But I prayen unto your courtesy,

Be heavy again, or ellés must I die.

BALLAD OF WOMEN’S DOUBLENESS

This world is full of variance

In everything; who taketh heed,

That faith and trust, and all Constance,

Exiléd be, this is no drede,

And save only in womanhead,

I can ysee no sikerness;

But, for all that, yet as I read,