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Title: The Temple of Glass

Author: John Lydgate

Release Date: July 30, 2009 [EBook #29552]

Language: English

Credits: Produced by Jason Isbell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ***

Transcriber's Note: As the characters used to display the, that and thou are not in unicode, they were replaced with the words that they represent. The character for per is found in unicode, but is rare, so it was also replaced by the phrase it represents. All other abbreviations are represented by the letters they were represented by in the original.

The Temple of Glass

by

John Lydgate

Printed at Westminster

by William Caxton about the year

1477

Cambridge

at the University Press

1905

The unique book here reprinted in facsimile came to the Cambridge University Library in a famous volume of tracts described by Mr Blades (Biography and Typography of W. Caxton, 1882, p. 201).

The volume had formed part of the collection of John Moore, Bishop of Ely, which was given to the University by King George the First in 1715.

The first leaf, which is wanting, was probably blank.

F. JENKINSON

I certify that I have printed 250 copies only of this facsimile, that the impressions have been rubbed off the plates and the negatives destroyed.

P. DUJARDIN

.The temple of glas.

For thought constreynt & greuous heuynes

For pensifhed and higħ distres

To bed I went now this other nyght

Whan that lucina witħ hir pale light

Was Ioyned last witħ phebus in aquarye

Amyd decembre, whan of Ianuarye

Ther be kalendes of the new yere

And derk dyane horned and nothing clere

Had her beames vnder a mysty cloude

Witħ in my bed for cold I gan me shroude

Al desolate for constraynt of my woo

The long nyght walowyng to and fro

Til at laste er I began take kepe

Me dyde oppresse a sodeyn dedly slepe

Witħ in the whiche me thougħt I was

Rauysshed in spiryte in to a temple of glas

I nyste how fer in wildernes

That founded was as by liklynes

Not vpon stele, but on a craggy roche

Lyke yse y froze, and as I did approche

Agayn the sonne that shone so clere

As ony Cristal and euer ner and ner

As I cam nyghe this grisly dredful place

I wex astonyed, the light so in my face

Be gan to smyte, so persing euer in one

On euery part wher that I gan gone

That I ne might no thing as I wolde

Aboute me considere and beholde

The wonder estres for brightnes of the sonne

Til atte last certayn skyes donne

Witħ wynde chaced han her cours y went

To fore the stremes of titan and y blent

So that I mighte witħ in and witħ oute

Wherso I wolde beholden me aboute

For to reporte the facōn and manere

Of aƚƚ this place that was circuler

In compas wyse, round by entayle wrought

And whan I had longe gone and sought

I found a wiket and entred in as fast

In to the temple and myn eyen cast

On euery syde now lowe eft alofte

And right anon as I gan walken softe

Yf I the sotħ a right reporte shal

I sawe depeynted vpon a wal

From este to weste many a fair ymage

Of sondry louers lyke as they were of age

Y sette in ordre after they were trewe

Witħ liuely colours wonder fresh of hue

And as me thought I sawe som sitte & som stāde

And som̄e knelyng witħ billes in their hande

And som̄e witħ compleynt woful & pietous

Witħ doleful chere to putten to venus

So as she sat fleetyng in the see

Vpon her woo forto haue pitee

And first of alle I saugħ there of cartage

Dido the quene so goodly of visage

That gan compleyne hir auenture and cas

How she deceyued was of Eneas

For al his hestes and his othes sworn

And said alas that euer she was born

Whan she sawe that ded she must be

And next I sawe the compleynt of Medee

How that she falsed was of Iason

And nygħ by venus sawe I sitte atheon

And al the maner how the boor hym slougħ

For whom she wepte and had pyne ynougħ

Ther saw I also how that penolope

For she so longe her lord ne mighte see

Was of colour bothe pale and grene

And after next was the fresh quene

I mene alcest the noble trewe wyf

And for admete hou she lost her lif

And for her troutħ yf I shal not lye

How she was torned in to a daysye

Ther was Grisildes Innocence

And al her mekenes and pacience

There was eke Isode & many other moo

And al the torment and the cruel woo

That she had for tristram al her lyue

And how that Tisbe her hert dyde ryue

Witħ thilk swerd of sir Piramus

And al the maner hou that Theseus

The mynotaure slow amyd the hous

That was forwrynked by crafte of dedalus

Whan he was in pryson shit in Crete

And how that philles felte of loues hete

The grete fyre of demephon allas

And for his falshed and for his trespas

Vpon the walles depeynt men might see

How she henge vpon a fylberd tree

And many a story moo than I rekene can

Were in the temple, and how that paris wan

The fayr Eleyne a lusty fresh quene

And hou Achilles was for Policene

Y slayn vnwarly witħyn Troye toun

Al this sawe I walkyng vp and doun

Ther sawe I wreton eke the hole tale

How Philomene in to a nyghtyngale

Y torned was, and proigne vnto a swalowe

And how the sabyns in their maner halowe

The feste of lucresse yet in Rome toun

Ther saw I also the sorow of Palamon

That he in prison felte and al the smert

And how that he thurgħ vnto his hert

Was hurt vnwarly by castyng of an eye

On fair fresh the lusty yong Emelye

And al the stryf bytwene hym & his brother

And how that one faugħt witħ that other

Witħyn the groue, til they by Theseus

Accorded were as Chaucer telletħ vs

And furthermore as I gan beholde

I sawe hou phebus witħ an arowe of golde

Y wounded was thurgħ out his syde

Only by enuye of the god Cupyde

And how that dyane vnto a laurer tre

Y torned was whan that she dide fle

And how that Ioue changed his cope

Only for loue of the fair Eurepe

And in to a hole, whan he did he sue

Liste of his godhed his fourme to transmue

And hou that he by transmutacion

The shap gan take of Amphitrion

For Alcumena so passing was of beaute

So was he hurt for al his deyte

Witħ louys dart, and might it not escape

Ther sawe I also how mars was take

Of vulcanus and witħ venus founde

And witħ the cheynes Inuysible bounde

Ther was also al the poesye

Of hym Mercurye and al the philogye

And how that she for her sapience

Y wedded was to the god of eloquence

And how the Muses lowly did obeye

Higħ in to heuyn this lady to conueye

And witħ her songe hou she was magnefied

Witħ Jubiter there to be stellefied

And vppermore depeynt men might see

How witħ her ryng the goodly canace

Of euery fowle, the leydons and songe

Coude vnderstond as she walked them among

And hou her brother so often holpen was

In his myschief, by the stede of bras

And furthermore in the temple were

Ful many a thousand louers here & there

