For al this worlde telle hir my thoght,

Ne I wolde have wratthed hir, trewly.

For wostow why? she was lady

Of the body; she had the herte,

And who hath that, may not asterte.

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'But, for to kepe me fro ydelnesse,

Trewly I did my besinesse

To make songes, as I best coude,

And ofte tyme I song hem loude;