7 Humble Pitie

anon from Oxford Can. Misc. 213 (~1420)

Humble pitie, plaisant et debonayre,
Je me complains de la bele-au corp gent,
Qui m’a volu par villain jugement
De son amour
Du tout en tout retrayre.

Sagrant valour ne m’a volu complayre;
Ne scay pourquoy selon mon jugement.

 

Humble Pity, pleasant and debonair,
I complain of the Beauty with the gentle body;
Who desired, with villainous judgment,
To completely retract her love from me.

Sage Valor, desired not to please me.
By my judgment, I can’t tell why.