In sondry wyse redy to compleyne

Vnto the goddesse, of her woo and peyne

How they were hyndred som for enuye

And how the serpent of fals Ielousie

Ful many a louer hath put a back

And causeles on them haue leid a lack

And som̄e ther were that playned on absence

That were exiled and put out of presence

Thurgħ wicked tunges and fals suspecōn

Witħoute mercy or ony remissiōn

And other eke her seruyse spent in veyn

And of her lady were not loued ageyn

And other eke that for pouerte

Dursten in no wyse her grete aduersite

Discouere ne opene, lest they were refused

And som̄e for wantyng also were accused

And other eke that loued secretly

And of her lady durst axe no mercy

Lest that she wolde of hym haue despyte

And som̄e also that putten right grete wite

Ou double louers that loue thinges newe

Thurgħ whos falsenes hyndred be the trewe

And som̄ there were as hit is ofte founde

That for her lady many a blody wounde

Endured hatħ in many a regyon

Whiles that an other hatħ had possession

Al of his lady and beretħ a way the fruyt

Of his labour and of aƚƚ his fuyt

And other compleyned of richesse

How he witħ tresour dotħ his besynesse

To wynne agaynst al kynde and right

Where as true louers haue force none ne might

And som ther were as maydyns yong of age

That pleynetħ so witħ pipyng & witħ rage

That were coupled agayn al nature

Witħ croked elde that may not long endure

For to perfourme the lust of loues playe

For hit ne fit not vnto fressħ maye

For to be coupled to olde Ianuarye

They be so dyuerse that they must varye

For elde is gruoching and malencolious

Ay ful of yre and suspecious

And yongth entendetħ to Ioye & lustynes

To mirtħ and play and to al gladnes

Allas that euer hit shold falle

So swete sugre y coupled be to galle

These yonge folke cryeden oft sithe

And praid venus her power to kythe

Vpon this myschief and shape remedye

And right anone I herde other crye

Witħ sobbyng teres and pietous sowne

To fore the goddesse by lamentacion

That were constrayned in their yougthe

And in childhode as is ofte couthe

Y entrid were in to Religion

Or they had yeris of discrescōn

That al her lif can not but compleyne

In wyde Copes perfection forto feyne

Ful couertly for to coueren thair smert

And shewe the contrary of thair hert

Thus saw I wepe many a fair mayde

That on theyr frendes al the wyte thay layde

And other next I saw ther in grete rage

That they were maried in theyr tendre age

Witħ oute fredom of fre election

Where loue hatħ selde domynacion

For loue at large and at liberte

Wolde frely chese and not witħ suche trete

And other saw I ful ofte wepe and wrynge

That they in men fonde suche varyynge

To loue a season whyle that beaulte flouritħ

And after by disdayn so vngoodly louritħ

On her that whylom he callyd his lady dere

That was to hym so playsant and entier

But lust witħ fairnes is so ouer goon

That in her herte trouthe abidetħ noon

And som̄e also I sawe in teres reyne

And pietously on god and kynde pleyne

That euer they wold on ony creature

So moche beaute passing be mesure

Sette on a woman to yeue occasion

A man, to loue to his confusion

And namely there, where he shal haue no grace

For witħ a loke fortħ by as he dotħ pace

Ful ofte falletħ thurgħ castyng of an eye

A man is wounded that he must nedis deye

That neuer peraunter after he shal her see

Why wil god don so grete a cruelte

To ony man, or to his creature

To make hym so muche woo endure

For her, percas, whom he shal in no wyse

Reioyse neuer, but so fortħ in Iuyse

Lede his lif til that he be graue

For he ne durst of hir no mercy craue

And eke peraunter thougħ he durst & wolde

He can not wite where he hir fynd sholde

I sawe ther eke, and therof had I couthe

That som were hyndred by couetyse & slougthe

And som̄e also for their hastynes

And other eke for their rechelesnes

But altherlast as I walked and behelde

Beside pallas witħ her Cristal sheld

Tofore the statue of venus set on height

Ther kneled a lady in my sight

To fore the goddesse, whiche as the sonne

Passetħ the sterris, and eke the stormys donne

And lucifer to voyde the nyghtes sorowe

In clerenes passetħ erly the morowe

And so as maye hatħ the souereynte

Of euery monetħ the fayrnes and beaute

And as the rose in swetnes and odour

Surmounted flouris, and baine of al licour

Hath the pryse, and as the rubye bright

Of al stones in beaute and in sight

As it is knowe hatħ the Regalye

Right so this ladye witħ her goodly eye

And witħ the stremys of hir loke so bright

Surmountetħ al thourgħ beaute in my sight

That for to tel her grete semelines

Her womanhed her porte and her fairnes

Hit was a meruayle, how euer that nature

Cowde in her werkes make a creature

So angelyk so goodly on to see

So femynyn or passing of beaute

Whos sonnysħ heer brighter than goldwire

Lyche phebus beames shynyng in his spyre

The goodlihed eke of her fresħ face

So replenyshed of beaute and of grace

So wel ennewed by nature and depeynt

As Rose and lilyes to gyder were meynt

So egally by good proporcion

That as me tought by myn inspection

I gan meruaylle hou god or werk of kynde

Mighten of beaute suche a tresour fynde

To yeuen hir so passing excellence

For in good faitħ thurgħ her hye presence

The temple was ensumyned enuyron

And forto speke of her condicion

She was the beste that might be on lyue

For ther was none that witħ her might stryue

To speke of bounte or of gentilesse

Of womanhede or of lowlynesse

Of curtoysie or of goodlihede

Of speche of chere or of semelihede

Of poort benigne or of daliaunce

The best taught and therto of playsaunce

She was the welle eke of honeste

An Examplair and mirrour eke was she

Of secretnes of trouthe of feitħfulnes

And to alle other lady and maistres

To shewe vertu who so list to lere

And so this lady right humble of chere

Kneling I sawe, clad in grene and whyte

To fore venus goddesse of al delyte

Enbrowded al witħ stones and perre

So richely that Ioye it was to see

Witħ sondry rolles on her garnement

For texpowne the troutħ of her entent

To shewe fully that for her humblesse

And for her vertu and her stablenesse

That she was cote of al womanly playsance

Therfore her word witħoute variance

Enbrowded was as men might see

De mieulx en mieulx witħ stones of perre

This is to sayne that she was so benygne

From better to better her hert dotħ resigne

And al her wyƚƚ to venus the goddesse

Whan that her list her harmes to redresse

For as me thought somwhat by her chere

For to compleyne she had grete desire

For in her hand she held a lityl bylle

For to declare the sum̄e of al her wylle

And to the goddesse her quarel for to shewe

Theffect of whiche was in wordes fewe

.The copye of the supplicacion.

