Till at the last we did mete together. Madame, I sayde, the hye God you save! She thanked me, and did aske me whether That I so rode, and what I would have? Truely, quod I, nothyng els I crave Of the hye God, but to be so fortunate, La Bell Pucell to have to my mate. What is your name? then sayde she. La Graunde Amoure, forsothe, madame, quod I. Then was she glad as any one myght be, And sayde she was sent fro myne owne lady. Tidynges, I sayde, I praye you hartely! Your lady, quod she, is in perfect health, And would be glad to heare of your wealth. She promised you in a garden grene To love you best of any creature; So doth she yet, as I thynke and wene, Though that Disdayne brought her to her lure: But of her harte nowe you shall be sure. Be of good chere, and for nothyng dismaye, I spake with her but nowe this other daye, And she my selfe unto you hath sent; My name is called dame Perceveraunce. A little before that I from her went, To her came Cupide, with great circumstaunce, And brought a letter of Venus ordinaunce, Whiche unto her he did anone present. When she it reade and knewe the entent, All inwardly full wondersly dismayed, Withouten worde she did stande right well, Her harded harte was full well delayed, What for to do she knewe not good or yll. You for to helpe or let you so spyll. Disdayne and Strangenes did stande then therby; Seing her countenaunce they gan to drawe nye. Madame, quod they, why are ye so sadde? Alas! quod she, it is no marvayle why. Ryght nowe of Cupide a letter I had, Sent from Venus, full ryght marveylously, By whiche I have perceyved utterly That a yong knyght called Graunde Amoure Doth for my sake suffer suche doloure, That of constraynte of wofull hevines He is nere dead all onely for my sake; Shall he nowe dye, or shall I him relese Of his great wo and to my mercy take? Abyde, quod Strangenes, and your sorowe slake: Have you hym sene in any time before? Yes, yes, quod she; that doth my wo restore. At Penticost, nowe many dayes agone, Musike to heare at great solemnitie, To and fro he walked him selfe all alone In a great temple of olde antiquitie; Tyll that by fortune he had espied me; And ryght anone, or that I was ware, To me he came: I knewe nought of his care. He semeth gentle, his maners ryght good, I behelde ryght well all his condicion: Humble of chere and of goodly mode; But I thought nothyng of his affliction; But his behavour sheweth the occasion Of fervent love, as then in myne entent I oft dyd deme, and geve a judgement. So after this I dyd then sone departe Home to my countrey where I dyd abyde; When I was gone full heavy was his harte. As Cupide sayeth, I must for hym provyde A gentle remedy at this sodayne tyde; And for my sake he is adventurous To subdue mine enemies to me contrarious.