‘I have,’ quod she, ‘seyd thus, and ever shal, 645
I wol no thing, ne nil no thing, certayn, (590)
But as yow list; noght greveth me at al,
Thogh that my doghter and my sone be slayn,
At your comandement, this is to sayn.
I have noght had no part of children tweyne 650
But first siknesse, and after wo and peyne.
[409: T. 8528-8562.]
Ye been our lord, doth with your owene thing
Right as yow list; axeth no reed at me.
For, as I lefte at hoom al my clothing,
Whan I first cam to yow, right so,’ quod she, 655
‘Left I my wil and al my libertee, (600)
And took your clothing; wherfor I yow preye,
Doth your plesaunce, I wol your lust obeye.
And certes, if I hadde prescience
Your wil to knowe er ye your lust me tolde, 660
I wolde it doon with-outen necligence;
But now I woot your lust and what ye wolde,
Al your plesaunce ferme and stable I holde;
For wiste I that my deeth wolde do yow ese,
Right gladly wolde I dyen, yow to plese. 665
Deth may noght make no comparisoun (610)
Un-to your love:’ and, whan this markis sey
The constance of his wyf, he caste adoun
His yën two, and wondreth that she may
In pacience suffre al this array. 670
And forth he gooth with drery contenaunce,
But to his herte it was ful greet plesaunce.