University of Virginia Library

The louer not beloued.

The woman belouyd not louyng entreth.
Belouyd not louyng.
Syr as touchyng those wordes of comparyson
whiche ye haue seyd and wolde seme to veryfye
If it may please you to stande therupon
Hearyng and answeryng me pacyently
I doubt not by the same incontynently
your selfe to see by wordes that shall ensue
The contrary of your wordes veryfyed for true.

Louer not loued
Fayre lady pleasyth it you to repayre nere
And in this cause to shewe cause reasonable
wherby cause of reformacyon may appere
Of reason I muste and wylbe reformable

Louyd not louyng
well syns ye pretende to be confyrmable
To reason, in auoydyng circumstaunce
Brefely by reason I shall the truthe auaunce.
ye be a louer no whyt louyd agayne
And I am louyd of whom I loue nothyng
Then standyth our question betwene these twayne
Of louyng not louyd, or louyd not louyng
which is the case moste paynfull in sufferyng
wherto I saye that the moste payne doth moue
To those belouyd of whome they can not loue

Louer not louyd.
Those wordes approued lo, myght make a chaunge
Of myne opinion/but verely
The case as ye put it I thynke more straunge
Then true, for though the belouyd party
Can not loue agayne, yet possybly
Can I not thynke, nor I thynke neuer shall
That to be louyd can be any payne at all.

Belouyd not louyng.

Louyng not louyd.
Somewhat dyspleasaunt it were I not deny

Louyd not louyng.

Louer not loued.

Loued not louyng.
Nay that wolde I not be ye assuered

Louer not loued.

Loued not louyng.
That is as ye say but not as I suppose
Nor as the treuth is, which your selfe myght se
By reasons that I coulde and wolde dysclose
Sauyng that I see such parcyalyte
On your parte, that we shall neuer agre
Unlesse ye wyll admyt some man indyfferent
Indyfferently to heare vs, and so gyue iudgement.

Louer not loued.
Agred, For though the knowledge of all my payne
Ease my payne no whyt yet shall it declare
Great cause of abashement in you to complayne
In counterfet paynes with my payne to compare
But here is no iudge mete, we must seke elles where

Louyd not louyng.
I holde me content the same to condyscende
Please it you to set forth and I shall attend.

Here they go both out and the louer belouyd entreth with a songe.
Louer belouyd.

Nother louer nor loued entreth
No louer nor loued.
Nowe god you good euyn mayster woodcock

Louer loued.
Cometh of rudenesse or lewdenesse that mock

No louer nor loued.
Come wherof it shall ye come of such stock
That god you good euyn mayster woodcock.

Louer loued.
This losell by lyke hath lost his wyt

No louer nor loued.
Nay nay mayster woodcock not a whyt
I haue knowen you for a woodcock or this
Or els lyke a woodcock I take you a mys
But though for a woodcock ye deny the same
yet shall your wyt wytnes you mete for that name.

Louer loued.
Howe so?

No louer nor loued.
Thus lo.
I do perceyue by your formare proces.
That ye be a louer wherto ye confes
your selfe beloued in as louyng wyse
As by wyt and wyll ye can wyshe to deuyse
Concludyng therin determinately
That of all pleasures plesaunt to the body
The hyest pleasure that man may obtayne
Is to be a louer beloued agayne
In which conclusyon before all this flock
I shall proue you playne as wyse as a woodcock

Louer loued.
And me thynke this woodcock is tornd on thy syde
Contrary to curtsy and reason to vse
Thus rudely to rayle or any worde be tryed
In profe of thy parte, wherby I do refuse
To answere the same, thou canst not excuse
Thy foly in this, but if thou wylt say ought
Assay to say better for this seyng is nought

No louer nor loued.
well syns it is so that ye be dyscontent
To be called fole or further matter be spent
wyll ye gyue me leaue to call ye fole anone
when your selfe perceyueth that I haue proued you one.

Louer loued.
ye by my soule and wyll take it in good worth

No louer nor loued.
Nowe by my fathers soule then wyll we euyn forth
That parte rehersed of your seyng or this
Of all our debate the onely cause is
For where ye afore haue fastly affirmed
That such as be louers agayne beloued
Stande in most pleasure that to man may moue
That tale to be false truthe shal truely proue

Louer loued.
what folke aboue those lyue more plesauntly

No louer nor loued.
what folke mary euyn such folke as am I

Louer loued.
Beyng no louer what man may ye be

No louer nor loued.
No louer no by god I warraunt ye
I am no louer in such maner ment
As doth appere in this purpose present
For as touchyng women go where I shall
I am at one poynt with women all.
The smothest the smyrkest the smallest
The trewest/the trymest/the tallest/
The wysest/the wylyest/the wyldest/
The meryest/the manerlyest/the myldest/
The strangest/the strayghtest/the strongest/
The lustyest/the lest/or the longest/
The rashest/the ruddyest/the roundest/
The sagest/the salowest/the soundest/
The coyest/the curstest/the coldest/
The bysyest/the bryghtest/the boldest/
The thankfullest/the thynest/the thyckest/
The sayntlyest/the sewrest/the syckest/
Take these with all the reste and of euerychone
So god be my helpe I loue neuer one.

Louer loued.
Then I beseche the this one thynge tell me
Howe many women thynkest thou doth loue the

No louer nor loued.
Syr as I be saued by ought I can proue
I am beloued euyn lyke as I loue

Louer loued.
Then as appereth by those wordes rehersed
Thou art nother louer nor beloued

No louer nor loued.
Nother louer nor beloued that is euen true

Louer loued.
Syns that is true I merueyll what can ensue
For profe of thy parte in that thou madest auaunt
Of both our estates to proue thyne most plesaunt

No louer nor loued.
My parte for most plesaunt may sone be gest
By my contynuall quyetyd rest

Louer loued.
Beyng no louer who may quyet be?

No louer nor loued.
Nay beyng a louer what man is he
That is quyet

Louer loued.
Mary I

No louer nor loued.
Mary ye lye

Louer loued.
what pacyens my frende ye are to hasty
If ye wyll paciently marke what I shall say
your selfe shall perceyue me in quyet alway

No louer nor loued.
Say what thou wyll and I therin protest
To beleue no worde thou sayst most nor lest

Louer loued.
Than we twayne shall talke both in vayne I see
Except our mater awarded may be
By iudgement of some indifferent herer

No louer nor loued.
Mary go thou and be an inquerer
And if thou canst bryng one any thyng lyckly
He shalbe admytted for my parte quyckly

Louer loued.
Nowe by the good god I graunt to agree
For be thou assewred it scorneth me
That thou shuldest compare in pleasure to be
Lyke me, and surely I promyse the
One way or other I wyll fynde redres

No louer nor loued.
Fynde the best and next way thy wyt can ges
And except your nobs for malous do nede ye
Make brefe returne a felyshyp spede ye.

