190

That had be naught, ne hadde love y-be!

For Love his servaunts ever-more amendeth,

And from al evel taches hem defendeth,

And maketh hem to brenne right as fyr

In trouthë and in worshipful desyr,

195

And, whom him liketh, joye y-nough hem sendeth.'

'Thou Nightingale,' he seyde, 'hold thee stille;