That had be sick or melancolious,

315

It was so very good and vertuous.

And with gret reverence they †enclyned low

[Un]to the tree, so sote and fair of hew;

And after that, within a litel throw,

†Bigonne they to sing and daunce of-new;

320

Some song of love, some playning of untrew,

Environing the tree that stood upright;