Thomas Hoccleve, Chaucerian and Other Pieces — The Letter of Cupid (1897)
“ Litera Cupidinis, dei Amoris, directa subditis suis Amatoribus.Cupido, unto whos comaundëment The gentil kinrede of goddes on hy And people infernal been obedient, And mortel folk al serven besily, The goddesse sonë Cithera soothly, 5 To alle tho that to our deitee Ben sugets, hertly greting sende we! In general, we wolë that ye knowe That ladies of honour and reverence, And other gentil women, haven sowe 10 Such seed of compleynt in our audience Of men that doon hem outrage and offence, That it our eres greveth for to here ”
