as her very passife thou art closed. But vertue may thee nothing

profyte, but thy desyr be perfourmed, and al thy sorowes cesed.

Ergo, through werchinge of her vertue thou shalt esely ben

holpen, and driven out of al care, and welcome to this longe by

thee desyred!'

25

'Lady,' quod I, 'this is a good lesson in ginning of my joye;

but wete ye wel forsothe, though I suppose she have moche

vertue, I wolde my spousaile were proved, and than may I live

out of doute, and rejoice me greetly, in thinking of tho vertues