¶ Here beginneth a little treatise called the disputation or complaint of the heart thorughe pierced with the looking of the eye.  

¶ My heart is through pierced with the looking of thine eye.     

  


IN the first week of the season of may  
When the woods be covered in green  
In which the nightingale list for to play  
To show his voice among the thorns keen  
Then to rejoice which love servants been  
Which fro all comfort think them fast behind  
My pleasure was as it was after seen  
For my disport to chase heart and hind.   

Than I commanded my hounds to go  
To draw about if they might find a view  
And forth we went both I and other more  
Now here now there the hunts for to sew  
Which in their horns many blasts died blow  
To find an heart they died their full intent  
In a forest of mine for to say true  
In which to hunt I had great talent.   

We sought so much about in every part  
Till at the last we found right well to chase  
great hearts out of the hired a part  
Which went about their pastor to purchase  
And than anon we went for to embrace  
Many branches of Elm and of able tree  
With which to dress us a good standing place  
We made us bushes well as seemed me.   

When this was done I turned my back anon  
To fet my hounds and came soon again  
Where of aloundes I brought many one  
And when I came in to the forest plain  
I found anon the hounte of hearts twain heart & eye.  
For which I made to blow horns high  
And hounds six score and more certain  
Which made me thought a joyous melody.   

For that pour heart that sorrow doth menace  
Might have pleasance and also great comfort  
To here the hounds make that merry chase  
So properly they ran of one accord  
And eke so swift was their merry report  
That it me thought as very paradise  
For in that forest was much more disport  
Than Instrument could make to my devise.   

And in chasing not far out of my way  
I heard a woman's voice wonder clear  
More sweeter herd I never none to my pay  
Than of my horse I descended right there  
To understand the better and to here  
So long till that their songs were song & done  
And for to know the place I drew me near  
Where as I heard this noble enprese soon.   

And I searched ladies many one  
I found sitting about a fair fountain  
Under a pine which shadowed them eachone  
It was thing to me yet uncertain  
To know of them which was the sovereign  
Their behaving so Inly notable  
And to their beauty if I should not fain  
Of all other they were incomparable.   

And in thyr presence if I should not lie  
Were gentle women of right goodly statute  
I had not seen afore in company  
More fresher folk of shap I you ensure  
And in their doing sad and eke demure  
To fest the people they had great delight  
All that I saw was done by good measure  
And well demend every manner wight.   

And I approached as nigh as I might  
And saluted them anon full courteously  
And toward me there came two anon right  
Which said to me us seemeth verily  
Ye list to take your disport secretly  
As it appeareth well in your person  
When ye be weary ye may rest hardly  
And let your hounds make them game alone.   

Than we pray you that ye will come and see  
These ladies and damoysselles in fere  
And they shall fest you as they can perde  
To your worship and theirs in all manner  
And in singing they have none here their peer  
For above all other they have the name  
And goodly stories who so list to here  
They can report and there of have great fame.   

So much of weal they 'gan to me record  
That I was ravished marvelously  
For which my thoughts fell son to accord  
To see them and when I saw truly  
Their fair bodies made so perfectly  
Where god himself and also dame nature heart & eye.  
Had planted beauty right plenteously  
Far above any earthly creature.   

And to all them I died such reverence  
Which as to me thought I ought to do soon  
Not only after the high apperence  
Of their nobleness but after one by one  
And there wanted nothing that should be done  
Of worship there men might ensample find  
So goodly folk yet saw I never none  
For in all pleasance set was hole their mind.   

And I was of these ladies gracious  
received well with perfit gentleness  
The which of flowers right delicious  
Made a fresh chapelet the sooth for the express  
I had not seen such one before doubtless  
The which they gave to me right courteysly  
And than I found that eye of all gladness  
Was refreshed right well and joyously.   

Than one of them me by the hand died take  
And 'gan to sing a song of great pleasance  
And to all that other answers son 'gan make  
Hole together without variance  
So parfyely with all the circumstance  
That I have not hard none of such measure  
It was a life to voice all displeasance  
Out of a troubled heart I you ensure.   

