Classic Poem

O excellent sovereigne, most semely to see,
Both prudent and pure, like a perle of prise,
Also fair of figure and oreant of bewtye,
Bothe cumlye and gentil, and goodly to advertise;
Your brethe is sweeter then balme, suger, or licoresse.
I am bolde on you, thoughe I be not able,
To write to your goodly person whiche is so ameable By reason.
For ye be bothe fair and free,
Therto wise and womanly,
Trew as turtil on a tree
Without any treason.

Your fair here henging downe to your knee,
With your rolling eyes whiche are as glasse clere,
And your strawbery lippes as swete as honye,
With rose red in your chekes — ye have no pere!
Your chere is as comfortable as blossome on brere,
And yourselfe as swete as is the gelyfloure,
Or any lavender sedes strawen in a coffer To smell.
Your necke like the lillye,
Your lippes like the strawberye,
As swete as any honye
That cumes to sell.

Your throte as clere as cristal stone,
Nothing amisse after my derection,
And your neke as white as whales bone,
I submitte me, fair ladye, under your protection.
If I do you displeise, I will abide your correction;
Like as the master in the scole teches the childe,
To do your commandemente I will be meke and milde And still.
For Jesus sake that bought us dere,
And his moder, that meiden clere,
Helpe to comforte my careful chere,
And let me never spill.

Your love, fair ladye, I wolde feyne winne;
There is nothing erthely might me so well please.
Wherfore I pray God, or that I beginne,
That my simple writing do you not displeise;
For I am not to blame that I do you prease,
O rubicounde rose, o lillye most deliciouse,
Splendant in bewtye as a diamond most preciouse In sight.
Your bright fulgent face,
Replete full of grace,
And your goodly pace,
Makethe my harte light.

Your love I desire without any negation;
If I might it have, then wolde I be feyne;
Wherfore I pray you, without vareation,
Your whole minde ye will write to me ageine.
If it be good, then wolde I be feine,
And ever whiles I live to you be obedient
To fulfill your commandement as your humble servaunt Forever;
And never to change you for no newe,
But daily for your grace to sue —
Therfore, swetharte, to me be trew,
For I am at your plesure.

Thus at this time this bill shall be concluded
The more brefely for to make an ende,
I trust verely I shall not be ill usede
Of you to whome this simple letter I sende;
With love to continue this I entende,
And so I trust that ye will the same;
Criste kepe us bothe from bodely hurte and shame Alway.
Adeu, farewell my swete,
Till efte that we mete,
My harte ye have to kepe,
By God that made this day.