Quia Amore Langueo

In a valley of this restles mind

I sought in mountain and in mead,

Trusting a true love for to find.

Upon an hill then took I heed;

A voice I heard (and near I yede)

In great dolour complaining tho:

"See, dear soul, how my sides bleed

Quia amore langueo."

Upon this hill I found a tree,

Under a tree a man sitting;

From head to foot wounded was he;

His hearte blood I saw bleeding:

A seemly man to be a king,

A gracious face to look unto.

I askéd why he had paining;

"Quia amore langueo.

"I am true love that false was never;

My sister, man's soul, I loved her thus.

Because we would in no wise dissever

I left my kingdom glorious.

I purveyed her a palace full precious;

She fled, I followed, I loved her so

Quia amore langueo.

"My fair love and my spouse bright!

I saved her from beating, and she hath me bet;

I clothed her in grace and heavenly light;

This bloody shirt she hath on me set;

For longing of love yet would I not let;

Sweete strokes are these: lo!

I have loved her ever as I her het

Quia amore langueo.

"I crowned her with bliss and she me with thorn;

I led her to chamber and she me to die;

I brought her to worship and she me to scorn;

I did her reverence and she me villany.

To love that loveth is no maistry;

Her hate made never my love her foe:

Ask me then no question why—

Quia amore langueo.

"Look unto mine handes, man!

These gloves were given me when I her sought;

They be not white, but red and wan;

Embroidered with blood my spouse them brought.

They will not off; I loose hem nought;

I woo her with hem wherever she go.

These hands for her so friendly fought

Quia amore langueo.

"Marvel not, man, though I sit still.

See, love hath shod me wonder strait:

Buckled my feet, as was her will,

With sharpe nails (well thou may'st wait!)

In my love was never desait;

All my membres I have opened her to;

My body I made her herte's bait

Quia amore langueo.

"In my side I have made her nest;

Look in, how weet a wound is here!

This is her chamber, here shall she rest,

That she and I may sleep in fere.

Here may she wash, if any filth were;

Here is seat for all her woe;

Come when she will, she shall have cheer

Quia amore langueo.

"I will abide till she be ready,

I will her sue if she say nay;

If she be retchless I will be greedy,

If she be dangerous I will her pray;

If she weep, then bide I ne may:

Mine arms ben spread to clip her me to.

Cry once, I come: now, soul, assay

Quia amore langueo.

"Fair love, let us go play:

Apples ben ripe in my gardayne.

I shall thee clothe in a new array,

Thy meat shall be milk, honey and wine.

Fair love, let us go dine:

Thy sustenance is in my crippe, lo!

Tarry thou not, my fair spouse mine,

Quia amore langueo.

"If thou be foul, I shall thee make clean;

If thou be sick, I shall thee heal;

If thou mourn ought, I shall thee mene;

Why wilt thou not, fair love, with me deal?

Foundest thou ever love so leal?

What wilt thou, soul, that I shall do?

I may not unkindly thee appeal

Quia amore langueo.

"What shall I do now with my spouse

But abide her of my gentleness,

Till that she look out of her house

Of fleshly affection? love mine she is;

Her bed is made, her bolster is bliss,

Her chamber is chosen; is there none mo.

Look out on me at the window of kindeness

Quia amore langueo.

"My love is in her chamber: hold your peace!

Make ye no noise, but let her sleep.

My babe I would not were in disease,

I may not hear my dear child weep.

With my pap I shall her keep;

Ne marvel ye not though I tend her to:

This wound in my side had ne'er be so deep

But Quia amore langueo.

"Long thou for love never so high,

My love is more than thine may be.

Thou weepest, thou gladdest, I sit thee by:

Yet wouldst thou once, love, look unto me!

Should I always feede thee

With children meat? Nay, love, not so!

I will prove thy love with adversité

Quia amore langueo.

Wax not weary, mine own wife!

What mede is aye to live in comfort?

In tribulation I reign more rife

Ofter times than in disport.

In weal and in woe I am aye to support:

Mine own wife, go not me fro!

Thy mede is marked, when thou art mort:

Quia amore langueo."