THE TALE（第7页）

shewethyourpooreservantclaudius，

howthataknightcalledvirginius，

againstthelaw，againstallequity，

holdeth，expressagainstthewillofme，

myservant，whichthatismythrall*byright，*slavewhichfrommyhousewasstolenonanight，

whilethatshewasfullyoung;iwillitpreve**prove

bywitness，lord，sothatityou*notgrieve;**benotdispleasing*

sheishisdaughternot，whatsohesay.

whereforetoyou，mylordthejudge，ipray，

yieldmemythrall，ifthatitbeyourwill."

lo，thiswasallthesentenceofthebill.

virginiusganupontheclerkbehold;

buthastily，erehehistaletold，

andwouldhaveprovedit，asshouldaknight，

andekebywitnessingofmanyawight，

thatallwasfalsethatsaidhisadversary，

thiscursedjudgewouldnolongertarry，

norhearawordreofvirginius，

butgavehisjudgement，andsaidethus:

"ideem*anonthisclerkhisservanthave;*pronounce，determine

thoushaltnolongerinthyhousehersave.

go，bringherforth，andputherinourward

theclerkshallhavehisthrall:thusiaward."

andwhenthisworthyknight，virginius，

throughsentenceofthisjusticeappius，

mustebyforcehisdearedaughtergive

untothejudge，inlecherytolive，

hewenthimhome，andsathiminhishall，

andletanonhisdearedaughtercall;

andwithafacedeadasashescold

uponherhumblefaceheganbehold，