WOMANLY NOBLESSE; BALADE by GEOFFREY CHAUCER

So hath myn herte caught in remembraunce
Your beaute hoole and stidefast governaunce,
Your vertues alle and your hie noblesse,
That you to serve is set al my plesaunce.
So wel me liketh your womanly contenaunce,
Your fresshe fetures and your comlynesse,
That whiles I live, myn herte to his maystresse
You hath ful chose in trewe perseveraunce
Never to chaunge, for no maner distresse.

And sith I shal do [you] this observaunce
Al my lif, withouten displesaunce,
You for to serve with al my besynesse,
. . . . . . . .
And have me somwhat in your souvenaunce.
My woful herte suffreth greet duresse;
And [loke how humblely], with al symplesse,
My wyl I conforme to your ordynaunce
As you best list, my peynes for to redresse.

Considryng eke how I hange in balaunce,
In your service, such, lo! is my chaunce,
Abidyng grace, whan that your gentilnesse,
Of my grete wo listeth don alleggeaunce,
And wyth your pite me som wise avaunce,
In ful rebatyng of myn hevynesse,
And thynketh by resoun that wommanly noblesse
Shulde nat desire for to do the outrance
Ther as she fyndeth non unbuxumnesse.

@3Lenvoye@1

Auctour of norture, lady of plesaunce,
Soveraigne of beautee, flour of wommanhede,
Take ye non hede unto myn ignoraunce,
But this receyveth of your goodlihede,
Thynkyng that I have caught in remembraunce,
Your beaute hole, your stidefast governaunce.

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