* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Thus all the cytie upon her did wonder, For perfite sorowe her harte was nere asunder; And thus Vyrgyle, with crafty subtilnes, Rewarded her falshode and doublenes. All this I tell though that I be a fole, To the, yong knight, for thou maist go to schole, In tyme commyng of true love to learne. Beware of that for thou canst not decerne Thy ladies mynde: though that she speake the fayre, Her harte is false, she wyll no truthe repayre. Nay, quod I, they are not all disposed So for to do as ye have here disclosed. Aha! quod he, I trowe well ye be A true lover: so mote I thrive and the, Let not thy lady of thy harte be rother; When thou art gone, she wyll sone have another. Thus forth we rode tyll we sawe afarre A royall tower as bryght as any starre, To whiche we rode as fast as we myght. When we came there, adowne my stede I lyght, So dyd this Godfrey Gobilive also; Into the temple after me gan go. There sate dame Venus and Cupide her sonne, Whiche had their parliament ryght newly begone. To redresse lovers of their payne and wo, Whiche in the temple did walke to and fro. And every one his byll did present Before Venus in her hyghe parliament. The temple of her royall consistory Was walled all about with yvory, All of golde, like a place solacious, The roufe was made of knottes curious. I can nothing extende the goodlines Of her temple, so much of ryches. This Godfrey Gobilyve went lightly Unto dame Sapience, the secretary, That did him make this supplication To the goddesse Venus with brevacion: Redresse my payne of mortall heavines; I did once woe an olde mayden ryche A foule thefe, an olde wydred wiche. Fayre mayde, I sayd, will ye me have? Nay sir, so God me kepe and save! For you are evill favoured and also ugly, I am the worse to se your visnamy; Yet was she fouler many an hundred folde Then I my selfe, as ye may well beholde. And therewithall he caused to depaynte His face and hers, all under his complaynte. And to Venus he made deliveraunce Of his complaint by a short circumstaunce; Whiche ryght anone, when she had it sene, Began to laughe with all the courte I wene. Lo here the fygures of them both certayne, Judge whiche is best favoured of them twayne. Thus Godfrey Gobilyve did make such a sporte, That many lovers to hym did resorte; When I sawe tyme I went to Sapience, Shewyng to her with all my diligence Howe that my hart by Venus was trapt, With a snare of love so prively bewrapt; And in her tower to have a dwellyng place, I seke adventures to attayne her grace. Her name, quod I, La Bell Pucell is, Both east and west she is well knowen ywys: And my name, La Graunde Amoure is called, Whose harte with payne she all about hath walled With her beautie, whiche dame Nature create,