They flee from me， that sometime did me seek，

    With naked foot stalking in my chamber¹.

    I have seen them， gentle， tame， and meek²，

    That now are wild， and do not remember

    That sometime they put themselves in danger

    To take bread at my hand； and now they range，

    Busily seeking with a continual change.

    Thanked be Fortune it hath been otherwise，

    Twenty times better； but once in special，

    In thin array， after a pleasant guise³，

    When her loose gown from her shoulders did fall，

    And she me caught in her arms long and small，

    And therewith all sweetly did me kiss

    And softly said， "Dear heart， how like you this？"

    It was no dream， I lay broad waking.

    But all is turned， thorough my gentleness，

    Into a strange fashion of forsaking⁴；

    And I have leave to go， of her goodness，

    And she also to use newfangleness.

    But since that I so kindely am served，

    I fain sould know what she hath deserved.