“All thy courtiers I have dight
With little shirts as ivory white.
“No serving lass in the house is there
But I gave her silk to snood her hair.
“With what, my Lord, canst me upbraid,
And why in durance am I laid?”
“Woman, to thee I’ve this to say,
Thy brothers my father slew in fray.”
“If my brothers a deed so dire did dare,
I in that deed did in no ways share.
“And thou for thy father’s death wast paid
Seven tons of silver, and golden braid.
“What more, my Lord, canst thou require,
To remove from me thy anger dire?”
“Woman, with this I thee upbraid,
Thou cam’st not into my bed a maid.”
“So lend me, God, in my trouble aid,
As I came into thy bed a maid!
“And may God never give me grace,
If I came not a maid to thy embrace.”