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"Faireste of faire, O lady myn, Venus, |
| Doughter to Jove, and spouse of Vulcanus, |
| 1365 | Thow glader of the Mount of Citheron, |
| For thilke love thow haddest to Adoon, |
| Have pitee of my bittre teeris smerte, |
| And taak myn humble preyere at thyn herte. |
| Allas, I ne have no langage to telle |
| 1370 | Th'effectes, ne the tormentz of myn helle! |
| Myn herte may myne harmes nat biwreye, |
| I am so confus that I kan noght seye. |
| But 'Mercy, lady bright! that knowest weele |
| My thought, and seest what harmes that I feele.' |
| 1375 | Considere al this, and rewe upon my soore, |
| As wisly, as I shal for everemoore, |
| Emforth my myght, thy trewe servant be, |
| And holden werre alwey with chastitee. |
| That make I myn avow, so ye me helpe. |
| 1380 | I kepe noght of armes for to yelpe, |
| Ne I ne axe nat tomorwe to have victorie, |
| Ne renoun in this cas, ne veyne glorie |
| Of pris of armes blowen up and doun, |
| But I wolde have fully possessioun |
| 1385 | Of Emelye, and dye in thy servyse. |
| Fynd thow the manere how, and in what wyse- |
| I recche nat, but it may bettre be |
| To have victorie of hem, or they of me- |
| So that I have my lady in myne armes. |
| 1390 | For though so be, that Mars is god of armes, |
| Youre vertu is so greet in hevene above |
| That if yow list, I shal wel have my love. |
| Thy temple wol I worshipe everemo, |
| And on thyn auter, where I ride or go, |
| 1395 | I wol doon sacrifice and fires beete. |
| And if ye wol nat so, my lady sweete, |
| Thanne preye I thee, tomorwe with a spere |
| That Arcita me thurgh the herte bere. |
| Thanne rekke I noght, whan I have lost my lyf, |
| 1400 | Though that Arcita wynne hir to his wyf. |
| This is th'effect and ende of my preyere, |
| Yif me my love, thow blisful lady deere!" |
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| "Fairest of fair, O lady mine, Venus, |
| Daughter of Jove and spouse to Vulcanus, |
| 1365 | Thou gladdener of the Mount of Citheron, |
| By that great love thou borest to Adon, |
| Have pity on my bitter tears that smart |
| And hear my humble prayer within thy heart. |
| Alas! I have no words in which to tell |
| 1370 | The effect of all the torments of my hell; |
| My heavy heart its evils can't bewray; |
| I'm so confused I can find nothing to say. |
| But mercy, lady bright, that knowest well |
| My heart, and seest all the ills I feel, |
| 1375 | Consider and have ruth upon my sore |
| As truly as I shall, for evermore, |
| Well as I may, thy one true servant be, |
| And wage a war henceforth on chastity. |
| If thou wilt help, thus do I make my vow, |
| 1380 | To boast of knightly skill I care not now, |
| Nor do I ask tomorrow's victory, |
| Nor any such renown, nor vain glory |
| Of prize of arms, blown before lord and churl, |
| But I would have possession of one girl, |
| 1385 | Of Emily, and die in thy service; |
| Find thou the manner how, and in what wise. |
| For I care not, unless it better be, |
| Whether I vanquish them or they do me, |
| So I may have my lady in my arms. |
| 1390 | For though Mars is the god of war's alarms, |
| Thy power is so great in Heaven above, |
| That, if it be thy will, I'll have my love. |
| In thy fane will I worship always, so |
| That on thine altar, where'er I ride or go, |
| 1395 | I will lay sacrifice and thy fires feed. |
| And if thou wilt not so, O lady, cede, |
| I pray thee, that tomorrow, with a spear, |
| Arcita bear me through the heart, just here. |
| For I do not care, when I have lost my life |
| 1400 | That Arcita may win her for his wife. |
| This the effect and end of all my prayer, |
| Give me my love, thou blissful lady fair." |
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