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48. The Dyscryuyng of a Fayre Lady
by Chaucer.
I HAUE a Lady where so she be
That seldom ys the souerayn of my thought
On whos beawte when I beholde and se
Remembryng me how well she ys wrought
I thanke fortune that to hyr grace me brought
So fayre ys she but nothyng angelyke
Hyr bewty ys to none other lyke.
That seldom ys the souerayn of my thought
On whos beawte when I beholde and se
Remembryng me how well she ys wrought
I thanke fortune that to hyr grace me brought
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Hyr bewty ys to none other lyke.
ffor hardely and she were made of brasse
fface and all she hath y nowgh fayrenesse
hyr eyen byn holow and grene as any grasse
And rauynnysshe yelow ys hyr sonny tresse
Therto she hath of euery comlynesse
Suche quantyte yeuyn hyr by nature
That with the leest she ys of hyr stature
fface and all she hath y nowgh fayrenesse
hyr eyen byn holow and grene as any grasse
And rauynnysshe yelow ys hyr sonny tresse
Therto she hath of euery comlynesse
Suche quantyte yeuyn hyr by nature
That with the leest she ys of hyr stature
And as a bolt hyr browes byn y bent
And byttyll browyd she ys also with all
And of hir wytte as sympyll and innocent
As ys a chylde that can no good at all
She ys nat thyk hyr stature ys but small
Hyr fyngers byn lytyll and nothyng long
Hyr skyn ys smothe as any oxys tong
And byttyll browyd she ys also with all
And of hir wytte as sympyll and innocent
As ys a chylde that can no good at all
She ys nat thyk hyr stature ys but small
Hyr fyngers byn lytyll and nothyng long
Hyr skyn ys smothe as any oxys tong
Therto she ys so wyse in dalyaunce
And besette hyr wordes so womanly
That hyr to here hit doth me dysplesaunce
ffor that she seyth ys sayde so connyngly
Then when that ther′ be mo then she & I
I had leuer she were of talkyng styll
Then that she shuld so goodly speche spyll
And besette hyr wordes so womanly
That hyr to here hit doth me dysplesaunce
ffor that she seyth ys sayde so connyngly
Then when that ther′ be mo then she & I
I had leuer she were of talkyng styll
Then that she shuld so goodly speche spyll
And slowth noone shall haue in her′ entresse
So dylygent ys she and virtulesse
And so besy ay all good to vndresse
That as a she ape she ys harmelesse
And as an hornet meke and pytelesse
With that she ys so wyse and circumspecte
That prudent noon hyr foly can infecte
So dylygent ys she and virtulesse
And so besy ay all good to vndresse
That as a she ape she ys harmelesse
And as an hornet meke and pytelesse
With that she ys so wyse and circumspecte
That prudent noon hyr foly can infecte
Ys hit nat ioy that suche oone of hyr age
Withyn the boundys of so gret tendyrnesse
Shuld in her werke be so sad and sage
That of the weddyng sawe all the noblesse
Of quene Jane and was tho as I gesse
But of the age of yeres X and fyue
I trow ther ar nat many suche alyue
Withyn the boundys of so gret tendyrnesse
Shuld in her werke be so sad and sage
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Of quene Jane and was tho as I gesse
But of the age of yeres X and fyue
I trow ther ar nat many suche alyue
ffor as Jhesu my synfull sowle saue
There nys creature in all thys world lyuyng
Lyke vnto hyr that I wold gladly haue
So pleseth myn hert that goodly swete thyng
Whos sowle in haste vnto hys blysse bryng
That furst hyr formyd to be a creature
ffor were she wele of me I dyd no cure
There nys creature in all thys world lyuyng
Lyke vnto hyr that I wold gladly haue
So pleseth myn hert that goodly swete thyng
Whos sowle in haste vnto hys blysse bryng
That furst hyr formyd to be a creature
ffor were she wele of me I dyd no cure
Explicit the Dyscryuyng of a fayre lady
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