¶ Here beginneth a little prosses or matter called the chance of the dolorous lover newly compiled or made by Crystofer Goodwin The year of our Lord god, a, M. ccccc. xx. ¶ The prologue of the author. Upon a certain time as it befell I was all pensive and thoughtful in my heart For sundry things which I knew full well Coude not be remedied as touching my part Wherefore I imagining from me to astart Such thoughts & fantasies coming through ydeves And even so I began this little matter or prosses For as I have red in books and in stories old Of all vices the chief rote of idleness And if it be as wise men have told Which veryfyenge of the same plainly died express That of all sins sloth is chief master Into the which lest I should fall I made for fere This treatise called the chance of the dolorous lover Not for no praising but my spirits to wake Which at that time were full rude and dull And so I you require that you will it take Which that doth intend for to read it full Or it to here and so I trust that you will That sloth to avoid which enemy is to virtue This work I took in hand that after doth ensue ¶ Thus endeth the prologue. ¶ Here soweth a little treatise called The chance of the dolorous lover. AS it fortuned me for pass through strange countries my solace to take. When the fields were resplendent and covered with grass And with sweet herbs and flowers delicate And birds melodiously singing on every bush or stake I mean in the pleasant time of Autom Which next unto vere may have the chief room And thus as I road myself all alone Musing of things that were in times passed By the space of three days and than about none My way I died lose by riding over fast Than I was full sorry yet at the last A pleasant way I found I thank god of his grace In which I entered and road in an esye pace For my Journayes which I had the days afore And also the ways that I had readen wrong Had made me full weary and also faint and sore That ferther on my horse I could not endure long Wherefore I thought me to rest & with that I heard asonge Near by which was so melodious and sweet That all my weariness I died all forget ¶ To know what it might be I had great purpose Wherefore thitherward full fast I died me high And then before me I saw a green close environed with great trees & hedges full strongly Yet not withstanding I entered privily In at the gate wiche open then I found And there I tied my horse & lighted on the ground. ¶ And when I within this close entered was Being nothing round but of compass quadrant I beheld it well in every corner and place saying to myself that such another scant Could not be found of flowers so abundant As was this little close which before truly I heard the song that was song so sweetly ¶ And in beholding this field round about Right against me then died I espy A way which as this close went out Also in another place truly I saw a bird which sang full high Upon four flowers casting so sweet a savour that they quickened my spirits which their doulcet odour ¶ And ever this bird full pleasantly died sing With her sugared notes very loud and shill That all about the place her jocounde voice did ring Whom diligently to here I stood full soft and still And to understand I fixed my mind and will The dytte of her song which was so certain God send every true lover his lady to obtain ¶ Than to this sweet bird or auys I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 near And as I went I stumbled on a bush And almost had a fall and with a ragged bryere I was constrained to make a great rush Where with she was a feared and suddenly died flusshe And would no longer tarry but with all her might Fron thence I wist not whither fast she took her flight ¶ Than I was full sorry when I saw her gone Not withstanding I knew there was no remedy And straight unto the place I walked all alone From which a little before I died see her fly And when I was this foresaid place by I wist not well whether I died wake or sleep So great a sweetness in to my stomach died bete ¶ And when I was revived & come to myself again I beheld the marvelous fashion of this foresaid place Which was square and also low and plain Compassed round about with high herbs and grass So that no man might see in but at one space Which was open wherein to enter I died purpose Thinking there myself for to repose ¶ And when I had entered in this little garden green Which full smooth and low was with herbs In all my life I had never seen An arbour that was so pleasant I iwis Wherein stood in the mids Of this said place four delicious flowers Casting marvelous sweet & delicious savours ¶ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which I went & down by them did lie And over this as I lay right well I died behold What herbs and flowers they were if I could dyscry