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Upon this daunce, amonges othere men, |
| Daunced a squier biforn Dorigen |
| That fressher was, and jolyer of array, |
| 220 | As to my doom, than is the monthe of May. |
| He syngeth, daunceth, passynge any man |
| That is or was, sith that the world bigan. |
| Therwith he was, if men sholde hym discryve, |
| Oon of the beste farynge man of lyve; |
| 225 | Yong, strong, right vertuous, and riche, and wys, |
| And wel biloved, and holden in greet prys. |
| And shortly, if the sothe I tellen shal, |
| Unwityng of this Dorigen at al, |
| This lusty squier, servant to Venus, |
| 230 | Which that ycleped was Aurelius, |
| Hadde loved hir best of any creature |
| Two yeer and moore, as was his aventure; |
| But nevere dorste he tellen hir his grevaunce, |
| Withouten coppe he drank al his penaunce. |
| 235 | He was despeyred, no thyng dorste he seye |
| Save in his songes somwhat wolde he wreye |
| His wo, as in a general compleynyng. |
| He seyde he lovede, and was biloved no thyng, |
| Of swich matere made he manye layes, |
| 240 | Songes, compleintes, roundels, virelayes, |
| How that he dorste nat his sorwe telle, |
| But langwissheth, as a furye dooth in helle, |
| And dye he moste, he seyde, as dide Ekko |
| For Narcisus, that dorste nat telle hir wo, |
| 245 | In oother manere than ye heere me seye, |
| Ne dorste he nat to hir his wo biwreye, |
| Save that paraventure som tyme at daunces, |
| Ther yonge folk kepen hir observaunces, |
| It may wel be he looked on hir face, |
| 250 | In swich a wise as man that asketh grace; |
| But nothyng wiste she of his entente. |
| Nathelees it happed, er they thennes wente, |
| By cause that he was hir neighebour, |
| And was a man of worshipe and honour, |
| 255 | And hadde yknowen hym of tyme yoore, |
| They fille in speche, and forthe moore and moore |
| Unto this purpos drough Aurelius. |
| And whan he saugh his tyme, he seyde thus: |
|
| Amid these mazes, with the other men, |
| There danced a squire before this Dorigen, |
| That was more blithe, and prettier of array, |
| 220 | In my opinion, than the month of May. |
| He sang and danced better than any man |
| That is, or was, since first the world began. |
| Therewith he was, description to contrive, |
| One of best conditioned men alive; |
| 225 | Young, strong, right virtuous, and rich, and wise, |
| And well beloved, and one to idealize. |
| And briefly, if I tell the truth withal, |
| Unknown to Dorigen - nay, least of all - |
| This pleasant squire, servant to Queen Venus, |
| 230 | The name of whom was this, Aurelius, |
| Had loved her best of anyone alive |
| Two years and more (since she did first arrive), |
| But never dared he tell her of his state; |
| Without a cup he drank his draught of fate. |
| 235 | He had despaired, for nothing dared he say, |
| Except that in songs he would somewhat betray |
| His woe, as of a general complaint; |
| He loved, but none loved him, though he went faint. |
| Of such a subject made he many lays, |
| 240 | Songs and complaints, rondels and virelays, |
| How that he dared not his deep sorrow tell, |
| But languished, as a fury does in Hell; |
| And die he must, he said, as did Echo |
| For her Narcissus, daring not tell her woe. |
| 245 | In other manner than you hear me say |
| Dared he not unto her his woe betray; |
| Except that, perchance, there would be times at dances, |
| Where young folk honoured all that makes romances, |
| It may well be he looked upon her face |
| 250 | In such wise as a man who sued for grace; |
| But nothing knew she of his love's intent. |
| Nevertheless it chanced, before thence they went, |
| Because it happened he was her neighbour, |
| And was a man of worship and honour, |
| 255 | And she had known him in the time of yore, |
| They fell to talking; and so, more and more, |
| Unto his purpose drew Aurelius, |
| And when he saw his time addressed her thus: |
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