Ful often-tymes to speke him-self he peyned,
But shamfastnesse and drede sayd ever 'nay';
215
Yet at the last so sore he was constrayned,
Whan he ful long had put it in delay,
To his lady right thus than gan he say
With dredful voice, weping, half in a rage:—
'For me was purveyd an unhappy day
220
Whan I first had a sight of your visage!