Passing all landis, on the little isle That clepèd is Albion, they most complain, They say that there, is crop and root of guile: So can those men dissimulin and feign, With standing dropis in their eyin twain; When that their heartis feeleth no distress, To blindin women with their doubleness. Their wordis, spoken be so sighingly, With so piteous a cheer and countenance That every wight that meaneth truly Deemeth they in heart havin such grievance. They say, "So importable is their penance, That but their lady lust to shew them grace They, right anon, must starvin in the place." "Ah, Lady mine!" they say, "I you ensure As doth me grace! and I shall ever be, While that my life may lasting and endure To you as humble and low in each degree As possible is, and keep all things in secre[t] Right as your selfin listeth that I do! And ellis mine heartè must burst in two." Full hard it is, to know a manis heart For outward may no man the truthè deem. When word out of the mouth, may none astert But it, by reason seemed a wight to queme, So it is said of heart, as it would seem. O faithful woman! full of innocence! Thou art deceivèd by false appearance! By process moveth oft woman's pity. Weening all things were as these men ysay, They grant them grace, of their benignity, For that men shouldin not, for their sake die, And with good heart, settin them in the way Of blissful love: keepin it, if they con! And thus, otherwhile, women bethe ywon. And when this man, the pan hath by the steel And fully is in his possession; With that woman keepeth he no more to deal After, if he may findin in the town Any woman, his blind affection Unto bestow. But evil mote he preve! A man, for all his oaths, is hard to believe! And for that every false Man hath a Make, (As unto every wight is light to know) When this traitor, this woman hath forsake, He fast speedeth him unto his fellow. Till he be there, his heart is on a low; His false deceit ne may him not suffice, But of his treason telleth all the wise. Is this a fair avaunt? Is this honour? A man himself accuse thus and defame! Is it good to confess himself a traitor? And bring a woman into slanderous name And tell how he her body hath do shame? No worship may he thus, to him conquer, But great dislander unto him and her!