O lady venus moder of cupyde

That in this world hast the gouernance

And hertes hye that hawteyn be by pryde

Enclynest mekely to thyn obeyssance

Causer of Ioye Relees of penance

And with thy stremes canst euery thing discerñ

Thurgħ heuenly fire of loue that is eterñ

O blesful sterre persaunt and ful of light

Of beames gladsom, deuoyder of derknes

Chief recomfort after the blak nyght

To wyde woful hertes out of theyr heuynes

Take now good hede lady and goddesse

So that my bille may your grace attayne

Redresse to fynde of that I me compleyne

For I am bounde to thing that I nolde

Frely to chese ther lack I liberte

And so I want of that myn herte wolde

The body is knyt, thougħ my thought be fre

So that I muste of necessite

My hertes lyst outward contrarye

Thougħ we be oon the dede muste varye

My worship sauf I faylle election

Agayn al right botħ of god and kynde

Therto be knyt vnder subiection

For whens for botħ ar out of mynde

My thought gotħ furtħ my body is behynde

For I am here, and yond my remembrance

Betwene two so hange I in balance

Deuoyde of Ioye, of woo I haue plente

What I desire, that may I not possede

For that I nolde is redy ay to me

And that I loue, for to sue I drede

To my desire contrary is my mede

And thus I stonde departed in tweyne

Of wyƚƚ and dede ylaced in a cheyne

For thougħ I brenne witħ feruence & hete

Witħyn myn herte I mote compleyne of colde

And by excesse thougħ I swelte and swete

Me to compleyne god wote I am not bolde

Vnto no wight, ner one word vnfolde

Of al my peyne, allas the hard stounde

The hotter that I brenne, the colder is my wounde

For he that hatħ myn hert feytħfully

And hool my loue in al honeste

Witħoute chaunge al be hit secretly

I haue no space witħ hym for to be

O lady venus consider now and see

Vnto theffecte and compleynt of my byƚƚ

Sitħ lyf and detħ I put aƚƚ in thy wyƚƚ

And tho me thought the goddes did enclyne

Mekely her hede and softly gan expresse

That in short tyme her torment shold fyne

And how of hym for whom al her distresse

Contynned had and al her heuynesse

She shold haue Ioye and of her purgatorye

Be holpen sone and so lyue fortħ in glorye

And said doughter for thy sad trouthe

Thy faitħful menyng and Innocence

That planted be witħ outen ony slouthe

In your persone deuoyed of al offence

So han they atteyned to our audience

That witħ our grace ye shal be wel releuyd

I you behete of al that hatħ you greuyd

And for that ye be euer of one entent

Witħoute chaunge or mutabilyte

And in your paynes ben so pacient

To take lowly your aduersyte

And that so longe thurgh the cruelte

Of olde saturne my fader vnfortuned

Your woo shal now no lenger be contuned

And thinketħ this witħ in a litil whyle

Hit shal aswage and ouer passen sone

For men by laysir passen many a myle

And ofte after a droppyng mone

The weder cleretħ, and whan the storme is done

The sonne shynetħ in his spyer bright

And Ioye waketħ whan woo is putto flight

Remembre eke how neuer yet no wight

Ne cam to worship witħ out som debate

And folke reioyse also more of light

That they witħ derknes were waped & mate

No mañs chañce is allewey fortunate

Ne no wight preysetħ of sugre the swetnes

But they to fore haue tasted bitternes

Gryssyld was asayed atte fuƚƚ

That torned after to encrese of Ioye

Penolope gan eke for sorowes dulle

For that her lord abode so long at troye

Also the torment ther coude noman accoye

Of dorygene flour of al Bretaigne

Thus euer Ioye is fyn and ende of payne

And trustetħ this for conclusion

The ende of sorow is Ioye voyde of drede

For hoolly seyntes thurgħ her passion

Haue heuyn wonne by their souerain mede

And plente gladly folowetħ after nede

And so my doughter after your greuaunce

I you behote ye shal haue ful plesaunce

For euer of loue the maner and the gyse

Is for to hurte his seruaunt & to wounde

And whan he hatħ taught them his empryse

He can in Ioye make them to habounde

And sitħ that ye haue in my laas be bounde

Witħ oute gruoching or rebellyon

Ye muste of night haue consolacion

This to sayne dowtetħ neuer a deel

That ye shal haue ful possession

Of hym that ye now cherisshe so weel

In honest maner witħ oute offencion

By cause I knowe youre entencion

Is truly sette in party and in aƚƚ

To loue hym best and most in speciaƚƚ

For he that ye haue chosen you to serue

Shal be to you suche as ye desire

Witħ oute chaunge fully til he sterue

So witħ my bronde I haue sette hym a fyre

And witħ my grace I shal hym so enspyre

That he in herte shal be right at your wylle

Wherso you liste to saue hym or to spylle

For vnto you I shal his herte so lowe

Witħ oute spotte of ony doblenesse

That he ne shal escape from the bowe

Thaugħ that hym self by vnstedfastnesse

I mene of cupide that shal hym so distresse

Vnto your honde witħ tharowe of golde

That he ne shal escapen thaugh he wolde

And sith ye list of pyte and of grace

In vertu only his yonghthe to cherisshe

I shal by aspectes of my benigne face

Make hym beschewe euery synne and vice

So that he shal haue no maner spice

In his corage to loue thinges newe

He shal to yow so playn be found and trewe

And whan this goodly fair fressħ of hue

Humble and benygne of troutħ crop & rote

Conceyued had how venus gan to rewe

On her prayer plainly to do bote

To chaunge her bitter attones in to sote

She fyl on knees of higħ deuocion

And in this wyse began her orison

Hyghest of hye quene and Emperice

Goddesse of loue, of good yet the best

That thurgħ your beaute witħoute vice

Whylom conquerd thappel atte fest

That Iubiter thurgħ his hye request

To alle the goddes aboue celestyal

Made in his palais most Imperyal

To you my lady vpholder of my lyf

Mekely I thanke so as I may suffise

That ye list now witħ herte ententyf

So graciously for me to deuyse

That whyle I lyue witħ humble sacrefise

Vpon your auters your fest yer by yer

I shal encence casten in to the fyre

For of your grace I am ful reconsiled

From euery troble vnto ioye and ease

That sorowes alle be from me exiled

Sitħ ye my lady list now tappease

My paynes olde and fully my disease

Vnto gladnes so sodenly to torne

Hauyng no cause from hens fortħ to morne

For sithen ye so mekely liste to daunte

To my seruise hym that louetħ me best

And of your bounte so graciously to graunte

That he ne shal barye thougħ hym leste

Wherof myn herte is fully brought to reste

For now and euer o lady myn benigne

That hert and wiƚƚ I hooly to you resigne

Thankyng you witħ al my ful herte

That of your grace and visitacion

So humble liste hym to conuerte

Fully to ben at my subiection

Witħ oute chaunge or transmutacion

Vnto his laste, now laude and reuerence

Be to your name and excellence

This al and sum and chief of my request

And hool substance of my ful entente

You thankyng euer of your graunt & hest

Botħ now and euer that ye me grace sent

To conquer hym that neuer shal repent

Me for to serue and humblye for to please

As fynal tresour of my hertes ease

And than anon venus cast a doun

In to her lappe braunches whyte and grene

Of hawthorn that wenten enuyron

Aboute her heed that ioye was to sene

And had her kepe hem honestly and clene

Whiche shold not fade ne neuer wexe olde

Yf she her biddyng kepe as she hatħ told

And as these vowes be bothe fair and swete

Folowe theffecte that they do specifye

