Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1900.djvu/29

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ANONYMOUS

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

Icham for wowyng al for-wake,[6]
Wery so water in wore;[7]
Lest eny reve me my make[8]
Ichabbe y-yerned yore.[9]
Betere is tholien whyle sore[10]
Then mournen evermore.
Geynest under gore,[11]
Herkne to my roun[12]
An hendy hap, etc.

3.
Spring-tide

c.1300

LENTEN ys come with love to toune,[13]
With blosmen ant with briddes roune,
That al this blisse bryngeth;
Dayes-eyes in this dales,
Notes suete of nyhtegales,
Vch foul song singeth;

  1. levedi] lady.
  2. y-lent me on] arrived to 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 been distressed.
  10. tholien] to endure.
  11. geynest under gore] comeliest under woman's apparel.
  12. roun] tale, lay.
  13. to toune] in its turn.
3