I scarce have heart To tent so deep into the mercy of the Lord. What, that ye should with the fiend be at accord! Such crimes in confession I have not heard tell! And furthermore by your wiles ye have sent pell-mell So many the way their life they should lose! I may scarce know what penance to choose Heavy enough for such mortal sin. To dwell with the fiend was but a bestial life to be in. O Godhead, whereof doth not begin or end the grace, Wilt Thou guide me as in this case, Beneath the which my wit doth bow and bend! O Judge enthroned in justice, do Thou send Thine inspiration from on high! Hola, my course I clear descry; Me were full loath that damned ye be. The priest was with you, summon hither to me. Your penance ye shall hear without all doubt. EMMA Where be ye, eme? THE UNCLE I stand here without, And full of care till it doth appear How it shall go with her. THE POPE Now ye my judgment hear: It were a thing right pitiful to see That any should be damned, if cure there be, Nor doth God unmoved behold such things. See, here be three iron rings; The greatest ye shall her neck lock round, The other two, without sigh or sound, Lock on her arms, both fast and strong. And let her bear them how so long It be that they wear away and fall. 1080 Then shall her sins be forgiven all. Nor till then shall she be of them quit. THE UNCLE ’Twill be full long, as to my wit, Ere of themselves they fall to ground, For they be of weight so many a pound That in an hundred year they will wear never A farthing thickness. THE POPE Yet may she so persever Heartily in a state of penitence That the rings will of themselves fall hence From neck and arms and leave them bare. But see ye lock them fast. THE UNCLE Father, I swear They shall be locked so stout and stark, If they come off ’twill be God’s mark. O priest and clerk above each earthly state, With your good favor we will take our leave straight, And go again our gate back to the land Whence we be come. THE POPE May He whose hand Dispenseth mercy soften your affliction. EMMA Adieu, holy Father. THE POPE Daughter, go in God’s protection, And keep ye wholly in penitence, For above with the Highest Excellence Is pure penitence held more dear Than ought that we may read or hear. Thus hath Emma received her penance from the Pope. And her eme straightway let make the rings so fast about her neck and arms that in her lifedays they might not be done off but by the will and the miracle of our dear Lord.