This is to seyne botħ in cold and hete

Be ye of one hert and of one fantasye

As ar these leues whiche may not dye

By no duresse of stormes that be kene

Nomore in wynter than in somer grene

Right so by ensample of wele or woo

For Ioye torment or for aduersite

Whether so fortune fauoure, or be foo

For pouert riches or prosperyte

That ye your hert kepe in on degre

To loue hym best for no thing that ye fyne

Whom I haue bound so low vnder your cheyne

And witħ that word the goddesse shoke her heed

And was in pees & spack as tho nomore

And therwitħ aƚƚ ful femynyn of drede

Me thought this lady sighen gan ful sore

And said agayn, lady that maist restore

Hertes in Ioye from theyr aduersite

To do your wil de mieulx en mieulx ma gree

Thus euer slepyng dremyng as I laye

Witħyn the temple me thought I saye

Grete prees of folk witħ murmur wonderful

To croude and shoue, the temple was so ful

Euericħ ful besy, in his owne cause

That I ne may shortly in a clause

Discriuen alle the rites and the guyse

And eke I wante connyng to deuyse

How som̄e ther were witħ blood, encence & milk

And som̄e witħ flouris sote & softe as silk

And som̄e witħ sparowes & douues whyte

That for to offren gan hem delyte

Vnto the goddesse witħ sighe and prayer

Hem to relese of that they most desire

That for the prees shortly to conclude

I wente my way for the multitude

Me for to refressħ out of the prees allone

And by my self me thought as I gan gone

Witħ in the estres and gan a whyle tarye

I sawe a man that walked al solitarye

That as me semed for heuynes and dole

Hym to compleyne, that he walked so sole

Witħ oute espyyng of ony other wight

And yf I sħal diseryuen hym a right

Yf that he had not ben in heuynes

Me thought he was, to speke of semelines

Of shap of fourme, and also of stature

The most passing, that euer yet nature

Made in her werkes, and lyke to be a man

And ther witħ al as I reherce can

Of face and chere the most gracyous

To be biloued happy and ewrous

Bur as it semed outward by his chere

That he complayned for lack of his desire

For by hym self as he walked vp and doun

I herde hym make a lamentacion

And said alas, what thing may this be

That now am bonde that whylom was fre

And wente at large at myn election

Now am I caught vnder subiection

For to become a beray homager

To god of loue, wher er I cam here

Felt in myn herte, nought of loues peyne

But now of newe, witħin hur firy cheyne

I am embraced so that I may not stryue

To serue and loue whyle I am on lyue

The godly freshe in the temple yonder

I sawe right now, that I had wonder

How euer god, for to rekene aƚƚ

Might make a thing so celestiaƚƚ

So angelike on erthe to appere

For witħ the stremes of her eyen clere

I am wounded euen to the hert

That fro the detħ I may not astert

And most I meruayle that so sodeinly

I was so yolde to be at hur mercy

Witħoute more, I muste her lust obeye

Whether that she liste me to lyue or deye

And take mekely my sodeyn auenture

For sitħ my lif, my detħ, and eke my cure

Is in her hand it wil not auaylle

To gruoche agayn, for of this bataylle

The palme is heris, and plainly the victorye

Yf I rebellid honour none ne glorye

I might not in ony wyse achyeue

Sitħ I am theolden, how shold I thenne preue

To renne a wey, I wote hit wil not be

Thougħ I be loos, at large I may not fle

O god of loue how sharp is now thyn arowe

How mayst thou now so cruelly and so narowe

Witħ oute cause hurte me and wounde

And takest none hede my sorowes to founde

But liche a birde that fleetħ at her desire

Tyl sodeynly witħyn the pantere

She is caught thaugħ late she was at large

Anewe tempest forcastetħ now my barge

Now vp now doun, witħ wynd it is so blowe

So am I possed and almost ouerthrowe

For dryue in derknes of many sondry wawe

Alas whan shal this tempest ouerdrawe

To clere the skyes of myn aduersite

The lode sterre whan that I ne may see

Hit is so hid witħ clowdes that be blake

Alas whan wyƚƚ this torment ouerslake

I can not wyte, for who is hurt of newe

And bledetħ inward til he wex pale of hue

And hatħ his wound vnwarly fressħ & grene

And hit is not couthe vnto the harmes kene

Of myghty cupyde that can so hertes daunte

That no man may in his warre hym vaunte

To gete a pryce but only by mekenes

For ther ne hayletħ stryf ne sturdynes

So may I sayne that witħ a loke am yolde

And haue no power to stryue thaugħ I wolde

Thus stonde I euer betwix lif and detħ

To loue and serue whyle I haue bretħ

In suche a place where I dar not pleyne

Liche hym that is in torment and in peyne

And knowetħ not to whom to discure

For ther that I haue holly set my aire

I dar not wel for drede ne for daunger

And for vnknowen tellen how the fyre

Of loues bronde is kyndlid in my breste

Thus am I murdred and slayn atte leste

So priuely witħyn my thought

O lady venus whom I haue sought

So wysse me now what me is best to doo

That am distraught witħ my self so

That I ne wote what way for to torne

Sauf by my self soleyn for to morne

Hangyng in balance betwix hope and drede

Witħ oute comfort remedye or rede

For hope biddetħ pursue and assaye

And agaynward drede answertħ naye

And now witħ hope I am set a lofte

But drede and daunger hard & nothyng softe

Hatħ ouerthrowe my trust and put a doun

Now at my large, now fetred in prisoun

Now in torment, now in souerayn glorye

Now in paradyse and now in purgatorye

As man dispayred in a double were

Born vp witħ hope, and theñe anon daunger

Me drawetħ aback, and saitħ it shal not be

For where as I of myne aduersite

Am bolde somwhyle mercy to requyre

Thenne cometħ dispair & gynnetħ me to lere

A newe lesson to hope ful the contrary

They be so diuerse they wil do me varye

And thus I stand dismayed in a traunce

For whan that hope were likly me tauaunce

For drede I tremble & dar one word not speke

And yf hit so be, that I not out breke

To telle the harmes that greuen me so sore

But in my self encrece them more and more

And to be slayn fully me delyte

When of my detħ she is nothing to wyte

For but yf she my constreynt plainly knewe

How shold she euer, on my peynes rue

Thus oft tyme witħ hope I am meuyd

To tel her aƚƚ, how I am greuyd

And to be hardy on me for to take

To axe mercy, but drede dotħ me theñe awake

And than wanhop answertħ me agayn

That better were than she haue disdayn

To dye attones vnknowe of ony wight

And ther witħ aƚƚ biddetħ hope anon right

Me, to be bold and prayen her of grace

And fitħ alle vertues be portreyd in her face

Hit were not sittyng, that pyte were behynde

And right anon witħyn my self I fynde

A newe plee brought on me witħ drede

That me so masetħ that I see no spede

Be cause he saitħ that stonyetħ al my blood

I am so symple and she is so good

Thus hope & drede in me wyl not sece

To plete and stryue my harmys to encrece

But at hardest yet or I be dede

Of my distresse sitħ I can no rede

But stande dom̄ styl as ony stone

To fore the goddesse I wil me haste anoñ

And compleyne witħ oute more sermoñ

Thougħ detħ be fyn and ful conclusion

Of my request, yet I wyl assaye

And right anon me thought I saye

This woful man as I haue memorye

Ful lowly entre in to an oratorye

And knelid a doun in ful humble wyse

To fore the goddesse and gan anon deuyse

His pitous quarel witħ a doleful chere

Sayng right this as ye shaƚƚ here

.The compleynt of the man.

