The complete works of John Gower, volume 3 : $b The English works — John Shaqi
The complete works of John Gower, volume 3 : $b The English worksGower, John
History
The complete works of John Gower, volume 3 : $b The English works
Gower, John
Poetry
Bot of this point, lo, thus I fare
As he that paith for his chaffare,
And beith it diere, and yit hath non,[263]
So mot he nedes povere gon:
Thus beie I diere and have no love,[264]
That I ne mai noght come above[265]
[Sidenote: =P. ii. 279=]
To winne of love non encress.
Bot I me wole natheles
Touchende usure of love aquite;
And if mi ladi be to wyte, 4530
I preie to god such grace hir sende
That sche be time it mot amende.
[Sidenote: Confessor.]
Mi Sone, of that thou hast ansuerd
Touchende Usure I have al herd,
Hou thou of love hast wonne smale:
Bot that thou tellest in thi tale
And thi ladi therof accusest,
Me thenkth tho wordes thou misusest.
For be thin oghne knowlechinge
Thou seist hou sche for o lokinge 4540
Thin hole herte fro the tok:
Sche mai be such, that hire o lok
Is worth thin herte manyfold;
So hast thou wel thin herte sold,
Whan thou hast that is more worth.
And ek of that thou tellest forth,
Hou that hire weyhte of love unevene
Is unto thin, under the hevene
Stod nevere in evene that balance
Which stant in loves governance. 4550
Such is the statut of his lawe,
That thogh thi love more drawe
And peise in the balance more,
Thou miht noght axe ayein therfore
Of duete, bot al of grace.
For love is lord in every place,
[Sidenote: =P. ii. 280=]
Ther mai no lawe him justefie
Be reddour ne be compaignie,
That he ne wole after his wille
Whom that him liketh spede or spille. 4560
To love a man mai wel beginne,
Bot whether he schal lese or winne,
That wot noman til ate laste:
Forthi coveite noght to faste,
Mi Sone, bot abyd thin ende,[266]
Per cas al mai to goode wende.
Bot that thou hast me told and said,
Of o thing I am riht wel paid,[267]
That thou be sleyhte ne be guile
Of no brocour hast otherwhile 4570
Engined love, for such dede[268]
Is sore venged, as I rede.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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