Slepende abedde ther sche lay, And with that noise of hire affray Hir wommen sterten up aboute, Whiche of here ladi were in doute, And axen hire hou that sche ferde; 145 And sche, riht as sche syh and herde, Hir swevene hath told hem everydel: And thei it halsen alle wel And sein it is a tokne of goode. Bot til sche wiste hou that it stode, 150 Sche hath no confort in hire herte, Upon the morwe and up sche sterte, And to the see, wher that sche mette The bodi lay, withoute lette Sche drowh, and whan that sche cam nyh, 155 Stark ded, hise armes sprad, sche syh Hire lord flietende upon the wawe. Wherof hire wittes ben withdrawe, And sche, which tok of deth no kepe, Anon forth lepte into the depe 160 And wolde have cawht him in hire arm. This infortune of double harm The goddes fro the hevene above Behielde, and for the trowthe of love, Which in this worthi ladi stod, 165 Thei have upon the salte flod Hire dreinte lord and hire also Fro deth to lyve torned so That thei ben schapen into briddes Swimmende upon the wawe amiddes. 170 And whan sche sih hire lord livende In liknesse of a bridd swimmende, And sche was of the same sort, So as sche mihte do desport, Upon the ioie which sche hadde 175 Hire wynges bothe abrod sche spradde, And him, so as sche mai suffise, Beclipte and keste in such a wise, As sche was whilom wont to do: Hire wynges for hire armes tuo 180 Sche tok, and for hire lippes softe Hire harde bile, and so ful ofte Sche fondeth in hire briddes forme, If that sche mihte hirself conforme To do the plesance of a wif, 185 As sche dede in that other lif: For thogh sche hadde hir pouer lore, Hir will stod as it was tofore, And serveth him so as sche mai. Wherof into this ilke day 190 Togedre upon the see thei wone, Wher many a dowhter and a sone Thei bringen forth of briddes kinde; And for men scholden take in mynde This Alceoun the trewe queene, 195 Hire briddes ȝit, as it is seene, Of Alceoun the name bere. B. ADRIAN AND BARDUS. From Bk. v, ll. 4937 ff.