[6-text p 249] the presence of Melibe; he seyde hem thise wordes [2999] ¶ It standeth thus quod Melibe & sooth it is / þat ye [3000] causelees & with-outen skile & reson / [3001] han doon grete Iniuries & wronges to me / & to my wyf Prudence / & to my doghter also / [3002] for ye han entred in-to myn hous by violence / [3003] & haue doon swich outrage / þat alle men knowen wel / þat ye han deserued the deeth ‖ [3004] And therfore wol I knowe & wite of yow / [3005] wheither ye wol putte the punysshynge & chastisynge / & the vengeance of this outrage / in the wil of me / & of my wyf or ye wol nat
[3006] ¶ Thanne the wiseste of hem thre / answerde for hem alle / & seyde ‖ [3007] Sire quod he / we knowen wel / þat we been vnworthy / to comen vn-to the court of so greet a lord & so worthy / as ye been / [3008] for we han so gretly mystaken vs / & han offendid & gilt in swich a wise / ageyn youre hey lordshipe / [3009] þat trewely / we han deserued the deeth / [3010] but yet for the grete goodnesse & debonairetee / þat al the world / witnesseth of youre persone /; [3011] we submitten vs / to the excellence & benygnytee of youre gracious lordshipe / [3012] & ben redy tobeye / to alle youre comandementz / [3013] bisekynge yow / þat of youre merciable pitee / ye wol considere oure grete repentance & lowe submission / [3014] & graunten vs foryeuenesse / of oure outrageous trespas & offense / [3015] for wel we knowen / þat youre liberal grace & mercy / strecchen ferther / in-to good|nesse / than [folio 234a] doon oure outrageouse giltes & trespas in-to wikkednesse / [3016] al be it þat cursedly & damp|nablely / we han agilt ageyn youre hey lordshipe
[3017] ¶ Thanne Melibe / took hem vp fro the ground ful benygnely / [3018] & receyued hir obligacions & hir bondes by hir othes / vp-on hir plegges & borwes / [3019] & assigned hem a certeyn day / to retourne vn-to his court [3020] for to accepte & receyue / the sentence &