All these learners that were present  
Began to sing that joy it was to here  
In such places where they died talon  
They cast their sight each man in his gree there  
And some 'gan sigh with piteous look and cheer  
Offering their hearts with hole intent  
While that/ that their life and body were in fere  
So much that love should there with be content   

That one of them went out fro the feast  
And with drew her out of the company  
And can not say why it was at the least  
But well I wot and dare say verily  
Mine eye had great pleasure her to aspy  
Warning my heart on her to take good heed  
Which of all sorrow was all void truly  
When I beheld her goodly woman heed.   

It seemed an angel that god had made  
To come adown for beauty sovereign  
There could no man see with his eyen glade  
A more gracious lady the sooth to say  
Her for to please though I died all my pain  
I could not tell her features halfendele  
Therefore I commit this matter all plain  
With them that lust with materes to deal.   

And for her beauty which was imperial  
My pleasure always 'gan me to complain  
To sew for grace and died me hole travail  
To whom my thought 'gan to strain certain  
Yet my power heart said he would do his pain  
And took none heed to her noble grace  
In his service for to be true and plain  
Her for to serve during my lives space.   

And when she had thought all that her list  
To the feast she turned anon right  
And with her voice which was most swetyst  
Began to sing with all her force and might  
And as she cast about her goodly sight  
Which was great pleasance to all there  
Unto mine eye it gave so great a light  
That in all comfort I stood verily clear.   

And or that she had ended her song  
An heart came running by them haftly  
And leapt in to a well all them among  
Than for mine hounds I blewe certainly  
With whom the heart was hold so straight truly  
That he thought he should not long endure  
And for great rear he leapt full busily  
For of his death he deemed him very sure.   

The ladies and the great gentle women also  
Had great pleasure to be hold and see  
And died their part to help the hounds so  
The heart to take at soil if it might be  
But such disport before I died not see  
Mine eye would not thereof no treasure make  
But her in whom all virtue was plenty  
Beheld all way I dare well undertake.   

And when this heart espied well his time  
He leped lightly out of the fountain clear  
My weary hounds laid them still by me  
For none of them might nothing nigh hire nē  
He broke the bushes so here and there  
He went his way withouten any arrest  
And running for the among the bows shear  
He scope us fro and took the thick forest   

I went to these ladies my leave to take  
The heart to pursue I died mine intent  
Within a while my courage 'gan to shake  
Mine heart such discomfort to him hath hent  
That I ne knew well what honting mente  
But well I wot I was full of disease  
Me to disport I had but small talent  
But late my thought forth all at his ease.   

And what for walking I was weary soon  
saying the son began to go to rest  
Of heart ne hounds I could see right none  
As far as I could look both est and west  
An one the night began to make him priest  
So fast he came that I lost my place  
And still to abide me thought it for the best  
Till that the day began to show his face.   

I tied mine horse unto a fair green tree  
Again the which mine heed anon I set  
The earth as cold as marble seemed me  
Which made my teeth all in mine heed to whet  
Myself complaining how that I was set  
That I might not that lady see again  
Whom that mine eye promised an behette  
When I had first sight of her certain heart & eye.  
And with that thought I found that eye  
Had lost mine hope and joys everichone  
And that hard sorrow ny●hed me so nigh  
That I should not but weep wail and groan  
And divers pains come upon me soon  
For I could not see in no manner wise  
Her in whom all my joys were alone  
And than I slept a while me to suffice.   

heart  
And in sleeping mine heart I heard complain  
And with mine eye anon began debate  
saying false eye thou dost me great pain  
To be so hardy that early or late  
To cast my look upon so great estate  
Where all beauty is set in little space  
I trow to me thou hast some manner hate  
That thou hast set me in so high a place.   

eye  
The eye than said thou heart to what intent  
Sayest thou that I have done the any wrong  
I am thy friend if thou list be content  
I may well swear mine oath if thou will it song  
And leave me well both at short and long  
That I died never evil unto the  
I doubt me not though thou with words strong  
List thus to chide take this for certainty.   

heart  
Hast thou not made by right sweet adventure  
Me for to cheese the flower of womanhead  
The most pleasant of living creature  
Surmounting in very goodly heed  
And for the sweetness that in her doth spread  
Thou hast on her planted thy steadfast sight  
Which is to me great prevydyce in deed  
Sith I may not see her as it were right.   

eye  
For sooth I will not the contrary  
But that I have a goodly lady sayne  
In pleasant wise I will not fro it vary  
In all honour she hath no peer certain  
Among all other chosen sovereign  
As for the fairest and the best also  
Therefore thou hast no cause on me to complain  
No me to hate/ a well why dost thou so.   

