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The more I frayste hyr fayre face Her fygure fyn quen I had fonte, Suche gladande glory con to me glace As lyttel byfore therto was wonte. To call hyr lyste con me enchace, Bot baysment gef myn hert a brunt; I sey hyr in so strange a place, Such a burre myght make myn herte blunt. Thenne veres ho up her fayre frount, Her vysage whyt as playn yvore; That strong myn hert ful stray atount, And ever the lenger, the more and more.
I stod ful stylle and dorste not calle; With yyen open and mouth ful clos I stod as hende as hawk in halle. I hoped that gostly was that purpose; I dred onende quat schulde byfalle, Lest ho me eschaped that I ther chose, Er I at steven hir moght stalle. That gracios gay wythouten galle, So smothe, so smal, so seme slyght, Ryses up in hir araye ryalle, A precios pyece in perles pyght.
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The more I scanned that lovely face, That lovely form so long unseen, Such gladness did my soul embrace As in my life had never been. My need to call her grew apace; I wondered what this thing might mean; To see her in so strange a place Might deal my heart a blow too keen. She raised her head; her face was clean As polished ivory, I swore; Shaken by things so unforeseen, I longed to see her more and more
I stood stock still and dared not call. With mouth set fast, but eye still not clear I stood as still as a hawk in hall. I thought her purpose spiritual cheer And yet I feared what might befall, That she might stop ere I drew near And might escape me after all; That gracious girl, so smooth, so small, So free of stain, so seeming slight, Royally clad, rose up withall, A precious maid in pearls bedight.
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The more I regarded her sweet face, her lovely form that I had perceived, such gladdening exultation flowed into me as I had not been accustomed to before. The longing to call her urged me on, but bewilderment dealt my heart a blow; to look upon her in so strange a place, such a blow might stop my heart. Then she raised her lovely forehead, her face as white as polished ivory. That pierced my heart [and left] me in bewildered amazement. My fear grew stronger than my longing. I stood stock still and dared not cry out. With eyes open but mouth tight shut I stood as still as [a] hawk in [a] hall. I thought her aim was spiritual; I was afraid of what might befall, that she whom I saw there might escape [from me] before I could prevent her. That gracious maid without a flaw, so smooth, so small, seeming so slender, rose in her royal array, a precious being adorned with pearls.
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