d tunges and fals suspec[=o]n
Wit[=h]oute mercy or ony remissi[=o]n
And other eke her seruyse spent in veyn
And of her lady were not loued ageyn
And other eke that for pouerte
Dursten in no wyse her grete aduersite
Discouere ne opene, lest they were refused

And so[=m]e for wantyng also were accused
And other eke that loued secretly
And of her lady durst axe no mercy
Lest that she wolde of hym haue despyte
And so[=m]e also that putten right grete wite
Ou double louers that loue thinges newe
Thurg[=h] whos falsenes hyndred be the trewe
And so[=m] there were as hit is ofte founde
That for her lady many a blody wounde
Endured hat[=h] in many a regyon
Whiles that an other hat[=h] had possession
Al of his lady and beret[=h] a way the fruyt
Of his labour and of a[=ll] his fuyt
And other compleyned of richesse
How he wit[=h] tresour dot[=h] his besynesse
To wynne agaynst al kynde and right
Where as true louers haue force none ne might
And som ther were as maydyns yong of age
That pleynet[=h] so wit[=h] pipyng & wit[=h] rage
That were coupled agayn al nature
Wit[=h] croked elde that may not long endure
For to perfourme the lust of loues playe
For hit ne fit not vnto fress[=h] maye

For to be coupled to olde Ianuarye
They be so dyuerse that they must varye
For elde is gruoching and malencolious
Ay ful of yre and suspecious
And yongth entendet[=h] to Ioye & lustynes
To mirt[=h] and play and to al gladnes
Allas that euer hit shold falle
So swete sugre y coupled be to galle
These yonge folke cryeden oft sithe
And praid venus her power to kythe
Vpon this myschief and shape remedye
And right anone I herde other crye
Wit[=h] sobbyng teres and pietous sowne
To fore the goddesse by lamentacion
That were constrayned in their yougthe
And in childhode as is ofte couthe
Y entrid were in to Religion
Or they had yeris of discresc[=o]n
That al her lif can not but compleyne
In wyde Copes perfection forto feyne
Ful couertly for to coueren thair smert
And shewe the contrary of thair hert
Thus saw I wepe many a fair mayde

That on theyr frendes al the wyte thay layde
And other next I saw ther in grete rage
That they were maried in theyr tendre age
Wit[=h] oute fredom of fre election
Where loue hat[=h] selde domynacion
For loue at large and at liberte
Wolde frely chese and not wit[=h] suche trete
And other saw I ful ofte wepe and wrynge
That they in men fonde suche varyynge
To loue a season whyle that beaulte flourit[=h]