He put his band and beard in order,

The sprucer to accost and board her:

And now began t' approach the door,

When she, wh' had spy'd him out before,

Convey'd the informer out of sight,

And went to entertain the Knight:

With whom encount'ring, after longees

Of humble and submissive congees,

And all due ceremonies paid,

He strok'd his beard, and thus he said:

Madam, I do, as is my duty,

155

160

Honor the shadow of your

shoe-tie :

And now am come, to bring your ear

165

A present you'll be glad to hear;

At least I hope so. The thing's done,

Or

may

I never see the sun;

For which I humbly now demand

Performance at your gentle hand

;

And that you'd please to do your part,
As I have done mine to my smart.

With that he shrugg'd his sturdy back,

As if he felt his shoulders ake.
But she, who well enough knew what
(Before he spoke) he would be at,

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175

Pretended not to apprehend

The mystery of what he mean'd ;
And therefore wish'd him to expound
His dark expressions, less profound.

Madam, quoth he, I come to prove
How much I've suffer'd for your love.
Which (like your votary) to win
I have not spar'd my tatter'd skin;.
And for those meritorious lashes,
To claim your favor and good graces.
Quoth she, I do remember once

I freed from th' enchanted sconce ;

you

And that you promis'd for that favor,

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185

To bind your back to 'ts good behaviour, 190

And for my sake and service vow'd

To lay upon 't a heavy load,

And what 't would bear, t' a scruple prove,

As other knights do oft make love;

Which whether you have done or no,
Concerns yourself, not me, to know.
But if you have, I shall confess,
You're honester than I could guess..

Quoth he, if you suspect my troth,

19,5

I cannot prove it but by oath:

200

I'll pawn my soul that I have done 't;
And he that makes his soul his surety,
I think does give the best secur❜ty.

Quoth she, Some say, the soul's secure
Against distresses and forfeiture;

Is free from action, and exempt
From execution and contempt;
And to be summon'd to appear
In t' other world's illegal here.'

1

And therefore few make any account

Int' what incumbrances they run 't.

For most men carry things so even

Between this world, and hell, and heaven,

Without the least offence to either,

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They freely deal in all together;

And equally abhor to quit

This world for both, or both for it;

And when they pawn and damn their souls,

They are but pris'ners on paroles.

For that, quoth he, 'tis rational, They may be accountable in all, For when there is that intercourse

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Between divine and human pow'rs,g tona, o I