The Book of the Duke of True Lovers

VIRELAY

Sweet, in whom my joy must be,

Now my heart is full of glee

[pg 94]

For thy love: and loosed from care

All my song is, “Lady fair,

Living I consume for thee.”

 

But thy gentle love hath sent

The fair comfort that I need:

I therewith am well content.

Gladness doth my spirit lead.

 

Rightly am I glad, pardie!

For of old my jollity

Drowned in woes I had to bear:

Of thy help when I was ware

Gone was all my misery,

Sweet, in whom my joy must be.

 

Since the day that thou hast lent

Thy dear heart, my life is freed

From the sorrows I lament:

Peace and gladness are my meed.

 

Lady, love despatcheth me

Succour sweet, who thus am free

From my sickness: pale despair

Rules no longer when I share

Hope that I thy face may see,

Sweet, in whom my joy must be.

Now have I recounted unto you how that in the first instance I was surprised and subdued by love, and was afterward grievously constrained by great [pg 95] longing, and how my dear kinsman gave himself much trouble, with the result that I was delivered from my trouble by my lady, who had mercy on me, thanks be to her. And I will tell how that from that time I went to and fro. Thenceforth I was happy even as you have heard, and because of the joy which I had, I devised this ballad:—