Laboure and diligence, is full marueylous
Whiche bryngeth a louer, to his promocion
Nothinge to loue, is more desierous
Then instaunt laboure, and delectation
The harded harte, it geueth occasion
For to consider, howe that her seruaunt
To attayne her loue, is so attendaunt.
Thus all in cōmunyng, we the night did passe
Tyll in the ayre, with clowes fayre and redde
Rysen was Phebus, shinyng in the glasse
In the chamber, his golden rayes were spredde
And Dirane, declinyng, pale as any leade
When the little byrdes, swetely did syng
With tunes musicall, in the faire mornyng
OF THE DOLOROUS AND LOWLY DISPUTATION, BETWENE LA BELL PUCELL, AND GRAUNDE AMOURE. CAPIT. XVIII.
Councell and I, then rose full quickely
And made vs ready, on our way to walke
In your clenly wede, appareled properly
What I woulde saie, I did unto him talke
Tyll on his boke, he began to calke
Howe the sunne, entred was in Geminy
And eke Dyane, full of mutabilitie
Entred the Crabbe, hir propre mancion
Then ryght amiddes, of the Dragon's Head
And Venus and she, made conjunction
From her combust way, she had her so sped
She had no let, that was to be dredde
The assured ayre, was depaynted cleare
With golden beames, of fayre Phebus speare
Then forth so went, good Councell and I
At. vi. at clocke, vnto a garden fayre
By Musike's tower, walled most goodly.
Where La bell Pucell vsed to repayre
In the swete mornyng, for to take the ayre
Among the flowers, of aromatyke fume
The misty ayre, to exile and consume
And at the gate, we met the portresse
That was right gentle, and called Curtesye
Whiche salued vs, with wordes of mekenes
And asked vs, the very cause and why
Of our commyng, to the garden sothell
Truely saied we, for nothing but well
A little to speake, with La bell Pucell.
Truely quod she, in the garden grene
Of many a swete, and sundry floure
She maketh a garlande, that is verye shene
With trueloues wrought, with many a coloure
Replete with swetenes, and dulcet odoure
And all alone, withouten company
Amiddes an harber, she sitteth pleasauntly
Nowe stande you styll, for a little space
I will let her, of you haue knowledgyng
And right anone, she wente to her grace
Tellyng her then, howe we were commyng
To speake with her, greatly desirynge
Truely she saied, I am ryght well content
Of their commyng, to knowe the whole entent
Then good Curtesy, without tariyng
Came vnto vs with all her diligence
Praiyng vs to take our entrynge
And come vnto, the ladie's presence
To tell your errande, to her excellence
Then in we went, to the garden glorious
Like to a place, of pleasure most solacious
With Flora painted, and wrought curiously
In diuers knottes, of marueylous greatnes
Rampande lyons, stode vp wondersly
Made all of herbes, with dulcet swetenes
With many dragons, of marueylous likenes
Of diuers floures, made full craftely
By Flora couloured, with colours sundrye
Amiddes the garden, so muche delectable
There was an harber, fayre and quadrant
To paradise, right wel comparable
Set all about, with floures fragrant
And in the middle, there was resplendishaunt
A dulcet spring, and marueylous fountaine
Of golde and asure, made all certaine
In wonderfull, and curious similitude
There stode a dragon, of fine golde so pure
Upon his tayle, of mighty fortitude
Wrethed and skaled, all wyth asure
Hauyng thre heades, diuers in figure
Whiche in a bathe, of the siluer great
Spouted the water, that was so dulcet.
Beside whiche fountaine, the most fayre lady
La bell Pucell, was gayly sittyng
Of many floures, fayre and royally
A goodly chaplet, she was in makynge
Her heere was downe, so clearely shinyng
Like to the golde, late purified with fire
Her heere was bryght, as the drawen wyre
Like to a ladye, for to be right true
She ware a fayre, and goodly garment
Of most fine veluet, all of Indy blewe
With armines powdred, bordered at the vent
On her fayre handes, as was conuenient
A payre of gloues, right slender, and soft
In approchyng nere, I did beholde her oft.