The louer loued goth out.
No louer nor loued.
My merueyll is no more then my care is small
what knaue this foole shall bryng beyng not perciall
And yet be he false and a folyshe knaue to
So that it be not to much a do
To bryng a daw to here and speke ryght
I forse for no man the worth of a myte
And syns my doubt is so small in good spede
what shulde my studye be more then my nede
Tyll tyme I perceyue this woodcock commyng
My parte hereof shulde pas euyn in mummyng
Sauyng for pastyme syns I consyder
He beyng a louer and all his mater
To depende on loue and contrary I
No louer, by which all such standyng by
As fauour my parte, may feare me to weyke
Agaynst the louyng of this louer to speyke
I shall for your confort declare suche a story
As shall perfetly plant in your memory
That I haue knowledge in louers laws
As depe as some dosyn of those dotyng daws
which tolde all ye whose fansyes styck nere me
Shall knowe it causeles in this case to feare me
For though as I shewe I am no louer now
Nor neuer haue ben yet shall I shewe yow
How that I ones chaunced to take in hande
To fayne my selfe a louer ye shall vnderstande
Towarde such a swetyng as by swete sent sauour
I knowe not the lyke in fashyon and fauour
And to begyn
At settyng in
Fyrst was her skyn
whyt smoth & thyn
And euery vayne
So blewe sene playne
Her golden heare
To see her weare
Her weryng gere
Alas I fere
To tell all to you
I shall vndo you
Her eye so rollyng
Ech hart cōtrollyng
Her nose not long
Nor stode not wrong
Her fynger typs
So clene she clyps
Her rosy lyps
Her chekes gossyps
So fayre so ruddy
It axeth studdy
The hole to tell
It dyd excell
It was so made
That euyn the shade
At euery glade
wolde hartes inuade
The paps so small
And rounde with all
The wast not myckyll
But it was tyckyll
The thygh the kne
As they sholde be
But suche a leg
A louer wolde beg
To set eye on
But it is gon
Then syght of the fote
Ryft hartes to the rote
And last of all sent katheryns whele
was neuer so round, as was her hele
Asawt her harte and who coulde wynne it
As for her hele no holde in it
yet ouer that her beawty was so muche
In pleasaunt qualytes her graces were such
For dalyaunt pastaunce pas where she sholde
No greater dyfference betwene lede and golde
Then betwene the rest and her, and suche a wyt
That no wyght I wene myght matche her in it
If she had not wyt to set wyse men to scole
Then shall my tale proue me a starke fole
But in this matter to make you mete to ges
ye shall vnderstand that I with this maystres
Fyll late acquaynted and for loue no whyt
But for my pleasure to approue my wyt
Howe I coulde loue to this trycker dyssymble
who in dyssymelyng was perfyt and nymble
For where or whan she lyst to gyue a mock
She coulde and wolde do it beyonde the nock
wherin I thought that if I trysed her
I shulde therby lyke my wyt the better
And if she chaunsed to tryp or tryse me
It sholde to learne wyt a good lesson be
Thus for my past tyme I dyd determyn
To mock or be mockt of this mockyng vermyn
For which her presens I dyd fyrst obtayne
And that obtayned forthwith fell we twayne
In great acquayntaunce and made as good chere
As we had ben acquaynted twenty yere
And I through fayre flatteryng behauour
Semed anone so depe in her fauour
That though the tyme then so farre passed was
That tyme requyred vs asonder to pas
yet could I no pasport get of my swettynge
Tyll I was full woed for the next dayes metynge
For sewrauns wherof I muste as she bad
Gyue her in gage best iuell I there had
And after mych myrth as our wyttes coulde deuyse
we parted and I the nexte morne dyd aryse
In tyme not to tymely suche tyme as I coulde
I alowe no loue where slepe is not alowde
I was or I entred this iorney vowd
Deckt very clenly but not very prowd
But trym must I be, for slouenly lobers
Haue ye wot well no place amonge louers
But I thus deckt at all poyntes poynt deuyce
At dore were this trull was I was at a tryce
wherat I knocked her presens to wyn
wherwith it was opened and I was let yn
And at my fyrste commyng my mynyon semed
Uery mery, but anone she mysdemed
That I was not meryly dysposed
And so myght she thynke, for I disclosed
No worde nor loke, but such as shewed as sadly
As I in dede inwardly thought madly
And so must I shewe for louers be in rate
Somtymes mery but most tymes passyonate
In geuyng thankes to her of ouer nyght
we set vs downe an heuy couple in syght
And therwithall I fet a sygh such one
As made the forme shake which we both sat on
wherupon she without more wordes spoken
Fell in wepyng as her harte shulde haue broken
And I in secret laughyng so hartely
That from myne eyes cam water plenteously
Anone I turned with loke sadly that she
My wepyng as watery as hers myght se
which done these wordes anone to me she spake
Alas dere harte what wyght myght vndertake
To shewe one so sad as you this mornyng
Beyng so mery as you last euenyng
I so farre then the meryer for you
And without desert thus farre the sadder now.
The selfe thyng quoth I which made me then gladde
The selfe same is thynge that maketh me nowe sadde
The loue that I owe you is origynale
Grounde of my late ioy and present payne all
And by this meane, loue is euermore lad
Betwene two angels one good and one bad
Hope and drede which two be alway at stryfe
which one of them both with loue shall rewle most ryfe
And hope that good angell fyrst parte of last nyght
Drawe drede that bad angell out of place quyght
Hope sware I sholde streyght haue your loue at ones
And drede this bad angell sware bloud and bones
That if I wan your loue all in one howre
I sholde lose it all agayne in thre or fowre
wherin this good angell hath lost the mastry
And I by this bad angell won this agony
And be ye sewer I stande nowe in such case
That if I lacke your contynued grace
In heuyn/hell/or yerth/there is not that he
Saue onely god that knoweth what shall come on me
I loue not in rate all the common flock
I am no fayner nor I can not mock
wherfore I beseche you that your rewarde
May wytnesse that ye do my truthe regarde
Syr as touchyng mockyng quoth she I am sewer
ye be to wyse to put that here in vre
For nother gyue I cause why ye so shulde do
Nor nought coulde ye wynne that way wurth an old sho
For who so that mocketh shall surely stur
This olde prouerbe mockum moccabitur
But as for you I thynke my selfe assewred
That very loue hath you hyther alewred
For which quoth she let hope hop vp agayne
And vaynquysh dred so that it be in vayne
To dred or to doubt but I in euery thyng
As cause gyueth cause wylbe your owne derlyng
Swete harte quoth I after stormy colde smertes
warm wordes ī warm louers bryng louers warm hartes
And so haue your wordes warmed my harte euyn nowe
That dredles and doubtles now must I loue you
Anone there was I loue you and I loue you
Louely we louers loue eche other
I loue you and I for loue loue you
My louely louyng loued brother
Loue me, loue the, loue we, loue he, loue she,
Depper loue apparent in no twayne can be
Quyte ouer the eares in loue and felt no ground
Had not swymmyng holpe in loue I had byn dround
But I swam by the shore the vauntage to kepe
To mock her in loue semyng to swym more depe
Thus contynued we day by day
Tyll tyme that a moneth was passed away
In all the which tyme suche awayt she toke
That by no meane I myght ones set one loke
Upon any woman in company
But streyght way she set the fynger in the eye
And by that same aptnes in ielousy
I thought sewer she loued me perfetly
And I to shewe my selfe in lyke louyng
Dyssimyled lyke chere in all her lyke lokyng
By this and other lyke thynges then in hande
I gaue her mockes me thought aboue a thousand
wherby I thought her owne tale lyke a bur
Stack to her owne back mockum moccabitur
And vpon this I fell in deuysyng
To brynge to ende this ydell dysgysyng
wherupon sodaynly I stale away
And when I had ben absent halfe a day
My harte mysgaue me by god that bought me
That if she myst me where I thought she sought me
She sewer wolde be madde by loue that she ought me
wherin not loue, but pety so wrought me
That to returne anone I bethought me
And so returned tyll chaunse had brought me
To her chamber dore and hard I knocked
Knock softe quoth one who the same vnlocked
An auncyent wyse woman who was neuer
From this sayd swetyng but about her euer
Mother quoth I howe doth my dere darlyng
Dede wretch cryed she euyn by thyne absentyng
And without mo wordes the dore to her she shyt
I standyng without halfe out of my wyt
In that this woman sholde dye in my faute
But syns I coulde in there by none assawte
To her chamber wyndowe I gat about
To see at the lest way the cors layd out
And there lokyng in by godes blessed mother
I sawe her naked a bed with an other
And with her bedfelowe laught me to scorne
As meryly as euer she laught beforne
The which when I saw, and then remembryd
The terryble wordes that mother Brendryd
And also bethought me of euery thyng
Shewed in this woman true loue betokenyng
My selfe to see serued thus prately
To my selfe I laughed euyn hartely
with my selfe consyderyng to haue had lyke spede
If my selfe had ben a louer in dede.
But nowe to make som matter wherby
I may take my leue of my loue honestly
Swete hart quoth I ye take to much vpon ye
No more then becomes me knowe thou well quoth she
But thou hast takyn to much vpon the
In takyng that thou toke in hande to mock me
wherin from begynnyng I haue sene the iet
Lyke as a foole myght haue iettyd in a net
Beleuyng hymselfe saue of hym selfe onely
To be perceyued of no lyuyng body
But well saw I thyne entent at begynnyng
was to bestow a mock on me at endyng
when thou laughedest dyssymulyng a wepyng hart
Then I with wepyng eyes played euyn the lyke part
wherwith I brought in moccum moccabitur
And yet thou beyng a long snowted cur
Coulde no whyt smell that all my meanyng was
To gyue mock for mock as now is come to pas
which now thus passed if thy wyt be handsome
May defende the from mockes in tyme to come
By clappyng fast to thy snowt euery day
Moccum moccabitur for a nosegay
wherwith she start vp and shyt her wyndowe to
which done I had no more to say nor do
But thynke my selfe or any man elles a foole
In mockes or wyles to set women to scoole
But nowe to purpose wherfore I began
All though I were made a fole by this woman
Concernyng mockyng yet doth this tale approue
That I am well sene in the arte of loue
For I entendyng no loue but to mock
yet coulde no louer of all the hole flock
Circumstaunce of loue dysclose more nor better
Then dyd I the substaunce beyng no greater
And by this tale afore ye all may see
All though a louer as well loued be
As loue can deuyse hym for pleasaunt spede
yet two dyspleasures ielousy and drede
Is myxt with loue wherby loue is a drynk mete
To gyue babes for wormes for it drynkth bytter swete
And as for this babe our louer in whose hed
By a frantyk worme his opinion is bred
After one draught of this medsyn mynystryd
In to his brayne by my brayne apoyntyd
Reason shall so temper his opinion
That he shall see it not worth an onyon
And if he haue any other thyng to ley
I haue to conuynse hym euery way
And syns my parte nowe doth thus well appere
Be ye my parteners now all of good chere
But sylence euery man vpon a payne
For mayster woodcock is nowe come agayne.

