“Repeat the Pater to me in Flemish; they have taught it to me, but I have forgotten it.”
The poor lady then must begin to say a Pater and he must needs bid her say it slower.
And in this way he forced the poor thing to say as many as ten Paters, she that thought the hour had come to go through other orisons.
Then covering her with praises and flatteries, he spoke of her lovely hair, her bright colour, her shining eyes, but did not venture to say a word to her either of her plump shoulders or her smooth round breast or any other thing.
When she thought she could get away and was already looking out into the court where her lord was waiting for her, he asked her if she knew truly what are the womanly virtues.
As she made no answer for fear of saying the wrong thing, he spoke for her and preaching at her, he said:
“The womanly virtues, these be chastity, watchfulness over honour, and sober living.”
He counselled her also to array herself decently and to hide closely all that pertained to her.
She made sign of assent with her head saying:
That for His Hyperborean Highness she would much sooner cover herself with ten bearskins than with an ell of muslin.