And right anone La Bell Pucell me sent Agaynst my weddyng of the saten fyne, White as the mylke, a goodly garment Braudred with pearle that clearely dyd shine. And so, the mariage for to determine, Venus me brought to a royal chapell, Whiche of fine golde was wrought everydell.

And after that the gay and glorious La Bell Pucell to the chapell was leade In a white vesture fayre and precious, With a golden chaplet on her yelowe heade; And Lex Ecclesie did me to her wedde. After whiche weddyng then was a great feast; Nothing we lacked, but had of the best.

What shoulde I tary by longe continuance Of the fest? for of my joy and pleasure Wisdome can judge, without variaunce, That nought I lacked, as ye may be sure, Paiyng the swete due dette of nature. Thus with my lady, that was fayre and cleare, In joy I lived full ryght, many a yere.

O lusty youth and yong tender hart, The true companion of my lady bryght! God let us never from other astart,3 But all in joye to live bothe daye and nyght. Thus after sorowe joye arived aryght; After my payne I had sport and playe; Full litle thought I that it shoulde decaye,

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Open thine eares unto my song aloude.
Is not thy beauté, strength, and puyssance,
Though becladde with cloth of pleasaunce,
Very erth and also wormes fode,

When erth to erth shall turne to the blode?

And erth, with erth why art thou so wroth? Remembre the1 that it vayleth2 right nought; For thou mayst thinke, of a perfyte trothe, If with the erth thou hast a quarell sought, Amyddes the erth there is a place ywrought, Whan erth to erth is torned properly, The' for thy synne to perrysh wonderly.

And erth, for erth why hast thou envy? And the erth upon erth to be more prosperous Than thou thyselfe, fretting the1 inwardly? It is a sinne right foul and vicious And unto God also full odious.

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