But Youth-head had him made a courtly coat,
As green as grass, with golden streamis bright
Broudin' about, fast bucklit to his throat;
A worthy weed, well closing, and full light.
A visor, that was painted for the sight,
As ruby red, and part of white among;
Of colours might there none be fresher dight,
But Heaviness had fashioned it all wrong.
This worthy King in prison thus could lie,
With all his folk, and could there none out break.
Full oft they can upon Dame Pity cry:
"Fair thing! come down a while, and with us speak.
Come! Fairer way ye might your harmes wreak,
Than thus to murder us that yielden are.
Would ye us rue, where'er we might our reik,
We should men be to you for evermore."3
Our Lord King Heartis will must now be done,
That yet is law among the nether bowers;
O'er long, madame, ye keepit these high towers;
Nor thank we none but Pity us suppleit." 2
Dame Danger then into a nook she cowers;
And quaking there the Queen she lay for dread.
Then Busteousness 23 come with brag and boast,
All that gainstood he struck dead on the floor.
Dame Plesaunce said, "Shall we this way be lost?
Bring up the King, let him in at the door;
In his gentrice right well I dare assure."
Therefore sweet Comfort cried upon the King:
Then Busyness, that cunning creatúre,
To serve Dame Plesaunce soon there can him bring. 400
So sweet a swell as struck unto his heart
When that he saw Dame Plesaunce at his will.
"I yield me, sir, and do me not to smart,"
(The fair Queen said upon this wise him till)
"I save youris, suppose it be no skill.26
All that I have, and all that mine may be,
With all my heart I offer here you till,
And askis nought but ye be true to me."
To that which Love, Desire, and Lust devised,
Thus fair Dame Plesaunce sweetly can assent.
Then suddenly Sir Heart him now disguised
On got his amorous cloak or e'er he stent.
Freshly to feast these amorous folk are went.
Blitheness was first brought bodward to the hall;
Dame Chastity, that selie 27 innocent,
Both night and day, that Pity should not pass; While all fordwart, in default of sleep,
She busily as for-travailit she was,
Fair Calling gave her drink into 10 a glass:
Soon after that to sleep she went anon.
Pity was ware that ilk pretty cass,
And privily out at the door is gone.
The door on jar it stood; all were asleep,
And Pity down the stair full soon is past.
This Busyness has seen, and gave good keep:
Dame Pity has he hent 11 in armis fast.
He callit on Lust, and he came at the last,
His bandis gart 12 he burst in pieces small:
Dame Pity was greatly fearit and aghast.
By that was Comfort croppin' in o'er the wall.
Soon came Delight, and he begouth 13 to dance;
Green Love upstart, and can his spirits ta.14
"Full well is me," said Disport, of this chance,
"For now I trust great melody to ma." 15
All in a rout unto the door they ga; 16
And Pity put therein first them before.
Is Stentit, stretched (French "estendre"). 19 Glede (First English "gleda "), kite.
20 Deray (French "desroy "), disorder.
Full sawris 28 sweet and swyth they could them bring. Thus they made a merry marshalling:
Beauty and Love a hot burde 29 have begun;
"God bless thee lord;" thus Conscience can say, "This while bygone thou has been all too glad." "Yea, Conscience; and yet fain would I play; But now my heart waxis wonder sad." "They have been wickit counsellors thou had, Wist thou the sooth, as thou shall after hear; For, wit thou well, their burding 21 was bad; The root is bitter, sharp as any breir.
His branchis braid out bayr he mony bore."
Unwelcome was the noy, when that they wist,
For following him there came five hundred score
Of hairis that King Heart had ne'er before.
And when that fair Dame Plesaunce had them seen,
She grievit, and she angerit well more;
Her face she wryit about for proper teen.8
Scantly had Age restit him there awhile,
When Conscience came crying o'er the wall:
"How long think ye to hold me in exile?
Now, on my soul, ye are but lurdanis' all!
And some of you, by God, shall have a fall,
May I him meet fra presence of the King.
All false traitors I may you full well call,
So came they in, each one through other, thrang,25 Syn with a whisk almost I wot not how.
"es gebührt."
24 Suppose, though.
26 Where at, to where.
30 Scouner (First English "scunian "), shun. 32 Man of good, good man.
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