Classic Poem

(i)

De Amico ad Amicam

A Celuy que pluys eyme en mounde,
Of alle tho that I have founde

Carissima,

Saluz od treye amour,
With grace and joye and alle honoure,

Dulcissima.

Sachez bien, pleysant et beele,
That I am right in goode heele

Laus Christo!

Et moun amour done vous ay,
And also thine owene, night and day

In cisto.

Ma tres duce et tres ame,
Night and day for love of thee

Suspiro.

Soyez permanent et leal;
Love me so that I it fele,

Requiro.

A vou jeo suy tut done;
Mine herte is full of love to thee

Presento;

Et pur ceo jeo vou pry,
Sweting, for thin curtesy,

Memento.

Jeo vous pry par charite
The wordes that here wreten be

Tenete;

And turne thy herte me toward
O a Dieu que vous gard!

Valente!

(ii)

Responci o

A Soun tres chere et special,
Fer and ner and overal

In mundo,

Que soy ou saltz et gre
With mouth, word and herte free

Jocundo.

Jeo vous pry sans debat
That ye wolde of myn estat

Audire;

Sertfyes a vous jeo fay
I wil in time whan I may

Venire.

Pur vostre amour, allas, allas!
I am werse than I was

Per multa:

Jeo suy dolourouse en tut manere,
Woulde God in youre armes I were

Sepulta!

Vous estes ma morte et ma vye,
I preye you for your curteisie

Amate,

Cestes maundes jeo vous pry
In youre herte stedefastly

Notate.