Upon the point that is befalle Of love, in which that I am falle, [Sidenote: =P. i. 45=] I thenke telle my matiere: Now herkne, who that wol it hiere, Of my fortune how that it ferde. [Sidenote: Hic declarat materiam, dicens qualiter Cupido quodam ignito iaculo sui cordis memoriam graui vlcere perforauit, quod Venus percipiens ipsum, vt dicit, quasi in mortis articulo spasmatum, ad confitendum se Genio sacerdoti super amoris causa sic semiuiuum specialiter commendauit.] This enderday, as I forthferde To walke, as I yow telle may,-- And that was in the Monthe of Maii, 100 Whan every brid hath chose his make And thenkth his merthes forto make[227] Of love that he hath achieved; Bot so was I nothing relieved, For I was further fro my love Than Erthe is fro the hevene above, As forto speke of eny sped:[228] So wiste I me non other red, Bot as it were a man forfare[229] Unto the wode I gan to fare,[230] 110 Noght forto singe with the briddes, For whanne I was the wode amiddes, I fond a swote grene pleine, And ther I gan my wo compleigne Wisshinge and wepinge al myn one, For other merthes made I none.[231] So hard me was that ilke throwe, That ofte sithes overthrowe To grounde I was withoute breth; And evere I wisshide after deth,[232] 120 Whanne I out of my peine awok, [Sidenote: [HIS COMPLAINT TO CUPID AND VENUS.]] And caste up many a pitous lok Unto the hevene, and seide thus: ‘O thou Cupide, O thou Venus, [Sidenote: =P. i. 46=] Thou god of love and thou goddesse, Wher is pite? wher is meknesse? Now doth me pleinly live or dye, For certes such a maladie As I now have and longe have hadd, It myhte make a wisman madd,[233] 130 If that it scholde longe endure. O Venus, queene of loves cure, Thou lif, thou lust, thou mannes hele, Behold my cause and my querele, And yif me som part of thi grace, So that I may finde in this place If thou be gracious or non.’ And with that word I sawh anon The kyng of love and qweene bothe; Bot he that kyng with yhen wrothe 140 His chiere aweiward fro me caste, And forth he passede ate laste. [Sidenote: [THE FIERY DART.]] Bot natheles er he forth wente A firy Dart me thoghte he hente And threw it thurgh myn herte rote: In him fond I non other bote, For lenger list him noght to duelle. [Sidenote: [VENUS QUEEN OF LOVE.]] Bot sche that is the Source and Welle Of wel or wo, that schal betide To hem that loven, at that tide 150 Abod, bot forto tellen hiere