Beseching yow in my most humble wyse
Taccepte in worth this litel povre dyte,
And for my trouthe my service nat despyse,
Myn observaunce eek have nat in despyte,
Ne yit to long to suffren in this plyte,
20
I yow beseche, myn hertes lady dere,
Sith I yow serve, and so wil yeer by yere.
In MS. Addit. 16165, fol. 256, back; headed Balade of compleynte.
1. koude; hert. 2. turment. 3. Thaughe; shoulde; youre. 4. wissely. 5. beaute liste. 6. youre; bade; in-feere. 7. beo. 8. wissely. 9. yowe sadde; truwe. 10. lyff; gode. 11. dethe; whane; reewe, altered by the scribe to newe. 12. whome; suwe. 13. hole; souffisaunce. 14. sette. 15. yowe; moste. 16. Taccept; worthe; pore. 17. not despice. 18. eke; not. 19. longe; suffre. 20. here (error for dere; see XXII. 77). 21. yowe; yere by yere.