Redresse of sorow O Citherea

That witħ the stremys of thy playsaunt hete

Gladest the mounte of al Cirrea

Where thou hast chosen thy paleys and sete

Whos bright beames ben wesshen and wete

In the ryuer of Elycon the welle

Haue now pyte of that I shal you telle

And not desdayne ye of your benygnyte

My mortal woo O lady myn goddesse

Of grace and bounte & mercyful pyte

Benygnely to helpe and to redresse

And thaugħ so be I can not wel expresse

The greuous harmes that I fele in my herte

Haue neuer yet the lesse mercy of my smerte

This is to sayne O cler heuenes light

That next the sonne sercled han your spere

Sitħ ye me hurte witħ your dredful myght

By influence of your beames clere

And that I by your seruyse now so dere

As ye me brought in to this maladye

Be ye gracyous and shape ye remedye

For in you hoolly lietħ help of al this caas

And knowe best my sorow and al my peyne

For drede of detħ, how I ne dar allas

To aren mercy ones, ne me compleyne

Now witħ your fyre her hert so constrayne

Witħ oute more, or I deye atte leste

That she may witte what is my request

How I no thyng in al this world desire

But for to serur fully to myn ende

That goodly freshe so womanly of chere

Witħout chaunge whyle I haue lyf & mynde

And that ye wold suche grace sende

Of my seruyse that she not disdeyne

Sithen her to serue I may not me restreyne

And sitħ that hope me hatħ yeue hardynes

To loue her best and neuer to repente

Whylis that I lyue witħ al my besynes

To drede & serue, thaugħ daunger neuer assente

And here vpon ye knowe myn entente

How I haue vowed fully in myn mynde

To ben her man, thaugħ I no mercy fynde

For in my hert emprynted is so sore

Her shap her forme & al her semelynes

Her porte her chere, her godenes more & more

Her womanhed and eke her gentiles

Her troutħ, her faitħ and her kyndnes

Witħ alle vertues eche set in her degre

Ther is no lack, sauyng only of pyte

Her sad demenyng of wyl not variable

Of loke benygne, and rote of al plesance

And exemplayre to alle that wyl be stable

Discrete prudent of wisedom suffisance

Mirrour of witte ground of gouernance

A world of beaute compassed in her face

Whos persant loke doth thurgħ my hert race

And ouer this wonder secrete and true

A wel of fredome and right bounteous

And euer encrecyng in vertu new & newe

Of speche goodly, and wonder gracyous

Deuoyd of pryde, to poure not despytous

And yf that I shortly shal not feyne

Saue vpon mercy I no thing compleyne

What wonder thenne, thougħ I be witħ drede

Inly supprised for to axen grace

Of her that is quene of womanhede

For wel I wote in so higħ a place

Hit wil not be, therfore I ouer pace

And take lowly what wo I endure

Til she of pyte me take to her cure

But one auowe plainly here I make

That whethir so be, she do me lyue or deye

I wil not gruoche, but humbly hit take

And thanke god and wilfully obeye

For by my troutħ my hert shal neuer reneye

For lyf ne detħ mercy ne daunger

Of wil and thought to be at her desire

To ben as trewe as euer was antonyus

To cleopatre whyle hym lastetħ bretħ

Or vnto thesbe yong Piramus

That was faithful found, til them deptid deth

Right so shal I til Antropos me sletħ

For whele or woo her faithful man be found

Vnto my last, like as my hert is bound

To loue as wel as did Achilles

Vnto his laste the fair Polixene

Or as the grete famous Hercules

For dyanyre that felte the shott kene

Right so shal I saye right as I mene

Whyle that I lyue, her botħ drede and serue

For lack of mercy thougħ she do me sterue

Now lady venus to whom nothing vnknowe

Is in the world hid, ne nought may be

For ther nys thing nether hye ne lowe

May be conceyled from your pryuete

Fro whom my menyng is not now secret

But wite fully that myn entent is true

And liche my trouthe now on my peyne rue

For more of grace than of presumpcion

I axe mercy, and no thing of dute

Of lowly humbles, witħ oute offencion

That ye enclyne of your benygnyte

Your audience vnto my humylyte

To graunte me that to you I clepe & calle

Sum day relees yet of my peynes alle

And sitħ ye haue the guerdon and the mede

Of alle louers pleinly in your honde

Now of grace and pyte take ye hede

Of my distrees, that am vnder your bonde

So lowly bound, as ye wel vnderstonde

In that place where I toke first my wounde

Of pyte suffre ye my heltħ may be founde

That liche as she me hurte witħ a sight

Right so with helth late me hur sustene

And as the stremes of her eyen bright

Whylom my hert witħ woundes sharp & kene

Thurgħ persed haue and yet be fresh & grene

So as she me hurte, lete her me socoure

Or ellis certayn I may not long endure

For lack of speche I can say you no more

I haue mater but I can not pleyne

My witte is duƚƚ to tel al my sore

A mouth I haue, And yet for al my peyn

For want of wordes I may not now atteyn

To tel half, that dotħ my hert greue

Mercy abydyng, til she me list releue

But this theffect of my mater fynal

Witħ detħ or mercy relees for to fynde

For hert body thought lyf lust and al

Witħ al my reson and al my ful mynde

And fyue wittes of on assent I bynde

To her seruyse witħ oute ony stryf

And make her pryncesse of my detħ or lyf

And now I pray of routħ and eke pyte

O goodly planet, O lady venus bright

That ye your sone of his deyte

Cupide I mene that witħ his dredful myght

And witħ his brond that is so clere of light

Her herte so to fyre and to marke

As ye me whylem brent witħ a sparke

That euenlicħ and with the same fyre

She may be hit, as I now brenne and melte

So that her herte be flamed witħ desire

That she may knowe by feruence hou I swelte

For of pyte plainly yf she felte

The self hete that doth myn hert enbrace

I hope of routħ she wiƚƚ do me grace

And ther witħ al bemis as me thought

Towardes this man ful benyngely

Gan cast her eye, like as that she rought

Of his disease, and said ful goodly

Sith it is so, that thou so humbly

Witħ out gruachyng our hestes liste obeye

Toward thyn help I wil anon pourueye

And eke my sone Cupyde that is so blynde

He shal be helpyng fully to performe

Your hool desire, that nothing be behynde

Ne shal be lefte, so we shal reforme

This pietous cōpleynt, that maketħ the to morne

That she for whom thau sorowest most in hert

Shal thurgħ hur mercy relece al thy smert

Whan she scetħ tyme, thurgħ our purueaunce

Be not to hasty, but suffre althing wele

For in abydyng, thurgħ lowly obeyssaunce

Lyetħ ful redres, of al that ye now fele

And she shal be as trewe as ony stele

To you allone, by our myght and grace

Yf ye list mekely abyde a lityl space

But vnderstande ye that al her cherising

Shal be grounded vpon honeste

That no wight shal by ony compacyng

Demen amys of hur in no degre

For neyther mercy, coutħ ner pyte

She shal not haue ne take of the non hede

Further than longetħ vnto her womanhede

Be not astonyed of no wilfulnes

Ne not despeyred of this dissolucion

Late reson bridle lust by buxumnes

Witħout gruochyng or rebellyon

