|
Now wol I speke of woful Damyan, |
| 655 | That langwissheth for love, as ye shul heere; |
| Therfore I speke to hym in this manere: |
| I seye, "O sely Damyan, allas! |
| Andswere to my demaunde, as in this cas. |
| How shaltow to thy lady, fresshe May, |
| 660 | Telle thy wo? She wole alwey seye nay. |
| Eek if thou speke, she wol thy wo biwreye. |
| God be thyn helpe! I kan no bettre seye." |
| This sike Damyan in Venus fyr |
| So brenneth that he dyeth for desyr, |
| 665 | For which he putte his lyf in aventure. |
| No lenger myghte he in this wise endure, |
| But prively a penner gan he borwe, |
| And in a lettre wroot he al his sorwe, |
| In manere of a compleynt or a lay, |
| 670 | Unto his faire, fresshe lady may; |
| And in a purs of sylk, heng on his sherte |
| He hath it put, and leyde it at his herte. |
|
| Now will I speak of woeful Damian, |
| 655 | Who languished for his love, as you shall hear; |
| I thus address him in this fashion here. |
| I say: "O hapless Damian, alas! |
| Answer to my demand in this your case, |
| How shall you to your lady, lovely May, |
| 660 | Tell all your woe? She would of course say 'Nay.' |
| And if you speak, she will your state betray; |
| God be your help! I can no better say." |
| This lovesick Damian in Venus' fire |
| So burned, he almost perished for desire; |
| 665 | Which put his life in danger, I am sure; |
| Longer in this wise could he not endure; |
| But privily a pen-case did he borrow |
| And in a letter wrote he all his sorrow, |
| In form of a complaint or of a lay, |
| 670 | Unto his fair and blooming Lady May. |
| And in a purse of silk hung in his shirt, |
| He put the poem and laid it next his heart. |
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