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 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 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 And bien assented. that' I shalbe slayne (9) [The Bill of Complaint.] (Tern I. 1) ¶ Humblesse of hert. highest of reuerence And nat' alonly . for his evil fare 54 57 The compleynt in the bitt 61 And hath deprived yow. now of your place 71 (11) (I. 3) ¶ For kyndely bi youre . heritage and right' 72 And certes. if ye want in this wey 78 14 THE COMPLEYNTE TO PITE. PHILLIPPS MS. 9053. (12) (Tern II. I) ¶ Eke what' availith. maner or gentillesse 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 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 (17) (III. 3) ¶ This is to sey. I wil be youres euere 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 120 [The Balade of Pite printed in the Appendix, p. runs on here, as if it were part of this Compleynte.] 42-6, |