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.