The louer loued entreth
Louer loued.
The olde seyng seyth he that seketh shall fynde
which after long sekyng true haue I founde
But for suche a fyndyng my selfe to bynde
To such a sekyng as I was now bounde
I wolde rather seke to lesse twenty punde
Howe be it I haue sought so farre to my payne
That at the last I haue founde and brought twayne

The louer not loued, and loued not louyng entreth.
No louer nor loued.
Come they a horse back?

Louer loued.
Nay they come a fote
which thou myght see here, but for this great myst

No louer nor loued.
By iys and yet see I thou blynde balde cote
That one of those twayne myght ryde if he lyst

Louer loued.
How?

No louer nor loued.
Mary for he ledyth a nag on his his fyst
Maystres ye are welcome, and welcome ye be

Loued not louyng.
Nay welcome be ye, for we were here before ye

No louer nor loued.
ye haue ben here before me before now
And nowe I am here before you
And nowe I am here behynde ye
And nowe ye be here behynde me
And nowe we be here euyn both to gether
And nowe be we welcome euyn both hyther
Syns nowe ye fynde me here with curtsy I may
Byd you welcome hyther as I may say
But settyng this asyde, let vs set a broche
The mater wherfore ye hyther approche
wherin I haue hope that ye both wyll be
Good vnto me, and especyally ye
For I haue a mynde that euery good face
Hath euer some pyte of a pore mans case
Beyng as myne is a mater so ryght
That a fole may iudge it ryght at fyrst syght

Louer not loued.
Syr ye may well doubt howe my wyt wyll serue
But my wyll from ryght shall neuer swarue

Loued not louyng.
Nor myne, and as ye sew for helpe to me
Lyke sewt haue I to sewe for helpe to ye
For as much nede haue I of helpe as yow

No louer nor loued.
I thynke well that dere hart but tell me how

Loued not louyng.
The case is this, ye twayn seme in pleasure
And we twayn in payne which payne doth procure
By comparyson betwene hym and me
As great a conflyct which of vs twayn be
In greatest payne, as is betwene ye twayne
whiche of you twayne in most pleasure doth remayne
wherin we somewhat haue here debated
And both to tell trueth so gredyly grated
Upon affeccion eche to our owne syde
That in conclusion we must nedes prouyde
Some such as wolde and coulde be indyfferent
And we both to stande vnto that iudgement
wherupon for lacke of a iudge in this place
we sought many places and yet in this case
No man coulde we mete that medyll wyll or can
Tyll tyme that we met with this gentylman
whome in lyke errand for lyke lacke of ayd
was dryuen to desyre our iudgement he sayd

Louer loued
Forsoth it is so I promysyng playne
They twayn betwen vs twayn geuyng iudgemēt playne
we twayn betwen them twayn shuld iudge ryght agayne

No louer nor loued.
That promysse to performe I not dysdayne
For touchyng ryght as I am a ryghteous man
I wyll gyue you as muche ryght as I can

Loued not louyng.
Nothyng but ryght desyre I you among
I wyllyngly wyll nother gyue nor take wronge

