserts, not trusting\r\nor putting faith in flatterers, but recognising them,\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"105\" id=\"page-105\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eand driving them from her, not lightly believing gossip,\r\nnot given to the habit of whispering either to stranger\r\nor to intimate friend in any secret or solitary place,\r\nand in particular not to any of her retainers or serving-women,\r\nso that none may be able to think that he\r\nknows more than another of her private affairs, never\r\nsaying in jest to any one whomsoever, in the presence\r\nof others, aught which may not be understood of all,\r\nso that those hearing it may not imagine there to be\r\nsome foolish secret between them, and keeping herself\r\nneither too much confined to her chamber, or to\r\nherself, nor too much in the sight of other folk, but\r\nsometimes retiring, and at other times appearing before\r\nothers. And although the foregoing conditions, and\r\nall other usages befitting a noble princess, were aforetime\r\nobserved by you, you now act quite otherwise, it\r\nis said, for you amuse yourself much more, and have\r\nbecome more communicative and mirthful than was\r\nyour wont, and it is when the outward signs are\r\nchanged, that one usually judges the disposition to be\r\naltered, and now you desire to be alone, and withdrawn\r\nfrom others save one or two of your waiting-women,\r\nand some of your dependants, with whom,\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"106\" id=\"page-106\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eeven in the presence of others, you consult privately,\r\nand titter, and talk secretly, as if you well understood\r\none another, and naught but the company of such\r\npleases you, and the others can in nowise serve you\r\nto your liking, the which things and doings arouse\r\nenvy in your other servants, and cause them to think\r\nthat your heart is enamoured of some one. Ah, my\r\nvery sweet Lady, for God\u0027s sake remember who you\r\nare, and the high position to which God has raised\r\nyou, and consent not, for the sake of any foolish pleasure,\r\nto be forgetful of your soul and your honour,\r\nand do not put trust in the vain fancy which many\r\nyoung women have, who permit themselves to believe\r\nthat there is no wrong in loving with tender passion\r\nprovided this is not accompanied by any wrongful act\r\n(and I am convinced that you would prefer death to\r\nthis), and that it makes life more pleasurable, and that\r\none thus makes a man gallant and renowned for aye.\r\nAh, my dear Lady, it is quite the reverse, and for\r\nGod\u0027s sake do not deceive yourself, or let yourself be\r\ndeceived as to this, and take warning from such noble\r\nladies as you have seen in your time (and such there\r\nare), who, through being merely suspected of such\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"107\" id=\"page-107\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003elove, have, without the truth ever becoming known,\r\non this account lost both honour and life. And yet\r\non my soul I am satisfied that they had neither sinned\r\nnor done aught that was wrong. Ne\u0027ertheless their\r\nchildren have seen them reproached and thought\r\nlightly of. And however dishonourable such foolish\r\nlove is in any woman, be she rich or poor, it is still\r\nmuch more unbecoming and harmful in a princess or\r\na high-born lady, and the more so the more exalted\r\nshe is, and the reason of this is just, for the fame of a\r\nprincess extends everywhere, and hence, if there is any\r\nstain on her good name, it is more known of in foreign\r\nlands than in the case of simple folk, and, moreover,\r\ngives rise to doubts concerning their offspring, who\r\nare destined to be rulers in the land, and the princes\r\nof other folk. And it is a great misfortune when there\r\nis any suspicion that they are not the rightful heirs,\r\nand much trouble may come of it, for even if there has\r\nbeen no wrong-doing, this will in nowise be believed\r\nby those who have but heard it reported, “This lady\r\nis in love.” And because of a few tender glances, perchance\r\ngiven thoughtlessly and without evil intent,\r\nmalicious tongues will pass judgment, and will add\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"108\" id=\"page-108\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ethings about it the which were never done or thought\r\nof, and thus the story, the which is never diminished,\r\nbut is ever being added to, passes from mouth to\r\nmouth. And thus it is the more necessary for a noble\r\nlady than for other women to pay great attention to\r\nall her words and ways and demeanour, and the reason\r\nof this is, that, in the presence of a noble lady, every\r\none pays attention to her, both to hear what she will\r\nsay, and also to attentively take note of all her doings.\r\nAnd thus the lady cannot look, speak, laugh, or jest,\r\nwithout all being put together, discussed, and borne\r\nin mind of many, and then reported broadcast. Bethink\r\nyou, therefore, my very dear Lady, that it may\r\nhave a very bad appearance when a high-born lady,\r\nand indeed any woman, becomes gay and mirthful, and\r\nwilling to listen to amorous discourse, more than is her\r\nwont, and then, when for any reason she changes her\r\nmind, of a sudden becomes discontented, ungracious,\r\nand on her defence, and no one can serve her to her\r\nsatisfaction, and she takes no trouble about her dress\r\nor apparel. Certes, folk then say that she must have\r\nbeen in love, but is so no longer. My Lady, this is in\r\nnowise demeanour becoming to a lady, for, whate\u0027er\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"109\" id=\"page-109\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003emay be her intentions, she should alway have a care\r\nso to demean and conduct herself, that such judgments\r\ncannot be passed on her, and although it may well be\r\nthat, in a matter of love, it is difficult to maintain such\r\nmoderation, the most sure way to this end is to wholly\r\neschew and shun it. Thus you may know, dear Lady,\r\nthat every noble lady, and every other woman likewise,\r\nshould be far more desirous to acquire a fair name\r\nthan any other treasure, for this reflects honour on\r\nher, and ever dures to her and her children. Revered\r\nLady, as I have erewhile observed, I wholly realise and\r\nbear in mind that the influence which can dispose a\r\nyoung woman to incline to such love, is that youth,\r\nand ease, and indolence cause her to say to herself,\r\n“You are young, you must enjoy yourself, you can\r\nwell love without wrong-doing, and this is in nowise\r\nevil when it is without sin, you will make a man valiant,\r\nno one will know of it, you will live more merrily because\r\nof it, and you will have won a true servant and\r\na loyal friend, and, therefore, all your desire.” Ah,\r\nmy Lady, for God\u0027s sake have a care that you be not\r\ndeceived by such foolish fancies; for, as far as concerns\r\nhappiness, be assured that in love affairs there is\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"110\" id=\"page-110\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ean hundred thousand times more of grief, of care, and\r\nof perilous risk, especially for the ladies, than there is\r\nof happiness. Moreover, whiles that love of itself\r\nbrings in its train many divers troubles, the fear of the\r\nloss of honour, and