<< Whan it fel in my remembraunce, That him bitidde swich mischaunce. But at the laste than thoughte I, That scatheles, ful sikerly, 1550 I mighte unto THE WELLE go. THE WELLE. Wherof shulde I abasshen so? Unto the welle than wente I me, And doun I louted for to see The clere water in the stoon, 1555 And eek the gravel, which that shoon Down in the botme, as silver fyn; For of the welle, this is the fyn, In world is noon so cleer of hewe. The water is ever fresh and newe 1560 That welmeth up with wawes brighte The mountance of two finger highte. Abouten it is gras springing, For moiste so thikke and wel lyking, That it ne may in winter dye, 1565 No more than may the see be drye. Down at the botme set saw I Two cristal stones craftely In thilke fresshe and faire welle. But o thing soothly dar I telle, 1570
>> Que dedens n'osai regarder, Ains commençai à coarder, Quant de Narcisus me sovint, Cui malement en mesavint; Mès ge me pensai qu'asséur, Sans paor de mavés éur, A la fontaine aler pooie, Por folie m'en esmaioie. 1530 De la fontaine m'apressai, Quant ge fui près, si m'abessai Por véoir l'iaue qui coroit, Et la gravele qui paroit Au fons plus clere qu'argens fins, De la fontaine c'est la fins. En tout le monde n'ot si bele, L'iaue est tousdis fresche et novele, Qui nuit et jor sourt à grans ondes Par deux doiz creuses et parfondes. 1540 Tout entour point l'erbe menue, Qui vient por l'iaue espesse et drue, Et en iver ne puet morir Ne que l'iaue ne puet tarir. Où fons de la fontaine aval Avoit deux pierres de cristal Qu'à grande entente remirai, Et une chose vous dirai,
<< That ye wol holde a greet mervayle Whan it is told, withouten fayle. For whan the sonne, cleer in sighte, Cast in that welle his bemes brighte, And that the heet descended is, 1575 Than taketh the cristal stoon, y-wis, Agayn the sonne an hundred hewes, Blewe, yelowe, and rede, that fresh and newe is. Yit hath the merveilous cristal Swich strengthe, that the place overal, 1580 Bothe fowl and tree, and leves grene, And al the yerd in it is sene. And for to doon you understonde, To make ensample wol I fonde; Right as a mirour openly 1585 Sheweth al thing that stant therby, As wel the colour as the figure, Withouten any coverture; Right so the cristal stoon, shyning, Withouten any disceyving, 1590 The estres of the yerde accuseth To him that in the water museth; For ever, in which half that he be, He may wel half the gardin see;