:

Thay were the coloure ay and ever shalle,
In signe thay were and ever wille be true
Withouten chaunge and soothly yonder alle
That beǹ in blak, and mornyng cry and calle
Unto the goddes, for there loves bene
Som ferre, som dede, som all to-sherpe and

kene."

251

"Ye than," quod I, "what done thise prestes

here,

Nonnes and hermytes, freres, and alle thoo
That sit in white, in russet, and in grene?"
"Forsoth," quod she, "thay waylen of there
Woo."

66 O mercy lord! may thay so come and goo
Frely to court and have suche libertie?"

66

261

Ye, men of eche condicion and degree,
"And women eke: for truly there is none
Excepcion made, ne never was ne may :
This courte is ope and fre for everychone,
The Kyng of Love he wille nat say hem nay:
He takith all, in poore or riche arraye,

That mekely sewe unto his excellence
With all there harte and all there reverence."
And, walkyng thus aboute with Philobone,
I se where come a messengere in hie

Streight from the kyng, which let commaunde,

anon,

Throughoute the courte to make an ho and

crye:

270

"Alle newe-come folke abide! and wote ye

whye?

"ISTOPE IN YERES."

The kynges luste is for seen youe sone;

487

Come nere, let se! his wille mote nede be

done."

Than gan I me presente tofore the kyng, Tremelyng for fere, with visage pale of hewe, And many a lover with me was knelyng, Abasshed sore, till unto the tyme thay knewe The sentence gove of his entent full trewe : And at the laste the kyng hath me beholde With sterne visage, and seid, "Whate doth this olde,

280

"Thus ferre istope 1 in yeres, come so late Unto the courte ?" "Forsoth, my liege," quod I,

"An hundred tyme I have ben at the gate
Afore this time, yet coude I never espye
Of myne acqueyntaunce eny with myne ye;
And shamefastnes away me gane to chace;
But nowe I me submytte unto your grace."

"Well! all is perdoned, with condicion That thowe be trewe from hensforth to thy myght,

290

And serven Love in thyne entencion :
Swere this, and thanne, as fer as it is right,
Thowe shalte have grace here in my quenes

sight."

"Yis, by the feith I owe youre crowne, I swere, Though Deth therfore me thirlith 2 with his spere."

Advanced. Cf. Canterbury Tales, 11. 8433, 13,850. 2 Pierceth.

And whan the kyng had sene us everychone, He let commaunde an officer in hie

To take oure feith,1 and shewe us, one by one, The statutis of the courte full besyly:

299

Anon the boke was leide before her ye,
To rede and se whate thyng we most observe
In Loves Courte, till that we dye and sterve.

And for that I was lettred, there I redde
The statutis hole of Loves Courte and halle:
The first statute that on the boke was spred
Was, To be true in thought and dedes alle
Unto the Kyng of Love, the lord ryalle ;
And to the Quene, as feithfull and as kynde,
As I coude thynke with harte, and wille, and
mynde.

The secunde statute, Secretely to kepe Councell of love, nat blowyng every where 310 All that I knowe, and let it synk and flete; 2 It may not sowne in every wightes ere: Exilyng slaunder ay for dred and fere, And to my lady, which I love and serve, Be true and kynde, her grace for to deserve.

The thridde statute was clerely write also, Withouten chaunge to lyve and dye the same, None other love to take, for wele ne woo, For blynde delite, for ernest nor for game: Withoute repent for laughyng or for grame, To biden still in full perseveraunce : Al this was hole the kynges ordynaunce.

1 Receive our allegiance. 2 Float. 3 Sorrow.

321

LOVE'S STATUTES.

1

489

The fourth statute, To purchace ever to

here,2

8

And stiren folke to love, and beten 3 fire
On Venus awter, here aboute and there,
And preche to them of love and hote desire,
And telle howe love will quyten wel there hire:
This muste be kepte; and loth me to displease:
If love be wroth, passe; for thereby is an ease.

4

The fifth statute, Not to be daungerous, 33c
Yf that a thought wold reyve me of my slepe:
Nor of a sight be over squymouse;"
And so veryeuly this statute was to kepe,
To turne and walowe in my bed and wepe,
When that my lady, of her crueltie,
Wold from her harte exilyn all pyte.
The sixte statute, it was for me to use
Alone to wander, voyde of company,
And on my ladys bewtie for to muse,
And to thinke no force to lyve or dye;
And eft agayn to thynke the remedy,
Howe to her grace I myght anon attayne,
And telle my woo unto my souverayne.

The seventh statute was, To be pacient,
Whether my lady joyfull were or wroth;
For wordes glad or hevy, dilygent,
Wheder that she me helden lefe or loth:
And hereupon I put was to myn othe,
Hir for to serve, and lowly to obey,

6

340

And shewing my chere, ye, twenty sith aday.

1 Obtain (proselytes). 2 Her. 8 Keep up. Angry. Long

- 18.

6 Times.

And whan the kyng had s He let commaunde an office To take oure feith,1 and she The statutis of the courte ful Anon the boke was leide bef To rede and se whate thyng In Loves Courte, till that we

And for that I was lettred, The statutis hole of Loves Cc The first statute that on the b Was, To be true in thought a Unto the Kyng of Love, the l And to the Quene, as feithfull As I coude thynke with hart mynde.

The secunde statute, Secrete Councell of love, nat blowyng All that I knowe, and let it syn It may not sowne in every wigh Exilyng slaunder ay for dred an And to my lady, which I love ar Be true and kynde, her grace for

The thridde statute was clerel Withouten chaunge to lyve and c None other love to take, for wele For blynde delite, for ernest nor i Withoute repent for laughyng or f To biden still in full perseveraunc Al this was hole the kynges ordyn

1 Receive our allegiance. 2 Float. 3 S