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 Out of his lewdness with his cursèd wives: His bones were hewn asunder as with knives For his misliving, certes it is said. But all the evil wrought upon this maid, It were full hard for one to handle it. For her soft blood was shed upon her feet, And all her body's colour bruised and faint. But she, as one abiding God's great saint, Spake not nor wept for all this travail hard. Wherefore the king commanded afterward To slay her presently in all men's sight. And it was now an hour upon the night And winter-time, and a few stars began. The weather was yet feeble and all wan For beating of a weighty wind and snow. And she came walking in soft wise and slow, And many men with faces piteous. Then came this heavy cursing Gabalus, That swore full hard into his drunken beard; And faintly after without any word Came Theophile some paces off the king. And in the middle of this wayfaring Full tenderly beholding her he said: There is no word of comfort with men dead Nor any face and colour of things sweet; But always with lean cheeks and lifted feet These dead men lie all aching to the blood With bitter cold, their brows withouten hood