'Hys froward conuersacyoun
Ys off swych condycioun.'
Ye pilgrime. [[In Stowe's hand. The Pylgryme St., [folio 163a] ]]
"Ma dame," quod I, "al that ye seyn,
I vnderstonde yt wel certeyn;
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But I merveyllë ful gretly
That ye lyst nat to me pleynly [folio 143b]
Makë ful relacyoun,
And clerly demonstracïoun,
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Wyth toknys bothen hih & lowe,
Attonys that I myghte hym knowe;
ffor thanne, nouther nyht nor day
Ther sholde be makyd no delay,
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Wyth-outë respyt or pyte
But that I sholde a-vengyd be
(Wyth-outë súpport or favóur)
By cruel deth, on that traytour."
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Grace Dieu. [[St., om. C.]]
"Nat-wyth-stondynge hys offence,
To slen hym thow hast no lycence;
That may be suffryd in no wyse.
But thow mayst hym wel chastyse
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And correctë by due [[dew St.]] peyne,
And fro vycys hym restreyne.
And, whan that he doth forfete,
As a mayster thow shalt hym bete,
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And correcte hym by travaylle,—
Nat as a tyraunt by battaylle,
By cruel Rygour nor vengaunce,—
But reforme hym by penaunce,
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At-wyxe the yok off loue & drede.
ffor (yiff thow lyst to taken hede,)
Penaunce ys hys cheff maystresse, [Stowe folio 163b]
Hym to chastyse & to redresse:
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She shal, off al dyffaute & blame,
Refreynen hym, & make hym tame,
Off dyscrecioun wel a-vysed.
And whan she hath hym wel ch stysed,
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She shal (as thow shalt vnderstond,)
Make hym redy to thyn hond,
