Page:The booke of thenseygnementes and techynge that the Knyght of the Towre made to his doughters - 1902.pdf/26

 courteyns he sawe a merueylous grete nombre of dede men in sudaryes aboute her, "Of whome," he said, "I had so grete drede hydoure that I was taken with thaccesse or feures, and also was al moost oute of my wytte for fere, and yet am all affrayed." And when the damoysel herd the trouthe, she was merueylously ioyeful, and thanked god moche humbly, whiche had saued her fro perisshyng and dishonour. And from than forth on she worshyped and prayed god alwey when she awaked, and praid moche deuoutely for all Crysten sowles more than to fore, and kepte her chastly and clene. And it was not long after that a grete kyng of grece desyred and demaunded her of her fader to haue her in maryage, and her fader gafe her to hym. And she was after a good lady and deuoute, and of moche grete renomme. Thus was she saued for prayeng to god and thankyng hym, and also for prayeng for them that ben dede. And her elder suster, that scorned and mocked her, was drowned and dishonoured. And therefore, my dere doughters, remembre yow ofte of this example alwey whan ye awake, and slepe not ageyne till that ye haue praid for them that ben departed oute of this world, lyke as dyde the doughter of the emperour. And yet I wolde wel that ye shold knowe thensample of a Damoyselle, whiche a greete lord wold haue for fayre or fowle for to accomplysshe his fowle playsyr and delyte. 20