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Whereof I serued, one of hem asked me,
I said ayen, as it fell in my thought,
To walke about the mase in certainte,
As a woman that nothing rought,
He asked me ayen whom that I sought,
And of my colour, why I was so pale,
"Forsoth" (quod I)" and thereby lithe a tale."

"That must me wete" (quod he) "and that anone,
Tell on, let see, and make no tarying."
"Abide" (quod I) "ye ben a hastie one,
I let you wete it is no litel thing,
But for bicause ye haue a great longing,
In your desire, this processe for to here,
I shall you tell the plaine of this matere.

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"And as they sought hem selfe to and fro,
I gate my selfe a little auantage,
All forweried, I might no further go,
Though I had won right gret for my viage,
So came I forth into a strait passage,
Which brought me to an berber fair and grene,
Made with benches full craftie and cleane.

"That as me thought, there might no creature
Deuise a better, by dewe proporcioun,
Safe it was closed well I you ensure,
With masonry, of compace enuiroun,
Full secretly with staires going down,

In middes the place, with turning whele certaine,
And vpon that a pot of Margelaine.
"With Margarets growing in ordinance,
To shew hem selfe, as folke went to and fro,
That to behold it was a great pleasance,
And how they were accompanied with mo,
Ne momblisnesse and sonenesse also,
The poure penses were not disloged there,
Ne God wote hir place was euery where.
"The flore and bench was paued fair and smoth,
With stones square, of many diuers hew,
So well joyned, that for to say the soth,
All semed one, that none other knew,
And vnderneth the stremes new and new,
As siluer bright, springing in such a wise,
That whence it came, ye coud it not deuise.

"A little while was I all alone,
Beholding well this delectable place,
My felawship were comming euerychone,
So must we needs abide for a space,
Remembring of many diuers cace,
Of time passed, with sighes depe,

I set me downe, and there I fell aslepe.

"And as I slept, me thought ther came to me, A gentill woman, metely of stature, Of great worship she seemed for to be, Atyred well, not high but by measure, Her countenaunce full sad and demure, Her colours blewe, all that she had vpon, There came no mo but her selfe alone. "Her gown wel was embraudred certainly, With stones after her owne deuise, In her purfill, her word by and by, Bien et loyalement as I coud deuise. Than praid I her in any maner wise, That of her name I might haue remembrance, She said she was called Perseuerance, "So furthermore to speake was bold, Where she dwelled, I prayed her for to say, And she againe full curtesly me told, 'My dwelling is, and hath be many a day, With a lady:' what lady I you pray?" 'Of great estate, thus warne I you' (quod she) 'What call ye her? her name is Loyalte.'

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"She charged me by her commandement, To warn you, and your felawes euerichone, That ye should come there as she is present, For a counsaile, which shall be now anone, Or seuen daies be commen and gone,

And furthermore, she bad that I should say, Excuse there might be none, nor delay.

"Another thing was not forget behind,
Which in no wise I wold but ye knew,
Remembre well, and beare it in your mind,
All your felawes and ye must come in blew,
Eueriliche able, your maters for to sew:
With more, which I pray you thinke vpon,
Your words on your selues euerychon.

<<< And be not abashed in no maner wise,
As many ben, in soch an high presence,
Make your request, as ye can best deuise,
And she gladly woll yeue you audience,
There is no grefe, nor no maner offence,
Wherein ye fele that your herte is displeased,
But with her help, right sone ye shal be eased.'

"I am right glad' (quod I)' ye tell me this,
But there is none of vs that knoweth the way,'
'As of your way' (quod she)' you shall not mis,
Ye shall haue to gide you day by day,
Of my felawes, I cannot better say,
Soch one as shall tell you the way full right,
And Diligence this gentilwoman hight.

"A woman of right famous gouernaunce, And well cherished, I tell you in certaine, Her felawship shall do you great pleasaunce, Her porte is soch, her maners trew and plaine, She with glad chere wold do ber besie paine, To bring you there, now farwel I haue done,' 'Abide' said I, 'ye may not go so sone.'

