Explore "The Judgment of Bishop Valentine" by Oliver Herford on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
One tyme a Youthe of faire degree / Didde looke upon a Mayde. Ah me, / She was as coye as anye flow'r, / She stole hys harte in thatte sayme how'r.
Alle vainlie he to Love didde calle, / Ye blinde Godde holp hym notte atte alle.
To Bishop Valentine thenne hies / Ye Youthe, ye Damosel likewyse, / Ande each 'gan tell hys tayle of griefe.
Each sayd ye other was ye thiefe.
"Zounds! " cried ye Sainte, "this brawle must cease.
I'll binde ye bothe to keepe ye peace. " / Whereat ye twain in nowyse loath, / "Pray then wyth one bond binde us bothe. " / Loude laughed ye Sainte, "Perdi! 'Tis done! " / And made ye Youthe and Mayden one.
Lady, anent this suit of mine / In search of precedents, I waded / Through ancient lore, and found this fine / Old Judgment, in a parchment faded.
If you will ponder the last line / And be by wise example aided, / We, too, will make Saint Valentine / Our Judge, and -- compromise, as they did.