I have no wrong, where I can claim no right,
Nought ta'en me fro, where I have nothing had,
Yet of my woe I cannot so be quite;
Namely, since that another may be glad
With that, that thus in sorrow makes me sad.
Yet none can claim, I say, by former grant,
That knoweth not of any grant at all;
And by desert, I dare well make avaunt
Of faithful will; there is nowhere that shall
Bear you more truth, more ready at your call.

Now good then, call again that bitter word, That touch'd your friend so near with pangs of pain; And say, my dear, that it was said in bord: Late, or too soon, let it not rule the gain, Wherewith free will doth true desert retain.

THE LOVER DESCRIBETH HIS BEING TAKEN WITH SIGHT OF HIS LOVE.

UNWARILY SO was never no man caught,

With steadfast look upon a goodly face,
As I of late for suddenly, methought,

My heart was torn out of his place.

Though mine eye the stroke from hers did slide,

And down directly to my heart it ran;
In help whereof the blood did glide,
And left my face both pale and wan.

Then was I like a man for woe amazed, Or like the fowl that fleeth into the fire; For while that I upon her beauty gazed, The more I burn'd in my desire.

Anon the blood start in my face again, Inflam'd with heat, that it had at my heart, And brought therewith, throughout in every vein, A quaking heat with pleasant smart.

Then was I like the straw, when that the flame Is driven therein by force and rage of wind; I cannot tell, alas, what I shall blame,

Nor what to seek, nor what to find.

But well I wot the grief doth hold me sore In heat and cold, betwixt both hope and dread. That, but her help to health dôth me restore, This restless life I may not lead.

THE LOVER EXCUSETH HIM OF WORDS,

WHEREWITH HE WAS UNJUSTLY CHARGED..

PERDIE! I said it not;

Nor never thought to do:

As well as I, ye wot,

I have no power thereto.

And if I did, the lot,

That first did me enchain,
May never slake the knot,
But straight it to my pain!

And if I did each thing,
That may do harm or woe,
Continually may wring
My heart, where so I go!
Report may always ring
Of shame on me for aye,
If in my heart did spring
The words that you do say.
And if I did, each star,
That is in heaven above,
May frown on me to mar
The hope I have in love!
And if I did, such war
As they brought unto Troy,
Bring all my life as far
From all his lust and joy!
And if I did so say,
The beauty that me bound,
Increase from day to day
More cruel to my wound!
With all the moan that may,
To plaint may turn my song;
My life may soon decay,
Without redress, by wrong!

If I be clear from thought,
Why do you then complain?
Then is this thing but sought
To turn my heart to pain.
Then this that you have wrought,
You must it now redress;

Of right therefore you ought
Such rigour to repress.

And as I have deserved,
So grant me now my hire;
You know I never swerved,
You never found me liar.
For Rachel have I served,
For Leah cared I never;
And her I have reserved
Within my heart for ever

HE LOVER CURSETH THE TIME WHEN FIRST HE FELL IN LOVE.

WHEN first mine eyes did view and mark
Thy fair beauty to behold;

And when my ears listened to hark
The pleasant words, that thou me told;
I would as then I had been free
From ears to hear, and eyes to see.
And when my lips gan first to move,
Whereby my heart to thee was known,
And when my tongue did talk of love
To thee that hast true love down thrown;
I would my lips and tongue also
Had then been dumb, no deal to go.
And when my hands have handled ought
That thee hath kept in memory,

And when my feet have gone and sought To find and get thee company,

I would, each hand a foot had been,

And I each foot a hand had seen.
And when in mind I did consent,
To follow this my fancy's will,
And when my heart did first relent
To taste such bait, my life to spill,

I would my heart had been as thine,
Or else thy heart had been as mine.

THE LOVER DETERMINETH TO SERVE FAITHFULLY.

SINCE Love will needs that I shall love,

Of very force I must agree:

And since no chance may it remove,

In wealth and in adversity,

I shall alway myself apply

To serve and suffer patiently.

Though for good will I find but hate,

And cruelly my life to waste,
And though that still a wretched state
Should pine my days unto the last,
Yet I profess it willingly

To serve and suffer patiently.

For since my heart is bound to serve,

And I not ruler of mine own,