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"Why so' (quod she) and I haue ferre to go, To yeue warning in many diuers place, To your felawes, and so to other mo, And well ye wote I haue but litell space,' 'Nowe yet' (quod I)'ye must tell me this cace, If we shall any men vnto vs call?'

'Not one' (quod she) may come amongs you all.' "Not one?' than said I, 'eigh benedicite, What haue I done, I pray you tell me that,' 'Now by my life, I trowe but well' (quod she) But euer I can bilieue there is somewhat, And for to say you trouth more can I not, In questions I may nothing be to large, I meddle no further than my charge.'

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"Than thus' (quod I) do me to vnderstand,
What place is there this lady is dwelling,' [land,
Forsoth' (quod she) and one sought all this
Fairer is none, though it, were for a king,
Deuised well, and that in euery thing,
The toures hie full pleasaunt shall ye find,
With phanes fresh, turning with euery wind.

"The chambers and parlers of a sort,
With baie windowes, goodly as may bee thought,
As for daunsing, and other wise disport,
The galeries right well ywrought,
That well I wote, if ye were thider brought,
And take good hede thereof in euery wise,
Ye woll it thinke a very paradise,'

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'Pleasaunt Regard' (quod she)' to tell you plain.'
'Of very trouth' (quod I)' and wote ye what,
It may right well be called so certaine :
But furthermore this wold I wit right fajn,
What I should do as soone as I come there,
And after whom I may best enquere?'

"A gentilwoman, a porter of the yate,
There shall ye find, her name is Countenance,
If ye so hap ye come early or late,
Of her wer good to haue some acquaintance,
She can you tell how ye shall you auance.
And how to come to her ladies presence,
To her wordes I rede ye geue credence.
"Now it is time I parte you fro,
For in good faith I haue great businesse.'

'I wote right well' (quod I)' that it is so,
And I thanke you of your great gentilnesse,
Your comfort hath yeuen me hardinesse,
That now I shall be bold withouten faile,
To do after your aduice and good counsaile.'
"Thus parted she, and I left all alone.
With that I saw (as I beheld aside)
A woman come, a very goodly one,
And forth withal as I had her aspide,
Me thought anone it should be the gide:
And of her name anone I did enquere,
Full womanly she yaue me this answere:

"I am' (quod she) a simple creature,
Sent from the court, my name is Diligence,
As sone as I might come I you ensure,

I taried not after I had licence,

And now that I am come to your presence,
Looke what seruice I can do or may.
Commaund me, I can no further say.'

"I thanked her and praied her to come nere,
Because I would see how she was araid,
Her gown was blew dressed in good manere,
With her deuise, her word also that said,
Tant que je puis, and I was well apaid,
And than wist I withouten any more,
It was full true that I had herde before,
"Though we toke now before a little space,
It were full good' (quod she) as I coud gesse,
How farre' (quod I) haue we vnto the place?'
'A daies journey' (quod she) 'but littel lesse,
Wherefore I rede that we outward dresse,
For I suppose our felawship is past,

And for nothing I wold not we were the last.'

"Than departed we at the springing of the day,
And forth we went soft and easie pace,
Till at the last we were on our journey,
So far outward, that we might see the place,
"Now let us rest,' quod I, a littel space,
And say we as devoutly as we can,
A pater noster for saint Julian.'

"With al my herte I assent with good will,
Moch better shal we spede, whan we have doen,'.
Than taried we, and said it euery dyl,
And whan the day was past farre after none
We saw a place, and thider came we sone,
Which round about was closed with a wall,
Seeming to me full like an hospital

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"Ye say ful sothe,' quod she, that is no nay, I see comming a goodly company,' "They ben soch folke,' quod I, dare I say, That list to love think it verely,

And for my love I pray you faithfully,
At any time, whan they upon me call,
That ye wol be good frende to hem all.'

""Of my frendship,' quod she, they shal not misse,
And for their ease to put thereto my paine.'
'God yeld it you,' quod 1, 'but take you this,
How shal we know who is the chamberlaine,
That shall ye well know by her word certaine.
What is her worde sister, I pray you say,'
(Plus ne pourroye) thus writeth she alway.'

