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 To speak against this worthy word of yours; Knowing how God's will in all speech endures, That save by grace there may no thing be said. Then Theophile waxed light from foot to head, And softly fell upon this answering. It is well seen you are a chosen thing To do God service in his gracious way. I will that you make haste and holiday To go next year upon the Venus stair, Covered none else, but crowned upon your hair, And do the service that a maiden doth. She said: but I that am Christ's maid were loth To do this thing that hath such bitter name. Thereat his brows were beaten with sore shame And he came off and said no other word. Then his eyes chanced upon his banner-bird, And he fell fingering at the staff of it And laughed for wrath and stared between his feet, And out of a chafed heart he spake as thus: Lo how she japes at me Theophilus, Feigning herself a fool and hard to love; Yet in good time for all she boasteth of She shall be like a little beaten bird. And while his mouth was open in that word He came upon the house Janiculum, Where some went busily, and other some Talked in the gate called the gate glorious. The emperor, which was one Gabalus,