And when that I came, before her presence
Unto the grounde, I did knele adowne
Saiyng O ladye, most fayre of excellence
O starre so clere, of vertuous renowne
Whose beauty fayre, in euery realme and towne
Indued with grace, and also goodnes
Dame Fame the her selfe, dothe euermore expresse
Please it your grace, for to geue audience
Unto my wofull, and piteous complainte
Howe feruent loue, wythout resistence
My carefull hart, hath made lowe and faynt
And you therof, are the whole constraynt
Your beauty truely, hath me fettred fast
Without your helpe, my life is neare hand past.
Stande by quod she, I maruell of this cace What sodayne loue, hath you so arayed With so great payne, your hart to embrace And why for me, ye shoulde be so dismayed As of your life, ye nede not be afrayed
Ye so saied they, til that they had their will
Their will accomplished, they did fle at large
For men say well, but they thinke ful yll
Though outward swetenes, your tōg doth enlarge
Yet of your hart, I neuer can haue charge
For men do loue, as I am right sure
Nowe one, nowe an other, after their pleasure
All that madame, I knowe right perfectly
Some men there be, of that condicion
That them delite, often in nouelry,
And many also, loue perfection
I cast all suche nouels, in abiection
My loue is set, vpon a perfite grounde
No falshede in me, truely shalbe founde.
Ye say full wel, if ye meane the same
But I in you can haue no confidence
I thinke right well, that it is no game
To loue vnloued, with percing influence
You shall in me finde, no suche negligence
To grant you loue, for ye are vnthrifty
As two or thre, to me dothe specifie.
Was neuer louer, without enemies thre
As enuy, malice, and perturbaunce
Their tongues are poyson, vnto amitie
What man on liue, can vse suche gouernaunce
To attaine fauoure, withouten variaunce
Of euery person, but right priuely
Behinde his backe, some saieth vnhappilye.
Trouthe it is, but yet in this case
Your loue and mine, is full farre a sunder
But thoughe that I do, your hart so race
If I dreade you, it is therof no wonder
With my frendes, I am so sore kept vnder
I dare not loue, but as they accorde
They thinke to wedde me, to a mighty lorde
I knowe madame, that your frendes all
Unto me, sure will be contrarious
But what for that, your selfe in speciall
Remember there is, no loue so ioyous
As is your owne, to you most precious
Will you geue your youthe, and your flouryng age
To them, against your minde in mariage
Against my minde, of that were I lothe
To wedde for feare, as them to obey
Yet had I rather, they were somewhat wrothe
For I my selfe, do beare the locke and keye
Yet of my minde, and will do many a daye
Mine owne I am, what that I list to do
I stand vntied, there is no ioye therto.
O swete lady, the good perfect starre
Of my true hart, take ye nowe pitie
Thinke on my paine, whiche am tofore you here
With your swete eyes, beholde you and se
Howe thought and wo, by great extremitie
Hath chaunged my hue, into pale and wanne It was not so, when I to loue began.
So me thinke, it dothe right well appeare
By your coloure, that loue hath done you wo
Your heuy countenaunce, and your doleful cheare
Hath loue suche might, for to aray you so
In so short a space, I maruell muche also
That ye woulde loue me, so sure in certayne
Before ye knew, that I woulde loue agayne
My good deare hart, it is no maruaile why
Your beauty cleare, and louely lokes swete
My hart did perce, with loue so sodainely
At the firste time, that I did you mete
In the olde temple, when I did you grete
Your beauty my hart, so surely assayed
That sithe that time, it hath to you obeyed.