Then of all their names I might read as I would The first letters which were of beaten gold singularly set on every flower above Growing after the manner of a goodly true love The first flower to my thinking was of a crymsyn pure Having an A written him upon Which stood for the first letter of his name I was right sure Yet what flower it was I lay musing long And when I had all studied yet knew I none Name that it had wherefore I was right sore For it passed all other in sweetness and beauty ¶ The second flower was a violet full sweet That had on him written of his name the first letter Which was an. U. both fair and great In all the world could not be a better The three herb orfloure which might none be sweeter Was Isope of savour both good and wholesome Which had for his name an I upon him written ¶ The sovereign herb sage was the fourte Which all other herbs in virtue doth excel As in old time wise men died report Which had written upon him an. S. as I you tell For the first letter of his name marvelously well And than full well I knew these herbs among Sat this little bird or auys singing of her song ¶ All these four flowers so sweet and delectable Grew like a true love as I before died tell Having this gold letters without any fable Each one his own which I together died spell And when I had set them to guider than I knew well That it was the name of my true love Whom specially I desired next god above And thus when I had read the name of my lady dear From wome I was departed not long afore Suddenly was changed all my merry cheer And my heart began to be full heavy and sore With grievous groans and sighs more and wore So that in faith it was no great wondre Though in a hundred pieces it had braced a sondre ¶ From her the departing to me so grievous was Whom to the said flowers full well liken I might She is so goodly and beautiful of face So courteous so gentle so amiable and so bright That in the wide world such another wyhgt Coude not be found so full of grace and goodness As is this mine own sweet lady and master ¶ And when I had been a long time in this heaviness The absence of my love right peteously be wailing It came to my mind my sorrows to releys Some ballad to make which that I might sing And thus I began right dolorously weening By cause of her the sight I had lost Whom in this world I desire most ¶ Here after followeth the ballad of the dolorous lover. O Miserable creature wrapped all in woe Full well may I complain both morn & weep Sith my lovely lady I am departed fro That was so gentle so goodly fair and sweet So dulcet a bird or auys a man cannot get Wherefore I may say alas my mortal pain. From her the departing full nigh hath me slain. ¶ Sle me it will ye and that right shortly Without that I may within a little space Have of her a light or else right gladly Would I die even in this same place And never to see no body more in the face Wherefore I beseech dame venus above To send me again the sight of my true love ¶ Alas unfortunate man what thing did I mean from her when I departed whom I so much set by Has now out of her favour clean I shall be cast than may I both sob and cry And also to be sorrowful ever till I die Wherefore alas my mortal pain from her to depart full nigh hath me slain ¶ O rubycunde ruby and pearl most orient O gyloffer gentle and sweet fleur-de-lys O dainty dyamounde and most resplendent O doulset blossom of a full great price O sweet master above all creatueres most wise Wherefore I beseech dame venus above To send me again the sight of you my true love ¶ In virtue to Magulon I may you well account In wisdom to lady Florypes ye do ensue In meekness Gryselde ye do surmount In steadfastness to Clerymounde that lady true In beauty to the lady eglantine I may dame you And ever alas my mortal pain from you the departing full nigh hath me slain ¶ Also four letters ye have in your name In tokening of love ye should be true Of which these flowers have the same That be so sweet and full of virtue Wherefore to them I may well liken you And yet I beseech dame venus above To send me again the sight of my true love ¶ This flower unknown and violet in sweetness This Isope so wholesome this sage so sovereign a thing You pass and excel through your goones Also to this bird or advice that hereafore died sing With your dulcet voyece ye may be likened my dear seating But ever alas my mortal pain from you the departing well nigh hath me slain ¶ Alas dear lady ye be mine only hope My joy my heart and the substance of my life My pain my sorrow and also my death god wot Against which I can make no manner of strife Nor other remedy I know but still morn & sigh And yet I beseech dame venus above To send me again the sight of my true love ¶ That I might to your goodly parson declare How faithful I have been