+Han maked me his wrathe to foryive; +And yeve me grace so long for to live, +That I may knowe soothly what ye be 450 That han me holpen, and put in swich degree. +But trewely I wende, as in this cas, +Naught have agilt, ne doon to love trespas. +Forwhy a trewe man, with-outen drede, +Hath nat to parten with a theves dede; 455 +Ne a trewe lover oghte me nat blame, +Thogh that I speke a fals lover som shame. +They oghte rather with me for to holde, +For that I of Creseyde wroot or tolde, +Or of the Rose; what-so myn auctour mente, 460 +Algate, god wot, hit was myn entente +To forthren trouthe in love and hit cheryce; +And to be war fro falsnesse and fro vyce +By swich ensample; this was my meninge.' +And she answerde, 'lat be thyn arguinge; 465 +For Love ne wol nat countrepleted be In right ne wrong; and lerne this at me! +Thou hast thy grace, and hold thee right ther-to. +Now wol I seyn what penance thou shalt do +For thy trespas, and understond hit here: 470 +Thou shalt, whyl that thou livest, yeer by yere, The moste party of thy lyve spende +In making of a glorious Legende +Of Gode Wemen, maidenes and wyves, +That were trewe in lovinge al hir lyves; 475 +And telle of false men that hem bitrayen, +That al hir lyf ne doon nat but assayen +How many wemen they may doon a shame; For in your world that is now holden game. And thogh thee lesteth nat a lover be, 480 +Spek wel of love; this penance yeve I thee. +And to the god of love I shal so preye, +That he shal charge his servants, by any weye, +To forthren thee, and wel thy labour quyte; Go now thy wey, thy penance is but lyte.' (B. 495) 485