De Clerico et Puella

'My deþ y loue my lyf ich hate for a leuedy shene,
Heo is brith so daies liht, þat is on me wel sene;
Al y falewe so doþ þe lef in somer when hit is grene.
3ef mi þoht helpeþ me noht, to wham shal y me meine?

Sorewe ant syke ant drery mod byndeþ me so faste
þat y wene to walke wod 3ef hit me lengore laste;
My serewe my care, al wiþ a word he myhte awey caste.
Whet helpeþ þe my suete lemmon, my lyf þus forte gaste?'

'Do wey, þou clerc þou art a fol wiþ þe bydde y noht chyde;
Shalt þou neuer lyue þat day mi loue þat þou shalt byde.
3ef þou in my boure art take, shame þe may bityde;
þe is bettere on fote gon þen wycked hors to ryde.

'Weylawei! Whi seist þou so? þou rewe on me þy man!
þou art euer in my þoht in londe wher ich am.
3ef y dee for þi loue, hit is þe mykel sham;
þou lete me lyue ant be þi luef ant þou my suete lemman.'

'Be stille, þou fol, y calle þe riþt; cost þou neuer blynne ?
þou art wayted day ant nyht wiþ fader ant al my kynne.
Be þou in mi bour ytake, lete þey for no synne
Me to holde ant þe to slon, þe deþ so þou maht wynne !'

'Suete ledy, þou wend þi mod, sorewe þou wolt me kyþe.
Ich am al so sory mon so ich was whylen blyþe.
In a wyndou þer we stod we custe vs fyfty syþe;
Feir biheste makeþ mony mon al is serewes mythe.'

'Weylawey! Whi seist þou so?Mi serewe þou makest newe.
Y louede a clerk al paramours, of loue he wes ful trewe;
He nes nout blyþe neuer a day bote he me sone se3e;
Ich louede him betere þen my lyf, whet bote is hit to le3e ?'

Whil y wes a clerc in scole, wel muchel y couþe of lore;
Ych haue þoled for þy loue woundes fele sore,
Fer from hom ant eke from men vnder þe wode gore.
Sete ledy, þou rewe of me; nou may y no more !'

'þou semest wel to ben a clerc, for þou spekest so stille;
Shalt þou neuer for mi loue woundes þole grylle;
Fader moder ant al my kun ne shal me holde so stille
þat y nam þyn ant þou art myn, to don al þi wille.'
(Vv. 1-36)

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The Owl and the Nightingale

Ich was in one sumere dale;
In one suþe di3ele hale
Iherde ich holde grete tale
An Hule and one Ni3tingale.
Þat plait was stif & starc & strong,
Sum wile soft & lud among.
An aiþer a3en oþer sval
& let þat vvole mod ut al;
& eiþer seide of oþeres custe
Þat alre worste þat hi wuste.
& hure & hure of oþeres songe
Hi holde plaiding suþe stronge.
(Vv. 1-12)

Wynnere and Wastoure

I hatt Wynnere, a wy that alle this werlde helpis
For I lordes cane lere thurgh ledyng of witt.
Thoo at spedfully will spare and spende not to grete,
Lyve appon littill-whattes I lufe hym the bettir.
Witt wiendes me with and wysses me faire,
Aye when gadir my gudes than glades myn hert
Bot this felle false thefe at byfore owe standes
Thynkes to strike or he styntt and stroye me for euer
Alle at I wynn thurgh witt he wastes thurgh pryde.
(Vv. 222-229)