Sweet, in whom my joy must be,
Now my heart is full of glee
[pg 94]
For thy love: and loosed from care
All my song is, “Lady fair,
Living I consume for thee.”
But thy gentle love hath sent
The fair comfort that I need:
I therewith am well content.
Gladness doth my spirit lead.
Rightly am I glad, pardie!
For of old my jollity
Drowned in woes I had to bear:
Of thy help when I was ware
Gone was all my misery,
Sweet, in whom my joy must be.
Since the day that thou hast lent
Thy dear heart, my life is freed
From the sorrows I lament:
Peace and gladness are my meed.
Lady, love despatcheth me
Succour sweet, who thus am free
From my sickness: pale despair
Rules no longer when I share
Hope that I thy face may see,
Sweet, in whom my joy must be.
Now have I recounted unto you how that in the first instance I was surprised and subdued by love, and was afterward grievously constrained by great [pg 95] longing, and how my dear kinsman gave himself much trouble, with the result that I was delivered from my trouble by my lady, who had mercy on me, thanks be to her. And I will tell how that from that time I went to and fro. Thenceforth I was happy even as you have heard, and because of the joy which I had, I devised this ballad:—
BALLAD
In all the world is none so happy here
Nor is there any joy to match with mine,
Since she that hath no rival and no peer
Doth mercifully to my suit incline.
Her slave am I till death, for all my pain
In very truth hath met with guerdon meet:
She was my help on whom I called amain,
For she hath granted me her love so sweet.
Fair queen, in whom all nobleness is clear,
Thou would'st not have me for thy presence pine:
Nay, bid me cry in every lover's ear,
“Thirsty was I for Love's immortal wine!”
Not all my weeping might the gift obtain,
Yet she, enthroned on beauty's mercy-seat,
Hath pardoned all: too soon did I complain
For she hath granted me her love so sweet.
Now to delight returns the torrent drear
That of my mourning was the sorry sign:
[pg 96]
Now am I joyous and of merry cheer,
More than aforetime in her grace divine.
Love bade me follow in his chosen train
Where gladness walks beside my lady's feet,
Nor any loss is mingled with my gain,
For she hath granted me her love so sweet.
Princess of love, my sorrow I disdain
Since out of mourning cometh joy complete
By grace of her who is love's suzerain,
For she hath granted me her love so sweet.
So I demeaned me prudently and wisely, and I desired to have apparel and horses and beautiful things in much plenty, and great pains did I take to make me acquainted with all matters which become honest folk, and, as far as I was able, I avoided those which are unworthy, and I always had the desire to increase my fame, to the end that my lady might hold herself loved of a brave man. Thus I spared no pains to become rich, in order to dispense freely, and it appeared as if I made no count of riches.
But to shorten my story, I tell you truly that none other thought had I than to follow in the path of true lovers, and oft, thank God, did I come to enjoy the welcome favours the which Love and Dames dispense to those who are faithful to them, for I well knew how [pg 97] to compass this, although it became expedient to be very careful where I saw my sweet goddess each week, so that no one, save those who were trusted, should come to know of it. And the first time that I returned to her, I took her this new ballad, the which greatly pleased her, and I brought back one from her.
BALLAD
Command of me, my Lady and my queen,
All thy good pleasure, as I were thy slave,
Which I shall do with glad and humble mien
That whatsoe'er thou willest, thou may'st have.
I owe no less
Being bound thereto for so great pleasantness,
More than to other lovers may betide:
For sweeter are thy gifts than all beside.
Thy love delivered me from dule and teen,
All that was needful to my soul it gave:
Is there not here in truth good reason seen
Thy love should rule the heart thy love did save?
Ah, what mistress
So guerdoneth her servant with largess
Of love's delight? The rest have I denied,
For sweeter are thy gifts than all beside.
Since such a harvest of reward I glean,
Love in my heart hath risen like a wave:
Thy slave am I, as I thy slave have been,
While life shall last. Ah, damsel bright and brave,
[pg 98]
Sweet patroness
Of spirit and strength, and lady of noblesse,
All other comfort doth my heart deride,
For sweeter are thy gifts than all beside.
Most dear princess
Of joy thou art the fount, as I confess:
I thirst no longer, but am satisfied,
For sweeter are thy gifts than all beside.
Ere I parted from this very sweet being, I received an answer to my ballad, the which gave me more than a little very ardent rapture, for the enchanting fair one, whilst reading it, put her arms about my neck. And here it is:—