And eek the signe, that he took it by,

She bad him that to telle hir bisily,

Or elles, certeyn, she [bar him on honde,]

1155

That this was doon of malis, hir to fonde.

166. With-outen more, shortly for to seyne,

He moste obeye un-to his lady heste;

And for the lasse harm, he moste feyne.

He seyde hir, whan she was at swiche a feste

1160