that this may become known (the\r\nwhich makes such pleasure dearly bought), continually\r\nhaunts the mind. And as to saying, “There can be\r\nno harm in this, since it will not result in sin,” alas,\r\nmy Lady, no one can by any means be so sure of herself\r\nas to be certain that, however good her resolution\r\nmay be, she will alway keep herself in restraint in the\r\nmatter of love made in this wise, or that it will not\r\nbe discovered, as I have said before. Of a truth, this\r\nis not possible, for never is there fire without smoke,\r\nbut there is often smoke without fire. And to say,\r\n“I shall make a man valiant,” certes, I declare that\r\nit is very great folly to ruin oneself in order to advance\r\nanother, even if he be made brave thereby, and surely\r\ndoes she bring ruin upon herself who degrades herself\r\nfor the sake of exalting another. And as to saying,\r\n“I shall have gained a true friend and servant,”\r\ngood God! in what manner could such a friend or\r\nservant advantage a lady? For if she were in any\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"111\" id=\"page-111\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003etrouble, he would not dare concern himself in anywise\r\non her behalf, for fear of her dishonour. Therefore\r\nhow could such a servant, who would not risk\r\nhimself in her service, be of profit to her? And\r\nthough there are some who say they serve their\r\nladies when that they achieve great things, either in\r\narms or in other ways, I say that they serve themselves,\r\nsince the honour and the profit of it remains\r\nto them, and in nowise to the lady. And yet again,\r\nmy Lady, if you or any other would make excuse by\r\nsaying, “Mine is a sad lot, the which allows me but\r\nlittle freedom and happiness, and because of this I\r\ncan, without wrong-doing, have pleasure in another\r\nin order to dispel melancholy and to pass the time,”\r\nassuredly never, with submission to your honoured\r\nself and all others who speak thus, does such excuse\r\navail aught, for very foolish is he who sets fire to his\r\nown house in order to burn that of his neighbour,\r\nbut she who bears with such a husband patiently,\r\nand without discrediting herself, so much the more\r\nincreases the good renown of herself and of her\r\nhonour. And as to having pleasure, certes a noble\r\nlady, and indeed every woman, can, if she will, find,\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"112\" id=\"page-112\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ewithout such love as this, enough of lawful and fitting\r\npleasures to the which to give herself up, and with\r\nthe which to pass the time without melancholy. For\r\nthose who have children, what more agreeable or\r\ndelightful pleasure can be desired than to see them\r\noft, and to have a care that they are well nourished\r\nand instructed as befits their noble birth and estate,\r\nand to train the daughters in suchwise that from\r\nchildhood they may, from the example of good company,\r\nform the habit of living in a proper and seemly\r\nmanner? But if the mother is not prudent in all\r\nways, what sort of an ensample is she, alas, to the\r\ndaughters? And for those who have no children,\r\ncertes it is not unworthy of any noble lady, after she\r\nhas had care for her household, to betake her to\r\nsome work, in order to avoid idleness, either working\r\nfine linen or silken apparel with rare broidery, or\r\nother things of the which she can make fitting use,\r\nand such occupations are wise, and prevent idle\r\nthoughts. But in nowise do I say that a young and\r\nnoble lady may not rightly divert herself, and laugh,\r\nand play, at seasonable times, even in the presence\r\nof lords and gentlemen, or that she may not, so far\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"113\" id=\"page-113\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eas is befitting to her position, do honour to strangers,\r\nto each one according to his rank, but this should\r\nbe done so soberly, and in such modest fashion, that\r\nthere be not a single glance, or laugh, or word, the\r\nwhich is not under due restraint, and within proper\r\nbounds, and she should ever be on her guard that it\r\nmay not be possible to discover in her aught that\r\nis unworthy or unseemly, either in word, look, or\r\nbehaviour. Ah, God! If every noble lady, and in\r\ntruth every woman, rightly knew how such virtuous\r\ndemeanour becomes her, the more would she be at\r\npains to possess this adornment rather than any other\r\nwhatsoever, for no precious jewel is there which can\r\nadorn her so well. And further, my very dear Lady,\r\nit remains to speak of the perils and difficulties which\r\naccompany such love, the which are without number.\r\nThe first and greatest is that it angers God, and\r\nthen if the husband or kinsfolk discover it, the woman\r\nis ruined, or falls under reproach, and never after\r\nhas she any happiness. And again, even if this does\r\nnot come to pass, let us consider the disposition of\r\nlovers, for though all were loyal, secret, and truthful\r\n(the which they by no means are, since it is well\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"114\" id=\"page-114\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eknown that they are generally faithless, and, in order\r\nto deceive the ladies, say that which they neither\r\nthink on nor would do), ne\u0027ertheless of a surety it is\r\ntrue that the ardour of such love does not dure for\r\nlong, even with the most loyal. Ah, dear Lady! be\r\nwarned that truly you cannot conceive the troublous\r\nthought which dwells in her breast when it comes\r\nto pass that this love is at an end, and the lady, who\r\nhas been blinded by the environment of foolish\r\ndelight, grievously repents her when she perceives\r\nand meditates on the distractions and the divers perils\r\nthe which she has ofttimes encountered, and how\r\nmuch she would, whatever it had cost her, that this\r\nhad never chanced to her, and that she could not be\r\nthus reproached. And, moreover, you and every\r\nlady can see what folly it is to put one\u0027s person and\r\none\u0027s honour at the mercy of the tongues, and in the\r\npower, of such servants, for they call themselves\r\nservants, although, for the most part, the ending of\r\nthe service is such that, although they have made\r\npromise unto you, and have sworn, to keep the\r\nsecret, they in no wise hold their peace concerning\r\nit, and in the end the ladies are ofttimes left with\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"115\" id=\"page-115\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ethe reproach of such love, and the gossip of folk\r\nconcerning it, or, at the very least, with the fear and\r\ndread in their hearts that those very ones in whom\r\nthey have put their trust, talk of it, and make boast\r\nof it, to any one else who knows of the affair, and\r\nthus they are delivered over from freedom to bondage,\r\nand behold the end of such love! Do you not perceive,\r\nmy Lady, that it seems to these servants to\r\nbe greatly to their credit to say, and to make boast,\r\nthat they are, or have been, loved of a very noble\r\nmistress, or a woman of high rank, and how that they\r\nsuppress the truth concerning it? But God knows\r\nhow they lie, and may He grant that, as regards you,\r\nmy Lady, you may know it well, for you will have\r\nneed to bear it in mind. And since, my Lady, you\r\nlove ballads and ditties, I send you one touching on\r\nthis subject, written by a clever master, if you will\r\ndo me the favour to take notice of it. And the\r\nservants, too, who know your secret, and whom it\r\nbehoves you to trust, think you, i\u0027 faith, that they\r\nkeep silence concerning this, albeit you have made\r\nthem swear to do so? Certes, the greater number\r\nof them are such that they would be very much\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"116\" id=\"page-116\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003evexed if it were not noised abroad that they have\r\nmuch greater intimacy and authority with you than\r\nhave the others, and if they do not openly proclaim\r\nyour secrets, they hint at them by means of divers\r\ncovert signs, the which they think are duly observed.