And I so slow! allas, I ne hadde be

Here in this place a furlong-wey or ye!

Now [what] leoun that be in this foreste,

My body mote he renden, or what beste

That wilde is, gnawen mote he now myn herte!'

845

And with that worde he to the wimpel sterte,

(141)

And kiste hit ofte, and weep on hit ful sore,

[And seide, 'wimpel, allas! ther nis no more]