And ech of hem his tale affaiteth,

Al to deceive an innocent,

Which woll noght ben of here assent;

And for men sein unknowe unkest,[572]

Hire thombe sche holt in hire fest

So clos withinne hire oghne hond,

That there winneth noman lond; 470

Sche lieveth noght al that sche hiereth,

And thus fulofte hirself sche skiereth

And is al war of ‘hadde I wist’:—[573]