'Tys nowe fulle morne; I thoughten, bie laste nyghte To have been heere; mie stede han notte mie love; Thys ys mie pallace; lette mie hyndes alyghte, Whylste I goe oppe, & wake mie slepeynge dove. Staie here, mie hyndlettes; I shal goe above. 1140 Nowe. Birtha, wyll thie loke enhele mie spryte, Thie smyles unto mie woundes a baulme wylle prove; Mie ledanne boddie wylle bee sette aryghte. Egwina, haste, & ope the portalle doore, Yatte I on Birtha's breste maie thynke of warre ne more. 1145 ÆLLA, EGWINA. EGWINA. Oh Ælla! ÆLLA. Ah! that semmlykeene to mee Speeketh a legendary tale of woe. EGWINA. Birtha is-- ÆLLA. Whatt? where? how? saie, whatte of shee? EGWINA. Gone-- ÆLLA. Gone! ye goddes! EGWINA. Alas! ytte ys toe true. Yee seynctes, hee dies awaie wythe myckle woe! 1150 Ælla! what? Ælla! oh! hee lyves agen. ÆLLA. Cal mee notte Ælla; I am hymme ne moe. Where ys shee gon awaie? ah! speake! how? when? EGWINA. I will. ÆLLA. Caparyson a score of stedes; flie, flie. Where ys shee? swythynne speeke, or instante thou shalte die. 1155 EGWINA. Stylle thie loud rage, & here thou whatte I knowe. ÆLLA. Oh! speek. EGWINA. Lyche prymrose, droopynge wythe the heavie rayne, Laste nyghte I lefte her, droopynge wythe her wiere, Her love the gare, thatte gave her harte syke peyne-- ÆLLA. Her love! to whomme? EGWINA. To thee, her spouse alleyne[122]. 1160 As ys mie hentylle everyche morne to goe, I wente, and oped her chamber doore ynn twayne, Botte found her notte, as I was wont to doe; Thanne alle arounde the pallace I dyd seere[123], Botte culde (to mie hartes woe) ne fynde her anie wheere. 1165 ÆLLA. Thou lyest, foul hagge! thou lyest; thou art her ayde To chere her louste;--botte noe; ytte cannotte bee. EGWINA. Gyff trouthe appear notte inne whatte I have sayde, Drawe forthe thie anlace swythyn, thanne mee flea. ÆLLA. Botte yette ytte muste, ytte muste bee foe; I see, 1170 Shee wythe somme loustie paramoure ys gone; Itte moste bee foe--oh! how ytte wracketh mee! Mie race of love, mie race of lyfe ys ronne; Nowe rage, & brondeous storm, & tempeste comme; Nete lyvynge upon erthe can now enswote mie domme. 1175 ÆLLA, EGWINA, SERVYTOURE. SERVYTOURE. Loverde! I am aboute the trouthe to saie. Laste nyghte, fulle late I dydde retourne to reste. As to mie chamber I dydde bende mie waie, To Birtha onne hys name & place addreste; Downe to hym camme shee; butte thereof the reste 1180 I ken ne matter; so, mie hommage made-- ÆLLA.