Thys merkness doe affraie mie wommanns breaste. Howe sable ys the spreddynge skie arrayde! Hailie the bordeleire, who lyves to reste, Ne ys att nyghtys flemynge hue dysmayde; The starres doe scantillie[110] the sable brayde; 1010 Wyde ys the sylver lemes of comforte wove; Speke, Celmonde, does ytte make thee notte afrayde? CELMONDE. Merker the nyghte, the fitter tyde for love. BIRTHA. Saiest thou for love? ah! love is far awaie. Faygne would I see once moe the roddie lemes of daie. 1015 CELMONDE. Love maie bee nie, woulde Birtha calle ytte here. BIRTHA. How, Celmonde, dothe thou mene? CELMONDE. Thys Celmonde menes. No leme, no eyne, ne mortalle manne appere, Ne lyghte, an acte of love for to bewreene; Nete in thys forreste, botte thys tore[111], dothe sheene, 1020 The whych, potte oute, do leave the whole yn nyghte; See! howe the brauncynge trees doe here entwyne, Makeynge thys bower so pleasynge to the syghte; Thys was for love fyrste made, & heere ytt stondes, Thatte hereynne lovers maie enlyncke yn true loves bondes. 1025 BIRTHA. Celmonde, speake whatte thou menest, or alse mie thoughtes Perchaunce maie robbe thie honestie so fayre. CELMONDE. Then here, & knowe, hereto I have you broughte, Mie longe hydde love unto you to make clere. BIRTHA. Oh heaven & earthe! whatte ys ytt I doe heare? 1030 Am I betraste[112]? where ys mie Ælla, saie! CELMONDE. O! do nete nowe to Ælla syke love bere, Botte geven some onne Celmondes hedde. BIRTHA. Awaie! I wylle be gone, & groape mie passage oute, Albeytte neders stynges mie legs do twyne aboute. 1035 CELMONDE. Nowe bie the seynctes I wylle notte lette thee goe, Ontylle thou doeste mie brendynge love amate. Those eyne have caused Celmonde myckle woe, Yenne lette yer smyle fyrst take hymm yn regrate. O! didst thou see mie breastis troblous state, 1040 Theere love doth harrie up mie joie, and ethe! I wretched bee, beyonde the hele of fate, Gyss Birtha stylle wylle make mie harte-veynes blethe. Softe as the sommer flowreets, Birtha, looke, Fulle ylle I canne thie frownes & harde dyspleasaunce brooke. 1045 BIRTHA.