<< From hennesforth how that I wroughte, I shal you tellen, as me thoughte. First, whereof Mirthe served there, And eek what folk ther with him were, Withoute fable I wol descryve. 705 And of that gardin eek as blyve I wol you tellen after this. The faire fasoun al, y-wis, That wel [y-]wrought was for the nones, I may not telle you al at ones: 710 But as I may and can, I shal By ordre tellen you it al. Ful fair servyse and eek ful swete These briddes maden as they sete. Layes of love, ful wel sowning 715 They songen in hir Iargoning; Summe highe and summe eek lowe songe Upon the braunches grene y-spronge. The sweetnesse of hir melodye Made al myn herte in reverdye. 720 And whan that I hadde herd, I trowe, These briddes singing on a rowe, Than mighte I not withholde me That I ne wente in for to see >> Dès ore si cum je sauré, Vous conterai comment j'ovré. Primes de quoi Déduit servoit, Et quel compaignie il avoit Sans longue fable vous veil dire, Et du vergier tretout à tire 700 La façon vous redirai puis. Tout ensemble dire ne puis, Mès tout vous conteré par ordre, Que l'en n'i sache que remordre. Grant servise et dous et plaisant Aloient cil oisel faisant; Lais d'amors et sonnés cortois Chantoit chascun en son patois, Li uns en haut, li autre en bas; De lor chant n'estoit mie gas. 710 La douçor et la mélodie Me mist où cuer grant reverdie; Mès quant j'oi escouté ung poi Les oisiaus, tenir ne me poi Que dant Déduit véoir n'alasse; Car à savoir moult desirasse << Sir Mirthe; for my desiring 725 Was him to seen, over alle thing, His countenaunce and his manere: That sighte was to me ful dere. Tho wente I forth on my right hond Doun by a litel path I fond 730 Of mentes ful, and fenel grene; And faste by, withoute wene, SIR MIRTHE I fond; and right anoon SIR MIRTHE. Unto sir Mirthe gan I goon, Ther-as he was, him to solace. 735 And with him, in that lusty place, So fair folk and so fresh hadde he, That whan I saw, I wondred me Fro whennes swich folk mighte come, So faire they weren, alle and some; 740 For they were lyk, as to my sighte, To angels, that ben fethered brighte. This folk, of which I telle you so, Upon a carole wenten tho. A lady caroled hem, that highte 745 GLADNES, [the] blisful and the lighte; GLADNESSE. Wel coude she singe and lustily, Non half so wel and semely, And make in song swich refreininge, It sat hir wonder wel to singe. 750