Pearl - Mediaeval Baebes

The dubberment dere of down and dales

Of wode and water and wlonk plaines

Bilde in me bliss, abated my bales

Forbidden my stress, destroyed my paines

Down after a strem that drightly hales

I bowed in bliss, bredful my branes

The firre I folwed those floty vales

The more strength of joye myn herte straines

As fortune fares theras ho fraines

Whether solace ho sende other elles sore

The wye to wham hir wille ho waines

Hittes to have ay more and more

More of wele was in that wise

Than I couth telle thagh I tom hade

For erthly herte might not suffise

To the tenthe dole of tho gladness glade

For thy I thoght that paradise

Was there other gain tho bonkes brade

I hoped the water were a devise

Between mirthes by meres made

Beyonde the brook, by slent other slade

I hoped that mote inerked wore

Bot the water was depe, I dorst not wade

And ever me longed ay more and more

More and more and yet well mare

Me liste to see the brook beyonde

For if hit was fair there I can fare

Well loveloker was the firre londe

Aboute me con I stote and stare

To finde a forth faste con I fonde

Bot wothes mo ywis there ware

The firre I stalled by the stronde

And ever me thoght I shokle not wonde

For wo there weles so winne wore

Thenne newe note me com on honed

That meved my minde more and more