Tyll that we came unto a manour place, Moted about under a woode syde. Alyght, she sayde, for by ryght long space. I payne and wo you did ever abyde. After an ebbe there commeth a flowyng tyde. So downe I lyght from my goodly stede, After my payne to have rest for my mede. Then dame Perceverance on the way me ledde Into the place, where did us gentilly mete The Lady Comfort without any dredde, With countenaunce that was demure and swete; In goodly maner she dyd us then grete, Leadyng us to a chamber precious, Dulcet of odoure and most solacious. And pryvely she asked a question, Of Perceverance, what I called was? La Graunde Amoure, without abusion, Cosen, quod she: he doth all lovers passe; Like as dothe Phebus in the pure glasse, So doth his dedes extolle the soverayntie Of the darke gyauntes by highe aucthoritie. When she it knewe, she was of me ryght fayne; Nothyng I lacked that was to my plesaunce, After my travayle and my wofull payne: Good meate and drynke I had to sustenaunce; We sate together by long continaunce, But evermore Comfort gave exhortation To me of pacience in tribulacion. Thinke well, quod she, that in the worlde is none Whiche can have pleasure without wo and care; Joye cometh after, when the payne is gone: Was never man that was devoyde or bare Alway of joye after his wofull snare; Who knoweth payne and hath bene in trouble, After his wo his joye is to him double. It may so fortune that La Bell Pucell Hath divers frendes, that be not content That her favoure ye should attayne so well; For you of them she may often be shent, But what for that? she shall not her repent, And if her frendes be with you angry, Suffer their wordes and take it paciently. Agaynst their yll do unto them good, Them for to please be alwaye diligent; So shall you swage the tempesteous floode Of their stormy myndes so impacient, And inwardly they shall them selves repent That they to you have bene contrarious, In suche fyry anger hote and furious. Thus by your wisdome ye shall them so wynne Unto your frendes that dyd you so hate; For it is reason you should obeye your kynne, As by obedience both early and late Make them your frendes without the debate; For evermore the spirite of pacience Doth overcome the angry violence. Be hardy, bolde, and couragious; For after that ye be gone from hence, You shall mete with a gyaunt rigorious, Havyng seven heades of yll experience. You shall subdue him with your prudence; And other adventures shall unto you fall, Whiche Fame shall cause to be memoriall. When it was tyme, I was brought to bedde, So all the long nyght I endured in rest; With suche a slouth i-taken was my heade, That my soft pyllowe founde a good gest. For long before I was so opprest With inwarde trouble that I myght not slepe, But oft wake and syghe with teares depe.