Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/37

Deawes^[1] donketh^[2] the dounes,
Deores^[3] with huere derne rounes^[4]
    Domes for to deme;^[5]
Wormes woweth under cloude,^[6]
Wymmen waxeth wounder proude,
    So wel hit wol hem seme,
Yef me shal wonte wille of on,
This wunne weole^[7] y wole forgon
    Ant wyht in wode be fleme.^[8]

c. 1300

ICHOT^[9] a burde^[10] in boure bryht,
That fully semly is on syht,
Menskful^[11] maiden of myht;
    Feir^[12] ant fre to fonde;^[13]
In al this wurhliche^[14] won^[15]
A burde of blod ant of bon
Never yete y nuste^[16] non
    Lussomore in londe.^[17]
        Blow northerne wynd!
        Send thou me my suetyng!^[18]
        Blow northerne wynd! blow, blow, blow!

 

1. deawes] dews.
2. donketh] make dank.
3. deores] animals.
4. huere derne rounes] their secret cries.
5. domes for to deme] whereby they converse.
6. cloude] clod.
7. wunne weole] wealth of joy.
8. fleme] fugitive.
9. Ichot] I know.
10. burde] maiden.
11. menskful] worshipful.
12. feir] fair.
13. fonde] deal with.
14. wurhliche] noble.
15. won] multitude.
16. y nuste] I knew not.
17. lussomore in londe] lovelier on earth.
18. suetyng] sweetheart.