| 1015 | "Plight me thy trouthe, heere in myn hand," quod she, |
| "The nexte thyng that I requere thee, |
| Thou shalt it do, if it lye in thy myght, |
| And I wol telle it yow, er it be nyght." |
| "Have heer my trouthe," quod the knyght, "I grante." |
| 1020 | "Thanne," quod she, "I dar me wel avante |
| Thy lyf is sauf; for I wol stonde therby, |
| Upon my lyf, the queene wol seye as I. |
| Lat se which is the proudeste of hem alle, |
| That wereth on a coverchief or a calle, |
| 1025 | That dar seye nay of that I shal thee teche. |
| Lat us go forth withouten lenger speche." |
| Tho rowned she a pistel in his ere, |
| And bad hym to be glad and have no fere. |
| Whan they be comen to the court, this knyght |
| 1030 | Seyde he had holde his day, as he hadde hight, |
| And redy was his answere, as he sayde. |
| Ful many a noble wyf, and many a mayde, |
| And many a wydwe, for that they been wise, |
| The queene hirself sittynge as a justise, |
| 1035 | Assembled been, his answere for to heere; |
| And afterward this knyght was bode appeere. |
|
| 1015 | "Give me your promise here, hand in hand," said she, |
| "That you will do, whatever it may be, |
| The thing I ask if it lie in your might; |
| And I'll give you your answer before the night." |
| "Have here my word," said he. "That thing I grant." |
| 1020 | "Then," said the crone, "of this I make my vaunt, |
| Your life is safe; and I will stand thereby, |
| Upon my life, the queen will say as I. |
| Let's see which is the proudest of them all |
| That wears upon her hair kerchief or caul, |
| 1025 | Shall dare say no to that which I shall teach; |
| Let us go now and without longer speech." |
| Then whispered she a sentence in his ear, |
| And bade him to be glad and have no fear. |
| When they were come unto the court, this knight |
| 1030 | Said he had kept his promise as was right, |
| And ready was his answer, as he said. |
| Full many a noble wife, and many a maid, |
| And many a widow, since they are so wise, |
| The queen herself sitting as high justice, |
| 1035 | Assembled were, his answer there to hear; |
| And then the knight was bidden to appear. |
|
