CXXIV
‘Ye speake proudly,’ sayd the Kynge;
‘Ye shall be hangèd all thre.’
‘That were great pitye,’ then sayd the Quene,
‘If any grace myght be.
CXXV
‘My lorde, whan I came fyrst into this lande
To be your wedded wyfe,
The fyrst boone that I wold aske,
Ye would graunt it me belyfe[695]:
CXXVI
‘And I asked you never none tyll now;
Therefore, lorde, graunt it me!’—
‘Now aske it, madam,’ sayd the Kynge,
‘And graunted it shal be.’—
CXXVII
‘Then, good my lord, I you beseche,
These yemen graunt ye me.’—
‘Madame, ye myght have asked a boone
That shuld have been worth them thre.
CXXVIII
‘Ye myght have askèd towres and townes,
Parkes and forestes plentye.’—
‘None soe pleasant to my pay[696],’ shee sayd;
‘Nor none so lefe[697] to me.’—