VIRELAY. <1>

ALONE walking

In thought plaining,

And sore sighing;

All desolate,

Me rememb’ring

Of my living;

My death wishing

Both early and late.

Infortunate

Is so my fate,

That, wot ye what?

Out of measure

My life I hate;

Thus desperate,

In such poor estate,

Do I endure.

Of other cure

Am I not sure;

Thus to endure

Is hard, certain;

Such is my ure,* *destiny <2>

I you ensure;

What creature

May have more pain?

My truth so plain

Is taken in vain,

And great disdain

In remembrance;

Yet I full fain

Would me complain,

Me to abstain

From this penance.

But, in substance,

None alleggeance* *alleviation

Of my grievance

Can I not find;

Right so my chance,

With displeasance,

Doth me advance;

And thus an end.

The Canterbury Tales, and Other Poems · 第 421 / 425 题