VII

Thenne demed I to þat damyselle,
Ne worþe no wrath þe vnto my lorde,
If rapely raue spornande in spelle.
My herte watȝ al with mysse remorde,
As wallande water gotȝ out of welle;
I do me ay in hys myserecorde.
Rebuke me neuer with wordeȝ felle,
Þaȝ I forloyne my dere endorde,
Bot lyþeȝ me kyndely your coumforde,
Pytosly þenkande vpon þysse;
Of care & me ȝe made acorde,
Þat er watȝ grounde of alle my blysse;

My blysse, my bale ȝe han ben boþe,
Bot much þe bygger ȝet watȝ my mon,
Fro þou watȝ wroken fro vch a woþe.
I wyste neuer quere my perle watȝ gon;
Now I hit se, now leþeȝ my loþe,
& quen we departed we wern at on,
God forbede we be now wroþe,
We meten so selden by stok oþer ston;
Þaȝ cortaysly ȝe carp con,
I am bot mol & marereȝ mysse,
Bot crystes mersy & mary & Ion,
Þise arn þe grounde of alle my blysse.

In blysse I se þe blyþely blent
& I a man al mornyf mate,
Ȝe take þer-on ful lyttel tente,
Þaȝ I hente ofte harmeȝ hate.
Bot now I am here in your presente,
I wolde bysech wythouten debate,
Ȝe wolde me say in sobre asente,
What lyf ȝe lede, erly & late,
For I am ful fayn þat your astate
Is worþen to worschyp & wele I wysse,
Of alle my Ioy þe hyȝe gate
Hit is in grounde of alle my blysse.”

“Now blysse burne mot þe bytyde;”
Þen sayde þat lufsoum of lyth & lere,
“& welcum here to walk & byde,
For now þy speche is to me dere;
Maysterful mod & hyȝe pryde
I hete þe arn heterly hated here;
My lorde ne loueȝ not forto chyde,
For meke arn alle þat woneȝ hym nere,
& when in hys place þou schal apere,
Be dep deuote in hol mekenesse;
My lorde þe lamb, loueȝ ay such chere,
Þat is þe grounde of alle my blysse.

A blysful lyf þou says I lede,
Þou woldeȝ knaw þer-of þe stage;
Þow wost wel when þy perle con schede,
I watȝ ful ȝong & tender of age,
Bot my lorde þe lombe, þurȝ hys god-hede,
He toke my self to hys maryage,
Corounde me quene in blysse to brede,
In lenghe of dayeȝ þat euer schal wage,
& sesed in alle hys herytage
Hys lef is, I am holy hysse;
Hys prese, hys prys & hys parage,
Is rote & grounde of alle my blysse.”