how steadfast and how true But alas I fere that ye be void and bare Of pity and compassion which I full sore may rue For then my woe and sorrow shall renew Wherefore alas my mortal pain From you the departing well neyghe hath me slain ¶ Alas I trow a jew on me would take compassion Knowing my faithfulness and my loving heart Whichever to her I have borne with all my hole intention And still purpose to do and never for to revert From her my mind though she untrue astart And yet I beseech dame venus above To send me again the sight of her whom I do love Alas to call her untrue I am greatly to blame saying that as yet I never showed my mind Unto her goodness alas I durst not for shame Wherefore I am yet in good hope that I shall her find To me her own true servant both loving & kind And yet alas my mortal pain from her the departing full nigh hath me slain ¶ She is so gentle so lovely and so meek So fair so sweet so good to more and les That when I on her think I ween my heart shall break For the love of her I am in so great distress Which is mine own dear lady and master Wherefore I beseech dame venus above To send me again the sight of my true love ¶ Of all her goodness what should I more endyght The half whereof it would not well suffice For to be declared is an hole sevun night If still thereat sit I should and never far to rise She is so beautiful so curtyes and so wise Wherefore alas my mortal pain from her the departing full nigh hath me slain ¶ Alas at this time I may no more sing I feeble my heart so feel and so sore With lamentations and continual weeping Which doth in dure ever more and more Wherefore adieu the best that ever was boar Alway beseeching dame venus above To send me again the sight of my true love ¶ Adieu my seating adieu my darling deer Adieu my health and solace with pains smart Adieu the goodliest that ever life died bear Adieu for whom I am both pale and swart Yet Christ's dear blessing have sweet heart But ever alas my mortal pain from you the departing full nigh hath me slain ¶ Adieu adieu my life so sweet Adieu my death so sharp and strong Adieu fair bird and auys so dulcet Adieu for ever I cannot endure long Wherefore this is the last of my song yet or I die I beseech dame venus above To send me again the sight or my true love ¶ There endeth the ballad of the dolorous lover & soweth of the adventure that happened unto him showed by vision in his sleep ¶ And thus when I had of this ballad made an end I began right strongly to sob sigh and weep beseeching dame venus some comfort me to send And from all parels my dear heart for to keep And then for pure weariness I fell in a little sleep And as I slept me thought the foresaid advice To me died come and bade me arise ¶ saying o thou slothful man & full of idleness Weenest thou with slougging thy lady to obtain Or by alone complaining her sorrows to redress Nay nay it must be througe great labour and pain And here thou dost but spend thy time in vain Wherefore I the counsel that shortly to her thou go else thy mind & purpose shalt thou never come to And be nothing aghast to show to her plain All thy mind and will requiring her of grace And when she knoweth that troth then will she again Some comfort the give & that within short space Otherwise look never thy will to bring to pass Farewell for I go hens and look thou take good heed Unto to my foresaid words if thou purpose to speed ¶ Than out of my sleep suddenly I made abraid And looked round about but nothing I could aspy And than I remembered what the bird to me had said And in my secret mind I printed it surely saying that I would do after it for me thought truly It was the best counsel I that heard my life days Wherefore I concluded to rise and go my ways ¶ And when I was by I went a full soft pace Unto my horse whom I left behind When I went the song to here and in the same place Where as I him left I died him find Upon whom I light all thoughtful in my mind And road for the on my way beseeching our lord jesus To keep my lady and me and all lovers that be true AMEN ¶ lenvoy of the author. ¶ Go forth little quayre with full due reverence Unto the princes of beauty sovereign And the humbly submit unto her magnificence requiring her to take not in disdain This little work which with great labour & pain Her goodness to declare I took on hand to make Though I unworthy were such things to under take Wherefore I beseech all you that shall over read This little proses to have me in no scorning Nor me to dispraise though I so rudely enterprised such matters to take in hand to me nothing ꝑtaining But where as is amiss there to be amending Thus I you pray with my hole affection Which intendeth to read or this dytte to look upon Finis. ¶ Imprinted at London in Flete street at the sign of the Son by Wynkyn de word.