Your wo and paine, and all your languishyng
Continually, ye shall not spende in vayne
Sithe I am cause, of your great morning
Nothinge exile you, shall I by disdaine
Your hart and mine, shall neuer part in twaine
Thoughe at the first, I woulde not condescende
It was for feare, ye did some yll entende
With thought of yll, my minde was neuer mixt To you madame, but alway cleane and pure Bothe daye and nyght, vpon you whole perfixt But I my minde, yet durst nothing discure Howe for your sake, I did suche wo endure Till nowe this houre with dredfull hart so faint To you swete hart, I haue made my complaint
I demed oft, you loued me before
By your demenoure, I did it espye
And in my minde, I iudged euermore
That at the last, ye woulde full secretely
Tell me your minde, of loue right gentlely
As ye haue done, so my mercy to craue
In all worship, you shall my true loue haue
O Lorde God then, howe joyfull was I
She loked on me, with louely countenaunce
I kiste her once or twise, right swetely
Her depured vysage, repleate with pleasaunce
Rejoyced my hart, with amerous purueyaunce
O lady cleare, that perst me at the rote
O floure of comfort, all my heale and bote
O gemme of vertue, and lady excellent
Aboue all other, in beauteous goodlines
O eyen bright as starre refulgent
O profounde cause, of all my sickenes
Nowe all my joye, and all my gladnes
Woulde God that we were, joyned in one
In mariage before, this daye were gone
A, a, saied she, ye must take payne a while
I must depart, by the compulcion
Of my frendes, I will not you begile
Though they me leade, to a farre nacion
My hart shalbe, without variacion
With you present, in perfite sikernes
As true and stable, without doublenes
To me to come, is harde and daungerous
When I am there, for gyantes vgly
With monsters also, blacke and tedious
That by the way, awaite full cruelly
For to destroye you, yll and vtterly
When you that waye, do take the passage
To attaine my loue, by hye aduauntage.
All that madame, was to me certified
By good dame Fame, at the beginnyng
When she to me, of you well notified
As she came from, the tower of Learnyng
Of all suche enemies, the might excluding
I promise vnto you, here full faithfully
When I depart, from dame Astronomy
That I will to, the tower of Chiualry
And for your sake, become aduenturous
To subdue all enemies, to me contrary
That I may after, be right joyous
With you my lady, most swete and precious
Wo worthe the cause, of your departynge
Whiche all my sorowes, is in renuyng.
Alas what pleasure, and eke without disport
Shall I now haue, when that ye be gone
Ha ha truely, nowe without good comfort
My dolorous hart, shalbe left alone
Without your presence, to me is none
For euery houre, I shall thinke a yere
Till Fortune bryng me, vnto you more neare
Yet after you, I will not be right long
But haste me after, as fast as I may
In the tower of Chiualry, I shall make me strong
And after that, passe shortly on my way
With diligent labour, on my iourney
Spite of your enemies, I shall me so spede
That in short time, ye may reward my mede
I thanke you quod she, with my hart entire
But yet with me, ye shall make couenaunte
As I to you, am right lefe and deare
Unto no person, ye shall so aduante
That I to loue you, am so attendaunt
For any thing, your councell not bewraye
For that full sone, might vs bothe betray
And to tell me, I pray you hartely
Yonder is Councell, howe were you acquainted
He is bothe honest and true certainely
Dothe he not knowe, how your hart is fainted
With feruent loue, so surely attainted
If he so do, yet I nothing repent
He is so secrete, and true of entent
Truely madame, because ye are contente I shall you tell, howe the matter was
When that your beauty, clearely spendent
Into my hart, full wondersly did passe
Like as fayre Phebus, dothe shine in the glasse
All alone, with inwarde care so rent
Into a temple, forthe on my way I wente
Where that I walked, plunged in the pitte
Of great dispayre, and he then me mette
Alas he saied, me thinke ye lose your witte
Tell me the trouthe nowe, without any let
Why ye demeane, suche mortall sorowe great
Auoyde quod I, you shall nothing it knowe
You can not helpe me, in the case I trowe.
Forthe must I sayle, without lenger delay
It is full sea, my frendes will come sone
Therfore I pray you, to go hence your way
It draweth fast nowe, towarde the none
Madame quod I, your pleasure shal be done
With wofull hart, and great sighes oft
I kissed her lippes, that were swete and soft
She vnto me, nor I vnto her coulde speake
And as of that, it was no great wonder
Our hartes swelled, as that they shoulde breake
The fire of loue, was so sore kept vnder
When I from her, shoulde departe asunder
With her fayre heade, she did lowe encline
And in likewise, so did I with myne
OF THE GREATE SOROWE THAT GRAUNDE AMOURE MADE AFTER HER DEPARTYNG, AND OF THE WORDES OF COUNCELL. CAPITU. XX.
