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Ther was ner trefour' of terreftial richeffe,
Nor precious stones rekened innumerabell,
To be of comparison to your high godenes,
Above al cretures to' me most amiable;
Truft not the contrary', I was ner difcevabell;
Kepe wel true love, forge no diffembèlaunce,
And graciously take me to' your remembraunce. 147
Me femeth by feiture of manly properte
Ye fhuld be trufty' and trewe of comprimis,
I finde in you no falfe duplicite,

Wherfore, True Love, ye have my hert I wis,
And ermore shal endure, fo have I blis,
The fede'rafy made with gode avisement,
God graunt grace that nothir of us be shent!

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Whan Phoebus freshe was in his chare splendente, In the moneth of Maye, erly in a morninge, I herd two lovirs profir this argu'mente, In the yere of our Lorde a M. by rekening, CCCXL. and VII. yere folowing, O potent princeffe! conferve true lovirs al, Graunt them thy region and bliffe celeftial.

Explicit The Craft of Lovers.

A balade.

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Or ther nature they gretly them delite,
With holy face yfeinid for the nones,
in faintwarie ther frendis to vifite,

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More for reliquis than for faintis bones,
Though they be clofid undir precious ftones,
To gete them pardon, lyke ther olde usages,
To kiffe no fhrines but lufty quike images.

Whan maidens ar wedded and houfhold have take Al ther humility' is exiled awaye,

And the' cruil hertes beginnith to awake,
They do'al the befy cure they can or maye
To vex ther houfholdes-maistirs, foth to saye,
Wherfore, ye yong men, I rede you forthy
Beware alwaye, The blinde eteth many flye.

Of this matir I dare make no relation,

In defaute of flepe my fpirites wex fainte,
In my studie l'have had long habitacion,
My body' and goft are grevously attaint,
And therfore I make no lengir complaint;
But whethir that the blind ete flesh or fish
I pray God kepe the fly out of my dishe!

Now' I make an ende, and laie me doune to reft,

For I knowe by experience veramente

If maidinis and wivis knewe and wift

Who made the mattir he should fone be fhent,
Wherefore I praie that God omnipotente
Hym fave and kepin bothè night and daie.
Writtin in the luftie fefon of Maie.

Explicit.

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The X. Commaundementes of Love.

CERTIS ferre extendith yet my refon
This matir as it fhould be to difcrive,
But I trufte your grace will in this fefon
Confidir howe with conyng that I strive,
For in his favour coud I ner arrive,
Elo'quence this balade hath in grete difpite,
The makir lackith manir to endite.

Of Love's commaundèmentes x. is the nomber, As aftirward fhall rudely be rehersed, And lovirs, in no wife departe afunder Where as thei be obfervid and redreffed, Daungir and unkindnes yben oppreffed, And he that is commaundid this to make Is your owne, all othir for to forfake.

Faithe.

Faithe is the first and principally to tell,
And verie love requirith foche credence,
That eche beleve othir true as the gospel,
Without adulacion or flatteryng audience,
In true menyng and truftie confidence;
Paint not your connyng with colour ne fable,
For then your love muft nedis be unstable.

Entencion.

In the feconde to trete of entencion,

Your lovir to plese doe bufie cure,

your

For as myn author Romance maketh mencion,

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Without entent your love mai not endure,
As women will thereof, I am right fure,
Endevour with ther hertè, will, and thought,

To plefe hym onely that ther love hath fought. 28
Difcrecion.

In your delyng evir ybe discrete,

Set not your love there as it fhall be losed,
Advertise in your minde whether he be mete,
That unto hym your herte maie be disclosed,
And aftir as you finde hym then difpofed
Poinct by difcrefion your hour, time, and place,
Conveniently metyng with armes to' embrace.

Pacience.

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Of thefe Commaundementes the iiii. is pacience: Though by' irous corage your lovir be meved, With foft wordis and humble obedience: His wrathe maie fone be swagid and releved, And thus his love obteinid and acheved Will in you rote with gretir diligence, Bicaufe of your meke womanly pacience.

Secretneje.

Secretlie behave you in your werkis,

In fhewing countenance or mevyng your eye,
Though foche behavior to fome folk be derke,
He that hath lovid will it fone afpie,

Thus

you your

felf your Make privy to your delyng few' as ye maie,

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counfaill maie defcrie;

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For iii, may kepe a counfel if twain be arvaie.

Prudence.

Let prudence governe aye your bridil reine;
Set not your love in fo fervent a wife
But that in godely haft ye may refreine,

If that your lovirs lift you to dispise;
Romaunce min auctour wold you this advise,
Ty flacke your love, for if ye doe not fo
That wanton lift will tourne you into wo.

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As entirely as ere you can devife,

Love hym onely and refuse allè newe,

Then shall not your worship ychaunge his hew,
For certis, maiftris, then is he to blame
But if that he will quite you with the fame.

Pitie.

Be piteous to hym, as womanhod requireth,
That for your love endurith painis smerte,
Whom fo forely your plefaunt loke enfireth,
That printid is your beautie in his herte,
And woundid lyith without knife or darte;
There let your pitie fpred without reftreinte,
For lacke of it let not your fervaunt feint.

Mesure.

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Take mefure in your talkyng, be n'ot outrage,

For this reherfith Romance de la Rose,

A man endued with plenteous langage

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