Classic Poem

Wel may I pleyne on yow, lady moneye,
þat in the prison of your sharp scantnesse
Souffren me bathe in wo and heuynesse
And deynen nat of socour me purueye.

Whan þat I baar of your prison the keye
Kepte I yow streite? Nay, God to witnesse.
Wel may I pleyne, etc.

I leet yow out. O, now of your noblesse
Seeth vnto me, in your deffaute I deye.
Wel may I pleyne, etc.

Yee saillen al to fer, Retourne, I preye,
Conforteth me ageyn this Cristemesse.
Elles I moot in right a feynt gladnesse
Synge of yow thus and yow accuse and seye,
Wel may I pleyne, etc.

Hoccleue, I wole it to thee knowen be,
I, lady moneie, of the world goddesse,
þat haue al thyng vndir my buxumnesse,
Nat sette by thy pleynte risshes three.

Myn hy might haddest thow in no cheertee
Whyle I was in thy slipir sikirnesse.
Hoccleue, I wole it, etc.

At instance of thyn excessif largesse
Becam I of my body delauee.
Hoccleue, I wole it, etc.

And syn þat lordes grete obeien me,
Sholde I me dreede of thy poore symplesse?
My golden heed akith for thy lewdnesse.
Go, poore wrecche. Who settith aght by thee?
Hoccleue, I wole it, etc.

Of my lady wel me reioise I may.
Hir golden forheed is ful narw and smal.
Hir browes been lyk to dym reed coral.
And as the ieet hir yen glistren ay.

Hir bowgy cheekes been as softe as clay
With large iowes and substancial.
Of my lady, etc.

Hir nose a pentice is, þat it ne shal
Reyne in hir mowth thogh shee vprightes lay.
Of my lady, etc.

Hir mowth is nothyng scant with lippes gray.
Hir chin vnnethe may be seen at al.
Hir comly body shape as a footbal.
And shee syngith ful lyk a papeiay.
Of my lady, etc.