povc2007

WOMANLY NOBLESSE

WOMAN’S NOBLENESS

Geoffrey Chaucer

trans. Peter Dean

So hath my herte caught in remembraunce
Your beauté hool, and stedfast governaunce,

Your vertues alle, and your hy noblesse,

That you to serve is set al my plesaunce;
So wel me lykth your womanly contenaunce,

Your freshe fetures and your comlinesse,
That, whyl I live, my herte to his maistresse,

You hath ful chose, in trew perseveraunce,

Never to chaunge, for no maner distresse.

And sith I you shal do this observaunce
Al my lyfe, withouten displesaunce,

You for to serve with al my besinesse,

Taketh me, lady, in your obeisance
And have me somwhat in souvenaunce.

My woful herte suffreth greet duresse;
And loke how humblely, with al simplesse,

My wil I conforme to your ordenaunce,

As you best list, my peynes to redresse.

Considring eek how I hange in balaunce
In your servyce; swich, lo! is my chaunce,

Abyding grace, whan that your gentilnesse

Of my gret wo list doon allegeaunce,
And with your pite me som wyse avaunce,

In ful rebating of my hevinesse;
And think resoun, that wommanly noblesse

Shuld nat desyre for to doon outrance

Ther-as she findeth noon unbuxomnesse.

LENVOYE

Auctour of norture, lady of pleasaunce,

Soveraine of beauté, flour of wommanhede,

Take ye non hede unto myn ignoraunce,

But this receyveth of your goodlihede,

Thinking that I have caught in remembraunce
Your beauté hool, your stedfast governaunce.

My heart’s so taken by the memory
Of your whole beauty, your serenity,
Your virtues all, your lofty nobleness,
That serving you will all my pleasure be;
Your lovely face is such a joy to me,
Your fresh complexion and your comeliness,
That, while I live, it’s as his sole mistress
My heart has chosen you, assiduously,
Never to change, no matter what distress.

And since my choice of service thus is free
And lifelong, taken unconditionally,
Making attending you my whole business,
Dear lady, shape a willing slave from me
And think of me in thoughts a little kindly.
My sad heart’s suffering such a load of stress;
And see how humbly, with single-mindedness,
I bow to whatever your wish may be
As being the best way you can give redress.

When you take note of how precariously
My life hangs serving you, my hoped-for destiny
Is that abiding grace, your gentleness,
Will recognise my suffering’s fidelity
And with your pity aid my recovery
Towards a full relieving of my heaviness;
In strong belief a woman’s nobleness
Would not seek to occasion misery
Where she had found no unsubmissiveness.

ENVOY

Creator of solace, delight’s own lady,
Sovereign of beauty, flower of womanhood,
Ignore, I beg you, my simplicity,
Receive this ballad in a generous mood,
Thinking I have caught in perpetuity
Your complete beauty and your serenity.

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