Page:The Book of the Duke of True Lovers - 1908.djvu/151

Rh Feign courtesy: my warning may not stay,

So oft I hear how those ye hold in fee

Blame you no less: withdraw from these, I pray,

And from such faithless rascals keep you free.

Most noble ladies! be not wroth to-day

That I have ever counselled you to flee

These traitors: trust me, though no more I say,

And from such faithless rascals keep you free.

In such wise did the Lady of La Tour, who made me very sad by the letter the which she wrote, make answer to my Lady, who was sore dismayed by it, albeit she was not displeased with her on account of it, but said forthwith, "Ah! if it had pleased our lord that she had been alway with me, she would have exhorted me wisely, and thus I should not have been beguiled by evil counsel, but ne'ertheless I shall abandon this, and abide me by her counsel, for I well perceive the grievous peril which pertains to a life of love, but it is meet that he who is oft in my thoughts should abandon it likewise." Then she wrote a letter to me, even as is here set forth.

,—It is indeed true that foolish love, the which deceives many, and the sincere pity