_How true love is likened to summer._
And thus it passed on from Candlemas until after Easter, that the month
of May was come, when every lusty heart beginneth to blossom and to
bring forth fruit; for like as herbs and trees bring forth fruit and
flourish in May, in likewise every lusty heart, that is in any manner a
lover, springeth and flourisheth in lusty deeds. For it giveth unto all
lovers courage, that lusty month of May, in some thing to constrain him
to some manner of thing, more in that month than in any other month,
for divers causes. For then all herbs and trees renew a man and woman,
and in likewise lovers call again to their mind old gentleness and old
service, and many kind deeds that were forgotten by negligence. For
like as winter rasure doth always arase and deface green summer, so
fareth it by unstable love in man and woman. For in many persons there
is no stability, for we may see all day, for a little blast of winter’s
rasure, anon we shall deface and lay apart true love for little or
nought, that cost much thing. This is no wisdom nor stability, but it
is feebleness of nature and great disworship whosoever useth this.
Therefore, like as May month flowereth and flourisheth in many gardens,
so in likewise let every man of worship flourish his heart in this
world, first unto God, and next unto the joy of them that he promised
his faith unto, for there was never worshipful man nor worshipful
woman, but they loved one better than another: and worship in arms may
never be foiled, but first reserve the honour to God, and secondly the
quarrel must come of thy lady: and such love I call virtuous love. But
now-a-days men cannot love seven night but they must have all their
desires, that love may not endure by reason; for where they be soon
accorded, and hasty heat, soon it cooleth. Right so fareth love
now-a-days; soon hot, soon cold. This is no stability, but the old love
was not so. Men and women could love together seven years, and no
wanton lusts were between them, and then was love truth and
faithfulness. And lo in likewise was used love in king Arthur’s days.
Wherefore I liken love now-a-days unto summer and winter. For like as
the one is hot and the other cold, so fareth love now-a-days. Therefore
all ye that be lovers call unto your remembrance the month of May, like
as did queen Guenever. For whom I make here a little mention, that
while she lived she was a true lover, and therefore she had a good end.
Explicit liber Octodecimus. And here foloweth liber xix.
The Nineteenth Book.