Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/35

ANONYMOUS

Levedi,^[1] al for thine sake
    Longinge is y-lent me on.^[2]
In world nis non so wyter mon^[3]
That al hire bounté telle con;
Hire swyre^[4] is whittore than the swon,
    And feyrest may^[5] in toune.
An hendy hap, etc.

Ich am for wowyng al for-wake,^[6]
    Wery so water in wore;^[7]
Lest eny reve^[8] me my make
    Ichabbe y-yerned^[9] yore.
Betere is tholien whyle sore
Then mournen evermore.
Geynest under gore,^[10]
    Herkne to my roun.^[11]
An hendy hap, etc.

c. 1300

LENTEN ys come with love to toune,^[12]
With blosmen and with briddes roune,
    That al this blisse bryngeth;
Dayes-eyes in this dales,
Notes suete of nyhtegales,
    Uch foul song singeth;

 

1. levedi] lady.
2. y-lent me on] come upon me.
3. so wyter mon] so wise a man.
4. swyre] neck.
5. may] maid.
6. for-wake] worn out with vigils.
7. so water in wore] as water in a weir.
8. reve] rob.
9. y-yerned yore] long desired.
10. geynest under gore] comeliest under robe.
11. roun] voice.
12. toune] the dwellings of men.