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¶ Bytuene Mersh ant Averil
When spray biginneth to springe,
The lutel foul hath hire wyl
On hyre lud to synge.
Ich libbe in love-longinge
For semlokest of alle thynge:
He may me blisse bringe;
Ich am in hire baundoun!
An hendy hap Ichabbe yhent!
Ichot from hevene it is me sent;
From alle wymmen mi love is lent
Ant lyht on Alysoun.
On heu hire her is fayr ynoh,
Hire browe broune, hire eye blake;
With lossum chere he on me loh,
With middel smal ant wel ymake.
Bote he me wolle to hire take
Forte buen hire owen make,
Longe to lyven Ichulle forsake
Ant feye fallen adoun.
An hendy hap Ichabbe yhent!
Ichot from hevene it is me sent;
From alle wymmen mi love is lent
Ant lyht on Alysoun.
Nihtes when Y wende ant wake
(Forthi myn wonges waxeth won),
Levedi, al for thine sake,
Longinge is ylent me on!
In world nis non so wyter mon
That al hire bounte telle con:
Hire swyre is whittore then the swon,
Ant feyrest may in toune.
An hendi hap Ichabbe yhent!
Ichot from hevene it is me sent;
From alle wymmen mi love is lent
Ant lyht on Alysoun.
Ich am for wowyng al forwake,
Wery so water in wore,
Lest eny reve me my make
Ychabbe yyyrned yore.
Betere is tholien whyle sore
Then mournen evermore.
Geynest under gore,
Herkne to my roun!
An hendi hap Ichabbe yhent!
Ichot from hevene it is me sent;
From alle wymmen mi love is lent
Ant lyht on Alysoun.
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¶ Between March and April
When sprig begins to sprout,
The little bird fulfills her desire
To sing in her own words.
I live in love-longing
For the prettiest of all things:
She may bring me to bliss;
I am in her control!
A happy fate have I found!
I know from heaven to me it's sent;
From all women my love has leapt
And lit on Alysoun.
In hue her hair is fair enough,
Her brows brown, her eyes black;
With a lovely face she smiled at me,
With waist small and well made.
Unless she draws me to herself
To be her own companion,
I’ll have to give up living long
And am destined to decline.
A happy fate have I found!
I know from heaven to me it’s sent;
From all women my love has leapt
And lit on Alysoun.
Nightly when I toss and wake
(For which my cheeks grow pale),
Lady, entirely for your sake,
I’m overtaken by longing!
In all the world there’s none so wise
That he may describe all her bounty:
Her neck is whiter than the swan,
And she the fairest girl in town.
A happy fate have I found!
I know from heaven to me it's sent;
From all women my love has leapt
And lit on Alysoun.
I am with wooing all worn out,
As weary as water by the shore,
Lest any rob me of my mate
For whom I long have yearned.
It’s better to feel pain awhile
Than grieve forevermore.
Most kind under skirt,
Listen to my song!
A happy fate have I found!
I know from heaven to me it's sent;
From all women my love has leapt
And lit on Alysoun.
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