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2. Alison

c. 1300

BYTUENE Mershe ant Averil

When spray biginneth to spring,

The lutel foul hath hire wyl

On hyre kid to synge:

Ich libbe in love-longinge

For semlokest of alle thynge,

He may me blisse bringe,

Icham in hire bandoun.

An hendy hap ichabbe y-hent,

Ichot from hevene it is me sent,

From alle wymmen my love is lent

Ant lyht on Alisoun.

On heu hire her is fayr ynoh,

Hire browe broune, hire eye blake;

With lossum chere he on me loh;

With middel smal ant wel y-make;

Bote he me wolle to hire take

For to buen hire owen make,

Long to lyven ichulle forsake

Ant feye fallen adoun.

An hendy hap, etc.

Nihtes when I wende and wake,

For-thi myn wonges waxeth won;

LEVEDI, al for thine sake

Longinge is y-lent me on.

In world his non so wyter mon

That al hire bountè telle con;

Hire swyre is whittore than the swon,

Ant feyrest may in toune.

An hendy hap, etc.

Icham for wowyng al for-wake,

Wery so water in wore;

Lest eny reve me my make

Ichabbe y-yerned yore.

Betere is tholien whyle sore

Then mournen evermore.

Geynest under gore,

Herkne to my roun—

An hendy hap, etc.

on hyre lud] in her language. ich libbe] I live. semlokest] seemliest. he] she. bandoun] thraldom. hendy] gracious. y hent] seized, enjoyed. ichot] I wot. lyht] alighted. hire her] her hair. lossum] lovesome. loh] laughed. bote he] unless she. buen] be. make] mate. feye] like to die. nihtes] at night. wende] turn. for-thi] on that account. wonges waxeth won] cheeks grow wan.

2. levedi] lady. y-lent me on] arrived to me. so wyter mon] so wise a man. swyre] neck. may] maid. for-wake] worn out with vigils. so water in wore] as water in a weir. reve] rob. y-yerned yore] long been distressed. tholien] to endure. geynest under gore] comeliest under woman’s apparel. roun] tale, lay.