\r\nGood God, what a slave is the lady, and any other\r\nwoman in the like case, who dares not reprove or\r\nblame her serving men or women, even if she sees\r\nthat they behave them very ill, for that she perceives\r\nherself to be in their power, and that they have risen\r\nup against her in such arrogance that she dares not\r\nutter a word, and is thus constrained to endure at\r\ntheir hands that which she would not endure from\r\nany other! And what, think you, do those say who\r\nsee and pay heed to this? These only pay attention\r\nto that which they see, and be sure that they ofttimes\r\nwhisper it abroad, and if it chances that the\r\nlady is angered, or sends away her servant, God knows\r\nthat all will be revealed, and made known everywhere.\r\nAnd yet it ofttimes happens that they are, and have\r\nbeen, the means and the cause of bringing into being\r\nthis love, the which they have encouraged with zeal\r\nand great diligence, in order to gain for themselves\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"117\" id=\"page-117\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eeither gifts, or offices, or other emoluments. Very\r\nhonoured Lady, what shall I say concerning this?\r\nBe assured that as soon as one sifts the matter to the\r\nbottom, one discovers all the mischievous perils which\r\nthis amorous life entails; and do not doubt this, for\r\nso it is. And because of this, very dear Lady, do\r\nnot cast yourself into such peril, and if you have any\r\nthought of it, for God\u0027s sake withdraw from it before\r\ngreater evil to you comes of it, for better is it to\r\ndo this betimes than late, and late than never, and\r\nalready you can see what will be said about it if that\r\nyou persevere in your unwonted ways, when even\r\nnow they are perceived, and in consequence of this\r\nare talked of in many places. Thus I know not what\r\nfurther to write to you, save that, to the utmost of\r\nmy power, I humbly entreat of you not to take this\r\nfrom me in bad part, but may it please you to be\r\nassured of the good intent which constrains me to\r\nsay it, and very much rather would I do my duty\r\nby loyally admonishing you, and causing you to be\r\nan-angered, than either counsel you to your ruin, or\r\nkeep silence concerning it in order to have your goodwill.\r\nMy Lady, be pleased to pay heed to my ballad,\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"118\" id=\"page-118\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ethe which I enclose herewith. Very honoured\r\nPrincess, and my dear Lady, I pray God to give you\r\na happy and long life, and paradise.—Written at La\r\nTour, this 18th day of January\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eYour very humble servant,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eSebille de Monthault\u003c/span\u003e, Lady of La Tour.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-3 section\" id=\"id14\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch3 class=\"level-3 pfirst section-title title\"\u003eBALLAD\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eMost noble ladies, cherish your fair fame,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAnd for God\u0027s love the contrary eschew\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eOf good report, lest thus you come to blame:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eNor make your choice of all acquaintance new.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFor some might tell (such evil tongues have they),\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eHow wanton manners in your life they see,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThough never yet in any fault you lay:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAnd from such faithless rascals keep you free.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFor little would it serve to bear the name\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eOf one whom many love, yet find for due\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eNought but dishonour that from slanderers came\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eTelling abroad how in your works they knew\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eYour wantonness: so well it is alway\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eTo hold aloof, ere any trial be,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFrom ill that follows after foolish play,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAnd from such faithless rascals keep you free.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eNay, be ye rather armed against the same\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eWith perfect wit, so tirelessly they sue\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eTo stain your honour, whence full often shame\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eComes without cause, yet they to pleasure you\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"119\" id=\"page-119\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFeign courtesy: my warning may not stay,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSo oft I hear how those ye hold in fee\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eBlame you no less: withdraw from these, I pray,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAnd from such faithless rascals keep you free.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eMost noble ladies! be not wroth to-day\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThat I have ever counselled you to flee\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThese traitors: trust me, though no more I say,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAnd from such faithless rascals keep you free.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eIn such wise did the Lady of La Tour, who made\r\nme very sad by the letter the which she wrote, make\r\nanswer to my Lady, who was sore dismayed by it\r\nalbeit she was not displeased with her on account of\r\nit, but said forthwith, “Ah! if it had pleased our\r\nlord that she had been alway with me, she would\r\nhave exhorted me wisely, and thus I should not have\r\nbeen beguiled by evil counsel, but ne\u0027ertheless I shall\r\nabandon this, and abide me by her counsel, for I\r\nwell perceive the grievous peril which pertains to a\r\nlife of love, but it is meet that he who is oft in my\r\nthoughts should abandon it likewise.” Then she\r\nwrote a letter to me, even as is here set forth.