For ioye shal folowe al this passion

For who can suffre torment and endure

Ne may not faylle, but folowe shal his cure

For to fore alle she shal the louen best

So shal I her witħoute offencion

By Influence enspire in her brest

In honest wyse witħ ful entencion

For tenclyne by clene affection

Her hert fully on the to haue routhe

Be cause I knowe that thou menest trouthe

Go now to hir where as she stant a syde

Witħ humble chere, and put the in her grace

And al beforn lete hope be thy guyde

And thaugħ that drede wold witħ the pace

Hit sittetħ wel, but loke that thou arace

Out of thyn hert wanhop and despeire

To her presence er thou haue repeir

And mercy first shal thy way make

And honest menyng afore do thy message

To make pyte in her herte awake

And secretnes to further thy viage

Witħ humble porte to her that is so sage

Shal menes be, and I my self also

Shal the fortune, or thy tale be do

Go fortħ anon, and be right good of chere

For specheles nothing mayst thou spede

Be good of trust & be no thing in were

Sitħ I my self shal helpen in this nede

For atte lest of her goodly hede

She shal to the her audience enclyne

And lowe the to her til thou thy tale fyne

For wel thou wost yf I shal not feyne

Witħoute speche thou maist no mercy haue

For who that wil of his pryue peyne

Fully be cured his lyf to helpe and saue

He must mekely out of his hert graue

Discure his wound and shewe hit his leche

Or ellis deye for defaute of speche

For he that is in myschief reklees

To seche help I holde hym a wrecche

And she ne may thyn hert bryng in pees

But yf thy compleynt to hir hert strecche

Woldest thou be cured & wilt no salue fecche

Hit wil not be, for no wight may atteyne

To come to blys, yf he list lyue in peyne

Therfore attones go fortħ in humble wyse

To fore thy lady and lowly knele a doun

And in al trouthe thy wordes so deuyse

That she on the haue compassion

For she that is of so hye renoun

In al vertues as quene and souerayn

Of womanhed shal rue on thy payn

And whan the goddes this lesson had told

Aboute me so I gan behold

Rigħt so a stoned stode in a traunce

To se the maner and contenance

And al the chere of this woful man

That was of hue dedely pale and wan

Witħ drede supprised in his owne thought

Makyng chere as thaugħ he rought nought

Of lyf ne detħ ne what so hym betyde

So moche fere he had on euery side

To put hym fortħ to tel his peyne

Vnto his lady, other to compleyne

What woo he felt torment or disese

What dedely sorow his hert dide sese

For coutħ of whiche his wo as I endite

My penne I fele quaken as I wryte

Of hym I had so grete compassion

For to reherce his weymentacion

That vnnethe, thougħ I witħ my self stryue

I want connyng his peynes to discryue

Allas to whom shal I for help calle

Not to the muses for cause they ben alle

Help of right in Ioye and not in woo

And in matiers that they delite also

Wherfore they nyl as now directe my style

Nor me enspiren Alas the hard whyle

I can no further but to the siphon

And to her suster to calle help vpon

That be goddesses of torment and peyne

Nowe lete your teris in to myn Inke reyne

Witħ woful wordes my paper for to blotte

This woful mater not to peynt, but spotte

To tel the maner of this dredeful man

Vpon his complaynt whan he first began

To tel his lady whan he gan declare

His hid sorowis, and his euel fare

That at his herte constreyned so sore

Theffect of whiche was this witħoute more

Pryncesse of yougtħ & flour of gentilesse

Ensample of vertu ground of curtesye

Of beaute rote quene and eke maistres

To alle women how they shal hem gye

And sotħfast mirrour texemplifye

The right way of port and of womanhede

What I shal saye, of mercy take ye hede

Besechyng first vnto your hye nobles

Witħ quakyng hert of my Inward drede

Of grace and pyte & not of right wysnes

Of verrey coutħe to help in this nede

This is to say O wel of goodlyhede

That I ne rekke thaugħ ye do me deye

So ye list first to heven what I seye

The dredeful stroke the gret force and might

Of god cupide that noman may rebelle

So inwardly thurgħ out myn hert right

Y perced hatħ that I ne may councele

Myn hid wound ne I ne may apele

Vnto no gretter, this mighty god so faste

You to serue hatħ me bound vnto my laste

That hert and aƚƚ witħ out stryf ar yolde

For lyf or detħ to your seruyse allone

Right as the goddesse myghty venus wolde

To for her mekely whan I made my mone

She me constrayned witħoute chaunge anone

To your seruyse and neuer for to fayne

Wherso euer ye list to do me ease or payne

So that I can no thing but mercy crye

Of you my lady, and chaunge for no newe

That ye list godely to fore er that I dye

Of verray couthe vpon my paynes rue

For by my trouthe, and ye my peynes knewe

What is the cause of myne aduersite

On myn disese ye wolde haue pyte

For vnto you trewe and eke secre

I wil be founde to serue as I best can

And therwitħ al as lowly in eche degre

To you be allone as euer yet was man

Vnto his lady from the tyme I began

And shal so fortħ witħouten ony sleutħ

Whylis that I lyue, by god & by my troutħ

For leuer I had to deyen sodenly

Than you offende in any maner wyse

And suffre paynes inward priuely

Than my seruyse as now ye shold dispyse

For I right neught wil axe in no wyse

But for your seruaunt ye wold me accepte

And whan I trespace, goodly me correcte

And for to graunte of mercy the prayer

Only of grace and womanly pyte

From day to day that I myght leve

You for to plese, and therwitħ al that ye

Whan I do mys, list for to teche me

In your seruyse hou that I may amende

From hensfortħ and neuer you offende

For vnto me it doth ynowħ suffyse

That for your man ye wold me resseyue

Fully to ben as you lyst deuyse

And as ferforth as my wittes can conceyue

And therwith al liche as ye preue

That I be true, to guerdone me of grace

Or ellis to punysshe after my trespace

And yf so be that I may not atteyne

Vnto your mercy, yet graunte at the leste

In your seruyse for al my wo and peyne

That I may deyen after my beheste

This is al and som the fyn of my request

Outher with mercy your seruaunt to saue

Or mercyles that I may be begraue

And whan this benygne of her entent true

Conceyued hatħ the compleynt of this man

Right as the fresh rody Rose newe

Of her colour to wexen she began

Her blood astoned so from her herte ran

In to her face of verray femynyte

Thurgh honest drede abasshed was she

And humbly she began her eyen caste

Towardes hym of hir benygnyte

So that no word by her lippes past

For hast nor drede mercy ne pyte

For so demened she was in honeste

That vnaduysed no thing fro her stert

So moche of reson was compassed in her hert

Til atte last of whiche she did abreyd

Whan she is trouthe and menyng did fele

And vnto hym ful goodly spack and seyd

Of your behest and your menyng wele

And your seruyse so faitħful euerydele

Whiche vnto me so lowly now ye offre

Witħ al my herte, I thanke you of your profre