heart  
Yes for sooth for when thou so do  
O● so great desire thy sight on her thou cast  
Through the which I was ravished so  
That in all joy me thought I was steadfast  
And her goodness in me portted thou hast  
And or I ask mercy or grace  
She was right far out of thy sight ypast  
For which despair me straightly doth embrace.   

eye  
I have franchise that all mine own pleasance  
My sight to cast when that me liketh best  
For which thou ought to have no displeasance  
Thy dread and mine be not like at the lest  
Though that we both in one place take our rest  
I am ordained to behold and see  
And than to leave shouldest always be priest  
Why puttest thou this blame than all on me.   

heart  
Like as fruit may not wax type kindly heart & eye.  
But if he take of the son some manner heat  
In like wise I may not live truly  
Without thy counsel wherefore cause great  
I have to blame the sith I may not get  
Sith of her alas the hard while  
I am not like with her to meet  
How mayst thou forth me thus beguile.   

eye  
Though I behold a ladies great beauty  
Through which thou art be comen amorous  
And as of hope thou art in no surety  
Which maketh the haply right dolorous  
Yet shouldest thou not with words rigorous  
So woefully me to reprove and blame  
Now in good faith thou art not virtuous  
To do or say that should be to my shame.   

heart  
Thou oughtest well somewhat longer to abide  
Till that the mouth had her be sought of grace  
And that the ere had take good heed that tide  
In his concept if I had any place  
So might thou to me his pleasance purchase  
But I now feel that I am so purveyed  
Of sorrow which doth me sore embrace  
And of all joy I know me dysperueyde.   

I reck no of the mouth nor of the nose  
Of ear nor foot nor of the hands twain  
It sitteth me much better as I suppose  
To look upon a fair lady certain  
And to be hold them I shall do my pain  
Which is my pleasance and ever shall be  
For I reck not whether thou laugh or complain  
Take now right good heed what I say to the.   

heart  
Thou scornest fast murderer as I trow  
Thou hast me smite with a stroke mortal  
By thy falls look thou hast me overthrow  
I wend full little thou had be such at all  
Thou hast me cast with out the castle wall  
Of good comfort and out of all gladness  
Therefore in faith I may the right well call  
Worse than an erytyke the troth to express.   

eye  
I am no murderer nor out of believe  
Thou shalt me find always both plain & true  
Nor by no witness shalt thou never prove  
That ever I was to man untrue  
And namely to name whose steps I show  
And if thou would say aught to the contrary  
To desire the marshal I will pursue  
And make him judge I will not longer tarry.   

heart  
As much as is in me I am content for certain  
Before him the causes need  
Of our strife between us twain  
And let the truth for us proceed  
That he may know where the fault is in deed  
And let him judge for us both rightfully  
Without mercy for right so god me speed  
In that quarrel I dare well fight truly.   

eye  
Than the eye answered in this manner  
That he would him defend with all his might heart & eye.  
Than both two were accorded thus in fere  
To go towards the court of love full right  
When they came to show their right  
Than said desire of love the marshal  
Tell thou thy cause anon here in our fight  
Of our rumour that is between you fall.   

heart  
The heart than took no manner of counsel  
But his own tale he told full truly  
And desire lo here my cause saunsfefayll  
The eye hath done to me uncourteously  
Not long a go he put his sight truly  
On the fairest and best where ever she go  
For his pleasure and not for mine truly  
Right in this wise as I shall tell you lo.   

When the eye had on her set his sight  
Love put in me of his great worthiness  
Thought desire/ & pleasance these three full right  
Which should make me to stand in stedefulnesse  
For to love her without doubleness  
If than I might her grace to attain  
Whom I am like never to see doubtless  
Wherefore I have great heaviness and pain.   

And thus the eye hath set me in such plight  
For when he saw that I was thus take  
With love of her he parted from him quite  
Or that I could my certainty make  
Wherefore of time I tremble sore and quake  
And think right long after allygeaunce  
Thus by the eye my woe beginneth to wake  
All in despair thus standing in balance.   

And with this grief I am to death brought  
And out of joy standefull forowfully  
All in discomfort as I ne wrought  
Of earthly thing so troubleth me the eye  
For if the fair had not so pleasantly  
Her goodly look on me be set so sore  
This sorrow had not comen to me truly  
But I had lived as I did before.   

