Slay Me Suddenly

lyrics (late 14th century english):
your yen two woll sle me sodenly!
i may the beaute of them not sustene,
so wondeth is thorowout my herte kene.
and, but your word woll helen hastely
my hertes wound, while that it is grene,
you yen two woll sle me sodenly!
i may the beaute of them not sustene.
upon my trouth, i sey you faithfully,
that ye ben of my liffe and deth the queen:
for with my deth the trouth shall be sene.
so hath your beaute fro your herte chased
pitee, that me n'availeth not to plaine,
for danger halt your mercy in his chaine.
giltless, my deth thus have ye me purchased!
i sey you soth, me nedeth not to feine.
so hath your beaute fro your herte chased
pitee, that me n'availeth not to plaine.
alas! that nature hath in you compassed
so grete beaute that no may may attaine
to mercy, though he sterve for the paine.
translation:
your two eyes will slay me suddenly!
the beauty of them i cannot bear,
so wounded is my heart straight through.
unless your words will quickly heal
my wounded heart while it's still fresh,
your two eyes will slay me suddenly!
the beauty of them i cannot bear.
i swear, i promise you faithfully,
you are the mistress of my life and death:
and with my death the truth shall be seen.
your beauty has chases pity from your heart,
and it does me no good to complain,
dangerous disdain holds your mercy enchained.
thus you have innocently sealed my doom!
in honesty, i need not pretend.
your beauty has chased pity from your heart,
and it does me no good to complain,
alas! nature has bound in you
such great beauty that no man may attain mercy,
though he hungers for the pain.