To his fellow, and lightly laid a spear Into the rest; and so the jousts began On ev'ry part aboute, here and there; Some brake his spear, some threw down horse and man; About the field astray the steedes ran; And, to behold their rule and governance,* *conduct I you ensure, it was a great pleasuance.

And so the joustes last'* an hour and more; *lasted But those that crowned were in laurel green Wonne the prize; their dintes* were so sore, *strokes That there was none against them might sustene: And the jousting was alle left off clean, And from their horse the nine alight' anon, And so did all the remnant ev'ry one.

And forth they went together, twain and twain, That to behold it was a worthy sight, Toward the ladies on the greene plain, That sang and danced as I said now right; The ladies, as soon as they goodly might, They brake off both the song and eke the dance, And went to meet them with full glad semblance.* *air, aspect

And ev'ry lady took, full womanly, By th'hand a knight, and so forth right they yede* *went Unto a fair laurel that stood fast by, With leaves lade the boughs of greate brede;* *breadth And, to my doom,* there never was, indeed, *judgment Man that had seene half so fair a tree; For underneath it there might well have be* *been

A hundred persons, *at their own pleasance,* *in perfect comfort*

Shadowed from the heat of Phoebus bright, So that they shoulde have felt no grievance* *annoyance Of rain nor haile that them hurte might.

The savour eke rejoice would any wight That had been sick or melancholious, It was so very good and virtuous.* *full of healing virtues

And with great rev'rence they inclined low Unto the tree so sweet and fair of hue;* *appearance And after that, within a *little throw,* *short time*

They all began to sing and dance of new, Some song of love, some *plaining of untrue,* *complaint of Environing* the tree that stood upright; unfaithfulness*

And ever went a lady and a knight. *going round

And at the last I cast mine eye aside, And was ware of a l.u.s.ty company That came roaming out of the fielde wide; [And] hand in hand a knight and a lady; The ladies all in surcoats, that richly Purfiled* were with many a riche stone; *trimmed at the borders And ev'ry knight of green ware mantles on,

Embroider'd well, so as the surcoats were; And ev'reach had a chaplet on her head (Which did right well upon the shining hair), Maked of goodly flowers, white and red.

The knightes eke, that they in hande led, In suit of them ware chaplets ev'ry one, And them before went minstrels many one,

As harpes, pipes, lutes, and psaltry, All [clad] in green; and, on their heades bare, Of divers flowers, made full craftily All in a suit, goodly chaplets they ware; And so dancing into the mead they fare.

In mid the which they found a tuft that was All overspread with flowers in compa.s.s* *around, in a circle

Whereunto they inclined ev'ry one, With great reverence, and that full humbly And at the last there then began anon A lady for to sing right womanly, A bargaret, <14> in praising the daisy.

For, as me thought, among her notes sweet, She saide: "Si douce est la margarete."<15>

Then alle they answered her in fere* *together So pa.s.singly well, and so pleasantly, That it was a [most] blissful noise to hear.

But, I n'ot* how, it happen'd suddenly *know not As about noon the sun so fervently Wax'd hote, that the pretty tender flow'rs Had lost the beauty of their fresh colours,

Forshrunk* with heat; the ladies eke to-brent,***shrivelled **very burnt That they knew not where they might them bestow; The knightes swelt,* for lack of shade nigh shent***fainted **destroyed And after that, within a little throw, The wind began so st.u.r.dily to blow, That down went all the flowers ev'ry one, So that in all the mead there left not one;

Save such as succour'd were among the leaves From ev'ry storm that mighte them a.s.sail, Growing under the hedges and thick greves;* *groves, boughs And after that there came a storm of hail And rain in fere,* so that withoute fail *together The ladies nor the knights had not one thread Dry on them, so dropping was [all] their weed.* *clothing

And when the storm was pa.s.sed clean away, Those in the white, that stood under the tree, They felt no thing of all the great affray That they in green without *had in y-be:* *had been in*

To them they went for ruth, and for pity, Them to comfort after their great disease;* *trouble So fain* they were the helpless for to ease. *glad, eager

Then I was ware how one of them in green Had on a crowne, rich and well sitting;* *becoming Wherefore I deemed well she was a queen, And those in green on her were awaiting.* *in attendance The ladies then in white that were coming Toward them, and the knightes eke *in fere,* *together*

Began to comfort them, and make them cheer.

The queen in white, that was of great beauty, Took by the hand the queen that was in green, And saide: "Sister, I have great pity Of your annoy, and of your troublous teen,* *injury, grief Wherein you and your company have been So long, alas! and if that it you please To go with me, I shall you do the ease,

"In all the pleasure that I can or may;"

Whereof the other, humbly as she might, Thanked her; for in right evil array She was, with storm and heat, I you behight;* *a.s.sure Arid ev'ry lady then anon aright, That were in white, one of them took in green By the hand; which when that the knights had seen,

In like mannere each of them took a knight Y-clad in green, and forth with them they fare Unto a hedge, where that they anon right, To make their joustes,<16> they would not spare Boughes to hewe down, and eke trees square, Wherewith they made them stately fires great, To dry their clothes, that were wringing wet.

And after that, of herbes that there grew, They made, for blisters of the sun's burning, Ointmentes very good, wholesome, and new, Wherewith they went the sick fast anointing; And after that they went about gath'ring Pleasant salades, which they made them eat, For to refresh their great unkindly heat.

