University of Virginia Library

II. [MY LADYIS PULCRITUD.]

My ladyis pulcritud
Hes me so plonged in paine
That, mard in mynd and muid,
Mirthles I man remaine;
Vnles that fluid
Of graces gud,
Be mansuetud,
My rest restoir againe.
Blind boy! thou dois so beir
My fortoun in ballance,
I flow from houp to feir,
From feir till esperance:
Now thair, now heir,
Now peace, now weir,
Chainging my cheir,
As chaingis ay my chance.
As in ye wind I wie,
Ay wavering with the wechtis,
Feir wald force faith to flie,
And faith with fortoun fechtis;

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And yis ȝe se
Is my degrie,
Now low, now hie,
As houp gud hap me hechtis.
Ȝit houp hings be ane hair,
Houping aganis all houp;
Albeit from cair to cair
Thou catche my hairt in coup;
Ȝit mair and mair
I lyik thy lair,
And for no sair
Nor sorrow can I soup.
And hap I apprehend,
Be houp, I wait not how,
And pertlie I pretend
And preis agains the prow;
And ay intend
That way to wend,
And in the end
For to attein I trow.