No louer nor loued.
Nay in my conscyens I thynke by this boke
your conscyens wyll take nothyng that cometh a croke
For as in conscyens what euer ye do
ye nothyng do but as ye wolde be done to
O hope of good ende, o Mary mother
Maystres one of vs may nowe helpe a nother
But syr I pray you some mater declare
wherby I may knowe in what grefe ye arre

Louer not loued.
I am a louer not loued which playne
Is dayly not dolefull but my dedly payne

No louer nor loued.
A louer not loued haue ye knyt that knot

Louer not loued.
ye forsoth

No louer nor loued.
Forsoth ye be the more sot
Nowe maystres I hartely besech ye
Tell me what maner case your case may be

Loued not louyng.
I am beloued not louyng wherby
I am not in payne but in tormentry

No louer nor loued.
Is this your tormentour god turne hym to good

Loued not louyng.
Nay there is another man one me as wood
As this man on a nother woman is

No louer nor loued.
ye thynke them both mad and so do I by iys
So mot I thryue but who that lyst to marke
shall perceyue here a praty peyce of warke
Let vs fall somewhat in these partes to skannyng
Louyng not loued, loued not louyng
Loued and louyng, not louyng nor loued
wyll ye see these foure partes well ioyned
Louyng not loued, and loued not louyng
Those partes can ioyne in no maner rekenyng
Louyng and loued, loued nor louer
These partes in ioynyng in lykewyse dyffer
But in that ye loue ye twayne ioyned be
And beyng not loued ye ioyne with me
And beyng no louer with me ioyneth she
And beyng beloued with her ioyne ye
Had I a ioyner with me ioyned ioyntly
we ioyners shulde ioyne ioynt to ioynt quyckly
For fyrst I wolde parte these partes in fleses
And ones departed these parted peses
Parte and parte with parte I wolde so partlyke parte
That eche parte shulde parte with quyet harte

Louer not loued.
Syr syns it passeth your power that part to play
Let passe, and let vs partly nowe assay
To brynge some parte of that purpose to ende
For which all partyes yet in vayne attende

Loued not louyng.
I do desyre the same and that we twayne
May fyrst be harde that I may knowe my payne

Louer loued.
I graunt for my parte by fayth of my body
why where the deuyll is this horeson nody

No louer nor loued.
I neuer syt in iustyce but euer more
I vse to be shryuen a lyttell before
And nowe syns that my confessyon is done
I wyll depart and come take penaunce sone
when cōscyens prycketh conscyens must be sercht by god
In dyschargyng of conscyens or els gods forbod
which maketh me mete when conscyēs must come in place
To be a iudge in euery comen case
But who may lyke me his auaunsement auaunt
Nowe am I a iudge and neuer was seriaunt
which ye regarde not much by ought that I see
By any reuerence that ye do to me
Nay yet I prayse women when great men go by
They crowch to the grounde loke here how they ly
They shall haue a beck by saynt Antony
But alas good maystres I crye you mercy
That you are vnanswered but ye may see
Though two tales at ones by two eares hard may be
yet can not one mouth two tales at ones answer
which maketh you tary but in your mater
Syns ye by hast in hauyng ferdest home
wolde fyrst be sped of that for which ye come
I graunt as he graunted your wyll to fulfyll
you twayne to be harde fyrst, begyn when you wyl

Louer not loued.
As these twayne vs tweyn nowe graunt fyrst to breke
Syns twayn to be harde, at ones can not speke
I now desyre your graunt, that I may open
Fyrst tale which nowe is at poynt to be spoken
which I craue no whyt my parte to auaunce
But with the pyth to auoyde circumstaunce

Loued not louyng.
Speke what and whan so euer it please you
Tyll reason wyll me, I wyll not dysease you

Louer not loued.
Syrs other here is a very weyke brayne
Or she hath if any a very weyke payne
For I put case that my loue I her gaue
And that for my loue, her loue I dyd craue
For which though I dayly sew day by day
what losse or payne to her if she say nay

No louer nor loued.
yes by saynt Mary so the case may stande
That some woman had leuer take in hande
To ryde on your errand on hundreth myle
Then to say nay one Pater noster whyle

Louer not loued.
If ye on her parte any payne defyne
which is the more paynefull her payne or myne

No louer nor loued.
your payne is most if she say nay and take it
But if that she say nay and forsake it
Then is her payne a great way the greater

Loued not louyng.
Syr ye alledge this nay in this mater
As though my denyal my sewter to loue
where all or the most payne that to me doth moue
wherin the treuth is a contrary playne
For though to ofte spekyng one thyng be a payne
yet is that one worde the full of my hopyng
To bryng his hopyng to dyspayre at endyng
Thus is this nay which ye take my most grefe
Though it be paynefull yet my most relefe
But my most payne is all an other thyng
which though ye forget or hyde by dyssymylyng
I partely shewed you, but all I coulde nor can
But maysters to you with payne of this man
That payne that I compare is partely this
I am loued of one whome the treuth is
I can not loue, and so it is with me
That from hym in maner I neuer can flee
And euery one worde in sewt of his parte
Nyps through myne eares and rons through my harte
His gastfull loke so pale that vnneth I
Dare for myne eares cast towarde hym an eye
And whan I do that eye my thought presentyth
Streyght to my hart and thus my payne augmentyth
One tale so ofte alas and so importune
His exclamacions somtyme on fortune
Some tyme on hymselfe some tyme vpon me
And for that thyng that if my deth sholde be
Brought streyght in place except I were content
To graunt the same, yet coulde I not assent
And he seyng this yet seasyth not to craue
what deth coulde be worse then this lyfe that I haue

Louer not loued.
This tale to purpose purporteth no more
But syght and hearyng complaynt of his sore
Is onely the grefe that ye do susteyne
Alas tender hart syns ye dye in payne
This payne to perceyue by syght and hearyng
Howe coulde you lyue to knowe our payne by felyng
Marke well this question and answere as ye can
A man that is hanged or that mans hangman
which man of those twayne suffereth most payne

Loued not louyng.
He that is hanged

No louer nor loued.
By the masse it is so playne

Louer not loued.
well sayd for me, for I am the sufferer
And ye the hangman vnderstande as it were
These cases vary in no maner a thyng
Sauyng this serues in this mannes hangyng
Comenly is done agaynst the hangmans wyll
And ye of delyghtfull wyll, your louer kyll

Loued not louyng.
Of delyghtfull wyll, nay that is not so
As ye shall perfetly perceyue or we go
But of those at whose hangyng haue hangmen by
Howe many haue ye knowen hang wyllyngly

No louer nor loued.
Nay neuer one in his lyfe byr lady

Loued not louyng.
In this lo your case from our case doth vary
For ye that loue where loue wyll take no place
your owne wyll is your owne leder a playne case
And not onely vncompelled without alewre
But sore agaynst her wyll your sewt ye endewre
Nowe syns your wyll to loue dyd you procure
And with that wyll, ye put that loue in vre
And nowe that wyll, by wyt seth loue such payne
As wytty wyll wolde wyll loue to refrayne
And ye by wyll that loue in eche condicion
To extynct, may be your owne phesicion
Except ye be a foole or wolde make me one
what seyng cowd set a good ground to syt on
To make any man thynke your payne thus strong
Makyng your owne salue your owne sore thus long

