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John Gower
Confessio Amantis

"My fader, ever yit ere this
In every place, in every stede,
What so my lady hath me bede,
With all myn herte obedient
I have therto be diligent;
And if so is she bidde noght,
What thing that thenne into my thoght
Comth ferst, of that I may suffise,
I bowe and profre my servise,
Sometime in chambre, somtime in halle,
Right as I see the times falle;
And whan she goth to hiere masse,
That time shall noght overpasse
That I n'approche hir ladihede
In aunter if I may hir lede."
(Bk. IV, Vv. 1123-38)

Geoffrey Chaucer
The Book of the Duchess

"Syr," quod he, "sith first I kouthe
Have any maner wyt fro youthe,
Or kyndely understondyng
To comprehende, in any thyng,
What love was, in myn owne wyt,
Dredeles, I have ever yit
Be tributarye and yiven rente
To Love, hooly with good entente,
And throgh plesaunce become his thral
With good wille, body, hert, and al.
Al this I putte in his servage,
As to my lord, and dide homage;
And ful devoutly I prayed hym to,
He shulde besette myn herte so
That hyt plesance to hym were,
And worship to my lady dere."
(Vv. 759-774)

 

Specimen: Courtly Love
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