Goth home to take avisement. But after his entendement The more he cast his wit about, The more he stant thereof in doubte. Tho[2] wist he well the kingès herte, That he the deth ne shulde asterte,[3] And suche a sorroe to him hath take That gladship he hath all forsake. He thought first upon his life, And after that upon his wife, Upon his children eke also, Of whichè he had doughteres two. The yongest of hem had of age Fourtene yere, and of visage She was right faire, and of stature Lich to an hevenlich figure, And of manér and goodly speche, Though men wolde all landès seche, They shulden nought have founde her like. She sigh[4] her fader sorroe and sike,[5] And wist nought the causè why. So cam she to him prively, And that was wher he made his mone Within a gardin all him one.[6] Upon her knees she gan down falle With humble herte, and to him calle [Pg 6586]And saidè:—"O good fader dere, Why makè ye thus hevy chere,[7] And I wot nothinge how it is? And well ye knowè, fader, this, What ádventurè that you felle Ye might it saufly to me telle; For I have oftè herd you saide, That ye such truste have on me laide, That to my suster ne to my brother In all this worlde ne to none other Ye durstè telle a privete So well, my fader, as to me. Forthy,[8] my fader, I you praie Ne casteth nought that hert[9] awaie, For I am she that woldè kepe Your honour." And with that to wepe Her eye may nought be forbore;[10] She wisheth for to ben unbore,[11] Er[12] that her fader so mistriste To tellen her of that he wiste. And ever among mercy[13] she cride, That he ne shulde his counseil hide From her, that so wolde him good And was so nigh flesshe and blood. So that with weping, atè laste His chere upon his childe he caste, And sorroefully to that she praide[14] He tolde his tale, and thus he saide:— "The sorroe, doughter, which I make Is nought all only for my sake, But for the bothe and for you alle. For suche a chaunce is me befalle, That I shall er this thriddè day Lese all that ever I lesè may, My life and all my good therto. Therefore it is I sorroe so." "What is the cause, alas," quod she, "My fader, that ye shulden be Dede and destruied in suche a wise?" [Pg 6587]And he began the points devise, Which as the king tolde him by mouthe, And said her pleinly, that he couthe Answeren to no point of this. And she, that hereth howe it is, Her counseil yaf[15] and saide tho[16]:— "My fader, sithen it is so, That ye can se none other weie, But that ye must nedès deie, I wolde pray you of o[17] thinge,— Let me go with you to the kinge, And ye shall make him understonde, How ye, my wittès for to fonde, Have laid your answere upon me, And telleth him in such degre Upon my worde ye wol abide To life or deth, what so betide. For yet perchaunce I may purchace With some good word the kingès grace, Your life and eke your good to save. For oftè shall a woman have