12

THE COMPLEYNTE TO PITE. PHILLIPPS MS. 9053.

(4)

Thus am I slayne. sith that pite is ded Allas the day. that' euer it' shuld befalle

What' maner man. dar now heve vp his hede

To whom shal. my sorowful hert' cal
Now cruelte hath cast'. to slen vs al

In Idel hope we live. redles of peyne

Sith she is ded. to whom shul we compleyne

(5)

¶ Thus am I slayn. sith that' pite is ded truly1
But yet' encresith me. this wonder nuwe
That no wight' wot' hir ded. but only I
So many a man. that' in hir tyme hir knewe
And yit she dyed nat. al so sodainly

For I have sought hir. ful busily

Sith first I had wit. of mannes mynde

But she was dede. or that I cowde hir fynde

(6

¶ Abowte hir hers. stooden there boistously Without makyng dole. as thought me

37

Fo[r] to have putte. to pite as a biłł

But whan I al this. company ther fond

That' rather wolden. al my cause spiłł

47

Than do me help. I hield my compleynt stil

For to the folkes. without any faile

Withouten pite. ne may no bil availe

50

13

THE COMPLEYNTE TO PITE. PHILLIPPS MS. 9053.

(8)

¶ Than leve I al these vertues sauf pite

51

Kepyng the hers. as ye have herd me seyne
Confidred al. by band of cruelte

And bien assented. that' I shalbe slayne
So thanne I put. my compleynt vp ageyne
For to my foomen. my bil I durst' nat' shewe
Theffect of the mater. was this at wordes fewe

(9) [The Bill of Complaint.] (Tern I. 1)

¶ Humblesse of hert. highest of reuerence
Benyngne floure. corowne of vertues al
Shewith vnto youre. souerayn excellence
Youre seruaunt yif I durst'. my self' so cal
His mortal harme. whiche he is in fal

And nat' alonly . for his evil fare

54

57

The compleynt in the bitt

61

And hath deprived yow. now of your place
That hight beaute. aportenaunt' to grace

71

(11) (I. 3)

¶ For kyndely bi youre . heritage and right'

72

And certes. if ye want in this wey
The world is lorn. ther is no more to scy

78

14

THE COMPLEYNTE TO PITE. PHILLIPPS MS. 9053.

(12) (Tern II. I)

¶ Eke what' availith. maner or gentillesse
With yow benygne. and faire creature
Shal cruelte be now. oure gouerneresse
Allas. what' hert'. shal may that' endure
Wherfor but ye. the rather taken cure

To breke of thoo persones alliaunce

Ye slen theym. that bien of your obeisaunce

85

(13) (II. 2)

And further ouer. if ye suffren this

86

Youre renoun) is fredom. that' with a throwe

Ther shal no wight' wete. what' peyne is

Alas that youre renoune . shuld be so lowe

89

Ye bien than. from your heritage I-throwe

By cruelte. that' occupieth your place

And we dispaired, that' sechen to youre grace

92

(14) (II. 3)

Have mercy on me. ye vertuous qwene

93

That' yow have sought. so trewly. and so yoore

Lete the streame of youre light'. on me be sene

That lovith and dredith yow. ay lengger the more

96

The soth for to sey. I bere the hevy peyne

And though I be nat' konnyng. for to pleyne

For goddis love. have mercy on my peyne

99

(15) (Tern III. 1)

¶ My peyne is this. that what' so I desire

100

That have I nought'. ne nought that lith therto

And euer settith desire. myn hert' on fyre

Eke on that other side. where so I go

103

What' maner thyng. that' may encrese my wo
That have I redy. vnsought' euery where

Me lakkith but my deth. and than my bere

106

THE COMPLEYNTE TO PITE.

PHILLIPPS MS. 9053.

15

(16) (III. 2)

¶ What' nedith it. shewe parcels of my peyne
Sith euery woo. that hert' may bethynk
I souffre and yit. I dar nat' to yow pleyne
For wele I wote. although I wake or wynke
Ye recchen nat'. whether I fleete or synk
Yit' neuertheles. my trowth I shal sustene
Vn-to my detḥ. and that' shal wele be sene

(17) (III. 3)

¶ This is to sey. I wil be youres euere
Though ye me slee. bi cruelte as a foo
Algates my spirit'. shal neuer disseuer
From your seruice. for any peyne or woo

107

[p. 95]

110

113

114

117

Now pite that I haue sought so yore agoo

Thus for yowre deth. I may wele wepe and pleyne
With hert' sore. al ful of besy peyne

120

[The Balade of Pite printed in the Appendix, p. runs on here, as if it were part of this Compleynte.]

42-6,