Chaucer.
He up arose, however lief or loth.
Spenser.
Lief, n. A dear one; a sweetheart. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Lief, adv. Gladly; willingly; freely; -- now used only in the phrases,
had as lief, and would as lief; as, I had, or would, as lief go as not.
All women liefest would Be sovereign of man's love.
Gower.