Her frendes and she, on their way they sayled
Along the hauen, God them saue and brynge
Unto the land, I heard whe that they haled
With a great peale of gunnes, at their departyng
The marueylouse tower, of famous cunnyng
No gunne was shotte, but my hart did wepe
For her departyng, with wofull teares depe
Councell me comforted, as euer he might
With many stories, of olde antiquitie
Remember he saied, that neuer yet was wight
That liued alway, in great tranquilitie
But that him happed, some aduersitie
Then after that, when the payne was past
The double ioye, did comfort them at last.
Ye nede nothing, for to make great doloure
Fortune to you, hath bene right fauourable
Makyng you, to attayne the good fauour
Of your lady, so swete and amiable
No doubt it is, she is true and stable
And demeane you so, that in no wise
No man perceiue, or of your loue surmise.
Be hardy, fearce, and also couragious
In all your battailes, without feblenes
For ye shall be, right well victorious
Of all your enemies, so full of subtilnes
Arme you with wisdome, for more surenes
Let wisdome worke, for she can stedfastlye
In time of nede, resist the contrary
Was neuer man, yet surely at debate
With Sapience, but that he did repent
Who that is ruled, by her highe estate
Of his after witte, shall neuer be shent
She is to man, right beneuolent
With walles sure, she dothe him fortifie
When it is nede, to resist a contrary.
Was neuer place, where as she did guide
With enemies, brought to destruction
A remedy, she can so well prouide
To her high worke, is no comparison
It hath so strong, and sure foundation
Nothing there is, that can it molifye
So sure it is, agaynst a contrarye
Of her alwayes, it is the perfect guise
To begyn nothing, of mutabilitie
As is the warre, whiche may sone aryse
And will not downe, it maye so sturdy be
The beginner oft, hath the iniquitie
When he began, wisdome did reply
In his great nede, to resist the contrary
The mighty Pryant, sometime king of Troye
With all his citye, so well fortified
Little regarded, all his wealth and ioye
Without wisdome, truely exemplified
His proper death, him selfe he nutrified
Agaynst his warre, wisdome did replye
At his great nede, to resist the contrary
And where that wisdome, ruleth hardines
Hardines then is, euer inuincible
There may nothing it vanquishe or oppresse
For prudence is, so well intelligible
To her there is, nothing impossible
Her grounded worke, is made so perfitely
That it must nedes, resist the contrary
To wofull creatures, she is goodly leche
With her good sister, called Pacience
To the tower of Ioye, she dothe them tell weche
In the way of hope, without resistence
Who to her list, to apply his diligence
She will him bringe, to worship shortelye
That he shall well, resist the contrary.
Right so let wisdome, your sorowe surrender
And hye you fast, vnto dame Geometry
And let no thought, in your hart engender
But after this, speake to Astronomy
And so from thence, to the tower of Chiualry
Where of the worthy king Melyzyus
You shalbe made, sone knight aduenturous
And fare you well, for I must from you go
To other louers, whiche are in dispaire
As I did you, to comfort them also
It is grete nede, that I to them repayre
Haboundaunt teares, their hartes do refleire
Fare well quod I, my good frende so true
I woulde with me, ye might alway ensue
Then agayne I went, to the tower melodious
Of good dame Musike, my leaue for to take
And priuely, with these wordes dolorous
I saied O tower, thou maiest wel aslake
Suche melody nowe, in the more to make
The gemme is gone, of all famous port
That was chefe cause, of the great comfort
Whilome thou was, the faire tower of light
But nowe thou art, replete with darkenes
She is nowe gone, that shone in the so bright
Thou wast sometime, the tower of gladnes
Nowe maist thou be, the tower of heauines
For the chefe is gone, of all thy melody
Whose beauty cleare, made most swete armony
The faire carbuncle, so full of clearenes
That in the truely, did most purely shine
The pearle of pitie, replete with swetenes
The gentle gillofloure, the goodly columbine
The redolent plante, of the dulcet vyne
The dede aromatike, may no more encense
For she is so farre, out of thy presence.
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