And as I sat the birdis herkening thus,
Methought that I herd voicis suddainly
The most swetist and most delicious,
That ever any wight, I trow trewly,
Herdin in ther life, for the armony
And swete accord was in so gode musike,
That the voicis to angels most were like.
At the last out of a grove evin by
(That was right godely and pleasaunt to sight)
I se where there came singing lustily
A world of ladies, but to tell aright
Ther beauty grete, lyith not in my might,
Ne ther array; nevirtheless I shall
Tell you a part, tho I speke not of all.
The surcots white of velvet well fitting
They werin clad, and the semis eche one,
As it werin a mannir garnishing,
Was set with emeraudis one and one
By and by, but many a riche stone
Was set on the purfilis out of dout
Of collours, sleves, and trainis round about;
As of grete pearls round and orient,
And diamondis fine and rubys red,
And many other stone of which I went
The namis now; and everich on her hede
A rich fret of gold, which withouten drede
Was full of stately rich stonys set,
And every lady had a chapelet
On ther hedis of braunches fresh and grene,
Lo well ywrought and so marvelously,
That it was a right noble sight to sene,
Some of laurir, and some full plesauntly
Had chapelets of wodebind, and sadly
Some of agnus werin also....
(The Flour and the Leafe.)
[194]: The Flour and the Leafe.
There sat I down among the faire flouris
And saw the birdes tripping out of ther bowris,
There as they restid 'hem had al night,
They were so joyful of the day 'is lyght,
They began of Maye for to done honouris.
They coudin wel that service all by rote,
And there was many a full lovely note,
Some songin loude as they had yplained,
And some in other manir voice yfained
And some songin al out with the ful throte.