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-3 section\" id=\"id15\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch3 class=\"level-3 pfirst section-title title\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eSealed Letter\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eMy good Friend\u003c/span\u003e,—It is indeed true that foolish\r\nlove, the which deceives many, and the sincere pity\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"120\" id=\"page-120\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ewhich I had for your plaint, have led me much to\r\nforget that which I ought ever to have had in remembrance,\r\nthe which is, to preserve my soul and\r\nmine honour. And I have fully come to see how\r\nthat I have already exposed myself to many great\r\ndangers and perils in order to fulfil your youthful\r\nwishes and mine own. Thank God, however, that\r\nthere has been no evil in it, nor ever will be as long\r\nas I live! Yet the world would in nowise believe\r\nthis if any ill chance befell me, from the which may\r\nGod preserve me! And I well perceive that whosoe\u0027er\r\npursues foolish love, is in nowise master of\r\nhimself or of his demeanour, so that it comes to\r\npass that he may be discovered, as you can see by\r\nthe long letter which the good and prudent woman,\r\nthe Lady of La Tour, has written to me, the which\r\nI send you in order that you may perceive the reason\r\nwhich constrains me to withdraw from it. For,\r\nwhen I gave myself up to this love, I took no thought\r\nfor the perils into the which I rushed, but this wise\r\nlady has opened mine eyes to examine and consider\r\nmy doings, and if I do this not, I shall be defamed\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"121\" id=\"page-121\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eand ruined, and this, dear friend, you could in nowise\r\ndesire. And because of this, I beseech you to withdraw\r\nfrom it, and know that I ask this of you in spite\r\nof my love, and with my eyes full of tears, for none\r\ncould be more loved than I love you. Therefore in\r\nnowise believe that this comes to pass through want\r\nof love, for I swear to you on my portion in Paradise,\r\nand make promise to you by every oath that can be\r\nmade, that, as long as I live, you shall be my only\r\nfriend, and you alone will I love alway, if this will\r\ncontent you, neither do I withdraw my love from\r\nyou, for you have in nowise deserved this, nor could\r\nmy heart, which loves you, consent to it, but it at\r\nleast behoves you to cease from seeing me, because\r\nof the harm which might come to me through it,\r\nthe which, I well know, will be very grievous to you,\r\nand full of sorrow, but whiles that your heart may\r\nbe sad about it, in nowise will mine be happy. And\r\nI know not what more to say to you, nor can I write\r\nmore, for my desolate heart, my eyes, and my face\r\nare suffused with tears, and I bid you farewell, my\r\nsweet Love.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eYour sorrowing Lady.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"122\" id=\"page-122\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eAnd when that I had read this sad letter, my pulse\r\nand my colour failed me, and I became like unto one\r\ndead, and it was long ere I came to myself again, for I\r\nswooned because of the grief which I felt to hear that\r\nit was needful for me to keep away from my lady.\r\nNever had such a sorrow chanced to me, and so sorely\r\ndid I weep because of this, that my heart was well\r\nnigh broken. And I read the long letter the which\r\nhad set this thing agoing, and God knows how, when\r\nI read it, I cursed the old lady who had sent it. I\r\nwould have drowned her but that this was not possible.\r\nAnd when I had longwhiles borne this grievous\r\nsorrow without that it was diminished, I wrote this\r\nletter, moistening it with my tears.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-3 section\" id=\"to-the-most-noble-of-ladies\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch3 class=\"level-3 pfirst section-title title\"\u003e\u003cem class=\"italics\"\u003eTo the most noble of ladies\u003c/em\u003e.\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eAlas, my sweet and honoured Lady, my peerless\r\nlove whom I serve, fear, obey, and worship! Where\r\ncan I find words sufficing to declare unto you, and to\r\nmake you wholly to know, my grievous sorrow? Tears\r\nand weeping so dull my mind and my memory, that I\r\nknow not where I am, or what I do. Ah, my Lady!\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"123\" id=\"page-123\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eyou have indeed discomforted me by your cruel letter,\r\nthe which tells me that it behoves me to keep away\r\nfrom you! Certes it is indeed true, whatsoe\u0027er the\r\nLady of La Tour says of Lovers, that I am more to\r\nyou than aught that you have in the world beside, and\r\nthat I have made promise unto you (the which I will\r\nkeep truly all my life), that, as far as in me lies, I will\r\nobey you in all things, without doing aught that is\r\ncontrary to your wishes. But when your wish is that\r\nI withdraw me from this, I cannot obey, for I have\r\nabandoned my life to it. Thus it is not in my power\r\nto give it up, even if I die for this. And, dear Lady, as\r\nto obeying your command that I see you no more, if\r\nit is your pleasure that it be alway thus, it is meet that\r\nI resist this with all my might, since if you bid me do\r\nthat which would kill me or drive me mad, I know of\r\na truth that in this I cannot obey. And so that you\r\nmay perceive that I desire your honour more than\r\ndoes she who has written so much to you concerning it,\r\nand to prevent any suspicion that you are the cause of\r\nmy death, I shall go beyond the seas to end my days,\r\nand nevermore shall I return from thence, and I pledge\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"124\" id=\"page-124\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eyou my faith that you will find this to be so. Alas!\r\nwhere has this one, in order to compass my ruin, discovered\r\nthat already there is rumour and talk of our\r\nlove? Truly she must have imagined it. Saving her\r\nreverence, it is not possible, for naught was ever conducted\r\nmore prudently or secretly than, up to this\r\npresent, our sweet love has been, and alway will be if\r\nGod wills. For God knows that I would rather suffer\r\ndeath than do aught that would cause you dishonour.\r\nAh, my Lady, my Lady! Shall I never see you again?\r\nIf this must be so, God grant that I may lose my sight,\r\nand that I may never again look on anything, for naught\r\nbeside could delight me. How could my heart dure\r\nand remain alive when it no longer has the joy the\r\nwhich it receives when it is nigh unto yours? Ah, woe\r\nis me! This thought, alas, is a lance which pierces\r\nright through my sorrowful heart. It cannot be\r\nthat I must thus lose, and without cause, the tender\r\ncomfort, the amorous delights, the pleasing glances,\r\nand the winsome words, the which I receive from you,\r\nand of which the sweet remembrance, which remained\r\nin my thoughts with the hope of their renewal, made\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"125\" id=\"page-125\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eme more gladsome and contented than aught beside.