Wherefore I complain me thus rightfully  
Of great injury that the eye hath done  
And my cause is meant most faithfully  
Wherefore to you I do submission  
And on my troth I make promission  
To fight with him in loves high presence  
Before the which we shall know soon  
The right fro wrong without more dyffence.   

eye  
The eye answered and said in this manner  
I have done nothing contrary to thine heart  
For though I cast mine look both here and there  
Upon the fair if ye list well advert  
The heart should not in his conceit pervert  
Sith love hath granted me the high office  
I will it keep an never fro it start  
Of him I have none other benefice.   

heart  
The heart replied with his full intent  
And said thou eye thou art false and untrue  
I cast to fight in this quarrel present  
The eye answered and said I am as true  
As ever thou were therefore in words few  
To know the right thy wed I up take  
And in presence of love we shall it show  
Who hath the wrong and no more noise to make.   

Than when desire had herd the matter plain  
In mids of may he signed a day  
The great quarrel before love to tarrayne  
And letters write and sealed both to say  
With seals of their arms fresh and gay  
Each one of them his right for to maintain  
Thus to be there in all best array  
They made there both two their promise certain   

Than went this worthy mershall of love  
To tell his lord and master part and all  
Of this affray rehearsed here above  
And love anon commanded forth with all  
To make a field where in both great and small  
Might have their sight closed about with lyces  
And there with all if I the sooth say shall  
A rich scaffold arrayed with delices.   

And when love had him his charge thus told  
And anon was made a field both long & wide  
With double lists all of right good gold  
Covered with tyssewe well on every side  
Nabugodonosor with all his pride  
Which was the richest king as in his days  
Had never such one before that ilk tide  
As was that field with all the rich arrays.   

For in that field were two fair entrees  
All made of jasper and of clear crystal  
Which good work men of strange countries  
With baryers of passing fine coral  
Had wrought right well by craft especial  
All set with keys made of ivory  
Which a lock smith that came fro portyngale  
Filed with a file smooth and craftily.   

The scaffold of love was made of amber  
Founded on pillars of right fair baleys  
With wardrobe an hall and also with chamber  
As though it were within a great palace  
The tapets also as the book says  
Were the story of the rose the romance  
For lovers to read both clerks and lays  
Were written right well with good dyamaunce.   

The chair was also passing fresh and gay  
Where love himself in his estate sit should  
Of clear burell well polished sooth to say  
And four spare hawks made of massy gold  
And on the back there were to behold  
sixth carbuncles right well set and even  
Which were clearer and brighter many fold  
Than been the planets shining from heaven.   

The day and the hour above said  
When the heart should fight against the eye  
Love came himself with his wings displayed  
descending down of his scafolde truly  
And in his chair he sat down softly  
A rob on him embroidered with rich stones  
And fine pearls set full craftily  
Browderede of emeralds for the nonce.   

The flores fresh of the crown of love  
And chamehyeux were made of great richesse  
And of clear saphers set all above  
All his wings were of such brightness  
Feathered de byen en meulx doubtless  
As of tapyses shining wonderfully  
I trow none angels the troth to express  
Have not their wings made so pleasantly.   

He had also a bow of unicorn  
And two strings made of great substance  
Of gold of cypress at each end  
A sheaf of arrows set in ordinance  
To teach the lovers his trace to dance  
Feathered with fine rubies bright and sheen  
Which gave him for a great pleasance  
Pointed with diamonds sharp and keen.   

And when that love this noble god archer  
Had bow and arrows set down him beside  
Regard his herald with voice inly clear  
thrice as it was commanded that tide  
Called the heart that he should not lange abide  
Which had promised to fight there tha day  
Against the eye which was so full of pride  
And not to make tarrying nor delay.   

The heart came forth to fight against the eye  
Upon a courser covered all with larmes  
His arms were made of sorrow truly  
Also three sighs he bore in his arms  
Painted well upon his cote of arms  
They appeared all with piteous weeping  
And his sword which which he should do his arms  
Was tempered with sorrowful complaining.   

In whose company came honour also  
hardiness/ prowess/ and eke gentleness  
Thought and good hope and many other more  
That were of his alliance as I guess  
All clothed like for their worthiness  
With roses reed and also with lilies white  
Chapelettes they had eke for their nobleness  
Of lavendre a flower of great delight.   