Louer not louyd.
Maystres much parte of this proces purposed
Is matter of truth truely dysclosed
My wyll without her wyll brought me in loue
which wyll without her wyll doth make me houe
Upon her grace to see what grace wyll proue
But where ye say my wyll may me remoue
As wel from her loue, as wyll brought me to it
That is false my wyll can not wyll to do it
My wyl as farre therin out weyth my power
As a sow of led out weyth a saforne flowre

Loued not louyng.
your wyl out weyth your power thē where is your wyt
I merueyll that euer ye wyll speke it

Louer loued.
Nay merueyll ye maystres therat no whyt
For as farre as this poynt may stretch in verdyt
I am clerely of this mans opinion

No louer nor loued.
And I contrary with this mynion

Louer loued.
Then be we come to a demurrer in lawe

No louer nor loued.
Then be ye come from a woodcock to a daw
And by god it is no small connyng brother
For me to turne one wylde foole to a nother

Louer not loued.
Nay maysters I hartely pray you both
Banyshe contencyon tyll ye see howe this goth
I wyll repet and answere her tale forthwith
The pyth for your part wherof pretendyth
A profe for your payne to be more then myne
In that my wyll not onely dyd me enclyne
To the same, but in the same by the same wyll
I wyllyngly wyll to contynue styll
And as wyll brought me and kepeth in this bey
when I wyll ye say, wyll wyll bryng me awey
Concludyng therby that if my payne were
As great as yours that I sholde suerly bere
As great and good wyll to flee my loue thus ment
As do ye your sewters presens to absent

Loued not louyng.
This tale sheweth my tale perseyued euery dell

Louer not loued.
Then for entre to answere it as well
Answere this put case ye as depely nowe
Dyd loue your louer as he doth loue yow
Shulde not that louyng suppose ye redres
That payne whiche lack of louyng doth posses

Loued not louyng.
yes

Louer not loued.
Syns loue gyuyn to hyme gyueth your selfe ease, than
Except ye loue payne, why loue ye not this man

Loued not louyng.
Loue hym nay as I sayd must I streyght chose
To loue hym or els my hed here to lose
I knowe well I coulde not my lyfe to saue
with louyng wyll graunt hym my loue to haue

Louer not loued.
I thynke ye speke truely for wyll wyll not be
Forced in loue wherfore the same to ye
Syns this is to you such dyffyculte
why not a thyng as dyffycult to me
To wyll the let of loue where wyll my loue hath set
As you to wyll to set loue where wyll is your let

Loued not louyng.
well sayd and put case it as harde nowe be
For you to wyll to leue her, as for me
To loue hym, yet haue ye aboue me a meane
To learne you at length to wyll to leue loue cleane
which meane many thousandes of louers hath brought
From ryght feruent louyng to loue ryght nought
which long and oft approued meane is absens
wherto when ye wyll ye may haue lycens
whiche I craue and wyshe and can not obtayne
For he wyll neuer my presens refrayne

Louer not loued.
This is a medsyn lyke as ye wolde wyll me
For thyng to kewre me the thyng that wolde kyll me
For presens of her, though I selde whan may haue
Is soole the medsyn that my lyfe doth saue
Her absens can I with as yll wyll wyll
As I can wyll to leue to loue her styll
Thus is this wyll brought in insydently
No ayde in your purpose worth tayle of a fly
And as concernyng our pryncypall mater
All that ye lay may be layd euyn a water
I wonder that shame suffereth you to compare
with my payne, syns ye are dryuen to declare
That all your payne is but syght and hearyng
Of hym that as I do dyeth in payne felyng
O payne vpon payne what paynes I sustayne
No crafte of the deuyll can expresse all my payne
In this body no lym/ioynt/senow/nor veyne/
But martreth eche other, and this brayne
Chefe enmy of all by the inuentyng
Myne vnsauery sewte to her dyscontentyng
My speakyng, my hearyng, my lokyng, my thynkyng
In syttyng, in standyng, in wakyng, or wynkyng,
what euer I do, or where euer I go
My brayne and myshap in all these do me wo
As for my senses eche one of all fyue
wondreth as it can to fele it selfe a lyue
And than hath loue goten all in one bed
Hym selfe and his seruauntes to lodge in this hed
Uayne hope, dyspayre, drede, and audacite,
Hast, wast, lust without lykyng or lyberte
Dilygence, humilyte, trust, and ielousy,
Desyre, pacyent sufferaunce, and constansy,
These with other in this hed lyke swarmes of bees
Styng in debatyng theyr contraryetees
The venym wherof from this hed dystylleth
Downe to this brest and this hart it kylleth
All tymes in all places of this body
By this dystemperaunce thus dystempored am I
Sheueryng in colde and yet in hete I dye
Drowned in moysture parched perchment drye

No louer nor loued.
Colde hote moste drye all in all places at ones
Mary syr this is an agew for the nones
But or we gyue iudgement I must serch to vew
whether this euydens be false or trew
Nay stande styll your part shall proue neuer the wars
Fo by saynt sauour here is a whot ars
Let me fele your nose, nay fere not man be bolde
well though this ars be warme and this nose colde
yet these twayne by attorney brought in one place
Are as he seyth colde and whot both in lyke case
O what payne drought is see how his dry lyps
Smake for more moyster of his warme moyst hyps
Breath out. these eyes are dull but this nose is quycker
Here is most moyster, your breath smelleth of lycker

Loued not louyng.
well syns ye haue opened in this tale tellyng
The full of your payne for spede to endyng
I shall in fewe wordes such one question dysclose
As if your answere gyue cause to suppose
The hole of the same to be answered at full
we nede no iudgement for yelde my selfe I wull
Put case this man loued a woman such one
who were in his lykyng the thyng alone
And that his loue to her were not so myckyll
But her fancy towarde hym were as lyttyll
And that she hyd her selfe so day and nyght
That selde tyme whan he myght come in her syght
And then put case that one to you loue dyd bere
A woman that other so vgly were
That eche kys of her mouth called you to gybbes fest
Or that your fancy abhorred her so at lest
That her presens were as swete to suppose
As one shulde present

No louer nor loued.
A torde to his nose

Loued not louyng.
ye in good fayth, wherto the case is this
That her spytfull presens absent neuer is
Of these two cases if chaunce shulde dryue you
To chose one, which wolde ye chuse tell trouth now
what ye study

No louer nor loued.
Tary ye be to gredy
Men be not lyke women alway redy

Louer not loued.
In good soth to tell treuth of these cases twayne
which case is the wurst is to me vncertayne

