| They flee from me that sometime did me seek | |
| With naked foot, stalking in my chamber. | |
| I have seen them gentle, tame, and meek, | |
| That now are wild and do not remember | |
| That sometime they put themself in danger | 5 |
| To take bread at my hand; and now they range, | |
| Busily seeking with a continual change. | |
| |
| Thanked be fortune it hath been otherwise | |
| Twenty times better; but once in special, | |
| In thin array after a pleasant guise, | 10 |
| When her loose gown from her shoulders did fall, | |
| And she me caught in her arms long and small; | |
| Therewithall sweetly did me kiss | |
| And softly said, "Dear heart, how like you this?" | |
| |
| It was no dream: I lay broad waking. | 15 |
| But all is turned thorough my gentleness | |
| Into a strange fashion of forsaking; | |
| And I have leave to go of her goodness, | |
| And she also, to use newfangleness. | |
| But since that I so kindly am served | 20 |
| I would fain know what she hath deserved. | |