"Thus as we stode togider she and I,
Euen at the yate my felawes were echone,
So met I hem (as me thought was goodly)
And badde hem welcome all by one and one,
Than came forth Countenaunce anone,
'Full hertely, faire sisters all,' quod she,
'Ye be right welcome into this countre.

"I counsaile you to take a litel rest
In my chambre, if it be your pleasaunce,
Whan ye be there, me thinke it for the best,
That I go in, and cal Perseveraunce,
Bicause she is of your acquaintaunce,
And she also will tell you every thing,
How ye shal be ruled of your comming.'

"My felawes all and I, by one advise
Were wel agreed, to do like as she said,
Than we began to dresse us in our gise,
That folke should say we were nat unpurueid,
And good wagers among us there we laid,
Which of us was atired most goodlest,

And of us all which should be praised best.

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"The porter came and brought Perseverance,
She welcomed us in curteise mauere,
'Think ye not long,' quod she, of your atten-
I will go speke unto the herbigere,
That she purvey for your lodging here,
Than will I go unto the chamberlain,
To speke for you, and come anone again.'

"And whan she departed was and gone,
We saw folks comming without the wall,
So greate people that nombre coude we none,
Ladies they were, and gentelwomen all,
Clothed in blewe echone her worde withal,
But for to know hir word or hir devise,
They came so thick, that I ne might in no wise.

"With that anone came in Perseverance,
And where I stode, she came streight to me,'
'Ye ben,' quod she, of mine old acquaintance,
You to enquere the bolder would I bee,
What word they bere eche after her degree,
you pray tell it me in secrete wise,
And I shall keepe it close on warrantise.'
VOL. I.

'We ben five ladies,' quod I, 'all in fere,
And gentlewoman foure in company,
Whan they begin to open hir mattere,
Than shall ye know bir wordes by and by,
But as for me I have none verely,

And so I tolde Countenaunce here before,.
All mine array is blewe, what needeth more."

"Now than,' quod she, 'I woll go againe, That ye may have knowledge what ye shuld do,' "In soth,' quod I, 'if ye wold take the paine, Ye did right moch for us, if ye do so The rather speed, the soner may we go, Great coste alway there is in tarying, And long to sewe it is a wery thing."

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"Than parted she, and came again anone, [laine,'
'Ye must,' quod she, come to the chamber-
'We be now redy,' quod I, everychone,
To folow you, whan euer ye list certaine,
We have none eloquence to tell you plaine,
Beseeching you we may be so excused,
Our trewe meaning, that it be not refused.'

"Than went we forth after Perseverance,
To see the prees it was a wonder cace,
There for to passe it was great combrance,
The people stode so thick in every place.
'Now stand ye still,' quod she,' a littel space,
And for your ease somewhat I shall assay,
If I can make you any better way.'

"And forth she goeth, among hem everychone
Making a way, that we might thorough passe
More at our ease, and whan she had so done,
She beckend us to come, where as she was,
So after her we folowed more and las,
She brought us streight unto the chamberlain,
There left she us, and than she went again.

"We salued her as reason would it so,
Full humble beseching her great goodnesse,
In our matters that we had for to do,
That she would be good lady and maistresse.
'Ye be welcome' (quod she) 'in sothfastnesse,
And see what I can do, you for to please,
I am redy, that may be to your ease."

"We folowed her vnto the chamber dore,
'Sisters' (quod she) come ye in after mee.'
But wete ye well, there was a paued flore,
The goodliest that any wight might see,
And furthermore about than loked wee,
On eche corner, and vpon euery wall,
Which was made of burel and cristall.

"Wherein was grauen of stories many one,
First how Phillis, of womanly pite,
Died piteously for loue of Demophone,
Next after was the story of Tisbe,
How she slewe her self under a tree,
Yet saw I more, how in a right pitous caas,
For Antony was slaine Cleopatras.