Loued not louyng.
Fyrst case of these twayne I put for your parte
And by the last case apereth myne owne smarte
If they proced with this fyrst case of ours
Then is our mater vndoubtedly yours
And if iudgement passe with this last case in fyne
Then is the mater asewredly myne
Syns by these cases our partes so do seme
That which is most paynefull your selfe can not deme.
If ye nowe wyll all circumstaunce eschew
Make this question in these cases our yssew
And the payne of these men to abreuyate
Set all our other mater as frustrate

Louer not loued.
Agreed

Loued not louyng.
Then further to abredge your payne
Syns this our yssew apereth thus playne
As folke not doubtyng your consciens nor connyng
we shall in the same let passe all resonyng
yeldyng to your iudgement the hole of my parte

Louer not loued.
And I lykewyse myne with wyll and good harte

No louer nor loued
So lo make you low curtsy to me now
And streyght I wyll make as lowe curtsy to you
Nay stande ye nere the vpper ende I pray ye
For the neyther ende is good ynough for me
your cases which enclude your grefe eche whyt
Shall dwell in this hed

Louer loued.
And in myne but yet
Or that we herein our iudgement publysh
I shall desyre you that we twayne may fynysh
As farre in our mater towarde iudgement
As ye haue done in yours to the entent
That we our partes brought to gether thyther
May come to iudgement fro thens to gyther

No louer nor loued
Byr lady syr and I desyre the same

Loued not louyng.
I wolde ye began

Louer not loued.
Begyn then in goddes name

Louer loued.
Shall I begyn

No louer nor loued.
Syns I loke but for wynnyng
Gyue me the ende and take you the begynnyng

Louer loued.
who shall wynne the ende, the ende at ende shall try
For my parte wherof nowe thus begyn I
I am as I sayd a beloued louer
And he no louer nor beloued nother
In which two cases he maketh his auaunt
Of both our partes to proue his most pleasaunt
But be ye assuered by ought I yet se
In his estate no maner pleasure can be

No louer nor loued.
yes two maner pleasures ye must nedes confes
Fyrst I haue the pleasure of quyetnes
And the secounde is I am contented

Louer loued.
That seconde pleasure now secondly inuented
To compare with pleasure by contentashyon
Is a very seconde ymagynashyon

No louer nor loued.
Then shewe your wyt for profe of this in hande
Howe may pleasure without contentacyon stande

Louer loued.
Pleasure without contentacyon can not be
But contentacyon without pleasure we se
In thynges innumerable euery day
Of all which marke these which I shall nowe ley
Put case that I for pleasure of some frende
Or some thyng which I longed to se at ende
wolde be content to ryde thre score myle this nyght
And neuer wolde bayte nor neuer alyght
I myght be ryght well content to do this
And yet in this doyng no pleasure there is
Moreouer ye by pacyent sufferaunce
May be contented with any myschaunce
The losse of your chylde frende or any thyng
That in this worlde to you can be longyng
wherin ye contented neuer so well
yet is your contentacyon pleasure no dell

No louer nor loued.
These two exsamples by ought that I se
Be no thyng the thynges that any thynge touch me
with deth of my chylde my beyng contented
Or payne with my frende wyllyngly assented
Is not contentacyon voluntary
For that contentacyon cometh forceably
But my contentacion standeth in such thyng
As I wolde fyrst wyshe if it went by wyshyng

Louer loued.
Syr be ye contented euen as ye tell
yet your contentacyon can nother excell
Nor be compared egall to myne estate
For touchyng contentacyon I am in rate
As hyely contented to loue as ye se
As ye to forbere loue can wyshe to be
Had I no more to say in this argument
But that I am as well as you content
yet hath my parte nowe good approbacyon
To match with yours euen by contentacyon
But contentacion is not all the thyng
That I for my loue haue in recompencyng
Aboue contentacyon pleasures felyng
Haue I so many, that no wyght lyuyng
Can by any wyt or tonge the same reporte
O the pleasaunt pleasures in our resorte
After my beyng from her any whyther
what pleasures haue we in commyng to gyther
Eche tap on the grounde towarde me with her fote
Doth bathe in delyght my very harte rote
Euery twynke of her aluryng eye
Reuyueth my spirites euen thorowoutly
Eche worde of her mouth not a preparatyue
But the ryght medicyne of preseruatyue
we be so ioconde and ioyfully ioyned
Her loue for my loue so currantly coyned
That all pleasures yerthly the treuth to declare
Are pleasures not able with ours to compare
This mouth in maner receyueth no food
Loue is the fedyng that doth this body good
And this hed dyspyseth all these eyes wynkyng
Longer then loue doth kepe this harte thynkyng
To dreame on my swete harte, loue is my feader
Loue is my lorde, and loue is my leader
Of all myne affayres in thought, worde, and dede,
Loue is the Christs crosse that must be my spede

No louer nor loued.
By this I perceyue wel ye make rekenyng
That loue is a goodly and a good thyng

Louer loued.
Loue good what yll in loue canst thou make apere

No louer nor loued.
yes I shal proue this loue at this tyme ment here
In this mans case as yll as is the deuyll
And in your case I shall proue loue more euyll
what tormentry coulde all the deuylles in hell
Deuyse to his payne that he doth not tell
what payne bryngeth that body those deuyls in that hed
which mynysters alway by loue are led
He frysyth in fyre he drowneth in drought
Eche parte of his body loue hath brought abought
where eche to helpe other shulde be dylygent
They marter eche other the man to torment
without stynt of rage his paynes be so sore
That no fende may torment man in hell more
And as in your case to proue that loue is
wurs than the deuyll my meanyng is this
Loue dystempereth hym by torment in payne
And loue dystempereth you as farre in ioy playne
your owne confession declareth that ye
Eate, drynke, or slepe euyn as lyttell as he
And he that lacketh any one of those three
Be it by ioy or by payne clere ye see
Deth must be sequell howe euer it be
And thus are ye both brought by loues induccyon
By payne or by ioy to lyke poynt of dystruccyon
which poynt aproueth loue in this case past
Beyonde the deuyll in turmentry to haue a cast
For I trowe ye fynde not that the deuyll can fynde
To turment man in hell by any pleasaunt mynde
wherby as I sayd I say of loue styll
Of the deuyll and loue, loue is the more yll
And at begynnyng I may say to yow
If god had sene as much as I say now
Loue had ben Lucyfer and doubt ye no whyt
But experyens nowe hath taught god such wyt
That if ought come at Lucyfer other then good
To whyp soules on the brech loue shalbe the blood
And sewer he is one that can not lyue long
For aged folke ye wot well can not be strong
And an other thyng his phisicyon doth ges
That he is infecte with the blak iawndes

Louer loued.
No ferther then ye be enfecte with folye
For in all these wordes no worde can I espye
Such as for your parte any profe auoucheth

