What that these knightes be in rich armour, And what tho be in grene and weare the flour? "And why that some dide reverence to the tre, And some unto the plot of floures faire?" "With right good will, my fair doghter," quod she, "Sith your desire is good and debonaire ; 500 And those certaine be called the Nine Worthy,' As ye may in your olde bookes rede; 510 And how that he that was a conquerour Of the precious laurer so notable, 520 2 Boughs 4 Th 1 Three Jews, three pagans, and three Christians. The twelve Paladins (Fr. douze pairs) of Charlemagne. order of Knights of the Garter was instituted by Edward 1!I. "IT IS FLORA." 551 Is for by it they have their laud wholly, "And as for her that crowned is in greene, But for to hunt and hauke, and pley in medes, And many other such idle dedes. "And for the greate delite and pleasaunce They have to the floure, and so reverently 541 They unto it do such grete obeisaunce As ye may se." "Now, faire madame," quod I, "If I durst aske what is the cause and why, That knightes have the signe of honour, Wel rather by the leafe than by the flour?" "Soothly, doughter," quod she, "this is the trouth: 1 The reference seems to be to Julius Cæsar, to whom the senate lecreed the right to wear a laurel crown. Suetonius recorris that Cæsar prized the honor, as it afforded him a means of concealing his aldness. For knightes ever shoulde be persevering, 1 550 Whose lusty green may not appaired 1 be, "But aie keping their beautie fresh and greene; For there nis storme that ne may hem de face, Ne haile nor snow, ne winde nor frostes kene; They be, that they no greevance may endure; "And every storme will blowe them soone awaye, Ne laste they not but for oon season; That is the cause, the very trouth to saye, 561 "Madame," quod I, "with all mine whole servise I thanke you now, in my most humble wise; "For now I am acertained throughly, Of every thing I desired to knowe." 'I am right glad that I have said, sothly, 570 Ought to your pleasure, if ye wille me trowe," Quod she agen, "but to whom do ye owe 1 Impaired. "MALEBOUCHE." Your service? and which wolle ye honoure, 553 Tel me I pray, this yere, the Leafe or the Floure?" "Madame," quod I, "though I be least worthy, Unto the Leafe I owe mine observaunce." And pray I God to honour you avaunce, And alle that good and well conditioned be. "For here may I no lenger now abide, 580 I muste followe the greate company How darst thow put thy self in prees," for drede? It is wonder that thow wexest not rede, Sith that thow wost ful lite who shall beholde Thy rude langage ful boistously unfolde. 1 Evil-mouth. The crowd. THE CUCKOW AND THE NIGHTINGALE, OR THE BOKE OF CUPIDE, GOD OF LOVE. THE god of Love, ah! benedicite,1 And he can make, within a lytel stounde, 10 To telle his myght my wit may not suffice, For he can make of wise folke ful nyse," For he may do al that he can devyse, And in lithere folke dystroye vise, And proude hertys he can make agryse.* Shortely, al that evere he wol he may, Agenst him ther dar no wight seye nay; For he can glade and greve whom him lyke," And whom that he wol, don hym laughe or sike, And most his myght he sheweth ever in May. For every trewe gentil herte and fre, 21 1 The first two lines, says Mr. Skeat, are all that connect this poen with Chaucer. They are from the Canterbury Tales (ll. 1785, 1786) The style is nearer that of Chaucer than is that of any of the other attributed poems, and some lines seem to connect it with the Parle ment of Foules. Ignorant. Evil. Terrified. Pleaseth. |