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1200 		Me payed ful ille to be outfleme
So sodenly of that fayre regioun,
Fro alle thos syghtes so quyke and queme.
A longyng hevy me strok in swone,
And rewfully thenne I con to reme:
'O perle', quod I, ' of rych renoun,
So was hit me dere that thou con deme
In this veray avysyoun.
If hit be veray and soth sermoun
That thou so stykes in garland gay,
So wel is me in thys doel-doungoun
That thou art to that Prynces paye.'

To that Prynces paye hade I ay bente,
And yerned no more then was mc gyven,
And halden me ther in trwe entent,
As the perle me prayed that was so thryven,
As helde, drawen to Goddes present.
To mo of his mysterys I hed ben dryven.
Bot ay wolde man of happe more hente
Than moght by ryght upon hem clyven.
Therfore my joye was sone toriven.
And I kaste of kythes that lastcs aye.
Lorde, mad hit arn that agayn the stryven,
Other proferen the oght agayn thy paye.




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1200 		It stole my senses clean away
To be thrust from that heavenly place
From all those sights so bright and gay.
A swoon my senses did efface
And then in sorrow and dismay,
'O pearl,' I cried, 'of Heaven's race,
I hold all dear that you did say
Within that vision full of grace;
If all be truth that you embrace
You dwell in raiment he requires
Happy am I in dungeon's space,
That you are as the Prince desires.'

Had I done all my Prince desired
And longed for no more than he gave
And curbed myself as he required,
As said my pearl, so fair and brave,
Attained to what I had aspired
Entered that presence all men crave
And all those mysteries acquixed;
But man will ever be the slave
Of all the evils that deprave;
Exiled from all those heavenly shires;
Lord, they are mad that so behave,
Rejecting what the Prince desires.


It displeased me greatly to be cast out so suddenly from that fair place, from all those sights so vivid and pleasing. A heavy longing overwhelmed me (struck me down in a swoon), and sorrowfully I cried out: 'O pearl' I said, 'of glorious renown, what you spoke of to me in that vision was so precious to me. If it be so, and a true statement, that you are established there in garlands gay, then am I happy in this dungeon of sorrow, that you are as that Prince desires.'

Had I always submitted to that Prince's desire, and longed for no more than was granted to me, and restrained myself with firm purpose, as the pearl asked me who was so fair, it is likely that 1 might have been drawn into God's presence, and have been brought to more of His mysteries. But men would ever seize upon more good fortune than might rightly be granted to them. Therefore my joy was quickly destroyed and I cast out from regions that endure for ever. Lord, they are mad that strive against you, or propose anything to you contrary to your desire.'

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