she fly whan her list, now by thy lyve? Pardy, a man hath

nothing so leef as his lyf; and for to holde that, he doth al his

cure and diligent traveyle. Than, say I, thou art blisful and

fortunat sely, if thou knowe thy goodes that thou hast yet

†beleved, whiche nothing may doute that they ne ben more worthy

110

than thy lyf?'

'What is that?' quod I.

'Good contemplacion,' quod she, 'of wel-doing in vertue in tyme

coming, bothe in plesaunce of me and of thy Margarit-peerle.