‘O mercy, dere fader,’ quod this mayde,
And with that word she both hir armes layde
About his nekke, as she was wont to do:
The teres broste out of hir eyen two,
And seyde, ‘gode fader, shal I dye? 235
Is ther no grace? is ther no remedye?’
234. E. Hn. teeris. E. bruste; Cm. broste; Pt. brosten; Hn. borste;
Cp. Ln. barsten; Hl. brast.
‘No, certes, dere doghter myn,’ quod he.
‘Thanne yif me leyser, fader myn,’ quod she,
‘My deeth for to compleyne a litel space;
[297: T. 12174-12208.]
For pardee, Iepte yaf his doghter grace 240
For to compleyne, er he hir slow, allas!
And god it woot, no-thing was hir trespas,
But for she ran hir fader first to see,
To welcome him with greet solempnitee.’
And with that word she fil aswowne anon, 245
And after, whan hir swowning is agon,
She ryseth up, and to hir fader sayde,
‘Blessed be god, that I shal dye a mayde.
Yif me my deeth, er that I have a shame;
Doth with your child your wil, a goddes name!’ 250