That for so moche your entent is sette

Only in vertu y bridled vnder drede

Ye must of right nedis face the bet

Of your request, and the better spede

But as for me I may of womanhede

No further graunte to you in myn entente

Than as my lady venus wil assente

For she wel knoweth I am not at my large

To doon right nought but by her ordynance

So am I drownd vnder her dredeful charge

Her lyste tobbeye withoute variaunce

But for my parte so hit be pleasaunce

Vnto the goddesse for troutħ in your empryse

I you accepte fully to my seruyse

For she my herte hath in subiection

Whiche hoolly is youres & neuer shal repente

In thought ner dede in myn election

Witnes on venus that knoweth myn entent

Fully tobeye hir dome and Iugement

So as hir liste disposen and ordeyne

Right as she knoweth the troutħ of vs tweyne

For vnto the tyme that venus list prouyde

To shape away for our hertis ease

Bothe ye and I mekely must abyde

To take at gree, and not of our disease

To grucche agayn til that she list tappease

Our hid woo so Iuly that constreynetħ

From day to day and our hertis peyneth

For in abidyng of woo and al affraye

Who so can suffre is founden remedye

And for the beste ful ofte is made delaye

Er men be heled of their maladye

Wherfore as venus list this mater to gye

Leet vs agreen, and take al for the best

Til her liste, sette bothe our hertes in rest

For she is that byndetħ and can constreyn

Hertes in one, this fortunate planete

And can relece louers of her peyn

To turne fully her bitter in to swete

Now blisful goddes doun fro thy sterry sete

Vs to fortune cast your stremes shene

Lyke as ye knowe, that we troutħ mene

And ther witħ al as I myn eyen caste

For to perceyue the maner of these tweyne

To fore the goddesse mekely as they paste

Me thought I saw witħ a goldyn cheyne

Venus, anon enbrace and constreyne

Her bothe hertes in one, for to perseuere

Whilis that they lyue, and neuer to disseuere

Seyng right thus with a benygne chere

Sith it is so, ye be vnder my myght

My wil is thus, that ye my doughter dere

Ful accepte this man as it is right

Vnto your grace anon here in my sight

That euer hath ben so lowly you to serue

Hit is good shil your thank that he deserue

Your honour sauf and eke your womanhede

Hym to cherisshe, hit sittetħ you right wele

Sith he is bounde vnder hope and drede

Amyd my cheyne that forged is of stele

Ye must of mercy shape that he fele

In yow som grace of his long seruyse

And that in hast lik as I shal deuyse

This is to sayn that ye taken hede

Hou he to you most faitħful is and true

Ofal your seruauntes, & nothing for his mede

Of you ne asketh, but ye on hym rue

For he vowed hath to change for no newe

For lyf ne detħ, for ioye ne for peyne

Ay to be youris, so as ye list ordeyne

Wherfore ye muste or els it were wrong

Vnto your grace fully hym receyue

In my presence, by cause he hatħ so long

Hooly ben youris, as ye may conceyue

That from your mercy, yf ye hym weyue

I wyl my silf recorden cruelte

In your persone, and gret lack of pyte

Late hym for his troutħ fynde than agayn

For long seruyse, guerdon hym witħ grace

And late ye pyte weye doun his payn

For tyme is now daunger to arace

Out of your hert, and mercy in to pace

And loue for loue world wel beseme

To yeue agayn and this I plainly deme

And as for hym I wil ben his borowe

Of lowlihede and besy attendance

How he shal be bothe eue and morowe

Ful diligent to doon his obseruance

And euer awaytyng, you to do playsance

Wherfore my sone, listen and take hede

Fully tobeye, as I shal the rede

And first of aƚƚ my wiƚƚ is that thou be

Feithful in hert and constant as a wal

True humble, meke and therwith al secre

Witħ out change in partie or in aƚƚ

And for no torment that the fallen shal

Tempest the not, but euer in stedfastnes

Rote thyn herte, and wyde doublenes

And furthermore haue in reuerence

These women al for thy lady sake

And suffre neuer that men hem do offence

For loue of one, but euermore vndertake

Hem to defende whether they slept or wake

And ay be redy to holden them party

Ayenst aƚƚ tho that to hem haue enuye

Be curtais ay and lowly of thy speche

To riche and poure ay fressħ & wel beseyn

And euer besy weyes for to seche

Alle true louers to relece of her peyn

Sith thou art one, & of no wight haue disdeyn

For loue hath power hertes for to daunte

And neuer for cherising, the to muche auaunte

Be lusty eke voyd of aƚƚ tristesse

And take no thought but euer be iocound

And not to pensif for none heuynes

And witħ thy gladnes, lete sadnes ay be found

Whan woo approched, lete mirtħ most habound

As manhod ayid, and though thou fele smert

Late not to many knowen of thyn hert

And alle vertues besily thou sue

Vices eschewe for the loue of one

And for no tales thyn hert not renewe

Word is but wynd that shal soon ouergoon

What euer thou here be domb as ony stoon

And to answere to sone, not the delyte

For here she standetħ that al this shal the quyte

And wherther thou be absent or in presence

None others beawte lete in thy hert myne

Sitħ I haue yeue hir of beaute excellence

Aboue al other in vertu for to shyne

And thynke hou in fyre men ar wont to fyne

This pured gold to put hit in assaye

So to the proue, thou art put in delaye

But tyme shal come thou shalt for thy suffrance

Be wel apaid and take for thy mede

Thy lyurs ioye and al thy suffisance

So that good hope alway thy bridel lede

Lete no dispeir hyndre the with drede

But ay thy trust vpon her mercy grounde

Sith none but she may thy sorowe sounde

Eche hour and tyme. weke. day and yere

Be lich faithful and vary not for lyte

Abyde a whyle and than of thy desire

The tyme neygheth that shal the most delyte

And late no sorow in thy hert byte

For no differring, sith thou for thy mede

Shal reioyse in pees the flour of womanhede

Thinke hou she is this worldis sonne & light

The sterre of beaute the flour eke of fairnes

Both crop and robe and eke the rubye bright

Hertes to glade, y troubled with derknes

And hou I haue made her, thin hertes Empresse

Be glad therfore to be vnder her bond

Now come ner doughter & take him by the hond

Vnto this syn that aftir alle these shouris

Of his torment he may be glad and light

Whan by your grace ye take hym to be youris

For euermore anon here in my sight

And eke I wil also as hit is right

Without more his langour for to lysse

In my presence anon that ye hym kysse

That ther may be of al your old smertis

A ful relees vnder ioye assured

And that one lok be of your bothe hertis

Shet with my keye of gold so wel pured

Only in signe that ye haue recured

Your hool desire here in this hooly place

Within my temple now in the yere of grace

Eternally be bounde of assuraunce

The knot is knyt, that may not be vnbounde

That alle the goddes of this aliaunce

Satorne. Joue. and Mars as it is founde

And eke Cupyde that first did you wounde

Shal bere record, and ouermore bewreke

