28.

“Ay,” quoth the Cuckoo, “that is a quaint law, That all must love or die; but I withdraw, And take my leave of all such company, For mine intent it neither is to die, Nor ever while I live Love’s yoke to draw.

29.

“For lovers of all folk that be alive, The most disquiet have and least do thrive; Most feeling have of sorrow’s woe and care, And the least welfare cometh to their share; What need is there against the truth to strive?”

30.

“What!” quoth she, “thou art all out of thy mind, That in thy churlishness a cause canst find To speak of Love’s true Servants in this mood; For in this world no service is so good To every wight that gentle is of kind.

31.

“For thereof comes all goodness and all worth; All gentleness and honour thence come forth; Thence worship comes, content and true heart’s pleasure, And full-assuréd trust, joy without measure, And jollity, fresh cheerfulness, and mirth:

32.

“And bounty, lowliness, and courtesy, And seemliness, and faithful company, And dread of shame that will not do amiss; For he that faithfully Love’s servant is, Rather than be disgraced, would choose to die.

33.

“And that the very truth it is which I Now say—in such belief I’ll live and die; And Cuckoo, do thou so, by my advice.”  “Then,” quoth she, “let me never hope for bliss, If with that counsel I do e’er comply.

34.

“Good Nightingale! thou speakest wondrous fair, Yet, for all that, the truth is found elsewhere; For Love in young folk is but rage, I wis; And Love in old folk a great dotage is; Whom most it useth, him ’twill most impair.

35.

“For thereof come all contraries to gladness; Thence sickness comes, and overwhelming sadness, Mistrust and jealousy, despite, debate, Dishonour, shame, envy importunate, Pride, anger, mischief, poverty and madness.

36.

“Loving is aye an office of despair, And one thing is therein which is not fair; For whoso gets of love a little bliss, Unless it alway stay with him, I wis He may full soon go with an 

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