Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Hooper.djvu/440

356 Is from my purpose wonder far. So may I say, as I said ere, In holy church if that I vow, My con-sci-énce I would allow Be so, that on amend-e-ment, I might-e get assign-e-ment; Where, for to speed in other place, Such sacrilege I hold a grace.
 * "And thus, my father, sooth to say,

In church-e right as in the way, If I might ought of lov-e take Such hansel have I nought forsake. But finally, I me confess, There is in me no holinéss, While her I see in holy stead, And yet for aught that ever I did, No sacrilege of her I took. But it were of word or look. Or els-e if that I her freed, When I towárd offeríng her lead, Take thereof what I take may, For els-e bear I nought away. For tho' I wold-e ought else have, All other thing-es be so safe, And kept with such a privilege, That I may do no sacrilege. God wote my will nath-e-less, Though I must need-es keep-e peace, And maugre mine so let it pass, My will thereto is not the lass, If I might otherwise away.
 * "For this, my father, I you pray

Tell what you thinketh thereupon, If I thereof have guilt or none."
 * "Thy will, my son, is for to blame,

The rem-e-nant is but a game That I have thee told as yet. But take this lore into thy wit, That all things have time and stead. The church serveth for the bead, The chamber is of an other speech: But if thou wistest of the wreche, How sacrilege it hath abought, Thou woldest better be bethought."

Confessio Amantis, lib. v. fol. 122, ed. 1532.