THE KNIGHTES TALE. 1*77
Out of this foule prisoun of this lyf ?
Why grucchen heer his cosyn and his wyf
Of his welfare that lovede hem so wel ?
Can he hera thank ? nay, God woot, never a del,
That bothe his soule and eek hemself offende,
And jvet they mowe here lustes nat amende.
* What may I conclude of this long serye, But after wo I rede us to be merye, And thanke Jupiter of all his grace ? And or that we departe fro this place, I rede that we make, of sorwes two, O parfyt joye lastyng evere mo : And loketh now wher most sorowe is her-inne, Ther wol we first amenden and bygynne.
' Suster,' quod he, (this is my fulle assent, With al thavys heer of my parlement, That gentil Palamon, jyoure owne knight, That serveth jyow with herte, wille, and might, And evere hath doon, syn that ye fyrst him knewe, That yt schul of jyoure grace upon him rewe, And take him for j/oure housbond and for lord : Leen me ^oure hand, for this is oure acord. Let see now of jyoure wommanly pite. He is a kynges brother sone, pardee ; And though he were a poure bacheler, Syn he hath served j/ou so many a yeer, And had for j;ou so gret adversite', It moste be considered, leeveth me. For gentil mercy aughte to passe right' Than seyde he thus to Palamon the knight; £ I trowe ther needeth litle sermonyng To maken j'ou assente to this thing. Com neer, and tak j/oure lady by the hond.' Bitwixen hem was i-maad anon the bond, That highte matrimoyne or manage, By al the counseil and the baronage. And thus with alle blysse and melodye VOL. rv.(') M