Ther was ner trefour' of terreftial richeffe, Wherfore, True Love, ye have my hert I wis, 154 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. 1 Or ther nature they gretly them delite, 161 More for reliquis than for faintis bones, Whan maidens ar wedded and houfhold have take Al ther humility' is exiled awaye, And the' cruil hertes beginnith to awake, Of this matir I dare make no relation, In defaute of flepe my fpirites wex fainte, 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, Explicit. 14 21 28 The X. Commaundementes of Love. CERTIS ferre extendith yet my refon 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, Entencion. In the feconde to trete of entencion, Your lovir to plese doe bufie cure, your For as myn author Romance maketh mencion, 7 14 21 Without entent your love mai not endure, To plefe hym onely that ther love hath fought. 28 In your delyng evir ybe discrete, Set not your love there as it fhall be losed, Pacience. 35 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, Thus you your felf your Make privy to your delyng few' as ye maie, 42 counfaill maie defcrie; 49. For iii, may kepe a counfel if twain be arvaie. Prudence. Let prudence governe aye your bridil reine; If that your lovirs lift you to dispise; As entirely as ere you can devife, Love hym onely and refuse allè newe, Then shall not your worship ychaunge his hew, Pitie. Be piteous to hym, as womanhod requireth, Mesure. 56 Take mefure in your talkyng, be n'ot outrage, For this reherfith Romance de la Rose, A man endued with plenteous langage 63 70 |