BALADE

by: Geoffrey Chaucer (1342?-1400)

      YD, Absolon, thy gilte tresses clere;
      Ester, ley thou thy mekness al a-doun;
      Hyd, Jonathas, al thy frendly manere;
      Penalopee, and Marcia Catoun,
      Mak of your wyfhod no comparisoun;
      Hyde ye your beautes, Isoude and Eleyne;
      My lady cometh, that all this may disteyne.
       
      Thy faire body, lat hit nat appere,
      Lavyne; and thou, Lucresse of Rome toun,
      And Polixene, that boghten love so dere,
      And Cleopatre, with al thy passioun,
      Hyde ye your trouthe of love and your renoun;
      And thou, Tisbe, that hast of love swich peyne;
      My lady cometh, that al this may disteyne.
       
      Herro, Dido, Laudomia, alle y-fere [1],
      And Phyllis, hanging for thy Demophoun,
      And Canace, espyed by thy chere,
      Ysiphile, betraysed with Jasoun,
      Maketh of your trouthe neyther boost ne soun;
      Nor Ypermistre or Adriane, ye tweyne;
      My lady cometh, that all this may disteyne.

MORE POEMS BY GEOFFREY CHAUCER


1 y-fere: together

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