And somme seyn, that greet delyt han we 945
For to ben holden stable and eek secree, (90)
And in o purpos stedefastly to dwelle,
And nat biwreye thing that men us telle.
But that tale is nat worth a rake-stele;
Pardee, we wommen conne no-thing hele; 950
Witnesse on Myda; wol ye here the tale?
Ovyde, amonges othere thinges smale,
Seyde, Myda hadde, under his longe heres,
Growinge up-on his heed two asses eres,
[348: T. 6537-6572.]
The which vyce he hidde, as he best mighte, 955
Ful subtilly from every mannes sighte, (100)
That, save his wyf, ther wiste of it na-mo.
He loved hir most, and trusted hir also;
He preyede hir, that to no creature
She sholde tellen of his disfigure. 960
958. Hn. Cp. Hl. trusted; Cm. trostid; E. triste. 959. Cm. preyede;
Hl. prayed; Hn. preyed; E. preyde.
She swoor him ‘nay, for al this world to winne,
She nolde do that vileinye or sinne,
To make hir housbond han so foul a name;
She nolde nat telle it for hir owene shame.’
But nathelees, hir thoughte that she dyde, 965
That she so longe sholde a conseil hyde; (110)
Hir thoughte it swal so sore aboute hir herte,
That nedely som word hir moste asterte;
And sith she dorste telle it to no man,
Doun to a mareys faste by she ran; 970
Til she came there, hir herte was a-fyre,
And, as a bitore bombleth in the myre,
She leyde hir mouth un-to the water doun:
‘Biwreye me nat, thou water, with thy soun,’
Quod she, ‘to thee I telle it, and namo; 975
Myn housbond hath longe asses eres two! (120)
Now is myn herte all hool, now is it oute;
I mighte no lenger kepe it, out of doute,’
Heer may ye se, thogh we a tyme abyde,
Yet out it moot, we can no conseil hyde; 980
The remenant of the tale if ye wol here,
Redeth Ovyde, and ther ye may it lere.