The Lady of the Leaf then gan to pray Her of the Flower (for so, to my seeming, They should be called, as by their array), To sup with her; and eke, for anything, That she should with her all her people bring; And she again in right goodly mannere Thanked her fast of her most friendly cheer;

Saying plainely, that she would obey, With all her heart, all her commandement: And then anon, without longer delay, The Lady of the Leaf hath one y-sent To bring a palfrey, *after her intent,* *according to her wish*

Arrayed well in fair harness of gold; For nothing lack'd, that *to him longe sho'ld.* *should belong to him*

And, after that, to all her company She made to purvey* horse and ev'rything *provide That they needed; and then full l.u.s.tily, Ev'n by the arbour where I was sitting, They pa.s.sed all, so merrily singing, That it would have comforted any wight.

But then I saw a pa.s.sing wondrous sight;

For then the nightingale, that all the day Had in the laurel sat, and did her might The whole service to sing longing to May, All suddenly began to take her flight; And to the Lady of the Leaf forthright She flew, and set her on her hand softly; Which was a thing I marvell'd at greatly.

The goldfinch eke, that from the medlar tree Was fled for heat into the bushes cold, Unto the Lady of the Flower gan flee, And on her hand he set him as he wo'ld, And pleasantly his winges gan to fold; And for to sing they *pain'd them* both, as sore *made great exertions*

As they had done *of all* the day before. *during

And so these ladies rode forth *a great pace,* *rapidly*

And all the rout of knightes eke in fere; And I, that had seen all this *wonder case,* *wondrous incident*

Thought that I would a.s.say in some mannere To know fully the truth of this mattere, And what they were that rode so pleasantly; And when they were the arbour pa.s.sed by,

I *dress'd me forth,* and happ'd to meet anon *issued forth*

A right fair lady, I do you ensure;* *a.s.sure And she came riding by herself alone, All in white; [then] with semblance full demure I her saluted, and bade good adventure* *fortune Might her befall, as I could most humbly; And she answer'd: "My daughter, gramercy!"* *great thanks <17>

"Madame," quoth I, "if that I durst enquere Of you, I would fain, of that company, Wit what they be that pa.s.s'd by this herbere?

And she again answered right friendly: "My faire daughter, all that pa.s.s'd hereby In white clothing, be servants ev'ry one Unto the Leaf; and I myself am one.

"See ye not her that crowned is," quoth she "[Clad] all in white?" -- "Madame," then quoth I, "yes:"

"That is Dian', G.o.ddess of chast.i.ty; And for because that she a maiden is, In her hande the branch she beareth this, That agnus castus <8> men call properly; And all the ladies in her company,

"Which ye see of that herbe chaplets wear, Be such as have kept alway maidenhead: And all they that of laurel chaplets bear, Be such as hardy* were in manly deed, -- *courageous Victorious name which never may be dead!

And all they were so *worthy of their hand* *valiant in fight*

In their time, that no one might them withstand,

"And those that weare chaplets on their head Of fresh woodbind, be such as never were To love untrue in word, in thought, nor deed, But ay steadfast; nor for pleasance, nor fear, Though that they should their heartes all to-tear,* *rend in pieces*

Would never flit,* but ever were steadfast, *change *Till that their lives there asunder brast."* *till they died*

"Now fair Madame," quoth I, "yet would I pray Your ladyship, if that it mighte be, That I might knowe, by some manner way (Since that it hath liked your beauty, The truth of these ladies for to tell me), What that these knightes be in rich armour, And what those be in green and wear the flow'r?

"And why that some did rev'rence to that tree, And some unto the plot of flowers fair?"

"With right good will, my daughter fair," quoth she, "Since your desire is good and debonair;* *gentle, courteous The nine crowned be *very exemplair* *the true examples*

Of all honour longing to chivalry; And those certain be call'd The Nine Worthy, <18>

"Which ye may see now riding all before, That in their time did many a n.o.ble deed, And for their worthiness full oft have bore The crown of laurel leaves upon their head, As ye may in your olde bookes read; And how that he that was a conquerour Had by laurel alway his most honour.

"And those that beare boughes in their hand Of the precious laurel so notable, Be such as were, I will ye understand, Most n.o.ble Knightes of the Rounde Table,<19> And eke the Douceperes honourable; <20> Whiche they bear in sign of victory, As witness of their deedes mightily.

"Eke there be knightes old <21> of the Garter, That in their time did right worthily; And the honour they did to the laurer* *laurel <22> Is for* by it they have their laud wholly, *because Their triumph eke, and martial glory; Which unto them is more perfect richess Than any wight imagine can, or guess.

"For one leaf given of that n.o.ble tree To any wight that hath done worthily, An'* it be done so as it ought to be, *if Is more honour than any thing earthly; Witness of Rome, that founder was truly Of alle knighthood and deeds marvellous; Record I take of t.i.tus Livius." <23>

And as for her that crowned is in green, It is Flora, of these flowers G.o.ddess; And all that here on her awaiting be'n, It are such folk that loved idleness, And not delighted in no business, But for to hunt and hawk, and play in meads, And many other such-like idle deeds.

"And for the great delight and the pleasance They have to the flow'r, and so rev'rently They unto it do such obeisance As ye may see." "Now, fair Madame,"quoth I, "If I durst ask, what is the cause, and why, That knightes have the ensign* of honour *insignia Rather by the leaf than by the flow'r?"