Boughis to hew down, and eke trees to square, Wherewith they made them stately firis grete To dry ther clothis, that were wringing wete: And aftir that of herbis that there grew They made for blistirs of the sonne brenning Ointmentis very gode, wholsome and new, Where that they yede the sick fast anointing; And after that they yede about gadring Plesant saladis, which they made them ete For to refreshe ther grete unkindly hete. The lady of the Lefè then gan to pray Her of the Floare [for so to my seming They should be callid as by ther array] To soupe with her, and eke for any thing That she should with her all her pepill bringe, And she ayen in right godely manere Thankith her fast of her most frendly chere, Saying plainèly that she would obay With all her hert all her commandèment; And then anon without lengir delay The lady of the Lefe hath one ysent To bring a palfray aftir her intent, Arrayid wele in fair harneis of gold, For nothing lackid that to him long shold. And aftir that to all her company She made to purvey horse and every thing That they nedid, and then full hastily Even by the herbir where I was sitting They passid all, so merrily singing That it would have comfortid any wight: But then I se a passing wondir sight, For then the nightingale, that all the day Had in the laurir sete, and did her might The whole service to sing longing to May, All sodainly began to take her flight, And to the lady of the Lefe forthright She flew, and set her on her hand softly, Which was a thing I mervailed at gretly. The goldfinch eke, that fro the medlar tre Was fled for hete unto the bushis cold, Unto the lady of the Flowre gan fle, And on her hond he set him as he wold, And plesauntly his wingis gan to fold, And for to sing they peine them both as sore As they had do of all the day before. And so these ladies rode forth a grete pace, And all the rout of knightis eke in fere; And I that had sene all this wondir case Thought that I would assay in some manere To know fully the trouth of this mattere, And what they were that rode so plesauntly: And when they were the herbir passid by I drest me forth, and happid mete anon A right fair lady, I do you ensure, And she came riding by her self alone, Allè in white, with semblaunce full demure; I her salued, bad her gode avinture Mote her befall, as I coud most humbly, And she answered, My doughtir, gramercy! Madame, quod I, if that I durst enquere Of you, I wold fain of that company Wit what they be that passed by this herbere. And she ayen answerid right frendly, My doughtir, all tho that passid hereby In white clothing be servants everichone Unto the Lefe, and I my self am one. See ye not her that crownid is (quod she)