Page:The Book of the Duke of True Lovers - 1908.djvu/101

 you these two ballads here enclosed, the which may it please you to receive kindly. Very beautiful and fair one, whose praise I am not able duly to set forth, I pray God that He will vouchsafe to you as many favours and delights as the tears the which I have shed for love of you.—Written with a fervent and longing heart,

Your very humble and obedient slave.

BALLAD

Sweet Lady, fair and gentle without peer,

Have mercy on me, who all thy words obey:

Body and soul do I abandon here

Unto thy will, and humbly thus I pray:

Come quickly nigh,

Have pity, and cure my sickness when I cry:

Oh, I beseech thee, graciously attend

And so consent to take me for thy friend.

To thee I give myself, O flower most dear.

For mercy I beseech, and wilt thou slay?

I charge thee by that Lord whom we revere

To lift this wrong that crushes me away.

No help have I

From any other: leave me not to die!

See, faithfully I serve thee to the end,

And so consent to take me for thy friend.