The Lover praiseth the Beauty of his Lady’s Hand

O GOODLY hand,

Wherein doth stand

My heart distract in pain:

Dear hand, alas!

In little space

My life thou dost restrain.

O fingers slight,

Departed right,

So long, so small, so round!

Goodly begone,

And yet a bone

Most cruel in my wound.

With lilies white

And roses bright

Doth strain thy colour fair:

Nature did lend

Each finger’s end

A pearl for to repair.

Consent at last,

Since that thou hast

My heart in thy demain,

For service true

On me to rue,

And reach me love again.

And if not so

There with more woe

Enforce thyself to strain

This simple heart,

That suffered smart,

And rid it out of pain.