\r\nAnd, my very sweet Lady, since I must needs die without\r\ndeserving it, one favour only do I beg of you, for\r\nthe sake of all the love your tender and noble heart\r\nerewhiles had for me, and do not be so cruel to your\r\npoor servant as to deny it to him, the which is that,\r\nere I take leave of you for ever, I may for once have\r\nspeech with you, so that I may bid you farewell, and\r\nsay adieu to all the delights the which you have so\r\nlovingly bestowed on me, for never, on my soul, have\r\nI thought on that which is evil, or contrary to your\r\ndesires. Alas, my Lady! Well do I know how you\r\ndo wrong to those desires, and unjustly cause them to\r\nendure misfortune, for boldly do I declare that this\r\nfarewell is in nowise in accordance with their assent\r\nor wish. May this favour be vouchsafed to me, dear\r\nLady. And I know not what more to say to you, but\r\nbe assured that I shall obey you unto death. May it\r\nplease you to make known to me forthwith what you\r\nwould have me to do, and whether you would that I\r\ngo beyond the seas as I have said, or what is your\r\npleasure. And be pleased to pardon me that this\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"126\" id=\"page-126\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eletter is blotted with my tears, for, on my soul, it has\r\nnot been possible for me to restrain them whiles that I\r\nhave been writing it. Honoured Lady, I commend\r\nme to you more than I know how to say, and I\r\npray God to grant you all good things that are to\r\nbe desired.—Written in great grief, with tears and\r\nweeping.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eYour poor lover, the most unhappy of men.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eAnd I sent this letter to my lady, and wept sorely\r\nwhilst delivering it. And I remained cast down, sad,\r\nand silent, making plaint unto myself. And I said in\r\nmy grief—\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-3 section\" id=\"id16\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch3 class=\"level-3 pfirst section-title title\"\u003eBALLAD\u003c/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAh, Death, Death, Death, to thee I make my prayer!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eCome, rend me from this dolorous world apart!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eLife lures no longer: since my lady fair\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eWould have me shun her, let my hapless heart\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eBe very prey to pain and sorrow\u0027s sword.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eGladness I leave and all delight for aye,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAnd thee alone, O Death, have I implored\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eBecause my lady hath bidden me good-bye.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"127\" id=\"page-127\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAlas, alas, what doleful news is there!\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eNever to knight assailed with glaive or dart\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eCame heavier trouble than the woes I share,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eI, who have gathered up in shame and smart\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAn evil greater than I may record:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSince now my love from all adventure high\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eMust needs withdraw, and death be my reward\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eBecause my lady hath bidden me good-bye.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAh, lady of mine, can\u0027st thou such hardness dare\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAnd suffer me in anguish to depart\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eFor love of thee? Yet Love must witness bear\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eWho knoweth no age can show, nor any art,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eServant more faithful both in deed and word\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAmong all lovers that he might espy:\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eBut my mishaps a worser end afford\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eBecause my lady hath bidden me good-bye.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e \u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAh, God of love, why sufferest thou, fair lord,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eThat thus in sorrow undeserved I die?\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eAll things I leave, of all to be abhorred,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eBecause my lady hath bidden me good-bye.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eIn such manner as I have told you did I write in\r\nanswer to my Lady. And when that she had opened\r\nmy letter, and saw it so covered and defaced and\r\nblurred with tears, certes it was told unto me that she\r\nwas much discomforted, and that as she read it, she\r\nwept so much, that the tears ran down her face. And\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"128\" id=\"page-128\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ethen, of her grace, she wrote back to me in great haste,\r\nand charged the messenger that he lose no time in\r\nconveying the letter duly. And he pledged him not\r\nto tarry by the way until he had brought it to me.\r\nAnd the messenger hasted him all the night, and\r\nstayed him not until that he was come at daybreak to\r\nthe gate of the Castle. Then he brought me the\r\nletter, the which calmed my grievous distress, and\r\nbanished my sorrow. And great need had I of this,\r\nfor certes I was like to die or to lose my reason. So\r\nlisten now to the purport of the letter which she sent,\r\nand of the which my heart had great joy.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e\u003cem class=\"italics\"\u003eTo the noblest and best of all\u003c/em\u003e,\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"inner line-block\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e\u003cem class=\"italics\"\u003eMy true and loyal friend\u003c/em\u003e.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eMy true, loyal, very kind and dear Friend\u003c/span\u003e,—It is\r\nthe fact that, although I was fearful of losing mine\r\nhonour, the which I ought to dread above all things, as\r\nis counselled, as you have been able to see, in the letter\r\nof the Lady of La Tour, to whom I am much beholden\r\nfor it (for certes I know that she has said this\r\nfor my well-being), it was against my wish that I\r\nwrote to you, in my last letter, that which I made\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"129\" id=\"page-129\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eknown to you therein, for, my kind and gracious friend,\r\nI well perceive that Love cannot suffer us to part from\r\none another, and I repent me much that I declared\r\nthis unto you, for I know that you have had, and still\r\nhave, much sorrow because of this. Wherefore I pray\r\nyou to forgive me, and I beseech your pardon for it.\r\nAnd it much grieves me that our good friend, your\r\ncousin, is not beside you to cheer you. And I regret\r\nme that he is gone on so long a journey. So by all the\r\ninfluence I may have over you, and by the love you\r\nbear me, I entreat you in all things to possess your\r\nmind in peace as aforetime, for greatly do I fear me\r\nthat you have become so sad, that I may not be in\r\ntime to comfort you, and that some sickness (from\r\nthe which may God preserve you), may overtake you.