GEOFFREY CHAUCER

//. Balade

LJYD, Absolon, thy gilte tresses clere;

• * Ester, ley thou thy meknesse al a-doun;

Hyd, Jonathas, al thy frendly manere; Penalopee, and Marcia Catoun, Mak of your wyfhod no comparisoun ; Hyde ye your beautes, Isoude and Eleyne ; My lady cometh, that al this may disteyne.

Thy faire body, lat hit nat appere,

Lavyne ; and thou, Lucresse of Rome toun,

And Polixene, that boghten love so dere,

And Cleopatre, with al thy passioun,

Hyde ye your trouthe of love and your renoun ;

And thou, Tisbe, that hast of love swich peyne;

My lady cometh, that al this may disteyne.

Herro, Dido, Laudomia, alle y-fere,

And Phyllis, hanging for thy Demophoun,

And Canace, espyed by thy chere,

Ysiphile, betraysed with Jasoun,

Maketh of your trouthe neyther boost ne soun;

Nor Ypermistre or Adriane, ye tweyne ;

My lady cometh, that al this may distevne.

��12. ^ferciles Beaute

A TRIPLE ROUNDEL

I. CAPTIVITY

VOUR eyen two wol slee me sodenly,

• I may the beaute of hem not sustene,

So woundeth hit through-out my herte kene.

//. disteyne] bedim. y-fere] together.

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