Shall never thing again make me return.

I wite1 thou .

of that that I have lost

To whom so ever lust for to prove most.

A COMPLAINT OF HIS LADY'S CRUELTY.

1 SINCE ye delight to know,
That my torment and woe
Should still increase

Without release,

I shall enforce me so,
That life and all shall go
For to content your cruelness.

2 And so this grievous train,
That I too long sustain,
Shall sometime cesse,
And have redress,

And you also remain,
Full pleased with my pain,
For to content your cruelness.

3 Unless that be too light,

And that ye would ye might,
See the distress,

And heaviness,

Of one slain outright,

Therewith to please your sight,
And to content your cruelness.

4 Then in your cruel mood

Would God! forthwith ye would
With force express,

My heart oppress,

1 With: blame.

E

OF THE CONTRARY AFFECTIONS OF THE LOVER.

1 SUCH hap as I am happèd in,

Had never man of truth, I ween;

At me Fortune list to begin,

To shew that never hath been seen,
A new kind of unhappiness;
Nor I cannot the thing I mean
Myself express.

2 Myself express my deadly pain,
That can I well, if that might serve:
But when I have not help again,
That know I not, unless I sterve,1

For hunger still amiddes my food
[Lacking the thing] that I deserve
To do me good.

3 To do me good what may prevail, For I deserve, and not desire,

1Sterve:' perish.

And still of cold I me bewail,
And raked am in burning fire;

For though I have, such is my lot,
In hand to help that I require,
It helpeth not.

4 It helpeth not but to increase
That, that by proof can be no more;
That is, the heat that cannot cease;
And that I have, to crave so sore.

What wonder is this greedy lust!
To ask and have, and yet therefore
Refrain I must.

5 Refrain I must; what is the cause?
Sure as they say, 'So hawks be taught,'
But in my case layeth no such clause;
For such craft I am not caught;

Wherefore I say, and good cause why,
With hapless hand no man hath raught1
Such hap as I.

THAT RIGHT CANNOT GOVERN FANCY.

1 I HAVE Sought long with steadfastness

To have had some ease of my great smart;

But nought availeth faithfulness

To grave within your stony heart.

2 But hap, and hit, or else hit not,
As uncertain as is the wind;
Right so it fareth by the shot
Of Love, alas! that is so blind.
1 'Raught: reached.

3 Therefore I play'd the fool in vain, With pity when I first began

Your cruel heart for to constrain,

Since love regardeth no doubtful man.

4 But of your goodness, all your mind Is that I should complain in vain; This is the favour that I find;

Ye list to hear how I can plain !

5 But though I plain to please your heart, Trust me I trust to temper it so,

Not for to care which do revert;

All shall be one, or wealth, or woe.

6 For Fancy ruleth, though Right say nay, Even as the good man kiss'd his cow: None other reason can ye lay,

But as who sayeth; I reck not how.'

THAT TRUE LOVE AVAILETH NOT WHEN FORTUNE LIST TO FROWN.

1 To wish, and want, and not obtain; To seek and sue ease of my pain, Since all that ever I do is vain,

What may it avail me!

2 Although I strive both day and hour Against the stream, with all my power, If Fortune list yet for to lower,

What may it avail me!

3 If willingly I suffer woe;

If from the fire me list not go;

If then I burn to plain me so,

What may it avail me!

4 And if the harm that I suffer, Be run too far out of measure, To seek for help any further,

What may it avail me!

5 What though each heart that heareth me plain, Pitieth and plaineth for my pain;

If I no less in grief remain,

What may it avail me!

6 Yea! though the want of my relief Displease the causer of my grief; Since I remain still in mischief,

What may it avail me!

7 Such cruel chance doth so me threat
Continually inward to freat,'
Then of release for to treat;

What may it avail me!

8 Fortune is deaf unto my call;
My torment moveth her not at all;
And though she turn as doth a ball,
What may it avail me!

9 For in despair there is no rede;2
To want of ear, speech is no speed;
To linger still alive as dead,

What may it avail me!

1 Freat' consume away.-2 'Rede:' counsel.