I am true love that false was never;
My sister, man's soul, I loved her thus.
Because we would in no wise dissever
I left my kingdom glorious.

I purveyed her a palace full precious;
She fled, I followed, I loved her so
That I suffered this pain piteous
Quia amore langueo.

My fair love and my spouse bright!

I saved her from beating, and she hath me bet;
I clothed her in grace and heavenly light;

This bloody shirt she hath on me set;
For longing of love yet would I not let;
Sweete strokes are these: lo!

I have loved her ever as I her het

Quia amore langueo.

I crowned her with bliss and she me with thorn;

I led her to chamber and she me to die;

I brought her to worship and she me to scorn;

I did her reverence and she me villany.

To love that loveth is no maistry;

Her hate made never my love her foe:
Ask me then no question why-

Quia amore langueo.

Look unto mine handes, man!

These gloves were given me when I her sought;
They be not white, but red and wan;

Embroidered with blood my spouse them brought.

het] promised.

They will not off; I loose hem nought;
I woo her with hem wherever she go.
These hands for her so friendly fought
Quia amore langueo.

Marvel not, man, though I sit still.
See, love hath shod me wonder strait:
Buckled my feet, as was her will,

With sharpe nails (well thou may'st wait!).
In my love was never desait;

All my membres I have opened her to;
My body I made her herte's bait
Quia amore langueo.

In my side I have made her nest;
Look in, how weet a wound is here!
This is her chamber, here shall she rest,
That she and I may sleep in fere.
Here may she wash, if any filth were;
Here is seat for all her woe;

Come when she will, she shall have cheer
Quia amore langueo.

I will abide till she be ready,

I will her sue if she say nay;

If she be retchless I will be greedy,
If she be dangerous I will her pray;
If she weep, then bide I ne may:
Mine arms ben spread to clip her me to.
Cry once, I come: now, soul, assay
Quia amore langueo.

Fair love, let us go play:

Apples ben ripe in my gardayne.

bait] resting-place.

weet] wet.

in fere] together.

I shall thee clothe in a new array,
Thy meat shall be milk, honey and wine.
Fair love, let us go dine:

Thy sustenance is in my crippe, lo!
Tarry thou not, my fair spouse mine,
Quia amore langueo.

If thou be foul, I shall thee make clean;
If thou be sick, I shall thee heal;

If thou mourn ought, I shall thee mene;
Why wilt thou not, fair love, with me deal?
Foundest thou ever love so leal?

What wilt thou, soul, that I shall do?

What shall I do now with my spouse
But abide her of my gentleness,
Till that she look out of her house
Of fleshly affection? love mine she is;
Her bed is made, her bolster is bliss,

Her chamber is chosen; is there none mo.
Look out on me at the window of kindeness
Quia amore langueo.

My love is in her chamber: hold your peace!
Make ye no noise, but let her sleep.
My babe I would not were in disease,
I may not hear my dear child weep.
With my pap I shall her keep;

Ne marvel ye not though I tend her to:
This wound in my side had ne'er be so deep
But Quia amore langueo.

25.

He.

Long thou for love never so high,
My love is more than thine may be.
Thou weepest, thou gladdest, I sit thee by:
Yet wouldst thou once, love, look unto me!
Should I always feede thee

With children meat? Nay, love, not so!
I will prove thy love with adversitè
Quia amere langueo.

Wax not weary, mine own wife!
What mede is aye to live in comfort?
In tribulation I reign more rife

Ofter times than in disport.

In weal and in woe I am aye to support:
Mine own wife, go not me fro!

Thy mede is marked, when thou art mort:
Quia amore langueo.

The Nut-Brown Maid

15th Cent.

BE it right or wrong, these men among
On women do complain;

Affirming this, how that it is

A labour spent in vain

To love them wele; for never a dele

They love a man again:

For let a man do what he can

Their favour to attain,

Yet if a new to them pursue,

Their first true lover than

Laboureth for naught; for from her thought
He is a banished man.

35. never a dele] never a bit.

than] then.

She. I say not nay, but that all day
It is both written and said

That woman's faith is, as who saith,
All utterly decayd:

But nevertheless, right good witness
In this case might be laid
That they love true and continue:
Record the Nut-brown Maid,
Which, when her love came her to prove,
To her to make his moan,

Would not depart; for in her heart
She loved but him alone.

He. Then between us let us discuss

What was all the manere

Between them two:

Tell all the pain
That she was in.

we will also

in fere

Now I begin,

So that ye me answere:
Wherefore all ye that present be,

I pray you, give an ear.

I am the Knight. I come by night,
As secret as I can,

Saying, Alas! thus standeth the case,
I am a banished man.

She. And I your will for to fulfil
In this will not refuse;

Trusting to show, in wordes few,
That men have an ill use-

To their own shame-women to blame.
And causeless them accuse.

in fere] in company together.