\r\nTherefore I shall have no ease until I have news of\r\nyou. So I write to you in great haste, beseeching you\r\nto be cheerful and happy, for I have very good news\r\nto tell you, and this is that our good friend, in whom\r\nwe trust, will be here within four days. So you shall\r\ncome to see me, and I will keep you advised concerning\r\nthis, and we will welcome one another heartily as heretofore.\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"130\" id=\"page-130\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eFor, so help me God, even if it be my ruin, I\r\ncannot part from you, and I have hope that, by God\u0027s\r\naid, our doings may be well hid, and also that you will\r\nalway guard mine honour well, for on this I rely.\r\nMy sweet and dear Love, I pray God to give you\r\nperfect joy. Written in haste.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line-block outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eYour true and loyal friend.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003eAnd when I received this letter, I was wholly freed\r\nfrom my grief, and no longer did I weep, but instead I\r\npraised God for this very good news. And I answered\r\nthe letter, and gave much thanks to my sweet lady,\r\nand I further besought of her that I might see her\r\nright soon, so that I might tell unto her the sorrow the\r\nwhich the letter I had received had caused me. And\r\nI know not wherefore I should rehearse more of this\r\nmatter, for it is time for me to end. You have heard\r\nhow that I had, without dishonour, such joy of love as\r\nI desired, and I gainsay him who would avouch that\r\nthere was ever any wrong-doing or evil whatsoever in\r\nour love, or that there was aught in it by the which\r\nhonour was violated, wherefore our love should be the\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"131\" id=\"page-131\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003emore esteemed. Moreover I have told unto you the\r\npain and the grief which I endured aforetime, and how\r\nthat I persevered until my lady had pity on me. And\r\nnow it is time this story were ended, for if I rehearsed\r\nall the adventures, some pleasing, and others painful,\r\nthe which chanced to me in this love, and the evil and\r\nthe good which came to me of it, perchance I should\r\nbecome wearisome, for I should have much to tell,\r\nand it would be a matter without end. But, to sum\r\nup briefly, I tell you that I ofttimes afterward with\r\ngreat delight saw the fair one in whom I put my trust,\r\nand joyously did I receive from her, in large measure,\r\nloving comfort the which still dwells in my memory.\r\nAnd for full two years did this dure, for she would not\r\nlet me depart from out her country, and right well did\r\nthis please me, for so ardent was I, that I cared for\r\nnaught save to be near her. Thus I bethink me that I\r\nresorted thither more than was fitting, so that anger,\r\nstirred up by evil speaking, burst forth on account of\r\nour doings, and because of this, I was troubled and\r\nill-at-ease, for I could not stay it, and thus I was no\r\nlonger able to see my lady as was my wont, the which\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"132\" id=\"page-132\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003egrieved me sorely. Moreover I was blamed by friends,\r\nand called recreant, in that I remained so much in\r\nretirement, and only frequented jousts and tourneys\r\nand feasts which were held near by, and not those at a\r\ndistance. This, indeed, did not become one of noble\r\nbirth, and thus I should be quite the most despicable\r\nof my lineage if that I remained there longer, and\r\npursued not arms in many lands for to win praise and\r\nrenown. So spake my kinsfolk, and I felt assured that\r\nthey descanted to me thus for my good, but I feared\r\nme that it might be displeasing to my lady to do\r\nthis without her consent, and my heart was exceeding\r\nsad.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd I besought of her that she would so contrive,\r\nthat I might have speech with her, since, chiefly for\r\nthe sake of her good name, it was needful that I should\r\ndepart thence for awhile, and assuredly might she\r\nbelieve that never for a single day should I forget her,\r\nand thus I would go into Spain, whatever might come\r\nof it, and it was better to do this before worse happened\r\nto her. And moreover she should have in remembrance\r\nthat I had made promise unto her that, for\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"133\" id=\"page-133\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003elove of her, I would achieve so much, that in the end\r\nI should be known as a brave man.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd so much did I talk, that she scarce uttered a\r\nword, and for very short whiles did she remain, for at\r\ngreat risk was she come to a place where I was.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd there was much weeping and great dole and\r\nsad countenance at our parting, and scarce would she\r\nconsent that I should go to the wars. And wetting\r\nher face and neck with tears, and kissing her in haste,\r\nI very fervently commended her to God, and thus I\r\ncommended me to her a thousand times, and submitted\r\nmyself to her will. And I made promise unto\r\nher that wheresoe\u0027er I went, I would send tidings\r\nunto her, and thus she could send back word to me\r\nhow it fared with her.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd thus I departed, weeping and in sad case at\r\nleaving my beloved one. And I joined a Spanish\r\nforce, and was absent, and far from the fair one, for\r\nthe space of a year, and then I came back, being\r\nmoved thereto by a longing to see her. And when\r\nshe heard of my return, she so contrived, that I\r\nhad speech with her without this being known of\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"134\" id=\"page-134\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eothers. And joyously was I received, and verily did\r\nwe welcome one another heartily, and rejoice over\r\nour reunion.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eThus from time to time I went to meet her, but\r\nthere was risk in my having speech with her, and so she\r\ncame stealthily, in fear and trembling, for fear of being\r\nobserved, by reason of which she was quite cast down.\r\nTherefore when I saw her so distraught, much of my\r\njoy was taken away, because of the peril to the which\r\nI perceived that she, for my sake, exposed her honour,\r\nand in the which she placed herself. And because of\r\nthis, I undertook many journeys, and sailed beyond\r\nthe seas for fear of evil-speaking. And in the manner\r\ndid I spend ten years, and ofttimes did I go to and\r\nfro. And at times, when it was opportune, it chanced\r\nthat I saw my dear lady.