Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Hooper.djvu/439

Rh In such mannér as ye me shrive, For no woman that is alive. The cause why I have it laft, Way be, for I unto that craft, Am nothing able for to steal, Though there be women not so fele, But yet will I not say-e this, When I am where my lady is, In whom lieth wholly my quarrél, And she to church or to chapél Will go to matins or to mess, That time I wait-e well and guess. To church I come, and there I stand, And tho' I take a book in hand, My countenance is on the book, But toward her is all my look; And if so fallen that I pray Unto my God, and somewhat say Of, or of creed, All is for that I wold-e speed, So that my bead in holy church, There might-e some mirácle wirche, My lady's heart-e for to change, Which ever hath been to me so strange. So that all my devotión, And all my contemplatión, With all mine heart, and my couráge, I only set on her imáge, And ever I wait-e upon the tide, If she look any thing aside, That I me may of her advise: Anon I am with covetise So smit, that me were lefe To be in holy church a thief. But not to steal, a vest-e-ment, For that is nothing my talént; But I would steal, if that I might, Á glad word, or a goodly sight. And ever my servíce I proffer, And namely, when she will go, offer, For then I lead her, if I may: For somewhat would I steal away When I beclip her on the waist; Yet at least, I steal a taste. And other while 'grant mercy,' She saith. And so were I thereby A lusty touch, a good word eke, But all the rem-e-nant to seek,