Than Perceveraunce, in all goodly hast, Unto the steward called Liberalite Gave warning for to make redy fast Agaynst this time of great solemnitie, That on the morow halowed should be: She warned the cooke called Temperaunce, And after that the ewres Observaunce. With Pleasaunce the paynter and dame Curtesy, The gentyll butler with the ladies all, Eche in her ofice was prepared shortly Agaynst this feast so much tryumphall. And La Belle Pucell then in speciall Was up betime in the morow gray, Right so was I, whan I sawe the daye. And ryght anone La Belle Pucell me sente, Agaynst my wedding, of the satyn fyne, Whyte as the milke, a goodly garment, Branded with perle that clerely did shyne; And so the mariage for to determyne Venus me brought to a ryall chappell, Which of fyne golde was wrought every dele. And after that the gay and glorious La Belle Pucell to the chappell was ledde, In a white vesture fayre and precious, Wyth a golden chaplet on her yalow hede; And Lex Ecclesie did me to her wedde; After which wedding there was a great feast, Nothing we lacked, but had of the best. What should I tary by longe continuaunce Of the fest, for of my joye and pleasure Wysdom can judge withouten variaunce, That nought I lacked as ye may well be sure, Payeng the swete due det of nature; Thus with my lady was so fayre and clere, In joy I lived full right many a yere. O, lusty youth and yong tender herte! The true company of my lady bryght, God let us never from other asterte, But all in joy to lyve both day and nyght! Thus after sorow joy aryveth aright: After my payne I had sporte and play; Full lytell thought I that it should decaye. Tyll that dame Nature naturing had made All thinge to grow to theyr fortitude, And nature naturing waxte retrogarde, By strength my youth so far to exclude, As was ever her olde consuetude; First to augment, and then to abate, This is the custome of her hye estate. CAP. XL. HOW WHAN GRAUNDE AMOURE HAD LIVED LONGE WYTH LA BEL PUCELL, HE WAS ARRESTED BY AEGE, THAT BROUGHT UNTO HIM POLYCY AND AVARYCE. Thus as I lived in such pleasure gladde, Into the chamber came full prively A fayre olde man, and in his hand he hadde A croked staffe; he wente full wekely: Unto me than he came full softely, And with his staffe he toke me on the brest, Obey! he sayd, I must you nedes areste. My name is Age, which have often sene The lusty youth perysh unhappely, Through the desert of the selfe I wene; And evermore I do thinke inwardly, That my dedes of you they were of great foly, And thou thy selfe right joyous may be To lyve so longe to be lyke to me.