[Sidenote: [TALE OF THE KING AND HIS STEWARD’S WIFE.]] To trete upon the cas of love, So as we tolden hiere above, [Sidenote: Hic ponit exemplum contra istos qui non propter amorem sed propter diuicias sponsalia sumunt. Et narrat de quodam Regis Apulie Seneschallo, qui non solum propter pecuniam vxorem duxit, set eciam pecunie commercio vxorem sibi desponsatam vendidit.] I finde write a wonder thing. Of Puile whilom was a king, [Sidenote: =P. ii. 216=] A man of hih complexioun And yong, bot his affeccioun After the nature of his age Was yit noght falle in his corage 2650 The lust of wommen forto knowe. So it betidde upon a throwe This lord fell into gret seknesse: Phisique hath don the besinesse Of sondri cures manyon To make him hol; and therupon A worthi maister which ther was Yaf him conseil upon this cas,[65] That if he wolde have parfit hele, He scholde with a womman dele, 2660 A freissh, a yong, a lusti wiht, To don him compaignie a nyht; For thanne he seide him redily, That he schal be al hol therby, And otherwise he kneu no cure. This king, which stod in aventure[66] Of lif and deth, for medicine Assented was, and of covine His Steward, whom he tristeth wel, He tok, and tolde him everydel, 2670 Hou that this maister hadde seid:[67] And therupon he hath him preid And charged upon his ligance, That he do make porveance Of such on as be covenable For his plesance and delitable; [Sidenote: =P. ii. 217=] And bad him, hou that evere it stod, That he schal spare for no good, For his will is riht wel to paie. The Steward seide he wolde assaie: 2680 Bot nou hierafter thou schalt wite, As I finde in the bokes write,[68] What coveitise in love doth. This Steward, forto telle soth, Amonges al the men alyve[69] A lusti ladi hath to wyve, Which natheles for gold he tok And noght for love, as seith the bok. A riche Marchant of the lond Hir fader was, and hire fond[70] 2690 So worthily, and such richesse Of worldes good and such largesse With hire he yaf in mariage, That only for thilke avantage[71] Of good this Steward hath hire take, For lucre and noght for loves sake,[72] And that was afterward wel seene; Nou herkne what it wolde meene. This Steward in his oghne herte Sih that his lord mai noght asterte 2700 His maladie, bot he have A lusti womman him to save, And thoghte he wolde yive ynowh Of his tresor; wherof he drowh Gret coveitise into his mynde, And sette his honour fer behynde. [Sidenote: =P. ii. 218=] Thus he, whom gold hath overset,