34 



UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO STUDIES 



Blynded was his faire ene, his flesch blody for-bette; 

 His lufsum lyf was layde ful low, & saryful vmbesette. 

 Dede & lyf began to stryf whel)er myght maystre 



mare, 

 When aungels brede was dampned to dede to safe 



cure sauls sare. 



For-so{)e t>e kinde of loue is I>is, — 



I>ere it is trusty and trewe, — • 

 To stoonde euere in stabilnes. 



And chaunge neuere for no newe, 

 Pat wijt tat tat loue may finde, 



Or euere in herte it knewe, 

 Fro care it turnet) tat kinde : 



Such a mirte fyndit to fewe. 



Lyf was slayne & rase agayne, in faire-hede may 



we fare; 

 And dede es broght til litel or noght, & kasten in 



endles kare. 

 On hym tat te boght, hafe al ti thoght, & lede te 



in his lare; 

 Gyf al te hert til Crist te qwert, & lufe hym euer- 



mare. 



For-ti, loue tou as y tee rede; 



Crist is trewe loue, as y te telle; 

 Wit aungilis take tou ti slide; 



Pat ioie loke tou not felle. 

 In erte hate tou no maner qweed, 



But loke tat ti loue may dwelle, 

 For loue is more strenger tan deed, 



Loue is more harder tan helle. 



(L)uf es lyf tat lastes ay, Par it in Criste es feste, 

 For wele ne wa it chaunge may, als wryten has men 



wyseste. 

 Pe nyght it toumes in til te day, ti trauel in tyll reste; 

 If tou wil luf tus as I say, tou may be wyth te beste. 



Loue is Ujt, & a birtun fyne; 



Ix)ue gladit bote Jonge and oolde; 

 Loue is witout ony pyne, 



As louers han me toolde. 

 Loue is goostli deli-ciouse as wijn 



Pat makit men bote big & bolde; 

 To tat loue y schal me so faste tyne, 



Pat y in herte it euermore holde. 



Lufe es thoght, wyth grete desyre, of a fayre louyng; 

 Lufe I lyken til a fyre tat sloken may na thyng; 

 Lufe vs clenses of oure syn, lufe vs bote sail bryng; 

 Lufe te keynges hert may wyn, lufe of ioy may syng. 



Loue is te swettiste ting 



Pat heere in erte men may han; 

 Loue is goddis owne derlinge; 



Loue byndit bote blood & baan. 

 In loue, terfore, be oure hkinge; 



I knowe no betere won; 

 For me oonli, & my louynge, 



Loue makit bote but oon. 



Pe settel of lufe es l>'ft hee, for in til heuen it ranne; 

 Me thynk in erth it es sle, tat makes men pale and 



wanne. 

 Pe bede of blysse it gase ful nee, I tel te as I kanne, 

 Pof vs thynk te way de dregh; luf copuls god & 



But al fleischli loue schal fare 



As doot te flouris of may. 

 And schal be lastande na mare 



But as it were an hour of a day; 

 And sorewen aftir tat ful sare 



Hir lust, her pride, & al her play, 

 Whanne tei aren cast in care, 



In-to pyne tat lastit ay. 120 



Lufe es hatter ten te cole, lufe may nahe be-swyke; 

 Pe flawme of lufe wha myght it thole, if it war ay 



I-lyke? 

 Luf vs comfortes & mase in qwart, & lyftes tyl heuen- 



ryke; 

 Luf rauysches Cryste in tyl owr hert, I wate na lust 



it lyke. 



Whanne her bodies in te fen liggen. 



Panne schulen her souUs be in drede, 

 And up a^en as men schulen risen, 



And answere for her mys dede. 

 If tei be seen tan in synne. 



And now heere ter liif tei ledde. 

 Pan schulen tei ligge helle wit-inne, 



And derkenes haue to mede. 



