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And whan sche so was a-sented sche seide sone after,
sadli sikand & sore for sorwe atte here herte,
“Allas! i trowe þis bitter bale botlesse wol hende!
For i not in þis world how þat worþi child
schal euer wite of my wo wiþ-oute me selue.
nay! sertes my-selue schal him neuer telle;
For þat were swiche a woȝh þa neuer wolde be mended.
For he miȝt ful wel for a fol me hold,
& do him loþe mi loue ȝit haue y leuer deie!
nay! best beþ it nouȝt so ȝif better miȝt bi-falle,
Ich mot worche oþer wise ȝif i wol out-spede.
what, i suppose þe selue ȝif it so bi-tidde
þat i wrouȝt so wodly & wold to him speke,
þat were semlyest to seye to saue my worchep?
ȝif i told him treuli my tene and myn anger,
what liif for longyng of loue i lede for his sake,
He wold wene i were wold or witerly schorned,
or þat i dede for despit to do him a schonde;
& þat were a schamly schenchip to schende me euer.
what ȝif i saide him sadly þat i sek were,
& told him al treuly þe entecches of myn euele?
he knoweþ nouȝt of þat kraft bi krist, as i trowe,
wherfore he ne schold in no wise wite what i mente;
but whanne i hade al me mened no more nold he seie
but “serteinly, swete damisele þat me sore rewes.”
þanne wold mi wo wex al newe,
& doubel is now mi duel for i ne dar hit schewe.
allas! whi ne wist þat wiȝh what wo þat me eyles,
what sorwes & sikingges i suffer for his sake!
I sayle now in þe see as schip boute mast,
boute anker or ore or ani semlyche sayle;
but heiȝh heuene king to gode hauene me sende,
oþer laske mi liif daywes wiþ-inne a litel terme.”
þus þat maiden meliors in mornyng þa liuede,
& hit held hire so harde i hete þe for soþe,
& schorttily wiþ-in seueniȝt al hire slep sche leues,
here mete & al merthe sche missed in a while,
& seccleled in a seknesse þe soþe for to telle,
þat þer nas leche in no lond þat liif hire bihiȝt,
ȝit couþe non by no craft knowen hire sore;
but duelfulli sche dwined a-waie boþe dayes & niȝtes,
& al hire clere colour comsed for to fade.