As I Laye A-Dreamynge. L'Envoi.

After T. I.          As I laye a-dreamynge, a-dreamynge, a-dreamynge,      O softlye moaned the dove to her mate within the tree,         And meseemed unto my syghte         Came rydynge many a knyghte         All cased in armoure bryghte             Cap-a-pie,      As I laye a-dreamynge, a goodlye companye!          As I laye a-dreamynge, a-dreamynge, a-dreamynge,      O sadlye mourned the dove, callynge long and callynge lowe,         And meseemed of alle that hoste         Notte a face but was the ghoste         Of a friend that I hadde loste             Long agoe.         As I laye a-dreamynge, oh, bysson teare to flowe!          As I laye a-dreamynge, a-dreamynge, a-dreamynge,      O sadlye sobbed the dove as she seemed to despayre,         And laste upon the tracke         Came one I hayled as 'Jacke!'         But he turned mee his backe             With a stare:      As I laye a-dreamynge, he lefte mee callynge there.          Stille I laye a-dreamynge, a-dreamynge, a-dreamynge,      And gentler sobbed the dove as it eased her of her payne,         And meseemed a voyce yt cry'd--          'They shall ryde, and they shall ryde          'Tyll the truce of tyme and tyde             Come agayne!      Alle for Eldorado, yette never maye attayne!'          Stille I laye a-dreamynge, a-dreamynge, a-dreamynge,      And scarcelye moaned the dove, as her agonye was spente:          'Shalle to-morrowe see them nygher         To a golden walle or spyre?         You have better in yr fyre,             Bee contente.'      As I laye a-dreamynge, it seem'd smalle punyshment.          But I laye a-wakynge, and loe! the dawne was breakynge      And rarely pyped a larke for the promyse of the daye:          'Uppe and sette yr lance in reste!         Uppe and followe on the queste!         Leave the issue to be guessed      At the endynge of the waye'--          As I laye a-wakynge, 'twas soe she seemed to say--     'Whatte and if it alle be feynynge?      There be better thynges than gaynynge,      Rycher pryzes than attaynynge.'--         And 'twas truthe she seemed to saye.      Whyles the dawne was breakynge, I rode upon my waye.