No louer nor loued.
For profe of my parte, no but it toucheth
The dysprofe of yours for where you alledged
your parte aboue myne to be compared
By pleasures in which your dyspleasures are such
That ye eate, drynke, nor slepe, or at most not much
In lacke wherof my tale proueth playnly
Eche parte of your pleasure a turmentry
wherby your good loue I haue proued so euyll
That loue is apparauntly wors then the deuyll
And as touchyng my parte there can aryse
No maner dyspleasures nor tormentryes
In that I loue not, nor am not loued
I moue no dyspleasures nor none to me moued
But all dyspleasures of loue fro me absent
By absens wherof I quyetly content

Louer loued.
Syr where ye sayd and thynke ye haue sayd wel
That my ioy by loue shall bryng deth in sequell
In that by the same in maner I dysdayne
Fode and slepe, this prouerbe answereth you playne
Loke not on the meat, but loke on the man
Nowe loke ye on me and say what ye can

No louer nor loued
Nay for a tyme loue may puffe vp a thynge
But lackyng fode and slepe deth is the endyng

Louer loued
well syr tyll such tyme as deth approue it
This part of your tale may slepe euery whyt
And where ye by absent dyspleasure wolde
Match with my present pleasure ye seme more bolde
Then wyse, for those twayne be farre dyfferent sewer

No louer nor loued.
Is not absens of dyspleasure a pleasure

Louer loued.
yes in lyke rate as a post is pleased
which as by no meane it can be dyseased
By dyspleasure present so is it trew
That no pleasure present in it can ensew
Pleasures or dyspleasures felyng sensybly
A post ye knowe well can not fele possybly
And as a post in this case I take you
Concernynge the effecte of pleasure in hande now
For any felyng ye in pleasure indure
More then ye say ye fele in dyspleasure

No louer nor loued.
Syr though the effecte of your pleasure present
Be more pleasaunt then dyspleasure absent
yet howe compare ye with myne absent payne
By present dyspleasures in which ye remayne

Louer loued.
My present dyspleasures I knowe none such

No louer nor loued.
Knowe ye no payne by loue lytell nor much

Louer loued.
No.

No louer nor loued.
Then shall I shewe such a thyng in this purs
As shortly shall shewe herein your parte the wurs
Nowe I pray god the deuyll in hell blynde me
By the masse I haue lefte my boke behynde me
I beseche our lorde I neuer go hens
If I wolde not rather haue spent forty pens
But syns it is thus I must go fetch it
I wyll not tary, a syr the deuyll stretch it

Louer loued.
Farewell dawcock

No louer nor loued.
Farewell woodcock

Louer loued.
He is gone

Loued not louyng.
Gone ye but he wyll come agayne anone

Louer loued.
Nay this nyght he wyll no more dyssease you
Gyue iudgement hardely euen whan it please you
which done syth he is gone my selfe streyght shall
Ryghtously betwene you gyue iudgement fynall
But lorde what a face this fole hath set here
Tyll shame defaced his foly so clere
That shame hath shamfully in syght of you all
with shame dryuen hym hens to his shamefull fall
wherin all though I nought gayne by wynnyng
That ought may augment my pleasure in louyng
yet shall I wyn therby a pleasure to see
That ye all shall see the mater pas with me
what though the profyte may lyghtly be lodyn
It greueth a man to be ouer trodyn
Nay whan I saw that his wynnyng must growe
By payne pretendyng in my parte to shewe
Then wyst I well the nody must cum
To do as he dyd or stande and play mum
No man/no woman/no chylde in this place
But I durst for iudgement trust in this case
All doubt of my payne by his profe by any meane
His ronnyng away hath nowe scrapt out cleane
werfore gyue iudgement and I shall returne
In place hereby where my dere hart doth soiurne
And after salutacion betwene vs had
Such as is mete to make louers hartes glade
I shall to reioyce her in mery tydynges
Declare the hole rable of this fooles lesynges

Here the vyse cometh in rōnyng sodenly aboute the place among the audyens with a hye copyn tank on his hed full of squybs fyred cryeng water water/fyre fyre/fyre/water/ water/fyre/tyll the fyre in the squybs be spent.
Louer loued.
water and fyre

No louer nor loued.
Nay water for fyre I meane

Louer loued.
well thanked be god it is out nowe cleane
Howe cam it there

No louer nor loued.
Syr as I was goyng
To fet my boke for which was my departyng
There chaunced in my way a house hereby
To fyre which is burned pyteously
But meruelously the people do mone
For a woman they say a goodly one
A soioner whome in this house burned is
And shoutyng of the people for helpe in this
Made me runne thyther to haue done some good
And at a wyndowe therof as I stood
I thrust in my hed and euyn at a flush
Fyre flasht in my face and so toke my bush

Louer loued.
what house?

No louer nor loued.
A house paynted with red oker
The owner wherof they say is a broker

Louer loued.
Then brek hart alas why lyue I this day
My dere harte is dystroyd lyfe and welth away

No louer nor loued.
what man syt downe and be of good chere
Gods body mayster woodcock is gone clere
O mayster woodcock fayr mot be fall ye
Of ryght mayster woodcock I must nowe call ye
Maystres stande you here afore and rubbe hym
And I wyll stande here behynde and dubbe hym
Nay the chylde is a slepe ye nede not rock
Mayster woodcock mayster wood wood woodcock
where folke be farre within a man must knock
Is not this a pang trow ye beyonde the nock
Speke mayster woodcock, speke parot I pray ye
My leman your lady ey wyll ye see
My lady your leman one vntertakes
To be safe from fyre by slyppyng through a iakes

Louer loued.
That worde I harde but yet I see her not

No louer nor loued.
No more do I mayster woodcock our lorde wot

Louer loued.
Unto that house where I dyd see her last
I wyll seke to see her and if she be past
So that to apere there I can not make her
Then wyll I burne after and ouertake her

The louer loued goeth out.
No louer nor loued.
well ye may burne to gyther for all this
And do well ynough for ought that is yet amys
For gods sake one ronne after and bast hym
It were great pyte the fyre shulde wast hym
For beyng fatte your knowledge must recorde
A woodcock well rost is a dyshe for a lorde
And for a woodcock ye all must nowe knowe hym
By mater of recorde that so doth shewe hym
And breuely to bryng you all out of dowt
All this haue I feyned to brynge abowt
Hym selfe to conuynce hym selfe euen by acte
As he hath done here in doyng this facte
He taketh more thought for this one woman nowe
Then coulde I for all in the worlde I make auowe
which hath so shamefully defaced his parte
That to returne nother hath he face nor harte
which sene, whyles he and she lese tyme in kyssyng
Gyue ye with me iudgement a godes blessyng

Louer loued.
The profe of my sayeng at my fyrst entre
That wretch bryngeth now in place in that I leyde
Dyssimblyng mans mynde by apparence, to be
Thyng inconuenyent, which thyng as I seyd
Is proued nowe true, howe was I dysmeyd
By his false facyng the deth of my darlyng
whome I thanke god is in helth and eyleth nothyng

No louer nor loued
Syr I beseche you of all your dysmaying
what other cause can ye ley then your louyng

