EMELIE IN THE GARDEN.
[From the Knightes Tale.]
Thus passeth yere by yere, and day by day,
Till it felle onës in a morwe[[40]] of May
That Emelie, that fayrer was to sene[[41]]
Than is the lilie upon his stalkë grene,
And fresher than the May with flourës newe,
(For with the rose colour strof hire hewe;
I n'ot[[42]] which was the finer of hem two)
Er it was day, as she was wont to do,
She was arisen and all redy dight,[[43]]
For May wol have no slogardie a-night.
The seson priketh every gentil herte,
And maketh him out of his slepe to sterte,
And sayth, "Arise, and do thin observánce."
This maketh Emelie han remembránce
To dou honoúr to May, and for to rise.
Yclothëd was she fresh for to devise.[[44]]
Hire yelwe here was broided in a tresse
Behind hire back, a yerdë long I gesse.
And in the gardin at the sonne uprist[[45]]
She walketh up and doun wher as hire list.[[46]]
She gathereth floures, partie white and red,
To make a sotel[[47]] gerlond for hire bed,
And as an angel hevenlich she song.
[40] Morning.
[41] See.
[42] Know not.
[43] Dressed.
[44] Describe.
[45] Sunrise.
[46] Wherever it pleases her.
[47] Subtle, cunningly enwoven.