The king, which would his honour save, When he had heard the common voice, Hath granted them their owne choice, And took them thereupon the key; But for he woulde it were see What good they have as they suppose, He bade anon the coffer unclose, Which was fulfill'd with straw and stones: Thus be they served all at ones. This king then in the same stede, Anon that other coffer undede, Where as they sawen great riches, Well more than they couthen [18] guess. 'Lo!' saith the king, 'now may ye see That there is no default in me; Forthy[19] myself I will acquite, And beareth ye your owne wite[20] Of that fortune hath you refused.' Thus was this wise king excused: And they left off their evil speech. And mercy of their king beseech. [1] 'Shope:' contrived. [2] 'Thilke throw:' at that time. [3] 'Stede:' place. [4] 'Sih:' saw. [5] 'Perrie:' precious stones. [6] 'Mull:' rubbish. [7] 'Meynd:' mingled. [8] 'Erlich:' early. [9] 'Fet:' fetched. [10] 'Tho:' those. [11] 'Grutched:' murmured. [12] 'Along:' because of. [13] 'Lever:' preferable. [14] 'Afine:' at last. [15] 'Yard:' rod. [16] 'Saith the king:' saith to the king. [17] 'Reguerdon:' as their reward. [18] 'Couthen:' could. [19] 'Forthy:' therefore. [20] 'Wite:' blame. OF THE GRATIFICATION WHICH THE LOVERS PASSION RECEIVES FROM THE SENSE OF HEARING. Right as mine eye with his look Is to mine heart a lusty cook Of love's foode delicate; Right so mine ear in his estate, Where as mine eye may nought serve, Can well mine hearte's thank deserve; And feeden him, from day to day, With such dainties as he may. For thus it is that, over all Where as I come in special, I may hear of my lady price:[1] I hear one say that she is wise; Another saith that she is good; And some men say of worthy blood That she is come; and is also So fair that nowhere is none so: And some men praise her goodly chere.[2] Thus everything that I may hear, Which soundeth to my lady good, Is to mine ear a lusty food. And eke mine ear hath, over this, A dainty feaste when so is That I may hear herselve speak; For then anon my fast I break On suche wordes as she saith, That full of truth and full of faith They be, and of so good disport, That to mine eare great comfort They do, as they that be delices For all the meats, and all the spices, That any Lombard couthe[3] make, Nor be so lusty for to take, Nor so far forth restoratif, (I say as for mine owne life,) As be the wordes of her mouth For as the windes of the south Be most of alle debonaire;[4] So, when her list to speake fair, The virtue of her goodly speech Is verily mine hearte's leech. And if it so befall among, That she carol upon a song, When I it hear, I am so fed, That I am from myself so led As though I were in Paradise; For, certes, as to mine avis,[5] When I hear of her voice the steven,[6] Methink'th it is a bliss of heaven.