Or greven you, for ernest or for play,

Correct ye me right sharply than, I pray,

930

As it is sene unto your womanhede,

And rewe on me, or ellis I nam but dede.'

'Nay, god forbede to feffe you so with grace,

And for a worde of sugred eloquence,

To have compassion in so litell space!

935

Than were it tyme that som of us were hens!