| Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1340–1400). The Complete Poetical Works. 1894. | | | | The Minor Poems | | XXIII. A Balade of Compleynt |
| | | COMPLEYNE ne coude, ne might myn herte never | |
| My peynes halve, ne what torment I have, | |
| Though that I sholde in your presence ben ever, | |
| My hertes lady, as wisly he me save | |
| That bountee made, and beutee list to grave | 5 |
| In your persone, and bad hem bothe in-fere | |
| Ever tawayte, and ay be wher ye were. | |
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| As wisly he gye alle my Ioyes here | |
| As I am youres, and to yow sad and trewe, | |
| And ye, my lyf and cause of my good chere, | 10 |
| And deeth also, whan ye my peynes newe, | |
| My worldes Ioye, whom I wol serve and sewe, | |
| My heven hool, and al my suffisaunce, | |
| Whom for to serve is set al my plesaunce. | |
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| Beseching yow in my most humble wyse | 15 |
| Taccepte in worth this litel povre dyte, | |
| And for my trouthe my service nat despyse, | |
| Myn observaunce eek have nat in despyte, | |
| Ne yit to long to suffren in this plyte, | |
| I yow beseche, myn hertes lady dere, | 20 |
| Sith I yow serve, and so wil yeer by yere. | | | | |
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