"Hai," fait il, "con suis trais! Or dira ja cascuns sa laisse Et jo suis ci i hues en laisse Qui ne fas ci fors que broster Et viandes por nient gaster. Si ne dirai ne ne ferai? Par la mere deu, si ferai! Ja n'en serai ore repris; Jo ferai ce que j'ai apris; Si servirai de men mestier La mere deu en son mostier; Li autre servent de canter Et jo servirai de tumer." Sa cape oste, si se despoille, Deles l'autel met sa despoille, Mais por sa char que ne soit nue Une cotele a retenue Qui moult estait tenre et alise, Petit vaut miex d'une chemise, Si est en pur le cors remes. Il s'est bien chains et acesmes, Sa cote caint et bien s'atorne, Devers l'ymage se retorne Mout humblement et si l'esgarde: "Dame," fait il, "en vostre garde Comant jo et mon cors et m'ame. Douce reine, douce dame, Ne despisies ce que jo sai Car jo me voil metre a l'asai De vos servir en bone foi Se dex m'ait sans nul desroi. Jo ne sai canter ne lire Mais certes jo vos voil eslire Tos mes biax gieus a eslicon. Or soie al fuer de taurecon Qui trepe et saut devant sa mere. Dame, qui n'estes mie amere A cels qui vos servent a droit, Quelsque jo soie, por vos soit!" Lors li commence a faire saus Bas et petits et grans et haus Primes deseur et puis desos, Puis se remet sor ses genols, Devers l'ymage, et si l'encline: "He!" fait il, "tres douce reine Par vo pitie, par vo francise, Ne despisies pas mon servise!" "Ha!" said he, "how I am ashamed! To sing his part goes now each priest, And I stand here, a tethered beast, Who nothing do but browse and feed And waste the food that others need. Shall I say nothing, and stand still? No! by God's mother, but I will! She shall not think me here for naught; At least I'll do what I've been taught! At least I'll serve in my own way God's mother in her church to-day. The others serve to pray and sing; I will serve to leap and spring." Then he strips him of his gown, Lays it on the altar down; But for himself he takes good care Not to show his body bare, But keeps a jacket, soft and thin, Almost a shirt, to tumble in. Clothed in this supple woof of maille His strength and health and form showed well. And when his belt is buckled fast, Toward the Virgin turns at last: Very humbly makes his prayer; "Lady!" says he, "to your care I commit my soul and frame. Gentle Virgin, gentle dame, Do not despise what I shall do, For I ask only to please you, To serve you like an honest man, So help me God, the best I can. I cannot chant, nor can I read, But I can show you here instead, All my best tricks to make you laugh, And so shall be as though a calf Should leap and jump before its dam. Lady, who never yet could blame Those who serve you well and true, All that I am, I am for you." Then he begins to jump about, High and low, and in and out,