But now to purpos; in the story I rede, 1825 Whan he was goon, al this mischaunce is falle. This lady sente after her frendes alle, Fader, moder, husbond, al y-fere; And al dischevele, with her heres clere, (150) In habit swich as women used tho 1830 Unto the burying of her frendes go, She sit in halle with a sorweful sighte. Her frendes axen what her aylen mighte, And who was deed? And she sit ay wepinge, A word for shame ne may she forth out-bringe, 1835 Ne upon hem she dorste nat beholde. But atte laste of Tarquiny she hem tolde, This rewful cas, and al this thing horrible. The wo to tellen hit were impossible, (160) That she and alle her frendes made atones. 1840 Al hadde folkes hertes been of stones, Hit mighte have maked hem upon her rewe, Her herte was so wyfly and so trewe. She seide, that, for her gilt ne for her blame, Her husbond sholde nat have the foule name, 1845 That wolde she nat suffre, by no wey. And they answerden alle, upon hir fey, That they foryeve hit her, for hit was right; Hit was no gilt, hit lay nat in her might; (170) And seiden her ensamples many oon. 1850 But al for noght; for thus she seide anoon, 'Be as be may,' quod she, 'of forgiving, I wol nat have no forgift for no-thing.' But prively she caughte forth a knyf, And therwith-al she rafte her-self her lyf; 1855 And as she fel adoun, she caste her look, And of her clothes yit she hede took; For in her falling yit she hadde care Lest that her feet or swiche thing lay bare; (180) So wel she loved clennesse and eek trouthe. 1860 Of her had al the toun of Rome routhe, And Brutus by her chaste blode hath swore That Tarquin sholde y-banisht be ther-fore, And al his kin; and let the peple calle, And openly the tale he tolde hem alle, 1865 And openly let carie her on a bere Through al the toun, that men may see and here The horrible deed of her oppressioun. Ne never was ther king in Rome toun (190) Sin thilke day; and she was holden there 1870 A seint, and ever her day y-halwed dere As in hir lawe: and thus endeth Lucresse, The noble wyf, as Titus bereth witnesse. I tell hit, for she was of love so trewe, Ne in her wille she chaunged for no newe. 1875 And for the stable herte, sad and kinde, That in these women men may alday finde; Ther as they caste hir herte, ther hit dwelleth. For wel I wot, that Crist him-selve telleth, (200)