Sythen 10 in that spote hit fro me sprange,
Ofte haf I wayted wyschande " that wele,"
That wont wacz whyle 13 devoyde 14 my wrange,
And heven 15
my happe and al my hele;
That docz bot thrych my herte thrange,17
My breste in bale 18 bot bolne and bele.1o

Yet thoght me never so swete a sange
As stylle stounde 20 let to me stele;

16

22 to me fele,2

23

Forsothe ther fleten 21
To thenke hir color so clad in clot!
O moul 24 thou marrez a myry mele,25
My privy perle withouten spot.

II

8

20

50

3

I playned' my perle that ther wacz spenned
Wyth fyrte skyllez that faste faght;*
Thagh kynde of Kryst me comfort kenned,
My wreched wylle in wo ay wraghte."
I felle upon that floury flaght;
Suche odour to my hernez schot,
I slode upon a slepyng-slaghte
On that precios perle withouten spot.

XIV

14

8

12

More mervayle con my dom adaunt;
I segh" by-yonde that myry mere
A crystal clyffe ful relusaunt,13
Mony ryal ray con fro hit rere;
At the fote thereof ther sete a faunt,15
A mayden of menske,16 ful debonere,
Blysnande whyte wacz hyr bleaunt,17.
I knew hyr wel, I hade sen hyr ere.'

18

7

10

160

As glysnande golde that man con schere 19
So schon that schene anunder schore; 20
On lenghe 21
I looked to hyr there,
The lenger, I knew hyr more and more.22

XV

25

28

----

170

The more I frayste 23 hyr fayre face,
Her figure fyn quen I had fonte,24
Suche gladande glory con to me glace
As lyttel byfore therto wacz wonte;
To calle hyr lyste con me enchace,2
Bot baysment 27 gef myn hert a brunt;
I segh hyr in so strange a place,
Such a burre myght make myn herte blunt.20
Thenne verez ho up her fayre frount, 30
Hyr vysayge whyt as playn yvore,31
That stonge myn hert ful stray atount,32
And ever the lenger, the more and more.
2 was taken away 3 timid reasons

1 lamented fought hard though Christ's nature taught me comfort 6 wrought 7 bed of flowers 8 brains 9 I slided into a dream 10 a greater wonder daunted my judgment saw 12 pleasant lake 13 gleaming many a royal gleam arose from it 15 child 16 grace gleaming white was her attire 18 before 19 that one has refined 20 so shone that beautiful one beneath the cliff a long time 22 the longer I looked the more certainly I knew her 23 questioned 24 when I had examined 25 such delight came to me 20 desire to speak to her seized me 27 timidity 28 attack 29 such a surprise might well astound me 30 then she lifts her fair face 31 ivory 32 that struck me into bewilderment

4

27

Here-inne to lenge 29 for-ever and play,

30

252

260

com never ner;

Ther mys nee mornyng
Her were a forser 31 for the, in faye,
If thou were a gentyl jueler.

10

11

33

XXXII

32

300

"My blysse, my bale,30 ye han ben bothe,
Bot much the bygger yet wacz my mon;
Fro thou wacz wroken 31 fro uch a wothe,"
I wyste
never quere my perle wacz gon.
was dear to thee I regard thee as put
affair 4 didst lose
5 nature 6 chest 7 did
proof = turned fate 10 that has clearly made for thee

1

3 small 8 put in

1 set 2 on the opposite side of the water 3 cliff person from hence 5 than I when she was at the bank she was nearer to me 7 on that account was 8 she spoke to me, that rare one " bowing low as women are taught greeted me pleasantly answer 12 lamented 13 alone by night 14 suffered secretly 15 since thou didst slip away from me into the grass 16 weakened 17 worn with grief 18 and thou in a life of delightful pleasure 19 land 20 what fate has brought my jewel hither 21 put me in this grief 22 since we 14 takest away 15 done out of days (destroyed) 16 make were drawn apart and separated feast possessor of 17 dwell 18 beautiful groves 19 with 20 waves jewels 24 beautiful 25 lifted her face 26 27 she 21 jest eyes 23 knowest not once 24 what 25 said 28 distorted 29 remain 30 where lack nor 27 believest 28 den 29 another thing 30 sorrow mourning 31 jewel-box 32 every field 33 knew

23

something of nothing 11 remedy 12 sayings 13 best