And when he entered into the fresh field  
Than from his horse he dessended lightly  
And on his knees fell down and beheld  
This noble love and salved him goodly  
And a little after full worshipfully  
With drew himself and took him to his tent  
Which of roses many made was pleasantly  
There tabyde the eye was his hole intent.   

Than regard this noble herald and wise  
Called the eye before love taper  
Which was ready in all goodly wise  
Armed with sweet disport on a courser  
Which to my conceit had no where his peer  
And seemed well he had no weariness  
Covered with mirth embroded here and there  
His sword was of solace and of lustiness.   

Of joy was made his cote of arms rich  
figured all with pleasance and gladness  
Right goodly folk also none of them like  
He had as happened him beauty and prowess  
Goodly port melody and eke nobleness  
Of pervyncle arrayed all in green  
And of mergelyne in right great largesse  
His fair coursers were covered all be done.   

And as soon as this full noble eye  
This lists approached on foot he light  
And entered in and salved courteously  
His worshipful lord love as it was right  
Which had made promise with the heart to fight  
And after went in to his pavilion  
All arrayed with gyllofres' reed and white  
Which was worth a kings great ransom.   

The ordeyner of the field named desire  
Made come anon in to the high presence  
Of which was their noble lord and fire  
Both the heart and the eye full of prudence  
And made them swear upon their conscience  
That in their cause each of them had right  
And to cry it in open audience  
And not to tarry that they have be height   

Than after this the heart went again  
Unto his tent his rest for to make  
And set him on his siege the sooth for to fain  
Made of eglantine for his own sake  
Also the eye his friends had let make  
A siege for him of woderon pleasantly  
Where he made good watch I undertake  
Upon the eye when he should come truly.   

And after came love the field unto  
And chose knights to await upon them twain  
Thought sweet hope/ and remembrance  
And honour eke and I should not fain  
All armed with margaretes certain  
And each of them bare in his hand a spear  
Of green laver well made both smooth & plain  
To depart these champynyons if need were.   

And than this love which is worthy and dign  
To whom no creature may him resemble  
Unto regard his herald made a sign  
That he should make the heart & the eye to assemble  
And when they were thus both two assemble  
The herald cried do your devour anon  
For which the heart and the eye began to tremble  
And so died they that were present each one.   

And thus the heart which was thappellant  
Out of his tent issues right manly  
Which bore as he that was right valiant  
A spear heed with sorrow sickerly  
The eye from his pavilion by and by  
issued also in his hand a lance  
The which he guided full gentylmanly heart & eye.  
Pointed it was right freshly with pleasance.   

Forth with the heart hent in his fist a spear  
Thrice before the eye/ namely he went  
The eye anon as he that had no fere  
Came forth a goodly pace anon of his tent  
And the heart with a good advisement  
Cast his spear and pierced the vysere  
Of the eye which deemed him almost shent  
And thought he was unto death right near.   

And when the eye felt him thus sore wounded  
rudely against the heart he went anon  
And first of all that his heart was founded  
His spear he caught manly and tight soon  
Unneth the heart might stand his feet upon  
For he smote one of his plates a part  
And of that stroke he had so moche to done  
That he deemed that his body & soul should part   

Yet for all this his heart he took again  
And right manly his sword anon he took  
And on the eye he smote right fast certain  
Such mighty strokes that all the ground shaken  
And than the eye with a courageous look  
The heart strongly he bore so with his sword  
Against the lists and him not for soak  
Whereof the heart was than right sore afeard.   

The heart saw that he was in danger  
And right nigh discomfited thus by the eye  
Full hardtly he cast away his spear  
And drew his dagger well amsely  
And laid on fast and smote so fervently  
Upon the eye that he was near attaint  
And from his strokes he voided lightly  
For which to cover he had great constraint.   

And as they fought these great champions twain  
With their sharp daggers with so great courage  
Which were like to fall down in the plain  
Dame pity than that lady sweet and sage  
Came forth anon with a certain message  
To love and prayed her crande for to here  
Right as he sat on high upon his stage  
Which came from venus his own modet dear.   

