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8
But nother he nor she my tothr ffoo,
For all my flyght did
ever me forsake ;
That though tymely deth
hath ben to sloo,
That as yet it hath me
not overtake ;
The hevynly goodenes of
pitie do it slake.
And note this, his cruel
extreme tyranny,
That fedeth hym with my
care and mysery.
9
Syns I was his : owre rested I never,
Nor loke for to do , and
eke the waky nyghts,
The bannysshed slepe,
may no wyse recover.
By decepte, and by force,
over my sprites,
He is rueler ; and syns
there never bell strikes
Where I ame, that I here
not, my playntes to renewe,
And he himself he knoweth
that I say is true.
10.
Ffor never wormes have an old stock eaten,
As he my hert, wher he
is alwaye resident ;
And doeth the same with
deth daely thretyn ;
Thens come the teres,
and the bitter torment,
The sighes, the wordes,
and eke the languisshement,
That annoye boeth me and
peradeventure othr ;
Judge thou that knowest
thone and thothr.
11
Myn adversary, with grevous reprouff,
Thus he began : "Here,
Lady, thothr part :
"That the plain trueth
from which he draweth alowff,
This unkynd man shall
shew, ere that I part,
In yonge age I toke him
from that art
That selleth wordes, and
maketh a clattering knyght,
And of my welth I gave
him the delight.
12
Nowe, shameth he not on me for to complain,
That held him evermore
in pleasaunt game
From his desire, that
myght have been his payne ;
Yet onely thereby I broght
him to some frame :
Which, as wretchedness
he doth greately blame ;
And towerd honor I quickened
his wit :
Where els, as a daskard,
he might have sitt.
13
He knoweth : that Atrides, that made Troye frete
:
And Hannyball, to Rome
so trobelous :
Whome Homere honoured,
Achilles that grete :
And the Affricane Scipion
the famous :
And many other, by much
vertue glorious
Whose fame and honor did
bryng them above,
I did let fall, in base
dishonest love.
14
And unto him, though he no dele worthy ware,
I chose right the best
of many a mylion :
That under the mone was
never her pere
Of wisdome, womanhede
and discretion :
And of my grace I gave
her suche a façon,
And eke suche a way I
taught her for to teche
That never base thought
his hert myght have reche. |
8
But neither he nor she my th'other foe,
For all my flight did ever
me forsake;
That though timely death
hath been too slow,
That as yet it hath me not
overtake;
The heavenly goodness of
pity do it slake.
And note this, his cruel
extreme tyranny,
That feedeth him with my
care and misery.
9
Since I was his, o'er rested I never,
Nor look for to do, and eke
the waky nights,
The banished sleep, may no
wise recover.
By deceit, and by force,
over my sprites,
He is ruler; and since there
never bell strikes
Where I am, that I hear not,
my plaints to renew,
And he himself he knoweth
that I say is true.
10.
For never worms have an old stock eaten,
As he my heart, where he
is alway resident;
And doth the same with death
daily threaten;
Thence come the tears, and
the bitter torment,
The sighs, the words, and
eke the languishment,
That annoy both me and peradventure
other;
Judge thou that knowest th'one
and th'other.
11
Mine adversary, with grievous reproof,
Thus he began : "Hear,
Lady, th'other part:
"That the plain truth
from which he draweth aloof,
This unkind man shall shew,
ere that I part,
In young age I took him from
that art
That selleth words, and maketh
a clattering knight,
And of my wealth I gave him
the delight.
12
Now, shameth he not on me for to complain,
That held him evermore in
pleasant game,
From his desire, that might
have been his pain;
Yet only thereby I brought
him to some frame,
Which, as wretchedness he
doth greatly blame;
And toward honour I quickened
his wit,
Where else, as a daskard,
he might have sit.
13
He knoweth: that Atrides, that made Troy fright,
And Hannibal, to Rome so
troublous;
Whom Homer honoured, Achilles
that grete;
And the African Scipion the
famous;
And many other, by much virtue
glorious
Whose fame and honour did
bring them above,
I did let fall, in base dishonest
love.
14
And unto him, though he no deal worthy were,
I chose right the best of
many a million,
That under the moon was never
her peer
Of wisdom, womanhood and
discretion;
And of my grace I gave her
such a façon,
And eke such a way I taught
her for to teach
That never base thought his
heart might have reach. |