Ballad that Villon Gave to a Newly Married Gentleman to Send to His Lady, by Him Conquered at the Sword’s Point

The falcon claps his wings at break of day,
For noble usance, ay, and lustihead ;
Frolics for glee and strikes and rends his prey ;
Stoops to his mate and does of her his need.
So now to-you-ward doth desire me lead
Of that all lovers long for joyously ;
Know, Love hath so ordained it in his rede ;
And to this end we twain together be.

Queen of my heart, unquestioned and alway,
Till death consume me, thou shalt be indeed.
Clary, that purgest my chagrins, sweet bay,
That still as champion for my right dost plead,
Reason ordains that I should ne'er be freed
(And therewithal my pleasure doth agree)
From thy sweet service, while the years succeed ;
And to this end we twain together be.

And what is more, when dule doth me essay,
Through Fate that oftime lowers, with all speed
Thy dulcet looks her malice do away,
As wind disperses smoke from hill and mead.
In no-wise, sweetest, do I lose the seed
Sown in thy field, when the fruit likeneth me ;
God wills me delve and fatten it and weed ;
And to this end we twain together be.

Envoi
Princess, I pray, to my discourse give heed :
My heart shall not dissever aye from thee
Nor thine from me, if it aright I read :
And to this end we twain together be.