"WYNDOWES ALL OF GLASSE." 485 Where Venus sat, and Cupide by her side, Seyng full sundry peple in the place, 1 And myster folke, and som that myght not welde 2 There lymmes wele, me thought a wounder case; The temple shone with wyndowes all of glasse, To Arcite fals; and there was in peyntyng walles ; And howe that feale for love hadde suffred falles. But sore I was abasshed and stonyed 239 4 Of all thoo folke that there were in that tide ;' And than I askede where thay hade woned: "In dyvers courtes," quod she, "here beside." In sondry clothing, mantil-wise full wide, They were arrayed, and did there sacrifice Unto the god and goddesse in there guyse. "Lo! yonder folk," quoth she," that knele in blewe, Thay were the coloure ay and ever shalle, 251 Som ferre, som dede, som all to-sherpe and 66 kene." 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." "O mercy lord! may thay so come and goo Frely to court and have suche libertie?" "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, 261 That mekely sewe unto his excellence 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 1 280 olde, "Thus ferre istope 1 in yeres, come so late Unto the courte ?" 66 Forsoth, my liege," quod I, "An hundred tyme I have ben at the gate "Well! all is perdoned, with condicion That thowe be trewe from hensforth to thy myght, 290 And serven Love in thyne entencion : sight." "Yis, by the feith I owe youre crowne, Though Deth therfore me thirlith spere." Advanced. Cf. Canterbury Tales, ll. 8433, 13,850. I swere, with his • Pierceth. And whan the kyng had sene us everychone, He let commaunde an officer in hie To take oure feith,' and shewe us, one by one, The statutis of the courte full besyly: 299 Anon the boke was leide before her ye, 2 The secunde statute, Secretely to kepe Councell of love, nat blowyng every where 310 All that I knowe, and let it synk and flete;' 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. Receive our allegiance. 2 Float. 3 Sorrow. 321 LOVE'S STATUTES. 48 The fourth statute, To purchace1 ever to here,2 8 And stiren folke to love, and beten 3 fire The fifth statute, Not to be daungerous, 330° Yf that a thought wold reyve me of my slepe : Nor of a sight be over squymouse ;5 And so veryeuly this statute was to kepe, The seventh statute was, To be pacient, 340 And shewing my chere, ye, twenty sith aday. 1 Obtain (proselytes). 2 Her. 3 Keep up. • Angry • Times 3 Long |