"That other side was Hawes the shene,
Full untrewly disceiued in her baine.
There was also Annelida the queene,
Upon Arcite how sore she did complaine,
All these stories were graned there certaine,
And many mo than I reherse you here,
It were too long to tell you all in fere.
M m

"And bicause the walles shone so bright,
With fine umple they were al ouer sprad,
To the entent folke shuld not hurt hir sight,
And through it the stories might be rad,
Than further more I went, as I was lad,
And there I sawe without any faile,
A chaire set with full rich apparaile.

"And fiue stages, it was set fro the ground,
Of Cassidony full curiously wrought,
With foure pomelles of gold, and very round,
Set with saphirs, as good as coude be thought
That wot ye what, if it were through sought,
As I suppose, fro this country to Inde,
Another soch it were right hard to finde,

"For wete ye well, I was right nere that,
So as I durst, beholding by and by,
Aboue there was a rich cloth of estate,
Wrought with a needle ful straungely,
Her worde theron, and thus it said truely,
I endured to tell you in words few,
With great letters, the better I hem knew.

"Thus as we stode, a dore opened anone,
A gentilwoman, semely of stature,
Bering a mace, came out her selfe alone,
Sothly me thought a goodly creature,
She speake nothing to lowde, I you ensure,
Nor hastely, but with goodly warning,

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Make rome' (quod she) my lady is comming.'

"With that anone I saw Perseveraunce,
How she helde vp the tapet in her hand,
I saw also right in goodly ordinaunce,
'This great lady within the tapet stand,
Comming outward, I wol ye vnderstand,
And after her a noble company,
I coude not tell the nombre sikerly.

"Of their names I wolde nothing enquere;
Further than soch as we wolde sewe vnto,
Save a lady which was the chauncellere,
Attemperaunce sothly her name was so,
For vs nedeth with her have moche to do
In our matters, and alway more and more,
And so forth to tell you furthermore.

"Of this lady her beauty to discrive,
My conning is to simple verely,
For never yet the daies of my live
So inly faire I have seene'none truly,
In her estate assured vtterly,
There wanted naught, I dare well assure,
That longed to a goodly creature.

"And furthermore, to speake of her array,
I shall tell you the manner of her gowne,
Of cloth of gold, full rich it is no nay,
The colour blew, of right goodly fashioun,
In taberde wise the sleves hanging adoun,
And what purfill there was and in what wise,
So as I can, I shall it you devise.

"After a sort, the coller and the vent
Like as armine is made in purfeling,
With great pearles full fine and orient,
They were couched all after one worching,
With diamonds in steed of powdering,
The sleeves and purfell of assise,
They were made like in every wise.

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"The chamberlaine did her commaundment,
And came againe, as she was bid to do,
The secretary there being present,
The billes were delivered her also,
Not only ours, but many other mo
Than the lady with good advise againe,
Anone withall called her chamberlaine.

"We woll' (quod she) the first thing that ye do,
The secretary ye do make come anone
With her billes, and thus we will also,
In our presence she rede hem euerychone,
That we may take good advise theron
Of the ladies that ben of our counsaile,
Looke this be done withouten any faile.'

"Whan the chamberlain wist of her entent,
Anone she did the secretary call,

'Let your billes' (quod she) 'be here present,
My lady it will:'-'madame' (quod she) 'I shall,'
And in presence she will ye hem call,'
'With good will I am ready' (quod she)
'At her pleasure, whan she commandeth me.'

"And vpon that was made an ordinaunce,
They that came first, her billes should be red,
Full gentilly than said Perseveraunce,
'Reason it will they were soonest sped,'
Anone withall; vpon a tapet spred
The secretary laid hem downe echone,
Our billes first she redde one by one.

"The first lady bearing in her devise,
Sans que jamays, thus wrote she on her bill,
Complaining sore, and in full pitous wise
Of promise made, with faithful herte and will,
And so broken ayenst all manner skill
Without desert, alwaies on her party
In this matter desiring a remedy.

"Her next folowing, her word was in this wise
Un sans changer, and thus she did complaine,
Though she had guerdoned for her service,
Yet nothing like as she that tooke the paine,
Wherfore she coud in no wise her restraine,
But in this case sue vntill her presence,
As reason would, to have recompence.

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