XII. TO ROSEMOUNDE. A BALADE.

Madame, ye ben of al beautè shryne

As fer as cercled is the mappemounde;

For as the cristal glorious ye shyne,

And lyke ruby ben your chekes rounde.

Therwith ye ben so mery and so iocounde, 5

That at a revel whan that I see you daunce,

It is an oynement unto my wounde,

Thogh ye to me ne do no daliaunce.

For thogh I wepe of teres ful a tyne,

Yet may that wo myn herte nat confounde; 10

Your seemly voys that ye so smal out-twyne

Maketh my thoght in Ioye and blis habounde.

So curteisly I go, with lovë bounde,

That to my-self I sey, in my penaunce,

Suffyseth me to love you, Rosemounde, 15

Thogh ye to me ne do no daliaunce.

Nas never pyk walwed in galauntyne

As I in love am walwed and y-wounde;

For which ful ofte I of my-self divyne

That I am trewe Tristan the secounde. 20

My love may not refreyd be nor afounde;

I brenne ay in an amorous plesaunce.

Do what you list, I wil your thral be founde,

Thoghe ye to me ne do no daliaunce. 24

Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 — Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems · 第 135 / 599 题