That ich levedi bright on ble,[139]
That slepeth under the ympe tre.
Nay, quath the king, that nought nere,
A sori couple of you it were,
For thou art lene, rowe, and blac,
And sche is lovesome with outen lac;
A lothlich thing it were forthi,[140]
To sen hir in thi compayni.
O sir, he seyd, gentil king,
Yete were it a wele fouler thing