"Myn owne dere love, I see the prove that ye be kynde and trewe;

Of mayde and wyfe, in all my lyf, the best that ever I knewe!

Be mery and glad, be no more sad, the case is chaungèd newe;

For it were ruthe that for your trouth you shuld have cause to rewe. 160

Be not dismayed, whatsoever I sayd, to you whan I began,

I wyl not too the grenewode goo, I am noo banysshyd man."

"Theis tidingis be more glad to me than to be

IV. LOVE SONGS
I

Lully, lulley, lulley, lulley!

The fawcon hath born my make 1 away! He bare hym up, he bare hym down, He bare hym into an orchard brown. Lully, lulley, etc.

Yn that orchard there was an halle
That was hangid with purpill and pall.
Lully, lulley, etc.

And in that hall there was a bede,
Hit was hangid with gold so rede.
Lully, lulley, etc.

And yn that bed there lythe a knyght,
His wowndis bledyng day and nyght.
Lully, lulley, etc.

By that bedis side kneleth a may,

And she wepeth both night and day.
Lully, lulley, etc.

3

12

15

And by that beddis side there stondith a

ston,

Corpus Christi wretyn thereon.

Lully, lulley, etc.

II

The lytyll, prety nyghtyngale,
Among the levys grene,

I wold I were with her all nyght!
But yet ye wote 2 not whome I mene!
The nyghtyngale sat one a brere
Among the thornys sherp and keyn
And comfort me wyth mery cher.

But yet ye wot not whome I mene!

She dyd aper3 all on 4 hur keynde 5
A lady ryght wel be-seyne,
Wyth wordys of loff tolde me hur mynde.
But yet ye wot not whome I mene.

Hyt dyd me goode upon hur to loke,
Hur corse was closyd all in grene;
Away fro me hur herte she toke,

But yete ye wot not whome I mene.

"Lady!" I cryed, wyth rufull mone, "Have mynd of me, that true hath bene! For I loved none but you alone." But yet ye wot not whome I mene.

18

10

20

1 mate, sweetheart 2 know appear 4 in nature