That was lyk noon of [al] the route;

820

For I dar swere, withoute doute,

That as the someres sonne bright

Is fairer, clerer, and hath more light

Than any planete, [is] in heven,

The mone, or the sterres seven,

825

For al the worlde, so had she

Surmounted hem alle of beaute,

Of maner and of comlinesse,

Of stature and wel set gladnesse,

Of goodlihede so wel beseye—

830

Shortly, what shal I more seye?

By god, and by his halwes twelve,

It was my swete, right as hir-selve!

She had so stedfast countenaunce,

So noble port and meyntenaunce.

835

And Love, that had herd my bone,

Had espyed me thus sone,

That she ful sone, in my thoght,

As helpe me god, so was y-caught

So sodenly, that I ne took

840

No maner [reed] but at hir look

And at myn herte; for-why hir eyen

So gladly, I trow, myn herte seyen,

That purely tho myn owne thoght

Seyde hit were [bet] serve hir for noght

845

Than with another to be wel.

And hit was sooth, for, everydel,