[♦] Sweet is the country, because full of riches;
[55] The people liberal, valiant, active, wealthy;
[♦] Which makes me hope you are not void of pity.
I sold not Maine, I lost not Normandy,
[♦] Yet, to recover them, would lose my life.
Justice with favour have I always done;
60 Prayers and tears have moved me, gifts could never.
[♦] When have I aught exacted at your hands,
But to maintain the king, the realm and you?
Large gifts have I bestow’d on learned clerks,