962 "Spotless maid, so mild and meek," Then said I to that flower bright, "Me to thy palace bring, and eke Of thy blissful bower give me sight." Sweetly-God shield her! - did she speak: "That tower may enter no earthly wight; But of the Lamb did I favour seek That thou from afar shouldst see its light; From without that cloister see aright Thou mayest indeed; but within, step not; To walk in the street thou hast no might, Unless thou wert clean, without a spot." 972 XCVII Delyt me drof in yghe1 and ere; And to start in the strem schulde non me stere,10 To swymme the remnaunt, thagh I ther swalte; 11 Bot of that munt 12 I wacz bi-talt;13 1161 Out of that caste 14 I wacz by-calt; 17 15 Hit payed hym not that I so flonc 18 1171 Ther as my perle to grounde strayd; XCVII Delight me drove in eye and ear; My earthly mind was maddened nigh. When I saw my darling, I would be near, Beyond the water that she stood by: "Nothing," methought, "can harm me here, Deal me a blow and low make lie; To wade the stream have I no fear, Or to swim the deeps, though I should die." 1160 But from that purpose withheld was I; As unto the stream I started still, Clean from that plan I was turned awry; It was not at my Prince's will. Sche seide, "Helpeth at this nede, And as ye maden me to spede,16 Whan Jason cam the Flees 17 to seche, So help me nou, I you beseche." 22 18 With that sche loketh and was war, 7 3960 3970 3980 3991 4000 un 1 starlight 2 as it pleased her 3 at the 4 covered her hair unbound 6 girded Gower often gives and a strange position in the sentence; we should place it before al. glided stood still 9 Thus it befell upon a night, When there was nought but starry light, She stole away right as she list, So that none but herself it wist, And that was at the midnight tide, The world was still on every side. With head uncovered, feet all bare, Her hair unbound, she gan to fare; High up her clothes she girded has; And, speechless, forth upon the grass She glided as an adder does And in no other wise she goes Till she came to the flowing flood, And there a while full still she stood. Three times about she turned her And thrice also she low did bow, And in the flood she wet her hair, And thrice upon the water there She with a troubling breath blew fast, And then unto her speech she passed. First she began to cry and call Unto the stars of heaven all; To Wind, to Air, to Sea, to Land now, 3960 3970 She prayed there, holding up her hand, 3980 And unto Hecate did she cry, Who goddess is of sorcery. She said: "Oh, help me in this need, And as ye once made me to speed, When Jason came, the Fleece to seek, So now your aid I do bespeak." With that she looked and saw on high She found and gathers herbs of boot. And many with a knife she shears, And all unto her car she bears. 3990 4000 Thus when she hath the mountains sought, That was behovelich to hire art 4 Sche tok, and after that aboute Sche soughte sondri sedes oute In feldes and in many greves, And ek a part sche tok of leves; Bot thing which mihte hire most availe Sche fond in Crete and in Thessaile. In daies and in nyhtes nyne, With gret travaile and with gret pyne, Sche was pourveid of every piece, And torneth homward into Grece. Before the gates of Eson Hir char sche let awai to gon, And tok out ferst that was therinne; 6 9 As sche which dede hir hole entente." Tho tok sche fieldwode and verveyne Of herbes ben noght betre tueine; 3 Of which anon withoute let These alters ben aboute set. Tuo sondri puttes faste by Sche made, and with that hastely A wether which was blak sche slouh,10 And out ther-of the blod sche drouh 11 And dede 12 into the pettes tuo; Warm melk sche putte also therto With hony meynd; 13 and in such wise Sche gan to make hir sacrifice. And cride and preide forth withal To Pluto, the god infernal, And to the queene Proserpine. And so sche soghte out al the line Of hem that longen to that craft, Behinde was no name laft,14 4 3 4011 4020 4030 4040 4050 Peneie and eke Spercheidos. To them she went and there took some 4010 4020 Nine days and nights had passed before, But took out first what was therein, As she that was with air enclosed As one fulfilling her intent. Then took she wormwood and vervain - 1 took 2 chose 3 for the purpose groves ered again entire purpose twain, two pits 8 4030 4040 4050 AE |