| 30 |
This mayde of age twelf yeer was and tweye, |
| In which that Nature hadde swich delit. |
| For right as she kan peynte a lilie whit, |
| And reed a rose, right with swich peynture |
| She peynted hath this noble creature, |
| 35 | Er she were born, upon hir lymes fre, |
| Where as by right swiche colours sholde be. |
| And Phebus dyed hath hir tresses grete, |
| Lyk to the stremes of his burned heete; |
| And if that excellent was hir beautee, |
| 40 | A thousand foold moore vertuous was she. |
| In hire ne lakked no condicioun |
| That is to preyse, as by discrecioun; |
| As wel in goost as body chast was she, |
| For which she floured in virginitee |
| 45 | With alle humylitee and abstinence, |
| With alle attemperaunce and pacience, |
| With mesure eek of beryng and array. |
| Discreet she was in answeryng alway, |
| Though she were wise Pallas, dar I seyn, |
| 50 | Hir facound eek ful wommanly and pleyn, |
| No countrefeted termes hadde she |
| To seme wys, but after hir degree |
| She spak, and alle hir wordes, moore and lesse, |
| Sownynge in vertu and in gentillesse. |
| 55 | Shamefast she was in maydens shamefastnesse, |
| Constant in herte, and evere in bisynesse |
| To dryve hir out of ydel slogardye. |
| Bacus hadde of hire mouth right no maistrie; |
| For wyn and youthe dooth Venus encresse, |
| 60 | As man in fyr wol casten oille or greesse. |
| And of hir owene vertu unconstreyned, |
| She hath ful ofte tyme syk hir feyned, |
| For that she wolde fleen the compaignye |
| Where likly was to treten of folye, |
| 65 | As is at feestes, revels, and at daunces |
| That been occasions of daliaunces. |
| Swich thynges maken children for to be |
| To soone rype and boold, as men may se, |
| Which is ful perilous, and hath been yoore; |
| 70 | For al to soone may they lerne loore |
| Of booldnesse, whan she woxen is a wyf. |
|
| 30 |
This virgin was fourteen years of age, this may |
| In whom Dame Nature had so great delight. |
| For just as she can paint a lily white |
| Or redden rose, even with such a stroke |
| She did this creature by her art evoke |
| 35 | Before she was born, painting her sweet limbs free |
| In such true colours as they'd come to be; |
| And Phoebus dyed her long hair with such gold |
| As have his burning streamers manifold. |
| But if right excellent was her beauty, |
| 40 | A thousand-fold more virtuous was she. |
| In her there lacked not one condition known |
| That's praiseworthy when by discretion shown. |
| As well in soul as body chaste was she; |
| For which she flowered in virginity |
| 45 | With all humility and abstinence, |
| And with all temperance and with patience, |
| And with a modest bearing and array. |
| Discreet in her replies she was alway; |
| Though she was wise as Pallas, and not vain, |
| 50 | Her speech was always womanly and plain, |
| No highfalutin pretty words had she |
| To ape deep knowledge; after her degree |
| She spoke, and all her words, greater and less, |
| Tended to virtue and to gentleness. |
| 55 | Modest she was, with maiden bashfulness, |
| Constant of heart, and full of busyness |
| To keep her from all idle sluggardry. |
| Bacchus had of her mouth no mastery; |
| For wine and youth help Venus to increase, |
| 60 | As when on fire is scattered oil or grease. |
| And of her virtue, free and unconstrained, |
| She had ofttimes some little illness feigned |
| In order to avoid a company |
| Which likely was to do some great folly, |
| 65 | As people do at revels and at dances, |
| Which are occasions when young folk take chances. |
| Such things but make young men and maidens be |
| Too ripe and bold, as everyone may see, |
| Which is right dangerous, as 'twas of yore. |
| 70 | For all too soon a virgin learns the lore |
| Of wantonness when she becomes a wife. |
|