Than love to her made glad and joyful cheer  
And gave to her a welcome honourable  
saying thus dame pity mine own friend dear  
Sith my mother of her estate notable  
Venus I mean the goddess amiable  
Hath you commanded thus to come to me  
Think it is to me right agreeable  
To here your message what so it be.   

And than pity thanked love right meekly  
Which was always on knees as I read  
saying right high lord here is trewele  
A great debate of these knights in deed  
Which have been ever both in word and deed  
Wyking of love the steps for to show  
And of Venus who so list to take heed  
Above all other servants good and true. heart & eye.   

For when Venus heard this mortal strife  
That was between the heart and eye thus fall  
Of very love and of heart attentive  
considereth the beginning and all  
And wot full well that her esate rial  
Without them two may not be kept up right  
Nor her majesty exalted be at all  
But they were ready always in her sight.   

And for they be both of her court in fere  
She now commandeth them to call again  
And before her they both must needs appear  
As for this cause thus fell between them twain  
For she would know the very cause all plain  
Of their debate which to her ear appertaineth  
And would they were in pease full fain  
For all such causes unto her pertaineth.   

Than love for the which to give his obeisance  
To his mother and would no more abide  
saying thus she shoal have cognoyssaunce  
And there debate would no longer hide  
But called the watches that went by their side  
Charging them the champions to disjoin  
And to pity whose goodness is known wide  
deliver both in peace them for to join.   

The pity bade them warn them both  
And after went of love her leave to take  
And charged them whether they were lief or loath  
between them twain no more quarrels to make  
But late their strife/ a their debat slake  
And eschew hate and love together again  
What marvel though their hearts died quake  
Towards Venus when they should go certain.   

By ween them went his good lady pity  
And led them by the hands in full friendly guise  
And said to them now sith ye are with me  
I shall you two make to morrow or ye rise  
My cousins germans your hate to depryse  
And Venus shall you of one accord  
Which will not suffer in no manner wise  
Her own folks to be at discord.   

Than they arrived all in a strong isle  
That was made right strong about with all  
Ofbrenning brands by craft abyle  
Because it was so dark in especial  
Were two fowls which ostrydges' men call  
Bare on high in the air in lettere  
Of gold enhameled of a●ure at all  
Venus the goddess of love most enter.   

I saw his lettere which borne was so high  
Covered with cloth of great substance  
And she in whom all joy is most truly  
And gladness continued with pleasance  
A rob of purple she had at her ordinance  
With flames of fire and sperles light  
Which was made to the suffisance  
Of young lovers for comfort day and night   

And when madame pity found there present heart & eye.  
Her lady venus of love goddess  
With a sweet salve she died her present  
And said madame to your high nobleness  
Are come these two knights of great prowess.  
The heart and the eye to know your intent  
Whom love hath dread and with humbleness  
Now at this time by me to you hath sent.   

To that intent that of their great debate  
As ye my lady commanded by me  
That ye might know the cause of all their hate  
For he would ye had the sovereignty  
By cause he knoweth verily that ye  
Can best judge them as to their behove  
Also he wot that ye be only she  
Because all goodness falleth to love.   

And than Venus with a goodly countenance  
Took to her these noble champions  
Which had so long at their utterance  
With hardy hearts fought as were lions  
Which trowed well in their opinions  
If pity had not take them into ward  
And made to staunch their heavy actions  
any of them to scape it had been hard.   

The heart him set anon up his knee  
And said Venus our sovereign lady dear  
Sith it pleaseth you to know the certainty  
Of our discord the very true manner  
Not dying a word but both plain and clear  
I shall you tell beginning and the end  
Of our debate thus standing here in fere  
If it please your highness now to intend.   

That forth with venus gave the heart licence  
That he should of his cause the substance  
Also the eye should ordain his sentence  
To answer him in way of replyaunce  
And eke they were charged on their allowance  
That in their causes they should nothing vary  
And for to stand at venus' ordinance  
And none of them thereto say nay.   

The heart attained his cause thus truly  
saying to venus our sovereign lady goddess  
Lo here nature hath given to me the eye  
To set me in the way of rightwiseness  
To find joy/ solace and also gladness  
And he hath taken a pillar to behold  
The fair pleasant and flower of lustiness  
Which fro me parted sooner than I would.   