On whiche of yow, his troutħ first breke

So that by aspectes of their fair lokis

Witħoute mercy shal fal the vengeance

For to be raced clene out of my bokis

On whiche of you be found of variance

Therfore attones settetħ your plesance

Fully to ben whyle ye haue lyf and mynde

Of one acorde vnto your lyues ende

That yf the spiryte of newfanglenes

In ony wyse your hertes wold assaylle

To meue or styre to brynge in doublenes

Vpon your troutħ to gyuen a bataylle

Lete not your corage ne your force faylle

Nor none assaultes you flitten or remeue

For vnassayed no man may troutħ preue

For whyte is whitter yf it be set by black

And swete is swetter after bitternes

And falshed euer is dryue and put a back

Where trouthe is roted witħ doblenes

Witħout preue ther may be no sekernes

Of loue or hate and therfore of you two

Shal loue be more, for hit was bought with woo

And euery thing is had more in deynte

And more of pris whan it is dere bought

And eke loue stondeth more in sewrte

Whan it is to fore with payne woo & thought

Conquerd was first whan hit was sought

And euery conquest hath his excellence

In his poursute as it fyndeth resistence

And so to you more sote and agreable

Shal loue be found I do you plainly assure

Witħout grucchyng that ye were suffrable

So lowe so meke paciently to endure

That al attones I shal do now my cure

For now and euer your hertis so to bynde

That nought but deth shal the knot vnbynde

Now in this mater what shold I lenger dwelle

Come ye attones and do as I haue said

And first my doughter that ar of bounte welle

In hert and thought be glad & wel apayd

To done hym grace that shal & hath obeyd

Your lustes euer, and I wil for his sake

Of trouth to you be bounde and vndertake

And so fortħ witħin presence as they stand

To fore the goddes this fair and wele

Her humble seruant toke goodly by the hond

As he to fore her, mekely did knele

And kyssed hym after fulfillyng eueridele

From poynt to poynt in ful thryfty wyse

As ye to forn haue venus herd deuyse

Thus is this man to ioye and al plesance

From heuynes and from his peynes olde

Ful reconcyled, and hatħ ful suffisance

Of her that euer ment wel, and wold

That in good faitħ and I tel shold

The inward mirthes did her hertis brace

For al my lyf to telle, it were to lityl space

For he hatħ wonne hir that he louetħ best

And she to grace hatħ take hym of pyte

And thus her hertes ben botħ set in rest

Witħoute chaunge or mutabilite

And venus hatħ of her benygnyte

Confermed al what shal I lenger tary

These tweyne in one and neuer to vary

That for the ioye in the temple aboute

Of this acorde by grete solempnyte

Was laude and honour within & witħoute

Yeue to venus, and to the deyte

Of god cupide, so that Caliope

And al her sustren in her armonye

Soon with songes the goddes did magnifye

And al attones with notes loud & sharp

They did her honour and her reuerence

And Orpheus among them with his harp

Gan strynges touche with his diligence

And Amphion that hath suche excellence

Of musyke ay dyde his besynes

To plese and queme venus the goddesse

Only for cause of the affinyte

Betwix these two not lusty to disseuere

And euery louer of lowe and hye degre

Gan venus pray fro thens fortħ and euer

That hool of them the loue may perseuere

Witħouten ende in suche wyse as they gonne

And more encrece that hit of hard was wonne

And the goddes heryng this request

As she that knewe the clene entencion

Of bothe them tweyne made a bihest

Perpetuelly by confirmacion

Whylis they lyue of one affection

They shal endure ther is no more to sayne

That neyther shal haue mater to complayne

So ferfurtħ euermore in our eternal see

The goddes haue in our presence

Fully deuysed thurgħ their deyte

And hooly concluded by her Influence

That by thair myght and Iuste prudence

The loue of hem by grace and eke fortune

Witħ oute chaunge shal euermore contune

Of whiche graunt the temple enuiron

Thurgħ hye comfort of them that were present

Anon was begun witħ a melodyous sowun

In name of tho that troutħ in loue ment

A balade newe in ful good entent

To fore the goddes witħ notis londe and clere

Syngyng right this anon as ye shal here

Fayrest of sterres that with your persant light

And with the cherysyng of your stremes clere

Causen in loue hertes to be light

Only by shynyng of your glad spere

Now lawde and pryce O venus lady dere

Be to your name that haue without synne

This man fortuned his lady for to wynne

Willy planete O esperus so bright

That woful hertes can appese and stere

And euer ar redy by your grace & might

To helpe al tho that bye loue so dere

And haue power hertis to sette on fyre

Honour to you of al that ben here Inne

That haue this man his lady made to wynne

O mighty goddesse day sterre after nyght

Gladyng the morowe whan ye don appere

To wyde derknes by freshnes of your sight

Only witħ twinkyng of your plesaunt chere

To you we thanke louers that ben here

That ye this man and neuer for to twynne

Fortune haue, his lady for to wynne

And witħ the noyse an heuenly melodye

Witħ that they made in her armonye

Thurgħ out the temple for this mans sake

Out of my slepe anon I dyde awake

And for astonyed knewe as tho no rede

For sodeyn chaunge oppressed witħ drede

Me thought I was cast in a traunce

So clene away was tho my remembrance

Of alle my dreme, wherof gret thought & wo

I had in herte and nyst what was to doo

For heuynes for that I had lost the sight

Of her that I al the longe nyght

Had dremed of in myn aduision

Wherof I made grete lamentacion

Be cause I had neuer in my lyf beforn

Saw none so fair sitħ that I was born

For loue of whom so as I can endyte

I purpose here to make and to wryte

A lityl tretyse and processe make

In pryce of women only for her sake

Hem to comence as it is skyl and right

For her godenes witħ al my myght

Prayng to her that is so bounteuous

So ful of vertu and so gracyeus

Of womanhede and mercyful pyte

This symple tretyse for to take in gre

Til I haue leyzer vnto her hye renoun

For to expound my forsaid visioun

And tel in playn the signefyaunce

As it cometh to my remembraunce

So that her after my lady may hit loke

Now go thy way thou litil rude boke

To her presence as I the comande

And first of aƚƚ thou me recomande

Vnto hir and to her excellence

And pray to hir, hit be non offence

Yf ony word in the be myssaid

Besechyng her, she be not euyl a paid

For as her list I wil the efte correcte

Whan that her liketħ ageinward the directe

I mene that benygne and goodly of face

Now go thy way and put the in her grace

.Explicit the temple of glas.

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Table of Contents

The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Temple of Glass, by John Lydgate

The Temple of Glass

John Lydgate

.The temple of glas.

.The copye of the supplicacion.

.The compleynt of the man.

.Explicit the temple of glas.

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE