Esperus, the goodly brighte sterre,

So glad, so fair, so persaunt eek of chere,

I mene Venus, with her bemes clere,

615

That, hevy hertes only to releve,

Is wont, of custom, for to shewe at eve.

And I, as faste, fel doun on my knee

And even thus to her gan I to preye:—

'O lady Venus! so faire upon to see,

620