And wiste nothing how it was,
Aros and rod the grete pas
And tok this lettre to the king.
And whan he sih this wonder thing, 990
P. i. 193
He makth the Messager no chiere,
Bot natheles in wys manere
He wrot ayein, and yaf hem charge[604]
That thei ne soffre noght at large
His wif to go, bot kepe hire stille,