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd in suchwise did I explore many lands. And in\r\na severe encounter I was made a prisoner of war, at the\r\nwhich my lady was disquieted. Thus I endured many\r\nmisfortunes ere the ten years passed by. Even love\r\nbrought many upon me, and saved me not from them,\r\nfor albeit I never, on my soul, saw aught in my lady\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"135\" id=\"page-135\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003ethe which should have caused me to mistrust her,\r\njealousy, which is like unto madness, brewed for me\r\nsuch a potion, that I became like unto one mad, for\r\nonce, on my return from afar, I bethought me, as soon\r\nas I saw her, that her heart was changed toward me,\r\nand that, as it seemed to me, she had wholly cast me\r\noff, the which filled my heart with such grief, that I\r\nwas mad with rage. Thus all my happiness was gone,\r\nand for longwhiles I could not calm or appease my\r\nheart, the which was sorely troubled, and my lady was\r\nso displeased with me on account of this, that for\r\nawhile I somewhat lost her favour. Moreover, if I\r\nmay venture to say so, I once saw her a little jealous,\r\nthe which distressed me much, for I knew not the\r\nreason of it, for God knows that neither in thought\r\nnor in demeanour was I ever false to her, nor did I so\r\nmuch as raise mine eyes to notice any other lady. But\r\nI well perceived that he whose heart is wholly possessed\r\nof the passion of love much needs become a prey to\r\njealousy, for he who bears within him a great and\r\nperfect love, can scarce restrain him from it.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd many songs were written touching our affair,\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"136\" id=\"page-136\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003esome sad, and some joyous; and for divers occasions\r\nI devised ballads, and lays, and plaints, and other\r\nconceits, of the which there was one that was joyous\r\namongst ten which were sad, for such is the wont of\r\nthe foolish heart which dissembles love; and my lady\r\nsent some to me in her turn when that she was able.\r\nAnd our ditties eased our troubles when that we were\r\nfar from one another, for in such manner did we divert\r\nus in the hope of coming by something better, however\r\nlong this might be in the coming.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAnd I have made known everything, from first to\r\nlast, touching the love from the which, for full ten\r\nyears, I had very sad and painful thoughts, but our\r\nlove is in nowise ended, nor will it pass away until that\r\nour bodies perish. But slanderers (whom may God\r\nconfound, for there are too many of them in the\r\nworld) have forced me to abandon the fellowship of\r\nher to whom I had made promise of my whole love.\r\nAnd in this she shall not find me to fail. But I perceived\r\nthat dishonour came to her because of me;\r\nwherefore I hated my life which dured so long, for\r\nevery one gossiped about her. And in order to preserve\r\n\u003cspan class=\"pageno target\" title=\"137\" id=\"page-137\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003eher honour and her peace of mind, I shrank from\r\nseeing her whom I loved above all, but ne\u0027ertheless,\r\nsorrowful and sad, I long made lament for that she\r\nwas so blamed on my account. But notwithstanding,\r\nmy body, my goods, and all that I have to bestow, are\r\nhers, and if it were needful, I would die for her, and\r\nthis is no fable. So I pray Almighty God to give her\r\npeace, and honour, and a happy life, and perfect joy\r\nwithout end. And now my story is ended.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"center pnext\"\u003eThe Book called “The Duke of True Lovers” is set forth.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003chr class=\"docutils\"/\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"center line-block noindent outermost smaller\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003ePrinted by \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eBallantyne, Hanson \u0026amp; Co.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eEdinburgh \u0026amp; London\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"level-2 section\" id=\"the-medieval-library\"\u003e\r\n\u003ch2 class=\"level-2 pfirst section-title title\"\u003eTHE MEDIEVAL LIBRARY\u003c/h2\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"center line-block noindent outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eUNDER THE GENERAL EDITORSHIP OF\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eSIR ISRAEL GOLLANCZ\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eLitt.D., F.B.A.\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote class=\"center\"\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003ePresenting a selection of the choicest literary\r\nproductions of the Middle Ages in Europe—romances,\r\nreligious works, poetry\r\nand manners—and including many masterpieces\r\nrecently rescued from obscurity.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003ePost 8vo, Brown Boards, 5s. net,\r\nunless otherwise stated.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003chr class=\"docutils\"/\u003e\r\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pfirst\"\u003e1. THE BOOK OF THE DUKE OF TRUE LOVERS\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eBy \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eChristine de Pisan\u003c/span\u003e; a French romance of the 15th century.\r\nTranslated into prose and verse with an introduction by \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eAlice\r\nKemp-Welch\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eLaurence Binyon\u003c/span\u003e and \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eE. R. D. Maclagan\u003c/span\u003e. With\r\n6 photogravure plates after illuminations in the original MS.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003e2. THE TUMBLER OF OUR LADY \u0026amp; OTHER MIRACLES\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eMainly from a collection made by \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eGautier de Coinci\u003c/span\u003e, a monk of\r\nSt. Médard near Soissons; French, 13th century. Translated in\r\nprose with an introduction by \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eAlice Kemp-Welch\u003c/span\u003e. With 7\r\nphotogravure plates after contemporary MSS.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003e3. THE CHATELAINE OF VERGI\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eAnonymous\u003c/span\u003e; a French love-poem of the 13th century. Translated\r\ninto prose by \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eAlice Kemp-Welch\u003c/span\u003e. With an introduction by Prof.\r\n\u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eL. Brandin\u003c/span\u003e and the original text in an Appendix. With 5 photogravure\r\nplates after an ivory casket of the 14th century now in the\r\nBritish Museum.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003e4. THE BABEES\u0027 BOOK: MEDIEVAL MANNERS for the\r\nYOUNG.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eFrom the Old English texts of Dr. Furnivall; 14th\r\nand 15th centuries. Done into modern prose and verse with an\r\nintroduction and notes by \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eEdith Rickert\u003c/span\u003e. With 6 photogravure\r\nplates after illuminations in contemporary MSS.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003e5. THE DIVINE CONSOLATION of the BLESSED ANGELA\r\nda FOLIGNO.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eBy the \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eSame\u003c/span\u003e; Italian, 14th century. Translated\r\nin prose by \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eM. G. Steegman\u003c/span\u003e and with an introduction by \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eAlgar\r\nThorold\u003c/span\u003e. With photo. front, after Pierantonio Mezzastris and 4\r\nwoodcuts after the original edition of 1536.