 | The Pearl; Cleanness; Patience |  |
I.
Perle plesaunte to prynces paye,
To clanly clos in golde so clere,
Oute of oryent I hardyly saye,
Ne proued I neuer her precios pere,
So rounde, so reken in vche araye,
So smal, so smoþe her sydeȝ were.
Quere-so-euer I lugged gemmeȝ gaye,
I sette hyr sengeley in synglure;
Allas! I leste hyr in on erbere,
Þurȝ gresse to grounde hit fro me yot;
I dewyne for-dolked of luf daungere,
Of þat pryuy perle with-outen spot.
To clanly clos in golde so clere,
Oute of oryent I hardyly saye,
Ne proued I neuer her precios pere,
So rounde, so reken in vche araye,
So smal, so smoþe her sydeȝ were.
Quere-so-euer I lugged gemmeȝ gaye,
I sette hyr sengeley in synglure;
Allas! I leste hyr in on erbere,
Þurȝ gresse to grounde hit fro me yot;
I dewyne for-dolked of luf daungere,
Of þat pryuy perle with-outen spot.
Syþen in þat spote hit fro me sprange,
Ofte haf I wayted wyschande þat wele,
Þat wont watȝ whyle deuoyde my wrange,
& heuen my happ & al my hele,
Þat dotȝ bot þrych my hert þrange,
My breste in bale bot bolne & bele.
Ȝet þoȝt me neuer so swete a sange,
As stylle stounde let to me stele,
For-soþe þer fleten to me fele,
To þenke hir color so clad in clot;
O moul þou marreȝ a myry mele.
My priuy perle with-outen spotte,
Ofte haf I wayted wyschande þat wele,
Þat wont watȝ whyle deuoyde my wrange,
& heuen my happ & al my hele,
Þat dotȝ bot þrych my hert þrange,
My breste in bale bot bolne & bele.
Ȝet þoȝt me neuer so swete a sange,
As stylle stounde let to me stele,
For-soþe þer fleten to me fele,
To þenke hir color so clad in clot;
O moul þou marreȝ a myry mele.
My priuy perle with-outen spotte,
2
Þat spot of spyseȝ myȝt nedeȝ sprede,
Þer such rycheȝ to rot is runnen;
Blomeȝ blayke & blwe & rede,
Þer schyneȝ ful schyr agayn þe sunne.
Flor & fryte may not be fede,
Þer hit doun drof in moldeȝ dunne,
For vch gresse mot grow of grayneȝ dede,
No whete were elleȝ to woneȝ wonne;
Of goud vche goude is ay by-gonne.
So semly a sede moȝt fayly not,
Þat spryngande spyceȝ vp ne sponne,
Of þat precios perle wyth-outen spotte.
Þer such rycheȝ to rot is runnen;
Blomeȝ blayke & blwe & rede,
Þer schyneȝ ful schyr agayn þe sunne.
Flor & fryte may not be fede,
Þer hit doun drof in moldeȝ dunne,
For vch gresse mot grow of grayneȝ dede,
No whete were elleȝ to woneȝ wonne;
Of goud vche goude is ay by-gonne.
So semly a sede moȝt fayly not,
Þat spryngande spyceȝ vp ne sponne,
Of þat precios perle wyth-outen spotte.
To þat spot þat I in spech expoun
I entred in þat erber grene,
In augoste in a hyȝ seysoun,
Quen corne is coruen wyth crokeȝ kene.
On huyle þer perle hit trendeled doun,
Schadowed þis worteȝ ful schyre & schene
Gilofre, gyngure & gromylyoun,
& pyonys powdered ay by-twene.
Ȝif hit watȝ semly on to sene,
A fayre reflayr ȝet fro hit flot,
Þer wonys þat worþyly I wot & wene,
My precious perle, wyth-outen spot.
I entred in þat erber grene,
In augoste in a hyȝ seysoun,
Quen corne is coruen wyth crokeȝ kene.
On huyle þer perle hit trendeled doun,
Schadowed þis worteȝ ful schyre & schene
Gilofre, gyngure & gromylyoun,
& pyonys powdered ay by-twene.
Ȝif hit watȝ semly on to sene,
A fayre reflayr ȝet fro hit flot,
Þer wonys þat worþyly I wot & wene,
My precious perle, wyth-outen spot.
Bifore þat spot my honde I spenn[e]d,
For care ful colde þat to me caȝt[e];
A denely dele in my hert denned,
Þaȝ resoun sette my seluen saȝt[e].
I playned my perl þat þer watȝ spenned
Wyth fyrte skylleȝ þat faste faȝt[e],
Þaȝ kynde of kryst me comfort kenned,
My wreched sylle in we ay wraȝte.
I felle vpon þat floury flaȝt[e],
Suche odour to my herneȝ schot;
I slode vpon a slepyng slaȝte,
On þat prec[i]os perle with-outen spot.
For care ful colde þat to me caȝt[e];
A denely dele in my hert denned,
Þaȝ resoun sette my seluen saȝt[e].
I playned my perl þat þer watȝ spenned
Wyth fyrte skylleȝ þat faste faȝt[e],
Þaȝ kynde of kryst me comfort kenned,
My wreched sylle in we ay wraȝte.
I felle vpon þat floury flaȝt[e],
Suche odour to my herneȝ schot;
I slode vpon a slepyng slaȝte,
On þat prec[i]os perle with-outen spot.
| The Pearl; Cleanness; Patience | |