This legend is of all that wolden dey
Marters for love; god yive the sowles spede!
And to thee, Venus, †sing we, out of drede,
By influence of all thy vertue grete,
Beseching thee to kepe us in our hete.'
1380
The second lesson robin redebrest sang,
'Hail to the god and goddess of our lay!'
And to the lectorn †amorously he sprang:—
'Hail,' quod [he] eke, 'O fresh seson of May,