BALLADE CXXVI

0 thou, fortune which hast the gouvernance Of ail thynges kyndely mening to se fro Thaym to demene after thyn ordonnance; Right as thou lyst to grante han wele or wo, Syth that thou lyst that be on»of tho

That must be revvlyd be thyn avisines, Why wylt thou not wyth stand myn hevynes.

Me thyng, thou art unkynde as in thys case,

To suffre me so long awhylle endure,

So grete apeyned wehout mercy and grase

Which grevyth my right sore I the ensure.

And syth thou knawst I am that créature

That wolde be favourd by the gentilles

Why whylt thou not wyth stand myn hevynes.

What causyth the to be myn adversarie?

1 hâve not done which that schuld the dispiesc, And y it thou art to myn entent contrarie Which makyth alwey my sorovs to encrese. And syth thou worst myn hert ys not in ese, But ever in trouble wythout sykyrvenes

Why wylt thou not wyth stand myn hevynes.

To the allonly thys compleynt I make

For thou art cause of myn adversité.

And y it I wote well thou mayst undertake

For myn welfare if tbat thou lyst agre ;

J hâve no cause to blâme no wyght but the,

For tbys tbou doste of verrey wylf ulneiz

Why wylt tbou not wytbstand myn bevynes ?