An hendy hap ichabbe yhent; Ichot, from hevene it is me sent; From alle wymmen mi loue is lent, And lyght on Alysoun.
Bytuen{.e} Mersh and Averil, When spray biginneth to spring{.e},The lutel foul hath hir{.e} wyl On hyr{.e} lud to syng{.e}. Ich libbe in love longing{.e} For semlokest of all{.e} thing{.e}. He may me bliss{.e} bring{.e}; Icham in hire baundoun.
On heu hire her is fayr ynoh, Hire brow{.e} broune, hire ey{.e} blak{.e};With lossum chere he on me loh; With middel smal, and wel ymak{.e}. Bote he me woll{.e} to hire tak{.e}, Fort{.e} buen hire owen mak{.e}, Longe to lyven ichulle forsak{.e}, And fey{.e} fallen adoun.
Niht{.e}s when y wende and wak{.e}, Forthi myn wong{.e}s waxeth won;Levedi, al for thin{.e} sak{.e} Longinge is ylent me on. In world nis non so wyter mon, That al hire bounté tell{.e} con. Hire swyre is whittore then the swon, And feyrest may in toune.
Icham for wowyng al forwake, Wery so water in wor{.e}.Lest eny rev{.e} me my mak{.e}, Ychabbe y-yern{.e}d yor{.e}. Betere is tholien whyl{.e} sor{.e} Then mournen evermor{.e}. Geynest under gor{.e}, Herkn{.e} to my roun.
