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THE LEGEND OF GOOD WOMEN.
But hit be other up-on the haly-day, 35
Or elles in the Ioly tyme of May;
Whan that I here the smale foules singe,
†And that the floures ginne for to springe,
Farwel my studie,[A 1] as lasting[A 1] that sesoun!
Now have I therto this condicioun 40
†That, of alle the floures in the mede,
†Than love I most these floures whyte and rede,
†Swiche as men callen daysies in our toun.
†To hem have I so greet affeccioun,
†As I seyde erst, whan comen is the May, 45
†That in my bed ther daweth me no day
†That I nam up, and walking in the mede
To seen[A 2] these floures agein[A 2] the sonne sprede.[A 2]
Whan hit up-riseth by[A 3] the morwe shene,[A 3]
*The longe day, thus walking in the grene. 50
Or elles in the Ioly tyme of May;
Whan that I here the smale foules singe,
†And that the floures ginne for to springe,
Farwel my studie,[A 1] as lasting[A 1] that sesoun!
Now have I therto this condicioun 40
†That, of alle the floures in the mede,
†Than love I most these floures whyte and rede,
†Swiche as men callen daysies in our toun.
†To hem have I so greet affeccioun,
†As I seyde erst, whan comen is the May, 45
†That in my bed ther daweth me no day
†That I nam up, and walking in the mede
To seen[A 2] these floures agein[A 2] the sonne sprede.[A 2]
Whan hit up-riseth by[A 3] the morwe shene,[A 3]
*The longe day, thus walking in the grene. 50
But hit be seldom, on the holyday; 35
Save, certeynly, whan that the month[B 1] of May
Is comen, and that I here the foules singe,
†And that the floures ginnen for to springe,
Farwel[B 2] my book[B 2] and my devocioun!
Now have I than swich a condicioun, 40
†That, of alle the floures in the mede,
†Than love I most these floures whyte and rede,
†Swiche as men callen daysies in our toun.
†To hem have I so great affeccioun,
†As I seyde erst, whan comen is the May, 45
†That in my bed ther daweth me no day
†That I nam up, and walking in the mede
To seen this flour agein the sonne sprede,
Whan hit upryseth erly by the morwe;
*That blisful sighte softneth al my sorwe, 50
Save, certeynly, whan that the month[B 1] of May
Is comen, and that I here the foules singe,
†And that the floures ginnen for to springe,
Farwel[B 2] my book[B 2] and my devocioun!
Now have I than swich a condicioun, 40
†That, of alle the floures in the mede,
†Than love I most these floures whyte and rede,
†Swiche as men callen daysies in our toun.
†To hem have I so great affeccioun,
†As I seyde erst, whan comen is the May, 45
†That in my bed ther daweth me no day
†That I nam up, and walking in the mede
To seen this flour agein the sonne sprede,
Whan hit upryseth erly by the morwe;
*That blisful sighte softneth al my sorwe, 50
[A 4] [A 5] [A 6] [A 7] [A 8] [A 9] [A 10]
A.
B.