Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918/Lines from Love Letters

by Anonymous

(i)

De Amico ad Amicam

A CELUY que pluys eyme en mounde,
Of alle tho that I have founde
                Carissima,
Saluz od treyé amour,
With grace and joye and alle honoure,
                Dulcissima.

Sachez bien, pleysant et beele,
That I am right in goode heele
                Laus Christo!
Et moun amour doné vous ay,
And also thine owene, night and day
                In cisto.

Ma tres duce et tres amé,
Night and day for love of thee
                Suspiro.
Soyez permanent et leal;
Love me so that I it fele,
                Requiro.

A vous jeo suy tut doné;
Mine herte is full of love to thee
                Presento;
Et pur ceo jeo vous pry,
Sweting, for thin curtesy,
                Memento.

Jeo vous pry par charité
The wordes that here wreten be
                Tenete;
And turne thy herte me toward
O à Dieu que vous gard!
                Valete!

(ii)

Responcio

A SOUN tres chere et special,
Fer and ner and overal
                In mundo,
Que soy ou saltz et gré
With mouth, word and herte free
                Jocundo.

Jeo vous pry sans debat
That ye wolde of myn estat
                Audire;
Sertfyés a vous jeo fay
I wil in time whan I may
                Venire.

Pur vostre amour, allas, allas!
I am werse than I was
                Per multa:
Jeo suy dolourouse en tut manere,
Woulde God in youre armes I were
                Sepulta!

Vous estes ma morte et ma vye,
I preye you for your curteisie
                Amate,
Cestes maundés jeo vous pry
In youre herté stedefastly
                Notate.