They fle from me that sometyme did me seke
With naked fote stalking
in my chambre.
I have sene theim gentill tame and meke
That nowe
are wyld and do not remembre
That sometyme they put theimself in
daunger
To take bred at my hand; and nowe they raunge
Besely
seking with a continuell chaunge.
Thancked be fortune, it hath
ben othrewise
Twenty tymes better; but ons in speciall
In thyn
arraye after a pleasaunt gyse
When her lose gowne from her shoulders
did fall,
And she me caught in her armes long and small;
Therewithall
swetely did me kysse,
And softely saide 'dere hert, howe like you
this?'
It was no dreme: I lay brode waking.
But all is
torned thorough my gentilnes
Into a straunge fasshion of forsaking;
And
I have leve to goo of her goodenes,
And she also to vse new fangilnes.
But
syns that I so kyndely ame serued,
I would fain knowe what she hath
deserued.
They flee from me, that sometime did me seek
With naked foot, stalking in my chamber.
I have seen them gentle, tame, and meek,
That now are wild, and do not remember
That sometime they put themselves in danger,
To take bread at my hand; and now they range,
Busily seeking with a continual change.
Thanked be fortune it hath been otherwise
Twenty times better; but once, in special,
In thin array, after a pleasant guise,
When her loose gown from her shoulders did fall,
And she me caught in her arms long and small,
Therwith all sweetly did me kiss,
And softly said: 'Dear heart, how like you this?'
It was no dream: I lay broad waking.
But all is turned, thorough my gentleness,
Into a strange fashion of forsaking;
And I have leave to go of her goodness,
And she also to use newfangleness.
But since that I so kindly am served:
I would fain know what she hath deserved.