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(Translated by John Payne)
I. WELL enough favoured and with substance still | |
| Some little stored, chance brought me ’neath love’s spell | |
| And day and night, until I had my will, | |
| I pined in languor unendurable: | |
| I loved a damsel more than I can tell; | 5 |
| But, with good luck and rose-nobles a score, | |
| I had what men of maids have had before. | |
| Then, in myself considering, I did say: | |
| “Love sets by pleasant speech but little store; | |
| The wealthy gallant always gains the day!” | 10 |
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II. So chanced it that, whilst coin my purse did fill, | |
| The world went merry as a marriage bell | |
| And I was all in all with her, until, | |
| Without word said, my wanton’s loose eyes fell | |
| Upon a graybeard, rich but foul as hell: | 15 |
| A man more hideous never woman bore. | |
| But what of that? He had his will and more: | |
| And I, confounded, stricken with dismay, | |
| Upon this text went glosing passing sore; | |
| “The wealthy gallant always gains the day!” | 20 |
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III. Now she did wrong; for never had she ill | |
| Or spite of me: I cherished her so well | |
| That, had she asked me for the moon, my skill | |
| I had essayed to storm heaven’s citadel. | |
| Yet, of sheer vice, her body did she sell | 25 |
| Unto the service of that satyr hoar: | |
| The which I seeing, of my clerkly lore | |
| I made and sent to her a piteous lay: | |
| And she: “Lack-gold undid thee”; words but four. | |
| The wealthy gallant always gains the day. | 30 |
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ENVOI. Fair Prince, more skilled than any one of yore | |
| In pleasant speech, look thou have coin galore | |
| Within thy pouch: as Meung that clerk so gay | |
| And wise, hath told us, in the amorous war | |
| The wealthy gallant always gains the day. | 35 |
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