Virelay

Sweet, in whom my joy must be, Now my heart is full of glee For thy love: and loosed from care All my song is, "Lady fair, Living I consume for thee."

But thy gentle love hath sent The fair comfort that I need: I therewith am well content. Gladness doth my spirit lead.

Rightly am I glad, pardie! For of old my jollity Drowned in woes I had to bear: Of thy help when I was ware Gone was all my misery, Sweet, in whom my joy must be.

Since the day that thou hast lent Thy dear heart, my life is freed From the sorrows I lament: Peace and gladness are my meed.

Lady, love despatcheth me Succour sweet, who thus am free From my sickness: pale despair Rules no longer when I share Hope that I thy face may see, Sweet, in whom my joy must be.

Now have I recounted unto you how that in the first instance I was surprised and subdued by love, and was afterward grievously constrained by great longing, and how my dear kinsman gave himself much trouble, with the result that I was delivered from my trouble by my lady, who had mercy on me, thanks be to her. And I will tell how that from that time I went to and fro. Thenceforth I was happy even as you have heard, and because of the joy which I had, I devised this ballad:--