And ther I stood as stille as ought,

460

That, sooth to saye, he saw me nought,

For-why he heng his heed adoune.

And with a deedly sorwful soune

He made of ryme ten vers or twelve,

Of a compleynt to him-selve,

465

The moste pite, the moste rowthe,

That ever I herde; for, by my trowthe,