Dailie of light, very ground of comfort! Then clofin ye, my liv'is ladie dere! Daunyng the daie unto his kinde refort, Je vouldray, but the grete God difpofeth It receve, for God faith withoutin à fable A faithfull herte evir is acceptable. Cautelis whofo ufith gladlie glofeth; To efchewe foche it is right high prudence; Volume XIII. 28 35 42 49 H Quakith my penne, my spirite fuppofeth That in my writing ye find woll offence; Min hert welknith thus fone, anon it riseth, Now hotte, now colde, and eft in grete fervence; And not of malice, therefore beth merciable; A faithfull herte evir is acceptable. L'envoye. 36 Forthe complaint, forthe thou lacking eloquence, Forthe litil lettir, of enditing lame, I have befought my ladie's fapience Thus endeth this ballade. A ballade in commendacion of our Ladie. A Thousande ftories coud I mo reherce How that Cupide the hertis gan fo perce 64 Of his fervauntis, fettyng 'hem in fere. 7 Wherfore now plainly I woll my ftile dreffe My penne enfpire of that I woll endite. Alas! unworthie I am and unable To love foche one, all women furmountyng, O ftere of fterris, with thy ftremis clere, O rightfull rule! o bote of holineffe! And cleneft conduct of vertue mofte foverain! 14 2L 28 Chambir and clofit cleneft of chaftitie, And namid herbrough of the deitie! 35 42 O clofit, gardin, voide of wedis wicke, Criftallin welle, of clereneffe clere configned, Fructified olive of foiles faire and thicke, And redo'lent cedre moft dere worthy digned! Remember on finnirs that to the be' affined Or wickid fendis ther wrathe on 'hem wreche; Lanterne of light! thou art ther livis leche. Paradife of plefaunce, gladfome to all gode, O benigne braunchilet of the pine tre, Vinarie' envermailed, refreshir of bode, Licour ayen langour that palled maie not be, Blisful blomic blofme, bidyng in bounte! Thy mantell of mercie on our miferie fprede, And er we' awaie wrappe us undir thy wede. O rodie rofier, flouring without spine," Fountain filthleffe, as birill currant clere! Sum drop of gracefull dewe to us propine; Light without nebule fhinyng in thy sphere, Medecine to mifcheves, pucell without pere! Plan be doun the full light of thin influence, Remembring thy fervantes for thy magnificence. 56. Of all Chriftin protectrice and tutele, Retourne of exiled put in the profcripcion, To 'hem that erren in the' pathe of ther fequele, To werie forwandrid tent and pavilion, To faint and to freshe the paufacion, 49 To unreflie bothe reft and remedie, Frp full to all tho that in her affiet 63 To 'hem that rennin thon art itinerarie, 70 O mirthe of martyrs! fwetir than fitole, Of confeffours alfo riche donatife, Unto virgines eternall lauriole, 'Fore all woman havyng prerogatife, Mothir and maide, bothe widowe and eke wife! Of all the worlde is none but thou alone, Now fith thou maie be fuccour to my mone. O rubie! rubified in the paffion That fewe feris any time might thou finde, What was 'it but love that made the so endure? 77 84 |