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50

Before that spot my hands I spread,
For care full cold that me had caught;
In my heart dark sorrow made its bed,
Though reason reconciled my thought.
I prayed for my pearl that thence had sped,
With timid pleas, and fast they fought;
Though the godhead of Christ me comforted,
My wretched will in woe still wrought.

A bed among the flowers I sought;
Such fragrance pierced my brain, I wot,
Me into a sleep of dreams it brought
Of that precious pearl without a spot.

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1 lift up 2 prosperity does but oppress my 5 'swell and burn heart grievously distress the quiet hour many things 9 clod 10 earth 31 12 stretched out 13 that seized upon me jewel 14 a secret sorrow lay in my heart 15 though rea16 lamented 17 son reconciled all difficulties taken away 18 timid reasons 19 fought hard 20 though Christ's nature taught me comfort 21 wrought 22 bed of flowers 23 brains 24 I slided

was

came to me

36

38

As lyttel byfore therto wacz wonte;
To calle hyr lyste con me enchace,1
Bot baysment 2 gef myn hert a brunt; 3
I segh hyr in so strange a place,

Such a burre myght make myn herte blunt.^ Thenne verez ho up her fayre frount,5 Hyr vysayge whyt as playn yvore,6 178 That stonge myn hert ful stray atount,?

And ever the lenger, the more and

more.

That scarce before I had known delight;
Desire to address her grew apace,
But abashment filled my heart with fright;
Seeing her in so strange a place
Full well my heart astonish might.

Then lifts she up her forehead white,
Her visage fairer than e'er before; 178
Bewildered my heart was at the sight
And ever the longer, the more and

more.

8

XX

10

231

Pyght in perle, that precios pyece
On wyther-half water com doun the schore;
No gladder gome hethen " into Grece
Then I quen ho on brymme wore.12
Ho wacz me nerre 13 then aunte or nece,
My joy forthy wacz 14 much the more.
Ho profered me speche, that special spece,15
Enclynande lowe in wommon lore,16

Caghte of her coroun of grete tresore,
And haylsed me wyth a lote lyghte.17
Wel wacz me that ever I wacz bore,
To sware 18 that swete in perlez
pyghte.

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22

LXIII

750

"O maskelez 21 perle, in perlez pure,
That berez," quod I, "the perle of prys,
Quo formed the thy fayre fygure?
That wroght thy wede," he wacz ful wys;
Thy beaute com never of nature;
Pymalyon paynted never thy vys; 24
Ne Arystotel nawther by hys lettrure
Of carped the kynde these propertez.25
Thy colour passez the flour-de-lys,
Thyn angel-havynge so clene cortez ; 26
Breve 27
me, bryght, quat-kyn offys 28
Berez the perle so maskellez."

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LXXXI

962

"Spotless maid, so mild and meek," Then said I to that flower bright, "Me to thy palace bring, and eke Of thy blissful bower give me sight." Sweetly - God shield her! - did she speak : "That tower may enter no earthly wight; But of the Lamb did I favour seek That thou from afar shouldst see its light; From without that cloister see aright Thou mayest indeed; but within, step not;

To walk in the street thou hast no might,

Unless thou wert clean, without a spot."

972

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