And therto ben obedient, Thanne is my cause fully schent, For specheles may noman spede. So wot I noght what is to rede; Bot certes I may noght obeie, That I ne mot algate seie Somwhat of that I wolde mene; For evere it is aliche grene, The grete love which I have, Wherof I can noght bothe save 1300 [Sidenote: =P. i. 86=] My speche and this obedience: And thus fulofte my silence I breke, and is the ferste point[355] Wherof that I am out of point[356] In this, and yit it is no pride. Now thanne upon that other side To telle my desobeissance, Ful sore it stant to my grevance And may noght sinke into my wit; For ofte time sche me bit[357] 1310 To leven hire and chese a newe, And seith, if I the sothe knewe How ferr I stonde from hir grace, I scholde love in other place.[358] Bot therof woll I desobeie; For also wel sche myhte seie, ‘Go tak the Mone ther it sit,’ As bringe that into my wit: For ther was nevere rooted tre, That stod so faste in his degre, 1320 That I ne stonde more faste Upon hire love, and mai noght caste Min herte awey, althogh I wolde. For god wot, thogh I nevere scholde Sen hir with yhe after this day, Yit stant it so that I ne may Hir love out of my brest remue. This is a wonder retenue, That malgre wher sche wole or non Min herte is everemore in on, 1330 [Sidenote: =P. i. 87=] So that I can non other chese, Bot whether that I winne or lese, I moste hire loven til I deie; And thus I breke as be that weie Hire hestes and hir comandinges, Bot trewliche in non othre thinges.[359] Forthi, my fader, what is more Touchende to this ilke lore[360] I you beseche, after the forme That ye pleinly me wolde enforme, 1340 So that I may myn herte reule In loves cause after the reule. [Sidenote: [MURMUR AND COMPLAINT.]] vii. _Murmur in aduersis ita concipit ille superbus,_ _Pena quod ex bina sorte perurget eum._ _Obuia fortune cum spes in amore resistit,_ _Non sine mentali murmure plangit amans._[361]