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003e6. THE LEGEND OF THE HOLY FINA, VIRGIN of S.\r\nGEMIGNANO.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eBy \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eFra Giovanni di Coppo\u003c/span\u003e; Italian, 14th\r\ncentury. Translated in prose with an introduction and notes by\r\n\u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eM. Mansfield\u003c/span\u003e. With the original text and 5 photogravures after\r\nBenozzo Gozzoli, Ghirlandaio, etc.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003e7. EARLY ENGLISH ROMANCES OF LOVE\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eAnonymous\u003c/span\u003e; 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. Containing: ‘Floris\r\nand Blancheflour,’ ‘Sir Degrevant,’ ‘The Squire of Low Degree,’ etc.\r\nDone into modern prose with introduction and notes by\r\n\u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eEdith Rickert\u003c/span\u003e. With 5 photogravures after contemporary MSS.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003e8. EARLY ENGLISH ROMANCES OF FRIENDSHIP\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eAnonymous\u003c/span\u003e; 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. Containing: ‘Amis\r\nand Amiloun,’ ‘Sir Amadis,’ ‘The Tale of Gamelyn,’ etc. Done\r\ninto modern prose with introduction and notes by \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eEdith Rickert\u003c/span\u003e.\r\nWith 6 photogravure plates after contemporary MSS.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003e9. THE CELL OF SELF-KNOWLEDGE\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eBy \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eRichard of St. Victor\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eWalter Hilton\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eMargery Kempe\u003c/span\u003e, etc.;\r\n7 English mystical treatises of the 14th cent. Edited with introduction\r\nand notes by \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eEdmund G. Gardner\u003c/span\u003e, M.A. With coloured\r\ncollotype frontispiece.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003e10. ANCIENT ENGLISH CHRISTMAS CAROLS\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eTraditional\u003c/span\u003e; 1400-1700. Collected and arranged by \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eEdith\r\nRickert\u003c/span\u003e with intro., notes and glossary. With 8 photogravure\r\nplates after missals of the 15th and 16th cents. \u003cem class=\"italics\"\u003ePrice\u003c/em\u003e 7\u003cem class=\"italics\"\u003es.\u003c/em\u003e 6\u003cem class=\"italics\"\u003ed.\u003c/em\u003e net.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003e11. EIGHT TROBADOR POETS\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eContaining \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eBertran de Born\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eBernart de Ventadorn\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eGuiraut\r\nDe Bornelh\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eArnaut Daniel\u003c/span\u003e, etc.; Provençal, 11th-13th centuries.\r\nSelected and translated in prose with intros. and notes by \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eBarbara\r\nSmythe\u003c/span\u003e. With a coloured frontispiece and decorative initials.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003e12. CLIGÉS\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eBy \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eChrétien de Troyes\u003c/span\u003e; a French romance of the 13th century.\r\nTranslated in prose by \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eL. J. Gardiner, M.A.\u003c/span\u003e With photo. front.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003e13. PEARL\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eAn English poem of the 14th century. Translated and edited by\r\n\u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eSir Israel Gollancz\u003c/span\u003e, Litt.D., F.B.A. With textual and explanatory\r\nnotes, glossary, photogravure frontispiece after \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eHolman Hunt\u003c/span\u003e\r\nand 6 illustrations after the original MS. With the \u003cem class=\"italics\"\u003eOlympia\u003c/em\u003e of\r\n\u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eBoccaccio\u003c/span\u003e in an Appendix. \u003cem class=\"italics\"\u003ePrice\u003c/em\u003e 7\u003cem class=\"italics\"\u003es.\u003c/em\u003e 6\u003cem class=\"italics\"\u003ed.\u003c/em\u003e net.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003e14. EARLY LIVES OF CHARLEMAGNE\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eBy \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eEginhard\u003c/span\u003e and \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eThe Monk of St. Gall.\u003c/span\u003e; German, 9th century.\r\nTranslated from the Latin and edited with introduction and notes\r\nby Prof. \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eA. J. Grant\u003c/span\u003e. With photogravure frontispiece.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003e15. THE CHRONICLE OF JOCELIN OF BRAKELOND\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eBy the \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eSame\u003c/span\u003e; a picture of English social and monastic life in the\r\n12th century. Translated from the Latin and edited with notes\r\nby \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eL. C. Jane\u003c/span\u003e, M.A. With an introduction by \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eCardinal Gasquet\u003c/span\u003e\r\nand a photogravure frontispiece.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003e16. THE VISION OF PIERS THE PLOWMAN\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"pnext\"\u003eBy \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eWilliam Langland\u003c/span\u003e; English, 14th century. Done into modern\r\nmetrical English with introduction and notes by Prof. \u003cspan class=\"small-caps\"\u003eW. W. Skeat\u003c/span\u003e.\r\nWith frontispiece after contemporary MS.\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"center larger line-block noindent outermost\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003e\u003cem class=\"italics\"\u003ePublished by\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eCHATTO \u0026amp; WINDUS: 97 \u0026amp; 99\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eST. MARTIN\u0027S LANE\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"line\"\u003eLONDON, W.C. 2\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"vspace\" style=\"height: 5em\"\u003e\r\n\u003c/div\u003e\r\n\u003c/article\u003e"}],"SectionSequence":["Back Link","Work Title","Deck","Author","Period","Era","Composition","Date Note","Region","Terra Avita","Terra Avita Region","Modern Country","Original Title","Language","Primary Discipline","Secondary Discipline","Tradition","Full Versions","Core Thesis","Classification","Arguments","Influence","Significance","Evidence Note","Full Text"],"Counts":{"ContextCards":3,"GeoCards":4,"DisciplineCards":2,"Links":11,"Sections":25,"Styles":3,"Scripts":1}}