THE TALE（第2页）

hadinhishousea露stybacheler，

thatonadaycameridingfromriver:

andhappend，that，aloneasshewasborn，

hesawamaidenwalkinghimbeforn，

ofwhichmaidenanon，maugre*herhead，*inspiteof

byveryforceherefthermaidenhead:

forwhichoppressionwassuchclaur，

andsuchpursuituntothekingarthour，

thatdamned*wasthisknightfortobedead*condemned

bycourseoflaw，andshouldhavelosthishead;

（paraventuresuchwasthestatutetho），**then

butthatthequeenandotherladies

solongtheyprayedthekingofhisgrace，

tillhehislifehimgrantedintheplace，

andgavehimtothequeen，allatherwill

tochoosewhethershewouldhimsaveorspill**destroy

thequeenthankedthekingwithallhermight;

and，afterthis，thusspakeshetotheknight，

whenthatshesawhertimeuponaday.

"thoustandestyet，"quothshe，"insucharray，**aposition

thatofthylifeyethastthounosurety;

igranttheelife，ifthoucansttelltome

whatthingisitthatwomenstdesiren:

beware，andkeepthyneck-bonefromtheiron**executionersaxe

andifthoucanstnottellitmeanon，

yetwilligivetheeleavefortogon

atwelventhandaday，toseekandlear**learn

ananswersuffisant*inthismattere.*satisfactor

andsuretywillihave，erethatthoupace，**go

thybodyfortoyieldeninthisplace."