Louer loued.
My louyng, nay all the cause was your lyeng

No louer nor loued.
what had my lye done if ye had not loued

Louer loued.
what dyd my loue tyll your lye was moued

No louer nor loued.
By these two questions it semeth we may make
your loue and my lye to parte euenly the stake
Louyng and lyeng haue we brought nowe hyther
Louers and lyers to ley both to gyther
But put case my lye of her deth were true
what excuse for your loue coulde then ensue

Louer loued.
If fortune god saue her dyd bryng her to it
The faute were in fortune and in loue no whyt

No louer nor loued.
The hole faute in fortune by my sheth well yt
God sende your fortune better then your wyt

Louer loued.
well syr at extremyte I can proue
The faute in fortune as much as in loue

No louer nor loued.
Then fortune in lyke case with loue nowe ioyne yow
As I with louyng ioyned lyeng euen now
And well they may ioyne all by ought that I se
For eche of all thre I take lyke vanyte
But syns ye confesse that your part of such payne
Cometh halfe by loue, and that it is certayne
That certayne paynes to loued louers do moue
In whiche the faute in nothyng saue onely loue
As dred and ielousy eche of which with mo
To your estate of loue is a dayly fo
And I clere out of loue declaryng such show
As in my case no payne to me can grow
I say this consydred hath pyth suffycyent
In profe of my parte to dryue you to iudgement

Louer loued.
Nay fyrst a fewe wordes, syr though I confes
That loue bryngeth some payne and your case paynles
By meane of your contented quyetnes
Yet thactuall pleasures that I posses
Are as farre aboue the case that ye profes
As is my payne in your ymagynacyon
Under the pleasures of contentacyon
Thus wade how ye wyll one way or other
If ye wynne one way ye shall lese another
But if ye intende for ende to be brefe
Ioine wyth me herein for indifferent prefe
A tree ye knowe wel is a thinge that hath life
And such a thinge as neuer feleth payne or strife
But euer quiet and alway contented
And as there can no way be inuented
To bringe a tree dyspleasure by felinge paine
So no felinge pleasure in it can remayne
A hors is a thinge that hath life also
And he by felinge felith both welth and wo
By dryuinge or drawinge al day in the mier
Many paynefull iorneys hath he in hier
But after al those he hath alway at night
These pleasures folowing to his great delyght
Fyrst fayre washt at a riuer or a weyre
And straight brought to a stabel warme and fayre
Dry rubbyd and chafed from hed to hele
And coryd tyll he be slyke as an ele
Then he is littrid in maner nose hie
And hey as much as will in his belie
Then prouender hath he otes pese benes or brede
which feding in felinge as pleasaunt to his hede
As to a couetous man to beholde
Of his owne westminster hall full of golde
After which feding he slepeth in quiet rest
Dewring such time as his meat may degest
Al this considred, a hors or a tree
If ye must chose the tone which woulde ye be

No louer nor loued.
when the hors must to labour by our lady
I had leuer be a tree then a hors I.

Louer loued.
But howe when he resteth and fylleth his gorge

No louer nor loued.
Then wolde I be a hors and no tree by saint George

Louer loued.
But what if he must nedes sticke to the tone

No louer nor loued.
Which were then best by the masse I can name none

Louer loued.
The first case is yours and the next is for me
In case lyke a tree I may liken ye
For as a tree hath lyfe within feling
wherby it felith pleasing not displeasing
And can not be but contented quietly
Euen the like case is yours now presently
And as the hors feleth paine and not the tree
Lykewyse I haue paine and no paine haue ye
And as a hors aboue a tree felyth pleasure
So fele I pleasure aboue you in rate sure
And as the tre felith nother and the hors both
Euen so pleasure and paine betwene vs twaine goeth
Sins these two cases so indifferently fall
That your selfe can iudge nother for perciall
For indifferent ende I thinke this way best
Of all our reasoning to debarre the rest
And in these two cases this one question
To be the issue that we shal ioyne on

No louer nor loued.
Be it so

Louer loued.
Nowe are these issues cowched so nie
That both sides I trust shall take ende shortly

Louer not loued.
I hope and desire the same and syns we
were fyrst harde, we both humbly beseche ye
That we in like wise maye haue iudgement furst

Louer loued.
I graunt

No louer nor loued.
By the masse and I come best or wurst

Louer loued.
Though nature force man styfly to encline
To his owne parte in ech particuler thing
yet reason wolde man whan man shal determine
Other mens partes by indifferent awarding
Indifferent to be in al his reasoning
wherfore in this parte cut out of affeccion
So that indifferency be direccion

No louer nor loued.
Contented with that and by ought I espy
we may in this mater take ende quickly
Scan we theyr cases as she did apply them
That we may perceiue what is ment by them
He loueth vnloued a goodly one
She is loued not louinge of an vgly one
Or in his eye his louer semeth goodly
And in her eye her lober semeth as vgly
Her most desyred angels face he can not see
His most lothely hell houndes face she can not flee
He loueth, she abhorreth wherby presens is
His life, her deth, wherby I say euen this
Be his feling paines in euery degre
As great and as many as he sayth they be
yet in my iudgement by these cases hath she
As great and as many feling paines as he

Louer loued.
When mater at full is indifferently leyd
As ye in this iugement haue leyd this nowe
what reason the tyme by me shulde be deleyd
ye haue spoken my thought wherfore to you
In peysing your paines my consciens doth alowe
A iust counterpaise and thus your paynes be
A iudged by vs twaine one paine in degre

Louer not loued.
Well sins your conscyens driueth you thus to iudge
I receiue this iudgement without grefe or grudge

Loued not louing.
And I in like rate, yelding vnto you twaine
Harty thankes for this your vndeseruid paine

Louer not loued.
Nowe maisters may it please you to declare
As touching their partes of what minde ye are

Loued not louinge.

No louer nor loued.
Womanly spoken maistres by the roodes mother

Louer not loued.
Who heareth this tale wyth in different minde
And seeth of these twaine eche one so full bent
To his owne parte that nother in harte can finde
To chaunge pleasures with other must nedes assent
That she in these wordes hath gyuen ryght iudgement
In affirmance wherof I iudge and awarde
Both these pleasures of yours as one in regarde

Louer loued.
wel syns I thinke ye both without corrupcion
I shall moue no mater of interrupcion

No louer nor loued.
Nor I but maysters though I say nought in this
May I not thinke my pleasure more than his

Loued not louing.
Affeccion vnbridled may make vs al thynke
That eche of vs hath done other wronge
But where reason taketh place it can not sinke
Syns cause to be percial here is none vs amonge
That one hed that wolde thinke his owne wit so strong
That on his iudges he myght iudgement deuise
what iudge in so iudging coulde iudge hym wyse

Louer loued.
well myne estate ryght wel contenteth me

No louer nor loued.
And I with myne as well content as ye

Louer not loued.
So shulde ye both likewise be contented
Eche other to see content in such degree
As on your partes our iugement hath awarded
your neyghbour in pleasure lyke your selfe to be
Gladly to wishe Christes precept doth bynde ye
Thus contentacion shulde alway prefer
One man to ioy the pleasure of an other

Louer loued.

Louer not loued.