A COMPLAINT TO HIS LADY (Section III) / Geoffrey Chaucer (ca. 1343-1400)

Hir name is Bountee, set in womanhede,

Sadnesse in youthe, and Beautee prydelees

And Plesaunce, under governaunce and drede;

Hir surname is eek Faire Rewthelees,

The Wyse, yknit unto Good Aventure,

That, for I love hir, she sleeth me giltelees.

Hir love I best, and shal, whyl I may dure,

Bet than myself an hundred thousand deel,

Than al this worldes richesse or creature.

Now hath not Love me bestowed weel

To love ther I never shal have part?

Allas! right thus is turned me the wheel,

Thus am I slayn with Loves fyry dart.

I can but love hir best, my swete fo;

Love hath me taught no more of his art

But serve alwey, and stinte for no wo.

NOTE:  Lines 2-17 of Section III; lines 24-39 of the whole poem.  Terza-rima lines are embedded in this section.