Very fair and kind, and indeed I could, from the bottom of my
heart, say, very loved, honoured, and coveted Lady, for whose
sake love, through the charm of your beauteous eyes, has made me
willingly become your true bondsman, and in whose sweet service
I would, as far as I am able, even if not as far as I should do,
unreservedly spend all my life, I give you thanks for your very
gracious and pleasing letter, which, through the comfort of
sweet hope, has imparted vigour and strength to my heavy-laden
heart, the which was sorrowful and almost broken through despair
of ever gaining your love. And, my much longed-for and honoured
Lady, in answer to one of the matters you treat of in it, the
which is that you understand not the meaning of my request,
whilst on your part you would have me to know that you would
rather die than that your honour were soiled, I tell you truly,
very sweet Mistress, and give you assurance, that my wish is
altogether and entirely like unto your own. Of a truth, if I
could desire aught but your goodwill, in nowise could I hold you
as the lady of my heart, nor myself as your liegeman. And
touching your warning to me to take heed that I so demean me as
not to make boast of aught which may afterward prove to be
untrue, I verily make promise unto you, very gentle Lady, and I
swear faithfully on my word of honour, that all my life long you
shall find me such an one, and if in this I make default, I am
willing, and bind myself, to be cut off from all joy, and to be
counted as vile. And as to concealing my secret, and refraining
from telling it to either companion or friend, save to the one
from whom I may not hide it, be assured, sweet Lady, that of
this I take good heed, and, as far as in me lies, neither in
this, nor in aught beside, shall you find me wanting, and I give
you thanks for your good counsel, kind Lady. And since I give
you assurance on all matters which might embroil me, may it
please you to perform that which you make promise of in your
letter, the which is, that of your grace you will hold me as
your one loved friend, and if in aught you find me disobedient,
I am willing to be banished, and to accept great disgrace as my
due, and may God never suffer me so much as to live if at any
time I have desire to be false or untrue to you. And when,
moreover, you say that it would give you pleasure to be the
cause of my advancement, know, sweet Lady, that this could never
come to pass save through you, for none but you can either save
me, or be my undoing. Therefore, sweet Lady, may it please you
to comfort me, and give me perfect happiness, by according to me
your sweet love, and may you be willing to satisfy my famished
heart and eyes by granting them opportunity to see your loved
and much-desired self. And may you be minded to send me the very
joyous news concerning this the which I long for. Sweet and
winsome one, who art renowned above all others, I plead for your
help more often than I can tell unto you, and I pray God to
grant you a happy life, and the will to love me well.--Written
right joyously, in the hope of better fortune,
Your humble slave.
Thus did I finish my letter, and, at the end, I added a short ballad, so
that she might not be wearied in the reading. Therefore listen to the
device of it, for it is after a strange manner--