The unique copy of this poem is in MS. P[272]. It is the last poem in the MS., and is in excellent company, as it immediately follows several other of Chaucer's genuine poems[273]. This is probably why Bp. Percy attributed it to Chaucer, who himself tells us that he wrote 'balades, _roundels_, virelayes.' It is significant that Mätzner, in his _Altenglische Sprachproben_, i. 347, chose this poem alone as a specimen of the Minor Poems. It is, in fact, most happily expressed, and the internal evidence places its authenticity beyond question. The three roundels express three 'movements,' in the poet's usual manner; and his mastery of metre is shewn in the use of the same rime in _-en-e_ in the first and third roundels, requiring no less than _ten_ different words for the purpose; whilst in the second roundel the corresponding lines end in _-eyn-e_, producing much the same effect, if (as is probable) the old sounds of _e_ and _ey_ were not very different. We at once recognise the Chaucerian phrases _I do no fors_ (see Cant. Ta. D 1234, 1512), and _I counte him not a bene_ (see Troil. v. 363). Very characteristic is the use of the dissyllabic word _sen-e_ (l. 10), which is an adjective, and means 'manifest,' from the A. S. _geséne_, (_gesýne_), and not the past participle, which is _y-seen_. Chaucer rimes it with _clen-e_ (Prol. to C. T. 134), and with _gren-e_ (Kn. Tale, A 2298). The phrase _though he sterve for the peyne_ (l. 23) reminds us of _for to dyen in the peyne_ (Kn. Ta. A 1133). But the most curious thing about this poem is the incidental testimony of Lydgate, in his Ballade in Commendacion of our Ladie; see poem no. 26 above, discussed at p. 38. I here quote st. 22 in full, from ed. 1561, fol. 330: 'Where might I loue euer better beset Then in this Lilie, likyng to beholde? That lace of loue, the bonde so well thou knit, That I maie see thee, or myne harte colde, And or I passe out of my daies olde, Tofore [thee] syngyng euermore vtterly-- _Your iyen twoo woll slea me sodainly_.' I ought to add that this poem is the only one which I have admitted into the set of Minor Poems (nos. I-XX) with incomplete external evidence. If it is not Chaucer's, it is by some one who contrived to surpass him in his own style. And this is sufficient excuse for its appearance here. Moreover, Lydgate's testimony _is_ external evidence, in a high degree. Even the allusion in l. 27 to the Roman de la Rose points in the same direction; and so does Chaucer's statement that he wrote roundels. Excepting that in the Parl. of Foules, ll. 680-692, and the three here given, no roundels of his have ever been found[274]. § 29. XII. TO ROSEMOUNDE.