And of that pleasure that the eye had take  
He warned me and that right suddenly  
And than anon in me there died awake  
Lovely desire/ and remembrance truly  
And lodged them in me full pleasantly  
And so died thought and in many other more  
And also sweet hope to hold me company  
And hap comfort lacked not also.   

And after this it happened me full ill  
For the eye had no list there to abide  
Till I required as it was skill  
Other that I had chosen to be me guide  
But her absenting taught me well that tide  
That who soever that is far from the eye  
Is far from the heart and thus on every side  
I live in torment and great pains truly.   

Wherefore if he had not thus set his sight  
I had not be taken in the snare  
But that I had yet hope my joy up right  
And in no wise I should have this care  
For his beholding causeth evil far  
As to me for this rail is full true  
That folks say that women called are  
That the eye seeth the heart doth rue.   

For in the eye is the gate which in no wise  
Should not open to let in heaviness  
But always should be ready to devise  
To keep me surely from all pensiveness  
And let in hope good hap and gladness  
Comfort and joy and also good adventure  
For whom he should do his true business  
And not to make an hasty adventure.   

I feel well he died the contrary  
For he hath let weepings and complaints  
Entre in me he may not from it vary  
With which my joy with great sorowmentes  
And all my comfort in me now attainted is  
Which is to me a martyrdom mortal  
Thus I conclude that by his constrayntes  
That he is causer of my sorrow all.   

Than the eye which him greatly applied  
To find matter to his salvations  
With right goodly advise anon replied  
Unto the hearts compositions  
And said I see well by his actions  
That he hath been at school I trow of love  
Which bringeth forth pleasant intention  
Himself further for his own behove.   

And said lady Venus of love goddess  
The heart saith thus that he hath of nature  
Given unto him as he doth express  
That he all way in gladness should endure  
Yet might it hap by some adventure  
That he shall not in joy always abound  
For as I trow there is no creature  
But in the contrary some time shall be found.   

Yet will I in no wise myself excuse  
But that nature me made for him doubtless  
And yet forsooth he ought me not to accuse  
That he beareth by me the heaviness  
Of sorrow nor of no manner distress  
For in good faith there can nothing be done  
Without his consent as I can express  
For all the cause by him is wrought alone.   

And as the clock may smite in no wise  
But that he have some manner of moving  
As he that keepeth him list to devise  
So of myself in deed I have nothing  
But to behold and then in tidings bring  
And thus the heart is cause of all truly  
For without him thus have I no doing  
But as an Instrument forfoth am I   

If jon her have set all my beholding  
By his advise that causeth me thereto  
And to this cause he is most attending  
By his desire her for to love also  
If he absent him and sorrow come him to  
I may not get that he list not to save  
For as some say the heart the work must do  
If he will not/ I may no pleasure have   

So my lady I pray you to take heed  
To these cau●es and how I me excuse  
And keep ye well my right and so proceed  
Against the heart which doth you obstuse  
To this intent that he shall not refuse  
But at the lest that he be take anon  
And pi●● in prysorn there to be recluse  
Till he have amended all that is misdone.   

Than Venus thought well that without them too  
She might in no wise her court maintain  
Wherefore the died the process call her to  
And made to write the matter hole and plain  
And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there of should remain  
In her own hand what so ever be fall  
And for they should abide her ward both twain  
She made them swear afore her folks all.   

Of which truly they were content  
And Venus than wrote unto her servants all  
And to all true lovers the hole intent  
Them commanding both great and small  
Each man search on pain that might fall  
As to their advise which of them had right  
And this was the very cause in especial  
There peace to make she died her will and might   

And who could bring the very true report  
Of the oppenyon of this foresaid matter  
As for either should have for his report  
Of her a chapelet of roses to were  
Than anon I found all the substance clear  
Of my thoughts which I had done before  
Which I wrote as ye have heard me here  
With any leasing less or more.   

I pray them which lead their life  
And of true love be set in the way  
That of the heart and eye and the doubtful strife  
Will in their conceit everyman assay  
To send his opinion as soon as he may  
Unto Venus and who the chapelet plain  
Shall get than to love for him I pray  
That to all his desires he may attain.    
¶ Here endeth a little treatise called the disputation or the complaint of the heart through pierced with the looking of the eye.  

Inprynted at London in Fleetstreet at the sign of the son/ by Wynkyn de word.   


WC  
Wynkyn ·de word.   printer's or publisher's device