The Lover.
Ah! lady, God preserve, I pray,10530
Your life, but prithee suffer me
To wend towards that high fort I see
Yonder, which Jealousy hath reared
For purpose that my heart hath seared.
Richesse.
The woning of Richesse
Not yet, O vassal, to that spot
May you approach, I know you not;
Those only by this path can go
Who know me, and I please to know.
As stranger you must ten years wait
Ere, as my friend, you pass this gate;10540
Although from Paris straight one came
Or Amiens, ’twere to me the same.
My friends may freely enter here
To dance and sing throughout the year,
And live a joyous life and free,
Whereof no sage need envious be,
Nought passeth here but frolic play
Wherewith to wile the time away,
Light dances set to gleesome tunes,
On viols, tambours, and bassoons,10550
Sweet songs that savour amorousness,
And games of tables, dice and chess,
And many another for delight
Of merry hearts. And there are dight
Delicious meats that never cloy,
And soft amours fulfilled of joy,
There loving swains with ladies sweet,
By schemes of skilled duennas meet,
