Sire, my nece wol do wel by thee,

And love thee best, by god and by my trouthe,

[But lak of pursuit] make it in thy slouthe.

960

138. For thus ferforth I have thy work bigonne,

Fro day to day, til this day, by the morwe,

Hir love of freendship have I to thee wonne,

And also hath she leyd hir feyth to borwe.

Algate a foot is [hameled] of thy sorwe.'

965