Fair him grette in the guest-hall; And damsel Frain, so fair of mouth, Grette him fair, as she well couth. And swithe well he gan devise, Her semblant, and her gentrise, Her lovesome eyen, her _rode_[61] so bright. And commenced to love her anon-right; And thought how he might take on, To have her for his lemon [Errata: leman]. He thought, "Gificcome her to More than ich have y-do, The abbesse will _souchy_[62] guile, And _wide_[63] her away in a little while." He compassed another _suchesoun;_[64] To be brother of that religion. "Madam," he said to the abbesse, _"I-lovi_[65] well, in all goodness, Ich will give one and other Londes and rentes, to become your brother,[66] That ye shall ever fare the _bet_[67] When I come to have recet."[68] At few wordes they ben _at one._ He graithes him[69], and forth is gone. Oft he com, by day and night, To speak with that maiden bright; So that, with his fair _behest_,[70] And with his glosing, at lest She granted him to don his will, When he will, loud and still. "Leman," he said, "thou must let be The abbesse _thy neice_,[71] and go with me; For ich am riche, of swich powere, Ye finde bet than thou hast here." The maiden grant, and to him trist, And stole away, that no man wist; With her took she no thing But her pel and her ring. When the abbess gan aspy That she was with the knight _owy_,[72] She made mourning in her thought, And her _bement_,[73] and gained nought. So long she was in his castel, That all his meynie loved her well. To rich and poor she gan her 'dress, That all her loved more and less; And thus she led with him her life, Right as she had been his wedded wife. His knightes com, and to him speke, And holy church commandeth eke, Some lordis daughter for to take, And his leman all forsake. And said, him were well more fair In wedlock to get him an heir, Than lead his life with swiche one, Of whose kin he knew none. And said, "Here besides, is a knight That hath a daughter fair and bright, That shall bear his heritage, Taketh her in marriage!" Loth him was for that deed to do, Oc, at last, he granted therto. The _forward_[74] was y-marked aright, And were at one, and troth plight. Allas! that he no had y-wit, Ere the forward were y-suit! That she, and his leman also, Sistren were, and twinnes two! Of o father begeten they were, Of o mother born _y-fere_:[75] That _hi_[76] so were ne wist none, Forsooth, I say, but God alone. The new bride was graithed with oil, And brought home to the lord is host, Her father come with her also, The levedi her mother, and other mo. The bishop of the lond, withouten fail, Come to do the spousail. * * * * *