Than to the chambre, that was very bryght, They did me lede for to take myne ease, After my trouble and my great sturdy fight; But thre woundes I had, causing my disease: My pane and wo they did sone appease, And heled my woundes with salves aromatyke, Telling me of a great giaunt lunatyke, Whose name truely was called Variaunce, Whome I should mete after my departyng. These ladies unto me did great pleasaunce; And in meane while as we were talking For me my suppour was in ordeyning; Thus whan by Temperaunce it was prepared, And than to it we went and right well fared. Tell me, quod Veritie, if you be content, What is your name so hye adventurous, And who that you into this cost hath sent? Madame, I sayd, I was so amarous Of La Belle Pucell so fayre and beauteous, La Graunde Amoure truely is my name, Which seke adventures to attayne the same. A, ha! quod she, I thought as much before, That you were he, for your great hardines. La Bell Pucell must love you evermore, Which for her sake, in your hye nobles, Doth such actes by chyvalrous exces: Her gentyl hert may nothing deny To rewarde your mede with love full fervently. Thus did we passe time in all maner of joye, I lacketh nothyng that might make me solace, But evermore, as noble Troyelus of Troy, Full ofte I thought on my fayre ladyes face, And her to se a muche longer space. When time was come, to rest I was brought, All to me longyng there lacked right nought. What should I wade by perambulucion? My tyme is shorte and I have farre to sayle Unto the lande of my conclusion. The wynde is east, ryght slowe without fayle, To blowe my shyppe of diligent travayle To the last ende of my matter troublous, With waves enclosed so tempestuous. Ryght in the morowe, when Aurora clere Her radiaunt beames began for to spreade, And splendent Phebus, in his golden spere, The cristalle ayr did make fayre and redde, Darke Dyane declining pale as any ledde, When the lytle byrdes swetely dyd syng Laudes to their maker early in the mornyng. CAP. XXXIV. HOW HE MET WITH PERCEVERAUNCE, AND REPOSED HYM IN THE MANOUR PLACE OF DAME COMFORT. Up I rose, and did make me ready, For I thought long unto my journeys ende: My grahoundes lept on me ryght merely, To cheare me forwarde they condescende; And the thre ladies, my cheare to amende, A good breakefast did for me ordayne; They were ryght gladde the gyaunt was slayne. I toke my leave and on my way I ryde, Through the woodes and on rockes hye. I loked about, and on the hyll abode. Till in the vale I sawe full hastely To me come ryding a lady sikerly: I well behelde the hye waye so used, But of this lady ryght often I mused: